Chapter Six - The Secret Keeper
"Master, I have brought you a gift." Wormtail approached the Dark Lord with a brown sack slung across his back. The contents of the sack were squirming and screaming in frustration and fear.
"Wormtail, you think that you can repair the blunder with that witch? You still haven't gotten me the location of that blasted Order of the Phoenix!" Voldemort held his wand pointed threateningly at Wormtail's chest.
"I - I apologize for that blunder. But she did tell you the location of the mudblood," Wormtail pointed out, then squeaked in fear for correcting the Dark Lord.
"Yes, but only after some strong persuasion. You will do well to remember that lesson." Wormtail clutched himself in memory of the torture he endured.
"Yes, Master."
"Now, what is it you've brought me?" Voldemort grew impatient at the blundering of his only servant too stupid to act for himself.
"Ah yes. My Lord, I give you..." Wormtail flipped the sack upside down and out tumbled a slumped, sobbing green creature.
"A HOUSE-ELF! What do I want with a house-elf?" Voldemort glared at the pathetic minion.
"Not just any house-elf. The elf that serves the mudblood. And, I believe that he is her secret keeper. He could lead us to the other," Wormtail offered, hoping to avoid the rage of the powerful being before him.
Voldemort sat in thought for a moment. If he got his hands on the other one, who knows what power the two would have together? And what knowledge the other could impart to him? "Wormtail, you may have actually proved useful. Bring the boy to me."
"Of course," Wormtail said with a bow, almost giddy with happiness as he ran off. The Dark Lord had complemented him, well almost. He returned a moment later with a teenage boy, about 13 years old. His black hair sat untamable on his head, hooding his hazel eyes, yet said to flash emerald green when he became enraged. Those who knew his grandfather said that he was practically his clone.
"Sirius, say hello to the elf. He belonged to your father, you know." Sirius gave no expression to this revelation, even the mention of his father, though inside he recalled how hurtful his father had been to his Lord and Master Voldemort. The word father held only revulsion and anger to him.
"Sirius, you will order the elf to tell you the location of that pathetic Mudblood's home," Voldemort commanded his minion.
"As you wish, my Master." Sirius bowed, then turned towards Dobby. "Tell me where they are. As your Master, I command you!"
Dobby sat trembling on the ground. He looked at Sirius with sadness. The boy looked so much like Harry, but his temper and disposition had been twisted by being raised by the evilness of Voldemort. Dobby had already hurt himself several times for letting his guard down and getting caught by the Death Eater.
"Tell me you wretched creature!" Sirius raised his hand to inflict harm upon the elf.
"She's. . . she's at number 23 Godric's Hollow," Dobby sobbed, the answer barely audible.
"See, that wasn't so hard," Sirius gave the elf a twisted smile. He then looked to the Dark Lord for more instruction.
"Have the elf take you to the house, then bring the mudblood, her disgusting offspring, and anyone else there. Don't harm the mudblood or the girl, but kill anyone else that gets in your way. Meet us at the fortress when you're done," Voldemort gave Sirius his final orders.
"Yes Master." Sirius bowed and pulled Dobby out of the room with him. "Now, you will show me where my mother and dear younger sister are hiding," Sirius said, regarding his relatives with sarcasm at the thought of being connected to them.
Dobby hit himself once again, and moved toward the door, constantly twisting his ears in his hands.