Now You're in the World of Wolves | Borgin and Burkes | Open

[Lord Voldemort]

September 1978

It wasn't often that he could be found in public. He generally preferred to send one of his higher ups on tasks such as this. It was difficult being as well known as he was, but he could hardly complain. When he walked, there was fear and admiration. Exactly as it should be. These past few years he had taken to avoiding the more populated places. While he had enough support at the Ministry - he wouldn't go there. Too many prying eyes that he didn't trust. And Diagon Alley by itself was no use to him. But there was an area in which he was a familiar face, and was welcomed by many. An area that today required he attend it himself for a special pick up.

And so it was with purpose that he walked through Knockturn Alley, a dark hooded robe covering his head. Time and magic had taken a toll on his body, and while those under him were used to seeing someone so pale, it was an uncommon sight for some. That, and he didn't need to be stopped by the lowlifes that tended to frequent some of the establishments. As...lovely as their desires to praise him were, he didn't have time. It wasn't long that he crossed the threshold to Borgin and Burkes, letting the door close roughly behind him.

To say that Burke wasn't pleased by his presence would have been an understatement. While he had worked for the man many years prior, he'd left without warning and taken some valuable items at the time. But the two had recently come to a business agreement, seeing as there were some special creatures he needed to get his hands on. "Burke, I trust that my shipment hasn't been damaged," he spoke as he approached the counter. The man gave him jerky nod, not saying anything else. There were others in the shop, and unfortunately further conversation would have to wait. 

[Alecto Carrow]

Staying as still as possible, Alecto slowly lowered the small stuffed owl from its perch, making her eyes as wide and unblinking as its own as she peered over the dingy countertop to meet her brother's eye. Once she did, the young woman cracked a grin, not one to easily be dissuaded by the shop's "strict" do not touch policy. If she didn't come from money - or didn't come with her intimidating partner - retributions for playing with fragile or dangerous merchandise as she shopped would likely have been much harsher. As it was, she could laugh with ease. "What do you think?" she asked, tipping the bird on its side to see just how well set the feathers were, just how stiff the thing was, and finding it lifelike enough to perhaps cause her falcon some amusement. "A plaything for for Bia?" Her tenacious gryfalcon would probably rip the thing to bits, but the beauty deserved a gift for putting up with her lately - she and Amycus had been kept busy by the Dark Lord, which cut in to time she'd usually spend hunting.

Well - hunting with the bird.

It was something she'd likely not admit to missing, but time alone with the animal was good for her. Training the bird in her teenage years was one of her proudest accomplishments - no matter how highly Amycus thought of her, and although she'd fight anyone who dared suggest it, Alecto wasn't truly good at many things. But she'd trained the bird, who had proved almost as stubborn as she was, and watching her fly...it was almost as if she could fly, herself, unaided by any magic.

F*ck's sake, you're getting sentimental.

She agitatedly put the thing back, using her wand to levitate a string of cursed jewels around its neck, and was distracted from idle walking and biting her ragged fingernails as the door as it opened to let in a cloaked figure. The cloak in and of itself wasn't uncommon on this street, many people not wanting to be seen, or simply wanting an aura of mystery to follow them. But the voice of the patron was one she would know anywhere, and a thick brow raised with interest as she exchanged a look with her brother. The Dark Lord was here? He was hardly ever seen out-and-about, preferring to delegate. This must be...important.

And the opportunity to know things of importance to the Dark Lord was too tempting to pass up.

As Burke headed into the back room to procure what it was their Lord desired, Alecto approached the counter and the man she served. "Afternoon, my lord," she said with a nod, unable to stop her smirk at seeing him like this. It was so unusual - something to brag about to the underlings, if nothing else.

[Lord Voldemort]

He didn't have time to pay attention to the other patrons of the shop. He was a busy man, and busy men didn't have time to pay attention to those who were simply in his way. Not that many people stood in his way, not anymore. Anyone who dared try never lived to tell the tale. Even when he walked down Knockturn alley, others moved out of his path. They may not know who he was, but they did know from his walk that he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

In this case, however, he might have benefited from paying attention to those around him. He should have recognized the familiar voices from two of his underling the click of heels on the floor of the shop that approached him. But he didn't have time to be bothered with such things - and because he didn't have time he was met with a rather unpleasant greeting from one of the Carrow siblings.

Turning his head to look at Alecto, he wanted nothing more than to wipe the smirk off her face with a flick of his wand. But her and Amycus were useful, twisted creatures that did his bidding without much question. And should Alecto start to get out of line, he could always trust Amycus to real her back in and put her in her place. She might have been good at doing his dirty work, but she was still a woman.

"Alecto, Amycus. What a pleasure to see you two enjoying some time off," he replied slowly, gaze flickering back and forth between the two. They didn't need to know what he was here for, which meant dismissing them quickly would be his best option. "Or perhaps you two were looking for something to do rather than waste your time idly wandering around shops?"

[Alecto Carrow]

Powerful men could be such utter bores! Who was their Lord to berate them for doing a bit of shopping? It wasn't as if they were skipping on an assignment! For even as he said it was a "pleasure," one didn't need to be a Legilimens to know his disapproval. Her irritation with him swept her smirk away, her bright eyes flickering with the agitation she felt. Not that she could ever act against him, but she didn't think it hurt for him to know when people were displeased with him. Yes, yes, he was a powerful man - but he was only a man, and while he led by fear well enough, there was something to be said for leaders who gained followers through, oh, likability? Which he certainly lacked, save for the most brainwashed of Death Eaters. Although...

"If you have anything for us," Alecto said quietly as she spoke for the siblings, leaning back against the counter and trusting her brother to keep an eye out for Burke behind her, "we'd be happy to oblige. Perhaps we could help you here? Anything bringing you out of your - " lair "home must be important. And we are not wasting time, my lord - it's always beneficial to keep up with the goings-on here, is it not? We do enjoy being - ah - creative with our work." She gave him a smile she didn't feel, hoping he would let it go. For it was useful to know what was for sale here, as it opened up so many doors to them! They couldn't always poison with candles from Tapers, they couldn't always go in for a brutal fight - she was learning that other measures were necessary so they didn't become predictable. Because if they were predictable, they could be fought, they could perhaps even be stopped! Which was something the Carrows had never let happen before.

[Lord Voldemort]

He could see the agitation in her eyes, and it almost drew a smirk out of him. He was glad she was displeased, it meant that she was useful. He knew well of her obsession with Bellatrix, one of his most faithful followers. And while Amycus was twisted and useful, his sister had other uses. Should she ever have a child, he would be most willing give it a place within his realm. And her desire to please the Lestrange woman, who had nothing more than a desire to please him, meant that she would be useful until she died. A time he didn't dare concern himself with, as the deaths of his followers simply meant that they had failed. He watched with amusement as the look in her eyes changed when he offered them work. After all, doing anything for him had to be much preferable to...this.

He gave a nod to her words, letting himself give her a smile. "Perhaps I was too quick to judge, Alecto. You two are some of my best, perhaps you can be trusted with a task such as this..." He trailed off as Burkes returned, nodding towards the back room. "Amycus, watch the shop. Only those loyal to me can come in. Alecto, if you would follow me." He lead her into the back, where wood crates could be found stack, small cries of children and adults could be heard as they rattled their chains. "Muggles, of course. Perhaps a few that pretend they can do magic," he said with a satisfied nod.

"They are for Fenrir, I believe you and Amycus could take care of this delivery? Oh, and do give Bellatrix my regards should you be going to see her later."

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto didn't know whether or not he would take her up on her offer; if whatever he was here for was important enough for him to be here, would he so easily give it up to her and her brother? She didn't much enjoy being a go-fer, but maybe he had something interesting enough to engage even her short-attention span. So she was tentatively pleased as the Dark Lord appraised her, the ghost of a wicked smile gracing his face. That's new. His words made her stand taller, despite her annoyance with other Death Eaters for puffing up at the slightest praise from him. Burke came back to the counter only to have orders given in his shop - Amycus, with a brisk nod to him and a smirk to her, went to guard the door, and she strode off after their Lord. Burke tried to hide his scandalized look at having to allow her into the back room, to which she gave a smug look. What a fool - who is he to someone who acts?

Taking in the behind-the-scenes scene, Alecto's smugness hardly faded. She scoffed at her Lord's description of the captives, nodding with understanding. (Well - partial understanding, really. No one truly knew what Fenrir got up to with those with filthy blood, but maybe she'd stick around this time. Go-fer, indeed, but...this is interesting.) Her scoffing turned into a true laugh as the man dared to mention Bella, and she gave him a mischievous grin.

"Believe me, I shall. And might I say, you're quite the collector, my Lord." She wasn't able to resist the tease, and stepped forward, testing the strength of the nearest crate with a swift kick. It rattled a tad, but the fastenings were secure, and the sharp cry from inside was enough to make her grin in earnest. "We'll take care of it," she affirmed, knowing her brother was just as antsy as she was. They could make an afternoon out of it - it'd been a while since she'd spent time with the werewolves...

[Lord Voldemort]

He had spent ten years working here, charming foolish witches and wizards into selling their magical artifacts. The job had served him well, given him access to precisely the right people. Hepizbah Smith had been his favorite customer, the old woman such a fool when it came to him. Oh, she’d invited him to her place for tea and they’d had quite the friendship until he took what he wanted. To come here himself seemed like a risk, but no Auror would dare approach him. The Ministry was his, the world would be his. They’d spent eight years fighting him so far, and they were no closer to defeating him now. The only one who stood a chance of defeating him was too busy locked away at Hogwarts, constantly replacing teachers year after year.

They walked into the back, a smirk on his face as he caught Alecto’s thoughts regarding Burke. While the shop owner wasn’t much, he was loyal, and that was just as important as the ability to take a life. The muffled cries from the prisoners were almost soothing, the knowledge that not all would survive the bite an even better thought. It was frustrating, to lose so many potentional soldiers to the bite, but it was simply how things were. It wasn’t as if their deaths were tragic by any means, just simply more work for his followers to do.

He gave a slow chuckle at Alecto’s words, placing a hand on one of the cases as he grinned. He was a collector, something she knew very little about, but the comment amused him. “I except you shall. Failure to successfully deliver before the next full moon would have....consequences,” he said as he turned to look at her, “You and brother have been loyal, and loyalty gets rewarded. Tell me, do you desire to move up in my ranks?”

[Alecto Carrow]

"We are, if you're offering," Alecto returned quickly, comfortable with speaking for her brother, and not bothering to hide her smirk at the potential honor. She leaned back against one of the stacked crates, crossing her arms over her waist as she considered her leader. She wasn't put off by the thinly veiled threat that had preceded his question - she and Amycus always got the job done, whatever it was. This delivery would be no problem, surely. Much more important was this offer. The Carrows were a solid team, that much she knew. They had been Recruiters together, briefly, after her graduation. The work of Snatching was amusing, certainly; but after years, and even through using much creativity, fugitive-finding was losing its entertainment value. They had opportunities for side-missions like this one, but to be Soldiers...

You'd always have to listen.

While Alecto had done mainly as told during these last years of service, she knew the expectations of Soldiers were higher than those that she and the other Snatchers were held to. But...Soldiers really got to get their hands dirty. They were on the front lines, engaging in battle, in interrogation, in raids. It was a life of constant excitement, and she could follow direction when it was important. Rein in her impulses enough to do what was necessary, even if it meant keeping the targets alive if that's what was asked of her. And this could mean not just learning from Bella, but working with her... "What do we need to do?" she asked bluntly, blue eyes gleaming with the prospect of changing their lives for the better.

[Lord Voldemort]

This was was dragging. It was inevitable of course, when Dumbledore was playing on the other side of the field. The old man needed to accept what would happen, as he wasn’t simply going to give up. This world would be his. Dumbledore was weak, a sad excuse for a wizard. But his special Order was in his way, which meant it was time for more action. And more action meant he needed more of his finest on the front line.

He studied Alecto carefully, amused at how easily she spoke for her brother. It was no secret that Amycus would be more than happy to follow orders, as long as he got the blood he wanted. But could the two do more than just kill? Being a soldier meant still being able to blend in with their society if that was what Voldemort wanted. He waited patiently for the girl to think things through, a grin crossing his face as she finally asked the real question.

“James Callaghan plans on calling for an election this autumn. It’s unnecessary. Surely you can make that happen,” he said quietly. The muggle Prime Minister would be the easiest to access, but he didn’t doubt the Carrows could get the job done. Not having an election would cause upset amongst the muggles, especially as the love for the current Prime Minister had long faded. “And if you have the time, dispose of Georgi Markov. I don’t like his writing.”

[Alecto Carrow]

As the Dark Lord lowered his voice to give instructions, Alecto leaned forward on instinct, lank blonde hair swaying with her, to make sure she heard him clearly. She repeated the names and the briefest of instructions in her mind to lock them there, the surprise rush of adrenaline threatening distraction. James Callaghan. No election. Georgi Markov. Dispose. James Callaghan. No election. Georgi Markov. Dispose… Both of the men were known to her, Callaghan by her and Amycus keeping up with muggle newspapers, and Markov for a much more entertaining reason. The Carrows listened to the man’s weekly reports on the radio, but more so for the amusement of a drinking game than to absorb his "wisdom." Markov criticizes Zhivkov’s personality or policy? Drink. Markov calls the Bulgarian public sheep? Drink. Markov makes a comparison to other communist nations? Drink… We’ll find a new program to listen to.

"We will have time," Alecto assured him genially, wondering how long he had been sitting on these orders requests. Markov would be easy; his whereabouts were hardly secret, and the Carrows’ supply of poisons had become quite prolific. The only thing to keep in mind was ensuring that the murder appeared muggle, but they had been successful in that route before. Public, can’t have the wife or daughter as witnesses, she logged, mind already wandering. Callaghan, though, would require more thought and creativity. The muggle Prime Minister was protected by both muggles and wizards, and had cursory knowledge of their world. She and her brother would need to determine a means of getting close to him and through that security, close enough to invade his mind and correct his plan to align with the Dark Lord’s. "Consider this all taken care of, my Lord," Alecto said with confidence and a slap to the crate she leaned on, a wicked sheen to her eyes at the startled yelps that followed. Amycus would be so pleased that she had taken care of this for them - they did best when they had projects to work on together, and with this opportunity to move up in rank... Failure is not an option.

[Lord Voldemort]

People were so interesting. Both the magical and muggle kind - when you really got down to it. At the end of the day there wasn’t much difference between them at all, they were all fools. He felt pity for the muggles if he was being truthful, empty souls trapped in a world they couldn’t see. It was better for everyone that muggles simply ceased to exist, as that was surely what natural intended in giving some families magic and denying it to others?

It was why it was so easy to manipulate the minds of those clinging to their blood lines in the wizarding world. Desperate to keep things pure they would willing kill for him, do whatever he asked of them because of a desire to keep themselves away from those that were less. He told them what they wanted to hear and they never even questioned him for a second.

Complete fools.

Even amongst his own there were those he had plans to destroy, once the world was the way he intended. The Malfoys could go - their allegiance to him meant quite little. The Crabbe and Goyle families had brought little to the table as well, truthfully. The only one who he would be willing to spare would be the one intended to marry into the Lestrange family, as their loyalty was important.

As was the Carrows.

He smiled as Alecto readily agreed, her enthusiasm for the others evident. “Good. I will see you when it’s finished.” It didn’t need to be said that should he see them prior to their tasks being handled, it would not end well. With a nod, he turned and summoned Burke - before following the shopowner out.