A man in black robes appeared out of thin air. He looked up at the manor shrouded in cold mist ahead, then swept toward it like a great bat. His gaze passed over the Dementors guarding the gates as he strode expressionlessly through the thick fog and into the estate.
This had once been an old Muggle manor. Before Voldemort occupied it, the estate had already fallen largely into disrepair. Only a middle-aged couple had been hired to live here and tend to the grounds, but they had since "disappeared."
The man in black crossed the entrance hall and followed the corridor into the manor's drawing room, where silent Death Eaters already filled the seats.
"Severus," a low, hoarse voice sounded from the head of the table. "You are late."
"My apologies, Master."
Snape met those scarlet eyes with vacant ones of his own, then lowered his head.
"Sit. The meeting has only just begun."
Voldemort turned his gaze away from Snape and began the day's important meeting.
"Lucius, you are Cornelius Fudge's old friend. How likely do you think he is to submit?" Voldemort looked directly at Lucius Malfoy. As Fudge's former close friend, Lucius Malfoy had more say than anyone on matters concerning Cornelius Fudge.
"The current Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, is weak-willed. If our methods are discreet enough, there is indeed a chance we can bring him to our side through threats and inducements, or by using the Imperius Curse to alter and control him."
Lucius Malfoy lowered his head even further, not daring to meet Voldemort's scarlet gaze.
"But it would be difficult to make Fudge openly side with us. Even as weak as he is, I do not think he would dare do that—unless we control him with the Imperius Curse. But there would