Work Text:
mach·i·na·tion (māk'ə-nā'shən, māsh'-)
n.
1. The act of plotting.
2. A crafty scheme or cunning design for the accomplishment of a sinister end.
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He hadn’t anticipated the other boy, Diggory, being involved. It was regrettable of course, but perhaps, for the best. Some always benefitted more from object lessons, after all, and what better way to announce to the world that Voldemort had returned, than a sacrificial lamb so pure?
The coming year would be important. Severus would play a vital role. He resolved to speak to him at the earliest opportunity. He himself could not be directly involved, but Severus was a useful tool, one that he had kept on hand in case of such a need.
He looked up from his steepled fingertips at the two teenagers standing in front of him.
“It is vital that you tell him nothing of import. You must obey me in this.”
They looked discouraged, but agreed, as he knew they would. They had no choice.
Love may have designated Harry Potter as his greatest weapon for the fight ahead, but grief and anger would be the fire to temper him into steel. He would not permit sympathetic friends to quench it.