Well now the wait is over. I have heard several theories, and I know that quite a few of you have either figured out or have a pretty good idea of who the New Dark Lord is. So after MUCH waiting and anticipation, I present to you....

Chapter 33: The New Dark Lord

Harry turned back to the front of the house as the Weasley twins came running in. “We need to get out of here now, we cannot take them on” Fred screamed, trying to warn everyone.

“They are crazy!” George added.

Lupin came from around the corner, causing everyone to jump, “They have the house surrounded, they killed Kingsley.” He said softly, motioning to the floating body beside him. Kinglsey’s open eyed stare was proof enough of the Killing curse.

“Ok, everyone go!” Moody shouted, Harry watched as the others disapperated, Ginny running to him. All that were left was Harry, Ginny, Minerva and Moody. He nodded to Moody as Ginny reached him and was about to apperate to safety when the front doors flung open.

Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange strolled through the front doors, side by side, as though just entering their home from a day out shopping. They wore almost identical sneers on their faces.

“They would be pretty if they didn’t sneer so much.” Harry thought to himself, and immediately heard the sound of laughter, cold laughter, drawing his attention to another person.

He briefly wondered what the man was laughing at and if he had accidentally spoke aloud.

Behind the two sisters Harry could see a tall thin man in a mask emerging through the door way as he reached the top of the stairs.

As if on cue, the two sisters stepped out of the path of the man as he entered the house. His face concealed by the mask that he wore. His presence and his movement were some how familiar however.

He wondered why had not felt this man coming, Voldemort he would have been able to feel if he had so much as thought about confronting Harry. He vaguely realized it was because he had such a connection with Voldemort, and he had no such connection with this man, putting the Order at a serious disadvantage.

“You were always quick witted, I will give you that much, Harry Potter.” The man spat out, Harry could just picture the sneer on his face.

At that moment he gasped realizing who the man behind the mask was, “I thought you were dead!” He burst out, anger filling his veins. He was immensely thankful that his parents were not here. He realized something, he turned to Minerva, “You knew? Didn’t you? You knew that HE was the New Dark Lord.”

Minerva looked shocked for a moment, and then answered, “I suspected, but not until after we realized that Peter was still alive. My fears were confirmed when we found Kreature, I’m sorry Harry, I should have told you.”

He turned back to the masked man who was leaning against the door frame waiting for them to finish. He examined his nails as he said, “How are your parents, Harry? It has been so long since I have seen them, I was hoping for a little…..reunion.” He placed heavy sarcastic emphasize on the last word.

Again, Harry felt his blood boil, and knew he was being purposefully batted by the man. He fought to control his temper.

The man laughed, “Temper, temper, Harry, you always did have a short fuse, didn’t you.” He pushed away from the wall and stood directly in front of Harry, completely ignoring the others.

As he moved, Harry stepped in front of Ginny. Minerva seizing the opportunity grabbed Ginny to try to protect her, against all her fighting; she was still able to apperate out.

Harry barely flinched at the crack, thankful that Ginny was safe for them moment. “Why don’t you drop the pretense and take off the mask?” Harry asked, feinting boredom.

Again the man laughed, a cold sound full of no joy, “No, I don’t think so, I enjoy having the edge.”

Harry shrugged, “Suite yourself then, I would just as soon not see your ugly face, and greasy hair. I am surprised however that you can keep that mask on your face however, what with your massive nose.”

The man was silent for a moment, but Harry could see his shoulders shaking in furious anger. He had hoped to bait him into taking the mask off, thus gaining the upper hand.

The man suddenly reached up and ripped the mask from his face, slamming it onto the ground in anger.

“Ah,” Harry said smiling, “Temper, temper, Snapey-poo, who has the short fuse now?”

He could see Snape’s eyes turn red with anger as he raised his wand.

He had been so focused on Snape that he hadn’t even noticed Moody inching his way closer to him, and apparently neither had Snape or the two women. Harry yelled in surprise as Moody grabbed Harry and turned apperating away just as a green stream of light hit wear Harry had just been standing.

“What are you doing?!” Harry screamed directly in Moody’s face as they landed in the padded room at Head Quarters. “What were you thinking?! Why would you do that?! We could have finished him!” Harry didn’t even notice the group of people standing in the doorway.

“You couldn’t have done anything, Harry. He would have known exactly what you were planning.” George said quietly.

“That’s why our diversion didn’t work.” Fred added, “He knew exactly what we were planning before we did it.”

Harry stopped in mid-rant, caught by the soft, sad, almost apologetic voices of the twins. He stood there for a moment, not two inches from Moody, finger still up pointing, mouth still gapping, before he dropped his shoulders in defeat. “Ok,” he said resignedly, “What do we do now?”