Another Conversation.

Salazar stood outside Borgin and Burkes, his arms crossed over his chest as a cigarette hung out of his mouth. It was late at night and he had a cloak slung lazily on his shoulders. Alexius had decided that tonight would be a good night to have a conversation and Salazar was not happy to say the least.

He had ruined a very intimate moment with Sirena.

Damn him.

Noticing the dark figure approaching him, Salazar put out his cigarette and nodded when he saw Alexius.

This better be worth it.

Alexius had barely put on his cloak when he Apparated to Diagon Alley. He looked from side to side, finding it was hard to, what with his hood in his line of sight.

So he pulled his hood back slowly, just for show.

He was always one for theatrics. What could he say? The just appealed to him.

Alexius saw a figure in the darkness. Probably Salazar. He pulled out his wand for good measure, lighting it up with a forceful whisper of "Lumos."

The figure turned out to be Salazar.

The man nodded at him and Alexius raised his eyebrows in response. "Salazar. You know why you're here."

Salazar looked at Alexius with a calm expression. Though Alexius and him had a laid back acquaintance, Alexius was still his boss in a way. Though, only slightly. Salazar was still Voldemort's grandson. And, that had a lot of weight. Even to Alexius.

"Actually, I don't know why I'm here, my Lord." Salazar said cordially. "I was busy when you called me. What is it you wish to speak to me about?" Salazar wondered.

The quicker they got this over with, the quicker he could go back to Sirena.

And that would be everyone happy.

Alexius wasn't about to admit that Salazar intimidated him a bit.

He did.

Only because he was Voldemort's grandson. Nothing else about him was intimidating, nothing but that one spot on the family tree.

Alexius raised his eyebrows at Salazar. "Busy with a certain Headmistress, I'm guessing," he replied with a smirk. "Speaking of whom, we need to get into Hogwarts somehow. Soon, not today, not tomorrow, but sometime in the near future."

It felt good being called "My Lord."

He could get used to it.

When Alexius brought up Sirena, Salazar almost cursed him. Almost. But, that would mean that Alexius would knew he had the Elder Wand and that Sirena was his weakness. Thank God he hadn't taken an interest in the Hogwarts students. Or he would use Stella against him. And that was one thing that could not happen.

"Perhaps," Salazar replied in a smooth tone. Hearing Alexius' plan, Salazar nodded. "Of course. That will be easy enough, now that we have Sirena on our side. Not to mention Psyche." Salazar said simply, with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Listen, I'm not about to use anything or anyone against you," Alexius said, tonelessly. "You're on my side, my follower if you would be so kind as to let me use that description. I'm not about to turn my back on a follower. You and your daughter and your girlfriend will be richly rewarded, one way or another."

Another smirk made its way onto his lips, more subtle than the last. "Ah yes. Psyche." Crazy as it sounded, he liked the woman. She was loyal to her side. Loyal to him. A fighter- vicious. She'd make a good follower.

Maybe.

"It should be easier. And what of your daughter? Any idea if she'll be part of this plan?" Alexius asked.

Salazar didn't believe Alexius for a moment. But, he had to. Salazar had to trust Alexius, because in a way, he was the only hope Salazar had. Salazar could've become the new Dark Lord, but he didn't want to. But, that didn't mean he wanted the Order to win. No. He wanted a new world order. And Alexius offered that. "A wouldn't use follower so loosely. How about, partner in crime?" Salazar offered with a smirk. "I would hope so. Because, they are my family. And they deserve the world."

Noticing Alexius' smirk, Salazar raised his eyes. "Got a thing for the blonde?" Salazar wondered offhandly.

"Well, Stella lives with me now. Her parents think I'm a wonderful man. They were glad that she found her family." Salazar chuckled. "Stella's a very dark person. I was surprised. But, she very loyal and smart. I'm sure she'll be in on the plan."

Stella walked into Knockturn Alley, her heavy black robe hiding her face and her body. It wasn't normal that a twelve year old walked through Knockturn Alley at night. But, Stella was on a mission and she wasn't about to miss out on an opportunity.

Sirena had been worrying; per usual, and Stella offered to help her out. Of course, Sirena wasn't happy with Stella choice to spy on her father and the Dark Lord, but the Order had to find a way to win somehow. And, Sirena had to keep her cover. In a way, everyone was a spy in this war.

Ducking behind a brick wall, Stella listened closely as her father and the Dark Lord spoke. She smiled softly when she heard her father speak well of her, though he didn't understand that she wasn't a dark person. Not in the slightest.

But, the she heard her father mention he heard something. And then she felt a hand grab her arm and pull her in the middle of the two men.

Her hood fell off her head and exposed her face. Looking back and forth, Stella waited with a blank expression for them to address her.

Alexius offered a hand. "Yes. Partner sounds more important than follower, doesn't it?" He quirked an eyebrow at Salazar. "Even Sirena? You must think very highly of her if you consider her to be family." He wondered just how serious the two were.

The man rolled his eyes, but gave a twisted smile regardless. "Let's just say that she's going to forget the Mudblood she's engaged to soon if I have my way." He wasn't planning on loving her or having her love him, oh no. He was planning something else.

What it was or is, you'd have to find out for yourself.

"Good, good. She'll probably be vital to my- our- plan."

Salazar said something about hearing something. Alexius heard it too. Narrowing his eyes and going toward a brick wall, he reached blindly and grabbed someone's arm. He pulled out a girl, more than likely Stella Riddle herself.

The girl's hood fell back. Why yes, she was the little girl he thought she was.

"What are you doing out at a time like this, eh?" he asked with a smirk, looking over at Salazar too.

Salazar took his hand and shook it firmly. "Yes, it does." Salazar eyes then narrowed slightly. "Sirena is an interesting person. I do think very highly of her. She's powerful and wise; a good asset to the cause. And, she is a member of my family." Salazar didn't feel like explaining how deep his feelings for Sirena were.

Upon hearing Alexius confident statement, Salazar was once again reminded on why he wasn't the Dark Lord. He could never be as sick and twisted as Alexius was. There was nothing right about Alexius; he shouldn't be alive. But, then again, the leader of what Salazar wanted had to be sick and twisted.

"I suppose she will be." Salazar said, no liking how his daughter was being brought into this the way she was.

Salazar commented on how he heard something and assumed it was nothing but a sloshed wizard eavesdropping. But, of course, Alexius had to figure out what was causing the sound.

And, of course it had to be his daughter.

Staring at Stella with narrowed eyes, Salazar prayed that she had a good fucking reason as why she was spying.

Stella looked at the Dark Lord with unwavering eyes. She wasn't afraid of him. The worst he could do to her was kill her. And, honestly, death wasn't the frightening. Stella almost smiled when she saw the Dark Lord's smirk. But, god, she had to think of a explanation quickly.

"What? Is it against the rules to roam around at night? I see you two have no problem doing so." Probably not the smartest thing to say, Stella.., She thought, looking at her father and the Dark Lord defiantly.

God, she could be so Gryffindor at times.

Alexius smiled genuinely as Salazar took his hand and shook it firmly. "Good, good. That's all I needed to hear."

As they spoke of Stella, Alexius could sense that Salazar didn't like having his daughter around the Dark Arts. He shook his head slightly.

Stella didn't look afraid of him at all. He would have to change that at some point.

His eyes narrowed. "Yes, it is against the rules. You're a child, you shouldn't be out this late. I should probably leave this to your father, however."

Stella looked at his narrowed eyes evenly, barely blinking as he spoke. "Excuse me for being so forward my Lord, but I doubt it is against my father's rules. He knows very well that I am training be an Anamigus and he knows that I can't acquire the tools I need elsewhere. And, I am returning to the school tomorrow." Stella lied smoothly, looking at her father and hoping he would go along with it.

She was playing with fire.

Let's hope she wouldn't get burned.

Salazar stared at his daughter in well-hidden disbelief. He didn't know that his daughter had the nerve to lie to the Dark Lord so calmly. Of course Salazar knew about her becoming an Anamigus, but he also knew that after he was done speaking with the Dark Lord, he would go get the tools for her. He didn't allow her to go into Knockturn Alley at all.

But, just so she wouldn't get in trouble, Salazar nodded. "Of course I said you could go here and get what you need, but I didn't say you could interrupt our conversation Stella." Salazar said in a firm voice, glaring at his daughter slightly.

She better come up with another lie. And fast.

Alexius kept his face straight, not revealing his anger at this girl's insolence. "Oh really? And what will your Animagus form be?" he asked, slightly mocking the girl.

He turned to Salazar, not believing what he was hearing. Had he really given his daughter permission to be out this late, in Knockturn Alley of all places? But what did he care? Stella meant nothing to him. She was just another girl. She could be replaced if need be.

"Salazar, I'm afraid to say that if your daughter does this again, she will be punished. How severely, I have yet to decide," he said dangerously. Maybe this would put her in line.

Stella stared at the Dark Lord with an almost bored expression. "An ocelot." She replied simply, knowing he was trying to catch her in a lie. She knew he suspected something and Stella couldn't find it in herself to care. She hated the man. And, Stella felt a surge of need to be a spy. She found it enjoyable deceiving this evil man. Stella actually was enjoying this.

Hearing the Dark Lord's threat, Stella almost rolled her eyes. She knew that the Dark Lord wouldn't actually do anything to her. She had a feeling that he was more scared of her father than he'd like to admit. And, Stella felt a surge of power with that feeling.

The Dark Lord couldn't touch her.

Salazar watched in interest as Stella spoke so confidently. In fact, she almost looked smug. Salazar himself wasn't scared of Alexius, but he knew that someone as young as Stella should be. Sure, she was powerful for her age, but she was also extremely stupid for being so brave. Didn't she understand that she was playing with fire? Salazar couldn't save his daughter if she was putting herself in such a dangerous position.

Looking at Alexius who was now looking at him, Salazar took a deep breathe. He was extremely angry with the world at the moment. But, mostly angry at Stella.

But, upon hearing Alexius' threat, Salazar's eyes narrowed. "You know that I trust you too make all the decisions for the cause Alexius, but when it comes to my daughter, I will decide her punishment." Grabbing Stella's arm, he pulled her close to him. "You will not touch her." Salazar stated firmly.