"Twelve years... It has been twelve years since our last gathering. Yet, you still respond to my call as if it were yesterday... This ans we are still united under the Dark Mark! Isn't that right?"
"Of course, my Lord!" Those who had co out of prison were the first to respond.
However, Voldemort did not look satisfied. His nostrils, like cracks, flared as he exhaled cold white breath. He sniffed, "But I sll guilt; there is a stench of guilt in the air."
The circle shivered again, as if everyone wanted to step back but did not dare to move.
"So of you here are healthy, your magic as strong as ever—so I ask myself... Why did these wizards not co to aid their master, the one they swore eternal loyalty to?"
"We were powerless at the ti, my Lord!" So pleaded.
"Of course, of course, I know your circumstances," Voldemort said softly. He beckoned with his hand, and the Death Eaters who had escaped from Azkaban imdiately understood, silently moving behind him. Then, Voldemort turned his gaze to the rest of the Death Eaters.
"But you… you must have believed that I was finished, thought I was done for. You snuck back among my enemies, claiming innocence, saying you knew nothing, that you were under so enchantnt..."
Those people trembled all over.
"And I asked myself again, why would they believe I would not rise again? Did they not know that I had long ago taken asures to prevent my death? Had they not witnessed countless tis when I proved my imnse power, greater than any other wizard?"
No one dared to speak at this mont. Voldemort, barefoot, moved among them like a snake. Harry saw a glaring white figure; it was clearly Lucius Malfoy.
"I answered myself, perhaps they believe there is a stronger force, capable of defeating Voldemort... Perhaps they are already loyal to soone else... Albus Dumbledore?" Voldemort paused here, then continued with another na, "Or that impostor, Cyrus?!"
Lucius's breathing imdiately beca much heavier.
Perhaps Voldemort heard it, or maybe he had long intended to confront Lucius.
"Speak up, my cunning friend, Lucius."
"My Lord, I—" Lucius felt his teeth chattering; compared to Snape, his composure was far inferior, because he had too much to lose.
He couldn't find the words to defend himself, so Voldemort spoke up instead.
"I have heard that you have not abandoned your past behavior, even though you put on a respectable face in front of the world. I believe you are still willing to lead the torture of Muggles, right?"
"Of course, my Lord..."
"But I want to know, why did you not search for the whereabouts of your true master and instead serve that impostor?"
Beads of sweat imdiately appeared on Lucius's cheeks. However, he had actually been prepared for this question for a long ti, or rather, he had already co up with an explanation.
"I didn't know, my Lord—I thought that was you..."
"Yes, it is indeed easy to misunderstand." To everyone's surprise, Voldemort nodded. "He has the sa face as I used to have, the sa extraordinary talent and power, and knows everything about —but didn't I tell you to keep 'it' safe?!"
"Please forgive , my Lord..." Lucius knelt down, his face pressed to the ground.
"Stand up, Lucius," Voldemort said softly, "Get up. You are asking for my forgiveness? Of course, this is not your fault; anyone could have been deceived by him. And Barty has told that the prison break at Azkaban went well. You did not betray anyone and brought back our friends. I hope you will serve more loyally in the future."
"Of course, my Lord, of course... You are most generous, thank you..." Lucius expressed his gratitude, tears of relief streaming down his face.
At this mont, Voldemort's tone shifted sharply, his words becoming cutting and filled with a fiery rage: "But I will not forgive the betrayal of these twelve years! I will not forget the long twelve years... I want you to repay the debt of those twelve years, only then will I consider forgiving you!"
His gaze burned like fire on everyone present, and each person he looked at felt as if their skin was being scorched.
Harry could see his clear anger and felt that Voldemort was using even more cruelty than he did with him when casting spells on those Death Eaters who had betrayed him.
He was so powerful, yet still loudly pronounced the na of the spell.
"Crucio!"
All the traitors, except for Lucius, fell to the ground, convulsing as if they were on the brink of death.
Voldemort showed so restraint; otherwise, even just the Cruciatus Curse might have been enough to kill them.
After a while, as if he had temporarily cald down, he stood arrogantly in place and spoke to himself:
"Now, let talk to you about that impostor." He said softly, "How astonishing, isn't it, Lucius?"
Lucius kept his head down.
"The diary I gave you, it rely recorded so of my past, yet because of my own powerful magic, it developed a consciousness." Voldemort avoided ntioning the Horcrux but succinctly explained Cyrus's identity.
"A re mory carrying a fragnt of my power, pretending to be , obtaining a body before I did, doing so ridiculous things, and even daring to think about replacing ?" He sneered. "I admit, in our first two confrontations, I didn't gain the upper hand against him, and even Wormtail was killed."
Voldemort paused here, indicating his 'regret' over Wormtail's death and giving the Death Eaters a mont to express their shock.
"How could he have the power to stand against you!" Barty Jr. shouted.
"Yes, because I was very weak at that ti, but now, not anymore. I have returned; I have been reborn! That false impostor will soon die by my hand!"
He said confidently.
However, at that mont, within the circle surrounded by Death Eaters, a burst of blue sparks suddenly flared up.
Boom!
As the sparks exploded, a bright song echoed through the air!
In an instant, like bluebells blooming, the blue flas ignited, instantly filling the entire space!
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The flas roared, and the spreading shockwave sent all the Death Eaters flying in the blink of an eye!
They rolled on the ground, like wild grass unable to stand up after being swept over by a violent wind!
At this mont, the only one left standing was Voldemort.
"Oh? Is that what you say to yourself before going to bed, Voldemort?"
A teasing voice ca from the fire, and then a handso man with golden-black hair in an elegant attire stepped out of the fire. That familiar face made every Death Eater tremble with fear!
"..Master?!"
Bella's eyes widened, her gaze switching back and forth between the two 'Dark Lords'.
Not just her, but everyone who had seen Voldemort's true form was like this.
Cyrus raised his chin arrogantly, and his golden pupils swept over the Death Eaters:
"It's ti to choose who you will serve, Death Eaters!"
___________
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