Whistling winds and swirling colours swirled around Harry, Ron, and Hermione, dragging them forward, and when their feet touched the solid ground again, they are in a completely unfamiliar place.
A graveyard appeared.
The Trio sat on the ground, feeling very shocked.
“Where is this place?” Ron asked, “I can’t see a hint of familiarity, this-this is a graveyard?” They are surrounded by erected black stone stele and overgrown grass; Harry shook his head and looked around, he saw a tall redwood tree, behind which is an outline of a building.
To the left is a hillock. Harry could make out a fine old house on the hillside.
“There seems to be a problem with the trophy transmission,” Harry said, looking around for the trophy, which laid a dozen feet away from them.
“Someone from the Ministry of Magic would make such a cheap mistake?” Ron asked in surprise.
“Oh, Harry, look over there-” Hermione said nervously, pointing in a direction.
“The sound of the wind?” Ron guessed that the wind had picked up during the night.
“It’s people, take your wand.” Harry said, and they squinted nervously into the deep darkness as three figures walked toward them, step by step, between the graves. Are they nearby Muggles? Harry thought, but he quickly dismissed the suspicion; they are all cloaked in wizard cloaks.
“Stop, who are you?” Harry shouted at the men.
The wind carried the sound of snickering in bits, which is by no means a sign of friendliness, and Harry raised his wand, but they stopped a dozen feet away and reached to remove the hoods from their heads. Harry, Ron, and Hermione relaxed slightly, Harry only felt that the man in the middle with his bare skin abnormally white, like he had some terrible disease, looked familiar.
The person on the far left revealed his face, ” Barty Crouch Jr!” Hermione shouted. Harry was taken aback, unable to focus on the middle person, his eyes moved to the left, and memories of Christmas night six months ago came flooding back, “It’s really you!”
“Potter,” Crouch Jr. grinned, “you should call me Professor, after all, I’ve taught you.”
Ron who stood next to him tugged on his sleeve. “Ha, Harry-”
Without him saying a word, Harry noticed a pair of eyes full of malice, from the man in the middle. He had just undone his cloak, his nose is flattened like a snake, and his nostrils are two thin slits … Harry found this appearance really familiar, the man stroked his forehead with pale and slender hands, revealing a pair of scarlet eyes between his fingers.
From these eyes, one cannot find a little warmth.
“Voldemort?” He shouted.
“How dare you call Lord by his name!” Crouch Jr. drew his wand in anger, and a hand stopped him. A sharp voice, cold like ice heard, “They are my guests whom I have invited here with great effort Barty, and I’ll allow them to be rude this time.” Voldemort said.
“Lord, those two are in the way why not leave them to me?” Yaxley humbly bowed his head and asked, “I came from the Maze tower in order to contribute.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione have not recovered from the great shock yet, the night air is cold as the bitter ice, and a penetrating coldness spread from the lungs to their whole body.
However, Voldemort did not respond to Yaxley’s words a bit. His eyes turned red, making it impossible to distinguish the pupils from the whites of the eyes for a while, but Harry could clearly feel the gaze that seemed like a substance measuring his body constantly, with greed, hatred, and a hint of … worry?
Barty Crouch Jr. who is standing on the far left, appeared like a Good Guy now, lazily playing with his wand and casting a contemptuous glance at Yaxley – he knows nothing yet, still getting this anxious to take his place? Crouch Jr. licked his lips with a sickly smile.
“So, you’ve been resurrected?”
Harry took a step forward, shielding Ron and Hermione behind him, and bravely locked eyes with Voldemort. He had to attract the attention of the opposite side as much as possible … to take the initiative to create an opportunity … so that Hermione and Ron could have a chance to escape and tell the professor, and Headmaster Dumbledore about this.
But his heart plunged to the bottom, as if falling into a bottomless abyss. A voice told him that the chances are too slim. Barty Crouch Jr. is stronger than the three of them combined a year ago, not to mention the resurrected Voldemort.
Harry stared into Voldemort’s eyes, trying to show his fearlessness. But his scar suddenly started to hurt sharply without warning, never before in his life, he had felt this much pain, his head seemed like it would explode. Harry’s one hand covered the scar, one hand still clutching the wand, the pain made him fall to the ground twitching, his stomach turned over, he constantly dry-heaved, even suspected that he would die in the next second.
He heard Ron and Hermione shouting something, followed by several sharp cracking sounds, as well as the sound of a body hitting the ground heavily.
At that moment, a sudden coolness came to his brain, quickly soothing his pain. It is Occlumency.
“Tsk, tsk … your friend really cares about you.” The voice said without a trace of emotion.
Harry opened his eyes, his eyes glazed over, his vision blurred, and the effects of the intense pain still lingered. It took several seconds to see the face of Voldemort near him – it looked like the colour of a corpse, the colour of white bone. There is no trace of hair on his head, and his bright red eyes look eerily appalling in the darkness, with pupils that turned into two slits, like the eyes of a snake.
What did he just say? My friend? Harry thought of terrible speculation, no … never … he struggled to get up, every movement is painful, but even so, he did not put down the wand in his hand.
If Ron and Hermione really … he dared not imagine the possibility, his stomach began to flip again, his fingers nicked from clutching his wand hard. Harry gritted his teeth, the pain made him feel better. He struggled to get up while staring at Voldemort with a glare of hatred.
In response, Voldemort sneered at him with a cold, sharp, grim smile.
He staggered to his feet and shook his head vigorously, Voldemort quietly took two steps back, still staring at him with that sickening look.
At that moment, Harry heard a faint groan, it is Ron! Harry’s heart filled with wild joy, he’s not dead, great! And where is Hermione? He couldn’t hear her movement, it is silent as death on his left side, Harry didn’t dare to turn around to confirm.
“You shot too hard, Yaxley, that girl is almost dead.” Voldemort said softly, ” Barty did just fine.”
“Lor- Lord …?” Yaxley looked up in disbelief as Barty Crouch Jr. let out a silent sneer.
“I have use for all three of them,” Voldemort said softly, his eyes still fixed on Harry, “Those two … are not only the best friends of Harry Potter the Saviour, but– -according to Barty, they both befriended Felix Hap?”
“Yes, Master,” Barty Crouch Jr. answered respectfully, “especially that Muggle girl, who became Hap’s assistant in her second year.”
Voldemort sneered twice.
“The purebloods have completely degenerated, and their offspring have turned to waste, to let the vile muggle race climb over them.”
He began to pace, walking around in front of Harry. Harry stood still glaring, his wand clutched in his hand, should he shoot a spell against Voldemort? And then use the Summoning charm to summon the trophy … No, Barty Crouch Jr. and that Death Eater had their eyes on him.
Harry’s heart burned. Voldemort did not kill a person for the time being, but he knew it is never because of mercy, but rather because he has an even more evil plan. Harry’s mind raced, and he was surprised to find that, even in poor physical condition, Occlumency functioned autonomously, keeping him from falling into the depths of despair.
“I was looking forward to this scene a long time ago, the meeting with the ‘great saviour’ Harry Potter …” Voldemort said softly, Harry’s eyes followed his long, thin, pale fingers. There is a wand held softly between them, as if a random disarming charm could make the wand come out of his hand.
Harry thought foolishly.
Voldemort is too arrogant, he is defenseless, does he think he has no power to fight back, will this be his breakthrough?
“… I anticipated, to reborn with the help of your blood, to break the destiny, and then kill you in one fell swoop. But I failed,” Voldemort said regretfully, his bare feet rustling on the dirt and barren grass, “Hogwarts is more dangerous than thirteen years ago, in addition to that mudblood and Muggle protector, Albus Dumbledore … It added Felix Hap, who is more aggressive and proactive than the ageing Dumbledore …”
“I had to abandon the best option – after nearly losing my only loyal servant.” Voldemort paused, his snake-like eyes narrowed unpleasantly. Harry tried to keep his gaze at Voldemort’s hand from being too obvious –
“So I backed off … You have no idea how frustrated I was, Harry Potter; I once again savoured a setback …”
“Expellia-” Harry shouted when Voldemort waved his hand violently-
“Splat!”
Harry’s wand fell to the ground. Harry’s eyes widened, he completely missed it, Voldemort’s movements were too fast, as if he had been prepared for it. At that moment, Voldemort slowly turned around, stared at him for a few seconds, raised his wand, and whispered: “Crucio!”
Harry felt his whole bones burning, his head must have cracked along the scar, his eyeballs bulging and threatening to burst open at any moment under the tremendous pressure, his body bent in the opposite direction as if trying to break him in half. He wished it would stop quickly … wished he would pass out … and die …
Harry found the pain in his body diminished a little, and from the location of the thigh came a warmth, the amulet in his pocket! At the moment there are two forces sheltering him, one is Occlumency, and the other is the knot amulet that Nona gave him. Although the effect of both was weak, but it did help.
Voldemort’s serpentine face twisted with a cruel and satisfied smile, and the wand kept pointing at him for who knows how long –
The torture was finally over.
Harry went limp, his back wet with sweat, panting violently. His head remained against the ground, but he still felt the ecstasy in Voldemort’s heart. Why the hell? Does torturing him make him happy?
Harry could not understand this emotion, but he is quite sure of one thing, he is not mistaken – after all, he can’t feel an ounce of joy right now.
“Tie them up.” Voldemort commanded briskly.
A man came forward, Harry’s face still on the ground, his wand is not far from him, but he could not reach it, a rope wrapped around him, he was dragged on the ground, catching glimpses of Ron and Hermione who were treated the same way, Ron’s legs twisted unnaturally, his face looked pale, Hermione looked like a corpse, her chest did not rise and fall.
Immediately after he got hoisted up by the rope, his back pressed against the cold flat surface, he froze for two seconds before he realized it is the black tombstone. He also saw who the man in front of him is, Barty Crouch Jr. He had a silver glove in one hand.
” Noticed it, Potter?” Barty Crouch Jr. licked his lips psychopathically, “This is the Dark Lord’s reward for me.” Harry glared at him, this feeble threat did not affect the movements of the Barty Crouch Jr. in the slightest, the rope wrapped around Harry’s body loop after loop, from the neck to the ankle without a single gap.
Barty Crouch Jr. walked away.
“Hold out your arms.” Voldemort said lazily, and Yaxley and Crouch Jr. held out their left arms at the same time, and Harry saw a bright red tattoo design. Voldemort pressed his long, pale forefinger on Barty Crouch Jr.’s arm, and the mark turned pitch black as Barty Crouch Jr. let out a faint intake of breath.
Voldemort straightened up and raised his head a little, scanning the dark graveyard.
“How many people would have the guts to come back after feeling it? And how many will be foolish enough not to come?” He muttered.
Voldemort began pacing again, scanning the graveyard from time to time. Harry did not know what is happening, but he figured it must not be good, he desperately started to think of some solutions, Apparition? No, he lost his wand, and he can’t do wandless magic like Professor Hap, not to mention that he has two people with him.
There is no way he can escape alone.
Wait, Professor Hap? Harry’s eyes widened, desperately followed that ray of hope, desperately thought of something related to Professor Hap … he finally remembered, the Ring of Ouroboros Snake.
But Harry was once again disappointed, as he did not carry the Ring of Ouroboros Snake with him, to begin with. But … there is someone who might have brought it.
He tried his best to incline his head and look to his left, where Hermione still remained unconscious.
“Hermione …” whispered Harry, who had only been separated from Hermione by the gap in between the tombstones, but he was tied up so tightly that he couldn’t even extend his foot to kick, and worse, his struggle had attracted Voldemort’s attention.
” Concerned about your friend? Potter?” Voldemort said softly, as he paced over, “Despite being only an inferior mudblood, she’s more useful than you think …” His eyes scanned Hermione, Harry, and Ron, as he said with dripping malice, “Muggleborn, Half-blood, and Pureblood, what a dramatic combination!”
“Rennervate!” He pointed his wand at Hermione, who slowly and breathlessly opened her eyes and saw Voldemort close at hand, her eyes widened in fear and her body slumped back, resulting in a moan of pain as it contacted her bruise.
But Voldemort looked away from them with disinterest.
“I think it would be better for your two best friends to witness your death.” A cruel smile appeared on his face, “After that, should I let the pureblood kill the mudblood, or is it better for the mudblood to kill the pureblood? Or, let them both die at the hand of each other … I haven’t decided yet, but I’m sure it will be a good show.”
“You … are dreaming.” Ron said with a twisted face.
Voldemort looked over at him and sneered twice, “Weasley? A Disgusting family – Crucio!”
Ron screamed in pain.
“No–”
“Don’t-”
Harry and Hermione, who had just regained consciousness, screamed, but the smile on Voldemort’s face intensified, “I like the feeling, the feeling of controlling life and death …” He continued to point his wand at Ron, making him howl in pain, but this time the torture did not last long. It didn’t take long for Voldemort to voluntarily stop and look around.
The sound of swaying cloaks abruptly filled the air. In every corner of the dark graveyard, a wizard Apparited themselves. They all wore hoods and masked their faces, walking cautiously. Voldemort took a few steps out and stood silently waiting.
A Death Eater fell to his knees, crawled towards Voldemort, and kissed the hem of his black robe.
More and more Death Eaters did so, including Barty Crouch Jr. and Yaxley, and the only people who were left their heads high at the scene besides Voldemort would be the Trio.
“Welcome, My Death Eaters,” Voldemort said calmly, as he began his comeback speech, Harry didn’t bother to listen carefully, as he winked at Hermione, but he didn’t dare make it too obvious, so Hermione didn’t notice that as she was bruised –
“I smell guilt … no one has tried to reach out to me … didn’t you guys know a long time ago that I have a solution to prevent death? Yes, perhaps you think there is a greater power that has defeated Voldemort, the lord you serve … such as that old man who is hiding in Hogwarts? Or the boy who is suffering before you?”
The Death Eaters on their knees shuddered and looked up, gasping for breath when they saw Harry.
“Lucius, you’re surprised? I heard that your son is in the same grade as Harry Potter?”
“Lord-My Lord,” Lucius Malfoy’s voice came out of the dense line of Death Eaters, “the Malfoys have always been loyal to you, and Draco… Draco and Potter are mortal enemies at school! He hates Muggles as much as I do, hates Potter, hates Dumbledore.”
Lucius looked up, “Master, it is so nice to have you back–”
“Lucius,” Voldemort said lazily, “my cunning friend, hypocrisy is etched into your bones, you, like the others, have never tried to find me … however, your performance at the Quidditch World Cup site was quite good, and I believe … you’re still willing to take the lead in tormenting muggles, right? Even though you let me down for a time … I hope you will serve me more faithfully in the future.”
“Of course, My Lord, of course … you are magnanimous, thank you …”
Next, Voldemort named one by one, including those who did not come, the kneeling Death Eaters waited on the floor as if they are awaiting their fate, Harry took the opportunity to keep signalling Hermione with his eyes, and he succeeded, Hermione cast a witty glance.
“The Ring of Ouroboros.” Harry muttered softly.
Hermione stared at him, failing to hear.
“Ring of Ouroboros.” Harry raised his voice slightly, and this time, Hermione heard him. She nodded gently at Harry, her arms moving in small circles, by which time, Voldemort had finally completed his trial to the Death Eaters, and they regrouped under Voldemort’s banner.
“Next, the highlight of my return night is my carefully prepared play.” Voldemort turned around, slit-like nostrils slightly expanded, and Hermione immediately stopped moving. Voldemort raised his wand: “Let us all witness the death of Harry Potter.”
All Death Eaters raised their wands and said in unison, “Witness the death of Harry Potter.”
Harry felt the rope that bound him suddenly loosened, he had an idea, so he felled in the direction of Hermione, and with the help of his body as a cover, he pulled Hermione’s rope twice, Hermione quickly reached into her pocket.
Muffled jeers rang out around the scene.
“Hahahaha, I have to reveal- before that, the big tough boy needs to suffer some torture.” Voldemort held up his wand, the corners of his mouth curled with a cold arc.
The crowd laughed even more.
“Come forward, Potter, and embrace your destiny.” Voldemort chuckled softly.
Harry dawdled as best he could, buying time for Hermione. It had been so long, the school must have noticed they are missing, no, they should have known from the time they held the trophy but didn’t show up off the tower, but the school couldn’t find them … That’s exactly where the Ring of Ouroboros comes in handy.
“Oh?” Voldemort trailed off, “Harry Potter looks a little nervous, you guys make some more room. As I recall, He is supposed to have learned to duel, right?”
The Death Eaters laughed and scattered further apart as Harry limped over to his wand and picked it up off the floor, as he also picked up Ron’s and Hermione’s wands by hand and pocketed them as well.
“A child’s trick.” Voldemort snickered.
“Let’s bow to each other, Harry,” he said and bowed back, but his snake face always looked at Harry, “Come on, manners are meant to be followed… Dumbledore would certainly expect you to behave with grace … bow to your death, Harry …”
Harry stubbornly stared at him, Voldemort’s wand gently lowered, and he bent down forcefully, and in
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