Chapter 283: Riddle House
Riddle House.
Scabior looked at the child-like thing in the arms of the woman under the Imperius Curse. He suppressed his inner disgust and, as if addressing his own father, said: "Master, what brings you here? Didn't last night's Quidditch World Cup already gather your servants?"
Hearing Scabior's words, the deformed infant in the woman's arms spoke in a sharp, cold voice: "Those people abandoned me when I needed help most. They would even prefer I die completely. I will not seek them out in this state. I need to wait. Wait for that truly loyal servant with sufficient wisdom to come. As long as they are truly loyal to me, the Dark Mark will bring them here.
I can already feel it. He will come soon."
"Master, what should we do with that Muggle outside?"
Just as Scabior finished speaking, a blinding green light burst from the deformed infant's hand in the woman's arms. The door shattered instantly, and an old man hiding outside died immediately.
After the old man died, a figure appeared behind the fallen corpse. Ignoring Scabior's wariness, he stepped over the dead man's body and approached the deformed infant in the woman's arms step by step. He knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.
"Master, your servant has come."
"My loyal servant, Barty Crouch Jr. I know you. You are different from them. You are faithful to me. This I know clearly. No one can deceive me. I know your loyalty."
"Master, thank you for your recognition." Barty Crouch Jr. raised his head and looked at Voldemort, his eyes nearly overflowing with loyalty and devotion. "Master, in Azkaban, there are more people waiting for your return."
"Ah...
I know, of course I know, Barty. Those most loyal servants of mine. They're all suffering in Azkaban. I know, so I need a body, a perfect body.
Therefore, you must bring that person to me. He carries part of me. He is my disobedient other half. Bring him to me, and I will reclaim the power I split off, then obtain his perfect body!"
"Master, what about... Harry Potter?"
Looking at Scabior, who had spoken, Voldemort slowly said: "Of course, there's also Harry Potter. My original plan was indeed him, but now Harry Potter is no longer important. Compared to him, my other half who obtained Slytherin's true treasure is what I need most now!
I used to wonder why, when we were at Hogwarts, he could always forestall my plans, why he could possess such powerful strength despite being just a first-year wizard.
No matter how useless Quirrell was, he had been trained by me, and I was within him. Yet such a Quirrell still died at his hands. Later I finally understood. He is my other half, the one hidden in the Room of Requirement...
Later still, it was said the Basilisk also appeared at Hogwarts, along with the petrification magic Scabior mentioned. I know he gained another small part of my power, the one Lucius was supposed to safeguard...
I know, I know it all. I have a connection to them. I know that part went from Malfoy Manor to Hogwarts. I know it finally disappeared at Hogwarts and survived in another state. I've known all along!"
Watching the increasingly mad Voldemort, Scabior lowered his head as if showing humility and submission, but actually he wanted to hide the questions and doubts in his heart. In his view, was such a Voldemort, such a mad Voldemort, really worth leading other clansmen to follow and submit to?
No!
Father's decision could not be wrong.
Voldemort would definitely lead the werewolves to create land where they could survive!
"Master, I will definitely bring that person to you, by any means necessary!"
At this moment, Voldemort finally regained some composure. Looking at Barty Crouch Jr., he slowly nodded, his cold, sharp voice speaking again: "I already have a detailed plan, but before that, we need some manpower. Those who dared betray me. When they face me, how many would dare continue betraying me?"
...
"Aldrich, you're saying two children will be coming to Hogwarts this year?"
"That's right, two children of appropriate age. Because they left Bulstrode Manor and lost the magical isolation of the manor, they received acceptance letters from Hogwarts.
Of course, they don't have to go to Hogwarts. Actually, many children can stay at the orphanage, and we can still teach them to use magic and grow normally."
Looking at Aldrich, Sean shook his head: "Aldrich, I should have said this before. I welcome them going to Hogwarts. It's just that I can't yet negotiate with Hogwarts about having children who are past age attend, so it's been postponed.
Now that there are age-appropriate children who have received Hogwarts acceptance letters, of course they should go to school. Go tell them to prepare their things. You should also take them to buy all their supplies and books. You don't need to accompany me this year. I can go to Hogwarts myself when school starts."
"Young master, I..."
"Aldrich, go ahead."
Looking at Sean, Aldrich took a deep breath, then bowed to Sean and turned to leave.
Watching Aldrich depart, Sean chuckled softly and looked down at recent Daily Prophet issues. The content mainly described how flustered and embarrassed the Ministry had been recently. Such articles were clearly written by someone specific. Rita Skeeter, a wild Animagus who thrived on chaos.
This year Sean had no more Potions papers to write.
After all, inspiration and research directions weren't cabbages. You couldn't just find them whenever you wanted.
Instead, he needed to seriously consider papers on Transfiguration and Alchemy. He would spend most of this year on these, especially the Transfiguration paper. He'd promised Professor McGonagall for two or three years now. If he didn't produce it soon, she might not be able to resist taking action.
As for other matters, Harry had Dumbledore anyway. Sean only needed to provide reminders at crucial moments. When the time came, he just needed to be wary of Barty Crouch Jr. disguised as Mad-Eye Moody.