Those who arouse Evan's curiosity are Voldemort and the opposing party. Do they have any agreement?
This is highly unusual after Kreshkov brought Cedric and then disappeared, not making another appearance. Could it be related to this matter?
The manner of the Vampire(s) is of utmost importance. The Slytherin family has been hiding secrets for millennia.
The clue to the evil god(s), Salazar Slytherin's wand(s), and the key to his secret buried treasure are all waiting, etc.
Kreshkov and Voldemort have an agreement. Since he has been resurrected, he should fulfill the terms of the deal.
But no matter how it appears, Voldemort seems committed to keeping his word.
Voldemort continues to move forward, stopping in front of a person.
"Lucius, my cunning friend," he said in a low voice, "I've heard you haven't given up your past behavior. Despite putting on a virtuous facade before the common people, you are still willing to lead in oppressing Muggles."
"Yes, my dear master," Lucius Malfoy's voice quickly emanated from his hood.
"You have displayed great dedication in this aspect. But have you not considered seeking and assisting your master more, Lucius?" Voldemort asked gently.
"Master, I have paid attention!" Lucius replied with a trembling voice. "As long as I receive any signal from you or hear any rumor of your downfall, I will immediately come to your side. Nothing can stop me."
"No, you haven't!" Voldemort said lazily. "At last year's Quidditch World Cup, after faithful Death Eater(s) launched my mark into the sky, you actually fled!" Voldemort continued, "I know the details. You probably didn't think I was watching you from a hidden spot in that stadium box, observing your performance. You truly disappointed me!"
Lucius fell silent immediately, his body trembling uncontrollably. Evan knew the Malfoy family would face misfortune; Voldemort wouldn't spare them. Naturally, he wouldn't kill Lucius instantly—sometimes, slowly is even crueler.
As he watched his adversary approach desperately, Evan felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, deriving pleasure from the destruction.
"Lucius, I hope you can work for me loyally in the future," Voldemort said.
"Of course, my master!" Lucius replied quickly. "You can rest assured; you are broad-minded. Thank you."
Voldemort took two steps forward, then stopped, glancing at the gap between Malfoy and the nearby person. There was enough space for two people to stand.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange should be standing here," Voldemort said softly. "But they are imprisoned in Azkaban. They are loyal and would rather remain in Azkaban than abandon me. After Azkaban is breached, Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange will receive the rewards they've longed for."
"Dementors will join us; they are our natural allies. We will call back Vampires, werewolves, giants, and all my loyal servants. There are dark creatures that everyone fears," his voice gradually intensified. "Then, I will gain greater power beyond what the common people can imagine. This power will quickly be mine, and I will lead you to conquer the world, fulfilling our ideals!"
Conquering death first, then the world, was an audacious dream. Evan couldn't see how conquering this world would be beneficial or whether ruling would bring more suffering.
But Voldemort's talk of gaining even more formidable strength worried him. It might be the strength of the evil god(s)! If it was true, obtaining this power might lead Voldemort not to conquer the world but to destroy it.
As he continued to walk, passing some silent Death Eater(s), he stopped in front of another individual.
"Macnair, I've heard you work for the Ministry of Magic, eliminating dangerous magical creatures. Soon, there will be a more significant task for you to handle. Macnair, Voldemort will provide you with a satisfying objective."
"Thank you, master," Macnair muttered.
Voldemort approached two of the largest figures. "Crabbe, you'll have to perform better this time, won't you? And you, Goyle?"
"Yes, master!"
"Yes, master!"
They were Crabbe and Goyle, Slytherin students and fathers of Slytherin students, who bowed awkwardly, mumbling incoherently. They were from traditional pure-blood wizard families, their intelligence often lacking due to generations of intermarriage.
When Voldemort fell, these two families relied on the Malfoy family's influence to avoid punishment. But there was no denying that they had a knack for tormenting Muggles.
"You, Nott?" Voldemort asked softly, his hunched figure hidden under Mr. Goyle's shadow.
The Nott family was another traditional and ancient pure-blood wizard family, staunch supporters of pure-blood ideology for generations. The hunchbacked man's son was Theodore Nott, a tall, slender Slytherin student. He was in the same year as Harry. Still, he had distanced himself from Draco's small faction within the Malfoy organization.
Evan remembered the male student; he was highly intelligent, slightly arrogant, often handled his own matters alone, and rarely initiated trouble with Gryffindor students. It was said that he had a talent for potion-making.
"Master, I humbly pledge my loyalty to you," Nott said hurriedly.
"That's enough!" Voldemort replied, clearly skeptical. "Prove your loyalty through your actions."
Finally, he approached a large, empty space, scanning it with his red, vacant eyes as if someone were supposed to stand there.
"We're missing seven Death Eater(s). Three died serving me, lacking the courage to return. Another must stay away from me forever; he will undoubtedly be executed! He was responsible for my past failures and has been imprisoned in Azkaban. I expected a strong showing from him, but he has hidden for 13 years, and I have no use for a servant who doesn't serve my purposes. As for the last one, he remains my most loyal servant, serving me again."
The Death Eater(s) began to murmur among themselves, exchanging secret glances.
"He is at Hogwarts, my loyal servant, and thanks to his efforts, our children are here."
One person's gaze shifted to Harry, and Evan observed him casually. Their unfriendly stares resembled the big snake not far from Evan as if they were ready to devour them.
"Excellent!" Voldemort finally cracked a smile without lips. "The famous Harry Potter and his schoolmate have graced my rebirth ceremony. We might as well call them my special guests."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A silence fell, and then Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, his shivering clearly audible through his mask.
"Master, the omnipotent master," he said respectfully, casting a glance at the Vampire(s) represented by Durand, "we are eager to know; we beg you to tell us how you accomplished these miracles and returned to our side."
Voldemort had mentioned the help of the Vampire(s), and all the Death Eater(s) were curious. What role had the Vampire(s) played, and what was their agreement with Voldemort?
Furthermore, who had helped Voldemort successfully resurrect the Death Eater(s) hidden at Hogwarts? Everyone wanted to know. Without a doubt, this person would be the one Voldemort trusted and held in high regard, someone they needed to ingratiate themselves with. Past experiences had taught them that directly flattering Voldemort was not quite realistic. Still, they hoped to gain favor with the person they valued most, much like Lucius Malfoy, as many Death Eater(s) had their own plans.
"It's a long story, Lucius!" Voldemort said, wearing a cruel smile. "This story has a beginning and an ending, and it's related to my child."
He lazily walked over to Harry, drawing the attention of everyone in the circle. The massive snake continued to roam nearby, seemingly poised to strike and devour Evan first.
From a close vantage point, Evan could now clearly see Voldemort's current appearance. His skin was paler than a skeleton, but it wasn't smooth; it was rough, almost as if it were covered in albino-like scales. He had no hair on his head, and his skin had a sickly, reddish hue with a repulsive texture.
However, the most unsettling feature was Voldemort's eyes. Both were bathed in a blood-red glow, instantly reminding Evan of the eyes of the raven he had seen in the Merpeople statue. There was no emotion in those empty eyes, only a sense of bloodthirstiness, madness, and cruelty. His pupils were mere slits, similar to a cat's eyes, and they gave off an uncomfortable vibe.
Evan couldn't help but wonder if Voldemort had transformed into this appearance due to using dark magic on himself or if it was related to the repercussions of the resurrection spell he had cast. Perhaps it was a combination of both.
"You surely know that they claim this boy is my most formidable adversary, don't you?" Voldemort said softly, his red eyes fixed on Harry. The pain in Harry's scar flared up intensely, almost causing him to scream. "You see, on the night I lost my magical powers and physical form to him, I intended to kill him. His mother sacrificed herself to save him, unintentionally granting him some protection. I must admit that it caught me off guard. I couldn't touch the boy."
Voldemort extended a cold, bony finger from his tall, slender, pale hand to touch Harry's skin, causing Harry's headache to intensify.
Voldemort chuckled softly into Harry's ear and withdrew his finger before addressing the Death Eater(s) again.
"My friends, I confess that I made a miscalculation. My incantation, fueled by the sacrificial magic of that woman, rebounded onto me," Voldemort said, smacking his lips and closing his eyes. "The pain was unlike anything else. Nothing could compare to it. I was stripped of my physical form and became less than a ghost, less than the lowest wandering soul."
"Indeed, I am still alive, but I am something else entirely, and up until now, I am uncertain what that is," Voldemort said as he opened his eerie red eyes. "I have traversed a path towards immortality more arduous than anyone can imagine. You all know my goal: to conquer death. Now, I am being tested. Some of my experiments have borne fruit, for I did not die, even though that incantation was fatal. Yet, I am akin to the feeblest of creatures, incapable of helping myself. I lack a physical body but can perform magic if I have a wand."
"I recall endless days and nights when I could not sleep, each second a struggle to stay alive," Voldemort continued, looking around. "I hid in a remote forest, waiting for my loyal Death Eater(s) to find a way to locate me. I once believed that no one would be able to wield the magic I could not use, let alone resurrect me with my mortal body. But my waiting was in vain for thirteen long years."
A shiver ran through the circle of Death Eater(s) as Voldemort's terror-filled words hung in the air.
"I was left with only the most basic magical abilities," Voldemort continued, "and I could only possess others' bodies. However, I dared not venture into places with many people, for I knew that Aurors were still searching for me everywhere. They knew I was in that forest, and Dumbledore had not given up on his plans to eliminate me."
Voldemort's tone became slow and deliberate. "At times, I possessed animals, and snakes were my preferred choice. But my possession of them diminished their lifespans, and they were unsuitable for wielding magic. The years tolled them, and they did not live long."
"Then, less than a year ago, when I was on the brink of giving up all hope, a ray of hope finally emerged!" Voldemort continued, his voice resonating with anticipation. "I waited until a group of Vampire(s) arrived—one with great ancestry, much like myself!"