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Still he paced； his red eyes darting from grave to grave。
〃Listen to me； reliving family history 。 。 。〃 he said quietly； 〃why； I am growing quite sentimental。 。 。 。 But look； Harry！ My true family returns。 。 。 。〃
The air was suddenly full of the swishing of cloaks。 Between graves； behind the yew tree； in every shadowy space； wizards were Apparating。 All of them were hooded and masked。 And one by one they moved forward 。 。 。 slowly； cautiously； as though they could hardly believe their eyes Voldemort stood in silence； waiting for them。 Then one of the Death Eaters fell to his knees； crawled toward Voldemort and kissed the hem of his black robes。
Master 。 。 。 Master 〃 he murmured。
The Death Eaters behind him did the same； each of them approaching Voldemort on his knees and kissing his robes； before backing away and standing up； forming a silent circle； which enclosed Tom Riddle s grave； Harry； Voldemort； and the sobbing and twitching heap that was Wormtail。 Yet they left gaps in the circle； as though waiting for more people。
Voldemort； however； did not seem to expect more。 He looked around at the hooded faces； and though there was no wind rustling seemed to run around the circle； as though it had shivered。
〃Wele； Death Eaters；〃 said Voldemort quietly。 〃Thirteen years。 。 。 thirteen years since last we met。 Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday； we are still united under the Dark Mark； then！ Or are we？〃
He put back his terrible face and sniffed； his slit…like nostrils widening。
〃I smell guilt；〃 he said。 〃There is a stench or guilt upon the air。
A second shiver ran around the circle； as though each member of it longed； but did not dare to step back from him。
〃I see you all； whole and healthy； with your powers intact … such prompt appearances！ and I ask myself 。 。 。 why did this band of wizards never e to the aid of their master； to whom they swore eternal loyalty？〃
No one spoke。 No one moved except Wormtail； who was upon the ground； still sobbing over his bleeding arm。
〃And I answer myself；〃 whispered Voldemort； 〃they must have believed me broken； they thought I was gone。 They slipped back among my enemies； and they pleaded innocence； and ignorance； and bewitchment。 。 。 。
〃And then I ask myself； but how could they have believed I would not rise again？ They； who knew the steps I took； long ago； to guard myself against mortal death？ They； who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living？
〃And I answer myself； perhaps they believed a still greater power could exist； one that could vanquish even Lord Voldemort。 。 。 perhaps they now pay allegiance to another 。 。 。
perhaps that champion of moners； of Mudbloods and Muggles； Albus Dumbledore？〃
At the mention of Dumbledore's name； the members of the circle stirred； and some muttered and shook their heads。 Voldemort ignored them。
〃It is a disappointment to me 。。。 I confess myself disappointed。 。 。 。〃
One of the men suddenly flung himself forward； breaking the circle。 Trembling from head to foot； he collapsed at Voldemort's feet。
〃Master！〃 he shrieked； 〃Master； forgive me！ Forgive us all！〃
Voldemort began to laugh。 He raised his wand。
〃Crucio！〃
The Death Eater on the ground writhed and shrieked； Harry was sure the sound must carry to the houses around。 。 。 。 Let the police e； he thought desperately 。 。 。 anyone 。 。。
anything。 。 。
Voldemort raised his wand。 The tortured Death Eater lay flat upon the ground； gasping。
〃Get up； Avery；〃 said Voldemort softly。 〃Stand up。 You ask for forgiveness？ I do not forgive。 I do not forget。 Thirteen long years 。。。 I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you。 Wormtail here has paid some of his debt already； have you not； Wormtail？〃
He looked down at Wormtail； who continued to sob。
〃You returned to me； not out of loyalty； but out of fear of your old friends。 You deserve this pain； Wormtail。 You know that； don't you？〃
〃Yes； Master；〃 moaned Wormtail； 〃please。 Master 。 。 。 please 。。。〃
〃Yet you helped return me to my body；〃 said Voldemort coolly； watching Wormtail sob on the ground。 〃Worthless and traitorous as you are； you helped me 。。。 and Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers。。。 。〃
Voldemort raised his wand again and whirled it through the air。 A streak of what looked like molten silver hung shining in the wand's wake。 Momentarily shapeless； it writhed and then formed itself into a gleaming replica of a human hand； bright as moonlight； which soared downward and fixed itself upon Wormtails bleeding wrist。
Wormtail's sobbing stopped abruptly。 His breathing harsh and ragged； he raised his head and stared in disbelief at the silver hand； now attached seamlessly to his arm； as though he were wearing a dazzling glove。 He flexed the shining fingers； then； trembling； picked up a small twig on the ground and crushed it into powder。
〃My Lord；〃 he whispered。 〃Master 。。。 it is beautiful。 。 。 thank you。。。 thank you。 。。。〃
He scrambled forward on his knees and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes。
〃May your loyalty never waver again； Wormtail；〃 said Voldemort。
〃No； my Lord 。 。 。 never； my Lord 。 。 。〃
Wormtail stood up and took his place in the circle； staring at his powerful new hand； his face still shining with tears。 Voldemort now approached the man on Wormtail's right。
〃Lucius； my slippery friend；〃 he whispered； halting before him。 〃I am told that you have not renounced the old ways； though to the world you present a respectable face。 You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle…torture； I believe？ Yet you never tried to find me； Lucius。 。 。 。 Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun； I daresay。 。
。 but might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master？〃
〃My Lord； I was constantly on the alert；〃 came Lucius Malfoy's voice swiftly from beneath the hood。 〃Had there been any sign from you； any whisper of your whereabouts； I would have been at your side immediately； nothing could have prevented me …〃
〃And yet you ran from my Mark； when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the sky last summer？〃 said Voldemort lazily； and Mr。 Malfoy stopped talking abruptly。 〃Yes； I know all about that； Lucius。 。 。 。 You have disappointed me。 。。。 I expect more faithful service in the future。〃
〃Of course； my Lord； of course。 。 。 。 You are merciful； thank you。 。。。〃
Voldemort moved on； and stopped； staring at the space … large enough for two people …that separated Malfoy and the next man。
〃The Lestranges should stand here；〃 said Voldemort quietly。 〃But they are entombed in Azkaban。 They were faithful。 They went to Azkaban rather than renounce me。 。 。 。 When Azkaban is broken open； the Lestranges will be honored beyond their dreams。 The dementors will join us 。。。 they are our natural allies 。。。 we will recall the banished giants 。。。 I shall have all my devoted servants returned to me； and an army of creatures whom all fear。 。。。〃
He walked on。 Some of the Death Eaters he passed in silence； but he paused before others and spoke to them。
〃Macnair 。 。 。