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fell in love with him。 But he abandoned her when she told him what she was。。。 He didn't like magic; my father。。。
〃He left her and returned to his Muggle parents before I was even born。 Potter; and she died giving birth to me; leaving me to be raised in a Muggle orphanage。。。 but I vowed to find him 。。。I revenged myself upon him; that fool who gave me his name。。。 Tom Riddle。。。〃
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 。