Chapter 720: Voldemort’s Plans for Hogwarts Following Voldemort’s gaze, they saw a wizard who had just pushed the door open and entered.Judging by his attire, he was dres |
Dumbledore’s fall directly shattered the fragile balance the wizarding world had barely managed to maintain.
Very soon, Voldemort’s side made its first move, and their first target was the Ministry of Magic, which still held a certain amount of prestige and authority in the eyes of most ordinary wizards.
The final result might not have been all that surprising, but the speed of it was.
In just one morning, such terrible news had arrived.
Even with a surprise attack, it should not have been possible for them to collapse completely in such a short time. Yet it had still happened...
...
Deep underground.
This was the first underground level, where the Office of the Minister for Magic was located.
However, this place, where the Minister for Magic was supposed to handle official work, should have carried a certain dignity and order. Now, it looked utterly wrecked, as if it had been blasted apart by magic.
The wizards appearing here now were not Ministry personnel in standard Ministry robes, but black-robed wizards whose entire bodies were concealed.
Among them, the wizard sitting in the only intact chair in the room radiated something dark and oppressive, like a devil that had crawled up from the sewers.
There was not a single positive feeling or description that could be attached to him.
At the same time, every wizard in the Office of the Minister for Magic had their head lowered, looking both reverent and afraid.
The only one here who could approach him, and who was allowed to be so close, was probably the venomous snake coiled at his feet, hissing again and again...
As the occasional sounds outside faded away, one black-robed wizard whose face could not be seen slowly stepped forward.
“Great Master, our people have already taken control of the Ministry of Magic.”
“But... that foolish, cowardly Cornelius Fudge wasn’t in the Ministry at all, so...”
The entire Ministry of Magic had clearly been placed under spells to maintain a steady temperature, but at this moment, the black-robed wizard who had stepped forward was covered in sweat.
It was the cold sweat of fear...
“So you let him escape.”
That voice was hoarse and harsh, as if it had been scorched by fire, yet not a single wizard present had the slightest thought of laughing.
Instead, they lowered their heads even further.
Perhaps realizing what was about to happen, the black-robed wizard began trembling uncontrollably as he spoke, not daring to look up at all.
But driven by the instinct to survive, he hurriedly said, “Merciful Master, give me time. I will definitely find him!”
What awaited him, however, was not the mercy he spoke of, but the other man’s withered finger pointing at him...
“Yes, that will be your task afterward. But now... Crucio!”
“Ugh! Aaaah! Spare me, Master! I know I was wrong! I’ll complete the task you gave me perfectly!”
Although he kept begging for mercy, his tightly shut eyes could not see the look of pleasure appearing on his Master’s face.
It made one wonder whether, compared to the success of the mission, this wizard cared far more about whether the person writhing at his feet could feel pain.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down the spine.
Yet faced with such a person, the other wizards showed no reaction at all. Even though the one being punished was their own companion, someone who worked alongside them, they merely watched indifferently.
Some of them even revealed twisted, cruel smiles...
And the ones capable of treating their own companions with such cruelty, the organization led by such a mad leader, were naturally those fanatical and loyal Death Eaters...
And Voldemort, with that distorted face!!
...
After the wizard who had passed out from torture was dragged away, Barty Crouch Jr., standing at the far left, finally stepped forward and looked at Voldemort before him with fanatic devotion...
“Great Master, although there was a small accident, everything is still proceeding according to your plan.”
“Has the choice been made?”
“Yes. Pius will take over the position of Minister for Magic next. When that happens, we’ll be able to mobilize all our forces to capture that Potter.”
“...Very good. Don’t forget the one we have at Hogwarts, our brave little Malfoy.”
The noseless Voldemort revealed a cold smile and turned his gaze toward the corner of the room.
His bright crimson eyes, with their narrow pupils, opened wide, and a snake-like hiss of laughter sounded from his throat...
“Isn’t that right, Severus Snape... No, perhaps I should call you... the soon-to-be Headmaster of Hogwarts!”
...
Following Voldemort’s gaze, they saw a wizard who had just pushed the door open and entered.
Judging by his attire, he was dressed like the Death Eaters present, wearing black robes with a hood pulled low to hide his face completely.
The only thing that might reveal his identity was the Dark Mark on his arm, glowing faintly green.
That meant he, too, was one of the Death Eaters present...
However, if not for Voldemort pointing it out, no one would have known that the wizard who had just entered this “former” Office of the Minister for Magic was actually a professor from Hogwarts.
In other words, the current Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Severus Snape.
No... perhaps it should be said, the next Headmaster of Hogwarts?
Since the Dark Lord had called on him by name, Snape naturally would not simply stand there and do nothing. He slowly removed his hood and bowed slightly in Voldemort’s direction.
“As you command, Great Master.”
“Hiss, hiss, hiss~”
Seeing Snape’s response, Voldemort seemed extremely pleased and let out a laugh that did not sound human at all.
It was deeply unsettling.
It had to be said, the pressure he gave off was immense.
Yet Snape, facing him directly, seemed not to feel it at all. He simply reminded him, “Although Dumbledore is dead, according to Hogwarts’ established procedures, the current Deputy Headmistress will next serve as Acting Headmistress, so...”
Just as Snape had said, taking the position of Hogwarts Headmaster was not as simple as saying the words aloud.
However, Voldemort did not seem inclined to explain it to Snape. He merely placed his hand on the head of the venomous snake beside him. Then, as the air twisted and swirled, the man and snake vanished directly from the room.
The only thing left behind was a single cold sentence...
“I leave this place to you, Barty Crouch Jr.”
“Yes, noble Master!”
Crack!
...
Even after some time had passed, the Death Eaters present remained frozen in their original positions, not moving at all, as though they were using this to display their loyalty to the Dark Lord.
This kind of sick devotion could only appear among Death Eaters.
No one knew how long had passed before Barty Crouch Jr. slowly rose and was the first to speak, breaking the somewhat silent atmosphere...
“You all heard what the Master said just now. Now we must take control of the entire Ministry of Magic as quickly as possible.”
“Pius, according to the established plan, you will become the next Minister for Magic. When the time comes, you and the Ministry will push Severus into the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. Do not fail.”
“Rest assured. There is no other Dumbledore left to step forward and stop us now.”
Pius Thicknesse.
The former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He had been controlled by Yaxley’s Imperius Curse and turned into a Death Eater. Now, the Dark Lord was going to push him into the public eye and make him the new Minister for Magic, one who belonged to them...
“As for you, Severus...”
“I don’t need you to remind me. As long as your side helps me take the position of Headmaster, I will naturally complete the Master’s orders.”
“Hmph. I don’t trust you in the slightest, dear Severus.”
“But the fact remains that I killed Dumbledore with my own hands, did I not? Are you questioning the Master’s judgment?”
“Don’t bring up the Master! Who knows what really happened that night? From now on, I won’t give you any chances.”
Barty Crouch Jr.’s gaze collided with Snape’s, and he did not relax his vigilance or suspicion toward him in the slightest.
Although he did not know why the Master trusted this man so much, Barty Crouch Jr. still decided to arrange some safeguards...
With a cruel sneer, Barty Crouch Jr. suddenly turned his gaze toward two of the Death Eaters.
“Amycus, Alecto, when the time comes, you will be assigned to Hogwarts as professors.”
“I trust you will be of great help to our new Headmaster, and that you will properly complete the task the Master has given us.”
His meaning was already perfectly clear. On the surface, he was saying they would assist Snape, but in truth, these two Death Eaters were nothing more than eyes placed beside him.
If the slightest problem appeared on Snape’s side, Voldemort would know at once and act accordingly.
Snape, who was far from foolish, naturally understood what was implied.
Yet even while being treated like this, Snape’s expression did not change in the slightest. He was the same as always, wearing a deadpan face as his deeply mocking gaze swept back and forth over them.
It was the same look he used in his classroom when watching the foolish Harry Potter brew potions.
Aside from Snape being favored by the Master recently, which had caused Barty Crouch Jr. himself to “fall out of favor,” this was also what Barty Crouch Jr. hated most about Snape...
After glancing at Pius, Snape pulled his hood back up.
“Since there is nothing else, I will return to Hogwarts.”
“Hmph... Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Master’s orders cannot be disobeyed.”
“......”
Tap, tap, tap.
Faced with Barty Crouch Jr.’s cold words, Snape’s footsteps did not pause at all as he disappeared from the room.
As if that warning had meant nothing.
As if... the person he was going to deal with was not his own godson...