"Master…"
A frantic cry shattered the silence inside the hut.
The hooded witches and wizards in the room all lifted their heads at once.
A short, balding man staggered in. On his right wrist was a gleaming silver hand, fitted like a glove.
"What are you doing, Wormtail?" a Death Eater snapped. "Don't disturb the Dark Lord's rest!"
"I… I have bad news…" Wormtail stammered.
"Enough, Thorfinn," a cold yet composed voice came from behind the gathered Death Eaters. "Let Wormtail come forward."
The Death Eater stepped aside. Peter Pettigrew nodded hurriedly and scrambled on his knees toward the shadowed figure. With great care, he offered up half a copy of The Daily Prophet.
Voldemort took the torn newspaper and glanced at it.
In an instant, the red gleam in his eyes intensified.
"Lucius Malfoy!" he hissed, flinging the paper to the ground. "That traitor!"
"What is it, Master?" The nearby Death Eaters rushed forward, and one of them picked up the crumpled half of The Daily Prophet.
He quickly saw the headline—
"Azkaban Under Attack Once Again!"
"According to officials from the Ministry of Magic, at 11 p.m. last night, Azkaban Prison, located deep in the North Sea, was once again attacked by a group of mysterious wizards. The guards of Azkaban engaged them in fierce combat for approximately half an hour. Multiple prison cells were destroyed. Three Auror guards were injured, and more than twenty Dementor guards were killed.
"Witnesses among the Aurors claim that the wizard leading the attack was the dark wizard Lucius Malfoy, who escaped from Azkaban four months ago. Those who followed him were very likely Death Eaters under the command of You-Know-Who.
"At present, the extent of prisoner losses at Azkaban remains unclear, though the possibility of important fugitives escaping cannot be ruled out. The Ministry of Magic has not yet apprehended the attackers.
"It is reported that Minister of Magic Amelia Bones and Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore both departed for Azkaban early this morning to handle the matter."
...
"How is that possible? We didn't attack Azkaban!" muttered the Death Eater Voldemort had just addressed as "Thorfinn."
"Idiot!"
A cold, sharp female voice rang out from the side.
Bellatrix Lestrange strode forward, her expression full of disdain. "This is obviously Lucius and his new master's doing—that damned traitor!"
Voldemort's gaze grew distant, as if he were weighing something carefully.
"Gibbon."
After a brief silence, he called another Death Eater by name.
"What are your orders, Master?" Gibbon hurried forward, his face eager and obsequious.
"You went to Hogwarts yesterday?" Voldemort asked lightly.
"Yes, Master!" Gibbon nodded at once. "Through the Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin and Burkes, we Apparated from inside it and were transported directly into a room at Hogwarts… It was extraordinary. I never expected that boy Draco Malfoy would actually succeed in repairing it."
At the mention of Malfoy's name, Bellatrix gave a cold snort.
"So… it was the Room of Requirement in the castle?" Voldemort continued.
"I believe… that's what it's called. It was my first time there as well."
"And does Draco have any other message for me?"
Gibbon lowered his head in thought. "Draco said that if you're willing, you can send an elite squad of Death Eaters to infiltrate Hogwarts at any time. However, it would be best to wait until Albus Dumbledore leaves the school…"
"Why must Dumbledore leave?" Voldemort paused, then let out a soft, mocking laugh.
"Draco explained that there seems to be some sort of connection between Dumbledore and Hogwarts. If the school is in danger, he would surely sense it and return as quickly as possible…"
"...After infiltrating Hogwarts, we would simply need to choose a conspicuous tower, set an ambush inside, and release a Dark Mark from the rooftop. An anxious Dumbledore, believing a student has been killed, would rush in without hesitation. That would give us the chance to strike together and kill him."
Voldemort closed his eyes once more. As the twin red gleams faded, the suffocating pressure in the room eased considerably.
"Not bad," he said coldly. "Draco's proposal is workable. It has merit."
"Let me go, Master!" Bellatrix Lestrange licked her lips, eyes blazing. "Give the task to me. I swear I will deliver Dumbledore's life into your hands!"
"No, Bella."
To her surprise, Voldemort shook his head.
"Do you no longer trust me, Master?"
"Draco's method is sound," Voldemort said slowly. "But with only you, Severus, and that not entirely reliable Slughorn, you would struggle against Dumbledore—even with thorough preparation…"
"Master… you mean to…" Bellatrix stared at him in shock.
"Yes." Voldemort nodded, his tone calm. "I will act personally. I will infiltrate Hogwarts and wait for Dumbledore in that tower marked by the Dark Mark. This time, I will kill him with my own hands."
"But… Master…" Bellatrix said uneasily. "If Dumbledore hasn't actually left Hogwarts… you must remember, that is Hogwarts."
"Rest assured, Bella." A rare smile touched Voldemort's lips. "I know Dumbledore's presence intimately. If he has not left the school, I will sense it the moment I enter that room… And even if something unexpected occurs, Dumbledore will not be able to keep me there."
"Then let me accompany you to Hogwarts, Master!" Bellatrix pleaded.
"No, Bella," Voldemort said softly. "You cannot come with me. There is something of great importance that must not remain in my possession. You will safeguard it."