While Harry and Ron were still complaining about the unsatisfactory first week of school, on the other side, Harry's nemesis Voldemort was quietly doing big things -
A large, exquisite and dignified mansion surrounded by well-designed gardens.
A melancholy green color filled the entire courtyard, and no fewer than a hundred beautiful trees were densely planted in the open space on both sides of the stone road. The magic fountain gushes in the center of the garden, and white peacocks roam freely in the garden, looking luxurious and noble.
However, the owner of this large mansion stood grovelingly on the side of the living room covered with purple wallpaper, nodding and bowing to a man with a bald head, twisted features, and a ferocious face.
"Lucius, how did you go about what I told you?" The ferocious-looking man sat on the chair at the front of the living room and asked hoarsely.
"It's done, Master." Lucius bent down deeply, almost buried his head in the ground, and said respectfully, "I have used a lot of money and the contacts retained by the Malfoy family to The path to promotion was paved for Yaxley.”
"According to reliable information, he will soon become the third-in-command of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Lucius buried his head so low that no one could see the unwillingness and anger in his expression at this time.
Originally relying on the considerable wealth of the Malfoy family and Lucius's own ability to flatter and capture people's minds, he easily became a popular figure during the first wizarding war started by the Death Eaters. Upper-level Death Eaters are the top figures among the Death Eaters.
However, Lucius was ignored by Voldemort because he lost an unknown dark magic instrument belonging to Voldemort.
Today, Lucius no longer has the prestige he once had in the Death Eater camp.
He could feel that his status in Voldemort's heart was equivalent to that of an abandoned son who was ready to be abandoned at any time. As soon as he drained his last vestige of profit and drained all the property of the Malfoy family, he would be likened to Voldemort. Throw it in the trash can like trash.
Therefore, Lucius was very unwilling and felt a bit of betrayal.
Thinking of the black magic equipment sales list sent to Dracula a few days ago, Lucius felt a little panicked for a while, but then he was suppressed by the anger and unwillingness in his heart.
"You did well, Lucius." Voldemort's hoarse voice sounded from the front of the living room.
Even though his tone was encouraging, his eyes were scarlet and cold, like a cold and bloodthirsty snake, "These days you have not only donated the manor, but also contributed countless properties to pave the way for Yaxley in the Ministry of Magic. It can be said that he did his best. ”
"I always distinguish rewards and punishments. Tell me, do you have any rewards you want?"
"Being able to serve my master is the reward I want most!" Lucius said in a flattering tone.
However, the expression on his face, which was buried deep in the ground, was full of reluctance, without the slightest hint of flattery.
"Do you think I don't understand you, Lucius?" Voldemort intertwined his weirdly long fingers like spider legs, and looked at Lucius's lowered eyes with his scarlet eyes, "If I don't give you what you deserve As a reward, I’m afraid you’ll start thinking about betraying me later, right?”
Hearing Voldemort's gloomy words, Lucius raised his head in panic, thinking that the Dark Lord knew about his request for help from Dracula.
"Master, I..." Lucius was so panicked that he almost told him about his meeting with Dracula.
Fortunately, he was interrupted by Voldemort before he could speak.
"Let me think about it, what kind of reward would be better for you..." Voldemort smiled sinisterly, which made Lucius panic.
"I suddenly thought of a very interesting idea." Voldemort suddenly opened his mouth and showed an extremely terrifying and ferocious smile, "Lucius, you should have a son, right? I think he is not in your manor, he should have already Have you started studying at Hogwarts?"
Lucius finally changed his expression completely.
He deliberately waited until Hogwarts started before dedicating Malfoy Manor to Voldemort, just to prevent his son Draco from getting involved in the Death Eater mess.
But no matter how hard Lucius racked his brains, he couldn't imagine that Voldemort suddenly mentioned Draco.
The Dark Lord wanted to use his son as a hostage so that he would not betray him!
"Why, aren't you willing?" Voldemort looked at Lucius's panic expression and indifferently stretched out the wand that was as pale as a bone in front of his face, and patted the pale side of his face with the wand frivolously.
Lucius's mind went blank, and he wanted to refuse Voldemort's so-called "reward", but he did not dare to speak out the words of rejection several times.
At this moment, on the other side of the long table in the living room, under the magnificent chandelier, a voice rang, rescuing Lucius without leaving any trace -
"Master, Draco is my student. He is still too young and too naughty, and he can easily delay your important events." Snape said unhurriedly, "If you need Draco to join the Death Eaters, , I can pay more attention to him in these two school years and cultivate him into the talent you need as soon as possible. "
Snape sat upright and first on Voldemort's right hand side. This was enough to show that he had a high enough status in Voldemort's heart.
"That's fine." Voldemort turned slightly and glanced at Snape, then nodded, "Since Severus said so, then this 'reward' will be given to you two years later."
He waved to Lucius and motioned him to return to his original seat.
Lucius breathed a sigh of relief, gave Snape a grateful expression, then bowed deeply again, and sat down in the second seat to Voldemort's left.
The first person on Voldemort's left is a relatively tall, proud wizard wearing a gorgeous robe and braiding his long golden hair into a neat braid.
Seeing Lucius come and sit next to him, the arrogant wizard chuckled and said:
"Thank you this time, Lucius. You spent a lot of money and connections on my promotion, right?"
"You're welcome, Yaxley." Lucius hadn't recovered from the previous panic. He glanced at the wizard next to him and said expressionlessly.
This proud wizard named Yaxley works at the Ministry of Magic.
Some time ago, it was he who accidentally learned from the mouths of Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Rufus Scrimgeour, Director of the Auror Office about the search and informed Lucius about it.
Ironically, the person who wrote the anonymous letter to report the Malfoy Manor was Voldemort himself, who was sitting on the throne at this time. Although Lucius escaped from the Ministry of Magic's search because of Yaxley's information, he also Lost Voldemort's trust, allowing Yaxley to take his place.
Not long ago, when Voldemort announced his return with the help of the Dark Mark on the Death Eater's arm, Yaxley rushed to join his former master.
When he learned that Yaxley had a high status in the Ministry of Magic, Voldemort thought that he could use him to gradually infiltrate and control the Ministry of Magic, thereby gaining a greater say in the wizarding world, and through this, he and Dundee Bledo versus Dracula.
Therefore, Voldemort ordered Lucius to use up the resources of the Malfoy family to pave the way for Yaxley in the Ministry of Magic!
"Actually, I'm thinking, with the power of our Yaxley family and your Malfoy family, and the financial resources of two of the twenty-eight holy families, why can I only be allowed to sit in the position of third-in-command of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? ?" Yaxley said softly, "Isn't it because you haven't tried your best, Lucius?"
He stared directly at Lucius, his eyebrows raised, and the wrinkles on his forehead were wrinkled in layers.
"The positions of Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour are not so easy to shake!" Lucius glared at him angrily, "You clearly know that! This term of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Both Chang and the director of the Auror Office are known for their iron-blooded tactics, not to mention that their respective families are not without power!"
"Power?" Yaxley sneered disdainfully, "Are you talking about the power of the Bones family, which is full of Hufflepuffs, or the power of Scrimgeour, where there are only a few people in the entire family?"
"Even if we put aside their power, there is not even a slightly bigger stain in their political careers. How can we drive them out of office?" Lucius retorted with reason, "Yaxley, Have you lost your ability to judge after working in the Ministry of Magic for so long?”
Yaxley's face darkened, and he slapped the armrest of the seat heavily.
"You two can be quiet!" Just as the noise between the two people further amplified, Voldemort said coldly, "Lucius is right, it is really difficult for them to leave the stage; Yaxley is also That's right, a mere third-in-command of the Magical Law Enforcement Department can't do anything to help our great cause!"
"Master, we can wait until the terms of Bones and Scrimgeour are over..." Lucius straightened his clothes that had become a little messy due to the argument just now, and then said seriously.
"Then it's too late. We must push Yaxley to a higher position in a short time!" Voldemort interrupted, "Since they have no political stain, we might as well help them create one..."
"What do you think would happen if Azkaban was breached while the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Director of the Auror Office were in office?"
Voldemort's two thin lips curled up coldly, and his scarlet eyes scanned the many Death Eaters present, so frightened that they did not dare to breathe.
Among the Death Eaters present, only Snape was not affected much by Voldemort.
He asked calmly: "Master, are we going to rescue our other companions who are imprisoned in Azkaban?"
"That's right, it's not like you cowardly, shrinking cowards who only focused on exonerating themselves after I left, and didn't even bother to do a symbolic search..." Voldemort looked at the Death Eaters present and sneered. "Those friends who are imprisoned in Azkaban are my most loyal and trustworthy companions!"
"We launch an attack on Azkaban to rescue those most reliable companions, but also to bring a huge stain on the careers of Bones and Scrimgeour, thus propelling Yaxley to the top. Many birds with one stone." have to!"
The Death Eaters applauded enthusiastically and began to praise Voldemort's clever plan in various ways.
Amidst the compliments, Voldemort showed a proud smile, and then suddenly looked at Snape beside him, "Severus, are you scared?"
The compliments fell silent for a moment, and everyone present stared blankly at Snape.
"I don't understand what you mean, Master." Snape also made a slightly confused expression at the right time.
"No, you know exactly what I mean." Voldemort chuckled, "I mean, after I rescue those most loyal companions, are you afraid that your status will be shaken at this time?"
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly.
He understood that Voldemort might not have complete trust in him yet, and this question was just another subtle test.
Snape was alert, but his face didn't show it at all.
He replied: "My companions in Azkaban are also my friends."
"very good!"
Voldemort laughed. His laugh was hoarse and evil, like a demon laughing from hell.
"Very good, Severus!" He smiled and patted Snape on the shoulder, "I saw you right!"
Snape made a flattered expression at the right time, but Occlumency was still turned on to the maximum, and the vigilance in his heart did not relax at all.
He didn't know whether this meant that Voldemort truly recognized him, or that he was once again setting up a enchantment circle. So I can only force myself not to relax at all times.
As an undercover agent, Lucius didn't need to be as tired as Snape.
He was originally a wallflower, and he also recognized Voldemort's philosophy in his heart.
So even though Lucius's Occlumency was not as proficient as Snape's, and he only concealed the details of his meeting with Dracula and the list of dark magic tools, Voldemort was not aware of the abnormality. .
Because Voldemort had already guessed it, or he knew the nature of the Malfoy family's incels, so he was not surprised that Lucius had the idea of escape that popped up in his mind from time to time.
Just when Voldemort wanted to continue explaining the time and plan for the attack on Azkaban, a handsome young man with black hair suddenly appeared like a shadow quietly in the living room of Malfoy Manor.
"Are you planning to invade Azkaban now?"
The black-haired young man asked softly, holding a diary in his hand.
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