Chapter 1416: Voldemort's Return
Chapter 1416: Voldemort's Return
The team-building activity of clearing Yin corpses came to an abrupt end in early February, much to the disappointment of the members of the Defense Association. They had grown fond of these excursions, finding them far more exciting than hiding in their shelter and practicing magic all day. Moreover, their teamwork had improved significantly, and they had begun to grasp the intricacies of coordinating their attacks.
However, with the news of Voldemort's return to Britain, such grandiose team-building activities were no longer appropriate.
After all, Voldemort's intimidation factor was formidable, and more importantly, they genuinely stood no chance against him in battle.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have minded using his name to lure in Dark Wizards.
As for that group of fools who had recently started to become arrogant and complacent again, all it took was a visit to Albert to clearly show them the gap between themselves, Albert, and Voldemort. There was no way anyone would be foolish enough to shout about wanting to defeat Voldemort after that reality check.
"What you're doing can be quite demoralizing for them."
"Those guys do need to be taken down a notch. Otherwise, they might get too carried away, especially with the Dark Lord's return to Britain. We don't want them causing any trouble during this sensitive time." Albert had full confidence in the group's ability to stir up trouble, which was why he had called them over to remind them not to get too full of themselves.
"By destroying the Inferi that the Death Eaters put so much effort into creating, you've likely earned their wrath. Especially now that the Dark Lord is back in the country, those Death Eaters will be particularly active, and even Dark Wizards won't dare to negotiate in his presence."
"We're not idiots. We know better than to do anything stupid," said Lee Jordan, feeling that Albert's concerns were unnecessary.
"When do you think Harry will be able to finish off the Dark Lord?" Fred suddenly asked. "Once he's gone, the remaining Death Eaters won't be a problem."
"We all know that, but it's not going to be easy. Who knows what task Dumbledore has given Harry?"
Everyone turned to Albert, knowing that he was likely aware of what Harry was up to.
"Defeating the Dark Lord won't be a walk in the park," Albert said, not intending to discuss the matter further. Moreover, it wasn't wise for them to know too much. He quickly changed the subject, "I assume you've lost contact with Mundungus by now?"
"Ever since he was caught, we cut off all ties with him to avoid any unnecessary trouble," said George, a bit puzzled as to why Albert brought this up. "Are you worried that someone might trace things back to us?"
"I made a prophecy recently, and I saw the Dark Mark. So, I think we should be extra cautious." Albert decided not to hide this from them any longer and directly told them that they needed to be prepared no matter what.
After all, they couldn't afford to lose.
"So, I've already started preparing another shelter."
"You suspect...?"
"It's hard to say, but I hope this prophecy doesn't come true, or that I'm luring them here intentionally." Albert tapped his fingers on the table, silencing the others before continuing, "In a few days, I'll be conducting a drill to show them what to do in case the camp is invaded. At least with some experience, they won't panic if it ever happens."
The group exchanged glances, feeling that Albert made sense.
While their current location was secure, it didn't have the protection of the Fidelius Charm. Voldemort and his Death Eaters could still force their way in.
They weren't afraid of the Death Eaters, but facing Voldemort himself was a different story.
The group quickly quieted down, listening intently as Albert outlined the key points and explained what to do in various situations to avoid being caught off guard by the enemy.
"So, Albert believes that this place is likely to be attacked by the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters?"
After hearing Fred's account of why Albert had called the meeting, Angelina was stunned, so much so that she missed her spell, failing to hit the paper airplane floating in mid-air.
"Is this true?"
"Unbelievable! How did they manage to break through the defensive spells and find this place?"
In fact, even the members of the Association had no idea where they were.
"It can't be confirmed yet, but Albert thinks it's necessary to have a drill beforehand," said one of the members.
"What should we do if we really encounter such a situation?"
The group discussed the matter animatedly, and soon the news spread throughout the Defense Association.
Everyone felt that a rehearsal was necessary, and no one thought Albert was joking. His prophecies usually came true, and it was clear that he was issuing a warning because he sensed a threat.
Strangely enough, no one seemed scared. Most members were excited, as if they were anticipating a horror game called "Voldemort's Invasion" rather than the arrival of the infamous Dark Lord himself.
With Albert by their side, they had nothing to worry about. Moreover, this was their headquarters, and they had prepared numerous defenses specifically against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Of course, they also wanted to test their mettle against Voldemort and his followers, curious to see the gap between them.
After all, those useless Death Eaters were no match for them.
Voldemort, who had just returned to Britain, was unaware that he had caught the attention of others. He was already frustrated by the deteriorating situation in the country, and the good mood he had briefly enjoyed upon finally understanding the strange phenomenon between his wand and Harry Potter's had evaporated.
"You all believe that the Mudblood is weakening us by cutting down our numbers," Voldemort said, narrowing his eyes at Yaxley and Snape, who were prostrated before him.
"Yes, Master," Yaxley replied, steeling himself.
In truth, he would have preferred not to bring this up, but if he didn't, he might end up shouldering the blame. This was a burden Yaxley couldn't afford, so he had no choice but to bring Snape along and address the issue.
"We've suffered heavy losses, and we lack reliable manpower," Yaxley said through gritted teeth. "The new recruits aren't as dependable as we thought; they're a bunch of fair-weather friends."
"I suspect there might even be spies from the Order of the Phoenix among them," Snape added.
"Spies?"
"Every time you leave the country, the Defense Association becomes active. But as soon as you return, they scurry away like rats," Yaxley continued, describing the current situation. He implied that this wasn't their fault and subtly suggested that Voldemort should remain in Britain to deter those "rats" from acting up.
Voldemort didn't particularly care about his servants, but Yaxley's words made him aware of the problem at hand.
As a result, his previous consideration of killing Snape was put on hold. After all, he still couldn't confirm whether Dumbledore's wand was the legendary Elder Wand, and killing Snape at this point might lead to undesirable consequences.
Indeed, the Death Eaters were running low on reliable members.
(End of Chapter)
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