Chapter 741: Plans and Requests
Chapter 741: Plans and Requests
After boosting the morale of his followers, Voldemort addressed them, "Now, everyone else go about your business. Severus, Bellatrix, you two stay behind. I have some matters to discuss with you."
The Death Eaters in the room began to file out upon hearing Voldemort’s command. One of them even helped the fallen Strang to his feet as he left. Once the meeting room was empty and the door closed, Voldemort waved for his two most trusted subordinates to sit down, then he too resumed his seat.
"Tell me, Bellatrix, what is the situation outside like?" Voldemort asked Bellatrix after they were all seated. "What are those blood-traitors and dirty-bloods up to now?"
"They’ve been boasting in their newspaper that they’ve cornered us to a few places, and even claim to have entered London", Bellatrix reported. Due to the need for secrecy, Voldemort and his followers had been confined to this secret underground base in northern Scotland, never leaving the small, enclosed dimension.
Naturally, this left Voldemort trapped in the underground base, unable to go anywhere. Only he could ensure that no one within the base could leak any information or escape from this secret hideout.
Voldemort’s strict measures were highly effective. Even Snape, the ace double agent, couldn’t relay any information to Dumbledore, which was why Dumbledore had lost track of Voldemort’s whereabouts.
Of course, Voldemort’s decision to hide here didn’t mean he was a coward. During this time, his most trusted follower, Bellatrix, became Voldemort’s eyes, frequently venturing out to gather information on what was happening in various locations.
"Ha, you’re right. Those filthy blood-traitors and traitors have indeed attacked London", Voldemort sneered. "But it’s only temporary. Once we mobilize and crush them, everything will be fine again."
"Master, you’re absolutely right", Bellatrix said excitedly, her eyes wide. "We’ve gathered the resources of the British Wizarding World, accumulated over a thousand years, to form an unprecedented army. Even the legendary Morgana Le Fay never had such a powerful force."
"Yes, this army is unprecedented", Voldemort agreed, his excitement growing. "We will completely eliminate those filthy beings and create a clean, pure world for Pure-blood Wizards, making the British Wizarding World great again."
"Right, Master", Bellatrix continued after a moment of rallying. "Based on the information I gathered, Dumbledore will enter London after their offensive begins. He will join the assault on the Ministry of Magic. I’ve heard that Dumbledore hopes to minimize casualties."
"Yes, he’s always like that", Voldemort sneered. "Always weakly hoping to reduce casualties, never realizing that his approach only makes them weaker. Don’t you agree, Severus?"
"Master, you’re right", Snape replied in his deep, somber voice. "Dumbledore does seem too soft-hearted in some aspects."
"Yes, Dumbledore has this weakness", Voldemort said, flashing a grin. "But it’s excellent news for us. As long as they can keep him occupied for a bit, I will deliver the fatal blow."
After hearing Snape's response, Voldemort nodded and turned to him, asking, "How is the preparation for the various Elixirs we need? Don't worry about waste; we will gain much more after our victory."
"Almost everything is ready, Master", Snape said, lowering his head. "Several Stimulants, temporary Elixirs, and various Combat Supplies will all be brewed by tonight. If everything goes smoothly, everyone will have their share of these potions by tomorrow."
"Excellent, Severus", Voldemort nodded in satisfaction. "After the war, I will reward loyal subordinates like you with the recognition you deserve. As for those who pay lip service or even resist me, they will face severe punishment."
For the next half-hour, Voldemort rambled on about his various plans, especially the kind of world he would build after the war. Only after he had his fill of talking did he allow his two subordinates to leave.
After leaving the meeting room, Snape ignored Bellatrix's obsessive entanglement and went straight upstairs to his room, in stark contrast to the young and pragmatic recruits who were at the bottom of the hierarchy, who would have likely been eager to curry favor with her.
Once in his room, he used a spell to ensure no one had placed any surveillance magic. Then, he lifted a section of the floorboard and retrieved a long, plain gold box.
Holding the gold box in his hands, Snape stared at it in silence. After much deliberation, he decided not to open it and instead replaced it under the floorboard.
Standing up, Snape sat back at his desk and pulled out an old, yellowed book, flipping to a specific page. A similarly aged and faded photograph fell out from the book.
Snape picked up the photograph. Unlike the moving photos common in the Wizarding World, this was a typical black-and-white photo from the Muggle world, taken decades ago. In the photo, a young boy with somewhat greasy black hair stood awkwardly in a clearly ill-fitting old Wizard Robe. Beside him was a girl with lighter hair, also wearing a Wizard Robe, beaming with a bright smile.
The composition of the photo was a bit odd, as the two subjects were positioned too far to the right and too close to the camera. However, it was clear from the photo that the photographer was not very tall, likely a child.
"Lily—" Snape looked at the photo, tightly pressing his lips together, and gently touched the girl's face with a serious expression. He remained in this position for a long time. When someone knocked on the door, he quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, tucked the photo back into the old book, and then hid the book among the stack on his desk.
"What do you want?" Snape asked as he opened the door, finding John Parkinson, Pansy Parkinson's father, standing there. "I don't recall having anything to discuss with you."
"I know, Snape. Our relationship has never been good, even back in our student days", John Parkinson said straightforwardly. As a staunch supporter of Pureblood ideology, he naturally looked down on Halfbloods like Snape during their school years, so he didn't bother with any pretenses. "But now I am begging you for help."
"I never thought a noble head of a Pureblood family like you would come to beg a Halfblood like me", Snape said in his low, somber voice. "But since you are pleading so earnestly, come in. Don't stand in the corridor."
"Alright, tell me what you are begging for", Snape asked after John entered and closed the door.
"For my daughter, Severus", John Parkinson said in a grave voice. "I don't think I will survive the next war, so I am begging you to help my daughter after the war. Since you are the Master's most trusted Right-hand Man, your chances of survival are certainly higher than mine. Of course, if you are willing to help my daughter, you can freely access our clan's Family Library."
(End of Chapter)
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