The flames in the fireplace danced, adding a touch of warmth to the dilapidated, cold and drafty walls at night.

But all the warmth disappeared when the person's eyes touched the speaker.

Voldemort sat in front of the fireplace, with the burning wood behind him. This position was closest to the flames, but the shadow cast was much deeper than other positions. In addition to seeing his outline, the Death Eaters saw his red eyes and pale skin.

"Severus?" He looked at the seat next to his right.

"Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom have confirmed their return to the Order of the Phoenix. They seem to have been given a separate mission, but no specific information has been obtained. It is not ruled out that they are being followed under the instruction of Dumbledore, and the target is someone present."

There was a slight commotion among the people at the long table. Some people adjusted their sitting positions uneasily, but some were excited.

"Master, let me go - let me find them, I will catch them." A dark-skinned woman said excitedly. Judging from her outline, she must have been very beautiful when she was young, but years of imprisonment have permanently changed her appearance and temperament, of course for the worse.

She had thin cheeks, bulging eyes, and black curly hair stuck to her head.

"Bellatrix, I have no doubt about it. You have done it before." Voldemort looked at her with red eyes, "But you have more important things to do." After saying that, he stopped looking at her and turned to Snape, "Anything else?" "

The Ministry of Magic and the Future World Company have reached an agreement on the matter of the thief-proof waterfall. I have to admit that this will have a significant impact on our cause."

The commotion this time was more obvious, and the Death Eaters exchanged glances uneasily.

"It's that person's company..."

"We can't allow this to happen!" A Death Eater pounded the table and shouted, "We should organize people to launch an attack immediately--" Many people followed suit, and the room was in chaos.

"Are you willing to take the lead, Selwyn?" Voldemort asked softly, his voice easily drowning out the noise.

The Death Eaters immediately fell silent, and their eyes became evasive. Finally, they all looked at the wizard who spoke at the beginning. Selwyn stammered, "Master, if this is your will, I, I am willing to--"

Voldemort smiled.

"You don't have to sacrifice yourself," Voldemort said lazily, "I can almost conclude that the Ministry of Magic and Felix Hep will be on guard... We must adapt to the new rules of war. Felix Hep has made a lot of gadgets, some of which are unexpectedly useful... The Ouroboros Ring, is that its name? Ouroboros, huh?" He stared at Snape with his scarlet snake eyes.

"Yes," Snape whispered, "He used it as his mark in his early years, I think many people here know it," the Death Eaters either frowned or shook their heads. "Then this symbol disappeared with his graduation, and it did not reappear until he returned to Hogwarts to teach and founded his own professors' club."

Voldemort made an ambiguous sound.

"Professors' Club, Ouroboros... Severus, when I heard the name, I thought this was the return gift you prepared for me."

Snape lowered his head, "Master, I have to admit that he is the most ambitious and organized person I have ever taught."

"You are right, I can imagine what he looked like when he was in school..." Voldemort said in a low voice: "I couldn't figure out why Felix Heppe came so timely, and I suspected that someone among you betrayed me, but this newspaper gave me the answer." A newspaper floated up from his hand and moved slowly on the long table.

The Death Eaters raised their heads from their respective positions and leaned forward to see more clearly, but Voldemort obviously did not have the patience to let them read it one by one. "It is clearly stated above that the three Potters attracted help through the Ouroboros Ring."

"Besides that? I am sure many of you have heard of or even used the products of the 'Future World' company. I am very interested in the sound transmission mirror. Although it is said that the distance it can communicate is limited, it is foreseeable that the situation of the war has changed. We were ahead of the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry of Magic with our unique mark more than a decade ago, but now we are back to the same starting line."

"Master, what do you mean?"

"Break the magic above, and it would be even better if we can counter it." Voldemort said slowly, "Let's go back to the thief-proof waterfall. This thing will interfere with the speed of expanding our team, although we can knock on the door of the target's house directly, drag them out of their warm and comfortable beds, and use their families to threaten them to do things for us-"

Everyone laughed loudly.

"This is what I am good at, Master!" A Death Eater expressed his loyalty loudly.

"Thank you - Rodolphus, you will have this opportunity." Voldemort said without any emotion, "But as I said, it will hinder us. Who can come up with a solution?"

"Master, even with the thief-proof waterfall, we can still obtain various intelligence through familiar networks."

Voldemort showed an interested expression.

"I have a new look at you, Selwyn, do you have a good candidate?"

"There is one, her last name is Umbridge, she has always flattered me in the past, and boasted everywhere that she is a relative of the Selwyn family, but everyone knows that her father is a cleaner. I just casually dealt with her because she was Fudge's confidant... I am sure she can help me pass on the message." Selwyn said respectfully.

"I also know one, my nephew works in the Ministry of Magic, and he is the youngest director. He has a good relationship with many Aurors." Another Death Eater said.

"Very good, Avery, since we lost Yaxley, our actions against the Aurors are completely in the dark." Voldemort said with satisfaction, "But even if he is dead, he is still contributing to our cause. We are holding a meeting in his house now."

Soon the Death Eaters began to discuss, no matter what, they could name a few acquaintances who worked in the Ministry of Magic. Added up to about sixty or seventy people. Needless to say, these people are the targets of the Death Eaters' next action.

"Lucius."

"Yes, Master--" Lucius Malfoy raised his head, met Voldemort's scarlet eyes, and quickly lowered his head.

"What's the news about McNeill and Rookwood?"

"I haven't found out yet." He answered in a low voice.

"I haven't found out yet," Voldemort repeated in a flat voice, and Lucius couldn't help but shudder. "Does this mean that you have lost your power in the Ministry of Magic?"

"Master, please give me some time! I am trying to establish a relationship with the new minister, but that woman is unmoved - she, she is always accompanied by Sirius Black, who must be sent by the Order of the Phoenix!"

"Sirius Black," Voldemort said, looking at Bellatrix, "If I remember correctly, he seems to be your cousin?"

"Yes, yes, Master," she said excitedly, and couldn't help but lean forward, wanting to be closer to Voldemort, "No, he is not my cousin, he is the shame of the Black family, a scum, I wish I could kill him with my own hands."

"Then you have a lot of people to deal with." Voldemort sneered.

Bellatrix seemed confused, "Why-"

"Your niece recently joined the Order of the Phoenix and is very close to werewolves. Should we really say that they are a family? She has even gone one step further than your sister... When can I hear about their wedding? Do you plan to send a gift?"

Bellatrix glared at Snape fiercely. All the information about the Order of the Phoenix was provided by him.

Snape squeezed out a sarcastic smile with his thin lips.

"Master, she is not my niece. Since my sister married that mudblood, they have no relationship with the Black family." Bellatrix immediately distanced herself from the relationship, but her words did not satisfy Voldemort.

She obviously felt this, and a panic expression appeared on her face. At the same time, she leaned forward even more, as if to express her loyalty. "Master, I will not sit idly by and watch this happen - although they are willing to fall, I will never allow the blood of the Black family to be further tainted, I promise you! Right, Lucius, you don't want to be associated with people who have the same blood as Narcissa and werewolves?"

"That's right." Lucius said dryly.

"Then let's do it right away and kill them before the next meeting." Bellatrix said excitedly.

"I have an appointment with Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, Thicknesse. If there is a conflict in time... we have to make a choice." Lucius muttered, "Master, I have two things to report to you."

Voldemort's eyes fell on him again.

Lucius gritted his teeth and said, "First, I met Hap in Ollivander's Wand Shop. He was very unfriendly to me and reminded Ollivander in front of me to be on guard against me and us."

"He did have reason to do so," Voldemort said calmly, but his face was slightly distorted, like a pale snake in the firelight, and the people around him didn't dare to look at him at all.

"Bad news, Lucius. I hope your second news will make everyone happier." Voldemort said softly.

"Of course," Lucius said breathlessly, "I have found out the exact location of Bode. He was sent to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. He is currently unconscious and the Ministry of Magic has not yet discovered the abnormality. But he will get better. If we let him reveal to the Ministry of Magic that we are pursuing the prophecy-" "

Then he will be unable to speak." Voldemort said, "Who is willing to solve this problem for me? Antonin, what do you say?"

"It is my honor, great Dark Lord." Antonin Dolohov, a Death Eater with a twisted long face, grinned.

...

When the meeting ended, Voldemort left Severus Snape alone.

He stared at the black night sky, regretting more than ever. Maybe if he waited patiently for a few more months or even years, he would get the most perfect resurrection-reborn with the blood of Harry Potter, the blood of the person who made him lose his magic, body and power... In this way, the protection left by Potter's mother on him will also exist in his own blood...

Regret and frustration tormented Voldemort's heart. He was willing to die on his own initiative and revive again, which would not only get rid of a powerful enemy, but also make him stronger. At least he would not be as passive as he is now.

But he really couldn't wait.

On Christmas Eve, Felix Hep and Dumbledore's silent raid on Crouch's old house left him with a huge psychological shadow. If he hadn't notified Barty Jr. as quickly as possible, the closest chance of resurrection in more than ten years might have been ruined. Especially when he learned that Barty Jr. was almost caught while "cleaning up Mad-Eye Moody" according to the planned plan, he panicked even more.

From then on, he never dared to let Barty Jr. leave his sight again.

The months of repeated hesitation and repeated choices were also the days he was most afraid of. He was afraid that Felix and Dumbledore would suddenly appear in the next second and take away his only loyal servant. The next opportunity like this would be unknown for many years.

There was one thing he hadn't considered before. His resurrection materials - his father's bones, the servant's flesh, and the enemy's blood, the latter two were actually time-limited.

Perhaps in another hundred years, he might outlast Dumbledore, but the Death Eaters who were loyal to him and the enemies who hated and feared him would also disappear with time. By then, his name would decay faster than Dumbledore's body. How could he be resurrected?

Even if Voldemort thought he had defeated death, he was still forced by time to not be able to raise his head.

Moreover, Felix Hep had already emerged at that time, and quite a few people thought he would be the next Dumbledore-like figure.

When Voldemort had nothing to do, he also read some gossip magazines to kill time. Two groups of people were arguing over them. One side said that Felix Heppe had surpassed Dumbledore because he solved the riots at the Quidditch World Cup by himself, which was a direct defeat of hundreds of wizards. Although Voldemort sneered at this, this statement was still quite popular. The other side clearly believed that although Felix Heppe was very strong, he was still a long way from the "greatest white wizard" Dumbledore. After all, Felix Heppe faced drunken and troublesome wizard tourists at the World Cup, who were no different from unarmed Muggles. The only

point they agreed on was that Felix Heppe was the person who had the greatest hope of replacing Dumbledore in the future, because everyone was surprised to find that he was far less than 30 years old.

Less than 30 years old!

This was also the point that Voldemort was most vigilant about. Even if he really survived a hundred years and killed Dumbledore, the stumbling block in front of him might become Heppe again.

So after weighing the pros and cons, he chose to give up Harry Potter's blood and carry out the resurrection in secret.

But since his resurrection, all his plans have not gone smoothly. In addition to the ridiculous dark nemesis Harry Potter and his brave and wise companions (the recent slogan of the Ministry of Magic), there is also a professor of ancient magic. While he tried his best to deny his fate of failure in his heart, he couldn't help but be half-believing and half-doubting.

Especially since he really heard a prophecy about his fate, no, half of it. He turned his head and looked at Snape, his red eyes were so rich that they seemed to drip blood, and his expression seemed both unfathomable and impatient.

"That prophecy, repeat the prophecy you heard again."

"Not a word changed?"

"Not a word changed."

Snape muttered, and it didn't sound like his own voice. He seemed to be back in the shabby pub in 1980, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. He said in a hoarse voice: "The one who has the ability to defeat the Dark Lord is approaching... Born into a family that has resisted him three times... Born at the end of July..." The dim

room returned to silence. After an unknown amount of time, Snape said dryly, "Master, that's all I heard. Then I was discovered and driven out by the waiter at the Hog's Head."

Voldemort did not answer, and seemed to be lost in thought.

What is the complete prophecy? Is there... Is there any mention of Felix Heppe? Or... his own ending?

"Master--?" Snape raised his voice, and his tone was still emotionless.

"You can leave here and continue to collect intelligence for me." Voldemort paused slightly and said, "If there is a chance, get the whereabouts of Amelia Bones. She has already posed a threat."

"But Master, I don't have any informants in the Ministry of Magic--"

"Use that Sirius Black, haven't they been very close recently?"

Snape lowered his head, his black eyes flickering, "Yes-Master." He said finally.