[HP] Similar but different

On the other end, Voldemort left Platform Nine and Three Quarters unnoticed.When he reached the corner of the empty station, he removed the Transfiguration Charm from his body, and Apparated immediately.

The new destination was a dark, dirty alley with black water.There was an unpleasant sour smell blowing over his face, but the Dark Lord's expression did not change.He looked around, made sure everything was normal, and strode out.When he stepped onto the intersection of Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley, he looked like an ordinary middle-aged female employee.

The goblins of Gringotts had received him as they had received anyone else.With the help of profound magical strength, he took out the gold cup stored in the vault of the Lestrange family without any effort, leaving no trace that could be traced.

Soon, Voldemort appeared in the garden of an old house.The house stands on the hillside. Although the outer wall has left traces of wind and rain, it is still exquisite.If compared with other houses in Little Hangleton, it can be said to be luxurious.

After discovering that the Malfoy family was not loyal enough, Voldemort planned to find a new home for himself.Before that, he deployed all the protections he knew inside and outside Riddle's old house, using it as a temporary shelter and command post.

The Dark Lord came in frantically in his robe sleeves, and there were already people waiting in the living room. "Master." Barty Crouch Jr. said, bowing deeply.

Voldemort waved his hand.He stepped across the thick Persian rug and sat down on the high-backed chair at the end. "Did you find everything you were looking for?"

"Yes, master." Crouch Jr. responded immediately, offering an extremely ordinary-looking box that had been opened with both hands.

Voldemort didn't answer.He reached out and took out a thick book from inside. He glanced at a few pages, and the corners of his mouth curled up in satisfaction. "very good."

Little Crouch's eyes flashed ecstasy for a moment, but he tried his best to look more decent and stable. "It is my honor to be affirmed by the master."

"Put it down," Voldemort ordered, "you can go."

Little Crouch only did the first half as promised. "Master," he put down the box while choosing his words carefully, "I think I can do something for you."

Voldemort stared at his subordinate.He could see that Crouch was telling the truth, and he could see the unease he was trying to suppress behind the other's eyes—why would the Dark Lord prefer to do it himself now?Then what do you want these Death Eaters to do? "It's not a question of your loyalty," he said simply.

Little Crouch opened his mouth, hesitant to speak.

With the return of the Dark Lord, there are obviously many things to do, such as expanding his power and regaining his glory.They have been busy with these things throughout July.But since August - after the Dark Lord had heard that Potter was a Parseltongue, to be exact - and had verified it himself - the situation had clearly changed.

The new directives are more cryptic.Not to mention the Order of the Phoenix, even the Death Eaters don't know what the others are doing.The Dark Lord himself is not the style of reclusiveness. He often goes out all day, or stays alone without seeing anyone.No Death Eater wants to figure this out, but everyone is just guessing.

what happened?Is there something wrong with the Savior?

Voldemort was not surprised that Crouch Jr. could guess the right direction.

As a Dark Lord, he was indeed used to calling the shots from above; but Horcruxes were different.He would not tell anyone that he made a Horcrux, because it was related to his life; something happened to the diary, and it was even more impossible for him to hand over the rest of the work to others.Checking whether the Horcruxes were safe and finding a new, safer hiding place was the priority he assigned to himself.

Plus, he wouldn't really do anything with the boy until he figured out the wand flashbacks, prophecies, accidental Horcruxes, and shared lives.There are too many, he needs to prepare too much...

"There is indeed a lot to do," Voldemort said softly, confirming Crouch's thoughts.

Hearing this, little Crouch's expression was filled with joy. "Is there anything I can do for you, master?"

Voldemort didn't answer right away.He turned his head to one side, and his eyes fell on the mantelpiece.

It was empty, save for a few heavy, battered leather-bound books—the genealogies of the Slytherins, the Gaunts, and the Potters, and a few ancient books of prophecy, his main objects of study throughout July.It was precisely because the genealogy couldn't find any connection between Potter and a Parseltongue that he had ventured to check for himself.

"About the twin wands," Voldemort said slowly, "I am not satisfied with Ollivander's answer. In fact, it is far from it. I need you to find everything related, and it is best to have examples."

Little Crouch knew this.Ollivander was captured by the Death Eaters earlier, but the Dark Lord didn't want to scare the snake, so after being given a forgetful spell, the wandmaker was taken back.It must be said that twin wands are so rare that it is indeed a problem.But he complied without hesitation: "Follow your orders, master."

Voldemort looked again at the neatly arranged boxes. "First the genealogy, then the blood, then the wand . . . the search is a long, tedious job, isn't it?"

"Of course not, master." Little Crouch said immediately, "It is my honor to serve you—no matter what."

Voldemort had foreseen this answer.He nodded, his gaze casually resting on the lowered head of the other party, "I went to Azkaban last night."

Contrary to his equally nonchalant tone, the content was explosive.Little Crouch raised his head abruptly, completely unable to hide his surprise. "Master, are you going to..." Release the imprisoned Death Eaters?

"No." Voldemort softly denied what Crouch Jr. hadn't said. "It's not time for them to come out yet, and the Ministry of Magic can hold back the Order of the Phoenix for a while."

Little Crouch stared wide-eyed.The Dark Lord's companions could come out whenever the Dark Lord wanted to, most likely when the Ministry of Magic was out of use?He could imagine how the Dark Lord would flex his might and bring the dementors to their knees. "They should have done that long ago."

Voldemort laughed silently. "You're much smarter than Lucius, Barty."

Hearing the last word, little Crouch trembled imperceptibly because of excitement. "Thank you very much, my lord," he said, "but I'm a bit selfish—I don't want to be compared with a hypocrite who's just playing around, not at any time."

It might have been said too bluntly, but Voldemort laughed. "Once again, Barty." He nodded appreciatively. "The Dark Lord is certain that you have his highest confidence."

"My great honor, master." Little Crouch bowed deeply. "I'll do what you want me to do right away." He couldn't restrain the ecstasy in his heart——

Lucius Malfoy is going to die.The Dark Lord was furious at him first, then moved away from Malfoy Manor, and then went to Azkaban... There are a lot of Death Eaters eager to serve the Dark Lord, and the status of the Malfoy family has plummeted.

And he -- Barty Crouch Jr. --?

The Dark Lord must be resurrected with Potter's blood, and he helped the Dark Lord get it; the Dark Lord told him his own life experience, and he didn't mind letting him read the Gaunt family tree; no one knew what the Dark Lord was doing, and he just I know a big thing...

He is already the most loyal servant of the Dark Lord, and is about to become the closest to the Dark Lord!

Soon, Little Crouch left.Voldemort put away his smile and took out the Hufflepuff Gold Cup he had just obtained from his sleeve.Add the lost and recovered Slytherin locket, the gold ring taken from the ruins of Gaunt's house, and the Ravenclaw diadem still in the Room of Requirement, and it's all... Of course, not counting the Potter boy, it's a tragedy sexual accident.

"When are you going to let me join them?"

Following the words, a big snake swam out from the stairs, it was Nagini.It had just dozed upstairs and woke up as soon as Voldemort returned, but it didn't want to disturb him to give orders. "Haven't you finished thinking about it, Fuddy? I want to solemnly declare again that I am happy to be your container."

Voldemort looked up, rare tenderness in his scarlet eyes. "I know." He replied softly, "but things have changed now."

"Because of the boy?" the serpent asked, swimming up to Voldemort, wrapping its tail around the man's cock's ankles and lifting its triangular head. "Have you decided what to do with him?"

"The soul piece on his body is best taken back." Voldemort has long been accustomed to the cold touch of the scales, "and it is impossible for a person to take back the soul and split it at the same time, which is contradictory."

Big snake is a little impatient. "Then take it back and kill him again!"

Voldemort nodded, then shook his head again. "The books say that taking back soul films requires a confession, a real awareness of what you've done," he said, suddenly angry. "I can't even imagine this!"

As soon as the word "confession" was uttered, the living room fell into a deadly silence, as if some terrible taboo had been broken.The sleeping portrait on the wall opened its eyes, and there was no expression on its handsome face.

Nagini didn't want to mention anything that would upset Voldemort. "Is there any other way?" It changed the subject and looked at the shiny utensils on the table, "Take that boy with you, just like them?"

Anyone else, Voldemort would have done it.But the thing is, Harry Potter isn't anyone else. "No one takes with him the prophesied enemy," he said exasperatedly. "Not to mention that Potter is Dumbledore's favorite - there's going to be big trouble."

"But that boy is your Horcrux. If you put your Horcrux under Dumbledore's nose, you won't be in trouble?" Big Snake asked suspiciously, "Didn't you say that Dumbledore has already guessed it?"

Voldemort's face was still grim, but it was a little better than before. "I know Dumbledore. He wouldn't hurt Potter, even if he knew Potter was my Horcrux."

If Nagini had eyebrows, they would have been raised high by now.

At this moment, the portrait took over the conversation: "Indeed, that is the common weakness of those people." He snorted coldly, not without contempt, "Besides, destroying the soul piece can only be achieved by destroying the container, but now Our lives are bound." Which meant that no one could kill Harry unless they both killed the Dark Lord at the same time!

Couldn't kill and couldn't kill, Nagini now understood why Dumbledore was avoiding Harry. "That's the best he can think of," it suddenly realized, "he wants to protect the boy!"

This is good news for Voldemort. "Potter doesn't like that," he said, with a smirk, "so, when I saw him questioning the elf, I took out the fake for him overnight."

"What did you do?" Nagini raised his head higher with concern.

"The stalemate must be broken," Voldemort declared, not without pride, "and that means, an attempt must be made to establish a private connection with Potter—him and me. When done well, he can help me do what no one else can." thing."

"That's right," the portrait agreed, with the same smirk on his face, "Just like you, I'm ready."

The author has something to say:

To celebrate the new year, the day changes for three days, um~