"This is hardly surprising," Snape suddenly spoke. In just these few minutes, his voice had become dry and hoarse. He stepped forward and rolled up the left sleeve of his robes.
Though Orli knew about the Dark Mark on his left forearm, this was the first time she'd actually seen it with her own eyes—she used every ounce of strength not to step backward. The mark was no longer a blurred bluish-gray; it wasn't even black anymore. Its edges now glowed with a searing crimson, and even from this distance, Orli could feel it burning like fire.
"Do you see? He's summoning us," Snape said hoarsely. "For the past year, this mark has grown clearer and clearer. Karkaroff's is the same—we all knew he was coming back. Karkaroff feared Voldemort would take revenge on him. He betrayed many of his fellow Death Eaters—certainly no one would welcome him back among them. He's fled."
Almost the moment he finished speaking, Harry let out a sudden, anguished cry and collapsed, clutching the scar on his forehead. He rolled on the ground continuously, shouting incoherently.
"Harry!" Sirius dropped to his knees, trying to lift Harry up or calm him down, but it was useless.
"Dumbledore! Do something!" he cried desperately, looking around frantically and grasping the hem of Dumbledore's robes like a drowning man clutching a lifeline.
"Minerva, stay here and watch this man—Avery, a Death Eater who infiltrated the school," Dumbledore said immediately.
"Sirius, we're taking Harry to the hospital wing."
"Of course," Professor McGonagall replied. Disgust was written across her face, but when she drew her wand and pointed it at Avery, her hand was perfectly steady.
Sirius immediately scooped Harry up and strode toward the castle. But before they'd even reached the entrance hall, Harry quieted down. He struggled to open his eyes, one hand still pressed to his forehead, looking extremely pained, his brow furrowed as if he might vomit.
He struggled out of Sirius's arms and jumped to the ground, his eyes unfocused as he looked around. The moment he spotted Dumbledore, he urgently grabbed the headmaster's arm.
"He—I saw him—he's back."
"What did you see, Harry?" Dumbledore leaned toward Harry, studying him with those blue eyes.
"A cauldron of potion, Wormtail—he was holding something, like a baby, or a lump of flesh. He threw it into the cauldron, along with some old bones... Then he cut off his own hand. Finally, he spat out a clot of blood from his mouth..."
Harry glanced at his ankle. Sirius had cast a Hemostasis Charm on it earlier—it wasn't bleeding now, but there was still a massive wound, crusted with dried blood.
"He said many things—'bone of the father, flesh of the servant... blood of the enemy...'"
"In the end, a man climbed out of the cauldron. He put on robes, his face..." Harry bit his lip hard and continued: "His eyes were like a snake's... no nose on his face. He said Avery had ruined everything, but he gave Wormtail a new hand—a silver hand..."
"He also said my blood was the best—it would make him stronger. He said that protective power—the power my mother left in my body—he wanted to possess it too. Now he can touch me whenever he wants."
Harry looked at Dumbledore as he spoke.
"It seems Voldemort has overcome that most unusual obstacle," Dumbledore said. "Harry, please continue."
🔥 Want to read the next 35 chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 Join on -
patreon.com/DarkGolds