Cedric Diggory stepped quickly in front of Harry Potter. "Krum? What are you doing here? Are you challenging us?"
"Harry Potter" answered calmly, "He's not Krum!"
Cedric's expression shifted, and Viktor Krum frowned. "Hmm, why are you so calm? Do you know something? No matter. My apprentice, it seems I have won this round. Harry, you escaped death years ago. Now, I shall correct that mistake."
As he spoke, Krum's appearance began to shimmer and distort. In an instant, the transformation was revealed.
It was Voldemort.
Cedric recoiled in horror. "Who are you?"
Voldemort's magic flared. "You may call me Lord Voldemort."
Hearing the name, Cedric shoved "Harry" backward. "Run, Harry! Go warn the others! Voldemort is here!"
He pushed with all his might, but Harry didn't budge. Cedric looked at him in panic. "Move!"
The boy smiled, his voice warm and familiar. "Cedric, whether in stories or reality, your heroism is overwhelming. I simply can't help but admire you."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "You are not Harry Potter."
The boy nodded. "Correct. My dear master, we meet at last."
His face rippled like water, the Polyjuice Potion fading to reveal Erwin Cavendish's features.
"Erwin!" Cedric gasped, relief washing over him. "You foresaw this?"
"Senior Cedric," Erwin said smoothly, "Head south. Harry is waiting for you there. Continue the task."
Cedric glanced between Erwin and Voldemort, nodded sharply, and sprinted into the darkness.
Erwin turned back to his master. "I have missed you, Master."
Voldemort looked genuinely perplexed. "Erwin? Where is the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"Before entering the arena," Erwin explained, "I sent him out to wait. Harry is quite obedient, especially to me."
"How did you find me?" Voldemort demanded. "And how did you know I was among the Cavendish delegation? They all bear the Dark Mark."
Erwin smiled. "Your plan was flawless, Master. I am curious—how did you infiltrate the family? I checked every recruit. They all bear the true Mark."
Voldemort chuckled, extending his arm. "You mean this?"
Erwin's eyes widened.
The Dark Mark on Voldemort's arm was undeniably real. It pulsed with the same dark magic Erwin knew intimately.
Subconsciously, Erwin activated his own Mark, the magic resonating between them.
"Remarkable," Voldemort purred. "You truly have mastered this bond. You even managed to seal my magic with it? Fascinating. You must teach me that technique; I need to improve my Mark."
Erwin stared, his mind racing. "Master, what is the meaning of this?"
"The Cavendish family excels at one thing," Voldemort said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Each semester, they select recruits from the wizarding world to join their ranks."
Erwin frowned. "You joined the Cavendish family? And the rumors about you were a decoy?"
"Of course," Voldemort admitted. "The wizarding world could not tolerate Death Eaters at the time, so I sent them away as a distraction. I remained here and applied to the Cavendish family."
"Transfiguration," Erwin realized, his voice tight. "You used human Transfiguration to disguise yourself."
Voldemort nodded. "Precisely."
Erwin felt a flicker of frustration. The Cavendish selection process was notoriously rigorous. Polyjuice Potion would never pass their tests. But Transfiguration... direct bodily alteration was a loophole Erwin hadn't accounted for.
In Erwin's view, only two wizards possessed the skill for such mastery: himself and Grindelwald. He had never considered Voldemort capable of this level of artistry.
"Now," Voldemort said, "I have answered you. Now, you answer me. How did you find me? I hid my tracks perfectly. You knew a member was missing, but you shouldn't have known I was disguised as Krum. I assumed you suspected others—they were your primary targets."
"I guessed," Erwin admitted.
Voldemort paused. "Guessed?"
Erwin nodded. "I knew you were among the Cavendish delegation, but after you disappeared, I had no leads. However, our wager revolves around Harry Potter. You were bound to make your move during the third task. It was your only chance. So, I simply transformed into Harry and waited for you."
He decided not to mention the real clue.
Voldemort's disguise as Krum had been blown by a single inconsistency.
In the original history, Krum had shown interest in Hermione Granger.
Yet at this Yule Ball, Krum had never approached Hermione. He showed no interest in her whatsoever.
That was the anomaly.
At first, Erwin had dismissed it—perhaps Krum had simply chosen differently. But after the ball, Erwin focused his attention on Krum.
Krum's performance was... ordinary. Too ordinary. He moved with the same skill, flew the same broom, but the spark was gone.
That was when Erwin truly suspected.
Voldemort's eyes glinted with dark amusement. "A lucky guess?"
"Perhaps," Erwin said, raising his wand. "But luck is a form of skill."
Voldemort laughed, a dry, rasping sound. "You have grown bold, my apprentice. But let us see if you are truly ready to inherit my legacy."
The air crackled with the tension of a duel between master and student.