Chapter 246
Bellatrix stood at the front of the gathering, on Voldemort's right side, her dark eyes shining with anger and confusion while her tangled hair swayed around her face with every movement she made.
Unable to restrain herself, she stepped forward, ignoring all the eyes that turned toward her in anticipation. Looking directly at the Dark Lord without fear of his blazing presence, she spoke.
"Why didn't you let me go alone, my Lord?!" she demanded loudly, her voice filled with jealousy and fervor, crossing her arms over her chest. "I could have completed this mission by myself with ease! Who is this boy anyway that you care so much about him?! Do you think he poses a threat to me?! I am Bellatrix Lestrange, your most loyal follower, your deadliest servant. I alone could crush him and bring you that black stone!"
Tension immediately filled the room after her words.
Some of the Death Eaters stared at her in surprise, while others shifted their gazes between her and Voldemort, waiting to see how the Dark Lord would respond.
Before Voldemort could speak, however, Snape moved swiftly. There was not the slightest hesitation in his voice as he said:
"Are you questioning the Dark Lord's orders?!"
The entire hall froze.
Several Death Eaters instinctively leaned back as though a chill had spread through the air after hearing such a dangerous question. Snape stared directly at Bellatrix, his face expressionless except for his usual sternness.
"If the Dark Lord has spoken, none of us have the right to argue," he continued sharply as he stepped slightly closer to her. "It seems, Bellatrix, that you do not take our Master's words as seriously as you should."
Bellatrix remained silent at first, but the fire in her eyes did not fade. She glared at Snape murderously, her hands tightening as though she were about to draw her wand.
In the end, however, she stayed where she was, her eyes still shining with the madness that defined her.
As for Voldemort, he observed the argument in silence. With each passing second, his satisfaction only increased. He was not angry at all.
On the contrary, he was enjoying himself.
Watching his followers compete to prove their loyalty was one of the things that pleased him the most.
He let out a short laugh before slowly raising his hand.
"There is no need for these pointless quarrels."
Immediately, Bellatrix stepped back, and Snape said nothing further.
All eyes returned to Voldemort.
He turned slightly and shifted his gaze toward Junior, who had remained silent throughout the discussion. Raising his chin slightly, Voldemort asked:
"Tell me, Junior... is everything proceeding smoothly with our plans inside the Ministry?"
Junior stepped forward, his cold eyes gleaming with confidence. As usual, his hands were clasped behind his back whenever he stood before the Dark Lord.
"Yes, my Lord," he answered calmly but confidently. "Minister Fudge would never believe the words of that boy Albert, nor even Dumbledore himself. I have manipulated his mind thoroughly. He will not be capable of making any decision that could ruin our plans."
Silence followed.
Then a faint smile appeared on Voldemort's face.
He was pleased.
If the Minister himself had fallen under their influence, then the Ministry might soon be under their control as well.
---
Snape stood silently in the hall while listening to Junior speak about the success of Voldemort's plans within the Ministry.
His face remained as expressionless as ever, but his mind was filled with conflicting thoughts.
Good heavens... Snape thought inwardly as his eyes watched Voldemort, who seemed delighted with the situation.
That boy... I simply cannot understand how he managed to predict all of this!
This was not an ordinary guess.
It was not luck.
Albert wasn't merely intelligent.
He knew something he should not know.
How?
How had he planned all of this from the very beginning?
Memories flooded Snape's mind, taking him back to what had happened a week earlier inside the Black family home.
---
One Week Earlier — Grimmauld Place
After the Order of the Phoenix meeting ended, the members gradually began saying their farewells.
Snape was preparing to return to Hogwarts.
He disliked staying there longer than necessary. Being among the members of the Order was never comfortable for him. His presence there was merely a necessity to maintain his cover, and he could not stand the suspicious glances directed toward him from time to time, especially from Sirius Black and several others who had never trusted him.
Just as he was about to leave, he felt someone grab his arm.
Turning around quickly, he found Albert staring at him with serious eyes.
Without saying a word, the boy gestured toward one of the side rooms before heading there himself, as though expecting Snape to follow.
Snape hesitated for a moment but eventually decided to hear what the boy had to say.
He entered the room behind him, and Albert quietly closed the door.
They were alone.
The atmosphere was eerily quiet, and the dim light made the room feel even stranger.
Snape had no idea why the boy had brought him there, but something in Albert's eyes told him this was important.
Snape spoke first in his usual cold tone.
"What is it?"
Albert did not answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced toward the door, making sure no one was nearby to overhear them.
Then he turned back toward Snape and spoke in a low but firm voice.
"I don't want you to tell anyone what I'm about to say... including my father."
Snape did not understand what Albert meant, but he revealed nothing on his face.
He watched the boy cautiously, though his curiosity was steadily growing.
Albert appeared unusually serious, as though whatever he was about to reveal carried tremendous importance.
After a moment of silence, Snape nodded.
Albert took a deep breath before finally saying:
"No matter what, make Voldemort send Lucius Malfoy and one of his followers to the Ministry... to face me in the room that contains the Philosopher's Stone."
Snape froze.
For a moment, he simply stared blankly at the boy, trying to process his words.
Had he heard correctly?
How did this boy know about his connection to Voldemort?
The expression on Snape's face slowly changed from indifference to genuine shock.
Very few things could surprise him.
But what Albert had just said was astonishing.
For several moments, Snape remained silent.
He desperately searched for a logical explanation.
But there was none.
And what troubled him most...
...was the reason.
Why did Albert want this?
Why did he specifically want Lucius and another Death Eater to come there?
Did he have a plan?
Was he setting a trap?
And above all...
How did he know all this?
Snape stood motionless, staring at Albert without blinking.
His words echoed repeatedly inside his mind.
This shouldn't have been possible.
"How do you know about my connection with Voldemort?!" Snape asked sharply, struggling to suppress his growing anger. "Only Dumbledore knows that secret, and I know for certain he would never tell you."
Albert remained calm, though he appeared tense.
He glanced around again to ensure nobody was nearby.
It was obvious that he had reached the conclusion that he had no choice but to reveal the truth, despite not wanting to do so so easily.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a calm voice that concealed his nervousness. In reality, what he was about to say was merely a lie meant to gain Snape's trust.
"I read your memories, Professor."
At that moment, Snape felt as though the ground had vanished beneath his feet.
He didn't move.
He didn't blink.
He almost forgot to breathe.
"I know everything," Albert continued while looking directly into Snape's eyes. "I know you were once a Death Eater, and that you eventually joined the Order of the Phoenix because Voldemort killed the woman you loved. That is why you came to hate him and became Dumbledore's spy."
Every word struck Snape's mind like a blade.
Every sentence shattered another wall protecting the secrets he had believed were perfectly hidden.
He remained completely silent, paralyzed by shock.
He wasn't merely stunned that Albert knew the truth.
He was horrified by how he knew it.
There were only two people in the world whom Snape knew possessed the ability to read the memories of others without the victims realizing it.
Voldemort... and Dumbledore.
And now...
There seemed to be a third.
Inside his mind, Snape frantically searched for an explanation.
How?
When?
Why?
Has this monstrous boy truly reached such a level? Snape thought, feeling a chill run through his body.
This should not have been possible.
Albert was not an ordinary boy.
He wasn't merely intelligent.
He was something else entirely.
Something that had to be taken seriously.
After a long silence, Snape finally managed to speak.
"Do you realize that reading another person's memories without permission is illegal?"
Albert sighed, seemingly uninterested in such arguments.
He was in a hurry and had no time to waste discussing morality.
"We don't have time for such trivial matters, Professor," he said impatiently. "All I want is for you to make sure Voldemort sends Lucius on this mission."
Snape still wasn't fully convinced.
He knew there had to be something hidden behind the boy's request.
"What benefit do you gain from having Lucius sent there?" Snape asked, narrowing his eyes. "Wouldn't it be better if only one person were sent? Why are you insisting that Voldemort send two people to you?"
Albert was visibly tense.
It was obvious that he had no intention of revealing his true motives.
Instead, he simply answered in a calm but mysterious tone:
"Don't worry about it... later on, Voldemort himself will tell you why I asked this of you."
That answer did not reassure Snape.
But it was enough for him to realize that this boy was far from ordinary.
Albert possessed a complicated plan...
A plan whose details he refused to reveal for now.
And Snape knew that he would have to keep a close eye on him.
Because this boy might be far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.
To be continued...