4.harry potter and the goblet of fire-第98部分

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p　pocket　and　drew　out　a　wand。　He　caressed　it　gently　too；　and　then　he　raised　it；　and　pointed　it　at　Wormtail；　who　was　lifted　off　the　ground　and　thrown　against　the　headstone　where　Harry　was　tied；　he　fell　to　the　foot　of　it　and　lay　there；　crumpled　up　and　crying。　Voldemort　turned　his　scarlet　eyes　upon　Harry；　laughing　a　high；　cold；　mirthless　laugh。
　　Wormtail's　robes　were　shining　with　blood　now；　he　had　wrapped　the　stump　of　his　arm　in　them。
　　〃My　Lord　。　。　。〃　he　choked；　〃my　Lord　。　。　。　you　promised　。　。　。　you　did　promise　。。。〃
　　〃Hold　out　your　arm；〃　said　Voldemort　lazily。
　　〃Oh　Master　。　。　。　thank　you；　Master　。。。〃
　　He　extended　the　bleeding　stump；　but　Voldemort　laughed　again。
　　〃The　other　arm；　Wormtail。〃
　　〃Master；　please　。　。　。please　。。。〃
　　Voldemort　bent　down　and　pulled　out　Wormtail's　left　arm；　he　forced　the　sleeve　of　Wormtail's　robes　up　past　his　elbow；　and　Harry　saw　something　upon　the　skin　there；　something　like　a　vivid　red　tattoo　…　a　skull　with　a　snake　protruding　from　its　mouth　…　the　image　that　had　appeared　in　the　sky　at　the　Quidditch　World　Cup：　the　Dark　Mark。　Voldemort　examined　it　carefully；　ignoring　Wormtail's　uncontrollable　weeping。
　　〃It　is　back；〃　he　said　softly；　〃they　will　all　have　noticed　it。。。　and　now；　we　shall　see　。。。
　　now　we　shall　know　。。。〃
　　He　pressed　his　long　white　forefinger　to　the　brand　on　Wormtail's　arm。
　　The　scar　on　Harry　s　forehead　seared　with　a　sharp　pain　again；　and　Wormtail　let　out　a　fresh　howl；　Voldemort　removed　his　fingers　from　Wormtail's　mark；　and　Harry　saw　that　it　had　turned　jet　black。
　　A　look　of　cruel　satisfaction　on　his　face；　Voldemort　straightened　up；　threw　back　his　head；　and　stared　around　at　the　dark　graveyard。
　　〃How　many　will　be　brave　enough　to　return　when　they　feel　it？〃　he　whispered；　his　gleaming　red　eyes　fixed　upon　the　stars。　〃And　how　many　will　be　foolish　enough　to　stay　away？〃
　　He　began　to　pace　up　and　down　before　Harry　and　Wormtail；　eyes　sweeping　the　graveyard　all　the　while。　After　a　minute　or　so；　he　looked　down　at　Harry　again；　a　cruel　smile　twisting　his　snakelike　face。
　　〃You　stand；　Harry　Potter；　upon　the　remains　of　my　late　father；〃　he　hissed　softly。　〃A
　　Muggle　and　a　fool。　。　。　very　like　your　dear　mother。　But　they　both　had　their　uses；　did　they　not？　Your　mother　died　to　defend　you　as　a　child　。　。　。　and　I　killed　my　father；　and　see　how　useful　he　has　proved　himself；　in　death。　。。。〃
　　Voldemort　laughed　again。　Up　and　down　he　paced；　looking　all　around　him　as　he　walked；　and　the　snake　continued　to　circle　in　the　grass。
　　〃You　see　that　house　upon　the　hillside；　Potter？　My　father　lived　there。　My　mother；　a　witch　who　lived　here　in　this　village；　fell　in　love　with　him。　But　he　abandoned　her　when　she　told　him　what　she　was。　。。。　He　didn't　like　magic；　my　father　。　。　。
　　〃He　left　her　and　returned　to　his　Muggle　parents　before　I　was　even　born。　Potter；　and　she　died　giving　birth　to　me；　leaving　me　to　be　raised　in　a　Muggle　orphanage　。　。　。　but　I　vowed　to　find　him　。。。　I　revenged　myself　upon　him；　that　fool　who　gave　me　his　name　。　。　。　Tom　Riddle。　。　。　。〃
　　Still　he　paced；　his　red　eyes　darting　from　grave　to　grave。
　　〃Listen　to　me；　reliving　family　history　。　。　。〃　he　said　quietly；　〃why；　I　am　growing　quite　sentimental。　。　。　。　But　look；　Harry！　My　true　family　returns。　。　。　。〃
　　The　air　was　suddenly　full　of　the　swishing　of　cloaks。　Between　graves；　behind　the　yew　tree；　in　every　shadowy　space；　wizards　were　Apparating。　All　of　them　were　hooded　and　masked。　And　one　by　one　they　moved　forward　。　。　。　slowly；　cautiously；　as　though　they　could　hardly　believe　their　eyes　Voldemort　stood　in　silence；　waiting　for　them。　Then　one　of　the　Death　Eaters　fell　to　his　knees；　crawled　toward　Voldemort　and　kissed　the　hem　of　his　black　robes。
　　Master　。　。　。　Master　〃　he　murmured。
　　The　Death　Eaters　behind　him　did　the　same；　each　of　them　approaching　Voldemort　on　his　knees　and　kissing　his　robes；　before　backing　away　and　standing　up；　forming　a　silent　circle；　which　enclosed　Tom　Riddle　s　grave；　Harry；　Voldemort；　and　the　sobbing　and　twitching　heap　that　was　Wormtail。　Yet　they　left　gaps　in　the　circle；　as　though　waiting　for　more　people。
　　Voldemort；　however；　did　not　seem　to　expect　more。　He　looked　around　at　the　hooded　faces；　and　though　there　was　no　wind　rustling　seemed　to　run　around　the　circle；　as　though　it　had　shivered。
　　〃Wele；　Death　Eaters；〃　said　Voldemort　quietly。　〃Thirteen　years。　。　。　thirteen　years　since　last　we　met。　Yet　you　answer　my　call　as　though　it　were　yesterday；　we　are　still　united　under　the　Dark　Mark；　then！　Or　are　we？〃
　　He　put　back　his　terrible　face　and　sniffed；　his　slit…like　nostrils　widening。
　　〃I　smell　guilt；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　a　stench　or　guilt　upon　the　air。
　　A　second　shiver　ran　around　the　circle；　as　though　each　member　of　it　longed；　but　did　not　dare　to　step　back　from　him。
　　〃I　see　you　all；　whole　and　healthy；　with　your　powers　intact　…　such　prompt　appearances！　and　I　ask　myself　。　。　。　why　did　this　band　of　wizards　never　e　to　the　aid　of　their　master；　to　whom　they　swore　eternal　loyalty？〃
　　No　one　spoke。　No　one　moved　except　Wormtail；　who　was　upon　the　ground；　still　sobbing　over　his　bleeding　arm。
　　〃And　I　answer　myself；〃　whispered　Voldemort；　〃they　must　have　believed　me　broken；　they　thought　I　was　gone。　They　slipped　back　among　my　enemies；　and　they　pleaded　innocence；　and　ignorance；　and　bewitchment。　。　。　。
　　〃And　then　I　ask　myself；　but　how　could　they　have　believed　I　would　not　rise　again？　They；　who　knew　the　steps　I　took；　long　ago；　to　guard　myself　against　mortal　death？　They；　who　had　seen　proofs　of　the　immensity　of　my　power　in　the　times　when　I　was　mightier　than　any　wizard　living？
　　〃And　I　answer　myself；　perhaps　they　believed　a　still　greater　power　could　exist；　one　that　could　vanquish　even　Lord　Voldemort。　。　。　perhaps　they　now　pay　allegiance　to　another　。　。　。
　　perhaps　that　champion　of　moners；　of　Mudbloods　and　Muggles；　Albus　Dumbledore？〃
　　At　the　mention　of　Dumbledore's　name；　the　members　of　the　circle　stirred；　and　some　muttered　and　shook　their　heads。　Voldemort　ignored　them。
　　〃It　is　a　disappointment　to　me　。。。　I　confess　myself　disappointed。　。　。　。〃
　　One　of　the　men　suddenly　flung　himself　forward；　breaking　the　circle。　Trembling　from　head　to　foot；　he　collapsed　at　Voldemort's　feet。
　　〃Master！〃　he　shrieked；　〃Master；　forgive　me！　Forgive　us　all！〃
　　Voldemort　began　to　laugh。　He　raised　his　wand。
　　〃Crucio！〃
　　The　Death　Eater　on　the　ground　writhed　and　shrieked；　Harry　was　sure　the　sound　must　carry　to　the　houses　around。　。　。　。　Let　the　police　e；　he　thought　desperately　。　。　。　anyone　。　。。
　　anything。　。　。
　　Voldemort　raised　his　wand。　The　tortured　Death　Eater　lay　flat　upon　the　ground；　gasping。
　　〃Get　up；　Avery；〃　said　Voldemort　softly。　〃Stand　up。　You　ask　for　forgiveness？　I　do　not　forgive。　I　do　not　forget。　Thirteen　long　years　。。。　I　want　thirteen　years'　repayment　before　I　forgive　you。　Wormtail　here　has　paid　some　of　his　debt　already；　have　you　not；　Wormtail？〃
　　He　looked　down　at　Wormtail；　who　continued　to　sob。
　　〃You　returned　to　me；　not　out　of　loyalty；　but　out　of　fear　of　your　old　friends。　You　deserve　this　pain；　Wormtail。　You　know　that；　don't　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　Master；〃　moaned　Wormtail；　〃please。　Master　。　。　。　please　。。。〃
　　〃Yet　you　helped　return　me　to　my　body；〃　said　Voldemort　coolly；　watching　Wormtail　sob　on　the　ground。　〃Worthless　and　traitorous　as　you　are；　you　helped　me　。。。　and　Lord　Voldemort　rewards　his　helpers。。。　。〃
　　Voldemort　raised　his　wand　again　and　whirled　it　through　the　air。　A　streak　of　what　looked　like　molten　silver　hung　shining　in　the　wand's　wake。　Momentarily　shapeless；　it　writhed　and　then　formed　itself　into　a　gleaming　replica　of　a　human　hand；　bright　as　moonlight；　which　soared　downward　and　fixed　itself　upon　Wormtails　bleeding　wrist。
　　Wormtail's　sobbing　stopped　abruptly。　His　breathing　harsh　and　ragged；　he　raised　his　head　and　stared　in　disbelief　at　the　silver　hand；　now　attached　seamlessly　to　his　arm；　as　though　he　were　wearing　a　dazzling　glove。　He　flexed　the　shining　fingers；　then；　trembling；　picked　up　a　small　twig　on　the　ground　and　crushed　it　into　powder。
　　〃My　Lord；〃　he　whispered。　〃Master　。。。　it　is　beautiful。　。　。　thank　you。。。　thank　you。　。。。〃
　　He　scrambled　forward　on　his　knees　and　kissed　the　hem　of　Voldemort's　robes。
　　〃May　your　loyalty　never　waver　again；　Wormtail；〃　said　Voldemort。
　　〃No；　my　Lord　。　。　。　never；　my　Lord　。　。　。〃
　　Wormtail　stood　up　and　took　his　place　in　the　circle；　staring　at　his　powerful　new　hand；　his　face　still　shining　with　tears。　Voldemort　now　approached　the　man　on　Wormtail's　right。
　　〃Lucius；　my　slippery　friend；〃　he　whispered；　halting　before　him。　〃I　am　told　that　you　have　not　renounced　the　old　ways；　though　to　the　world　you　present　a　respectable　face。　You　are　still　ready　to　take　the　lead　in　a　spot　of　Muggle…torture；　I　believe？　Yet　you　never　tried　to　find　me；　Lucius。　。　。　。　Your　exploits　at　the　Quidditch　World　Cup　were　fun；　I　daresay。　。
　　。　but　might　not　your　energies　have　been　better　directed　toward　finding　and　aiding　your　master？〃
　　〃My　Lord；　I　was　constantly　on　the　alert；〃　came　Lucius　Malfoy's　voice　swiftly　from　beneath　the　hood。　〃Had　there　been　any　sign　from　you；　any　whisper　of　your　whereabouts；　I　would　have　been　at　your　side　immediately；　nothing　could　have　prevented　me　…〃
　　〃And　yet　you　ran　from　my　Mark；　when　a　faithful　Death　Eater　sent　it　into　the　sky　last　summer？〃　said　Voldemort　lazily；　and　Mr。　Malfoy　stopped　talking　abruptly。　〃Yes；　I　know　all　about　that；　Lucius。　。　。　。　You　have　disappointed　me。　。。。　I　expect　more　faithful　service　in　the　future。〃
　　〃Of　course；　my　Lord；　of　course。　。　。　。　You　are　merciful；　thank　you。　。。。〃
　　Voldemort　moved　on；　and　stopped；　staring　at　the　space　…　large　enough　for　two　people　…that　separated　Malfoy　and　the　next　man。
　　〃The　Lestranges　should　stand　here；〃　said　Voldemort　quietly。　〃But　they　are　entombed　in　Azkaban。　They　were　faithful。　They　went　to　Azkaban　rather　than　renounce　me。　。　。　。　When　Azkaban　is　broken　open；　the　Lestranges　will　be　honored　beyond　their　dreams。　The　dementors　will　join　us　。。。　they　are　our　natural　allies　。。。　we　will　recall　the　banished　giants　。。。　I　shall　have　all　my　devoted　servants　returned　to　me；　and　an　army　of　creatures　whom　all　fear。　。。。〃
　　He　walked　on。　Some　of　the　Death　Eaters　he　passed　in　silence；　but　he　paused　before　others　and　spoke　to　them。
　　〃Macnair　。　。　。　destroying　dange