"...You failed, Bellatrix."
Voldemort set down the newspaper and looked down at the woman sprawled beside him. He had even forgotten when he had started reading these newspapers full of lies.
"Master, I'm sorry, please forgive me, I—"
"Enough. You have truly disappointed me. Because of your stupidity and arrogance, we have lost another four Death Eaters." Voldemort coldly cut off Bellatrix's excuses and raised his wand at the foolish woman before him.
"Crucio!"
Bellatrix collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony and screaming. The surrounding Death Eaters all cast cold looks at her. They had long since had enough of that madwoman.
"I do not wish to see such stupidity again." Voldemort raised his wand, warning the Death Eaters present.
In truth, Voldemort had never expected Bellatrix to find a way to kill that cunning Mudblood. But the woman's stupidity and arrogance had gotten several Death Eaters killed, and that was the real reason for Voldemort's anger.
In less than three months, the number of Death Eaters had fallen by a quarter. How could Voldemort not be furious? Even during the last Wizarding War, they had never suffered losses this severe.
It was practically a string of slaps across Voldemort's face, followed by a solid punch right to the nose. Anyone who did not know better might have thought someone had punched Voldemort's nose flat.
"Alecto!"
"Master."
"Is there something you wish to tell me?"
Voldemort fixed a piercing gaze on one of the only two Death Eaters who had escaped back alive.
"That Mudblood's connections to the Ministry of Magic run deeper than we anticipated. He is using the Ministry and the Order of the Phoenix to strike at us." Alecto lowered her head. "Perhaps we should deal with his supporters first, before going after that Mudblood."
"Albert