After Wormtail left, Voldemort was considering his next move when a sudden sense of unease came over him. The large rat he possessed abruptly raised its head and looked around, its beady eyes flashing red.
This place should have been safe. What had he overlooked?
Just then, faint noises came from outside.
"Wormtail is back?"
Voldemort's unease grew stronger and stronger. He knew the person who had come was most likely not Wormtail.
"Good evening, Tom. I know you're hiding in there."
The wooden doors of the hall creaked open, and a familiar, irritating voice rang out from the corridor beyond. Dumbledore entered with his wand lit.
Voldemort's heart immediately sank to the bottom. He had never expected Dumbledore to appear here.
An indescribable sense of frustration welled up within him.
Not long ago, Dumbledore had blocked his way, completely ruining his original plan. Nagini had even had her head chopped off, while he himself had been driven into fleeing everywhere.
And now Dumbledore had blocked him again.
"Found you." Dumbledore raised his wand and gave it a light flick.
Voldemort suddenly felt his body float upward. His whole body—no, the entire rat—seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, struggling helplessly in midair in a thoroughly ridiculous sight.
Voldemort had intended to use the advantage of possessing a rat to hide, but he had never imagined Dumbledore would find him so easily.
"What a surprise. You've actually become this. How pathetic."
Dumbledore stared at the rat before him. He was certain Voldemort had possessed it. As for Voldemort's possession itself, he had witnessed it on Quirrell years ago.
Dumbledore waved his wand, and spell after spell flew toward the rat in the air. Once it had been thoroughly trapped, Voldemort finally stopped struggling.
He was no longer pretending.
"Dumbledore!"