Once the Great Hall had fallen silent, the students realized that Voldemort's voice had not actually vanished. It had merely grown much fainter, sounding as though it came from far away rather than whispering at the backs of their necks.
"How ridiculous, Dumbledore! Do you think this is enough to make me shut up?"
"You think that by grandstanding with a Patronus Charm and temporarily drawing their attention, you can escape the situation you're in?"
"Dumbledore, you're still as naïve as ever! So naïve it disgusts me! If you truly cared about Hogwarts, if you truly cared about the students, then the one thing you should do now is come before me and accept my punishment!"
Even though Voldemort's voice had weakened, the coldness and venom in his tone still made many students hunch their shoulders instinctively.
After all, the terrifying image of Voldemort had long been impressed upon them through euphemisms such as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, as well as the fear people showed whenever they mentioned that name. The students had already developed a deep, instinctive terror of him.
"Dumbledore, you know better than anyone that you are old!" Voldemort's faint voice continued. "How much longer do you think you can hold on?"
"Continuing this pointless resistance will only make your students hate you, because when you should have made the right choice, you instead chose meaningless resistance."
"You only want to preserve your own dignity for a little longer—set off some pretty fireworks, stand there with a benevolent expression, and deceive everyone!"
"You truly haven't changed at all..." Dumbledore still smiled pleasantly, as though Voldemort's whispers were no more than a passing breeze and not worth his attention.
Voldemort's faint voice immediately replied, "Of course I haven't changed! I have waited far too long for this moment!"
"Hogwarts! This castle