Voldemort keenly sensed that after merging with Riddle's soul, his feelings toward Dumbledore had changed.
If before, he had felt fear, respect, and affection,
now all that remained was resentment.
After he burned the portraits on the wall in a fit of venting, Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.
"You've become that child again, Tom. Like this, you're no different from the eleven-year-old you."
Dumbledore rose to his feet and gave the Elder Wand a light wave.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
One sculpture after another leaped down from the walls, blocking the entire corridor from end to end.
"Child, leave first..."
"I never gave him permission to leave."
Voldemort cut Dumbledore off. He looked relaxed and at ease, nothing like the tense man he'd been last year.
"I'm still in charge here, Tom. We can talk about that when you become Headmaster."
Dumbledore stood in front of the child, signaling for him to retreat as the statues drew closer.
He was waiting for the child to leave before launching his attack.
But Voldemort had other ideas. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and then...
"Whoosh."
Transformed into a purple-gold spell, he shot between two statues and appeared behind Dumbledore in an instant.
If that spell had been aimed at Dumbledore, he would certainly have been able to stop Voldemort.
Unfortunately, it was more than an arm's length away from him.
Dumbledore tried to turn, but before he could complete the motion, he caught sight of Voldemort appearing in his peripheral vision.
"Swish."
A green spell shot toward Blaise Zabini.
Too fast. Dumbledore thought.
Before he could turn his body all the way around, the Elder Wand twisted, and he yanked Zabini aside, out of the spell's path.
"Whoosh."
Purple-gold light flashed again. Voldemort shifted to a new angle and continued casting the