"Headmaster Black, long time no see."
Voldemort said, bowing slightly to Phineas Black's portrait.
"Voldemort. Ha! Dumbledore is plotting against you, right there in his office," Headmaster Black said with a grin, his goatee jutting out.
The Headmaster Black in this portrait was completely different from the one who spent his days dozing in the Headmaster's Office.
He wore a wizarding robe with Slytherin accents and looked quite alert. His voice was strong, too.
"We plot against each other, Headmaster. That's why I came here," Voldemort said with a smile, then found himself a seat.
"You're planning to make a comeback, aren't you?" Headmaster Black said excitedly. "Kill more Muggles and Mudbloods?"
"Er... Headmaster, I don't think we need to start by talking about killing people," Voldemort said with an awkward smile.
"Then let's talk about Sirius." Headmaster Black grew excited. "My word, that was a brilliant move."
Voldemort was puzzled, but kept smiling.
Headmaster Black continued, animatedly, "I never imagined he was your undercover agent in Gryffindor. Not only did that ensure the continuation of the Black family's bloodline, it also carried on the spirit of the Black family."
"He blew up an entire street full of Muggles, and just a couple of days ago, he escaped from Azkaban with his cousin."
The smile froze on Voldemort's face.
He wanted to say that he hadn't done it, but the timing was wrong.
"Did he come with you?"
As he spoke, Headmaster Black tried to peer toward the stairs from within the portrait.
"No, Headmaster Black. He has a more important task, and it wouldn't be wise for him to show himself just yet."
Voldemort went along with the other man's assumption. "Just like me, he's keeping a low profile. I came here in secret, too."
"It's best to be