In the final room, the Mirror of Erised stood silently in the center, its silver surface reflecting the torchlight.
The snake possessed by Voldemort coiled before the mirror, its cold eyes fixed intently on its surface.
The mirror showed not his current ugly serpentine form, but the handsome and powerful Tom Riddle he had once been, holding a scarlet Philosopher's Stone in his hand.
"Damn Dumbledore!"
Voldemort cursed inwardly.
He could sense that the Philosopher's Stone was inside the mirror, but no matter what he did, he couldn't get it out.
The accursed mirror only showed you what you most desired. It didn't let you actually have it.
Just as Voldemort was at an impasse, he heard the flames behind him go out.
He whipped around, his icy gaze fixed on the entrance.
Harry was the first to step into the room.
Voldemort's eyes turned venomous. If it weren't for Harry, he wouldn't have ended up like this.
Now Harry had come right up to him. It was like walking straight into the jaws of hell.
"Ha..."
Voldemort opened his jaws, hoping to terrify Harry and torment him with fear.
But before he could finish, one person after another came pouring into the room.
What was going on?
Was this a tour group? Why were there so many people?
More than thirty students charged into the room in a mighty crowd. They were all startled when they saw the huge snake coiled in the middle.
"That snake is enormous!"
"But where's the thief? Weren't we here to catch a thief?"
"Could the snake be trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone?"
The students chattered among themselves, completely ignoring the snake.
As far as they were concerned, how dangerous could a snake be?
Voldemort nearly died of rage when he heard them.