Abraxas Malfoy

"No matter what, we need to create panic and announce our presence. Since we can't in the wizarding world..." Voldemort, calmer now, leaned forward, the chandelier's dim yellow light reflecting in his red eyes with an eerie gleam. "Then attack the Muggles."

Voldemort looked at the tense faces of his followers and continued, "Well, Yaxley, will I be able to hear news next week of Muggles dying in numbers so great even the wizarding world is shocked?"

"Master," Yaxley said hoarsely, his slicked-back pale blond hair gleaming, his face troubled. "My subordinates were all lost in the previous operations. I need manpower."

"Have Rabastan take Gilderoy Lockhart with him. Let that useless thing see some blood." Bellatrix, seated in the middle of the table, let out a shrill, babyish laugh. "Rabastan, if that fool refuses, let him die, or use the Imperius Curse!"

"Yes." Rodolphus Lestrange's younger brother, Rabastan Lestrange, answered. After his elder brother had lost his hand, Rabastan had taken his place. But this wizard, whose looks somewhat resembled a python's head, had a temperament much like his name, which was also another name for Beta Draconis in the constellation Draco: the star was faintly visible in the night sky, but its light was dim, just as his own presence was overshadowed by his terrifying sister-in-law Bella. He had long since grown used to obeying her commands.

Soft laughter rose around the long table. Many people sneered and exchanged delighted looks—Gilderoy Lockhart had still been habitually boasting in Azkaban, passing off the contents of his books as his own experiences and bragging endlessly to the Death Eaters imprisoned there. He had a silver tongue, and since the stories he told did, after all, come from reality, some imprisoned Death Eaters, cut off from outside news, had mistakenly believed