"What did I think of Severus?" Voldemort narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners of his mouth curving upward. "I was very satisfied with his performance just now."
"Clearly, he did not disappoint me. Such contempt should be shown toward the theories of those sentimental cowards! I think... he has completely cast aside that unnecessary weakness."
"Completely cast aside that unnecessary weakness?" Herpo seemed to realize something and pressed Voldemort, "So... he was once a weak person?"
Voldemort raised his eyebrows high, his tone turning low. "Weak?"
Herpo's question stirred up memories of a past he did not wish to mention.
Snape was quite a qualified and capable servant. For a servant like that, at least while that servant remained useful, he was willing to offer a measure of generosity and mercy.
Just as when Snape had come before him and told him the contents of the prophecy—upon seeing Snape's pale, desperate face, he had shown such mercy and granted Snape's humble plea.
Yet it was precisely because he had granted that humble plea that so many things had happened afterward!
He would always remember that Killing Curse rebounding upon him, remember the agonizing pain of his soul being forcibly torn apart, remember those more than ten years of humiliation worse than death, when he had clung to life like a maggot!
In the end, everything he had suffered stemmed from that woman named Lily Potter!
It stemmed from Snape's ridiculous, humble plea—and from the weakness he would never understand!
At that thought, Voldemort felt the fury in his heart blaze fiercely. Without warning, he raised his wand and pointed its tip at Herpo.
"Crucio!" He crisply uttered the incantation for the Cruciatus Curse. Bone-piercing magical waves surged forth and struck Herpo without warning.
Compared with the Killing Curse, the Cruciatus