"Excellent!" Voldemort laughed in fury. "Draco Malfoy, you truly are Lucius Malfoy's fine son!"
"Of course!" Draco lifted his chin. "Voldemort, this time, I sincerely thank you!"
He gave an impeccably proper bow. "My father has always been proud of me!"
With Draco here disrupting the situation, Voldemort had realized that unless he used unconventional means, he would likely be unable to incite these Slytherins.
The Dark Mark appeared again, and beneath its glow, the common room was once more shrouded in green light.
"This is your last chance!" Voldemort's voice exploded like thunder. "Those willing to create a new future with me, come before the Dark Mark, bow to me, and show your sincerity!"
"There isn't much time!" As he spoke, the Dark Mark's glow had already dimmed somewhat. "Everyone's time is precious. Make your choice quickly!"
"Accept me, or..." He swept his gaze around once more, passing over the students who dared not meet his eyes. "Perish alongside those fools who exclude you and refuse to understand you!"
"Radiant Illumination!" Draco raised his wand high, and a dazzling light burst from its tip, illuminating the common room as brightly as day and forcing the surrounding students to squeeze their eyes shut.
"Voldemort, do you still not understand?" he said, looking at Voldemort. "Only your light will fade! Only you should leave this place! This is the Slytherin Common Room, not your common room!"
"Excellent! Very excellent!" Voldemort did not lose his temper this time. Instead, as though he had never seen Draco before, he looked him up and down.
"You must be very pleased with yourself right now, aren't you? Thinking that you can provoke me and ruin my plans this way. Your naivety is laughable!"
The corners of his mouth curved upward, yet there was no hint