Three Failures

The moment Voldemort's killing intent surged, Harry suddenly swung his Wand sharply.

"Expelliarmus!"

Red light burst forth, but Voldemort merely flicked his Wand. The cauldron that had helped restore him to life sprang up from the ground and blocked the Disarming Charm head-on.

As the cauldron exploded, Harry hurried in front of Wade, shielding him with his body as he bravely shouted, "Don't touch him! Your opponent is me, Voldemort!"

Voldemort slowly turned around, his red eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.

"Ah... Potter," he said softly. "I nearly forgot... you're tonight's main course..."

"Great!" Harry shot back. "I thought the mighty Dark Lord only knew how to bully children!"

At that moment, he actually wanted to run away, or at least shut up and stop provoking him. But some inexplicable courage spurred him on, making him say things he would never have dared imagine.

It was as though the one standing before him was not one of the most evil Dark Wizards in history, but Dudley leading a pack of lackeys.

Harry could even feel the Death Eaters around him staring at him in utter astonishment, as if they were looking at a Murtlap that had suddenly learned to speak.

He quickly glanced over his shoulder and saw Wade's round eyes fixed on him, filled with the curious gaze one gave a stranger, as well as a child's simple trust.

Harry felt courage welling up endlessly from within him, as if it would never run dry.

He knew he might die, because Voldemort and more than a dozen Death Eaters stood before him, while he had no one to help him.

But at that moment, there was no fear of death in his heart, only one simple thought—

He could never surrender to Voldemort. Even if he had to die,