"—There's a traitor among you."
Voldemort stood beside Reinhardt, seeming to study the enormous Serpent Tower before them. "I can sense the scent of a traitor in the Chamber of Secrets... a stench so foul it's unbearable."
The Blond Youth glanced at it in surprise.
When Voldemort had created the Diadem Horcrux, he had not yet fallen completely. Thus, the soul fragment sealed within the diadem retained the appearance Tom Riddle had possessed at eighteen: black hair, a pale face, a tall and handsome figure. When it spoke, the corners of its lips curled slightly, revealing a mocking half-smile.
"A traitor."
Reinhardt softly repeated the word, his gaze passing over his companions working busily around the basilisk. With interest, he asked, "Who do you think it is?"
"Doesn't know."
Voldemort's expression darkened. It did not hide the reason for its conclusion. "I established the Death Eaters while I was still at school, branding their arms with magical marks of loyalty... They received my commands through those brands, and I sensed their existence through them as well. Now, there is such a mark in this Chamber of Secrets. If its owner were still my loyal servant, he should be groveling at my feet right now... But he has hidden himself, like a rat in a gutter, lurking in the darkness. Heh heh."
A chilling smile twisted Voldemort's handsome face.
"Wow..."
The Blond Youth immediately realized where they had slipped up—his gaze swept past where Professor Snape was hiding without pausing for even a moment—but the mistake would not greatly affect what came next. So he casually asked, "Then what should I do? Have all my subordinates show their arms?"
Voldemort gave him a long, deep look.
This stranger had appeared from nowhere, claiming to be its faithful follower. He had gone