Voldemort chuckled softly, the sound so slick and greasy that it made his listeners' skin crawl.
"A very good suggestion."
He looked at Old Nott.
"Buying finished products from others is certainly a way to save trouble."
Old Nott's shoulders had only just relaxed a little.
Then Voldemort said slowly, "But the great Dark Lord does not wish to be held back by someone else's technology."
Old Nott's shoulders immediately stiffened.
Lucius's palms began to sweat, and he suddenly wondered whether he was standing a little too close to the front.
Voldemort turned sideways and tapped the blackboard with his wand.
"If Holmes can do it, so can we."
"We even have better things."
Then he swept his gaze over them.
"The legacy of ancient families."
"Experience with dark magic."
"Materials from magical creatures that we can use as we please."
"And you."
Several wizards' eyes lit up. It had been a long time since they had heard anything like that from Voldemort.
Even though they knew it might just be sugar coating on a whip, sugar was sweet all the same.
Travers raised his head, trying hard to look more devout.
"Master, I am willing to give you everything."
Voldemort glanced at him.
"I have no need of your life for now."
Travers's face went pale.
Voldemort continued, "I need your brain."
Rowle could not hold back a quiet cough, and Voldemort looked over.
"Master, I merely thought that would be a more difficult offering."
Voldemort smiled.
"At least you know yourself."
The others chuckled quietly along with him. The basement no longer seemed quite so lifeless.
Voldemort walked over to the magical creature's corpse.
He tapped it with his wand.
"Do you know what a taboo is?"
No one answered.
"A taboo is a cloak the weak drape