Douglas lowered his eyes slightly, staring at the copy of "Slytherin's Half-Blood Prince" ostensibly written by Xenophilius Lovegood.
According to his original thinking, even if Voldemort saw this story, it would be at some chaotic moment after he emerged from the abyss and once again swept through the United Kingdom's wizarding world, and he would discover it by chance.
After all, to a Dark Lord intent on domination, a fictional biography like this was undoubtedly nothing more than an inconsequential diversion. It would hardly even attract much attention from the Death Eaters, let alone make them foolish enough to present it to the cold, ruthless Voldemort.
Surely Voldemort and the fugitive Wormtail had no leisure to read little gossip stories at a time like this?
Still, the other party's reaction certainly gave him food for thought. He could be certain that rat had already divulged information about him to Voldemort.
His ability to hold the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for successive years ought to be enough to make Voldemort take him seriously and regard him warily.
What baffled him now was what gave the other party confidence that he could take Harry away from his side without circumstances like the Triwizard Tournament.
Besides, even that crucial Triwizard Tournament would not officially begin for more than another six months.
At present, neither he nor Charlie, who was studying dragons far away in Romania, had received any news that the Triwizard Tournament was about to begin.
From that perspective, Dumbledore's conjecture might be right: the other party had happened upon this magazine and reacted to it in alarm. In that case, Voldemort's early return to the United Kingdom could be reasonably explained.
"You mean that even if he hasn't discovered that a Horcrux was destroyed, once he