Another Episode That Shattered Old Voldy's Worldview

Voldemort did not yet have a body of his own. To return to life and harm Harry, what he needed most—and lacked most—was her blood.

Fortunately, that was not difficult to obtain.

Voldemort contacted a Death Eater at random and possessed him.

In a cold, gloomy basement, the silver-masked Death Eater walked slowly along.

The damp air reeked of mold and blood. Glass display cases all around held an assortment of contraband-cursed jewelry, Goblin fingers in jars, and even several bottles of Amortentia labeled "Exclusively for Hogwarts."

Voldemort surveyed the wares through the possessed Death Eater's eyes, filled with disgust.

Trash... all trash...

Not one of them was of any use to him.

Fortunately, he had not been counting on buying what he wanted outright.

He had come here for something else.

"I want to put out a bounty," the masked Death Eater said quietly, stopping at a dilapidated counter that stank of rot. As he spoke, he pushed a Galleon across it.

"Certainly, sir!" Scrawny fingers eagerly snatched up the Galleon, and the person behind the counter spoke to him obsequiously. "How may I help you?"

"Harry Potter's blood. I want it within three days," the masked Death Eater instructed.

In truth, if Harry had not had so much protection around her, Voldemort would not have wanted to rely on anyone else at all.

"Well... the blood of the famous Chosen One might not be..."

"Money is no object." The Death Eater interrupted the person behind the counter and impatiently tossed down a bag of Galleons.

With the bounty and price arranged, Voldemort was about to leave when a hunched wizard suddenly darted out of the shadows and grabbed his sleeve.

"Sir..." The wizard glanced around, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you here to buy Potter-related items too?"

Under Voldemort's control, the Death Eater gave an almost imperceptible nod.

The wizard grinned, baring a set of crooked yellow teeth. "Follow me."

He led the Death Eater through several hidden doors, finally stopping in a concealed room.

The walls were covered with newspaper clippings and secretly taken photographs of Harry Potter. Glass cases displayed so-called "collectibles"-used quills, a hair ribbon dropped during Quidditch practice, and even a floor tile she had supposedly stepped on.

"Freshly acquired," the wizard said, rubbing his hands. "A stirring rod she used in Potions Class, with her sweat on it... just eighty Galleons."

Voldemort: ...?

Had he been away from the wizarding world for too long, or was there something at least a little wrong with every wizard's brain these days?

I want her blood, not these filthy odds and ends!

The Death Eater himself seemed somewhat shocked too. He swallowed a few times and asked, "This is...?"

The wizard chuckled twice and gave him a knowing look.

"Our dear, adorable Chosen One turned out to be a delicate, innocent, adorable little girl. How moving is that?! Those white wizards organized a fan club for her, and I hear the president is someone who goes by the Half-Blood Prince... Ah, that's not important. Naturally, there are die-hard fans of hers on our side too... but unlike those people who want to protect her, we're a little more honest about it."

He licked his lips, and just as Voldemort was expecting him to say something about tearing Potter limb from limb, he said, "We'll do everything we can to get our hands on things she's used!"

Voldemort: ...

Death Eater: ...

Perhaps displeased by Voldemort's silence, the wizard narrowed his eyes. "If you have any special requests, we can also make custom animated story comics for you, or even a custom puppet. But since the Chosen One is still underage, we won't include any adult features."

"Only after she comes of age."

Voldemort: ...??????????

Who cares about that!!!! Who would want something like that!!!! And why are you dark wizards obeying Muggle laws anyway!!!

He nearly roared aloud.

If he could, he would have reduced the place to ashes.

The Death Eater could clearly feel his master's anger. He hastily interrupted the wizard, who was still rattling on about all the Chosen One merchandise that had no business being here. "I want Harry Potter's blood."

The wizard's eyes lit up. "You really do have excellent taste! We sell the... things Harry has used during her periods over the years! If you need them..."

...All else aside, that really was Harry Potter's blood.

It did meet his master's requirement.

But...

The Death Eater swallowed again, cold sweat running down his temples.

Using blood from that place to come back to life... Master surely couldn't bear such humiliation, could he?

"Oh! If you're squeamish, I also have a small amount of blood collected on several occasions when Harry was injured, but as for the price..." As he spoke, the wizard pulled a small vial from his sleeve, with a little under half a vial of blood magically preserved inside.

"The price can be negotiated. I'll take it!" The Death Eater immediately made the decision.

Having obtained what Voldemort wanted, the Death Eater's back was already soaked with cold sweat. He let out a long breath before cautiously asking for his master's opinion. "Master, what I did..."

"You did very well." Voldemort's praise seemed to come through clenched teeth.

He really had done very well. For a moment just now, Voldemort had even thought that coming back to life without Harry Potter's blood might not be so unacceptable after all.

Harry Potter's life did not necessarily have to end by his hand, either.

If it really came to it, as an immortal, he could wait until Harry died before coming out to rule as the Dark Lord.

Unaware of Voldemort's train of thought, the Death Eater breathed a sigh of relief.

Once he had obtained his enemy's blood, the bone of the father and flesh of the servant posed no difficulty at all.

Wormtail also received a new task: helping Voldemort return to life.

He set out on his journey in secret, carrying the little vial of blood.

Though it did not go smoothly, it could hardly be called dangerous. Better still, he did not have to worry about the twins playing pranks on him or Ron using him as a prop for Transfiguration.

Away from the stupid Weasley family, Peter felt that even the air was fresh.

On the last day of Harry and her companions' Christmas holiday, Voldemort regained his own body with the help of the ritual.

Standing before his father's grave, Voldemort threw back his head and laughed. Unhurriedly, he took the wand a Death Eater handed him and played with it in his hand.

Harry Potter, just you wait. I'm coming to end your life with my own hands!