Hogwarts : this dark lord is so evil

Chapter 9: Voldemort, Stand Up and Don't Lose Face!

"He can't beat me."

Jacob stopped and turned to meet Dumbledore's blue eyes.

Dumbledore was slightly taken aback. Jacob's answer was straightforward and confident.

"We're here," Jacob said again.

Dumbledore then realized they were standing in front of a wooden door.

Jacob pushed it open as if he were returning home.

"Voldemort, this... Mr. Dumbledore wants to talk to us about something," Jacob announced as he walked in.

He deliberately mispronounced Dumbledore's name, mimicking Mrs. Cole's earlier mistake.

Dumbledore corrected him patiently, "Actually, my name is Dumbledore—Albus Dumbledore. I'm a professor."

Voldemort sat on his blanket with a book in his hands, eyeing the so-called professor with suspicion.

Dumbledore extended a hand. "Hello, Voldemort."

Voldemort hesitated, glanced at Jacob, then reluctantly shook Dumbledore's hand.

Dumbledore pulled up a chair and sat down, while Jacob made himself comfortable on Voldemort's bed.

"Professor? Is that like a 'Doctor'? What are you doing here?" Voldemort asked, still wary, casting another glance at Jacob.

"I'm a professor at a school called Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained. "I've come to take you to my school—your new school, if you're willing."

The moment Dumbledore said this, Voldemort's entire demeanor changed. He leapt off the bed, stepping away from Dumbledore, his face filled with anger.

"Who are you? What do you really want? Tell me the truth!" His last words were practically a command.

He glared at Dumbledore, but the professor remained calm, his expression unwavering.

"Who are you?" Voldemort repeated, his voice measured but intense.

Dumbledore replied patiently, "As I said, I'm Professor Dumbledore—"

"No! Don't try to fool me! You're from the mental hospital, aren't you? 'Professor'? Of course! I won't go anywhere with you, do you understand?"

His breathing was heavy as his paranoia flared. Then, suddenly, his eyes snapped to Jacob, and his expression darkened.

Realization dawned on him.

"You... You called him, didn't you?" Voldemort's voice was filled with accusation. "You finally decided to get rid of me, didn't you? You want to send me to an asylum! You... You're ruthless!"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and turned to Jacob with a curious expression.

Jacob simply shrugged. "You know, we fought."

Dumbledore's look deepened. It was obvious that the conflict between Jacob and Voldemort was much more than a simple scuffle. Judging from Voldemort's reaction, he had clearly been on the losing end.

"I'm not from a mental hospital," Dumbledore continued, his voice as patient as ever. "I'm here as a teacher. If you sit down and listen, I'll explain what Hogwarts is. And if you don't want to go, no one will force you."

He then glanced at Jacob. "In fact, you're not the only one I came for, Voldemort. Jacob is also on my invitation list."

"That means... he's going too?" Voldemort eyed Jacob with suspicion.

"Voldemort, can you calm down for a moment? Stand up straight and stop making a fool of yourself," Jacob said flatly.

Voldemort's face flushed red with embarrassment. His outburst just moments ago suddenly felt childish.

Once Voldemort was composed, Dumbledore continued, "Hogwarts is a school for those with special abilities."

To Voldemort, this still sounded suspiciously like a mental institution.

"I'm not crazy..." He started, but Jacob's calm, expectant gaze stopped him mid-sentence. He swallowed his words and remained silent.

"It's a school of magic."

"Magic?" Voldemort repeated, his voice quieter.

"That's right."

"So... what I can do—that's magic?" Voldemort's eyes lit up with excitement as he stared at his hands.

"What can you do?" Dumbledore asked with interest.

"Anything." Voldemort's breath quickened, his hollow cheeks flushing with enthusiasm. "I can move things without touching them. I can make animals obey me without training. I can make people suffer if they annoy me. If I want, I can make them hurt..."

He gestured excitedly, but then his eyes met Jacob's again, and his excitement faltered.

After a pause, he added bitterly, "...Except for Jacob."

Jacob smirked slightly, unfazed.

Dumbledore turned to Jacob. "You don't seem that surprised. Have you already discovered your abilities?"

"No," Jacob replied simply. "I just learned about it now. But since it's my ability, it doesn't surprise me. It was always part of me. Why should I be excited?"

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.

"You're both wizards," he continued.

"So that means you're a wizard too?" Jacob asked.

"Yes. I have the same special abilities as you."

"Prove it," Voldemort demanded immediately.

The way he said it sounded exactly like his earlier demand: "Tell me the truth."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"If I prove it, you must agree to come to Hogwarts with me."

"Of course!"

"And you'll have to address me as 'Professor' or 'Sir'."

Voldemort's expression tightened. After a long pause, he muttered in an almost imperceptible polite tone, "I'm sorry, sir. I mean... Excuse me, Professor, could you show me?"

Dumbledore didn't hesitate. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a slender black wand.

Jacob's eyebrows lifted slightly in interest.

With a casual flick of his wand, Dumbledore pointed at the broken wardrobe in the corner.

Boom!

A violent flame erupted, engulfing the wardrobe entirely.

"AHH!" Voldemort yelped, jumping back. All his belongings were in there!

Just as he was about to lash out at Dumbledore, the flames vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

The wardrobe stood exactly as it had before—completely untouched, as if nothing had happened.