The five of them moved behind a Christmas tree at the edge of the square. Professor McGonagall took out a cloth bag, and one by one, they each retrieved a broomstick from it. Sean ended up sharing one with Snape.
"Before we leave, I'll cast a Disillusionment Charm on all of you, so Muggles won't notice," Dumbledore said.
He waved his wand and cast the spell on the four of them. It wasn't true invisibility, but it was enough to deceive ordinary people. Sean seized the opportunity, his Magic vision recording the spell.
They mounted their brooms and took off from the center of London. After about ten minutes, they arrived above an abandoned construction site in the outskirts.
Hoff glanced at the site below, then at the compass in his hand, and nodded. "It's right below us."
Sean tried scanning with his Magic vision, but the reinforced concrete structure blocked the white glow emitted by Quirrell.
"Sean, stay outside. We'll split up and go in," Dumbledore said.
"Professor…" Sean was unwilling to just stand by and do nothing.
"Listen to me. Quirrell is extremely dangerous right now." Dumbledore knew Quirrell possessed the Mask of Pain and had greatly increased his power. Bringing Sean inside would only slow them down.
Reluctantly, Sean nodded. Snape took him down to an open area some distance away.
"Wait here. Don't go anywhere until we return," Snape said sternly, then flew back up.
Dumbledore didn't immediately descend. He hovered in the air, waiting.
Moments later, the sky above darkened as storm clouds gathered. Dumbledore's expression sharpened. He pressed down on his broom and dove toward the ground, with the others following close behind.
As soon as they disappeared inside, Sean sprinted toward the building. There was no way he could just stand there and wait.
Inside the factory, a small mass of flesh was expanding outward. A faint red glow could be seen within it—the Philosopher's Stone.
The mass grew rapidly, resembling a fetus forming inside a womb. Limbs took shape, facial features emerged. Quirrell stood nearby, watching nervously as it developed.
The speed was horrifying. By the time Dumbledore and the others entered—barely a minute later—the fetus had already grown into an adult.
No nose. Slitted eyes. Sharp, reptilian teeth. Pale, sickly skin.
Voldemort had taken form.
"Dumbledore, you've come all this way to celebrate my rebirth. I'm touched," Voldemort said, flexing his new body with visible satisfaction.
"Professor…" McGonagall's voice trembled. She hadn't expected even a defective Philosopher's Stone to resurrect Voldemort. They were about to face a life-and-death battle.
Dumbledore remained calm. Hoff, standing beside him, gave a slight nod.
Chris lay unconscious a few meters from Quirrell's feet. She appeared to still be alive.
"Voldemort, you should honor your promise and release the child," Dumbledore said, his voice steady and resonant.
"Of course. I should thank her. A member of the Crouch family deserves proper courtesy." Voldemort raised his hand. Without a wand, he cast a Levitation Charm, lifting Chris into the air.
Dumbledore immediately caught her and passed her to McGonagall.
At that moment, Voldemort turned to Snape. "My loyal Severus… come. Return to me."
Snape's expression remained cold, but inside, he was torn.
It wasn't about choosing sides. His loyalty to Dumbledore would never waver.
Dumbledore's mission for him was to act as a spy within Voldemort's ranks. If he returned now, he could continue that role—but he would have to commit acts against his conscience, harming others.
If he refused, Voldemort would know he had betrayed him. That would ruin Dumbledore's entire plan.
"Why do you hesitate, Severus?" Voldemort's voice rose.
Snape glanced at Dumbledore. Dumbledore did not acknowledge him, his gaze fixed solely on Voldemort.
Snape understood.
With a flick of his robes, he walked toward Voldemort. McGonagall and Hoff watched his back with complicated expressions.
"Give me your hand," Voldemort said.
He didn't specify which one, but Snape knew. Voldemort wanted the arm bearing the Dark Mark.
Ever since Voldemort's resurrection, the mark on Snape's right arm had been burning. Across the wizarding world, other Death Eaters felt the same, sensing their master's return.
At Malfoy Manor, Lucius clutched his aching arm, his expression conflicted.
"Your wand," Voldemort said.
Snape had no choice but to hand it over. Voldemort intended to summon his followers through the Dark Mark.
Dumbledore finally moved.
"Expelliarmus!"
A flash of white light shot toward Voldemort. The Disarming Charm grew stronger in the hands of a powerful wizard—it could even rival the Unforgivable Curses.
Despite just being reborn, Voldemort's mastery of magic remained at its peak.
"Avada Kedavra."
A beam of green light burst forth, colliding with Dumbledore's white spell. The clash of magic illuminated the entire factory.
Under normal circumstances, their first exchange would have been evenly matched.
But soon, Voldemort's expression changed.
The green light began to falter. It was pushed back, inch by inch, until the Killing Curse shattered completely.
Voldemort was blasted backward.
"Master!" Quirrell cried out in panic.
"That's impossible… it shouldn't be like this…"
Voldemort's grotesque face twisted. His skin sagged, his muscles collapsed rapidly. Panic filled his voice.
"No… no!"
Sean had just entered in time to see Voldemort's body disintegrating. The Philosopher's Stone embedded in his chest fell out, already cracked into several pieces.
Voldemort's soul let out a shrill scream and retreated back into Quirrell.
"How dare you deceive me with a fake Philosopher's Stone!" Voldemort roared from the back of Quirrell's head.
"It is a Philosopher's Stone—but not a completed one," Dumbledore replied calmly.
Realizing the situation had turned against him, Quirrell immediately donned the Mask of Pain and attempted to Apparate away. But escaping in front of Dumbledore was wishful thinking.
A silent Binding Curse struck him mid-cast. His Apparition was interrupted, his body locking rigid.
Voldemort's soul slipped out as a wisp of smoke from the back of Quirrell's head.
Sean rushed to McGonagall's side. Seeing Chris being supported, his heart finally settled.
Voldemort had escaped.
He possessed a rat passing through the sewers and fled toward London.
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