HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 475

Chapter 475: Yaxley and Avery

Malfoy Manor.

A group of Death Eaters lounged inside.

They gathered in twos and threes, either discussing Dark magic, drinking and chatting, or using magic to torment the ordinary people they had kidnapped and dragged in to serve them like beasts of burden.

Off to one side, Yaxley and Avery sat together, trading notes on Dark spells.

The last time the two of them had failed a mission, they had been punished by Voldemort when they returned.

But since they were, in truth, half-discarded pieces, deliberately thrown out to draw Sean’s attention, Voldemort had not made things too difficult for them. He had merely hit each of them with one Cruciatus Curse, then searched their memories thoroughly to make sure there were no issues, before letting them off. Old-guard Death Eaters were already few in number. If one could be kept, it was worth keeping.

Since that failed mission, perhaps because they had been punished together, or perhaps for other reasons, Yaxley and Avery had grown oddly close. They were often seen together, discussing magic.

This was one of those times.

They were in the middle of analysing a spell that could draw part of a target’s blood out through an open wound, when both of them suddenly froze. Their pupils tightened slightly. In the next instant, scene after scene of memory surfaced inside their minds, and their expressions shifted.

“Yaxley,” Avery asked quietly, “you remembered?”

Yaxley’s eyes were faintly red. He looked up at Avery, who wore a hint of fanatical excitement, and slowly nodded.

Yes. He remembered.

He remembered that he and Avery had joined Sean’s side, that Sean had branded them with the Ouroboros Pentagram. He remembered that there was no turning back, that from now on he could only work for Sean with all his heart.

“Avery,” Yaxley whispered, “did you receive Master’s order?”

“Of course I did. I never expected he would actually…”

“Shut your mouth,” Yaxley cut in at once, voice low and sharp. “This place is full of Death Eaters, including the two of us. Some things you keep in your head. You do not say them out loud.”

He drew a breath, forcing himself steady.

“Next, we split up. You keep an eye on him in there. I’ll go outside and find a way to bring Master in.”

Avery licked his lips and nodded slowly.

“No problem.”

With that decided, the two separated. Avery headed towards the concealed chamber. He had seen Snape go in earlier, and there had been no news since, which meant Snape was probably still alive. To Voldemort, Snape was one of the most valuable Death Eaters, second only to Barty Crouch Junior and Bellatrix. Even if Voldemort was unhappy with him, he would not kill him immediately. There was still room to manoeuvre.

Yaxley’s side was a little more troublesome.

Ever since the Ministry confirmed Voldemort’s return and branded Lucius Malfoy a Death Eater, Malfoy Manor had sealed itself off from the outside world. Supplies like food and water were replenished through secret runs, but Death Eaters could not come and go freely. Yaxley could not simply walk out whenever he pleased.

Fortunately, after this mission, both Yaxley and Avery would be taken away by Sean. There was no need to worry about staying by Voldemort’s side anymore.

So Yaxley allowed himself to use a few tricks.

“Imperio!”

He lowered his wand and looked at the two Death Eaters guarding the exit, commanding them to let him pass.

He left Malfoy Manor with a group of ordinary people who were being controlled to go out and purchase supplies. He was just about to head for the location Sean had designated through the Ouroboros Pentagram when he heard the voice that filled him with both respect and fear.

“Not bad. You got out quickly.”

Yaxley spun around.

Sean was standing behind him, appearing from nowhere.

Yaxley lowered his head and bowed slightly, voice reverent. “Master. You’re here.”

Sean patted him lightly on the shoulder.

“You don’t need to be that scared. If I branded you with the Ouroboros Pentagram, you’re one of my men now.”

His eyes narrowed, calm and cold.

“I’m not like the one inside Malfoy Manor. I do not have the habit of throwing my own people out as cannon fodder and bait. Competent subordinates are too rare. I am not that extravagant, treating you like disposable pieces.”

Yaxley swallowed hard.

From Sean, he felt the same unsettling sensation he’d felt from Voldemort—the sense of being seen through, as if his thoughts were laid bare. It made him fear Sean from the bottom of his heart.

Just now, Sean’s words had pierced straight through the two worries Yaxley had been hiding. In that moment, Yaxley’s awe of Sean rose to match his awe of Voldemort.

“All right,” Sean said. “Take me in. You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just lead me to Professor Snape. Leave the rest to me.”

Sean’s voice turned crisp and practical.

“And if you see me fight Voldemort, or if you see me leave Malfoy Manor with Professor Snape, notify Avery immediately. Tell him to leave at once and head for the Black Hat Pub in Knockturn Alley. Once he’s inside, have him show them the Ouroboros Pentagram. Someone will arrange things for you both.”

That was enough.

Yaxley finally felt truly at ease. He nodded hard.

“Thank you for your arrangements, Master. Understood.”

“Good. Let’s go in.”

As soon as Sean finished speaking, his figure vanished from sight.

Yaxley did not hesitate. He turned and went straight back into Malfoy Manor. Under his guidance, Sean finally entered the sealed estate.

At the entrance, Sean glanced at the two Death Eaters Yaxley had controlled with the Imperius Curse. With a small flick of his wand, he cast another Imperius Curse that overwrote Yaxley’s control and took possession of them for himself.

Yaxley noticed, of course. But he was already someone else’s subordinate now. He acted as if he had seen nothing.

He led Sean directly into the concealed chamber. Along the way, they ran into plenty of Death Eaters, but none of them were Voldemort. They could not sense Sean’s presence through his LV5MAX Disillusionment Charm, not even slightly.

In fact, unless Voldemort had seen Sean cast the Disillusionment Charm and knew Sean was right beside him, even he would not be able to detect Sean immediately. That was the confidence Sean had, following Yaxley into the concealed chamber.

Inside, Sean immediately saw the Lestrange brothers sitting near the entrance, with Bellatrix beside them.

When the three of them saw Yaxley walk in, the Lestrange brothers gave him a small nod and a faint smile. Bellatrix, however, snorted coldly, clearly contemptuous of a “failure” like Yaxley.