Chapter 302: Voldemort's Command

Malfoy Manor.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds, and from time to time a few Dementors would fly out from the cloud layer, then dive back into the depths of the clouds.

The manor, once luxurious and splendid, is now a lifeless grayish white.

In the second-floor hall of the manor's main building.

Voldemort sat in the seat of honor, looking down at Draco and Narcissa.

He spoke in a cold voice.

"Have you got the thing?"

Draco's Adam's apple moved as he forced himself to speak, suppressing his fear.

"... No, no..."

"Trash!"

Voldemort angrily raised his hand and grabbed at Draco in midair.

Draco instantly felt a freezing, bone‑choking constriction seize his throat, then an invisible force lifted him up.

"Uh...! Mmm‑cough!!"

"Draco!"

Narcissa, standing nearby, saw this and immediately shouted anxiously, then rushed to Voldemort's front and knelt down.

"Master! It's really not Draco's fault—it's that Mudblood Meilik! He suddenly appeared and disrupted our operation!"

"Please, show some mercy and release my son!"

Voldemort's fingertips relaxed slightly, and Draco crashed heavily onto the cold marble floor, curling up and coughing, his fingers digging hard into the cracks.

"Oh... of course, Meilik, you were beaten by a fourth‑year brat with no power to fight back."

"And now you want me to show leniency?"

Voldemort sneered at Narcissa, then suddenly raised his hand again.

The same invisible force seized Narcissa's throat; unable to resist, she could only squeeze out broken sobs from her throat.

Draco watched his mother being tormented by Voldemort, feeling as if a dull blade were repeatedly scraping inside his chest.

He hated Meilik, he hated himself, and at the same time he also hated Voldemort.

But he dared not show it.

He could only barely beg for mercy.

"Master, I already know how to repair that cabinet... as long as the boss of Bo Jin Bo Ke finds another identical one, we can carry out the plan..."

"Please, don't hurt my mother—this mission only I can undertake..."

Voldemort coldly glanced at Draco and gave a grim smile.

"Are you telling me what to do?"

As he spoke, the force in his hand grew stronger; Narcissa's eyes were already bloodshot, about to roll back.

Draco's Adam's apple rolled violently; he dared not speak again, only painfully watching his mother tormented by Voldemort.

Just then, a figure appeared in the shadow of the hall's archway.

"Master."

That person slowly stepped out of the shadow and called out respectfully to Voldemort.

Voldemort looked at the newcomer, and his eyes finally assumed a near‑pleased false smile.

"Oh, Xifeilesi, you've come at just the right time."

"I'm disciplining these two incompetents who can't finish the task—what do you think I should do with them?"

The person was none other than Severus Snape.

Once a Death Eater.

After the Dark Lord's resurrection, he returned once more to the Dark Lord's side.

As a Hogwarts professor, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and one of Dumbledore's most trusted people.

Now he has become the Dark Lord's most valuable double‑agent, infiltrating Dumbledore's side.

Snape's black robe glimmered coldly in the candlelight as he lowered his gaze over the curled‑up Draco and the nearly‑killed Narcissa on the floor.

Speaking without a trace of emotion, he said: "Failure naturally deserves severe punishment."

"But Master, keeping them alive to serve you might be more valuable than executing them."

"Draco can gather more intel and assistance for us at school, and Narcissa can keep Malfoy Manor running, making it easier for us to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic."

Voldemort still smiled and nodded.

"That makes sense, Xifeilesi—no wonder you're my most capable aide."

With a flick of his fingertip, Narcissa crashed heavily to the floor, gasping and coughing in pain, her vision already blurred.

Yet she tremblingly struggled to her feet, bowing her head low before Voldemort.

"Come, Xifeilesi, sit down quickly."

Voldemort ignored Narcissa and Draco, instead lightly chuckling as he patted the empty armrest of the ebony high‑back chair beside him, then said to Snape.

Snape also gave no reply, merely walking slowly to Voldemort's side and sitting down.

"Xifeilesi, I summoned you today because I actually have something to ask you."

"I've heard you're quite close with that student named Meilik—is that true?"

Voldemort lightly placed his hand on Snape's wrist, smiling as he asked.

But that smile was full of chill and scrutiny.

Snape's expression showed little reaction; he merely responded with a light counter‑question.

"Who told you that, Master?"

"Of course it's Draco, right, Draco."

Voldemort immediately turned his head to look at Draco, who was struggling to get up, and asked with a smile.

Draco's body trembled, but he still stiffly nodded.

In fact, he never said that; it was just something Voldemort discovered when probing his memory.

"Then, Master, in your view, is it good or bad that I am close to him?"

Snape continued to ask in a flat tone.

"Of course it's a good thing."

"That's a genius once in a century."

"He needs to be properly cultivated."

Voldemort gave a solemn cold laugh, but the fingers gripping Snape's wrist grew tighter.

Snape lowered his eyes and slowly spoke.

"Meilik is indeed my student, but unfortunately, Master, my relationship with him may not be as good as you imagine."

"I must admit, before your resurrection, I never imagined you were still alive."

"So I have been diligently playing the role of a professor at Hogwarts."

"Meilik is indeed talented, and I once provided him with guidance."

"But he is arrogant, rude, conceited, ungrateful, and even used Umbridge to take revenge on me."

"So I merely treat him as free labor, using him to do some tedious chores for me."

"Of course, Master, if you need me to improve our relationship, I am naturally willing to oblige."

Hearing Snape's flawless answer, Voldemort narrowed his eyes.

What he saw in Draco's memory.

That Meilik had become Snape's student and could come and go from Snape's studio.

But he didn't know what Snape and Meilik were doing in the studio.

On the contrary, Meilik repeatedly sabotaged Snape in public.

For example, in his first year, Meilik openly confronted Snape in front of everyone.

It was also heard that he caused chaos in Snape's class, nearly causing a serious teaching accident, and was then harshly punished by Snape.

And last year he broke into his class to humiliate and retaliate against him, even stealing his Magic Potion.

Indeed, there's no sign their relationship has improved; they're just somewhat closer.

Thinking of this, Voldemort finally released Snape's wrist.

He restored a gentle fake smile, but his words remained icy cold.

"Well then, Xifeilesi, I'll give you a task."

"Please speak."

Snape nodded and said.

"... After the start of term, try to kill Meilik."

Hearing this task, Snape paused for only half a second, then calmly looked into Voldemort's eyes and spoke.

"Okay."