One cold, rainy April night, the Death Eaters gathered at Malfoy Manor to assess all the information they had acquired thus far. Voldemort eyed all of his followers and sneered as his eyes landed on Snape.
"Any news, Severus? Seeing as you're the Headmaster of Hogwarts, I trust you have news," said Voldemort as Nagini slid around his neck menacingly.
Snape shook his head slowly, "I apologize greatly, my Lord, but I haven't any news, at least concerning the boy. I do have news, if it is appropriate, concerning abolishment of Muggleborns at Hogwarts."
Voldemort scowled, "No I do not care for that. I wanted to hear if the boy had attempted, by any means, had tried to enter Hogwarts. But of course, I have wonderful Death Eaters that will warn me about that as soon as it happens? Just like when the boy was captured here?" He laughed, his cold voice echoing through the room.
The Death Eaters nervously looked around at each other and joined in on the laughter. When the room was filled with raucous laughter, Voldemort bellowed, "SILENCE!" All the laughing ceased at once.
"You disgust me. All of you! Laughing? When the boy was in our clutches just a few days ago? You let him go? I have punished you already and I am merciful, so we shall not speak of it again!" Voldemort stroked Nagini and rose out of his chair. He walked past Snape, whose face was expressionless. Nagini hissed as Voldemort passed more Death Eaters, who were trembling fearfully.
"We must succeed in killing the boy. He cannot defeat me once more. I have come in possession of what I've been looking for. Yes, my Death Eaters, I have come in possession of the Elder Wand. The wand that can never fail to defeat the opponent," Voldemort said as he passed by Bellatrix, who bowed her head. He took his seat once more and let Nagini slide onto the table.
"My Lord? I'd like to volunteer to find the boy. I promise I will not disappoint. I will swear to it, if I must," Bellatrix spoke. Voldemort shook his head no. "I'm sure you would not, Bella. But I must not put this task into the hands of a single Death Eater. I, as I have said before, cannot fail this time," he answered.
"Is there, perhaps, something I can do? Anything that might require my services, my Lord?" Bellatrix asked hopefully. Voldemort looked straight into her eyes and saw longing, as if she wanted to never leave his side. He wanted to laugh at her stupidity. She actually believed that he could love her? "No, Bellatrix, I do not need you."