Voldemort stepped cautiously through the thick forest. None of the Death Eaters saw him leave; they were too busy concentrating on finding Potter. Voldemort told himself he was investigating; making sure that there was no way for Hogswartians to escape, but he knew he was kidding himself. Something was pulling him involuntarily around the trees, over logs, and through thick bushes, making him weave through the forest in search of something he did not know.
When he encountered a short stone pool, he knew he had found it. It was a cylindrical rock formation, about three feet off the ground, full of sparkling misty water. He looked into the water and saw his reflection, but then it became distorted and changed until it resembled that of an old, grungy woman. She smiled when she saw him. "I've been waiting for you. Tom," she said casually.
"Who are you?" Voldemort inquired. He couldn't pretend that he wasn't frightened. The woman looked surprised.
"You don't recognize me? Not at all?" Voldemort shook his head. The woman smiled. "I'm your mother."
