Chapter 6: McGonagall learns the truth
McGonagall looked around in surprise when she saw the giant cave in front of her.
"Albus, what is this place?" she asked confused.
"Now, now, Minerva. I think that is very obvious, don't you?" said Voldemort amused, while trying to mimic Dumbledore's way of talking. "It's a cave."
"I can see it's a cave, Albus? But why did you bring me here?"
"You'll see, once we're inside," said Voldemort.
Back at the Riddle House, Wormtail was still in the disguise of Voldemort. He was thinking. Somehow he had been stupid, leaking information to the Daily Prophet while pretending to be his master. It was not a good idea. He had to get rid of this disguise immediately. But what after that? The news had already been leaked. People now knew that Voldemort was still alive. But he would solve that part of the problem later, first, he had to get rid of this disguise. He remembered that Voldemort has told him about an antidote, but where he could he find such antidote. Voldemort hadn't bothered bringing one with him, because he wasn't intending on changing back into himself. Pettigrew realized there was only one person who could have the antidote, but that person would be in Hogwarts and with the real Voldemort also being around there, it didn't seem like a good idea for Pettigrew to go there. But perhaps there was another solution. Maybe someone could get the antidote for him, and he knew exactly where he could find a victim.
Nagini entered the Daily Prophet building. Still being in the disguise of Rita Skeeter, she realized that the best thing she could do was to make sure the Daily Prophet corrected the article about Voldemort still being alive and publish an article in which they confirmed to have made this up as a lie.
Just when Nagini had entered the press room, a voice called out: "Skeeter! We've got to talk."
Nagini turned to where the voice had come from and she spotted Barnabas Cuffe in the doorway, clearly angry about something.
"With me, to my office, right now!" he commanded her.
Nagini could guess what this was about. And she didn't like it. Annoyed she made her way over to Barnabas' office, who closed the door behind him once she had entered.
"I thought you told me that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was dead," said Barnabas after he sat down at his desk.
"He isss," replied Nagini.
"Don't lie to me, Skeeter. He came into our office and told us it was all a lie," replied Barnabas, holding up the newspaper with the published article.
Nagini wasn't interested in making up a lie or any kind of excuse. And this man was getting on her nerves.
"Well, Skeeter, what do you have to say about this?" Barnabas asked impatiently.
"Perhapsss he is alive, but people don't need to know thisss. Ssso, you will tell them it wasss all a lie," Nagini replied.
"Sorry, Skeeter. I don't do that kind of thing. Over my dead body," said Barnabas.
Nagini grinned.
"That can be arranged," she replied with a sinister grin on her face.
A few moments later, the editor's dead body was lying on the floor.
"And now, it isss time to ssswitch bodies for a moment," said Nagini after removing some blood from her lips.
Carefully, McGonagall stepped into the boat that Voldemort had summoned. She found the whole thing suspicious. Dumbledore had opened the cave walls by cutting open his hand and using his blood. For McGonagall, this seemed a bit odd, but then again, she had to admit that Dumbledore was sometimes a bit odd. The boat took off and McGonagall watched as the entrance of the cave went further and further away. Suddenly, the boat stopped in the middle of the water.
"Why did we stop?" McGonagall asked.
"I want you to look into the water," Voldemort said calmly.
"Why?" asked McGonagall.
"JUST DO IT!" yelled Voldemort angry, startling McGonagall, who obviously saw Dumbledore have this sudden outburst of anger.
McGonagall backed away.
"Y-You're not Albus Dumbledore," she said, a little scared.
"Finally you notice," grinned Voldemort. "That means I've played my part quite well."
"Wh-Who are you? And what have you done the real Albus Dumbledore?" asked McGonagall.
"The real Albus Dumbledore, my dear Minerva, is dead, killed at my hands. Me! The most powerful wizard of them all," Voldemort responded.
"Y-You're Voldemort," said McGonagall, now really scared.
Voldemort quickly drew the Elder Wand from his robes and pointed it at McGonagall.
"P-Please, no. D-Don't do this. I-I can be of use to you," McGonagall said, scared.
"Oh, I bet you can be. That's why I brought you here in the first place. You see, while you're a powerful witch, Minerva, you're not powerful enough to my liking. Now, I ask you once more: look into the water and tell me what you see!" commanded Voldemort.
Slowly, McGonagall bent over the side of the little boat, peering down into the dark water. She could see some pale creatures that looked almost like human beings.
"Inferies!" McGonagall said in shock.
"So, you've heard of them?" Voldemort said.
"Of course I have!" said McGonagall.
"But have you ever heard of a spell that allows people to be possessed by inferies?" Voldemort asked.
McGonagall gasped: "You-You don't mean…"
"Oh, yes, Minerva, you're going to be the first of my army of inferi slaves," said Voldemort with a smile. Then, he pointed the Elder Wand at McGonagall and said: "AVADA KEDAVRA!" and a green light filled the cave.