Following Voldemort's gaze, they saw a wizard who had just pushed the door open and entered.
Judging by his attire, he was dressed like the Death Eaters present, wearing black robes with a hood pulled low to hide his face completely.
The only thing that might reveal his identity was the Dark Mark on his arm, glowing faintly green.
That meant he, too, was one of the Death Eaters present...
However, if not for Voldemort pointing it out, no one would have known that the wizard who had just entered this "former" Office of the Minister for Magic was actually a professor from Hogwarts.
In other words, the current Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Severus Snape.
No... perhaps it should be said, the next Headmaster of Hogwarts?
Since the Dark Lord had called on him by name, Snape naturally would not simply stand there and do nothing. He slowly removed his hood and bowed slightly in Voldemort's direction.
"As you command, Great Master."
"Hiss, hiss, hiss~"
Seeing Snape's response, Voldemort seemed extremely pleased and let out a laugh that did not sound human at all.
It was deeply unsettling.
It had to be said, the pressure he gave off was immense.
Yet Snape, facing him directly, seemed not to feel it at all. He simply reminded him, "Although Dumbledore is dead, according to Hogwarts' established procedures, the current Deputy Headmistress will next serve as Acting Headmistress, so..."
Just as Snape had said, taking the position of Hogwarts Headmaster was not as simple as saying the words aloud.
However, Voldemort did not seem inclined to explain it to Snape. He merely placed his hand on the head of the venomous snake beside him. Then, as the air twisted and swirled, the man and snake vanished directly from the room.
The only thing left behind was a single cold sentence...
"I leave this place to you, Barty Crouch Jr."
"Yes, noble Master!"
Crack!
...
Even after some time had passed, the Death Eaters present remained frozen in their original positions, not moving at all, as though they were using this to display their loyalty to the Dark Lord.
This kind of sick devotion could only appear among Death Eaters.
No one knew how long had passed before Barty Crouch Jr. slowly rose and was the first to speak, breaking the somewhat silent atmosphere...
"You all heard what the Master said just now. Now we must take control of the entire Ministry of Magic as quickly as possible."
"Pius, according to the established plan, you will become the next Minister for Magic. When the time comes, you and the Ministry will push Severus into the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. Do not fail."
"Rest assured. There is no other Dumbledore left to step forward and stop us now."
Pius Thicknesse.
The former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He had been controlled by Yaxley's Imperius Curse and turned into a Death Eater. Now, the Dark Lord was going to push him into the public eye and make him the new Minister for Magic, one who belonged to them...
"As for you, Severus..."
"I don't need you to remind me. As long as your side helps me take the position of Headmaster, I will naturally complete the Master's orders."
"Hmph. I don't trust you in the slightest, dear Severus."
"But the fact remains that I killed Dumbledore with my own hands, did I not? Are you questioning the Master's judgment?"
"Don't bring up the Master! Who knows what really happened that night? From now on, I won't give you any chances."
Barty Crouch Jr.'s gaze collided with Snape's, and he did not relax his vigilance or suspicion toward him in the slightest.
Although he did not know why the Master trusted this man so much, Barty Crouch Jr. still decided to arrange some safeguards...
With a cruel sneer, Barty Crouch Jr. suddenly turned his gaze toward two of the Death Eaters.
"Amycus, Alecto, when the time comes, you will be assigned to Hogwarts as professors."
"I trust you will be of great help to our new Headmaster, and that you will properly complete the task the Master has given us."
His meaning was already perfectly clear. On the surface, he was saying they would assist Snape, but in truth, these two Death Eaters were nothing more than eyes placed beside him.
If the slightest problem appeared on Snape's side, Voldemort would know at once and act accordingly.
Snape, who was far from foolish, naturally understood what was implied.
Yet even while being treated like this, Snape's expression did not change in the slightest. He was the same as always, wearing a deadpan face as his deeply mocking gaze swept back and forth over them.
It was the same look he used in his classroom when watching the foolish Harry Potter brew potions.
Aside from Snape being favored by the Master recently, which had caused Barty Crouch Jr. himself to "fall out of favor," this was also what Barty Crouch Jr. hated most about Snape...
After glancing at Pius, Snape pulled his hood back up.
"Since there is nothing else, I will return to Hogwarts."
"Hmph... Don't say I didn't warn you. The Master's orders cannot be disobeyed."
"..."
Tap, tap, tap.
Faced with Barty Crouch Jr.'s cold words, Snape's footsteps did not pause at all as he disappeared from the room.
As if that warning had meant nothing.
As if... the person he was going to deal with was not his own godson...