Chapter 271: Avada Kedavra

"He won''t tell you what sustains my magic, what kept me alive even after I lost my body. Cyrus certainly hasn''t told you how he was revived and why he opposes me. Neither of them will explain why you''re sometimes so... special. Why I needed your blood for my resurrection. Why, in your first year, Quirrell couldn''t even touch you..."

Harry''s breathing grew heavier. He realized that anything Voldemort said next was something he shouldn''t believe, shouldn''t hear. He wanted to cover his ears, block out every word.

But he couldn''t control himself. Voldemort''s voice seemed to have a magnetic pull, compelling him to listen.

"Let me tell you—"

Voldemort leaned closer, whispering softly in Harry''s ear, "You are one of my Horcruxes!"

As he spoke, his finger pressed deeper into Harry''s scar, piercing it. Blood oozed out from the lightning-shaped wound.

"Inside this very scar lies a piece of my soul!"

The revelation shocked everyone. Ginny and Hermione exchanged worried glances, their faces pale as they looked at Harry.

Finally, Harry reacted, shouting, "You''re lying!"

"Lying?"

Voldemort sneered, a cold laugh escaping his lips. "In the past, I''ve made some poor choices, which led to this situation. You don''t believe me? Then answer this: if not for my magic, how else do you explain your ability to speak Parseltongue?"

With that single statement, Voldemort shattered Harry''s resolve.

He recalled his second year, when he had demonstrated his Parseltongue ability in the Duelling Club and was even suspected of being the Heir of Slytherin. Now, Voldemort was telling him that he had not inherited Slytherin''s power but rather Voldemort''s own power!

What an absurd and revolting revelation!

But Voldemort seemed oblivious to Harry''s disgust. Instead, he adopted a mockingly sympathetic tone:

"Look at you, poor Harry Potter. Orphaned at such a young age, unloved and neglected. Then you came to Hogwarts, thinking that dear Dumbledore had a special affection for you, and believing you had found friendship in Cyrus..."

Voldemort''s voice cut into Harry''s heart like a knife.

"But in reality?"

"It''s nothing but an illusion..."

"A lie, Harry!" Voldemort said with feigned warmth.

"No one in this world is colder or more ruthless than Dumbledore. And I would know—he made me what I am!"

Voldemort placed a hand on his chest, speaking with dramatic emotion. "Once all the Horcruxes are destroyed, and then you are killed, I will no longer be immortal!"

But it didn''t. Instead, the lightning-shaped scar split open, revealing an intense, radiant light shining from within.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh—!"

Harry screamed in agony, feeling as though his body was being torn apart, piece by piece!

"Harry!" Cedric, bloodied and battered, crawled out of the chaotic pile of clocks. His voice calling out caught Harry''s attention, and Harry couldn''t help but crack open his eyelids to look in his direction.

Harry struggled to open his mouth. He couldn''t make a sound, but Cedric could tell what he was trying to say.

He was saying: "Run!"

Take the others and escape, tell the Aurors, tell the judges and the professors...

That was what should have been done, but Cedric knew he couldn''t take that many people with him. He also knew that even if he brought the Aurors, it would be of no use. The only ones who could stop Voldemort were already in the Ministry of Magic.

What he needed was to buy Harry a little more time!

Even if it meant risking his own life!

"Voldemort!" Cedric screamed in desperation!

It was the first time he had spoken the terrifying name, but surprisingly, he didn''t feel any fear in his chest.

Perhaps it was because he had become numb, or maybe it was the surge of courage urging him to stand firm before Voldemort!

He raised his wand high, both arms shaking as though they were carrying a thousand-pound weight, but still aimed directly at Voldemort''s head.

"Let Harry go!"

"Look, here''s a brave little boy." Voldemort sneered, then turned to Harry and said, "See, Harry, someone else is willing to sacrifice themselves for you. You''re such an unlucky person, having killed your own parents, your friends..."

"Run... Cedric, run!" Harry cried out in desperation, tears streaming down his face.

But Cedric''s feet seemed rooted to the ground.

"What a touching bond... Avada Kedavra!"

In an instant, a flash of fire erupted!

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