he had hoped to find me； he foolishly stopped at an inn for some food 。 。 。 and who should he meet there； but one Bertha Jorkins； a witch from the Ministry of Magic。
〃Now see the way that fate favors Lord Voldemort。 This might have been the end of Wormtail； and of my last hope for regeneration。 But Wormtail … displaying a presence of mind I would never have expected from him … convinced Bertha Jorkins to acpany him on a nighttime stroll。 He overpowered her 。。。 he brought her to me。 And Bertha Jorkins； who might have ruined all； proved instead to be a gift beyond my wildest dreams 。。。 for …with a little persuasion … she became a veritable mine of information。
〃She told me that the Triwizard Tournament would be played at Hogwarts this year。 She told me that she knew of a faithful Death Eater who would be only too willing to help me； if I could only contact him。 She told me many things。 。 。 but the means I used to break the Memory Charm upon her were powerful； and when I had extracted all useful information from her； her mind and body were both damaged beyond repair。 She had now served her purpose。 I could not possess her。 I disposed of her。〃
Voldemort smiled his terrible smile； his red eyes blank and pitiless。
〃Wormtail's body； of course； was ill adapted for possession； as all assumed him dead； and would attract far too much attention if noticed。 However； he was the able…bodied servant I needed； and； poor wizard though he is； Wormtail was able to follow the instructions I gave him； which would return me to a rudimentary； weak body of my own； a body I would be able to inhabit while awaiting the essential ingredients for true rebirth 。。。 a spell or two of my own invention 。。。 a little help from my dear Nagini；〃 Voldemorts red eyes fell upon the continually circling snake； 〃a potion concocted from unicorn blood； and the snake venom Nagini provided 。。。 I was soon returned to an almost human form； and strong enough to travel。
〃There was no hope of stealing the Sorcerer's Stone anymore； for I knew that Dumbledore would have seen to it that it was destroyed。 But I was willing to embrace mortal life again； before chasing immortality。 I set my sights lower 。。。 I would settle for my old body back again； and my old strength。
〃I knew that to achieve this … it is an old piece of Dark Magic； the potion that revived me tonight … I would need three powerful ingredients。 Well； one of them was already at hand； was it not； Wormtail？ Flesh given by a servant。 。 。 。
〃My father's bone； naturally； meant that we would have to e here； where he was buried。
But the blood of a foe 。。。 Wormtail would have had me use any wizard； would you not； Wormtail？ Any wizard who had hated me 。。。 as so many of them still do。 But I knew the one I must use； if I was to rise again； more powerful than I had been when I had fallen。
I wanted Harry Potters blood。 I wanted the blood of the one who had stripped me of power thirteen years ago 。 。 。 for the lingering protection his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too。 。 。 。
〃But how to get at Harry Potter？ For he has been better protected than I think even he knows； protected in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago； when it fell to him to arrange the boy's future。 Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic； to ensure the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care。 Not even I can touch him there。 。 。 。 Then； of course； there was the Quidditch World Cup。 。。。 I thought his protection might be weaker there； away from his relations and Dumbledore； but I was not yet strong enough to attempt kidnap in the midst of a horde of Ministry wizards。 And then； the boy would return to Hogwarts； where he is under the crooked nose of that Muggle…loving fool from morning until night。 So how could I take him？
〃Why 。。。 by using Bertha Jorkins's information； of course。 Use my one faithful Death Eater； stationed at Hogwarts； to ensure that the boy's name was entered into the Goblet of Fire。 Use my Death Eater to ensure that the boy won the tournament … that he touched the Triwizard Cup first … the cup which my Death Eater had turned into a Portkey； which would bring him here； beyond the reach of Dumbledore's help and protection； and into my waiting arms。 And here he is 。。。 the boy you all believed had been my downfall。 。。。〃
Voldemort moved slowly forward and turned to face Harry。 He raised his wand。
〃Crucio！〃
It was pain beyond anything Harry had ever experienced； his very bones were on fire； his head was surely splitting along his scar； his eyes were rolling madly in his head； he wanted it to end 。。。 to black out。。。 to die 。。。
And then it was gone。 He was hanging limply in the ropes binding him to the headstone of Voldemort's father； looking up into those bright red eyes through a kind of mist。 The night was ringing with the sound of the Death Eaters' laughter。
〃You see； I think； how foolish it was to suppose that this boy could ever have been stronger than me；〃 said Voldemort。 〃But I want there to be no mistake in anybody's mind。
Harry Potter escaped me by a lucky chance。 And I am now going to prove my power by killing him； here and now； in front of you all； when there is no Dumbledore to help him； and no mother to die for him。 I will give him his chance。 He will be allowed to fight； and you will be left in no doubt which of us is the stronger。 Just a little longer； Nagini；〃 he whispered； and the snake glided away through the grass to where the Death Eaters stood watching。
〃Now untie him； Wormtail； and give him back his wand。〃
CHAPTER THIRTY…FOUR … PRIORI INCANTATEM
Wormtail approached Harry； who scrambled to find his feet； to support his own weight before the ropes were untied。 Wormtail raised his new silver hand； pulled out the wad of material gagging Harry； and then； with one swipe； cut through the bonds tying Harry to the gravestone。
There was a split second； perhaps； when Harry might have considered running for it； but his injured leg shook under him as he stood on the overgrown grave； as the Death Eaters closed ranks； forming a tighter circle around him and Voldemort； so that the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled。 Wormtail walked out of the circle to the place where Cedric's body lay and returned with Harry's wand； which he thrust roughly into Harry's hand without looking at him。 Then Wormtail resumed his place in the circle of watching Death Eaters。
〃You have been taught how to duel。 Harry Potter？〃 said Voldemort softly； his red eyes glinting through the darkness。
At these words Harry remembered； as though from a former life； the dueling club at Hogwarts he had attended briefly two years ago。 。。。 All he had learned there was the Disarming Spell； 〃Expelliarmus〃。 。 。 and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of his wand； even if he could； when he was surrounded by Death Eaters； outnumbered by at least thirty to one？ He had never learned anything that could possibly fit him for this。 He knew he was facing the thing against which Moody had always warned 。 。 。 the unblockable Avada Kedavra curse … and Voldemort was right … his mother was not here to die for him this time。 。。。 He