Voldemort plans; Bertha Jorkins; Wormtail

'It could be done without Harry Potter, my Lord.'
Another pause, more protracted, and then -
'Without Harry Potter?' breathed the second voice softly. 'I see...'
'My Lord, I do not say this out of concern for the boy!' said Wormtail, his voice rising squeakily. 'The boy is nothing to me, nothing at all! It is merely that if we were to use another witch or wizard - any wizard - the thing could be done so much more effectively - I could be back here in a little as two days with a suitable person -'
'I could use another wizard,' said the second voice softly, 'that is true...'
'My Lord, it makes sense. Laying hands on Harry Potter would be so difficult, he is so well protected -'
'And so you volunteer to go and fetch me a substitute? I wonder... perhaps the task of nursing me has become wearisome for you Wormtail? Could this suggestion of abandoning the plan be nothing more than an attempt to desert me?'
'Do not lie to me! You are regretting that you ever returned to me. I revolt you. I see you flinch when you look at me, feel you shudder when you touch me...'
'No! My devotion to your Lordship-'
'Your devotion is nothing more than cowardice. You would not be here if you had anywhere else to go. How am I to survive without you, when I need feeding every few hours? Who is to milk Nagini?'
'I have my reasons for using the boy, as I have already explained to you, and I will use no other. I have waited thirteen years. A few more months will make no difference. As for the protection surrounding the boy, I believe my plan will be effective. All that is needed is a little courage from you, Wormtail - courage you will find, unless you wish to feel the full extent of Lord Voldemort's wrath -'
'My Lord, Bertha Jorkins's disappearance will not go unnoticed for long and if we proceed, if I curse -'
'If? If you follow the plan, Wormtail, the Ministry need never know that anyone else has disappeared. You will do it quietly, and without fuss; I only wish that I could do it myself, but in my present condition... come, Wormtail, one more obstacle removed and our path to Harry Potter is clear. I am not asking you to do it alone. By that time, my faithful servant will have rejoined us -'
'I was the one who found you. I brought you Bertha Jorkins.'
'That is true. A stroke of brilliance I would not have thought possible from you, Wormtail - though, if truth be told, you were not aware how useful she would be when you caught her, were you? However, I do not deny that her information was invaluable. Without it, I could never have formed our plan, and for that, you will have your reward, Wormatil. I will allow you to perform an essential task for me, one that many of my followers would give their right hands to perform...'
'I killed Bertha because I had to. She was fit for nothing after my questioning, quite useless. In any case, awkward questions would have been asked if she had gone back to the Ministry with the news that she had met you on her holidays.
'One more curse... my faithful servant at Hogwarts... Harry Potter is as good as mine, Wormtail. It is decided. There will be no more argument.'

THE RIDDLE HOUSE ~ Pg 8