https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1221-Twelve-Winning-Secrets-to-Captivate-Witches/12528124/
Chapter 1222: Unforeseen Exposure
Chapter 1222: Unforeseen Exposure
"The baby is healthy and will be a beautiful girl. The expected due date is mid-June this year."
Standing by the bedside, Madam Dale put down her wand and handed a piece of parchment on the table to Albert. She reminded him, "Remember to get adequate rest and avoid strenuous activities. No nocturnal activities, and here's a diet plan with foods to avoid."
Although Madam MacDougal was also an excellent healer, Madam Dale was the expert when it came to obstetrics.
Having received a generous remuneration from their employer, the two healers naturally hoped for a smooth delivery for Albert's baby. That was the only way to justify the high compensation they had received from him.
"We'll keep that in mind," Albert assured them.
He took the parchment, glanced over its contents, and then tucked it into his robe pocket. Reaching out, he helped Isabelle, who was lying on the sickbed, to sit up.
"Set aside your current tasks, and other matters can wait until after the baby is born," Albert said with a kiss on Isabelle's forehead, a smile playing on his lips. "From now on, you should focus on the delivery."
"I think you're all being too tense," Isabelle said as she gently caressed her noticeably rounded belly. "I'm not as fragile as you think."
"Of course, I know you're not fragile, but there's no need to overexert yourself either," Albert soothed, stroking Isabelle's hand gently. "Maintaining a good mindset and taking care of your health is the most important thing."
"I think Albert is right. For now, you should prioritize having the baby and not worry about anything else," Katrina chimed in, already stepping up to fulfill her role as a supportive sister. She had also been patiently accompanying Isabelle, listening to Madam MacDougal's guidance on the responsibilities of motherhood that awaited her.
"Well, I should be going now."
Outside, after a brief chat with Madam MacDougal, Madam Dale bid them farewell and headed home. She planned to change her clothes before making her way to St. Mungo's Magical Injury and Illness Hospital for work.
Madam Dale had taken the morning off to perform a health checkup for Isabelle, a task she alternated with Madam Mary to ensure that they didn't both take leave simultaneously and arouse suspicion.
However, as she apparated back to her doorstep, Madam Dale's expression turned perplexed. Her house door was ajar.
Someone had forcibly broken into her home.
"We have burglars!"
Just as this thought flashed through Madam Dale's mind, she realized that there was more than one intruder in her house.
Her initial impulse to rush in and subdue the burglars faded, and she quickly hid in a secluded spot outside the yard, contemplating whether to make an escape.
A group of menacing-looking individuals emerged from her house—they were none other than a group of Death Eaters.
This sight startled Madam Dale, and as she instinctively took a step back, intending to apparate away, she felt a wand pressing against her back.
"We were just looking for you, and here you are, right on time," said a harsh, grating voice.
Before Madam Dale could turn around, she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
The Death Eaters rushed over at the sound of the commotion.
"Looks like our luck isn't too bad," Bella remarked, a cruel smile spreading across her sinister face as she gazed down at the middle-aged witch lying unconscious on the ground.
The group promptly disapparated with the unconscious Madam Dale in tow.
Death Eater Headquarters.
There was a sudden, rapid knocking on the door.
"Oh, Bella, you've already caught someone?" Yaxley looked on with a mixture of surprise and curiosity as Bella returned with a captive in tow—a well-known witch. He took out two photographs and compared them to the captive's appearance.
It was Yaxley who had ordered the Death Eaters to bring in the maternity healer from St. Mungo's Magical Injury and Illness Hospital.
Thus far, the Death Eaters had been unable to locate the mudblood's hiding place, but a thought had occurred to Yaxley.
That man had gotten married.
And so, he wondered if they had a child. If his wife was pregnant, she would undoubtedly have been in contact with the maternity healers at St. Mungo's.
By capturing both maternity healers at the hospital, they could get to the bottom of this matter. If it was confirmed that there had been contact between them, Yaxley could use this information to his advantage.
"Tell me, have you ever seen Albert Anderson, that mudblood?" Bella asked, using the Cruciatus Curse on the captive as she roughly shook her awake.
"That's enough, Bella. Let her speak first." Yaxley frowned, clearly disapproving of Bella's interrogation methods. What if the captive went insane before she even had a chance to talk?
"Wh...what?"
Madame Dale's eyes widened in shock, and her whole body trembled. She had never imagined that the Death Eaters would come after her.
Yaxley picked up a small vial from the table and added a few drops of Veritaserum to a cup, instructing someone to force it down the captive's throat.
"Tell me, where is Albert Anderson hiding?"
"I don't know," Madame Dale said, her voice dull and listless.
"She's lying! I'm sure this mudblood-lover knows where he is!" Bella shouted angrily, casting a Cruciatus Curse on Madame Dale, causing her to scream in pain.
"Calm down, Bella. Perhaps the mudblood's wife isn't even pregnant, or maybe he never went to St. Mungo's in the first place," Yaxley interrupted impatiently, unwilling to let Bella continue her violent methods. At least, not until he had obtained the information he needed.
"Have you ever seen Albert Anderson?" Yaxley asked again.
Madame Dale's body continued to tremble, and her lips quivered slightly, but no sound escaped her mouth.
"What's going on?"
Bella furrowed her brow, glancing at Yaxley with a puzzled expression.
"It seems she's been silenced," said Aleecto, eyeing Madame Dale. "It's probably some kind of contract magic, preventing her from revealing certain secrets. It's reminiscent of Albert Anderson's style."
"It looks like my guess was correct," Yaxley said, his mood brightening. "The mudblood's wife is pregnant, and she sought out this healer, who then used some method to ensure her silence."
"I can make her talk," Bella offered eagerly.
"I suggest you don't try that," Aleecto warned. "If you force it, you'll likely kill her, and then we'll lose any chance of finding other clues."
"Take her to the Dark Lord," Yaxley decided after a moment's hesitation. Only the Dark Lord would be able to remove any contracts and extract the necessary memories from the captive's mind.
"Oh, have you found out something about the mudblood?" Voldemort asked coldly, glancing at the unconscious woman beside them before turning his gaze to Yaxley.
"Yes, Master," Yaxley replied respectfully. "We've been unable to locate the mudblood's hiding place, but then I thought of something. The mudblood got married last year, so he might have a child. I ordered the Death Eaters to capture the maternity healer from St. Mungo's, and this woman clearly knows something. However, she seems to be under some kind of contract magic, as the Veritaserum didn't work on her."
Voldemort understood Yaxley's implication, and he rose from his seat, approaching Madame Dale. With his wand raised, he prepared to extract her memories.
"Legilimens."
Voldemort effortlessly penetrated her mind, unhindered by any protective enchantments, and viewed everything, including recent events.
After witnessing Madame Dale's memories, Voldemort was not pleased. That accursed mudblood was indeed hiding in a house protected by the Fidelius Charm.
While their hiding place was unexpected, even he could do nothing to breach the Fidelius Charm and kill the mudblood cowering in a Muggle apartment.
And Dumbledore was most likely the Secret-Keeper.
"Capture the other healer as well," Voldemort commanded Yaxley. "Do it quietly, without arousing suspicion."
"Yes, Master," Yaxley replied obediently.
"Also, return this one to where she belongs, ensuring that no one suspects anything amiss," Voldemort added, his red eyes glinting dangerously.
He had just modified her memories and placed her under the Imperius Curse, easily controlling her.
While he couldn't breach their defenses, she could.
Even if he couldn't kill the mudblood, he would make him pay.
Indeed, Voldemort intended to teach that insolent mudblood a painful lesson, making it clear that crossing him was a foolish endeavor.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
