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Chapter 188: The Cave Expedition
Chapter 188: The Cave Expedition
With only one week left before the end of the term, the night was filled with snow that continued through the morning, turning the castle's grounds into a blanket of white. The Forbidden Forest in the distance was also covered in a layer of snow.
As students walked across the snow-covered paths, their footsteps created a crunching sound.
It was Hogsmeade weekend, and most of the older students were eager to spend the day in the village. Michael and his friends were no exception, as they eagerly prepared for their outing early in the morning.
Although they could usually sneak out of school using the Vanishing Cabinet, most students still feared breaking the rules.
Moreover, if they were the only school-aged children in the village, the shop owners would easily recognize them as truants.
Some shopkeepers would turn a blind eye, but most would urge them to return to school or give them cold reminders.
In any case, only during Hogsmeade weekends could they truly enjoy their time in the village without worry.
As Ved left the Great Hall after breakfast, he spotted Michael and Padma holding hands, their blue scarves a bright contrast against the white snow. Upon seeing Ved, the two instinctively let go of each other's hands.
"Hey, Ved!" Michael exclaimed in an unusually cheerful voice. "Looks like you're ready to head out too!"
"Hmm?" Anthony Goldstein emerged from behind Ved, curious about their conversation. "What's this about going out?"
"Oh, er..." Realizing he had let something slip, Michael laughed awkwardly. "Of course, I meant going out for a walk! The snow-covered landscape is just too beautiful to miss!"
Anthony eyed him suspiciously. "You're not planning to sneak out during Hogsmeade weekend, are you? I'm telling you, it's not worth it! Filch has already caught several students."
"Oh?" Michael asked with a laugh. "Who's that foolish?"
"A few first-year Gryffindors," Anthony replied. "They thought that by bundling up in thick clothes, they could avoid being spotted by Filch in this cold weather."
"Gryffindors, huh? That doesn't surprise me," Michael said seriously. "But I assure you, I have no intention of breaking the rules. I just want to enjoy the snow."
"Of course, of course," Anthony agreed. "The snow-covered scenery is truly enchanting!"
Suddenly, a voice that seemed to bounce with enthusiasm interrupted their conversation. Michael and Anthony reflexively took a step back, but a hand reached out and rested on their shoulders.
"Let's see who we have here... Michael and Anthony! Two of my favorite students!"
Gilderoy Lockhart beamed at the two students and then looked around. "Oh, and Padma! Were you three worried that you wouldn't see me before Christmas?"
"Don't worry! Don't worry! Although I must attend an important event in France during the Christmas holidays, I will definitely be back in January to teach you all! I promise, my dear students!"
The three students managed to force a smile and politely greeted him. "Good morning, Professor."
"Yes, yes, good morning," Lockhart said, nodding absently as his eyes scanned the crowd. Finally, he spotted who he was looking for. "Come here, Colin! Come and take a picture for us!"
"Yes, Professor," Colin Creevey eagerly responded as he ran over with his ever-present camera.
Michael and his friends exchanged glances, wishing for Ved to rescue them from this situation, but he had mysteriously vanished without a trace.
"That sly fellow must have cast a Disregard Charm on himself," Michael muttered to Padma.
Padma nodded randomly, but despite their discomfort, they both found themselves offering bright smiles for the camera.
"Click!" The shutter captured the moment.
"I'll make sure to send you a copy of the photo," Colin said, turning to Lockhart. "Professor, would you like to take a picture with Harry Potter as well?"
"That's exactly what I had in mind!" Lockhart exclaimed excitedly, quickly releasing the students he had just claimed to favor. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Harry.
"Come now, Harry, I'm sure you'd love a photo with me, wouldn't you? Don't be shy, boy. You know I always indulge your little admiration for me!" Lockhart pulled Harry by the arm, forcing him to stand beside him, and struck a pose, flashing his award-winning smile.
Harry shot a desperate, accusing glance at Michael and the others, his eyes pleading, "What are you guys doing? Why are you taking pictures with Lockhart?"
Michael and the others averted their gazes, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Gilderoy Lockhart continued to remind Harry to strike a charming pose, but Harry had no interest in cooperating. Only Colin was excitedly snapping pictures with his camera.
Michael felt sorry for Harry and quietly pulled Padma's hand, signaling that they should take the opportunity to slip away.
The two squeezed through the crowd, and suddenly, Michael hesitated.
Draco Malfoy stood in the corner, his arms crossed as he watched the commotion with a cold gaze.
Michael suddenly realized that it had been a long time since Malfoy had gone to find trouble with Harry in his usual arrogant manner.
Not only Harry, but even Neville had been left alone lately.
Ever since Crabbe and Goyle stopped trailing after Malfoy like dumb minions, the presence of the Slytherin student had diminished significantly.
Michael shook his head, not giving it further thought, and walked away with Padma up the stairs.
Soon after, Crabbe and Goyle passed by in the corridor.
Goyle was holding a few cakes, eating them as a post-breakfast treat, while Crabbe lectured him in a tone that mimicked Malfoy—
"You should be more clever, Gregory!" Crabbe said in annoyance. "It's because you're so stupid that Tracy and her friends made fun of us..."
Goyle nodded vaguely, not really listening to what he was saying.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them.
"Vincent, Gregory."
Malfoy looked at them with a gloomy expression.
"Oh, Draco." Goyle stopped and stared at Malfoy blankly, walking towards him and asking, "Have you eaten breakfast?"
Crabbe pulled Goyle back, his expression turning ugly as he spoke to Malfoy, "Don't think for a second that we'll still be your lackeys and follow your orders, Draco! You and your father are just rich, that's all. I'm far more talented than you!"
Malfoy looked at this once companion, his foolishness almost amusing.
"More talented than me? Are you sure about that?"
He drew out the words, his wand raised.
From a distance, a Slytherin student from the higher grades leaned against the railing, watching the scene unfold below with a smile.
...
The waves crashed against the black rocks, and the sea near the cliff was piled with foam, drifting back and forth with the tide.
The air was filled with the salty scent of the ocean. On the steep cliff, a flash of scarlet light suddenly appeared, and two figures materialized.
"Oh, it's here..."
Dumbledore surveyed the surroundings, his long beard and hair billowing in the wind. He had to hold onto his precious beard, which was tied with a golden red bow, to keep it from blowing wildly.
Ved also raised his hand to hold down his hood, lest the wind mess up his hair and make him look like a madman.
The phoenix's fiery light flashed again, and this time, Lupin and Sirius appeared on the cliff.
"Good morning, Dumbledore, Ved."
"Good morning," Dumbledore said with concern. "Sirius, how is your recovery coming along?"
"Much better!"
Sirius showed off his wand and his arm, which now had some muscle on it, thanks to the wand.
"For me, staying active is the real cure! But Lupin here keeps trying to get me to lie down in a hospital bed at St. Mungo's!"
He complained to Dumbledore without a care.
Lupin ignored him and looked down at the protruding rocks in the sea, then at the deserted surroundings, and asked, "Where are we?"
"It's a suburb of London." Ved said, "There's a small village nearby, but it's almost deserted."
Sirius' expression turned solemn as the sea breeze brought back memories of his days in Azkaban.
He tried to suppress the discomfort and took a deep breath before asking, "Are we going to that village?"
"No." Ved pointed downwards, "We need to go below."
"Below?" Sirius stood at the edge of the cliff, looking at the steep cliff and the deep sea below. "We can use Disapparate, but I hope the rocks aren't too slippery."
Lupin reached out to Ved, "I'll take you, Ved."
"No, let me take you both."
Ved opened his backpack and tapped it with his wand. Four old brooms flew out and zoomed towards them.
These brooms were originally kept in the Room of Requirement, and Zoe and the others had given the best one to Ved.
For this trip, Ved had made thorough preparations, which included the four flying brooms, so they wouldn't have to risk using Disapparating onto the rocks or climbing down the slippery cliff.
Sirius Black quickly grabbed a broom and was the first to straddle it. Then, hanging in the air, he heard Ved say,
"Our destination should be nearby. It's a crack near the sea, not too wide, and it might be submerged by the seawater at high tide. There are steps inside, and there's a large cave."
"So we need to find that crack first?" Lupin asked.
"Yes," Ved nodded.
As he spoke, he glanced at Dumbledore's expression, confirming that the old principal had not yet traced the cave where Voldemort hid his Horcrux.
Sirius was a little surprised, partly because he found that the leader was indeed Ved, even with Dumbledore by his side; and partly because of Ved's vague statement.
He knew there was such a place, but had he ever been here?
Who told him about it?
Sirius wondered naturally.
Seeing that Lupin and Dumbledore didn't ask anything, he suppressed his doubts and, with a kick of his foot, rode the broom and dived down from the cliff.
Soon after, Ved, Lupin, and Dumbledore followed.
They were like four swift swifts, weaving through the waves and rocks.
The sunlight shone on the cliff wall, reflecting off the smooth stones like mirrors, and sometimes casting a shadow behind them.
Before long, Ved and the others heard Lupin's voice: "—It's here!"
He shouted, and when everyone looked over, his wand tip emitted a red beam of light that pierced the darkness and was swallowed by the black crevice.
The group flew over.
The crack was only a little over a meter wide and looked like a narrow, black stone slab from above. The seawater slapped against the rough rocks on both sides, and the walls were covered in slimy-looking algae.
The beam of light penetrated the darkness, seemingly extending to the depths of the cliff.
Ved hovered at the entrance of the cave, wondering how Lupin had found it so quickly, and even more curious about how much effort the original plot Dumbledore had put into confirming that Voldemort had hidden a Horcrux here.
Unfortunately, in the end, it was all for naught.
The sound of the waves filled the air, and no one felt much like talking. They lowered their brooms, hunched over, and slowly flew into the narrow crevice, their shoulders and arms occasionally brushing against the seaweed on the walls.
As they went deeper, the crevice widened, until they saw a few rough stone steps and a massive cave ahead.
"Lumos!"
Sirius raised his wand high, and the dazzling light spread, illuminating the entire cave.
"Looks like there's nothing here," he muttered.
The sound waves bounced off the walls, and Sirius was startled by how loud his voice was.
Lupin was also examining the surrounding rocks, but to no avail. Then he looked at the other two.
Dumbledore's expression could only be described as ecstatic. He seemed to have forgotten about the people around him and was focused entirely on examining the walls and ceiling of the cave.
He even walked slowly around the cave twice, his fingers trailing along the walls, mouthing strange incantations in an unfamiliar language, occasionally stopping to feel around a particular spot.
It was clear that Dumbledore had found something that the others had not.
What truly surprised them, however, was Ved.
The twelve-year-old student had also apparently discovered something. He didn't walk around, but his eyes slowly moved along the walls, and there seemed to be a strange light flickering in his eyes.
Lupin and Sirius exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of defeat and shock.
But instead of shouting and demanding answers, they made the light brighter and remained silent so as not to disturb Dumbledore and Ved.
After a long while, Dumbledore stopped. He turned to the group and asked Ved, "Ved, what have you found?"
Ved walked over and placed his palm on the wall. "The entrance should be here."
Dumbledore looked at him with a mixture of surprise and delight, then nodded. "Indeed, this is just the foyer. Someone has hidden the entrance with magic."
"But who did this, Dumbledore?" Sirius couldn't help but ask. "Who would set up magic in such a secluded place?"
"I do have a guess, Sirius," Dumbledore said, pointing his wand at the rocks. "But I think there's no need to announce the answer now—inside, we will surely find what we seek."
(End of Chapter)
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