Chapter 236: Unforgivable Sins
Chapter 236: Unforgivable Sins
Hek had always been a good-natured person.
He was the least Silencer-like Silencer in the German Ministry of Magic.
He never acted as aloof as his colleagues.
He maintained good relationships with his coworkers in departments other than the Department of Mysteries.
Hek enjoyed making friends and could get along with anyone over a few drinks at the pub.
However, he always remained tight-lipped about his work in the Department of Mysteries.
His friends, being considerate, never probed into a topic that would only lead to awkward silence and unanswered questions.
The working hours of a Silencer were never fixed, which was quite unconventional in the rule-bound, rigid, and serious German Wizarding World.
However, the unique nature of the Department of Mysteries made such irregularity seem more reasonable.
Every Silencer, a wizard dedicated to the study of the most bizarre and mysterious aspects of the Wizarding World, naturally operated outside the norms.
At one o'clock in the morning, Hek began his workday.
Unlike his predecessor, the Blind Girl, who could stay in the Department of Mysteries at all times, Hek had a family and always arrived and left on time. He never came to work late or lingered after his shift.
Hek entered the towering German Ministry of Magic, where the Department of Mysteries was located. Their workspace was separate from the regular departments of the Ministry of Magic.
The solitary tower, standing out like a lone pillar, remained invisible to Muggles.
He ascended the spiral staircase, greeting his colleagues along the way with a calm and composed demeanor.
He finally stopped at the 13th floor, a deliberately isolated level.
His usually gentle and peaceful gaze suddenly turned cold and stern, as if he had transformed into a different person.
The tower appeared small from the outside, but the interior was vast. He walked deep into the 13th floor until he reached a room filled with white light.
This entire floor was Hek's workspace, but his responsibility was singular.
On the other side of the room, which was always as bright as daylight, was a glass-enclosed space, or perhaps a cell.
The cell was not occupied by a dangerous criminal but by a scarecrow dressed in tattered robes, holding an old kerosene lamp in one hand and a rusted Scabbers scythe in the other.
The Straw Golem looked ordinary, like a crude creation by a farmer, but every time Hek saw it, he felt a chill run down his spine.
This time, however, he did not avert his gaze. Instead, he stared directly into the sunken, eye-like hollows of the Straw Golem with his numb, hollow eyes.
"I know you are not content."
A voice, cold and devoid of emotion, echoed in the room, starkly different from Hek's usual tone.
"That man shattered your hope of returning to your golden age. You want revenge and to escape once more."
"In this, our goals align. Therefore, my master wishes to make a deal with you."
"Hek" bent down and gently placed a dusty, blood-stained crown on the ground.
"We can help you eliminate the last bit of your inadequacy, but before you kill him, you must take him to meet my master."
His words hung in the air, and the room fell silent once more.
The Straw Golem trapped in the glass case remained motionless, its appearance even more terrifying, resembling the scarecrows in the fields.
"Hek" had said his piece, placed the crown down, and without lingering further, turned and left the room.
As soon as he was gone, the white light scattered throughout the room suddenly extinguished!
The dark space initially remained quiet, but soon, a creaking sound, like wood rubbing against wood, echoed through the darkness.
Two crimson lights slowly illuminated in the darkness, and a hoarse, raspy voice reverberated in the silence.
"Federick! Unforgivable!"
Hermione was eagerly looking forward to the new semester's Arithmetic Divination.
Ever since she took Sybill Trelawney's Divination class, which was shrouded in mystery and relied on wild guesses and dire prophecies, she had grown to appreciate the more rational and logical Arithmetic Divination.
Especially this semester, the class would be taught by Silke. Although Hermione hadn't interacted much with Silke, having only met her once and exchanged just a few words, she felt that someone who could get along with Sherlock, a person of vast knowledge, would likely be a competent teacher.
And her expectations were indeed met.
Silke had prepared extensively for the class. While her previously cold demeanor might not have been suitable for teaching, as she rarely interacted with students, her demeanor had changed significantly after "reuniting" with Sherlock. She was becoming more like a normal young woman.
In terms of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, Silke, who had lived in the Germany Department of Mysteries for over a decade, could easily outshine most Seers from the Houses. Additionally, her classes occasionally included interactive elements, making the first lesson a resounding success.
The dozen or so fourth-year young wizards who had chosen Arithmetic Divination as an elective all expressed their enjoyment of the class.
During the lesson, Hermione, who was observant, noticed the luck potion hanging around Silke's neck. She had seen a similar item on Sherlock before and easily guessed that it must have been a gift from Professor Forrest.
As soon as the class ended, Hermione found Harry and Ron, who were frowning as they emerged from the Divination classroom.
It was clear they hadn't had a good time.
"Silke's class was great, more interesting than Professor Viktor's", Hermione boasted.
Hearing Hermione's praise, Harry and Ron's faces fell even further. Before they could respond, a heavy, cold snort came from nearby.
Professor Trelawney, wearing her glasses and with a thin, stern figure, passed by them with a scowl. She and Hermione had never seen eye to eye, and hearing such a comment only made her mood worse.
Once she was far enough away, Ron whispered, "She made us draw Astrology charts for the entire class and even guessed Harry's birth time wrong. These two lessons were awful."
"We didn't find much information about her method of divination, so we didn't dare write much. Is it just using a bunch of numbers and combinations to make predictions?"
(End of Chapter)
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