Chapter 373: The Three Broomsticks
Chapter 373: The Three Broomsticks
Voldemort nodded, "It's likely that a Muggle organization is behind this."
"Then... won't those people be punished?" Harry said angrily, "Those Muggles who experimented on werewolves and produced the hormones..."
Although Harry had grown up in the Muggle world, the harsh environment he lived in made him feel little connection to Muggles.
He was a wizard, and his parents and friends were all wizards. As for his Muggle relatives, the Dursleys, they were among the people he hated the most in this world.
But after Harry finished speaking, he noticed the room had fallen silent, and no one spoke.
Harry looked at them in confusion and saw Sirius and Lupin with grim expressions, while Voldemort's face was unreadable.
"Is that wrong?" Harry looked at the group, stubbornly continuing, "I don't believe Muggles are innocent in this matter! Even if the vampires forced them, extracting hormones is not a skill that ordinary people can master..."
"Harry," Voldemort said, "According to the information I received, the Muggle organization is not just a participant—they are the masterminds. The vampires you believe to be the culprits are actually under their control."
Harry was stunned, "But... how is that possible? They're vampires! Muggles can't use magic..."
"There are many ways to control people, not just through magic," Voldemort explained, "Money, power, beauty, family... As long as people have desires, they can easily be led, regardless of whether they have magic or not."
Lupin and Sirius were both surprised.
Sirius paused, then suddenly asked, "Voldemort, are you going to meet Machione later?"
"Yes."
"Oh..." Sirius turned to Lupin and said, "You go with Voldemort... Otherwise, I'm worried that dog will spread his dirty thoughts everywhere..."
This time, Lupin didn't refute Sirius' habit of giving people inappropriate nicknames but nodded seriously.
Voldemort: "..."
"Don't change the subject!" Harry asked angrily, "Don't the Muggles behind this deserve to be investigated? They must have more of those hormones. I think this is the most important and dangerous issue right now!"
"Harry..." Lupin sighed and said, "It's not that we're not taking it seriously, but investigations involving Muggles must be handled with extreme caution..."
Harry looked at him, his eyes showing a hint of confusion.
Sirius patted his head and ruffled his hair like he was treating a puppy.
"Harry, these things aren't for you to worry about. We'll handle it—are you hungry? Would you like a Madeleine? I went to a French pastry shop in London this morning just to get these."
Harry knew he was being brushed off, and his annoyance was evident, but when the scent of butter and lemon filled his nostrils, his stomach honestly grumbled.
Sirius couldn't help but laugh.
Voldemort noticed that as they spent more time together, the 'fatherly' aura around Sirius became more pronounced, making him seem more mature.
Perhaps the matters of James Potter and Regulus had caused this free-spirited man to finally start growing up and learning what responsibility meant.
When Harry picked up the Madeleine, he glanced at Voldemort beside him, and a flash of realization crossed his mind.
He stopped insisting on getting a straight answer from Lupin and Sirius and began to enjoy the delicious food seriously.
Since Voldemort showed no surprise at the attitudes of the two adults, it meant he knew the reason behind it.
Harry even suspected that Vold knew more intelligence than Sirius.
If that was the case, why was he still obsessed with the two adults who were just going through the motions with him? He could always ask Vold again when they returned to school.
...
After lunch, Lupin did indeed accompany Vold out.
Having just recovered from a serious illness, he looked particularly frail in the sunlight. People they encountered along the way greeted Lupin with concern, asking if he was feeling unwell.
"I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately," Lupin replied gently. "But it's nothing serious; I'm already on the mend."
Vold couldn't help but feel relieved at this. It was fortunate that Carrel and the others had chosen to act at night, so the people of Hogsmeade didn't realize that the crazed werewolf was Lupin.
Lupin seemed to know what Vold was thinking and naturally said, "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks. Mrs. Rosmerta seems to have realized, and she's been avoiding me lately."
Vold's steps toward the Three Broomsticks paused, and he changed direction.
"Didn't she tell anyone?"
"Well... yes, that's right... She probably isn't sure yet, just suspicious."
"Has she been tracking you?"
"No, she hasn't... But if I don't show up around the next full moon, she'll likely be certain... We're here, come in."
Vold looked up at the shabby sign and the greasy felt hanging beside it. After a moment of hesitation, he gathered his courage and stepped inside.
A strong sheepish smell hit him, and the windows were covered in thick grime. The stone floor seemed to have never been cleaned and was almost turning into mud.
There were a few customers in the bar, their faces completely hidden. They glanced over at the sound of the door, saw a regular man and a child, and then lost interest, turning away.
The bar owner emerged from behind the counter, his tone unfriendly. "What do you want?"
It sounded like he was saying, "What are you looking at?"
Vold took a good look at this man. His features were hidden behind messy gray hair and a long beard, with deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. The only clean thing on him was the pair of glasses perched on his nose.
This was Aberforth Dumbledore, Dumbledore's brother.
It was hard to imagine that these two men were actually brothers.
But when he looked at them with a preconceived notion, he found that the brothers actually bore a strong resemblance to each other.
"Please give us a room upstairs," Lupin said.
Aberforth's sharp blue eyes fixed on Vold for a moment, then shifted to Lupin with an oppressive gaze, saying nothing.
Lupin lowered his voice. "We're meeting a friend, Marco Machione."
—Although Lupin's house was nearby, when conducting business, they wouldn't invite each other to their homes.
Upon hearing the name, Aberforth's expression softened, and he muttered, "Three Galleons, pay in advance."
Lupin placed the money on the counter, and Aberforth tossed it into the cash register before leading the two of them upstairs. The stairs creaked loudly, indicating their dilapidated state.
As they climbed the stairs, Vold's steps suddenly halted.
He noticed a portrait of a young girl above the pub fireplace mantel. She was slender and pale, appearing gentle and well-behaved.
Vold had seen her in Dumbledore's illusion—Ariana Dumbledore.
"What's wrong?" Lupin asked, turning back.
"Nothing," Vold replied, catching up with the two in front.
One more chapter tonight.
(End of Chapter)
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