Chapter 411: Bait

Chapter 411: Bait

Bella, accompanied by five Death Eaters including Lucius, appeared at the back wall of the orphanage.

The fact that they could Apparate here proved that they had already reconnoitered the area.

Despite her husband's capture, Bella showed no sign of being affected. She had no intention of rescuing Rodolphus, who was still unknown to her location, and even mocked his incompetence in front of the other Death Eaters and Voldemort.

Since becoming a devoted follower of Voldemort, Bella had no place for Rodolphus in her heart.

Though they were technically married, their relationship was now nothing more than a formality.

"I hope no one messes up today", Bella said, her voice sharp and cold, as she glared at the Death Eaters beside her.

"Master has been waiting for this opportunity. From the moment we appear here, I don't want a single fly to escape!"

The other four Death Eaters nodded in agreement, but Lucius's face was pale. He stared at Bella, his lips trembling as he spoke.

"We will complete all the tasks Master has assigned us, but remember, Bella, Master also said that my son's safety must be ensured!"

Bella's lips curled into a disdainful sneer, clearly finding Lucius's words contemptible, but she replied, "Of course, I know that is also Master's order."

Lucius's expression did not improve much upon hearing her words. He left with two of the Death Eaters, while Bella took the other two in another direction.

At the same time, inside Hogwarts.

Snape, with a face more grim than ever, hurriedly entered the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore was reading a document from the International Confederation of Wizards. Seeing Snape enter, he straightened up.

"The Dark Lord has been acting very strangely lately. It seems he is deliberately avoiding me and plotting something with his followers."

Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowed at Snape's words.

"Is there more information?"

Snape took a deep breath.

"Lucius found me this morning using Floo Powder. He looked panicked, repeatedly emphasizing that he hopes I can protect his son."

"Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes. And three days ago, Narcissa forced me to become his son's godfather. Since the Dark Lord ordered me to stay at Hogwarts and not leave, I used this as an excuse to temporarily decline."

Dumbledore's sapphire eyes were deep in thought.

"We have always known Draco was given a special task. Initially, both Sherlock and I believed he was using Sherlock as a stepping stone, with the ultimate goal being me. After all, I have always been his greatest threat."

Snape's face was grave.

"But the actions Sherlock took during the summer have significantly diminished his reputation in the Wizarding World. Given his character, he is likely to target Sherlock first and insist on killing him personally to restore his lost reputation."

Dumbledore murmured, "If the target is Harry, he can break the long-standing prophecy in the Wizarding World. If the target is me, he can directly eliminate the only person who can face him in the Wizarding World. And regardless of whether it's me or Harry, he can gain tremendous prestige. If he chooses Sherlock, not only can he restore his lost infamy, but he might also have a chance to rid himself of Selena's soul fragment that has been lurking in his soul for a long time. But why is he so confident he can kill Sherlock?"

Snape saw no sign of urgency in Dumbledore. Given the current situation, Sherlock was out of Hogwarts with Draco, and Voldemort's long-planned ambush might very well be aimed at him.

"Sherlock told me that he is not yet capable of facing the Dark Lord. His success last time was purely due to an information advantage and a bit of luck", Snape said, his tone clearly anxious.

Dumbledore, however, managed a smile at this moment.

"That was last June."

Snape did not understand what Dumbledore meant. It had been less than a year since last June; how much could Sherlock's magic have improved?

Even a genius couldn't possibly reach the level of being able to confront Voldemort head-on in such a short time.

Dumbledore didn't explain much to Snape. He turned his head and softly spoke to a portrait on the wall.

"Dumbledore's portrait (Delores), could you go to the Ministry of Magic for me? Tell Minister Scrimgeour that I have something very important to discuss with him and that I will be heading to his office shortly. Make sure he clears his schedule."

A kind witch nodded in response and disappeared from the portrait frame in the next second.

"Phineas", he called out to another portrait, "help me bring Minerva over and ask her to hurry."

The usually grumbling, thin old man in the portrait didn't utter a single complaint this time and immediately left the Headmaster's Office, traveling through the portraits.

After taking care of these two tasks, Dumbledore seemed to notice Snape's anxiety and smiled slightly. He knew that although Snape and Sherlock often insulted each other and neither would admit the other's superiority, they actually had a good relationship.

"Don't worry so much, Severus. Sherlock and I aren't fools. We are well aware that the Death Eaters' recent inactivity must be part of a plan, and that plan must involve me, Harry, and Sherlock."

Snape, with a blank expression, replied.

"I'm not worried. I just want to know why, if you were already on guard, you allowed Sherlock and Draco to go out so easily."

Dumbledore crossed his hands and placed them on the desk, the crescent-shaped glasses reflecting a white light.

"Voldemort is looking for an opportunity to strike, wanting to remove the three thorns in his side. We, on the other hand, are struggling to find their hidden base."

Snape's face suddenly changed, and Dumbledore continued.

"He thinks you are still useful but remains wary and doesn't fully trust you, keeping you at Hogwarts and rarely letting you attend large Death Eater gatherings."

"Is Sherlock deliberately taking Draco out every week to use himself as bait to lure the Dark Lord out?"

"He takes Draco out because he believes this child can still be saved", Dumbledore said calmly. "According to his initial plan, if Draco still has a bit of conscience left, he won't reveal that he and Sherlock go to the Muggle orphanage to volunteer every week. If Draco has truly become beyond redemption..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but even without it, Snape knew what would happen if Draco were truly beyond saving.

The current situation was heading in that direction.

Sherlock, upon receiving the message at the dilapidated house where Mad-Eye Moody and the others were stationed, immediately took action.

"Send Dobby and Kreacher to the orphanage to bring all the children to safety. Then, according to our pre-prepared plan, have everyone on standby in the Order of the Phoenix come over."

Mad-Eye Moody and Lupin's faces were serious in response to the sudden situation, while Sirius Black looked excited.

He had clearly been waiting for this day.

As Sherlock spoke, an invisible magical power began to gather from all directions, quickly forming a large dome that covered a three-kilometer radius around the orphanage.

Each of the four present was familiar with this magical power.

Anti-Apparition magic!

The six wizards who arrived had immediately sealed the area, clearly with hostile intent.

Even if they couldn't yet confirm that these six wizards were Death Eaters, Sherlock and the others would prepare for the worst.

Without hesitation, Sherlock, Mad-Eye Moody, and Sirius Black left the dilapidated house and ran toward the orphanage, leaving Lupin to contact Kreacher and Dobby using a special method they had prepared.

The atmosphere at the orphanage was still peaceful, and the Muggles couldn't sense the magical power. When they saw Sherlock enter the orphanage with a one-legged, one-eyed old man and a middle-aged man with curly hair, Mrs. Chris was surprised but not overly worried, thanks to her trust in Sherlock.

"Mr. Forrest, are these two your friends?"

Sherlock didn't have time to introduce Mad-Eye Moody and Sirius Black to the others, as at that moment, with a loud "pop", Dobby and Kreacher, the two house-elves, appeared between them.

The sudden appearance of these non-human beings startled most of the children, except for the youngest ones who were still too young to fully understand what was happening. Even Mrs. Chris and Haley were taken aback, instinctively shielding the children in the middle.

"Dobby is here to report, sir."

Dobby, dressed in neat clothes, bowed to Sherlock, while the older Kreacher gave Sirius Black a wary and disdainful look before bowing and addressing him.

"Master Sirius Black."

Sherlock instructed the two house-elves to each take a few children and Apparate away from the orphanage.

Even though Mrs. Chris trusted Sherlock, she naturally wouldn't easily follow his instructions in such a situation. Sherlock had to cast a Confundus Charm on her, making her believe that everything was fine.

But just as all the children were about to leave, he suddenly noticed something was wrong.

"Where are Draco and Tracy?"

The Confundus Charm made Mrs. Chris answer truthfully.

"They left the cafeteria together after dinner. They should be in one of the classrooms by now."

Sherlock furrowed his brow. His Control Magic covered the entire orphanage, and he quickly located them near the wall.

"Dobby, you and Kreacher take the children away first, then come back for another trip."

"Dobby understands."

In the next moment, Dobby and Kreacher left with the children from the orphanage.

Sirius Black looked at Sherlock.

"Is it the Malfoy boy who informed the Death Eaters of your location? And now he's taken a Muggle girl as a hostage?"

That was the most logical assumption, but Sherlock didn't think it was the truth.

If Draco had planned to report their location to Voldemort from the start, why would he have agreed to work on the farm with Sherlock?

Was it all an act to lull him into a false sense of security?

Sherlock didn't believe Draco had such flawless acting skills. If he did, Draco wouldn't have appeared so nervous when he first approached Sherlock's desk at Hogwarts.

"Let's find those two children first."

With that, Sherlock ran toward the location where he sensed Draco and Tracy.

Draco and Tracy left the cafeteria together five minutes after Sherlock. Tracy wanted to see the magic trick Draco had shown her before, and Draco, reluctantly, agreed to perform it for her, but only for her.

"Where did the big boss learn magic? Did your parents teach you?"

Tracy asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. She had always been fascinated by the small tricks Draco showed her.

Although Draco hadn't yet graduated from Hogwarts, he was well aware of the Ministry of Magic's enforcement of the International Statute of Secrecy. Hogwarts students were forbidden from using magic outside the school, but Draco knew that the trace the Ministry used to monitor young wizards couldn't precisely identify the individual casting spells. With Sherlock, an adult wizard, nearby, there would be no trouble.

However, even the proud Draco wouldn't dare to reveal the existence of magic or Hogwarts to a Muggle, even a six- or seven-year-old child.

In English, whether it was a magic trick or actual magic, it was all "magic", so Draco didn't need to correct Tracy's terminology.

"Like you said, I learned it from the same places as the magic masters you see in the newspapers. My family has passed it down, but the magic I know isn't for show, like a circus monkey performing for others."

As they spoke, they reached a corner of the orphanage yard. It was the afternoon nap time, and few children would be there. If Draco hadn't been with her, Mrs. Chris wouldn't have let Tracy wander alone in the yard.

With a bit of pride, Draco drew his wand, ready to perform a more impressive transfiguration for Tracy.

Suddenly, the wall beside them exploded!

A woman with black curly hair, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and madness, appeared with two black-robed figures wearing iron masks.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end