Chapter 487: The Riddle House
Chapter 487: The Riddle House
Dumbledore listened quietly until the conversation came to an end.
Sirius Black had not seen the two people speaking; even in his memory, there were only dense shrubs and green leaves swaying around him.
Wormtail's voice was filled with trembling and tension, just as it had always been.
It seemed that even within the ranks of the Death Eaters, Peter Pettigrew had not earned the respect or trust he craved, and Dumbledore was not at all surprised by this.
As for the other person, his voice was hoarse and low, markedly different from the former Barty Crouch Jr. However, they could not conclude from this alone that the person was not Barty Crouch Jr.
After all, if he had not died in Azkaban, the many years that had passed could have brought about immense changes, of which outsiders were completely unaware. He might have used a transformation spell or a potion to change his appearance entirely, living in the outside world under a different identity, known only to his Death Eater comrades.
In fact, if his voice had been exactly the same as Dumbledore remembered, the headmaster would have been certain that the person was an imposter.
Therefore, Dumbledore did not waste time trying to identify the voice but focused instead on the content of the conversation. After listening, he tapped his wand on the Pensieve, and the sounds and images in the air disappeared, leaving only the silver memories swirling calmly.
Sirius Black, unable to contain his impatience, said, "Dumbledore, is that person really Barty Crouch Jr.? Was there something suspicious about his death?"
Dumbledore pondered for a moment before replying, "Voldemort has not yet truly returned, and he must be in a very weakened state. The number of Death Eaters who can still command his trust and easily subdue Gilderoy Lockhart and Garrick Travers is very limited."
For instance, Malfoy was a fence-sitter. Voldemort only allowed him to grovel at his feet when he was powerful. When the Dark Lord was weak, he would never reveal his whereabouts to Malfoy.
Sirius was momentarily speechless.
So... was it really Barty Crouch Jr.? Was there something amiss with his father, Barty Crouch Sr.?
He opened his mouth to ask more questions but suddenly realized that Dumbledore would not easily share his suspicions without concrete evidence.
After all, Barty Crouch Sr. was currently the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Although his prestige had declined, many still held him in higher esteem and trust than Minister Fudge.
"They are after Harry", Sirius said with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Dumbledore, I remember that place. Shouldn't we—"
Sirius made a slashing motion across his throat, his meaning clear.
Dumbledore met his gaze for a moment before saying, "Leave this to me, Sirius. Your task is only one."
"What is it?" Sirius leaned forward, eager to know.
"Protect Harry", Dumbledore said. "That is the most important thing."
...
The heavily locked iron gate opened silently in the stillness. Dumbledore walked through the overgrown garden, his wand moving gently, sending out a wave of invisible energy.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, not even the insects made a sound. Only the cold night breeze continued to blow, causing the old man's silver beard and hair to flutter in the wind.
The courtyard appeared desolate and barren to others, but to Dumbledore, it was brimming with traces of magic.
However, the source of that magic had long since departed.
As he walked past a cabin, he heard the sound of water droplets inside. Dumbledore glanced in and saw an old man lying on the ground, his grayish-white eyes staring blankly at the sky, lifeless.
On the table beside him, an aluminum kettle had been knocked over, spilling clear water that dripped steadily from the edge. Next to the kettle was a plate of half-eaten meat, with a blackened fork carelessly tossed to the side.
Dumbledore crossed the courtyard and tapped the lock on the front door with his wand. After a soft click, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The hallway and foyer were covered in dust and had a musty, decaying odor, suggesting that no one had entered for a long time.
Following the trail of magic, he began to climb the stairs. Reaching the top, he walked down the corridor and finally came to a room that had been meticulously maintained.
The room was spotless, with thick curtains blocking the sunlight and a soft Persian carpet on the floor. The firewood in the fireplace hadn't burned out completely, and flickering embers could still be seen.
On a nearby table, there were a cup and a small bowl. The porcelain bowl contained a delicate silver spoon, and at the bottom, there was a small amount of white liquid, which looked like a rare potion.
Dumbledore took a step forward, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Suddenly, a crimson light glowed beneath the carpet, hidden by the soft, long fibers. If it weren't for the night, it would have been almost imperceptible.
"Boom—"
If someone had been standing in the courtyard and looked up at that moment, they would have seen a thick, dark green cloud of smoke burst from one of the rooms upstairs.
Then, as if time were rewinding, the ominous smoke quickly retracted, leaving only a faint, foul smell in the air.
Shortly after, Dumbledore descended the stairs. Apart from his hat being slightly askew, he looked no different from when he had gone up.
Next, Dumbledore visited the nearby cemetery and, as expected, found a grave that had split open, with the bones inside missing.
The old man stood beside the empty grave and sighed silently.
He was becoming increasingly certain that the person helping Voldemort with his resurrection was Barty Crouch Jr.
Voldemort was a proud and arrogant man. Even if Lockhart and Travers had intruded on his hiding place, after interrogating them and discovering they were just desperate fugitives, he might have killed them or forced them into his service, but he wouldn't have rushed to move.
However, Barty Crouch Jr., who had experienced imprisonment, escape, and years of hiding without being exposed, was cautious and would have chosen a safer approach.
Dumbledore had learned from some Death Eaters that Barty had once been very close to Voldemort. Voldemort treated him like a son, and the young man regarded Voldemort as his father.
Therefore, Barty had the potential to persuade Voldemort to choose a safer plan, which other Death Eaters might not have.
They had even taken the remains of Tom Riddle, Voldemort's father.
But this action left Dumbledore feeling somewhat uneasy.
If they didn't want to reveal their hiding place, why would the cowardly Wormtail have led Lockhart and Travers there?
Standing in the desolate cemetery, Dumbledore squinted his eyes and gazed into the distance, his fingers gently caressing the ancient wand, recalling every detail.
(End of Chapter)
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