Chapter 491: The Hat and the Ring
Chapter 491: The Hat and the Ring
"Click—"
Several young wizards, wands at the ready, glared at a portly man holding a slightly smoking large camera, which had just made the noise.
"Bozo, take a few more shots", Rita Skeeter commanded, trembling with excitement. This was big news, easily comparable to the Ilvermorny student protests in France, and perhaps even more significant—while the American Congress of Magic's president didn't resign then, Fudge's downfall seemed almost certain to Rita Skeeter.
She looked up and found herself the center of attention.
"The public needs the truth, um—rest assured, I will report it faithfully", she said with a falsely sweet smile.
Rita Skeeter was wearing a dark red robe today, its hem adorned with some sequins that were not particularly noticeable in the night—certainly more subdued than her previous appearances. This was why many young wizards hadn't noticed her.
Harry noticed her nails had changed from a bright red to a deep green.
"Annoying person—" Ron muttered, then added, "Actually, it's not that bad. She was pretty annoying at first, but she's been decent, even helping us a few times. It's strange..."
Colin snorted beside him.
"What?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"Haven't you been following her recent reports?" Cedric stammered. "After a few months of silence, she started publishing a lot of articles, spreading rumors about the heroes and their private lives..." Cho had even had a few disagreements with him over this, but it was a happy problem.
The short photographer named Bozo was quiet but had a short temper. "Move aside, this is a prize-winning photo—" he grumbled, shoving a young wizard aside to find the right angle. With a few "clicks" and puffs of purple smoke, Fudge's large face was captured on film.
At that moment, Felix emerged from a temporary tent, cleared his throat, and looked around.
"Professor, you're awake!"
"Professor Hep—"
"That's great!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exclaimed in surprise, each shifting their gaze from Rita Skeeter's wavy hair and the constant stream of purple smoke from her camera to Felix.
"Thank you, thank you", Felix said. "You really did help a lot. If my... treatment... had been interrupted, it would have caused significant issues." Harry and the others instantly understood the unspoken meaning in his words.
The other students picked up on the truth in Hermione's earlier statements. They waved their wands joyfully, and Fred loudly proclaimed, "This is what we should do, Professor. You've saved us from so many detentions."
The serious atmosphere was broken by Fred's jest, surprisingly, many students nodded in agreement.
"Professor Hep taught me the Fishbone Extraction Charm—"
"He knows everything about the creatures in the Black Lake!"
"Legend has it that the House-elves in the kitchen have a mysterious recipe book, contributed by Professor Hep—"
"No wonder I often hear about Professor Hep and Walen having midnight snacks..."
"Professor Hep caught me sneaking into the Forbidden Forest but didn't give me detention. Instead, he invited me to explore the forest with him... We encountered a terrifying Acromantula, and I had nightmares for two days! Looking back, it might have been Professor Hep's plan..."
"Tricky, Professor!"
The students chattered excitedly. Professor Mcgonagall's lips were tightly pressed into a thin line, her stern gaze shifting between the students and Felix.
"Let it be, Minerva. Look how popular he is", Professor Flitwick said with a smile.
"To put it bluntly, he's leading by example, but I didn't see anything..." Professor Mcgonagall hesitated, "We can only let it go this time, but no more in the future."
Once the noise died down, Felix turned his attention to Fudge and the Ministry of Magic Aurors. They stood motionless, like jack-o'-lanterns in the Great Hall at Christmas.
"May I say a few words in my defense—" Felix said. "If the Minister still believes I should be held responsible for tonight's events, I am willing to cooperate."
"Professor!" Harry looked at him anxiously.
"It's fine", Felix shook his head at them, hesitating for a moment as he looked at the three dirty faces close by. He then turned to Hermione and said, "Hermione Granger, can you help me with something?"
Hermione nodded eagerly.
Felix glanced into her eyes, and a brief flash of Mind Chamber Magic passed between them. Then, he drew his wand and placed it in front of her. Hermione reached out to grab it, and the tip of the wand began to emit tendrils of mist, which were encased in a soap-bubble-like structure, gradually expanding as the mist filled it.
"Imagine the most vivid memory from tonight", Felix said, though he had already communicated the specifics with Hermione in the Mind Chamber.
When the soap bubble grew to the size of a human head, Felix severed its connection to the wand. The bubble glowed brightly in the dark night sky, slowly floating upward.
"I think I see some figures", a young wizard watching the bubble said.
"Me too."
As the bubble rose to a height of about thirty feet, the several hundred people around could clearly see it. At that moment, Felix waved his wand, and the bubble burst with a "pop." The mist inside fluttered down like snowflakes, forming a dynamic scene.
Everyone saw Harry, and a fleeting glimpse of Ron, tied to a black tombstone. This was clearly the perspective of an observer, and combined with the professor's actions, it was likely what Hermione had seen.
In the scene, Harry was covered in dust, his back turned to them, and he shouted with intense emotion, "You don't dare use the Killing Curse on me, do you! You fear the magic my mother gave me with her life, worried that the spell will rebound on you again, and then you'll be finished! A complete joke!"
Everyone watched in rapt attention. Then they saw the person facing Harry, and many students and Aurors gasped.
They saw a nightmarish face, even paler than a skull, with blood-red eyes and what should have been a nose now just two thin slits, like a snake. He wore a thin black robe, the fabric fluttering in the night breeze, revealing a skeletal frame.
"The Dark Lord!" someone cried out in panic, "He's really back!"
The adults, including the professors, Aurors, and visitors from other schools, all wore serious expressions. Some might have only heard stories of Voldemort's terror, and others might not have heard of him at all, but the oppressive presence of the figure in the scene was unmistakable.
Even the mere knowledge of "returning from the dead" was enough to put them on high alert.
In the scene, Voldemort's red eyes fixed on Harry, as if staring at everyone present. Then, he smiled terrifyingly and cast a spell, "Cruciatus Curse!"
Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, and some people couldn't bear to watch. However, Harry managed to withstand the curse, standing firm without falling, and even dared to taunt Voldemort. Everyone held their breath, and Sirius Black clenched his teeth, his eyes fixed on Voldemort's shadow.
Voldemort was clearly enraged by Harry's provocation, and he shouted the Cruciatus Curse again. At that moment, a red light descended from the sky, blocking the curse in front of Harry.
"It's Professor Hep!"
"He's in the air, it's incredible—"
"Don't be amazed, didn't you see his silver wings during the second task?"
"I just didn't expect that thing to actually fly!"
The scene ended there. Felix didn't intend to show the entire process, partly to avoid revealing Voldemort's full power and thus eroding people's confidence, and partly because he didn't want the details of his own resurrection to spread.
He glanced at Rita Skeeter, who was extending her pudgy finger to signal the photographer to take a photo.
He needed only a segment that clearly demonstrated Voldemort's cruelty.
"That's all for now", Felix said in the oppressive silence, "Just a piece of evidence, not definitive proof, and Granger's condition is a bit poor..."
Hermione promptly gasped for breath.
"...I have more evidence, more reliable than memory, but it might have to wait until the trial", he said, looking at Fudge for approval. Fudge's face was ashen, as if he hadn't heard a word.
"Of course not", Dumbledore said gently, "I will convene a meeting of the Wizengamot in my capacity as Chief Warlock, and Felix, I hope you will attend to testify."
"This is what I should do."
Felix said cooperatively.
Fudge was still muttering to himself, "He's back—really back—how—how is that possible—"
"Minister, do you have any more questions? Or are you worried I might run away before the meeting?" Felix asked.
Fudge's lips quivered, and he shivered uncontrollably, "No... no..." He managed to force a stiff smile, but someone rudely interrupted him. It was Madam Pomfrey, who had been waiting for a long time.
"Well—finally over, thank goodness!" She quickly approached Harry and the others, "You need treatment. It's been hours. Do you really think the Cruciatus Curse is easy to withstand?" She pushed them along, like herding ducks, guiding Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Ouch—" Ron cried out in pain, "Easy, Madam Pomfrey."
"Just a moment ago, you were being such a hero", Madam Pomfrey said disapprovingly, looking at him, "That's an Unforgivable Curse—"
"But I only hurt my leg", Ron said, looking at her pitifully.
"… Fine, you're right. I won't argue with a patient…" She muttered, leading the three of them to a nearby temporary tent for treatment.
Dumbledore also arranged for the professors to escort the students back to the castle.
"Although I greatly appreciate the integrity and bravery you displayed tonight, I must remind you that it is very late. Go back and get some sleep. No classes will be scheduled during the last week of the school year…"
The students cheered loudly. Then a few of them yawned, and it seemed contagious; soon, everyone was yawning and feeling drowsy.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Fudge quietly slipped away like a fat rat.
"Wait, Minister, you forgot your hat—" George picked up a dusty hat from the ground and shouted, Fudge turned around woodenly, and the hat, under the influence of a spell, flew toward him and hit his nose.
The students chuckled at the sight.
The Aurors showed no reaction, dragging their heavy feet as they left.
"Diggory", Felix, satisfied with Fudge's embarrassment, called out to an Auror walking behind, "Please tell Madam Bones that I will visit her in the next few days."
Diggory nodded.
Fudge, who had also heard this, paused in his steps, but he did not turn around. His pace became even more unsteady, and he stumbled twice before disappearing from Felix's sight.
"I used to get along with him quite well", Dumbledore said softly, gazing into the distance, "When he first became Minister, he would often seek my advice and help. Later, his confidence grew, and he could make decisions on his own. Perhaps due to his aversion to the cautious and careful period, he became enamored with power and watched everyone who might threaten his position with suspicion…"
"Albus", Felix smiled slightly, "I'm already looking forward to a future without Fudge."
...
Late at night.
The room was dimly lit, and the portraits of the former Headmasters on the walls were snoring.
Dumbledore sat in his chair behind the desk, lost in thought. The silver instruments on the desk made a soft clattering sound. After a while, he opened the left drawer, where a locket and a wand were placed.
Both items were related to Voldemort—the locket was one of his Horcruxes, and the wand was his yew wand, which Dumbledore had confiscated from old Crouch on Christmas night.
But now, another ring had been added to the drawer. It was large, made of what seemed to be gold, with rough craftsmanship, and embedded with a heavy, cracked black stone.
"The Resurrection Stone… not yet", Dumbledore murmured softly, his fingers brushing over the black gem on the ring.
He closed the drawer with great restraint, breathing heavily.
"You're getting old, Dumbledore", the Sorting Hat said from the shelf.
"Thank you for the reminder", Dumbledore smiled. Then he fell silent again, "One left, or two?" After a moment of silence, he waved his wand, summoning a silver Phoenix Patronus, and said calmly, "Severus, come to my office."
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
