Chapter 550: Influence
Chapter 550: Influence
Late into the night, Hogsmeade Village had quieted down when Felix suddenly moved.
He stood up from his chair and took a step, appearing on a massive stone in the Hogwarts Mountains. The night wind howled through the forest, and the cries of unknown beasts echoed. Felix turned and looked at the large opening in the cliff face, where a figure wearing a hood blended into the darkness.
The Wizard lifted the hood, revealing Lucius Malfoy's pale, gaunt face.
Felix carefully observed Malfoy's expression for a moment before quietly asking, "Voldemort lost his temper?"
"Received a few Cruciatus Curses", Lucius tried to sound nonchalant, "but this was the best outcome. I nearly couldn't hold back from exposing myself. That would have ruined everything."
"What reason did you give to get away with it?" Felix asked curiously. "To be honest, you were a bit tougher than I expected. From the time I passed you the message to now, ten hours have passed. I was waiting for you to call me to save you or to receive your decision to move your family."
Lucius Malfoy glared at him fiercely.
"I know how important the diary is to him. When he gave it to me, he instructed me to keep it safe and wait for his orders before acting... Tonight, I told him that I was loyal to him and had heard a rumor about his whereabouts three years ago, but he never showed up. So, I decided to take the diary he entrusted to me to Hogwarts, hoping the news of the Chamber being opened would draw his attention..."
Felix pondered Voldemort's mindset.
At that time, Voldemort had already created multiple Horcruxes, and the diary wasn't overly significant to him. Compared to the life-preserving value of the Horcrux itself, he saw the diary more as a weapon.
From the information Lucius had revealed, this seemed to involve an unfinished plan. Perhaps Voldemort intended to use the diary Horcrux to open the Chamber, kill a few students, and take advantage of the chaos to bring down Dumbledore, thereby infiltrating the ancient magical school with his influence.
This task was perfect for Lucius Malfoy, who was a Hogwarts governor at the time, but the timing had to be just right. Therefore, after Voldemort gave the diary to Malfoy, he told him to go home and wait for news. Then... well, not long after, Voldemort disappeared.
"Voldemort summoned you alone?"
"Yes..."
"Did he summon Bellatrix as well?"
Lucius was taken aback. "Yes, one after the other." He thought for a moment. "You mentioning it made me realize how unusual it was. He has been keeping a low profile, summoning followers individually. It's rare for others to be present..."
Felix nodded. "You were probably the first, Bellatrix the second, and after that... it seems Voldemort will be busy tonight. Of course, his temper will only get worse... Lucius?"
Lucius looked at him.
"If Voldemort suddenly summons you again in the next two days, pack your bags and run. But if he holds back, you can stay."
"Why?"
"Because I can't guarantee he won't vent his anger on you", Felix said darkly.
Over the next two days, many Wizards who had participated in the Ancient Runes exchange event left early. Most of these were tourists who had come to witness the birth and development of a new discipline. The events at the conference far exceeded their psychological capacity, and they chose to leave with lingering fear.
When the Ministry of Magic re-registered, over two hundred tents remained unclaimed.
But many more chose to stay.
These people had a simple mindset. They had witnessed a thrilling battle. Honestly, they were already prepared for Dumbledore's strength—after all, he had over half a century of reputation. From the scene, Dumbledore lived up to his title as the "greatest white Wizard."
Surprisingly, it was Felix Hepworth who caught everyone off guard.
He had already gained a certain level of fame in several countries, though people knew him through various means. Some had read his books, others had learned about him through the 'Future World' company, and some had experienced the chaos at the Quidditch World Cup Final Camp and thus knew Felix's name.
If asked to give him a precise label, they would be at a loss. Was he a Muggle research expert? An outstanding businessman? An Ancient Runes professor? Or a memory treatment specialist? They would likely argue among themselves.
Only after the Ancient Runes exchange event concluded did wizards worldwide reach a unified understanding of the name Felix Hepworth: he was a great wizard on the same level as Dumbledore.
When the journalists who attended the event sent their reports back to their home countries, everyone was stunned. A steady stream of people rushed over to gather first-hand information.
Historians, Ministry of Magic staff from various countries, newspaper and magazine reporters, members of the Anti-Dark Magic Alliance, and the Alchemists' Guild all applied for entry and hurried to Hogsmeade. They first toured the scorched earth outside the village, snapping photos avidly, then listened to Felix Hepworth personally explain his understanding of Runic Script. In their free time, they would casually interview anyone, trying to learn about the two thrilling battles from those who had witnessed them.
Even before this, the British wizarding community's newspapers had already been in an uproar.
The reporters and photographers who arrived on the first day were busy around the clock. Besides developing photos, they had to write a dozen articles simultaneously. Rita Skeeter once again displayed her professional talent for exaggeration, often churning out vivid and lifelike articles in just a few minutes. However, her writing style was becoming increasingly sensational.
The new editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet found this extremely troublesome.
"Listen to this, 'The Three People Standing at the Top of the World'—how could they include Voldemort?" Hermione read the article title with a look of disgust in the Library.
"In a way, she's not wrong", Ron said with a strange expression. "I remember another article was titled—'The Power of Love Awakens the Boy Who Lived,' tsk tsk."
Harry turned away, feeling embarrassed. He didn't know how to explain his relationship with Ginny to Ron. They hadn't spoken much since the start of the school year, except at the front-line lookout station. But to say they were distant... Harry's thoughts wandered, and he remembered the kiss in the Black Family Manor's underground training room.
"Is Mafalda bothering you again?" Ron asked.
"What?" Harry followed Ron's gaze and, sure enough, saw Mafalda hiding behind a stack of thick books. She looked like a younger version of Hermione in her first year, but Harry could assure that Hermione only matched her in academic competitiveness. In other aspects, such as her pathological curiosity and vindictiveness, Mafalda was far more intense.
"Another Rita Skeeter", Ron said.
"You were saying she was Gilderoy Lockhart a while ago", Hermione shot back.
"What's the difference?" Ron muttered.
At that moment, Harry saw Draco Malfoy enter the Library, looking pale and sickly, sitting alone at a table, lost in thought.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked, as he hadn't seen Malfoy in the past few days.
"Apparently, he's sick. Jordan Lee saw him in the Hospital Wing when he went to stop his nosebleed", Ron said vaguely. Harry immediately realized that Jordan Lee must have risked trying out one of Fred and George's quick-escape candies. He remembered one of the candies was called Blood-Blistering Peppermints.
Ron seemed to forget his intention to bother Harry and leaned in, lowering his voice. "It might be to cover up the fact that he left the school", he said with a meaningful look. "Professor Hep made us swear not to reveal that he was there that day, or he would use magic to seal our mouths."
"Professor never said that!" Hermione exclaimed angrily.
"Alright, it's just a guess", Ron shrugged. "But he did look pretty serious."
This time, Hermione didn't argue.
Harry looked at the distracted Draco, feeling a complex mix of emotions. He had kept his promise and hadn't told Ron and Hermione the truth about the diary Horcrux, which made Harry feel that his relationship with Malfoy had subtly changed. He wasn't sure if it had improved or worsened, but Malfoy seemed to have vanished again during important events.
Once, he had willingly handed over the diary Horcrux; another time, he had witnessed the Hogsmeade battle.
Both times, Professor Hep's influence was evident...
Draco lifted his head from the table, revealing prominent dark circles under his eyes. When he saw Harry, he quickly turned away.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
