Chapter 657: Aftermath and Invitation
Chapter 657: Aftermath and Invitation
Under the tranquil night sky, Felix walked briskly, followed by a string of wobbly Wizards whose heads nodded up and down as if they were following some strange rhythm.
The group turned into a narrow alley, where all the shops were closed except for the grimy windows of the Hog's Head, which glowed with a faint, yellow light. The door opened, and Aberforth, with his mop of gray hair and beard, came out to dump the trash. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the scene.
"Good evening", Felix greeted calmly, continuing his walk without stopping to chat.
Aberforth stared as the rigid, head-drooping Wizards passed by, and he shouted irritably at Felix's retreating back, "So, the Grim Reaper is back at work? Looks like you've had quite a haul." He muttered to himself, "Which unfortunate guests are suffering tonight? Puddifoot's? The Three Broomsticks?"
His words stirred a memory in Felix.
When the Old Wand was making waves, Felix would appear at night, much like he did today, methodically picking out the pests from his fields, one by one. The Hog's Head, known for its low prices and the unique bar culture that allowed guests to hide their faces, was a favorite among the shadier Wizards. Consequently, it became a frequent hunting ground for Felix.
Felix turned and flashed Aberforth a bright smile before continuing on his way.
Aberforth grumbled and cursed under his breath, abandoning his trash and turning back into the house, slamming the door loudly. "What's going on?" a drunk guest inside asked, "I think I heard someone talking about death."
"Shut up!" Aberforth bellowed, his hair standing on end. "If you don't pay for your drink, I'll tie you to the sign outside, you despicable thief."
A wizard with messy ginger hair lifted his head from his glass, his bloodshot eyes blinking in confusion. "Aberforth?" he belched, "We're friends... It's just money, right? I have it..."
He fished a few Galleons from his dirty pocket and slapped them on the table.
"Where did you get that money?" Aberforth was astonished.
"Uh... I've been hanging around with a big shot, another... the Minister of Magic, the Minister of Magic—get it?" The man chuckled and took a swig of his drink, hissing, "Wow! Mate, this stuff is strong."
If Felix had come in and sat down for a moment, he would have immediately recognized the identity of this scruffy man—he was the friend (and colleague) of all thieves and smugglers in Britain, and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Mundungus.
Felix had introduced him and Rita Skeeter to Amelia Bones, so it wasn't hard to guess who Mundungus was referring to as his "big shot."
Felix stood in the thick of the night, watching as a dozen Wizards descended from the sky.
These Wizards were Aurors, their wands glowing, illuminating their wary faces. A woman stepped forward from the crowd and approached Felix.
It was Amelia Bones.
Felix handed over the captives to the Aurors and walked aside with Bones to have a private conversation.
"I suggest you keep them in solitary confinement for at least—" Felix calculated, "four months."
Bones raised an eyebrow.
"Are you interfering with the justice system?"
"Oh, come on, I'm your advisor. After you interrogate the leader, you'll see how serious this is. He's a clever one. I reviewed the plan, and it could have worked, given the lack of information transparency." Felix briefly explained the background of these captives, leaving Bones speechless.
In summary, the man known as "Nore" had planned to gain Grindelwald's trust through flattery, secure the right to act on his behalf, and then take over the old man's political legacy through a series of meticulously planned steps.
The key to his plan was the recent unrest in America and Grindelwald's teaching position at Hogwarts. Nore had no intention of keeping Grindelwald's plans secret; instead, he planned to use Grindelwald as a rallying flag to recruit followers while using spies within the International Confederation of Wizards to create conflicts. Once the timing was right, he would strike.
Eventually—
Grindelwald, the old man, would naturally be described as an ambitious figure attempting a comeback, and he would be locked up again in no time. Devitt could then claim to be Grindelwald's successor, becoming the second-in-command of the Saints (albeit self-proclaimed).
Not to mention, this would inevitably lead to a significant decline in Dumbledore's reputation, and Felix himself would be dragged into the mess.
"Your plan was well thought out, but it's a shame you didn't practice Occlumency more", Felix sighed. "And you didn't know me well enough. I'm not as straightforward as Dumbledore."
Ms. Bones rolled her eyes irritably. "You're surprisingly honest. But is everything you said true?" she pressed.
"Unbelievable, isn't it? But the world is never short of ambitious people, especially those with a high gambling spirit", Felix explained. "So when I confirmed he was my enemy, I felt a huge relief. Honestly, if those doubts and malice turned out to be just personal grudges—like business competition or something—I would have found it tricky. Now, they're your problem."
Ms. Bones gave him a scathing look.
She smoothed her hair and said after a moment, "I happen to be planning a meeting with the new Confederation President, Babaji. The spy's name is Warrington, an assistant under the Confederation, correct? Once I secure these people, I'll set out immediately."
She walked over and directed the Aurors a few steps away to bind the captives with magic. Among the three Aurors on guard, one with pink hair stood out in the darkness.
Felix strolled over.
"Tonks."
Tonks scanned the surroundings warily and, after a few seconds, whispered, "What's up?"
"How are things with Remus?" Felix asked quietly. Tonks' shoulders slumped, and she seemed dispirited. "It's been rough", she said listlessly.
"Remus' birthday is coming up—"
Tonks suddenly turned around, scrutinizing Felix. Now it was his turn to feel puzzled.
"Are you free that day?" she asked eagerly.
"Uh—"
"We want to invite you to Remus' birthday dinner. What do you think?" she asked, her face full of hope.
"Sure, but—"
"It's settled then!" she said decisively, then added with a pleading look, "Okay—can you?"
Felix cleared his throat and muttered, "There seems to be something I don't know about."
Tonks sighed heavily.
"Let me put it simply. We plan to celebrate Remus' birthday at my parents' place."
Felix blinked, immediately thinking of a way to back out. "Hmm, I'll think about it. I might have something that day, it's a Monday... Maybe another time—"
He was taken aback.
Tonks transformed her appearance to look haggard, her hair dull and gray, and her forehead lined with wrinkles—her Metamorphmagus ability allowed her to change her appearance at will.
"I'm so worried. You wouldn't leave Remus to face the questioning alone, would you? If you're there, you can help calm things down if they get heated", she glanced at the bound wizard, "You easily subdued a dozen Dark Wizards, so three should be no problem."
Felix stared at Tonks, considering just how pessimistic she was about the upcoming family dinner to have such a terrifying idea.
Finally, everything was ready. Ms. Bones took out two Portkeys, and the group of Aurors split into two, each forming a somewhat comical circle, one hand holding the unconscious prisoners, the other touching the Portkeys. A brilliant blue light flashed, and they vanished into the darkness.
"Don't forget—"
Tonks' shrill cry cut off abruptly.
Felix remained where he was, pondering his role in the upcoming awkward dinner. He would rather face a dozen Dark Wizards than be the clown trying to liven up the mood or the terrorist who might ruin the Tonks family's evening.
He quickly had an idea.
"Sirius? Recently—don't hang up yet, I have something important to ask... Yes, it's about your best friend. Tonks wants a lively evening..."
When Felix put away the two-way mirror, his steps became lighter. He even considered how to casually mention the night's events the next morning, knowing that Grindelwald, in some eyes, had become a figure to be used and mocked. He couldn't wait to see Grindelwald's reaction.
"I’m just curious", Grindelwald said slowly the next day at the dining table, after Professor Sprout from the neighboring table had left, "why he approached you."
"Are you thinking of some sharp counterargument?" Felix asked.
Dumbledore, who had just listened to Felix with a serious expression, now returned to his normal demeanor, pretending nothing had happened as he spread butter and jam on his toast.
"I’ve been out of the public eye for half a century, so it’s not surprising that some young people underestimate me", Grindelwald said slowly, "but—Felix Hepworth, your name has been making waves in recent years. What makes someone think you are the key to unraveling the plot?"
His words implied that Felix should reflect on what impression he had given to the public.
"On that note", Dumbledore said with a slight smile, "Felix’s most enduring impression has always been that of a scholar. Even when he has taken action in public, it has been to promote his knowledge. He has never publicly involved himself in any political activities. Perhaps—Mr. Dewitt sees a twenty-five-year-old achieving such remarkable success as proof that he has dedicated all his time and energy to the study of magic."
Grindelwald sneered. "So the person sitting next to me is someone with an incredibly pure heart."
Felix looked thoughtful.
"It does sound better than the titles Dark Wizard or Dark Lord", he said. "I’ve noticed that more and more people have been using formal language in their letters to me since the start of the term, especially during this month’s holiday, with greeting cards and chocolates filling an entire bedroom. Albus, you must have had similar experiences, right?"
Grindelwald’s expression froze, and he paused, looking at Felix, then at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore’s wrinkled face turned slightly red, and he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Felix, Minerva asked me to tell you that three students have felt the stirrings of their Animagus transformations. It’s unlikely that this number will change in the short term."
"Alright, I understand", Felix said after some thought. "Let’s make it tonight. Actually, I think that in another one or two weeks, there might be more students who succeed."
"Why do you say that?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
Feeling the stirrings of an Animagus transformation is no easy feat. Many people spend months or even years before they experience it. During this time, the aspiring wizard must recite the spell twice daily, without fail. This process tests one’s willpower and character much more than simply holding a piece of Mandrake leaf in one’s mouth.
"Because of the existence of the Patronus Charm", Felix said. "The three students—Hermione Granger, Hannah Abbott, and Draco Malfoy—share a common trait: they have all mastered the Patronus Charm."
"The first two are members of the 'Frontline Outpost,' and Harry spent a lot of time teaching this spell in the club. As for Draco, though he’s not a club member, he secretly learned it, perhaps to compete with Harry—"
Felix thought the boy was a bit foolish because even if he had learned it, he couldn’t use it at the time, given that his father, Lucius, was still working for Voldemort. But... fools have their own luck.
"Regardless, the trend is quite clear. The two seventh-year students from the Transfiguration Club haven’t felt any stirrings yet, which supports this theory. Minerva and I discussed this and believe that the Patronus Charm can tap into a wizard’s inner strength, which is precisely what’s needed for the second stage of Animagus training."
Dumbledore thought for a moment and nodded.
"This hypothesis is quite reasonable. Some spells can influence others, either positively or negatively", he said, his pupils dilating slightly and a smile on his face. "This is a vast area of research."
He looked at Felix thoughtfully.
"Perhaps only a place with such a large student population like Hogwarts can drive the continuous advancement of magic. No wonder the Ministry of Magic has made little progress in decades of research..."
At nine o'clock that evening, the wind howled and a heavy rain poured down.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
