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Chapter 672: Tracking
Chapter 672: Tracking
If Ivan was right, then his actions would certainly be a joke!
However, what angered him even more was the possibility that Mad-Eye Moody might have been under someone's control...
Fortunately, Dumbledore's anger did not cloud his thinking, and he quickly identified a key point of suspicion.
"Hals, I remember that two months ago, you and Alastor exposed Barty's mistake, which led us to learn about Barty Jr.'s escape...
If we follow your theory that Barty Jr. controlled Alastor with the Imperius Curse, why would he expose this information himself?" Dumbledore asked skeptically.
"I haven't figured that out yet, Professors", Ivan said, shrugging helplessly. It was precisely because of Mad-Eye Moody's actions that he had hesitated in confirming the suspicion.
"Perhaps Mad-Eye Moody wanted to gain your trust through this?" Hermione suggested.
Ivan rolled his eyes. Before exposing Crouch, no one except himself knew that Barty Jr. was behind the scenes. Barty Jr. wasn't a lunatic; if he wanted to gain Ivan's trust, he could have used a different method without risking his identity.
However, to Ivan's surprise, Dumbledore nodded, agreeing with Hermione's hypothesis. "There's a possibility..."
Ivan looked at the old professor in astonishment and then listened as he continued.
"Last summer, I received a message that someone had broken into Alastor's yard. According to the testimony of nearby residents, there was a small explosion..."
As he spoke, Dumbledore pulled a letter from a drawer and handed it to them.
Ivan leaned in to read it. The envelope was signed by Arthur Weasley, and the content matched what Dumbledore had said.
The night before Mad-Eye Moody left for Hogwarts, someone heard a loud explosion from his house. Since it was in Muggle territory, Wizards from the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office quickly arrived to handle the situation, led by Arthur Weasley.
At the end of the letter, the investigation's conclusion was stated. The Wizards who investigated believed that due to the darkness, Mad-Eye Moody had mistaken a trash can for a Dark Wizard and engaged in a duel, causing the explosion.
Reading this, Ivan was speechless. He seriously doubted Arthur Weasley's professional competence. Bringing a group of people to investigate and concluding that someone had a duel with a trash can was absurd.
"Similar incidents have happened before", Dumbledore said with a sigh.
Since Mad-Eye Moody's retirement, various small accidents had occurred periodically. When Dumbledore received this message, he didn't pay much attention to it. Over the next several months, Mad-Eye Moody's behavior remained unchanged, with no suspicious signs.
"So, Professors, what should we do now? Should we confront Mad-Eye Moody directly?" Hermione asked.
Dumbledore shook his head and said gravely, "No, to avoid any mistakes, I think we should first test him... Tonight is a good opportunity!"
...
After discussing the details, Ivan and Hermione left the Headmaster's Office, mulling over what they needed to do tonight.
On the way, Hermione seemed hesitant to speak, her face filled with worry.
The two of them returned to the Gryffindor Common Room in silence. When they pushed open the door, the lively and cheerful atmosphere inside almost made Ivan wonder if he had entered a different world. Many people greeted him enthusiastically.
It wasn't until he saw the victory flag hanging on the wall that Ivan remembered he had just won the second match that morning.
However, Ivan, who was deeply troubled, had no heart for any celebration. He casually responded to a few greetings and then wearily returned to the dormitory, setting an alarm for himself before collapsing into bed.
In the middle of the night, Ivan was woken by the shrill sound of the alarm. By the time he sat up and turned it off, it was almost one o'clock.
The dormitory was quiet in the darkness. He had cast a soundproofing spell on the mosquito net, so no matter how noisy it got inside, it wouldn't disturb the sleeping Harry and the others.
Ivan carefully took out the Marauder's Map and placed his wand on it.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good!"
As Ivan whispered the incantation, fine ink lines gradually emerged from the blank parchment, interconnecting to form a map.
Bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window, Ivan traced Mad-Eye Moody's movements, eventually finding him in the staff common room.
Hasn't he started yet? Or has he already finished?
Ivan couldn't be sure. According to the house-elf, Mad-Eye Moody visited the kitchen every two to three days in the middle of the night, asking the house-elves to prepare a midnight snack. Since he hadn't been there in the past two days, the likelihood of him acting tonight was high.
Just as Ivan was beginning to doubt whether Mad-Eye Moody would venture out tonight, the name on the Marauder's Map suddenly started moving.
Ivan's spirit was instantly alert, his gaze fixed on Mad-Eye Moody's name as he watched him descend the stairs, pass through the entrance hall, and enter the kitchen.
Ivan wasted no time, getting out of bed and casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself before running out of the dormitory and following closely behind.
By the time he walked down the stairs and through a corridor, Mad-Eye Moody had just emerged from the kitchen.
Due to his fear of Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye, Ivan dared not get too close, maintaining a safe distance of at least two corridors.
Mad-Eye Moody, seemingly unaware of being followed, continued to move steadily according to the Marauder's Map. After leaving the kitchen, he headed straight for the Defense Against the Dark Arts office and paused there for a moment.
About ten seconds later, the "Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody" on the Marauder's Map vanished inside the office...
"Indeed!" Ivan exclaimed, staring at the scene in shock, his suspicions confirmed.
Mad-Eye Moody's office must contain a secret space isolated from the outside world, much like the box in the original timeline where Barty Crouch Jr. imprisoned Mad-Eye Moody.
If sealing runes were drawn on the box, it would be possible to shield it from the Marauder's Map's detection.
Ivan hadn't forgotten that he had learned the sealing runes from Tom Riddle, and the description indicated no technical issues on the part of the other party.
(End of Chapter)
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