Chapter 835: The Funeral of the Great Wizards
Chapter 835: The Funeral of the Great Wizards
At the funeral, more and more people followed Pierce's lead, removing their hats and bowing to pay their respects to the great White Wizard.
The low sobs grew louder, and as Dumbledore's body was laid to rest, many people broke down in tears, unable to contain their emotions.
For a moment, the entire Hogwarts was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere of grief.
Ivan stood among the students, watching Hermione and others sobbing softly beside him, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
He couldn't imagine how his friends would react if they knew that Dumbledore had died during their duel.
Although it was ultimately Voldemort's Dark Magic, embedded in a Horcrux, that took Dumbledore's life, in a sense, he had hastened his death.
This thought cast a shadow over Ivan's heart.
The funeral lasted the entire afternoon. After the elaborate rituals concluded, Ivan had no intention of lingering in the castle. Dumbledore's death had left him with a host of problems and questions that he needed to address one by one.
"Wait... Hals!"
Just as Ivan finished the banquet and was about to leave the entrance hall, a rough voice called out from behind him.
Ivan turned around to see Mad-Eye Moody approaching, leaning on his wand.
"What is it, Professor Mad-Eye Moody?" Ivan's expression remained unchanged, but he was on guard, puzzled by the question.
"I heard from Pierce that you were the first to discover Albus's body. Is that true?" Mad-Eye Moody quickened his pace, standing before Ivan and staring at him intently with his magical eye.
"Yes, that's correct", Ivan nodded, his voice tinged with sorrow.
"I hope you can give me a detailed account of what happened that night", Mad-Eye Moody's expression was serious. After a pause, he continued, "I read the Ministry of Magic's report this morning, but it was vague on many points. To be honest, I found it hard to believe that Albus could die so suddenly... When the Ministry notified me last night, I almost thought they were joking."
"Indeed, it was very sudden! We want to know everything", Flitwick, Lupin, and others emerged from the Great Hall, their faces still marked with deep sadness. Professor Mcgonagall's eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying in private.
"Actually, I don't know much more than what you've heard", Ivan sighed, looking at the members of the Order of the Phoenix. "You all know that at the end of last school year, after Voldemort's resurrection, I refused Professor Dumbledore's invitation to stay at your Safe House because of my mother, Asia."
"Professor Dumbledore left me a way to contact him in case of an emergency, but I never had to use it."
"However, yesterday morning, I received coordinates from Professor Dumbledore and rushed over."
Ivan spoke calmly, recounting the story he had prepared.
To avoid saying too much and making mistakes, Ivan told Mad-Eye Moody and the others that when he arrived, Voldemort had already fled, and Dumbledore was on the verge of death.
"You mean Albus was still alive when you got there?" Mad-Eye Moody asked quickly.
Sirius Black, Lupin, and others were equally surprised.
"Yes, Voldemort was no match for Professor Dumbledore. By the time I arrived, he had already defeated him", Ivan said firmly.
"Why was that..."
Lupin was about to ask, but Ivan’s voice beat him to it.
"Professor Dumbledore’s body, you must have seen it. It’s clear that he was ambushed by the Dark Lord’s Dark Magic. By the time I arrived, he didn’t even have the strength to move…"
At this, Mad-Eye Moody and the others nodded. They had all examined Dumbledore’s body and noticed that half of it had been eroded by Dark Magic.
"Did the headmaster give you any instructions?" Mcgonagall quickly interjected. "And why was he fighting the Dark Lord in an abandoned village church?"
"Professor Dumbledore only told me that he was looking for something… Unfortunately, the information he had was a trap set by Voldemort. As for the specifics, I don’t know much more… When I found him, he was barely alive and could hardly speak, so he didn’t leave much information", Ivan slowly shook his head, indicating the dire state Dumbledore was in when he found him.
"What was he looking for?" Mad-Eye Moody furrowed his brow, muttering to himself.
Lupin and Sirius Black exchanged a glance, their minds racing with theories.
"Was it the Dark Lord’s soul…" Sirius Black was about to blurt out, but Lupin’s timely glare made him hold back the last word.
"You know something?" Mad-Eye Moody keenly noticed their exchange, his empty left hand gripping Sirius Black’s arm tightly as he demanded an answer.
"If I’m not mistaken, it’s that. No wonder we haven’t seen Dumbledore around lately…" Sirius Black said with a grave expression.
In his view, the only thing that could make Dumbledore expend so much effort was one of the Dark Lord’s Horcruxes!
This also explained why Dumbledore suddenly appeared in such a remote location—Voldemort would certainly hide his Horcruxes in well-concealed places.
"Don’t speak in riddles, Sirius Black. What exactly was Albus looking for?" Mcgonagall glared at Sirius Black, her tone demanding an answer.
"I can’t say, Professor Mcgonagall. This concerns the Dark Lord’s secret of immortality, and Dumbledore insisted on strict confidentiality…" Sirius Black’s face showed hesitation.
"But now that Albus is dead, you don’t need to keep it a secret anymore!" Mad-Eye Moody slammed his wand, his anger evident. "We need to understand the situation and figure out how to defeat the Dark Lord!"
Flitwick and Pince also fixed their gazes on Sirius Black, agreeing with Mad-Eye Moody’s sentiment.
Lupin, however, sighed and spoke up. "I believe Headmaster Dumbledore was right. The fewer people who know about such evil Dark Magic, the better… Not everyone can resist such temptation…"
Seeing that Lupin and Sirius Black were determined to keep the secret, Mad-Eye Moody grew furious, his eyes bulging. He had been an Auror for decades and had seen more Dark Magic than anyone else in the room combined.
Professor Mcgonagall shook her head in frustration, then turned her attention to Snape, who had been silent the entire time.
"What do you have to say, Severus? You must have some information about the Dark Lord, right?"
(End of Chapter)
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