https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-839-The-Blood-Alliance-in-the-Granary/13015686/
Chapter 840: Ariana
Chapter 840: Ariana
In the dead of night at Godric's Hollow, Dumbledore and Grindelwald eloped... or rather, they secretly made a blood pact in the abandoned granary before running off.
On the rooftop of the Dumbledore residence, a teenage girl struggled to climb out of the window, using her hands and feet to reach the top.
"What were you wearing just now?" She walked over to Kyle and asked curiously, "I couldn't see you earlier."
"An Invisibility Cloak," Kyle replied, "a small item that makes you invisible to others."
He took the Invisibility Cloak and draped it over Ariana's shoulders, and the girl immediately exclaimed in surprise.
"Wow, I really can't see you!"
She quickly covered her mouth and anxiously looked towards a nearby window. Only after seeing no movement there did she slightly relax, continuing to curiously observe her own disappearing half-body.
"What's wrong?" Kyle also turned his head, and if he wasn't mistaken, that should be Aberforth's room...
"Nothing, nothing at all," Ariana quickly shook her head and whispered, "We should keep our voices down, or we'll wake up Brother Aberforth, and he's terrifying when he's angry."
"It's fine," Kyle said with a smile, taking out a Scream Book from his pocket.
This was a product from Weasley's Magical Wheezes, imitating the Restricted Section of the Library. As soon as he opened it, a piercing scream emanated from within.
Ariana was startled and turned to run back into the attic.
But soon, she realized that Aberforth, who usually woke up at the slightest sound, hadn't turned on his room light.
Ariana suddenly felt a bit anxious.
"Don't worry, he's fine. He just can't hear us," Kyle hastily explained.
"He can't hear?" Ariana turned her head in confusion, "Why can't he hear? Aberforth's ears are perfectly fine."
"The Silencing Charm," Kyle said softly, "a very practical and simple spell. You can do it too."
As he spoke, Kyle kept his eyes on Ariana.
Upon hearing the word 'magic,' a faint black mist appeared on her shoulder, which was quite noticeable even in the darkness of night. However, Ariana herself seemed unaware of the change in her body.
"I can... too?" Ariana asked, a bit dazed,
"Yes, you're a witch, of course you can," Kyle continued, his voice carrying a hint of persuasion.
This time, Ariana's eyes showed clear resistance, and her expression became more absent-minded. The black mist on her shoulder became even more prominent, extending to her arm.
The black mist dispersed and landed on the roof tiles, instantly turning them into powder.
This was Silentan.
Kyle's heart tightened with tension.
Without exception, Silentans were averse to magic, rejected their identity as witches or wizards, and would instinctively resist any related topics.
Ariana had reached a critical point. Kyle believed that if he said one more word about magic, the black mist would instantly break free from her restraints and rush over to tear him into pieces.
However, this was intentional on Kyle's part, and he had already obtained the answer he sought.
Since arriving here, he had wanted to check on Ariana's condition.
She was Dumbledore's heart knot... Dumbledore had even neglected the wizarding world and Voldemort, yet he still returned, which was enough to indicate the severity of the problem.
If nothing was done, Dumbledore might not easily leave with him, even if his mission was to rescue Dumbledore.
Although this encounter was unexpected, and the location was a bit hasty, in a way, it was just right.
There were no others present, not even the sharpest of the Dumbledores or Grindelwald. Only a fifth-year Aberforth remained.
As long as Kyle wanted to do something, Aberforth wouldn't notice.
If Grindelwald returned, it wouldn't be as easy for Kyle to approach Ariana again.
So, after a brief moment of thought, Kyle spoke to Ariana.
Through this simple test, Kyle found that Ariana's condition wasn't as bad as he had thought, or perhaps it was much better than he expected.
Before coming here, Kyle had intentionally looked up information about Silentans and even wrote to Newt about it.
Newt had a Silentan in his case, and he had studied this phenomenon for a long time. According to him, Silentans might experience magical riots upon exposure to anything related to magic.
Ariana was different. When Kyle first mentioned magic, she only showed slight resistance, and she was even conscious. If the topic had been changed at that moment, nothing would have happened.
Even when Kyle explicitly revealed her identity as a witch, Ariana managed to control her emotions and prevented the Silentan from breaking out.
If this situation progressed further, and she fully accepted her identity, Ariana would perfectly control the Silentan, turning it into an asset rather than a threat.
While this is a challenging task, there is currently only one person capable of achieving it... Well, it's not just about the present, because at this point in time, that person hasn't even been born yet.
To be precise, it's a matter of a few decades, but interestingly, the one who can control the Silencio User also bears the name Dumbledore.
Silencio Users are already rare, and for there to be two with the same surname, 'Dumbledore', is it a coincidence?
The black mist around Ariana was growing thicker, and Kyle shook his head, choosing not to dwell on it further. He twirled his wand behind his back, and magical runes began to flicker around them.
Then, with his other hand, Kyle took out a piece of candy and offered it to Ariana.
"I was just rambling. Want some candy? It's very sweet."
There was no response. Ariana had entered a state of unconsciousness, seemingly struggling to suppress the Silencio User, and she couldn't hear what Kyle was saying.
But Kyle didn't need her to.
He opened a box, and a yellow bee buzzed in the air before suddenly flying into Ariana's half-open mouth.
The distinctive sweetness of raspberries quickly spread, and miraculously, the black mist around Ariana began to fade. Her blank, unfocused eyes regained their clarity.
This method of suppressing a Silencio User's outburst was also provided by Newt, and it was written in the book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
According to Newt's theory, most Silencio User's outbursts are due to emotional instability, but sweet things can effectively soothe such situations, especially since most Silencio Users are children, and using candy is an even better solution.
Of course, this method only works if the Silencio User hasn't fully unleashed their power. If the Silencio User were to appear, even bringing an entire candy shop's worth of candy wouldn't help.
Soon, the black mist disappeared completely.
"It's so good," Ariana said with a happy squint, seemingly forgetting what had just happened. "My brother Aberforth always brings me these little bees when he visits. They're so delicious."
"But he can only come back after a long time, and I can't bear to eat them."
"It's okay. This time, you can eat as much as you want." Kyle said with a smile, taking out more candy until the small rooftop was filled with colorful packaging.
Ariana's eyes widened in astonishment. She had never seen so much candy, even though her beloved brother Aberforth would bring her two or three boxes each time he returned from a break. Even if she saved them, they would only last a month at most.
But with the amount Kyle had brought out, Ariana could eat them for half a year.
"I... I can't accept..."
Despite her amazement, Ariana's nature made her shake her head and refuse Kyle's kindness.
"It's okay. Consider it a welcome gift." Kyle put all the candy into a bag enchanted with a Disillusionment Charm and threw it through the window into the attic where Ariana was.
He had just realized that Ariana reacted strongly to magic but didn't seem to reject these simple magical items... She showed no reaction when she saw the Invisibility Cloak.
Perhaps it was a difference in perception. After all, magical items look no different from ordinary objects from the outside... Or maybe it was because she had been confined, with limited exposure, and didn't know what they were.
Kyle couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, as he didn't know much about Silencio Users. He could ask Newt when he returned.
"Thank you," Ariana said.
This was the first time someone other than her brother Aberforth had given her a gift, and it was such a precious thing as candy.
For Ariana, who had been confined to her home, candy was the most precious thing.
"You're welcome," Kyle smiled. It was just some candy; he could always buy more if needed.
"Do you know my brother?" Ariana asked suddenly.
"Which one?"
"My brother, Albus." Ariana looked at the granary, "Weren't you just watching him?"
"Do you know where he is?"
"I can see him. He's with another boy in that granary. I can feel it. My brother Albus is so happy there. Are you also a friend of theirs?"
"Well, I know him, but the Albus I know might not be the same person you're thinking of."
Ariana tilted her head, clearly not understanding Kyle's words'.
How could they not be the same person when they're both Albus Dumbledore?
Kyle didn't explain, as it would be pointless to try to explain the concept of a Time Turner to a young witch of only a dozen years.
Fortunately, Ariana didn't dwell on the issue. She was delighted to have someone to talk to and to receive such precious candy, but at the same time, she felt a sense of unease.
Looking at Kyle, Ariana seemed to gather her courage and asked, "You... you're not afraid of me?"
"Why would I be afraid of you?" Kyle asked, slightly taken aback.
Ariana blinked and shook her head again, her voice soft and gentle. "I don't know, but many people are afraid of me. My brother Aberforth says I can't leave the room, or I'll scare others, and I'll be locked up in a terrible place... You're the first person to visit me."
"Hmm... I guess I'm just braver than most." Kyle said vaguely.
He knew Aberforth was right.
Once discovered, Silencio users would be taken to St. Mungo's for strict supervision, not allowed to leave, and no visitors permitted—one could say it was almost no different from Azkaban, except for the absence of Dementors.
But no one could say this approach was wrong; Silencio users were too unstable. Once they snapped, it would be a devastating disaster for those around them.
After a brief silence, the dark window next to them suddenly lit up.
Ariana jumped in surprise.
"Brother Albus is awake. If he finds out I left the attic, he'll definitely scold me." She began to hastily climb back into the attic.
After sticking half her body inside, she suddenly remembered something and reluctantly took off the Invisibility Cloak hanging on her body, placing it on the roof.
Compared to sweets, she preferred this magical garment that made her invisible. With it, perhaps she could leave the attic and take a look outside.
But since it belonged to someone else, she couldn't take it even if she liked it very much.
"Will you come again?" Ariana asked cautiously. She enjoyed having someone to talk to, but her brothers were all too busy. Kyle was the first stranger willing to chat with her.
Kyle nodded after a moment of silence.
After getting the answer she wanted, Ariana happily retracted her head.
Not long after Ariana returned to the attic, Albus's voice was heard.
"Who's there!" He poked his head out, wand in hand, and glared fiercely out the window. But there was no one on the roof.
"Damn it, it must be those Kneazles around here. Why can't they go somewhere else to forage?" Albus grumbled as he shut the window.
Kyle only emerged from the corner after the light went out again.
The reason Albus heard the noise was naturally because he had secretly removed the Silencing Charm.
Kyle didn't want to say too much to Ariana. In that short time, he had already thought several times about what he could do.
But the issue was that Ariana's death was a predetermined fact, and it was precisely this incident that stimulated Albus, finally waking him up to the realization of what he should do. Otherwise, if Ariana hadn't died, Dumbledore might have walked the same path as Grindelwald.
Perhaps he would have awakened later, but no one knew when or what would happen in the meantime. Moreover, by then, there might not have been the Dumbledore headmaster we know.
So Kyle was torn. On one hand, he had to consider how to smoothly bring back Dumbledore. On the other, he had to maintain the original history... These two completely opposite paths left his mind in disarray.
Kyle couldn't continue the conversation and could only temporarily end the topic in this way, planning to wait until he saw Dumbledore again.
If he hadn't guessed wrong, Dumbledore should have completed the Blood Pact soon and would be on his way back.
As for why he later agreed to come back to see Ariana, Kyle wasn't sure. He just agreed on a whim and now regretted it.
Oh well, let's go back and get some good sleep first.
Kyle rubbed his forehead and, without turning back, returned to the Valley Pub as quickly as possible.
...
Kyle was awakened by a string of angry curses from downstairs. It was Aberforth, using extremely foul language to curse Dumbledore and Grindelwald for leaving without a word.
The pub owner, for the first time, gave him a glass of honey wine, but it couldn't quell his anger.
Kyle walked past him and went outside.
He had been staying in the granary during the day. Dumbledore and Grindelwald had gone to the high ground in Godric's Hollow, so no one would come here, allowing him to wait in peace without worry.
Unfortunately, he waited until the evening with no results; Dumbledore still hadn't shown up.
The same was true for the next few days. During the day, Kyle would go to the granary, and in the evening, he would go to the roof of the Dumbledore's attic to chat with Ariana.
Most of the time, Ariana would talk about her two brothers, and Kyle would quietly listen beside her until he felt it was enough, then he would make some noise.
Poor Aberforth. He was woken up in the middle of the night every time. He even stormed off in a rage and went to the forest, at least to let the Kneazles know that running onto someone else's roof was very impolite.
But the result... he seemed to have overestimated his abilities and underestimated the Kneazles. He charged into the forest, limping back out, apparently having been taught a lesson by the Kneazles instead.
Fortunately, the 'Kneazles' visit to their roof didn't repeat that night.
...
(End of Chapter)
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