Chapter 845: The Plan Commences
Chapter 845: The Plan Commences
After all, the Forgetfulness Charm was not the Stunning Spell. Once Kyle brought Aberforth downstairs, he soon regained consciousness.
However, Aberforth, now awake, had also forgotten what had just transpired. He rubbed his forehead, perplexed as to why he was on the floor of the living room, his leg aching as if he had been dragged down the stairs.
But how could that be possible? Aside from himself, the only other person in the house was Ariana, who seemed no different from an ordinary girl. Surely it couldn't have been her who dragged him downstairs.
Aberforth shook his head, attributing his current state to having dozed off on the sofa and accidentally fallen, aggravating the injury he had sustained in the woods.
He hadn't been sleeping well due to the nightly disturbances, and it wasn't unusual for him to suddenly fall asleep on the sofa during the day while feeling groggy.
Aberforth stood up and staggered towards the upstairs room, muttering curses under his breath about his irresponsible brother. If Dumbledore had been there, he wouldn't have had to endure all this hardship... at least he wouldn't have been the sole caretaker of Ariana day and night.
The more he thought about it, the louder his curses became.
Unbeknownst to him, his every word was being recorded by a small, ear-shaped object lurking in the corner of the room.
Kyle, hidden in a secluded spot outside, held the other half of the Extendable Ear and listened intently to Aberforth's tirade against Dumbledore.
It was evident that his resentment ran deep; had it not been for their shared surname, Aberforth might have hurled even more vulgar insults.
It was only when Kyle saw through the window that Aberforth had entered his room and started working on his homework with a quill that he put away the Extendable Ear.
Fortunately, Aberforth didn't plan to return to the attic, otherwise, Kyle would have had to make another trip.
Kyle then released Billywig, instructing it to head towards the southern entrance of the valley, while he himself made his way to the barn, patiently awaiting further developments.
Time passed, and Billywig returned first. It flew to Kyle's side, gesturing up and down incessantly while emitting a soft buzzing sound.
"You saw two wizards, didn't you?" Kyle asked.
Billywig began flying up and down again, appearing to nod in response.
In fact, it was nodding, although its wings were on top of its head, making the gesture a little more exaggerated.
There was little doubt that the two wizards approaching from the south at this time were Grindelwald and Dumbledore.
Kyle stood up, intending to remind Dumbledore, but as he stepped out of the barn, he saw that Dumbledore was already standing outside.
"Professor, I was just about to look for you," said Kyle. "They're almost back. Have you come to a decision?"
As he spoke, Kyle instinctively glanced to the left of Dumbledore.
Although it appeared that Dumbledore was alone, Kyle could sense that Ariana was there as well, hidden right beside him.
Indeed, the next moment, the air beside Dumbledore rippled, and Ariana's face emerged from beneath the Invisibility Cloak.
Her eyes were red, indicating that she had been crying.
"Since you've made your decision, we can proceed." Kyle took out a small vial containing a potion, gently plucked a strand of hair from Ariana's head, and placed it inside.
"According to the plan, it's now time for the fake Ariana to make her appearance."
The potion in the vial began to churn, gradually changing from a brownish-orange color to a clean sky blue.
"Hmm... it shouldn't taste too bad," Kyle muttered to himself.
Just as he was about to drink it, however, the potion was snatched from his hand.
"Professor?" Kyle looked at Dumbledore in confusion. "Are you having second thoughts?"
"No," Dumbledore shook his head. "The plan must go on, but there's a change in duties. I need to stay here, and you'll be the one to take care of Ariana."
"I disagree," Kyle frowned.
It won't be easy to deceive young you and Grindelwald with a half-hearted or unrealistic plan.
In other words, the person pretending to be Ariana must actually take a hit from a spell—one that would be fatal to an ordinary person.
With his unique Iron-Armour Charm, Kyle was confident he could pull it off without exposing any flaws, but Dumbledore... in his current state, it would be a stretch for him to withstand a direct hit from a spell.
"I understand your concern," Dumbledore explained softly. "Ariana is my sister, and this decision is mine to make. Therefore, I should be the one to bear any risks, not you."
"But..."
"Also," Dumbledore interrupted, "you don't know the people who will be involved next, but I do. Especially Aberforth, any slight misstep could arouse his suspicion. You won't be able to pull it off flawlessly.
"But the scene that unfolded afterward is etched in my memory like a knife. Every detail has been replayed in my mind for decades, and only I, pretending to be Ariana, can ensure that no flaws are revealed.
Dumbledore was right; the most crucial step after this wasn't just to 'kill' Ariana, but to deceive everyone present. On this point, Dumbledore was indeed a more suitable candidate than him.
There was just one thing...
"Professor, are you sure you're going to pretend to be Ariana and not actually take her place in death?"
"Rest assured, I understand your concern." Dumbledore said with a smile, "Speaking of which, I was only in my teens at this time, and while it may be a bit troublesome, it's still just a bother. I also want to see Ariana again."
As he spoke, he turned to look at his sister once more.
"Alright."
Calculating the time, Grindelwald and Dumbledore should also be arriving soon, so Kyle didn't say anything further.
He walked over to Ariana and led her away from the barn.
Dumbledore watched them leave and then drank the potion from the bottle.
At the same time, the young Grindelwald and Dumbledore returned to the valley.
Grindelwald wore a scowl on his face, his mood seemingly sour.
"It's fine, Gellert." Dumbledore said, "The Hallows have been missing for centuries; it's normal if they're not easy to find."
"But I've also prepared for a long time." Grindelwald angrily kicked a flower by the roadside, "I've prepared for half a year, even risking expulsion from school, just so I could get here as soon as possible. And for what? To be told that the family moved away?!"
"We can continue to look."
"Don't comfort me, it's useless." Grindelwald said furiously, "You saw it too, there are only a few old wizards left there who are barely better than squibs. They don't even remember where the others moved to. Using Legilimency on them would be pointless."
"You used Legilimency on them?" Dumbledore frowned.
He remembered that those people were very old, and their frail bodies might not be able to withstand the impact of magic, especially Legilimency, which affected the mind. It was likely to make their already cloudy minds even more confused.
More importantly, based on the clues they had found, that family had suddenly moved away decades ago, leaving many things behind. How could they have had the time to tell their neighbors about their whereabouts?
Using Legilimency wouldn't have been very helpful.
Moreover, Grindelwald had also promised him that he wouldn't use forceful interrogation methods.
"I must find the Hallows, even the smallest clue cannot be missed." Grindelwald said, lost in his own thoughts, not noticing Dumbledore's change in expression.
The two made their way to the house.
"I need to go back and rest." Dumbledore said directly, not staying with Grindelwald as he usually did.
"Oh, alright." Grindelwald absentmindedly replied, "I'll also go back and ask my aunt about any clues regarding the Hallows. See you tomorrow, then."
"Albus, how dare you come back!"
At that moment, a furious shout interrupted them.
Aberforth stormed through the door, his face red with anger, "You just disappeared without a word! Don't you know that Ariana needs someone to take care of her right now?!
"Or do you wish she would die sooner so that no one would hold you back, preventing you from gallivanting around the world with this scoundrel?!"
"No, Aberforth, it's not what you think. I can explain." Dumbledore said.
"Explain?!" Aberforth sneered, "Is it not a fact that you ran away without a word? Thankfully, it's the holidays now. What if Hogwarts had started? Would you have left Ariana alone here to fend for herself?!"
"Never!" Dumbledore said firmly, "I would never do that!"
"That's easy to say." Aberforth panted angrily, glaring at the two in front of him, "Ever since you met this scoundrel, you've changed. I can tell that you don't want to stay here. You think of yourself as an owl trapped in a cage, and Ariana is that cage."
Dumbledore stood there silently.
In a sense, Aberforth was right; he had indeed thought that way before.
"If you want to spread your wings and showcase your talents, fine, I'll make it easy for you. I'll drop out of school tomorrow, so get out of here and never come back!"
"Enough, you idiot!" Grindelwald took a quick step forward, wand drawn, his eyes narrowed at Aberforth.
"Don't take your incompetence out on Albus. He has the ability to change the entire wizarding world. Someone with such talent shouldn't be held back by a squib; it's a waste of his gifts!"
"Squib?!" Aberforth's eyes instantly reddened, and he drew out his wand as well. "Mudblood, you will pay for your insolence!"
"How dare you insult me?!" Grindelwald also lost his temper, his right hand pointing forcefully:
"Crucio!"
...
A piercing scream tore through the valley, followed by chaotic shouts and cries, loud enough for Kyle, who was about to leave the valley, to hear.
He waved his wand, and the voices abruptly ceased.
Feeling the sudden trembling in his palm, Kyle said softly, "It should be an Augurey, what an unpleasant cry, isn't it?
"It's a creature called an Augurey," Kyle replied. "Their piercing cries induce hallucinations in those who hear them, causing them to see their worst fears. In your case, you'd probably see Aberforth getting beaten up."
Kyle's serious tone startled Ariana, and she quickly covered her ears.
Kyle smiled and turned to look back as well.
He was well aware that the conflict had begun, and it was now time for the fake Ariana to make her entrance.
He wondered if Dumbledore could pull off this act without any flaws or if he would end up getting too caught up in it. But there was no turning back now.
From the sound earlier, it was clear that the conflict had already erupted, and even if Kyle had second thoughts, he wouldn't be able to make it back in time. All he could do was move forward, ensure Ariana was safely taken care of, and see the plan through to the end.
Kyle quickened his pace, leading Ariana to a path outside. Once they reached this point, whatever transpired in Godric's Hollow would no longer concern them.
"How about I take you out for a bit?" he suddenly suggested. "You've always wanted to explore beyond the attic, right? Now's your chance."
"Really?"
Being a child, Ariana immediately forgot about the previous incident.
Her greatest wish had always been to leave the damp and gloomy basement and venture outside.
Although her brother Aberforth had later taken her up to the attic, it was still within their home. She longed to go further, like others who left their homes and stepped out into the sunlight.
But she didn't want to trouble her brothers, so she had never voiced this desire.
"Of course," Kyle smiled. He thought for a moment and then said, "Let's go to... Hogwarts. That's where your two brothers go to school, and you were supposed to go there as well."
Kyle's voice trailed off towards the end of his sentence.
"I don't mind, I want to go see it," Ariana said eagerly.
"Okay, then it's decided. We'll go to Hogwarts," Kyle said as he opened his trunk. "But first, you need to go inside and wait for a while. I'll come find you once we arrive."
Due to Ariana's unique situation, Kyle dared not use Apparition with her, and the Knight Bus was too unpredictable. What if a wizard suddenly appeared and cast a spell while they were traveling? If Ariana witnessed that, it would be a disaster.
Even with the legendary Invisibility Cloak, Kyle didn't want to take any risks. They were so close to success, and he didn't want to ruin everything at the last moment.
For safety reasons, it was best to have her hide for a while.
However, Ariana didn't seem to mind this decision. In fact, she quite liked Kyle's trunk.
Ariana had never seen such a magical place. The trunk was enormous, larger than both the basement and the attic combined.
There was sunlight, grass, and forests—it was like another Godric's Hollow... Could it be that their home was also contained within someone else's trunk?
"The world outside is truly amazing!" Ariana thought in awe.
She also spotted a group of adorable creatures with long necks and big eyes, which she had never seen before.
They were so beautiful... pure white in color.
"Come here, I need you to take care of her," Kyle said to someone.
Taking advantage of Ariana's attention being focused on the Knarls, Kyle solemnly instructed the Gringotts coin purse, Sniff, who was hiding nearby: "Don't let her go near the Snake Monster or any dangerous plants. If she gets even the slightest fright, I'll replace every coin in your pouch with rocks!"
Sniff looked at Kyle in terror and quickly covered the pouch on his chest with his tiny hands.
Steal his 'shiny' coins?
Sniff knew that Kyle was capable of such evil deeds and had done so on more than one occasion. However, he would usually leave some behind or replenish them later, so it was barely tolerable.
But to take them all... that was just too scary for Sniff.
He then looked at Ariana and nodded earnestly.
"Then I'll leave her in your care," Kyle said with a kind smile. "I know you can do it, and as a reward, there will be more if everything goes smoothly."
Kyle took out five gold coins, and Sniff's eyes lit up. He nodded even more vigorously.
"Then it's settled."
After that, Kyle found Ariana again and instructed her on a few places she must never go near. Only then did he leave the trunk.
Ariana was very well-behaved, and she would never let her curiosity lead her to places Kyle had forbidden.
In this regard, she was much easier to handle than a certain stubborn boy with a scar on his forehead.
As for asking Sniff to help watch over her, it was a precaution in case something unexpected happened. After all, Sniff had nothing better to do, and it would keep him from constantly thinking about the gold coins in Nogtail's nest.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
