Chapter 856: Nurmengard
Chapter 856: Nurmengard
Hermione and Ron were quite puzzled, unable to understand why Ivan trusted Snape so much.
Harry, on the other hand, held back his words. He had his suspicions about Snape, mainly because Snape had been eager to know what the headmaster had left him during their Occlumency lessons.
However, remembering the will, in which Professor Dumbledore stated that Harry could trust Snape when necessary, he swallowed his doubts. He couldn't be sure whether Snape was working for Voldemort or was an informant from their side, embedded in Voldemort's inner circle.
...
After breakfast, Ivan bid farewell to Harry and the others, taking Ravenclaw's Diadem with him to the Restricted Section to pick up a couple more books.
On his way, Ivan kept reflecting on Harry's earlier account, piecing together the details until he had a good idea of Snape's plan.
It was clear that this was another quest Dumbledore had assigned to Snape before his death, likely aimed at dealing with the Horcrux attached to Harry.
What puzzled Ivan, though, was why Snape kept this a secret from him. Logically, their goals in fighting Voldemort were aligned, and cooperation would be far more effective than working alone. Did Snape not fear any potential mistakes?
Or was there something he hadn't considered?
Ivan pondered this for a long time, but even as he opened the book in his hands, his mind was elsewhere. Just as he felt he was getting a handle on the situation, a soft "patter" from nearby interrupted his thoughts.
Ivan turned his head, clearly annoyed, and raised an eyebrow when he saw the uninvited guest. "Winky, what brings you here so suddenly?"
"Mr. Hals, Winky... Winky just overheard some news in the kitchen, about Master Dumbledore..." The small house-elf Winky looked at Ivan with fear, speaking hesitantly.
"Wait, let's talk later..." Ivan raised a hand to stop Winky, looking around. No students were nearby in the Restricted Section, but he still felt uneasy. He led Winky out of the library and into an empty classroom before stopping.
A month ago, Ivan had recruited Winky to gather information for the House-Elf army quest, instructing her to collect intelligence on the other house-elves.
Specifically, he wanted to know their thoughts and allegiances—whether they served the Hogwarts headmaster or the school itself.
This task couldn't be entrusted to Dobby, who would likely make a mess of things or argue with the other house-elves over their beliefs.
Thus, Ivan chose Winky, who had recently joined Hogwarts and was still in a state of confusion. Winky didn't need elf rights or a salary; she simply wanted to find a master and work for the rest of her life like a regular house-elf.
This was an easy demand to meet, and Ivan managed to persuade Winky to work for him in just an hour.
"Go ahead, you can tell me now", Ivan said.
Winky didn't hesitate and immediately relayed the information she had gathered from the other house-elves.
"Are you saying that some House-elves know where Headmaster Dumbledore was recently?" Ivan asked in surprise.
Winky nodded, replying cautiously, "They say Master Dumbledore spent a long time in the tower at Nurmengard..."
"Nurmengard?" Ivan muttered, feeling a sense of familiarity. After a moment of searching his memory, he suddenly remembered that it was a prison where, in 1945, Dark Wizard Grindelwald was imprisoned in a tower by Dumbledore after their duel.
Dumbledore must have gone there to see Grindelwald, likely to deal with the Dark Magic that had tainted his right arm! As one of the most powerful Dark Wizards in the world, Grindelwald's expertise in Dark Magic might rival Voldemort's, making him the most likely person to solve the problem.
However, it seems that Dumbledore and Grindelwald ultimately failed to break the spell, only managing to delay its onset.
But how did these House-elves come to know this information?
Ivan looked at Winky with surprise, waiting for her answer.
"Master Dumbledore asked us to deliver meals to Master Grindelwald regularly..." Winky shrank back, her voice high and trembling.
Although she had been at Hogwarts for a short time and hadn't taken on this task, she had heard from other House-elves that it wasn't a pleasant job.
Ivan nodded as he listened to Winky.
Nurmengard Prison was built during Grindelwald's peak of power to house his opponents. It had been abandoned for a long time, and Grindelwald was likely the only prisoner left. Ensuring his daily meals was a challenge.
Dumbledore couldn't afford to hire someone specifically to take care of such a dangerous prisoner, so he had the Hogwarts House-elves do the job.
Thinking about this, Ivan became excited. Dumbledore's death was shrouded in mystery, and the many unanswered questions had left him puzzled. Now, a new lead had emerged—Dumbledore had disappeared for a while and had been to Nurmengard, staying there for a considerable time.
Grindelwald, the original master of the Elder Wand and deeply connected to Dumbledore, could provide answers to many of Ivan's questions.
"Winky, go to the Kitchen later and find out which elf is responsible for delivering meals to Grindelwald today. Try to take over this task", Ivan decided.
"But, Master, Winky... Winky doesn't know where Nurmengard is... I might not be able to deliver it on time", Winky said, clutching her dirty clothes, sounding distressed.
"No, you don't need to worry about it. I'll go and deliver it myself!" Ivan said firmly. He didn't want any elf to interrupt their conversation.
After making his decision, Ivan dismissed Winky and headed to the Room of Requirement to change into his battle robes.
Although his trip to Nurmengard was just to meet Grindelwald and ask a few questions, and there was no need for a fight, it was always best to be prepared for the worst.
(End of Chapter)
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