https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-919-The-Note-in-the-Locket-and-Voldemort-s-Fury/13017658/
Chapter 918: On the Eve of the Great Battle
Chapter 918: On the Eve of the Great Battle
In recent days, Knockturn Alley has been bustling with activity due to an article published in The Prophet.
Once a quiet and deserted place, where one might not see a soul for days, it is now even livelier than its neighboring Diagon Alley. Especially around the entrance of Bogin-Bock Shop, there are numerous people lurking about, all wearing black hoods.
Each of them has their own purpose for being there, but none of them has managed to meet the owner of Bogin-Bock, they all share one thing in common.
The shop remains open, but there is not a soul inside, and upon entering, one is met with a chilling sensation.
It is as if a powerful Curse Magic has been cast within.
Among those who have come, many are Dark Wizards, experts in Curse Magic. They all agree that something must have happened within Bogin-Bock, and it is best to stay away.
However, not wanting to leave empty-handed, they linger, hoping for a glimpse of something, anything, that might give them a clue.
Some wizards, bolder than others, venture inside, but most do not return.
The few who do emerge are often missing limbs, an arm here, a leg there, a common occurrence.
It is then that people remember this is not the Ice Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley, but a genuine Dark Magic Shop.
Such places often harbor immense danger, and it is not unusual for customers to become part of the merchandise.
Or perhaps, this is just another unique way for Dark Magic Shop owners to acquire their goods.
Gradually, fewer people dare to enter Bogin-Bock.
Their attention turns to the journalist who wrote the article, for surely she must know more. The Prophet, with its limited space, could not have covered everything, and there must be exclusive, behind-the-scenes information that they crave.
Perhaps, from these hidden details, they might deduce where the mysterious wizard with the Crown has gone.
But strangely, the journalist, Rita Skeeter, has gone missing since the publication of The Prophet.
She left the newspaper office, and even the Ministry of Magic could not trace her whereabouts.
She did not use Floo Powder, Portkeys, or Apparition, nor did she take the Knight Bus. She simply vanished, and no one knew where she had gone.
Well, almost no one.
In a small, run-down wizard pub in Wiltshire, Rita Skeeter hides within a large, hooded cloak, trembling with excitement.
"It's insane, absolutely insane..." She mumbles incoherently, "You're a genius, manipulating so many people with just a few words, even that person whose name cannot be spoken.
"Did you see how the old Bogin was tortured? He's not an easy target, yet he had no chance against that individual.
"Honestly, I almost got exposed. I swear he looked right at the crack I was hiding in... He must have sensed something. How terrifying."
Rita Skeeter prattles on, downing glass after glass of alcohol. The memory of those scarlet eyes sends a shiver down her spine, and she gulps down the remaining half-bottle of brandy.
It was dangerous, but thrilling...
Not to mention, she had exclusive access to the mysterious wizard, an opportunity no one else had, not even Rita Skeeter herself.
Rita Skeeter sits, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
"Yes, it's terrifying," Kyle, sitting beside her, whispers.
"Speaking of which, how did you come up with this idea?" Rita Skeeter's curiosity gets the better of her. "With just a fake crown, you've thrown the entire wizarding world into chaos, even drawing out that person... We've become overnight sensations.
"Damn, why didn't I think of this before? It's far more useful than publishing gossip about old wizards."
"A fake crown?" Kyle raises an eyebrow and, with a quick motion, produces a silver crown in his hand.
"Who said it was fake?"
The crown features a raven with its wings spread, and at its center, a large blue gem shines brilliantly even in the dimly lit room.
"Of course, it's fake. Everyone knows the real Ravenclaw Crown has been lost for thousands... of years..."
The closer Rita Skeeter examines the crown, the quieter her voice becomes.
Something feels off... This doesn't seem like a fake.
She is no novice witch; on the contrary, as one of The Prophet's most popular (or infamous) journalists, she has visited many wizarding homes.
Though not through conventional means, she has seen and experienced many valuable magical items.
This crown feels like a mysterious vortex of magic, drawing in everything, even magic itself.
This does not resemble a fake at all.
Rita Skeeter clears her throat and breaks into a cold sweat.
Could this be the real Ravenclaw Crown? She wonders subconsciously.
In a way, she hopes it is real, for the reappearance of the lost Ravenclaw Crown after a millennium would make for a fantastic scoop, dominating The Prophet's front page for days.
And she could reap the benefits of such a report if it were in a secure location, like Hogwarts or the Ministry of Magic...
But the current situation is that the item is not in a fixed place, and everyone is looking for it.
This puts her, as an insider, in a dangerous position.
Wizards with designs on the crown will find her and will certainly use all means to force more information out of her, including that person whose name cannot be mentioned.
Thinking of the treatment Old Bogin received, Rita Skeeter instantly lost her calm and stiffly surveyed her surroundings, her eyes filled with fear.
It seemed like the people around her would erupt at any moment and kill them on the spot.
"Don't be nervous, they won't notice us," Kyle continued, caressing the crown.
Rita Skeeter then realized that although there were people coming and going all around them, it seemed that no one had noticed the crown in Kyle's hand, completely ignoring them.
"Is this real?" Rita Skeeter asked in a dry voice.
"Of course," Kyle said matter-of-factly, "A fake crown can't fool the Dark Lord."
Rita Skeeter shuddered all over.
"Weren't you calm before?" Kyle glanced at her, "You dared to watch the Dark Lord interrogate Bogin up close, why weren't you afraid then?"
"No, it's not the same..." Rita Skeeter poured herself another large glass of wine.
If the crown is fake, she would be caught at most, and it would be over in a couple of days.
After all, this wasn't the first time she had published such sensational articles, and she might not even need to apologize.
But if the crown is real, she becomes a mobile key to a vault, how could it be the same!
Rita Skeeter drank her wine more urgently, trying to numb herself in this way.
Kyle just watched from the side without stopping her until she couldn't drink anymore, then slowly said, "Continue, they've worked so hard to find the crown, and should give them some more clues."
"I won't!" Rita Skeeter refused without hesitation, "Damn, if I had known this was real, I wouldn't have helped before."
"Then forget it." Kyle sighed, "What if they knew Rita Skeeter's Animagus was a beetle, how long would it take for them to find you."
"You..."
"Also, what if I cancel the concealment charm now, would they rush to snatch the crown?" Kyle looked at the wizards around him who were hiding their faces, clearly not good people.
He casually stuffed the crown into Rita Skeeter's hand, then smiled, picked up his wand and lightly drew a line.
"How can I help you." The drunkenness in Rita Skeeter's eyes disappeared, and she blurted out.
"A wise choice." Kyle put down his wand.
"Damn it." Rita Skeeter glared at Kyle resentfully. "I've helped you so many times, and you're still threatening me!"
"As compensation, how about an exclusive interview." Kyle said.
"What interview?"
"I can't say now." Kyle thought for a moment, "But it will definitely not disappoint you."
"I'll trust you once more." Rita Skeeter said through gritted teeth.
She seemed to have no other choice now, agreeing at least to get some benefit, and not agreeing to get nothing, Rita Skeeter of course knew how to choose.
Moreover, after getting the crown, she became even more certain that this was the real deal.
She felt her heart beating faster and couldn't help but want to put on the crown, as long as she put on this crown... she could gain Ravenclaw's wisdom and become the smartest person in the world.
As long as she put on the crown, she would definitely be able to write articles that would captivate everyone.
"I advise you not to do this."
In a daze, Rita Skeeter seemed to have heard Kyle's voice, and she had already raised the crown to her eyes, and was about to put it on.
"Let's take a chance." She suddenly thought to herself.
Ravenclaw's crown, it would be worth it even if she only wore it once.
"If I were you, I wouldn't do this." Kyle's voice came again, as if he could see through her thoughts.
Actually, this wasn't difficult, almost everyone who got the crown had the same idea, it was too easy to guess.
"I know what you're thinking." Kyle continued, "Why don't you guess, why I'm not wearing it, or do you think I don't know that this crown can bring wisdom."
Rita Skeeter paused, yes, if this is real, why isn't Kyle wearing it.
"I can only say, the crown brings wisdom, but also a curse, I even suspect that except for Ravenclaw, whoever wears the crown will be driven mad by it."
"I don't understand what you mean, Kyle," Rita Skeeter said, "but I just felt a lightness in my hand, and the crown disappeared."
},
"This gives me a huge sense of loss," she thought.
},
"Get it back..." She couldn't help but have this thought, but her remaining reason also told her not to do so.
},
"How can I help you." Rita Skeeter asked again, also trying to divert her attention.
},
"Same as before, write another article, tell them the crown has appeared again." Kyle said, "Oh, and remember to add your feelings, the feelings you had when you just got the crown."
},
"Why?"
},
"To increase credibility." Kyle said.
},
"..."
},
"Where?"
"Let's go to a pub similar to Knocturn Alley. It's a perfect fit."
"Can I ask why you're doing this?" Rita Skeeter couldn't help but ask, wondering why Kyle would use the Crown to attract everyone's attention.
"Are you sure you want to know?" Kyle waved his wand lightly, "To attract the mysterious man, and then find an opportunity to kill him again. How's that for an answer?"
Something seemed to disappear around them, and the sparkling crown instantly drew everyone's attention, plunging the previously chaotic pub into an eerie silence.
But the next second!
"Snap!"
With a crisp snap, Kyle, along with the crown, vanished using Apparition.
A second later, the pub erupted into an even more chaotic din than before.
"Merlin's beard, what did I just see?"
"The Crown, that person must have had the Ravenclaw Crown."
"Haha, so lucky, it's mine!"
"In your dreams, I saw it first, it should be mine!"
"Do you want to die?"
The pub was in an uproar, with some people arguing over the ownership of the Crown, while others, more clever, were already attempting to use Apparition to pursue Kyle.
A beetle landed on a tree outside the pub.
This beetle was none other than Rita Skeeter, who hadn't snapped out of Kyle's words from earlier.
Kill the mysterious man again? Is this for real? Dumbledore is dead... How dare he!
And knowing this, she might get implicated...
Oh, damn it! Why did she have to ask that extra question!
Thinking of Voldemort's unreasonable personality, Rita Skeeter's expression grew worse, wishing she could slap herself.
...
Meanwhile, Kyle, who had left the pub, returned to Hogsmeade.
He made a couple of detours, greatly increasing the difficulty of tracking him, unless the Ministry of Magic investigated, no one else could trace his route.
Kyle walked down the streets of Hogsmeade, heading back to Hogwarts.
He had only been away for a few days, but the changes to the castle were visible.
First, the entire castle had become oppressive, and two new professors had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
"They're so ugly." Kyle couldn't help but frown as he looked at the two haughty wizards standing before Professor McGonagall, "What's with Voldemort's taste?"
It had to be said, Voldemort's aesthetics were truly questionable.
The previous Death Eaters, like Bellatrix and Antonin, were a bit crazy, but at least their appearances were passable, and they could still serve as a decent front after a quick wash.
These new Death Eaters... Kyle wondered if they were related to the Inferi, their faces bearing the signs of Dark Magic backlash.
Perhaps Voldemort felt more comfortable with such people... after all, he himself had a similar appearance.
Kyle shook his head and walked straight towards them.
"Professor McGonagall, I'm almost done here. Is the student evacuation plan ready?"
"It is." Seeing Kyle, Professor McGonagall immediately ignored the two men, "But Kyle, do you have to be in such a hurry? At least let the seventh-year students graduate smoothly."
"What are you saying!" A Death Eater with asymmetrical horns on his head demanded loudly, "And who are you!"
"I'm afraid not, Professor." Kyle shook his head, ignoring his question, "I guess Voldemort hasn't shown up because he's recovering from his injuries. Now is our best chance to deal with him.
"As for the N.E.W.T, the Ministry of Magic can arrange for a retest, it's no big deal."
"Hey, you..."
"If that's the case, then fine." Professor McGonagall said, "The Hogwarts Express isn't safe, I've arranged for the Knight Bus, that vehicle is special, after being modified, it should be able to take all the students."
"It will be waiting in Hogsmeade, just wave your wand with the Knight Bus gesture and it will appear."
"Enough!"
The horned wizard finally lost his patience and shouted, "Answer me, Minerva McGonagall, what are you planning to do with the students if you don't want them to suddenly disappear?"
"Daring to plan to send the students away right in front of us." The other wizard said sinisterly, "Do you take us for air?"
"I'll be sure to tell the Dark Lord about this, just wait to be..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly shuddered and then stiffly fell to the ground, face-first.
"Ouch, that must have hurt." Kyle muttered, "I almost forgot to deal with you two if you hadn't reminded me."
"Boom!"
The other man followed suit, landing on top of him.
"What just happened?" Professor McGonagall was startled by this sudden turn of events.
She had just been about to take action, but these Death Eaters had collapsed before she could.
"They're probably tired." Kyle said casually, "I've seen many Dark Wizards who like to sleep anywhere."
As he spoke, he reached out and caught the Acromantula that jumped onto him.
It had a small fang sword on its waist, looking like a knight.
Professor McGonagall glanced at the Acromantula curiously but didn't think too much about it and instead headed into the school.
Professor McGonagall's character was always decisive and efficient, and since she had decided to evacuate the students, there was no room for hesitation.
As for the two Death Eaters, with Kyle there, she felt at ease.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
