Chapter 987: Rozier's Actions
Chapter 987: Rozier's Actions
"How does it feel?"
On the first weekend of the new school year, Hagrid invited Kyle to The Three Broomsticks for a drink, curiously inquiring about his experience in the first Alchemy class yesterday.
"It's okay, not as smooth as I'd hoped, but not terrible either," Kyle said, taking the butterbeer Hagrid handed him.
Everyone started from scratch, so they were all on the same starting line, which had its advantages. As long as the lessons were taught systematically from the basics, it would be fine.
Moreover, Kyle noticed that almost all the students who chose Alchemy were from Muggle families, with only two from Wizarding families.
The Muggle-born students were great; although they lacked a foundation, or rather, had none, they approached each class with enthusiasm and curiosity, free from preconceived notions about Hogwarts.
Kyle only showed them a few small trinkets he had 'acquired' from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and they were already wide-eyed with wonder.
Especially after seeing the Hungarian Tree Bees, the size of a fist, flying and spitting fire, and the lifelike Wizard's Chess set, several third-year students had red eyes, sitting there, eager to dive into the study of Alchemy.
"That's good, I was worried you might be nervous," Hagrid said, sitting down next to Kyle.
"When I first started teaching, I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep for several nights in a row."
"Hagrid, I think you've got it wrong somewhere..." Kyle glanced at him, "I just switched subjects; it's not like it's my first time teaching students."
"It's not the same," Hagrid waved his hand, "Before, you were only a substitute teacher; now, you're an official professor."
Kyle didn't respond; he couldn't quite understand what the difference was either.
But seeing Hagrid's adamant expression, he didn't argue further and turned his attention to the Daily Prophet newspaper beside him.
He had only intended to check if the Alchemy class controversy at Hogwarts had subsided, but he was suddenly drawn to a photo on the front page.
The photo depicted a disheveled, unfamiliar wizard with a crazed look in his eyes, reminiscent of Sirius' post-escape photo.
There was also a bold, eye-catching headline above it.
"What's this?" Kyle blurted out.
"What?" Hagrid also looked at the newspaper, "Oh, it's today's Daily Prophet, I was using it to wrap walnuts."
"Can I borrow it?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thanks." Kyle took the newspaper and carefully read the front-page content.
"Most people seem to have overlooked the fact that the Ministry of Magic hasn't returned to peace since the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, especially in Cornwall, where several small-scale wars have recently broken out.
"We're already handling it, and I can't say more," an anonymous, hot-tempered Auror said yesterday on his way back to the Ministry.
However, it has been confirmed that this ongoing unrest is related to a mysterious hearing.
Although the Ministry's spokesperson has yet to acknowledge the content of the hearing, many in the Wizarding world know that what they are trying to keep secret is the Horcrux, the very thing that allowed the Dark Lord to return after over a decade.
It is said that some Death Eaters attempted to escape after the Dark Lord's defeat and stole a map he treasured...
...
The article was lengthy, almost filling an entire page.
By the time Kyle was halfway through, Hagrid had already finished two pints of mead.
"If you ask me, that map is just a hoax," he said, belching after opening the last bottle of mead.
"A map that records the method of creating Horcruxes... The Dark Lord wouldn't entrust such an important thing to an obscure Death Eater.
"To be honest, I've never even seen the person in the photo, and he might not even be a Death Eater..."
"He's definitely not a Death Eater," Kyle said, lifting his gaze from the photo, "Because he's a wizard from Norway who only arrived in Britain a month ago.
"Hagrid, you didn't even finish reading it, did you?"
Hagrid belched.
He hadn't; after seeing the phrase "The treasure left by the Dark Lord," he had immediately used the newspaper to wrap walnuts.
He didn't believe that the Dark Lord would leave any treasure; even if there was, it would surely be fake, a trap to lure others.
In his eyes, this news must be false, and the Daily Prophet was talking nonsense again.
And why would he care about a useless piece of misinformation?
Hagrid nonchalantly finished his last bottle of mead.
Keer continued reading the latter half of the newspaper.
"...It is reported that the battle for the map concluded a few days ago, and no one knows who the winner is. The only news available now is that a group of wizards suddenly disappeared without a trace.
The fearless journalist Rita Skeeter ventured into the chaotic Cornwall, and with her exceptional wisdom and unparalleled transformation skills, she successfully obtained the latest information.
The treasure map is actually a map that marks a mysterious location... Nurmengard."
The front page ended here.
Keer flipped to the second page and found it filled with introductions to Nurmengard and Grindelwald.
He took a glance and noticed some exaggerated claims, such as Grindelwald summoning a guardian spirit the size of a giant.
In reality, this was the achievement of the invincible Andros, the only one capable of summoning a giant guardian spirit, but it was attributed to Grindelwald here.
Furthermore, the article described the fated battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, claiming it lasted for seven days and seven nights, even detailing the entire process.
"The sky was gloomy, with day and night alternating, and golden streams of light flickered in the night sky. Invisible spells whispered past their ears..."
It was quite spectacular, but also a bit far-fetched.
To be honest, battles between wizards rarely lasted that long. Forget about Dumbledore and Grindelwald; even two Alchemy artifacts using spells continuously for seven days would likely explode.
If Keer's guess was correct, this description probably belonged to a Quidditch match.
The golden streams of light were likely the Golden Snitch, and the two invisible spells could be the Bludgers. With this interpretation, everything became much clearer.
Rita Skeeter must have seen a certain issue of the Quidditch Weekly.
Well, those who figured this out might chuckle and treat it like Hagrid, crumpling the newspaper and tossing it aside.
But for those who didn't catch on, they might genuinely be fooled.
At this moment, the door of The Three Broomsticks opened, and a person entered from outside. They took a look around the shop before sitting in the empty corner seat.
The sound of the bell when the door opened caught Hagrid's attention, and he turned to glance outside.
"Is it almost noon already?" Hagrid stood up and said, "I need to go to the Forbidden Forest this afternoon. Let's head back."
"I want to discuss something with Fred later," Keer said. "You go ahead."
Hagrid nodded without much concern and left The Three Broomsticks on his own.
It wasn't unusual for Keer to frequently visit the Weasley brothers here.
After Hagrid left, Keer didn't go to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes but remained seated.
A moment later, a witch approached and sat in the spot where Hagrid had been.
"Long time no see, Rita," Keer lifted his head.
"Long time no see," Rita Skeeter said, carrying a new handbag that seemed to be made of dragon skin.
"I must thank you for providing such an explosive piece of news," she expressed her gratitude, but her tone wasn't particularly excited; instead, she seemed hesitant.
But she hid it well.
"The legendary Nurmengard and Grindelwald, you know, I received almost as many responses as I did for the previous Hogwarts battle."
"I'm glad to hear that," Keer smiled.
"But there's one thing I don't understand," he opened the newspaper and pointed to the exaggerated content on the second page.
"Aren't you afraid of being exposed for writing this?"
"Not at all," Rita Skeeter said matter-of-factly. "Who can guarantee that Grindelwald couldn't summon a giant guardian spirit?
"And who has actually witnessed the battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald?"
"No one saw it, so it's perfectly fine for me to say this. Besides, most people don't care about this; they are more concerned about whether someone has created a new Horcrux."
Keer was taken aback, realizing that what she said made sense.
"Alright."
"What about the coordinates of that group? When do you plan to release them?" Keer changed the subject. "They probably haven't gone too far by now."
"They're on a deserted island near France," Rita Skeeter replied without hesitation, as if those people were under her control.
No, they were under "her" control.
"That's perfect. Write down the location in detail, and we might be able to attract a few more onlookers and have them take another swing."
"After that, the British magical community should have some peace and quiet for a while."
Rita Skeeter didn't speak, her eyes fixed on Kyle across from her, as if something had occurred to her, and she shuddered.
He was like this, and so was that witch.
Those self-proclaimed victorious dark wizards, each with a vicious personality and ruthless nature, seemed to be held by an invisible thread, every move exposed.
Rita Skeeter even suspected that Kyle introduced her to the witch not out of friendship or cooperation, but because he thought her Animagus form was discreet enough for tracking without arousing suspicion.
After all, no one else knew their route and hideout.
Not to mention, if their current hiding place on the island were exposed, those people would start suspecting each other, and might even come to blows, killing each other.
Rita Skeeter glanced at Kyle again; although he hadn't participated, he seemed to have guessed the witch's plan.
What was this, a tacit understanding?
Rita Skeeter shook her head, deciding not to dwell on these messy thoughts.
"She said it's not the right time yet, we need to wait a bit longer."
"Then let's wait." Kyle didn't seem to mind.
Since Rozier was taking full responsibility, he wouldn't interfere and create more work for himself.
"So, what brings you to me this time?"
Rita Skeeter hesitated for a moment. "I need an assurance."
She had originally sought out Kyle for something else, but suddenly changed her mind. She said seriously, "I don't want to end up like those guys."
She wanted to say that she didn't even know how those guys died, but the words stuck in her throat, and she didn't say them out loud.
"Are you scared?"
"I can't help but be scared," she said without a hint of embarrassment.
"I trust you, but that witch doesn't seem like a kind-hearted person. I have reason to suspect that after she's done with her business, she won't mind squishing a weak little beetle like you."
Rita Skeeter's previous boldness was entirely due to her illegal Animagus identity.
Beetles are so small that they can easily go unnoticed unless closely observed.
But now, this identity seemed to be of no use.
Despite her advanced age, the witch's eyesight was sharp, and she had immediately recognized Rita Skeeter's beetle form at first glance.
Rita Skeeter didn't even know where she had made a mistake, and yet she was caught.
"I can give you a letter," Kyle said softly. "If she wants to kill you, give her this letter."
"Will it work?"
"I'm not sure."
"What did you say?!"
"Don't look at me like that," Kyle shrugged. "I've only met her a few times, and our relationship isn't close enough for a letter to change her mind."
"Then what's the point of giving me the letter?"
"Just try it," Kyle said. "I don't think she'll care much about you. Whether she kills you or lets you go, it's all the same to her."
Rita Skeeter fell silent.
"You can refuse, it's your choice," Kyle said. "Don't worry, I definitely won't do anything to you. Just say you're not doing it, and I'll immediately find someone else to go to Nurmengard."
Rita Skeeter remained silent, seemingly in a state of hesitation.
But when Kyle mentioned the place Nurmengard, her expression suddenly became strained, and her body began to tremble.
"You just said... Nurmengard, is it a real place?"
"Of course."
"Do you know where it is?"
"Yes, of course. Those people have a genuine Nurmengard map, and it's where they're headed next.
"If they're lucky, they might even get to meet Grindelwald himself, the legendary wizard from seventy years ago..."
As soon as Kyle finished speaking, Rita Skeeter took a deep breath!
"I must be crazy!" She stood up abruptly, bumping into the chair behind her.
Fortunately, it wasn't Hogsmeade Day, and there weren't many people at the Three Broomsticks.
After that, Rita Skeeter seemed afraid she might change her mind, and she turned and left without another word.
"Don't forget the letter, you must give it to me!"
"Don't worry," Kyle said.
He had actually wanted to tell Rita Skeeter that he could write the letter right now and let her take it, without the need for an extra step.
But by the time he said this, the person had already left the Three Broomsticks and disappeared.
...
(End of Chapter)
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