She pulled out a book about the relationship between ghosts and souls from her robes and began reading, researching methods that could track souls.
If split souls had no connection whatsoever, then each soul fragment should be independent. But then how could they ensure that when the body died, the soul fragment from the deceased flesh would still be anchored to this world by the other soul pieces?
So Lys believed there must be some connection between Horcruxes. Perhaps if she found that connection, she could do something that would bring her great satisfaction.
Just like how Regulus had found where the Dark Lord hid his Horcrux.
She would eventually trace all the Horcruxes too.
Lys had already mastered ways to destroy Horcruxes—whether through the magic on her arm that required a price to use, or Fiendfyre, or other methods.
As long as one day all the Horcruxes disappeared completely.
Then the myth of immortality would never rise again...
At this thought, Lys's desire for the Dark Lord's death became so intense it was as if she could barely restrain herself from charging out right now.
She was so afraid that before she found a solution, either she or Fred would be unable to hold on—because what was lost was lost forever. Even if it reappeared, it wouldn't be the same as before.
Restraining herself, she sipped a little stabilizing potion and continued reading.
But this author was practically making things up—he didn't even know as much as Lys did...
Lys didn't actually guard the post, just made a show of checking it daily to avoid anyone catching her slacking off. The Dark Lord had been particularly volatile and agitated lately.
Lys wanted to enter Hogwarts to chat and relax with Fred and the armor.
But Severus Snape refused her. The bribery with rare potion ingredients that usually worked so well was ineffective, and even harassing Hogwarts's protective arrays had no effect.
This left her somewhat irritated. While studying old soul-related notes, Lys sat in the treetops repeatedly chatting with Fred through Cerebold about various trivial matters.
She was even bored enough to ask Fred if he liked any girls...
Fred answered quite seriously with a long string of words lamenting how terrifying some girls were with their constant chatter, their delicate way of holding wands, their tears that fell over the smallest things, their shrill laughter, or their fragile poses and clinging enthusiasm that was troubling...
He also mentioned knowing a Gryffindor girl who was somewhat like Lulu as a Quidditch friend—she was quite normal! He missed Lulu a bit.
Reading the description on paper, Lys felt the women in her family had influenced Fred rather significantly... After all, girls being a bit delicate or sensitive was normal—Fred didn't have to like it, but he shouldn't magnify it into such flaws...
Looking at her silly bird's bald head, Lys worried it might be sick or getting old, so she kept it close to rest and had Fred use another school owl instead.
Unexpectedly, this infuriated the bird, but with Gabon right in Lys's arms, it didn't even dare peck at her...
Lys stayed alert when she saw it sneakily perch on her head. Sure enough, the stupid bird let loose with bird droppings. Lys flicked her wand to transform a branch to catch the mess, which seemed to disappoint Cerebold. It fluttered down to the treetop, then suddenly let out urgent, sharp cries before landing beside Gabon and refusing to leave.
Lys cast protective charms on herself and the two creatures, then peeked out. Suddenly she felt the Dark Mark on her arm burn—someone was summoning the Dark Lord!
At a time like this, only someone who had captured Harry Potter would dare call the Dark Lord. Realizing this, Lys frowned.
She gripped the bracer on her left hand and continued peering out. The mist caused by Dementors in the distant darkness seemed to be spreading. Lys looked carefully twice and confirmed it was true.
Since she couldn't cast a Patronus Charm, Lys had no intention of staying. She shouldered Gabon, tucked her bald owl under her left arm, and left.
She looked at the castle before her, not understanding why the Dark Lord was so certain Harry Potter would return here.
Without Dumbledore, Lys didn't think this place would be safer than constantly traveling through hidden forests.
Moreover, with a Death Eater headmaster, many of the school's defenses wouldn't activate to protect him. So why would he return to Hogwarts?
And where was Harry Potter now?
Who had discovered him?
Lys didn't know, but instinctively felt something was wrong.
There must be something between the Dark Lord and little Potter that she didn't know about.
She didn't know who had captured Harry Potter or where, but Lys knew she would have news soon.
Whether the Dark Lord successfully killed Harry Potter.
Or Harry Potter had escaped again...
The Dark Mark on her arm continuously transmitted angry emotions, burning Lys until she gasped. She had to remove her bracer to look—the skin around the mark had even turned an unhealthy flush from the burning, contrasting with her usual grayish-white. Such intense emotion made Lys want to laugh.
What had happened? If possible, she'd like to do the same...
Little did she know she had already done this very thing!
However, Lys was still speculating—had Potter escaped again?
But in reality, when the Dark Lord received the summons, he was confirming the safety of his Horcruxes.
And at that moment, he discovered his Horcrux had been stolen!
A completely severed soul couldn't be sensed by him. He felt a hint of panic, but more anger.
He knew this must be connected to that foolish boy.
That slippery boy protected and taught by Dumbledore...
And now that boy was at Hogwarts—yes, the school he had almost completely grasped in his palm.
The Death Eaters stationed at the school had already discovered Harry Potter.
He would soon fall into his Nagini's belly...
Let me... let the Dark Lord witness his own invincibility!
A prophecy? One must die at the other's hand?
Then it could only be Harry Potter dying at Voldemort's hands!
The Dark Lord took the small boat surrounded by Inferi back to shore, transformed into a massive black mist, and descended at Hogwarts's gates to summon his servants.
He was finally about to break free from that damned prophecy!
And Hogwarts would witness it all...
This castle that had given him the chance to know himself would also let everyone recognize him—
The Dark Lord.
Voldemort.
He lifted the stolen Elder Wand in his hand, examining it carefully.
Yes, perfect preparation. Soon...
His servants were already gathering outside Hogwarts's gates, but it wasn't enough.
He used magic to transmit his voice into the castle, demanding the staff and students hand over Harry Potter voluntarily!
And the Dark Lord would grant them rewards.
He wanted the Savior's banner to collapse completely.
He wanted those hopeful, incompetent fools to deeply understand what despair meant.
This last remaining bastion of resistance in wizarding Britain...
He wanted them to acknowledge his victory!
Lys was among those summoned. Not just Lys—among the Death Eaters arriving, she even heard someone trying to bring the giants they'd previously recruited.
Looking at the distant castle and the dark mass of people, Lys felt things had exceeded her expectations.
She concealed her face and found Lucius in a corner of the crowd, crouching behind him to ask, "What does the Dark Lord mean?"
"At midnight, if they don't hand over Harry Potter, war will begin."
"Is Harry Potter really inside?"
Lucius couldn't stop blinking rapidly. He hadn't even been allowed to carry a wand since letting Potter escape.
"Yes."
"Start a war? What about the students?!"
Lys was incredulous. "Setting aside their student status, those are all children. Even if... there are so many pureblood children there!"
Lucius was also stunned. "If they capture Harry Potter, they'll receive forgiveness and protection."
Seeing Lucius's evasive eyes, Lys felt disappointed. "What about Fred? What about Draco?"
"Why doesn't he go capture Potter himself? Isn't Severus the headmaster? Couldn't he easily let the Dark Lord in?"
Lucius didn't know how to answer Lys's questions. He only repeated the nonsense about receiving forgiveness if they captured Harry Potter.
His eyes wandered, as if facing Lys made him very nervous.
Lys watched her dispatched Cerebold continuously circle the school's perimeter without flying forward, while the school slowly raised a glowing barrier.
Knowing she couldn't even send Fred a message to hide and wait for her to find him, her heart fell into anxiety.
"As long as we catch Potter, our mistakes, our past concealments will all be forgiven. Starlys, nothing can be hidden from the Dark Lord's eyes! No one can hide secrets!"
Lucius struggled to maintain composure, but his voice still trembled. He seemed to want to convey some message to Lys but didn't dare speak directly with another Death Eater standing nearby.
This left Lys completely unable to understand what Lucius was saying.
She looked puzzledly at Lucius, who was still trying to convince her to capture Potter, then forcefully pulled away his hand gripping her bracer.
"Coward. You can only protect yourself."
After hesitating, Lys still slipped Lucius a wand she'd previously disarmed from someone when the nearby person turned away.
Looking at the unfamiliar wand in his hands, Lucius was stunned, then quickly tucked it into his cloak.
In that moment of distraction, Starlys had vanished from before him...
"Bellatrix has found something that could kill you, junior!"
Merlin's beard! Damn it!
It wasn't his first day knowing his junior!
He should have spoken directly just now!
Someone should have told her!
Did she understand or not?!
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