Igor Karkaroff, Headmaster of Durmstrang, broke into the Gryffindor common room at midnight intending to abduct Harry Potter, ultimately self-destructing during pursuit by Hogwarts faculty and students.
When this news appeared as the Daily Prophet's headline, it instantly exploded public opinion.
The next morning, relations between Hogwarts and Durmstrang plummeted to freezing point. Hermione and Krum, who previously had a good relationship, had a fierce argument at noon and ultimately went their separate ways. The champion trio's relationship also became subtle and awkward, with no more private meetings.
The following afternoon, small and medium-sized wizarding newspapers revealed that Igor Karkaroff had been one of Voldemort's Death Eaters during his lifetime, later avoiding Azkaban by betraying other Death Eaters. Even so, he couldn't continue staying in Britain and chose to go to Northern Europe, eventually becoming Durmstrang's headmaster.
Death Eater students. This was what Hogwarts students called Durmstrang students after the afternoon tabloids exposed Karkaroff's identity.
Regarding this, Dumbledore announced in the Great Hall that evening, forbidding such references to Durmstrang students, but with little effect. Relations between the two schools became increasingly tense.
Fortunately, the third round was starting soon. A Durmstrang vice-principal arrived, and Hogwarts also increased efforts to restrain students, barely maintaining stability.
Hogwarts had reported to the Ministry that Karkaroff was actually controlled by Barty Crouch Jr, but the Ministry felt Dumbledore was being alarmist. However, when Hogwarts reported Yaxley's involvement and the Ministry discovered Yaxley's disappearance, even they found the situation suspicious.
Though Fudge suppressed public opinion, Scrimgeour's matter hadn't yet concluded, and now with Yaxley's situation added, even within the Ministry many held views different from Fudge's.
On the third day, Fudge came to Hogwarts to visit Dumbledore. No one knew what they discussed, but when Fudge left Hogwarts, his expression was unpleasant—clearly their conversation had ended in disagreement.
In Sean's view, Fudge might not be blind to Voldemort's possible resurrection, but those behind him certainly didn't want this known so quickly. They might even use the Ministry's power to hinder the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore, buying time for Voldemort's resurrection.
What Sean could think of, Dumbledore could too.
Could Dumbledore really not prevent Voldemort's resurrection? Sean thought not necessarily—but even if Dumbledore could stop it once, twice, or three times, there would eventually be a time he couldn't. He was already very old and couldn't continue indefinitely. Moreover, simply preventing resurrection wouldn't help eliminate Voldemort. Better to let him resurrect, then find ways to destroy all Horcruxes and kill Voldemort completely—that was the result Dumbledore wanted.
While thinking, Sean stood before the Room of Requirement. Now was the time to complete this small plan.
I need a room to hide things!
The door appeared, and Sean pushed it open and entered.
Beyond the door was a maze piled high with countless miscellaneous items—various objects stacked like high walls. Looking at the space as vast as a small town, Sean suddenly realised that before finding Ravenclaw's Diadem, he needed to solve the challenge of locating it here.
That's right—Sean had come here to find Ravenclaw's Diadem, then activate the Voldemort soul fragment inside for a duel. This way, before facing Voldemort himself, Sean could gain another major improvement, particularly upgrading his Magic Awakening talent to increase his magical power again.
Fundamentally, Sean still carried some degree of concern about having insufficient power.
Exhaling, Sean raised his head slightly. Massive amounts of black smoke poured from his body, forming slender smoke serpents that spread in all directions, searching for Ravenclaw's Diadem.
Finally, when the smoke serpents had spread through most of the room, a special fluctuation was suddenly captured by Sean.
"Here it is."
The black smoke contracted suddenly, retreating like ocean waves in an instant, all returning to Sean's body. Then he moved quickly inward, finally finding that male bust wearing a grey shabby wig covered in spots. The Ravenclaw Diadem, looking like tarnished jewellery, sat atop this bust's head.
"Ravenclaw's Diadem!"
[Discovered compatible Horcrux...]
[Discovered compatible soul fragment...]
[Can absorb and transform to initiate the fourth Magic Awakening.]
[Transformation prerequisite: Duel the soul fragment within the Horcrux and win.]
[Soul fragment can be extracted at any time.]
[Extract soul fragment immediately for duel?]
Seeing the system prompt, Sean took a deep breath and selected [Yes]!
The instant Sean chose [Yes], black smoke poured from Ravenclaw's Diadem. It rapidly coalesced, extending dark tendrils that grabbed surrounding objects, dragging them into the smoke and pulverising them instantly. These pulverised items gathered with the smoke, shaped by it into a figure Sean knew all too well.
Voldemort.
"Ah... Let me see who awakened me, you—"
Having no intention of hearing his nonsense, Sean immediately waved his wand, blasting a curse toward him.
Boom!
Explosive flames scattered in every direction.
Voldemort flew into the air, his black smoke rapidly condensing into a massive skull that lunged down at Sean with gaping jaws.
A soul fragment without a wand or physical body to possess had greatly reduced danger, but even a portion of Voldemort's soul was considerably dangerous. Wandless magic was no challenge for him—only extremely advanced spells like the Killing Curse couldn't be smoothly cast.
But Voldemort's danger wasn't just from using Killing Curses. His danger lay in himself, in being Voldemort.
Black smoke surged upward, forming a massive hand that grabbed the skull and crushed it with brutal force. The skull bit back frantically, until finally both giant hand and skull vanished together, transforming into countless dissipating wisps of black smoke.