Chapter 377 Bombing Karkaroff
Before he could finish, his face suddenly turned ugly, his hands gripped the tablecloth tightly, and his body began to twitch uncontrollably, a layer of cold sweat instantly appearing on his forehead.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Ron was the first to notice something was amiss, standing up in surprise, wanting to help him.
"I... I feel so hot all over, like I'm on fire..." Seamus struggled to get out a sentence, his body twitching more and more violently, and with a sweep of his arm, he accidentally knocked all the plates and porridge bowls on the table to the floor.
The sound of the porcelain plates shattering was particularly jarring in the quiet Great Hall, attracting many people's attention.
What was worse, Seamus himself fell off the bench, curling up into a ball, rolling back and forth on the ground, his hands constantly slapping his clothes as if trying to extinguish flames, his expression one of unbearable pain.
"Oh no!" Harry suddenly reacted, his gaze immediately falling on Professor Snape at the teachers' table, saying excitedly, "It must be Snape's doing!"
Just then.
A soft click.
A colorful object flew out of Seamus's pocket, like an arrow from a bow, shooting towards the teachers' table in the distance.
Ron and Harry didn't bother to see what it was; saving Seamus was the most important thing right now.
However, just then, a violent explosion came from the teachers' table in the distance, accompanied by a cloud of smoke, and Karkaroff's panicked shouts could be faintly heard.
"Make it disappear! Disappear!"
Apparently, the magic fireworks that flew over had exploded there.
"Quick, help me get him up!" Ron forcefully helped Seamus sit up from the ground.
A few minutes later, the twitching in Seamus's body gradually stopped, the cold sweat on his forehead slowly receded, and his breathing became steady.
He was drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water, but his spirits were clearly much better.
With Harry and Ron's help, he sat back on the bench.
Seamus felt his pocket, wanting to confirm if the magic fireworks were still there, but as soon as his hand went in, his face suddenly changed: "Oh no! Where are my magic fireworks? They were just in my pocket!"
"I think... they should be over there."
Harry raised his hand, helplessly pointing in the direction of the teachers' table.
A cloud of gray dust was currently swirling there, and Karkaroff's pained voice could still be faintly heard, clearly not yet recovered from the explosion.
Ron looked in the direction Harry pointed, his eyes suddenly lighting up, and he asked with a hint of anticipation in his voice: "Hey? Did you hear Professor Snape's voice? With such a big explosion just now, if he was fine, he would have started cursing by now, right?"
Ron's words were like a suddenly lit lamp, reminding Harry, who was still focused on the teachers' table.
He moved a few steps forward, deliberately lightening his footsteps, and pricked up his ears, wanting to hear the movement over there clearly.
After all, if Professor Snape was really injured, he would definitely explode immediately, but now there was only Karkaroff's groaning, which was truly abnormal.
Sure enough, Professor Snape's voice came from a distance, but the distance was too far, and it was mixed with the subtle sounds of the dust spreading, Harry only vaguely heard a few words, and the only clear words that finally reached his ears were "Gryffindor."
This phrasing made his heart tighten, so familiar it was unsettling.
Every time Professor Snape was about to deduct points, he would mention the house name in a similar tone.
Before Harry could think further, Professor Snape's next sentence came clearly: "Wind Whirlwind!"
This was the standard incantation for the Wind Whirlwind Charm, Harry had heard it several times in magic class and would never mistake it.
The moment the spell was cast, a small vortex suddenly appeared above the teachers' table, emitting a faint gray magical glow.
The dust that had been lingering there seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, rapidly gathering towards the vortex, and in just a few seconds, it was sucked into a long, thin band of dust, after which the vortex carried the dust directly out of the Great Hall, drifting from the open window towards the Forbidden Forest in the distance.
As the dust cleared, the situation at the teachers' table was finally clearly revealed to everyone.
Professor Snape stood in place, his iconic black robe still perfectly smooth without a single wrinkle, as dark as new, his face not stained with a speck of ash, and even the strands of hair usually falling across his forehead maintained their usual neatness, clearly unaffected by anything.
In stark contrast to him was Karkaroff next to him.
The Principal of Durmstrang was in an extremely sorry state, slumped on the ground, barely able to prop himself up against the wall to sit steadily, his luxurious silk robe blasted to tatters, covered in scorched marks, revealing his equally dust-covered shirt underneath, his meticulously groomed silver-white goatee largely blown off, leaving only a small clump of curly hair on his chin, his face smudged with black ash, and even one lens of his glasses was shattered, looking both miserable and comical.
Even more bizarrely, the range of the magic fireworks seemed to be precisely controlled; everything around Karkaroff and the chair he was sitting on was completely intact.
Especially the teachers' table in front of him, the tabletop was smooth and clean, without even a scratch, clearly having been preemptively enchanted with protective magic to avoid the impact of the fireworks.
"It seems I was wrong just now..." Ron looked at Karkaroff's miserable state, couldn't help but sigh, his tone a bit complex, "This isn't just an unusual relationship, it's clearly a very bad one, otherwise why would Professor Snape just watch him get blasted like this without even casting a protective charm."
"No, I have to go quickly!" Seamus suddenly blurted out, his face full of panic.
He didn't care about the magic fireworks that had been ruined shortly after he bought them, nor did he bother to brush off the dust from his clothes, getting up and running towards the Great Hall door, his steps so light that it was impossible to tell he had been rolling in pain on the ground just minutes before.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
"We should get out of here quickly too, staying any longer will definitely bring bad luck."
Ron said, quickly grabbing a few pieces of whole wheat bread from the plate and stuffing them into his arms, after all, he hadn't finished breakfast yet, and if Professor Snape stopped them, he probably wouldn't even be able to eat in peace.
Harry also quickly grabbed his backpack, the two of them not panicking like Seamus, but trying to remain composed, though their steps were not slow, as they quickly walked towards the Great Halldoor.
As they passed the corner where the House Cup hourglasses were displayed, they subconsciously glanced at them, and both froze; the number of rubies in the Gryffindor hourglass had decreased significantly again, visibly much less than before.
"At least two hundred points deducted, no, it could be three hundred!" Harry said with a frown, his tone certain.
He and Ron had been in Gryffindor for so long that they were well aware of Professor Snape's point deduction scale; such a large reduction had to be several hundred points.
Only then did he fully understand why Professor Snape had mentioned "Gryffindor" in the dust earlier.
It wasn't idle chatter at all; he was clearly taking advantage of the chaos to deduct points from Gryffindor!
Just a few steps after they ran out of the Great Hall, they saw a brightly colored tabby cat leisurely walking into the Great Hall.
The cat walked elegantly, heading directly towards the Gryffindor table, and when it reached an empty corner, its body suddenly stretched and transformed, instantly reverting to the form of Professor McGonagall, still wearing her iconic green plaid robe.
As soon as Professor McGonagall stood firm, she saw Professor Snape and Karkaroff walking towards her.
Karkaroff had already lost consciousness, his eyes tightly closed, his face pale.
Professor Snape levitated him in mid-air with magic, like manipulating a marionette; Karkaroff's wrists, neck, and knees seemed to be pulled by invisible strings, making him assume a stiff and strange posture, only his toes occasionally lightly touching the ground, looking very eerie.
Professor McGonagall looked at the levitating, disheveled Karkaroff, her face showing surprise, and quickly asked, "Severus, what happened to Mr. Karkaroff? How did he end up like this?"
"Nothing, just a small accident."
Professor Snape's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible sneer, his tone as flat as if he were discussing a trivial matter, "Three Gryffindor students attempted to attack an esteemed guest with magic fireworks, fortunately, I intervened in time to prevent more severe consequences."
Upon hearing these words, which twisted the truth, Professor McGonagall's eyebrows instantly shot up, her eyes filled with disbelief; she knew Gryffindor students too well, and while occasionally mischievous, they would absolutely never attack an esteemed guest.
"I have already punished them, have you seen the change in the hourglass?" Professor Snapecompletely ignored Professor McGonagall's expression and continued, "Those three students, one hundred points each, Gryffindor a total of three hundred points. I believe this is a very necessary measure to make them remember the lesson and not make similar mistakes in the future."
Professor McGonagall followed his gaze to the hourglass, and seeing Gryffindor's almost empty hourglass, her face instantly fell, her lips moved, as if wanting to retort, but she couldn't find evidence for the moment, so she could only sigh helplessly.
"..." Professor McGonagall looked at Professor Snape's indifferent expression, her voice full of helplessness. She gently shook her head, turning her gaze back to Karkaroff suspended in the air, asking worriedly, "So, how is Mr. Karkaroff's condition now? Do we need to contact Madam Pomfrey at the Hospital Wing immediately?"
"I plan to take him to the Hospital Wing for a check-up first, to see if there are any hidden injuries." Professor Snape said in a flat tone, his gaze sweeping over the remaining goatee on Karkaroff's chin, a barely perceptible sneer curling his lips, "However, in my opinion, what Mr. Karkaroff needs most right now might not be a potion for external wounds, but a bottle of hair growth tonic—oh, no, it should be beard growth tonic, after all, his proud beard is now a sight to behold."
Professor McGonagall heard this, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she followed Professor Snape's gaze to Karkaroff's chin.
Only then did she notice that Karkaroff's once thick goatee was almost completely destroyed, with only a small tuft of hair clinging to his chin, a stark contrast to his usual refined image.
She instinctively pressed her lips tightly together, her shoulders twitching slightly, clearly trying to suppress her laughter, as it would be inappropriate to laugh at an esteemed guest on such an occasion.
Professor Snape seemed to have grown tired of this conversation; he couldn't be bothered to parley with Professor McGonagall any longer, and with a gentle flick of his wand.
Karkaroff, suspended in mid-air, seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, his body stiffly turning around, following behind Professor Snape, slowly moving towards the Great Hall door.
Professor Snape walked calmly, completely ignoring Karkaroff, who was like a "marionette" behind him, and soon disappeared through the Great Hall door.
Professor McGonagall let out a soft breath as she watched them leave, then turned to Hermione, who was still standing by the long table, and asked sternly, "Hermione, you've been here the whole time, you must know what really happened, right? What attack?"
Hermione stepped forward and systematically explained everything that had happened, from Seamuspurchasing magic fireworks with Fred and George, to Seamus suddenly exhibiting symptoms of fever and convulsions, and finally the magic fireworks accidentally flying towards the teachers' table and causing an explosion, not missing a single detail.
"You mean, Seamus's sudden convulsions might have been due to poisoning? And Professor Snape not only didn't help, but also deducted three hundred points from Gryffindor in the chaos?" Professor McGonagall's voice involuntarily rose a few pitches upon hearing this, her eyes filled with shock and anger, "And then Harry, Ron, and Seamus all ran away because they were afraid of being held accountable by Professor Snape?"
Hermione nodded gently, a hint of helplessness in her voice: "Yes, Seamus's situation was very urgent at the time, and Harry and Ron were also worried that if they stayed any longer, Professor Snapewould make things difficult for them, after all, as you know, Professor Snape has always been... quite strict with Gryffindor students."
Professor McGonagall let out a heavy sigh, her brows furrowed tightly: "They were too impulsive, they shouldn't have left so easily! Professor Snape is always good at twisting the truth, and without evidence, there's no way to refute his accusations."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the messy long table and the shattered porcelain on the floor, her face filled with anxiety.
Gryffindor's points had already decreased due to previous incidents, and now with another three hundred points deducted, it would be even harder to turn the tide in the House Cup competition!
Meanwhile, in a Chamber of Secrets deep within Hogwarts Castle, Barty Crouch Jr. stood at the door, clutching a thick stack of parchment in his hands.
He first took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly, trying to calm his inner nervousness and awe, until his expression returned to normal, then he slowly raised his hand and gently knocked on the heavy wooden door.
"Knock, knock, knock—" The knocking sound was exceptionally clear in the silent Chamber of Secrets, carrying a hint of caution.
A moment later, a cold, piercing voice came from inside the room, devoid of any warmth, yet imbued with unquestionable authority: "Enter."
Barty Crouch Jr. pushed open the door and bowed as he entered.
The Chamber of Secrets was dimly lit, with only a silver Pensieve on the central stone table, emitting a faint glow.
Chapter 378 Master, your strategies are always so unfathomable!
Lord Voldemort stood by the stone table, holding a transparent glass vial. Inside were two intertwined silver threads, glowing softly in the dim light.
Barty Crouch Jr.'s gaze was immediately drawn to the vial. He recognized at once that the silver threads were memory threads, the medium Wizards used to store memories.
His heart stirred, and he vaguely guessed what was happening, but he dared not speak rashly. He simply maintained his bowed posture, awaiting Lord Voldemort's instructions.
But the other party remained silent.
"Master..." After a few seconds, Barty Crouch Jr. could only slowly straighten up and take a few steps forward, asking respectfully, "Has there been any news from over there? Any new developments?"
"Indeed." Lord Voldemort's gaze fell on the glass vial, his voice still cold. "He has already contacted Snape as I commanded. I believe you will be interested in the content of their conversation."
"Snape?" Barty Crouch Jr. raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly replaced by excitement. "Master intends to use Karkaroff to test Snape's loyalty?"
"You are correct." Lord Voldemort did not deny it. He extended a finger, gently twisted open the vial's cap, and a red glow appeared at the tip of his wand. He carefully picked out one of the memory threads.
With a flick of his wrist, the silver thread floated lightly into the Pensieve, instantly merging into the shimmering light and disappearing.
Barty Crouch Jr. immediately understood. He quickly stepped forward, propped his hands on the stone table, took a deep breath, and slowly lowered his head into the Pensieve's glow.
A cool sensation enveloped his consciousness. The next second, the scene of Karkaroff and Snape's conversation outside the Castle clearly appeared in his mind: from Karkaroff mentioning the dark mark, to his attempt to persuade Snape to flee Hogwarts, to Snape's refusal and insistence on staying at the school—every word was fully displayed before him.
After a long while, Barty Crouch Jr. slowly lifted his head, a clear excitement on his face, his voice full of admiration: "Master, your judgment is always the most accurate! Karkaroff even mentioned the dark mark, and hinted that you have returned, trying to entice Snape to defect, but Snape remained unmoved, and even said he would stay at Hogwarts to continue his 'undercover work.' It seems Snapehas no intention of betraying you; he is still loyal to you!"
"Years ago, when I attempted to infiltrate Hogwarts to find something, I already conducted an assessment of him."
Lord Voldemort fell into thought, his voice gaining a hint of complexity. "At the time, I learned through a spy that he had been secretly inquiring about me. To verify his loyalty, I gave him a task—to prepare some rare Potion ingredients and place them at a secret location I designated."
He paused, his gaze fixed on the Pensieve, and continued in a calm voice: "There are some things I cannot deny. That I was able to acquire a usable body in a short time, and later successfully track you down and reassemble my old followers, all thanks to the things he provided. If he had truly betrayed me, there would have been no need for him to put so much effort into helping me."
"Master, you are always so righteous! You are a god! You possess keen insight and are fair and just, never easily wronging any loyal follower!" Barty Crouch Jr. immediately praised him, his voice filled with adoration. "So, now that Snape's loyalty has been confirmed, do we need to immediately bring him into our plan? With him providing support from within Hogwarts, our actions will be much smoother."
"There is no need for that for now." Lord Voldemort spoke slowly, his fingertips gently caressing the edge of the glass vial, his eyes deep, clearly weighing the overall situation. "Snape's current actions precisely align with my previous instructions, without the slightest deviation."
"His core value lies in being an invisible thorn, deeply embedded between Slytherin and the other houses, constantly creating conflict and exacerbating division. This situation of mutual checks and suspicion is precisely what I wish to see—only if Hogwarts is disunited can our subsequent plans proceed more smoothly."
"Master, your strategy is always so unfathomable!" Barty Crouch Jr. immediately bowed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I was too focused on immediate gains and failed to grasp this profound long-term plan. I am truly ashamed."
"What Snape should do now is to continue his undercover work at Hogwarts, patiently waiting for the most opportune moment." Lord Voldemort looked up, his gaze sharp as he looked at Barty Crouch Jr., his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Barty, you must remember, we will have an endless supply of manpower in the future; there's no need to rush."
He changed the subject, his voice tinged with a rare sense of emotion: "Speaking of which, I am now gradually beginning to understand why Dumbledore was willing to stay at Hogwarts his entire life. I must admit, the school is indeed a special place; it has an atmosphere that encourages people to calm down and think deeply, something the outside world lacks."
"While Durmstrang's collection of books may not be as vast as Hogwarts', it is by no means small. More importantly, there one can find many books directly related to Gellert Grindelwald, meticulously documenting his actions and philosophies from back then. Have you seen such content in the Hogwartslibrary?"
Lord Voldemort was well aware of Barty Crouch Jr.'s level of knowledge.
Barty Crouch Jr. closed his eyes, searching his memories. After a moment, he opened his eyes and stated with certainty: "Master, in Hogwarts' collection, content about Gellert Grindelwald is mostly mentioned in passing, scattered across various history books. There has never been a biography specifically written about him, nor any documents detailing his philosophy."
"This is the greatest gain from my recent review of Durmstrang's collection." Lord Voldemort exhaled softly, his voice carrying a complex emotion. "I must say, the things Gellert Grindelwald did back then, and the philosophies he held, have given me a completely new perspective."
"My vision was once too narrow. There was no need to confine all my energy to this small land of England." His gaze drifted towards the depths of the Chamber of Secrets, as if he could already see a wider world. "This world is so vast, with countless Wizards and resources. I really should have realized this sooner."
"Even though the magic knowledge I possess comes from ancient traditions around the world, integrating the essence of different systems, I wasted over a decade merely circling this land of England. It was truly a huge loss."
"Great Master! Your vision and scope are truly unparalleled!" Barty Crouch Jr. chimed in at the opportune moment, his voice filled with fervent adoration. "Even a temporary silence is merely for a more glorious resurgence in the future."
Lord Voldemort's face showed a satisfied smile, clearly pleased by the praise.
He continued: "Gellert Grindelwald chose an incredibly opportune moment to rise back then, coinciding with a large-scale war in the Muggle world, plunging the entire world into chaos."
"At that time, not only the pure-blood families of England, but Wizarding families from all over the world who yearned to expand their influence and change the structure of the Wizarding World, were secretly hoping for Gellert Grindelwald's success, wishing he could break the existing order."
"If only he had pushed one step further, if only Dumbledore, that biggest stumbling block, had been removed, the entire Wizarding World, and even the world's structure, would have been completely transformed. Alas, Dumbledore ultimately prevented all of it, causing his ambition to fail."
Lord Voldemort's voice held a hint of regret, but more so, a sense of unwillingness.
He suddenly changed the subject, his gaze sharply fixed on Barty Crouch Jr.: "Barty, have you ever carefully considered something? Our Death Eaters back then, and those ostensible allies, were not merely local forces from England, were they?"
Upon hearing this, Barty Crouch Jr.'s brows furrowed tightly, and he fell into deep thought.
He recalled various details from back then: the occasionally appearing Wizards with strange accents, the mysterious sources of support—fragments connected in his mind.
After a long while, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he said uncertainly: "Master, do you mean... there were other pure-blood families from other magic worlds secretly supporting us back then?"
"Yes." Lord Voldemort slowly nodded, his voice grave. "Only now that I have been freed do I fully grasp this. Those pure-blood families scattered across the world actually regarded England's magic world as a testing ground, an experiment to test the feasibility of a new order."
"The war Gellert Grindelwald incited back then had already exhausted these pure-blood families, so in supporting us, they always held back, unwilling to commit heavily, only investing some insignificant power while observing the situation's development. If things went awry, they could immediately withdraw, unscathed."
"These pure-blood families' intentions were not so simple." Lord Voldemort's fingertips tapped lightly on the stone table, making a rhythmic sound, his eyes full of insight. "At that time, the England magicworld, because it was not affected by the Wizarding World War, could be considered the strongest magical force at the time, whether in terms of Wizard numbers, magic resources, or overall strength."
"So they had already made their calculations, with two clear intentions: even if I ultimately failed to overthrow the existing order, as long as England's magic world was severely weakened, and Dumbledore suffered a crushing defeat, their objectives would be achieved."
He paused, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "From the results, they indeed accomplished this. Although Dumbledore preserved Hogwarts, he paid a considerable price, and the strength of England's magicworld was consequently damaged."
Barty Crouch Jr.'s brows knitted tightly, a hint of confusion on his face, and he asked hesitantly: "Master, since these pure-blood families merely used us as pawns, and even plotted against us behind our backs, do we still need to unite with them afterward? Won't that create hidden dangers?"
"Why wouldn't we unite with them?" Lord Voldemort retorted, his voice carrying an undeniable assertiveness. "Dumbledore's so-called 'Pyrrhic victory' this time has completely pushed him to the opposite side of the pure-blood families. You must know, pure-blood families despise people like Dumbledore the most—he always thwarts their plans, prevents them from upholding their 'pure-blood glory,' and yet he possesses formidable strength, making him difficult for them to easily shake."
He took two steps forward, his gaze falling on Barty, and slowly said: "Dumbledore is destined to be ostracized by all pure-blood families; this is an unchangeable fact. And we can precisely exploit this—as long as we raise the banner of opposing Dumbledore and upholding pure-blood interests, even if those pure-blood families had schemes before, they will be forced to cooperate with us due to a common enemy. Do you understand the key here?"
Barty Crouch Jr. immediately knelt, his voice trembling slightly, full of remorse: "Master, I... I still haven't fully grasped the intricacies here, and I have failed your expectations."
"Barty, you have not failed me." Lord Voldemort gently shook his head, his voice unusually softened. "You lost ten years; many things require re-adaptation and re-learning. There is still time for everything; there's no need to rush."
Barty Crouch Jr. quickly stood up, straightened his back, and asked respectfully and firmly: "Master, what should I do next? Please instruct me; I will give my all."
Lord Voldemort raised a hand and pointed to a drawer in the corner of the Chamber of Secrets, filled with various ancient books, most with yellowed covers: "Barty, first take those books from the drawer and go back to study them thoroughly. They contain records of the history and modus operandi of pure-blood families around the world, as well as an analysis of Grindelwald's strategies when he rose to power, which will be helpful for your upcoming work."
He then pointed to the stack of parchment Barty had been clutching tightly, adding: "Once you've read those books, continue to refine the plan on these—integrate the situation of the pure-blood families, and formulate a more detailed cooperation scheme to ensure we firmly maintain the initiative in the cooperation."
Meanwhile, in another corner of Hogwarts Castle, the atmosphere of the Triwizard Tournament was quietly heating up.
"Forget about electives for now; the second task is the most important." Harry ran a hand through his somewhat messy hair, a hint of anxiety in his voice. "When Ron, Hermione, and I discussed it earlier, we only thought about the difficulties of an underwater challenge—like how to breathe underwater, how to deal with potentially dangerous underwater creatures. We completely overlooked the possibility of losing our wands. If we really can't use our wands, won't the challenge become even harder?"
Chapter 379: They can all cheat, why can't we?
"It might not be that difficult," Draco narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of shrewdness flashing within them. "Think about it, what's the difference between a Wizard without a wand and a Muggle? Would the judging panel really make us fight Merpeople bare-handed, or grope around at the bottom of the lake? This simply doesn't fit the standards of the Triwizard Tournament."
"I plan to ask my father to help inquire, to sound out people from the Department for International Magical Cooperation and the Department of Magical Games and Sports, to see if there are any loopholes in the rules we can exploit. After all, they are the departments related to the organizers, and they must know some details we are unaware of."
"You can do that?" Cedric blinked in surprise, his tone tinged with worry. "Would that be inappropriate? What if we get caught? Could there be any complications, or even implicate you and your father?"
"Have you forgotten what that Principal said before?" A hint of disdain flashed in Draco's eyes, his tone laced with sarcasm. "He said 'cheating' is also one of the traditions of the Triwizard Tournament, it's just that everyone has an unspoken understanding."
"We all followed 'tradition' to choose our dance partners and completed the opening dance ceremony at the Christmas Ball. As the judging panel, they can't just demand that we uphold tradition while ignoring the 'tradition' of 'cheating,' can they?"
He paused, his tone becoming more resolute: "Furthermore, you should all remember what Karkaroffdid before, right? They secretly tripped us up and deliberately lowered our scores during judging. Since they can do that, why can't we fight for our own interests? We need to know how to leverage Hogwarts' home advantage, not just passively take a beating!"
Draco's words were clear, logical, and carried a sense of righteous indignation. Even Harry, who had been somewhat hesitant, was convinced, his anxiety gradually replaced by determination.
"I think Draco makes a good point; we really should actively seek some favorable conditions," Dylan also agreed, adding, "You saw the first task. When designing the tasks, the judging panel not only has to consider the challenge but also the spectacle—after all, so many teachers, students, and guests are watching. If we all lose our wands and can only blindly dive and grope around at the bottom of the lake, there would be no spectacle at all. This doesn't align with their original intention for designing the tasks."
"Furthermore, since they designed the riddle song in the golden egg with an Alchemy mindset, they must consider the core elements of Alchemy, such as 'equivalent exchange.' Since the lyrics imply that we will lose our wands, then according to the principle of 'equivalent exchange,' they must pay a corresponding price. This is logical and can be considered a form of compensation for us."
"And there was news before that the members of the judging panel are also bound by the magical contract of the goblet of fire and cannot arbitrarily change the task rules. So I speculate that the price they need to pay is likely to allow us to make some preparations in advance, such as carrying some non-magical but practical tools, or understanding the environment at the bottom of the lake beforehand, so that the challenge appears fair and reasonable."
"That makes sense! Now that you say that, I feel much more at ease, and this speculation seems particularly reasonable!" Harry nodded repeatedly, his previously furrowed brows completely relaxed, and his tone of anxiety was clearly replaced by relief.
Before, he had been worried about being defenseless after losing his wand. Now, after Dylan and Draco's analysis, he finally saw a direction for how to cope.
"I completely agree with Dylan's explanation too!" Draco also quickly chimed in, his tone much more serious than before. "This way, the key challenges we need to focus on next are twofold: first, how to move underwater for extended periods and solve the problems of breathing and movement; and second, figuring out what magical creatures we might encounter at the bottom of the lake and preparing for them in advance. Since there's a possibility of 'equivalent exchange' compensation for the wand issue, we don't need to worry too much about it for now."
"However, speaking of magical creatures…" Harry suddenly thought of a possibility, his face instantly turning a little pale, and his voice dropped a few octaves. "Do you think there might be other dangerous animals at the bottom of the lake? Although the Black Lake usually looks quite calm, if there are powerful creatures hidden there and we're unprepared, it would be troublesome. There shouldn't be that many dangerous animals in the water, right?"
"That's not necessarily true," Cedric shook his head, saying in a serious tone, "Don't underestimate the Black Lake. The underwater environment is much more complex than on land. Many places are bottomless, hiding many dangers we don't know about. Before, when I interned at the Ministry of Magicwith my father, I heard people from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures say that the underwater ecosystem is very special; some creatures don't show themselves normally, but once disturbed, they become extremely aggressive."
As he spoke, he raised his wand towards the bookshelf by the window and clearly chanted the spell: "Accio books!"
No sooner had he spoken than a brightly colored gift box flew from the top of the bookshelf and landed steadily on the table in front of him.
The gift box was wrapped with golden ribbon and tied with a beautiful bow. A delicate greeting card was affixed to the lid, with elegant and neat handwriting.
Everyone's gaze was drawn to the suddenly appearing gift box.
The greeting card read:
Cedric, Merry Christmas! I hope this gift can help you when you need it.
— Cho Chang
Draco was the first to notice the signature on the card, a teasing smile playing on his lips, his tone a bit playful: "Wow, this gift box is quite exquisite, and it even has a personalized greeting card. It seems the sender put a lot of thought into it. Cho Chang? Is that the girl from Ravenclaw who often goes to the library with you?"
Cedric became a little embarrassed, his cheeks slightly flushed. He pursed his lips, reaching out to gently caress the gift box, and explained, "This is a Christmas gift from Cho Chang. Inside is a set of books on underwater magical creatures. Actually, I wanted to open it earlier, but I just hadn't found the right time."
He paused, his eyes softening, and continued, "Cho Chang and I talked about our plans after graduation. I said I wanted to join the Ministry of Magic and work with my father, Amos Diggory. My father works in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and deals with all sorts of magical creatures, especially aquatic ones, so I thought it was important to learn about them beforehand."
"At the time, I thought Cho Chang was using this gift to express her support for my career choice," Cedric's fingers gently traced the handwriting on the card, his voice filled with a hint of nostalgia. "So I never brought myself to unwrap it, keeping the gift box and card perfectly preserved, wanting to use them as an inspiration—a reminder to work hard towards my goals and not let down her good intentions."
It wasn't until he confirmed that the second task was related to the Black Lake and Merpeople that Cedric suddenly realized: "Now I understand. Cho Chang sending this set of books might not just be to support my career choice. Perhaps she had some vague premonition, or just simply thought this knowledge would be useful to me, never expecting it would actually come in handy."
As he spoke, Cedric carefully untied the ribbon on the gift box, opened the lid, and took out several beautifully bound books from inside.
He casually opened the topmost book, whose cover was printed with a Merperson design. The title was "Merpeople: A Comprehensive Guide to Language and Customs." He said in a serious tone, "This one should be the most crucial; it mainly talks about knowledge related to Merpeople."
He quickly flipped through the pages and soon found an important section, pointing to the text and reading: "Look here, the book mentions that Merpeople train some underwater magical creatures as helpers, such as Grindylows and Lobbugs. Although Lobbugs are only XXX-level magical creatures and not particularly dangerous, they release a paralyzing toxin. Once stung, the body will lose sensation, which is quite dangerous underwater."
"And here…" Cedric opened another book titled "Black Lake Ecology: A Bestiary of Dangerous Creatures," pointing to a page and saying, "Regarding the Grindylows trained by Merpeople, this book also has detailed records. You should have all encountered this underwater creature, right? Earlier, during Care of Magical Creatures Class, Professor Hagrid took us to the shore of the Black Lake to observe them. They look like slender water snakes, have very sharp teeth, and will actively attack approaching creatures."
"Speaking of underwater self-preservation, I also found a way to solve the problem of underwater breathing." Cedric pushed forward a book in front of him titled "Magical Aquatic Plants of the Mediterranean and Their Properties," ensuring that Harry, Dylan, and Draco could all see the contents of the pages. "I previously agreed with Dylan's puzzle-solving approach regarding Alchemy's 'equivalent exchange,' and felt that we might need to prepare some non-magical tools in advance, so I specifically looked through these books and indeed found something useful."
He pointed to a section of text in the book with his finger, saying in a serious tone, "Look here, this is a magical plant that grows specifically underwater, called 'Gillyweed.' The book says that by eating it, you can breathe freely underwater, completely without relying on the Bubble-Head Charm cast by a wand."
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed, and the page also included a colorful illustration of Gillyweed.
At first glance, the plant looked like a tangled mass of green waterweed, unremarkable.
But upon closer inspection, one would find that its texture was exceptionally slimy, and its surface had a faint sheen. The tangled "leaves" actually looked more like grayish-green rat tails, and its appearance was indeed not beautiful.
"We have to eat… this thing?" Draco looked at the illustration, his brows tightly furrowed, his voice very low, as if he was trying to suppress a physiological discomfort, afraid that he might involuntarily gag. "This thing looks too disgusting. Are you sure it's okay to eat it?"
"Although it doesn't look good, its effect is quite good," Cedric pointed to the description in the book, patiently explaining, "The book clearly states that after eating Gillyweed, the effect can last for over an hour. Do you remember the lyrics from the golden egg song? 'An hour's time, to complete the 'great work' as much as possible'—this duration perfectly matches the time limit for the second task; it's almost as if it was prepared specifically for us."
He continued, his voice tinged with excitement: "And more importantly, after eating Gillyweed, gills will automatically grow on both sides of our necks, and webs will grow between our fingers and toes. This not only solves the breathing problem but also greatly increases our swimming speed underwater, making it easier for us to move. As it stands, there is no more suitable solution than this."
"Furthermore, we previously speculated that we might lose our wands," Harry also helped persuade, "Once we don't have wands, we won't be able to cast the Bubble-Head Charm. At that time, we can only rely on Gillyweed to breathe underwater. From any perspective, preparing this plant is necessary."
The look of disgust on Draco's face still hadn't disappeared. He pouted, saying reluctantly, "Let's wait then. Let's see if my father can get any rule details from the Ministry of Magic. If they really allow us to bring auxiliary tools, or if there are other more comfortable breathing methods, then it's not too late to consider this Gillyweed. If there's truly no other way, we'll just have to hold our noses and eat it."
Cedric's finger slid across the page, continuing to combine the book's content to introduce the potentially dangerous underwater creatures that might appear at the bottom of the Black Lake: "Besides Grindylows, we must also pay close attention to the Lobbug. The book clearly states that it can secrete a venom with a paralyzing effect. Merpeople often use them as weapons—just like Muggles use blowdarts, they will spit the Lobbug directly at the target, and the accuracy is not low, making them particularly difficult to deal with."
He paused, recalling a past event, and added, "You should remember, right? That time a while ago when the Merpeople and the crew of the magic ship had a dispute, someone saw the Merpeople using Lobbugs then.
The venom of these insects spreads quickly underwater. If inhaled or touched on the skin, it's easy to lose the ability to move. At that time, even if we don't use the Bubble-Head Charm to breathe, it's best to use it to isolate the venom and avoid being hit."
"Moreover, the judging panel might even arrange Kelpies as an additional challenge," Cedric turned to another page, his tone becoming even more serious. "These magical creatures are quite tricky. Their shapeshifting ability is extremely strong; they can imitate the forms of various creatures, sometimes even disguising themselves as a drowning Wizard to lure prey closer."
"However, it also has a clear weakness," he explained, pointing to the illustration in the book, "A Kelpie has a distinct characteristic: it likes to decorate its body with broad-leaved rush. No matter how many times it shapeshifts, it will always have a few stalks of this grass on it. So, no matter what creature you see in the water, if you find broad-leaved rush, it's always right to avoid it first; it's most likely a Kelpie."
Chapter 380 The Trio Seeking Advice
"Oh, right! I have an interesting piece of trivia," Cedric said, his eyes lighting up as if he had suddenly remembered something. "The legend of the 'Loch Ness Monster' that has circulated in the Muggleworld is actually a transformed Grindylow. Many of the monsters Muggles claim to have seen are just its disguised forms at different times."
"'The Loch Ness Monster' is actually a Grindylow?" Harry opened his mouth in surprise, his tone full of disbelief. "But why would Muggles know about its existence? Doesn't the Ministry of Magic always conceal magical creatures?"
He recalled his time at Uncle Vernon's house, where he had once seen reports about the "Loch Ness Monster" on television. At the time, he thought it was a rumor fabricated by Muggles, never imagining that this "legendary beast" actually existed and was a magical creature from the world of magic.
"There's no helping it, mainly because of its enormous size," Cedric explained, shrugging helplessly. "An adult Grindylow can reach over a dozen feet in size. Something that big moving around in the lake is hard to completely conceal, and it's bound to be occasionally spotted by Muggles near the shore."
"My father had to work overtime several times because of this Grindylow," he continued, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "It's highly aggressive. Not only does it attack Wizards, but it also frequently targets Muggle boats. Because of its large size and underwater activity, it is particularly difficult for the people from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to contain it, requiring them to mobilize a lot of personnel every time."
"The usual procedure is for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to drive the Grindylow away, luring it into a secluded body of water. Then, personnel from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes immediately rush to the scene to cast the Memory Charm on the Muggles who saw the creature, making them forget the relevant memories as much as possible, and then releasing a 'rumor clarification' through Muggle media to cover up the truth."
After finishing the description of the Grindylow, Cedric turned to the subsequent chapters and continued to elaborate on other dangerous underwater creatures: "Besides these two, there are also the Selma Lake Monster and the Dukuwagga to watch out for. The Selma Lake Monster mainly lives in Norwegian lakes but occasionally migrates to other waters. It is extremely ferocious by nature, actively attacking humans, and its skin is tough and thick, making ordinary spells difficult to harm it."
"The Dukuwagga, similar to the Grindylow, also possesses transformation abilities, though its transformation ability is much weaker than the Grindylow's. It usually only transforms into two forms—either a strange, humanoid creature with long, slender limbs and a blurred face, or it imitates the shape of a shark, swimming quickly in the water and attacking targets with sharp teeth."
"These are pretty much the creatures we need to focus on," Cedric said, closing the book and letting out a soft breath, offering a simple summary. "The Grindylow, the Selma Lake Monster, and the Dukuwagga are all quite fierce types. They are powerful and difficult to deal with, so we should try our best to avoid them and not provoke them."
"As for the Merperson, the Grindylow, and the Lobbug, although their individual strength might not seem great, Merperson possess intelligence comparable to humans and understand teamwork. If they utilize their numerical advantage and gang up on us, it will be trickier than encountering a single Grindylow, and we must be wary of this."
"However, we are not unprepared." He changed the subject and began reviewing the countermeasures they had previously discussed. "We have found an effective means of attack—the Severing Charm, which transforms into a high-temperature jet of water underwater. This should be very effective against creatures like the Grindylow and the Lobbug. Plus, we have Gillyweed to solve the problems of underwater breathing and movement. These are our advantages."
"Oh, right, there's one important issue we haven't considered—warmth," Cedric suddenly realized, his tone turning serious. "The second task is set for March 1st. The water temperature in the Black Lakewill still be very low then. The icy lake water will quickly deplete our stamina and might even cause muscle stiffness, affecting our movement. If we don't prepare for warmth beforehand, it will be difficult to complete the challenge, even if we solve the breathing and creature threats."
"We mustn't overlook the Horned Serpent either," Dylan added at this moment, his tone steady. "Since the first task featured a dangerous creature like the Manticore, it is quite reasonable for the judging panel to include the Horned Serpent in the second task, as it is also a typical dangerous underwater creature."
"The Horned Serpent has immense strength. Adult individuals are about ten feet long, similar in size to the Selma Lake Monster, and they are quite agile underwater," Dylan explained in detail. "What's more troublesome is that it possesses a certain ability to cast spells, capable of manipulating the surrounding water flow through magic to form whirlpools or water arrows to attack targets, making it very difficult to evade underwater."
"Ten feet long too..." Harry rubbed his messy hair, his voice filled with anxiety. "Although its size doesn't compare to a Dragon, encountering a creature that's both strong and capable of casting magic in the cramped underwater environment sounds troublesome no matter how you look at it. We could easily get entangled by it."
"As for the issue of warmth, I actually have a feasible solution," Dylan said, changing the topic and introducing a new solution. "However, there is a prerequisite for using this method—you all need to have mastered the Patronus Charm. Only the silvery mist generated by casting the Patronus Charm can form a continuous warming barrier underwater."
"The Patronus Charm?" Draco blinked in surprise at the answer, his tone full of confusion. "I only knew that this spell could drive away Dementors and transmit messages. It can actually be used for warmth? And underwater, no less?"
Although he had mastered the Patronus Charm through family training long ago and could summon a full, silvery doe, he did not know much about the deeper uses and principles of this magic.
He had specifically searched for related books in his family library before but found no record whatsoever about "The Patronus Charm and Warmth," which made him increasingly curious about Dylan's basis.
Cedric and Harry, standing nearby, also reacted. Clear curiosity showed in Cedric's eyes.
Harry's expression, meanwhile, was full of anticipation. He had personally experienced the cold brought by Dementors and deeply felt the warmth provided by the Patronus Charm, and he really wanted to know what connection existed between the two that would allow the Patronus Charm to provide warmth underwater.
"We can start by talking about some actual occurrences; that makes it easier to understand," Dylan said slowly, organizing his thoughts. "The experience from last school year is a perfect example. I wonder if you still remember it."
"At the start of last school year, when we boarded the Hogwarts Express to head to Hogwarts, we encountered Dementors halfway there. They were ordered to search the train and caused quite a commotion. You were all on the train then, so you must have experienced it firsthand, right?"
His gaze fell on Draco, and he specifically asked, "Draco, do you remember? When the Dementors entered the train compartment and started searching one by one, what did you feel at that moment? Can you describe your feelings in detail?"
"That time?" Draco frowned, closing his eyes to try and recall the scene. After a moment, he opened his eyes and said with a hint of lingering fear, "I remember it clearly. As soon as the Dementor approached the compartment, I felt like I had suddenly dropped into a winter ice cellar. The blood in my whole body felt like it was freezing. There was a bone-chilling cold everywhere, and my body became stiff; it was hard even to lift my hand."
He paused, his eyes darkening, and continued, "What was worse was my mind. At that time, my head was full of bad thoughts. The negative emotions I usually deliberately ignored, and all sorts of terrible memories, all surfaced uncontrollably. That summer, I wasn't doing well to begin with. *Cough, cough*."
"In short, when the Dementor searched the compartment, all those 'worst-case scenarios' not only surfaced but became even more terrifying—I even saw images in my mind of my father being tortured and dying in Azkaban. That feeling of despair, I still can't forget it." As he spoke, Draco's voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that the experience had left him with a deep psychological scar.
"I remember too! It was truly freezing then!" Harry immediately agreed, his tone full of empathy. "Even the windows in the compartment had a thin layer of ice on them. It was summer, yet it was so cold it made you shiver uncontrollably. What was more terrifying was that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't recall a single happy thing. My mind was filled entirely with images of being hunted by Lord Voldemort and my parents' death. That feeling of helplessness was worse than the cold."
Seeing that both of them shared the same feelings, Dylan nodded and began guiding them to deduce the principle: "You are absolutely right. The Dementor is a very peculiar creature. It is not only a symbol of 'non-existence' but also a typical Dark Arts creature. The effects it has on the human body and the environment are very direct, which conveniently helps us understand the essence of the Dark Arts—it steals happiness, generates coldness, and drains vitality from life."
"Since the Dementor generates such negative effects, making us unable to recall happy things and making the environment bitterly cold, have you considered whether the Patronus Charm, which is the only thing that can effectively drive away a Dementor, might produce the exact opposite effect?"
Upon hearing this, Harry's eyes suddenly lit up, as if his thought process had instantly cleared: "Are you saying! Since the Patronus Charm can counteract the Dementor's coldness, it inherently possesses the attribute of warmth? And because it can concentrate happy memories, this warmth can have a sustained effect, allowing it to form a warming barrier even underwater?"
"That is exactly the principle," Dylan affirmed, looking at Harry approvingly, confirming his speculation. He then turned his gaze back to Draco. "Draco, you have already mastered the Patronus Charm. Based on your practice experience, if you had to summarize, what method do you think is necessary to successfully cast a complete Patronus Charm?"
"Successfully casting the Patronus Charm..." Draco lowered his head and pondered for a moment, slowly summarizing based on his countless practice sessions. "I think the most critical thing is finding a sufficiently strong positive memory—not just ordinary happiness, but a memory that makes one feel proud and glorious. Then, you must completely mobilize this memory, let it fill your heart, and maintain this emotion constantly, preventing it from being interfered with by negative thoughts. Finally, combined with the correct incantation and wand movement, you can summon a complete Patronus."
"That is very accurate," Dylan nodded, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation.
"So, what we need to do is let the power of the Patronus Charm fill our bodies, allowing it to fully exert its light and heat, just like its name suggests, protecting ourselves from the inside out—able to dispel the cold at the bottom of the lake and resist dangers in the darkness?" Harry further elaborated, following Dylan's train of thought, his eyes shimmering with understanding.
Cedric also realized this suddenly and continued, "In other words, we don't need to summon the Patronus into a physical form in front of us, as we usually do. Instead, we let its power manifest within our hearts, using this method of 'filling ourselves up' to make it work. After all, the Patronus Charmitself reflects the inner self. As long as our inner conviction is strong enough, the power will naturally persist."
Hearing this, Draco suddenly thought of a crucial question and frowned slightly: "Dylan, I have a doubt. If we are fighting magical creatures underwater, we will definitely be distracted during the struggle, making it impossible to constantly focus on maintaining that positive memory. Will the Patronus Charm's protection suddenly vanish then? If we lose the warming barrier while fighting a Grindylow or a Grindylow, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"If this were on land, I certainly couldn't guarantee that; distraction could easily interrupt the spell's power," Dylan mused for a moment, then said with certainty, "But this task is underwater, a unique environment. I believe there is no need to worry about this; the spell's protection will be more stable than on land."
"Why?" The moment he finished speaking, Cedric, Draco, and Harry simultaneously voiced their question. Three pairs of eyes stared intently at him, anticipating further explanation. The underwater environment was clearly more complex, so why would the spell be more stable? This completely contradicted their common sense.
Seeing the three boys' eager expressions, Dylan couldn't help but smile slightly. "When we encounter a problem we can't figure out, we instinctively ask 'Why?' This is actually a great way to explore the essence of magic. Have you ever considered that when a person faces a threat to his life, the body triggers a hidden yet powerful instinct, which we commonly call the 'survival instinct'?'"
He gave an example to elaborate further: "For instance, if someone accidentally falls into the water and struggles, the person in danger will instinctively try to grab onto everything nearby—whether it's a floating piece of wood or a companion's arm. As long as he grips something, he will never let go, even if he is completely exhausted. This is the 'survival instinct' guiding behavior, fighting with all his might to stay alive."
"When we reach the bottom of the lake, surrounded entirely by freezing water, our bodies will stiffen from the cold, and we will also face various unknown dangerous creatures. In this environment, the 'survival instinct' will be even more pronounced and intense than usual!"