20demayo Chapter 187 Strange Guest and Strange Events in the Fight Against Foreign Aggression and the Pacific
Chapter 187 Strange Guest and Strange Events in the Fight Against Foreign Aggression and the Pacific
Chapter 188 (5k long chapter) Strange Guest and Strange Events: Resisting External Enemies and Pacifying the Internal Situation
Picking up where we left off, Dumbledore claimed that the Death Eaters raided Nurmengard at night and tortured Grindelwald to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the Elder Wand, which truly shocked Harry.
His brows furrowed in surprise, and he asked in disbelief, "Professor, is this really true? That despicable scoundrel dared to venture into such a dangerous place?"
"I don't think my eyesight is so bad that I can't even tell when a building has been destroyed."
Before he finished speaking, Dumbledore had already drawn his wand and touched the sun. A strand of silver thread shot out from the wand and then, with a flick, disappeared into Harry's forehead.
In an instant, the world spun around, and Harry found himself standing amidst ruins.
Flames shot into the sky, turning half the night sky as if stained with blood. Suddenly, several men and women dressed in prison uniforms emerged from the pile of rubble, like cockroaches under a stove, scurrying away in terror, their cries of agony filling the air.
Dumbledore drew an arc in the air with his wand, and the broken bricks and tiles scattered like fallen leaves in autumn wind.
Upon closer inspection, Grindelwald lay sprawled among the rubble, barely breathing.
Dumbledore rushed forward, his robes fluttering as he knelt down, tapped his wand lightly on a dozen healing spells, and asked in a low voice:
"**, who hurt you?"
Grindelwald slowly opened his eyes, saw his old friend, and weakly smiled:
"ah,**,**********,****."
"Those masked guys used a lot of Crucifixion and Imperius Curses on me, trying to torture me to find out where the Elder Wand is. I guess they're Voldemort's men."
"Luckily, I sent Wenda away early, otherwise she might have died here tonight..."
As the words faded, the scene before him vanished like smoke, and Harry came to his senses to find himself standing once again in the Quidditch World Cup camp.
Harry looked Dumbledore up and down, then said suspiciously, "Professor, your Occlumency is truly remarkable! But I wonder what secret dealings you have with Grindelwald that you're so determined to keep quiet?"
Dumbledore shrugged and said frankly, "Give this old man some private space, Harry. Don't be so voyeuristic."
Seeing that he couldn't get any clues out of him, Harry pondered to himself:
Neumontard is far away in Austria, separated from England by thousands of miles, more than two thousand miles. Even if one could teleport, it would be difficult to travel there in an instant.
It is clear that the thief under the invisibility cloak and Bella's "serious business" must be taking place in this camp.
But how did these Death Eaters manage to launch another attack on Nurmengard? Could it be that they split into two groups? Or was one of them a feint?
Harry racked his brains trying to figure it out, but could not understand it. He regretted that he had gone too far and slaughtered all the Death Eaters, leaving no one alive.
He said in a deep voice, "How does the professor know that what Grindelwald said is true?"
"I used Legilimency on Grindelwald, and it turns out he wasn't lying."
"Indeed, six Death Eaters destroyed Nurmengard and tortured him with the Unforgivable Curse."
Harry nodded, then abruptly changed the subject, asking abruptly, "In that case, where is the Elder Wand now?"
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Don't worry, Harry, the Elder Wand is not in Grindelwald's possession, but in another very safe place."
"I believe Voldemort will never find it."
Seeing Dumbledore's certainty, Harry felt somewhat reassured. He then explained Bella's escape in detail and asked him to keep a close eye on things at the Ministry of Magic.
After the two had finalized their plan, Harry bowed and took his leave.
At dawn the next day, owls were seen flapping their wings like clouds, each carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet into every household.
The ink on the front page was still wet when it boldly proclaimed the shocking events at the Quidditch World Cup camp last night, like a stone thrown into still water, causing a great stir.
Although the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic had already confiscated all of Rita and her group's devices, to their surprise, the front page featured a live photograph of Harry standing in front of the Jingguan (a mound of statues).
The mound of heads was piled up like a small mountain, each head with a ferocious face, without any attempt to conceal it with mosaic.
The scarred man was covered in a bloodthirsty aura, and the heads at his feet all looked terrified. Beside him, the Ministry of Magic officials were ashen-faced. The three of them together truly represented the pinnacle of violent aesthetics.
The masthead inscription was even more breathtaking:
The Savior? The Third Dark Lord!
The text was extremely cunning, focusing on the bloodshed. It even falsely accused Harry of drinking human blood and eating human flesh daily, claiming that he had bitten off the heads of the Death Eaters alive.
Every word is like a knife, every sentence draws blood; reading it makes one's stomach churn.
When describing the Death Eaters, the writing style suddenly shifts, not focusing on the thieves themselves, but instead extensively quoting the tearful pleas of their relatives and friends.
Although this group tortured Muggles and marked them with the Dark Mark last night, the newspaper, after a change of tone, portrayed them as great philanthropists.
They're either harmonious neighbors or witty friends, completely turning black and white upside down!
The news was like a thunderclap, causing an uproar in the magical world.
Its spread was even faster than Lockhart's bestselling book. Within days, it had reached Europe from the British Isles; and within a week, news of it had reached Asia and America.
The words there were poisonous, but not as horrifying as the image of the Jingguan (a mound of corpses). Of those who saw it, nine out of ten had nightmares every night.
Even in Africa, people now use the name "Harry Potter" to fool children. They say, "If you don't go to sleep soon, Harry Potter will come and bite your neck off."
From then on, the child would stop crying at the mere mention of Harry's name.
"The Daily Prophet is really losing its moral compass!"
Inside the old Blake house, Lupin, looking travel-worn, read the previous week's newspaper and immediately became furious.
"How dare they! Spreading such baseless rumors—oh! Look, there's even this live photograph!"
"No wonder those Egyptian dark wizards thought Harry was the reincarnation of a pharaoh!"
He was drinking herbal tea while tearing up an old newspaper from ten days ago, making a loud rustling sound, and cursing incessantly.
Black picked at his ear and grinned. "I said, Lupin, I already said these things to Harry a week ago."
Harry and Lupin filled their teacups and asked in surprise, "Indeed! Uncle has been completely out of touch these past few days. Could it be that he's been up to some important business?"
Lupin finished his tea and sighed, "Ah, I just went with some old friends from the Order of the Phoenix to investigate the Dark Mark and Nurmengardburg."
Readers should know: the Black Mark is no ordinary mark; only those Death Eaters most trusted by Voldemort can bear it.
When this seal is unleashed, it is like the apricot-yellow banner of Liangshan Marsh, summoning all the Death Eaters from all directions.
Now that this mark has appeared in the world, and two key locations have been attacked, it is like a wildfire spreading across the land, clearly a sign that Voldemort's demonic powers are gradually returning.
It's a shame that the Ministry of Magic is still burying its head in the sand, claiming it's just some ordinary thugs causing trouble, and refusing to acknowledge Voldemort's rebirth.
Seeing the Ministry of Magic's utter confusion, Dumbledore had no choice but to reunite the old members of the Order of the Phoenix and secretly investigate.
Before he could finish speaking, Blake was already bursting with impatience. He paced back and forth in the hall, his chest heaving like a broken bellows, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"Why didn't Professor Dumbledore call me?!"
"Aren't I the Order of the Phoenix?"
"Huh? Am I really part of the Order of the Phoenix?!"
Blake roared like thunder beside him, making Lupin's ears ring.
He quickly covered his ear with his hand and said, "Professor Dumbledore said that you have a greater responsibility to take care of Harry, so he only called me and Kingsley and a few others."
Upon hearing this explanation, Blake's anger subsided, and he smiled again.
Harry frowned and said, "What does the Ministry of Magic say about Bellatrix's escape?"
Lupin shook his head. "The Ministry of Magic has denied the claim that she escaped because they found a charred body in Bellatrix's cell."
"The Ministry of Magic believes that Bella, unable to endure life in Azkaban, committed suicide by self-immolation."
Harry's brows furrowed, and he pressed on, "Then what about Crouch's crime of condoning the house-elves' collusion with the Death Eaters?"
"I even extracted the memories from my own mind and delivered them to the Ministry of Magic as quickly as possible!"
"Well... the Ministry of Magic believes that it was merely the house-elf's personal behavior and had nothing to do with Mr. Crouch."
Upon hearing these words, Harry was filled with rage. His eyes widened, he sneered three times, slammed his hand on the table, and roared:
"What a bunch of damned government offices! They sit back and collect their salaries while neglecting their duties, ignoring everything and even covering up the momentous event of Voldemort's rebirth!"
"What use is such a corrupt government? I'm afraid that in a few days, we'll have to prepare lavish gifts and kowtow to that filthy scoundrel as tribute!"
Harry's words were so furious that Black, standing nearby, kept nodding his head repeatedly, as if pounding garlic.
Seeing his courage and determination, Lupin pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked seriously, "Harry, do you want to join the Order of the Phoenix?"
As he was speaking, he reached out again, "Just like decades ago, the Order of the Phoenix will be responsible for fighting Voldemort."
Upon hearing this, Harry grabbed his wrist.
Lupin was about to break into a smile when he saw Harry say with a pained expression:
"It's a pity that such a bright talent as my second uncle is trapped in that lousy Phoenix Society, wasting his prime years!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Ping's smile froze instantly, and even Blake was stunned on the spot, speechless.
Lupin stammered, "Harry? What... what do you mean by that?"
"Oh dear! My second uncle fought alongside the Phoenix Society in countless battles, and not only did he not receive a single reward for defeating Voldemort, but he also suffered endless humiliation because of his werewolf lineage! Where is justice?!"
"In my opinion, the Phoenix Society is nothing more than a royalist government office! Why should Second Uncle bow and scrape? He'd be better off joining our Boxer Rebellion and living a carefree life!"
"My second uncle has his own tricks up his sleeve. He was also a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and is familiar with all the sisters and brothers in the group."
"I'm willing to accept my second uncle as my head instructor; who dares to utter a single word of dissent!"
Lupin was stunned for a moment, while Black was jumping up and down in a panic.
"Harry! Why didn't you invite me?"
"Am I not your godfather?"
Harry raised his hand. "What nonsense are you spouting, Godfather! Do you think I, Harry, am that kind of biased person?"
"If Godfather doesn't mind the simplicity, please feel free to come!"
Blake was overjoyed upon hearing this, but Lupin frowned and hurriedly advised:
"Harry! We should unite all forces we can to fight Voldemort, not try to fight the Ministry of Magic!"
Harry flew into a rage, slammed his foot onto the dining table, and the dishes rattled loudly.
"That Fuji is nothing but a mediocre talent who rose to power by luck, even inferior to that white-robed scholar from Liangshan!"
"Hoping that such a person would vanquish evil and uphold justice is like hoping Voldemort would simply trip and fall to his death!"
"Second Uncle, haven't you heard? To defend against foreign aggression, one must first pacify the inner court!"
Although Lupin had a lot of reasoning to offer, he was rendered speechless by these words.
Finally, he could only sigh and mutter, "In short, our goal is to defeat Voldemort."
Upon hearing this, Harry straightened his clothes, clasped his hands, and said, "In that case, I humbly request that you, Uncle, join me in this righteous cause! The Order of the Phoenix was ultimately established by Dumbledore, and it adheres to the principles of loyalty and obedience!"
"Called to destroy Voldemort, but in reality, it's about supporting the Ministry of Magic!"
"If we are to accomplish this earth-shattering feat, we must see the skills of our Boxer brothers!"
His words were so passionate and inspiring that Blake's blood boiled, and he raised his arms and shouted.
"I want to join the group right now!"
Lupin bowed his head and remained silent for a long time before finally shaking his head and sighing, "I'm sorry, Harry, but I still stand by my decision."
Harry didn't press the matter, saying only, "Since Second Uncle hasn't figured it out yet, I'll wait until another day."
He then summoned Kreacher and Dobby, and ordered that fine food and wine be prepared to welcome Lupin.
After three or five days, it was already time for the start of the school term.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione met at Platform 9¾ and boarded the Express, only to find the students around them behaving very differently.
Some were so enthusiastic that they applauded Harry's heroic act of killing the Death Eaters; others avoided him like the plague, retreating hastily at the sight of him; still others cursed him from across the carriage, saying he resembled a tyrant and had committed excessive killings.
Upon hearing these words, Harry laughed heartily, repeatedly saying "You flatter me," leaving those who had been insulting him speechless and at a loss for words.
Ron was furious when he saw that the group of people were hypocritical. It was like a king of heaven encountering a golden-armored god. How could he restrain himself?
He lunged forward, yelling, "Go back and stay put! I think you want your head chopped off too!"
With a single, swift kick of his right foot, just as Wu Song had kicked Jiang Menshen, a loud "thump" rang out, sending the fellow flying back into the carriage. This kick truly lived up to its name: a fist that could strike a fierce tiger in the southern mountains, a foot that could kick a blue dragon in the northern sea.
After Ron finished cursing, he clapped his hands and turned to Harry, saying, "Ignore these guys."
"They're mentally ill; they don't feel pain unless the Cruciatus Curse hits them."
"Did you know? These kinds of people don't even want to eat larger eggs because they think that eggs that are too big will cause pain for the hen when it lays them."
Upon hearing this, Harry laughed so hard he almost fell over, slapping his knee and saying, "If that's the case, they should be left to starve!"
"As the saying goes, 'A flower is a world, a leaf is a Bodhi tree.' Even on a single vegetable leaf, countless lives reside. If we're talking about killing, even breathing is a sin!"
The three chatted and laughed as they found seats to settle down. Before they knew it, the sun had set in the west and the moon had risen in the east. Suddenly, the train jolted and came to a stop in the pouring rain at Hogwarts Station.
But behold: clouds obscure the stars, fog shrouds the heavens and earth, thunder roars in fury, and lightning flashes in anger. Raindrops pour down like buckets, as if the Milky Way were being overturned.
When getting off the bus, the middle school students hurriedly cast water-repelling spells, while the more mature ones, wearing shiny raincoats that looked like eel skin, trudged through the wind and rain, one step at a time.
Hermione looked up at the sky and saw dark clouds churning and lightning flashing. She couldn't help but sigh, "What a wonderful opportunity! If only my Animagus potion could be ready today."
Ron was taken aback by this, then exclaimed, "Wait! You were already preparing to transform into Animagus? Why didn't you tell me?!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You can already keep a mandrake leaf in your mouth?"
"Oh, okay, then I think I'll wait a bit longer."
The three of them had just stepped into the auditorium and settled down when they suddenly saw McGonagall leading about a hundred new students in through a side door.
The little witches were all soaked to the bone, and Ron's eyes lit up as he rubbed his hands together and said to Harry:
"These are the new blood of the Boxers."
"Harry, I think they really need the guidance of an upperclassman."
Harry, understanding the implied meaning, immediately took out a brocade pouch from his pocket and handed it over.
"Since you have this intention, brother, these gold and silver coins can serve as payment for the wine. If you need anything, just come and take it."
As they talked, the freshmen were assigned to their respective colleges.
Those assigned to Gryffindor came to Harry's Wharf with trepidation.
These new students had long heard about his beheading and the construction of the Jingguan (a mound of heads), and now they were trembling like mice before a cat.
As soon as Ron scattered the Galleons, the clouds parted and the moon shone brightly. Everyone beamed with joy, calling him "Senior" affectionately.
Seeing this, Dumbledore used a megaphone spell and shouted, "Alright! Children! Please be quiet!"
"Before we start the meal, I have a few more words to say."
"The first thing is that our Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be welcoming a new professor, Moody!"
Before the words were finished, a loud "bang" was heard, and the two vermilion doors of the auditorium were smashed open.
Just then, a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, illuminating the face of the newcomer, whose appearance was truly bizarre!
His face looked as if it had been haphazardly carved into rotten wood, the carving knife moving crookedly and awkwardly; his face was covered with scars like a centipede, and his mouth was crooked like torn silk.
The most terrifying thing was its pair of eyes; one was as black as a bean and gleamed brightly, while the other was as big as a coin and darted around wildly.
Suddenly, the blue eyes rolled back into the skull, leaving only white eye sockets, which frightened the children so much that their legs went weak.
The strange man walked straight up to Dumbledore, and when he stretched out his hand, it was covered in wounds, just like the gnarled roots of an old tree.
Dumbledore shook hands with him and spoke, but Ron below gasped in surprise, exclaiming:
"That guy is Mad-Eye! The infamous Auror!"
Harry, intrigued, asked, "What's so special about this guy?"
"Oh, Harry, he's something else entirely. If Scrimgeour is a tough guy, then Mad-Eye is like an iron man."
"The Death Eaters hated him to the core. He captured just as many Death Eaters as Scrimgeour back then."
"However, I must say that his early struggles with the Death Eaters made him unusually sensitive and cautious, almost like he had paranoia."
"Just a few days ago, he claimed he was attacked, but when my dad arrived at his house, he was fighting with a trash can..."
At this point, Hermione suddenly frowned, her starry eyes fixed on the madman, and abruptly said:
"But what if he really was attacked?"
(End of this chapter)