Hagrid panted heavily, casting a fierce glare at Karkaroff. Despite his limited magical abilities, Hagrid's formidable half-giant lineage endowed him with substantial physical strength. Moreover, he possessed the ability to tame magical creatures. Karkaroff stood no chance against Hagrid's imposing presence, and under his wrathful gaze, he dared not utter a word. Evan had long been aware that Karkaroff was the type of individual who was afraid of appearing weak, but the current situation was even more dire than he had imagined.
Evan couldn't fathom how someone like Karkaroff had risen to the position of Durmstrang's headmaster, but he recognized Karkaroff's cunning nature.
"Igor, we must take Mr. Krum to the school's infirmary immediately; he will recover there," Dumbledore said, breaking the tense silence. "Hagrid, please escort Harry, Evan, Ron, Hermione, and the others back to the castle."
"Perhaps it would be best if I remained here, Headmaster," Hagrid suggested.
"No," Dumbledore insisted, his tone resolute. "You will escort them back to the school. Take them directly to the Gryffindor tower. Evan, Harry, I want the two of you to stay put there and refrain from taking any action until morning."
"Understood!" Evan agreed, recognizing the importance of not giving Barty Crouch Jr. another opportunity, especially after the recent events. He couldn't risk the possibility of Barty Crouch Jr. infiltrating the castle again.
"I'll entrust Tooth to you, Headmaster," Hagrid declared, casting an imperious look in Karkaroff's direction.
Karkaroff still cowered beneath the tree, entangled in his robes and the roots. He avoided meeting Hagrid's gaze, evidently waiting for the others to depart first.
"Stay, Tooth! The rest of you, go," Hagrid instructed.
In silence, they passed by the Beauxbatons carriage and made their way back to the castle.
"He's got some nerve," Hagrid huffed as they crossed the small lake. "How dare he accuse Dumbledore of such things? Acting as if Dumbledore would ever engage in such conduct, as if Dumbledore deliberately entered Ron into the tournament!"
"Do you think it might have been the same man who attacked Krum?" Harry questioned, bombarding them with several consecutive queries. "Who is he, and why is he targeting Mr. Crouch? What was wrong with Mr. Crouch's appearance?"
"Mr. Crouch mentioned the Dark Lord; this must be related to him," Hermione speculated. "I wonder if Mr. Crouch had any instructions for him."
"Enough, listen to me!" Hagrid erupted angrily, startling Evan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They looked up at him, wide-eyed. "Quit discussing this matter; the four of you were supposed to be enjoying tea at my place tonight, not venturing into the forest to confront evil dark wizards. Especially you, Evan, how could you venture so deep into the Forbidden Forest with Krum? He's from Durmstrang, and he could easily have poisoned you here. You might not even realize it!"
"Krum is no match for me!" Ivan asserted. "And why would he want to poison me?"
"Don't ask me why, they always do!" Hagrid thumped up the steps and continued, "In any case, you lot should limit your interactions with foreigners as much as possible. The less, the better; they can't be trusted."
Several exchanged glances; it was apparent that Hagrid was still disgruntled about Mrs. Maxim.
"Stay away from the Meiwa sisters as well, and don't linger near their carriage; you never know what might emerge from it," Hagrid cautioned, his expression briefly darkening. "They're attempting to rekindle their connections with me, trying to curry favor once more, attempting to coax me into revealing the secrets of the lake. None of them can be trusted!"
It seemed that Hagrid had indeed heeded Evan's advice and attempted to communicate with Mrs. Maxim, but the outcome had been far from pleasant.
Hagrid's foul mood prevailed as he ushered them into the Gryffindor common room. They bid him farewell at the entrance in front of the Fat Lady, all four feeling relieved.
"Evan, who do you think that man was who confronted you?" Hermione asked as they searched for a secluded corner.
"I'm not sure; I didn't recognize him," Evan replied. He paused and added, "Lately, you should all avoid being alone. Someone has infiltrated Hogwarts, and it's not safe within the school. Our priority should be helping Ron prepare for the Second Task."
He no longer wanted any unexpected surprises; he wanted everything to proceed smoothly.
"Don't worry about me; with the gillyweed, I'm confident I'll be fine," Ron reassured them.
"Damn it!" Harry exclaimed indignantly, clenching his fist tightly. "We would have arrived in time if Snape hadn't obstructed me. 'The Headmaster is busy, Potter.' That's complete rubbish, Potter! Why couldn't he just step aside?"
When he had attempted to reach Dumbledore earlier, he had been detained and harassed by Snape for an extended period. As a result, when they finally arrived, Evan had already concluded his confrontation with Barty Crouch Jr.
"Maybe he didn't want you guys to arrive in time!" Ron suggested. "Maybe, and by the way, how long do you think it will take him to reach the forest? Will he arrive before you and Dumbledore? Could he be the one battling Evan?"
"Unless he transforms into a bat or something," Harry mused.
"It's not entirely implausible," Ron conceded.
"Well, let's return to our beds!" Evan suggested, believing that speculating further would be fruitless. "If anything arises, inquire with Hagrid in the morning. And remember, be vigilant; the three of you should avoid acting independently."
That night, Evan slept fitfully, with Mr. Crouch's parting words echoing in his mind. He dreamt of the malevolent god of evil, who seemed inextricably linked to Voldemort.
Harry had an even more restless night's sleep, with his scar throbbing and plagued by a distressing nightmare.
It was an exceptionally vivid and terrifying dream.
In Harry's dream, he rode on the back of an owl, soaring through the dark night sky until they reached an old, ivy-covered house atop a hill. They descended lower and lower, eventually passing through a broken, darkened window on the top floor. Now, they traversed a dim corridor that led to a door at the end. Passing through it, Harry found himself in a shadowy room with boarded windows.
No longer perched on the owl's back, Harry observed as it landed on a chair with its back turned to him. Beside the chair stood two ominous, black shadows. One was a grotesque, tree-like statue that Harry had previously encountered during the summer. It was an amalgamation of the ugliest elements imaginable, twisted in every conceivable way, occasionally emitting a faint red glow.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Harry vividly recalled Evan's assertion that the monstrous figure atop the twisted and horrifying sculpture represented a malevolent deity of unparalleled evil.
The void had no place in the realm inhabited by these dreadful creatures; its sole existence was to obliterate all forms of life.
His gaze fell upon the statue, and a peculiar sensation overcame him. The last time he had laid eyes on it, it had been inert, devoid of any response. Now, however, it emitted a pulsating red light.
The flickering crimson radiance resembled a sinful blaze, each beat of which sent Harry's heart racing. An ominous premonition gnawed at him, as if he were in the presence of the most malevolent force in the world.
Fixated on the statue, he noticed that the man across from him was also engrossed in its eerie glow.
After an extended silence, the man's eyes finally shifted to a second obsidian chair, where a man with an icy countenance sat.
"Keresis, I demand an explanation!" The voice that emanated from the chair was cold, harsh, and piercing.
"I've already informed you; my subordinates inadvertently allowed him to escape!" Keresis replied, his tone equally frigid. "I deeply regret it, Dark Lord, but rest assured, I personally executed him, hoping not to jeopardize your plans."
"Not this time; my servant intervened to prevent any further complications." The voice, still frigid and piercing, declared. "But let me remind you that I won't tolerate any more errors. You are well aware of the foundation of our partnership, even without your assistance."
"Of course, I expect you to remember that as well," Keresis responded, seemingly impervious to the threat. "In your current state, you are utterly powerless without my support and aid."
"Is that so?" The cold voice challenged.
The statue at the room's center intensified its red glow, as if something was on the verge of breaking free. A wand tip peeked out from the side of a chair, aiming at Keresis. Meanwhile, a massive snake slithered slowly from the corner, closing in on him from behind.
Harry attempted to warn the man, but a searing pain erupted from his forehead scar, followed by an overwhelming surge of anger coursing through his body. The excruciating pain seemed to set every nerve on fire.
The flickering red light on the statue gradually faded, and the malevolent power dissipated, leaving behind a profound weakness that permeated every cell in Harry's body. He retrieved his wand.
"Have you harnessed its power?" Keresis asked softly, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Not yet, but it's only a matter of time!" The cold voice replied. "It will be mine eventually; I am the mightiest in the world."
"You seem to have grown even more malevolent in your quest for power," Keresis remarked. "That entity's power is beyond your comprehension; you are playing with fire."
"The concept of weakness!"
"Its power is cursed; it should not exist in our world."
"Enough, Keresis, do not test my patience once more!" The cold voice snapped, its tone now oily. "Our goals align, and I am curious about the legacy left by my esteemed ancestors. I will assist you in your petty troubles, as long as you do not foolishly seek your own demise."
"As long as you keep your promise, my people and I have no concern for your affairs."
"Very well," the cold voice hissed. "Nagini, you are out of luck; I will not feed you with him. But fear not, there is always Harry Potter."
The serpent hissed as well, and Harry observed it spewing letters, as if it could no longer resist devouring itself. In the next moment, he awoke to find himself still nestled in his comfortable four-poster bed.
Harry buried his face in his hands, his scar throbbing with pain and tears welling in his eyes. The agony was palpable, an undeniable reality, not just a dream. It felt as tangible as the one he had experienced on Maiden's Path, an experience more vivid than any dream.
He even felt like he had been transported into a vision, becoming that person. "Accursed dreams," he muttered as he rose from his bed.
In the dim light, Harry clumsily reached for his glasses and checked the time; it was just past five in the morning. Beside him, Ron lay still asleep, softly snoring, his clothing in disarray on the floor.
Across the room, Neville, Dean Thomas, and Seymour Finnegan remained in deep slumber, oblivious to the turmoil that had unfolded in Harry's dream. Harry rubbed his scar, devoid of any desire to return to sleep.
Voldemort's power was surging, growing stronger to the point that even that vampire feared it. It was prepared to annihilate everything, including itself.
Harry felt an overwhelming urge to take action, to confide in someone about his experiences, or risk losing his sanity. Evan came to mind, but he knew that Evan would be asleep at this hour.
Harry shook his head, remembering Sirius's advice for such moments of pain. He decided to follow Sirius's counsel and make his way to Dumbledore's office.
He swiftly donned his coat, left his bedroom, and contemplated the dream that had shaken him to his core. It was as vivid as the one on Joan of Arc Road, with every detail etched into his memory.
He recalled hearing Voldemort chastise Keresis for a grave mistake, which, Harry realized, the vampire had committed deliberately. The guards overseeing the man had been under his control. Harry was strangely enraged, not by the man's death but by the challenge to Voldemort's authority and the potential disruption of a long-hatched scheme.
Thankfully, the error had been rectified with the man's demise, as conveyed by an owl. The conversation had then shifted to Voldemort's growing power, the sinister statue he used to amplify his abilities, and the questionable acquisition of power that should never exist in their world. They had ultimately reached a compromise.
The consensus had been that Harry would be offered as a sacrifice to the snakes. Deep in thought, Harry exited his room and was taken aback to find Evan seated on the common room couch, as though awaiting his arrival.
"Harry, heading to see Dumbledore?" Evan asked in a hushed tone. "Perfect timing, I'm on my way too!" (