John, known by the true name of the dragon, the Shadow of Annihilation, and also as Wotan, left the Never Resting Valley. Instead of returning to school immediately, he ventured to Knockturn Alley. Departing had become easier than ever; with his current magical power, he could use apparition to cross borders directly into Knockturn Alley. Upon his arrival at the Silver Hand Johnny store, Tang Mi was momentarily surprised but quickly composed himself.
"My lord," Tang Mi greeted, stepping aside respectfully.
John snapped his fingers, summoning a silver notebook from the office. "Has anything happened during my absence?" he inquired, flipping open the cover. The pages revealed names that seemed to move on their own.
Tang Mi pondered for a moment before responding, "Old Barty has been attacked."
"Really?" John's interest piqued as he turned the pages to Barty Crouch's name. Finding it intact indicated that the attack had been thwarted.
"Does he know who was behind it?" John asked, his tone flat.
"Old Barty is in the dark as well," Tang Mi replied. "The attacker attempted to use the Imperius Curse from behind, aiming to control him. Fortunately, Old Barty had an amulet that protected him from the curse."
The Imperius Curse was notoriously difficult to defend against, but Old Barty's caution had paid off. Ever since his house was broken into, Barty Sr. had taken to carrying the amulet. He managed to counterattack immediately after the assault, indicating the attacker's strength. As the former head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barty Sr. was no easy target. The quick exchange allowed him to repel the assailant successfully.
"He suspects it might have been a notorious dark wizard. Given the number of enemies Old Barty made in his prime, it's hard to pinpoint who might hold such a grudge," Tang Mi explained.
Old Barty's path to power had earned him many adversaries, from political rivals to dark wizards. Had it not been for the scandal involving Barty Jr., he might have become the Minister of Magic. Now, with his sights set on the ministerial position again, envy and opposition were inevitable.
John nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Old Barty's name. "Assign a few werewolves from the security team to shadow Old Barty. They needn't be too conspicuous; the Aurors are competent enough."
Tang Mi acknowledged the order, and John closed the book, shifting the topic. "Where's Little Barty?"
"In the secret garden. He seems... different," Tang Mi hesitated before adding, "He attempted to escape. Should we bring him back to Silver Hand Manor?"
Following an attack by Death Eaters, Barty Jr. had been relocated to Knockturn Alley for safety. However, given his capabilities as a wizard, the risk of him escaping the garden remained.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, John made his way to the secret garden, hidden behind a doorless house in Knockturn Alley. He passed through the wall as if it were the entrance to platform nine and three-quarters, emerging into a space where the vibrant flowers made it seem more like a sanctuary than a prison.
Little Barty was there, lost in thought on a bench. John's arrival prompted him to look up, his eyes filled with a mix of hatred and complexity.
"What do you want?" Little Barty asked coldly. "Did he send you?"
The 'he' in question was clearly Old Barty. Despite his stern demeanor, Old Barty's parental affection for his son lingered. Their visits during Barty Jr.'s detention were strained, marked by a failure to communicate effectively. Old Barty's disappointment in his son's choices, particularly his association with Death Eaters, was palpable. Meanwhile, Little Barty harbored deep resentment towards his father's expectations and perceived failures. Neglected from childhood and harboring resentment towards his father's distrust, Barty Crouch Jr. spent over a decade imprisoned, during which he gradually replaced the image of his father with that of Voldemort. To him, Voldemort was a figure who, like Barty himself, rejected his own father. Over years of solitude and subtle indoctrination, Barty came to view Voldemort not just as a leader, but as a father figure.
When John entered the room, Barty's immediate thought was of his severed left hand, a symbol of his connection to Voldemort. Despite the evident hatred in Barty's eyes, John casually picked a delicate rose, twirling it between his fingers. "I just came to see you and, by the way, to confirm something," he said, his voice calm and measured.
As John approached, Barty lunged at him with the ferocity of a cornered animal, only to be stopped in his tracks. Thorny vines ensnared Barty's body, the rose's thorns slicing into his skin, drawing blood that stained the petals a deeper red. John observed Barty's desperation with a mix of interest and amusement, chuckling softly. "It seems you're aware of something. You're right; the one you've pledged your loyalty to has returned."
Barty ceased his struggles, his eyes lighting up with surprise and fervor. His scream, "He's back, he's back!" echoed through the room, a raw expression of his fanatical devotion. John, growing impatient with the noise, silenced Barty by forcing the spiked stem of the rose into his mouth, the thorns cutting into his lips. "Be quiet," John commanded, his tone laced with derision. "Do you really think he will come to save you?"
Before Barty could respond, John continued, "Sadly, no. A group of Death Eaters attempted a rescue, but they failed." The revelation sparked anger in Barty, but John merely laughed. "I was wondering how to find him. Perhaps you'll provide a good lead."
Barty's voice was hoarse from the thorns' cuts as he defiantly claimed, "You're no match for him!" John, unfazed, straightened Barty's collar and whispered tauntingly, "Then why are you trembling? Are you afraid that Voldemort will be troubled because of you? Or are you afraid that he will be defeated?"
Despite his injuries, Barty shouted in denial, but John's casual mention of having defeated Voldemort twice visibly shook him. John's dismissive attitude towards Voldemort instilled a deep fear in Barty, challenging the invincible image of Voldemort he held in his mind.
As Barty grappled with this terrifying possibility, his body trembled, and he bowed his head, not even noticing the thorns vanishing from his body. He clutched his head, trying to banish the thought, but the more he tried, the more plausible it seemed.
John's goal was to shatter the idol of Voldemort in Barty's mind. By planting seeds of doubt, John aimed to make Barty question his allegiance, driving him to madness or forcing him into a position where he would unwittingly lure more Death Eaters into a trap. This was John's strategy, executed with precision as he implanted these doubts into Barty's consciousness.
With a final, penetrating look at Barty, John turned and left the secret garden, leaving Barty alone with his turmoil.
In the castle corridor, Heinrich used an Unlocking Charm on the Defense Against the Dark Arts office door. As he entered, he was greeted by the sight of a demon mirror and the faint smell of wine, signaling the beginning of another chapter in this intricate game of loyalty and betrayal. The mellow aroma of grapes wafted into Heinrich's nostrils, a scent that spoke of top-tier wine. Guided by this fragrance, he discovered a delicate and beautiful wine bottle. It was less than half full, but what caught his attention was the unique logo of the Silver Hand Cellars etched on its surface. His gaze darkened; he was certain of something now.
As he turned to leave, his steps halted abruptly. His eyes landed on a large box in the corner of the room, and an instinctive feeling told him something was amiss. Approaching the box with caution, Heinrich drew his wand and pointed it at the locks. "Alohomora," he whispered, and the multiple locks on the box clicked open one after another until the last one yielded.
Heinrich leaned in, eager to get a better look. Suddenly, a sharp "Crack" sounded through the room.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice echoing in the sudden silence that followed.
_________
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https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge