The Return to Hogwarts

Chapter 848 Nobility and Shamelessness

2024-04-07

Hermione suddenly felt the air around her become incredibly thick, as if in an instant she had returned to the Black Lake. The oppressive air around her was squeezing her body, making her ears ring.

Ron stopped pulling Harry, his face pale and ashen, as if he were having a heart attack, and every breath he took required all his strength.

For an endless second, Hermione and Ron stared blankly at Gabrielle's face, at her emotionless blue eyes, like the windows of an abandoned house.

Death—peaceful yet real

The pain and fear were beyond anything that could be replicated, no matter how many times Professor Blaine's rock spear pierced the body.

What happened? What exactly happened?

Sparkle and the dying Mr. Barty Crouch, the ugly dwarf monster and a younger Barty Crouch, graveyard and death.

Hermione felt that her pride in her intelligence seemed to be failing her; she couldn't connect the factors she had gathered to form a reasonable explanation. She saw the young Barty place the dwarf on a collapsed tombstone with utmost respect, conjure a sofa for him, and then look at them, panting, with an expression of extreme excitement, as if he wanted to tear them apart.

The killing will continue.

Barty knew his master well; Mudbloods were not worthy to witness the great event that was about to unfold, but the red-haired boy, Weasley, might be spared his life if he knew better and was willing to grovel at his master's feet and serve him.

"You will make a terrible mistake, Master Barty."

Flashy threw herself onto the unconscious Barty the Elder, sobbing uncontrollably. As Barty Crouch Jr. passed by, his tearful eyes were filled with pleading.

"Just you wait, Sparkle!"

Barty grinned, revealing a sickly smile. "I will assist the reborn Dark Lord, and I will receive the reward that others dream of. And you, Sparkle, you will also receive a reward, won't you? As a little elf, you will have the honor of witnessing the Dark Lord's rebirth!"

Dark Lord. Reborn

"This is crucial information," Hermione thought, her expression blank. She no longer had time to observe Harry's state or Ron's expression. She saw that the young Barty Crouch was probably the Death Eater's son whom Sirius had told them about. Barty Crouch's son, who had died in Azkaban, was approaching them again. He raised his wand, his menacing eyes locked onto her.

I've figured some things out.

Professors Dumbledore and Blaine suspected that a Death Eater had been hiding in their box on the night of last year's Quidditch final, and had conjured the Dark Mark. This Death Eater was connected to Barty Crouch and Gilgamesh, and was Barty Crouch Jr.

There was more to it than that. But Hermione had no time to think. She saw Barty Crouch Jr. raise his wand, and she understood that after Gabrielle, Barty would kill her first, and why it had to be her.

Anticipate your opponent's attack intentions!

A glint of light flashed in Hermione's absent-minded brown eyes as she recalled Professor Blaine's solemn face when he spoke those words.

It won't be the Killing Curse. She's too close to Harry; that might accidentally kill him. The Dark Lord will kill everyone, but he probably wants to use Harry for something, so he won't kill him for now. Therefore, Barty Crouch Jr. needs to get her and Ron away from Harry.

The moment the evil wind broke through the smoke, Hermione, who was half-crouched on the ground, suddenly jumped up and brandished her wand.

"Armor protection!"

The spell burst forth with a dazzling flash, and the ensuing gust of wind whipped Hermione's wet hair. Instead of staying by Harry's side, she rushed out to shield Harry and Ron.

"Take Harry and get out of here! Quickly, get Karkaroff to figure something out, if he wants to live too!"

Hermione's piercing scream was cut short by the shrill cursed light, and she summoned a magical barrier once more to block it. Barty's wicked magic amplified the spell's power, and during gym class practice, the armor that had never been breached by the young wizard shattered once more upon impact!

Is this a duel for victory?

No, the purpose is to buy time!

Facing that mocking face that seemed to ridicule her overestimation of her abilities, Hermione's pale face ignited with fire in her brown eyes.

Under a gloomy sky, the fierce battle began.

Streaks of green light flowed through the space, striking tombstones, some intact and some broken, with violent roars. Hermione, as if suddenly transformed into a nimble cat, nimbly leaped over withered vines hanging in the air, narrowly dodging a killing curse amidst the explosions and death.

Make use of the environment!

The billowing smoke, withered old trees, and towering mounds of earth all became Hermione's aid as she seized every opportunity to retaliate against the Death Eaters. Stunning Curse, Petrifying Curse, Smash Curse, Disarming Curse, Barrier Curse—dazzling spells shot towards Barty Crouch Jr. from all sorts of tricky angles, stirring up billowing smoke and dust!

Hermione's attacks failed to penetrate Barty Crouch Jr.'s defenses, but her smooth, flowing rhythm made it nearly impossible for him to find a suitable opportunity to strike. Moreover, he failed to notice that Hermione was diverting his attention.

Hermione prepared to cover their retreat, intending to sacrifice herself to save Harry and herself.

Ron immediately realized what was happening. His blue eyes turned bloodshot, and he was breathing heavily. The moment Hermione rushed out, Ron got up, wanting to rush over to help. However, Harry, who had fallen to the ground with a thud without his support, made him hesitate.

This was undoubtedly the most difficult choice he had ever faced in his life: to help Hermione fight Barty, or to escape with Harry. No matter which choice he made, he would regret it for the rest of his life!

But the Dark Lord is here. It must be that terrifying dwarf. If he were to be resurrected, death would not be confined to this day!

Ron's eyes were bloodshot. He let out a low growl, grabbed Harry with one hand, and pulled the lifeless Gabrielle up with the other. He struggled and stumbled toward the slumped Karkaroff, and when he reached him, he kicked him hard in the shoulder.

"Get up, you useless piece of trash!"

Ron howled, staring into Karkaroff's eyes, which were filled with despair and fear.

"Find a way to get them out of here, or else you'll all die here!"

Karkaroff's trembling gradually subsided, and he stared wide-eyed at Ron, unable to believe that this little boy actually intended to stay here. Didn't he know who he was facing?

Where did his courage come from?

Watching Hermione's figure flicker amidst the ruins and glittering light, Ron was frantic. He kicked Karkaroff hard again, this time landing on Karkaroff's nose, instantly giving his nose a resemblance to Dumbledore's.

Perhaps the pain brought Karkaroff to his senses. His dark yellow fingernails dug into the soil, and with a forceful effort from his large knuckles, he slowly supported himself as he stood up. He glanced at Harry Potter, who was inexplicably weak but was recovering, and then his dangerous gaze fell on Ron.

"Take Harry away!"

Ron gritted his teeth. He knew what this decision might lead to, but he dared not hesitate for a moment. Otherwise, he was not sure if he would still have the determination. He forced Harry into Karkaroff's arms, turned around, and was about to rush to the battlefield to help Hermione defeat the young Barty.

However, before Ron could take two steps, a large hand grabbed him by the back of his collar, and the immense force pulled him back!

"You idiot!"

Ron launched into a tirade, then turned and angrily berated Karkaroff.

I need you!

A wand pressed against his brow, instantly silencing Ron's angry outburst. He stared at Karkaroff, utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend Karkaroff's actions. But the moment his gaze met Karkaroff's menacing eyes, a sudden realization dawned on Ron.

Igor Karkaroff... was once a Death Eater!

Chapter 849 Dead

2024-04-07

"You filthy, despicable bastard!"

The shock in Ron's eyes had not yet faded, and anger made his voice tremble.

"Hermione was even planning to let you leave first, and you betrayed us!"

"Shut your mouth, you clueless idiot!"

Karkaroff used a ferocious face to hide his heart filled with fear. Blood was gushing from his nose, which Ron had kicked off, soaking his beard, drowning his dry lips, and trickling down his chin to his clothes. But he didn't wipe it away. His wand was still pressed firmly against Ron's forehead, and his other hand reached under Harry's arm to support him so he wouldn't fall.

"Owner!"

Karkarov's gaze strained to penetrate the billowing smoke and the flashes of the explosion; his hoarse, trembling voice failed to convey the humility he sought to project.

"My great master, I, Igor, have captured Harry Potter and his friends who were trying to escape!"

There was no sound coming from behind the smoke and dust. Perhaps they were too lazy to bother with it, but maybe even the Dark Lord was a little surprised by Karkaroff's shamelessness.

Karkarov's voice and body trembled violently, and despair painted a vivid picture on his pale face of what it must be like to be at the end of one's rope.

Ron knew he had never hated anyone as much in his life as he did now. If he could, he would even be willing to cast a Cruciatus Curse on Karkaroff! But he lacked confidence; at this distance, he had no confidence in dodging Karkaroff's attack.

With his back to the battlefield, Ron was unaware of Hermione's situation, but the clear voice that occasionally pierced through the rumbling explosions told him that Hermione was still putting up a fight. At the same time, Barty Jr.'s increasingly shrill and hysterical roars made Ron anxious. So much so that he didn't notice that Harry, who was being held under Karkaroff's arm, was clenching his fists tightly, his emerald green eyes blazing with fury!

"Great Dark Lord, my esteemed master!"

Karkaroff grew increasingly panicked at the lack of a response.

"Is there anything else I can do for you? Oh, do you need me to get rid of that mud seed for you?"

"Ron is right!"

Just as Karkaroff was racking his brains trying to figure out how to please the Dark Lord and save himself, Harry Potter, who was being held captive and was half-dead, suddenly spoke. Before he could react, a fist rapidly enlarged in front of him and slammed heavily into his already broken nose.

"You're a filthy, despicable bastard!"

Amid Karkaroff's screams as he lay on the ground, Harry roared, flicking his wand, and silently Karkaroff's wand fell into his palm.

"Harry!"

Ron exclaimed in surprise,

"You're back to normal, your scars are gone."

"Let's go help Hermione, Ron!"

Harry was pale and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He was clearly still weak, but in this life-or-death situation, he had no time to think too much. He gripped his wand tightly, let out a howl, and charged like a wild horse toward Barty Crouch Jr., who had been led in another direction by Hermione!

Click!

Like a sudden flash of red lightning under the dim night sky, the sharp lightning dissipated the smoke and dust, and shattered the magical barrier that Little Barty had barely managed to set up.

The stone, whistling like a bullet, shattered the magic barrier, grazed Little Barty's cheek, and broke a piece of dead wood as thick as a bowl.

Barty Crouch Jr. instinctively stumbled backward, but a withered vine crawling on the bushes suddenly came to life and raised its head, leaping towards Barty Crouch Jr. like a venomous snake, trying to bind him. Unfortunately, just as the vine climbed up Barty's ankle, the crazed Death Eater fell and immediately waved his wand, releasing a ghostly light that severed the vine.

This series of well-coordinated attacks surprised and somewhat flustered Barty Crouch Jr. He quickly scrambled to his feet and practically crawled behind a tombstone. Only when he realized that no further attacks were coming did he brush aside a lock of hair that was soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead, breathing heavily.