Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 135 Master and Servant

The rain fell all night and didn't stop until the next morning.

But the sky was still overcast, and it might start raining again at any moment.

After a good night's sleep, Peter Pettigrew felt completely recovered. Although he still felt a little sore, it was nothing serious.

After waiting in the lobby for a while, Bertha Jorkins came downstairs. She didn't seem to see Peter, and went straight to a table, ordered breakfast, and ate it alone.

Peter was completely bewildered; he had no idea what was going on with this woman. Just as he was about to get up, Bertha rushed over as if she had discovered something amazing.

"Merlin! You are...Peter!"

"My God! You're still alive!"

Peter: "..."

"All these years you..." Bertha was completely unaware that she had already said these words last night, and continued to ramble on. Peter, however, did not show the slightest impatience; he even had a smile on his face.

"...He gave me a vacation, damn it, I have no idea what I need such a long vacation for!"

"Want to take a walk together? After all, it's been so long since we last saw each other." Peter's smile widened.

"Walk around? Where to?"

"Do you remember that legend from your school days? About... Ravenclaw's tiara?"

"The Ravenclaw tiara? Yes!" Bertha's voice suddenly softened. "Do you know where it is?"

"I don't know, but I have a clue." Peter Pettigrew shook his head, lowering his voice as well. "Remember the Ravenclaw Ghost? She was the daughter of Lady Ravenclaw. Legend has it that she stole her mother's tiara and was killed by Barrow the Blood in the Albanian forest..."

"It's very likely that the crown is still there."

Bertha's gaze was intense, clearly showing some interest, but she still had reservations, and she asked, "But, so many years have passed, are you sure it's still here?"

"Nobody can be sure," Peter Pettigrew shook his head. "It's just a legend anyway. It would be great if we found it, but it's not a big deal if we don't. We can just treat it as a trip."

"Okay, when do we leave?"

"How about now?"

"Alright, let's go!"

The two left the hotel and headed south together, chatting as they walked. Bertha's mouth never stopped; she was either asking Peter Pettigrew where he'd been all these years, or complaining about how the Ministry of Magic was targeting her. Occasionally, she'd ask the same questions again, as if it were the first time.

Peter Pettigrew, always smiling, kept echoing Bertha's words. After most of the day had passed, the two finally arrived at the forest where, according to legend, the Blood Man Barrow had killed Helena Ravenclaw.

Once inside the woods, Bertha continued talking, but Peter Pettigrew's smile grew increasingly sinister. Suddenly, he drew his wand, and the spell struck Bertha squarely.

"They'll all be petrified!"

Bertha was terrified, but she couldn't move at all. Peter Pettigrew's face was contorted with rage, and he looked rather ferocious.

"Bertha...oh, innocent Bertha..."

With a wave of his wand, Bertha floated in the air, and Peter Pettigrew continued into the depths.

Peter stretched out his left arm, touched it with his wand, and the Dark Mark suddenly appeared. Peter closed his eyes and silently sensed it.

"Master...Master...your most loyal servant has arrived..."

"Master...Master...your most loyal servant begs for your response..."

As darkness fell, the dense forest became so dark that almost nothing could be seen. Suddenly, the rain began to fall again, a light drizzle that formed lines on the trees.

Peter Pettigrew tirelessly called out as he ventured deeper into the forest. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from within, sounding particularly eerie in the dark, dense woods.

"Hiss~ hiss~"

A twelve-foot-long giant snake was coiled on the book, its head resting in front of Peter Pettigrew, constantly flicking its tongue.

Peter pointed his wand at the giant snake, staring at it nervously. Bertha behind him remained motionless; without Peter's magic, she fell directly to the ground.

"Look who's here, Nagini..." A deep, hoarse voice rang out, and Peter Pettigrew immediately knelt down.

"Oh, Insect Tail... my servant..."

"Master..." Peter Pettigrew trembled all over, letting Nagini wrap her arms around his body. The snake's tongue was right next to his ear, and it even landed on his ear.

"Bring him here, Nagini... My servant has arrived; he should see his master and see what he looks like now..."

Nagini slowly released Peter Pettigrew and slid deeper into the ground. Peter quickly got up and followed with Bertha.

After winding through the forest, Nagini finally crawled into a cave. The entrance was so small that Peter had to crawl in on his knees.

"Come forward, come forward, let me see you, Insect Tail... my servant..."

"Give me a little light, let me see you..."

A soft white light emanated from the tip of Peter Pettigrew's staff, and by its light, he finally saw the face of his master.

It could no longer be called a person; it was just a writhing black shadow, with a face vaguely visible.

"Disappointed, aren't you? Wormtail..." Voldemort's voice was even hoarser and incredibly weak.

"No... Master..." Peter Pettigrew held up his wand and knelt down again.

Voldemort seemed oblivious, continuing to speak: "Look at you, Wormtail, groveling before me, surely wondering why I submit to a creature that doesn't even have a human form..."

"No! No! Master..."

"You're probably thinking, 'The great Dark Lord has failed! He was defeated by a baby...'"

"No... Master..."

"Is a defeated Dark Lord still the Dark Lord? No, he is not... That's why you haven't come looking for me for over a decade!"

Nagini's head popped out again, and his tongue landed on Peter Pettigrew's face.

"However, I am glad you came. It shows that there is still a servant who remembers his master... even if it was not of his own volition..."

"No! Master! I did it willingly, the insect tail was my own choice..."

"Liar!" Voldemort's voice was filled with rage. "Liar! Someone sent you to find me! You're lying!"

"Ah... that familiar magic, young and powerful, full of vitality..."

"My little Ike, is he alright?"

Peter Pettigrew detected a hint of concern in Voldemort's tone, which terrified him even more.

"Ike..."

"You must call him 'Little Master'!"

"Young master... he is very good, he is the best at Hogwarts right now."

"Of course, of course, he is of course the best..." Voldemort's voice trailed off, "Young, powerful, composed, and equally captivated by the greatness of magic..."

"Look at this curse! How wonderful!"

"Yes, Master..."

"Take me back, Wormtail, I want to see my little Ekko..."

"But first, I need you to do one thing for me."

"As you command, Master..."

"I need a body, you need to make me a body..."

(End of this chapter)