A Certain Magical Hogwarts

Chapter 689 The Dark Lord...is back!

In the stands, students were excitedly discussing who would win the final match.

Although Hermione is number one and has countless fans, students from every house will support their own hero.

At least, that's how it sounds.

The students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang cheered for their warriors so hard they lost their voices.

Four colleges, three schools... the students were arguing loudly.

The intensity was so great that it felt like a US presidential election, not a three-way battle.

One minute it's blue, the next it's red, a series of comebacks, so exciting!

William didn't participate in the argument; he looked at the two-way mirror in his hand, and Hermione was carrying one too.

She can use this method to broadcast the entire process, just like a live broadcast.

William, Anne, and Gabrielle were all cheering her on.

The two-way mirror came from Anne, and the other was borrowed from Dumbledore. It was a Christmas gift from the headmaster to Anne many years ago.

However, watching the game like this is nowhere near as exciting as going inside to watch the game.

William couldn't resist applying to be a checkpoint in the maze, specifically to guard the trophy.

Stark Cards: Patronus!

Only those who can pass his test can win the championship.

The four patrolmen, along with Ludo, were stationed in different areas.

If there are sparks in the area I'm responsible for, I'll go in to rescue the students.

As the match progressed, red sparks kept appearing in the sky.

Mrs. Pomfrey, carrying various medicine bottles, treated the injuries of the rescued students.

A student was bitten on the buttocks by a swallowtail dog and needs to be given rabies medication immediately.

A ghoul clung to a witch from Beauxbatons, howling incessantly above her head.

The worst off was Durmstrang's Poliaco.

He stirred up a hornet's nest and was stung dozens of times by Billy Wiggins, leaving his face completely unrecognizable, turning him into a veritable Zhang the Pockmarked.

Anyone stung by the Billy Wiggins will feel dizzy and then float up unsteadily.

This side effect is similar to drinking Vita Lemon Tea.

So Poliaco was having a great time, floating in the air for a long time without coming down.

"Don't touch me, I can still stab... I'm the champion!" he roared.

"Another one gone mad." Mrs. Pomfrey clicked her tongue and shook her head.

A burst of flame shot out, signifying that yet another warrior had forfeited.

The difference is that this time it's a three-shot attack, which means... it's a matter of life and death.

Professor McGonagall rushed in.

The students all stood up, eager to see who the unlucky one would be this time... This was the only fun they had while they couldn't see the actual match.

But Professor McGonagall stayed inside for quite a while, taking a full five minutes to come out.

Shockingly, the first one to emerge was... Cedric!

The students were in an uproar, especially the Hufflepuff students.

Cedric is the badgers' only hope, how could he possibly fail?!

Professor McGonagall walked out of the maze with a stern expression, her hands trembling as she seemed to be struggling to hold back her tears.

On her side, a stretcher floated, on which lay a little wizard.

Everyone stood up to see who was lying on the stretcher.

"What happened?" Professor Sprout shouted from nearby. "Cedric, why are you out so quickly!"

Cedric stared blankly at his dean, and after a long while, he finally spoke:

"Ron...Ron..."

"he……"

"Dead!"

The crowd left their seats and ran towards the stadium.

All the referees stood up, and Dumbledore strode over.

Cedric crouched on the ground, surrounded by a dense crowd of people who were all crowding towards him.

He saw Minister Fouché's plump body run past, and even slipped and fell halfway through.

His face was pale and he looked terrified.

"Merlin... Weasley!" he cried. "Dumbledore... he's dead!"

The words were relayed, and the dark figures squeezing inside relayed them in alarm to those around them.

Others shouted—screams echoed through the night.

"He's dead!"

"He's dead!"

Ron Weasley! He's dead!

Dumbledore moved closer, supporting the swaying Professor McGonagall, and looked at Cedric, his expression grave. "Diggory, what's wrong?"

"Krum...Krum..." Cedric rasped, "He killed Ron with Avada Kedavra!"

"This is impossible!" Fudge exclaimed incredulously. "You saw it?"

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Cedric said through gritted teeth.

"After he killed Ron, he pointed his wand at me. I removed his weapon, and he ran away... I chased after him."

But it was a maze, and after a few turns, he disappeared somewhere!

Cedric handed Krum's wand over.

Dumbledore raised his wand and joined it to Krum's wand.

"Flashback Spell!" he whispered.

The unique light of Avada Kedavra emanated from where the two wands met.

"Disappeared without a trace!" he whispered again.

The Avada Kedavra, formed from smoke, turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared.

"Arrest Krum immediately!" Fudge shouted.

"With conclusive physical and witness evidence, immediately enter the maze to apprehend him."

"Diggory needs to go to the school hospital!" Mrs. Pomfrey said.

Dumbledore nodded and turned to look in the direction of Gryffindor's seat.

"Dumbledore, Arthur... he's coming... do you want to talk to him first—before he sees the body—" Professor McGonagall whispered.

Mr. Weasley struggled to push his way forward through the crowd, while Mrs. Weasley had already fainted, and Bill and Fred were shouting.

Harry stood there, dumbfounded, as if he were in a daze.

"Send the students back to the common room, all of them, immediately!" Dumbledore ordered.

All the teachers walked toward the audience seats to stop the students from crowding into the maze area.

Mr. Weasley finally squeezed through, gently embracing Ron's body with both hands. His face was already streaked with tears, and he suddenly burst into sobs.

Dumbledore's lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but he remained silent.

Then, another dazzling firework exploded.

—From the center of the labyrinth.

Everyone looked up.

"The three-way battle is over, someone has taken the trophy..." Li's voice echoed in the arena. He said in a low voice, "The competition is finally over..."

Dumbledore's deep voice echoed through the arena.

"William, come to me... I need you!"

……

……

While everyone else was leaving, Malfoy, with his wife Narcissa, charged against the flow of people into the maze.

Their son Draco is still inside!

Halfway there, Malfoy suddenly clutched his arm, panting heavily.

His face turned deathly pale, and his body began to tremble violently uncontrollably.

"What's wrong?" Narcissa hurriedly helped her husband up.

"He...he...the Dark Lord...is back!" Malfoy's face was filled with fear.

"What? How is this possible?" Narcissa trembled.

"He is calling... us, for the first time in fourteen years." Malfoy looked utterly desperate.

"What do we do now?"

"Find Draco first, and after you find him, you'll stay at Hogwarts..." Malfoy looked up at the sky, his lips moving.

The final silent path:

"I'm going... to see him..."

……

……

"I...I can't go see him!" Karkaroff was trembling all over.

On his exposed left arm, the Black Demon Mark had turned charred black.

This is Voldemort summoning the Death Eaters back to his side.

When the signal is given, all Death Eaters must immediately Apparate and appear beside him.

"I...I'm going to run away..." Karkaroff said in despair. "Severus, let's run together. Let's hide under assumed names and find a secluded place."

"If we hide in the US, we can still look after each other."

Snape was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said calmly, "You run away... I'm staying at Hogwarts."

"Why, why don't you run away? Do you think you're safe hiding here?" Karkaroff asked. "Dumbledore is old!"

He can protect you for a while, but not forever!

The Dark Lord will kill you sooner or later; there's no need for you to serve Dumbledore!

Snape did not speak.

Karkaroff stamped his foot, said no more, and turned to run away.

Snape's dark eyes were fixed on Karkaroff's retreating figure.

He suddenly murmured, "Lily."

Snape's voice was mournful, like...like those bare sycamore trees, empty and desolate in winter, with only withered branches.

The professor's back was somewhat hunched, and when he turned around again, his expressionless, deathly face had returned.

……

……

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(End of this chapter)