harleyscars Chapter 224 Clues and Traces
Chapter 224 Clues and Traces
Chapter 224 Clues and Traces
After the Quidditch match, Christmas is getting closer.
And the Dragon Training Field, which the school's young wizards and professors are very concerned about, has also come to an end.
This huge building, which occupies an area only a little smaller than Hogwarts Castle, was quickly built in front of the power of magic. The fire dragon's mad and struggling temper from time to time could not let them stay obediently in the expanded space, so the dragon training field It is rare to use space-expanding magic. If it is destroyed by the fire dragon and the dragon dies, then the Dragon Training Field itself will be unlucky and lose money.
Moreover, the external buildings are not the most important thing. The most important thing in the Dragon Training Field is how to restrain and restrain these violent big guys.
At this point, Nicole May provided them with a little help, such as giving them a hand-drawn super-large trapped alchemy formation that made the fire dragon unable to break its throat.
This thing is the main force of burning money this time, and at least half of the cost of one million Galleons is spent on it.
Although it is still inaccessible, the Dragon Training Field, where the magic cover has been removed, is still the favorite place for little wizards to look from a distance.
It is located in a huge open space beside the Black Lake, next to the Forbidden Forest, and while it is spacious enough, it can still be seen all the time, just like the Hogwarts sentry, standing on the edge of the school land.
The Dragon Training Ground is different from the Forbidden Forest. Its existence is protected by Hogwarts magic. This is for the safety of young wizards. The unexpected threat will be so small that it can be ignored.
Of course, taking the initiative to die is not counted, after all, the fire dragon has a big temper, just like bravely entering the forbidden forest, there is no way to stop death.
In this joyful day of welcoming the dragon training ground and waiting for Christmas, a small card once again exudes a hint of warning heat.
"Three broomsticks, I see."
A short line of text appeared on the screen, and Ron, who was discussing with the big guys which beach vacation to go to bask in the sun for Christmas, got up immediately.
"I got a message from Rita. I went to meet him. She saw Bellatrix."
"what!"
With a jerk, Neville jumped up from the ground in an instant, and he accidentally overturned the low table.
"Yes, yes, I hope the information this time is valuable."
"I need to go to Hogsmeade, I'll be back soon, Neville, don't worry, wait for my news."
"Then I'll accompany you there, Ron." Sirius got up from the ground. This Christmas vacation was originally a proposal initiated by him. Sirius, who is the head of this group of children, fully supported them at the beginning of the development of the Solar Knights. cause.
"Okay, then without further ado, let's go see what information Rita has brought us."
Pushing open the door of the Room of Requirement, Ron and Sirius left in a hurry. The exit of the door opened at a corner of the main entrance hall of the school. The only four remaining dementors in Hogwarts watched the two of them riding around in a hurry. After getting on the broom and leaving, they wisely chose to pretend to be deaf and dumb. Anyway, they couldn't see, so they didn't have a pass. Anyway, they also resigned from the Ministry of Magic.
Riding the Firebolt at full speed, it only took a few minutes for Hogsmeade village to reveal its outline. When the two rushed to kill the three broomsticks, Rita Skeeter hadn't even had a drink. A sip of the mead served by the proprietress Ms. Rosmerta.
"Have you found it?"
Ron waved his finger and cast a layer of protective magic against eavesdropping. He and Sirius sat opposite Rita, looking at the radiant but haggard woman in front of him. It must have been so long, Rita Things haven't been easy these days.
"I saw it, but I couldn't keep up."
"Bellatrix killed someone, and the green light of Avada whizzed from my side"
Hearing the sound of gold coins colliding, Sirius straightforwardly threw a small purse, at least five or six hundred Galleons in it.
"Okay, okay, don't be so impatient."
Rita shook the small bag happily, and the sound that the little golden cuties made when they collided was still so charming.
"I'm a principled reporter and never sit on the floor, though."
"Okay, Rita, there's no need, let's talk."
Seeing Ron's eager look, Rita picked up the wine glass and took a sip, "Young people are impatient, our time."
"Crack~" A corner of the table in front of her was broken, and the ten-centimeter-thick table board was thrown on the table. The inside of the old wood with pulp was still very fresh and tender.
".We don't have much time." Rita swallowed her saliva silently. She looked at Ron with a smirk. What she hates most in her life is talking to this kind of stickler who likes to talk about physics. .
With a laugh, Rita put down the wine glass in her hand, took out her magic wand from her crocodile leather pouch, tapped it on her temple, and pulled out a trace of memory.
"Although I am an honest and trustworthy reporter, under normal circumstances I would not sit on the ground and raise prices, but this case is different. In order to get this news, I also revealed a little bit of my secret~"
"Make an offer."
"No, no, it's not about money. I need to ensure my safety. I need to apply for a formal identity."
"I'm an Animagus, unregistered. As you know, the procedures of the Ministry of Magic are too troublesome, requiring various certifications and various audits."
"Go directly to the Ministry of Magic's Charms Management and Review Office and report my name." Sirius waved his hand indifferently. Apart from the inexhaustible wealth left by the Black family, there are also countless connections.
Rita showed a sweet smile. Although the unregistered Animagus can bring her more convenience, the fear of walking a tightrope day and night is not something a rich woman should have. She wants to be comfortable Enjoy your wealth, it's real income.
"Do you need me to buy the Pensieve? The 1899% discount is only [-] galleons. I got it from a run-down noble family, but it's not broken at all."
Rita, who turned into an enthusiastic salesman, put the memory thread into a small bottle and asked with a smile on her face. She is not just a reporter with multiple jobs, and of course her channels are not limited to information.
"Maybe it will be needed in the future, but forget it now."
Ron declined Rita's recommendation, "Five thousand, the balance will be paid to you after confirmation, but I hope it's true."
"Of course it's true!" Rita let go of the hand holding the small bottle tightly, and then grabbed the light but heavy bag, she couldn't wait to untie the bag and glance inside, her eyes were full of brilliance.
"I squat for a month, risking my life for a month, look at my skin, they are crying loudly."
Rita put away the bag in an instant and pretended to be a pitiful person, but the smile in her eyes completely betrayed her thoughts at the moment.
"However, I need to remind you that although the clues I gave are real, I may not be able to find her. I am not responsible. I have tried my best to get the information. Bellatrix is likely to be the last Once she appeared outside, don't ask why, she killed people in order not to pay, after this incident, no matter how greedy the rats in Knockturn Alley are, it is impossible for them to conduct any transactions with her."
"Then wish us a happy cooperation."
Rita drank the small glass of mead in one gulp, smiled and reached out to shake hands with them, then left the three broomsticks with her big buttocks twisted.
There seemed to be a glimmer of Gallon's golden light emitting from her body.
Following Rita's departure, Ron and Sirius also left Hogsmeade in a hurry. They rode brooms straight to the eighth floor of the castle. Dumbledore, who had received the message from Sirius, was waiting there early. .
"It seems that we received the professor's Christmas gift early."
Ron unscrewed the small bottle and poured the silver thread of memory into the pensieve looking at the pool of mercury. Countless pictures were fainted, and they couldn't wait to enter the world of memory.
This world is a bit strange. Compared with Ron's previous world, it is empty and there are no people.
At the end of the dilapidated alley, there is a dirty ditch. There are many bones in the bubbling sewage. The most common sewer rats can't live in it. The crooked houses are dark and gloomy, and a deep and winding path squeezes out between them.
"This is the back street of Knockturn Alley. Lupine told me that there are werewolves, banshees, all kinds of disgusting dark creatures living here, and those dark wizards whose bodies are rotten. Some weird things and turned myself into something that is neither human nor ghost."
"Bellatrix can come here." Sirius pouted, "I'm not surprised at all."
"Where's that reporter?"
"there."
Dumbledore pointed to a moldy corner of the eaves, where a dull beetle lay. The spots around the beetle's eyes resembled Rita Skeeter's fake jeweled glasses.
"Beetles are really good for scouting around for news. Someone is here."
As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, the explosion of Apparition appeared from the end of the alley, and a woman wearing outdated old clothes with a bit of bug eyes appeared at the end of the alley.
She didn't wear a hood, and she didn't even cover herself too much. Bellatrix came to the end of Knockturn Alley, which was emitting a stench, but there were absolutely no living people there.
Different from the photos shown on the Daily Prophet, Bellatrix's cheeks are much plumper at this moment, and the long hair that should have been like muddy algae has been trimmed and combed, and even curled into big curls, scattered casually shoulder.
She doesn't look like a fugitive at all. Rather than saying that she is a fugitive, it's better to say that she looks like the wife of a run-down nobleman.
Her cold eyes destroyed her overall demeanor. Those eyes, which made it hard to look at each other, scanned the alley with a kind of hysterical emotion, and then she stepped onto the broken street, unexpectedly. Turned into the broken house where Rita stayed.
Rita, who turned into a beetle, moved her legs very, very carefully, and slipped through the gap in the house.
"Avada Kedavra!"
But just after Rita entered, a green light flashed suddenly, and the hunchbacked man who didn't say a word was instantly killed and fell to the ground.
Bellatrix searched the man without saying a word, and in just a few seconds, she got what she wanted, and it disappeared with a 'snap'.
This short memory only lasted about 15 seconds after Bellatrix appeared on the stage, and apart from the death curse, Bellatrix didn't say any nonsense.
There are villains who like to chat awkwardly and reveal information, but Bella is not included. People who talk a lot of nonsense can't be caught under the heavy screening of the Ministry of Magic so far.
The reason she didn't hide her face was because she didn't think anyone could catch her, and the hard work of the Aurors over the past few months had indeed proved this point.
"Is there any clue? Or do we need to go to the scene, professor?" Ron was honestly completely blinded by Bella's rapid appearance and disappearance. Apparition can indeed be tracked, but there are many restrictions .
One, you need to be there, and two, you have to force your way in to co-apparate when Apparation is activated.
However, these two harsh points are impossible to do now. You can’t expect Rita to have the courage to follow a woman who just killed like a chicken into a dangerous situation. not see.
"Maybe we can start elsewhere, Ron."
"This has told us a lot of valuable clues, such as the wand, the clothes, and herself."
"Obviously, Bellatrix's life after escaping from Azkaban wasn't too bad. Wandering and hiding here and there won't let her live such a happy life."
"Is someone helping her?"
"Yes."
"But it's not these things that concern me the most."
Dumbledore kept pacing in the principal's room, stroking the beard on his chin, deep in thought.
"I wondered why I didn't see the look in her eyes that I expected."
"Although the eyes are still not very good, but in her eyes, I can see a trace of excitement that was forcibly suppressed."
"Or longing and joy."
"I don't think she doesn't know everything you do in the Ministry of Magic, but there is some reason why she can temporarily suppress this anger and devote herself to doing another thing."
"That's what disturbs me the most."
"You mean, she found Voldemort?"
"I'm not sure, but I think it's about Tom."
"Perhaps." Sirius, who was silent at the side, moved his lips.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else, I don't know about the rest, but the clothes she's wearing...I get the impression."
"Bellatrix Lestrange, she used to be my cousin. I should have mentioned Ron to you. The Black family I belong to is the stronghold of dark wizards."
Sirius showed a mocking smile, curled his lips contemptuously.
(End of this chapter)