harleyscars Chapter 227 A Great Power Finally Appears in the Hollow Tree
Chapter 227 A Great Power Finally Appears in the Hollow Tree
Chapter 227 A Great Power Finally Appears in the Hollow Tree
After Harry managed to pinpoint the location of Voldemort's ambush, he immediately decided to venture into the Albanian forest.
He turned to Dumbledore, cupped his fists in a respectful gesture, and said, "Professor, please forgive me. I will not sit with you today. I must return to my quarters to prepare my weapons before heading to Albanian Forest to meet that vile beast Voldemort!"
Seeing that Harry was getting angry, Dumbledore knew that he couldn't be persuaded by nine oxen, so he stopped trying to persuade him and instead said gently, "Don't be in such a hurry, Harry. You can't go to the Albanian forest alone."
"If you don't mind, I think Liu Tao would be very willing to help you with this."
Harry thought to himself, "Professor, what you said makes perfect sense. If that forest were just a place where Voldemort was planning to ambush me, that would be one thing."
But that forest has always been incredibly strange; countless bizarre things have originated there. If I were to venture there alone, I would inevitably encounter some inexplicable oddities and get entangled in their affairs.
With you by my side, even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, with wolves in front and tigers behind, the two of us back to back can still fight our way in and out seven times.
Thinking of this, he immediately replied, "Professor, you are absolutely right. If the two of us go side by side, even if there are ambushes or attacks from both sides, it will only be like tickling us."
After saying this, he clasped his hands in a salute, turned around, and strode away.
As Harry stepped out of the classroom, Liu Tao suddenly turned around and said, "Aren't you going to come with Harry to take a look, Albus?"
Dumbledore sighed helplessly, "I need to keep an eye on Grindelwald."
Upon hearing the name "Grindelwald," Liu Tao's eyes flashed, and he unconsciously reached for the gun at his waist, eager to do so, saying, "Actually, I can also monitor Grindelwald."
Seeing his state, Dumbledore shook his head repeatedly and said decisively, "Forget it, I still need to stay at the school to handle official business."
Leaving that aside, let's talk about Harry's journey back to the Gryffindor tower. As soon as he reached the common room, Ron and Hermione, who had been waiting for him, rushed forward, blocking his way on either side and bombarding him with questions.
Harry then recounted in detail how he interrogated Ludo in the underground classroom and how he devised the plan.
Upon hearing this, Ron and Hermione couldn't contain themselves and both asked to go to the woods with Harry.
Harry waved his hands repeatedly and said seriously, "Big sister and brother, listen to me. Nine times out of ten, anything involving that scoundrel Voldemort has taken root in this birdwoodian forest."
"This place is unpredictable and dangerous; it is not a place suitable for the two of you to go."
Ron, however, refused to accept this and exclaimed, "If Hermione isn't suitable to go, that's one thing, but how am I unsuitable?"
"I dare say I can now fight Professor Flitwick to a draw!"
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed and her eyes blazed with anger. "What do you mean I'm not suitable to go?"
Ron gave her a sharp rebuke, and she was immediately speechless, scratching the back of her head and stammering without saying a word.
Seeing his state, Hermione's nameless anger flared even higher.
The two were on the verge of exchanging blows, sparks flying, when Harry quickly stepped in between them, waving his hand and saying, "Alright, alright! If that's the case, then elder sister and brother will go together! Together!"
Ron was relieved to hear this and, without saying another word, vanished in a flash.
Hermione, still fuming, glared at him fiercely before striding off back to her dorm to get ready.
The three of them then went their separate ways. Harry returned to his dormitory and properly donned his magical weapons.
Hermione took the Death Journal, drank several bottles of potions to replenish her magical powers, and blessed the three of them.
Ron was the most straightforward. He simply gripped the "Willow Demon Stick" in his ear and sat down casually on the sofa in the lounge, waiting for everyone to arrive.
After about half an hour, the three of them had finished getting ready and reunited.
They didn't say much to each other, just nodded, and headed down to the underground classroom to find Dumbledore and his group.
Harry then told her about Ron and Hermione going along. Liu Taoping knew that both of them were courageous and capable, so he stroked his beard and nodded without saying a word.
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, then looked at Hermione and asked gently, "Is Miss Granger going too?"
Hermione's temple throbbed with rage at these words. She forced a smile, but it was cold and devoid of warmth.
"I think Harry should have a smart person by his side, Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore acquiesced without saying anything more.
The group had already made their decision and were about to set off.
However, Albania was thousands of miles away, and even if they could teleport there, they could not go. So they decided to go by Norbert.
As they were discussing, Ludo cautiously peeked out from the corner and asked tentatively, "Um, so—can I leave now?"
The moment these words were spoken, the underground classroom fell silent. Everyone stopped talking and turned to look.
Harry squinted and placed his hand on the hilt of his knife.
Ludo, always quick to spot, immediately recognized the movement and was terrified. He felt a chill run down his spine and his scalp tingle. He frantically yelled, "Wait! Harry, I still owe you money!"
"Are you really willing to accept losing thousands—nearly ten thousand Gallons—for nothing?!"
Harry snorted, "You can't pay it back anyway, and you're already drowning in gambling debts."
"I'd rather chop you into eight pieces today, take out your heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys, and use the money to buy some wine. That would be clean and satisfying!"
Ludo's face flushed red, and he shouted again, "Who said I wasn't going to play! I just—I just temporarily left my money at the casino!"
"They're just watching over it temporarily; I'll win the money back sooner or later!"
Harry was furious but laughed instead, while Dumbledore shook his head and smiled, stepping forward to reassure him, "Don't be so tense, Ludo."
"I can assure you, no one will hurt you."
"However, we need to take some confidentiality measures for you."
The words had barely left his mouth when a loud "bang" rang out, the door burst open, and a burly man stormed in.
The man's robe was billowing in the wind, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he was panting heavily, but his face was beaming with a warm smile. It was none other than Lockhart.
"Ah! Everyone's here!"
He looked around at everyone, and when he saw Harry, he was overjoyed and shouted, "Harry, my mission is complete!"
Upon seeing Lockhart, Harry instantly understood that Dumbledore had summoned him to erase Ludo's memories.
Without saying another word to him, he simply pointed at Lu Duo and said, "Professor, stop your rambling and just erase this fellow's memory!"
Lockhart responded, drew his wand, leaped to Ludo's side, and cast a Forget Charm.
As the cursed light touched his body, Ludo's memories instantly unfolded. Lockhart was the kind of person who loved to inquire about strange things and was always eager to join in on the fun.
Now that so many secrets are laid bare before me, it's like a starving man seeing wine and meat; how can he possibly restrain himself?
Although he came to cast a spell, his eyes were already wide open, staring straight into that memory.
He watched intently, thoroughly enjoying himself, until his blood was boiling and every pore on his body felt refreshed.
I felt that being able to witness such secrets made even the daily harassment I endured while infiltrating the Ministry of Magic worthwhile!
After about half an incense stick's time, he put away the wand that had been pressed against Ludo's forehead, stood up, and announced loudly, "Whew—Mr. Bagman's memories of the underground classroom have been completely erased by me."
"Now he only remembers that he came to Hogwarts to discuss matters related to the Triwizard Tournament."
Snape crossed his arms and gave a cold, sidelong glance, saying, "Are you sure you can fool the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic?"
Lockhart put his hands on his hips, shook his head and laughed, "Oh, Severus, it seems you still know too little about me."
"I dare say even the mysterious figure can't break my forgetfulness spell!"
Seeing this, Snape said nothing more.
Seeing that everything was settled, Harry was extremely anxious and set off for the Forbidden Forest to borrow a dragon from Hagrid.
No sooner had he stepped out of the underground classroom than Lockhart caught up with him like a whirlwind, clinging to his side, rubbing his hands together anxiously, and asking, "Harry, can I come with you?"
Upon hearing this, Harry waved his hand without turning his head and said, "Professor, you'd better stay at the school. That forest is no safe place; it must harbor immense danger."
"Someone like you would be seriously injured if you went to such a place. Even a minor scratch would be enough to break your bones, and if you were to hit a vital spot, you could be in mortal danger."
"To die in such a desolate forest or wild grave, wouldn't that be a great injustice?"
Although Harry spoke without holding back, Lockhart felt restless and uneasy whenever he thought of the secrets in the forest.
He quickly caught up with Harry, saying urgently, "But I'm writing your fourth autobiography, and I need to know what you've been doing this past year—I have to follow you and gather material!"
"And—and Miss Granger can go? Why can't I?"
After saying that, he hurriedly looked back around, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Hermione was not nearby.
Seeing that he was persisting, Harry stopped and said seriously, "Since Professor is so determined to go, I will do as you say."
"You must first write a will, clearly outlining all matters before and after your death. Otherwise, if you encounter misfortune, you will die unhappily."
Lockhart's face stiffened instantly upon hearing this.
He pursed his lips, gritted his teeth, smacked his lips, put his hands behind his back, lowered his head, and paced back and forth on the stone floor of the corridor, his heels clicking loudly, looking as if he were having an internal struggle.
Seeing his hesitation, Harry didn't say anything more and went straight to Hagrid's hut.
After borrowing the Norbert, Harry waited outside the school gate. Soon, Liu Tao and his group had all arrived.
As everyone climbed onto the dragon's back, just as they were about to take off, they suddenly heard a loud shout from afar.
"Wait—wait—for me!"
Hearing the sound, Harry stood up from the dragon's back and looked out. He saw Lockhart staggering towards him, his face turning a deep purplish-red, and he was panting heavily.
Ron rushed over, his eyes wide, and whispered, "Harry, are you really going to take him with you?"
Harry laughed to himself, "Damn it! This birdman's actually showing a bit of a heroic air today. Let's take him along!"
Once Lockhart had climbed onto the dragon's back and settled in, Norberta raised its head and let out a strange howl. It then spread its enormous wings that blotted out the sky, pushed off the ground with its four legs, and soared into the air, heading straight for Albania.
Along the way, Liu Tao used the map given to him by Dumbledore to determine his location.
Ron and the others stood on either side, each holding a wand and chanting incantations, trying to both fend off the fierce winds from the heavens and conceal Norbert's figure.
Harry, however, remained unconcerned, sitting alone on the dragon's tail and asking Salazar, "Brother, having seen so much of the world, do you know the details of the Albanian forest? What connection does this place have with that powerful being who suffered divine punishment?"
"I've never even heard of Albania, how can I tell you?"
Hearing this, Harry could only ponder it alone.
A moment later, Salazar added, "But it did happen in the forest."
Harry exclaimed in surprise, "This is really strange today. My brother has let slip a few words. Has the sun risen in the west?"
"Hehe, I'm just a little looking forward to it."
When Harry tried to press him for more details about "what to expect," he remained silent, as if his voice had vanished without a trace.
After flying for two or three hours, as the sun set and the afterglow faded, the group finally landed on the edge of the Albanian forest.
Looking up at the treetops, everyone saw a dense mass of strange, gnarled branches, like ghostly hands reaching for the sky.
Occasionally, the sound of flapping wings and rustling movements could be heard from deep within, which only accentuated the deathly silence all around, sending chills down one's spine.
Liu Tao was the most alert. He held a short gun in his left hand and a magic wand in his right. He pointed at Norbert and chanted a spell to shrink it to the size of a normal person.
He then summoned Lockhart and instructed him and Norbert, the two guardians on either side, to stand behind him as well.
Then, following the same method, Ron and Hermione were instructed to follow behind Harry, forming two small teams of three.
He pulled Harry aside and said, "I'll go east, you go west. Remember to listen for my gunshot."
Harry nodded. "Don't worry, sir, I understand."
The two groups then parted ways, each heading in their own direction.
Harry and his two companions, for example, pushed aside tangled branches and trodden through years of decaying leaves, venturing deeper into the wilderness.
They had been walking for an unknown amount of time when they looked up and saw that the sky had turned pitch black, but they still could not find a trace of Voldemort.
Hermione was the first to lose her composure, grabbing Harry's wrist and whispering, "Harry, we can't keep searching aimlessly like this."
"This forest covers at least a thousand acres; how could we possibly search it all?"
Harry glanced at the dense undergrowth ahead, using the few slivers of pale moonlight filtering through the leaves, and spat out, "Big sister's words make perfect sense. If it were up to you, what would be the course of action?"
Hermione took the Death Journal from her bosom and said, "We can use the Death Journal to guide us."
"While it may not necessarily lead us to where Voldemort's traps are, it can at least lead us to the places in the forest where strange things have happened."
Harry's eyes lit up, and he suddenly clapped his hands, saying, "In that case, why not teach it to find the hollow ancient tree where Helena hid the crown!"
"That matter has the longest history with this place. If we can find it, we might be able to follow the clues and uncover some other traces."
Hermione nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, and immediately bent down and began to write swiftly. In no time, several lines of neat handwriting appeared on the diary.
Death Diary at your service, this time's destination: Hollow Tree (abbreviation).
Go straight ahead for 800 meters, then turn left and make a U-turn.
Harry, watching closely by the moonlight, couldn't help but marvel, "This magical book is becoming increasingly powerful in my eldest sister's hands; it can even point out paths—its uses are truly endless!"
Hermione smiled slightly, held the diary steadily in her palm, and took the lead.
Following the signs, the three walked for about half an incense stick's time until a clearing in the woods suddenly appeared before them.
Right in the middle stands a towering ancient tree that takes ten people to encircle, its trunk hollow and cracked open.
Ron and Hermione stood guard on either side, while Harry stepped forward to look around, then reached out and touched the tree.
In an instant, the buzzing of mosquitoes beside my ears vanished completely, leaving not a trace.
He turned around quickly and saw Ron and Hermione standing stiffly, completely still, without even blinking.
Even the drifting clouds at night are frozen in mid-air, unable to move even slightly.
Just as he was wondering what was going on, he suddenly heard a hoarse voice behind him, speaking fluent Mandarin, with a hint of cheerfulness: "You've come, Harry Potter."