This was surprising information.
"Don't you wizards have a spell that can alter memories?" Geralt asked, gesturing as he spoke.
Harry shook his head. "His memories weren't tampered with."
"And with the kind of people they are, there's no way they'd let a wizard who just joined them a few days ago start casting spells on their minds. Who knows what kind of weird magic would get left behind?"
Geralt nodded.
"So Tom really only has two Horcruxes left?" Dumbledore adjusted his glasses.
Harry didn't answer. He looked toward the door.
He was waiting for someone.
Dumbledore also began to wait.
Snape arrived about ten minutes later.
He held a vial of potion, which he thrust into Scamander's hands. "The Wild Hunt is on the move again?"
Harry nodded. "Professor, I have some good news. It seems like Crouch might finally trust you completely."
Snape frowned.
That wasn't good news at all.
"You've spoken with Crouch?" He sat down with a sneer. "Starting to believe his nonsense?"
Harry shook his head and pointed to Caranthir. "This one—an important figure in the Wild Hunt. Professor, before you arrived, I checked his memories. I saw something that looked like Ravenclaw's Diadem in the Hunt's possession."
"Looked like?" Snape picked up on the key word immediately.
Harry nodded. "It was only a memory."
"While I can guarantee the memory was genuine, I can't be sure if that Horcrux is real."
He proceeded to recount everything that had happened in detail, not skipping over anything—even the parts about Scrimgeour, things Snape likely didn't want or need to hear.
Snape's expression darkened.
He knew Harry well enough to understand exactly what he wanted him to do.
Without a word, Snape pulled out his wand and raised it.
Not a single unnecessary comment.
The abandoned classroom where Crouch was being held—
The young man blinked awake, instinctively squirming toward the roaring fireplace that blazed on the other side of the room. But it was futile; an invisible magical barrier kept him at a safe distance from the flames.
"Don't bother struggling," Snape's voice drawled. "Potter won't be giving you a chance to escape."
"If he wants to torture me, he should find a better way," Crouch raised his head. Hogwarts had treated him surprisingly well, despite taking his freedom. Three full meals a day and nearly twenty-four hours of sleep… Yet, instead of looking healthier, he appeared even more emaciated, his face gaunt like a skull wrapped in skin.
Snape sneered. "I've got good news for you. Potter might not be able to torture you for much longer."
Crouch raised his head, staring at him silently.
"Potter knows one of the Dark Lord's Horcruxes is in the hands of the Wild Hunt," Snape said softly.
Crouch's eyes narrowed sharply. "How does he know that?"
"Put away that lapdog look," Snape snapped with disgust. The black liquid mist swirled around him, expressing his distaste. "Potter captured a key figure in the Hunt. Caranthir."
Crouch froze, visibly surprised. "Caranthir?"
"You know him?" Snape asked.
Crouch nodded. "He got caught? Seems the Wild Hunt isn't as invincible as they boast."
Snape ground out his words. "The issue isn't the Hunt—it's that one of the Dark Lord's Horcruxes has been found."
"Why do you know about this?" Crouch asked an irrelevant question out of nowhere.
Snape sneered. "Crouch, if it weren't for the Dark Lord's sake, I'd force-feed you a potion to turn you into a blithering idiot."
"You're still doubting me at a time like this?"
"What good does it do you to be suspicious of me?"
Crouch stared coolly at the swirling black mist.
Snape's tone was sharp. "This isn't exactly a well-kept secret. By tomorrow, it'll be front-page news in the Daily Prophet. The Wild Hunt caused too much of a stir to hide."
Crouch said nothing, closing his eyes.
After a long silence, he sighed. His voice sounded just as haggard as his appearance. "Severus, let me think for a bit."
Snape didn't reply.
He simply waited until the black mist dissipated.
Crouch's lips moved, his mouth shaping the number six thousand.
The whole exchange lasted exactly ten minutes.
Back in the Headmaster's Office—
Snape opened his eyes. "Crouch seemed cornered. He had to think for a while before coming up with a response. He sounded exhausted… rather like how Albus does when you mention…"
He paused and looked over at Scamander.
Harry nodded. "No surprise—Mr. Scamander is probably aware of Albus and Grindelwald's…history."
Scamander nodded.
Snape continued, "His state… it was just like when Harry brings up Grindelwald and you, Albus."
Dumbledore sighed, resigned and a little helpless. "Severus…"
Snape nodded. "Exactly like that."
"Was it real or just a façade?" Harry asked.
Snape scoffed. "Potter, you need to understand. I'm merely a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, not Merlin himself. In that state, I couldn't use Legilimency. Even if I could, do you think Crouch would allow it?"
"In Crouch's eyes, I'm someone who's willing to endure humiliation for the Dark Lord, someone who would even tolerate his mockery."
Harry turned to Caranthir, silent for a long moment.
"Looks like I'll need to go back to that world."
Everyone in the room paused.
Geralt's eyes widened. "You mean… go back?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. I need to go back and find Ciri."
"There are too many things we want to achieve… and we need her for that."
Geralt frowned. "But how? Without Ciri…"
He paused, glancing at the only person lying on the floor. "And he certainly won't cooperate."
"Who says he won't cooperate?" Harry raised his wand. "There are plenty of spells that can make him."
Almost simultaneously—
"No."
Both Dumbledore and Snape spoke at the same time. They both understood exactly what spell Harry intended to use.
Harry turned his head toward them.
"Harry, I…" Dumbledore hesitated. He was not entirely opposed to Dark Magic; after all, he was quite proficient in it. But he did not want Harry to use that spell.
Dark Magic was nothing good.
Especially since magic, at its core, was a reflection of the soul.
To use Dark Magic even once would unavoidably affect one's mind and spirit.
Snape was less gentle. He cut Dumbledore off without hesitation. "Potter, you intend to use the Imperius Curse?"
"I have to remind you: standing before you are two of the most powerful Dark Magic masters alive—aside from the potential resurrection of the Dark Lord himself."
"It's not your place to flaunt those crude tricks. Dark Magic, like potions, is a profound art—not something you can master by flipping through a few books. Arrogant Potter, I think I ought to dig the filth out of Albus's head and use it to scrub yours clean."
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates