bioinnovel Chapter 259 The Storm Is Brewing
Chapter 259 The Storm Is Brewing
Chapter 259 The Storm Is Brewing
silence.
An oppressive silence.
Barty Crouch remained silent, only glancing at Harry.
It was as if those emerald green eyes would immediately shove him into Azkaban if he showed even the slightest hint of guilt or hesitation.
However, Harry didn't flinch, facing Crouch's scrutinizing gaze head-on, and even smoothed his bangs.
Cover up the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
Since being taught by Belvina, Harry gradually began to take his fame seriously and stopped avoiding it like the plague.
He was keenly aware that his fame could sometimes serve as a shield.
Take the recent mix-up, for example. Harry originally intended to reveal his name to stop the attack from the twenty wizards who descended from the sky.
Unfortunately, the twenty wizards acted too quickly, giving Harry no chance to introduce himself, which led to the huge blunder of twenty Stunning Curses being used against Harry Potter.
For example, right now, Harry is meeting Barty Crouch's scrutinizing gaze head-on, showing no respect whatsoever to the old man.
Harry refused to believe that Barty Crouch could pin the blame on him when the Dark Mark was clearly not something he had conjured.
Even if the title of "the boy who survived" couldn't completely overshadow Crouch's legacy, he still had Belvina and Sirius Black to back him up.
The two elders who were protecting the heirs would not stand idly by.
Therefore, Harry was not intimidated by Barty Crouch's authority, even though Crouch's sternness was well-known.
If you dare to stare at me, then I will definitely stare back; I'm determined not to suffer any loss.
The oppressive silence continued; Barty Crouch remained silent and unresponsive, Belvina neither spoke nor laughed, and everyone was held captive and unable to move.
A group of Ministry of Magic officials couldn't help but ask: Is this considered factional infighting?
Is Crouch trying to use tonight's events to suppress Black, or is Black using this opportunity to stir up trouble and undermine Crouch's authority?
But on second thought, it seemed unlikely to be a power struggle or factional infighting.
Everyone knows that Barty Crouch is about to resign, so he has no need to cause any more trouble, much less hold Harry accountable.
Porter wouldn't let go.
Similarly, since old Crouch is about to step down from his position as director, there's no need for Belvina to go through the trouble of kicking him while he's down; it doesn't make sense!
After much deliberation, everyone still felt that the key to the problem lay with Barty Crouch.
His behavior tonight was strange, making one wonder if he had ulterior motives and that questioning Harry was just an excuse.
Just as the Ministry of Magic officials were lost in their fantasies, the oppressive silence finally came to an end. Barty Crouch looked away from Harry's face and turned to walk towards the crowd.
Although everyone was eager to know Barty Crouch's true thoughts, no one dared to ask.
When the formidable old Crouch walked over, people spontaneously parted to make way for him and watched him leave.
No one reached out to stop him, no one asked any questions, and even Belvina didn't stab him in the heart again, sparing Barty Crouch's weathered lungs.
After a while, Belvina slowly spoke, breaking the silence of the night.
She said, "Gentlemen, if there's nothing else, I'm going to take my men back to the tent."
No one dared to stop the outgoing Director of the International Department of Magical Cooperation, let alone the designated new Director. Unless they were bored and had nothing better to do, who would dare to provoke Belvina at this time?
Seeing this, Belvina led Harry and the others away from the clearing and back into the woods.
Before long, the group of eight passed through the dark forest and arrived at the edge of Camp One, where they encountered an obstacle.
A large group of terrified wizards gathered at the edge of the woods. As soon as they saw Belvina and Mr. Weasley, they surrounded them and bombarded them with questions.
"What's going on over there?"
"Who created that mark?"
"Has that person, the one whose name we can't even mention, returned?"
Belvina donned her disguise, adopting a kind expression, and patiently said, "It's not that person. The Ministry of Magic is still investigating the specifics, but the only thing we can confirm at this point is that he wasn't the one who conjured the mark."
With that, Belvina pushed through the panicked crowd and headed back toward the tent.
Throughout the event, Belvina smiled broadly, patiently answering everyone's questions and calming their anxieties.
After struggling through the crowd, the group of eight returned to their devastated campsite.
The campsite was quiet at this moment. The dark wizards who had instigated the riot had either escaped or been taken back to London by the Ministry of Magic. All that remained were a pile of destroyed tents.
Back in the tent, Bill and Charlie, hearing footsteps, peeked out and saw Belvina and the others.
Only then did the two brothers lower their guard.
Bill's arm was injured, and blood was flowing out, soaking the sheet covering his arm; Charlie's shirt was torn into strips, very much in the style of his older brother; Percy was tilting his head back, and his nose was bleeding.
"Let's go over there, it's more spacious," Belvina suggested.
Mr. Weasley nodded, and Bill, Charlie, and Percy also came out of the Weasley family's tent.
Everyone, including a shaken Fred, George, and Ginny, gathered at the Black family's tent, along with Felix, who had come back with them.
The group sat around a long dining table, each with a cup of tea in front of them.
Felix re-treated the wound on Bill's arm, Charlie changed into a new shirt to cover his muscular physique, and Percy was showing off his achievements.
"Can anyone explain what that skull thing is? And what exactly is the Black Mark for?" Ron asked. "That thing looks like an ugly firework, and why does everyone seem so scared?"
"That's the symbol of the Mystic, Ron," Hermione explained before anyone else could speak. "I read about it in a book."
Only the Mystic and his followers use that mark.
Hermione was terrified tonight.
First there was a riot at the campsite, then the Dark Mark, and finally I almost got hit by a Stunning Curse.
If Hermione didn't show off her knowledge and erudition, she would have a hard time calming her pounding heart in a short time.
"It's been thirteen years since I last saw the Dark Mark," Mr. Weasley said gravely. "You can hardly comprehend the terror it brought; you didn't live through that era."
Sirius Black continued, "To put it another way, every time Voldemort heard the name 'Voldemort,' most people in the tent would shudder."
"Sorry, I meant Mysterio," Sirius continued. "Every time Mysterio or a Death Eater kills someone, they conjure up the Dark Mark. It's their way of creating terror and projecting an image of power."
"The Dark Mark is ugly, but it's very effective," Lupin said succinctly. "Everyone fears it, just as they fear the Mystic."
Imagine someone happily returning home, only to suddenly see a Dark Mark floating on their roof, allowing them to know what happened inside the house even without opening the door.
Behind the door might be the family's house, or it might be the family's house and the Death Eaters who haven't left yet.
This is a fear that no one dares to or wants to face.
When people see the Black Mark rise into the sky again tonight, that unbearable fear will return.
"Whoever put the Dark Mark in the sky is just causing trouble for us." Bill's treated arm had finally stopped bleeding. "As soon as the Dark Mark appeared, all the Death Eaters who weren't under control ran away."
"Ha! They're more afraid of the Dark Mark than ordinary people, aren't they?" Sirius said scornfully. "A bunch of cowards, wimps."
Mr. Weasley nodded and said, "After the fall of Mystic, many Death Eaters claimed they were afflicted by the Imperius Curse."
Their behavior is out of control, allowing them to evade trial by the Ministry of Magic. If the mysterious man returns, they will be the first to suffer.
1
"What a pity, we couldn't capture them all and send them to Azkaban to reunite." Bill slammed his fist on the table in frustration. "By the way, Belvina, I saw you casting the spell earlier, the Silent Killing Curse, that was so cool!"
Mr. Weasley looked at Belvina and said softly, "Too reckless, Belvina. We have no way of proving they are Death Eaters, and your orders could get you into unnecessary trouble."
Fortunately, the Weasleys were not corrupt, and no one felt uncomfortable because Belvina used a killing curse.
"I'm certain those leaders are Death Eaters; I can even call them by name, and I can recite the names of their ancestors for eight generations," Belvina said. "But I don't have enough evidence to accuse them of participating in the riot."
Lucius Malfoy.
Belvina was absolutely certain that the person who shot the killing curse at her was Lucius Malfoy; she couldn't have misheard or misread it.
The rioting group includes Lucius Malfoy, and those two idiots Goyle and Crabbe are bound to be there too; they usually hang out with Malfoy.
However, even if it is determined that Lucius Malfoy planned and participated in the riot at the campsite tonight, Belvina has no concrete evidence to accuse him and cannot send him to Azkaban to reunite with his sister-in-law.
To catch a adulterer in the act, one must catch them in the act; to catch a thief, one must catch him with
If they fail to expose those people's true colors and fail to control them on the spot, they have a hundred reasons to escape punishment.
Unless those who failed to escape and were caught can provide a detailed list, Malfoy and others who organized the riot will not receive the punishment they deserve.
Belvina had no expectations of obtaining detailed testimonies and lists.
Instead of relying on those good-for-nothings who can't even run away, we might as well just storm Malfoy Manor and force Lucius Malfoy to sign a contract.
Moreover, Belvina was more interested in finding out who had created the Dark Mark than Lucius Malfoy, who was floating on the water.
What is the connection between the Black Mark, which has been absent for thirteen years, and the Death Eater riot at the encampment?
Also, what role does Barty Crouch play in it?