bioinnovel Chapter 321 The Scheme Succeeded
Chapter 321 The Scheme Succeeded
Chapter 321 The Scheme Succeeded
Belvina wasn't worried at all; it was Rita Skeeter who should be worried.
With such a shocking secret as the Crouch father and son right in front of them, it's impossible for a greedy and unscrupulous journalist not to be tempted.
As long as Rita Skeeter is interested and takes action, Belvina will have accomplished her mission; the rest is up to the unscrupulous reporter.
How much of the truth she can uncover, how close she gets to the facts, and whether there will be any dangers during the investigation—all of this depends on Rita Skeeter's abilities.
It has nothing to do with Belvina.
Leave professional matters to professionals; Belvina, being an outsider, shouldn't blindly give orders or get involved.
As for whether Rita Skeeter would betray them and secretly conspire with Crouch and his son, Belvina believed she wouldn't be that foolish.
The fact that Barty Crouch Jr. was still alive was a top secret. Who knew who was dead? After so many years of wandering the streets and navigating the underworld, Rita Skeeter couldn't possibly have been unaware of this.
Furthermore, if Belvina can't deal with Crouch and his son for the time being, can't she handle Rita Skeeter?
The person who should be most worried and most vigilant in this whole affair is Rita Skeeter. She not only has to secretly investigate Crouch and his son, but also has to prevent them from discovering her and causing her to lose her life.
In addition, Rita Skeeter also needs to worry about Belvina, fearing that she will discard her once she has served her purpose.
As the sky outside the window gradually darkened and the flames in the fireplace brightened again, Rita Skeeter suddenly spoke.
She said, "You're not worried about me, but I'm worried about you. Miss Blake, I don't trust you. What if you go back on your word later?"
"What kind of guarantee do you need from me?" Belvina asked. "A written guarantee, an oath, or something else?"
As she spoke, Belvina got up and walked toward the cabinet.
She found a bottle of wine made by house-elves in the cupboard, along with three wine glasses.
Then she poured three glasses of blood-red wine and handed them to Bassheda and Rita Skeeter respectively.
"How about an unbreakable vow?" Belvina raised her glass. "We happen to have three people here, and Bassheda can be our witness."
Upon hearing this, Bassheda immediately frowned.
The Mantra of Unwavering Loyalty does not necessarily imply unwavering loyalty, but an unbreakable vow is certainly unbreakable.
An unbreakable oath, once made, cannot be violated; if the oath is broken, the party who broke it will die.
At this moment, Rita Skeeter was already tempted. She was only worried that Belvina would deny everything afterward, not that it was serious enough to warrant a vow.
Bassheda wanted to stop Belvina's reckless behavior, but after thinking it over, she ultimately decided not to speak up.
Although she didn't understand, Bassheda still chose to support her.
Rita Skeeter was also puzzled; she hadn't expected Belvina to go so far, making such an unbreakable vow right off the bat.
While the oath may relieve Rita of her worries and prevent her from being betrayed, it also becomes a greater constraint.
Belvina seemed to be getting a little impatient. She took a sip of wine and then put down her glass.
"Now, you should take out your wand, Bassheda," Belvina said, extending her hand to Rita Skeeter.
Basilda, still frowning, reluctantly drew her wand, ready to act as a witness.
Rita Skeeter's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "Seriously? You're serious?!"
"You need to come closer, Rita," Belvina said. "Never mind, I'll do it."
As she spoke, Belvina stepped forward, grabbed Rita Skeeter, and held her right hand tightly.
"Have you thought of your vows, Rita?" Belvina asked. Then she said to Bassheda, "Darling, come closer."
Basilda reluctantly stepped forward and pressed the tip of her wand against their tightly clasped hands.
Next, as soon as Rita Skeeter utters the oath, Bassheda's wand will spew out a thin, dazzling tongue of fire, and the unbreakable vow will be sealed.
However, Rita Skeeter's behavior was unexpected; instead of reciting the oath, she broke free from Belvina's right hand.
Rita Skeeter knelt and backed away, pressing herself against the wall, saying, "Madman! You're a madman, Blake!"
Belvina raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, "People always say that, but I think there must be some misunderstanding."
"There's no misunderstanding." Rita Skeeter shook her head. "Working with someone like you is far too dangerous!"
"So, the cooperation is canceled?" Belvina picked up her wine glass again, without even glancing at the empty glass jar placed to the side.
Rita Skeeter strode back and picked up the wine glass that was on the table.
She said, "After this is over, we'll go our separate ways, and neither of us will know the other!"
Then, Rita Skeeter gulped down the wine in her glass in one go, and then dashed out of the office.
Rita Skeeter muttered words like "madman" as she walked.
"That's really hurtful to say, Rita," Belvina said. "We've known each other for so many years!"
Rita Skeeter, gripping the ball handle of the house door, stopped and turned back, saying, "I wish I had never met you, Blake."
With that, Rita Skidla opened the door and left without looking back.
"Remember to avoid Dumbledore when you leave!" Belvina called out. "I'll be waiting for your good news at Hogwarts!"
As Rita Skeeter's footsteps faded away, Belvina happily poured herself another glass of wine.
"It's done." Belvina raised her glass. "I believe Rita will bring good news; she's a professional."
Belvina raised her glass, but Bassheda did not clink glasses.
"What if you didn't manage to fool her? What if she just made a vow?"
"Then let's make a vow!" Belvina said nonchalantly. "I don't intend to stab her in the back, nor do I intend to kick her aside like a chamber pot. What's there to be afraid of in making a vow?"
As she spoke, Belvina shamelessly stepped forward, wanting to clink glasses with the angry Bassheda to celebrate her success in tricking Rita Skeeter.
But Basilda, holding her wine glass, pulled away, saying, "I'm very angry right now, Professor Black, the kind you can't appease!"
"No, why are you angry!"
"We're breaking off relations for three days. Goodbye!"
Bassheda stared blankly as she walked toward the door, and Belvina quickly followed after her.
Unfortunately, angry women are harder to catch than pigs during the Lunar New Year; Belvina couldn't even catch a glimpse of Bassheda.
Before we knew it, it was December.
Winter brings Hogwarts not only cold, but also strong winds and sleet.
The steaming stove and thick walls couldn't ward off the biting chill, and the whistling draft tested everyone's ability to withstand the cold.
However, the students felt incredibly fortunate to be at the castle this winter.
At least they don't have to go through the ups and downs like Durmstrang, or soak in a vat of wine like Beauxbatons.
Whenever a strong wind rages across the campus, the three-masted sailboat moored on Black Lake sways in the wind, its black sails fluttering and dancing in the air.
Hogwarts students naturally assumed that Durmstrangers were very resistant to the cold, not afraid of the severe cold, and not prone to seasickness.
Those Beauxbatons wizards who clearly couldn't stand the cold were assumed by the Hogwarts students to have an amazing capacity for alcohol, since the air around the carriage was filled with the smell of single malt whiskey.
Every time there's a Magical Creatures Protection class, Hogwarts students get dizzy from the stench of alcohol all around them; heaven knows how Wizard Beauxbatons managed to put up with it.
Without comparison, there is no harm. With Beauxbatons and Durmstrang as a contrast, Hogwarts students seem to be bursting with happiness this winter.
Amidst this overwhelming sense of happiness, an unexpected challenge quietly descends—the Christmas ball.
The Christmas dance is a traditional part of the Three Kingdoms competition, a great opportunity for students from all three sides to get to know each other better, and also a good opportunity to develop campus romances.
In previous years, only a very small number of students would stay at school during the Christmas holidays, but this year, due to the Christmas ball, almost all students in the fourth grade and above will stay, and everyone is talking about the upcoming ball.
In the corridors and classrooms, girls could be seen laughing and whispering everywhere. Some were discussing their outfits for the Christmas ball, while others were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their crushes. The boys at Hogwarts were the same; they either commented on the girls or waited for the right moment to make a move on the girls they liked.
Unfortunately, the girls have been appearing in groups lately, rarely alone, making it difficult for the boys to muster the courage to approach them and extend an invitation.
That afternoon, Belvina and Bassheda, who had reconciled, hid in the warm castle, lamenting how time flies and discussing the upcoming Christmas ball.
"I saw an older girl ask Harry out that day," Bassheda said dramatically. "That girl looked much taller than Harry, almost a head taller!"
As she spoke, Bassheda gestured with her hand, almost spilling the hot cocoa in her cup.
"That's nothing. I saw a younger girl ask Harry out the other day." Belvina's expression was equally exaggerated. "That girl looked much shorter than Harry, at least two heads shorter!"
As she spoke, Belvina gestured with her hand. However, the height she gestured didn't seem like that of a lower-grade girl; it was more like that of a house-elf in the kitchen.
"Youth is wonderful!" Bassheda exclaimed. "Everywhere you look, there's an atmosphere brimming with youthful energy!"
"Youth is wonderful!" Belvina exclaimed. "I hope the air on Christmas Eve won't be filled with the scent of heather."
Bassheda put down the hot cocoa, seemingly hesitating whether to break off her friendship with Belvina for another three days.