bioinnovel Chapter 383 Another Chance
Chapter 383 Another Chance
Chapter 383 Another Chance
Is Igor Karkarov sick?
Undoubtedly, he has some psychological and mental problems, but he is far from being insane.
Karkaroff feigned madness in front of the Aurors for two reasons: first, to convey to the outside world that he had gone insane; and second, to remain at Hogwarts.
After two days and three nights of imprisonment, Karkarov realized one thing: there was no point in escaping.
No matter how far he escapes or how well-hidden his escape route, if the Death Eaters are unwilling to let him go, they will eventually come knocking on his door.
With the Black Magic Mark restored to its original state on the inside of his left arm, Karkaroff realized even more deeply that running away was useless and that escaping would not solve any problems.
So the moment Igor Karkaroff woke up on the streets of Hogsmeade, he made up his mind to return to Hogwarts and seek Dumbledore's protection.
Of course, he was only seeking Dumbledore's protection; he would never risk his life for Dumbledore, as he lacked the courage to defy Voldemort.
Therefore, Karkaroff, lying in his sickbed, began to feign madness in an attempt to lull the outside world into a false sense of security and reduce the Death Eaters' hostility towards him, while also having an excuse to stay at Hogwarts indefinitely.
However, Belvina and Dumbledore weren't fooled and saw through his little trick.
"I just want to stay at Hogwarts. I'm really not sick," Igor Karkaroff stated truthfully. "Hogwarts is the safest place in the world!"
As he spoke, Karkarov tried to puff out his chest with pride, but the sedative effect of the drug rendered him unable to move.
"That's not what you thought before, otherwise you wouldn't have run away at night," Belvina said. "You should go back to your Durmstrang if they're still willing to accept you."
"I'm not going back. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay at Hogwarts," Karkaroff said. If he had the strength, he would have been shaking his head like a rattle.
"Hogwarts isn't safe. You were kidnapped right there in the castle, Professor Karkaroff," Belvina said, clearly not wanting to shelter such a useless fellow as Karkaroff.
Karkaroff, lying on his sickbed, sighed and said, "I am, after all, the principal of Durmstrang University. Please don't insult me so bluntly."
He sighed again and continued, "Although I don't know who the two men who tied me up are, or who the guards are, I know they are not Death Eaters."
If it were truly a Death Eater crime, Igor Karkarov would be long gone.
"You can stay at Hogwarts even if you don't pretend to be crazy," Dumbledore said. "The Triwizard Tournament has run into some problems, but it's not over yet."
"But! The Triwizard Tournament will eventually end," Karkaroff said helplessly. "Where can I go after the Triwizard Tournament ends? I've betrayed so many Death Eaters; the Dark Lord won't let me off the hook."
Igor Karkaroff chose to run away earlier because he knew he could not earn Voldemort's forgiveness.
If Karkaroff cannot gain Voldemort's forgiveness, his only fate will be death, and a gruesome one at that.
Igor Karkaroff, not wanting to end up in such a miserable state, had no choice but to seek refuge with Dumbledore.
After all, Albus Dumbledore was the only person Voldemort feared.
"Even if you could stay at Hogwarts indefinitely, the school always has summer and winter breaks," Belvina said. "What are you going to do then?"
Karkaroff, lying on his sickbed, slowly turned his head and stared intently at Dumbledore. Judging from his posture, Karkaroff seemed intent on staying close to Dumbledore.
At this moment, in this situation, all Belvina wants to say is: You truly have no shame, Igor Karkarov!
To put it nicely, Karkaroff was surrendering to Dumbledore and seeking protection; to put it bluntly, Karkaroff was clinging to Dumbledore like a leech.
Most importantly, Igor Karkaroff is a useless person, neither to Dumbledore nor to Belvina, he is of no practical value.
Karkaroff had neither the ability nor the courage to become a spy like Snape, and he also had no way of infiltrating Voldemort's inner circle.
Karkaroff is no match for charging into battle like a warrior; he's not even fit to be a lane-filling baby. If you were to send Karkaroff to fill lanes, given his cunning nature, he'd definitely try to escape or play dead. You can't exactly assemble a whole oversight team just for him!
Finally, Igor Karkaroff wasn't even qualified to be a mere pawn; he had surrendered to the Ministry of Magic thirteen years ago, so he had absolutely no value in any attempt to win over the enemy.
This former Death Eater, who is so weak and incapable of lifting a finger, actually wants to cling to Dumbledore's side and seek his protection. What's the difference between this and getting something for nothing?
Belvina's ultimate dream was to gain something for nothing, and she couldn't even achieve that. How could she possibly let a scoundrel like Igor Karkarov have his wish?
"Fine!" Belvina gritted her teeth. "Even if Professor Dumbledore is kind-hearted and willing to accept you, you still have to demonstrate your value, even if it's just a tiny bit."
Upon hearing this, Karkaroff, lying on his sickbed, began to breathe rapidly, as if he had returned to the Ministry of Magic's trial chamber thirteen years ago.
At that time, in exchange for his freedom, Igor Karkaroff decided to betray his Death Eater colleagues to the Ministry of Magic, naming Antonin Dolohov, Evan Rozier, Travers, and Moorselber.
However, with those Death Eaters either dead or captured at the time, these names were of no use to the Ministry of Magic.
That time and that moment are exactly like this moment.
Lying in his hospital bed, Karkaroff knew that he was of no value to Dumbledore, just as useless as the list of Death Eaters he had provided to the Ministry of Magic.
"I can't leave Hogwarts!" Karkaroff's eyes trembled, his voice trembling with panic. "If I leave Hogwarts, the Dark Lord will definitely find me, he'll torture me—he'll kill me—"
Silence, a suffocating silence.
Although Belvina didn't say anything, her attitude was clear—take care, don't bother coming back!
Dumbledore didn't speak either, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, or perhaps too lazy to bother with the worthless former Death Eaters.
Lying on the hospital bed, Kakarov was almost in despair. Cold sweat poured down his face, and his pale face was as white as paper, completely devoid of color.
"Igor," Dumbledore said slowly, "you may remain at Hogwarts until the end of the school year."
Karkaroff, lying in his hospital bed, was overjoyed. As long as Dumbledore allowed him to stay, he still had a chance.
"But," Dumbledore continued, "you must cooperate with me and Belvina. You must do whatever we ask you to do."
Igor Karkaroff's smile froze on his face. He didn't know whether he should agree or not. What if Dumbledore made him an enemy of Voldemort?
Belvina looked at Dumbledore, and this time she really couldn't figure out what Dumbledore was thinking. She couldn't understand why Dumbledore would provide Karkaroff with shelter, even if it was only temporary shelter.
"Especially the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued. "I don't want to see that farce of giving the Warriors a one-point rating again, Igor."
"Alright, I promise you!" Karkaroff reluctantly agreed to Dumbledore's proposal. "However, I don't want to step outside the school hospital except for matches!"
Belvina clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. She really hadn't expected that Karkaroff would dare to make demands!
"Yes." Dumbledore agreed without hesitation. "There's one thing you must remember, Igor."
Since you have chosen to stay, you may not leave again without my permission.
"Of course, I will not leave the school again without your permission," Karkaroff said. He would not leave Hogwarts, even if Dumbledore tried to persuade him to go.
Dumbledore didn't say anything more; he simply nodded and left the school hospital.
At this moment, Belvina, standing at the foot of the bed, looked at Karkaroff and threatened, "Professor Dumbledore is the headmaster; he can keep anyone at the school. But I'm different. I'll be watching you closely, so don't try anything funny."
After speaking, Belvina left without waiting for Karkaroff's reaction.
She had barely stepped out of the school hospital when she saw Dumbledore waiting outside. Clearly, Dumbledore was waiting for her.
"Professor, I don't understand." Belvina stepped forward quickly and said bluntly, "Protecting Karkaroff is meaningless except to ensure that the Triwizard Tournament can continue."
Dumbledore didn't answer directly; instead, he asked Belvina another question.
"Belvina, do you think I've been too lenient with Karkaroff? Do you think I'm being a pushover?"
"Yes," Belvina said. "Excessive mercy and excessive kindness can become weapons in the hands of the enemy."
"Is Karkaroff an enemy?" Dumbledore asked.
Belvina shook her head. Igor Karkarov was not an enemy; he didn't qualify.
"So I'm willing to give him another chance, a chance to choose again," Dumbledore said calmly, "if he's willing to take up arms."
"Excuse my bluntness, Professor, but I don't think Karkaroff has the courage to take up arms." Belvina made no attempt to hide her disdain for Karkaroff. "He's not Severus Snape."
Dumbledore glanced at Belvina with some surprise, seemingly not expecting her to bring up her old nemesis, Snape.
"If Karkaroff ultimately fails to muster the courage, then naturally he will not need to stay at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps he will become a gift, a gift to atone for his past sins."
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A gift, or a gift to atone for past sins? What does that mean?
Belvina quickly considered a possibility, but she was not yet sure if Dumbledore was really planning to do so.
In Belvina's mind, there was only one way for Igor Karkarov to atone for his past sins: to pay for his crimes with his life.