bioinnovel Chapter 422 A Trip to Beihai for Two
Chapter 422 A Trip to Beihai for Two
Chapter 422 A Trip to Beihai for Two
Since the Black Magic Mark on his left forearm became more and more obvious, Igor Karkarov's heart was constantly in his throat.
Karkaroff knew that neither Voldemort nor the Death Eaters would forgive his betrayal, and that he would face an endless hunt.
Karkaroff had considered escaping; if he could get away from the country, he would have a chance to escape the pursuit.
However, before he could escape Hogwarts Castle, he was kidnapped by two unknown individuals disguised as Death Eaters.
During those days of imprisonment and utter darkness, Karkarov figured out many things, the most important of which was that escape was not the best way to solve the problem.
So when he inexplicably appeared in Hogsmeade and was escorted back to Hogwarts by the Aurors, he made up his mind to stay at the school and stick by Dumbledore's side.
Under the whole world, who dares to run wild at Hogwarts, right under Dumbledore's nose!
Having made up his mind, Igor Karkaroff settled down at Hogwarts without a care in the world, even though the school was on summer vacation and he was still hiding in the castle.
Here, he doesn't have to endure the elements or travel through the night; the house-elves will take good care of him.
Here, he could see Dumbledore at any time, and under Dumbledore's protection, he could also see Minerva McGonagall frequently, although Professor McGonagall never gave him a friendly look.
Although he was confined to the school, the campus was large enough that his life was not in danger, and Igor Kakarov was very happy.
This joy and ease lasted until the day of the attack on Magnolia Road, because that night Voldemort summoned the Death Eaters.
As the Dark Mark on his left forearm turned from bright red to pitch black, and feeling the burning sensation on his arm, Igor Karkaroff was in a state of utter confusion.
Under the pressure of fear, the thought of escaping resurfaced; he wanted to flee the country and go somewhere where no one could find him.
But when he thought about the hardships of his escape and looked at the reassuring Hogwarts, Karkaroff once again suppressed his thoughts of running away and slept fully clothed in the common room on the eighth floor.
Over the next few days, Igor Karkarov, whose liver and gallbladder had been ruptured repeatedly, could neither eat nor sleep well.
During the day, he lost his appetite and felt anxious; at night, he tossed and turned, and even when he did fall asleep, he would be awakened by nightmares. He lost weight at a visible rate.
Once upon a time, Igor Karkaroff was the headmaster of Durmstrang, full of youthful vigor, and even dared to call Albus Dumbledore his brother.
Now look at him, Igor Karkaroff can only hide in Hogwarts, living in fear, and doesn't even dare to step out of the school grounds.
That night, Karkaroff lay down fully clothed, curled up in a ball, still clutching his wand.
Perhaps due to exhaustion over the past few days, Karkarov fell into a deep sleep as soon as he closed his eyes.
Not only did he sleep soundly, but he also had a wonderful dream. He dreamt that he had safely weathered the storm of war, and that he had become the headmaster of Hogwarts after the war.
At the same time, a blurry figure appeared on the pitch-black field. She floated through the quiet night, crossing the playground and heading towards the castle.
The visitor stopped in front of the castle, looking up at its hazy outline. The cool moonlight shone down, illuminating her beautiful face—Belvina Black.
She couldn't let anyone see her. Belvina thought to herself, even though it was still summer vacation and even though there were no lights in the castle windows.
Argus Filch, one of the few Squibs who can find work in the wizarding world, stays at school even during summer vacation.
Dumbledore was the same; he dedicated his entire life to Hogwarts.
However, he shouldn't be at school tonight; he's gone to visit an old friend, whom he wants to invite back to teach at the school.
There's also Professor McGonagall, who is widowed in middle age and has no children. She also lives at the school, even though her house is in Hogsmeade Village, which is outside the school.
Just in case, Belvina raised her wand and tapped her head, a cold sensation flowing into her body from where the wand struck.
She raised her arm, admiring her illusion spell with satisfaction; even she herself could no longer see herself.
Belvina entered the castle, moving through the darkness under the cover of the night and the Disillusionment Charm.
They encountered no obstacles along the way, neither the night patroller Filch nor the emaciated mother cat.
Soon, Belvina stood in front of Karkaroff's bedroom door, raising her wand and aiming it at the keyhole.
With a soft "click," the door creaked open.
The sound carried far into the quiet night, but it did not wake the fast-sleeping Karkarov, who was still immersed in his sweet dreams and unaware that danger was quietly approaching.
Belvina looked at Igor Karkarov, who was sleeping fully clothed on the bed. He was emaciated and exhausted, looking like a skeleton covered with flesh.
The tip of the hazel wand glowed red, and Karkaroff's smile, which had been blooming with a sweet dream, vanished instantly, the wand falling from his hand onto the bed.
Belvina stepped forward and took the wand, then tapped Karkaroff on the head with her hazel wand.
In an instant, the unconscious Igor Karkaroff blended into his surroundings, becoming indistinguishable even to the spellcaster, Belvina.
Immediately afterwards, it was as if an invisible rope was tied to Karkarov's wrists, neck, and knees, pulling him to his feet, but his head still drooped unsightly, and his feet dangled limply a few inches off the ground.
And so, like a puppet, Igor Karkaroff was secretly led out of the castle by Belvina, and they traveled through the dark grounds to the vicinity of the Willow of the Beating Man.
With a flick of her finger, Belvina froze the willow tree in mid-air, its once sprawling branches now suspended in mid-air.
After passing through the secret passage beneath the Whomping Willow and exiting the Scream Shack, the most terrifying haunted house in England that isn't actually haunted, Belvina and Karkaroff disappear from Hogsmeade.
After an unknown amount of time, Igor Karkarov, who had been in a deep sleep, showed signs of waking up.
Karkarov sniffed the air and smelled the salty, fishy odor. Then he heard the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Karkarov opened his eyes in a daze and found himself in a small, pitiful, dilapidated wooden hut, with a strong, fishy smell of seaweed constantly filling his nostrils.
Where is this?
How did I get here?
Igor Karkaroff frantically searched for his wand.
His face was deathly pale, his body trembled uncontrollably, and panic instantly overwhelmed him.
It was quite some time later, as the sky outside the cabin gradually brightened, that Karkarov finally managed to calm down.
Driven by his survival instinct, Igor Karkarov scrambled out of the cabin, using both hands and feet. Panic then gripped him once more.
Karkarov found himself standing on a huge reef, surrounded by nothing but the endless, iron-gray seawater, except for the small, dilapidated wooden hut behind him.
The surging waves kept crashing and scouring the rocks, the sea breeze was cold and chilly, and the fishy smell of seaweed in the air grew stronger. In the distance, a red sun was slowly rising, but Igor Karkarov felt no warmth at all.
How is that possible!
How did I end up here?!
I should be at Hogwarts, in the castle!
This must be a nightmare—yes! This is a nightmare, but you'll be fine once you wake up!
However, a familiar female voice suddenly rang in his ears, shattering Karkarov's last shred of illusion.
"Hey, you're awake. You woke up pretty early."
Igor Karkarov looked in the direction of the sound and saw Belvina standing on the shore, the cold waves unable to get any closer to her.
"Where am I? Why did you bring me here?" Karkaroff shouted, his bravado masking his inner fear. "Dumbledore, where is Albus Dumbledore?"
"This is the North Sea," Belvina said as she left the beach. "Yes, the North Sea where Azkaban is located."
Belvina stepped closer and continued, "But you don't need to worry. It's far from Azkaban, but quite close to the Shetland Islands."
Pale-faced Karkaroff retreated nervously, already guessing what Belvina wanted to do. He could only hope that Belvina was just trying to scare him, like last time.
"Once you cross this sea, you'll reach Norway," Belvina continued. "I've heard that the lakes there are always clear, the air is filled with tranquility, and the moon shines brightly on the earth."
"I don't understand what you're saying." Karkaroff continued to back away, the cold waves splashing high and flowing down his neck.
On this remote, giant reef, the dilapidated cabin looked even more terrifying. Igor Karkarov's hands and feet were ice-cold, and he felt his body temperature rapidly draining away.
"I said I'd let you go, let you go to Norway, do you believe me?" Belvina asked softly.
Pfft!
Igor Karkarov collapsed to the ground. If Belvina hadn't said those words, he could still have imagined that she would let him go.
But when Belvina said those words, Karkaroff lost all hope. He knew that she wouldn't let him go this time, and it wasn't just a threat.
"Oh, by the way, Professor Dumbledore doesn't know I took you away from the castle," Belvina continued, glancing up at the sun's height. "But he should find out soon."
"Why?" Karkaroff shouted. "Why are you doing this to me!"
The sea breeze was strong, and his shouts were quickly carried away by it; the waves were also huge, and the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was like the approaching footsteps of death.
"Because you're a Death Eater, Igor," Belvina said with a laugh.