chsdbacks Chapter 209 Harry angrily smashes eggs when asked about the crown.
Chapter 209 Harry angrily smashes eggs when asked about the crown.
Chapter 209 Harry angrily smashes eggs when asked about the crown.
Picking up where we left off, Dumbledore bluntly stated that Voldemort had stolen Ravenclaw's fortune, and Harry's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
He hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "Professor, where did you get that idea? Please explain."
19
"Do you remember what she left behind? A crown symbolizing wisdom."
"I always thought Voldemort created Horcruxes because he was afraid of death, but it wasn't until last year that I learned he had improved the Horcruxes so that the separated souls could share memories."
"So, perhaps his search for the relics of the four founders to use as Horcrux containers wasn't driven by vanity and arrogance, but rather by a desire to control the power of these relics?"
Dumbledore's words sound reasonable at first glance, but they don't stand up to close scrutiny.
Harry thought about it for a moment, then shook his head so hard it was like a reed in the wind.
"While the professor's words make some sense, they are like a chessboard missing a corner—ultimately, they don't fit the pattern."
"If Voldemort, that scoundrel, had harbored the intention to steal supernatural powers from the beginning, he should have understood the secrets of the Crown when he rampaged through the magical world. Why did he only realize his mistake after his soul was scattered?"
"A special magical restriction has been placed on the crown; only those recognized by the crown can obtain its true wisdom."
Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "I think this is probably another reason why he used the Time-Turner to go back to the past; he needed to figure out what this restriction was."
Harry pondered for a moment, recalling past events. Back when he and Ron accompanied Rowena and her daughter to the Scottish Highlands, Voldemort, possessing Helena, had indeed repeatedly inquired about the mysteries of the tiara.
Unfortunately, the crown had not yet appeared in the world at that time, and their conversation was like talking to a brick wall, ultimately failing to reach the point.
Upon hearing this, Harry cursed Voldemort's cunning inwardly. He then asked in surprise, "How did the professor know so much about the Crown? Did he perhaps find some clues?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard and smiled. "A month ago, I had a conversation with Helena."
Listen, dear reader: Dumbledore has been relentlessly pursuing the Horcruxes for a long time, without the slightest slackening. Helena is the last remaining member of the Ravenclaw bloodline, so she must be questioned carefully.
At first, the female ghost stubbornly refused to say a word, but Dumbledore had to use all his persuasive skills, talking himself hoarse, before finally getting her to open her mouth. It turned out that when Voldemort was a student, he had used sweet words to trick her into revealing the whereabouts of the crown.
However, that crown also hides a secret: only those who gain its favor can be blessed with wisdom; those who do not meet its standards will be misled.
When asked if she knew where Voldemort had hidden the crown, Helena, like a frightened bird, gritted her teeth and refused to utter a single word.
Having been deceived by Voldemort before, they no longer trust anyone. Indeed: the lesson of the past is still fresh in their minds; a frightened bird will not easily sing.
Harry sighed repeatedly after hearing Dumbledore's words.
"Helena was slaughtered by Voldemort while she was alive, and even after her death, she fell victim to his schemes. Her fate was truly tragic."
After saying this, he patted his chest and said, "Professor, don't worry. Just leave the matter of finding out where the crown is to me."
Enough of this digression. The two flew to the Ministry of Magic, temporarily detained Harry, and then Dumbledore departed.
After a few hours, Fudge and his group finished dealing with the Azkaban affairs and rushed back.
Before they could even rest, Harry was brought to court for trial.
Fudge, having received Dumbledore's warning, dared not make things too difficult for him, and instead used words of intimidation and enticement.
However, Harry was a man of many experiences, and he could withstand not only verbal threats but also actual torture.
After seven days of this back and forth, the judge finally wrote down the verdict: Harry Potter had absolutely no connection to the Azkaban case.
However, Azkaban has long since been reduced to ruins. The original sentence of ten days' imprisonment will be noted for now, to be discussed again when the new prison is built.
Holly, eleven inches, phoenix feather core.
In the Ministry of Magic's main hall, Scrimgeour held a long box, read the paper on it, and then handed it over.
"Your wand, Harry."
Immediately afterwards, Scrimgeour took out Extis's notebook from his pocket and handed it to Harry.
"And this, the notes you asked me to keep for you."
Harry took the notebook, opened the brocade box, and took out his wand, gripping it tightly. He felt a warm sensation coming from his palm, which calmed him down somewhat.
He weighed the wand in his hand and laughed, "Only with this wand in hand can I feel a little more at ease."
"If that scoundrel Extis were to provoke me again, why would I need to fight him for several hours like before! Just a few exchanges and I'd have him dead and his soul scattered!"
Upon hearing this, Scrimgeour felt a pang of shame. If this child could kill a five-hundred-year-old dark wizard with his bare hands, perhaps he truly could defeat the mysterious man.
He grumbled a few words to himself, then bid farewell to Harry, summoned an Auror to drive the carriage, and took Harry back to Hogwarts.
Harry arrived at the castle at dawn. The school bell rang, startling three or five grey owls under the eaves.
He thought to himself: Anyway, no one knows I'm back. Skipping this class is like escaping a fish from the net. What's there to be afraid of?
Without stopping, he headed straight for the Gryffindor Tower, his footsteps echoing loudly on the stairs.
He hurriedly returned to his dormitory, reached under the bed, and pulled out the suede suitcase with a "clatter".
Then we see him first binding his glowing arm guards, pressing the Marauder's Map tightly against his chest; hanging a pendant box around his neck, and wearing a white mithril ring knife at his waist; then drawing his Gryffindor sword, gleaming as it was inserted into the end of his belt.
Only after being properly armed and dressed could one feel truly secure.
After finishing his preparations, seeing that the sun was still high in the sky, he thought to himself, "If I don't eat now, when will I ever get around to satisfying my hunger?" He then strode towards the auditorium.
Upon reaching the auditorium, we pushed open the door and entered. The place was empty and quiet, except for two ghosts.
Helena sat high atop the chandelier, her head bowed in disbelief. Below her, the blood-soaked Barrow was striking poses and performing a farcical dance.
When Barrow caught sight of Harry, he was startled, his body stiffened abruptly, and he almost fell headfirst.
Helena swung her feet lightly on the lamp, exclaiming in surprise, "Harry? You're out of prison?"
It should be noted that a thousand years ago, Helena taught Voldemort to possess her, and she remained in a daze, completely unaware of her past relationship with Harry.
Seeing her like this, Harry, without changing his usual address, stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Sister Rongbing, I have just returned from the Ministry of Magic."
He then pointed at the stammering, uneasy blood-soaked Barrow and asked, "What tricks is this fellow up to here?"
Before Barrow could even try to evade the question, Helena bluntly exposed his true colors: "He wants me to be his dance partner, so he's trying to win me over."
Harry, upon hearing this, assumed the two were attending some kind of ghostly birthday banquet and didn't ask any further questions.
He glared at the bloodied Barrow and shouted, "You vile scoundrel! What kind of bird dance are you doing! It's an eyesore!"
"If I ever see you again, I will go to the Albanian forests, dig up your grave, strip your bones, and burn them all!"
This tirade was so sharp and vicious that it made every pore of Blood Man Barrow's body radiate a sense of satisfaction.
He hurriedly nodded his grayish-blue head like he was pounding garlic, then twisted his body, turning into a wisp of green smoke, and "whoosh" disappeared through the stone wall, leaving only a chilling gust of wind swirling in the corridor.
Harry cupped his hands in greeting to Helena and said with a smile, "As the saying goes, there's no time like the present. Since you're here today, why not have a few drinks with me?"
Without waiting for a reply, he slammed his hand on the long table, causing the cups and plates to rattle.
"And take a dish of blue cheese with green mold, a bowl of stinking, rotten fish soup, a piece of 82-year-old beef sirloin, and a pot of moldy mead!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several dishes suddenly appeared on the table, and a stench assaulted their nostrils. Even a hero like Harry couldn't help but hold his breath.
Helena gracefully descended from her seat and sat opposite Harry, raising an eyebrow as she said, "You seem to know a lot about food."
"And they're all foods I love to eat."
Harry clapped his hands and laughed, "I met my sister at that almost headless Nick's birthday banquet. The food and drinks are different, but the friendship remains."
"How would I forget my sister's taste?"
Helena didn't respond to that, but instead rested her chin on her hand, a half-smile on her face, and said, "Do you want to talk about my mother's crown?"
"Oh my! You're so clever! Nothing can escape your discerning eyes, sister."
Helena parted her lips slightly, letting her soul drift lightly over the glass of mustard mead, and said contentedly, "I'm sorry, Harry, I've told Dumbledore everything I could—I guess he's already told you about our conversation, hasn't he?"
Seeing that Helena had sealed the conversation, Harry was still unwilling to give up. He crossed his arms and said, "Sister, at least point me in the right direction. Even a little bit of information about where the crown is hidden would be better than me groping around in the dark."
"Besides, I have a personal grudge against Voldemort, and I would never bestow this crown upon that scoundrel!"
"Oh, Harry, I certainly believe you won't hand the crown over to Tom," Helena smiled slightly, "but I don't believe you can resist the temptation to covet it."
Upon hearing this, Harry's eyes widened instantly, and he slammed his large, fan-like hand on the sandalwood table with a "thud," shouting, "What kind of filthy person does my sister take me for!"
"I stand tall and upright, my conduct is impeccable, and I have always been the most honorable person in my life! I would even walk three times before the King of Hell with my chest held high, how could I possibly do such a shameless thing!"
Helena remained calm, took another sip of her moldy honey wine, and said, "You wanted the Philosopher's Stone when you were in first grade."
"I only wish to achieve immortality with my brothers and sisters; I have no selfish motives whatsoever."
"You took over the secret room when you were in second grade."
"That's even worse. I'm the only one at Hogwarts who understands Parsley; wouldn't inheriting the Chamber of Secrets be perfectly natural?"
"You were in third year—well, you didn't do much in third year. Although I've always suspected that those stolen time-twisters from the Ministry of Magic were related to you—"
"If you don't believe me, sister, I swear to you. I didn't take even a single piece of that time-twister."
"In conclusion," Helena took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I will not tell anyone the whereabouts of the crown again."
"My mother cast a spell on it that amplifies desires. I was bewitched by the crown and took it with me to Albania."
The more Helena spoke in this way, comparing the crown to Pandora's box, the more Harry felt tormented.
Unable to contain himself, he crossed his hands and said, "In that case, let's find a few reliable intermediaries to act as witnesses."
"But once the crown is in hand, it can be instantly reduced to dust by snake venom! Is that even possible?"
"It's not really feasible," Helena said firmly, refusing outright. "I will never tell anyone."
"Even if my mother asked me, I would give the same answer."
Harry saw that her words were as hard as iron, leaving no room for negotiation, and knew that he couldn't force her, so he had no choice but to put the matter aside for the time being.
Then, changing the subject, she asked curiously, "Professor Dumbledore once told me that this crown can help people gain true wisdom." What secret is hidden in those words?
Regardless of where the crown was hidden, Helena was a straightforward person, making no attempt to conceal anything.
She pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "It's a very strange feeling. All your questions, confusions, and thoughts—all of them are answered the moment you put on the crown."
"But this is still not true wisdom. I can sense that something is missing—perhaps it's because I haven't been recognized by the crown."
Upon hearing this, Harry rubbed his chin and thought to himself: This kind of supernatural power is very similar to the Death Note. Could it be that there is some kind of soul residing in that crown?
He leaned closer and pressed on, "What conditions are required to obtain this crown and have it recognized as your master? Even your direct lineage, sister, isn't enough?"
Helena remained silent for a long while, then shook her head. "I don't know."
At this point, the hall fell silent. The two remained speechless, the only sound the stench of rotten fish and shrimp wafting from the table, creating a thick fog between the beams and pillars.
Just then, a loud "bang" was heard, and the two large doors suddenly burst open. A large group of students rushed in, making a ruckus.
A few sharp-eyed people at the front spotted Harry sitting in the seat and immediately started clapping and shouting.
"It's Harry! Harry's back!"
"Harry is out of prison!"
"The boss has been released from prison!"
The news spread like wildfire. It happened right at lunchtime, and the entire school was on its way.
The crowd surged into the hall like a tidal wave, but as soon as they crossed the threshold, they were met with a stench so strong it felt as if they had swallowed a hundred pounds of filth.
But then came the sounds of vomiting, and the first few younger students were already pale as paper, clutching their chests and collapsing to the ground.
Those behind, unaware of the danger, surged forward, while those in front, unable to withstand the pressure, desperately struggled backward, instantly churning into a heap, their vomiting deafening.
Upon seeing this, Helena simply patted her delicate hand twice, and the pile of foul-smelling objects on the table instantly turned into wisps of smoke and dissipated.
She nodded slightly to Harry. "Go have dinner with your friends, Harry."
Having said that, he slipped through the wall and disappeared without a trace.
Just then, a woman with ochre hair rushed out from the crowd.
She drew her wand, her slender fingers swiftly flicking, and cast a cleansing spell. A beam of pure light swept through the hall, dispelling all the lingering gloom.
The woman strode up to Harry, embraced him, and her voice was like a nightingale's song.
"Long time no see, Harry."
Harry hugged her back, but secretly took the notebook from his pocket and slipped it into her sleeve.
Feeling the pressure of something hard, Hermione lifted her jade mask from his shoulder and asked curiously, "What is it?"
'
Harry whispered, "These are notes on deciphering the runes on the Invisibility Cloak. There are many key points, which I will explain in detail later."
Before he finished speaking, Ron rushed forward first, followed closely by Seamus, Neville, and seven or eight other heroes, surrounding Harry.
It was lunchtime, and the empty plates on the table were instantly transformed into a variety of delicacies, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. The heroes chopped large chunks of meat and poured large bowls of wine. The hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and boisterous laughter that shook the roof tiles.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Harry began to recount the destruction of Azkaban and the deaths of over a hundred prisoners.
The students heard it clearly, and each of them was struck dumb, speechless.
Even Colin, who usually admired Harry the most, was stunned for a moment before hesitatingly asking, "Harry, are you telling the truth? Why haven't I seen any related news?"
Harry took another sip of his drink and sneered, "Fudge is such a tight-lipped man; he wouldn't let a word of such a catastrophe leak out."
"You have already been blessed with great fortune and good luck in keeping this a secret for so long. In three to five days, you will have to give an explanation to all the wizards in the world, and you will all see the truth."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement and drank heartily. The feast lasted until afternoon classes were approaching, when everyone's bellies were round like gourds.
Fred and George, however, only exchanged a few words during the meal before quietly leaving their seats and returning to their quarters. A short while later, they brought out the golden egg they had won in the Triwizard Tournament.
"Make way! Clear the way for the golden egg!"
"Make way! This is for the Potter Warriors!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding students retreated three feet away like a tidal wave.
Fred, holding the golden egg, strode forward and, without a word, shoved it into Harry's arms, saying impatiently, "Harry, remember the golden egg you won? The secret to the second competition is hidden inside."
George gripped Harry's shoulders firmly and said in a deep voice, "I've already heard that the other three heroes have cracked the secret of the golden egg."
"Harry, now we only need you."
Harry held the golden egg in his palm, examining it closely, and teased, "Haven't you two brothers opened this golden shell to take a look while I've been away from the village?"
Upon hearing this, Fred and George both glanced at Ron, feeling a dull ache in their old hip wounds, and shrank back.
"Of course not." George pouted and complained, "Our famous Mr. Six-Times-Daredevil is going to fight his own brother to the death."
Ron crossed his arms, rolled his eyes, and said, "What if there's something disposable inside the golden egg? Of course, we'll have to wait until Harry's here before we open it!"
Harry laughed heartily upon hearing this, hefting the golden egg in his palm. "In that case," he said, "I'll join my brothers in exploring the secrets hidden within this golden shell!"
After saying that, under everyone's watchful eyes, he gripped the groove in the golden egg with his thumb, exerted force with his wrist, and with a "click," the eggshell opened.
Although the interior was empty, a piercing shriek suddenly erupted, as if thousands of wronged souls were wailing in unison at the Bridge of Helplessness. The sound was like steel needles piercing the ears, penetrating straight to the brain, making one's teeth ache and bones tremble.
The students covered their ears upon hearing the piercing sound. Harry, who was closest to the student, felt his entire body being tormented by the noise.
He jumped up abruptly, shouting angrily, "You son of a bitch! What are you yelling about?!"
A flash of cold light appeared, and the dagger at his waist was already drawn. With a snap, the golden egg, along with the three-foot-long sandalwood table, was cleaved in two by the single stroke.
The piercing shriek stopped abruptly, and the huge auditorium was instantly filled with a cacophony of voices.
The students in the room were all stunned and speechless.
Fred shuddered, his eyes darting around nervously, and whispered to George, "George, have we—done something wrong again?"
>