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Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: The Gaunt Shack

Jane Yu felt as if a hook had snagged her navel, lifting her whole body into the air.

She couldn't comprehend why, in front of a group of Aurors, Fudge, and Dumbledore—

She and Harry could still be transported away?

The world truly is a grand puppet show, especially the Ministry of Magic.

Fortunately, in the second she was transported away, Harry clung tightly to her arm—

In the rush, she recalled the spell to change locations:

"Apparition!"

As her incantation echoed, three forces of magic began to clash: one from Barty's Portkey, one from Hogwarts' Apparition ban, and one from herself.

Unfortunately, it was her first time using this spell herself, without a clear destination, and carrying the large human accessory Harry.

This led to her spell failing.

Jane Yu felt her body being torn by twisting magic, the world spinning wildly.

And in the last 0.1 seconds, Harry let go of her hand, and after a sharp pain—

She lay bleeding in a thicket.

Her robe embroidered with magical text was torn, the emerald on the defense necklace burned black, only the headband and bracelet survived, still shimmering with the silver light of magical text.

But worse, Harry, who she attempted to Apparate with, was nowhere to be found.

Now it's a disaster!

Did she accidentally split the protagonist, causing severe injury or death?

Jane Yu struggled to prop herself up, realizing her body had been torn open by the clashing magic.

"Harry? Harry?"

She softly called Harry's name, but the surroundings remained silent, only the rustling of branches colliding.

"Harry Potter, come!"

"Harry Potter's money pouch/Galleons, come!"

"Harry Potter's robe/shoes/socks/pants, come!"

Aside from her own voice echoing through the thicket, nothing appeared before her.

It seemed Harry landed elsewhere.

He should have been taken by the Portkey, while she deviated from the location.

Jane Yu summoned her Patronus, the silvery Obscurial shot out like an arrow, informing Dumbledore.

She clutched her wound, stumbling through the dense thicket, continuing to search for Harry.

She didn't know how long she walked, until the thicket ended, she saw no trace of Harry, only a half-hidden house.

But rather than a house, it was more like ruins, its tiles almost completely fallen off, stubborn branches growing into the walls, prying the gaps between bricks open, the broken windows stained.

She cautiously approached, finding a dead snake nailed to the door in an 'S' shape, magically protected, but with only faint magic and dried flesh and bones remaining.

The shack was warded against Muggles.

"Is anyone there?" she called.

But there was no response from inside.

It seemed to be an abandoned wizard dwelling.

Though breaking into a house was improper, without potions, her untreated wounds might get infected.

Hopefully, the house contained bandages or potions.

Jane Yu cast several protective spells on herself and successfully opened the door, only to be disappointed by the lack of medical supplies amid the broken furniture and poor decor.

She cautiously sat on a dusty chair, beginning to cast healing spells on her wounds.

"Episkey..."

The bleeding gradually stopped, but she felt increasingly dizzy.

No... rather than dizziness, it was more like seeing strange visions.

In a daze, Dumbledore stood at Hogwarts' gate, smiling at her, holding her expulsion notice—

He didn't tear it up, instead handing it to her, saying:

"Take it, child, congratulations on successfully leaving Hogwarts, you can go abroad for a while."

"As for your shop in Britain, I'll help manage it and send you Galleons."

"The house you mentioned in the Muggle world, I'll have someone clean it."

Jane Yu was shocked!

Was her guardian mad?

'Dumbledore' stepped back, opened the castle gate, continuing:

"Come, child, you're free!"

Feeling herself at Hogwarts, Jane Yu realized something was wrong.

Would Dumbledore really say "Congratulations on successfully leaving school" with a smile?

This castle gate must hide a terrible curse!

A curse that confuses people with their desires!

She closed her eyes tightly, stood up and walked in the opposite direction, only to be struck by the table corner on her freshly healed wound!

The pain woke her somewhat.

But she found herself still at Hogwarts, and Dumbledore at the castle gate turned into a 16-year-old Tom Riddle!

Only this appearance was more bizarre than in the diary, with burn marks on his face, his features less refined.

"Come, wear my ring—"

Jane Yu's alarm bells rang!

This Voldemort was truly perverse!

Was wearing a ring such an ambiguous act suitable for their grandparent-grandchild relationship?

How did he talk to his ancestors?

Wasn't he embarrassed?

She was fully awake now, realizing she was in a Voldemort-created illusion from an unknown Horcrux.

The anger at nearly being manipulated made her laugh coldly:

"You want me to wear the ring, can you call me godfather?"

This seemed to anger the other, Voldemort's soul fragment's face and body twisted like melting wax:

"I will fulfill all your wishes—as long as you help me—just need to consume a bit of soul—"

Jane Yu couldn't help but look at him differently!

He was far ahead of his peers, even wanting her to help consume some soul!

Such forward-thinking, even ahead of other Horcruxes, wanting to destroy himself to repent for splitting his soul!

So Voldemort's soul had this side too!

It really broadened her horizons!

But even with his earnest plea, she still wanted to hear him say:

"You keep saying you'll fulfill all my wishes, but you won't even call me godfather!"

The soul fragment trembled, its face and body melting into a blur like wax, finally seeming to submit:

"God...father..."

Jane Yu was thoroughly satisfied.

She felt physically and mentally refreshed, even the wound pain vanished.

Since he sincerely called her, she couldn't break her promise:

"Good, since you've fulfilled my wish, I can't help but consume a bit of soul!"

She drew her wand, channeling all her strength, aiming at Tom Riddle:

"Avada Kedavra!"

The Hogwarts scene vanished, Jane Yu returned to the shack.

She looked around, finding a ring where her wand aimed.

It was oozing a strange, black viscous substance, like tar, emitting a pungent odor.

Then the ring's golden band began trembling violently, painful and weak screams emanating from it.

The band cracked, turning into golden fragments, leaving only a black stone on the ground.

Jane Yu picked up the stone, examining it.

It looked valuable and impressive.

The vessels Voldemort used for his Horcruxes, whether diadems, lockets, or gem-studded gold rings—

This man's collection was quite noble!

She pocketed the stone and left the shack.

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