"That brat slipped away—slick as an eel," Moody muttered irritably as he returned to Hogwarts. Heading straight into Dumbledore's office, he couldn't help but complain to Wes, who had already been waiting.
Wes didn't laugh at him. Moody was already advanced in age, and yet he still fought on the frontlines against Death Eaters. That alone was remarkable enough.
But Moody himself cared deeply about this failure. Even when Dumbledore entered the office, he was still sulking.
One glance at Moody's gloomy face was enough for Dumbledore to know the outcome. Knowing Moody's temperament, he didn't try to console him. Instead, he brought up another matter:
"Karkaroff's body has been found. He's been dead for some time. It seems Voldemort's forces got to him early. He was likely the one who put Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire."
"Killed off the moment he outlived his usefulness. Classic Voldemort," Wes said with disdain for such bridge-burning treachery.
"Barty Crouch has also been killed—by his own son." Dumbledore paused, as if weighing the words. "A mother who died in Azkaban in her son's place, and a son who murdered his father with his own hand…"
Even for someone as well-traveled as Dumbledore, he found it difficult to comment on such a family. It was nothing short of tragic.
"The Ministry is going to have their hands full," Wes said with a note of schadenfreude.
The Ministry was still baffled by the events of the Triwizard Tournament. The whole competition had been meant to restore face and showcase wizarding unity and peace. They had taken every precaution to ensure the safety of the champions—yet the victims turned out not to be the champions, but a high-ranking Ministry official and the headmaster of Durmstrang, Karkaroff.
Karkaroff's death was especially thorny, as it raised international disputes. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, was surely under immense pressure, scrambling to provide a reasonable explanation that could calm both public panic and outrage.
"The most important matter now is dealing with the Horcruxes," Dumbledore said, his expression darkening. "I hadn't imagined Tom would be so deranged as to create so many."
"Hmph!" Moody snorted. "With a man like him, nothing is too vile."
"The Gaunt family ring, Ravenclaw's diadem, Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket…" Dumbledore sighed. "Each a precious artifact—choosing them as Horcruxes perfectly fits Tom's arrogance."
The next task was clear: destroy those Horcruxes and shatter any chance Voldemort had of resurrection.
"I'll leave the Horcruxes to you two. For now, I'll see this rat into Azkaban." Moody lifted the cage holding Peter Pettigrew and left the office, leaving only Wes and Dumbledore behind.
Dumbledore smiled at Wes. "I hadn't expected Tom to be dealt with so quickly. With your help, it was far easier."
"This was our deal, wasn't it?" Wes replied lightly.
"You're too modest, Wes," Dumbledore said, adjusting his glasses. "Without you, I could never have kept Tom down. If he had escaped, the wizarding world would already be in chaos."
He rummaged through a drawer in his desk, then pulled out a thick notebook, handing it to Wes.
"What's this?" Wes asked.
"My notes—insights I've gathered on the magical path."
Wes flipped through it. It contained not only white magic, but also many forms of dark magic—some even Wes had never encountered.
Dumbledore's gaze grew distant, lost in memory.
"Years ago, I traveled the world with a friend. Under his influence, I indulged in the study of dark magic for a time, and did many things I now feel ashamed of."
Wes knew exactly who he meant: Gellert Grindelwald, Dumbledore's youthful lover. Few in the wizarding world knew that secret past—but Wes had seen the films.
"Your talent is extraordinary," Dumbledore said gravely, fixing his eyes on Wes. "If you should ever…"
Wes understood what troubled Dumbledore and interrupted him. "I've no interest in ruling the magical world or changing it. I walk alone, with no followers."
Dumbledore nodded. He knew Wes harbored no ambition for power.
"I know your heart lies in magic. Still, I hope you'll always remain on the right path, and never be drawn into the darkness."
Wes only smiled and nodded.
But what Dumbledore didn't know was that, for Wes, this world was only the beginning—a stepping stone to understanding magic.
Across the infinite worlds of the multiverse, countless realms and magics awaited his exploration.
Receiving Dumbledore's magical notes was truly an unexpected boon.
During his years teaching at Hogwarts, Wes had never ceased his magical research and had already acquired precious knowledge of otherworldly magic.
His mind was racing now. With the resources and knowledge he had accumulated—such as the Philosopher's Stone, which could brew the Elixir of Life and turn base metals into gold—he was already far ahead.
Even in the lofty field of alchemy, Wes had become proficient, no longer needing to strike bargains in other worlds for compensation.
From Blackbeard's memories, he had extracted voodoo sorcery, adding even greater diversity to his arsenal of magical techniques.
Now, aside from the three volumes he had yet to master—The Book of the Sun, The Book of the Dead, and Dumbledore's Magical Notes—his magical ceiling had already undergone a qualitative leap. He was closer than ever to his original dream.
Once he fully digested those remaining tomes, it would be time for him to ascend to the next level.
After bidding farewell to Dumbledore, Wes returned to his office. True to his nature as a man of action, he immediately began drafting a new study plan.
---
Meanwhile, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, rubbed his temples as he looked at Moody and the now fully transformed Peter Pettigrew brought in under his custody.
"Moody, you're no longer an Auror. Arresting criminals is not your duty," Fudge said, trying to smooth things over with his official tone.
"If it weren't for your people letting him escape, you wouldn't see me here meddling!"
Moody shot back bluntly, showing no restraint even before the Minister of Magic.
Fudge, knowing Moody's temper, decided against arguing with the "Mad-Eye."
Though retired from the Aurors, Moody remained a battle-hardened wizard with unmatched experience and a formidable reputation in the magical world. Quarreling with him now would only make the situation worse.
°°°
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