Chapter 144
Crouch was eager to discover the true strength of the boy Lucius claimed was powerful enough to threaten the Dark Lord's safety.
"Very well," Crouch said sharply. "What is this boy's name?"
Lucius scratched his forehead before answering. "His name is Albert Black. Of the famous Black family."
At that, Crouch's demeanor grew even more serious.
The Black family old, powerful, and notorious. If the boy truly came from such a bloodline, the matter could not be taken lightly.
Crouch's interest deepened. He needed to know more about this child. His own schemes for the Dark Lord's return could not risk failure.
"How do you know he's powerful?" Crouch demanded. "Did you see him duel at school?"
Lucius met his eyes. "No. It wasn't that. A friend of mine in the Ministry Michael Slowfeed was part of the squad sent to capture Sirius Black. One day, I slipped into his memories without his knowing. What I saw shocked me. I saw the boy from the Black family fight Michael in the forest and defeat him with cunning and trickery. I could not see the full duel, for I could not read all of the memories, but what I glimpsed astounded me. At his age, I was still wetting my trousers!"
Crouch fell silent, sinking into deep thought.
The situation was becoming increasingly complicated. If this boy continued to grow stronger, the Dark Lord's return to glory might become utterly impossible.
Lucius watched him carefully before asking, "Now that you're free, what will you do?"
Crouch answered swiftly. "I'll disappear for a while. The Ministry will soon discover I've escaped Azkaban. They'll be hunting me already."
Lucius rose from the chair, stepping closer. "Very well. I must leave now I have important matters to attend to. Farewell."
He departed the same way he had in Azkaban, vanishing in a swirl of black smoke.
But Crouch did not leave at once. He wandered down the straight path, his mind racing.
"Hmm… this is troublesome," he muttered. "A boy of only fourteen able to defeat a skilled Ministry wizard? I'm truly eager to meet him… to see him with my own eyes."
Though he recognized the danger Albert posed to his plans, excitement stirred in him nonetheless.
---
Days later…
Inside Hogwarts…
It was the students' break between classes.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together outside a classroom, speaking in hushed voices. The spot they had chosen was near one of the courtyards a pleasant place for rest and play, filled with trees, blossoms, and fruit, giving the grounds a beautiful, refreshing air.
Ron, looking incredulous, said, "Do you two really believe this? Can it even be possible?"
Hermione nodded firmly. "It's what Albert told us. And his reasoning was sound he even showed us undeniable proof."
Ron stared at her, stunned. He could hardly process the truth: that his beloved pet rat, the creature he had cherished for years, was in reality a dangerous criminal.
His body trembled as the thought gnawed at him Scabbers was no rat, but a man. A murderer.
Hermione warned him to stay calm whenever he was near the animal.
Especially since Peter Pettigrew now lay asleep in his cage in the Gryffindor common room.
Ron's voice shook. "Albert told us to keep quiet about the plan, didn't he?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. He said not to let Peter suspect that we know the truth. Once he's captured and sent to Azkaban, it will all be over."
---
A short distance away…
Albert himself was near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, practicing a spell.
For the first time since his training with his father in Azkaban, he was attempting a spell without his wand.
This time, he worked on Apparition the art of instantaneous travel. It required intense mental focus, discipline of thought, and a will strong enough to withstand the pressure of bending space.
Albert had begun practicing this spell only a week ago, and not merely Apparition but silent Apparition, which could be performed without incantation. Such mastery could save a wizard's life in the heat of battle.
But the spell had its weakness: it drained enormous amounts of magic.
Ordinary wizards could scarcely sustain it. Only those with vast reserves of power or immense talent, like Dumbledore, Sirius Black, or Albert Black himself could attempt it without collapsing. Even Hermione Granger, in years to come, would prove naturally gifted at it.
After just a week, Albert could already Apparate between two points thirty meters apart in less than two seconds.
Distance and time were the true challenges. A novice might struggle endlessly to Apparate across fifty meters, exhausting their strength with every attempt.
But masters like Dumbledore with near-limitless magical power, like Albert could cross a full kilometer in the blink of an eye, without effort.
The greater the wizard's power, and the more accustomed they became to the technique, the farther and faster they could travel, with less strain.
Albert's training had only just begun yet already, he was advancing at a pace most could scarcely believe.
To be continued…