"Nurmengard?"
Dudley and Cole spoke simultaneously, looking at Borgin with some surprise.
This dark magical items shop owner was really well-informed.
"Yes, though I don't know the specific details of what happened there. In any case, Professor Dumbledore seems to be there too and can't get away for now. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to your request," Borgin said to Dudley with a smile.
Dudley frowned.
He knew the name Nurmengard—it was a prison in Austria, as notorious as Azkaban in the North Sea, one of the two most terrifying prisons in the wizarding world.
"Is there a famous criminal imprisoned in Nurmengard?" Dudley asked.
"There is one person imprisoned there—the previous Dark Lord, the most terrifying dark wizard before Voldemort, Gellert Grindelwald!" Cole said with a serious expression.
Borgin remained noncommittal and said nothing.
Dudley frowned. No wonder Dumbledore hadn't been at school this semester—it was because of the previous Dark Lord.
However, since Grindelwald was already imprisoned, why would there still be problems, even requiring Professor Dumbledore to stay there constantly?
Had he escaped?
Dudley shook his head. He didn't continue thinking about it.
This matter was too far removed from him, and he didn't want to get involved with the previous Dark Lord.
He hadn't even dealt with this generation's Dark Lord yet.
And the matter with Voldemort was only because it involved Harry; otherwise, Dudley wouldn't be so concerned.
As they talked, they'd already reached the exit.
"I'll go up first. Wait here, then come up," Dudley said, then walked out first.
"Imprison!"
Dudley's extraordinary ability was released, temporarily freezing the Whomping Willow in place.
Cole and Borgin in the secret passage heard Dudley whisper something they couldn't understand. After waiting briefly, they walked out together.
"The Whomping Willow—a rare magical plant," Borgin said, eyeing the Whomping Willow with interest.
There were valuable parts on this tree. If he could harvest some to sell, it would fetch a good price.
However, he obviously lacked the nerve to try.
"So this secret passage leads to the Whomping Willow," Cole said in surprise.
"Wait, why isn't the Whomping Willow attacking us?" Cole looked around nervously as he quickly walked toward the outer area.
"It can't move temporarily. Let's go."
Dudley led the way toward Hogwarts. After moving away from the Whomping Willow, he raised his hand to release it.
Swish Swish...
The Whomping Willow angrily waved its branches, pounding the air to vent its fury.
"Are we going straight to the school like this?" Looking at the castle close at hand, Cole asked.
"Just like this," Dudley said affirmatively.
Then he pulled out a roll of ancient parchment from his pocket.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"
The wand touched the parchment, and the originally blank parchment immediately revealed densely packed lines, forming a massive map.
You could clearly see some moving dots on the map, each labeled with a name.
"Let's go. No one will discover us," Dudley said.
"What an amazing map," Borgin said, looking at the Marauder's Map in Dudley's hands.
Cole also cast a surprised look. If he'd had this map when he was at school, his student life would probably have been several times more exciting.
Dudley didn't hide anything from the two.
Both had already been bound by his secret-keeping ability and couldn't reveal any information about him to the outside world, so he wasn't afraid of them knowing about the Marauder's Map's existence.
Looking at the map, Hogwarts had already fallen into silence.
The vast majority of students were in common rooms and dormitories. Because of the previous attacks, Professor McGonagall had implemented a curfew.
The few still walking in the corridors were basically prefects and professors.
Dudley noticed that Professor McGonagall was in her office, while Professor Snape, Professor Lockhart, Professor Flitwick, and others were patrolling the corridors.
"Follow me."
After confirming no one was on their route, Dudley led the two into the castle and headed toward the second floor.
Dudley's gaze barely left the Marauder's Map, ensuring no one would see them.
"I never thought I'd return to Hogwarts in this way," Cole said with some emotion.
"I forgot to ask—which house were you in before?" Dudley asked.
"Ravenclaw," Cole said.
After arriving on the second floor, Dudley checked the map again. Seeing that the nearest Professor Flitwick was still in another second-floor corridor, he immediately led Borgin and Cole boldly into the girls bathroom on the second floor.
"This... the Chamber entrance is in the girls bathroom?" Cole said in shock.
Borgin also showed a surprised expression.
Ironically, the entrance to the legendary Slytherin heir's Chamber of Secrets was hidden in a girls' bathroom.
Salazar Slytherin really knew how to pick a location.
Wuu Wuu Wuu Wuu...
Crying sounds came. Moaning Myrtle was lying on a toilet, alone in her sorrow. Suddenly hearing voices outside, she floated out from the toilet.
"Who are you? Why did you enter the girls bathroom!" Seeing two unfamiliar adult men, Myrtle immediately screamed.
"Damn it!" Dudley's expression darkened. He'd forgotten there was a troublesome ghost in this bathroom.
"Shut up, Myrtle!" Dudley said coldly, his authoritative words making Myrtle immediately close her mouth.
"You... what do you want to do?" Myrtle looked at Dudley in terror, not daring to speak loudly anymore.
"What should we do?" Borgin's expression was grave as he'd already drawn his wand.
Cole also gripped his wand tightly, pointing it at Myrtle.
This suddenly appearing ghost had disrupted their plans.
Swoosh!
Myrtle seemed to sense danger and suddenly rushed toward the drain, trying to escape this place.
"Imprison!"
Dudley raised his hand and pushed, whispering in Hermes.
Hum!
Myrtle felt an extremely viscous, transparent liquid flowing around her, forming a massive amber that firmly imprisoned her in place.
"Silencio!"
Borgin quickly followed up with a spell, preventing Myrtle from making any more sounds.
"You can stay here for a while," Dudley sent Myrtle into a toilet stall.
Both Borgin's and Cole's gazes turned to Dudley. The amazing ability Dudley had just displayed, which could even control ghosts, truly surprised them.
"Finally solved this trouble."
Dudley breathed a sigh of relief and took out the Marauder's Map to see where Harry's trio had gotten to.
They had the Invisibility Cloak and didn't need Dudley to pick them up.
"What's going on..." Looking at the situation on the Marauder's Map, Dudley's expression immediately changed.
He could see Harry, Ron, and Hermione's three dots clustered together, and very close to them were two more dots—one was Professor Snape's, and the other was Professor Lockhart's.