[HP] Similar but different

Harry admitted that Ron's question was cause for concern, as he had been for a while.In this regard, Hermione has analyzed clearly enough: Although she and Ron are Harry's friends, they are not the same as Sirius.Leaving aside the fact that Sirius knew James and Lily, just from the fact that he confessed to the murder that he didn't do in order to get revenge, he knew that this would definitely be an insurmountable emotional gap.

It was because Harry was too aware of this and could think of no good way to do it that Harry brought it up to Voldemort.Still, he wasn't really counting on the Dark Lord to help him out: in fact, he'd made enough progress on New Year's Eve to describe it as overjoyed.

In the end, no matter how it is handled, the most urgent thing at present is still the upcoming trial.A week later, Hermione hurried into the library and brought Harry a message from Dumbledore——

"Two more days!" she said hurriedly, her chest heaving slightly from running, "Professor Dumbledore will take you to the Ministry of Magic in the morning of the day after tomorrow!"

Harry, who was buried in the pile of homework, suddenly stood up. "Great!" He said excitedly, and after meeting Mrs. Pince's hawk-like eyes in an instant, he realized where they were slowly. "Is there anything else?" He quickly lowered his voice.

Hermione shook her head, then nodded again. "Professor Dumbledore's face is not bad," she pulled Harry to sit down, "I think things are going well."

Harry would most like to hear more than this sentence. "I know the words by heart," he assured immediately, "and I've been tried before."

"Don't make it sound like you're very experienced." Hermione couldn't help pointing out, and then couldn't hold back her smile, "Anyway, in three days, you want to write to Sirius or simply go to see He doesn't need to be sneaky anymore." This was a good thing, but the word "sneaky" seemed to remind her of something else, and her expression was a little dark.

Harry noticed keenly.He was silent for a long time before he asked, "Ron is still angry with me?" Since his showdown, the number and time of their meetings had decreased sharply, and he knew that Ron was avoiding him.

"No," Hermione said immediately, "he just doesn't know how to get along with you for a while..." She stretched out her little finger and gestured a little harshly, "You know, his feelings are only about a teaspoon."

Harry had heard similar conclusions before and forced a smile.He didn't want to add pressure to Hermione - he knew how difficult it was to find a balance between two friends - so he asked again, "Have you finished the toxicity analysis paper on the green-spotted poison umbrella?"

Hermione nodded, dragged her big schoolbag, and took out the contents one by one.There was a folded copy of the "Daily Prophet" between the textbooks. Harry picked it up and looked at the headlines: "The news of the trial has not been made public yet?"

"Come on," Hermione was still rummaging through her schoolbag, her tone quite disapproving, "You think Scrimgeour wants everyone to know how the Ministry of Magic made such a big mistake? Of course, the fewer people present, the better. "

Harry suddenly realized. "That's right. Even if the results have to be announced, he also hopes to minimize the possible consequences so as not to affect the prestige of the Ministry of Magic." As he spoke, he turned a few more pages, accidentally catching a piece of tofu in the corner of the news page article, that a headless body had washed up on the coast near Plymouth.

"Found it," said Hermione just then, handing over a roll of parchment, "here you are."

It made Harry forget about the newspaper. "I'll pay you back for a couple."

that night.

While most people are still kept in the dark, Lucius Malfoy is clearly not one of them.In fact, right now he was sitting on pins and needles at the long table in his living room.

There's a small Death Eater meeting going on.The main seat was empty, and the black-robed wizard who was supposed to be there was standing in front of the fireplace with his hands behind his back.Because there are no other light sources in the hall, he is only half a human silhouette in the eyes of others. "I called you here today," he said softly, "because I heard an interesting gossip."

The funny that the Dark Lord said was definitely not funny in the literal sense, and it must have something to do with him... Thinking of Christmas, the man with long blond hair almost wanted to tremble.But he took a look at the Death Eaters ahead of him - Crouch Jr., Bellatrix, Mulciber - and none of them reacted with surprise, which somehow calmed him down.

"I know that Wormtail has fallen into the hands of the Ministry of Magic," Voldemort continued, his voice still very soft, "but it seems that you think that I did it deliberately from beginning to end?"

The Death Eaters present shuddered in unison.Because whether it was true or not, the Dark Lord's tone was dangerous. "Of course not, my lord!"

Voldemort snorted softly. "It's better not to." He turned around and sat back, his face sunk in the darkness of the high-back chair, "but my friends, I'm going to explain the ins and outs of it to you. You know—" he slightly Long voice, "Wormtail can betray his former friends, of course he can also betray the Dark Mark, and betray us who are united under the Dark Mark."

These words made people confused, and the Death Eaters looked at each other in blank dismay.Is their master implying that Wormtail will betray sooner or later, and that he deserves to be sent to Azkaban?But really, what if Wormtail confessed them to the Ministry?

There were murmurs of panic around the table, but Voldemort didn't seem to hear them at all. "Did you say so, Lucius?"

The people who were named became more and more nervous.He was not sure if this meant "you can betray the first time, of course you can betray the second time", and when he felt guilty, a cold sweat broke out from the tip of his nose.

"Master." Someone finally spoke, and it was Wilkes.He couldn't take it anymore seeing Malfoy's silence. "Traitors really aren't people we should waste our time on," he said, with no concern for Wormtail's life or death, "but if he bites us back..."

Many people's thoughts were spoken, there was a moment of silence at the long table, and everyone looked at the top nervously.

Voldemort seemed pleased with the effect.He knocked on the table casually, and only said lightly when the fear in the air reached its peak: "He bit us back? Why do you think so, Wilkes?"

...Didn't you mention betrayal first?

Everyone became more and more confused, not knowing what kind of medicine was sold in the Dark Lord's gourd.Then look at the two people who are supposed to be the most dangerous - Crouch Jr. and Mulciber - both have expressionless faces, and they are completely confused.

Wilkes thought like everyone else, but the Dark Lord's words had to be answered. "...I suppose," he said, much more hesitantly than before, "that Wormtail dragged someone else's back in order to extenuate the guilt. It's a... reasonable guess."

"Yes." Voldemort nodded casually. "Is there any more?"

The cold sweat on Wilkes' back became more fierce, and any fool knew that he couldn't say it because he was afraid of being exposed. "...We have people in the Ministry of Magic," he finally found a reason to come to the table in time, "Our plan must not be stranded because of Wormtail."

Voldemort finally looked at him, and this movement brought the other Death Eaters to look too. "That's right, Wilkes." He nodded slightly, "Then think again, if Wormtail exposes our existence, will others believe him?"

To be honest, Wilkes couldn't figure out how to get rid of this witness.It's an empty claim, but with the Death Eater's reputation, people would probably rather believe it. "...to see what the minister thinks?" He murmured, already realizing that this would definitely be the wrong answer.

"Scrimgeour?" Voldemort snorted coldly. "For ordinary people, he is a little stronger than Fudge. But for us, his position is too clear, and it is easier to be used."

Wilkes's mind was spinning wildly.No matter what Voldemort said, he couldn't hide the fact that Wormtail was an outcast, and he didn't want to be the next outcast, not at all—"Then start early and modify his memory!" he almost shouted, "Just cast a spell People are smart enough, even if the spell is broken, he will not be able to testify against anyone!"

The most suitable person to do this is undoubtedly Mulciber who works at the amnestic command.He gave Wilkes a sullen look, but Voldemort was interested. "It's a way," he seemed regretful, "but it's too late to act now."

The best time to strike was when Wormtail was first caught, and Wilkes knew it; and because he knew it, he was at a loss for words.He looked around begging for help, but everyone avoided his gaze, not even the showy Bellatrix.

But Voldemort seemed to have no intention of continuing to embarrass Wilkes. "I think you probably think that Barty and Mulciber are the most dangerous, because they work in the Ministry." He leaned back in his high chair, "but I want to tell you that they are actually the safest."

As soon as this remark came out, the four people were in an uproar.Barty Crouch Jr. might have gotten away with it, since he was officially dead long ago; but Mulciber didn't...

Suddenly, they were all excited.Already dead?

Voldemort seemed to know exactly what the Death Eaters were thinking. "I just said that Wormtail is destined to betray us." The corners of his lips pressed down, and soon he smiled softly, as if it was very funny, "But betrayal will never bring him the absolution he imagined, It's more of the opposite."

The threat was self-evident, and most of the Death Eaters shivered in unison, and then tried their best to hide themselves after reacting.

"That's all for today," Voldemort said abruptly, ending the meeting.

In the next second, the black-robed wizard disappeared out of thin air.Mulciber seemed to have something to report, and hurriedly followed the Apparition.Many of the remaining people breathed out unconsciously and looked at each other in blank dismay.

"We should go too, Bella." Little Crouch stood up and looked at the two empty seats.

But Bellatrix still sat there. "Why him?" she asked directly.

Little Crouch raised his eyebrows, but there was no doubt in his tone. "Wormtail?"

Bellatrix knew the other Death Eaters were watching them, but she couldn't care less. "Yes, why him?" She asked again, "As I said earlier, a betrayer is indeed unforgivable."

Little Crouch looked around, and many people retreated under his emotionless gaze. "You seem to be referring specifically, Bella."

Anyone can imagine who the direct beneficiary of Wormtail's capture was, not to mention that Wormtail was captured by Harry.Bellatrix bit her lip, she didn't want to mention her cousin in front of everyone. "You're right," she got up too, "we should go."

Little Crouch squinted imperceptibly.After the two of them Apparated, the remaining Death Eaters were puzzled and walked slowly outside.Only Lucius Malfoy was still sitting there upright, his face changing unpredictablely, and finally fixed on deathly white.

The author has something to say:

I fell asleep halfway through writing last night, so I’ll make it up~