Chapter 129: The Scapegoat: Transaction And Trust
His thoughts broke free from the memories, and Dumbledore’s azure eyes locked onto Vaughn, his expression calm. “Why the sudden proposal for a trade?”
Vaughn spread his hands. “As I said before, we are partners. I felt it was time for you to know some information, it’s that simple.”
Old Dumbledore remained noncommittal. “So, what do you wish to trade for?”
“I want fire dragons!”
“……Fire dragons?” Dumbledore was astonished. He had envisioned many possibilities, such as Vaughn using this opportunity to force him and Nick to teach him alchemy.
He had never once considered that it would be this… an unexpected request.
“Yes, 10 types of fire dragons.” Vaughn scratched his head, looking distressed. “I need them for experiments, but as you know, fire dragon habitats are now closely monitored by the various Ministries of Magic. Even when some occasionally surface, it’s hard to gather 10 types.”
“I’ve really run out of options, so I can only come to you. What do you say?”
Dumbledore opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.
After a pause, he sighed, “This trade request puts me in a difficult position…”
Hearing this, a sarcastic smile touched Vaughn’s lips. “Stop pretending. It might be difficult for others, but you are the renowned Albus Dumbledore, one of the developers of the twelve uses of dragon blood. If you claim you are developing the thirteenth use, the various Ministries of Magic will surely be happy to provide you with live specimens!”
This was also the reason he finally decided to make a deal with Old Dumbledore.
As a celebrated Grand Alchemist, Dumbledore’s name was the most resonant endorsement.
Dumbledore put on his smile again. “But my dear, that would severely overdraw my credibility. I am over a hundred years old, and all I have left is this old face. You…”
Vaughn interrupted him. “The trade is voluntary, Albus. I just want to save time!”
His voice echoed in the silent Headmaster’s Office.
Dumbledore remained silent for a long moment before speaking. “Resurrecting Tom requires his own willingness. You must also know that he is very cautious; he’d rather wander in Albania for eleven years than seek help from the Death Eaters.”
“Because those people betrayed him,” Vaughn said. “Aside from the Death Eaters imprisoned in Azkaban, who else is still active outside who hasn’t betrayed him? How could he possibly trust them?”
“Then, child, what is your method? Are you planning to release those lunatics from Azkaban? I will not permit it, and neither will the Ministry of Magic!”
The air grew somewhat heavy.
Dumbledore had once considered releasing the true followers of Voldemort from Azkaban, but in the end, he dismissed the idea.
Those people were too dangerous, insane, and inhumane. Each one was a murderer. Releasing them would be irresponsible to the lives of wizards and Muggles.
He gazed at Vaughn. “Or are you intending to use Barty Crouch Jr.? I will not permit that either, nor will Old Barty!”
Old Dumbledore always called himself a smart man, and he certainly lived up to his boasting.
Within moments of hearing Vaughn’s few words, he had pieced together all the possibilities Vaughn could have chosen.
But even the smartest person is helpless against an information gap.
Hearing the old man’s veiled threat, Vaughn was unconcerned. “It’s not Azkaban, nor is it Barty Jr., but another person ‘trusted’ by Tom… Albus, you must have been curious for a long time. Why do I know so many secrets?”
He deliberately emphasized the word “trusted.”
But Dumbledore didn’t grasp the underlying meaning. His eyebrows shot up, his azure eyes flashing with curiosity.
“Do you have another escaped Death Eater in your possession?”
“That’s right!”
Vaughn replied. Concealed by his maxed-out Legilimency, the image of a fat rat appeared in his mind.
Yes, it’s you, dear Pettigrew, the Scapegoat Peter!
Last year, when Vaughn first leaked information to Dumbledore, he had already found his scapegoat.
Who else was more suitable than Peter?
A former core member of the Order of the Phoenix, James Potter’s closest friend, and a Death Eater who surrendered before Voldemort’s demise.
And after Voldemort’s downfall, as an illegal Animagus, he had hidden in the Weasley home for eleven years.
His extensive “employment” experience was the crucial basis for his knowledge of the secrets of both parties. His eleven-year “record” of hiding in the Weasley home could also reasonably explain how Vaughn discovered him.
Vaughn even felt that his own unusual magical performance before starting school could be explained by Peter in the future –
How could a child who hadn’t even started school and whose parents hadn’t taught him delve into magic during his most playful years? Of course, it was because of the wicked Peter!
This detestable traitor, who intended to raise Vaughn Weasley into a Dark Wizard, was foolishly defeated by a child of a few years.
What a perfect script!
Of course, these were all future considerations.
With his maxed-out Legilimency protecting him, Dumbledore couldn’t perceive Vaughn’s inner mischievousness. He looked curious. “So, your understanding of James, Lily, and Severus’s past, and the secret of Tom’s Horcruxes, all came from that Death Eater?”
Vaughn remained expressionless. “Yes.”
“What is his name?”
This question contained a trap. Dumbledore used “He” instead of the gender-neutral “They.”
The old man was trying to trick him.
But Vaughn didn’t mind. “His name is also related to another secret. If you want to know, you’ll have to wait for our next trade.”
Dumbledore feigned displeasure. “Selling one piece of information twice, child. That’s no way to do business.”
However, Vaughn never cared whether he was satisfied. “Then I don’t care. In any case, if you agree to the trade, find me 10 types of fire dragons as I requested – no half-breeds. After you provide the fire dragons, when you need him in the future, I will hand over that Death Eater to you, of course, after you have purchased his true identity.”
“That’s not fair. How do I know you’re not lying to me?”
Dumbledore hadn’t given up, feigning a straightforward, confused appearance.
Unfortunately, Vaughn completely ignored him. “Believe it or not, it’s up to you. You won’t need him until after the Horcrux problem is resolved anyway.”
“……”
Upon mentioning resolving the Horcruxes, Dumbledore finally stopped pretending. He rubbed his temples in distress and asked, with a mix of probing and hope, “Does that Death Eater know how many Horcruxes Tom has?”
If possible, resolving the Horcruxes before Voldemort’s resurrection was clearly the optimal choice.
However, Dumbledore had found no trace of Voldemort making Horcruxes back then, let alone the exact number.
But to his disappointment, Vaughn shook his head. “Voldemort never told anyone about this. As you said, he was very cautious and suspicious. Horcruxes were a matter of his life; why would he tell anyone else?”
That’s true…
Dumbledore sighed inwardly. Despite his disappointment, he felt that the Death Eater in Vaughn’s possession was even more important. To understand even the Horcruxes, that person must have been a confidant of Voldemort not publicly known.
With such a person’s cooperation, it might be possible to allay Voldemort’s suspicion and induce his resurrection!
After a moment of contemplation, Dumbledore finally nodded. “I agree to the trade!”
Vaughn smiled. “Then, I await your good news. Goodnight, Albus.”
Vaughn left, leaving Dumbledore alone, enveloped by the silence of the office.
After sitting in silence for a while, he stood up, summoned the Pensieve, touched his temple with his wand, pulled out a strand of silver, and cast it into the Pensieve.
The memories transformed into thick black smoke, forming past scenes within the Pensieve. He gently lowered his head into it. As the cool water submerged his facial skin, his consciousness entered those scenes.
It was the Wizengamot courtroom. The figures of various criminals from eleven years ago flashed before his eyes, and the secrets they revealed under Veritaserum echoed around him.
But after searching for a long time, Dumbledore did not find any likely candidates.
“Who was that Death Eater?”
As he pondered, a new scene appeared before Dumbledore.
It was a frozen image, taken from Vaughn’s memory extraction from last Halloween. Dumbledore had stored it in his mind.
The green light of the Killing Curse bloomed in the distorted corridor. Vaughn stood at the forefront, and at his feet, Harry clutched his forehead, his expression contorted in pain.
In his ears, he heard Vaughn’s faint words from the memory.
“…Horcruxes originate from tearing the soul. Ten years ago, Voldemort’s Killing Curse was reflected by ancient magic on Harry, causing him to kill himself. Perhaps at that very moment, a fragment of his soul landed on Harry’s soul…”
“Albus, Harry is also a Horcrux, a Horcrux created by chance…”
Seeing this memory again, hearing Vaughn’s words once more, even though he had already grieved, a flicker of pain appeared in Dumbledore’s azure eyes.
From eleven years ago to now, from last year to this year.
He had been trying, hoping to help this unfortunate child escape his ill fate.
Yet, all he received were one piece of bad news after another.
Destiny required Harry Potter and Tom Riddle to be archenemies, an unyielding, irreversible fate.
Many times, he had been disappointed by the unalterable “coincidences” hidden within, until he encountered “coincidences” other than Harry and Tom.
For example, when Vaughn first revealed to him the intelligence that Harry was a Horcrux.
For example, today’s conversation!
Excluding the hidden circumstances he was unaware of, looking solely from a macro perspective, Vaughn’s existence had consistently influenced the destinies of Harry and Tom.
Especially from Dumbledore’s own perspective, every time he fell into a predicament, Vaughn would provide a new clue.
This was a strange occurrence. If, for the moment, one ignored the many hidden details and possibilities and analyzed based on destiny, a question would naturally arise: Why was it Vaughn Weasley, and not someone else, who held the intelligence and that Death Eater?
Because his existence could indeed interfere with destiny!
After deep thought, Dumbledore waved his hand, dissipating the memory from last Halloween and the repeatedly playing trial scenes from eleven years ago, and emerged from the Pensieve.
He would not investigate further!
He chose to believe Vaughn once again.
Not because he considered Vaughn exceptionally trustworthy, but because over many years, in this child alone, he had seen a glimmer of hope for change…
……
In late June, at this time of year, the air at Hogwarts usually felt restless.
On one hand, summer vacation was approaching, and two months of carefree play were something no young wizard could resist.
On the other hand, exams were over, and during the time waiting for the final results, young wizards typically felt anxious and unsettled.
Especially for seventh-years facing graduation. Given the current state of the wizarding world in England, most graduates faced unemployment immediately after graduation.
Therefore, Hogwarts had a tradition called the graduation trip.
That was just a nice way of putting it. The true initial intention was to hope that graduates would go out and see the world, not stay confined to the British Isles, but to be proactive and learn about Muggle society and the wizarding worlds of other countries.
If possible, finding employment in Muggle society or abroad would be even better, and they were encouraged not to return…
In the past, everyone would begin preparing at this time, bracing for the first punch of entering society.
However, this year, a novel phenomenon captured everyone’s attention—
“Harry! Hit it! Beautiful, just like that!”
“My goodness, I never realized Hermione was so cool. Harry, Accio—”
“What kind of magic is that Promotion? Why have I never heard of it? If I could learn it too…”
“That’s highly advanced Transfiguration, you idiot. You don’t even qualify for Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration Club, so stop dreaming!”
Yes, 《Harry Potter and the World in the Painting》 was a hit!
The young wizards’ demand for mental entertainment exceeded everyone’s expectations. Under the strong requests of the “audience,” after the exams, during the few days waiting for results, Fred and George repeatedly showed 《Harry Potter and the World in the Painting》, with 《Ron’s Dragon Lair Adventure》 as a bonus.
Each screening would draw a crowd, and even though many had watched it 3 or 4 times, they were still enthralled.
“Movies,” which were distinctly different from photographs, newspapers, and books, opened a new world for the young wizards. Even young wizards from Muggle families found it novel – it was not yet the era of full-feature special effects blockbusters in ’92.
Compared to the inferior special effects of current Muggle films, 《Harry Potter and the World in the Painting》 was filled with the awe and magic of live-action shooting…
The Painted World, Chessboard Town, the “Queen’s” Promotion, Hermione and the villain Professor Quirrell’s various spells, fire dragons, and time reversal.
These elements made the young wizards spellbound, and they vied to imitate them.
Undoubtedly, the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione also became famous.
Ron exploded in popularity with his sophistry!
He could be found amongst various discussion groups, recounting his feelings about facing a fire dragon.
Especially on the third day, after Fred and George screened the scenes “The Dark Lord Transforms” and “The Fire Dragon Descends,” the power of the fire dragon melting the stone bridge shocked the young wizards and further increased their admiration for Ron’s bravery.
Harry wanted to avoid such scenes, but Hogwarts, while large, had limited areas for him to move around.
He only hid for a day. That night, when Ron appeared and he had to return to his dormitory to rest, he was surrounded by his Gryffindor classmates, constantly being asked for his “filming thoughts” and whether Professor Quirrell was truly a villain.
When the “Dark Lord Transforms” scene began to play, Harry’s popularity soared even higher.
Everyone in the wizarding world knew about Harry Potter and the Dark Lord’s love-hate relationship. When the Dark Lord’s distorted shadow appeared on the screen, and when his hoarse voice uttered the name “Harry Potter,” the entire Dining Hall erupted.
From that day on, the question Harry was asked most frequently was, “Who played the Dark Lord?”
That kind of magic that could distort the environment, that palpable evil, conquered everyone!
However, the trio, having been instructed by Vaughn not to reveal the actual situation for the time being, did not respond. This lack of response only fueled everyone’s curiosity even more.
Among the trio, Hermione was the least disturbed, as she practically lived in the library every day. Madam Pince’s feather duster protected her from a large number of young wizards.
Time arrived at the second to last day before the results were announced, also June 29th.
With the twins releasing the new scene “Time Reversal” yesterday, the movie craze had swept through all of Hogwarts. Even the older students, who had been somewhat reserved, began to get involved.
So today, the twins seized the opportunity to release the final act—”The Wizard Who Returned from the Past and the Fall of the Dark Lord”!
On the giant screen, as the Dark Lord effortlessly defeated Harry, Hermione, and the fire dragon, and everyone’s hearts ached for the upcoming plot,
Hermione, using her intelligence, created a diversion, successfully making the fire dragon turn the Time-Turner and initiate time reversal again.
Then, under everyone’s expectant gaze, a pair of hands passed through the light and shadow of the time reversal, holding the fire dragon Nobeta. As the time reversal ended, the owner of those hands finally appeared and quickly used Apparition to rip off the Dark Lord’s arm, causing the entire Dining Hall to erupt in gasps and cheers.
“Ahhh—”
The usually reserved Ravenclaws let out bursts of screams.
Malfoy, who had been unhappy about Harry stealing the spotlight, led the Slytherins in pounding their tables heavily, creating an impassioned drumbeat.
Hufflepuff and Gryffindor went wild too.
“My brother! Harry and Hermione used time reversal to summon my brother!” Percy yelled, jumping onto the long table.
Ron, who had always been at odds with Vaughn and was even more disdainful of him after his recent ego boost, seemed to have forgotten their animosity at this moment and shouted to Harry, “Well done, Harry! You should have thought of this earlier, should have let Vaughn come out and deal with that bastard!”
“Uh, that strategy was Hermione’s idea, and we initially wanted to find Dumbledore…”
Harry’s defense was drowned out by the clamor.
No one cared about the facts he was stating. They were all mesmerized, watching the extremely fast spell exchange between Vaughn and the Dark Lord on screen, watching “Confringo” roar and blast the Dark Lord away, watching Vaughn invade the Dark Lord’s Apparition!
At the end of the movie, the sound of crackling air came from the speakers. Vaughn, covered in blood, emerged from the air dragging the Dark Lord’s head.
The demon’s head hit the ground.
The entire Dining Hall fell silent for a moment.
Then, it erupted!
“Vaughn! Vaughn! Vaughn!”
That night, the Dining Hall was as lively as a stadium.
The Slytherins banged their tables, shouting Vaughn’s name. Malfoy was so excited it was as if the blood-covered figure on screen was him. He imitated Vaughn’s final move of decapitating the Dark Lord, forcefully choking Goyle, whose pitiful companion rolled his eyes.
The young Ravenclaw girls squeezed their throats out screaming, terrified by the bloody screen, covering their eyes, but peeking through their fingers more than anyone.
The little badgers of Hufflepuff applauded and cheered, their appetites whetted, stuffing food into their mouths while discussing everything in the movie, such as the spells Vaughn used and his application of Apparition. Cedric Diggory was holding forth in the crowd.
“…The first time I met Vaughn last year, I knew he was remarkable… Yes, we are neighbors, both living in St. Catchpol Village. We’re old family friends…”
The liveliest of all were the Gryffindors.
These rascals imitated the scenes from the movie. Seamus waved his wand, shouting made-up spells （Vaughn and Voldemort’s Silent Spells）, and then, to Neville’s fearful gaze, he blew himself up.
Ron bounced around like a spring, making “biubiu” sounds as he pretended to Apparate.
“Harry, you rascal, why didn’t you tell me Vaughn’s defeat of the Dark Lord would be so exciting?”
He complained loudly to Harry while playing.
But Harry himself was stunned. “Didn’t you see? I was unconscious at the time.”
Ron carefully examined the still frame on the screen and apologized, “Sorry, you were a bit inconspicuous, Harry.”
“…I don’t think you needed to say that.”
It wasn’t just the students who were excited. At the professors’ table, several professors who had finished grading their papers and only now had time to dine in the Dining Hall watched with great interest.
“Skilled spellcasting, incredibly proficient,” Professor Flitwick exclaimed, waving his fork and knife. “Vaughn’s talent for spells is excellent, but even more commendable is his diligence. I’d bet he practices spells for at least 4 hours every day, casting silently throughout, concealed, and with deadly precision. I dare say, if he were to step onto a dueling stage, he could easily win the championship!”
Next to him, Professor Kettleburn was already tipsy. This professor, obsessed with dangerous magical creatures, had lost an arm and half a leg during his years of teaching.
But he remained unperturbed. The bloody scenes on the screen were like a stimulant to him.
He took another gulp of wine, hiccuping, “And also cruel. He fully utilized body splitting, tearing off the opponent’s arm the first time to weaken their combat power, and then seizing the opportunity the second time to directly rip off their head. I like it… but I am a bit confused. How did they film it? The scenes of losing an arm and a head look incredibly realistic.”
Professor Flitwick stammered, “Uh, perhaps props? I heard the props used in Muggle filmmaking can be indistinguishable from real ones.”
“Perhaps,” Professor Kettleburn took another drink.
Neither of them noticed the grim expressions of Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape on the other side.
Snape looked at the head that had rolled onto the ground in the frozen scene on the screen. His expression was somber, yet also somewhat dazed.
After the Muggle-born young wizards’ explanation, everyone knew that “movies” were fictional, but he knew that everything in that scene was real!
Snape dazedly raised his glass and took a sip of wine. The alcohol stimulated his taste buds and his groggy brain.
His former master, his former idol, had been decapitated by his student…
His feelings were complex, a mixture of sadness and pride, filled with contradiction.
In his daze, he heard someone call his name.
“Severus.”
Snape turned and saw Professor McGonagall looking at the students below with a worried expression. “Shouldn’t we ban this film from being shown? It’s too bloody and violent.”
She also knew that everything in the movie was real, so she was particularly concerned.
Snape was indifferent to her concern. “They are wizards, not weak Muggles. A bit more exposure to cruelty won’t harm them. Besides, Dumbledore isn’t stopping the movie’s screening, so why are you worried?”
Hearing Snape’s phrase “weak Muggles,” Professor McGonagall frowned but did not retort. It wasn’t the time for arguments. “What exactly is Albus planning? When will he reveal the truth?”
As she spoke, she complained, “Albus’s whereabouts are becoming more and more erratic. I haven’t seen him for days. As Headmaster, he’s neglecting his duties day after day…”
Snape’s ears automatically filtered out Professor McGonagall’s incessant complaints and did not answer her questions, instead quietly sipping his wine.
He knew where Dumbledore had gone, and he knew about Dumbledore and Vaughn’s plan.
The truth of the “movie” would not be revealed to the outside world anytime soon. Announcing that the Dark Lord was alive prematurely, before preparations were complete, would only incite panic.
Therefore, in the foreseeable future, for a long time to come, the so-called 《Harry Potter and the World in the Painting》 would only be a movie, a new product.
The general public did not need the truth!
Only those who wielded power and possessed value were qualified to know the truth.
Due to the excitement of the movie, an ordinary dinner almost turned into a feast. Under the clamor of everyone, the twins proudly replayed the final act twice more. It wasn’t until late into the night, when the professors began to usher people out, that everyone reluctantly left.
However, their topics still revolved around the plot of the “movie.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone being able to invade someone else’s Apparition. Neville, have you?”
In the dormitory, Seamus asked Neville while vigorously wiping the black soot from his face.
Neville shook his head blankly. “I… I haven’t even experienced Side-Along Apparition…”
Dean Thomas asked curiously, “What is Side-Along Apparition?”
“It’s a type of Apparition. For example, if I take you with me to Apparate, when you materialize with me, it’s Side-Along Apparition,” Seamus explained.
“Is it difficult?”
“Very difficult, Dean. Materialization requires personal will and magical power to execute correctly, otherwise, you will also split. Of course, the most difficult is Apparition. Imagine yourself being stretched into a noodle, traveling through a bizarre tunnel, and accurately finding your destination and successfully materializing…”
Seamus explained to Dean what Apparition was like.
On the other side, Ron, after his excitement subsided, was sitting on Harry’s bed, discussing in hushed tones.
Ron cast a furtive glance at his roommates who were chatting and whispered to Harry, “Many people are asking me who the Mysterious Man was played by. I can’t hold out much longer, Harry.”
Harry had the same trouble. He sighed. “Me too. Some people are also asking me where Professor Quirrell went…”
“What do Vaughn and Dumbledore plan to do?”
“I don’t know either… Let’s just bluff for now. If anyone asks again, say we don’t know them.”
Harry truly didn’t know Vaughn and Dumbledore’s plans. Since their last conversation, he had understood why they kept certain things from him and had accepted their explanations. Since then, he no longer pressed for details.
Ron nodded and said no more. He opened the box he had brought back, which contained food like bread for Scabbers.
After tearing the bread and fried chicken into small pieces and placing them in the cage, Ron lay down on his bed, listening to Seamus, Dean, and Neville still chattering about the movie.
He lowered his voice. “Harry, what would happen if one day they knew that the movie they watched was real?”
They would surely be startled.
Harry didn’t need to answer; Ron could already deduce the answer. He murmured, “Don’t mention others; even I feel like I’m dreaming. The Mysterious Man… what a terrifying name. Since childhood, adults have used him to scare us, ‘If you cry again, the Mysterious Man will come.’ Even the most mischievous Fred and George would shut up fearfully when adults said that…”
Harry lay on his side on the bed, listening quietly.
His childhood was not so stimulating; no one even bothered to scare him. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would just lock him in the cupboard or the stairwell, isolating the noise, letting him cry alone until his voice was hoarse, until he fell asleep.
“…Only Vaughn. He was never afraid. As far as I can remember, he has never feared anything. I remember one time Ginny dirtied Percy’s robe. Percy scared her, saying he would sell her to the Mysterious Man, and Ginny cried hysterically.”
“Vaughn took her into his room—we shared a room back then—and told her he would protect her and that the Mysterious Man would never harm her…”
Ron turned his head and whispered to Harry, who was listening quietly, “Who would have thought? The words he used to comfort a child could actually come true… Although I’ve known for many days that he defeated the Dark Lord, that was just hearsay. Until today, seeing it with my own eyes… it’s cool, right Harry?”
“Mm…”
“If only that person on the screen was me!” Ron said wistfully.
Harry rolled his eyes. He knew Ron would have such fantasies.
“Go wash up and sleep. You can have anything in your dreams…” As he said this, Harry, preparing to take off his glasses, looked up and saw Scabbers in the cage on his bedside table. “Ron, Scabbers seems to be trembling?”
Ron quickly got up and examined him carefully, but found no problem. He could only worryingly put him back in the cage. “He’s probably too old, and he’s confined to a cage all day, with nowhere to move… It’s all Vaughn’s fault for keeping a stinky cat!”
“Cats catching mice is their nature. Guo Guo Cha is very cute.”
The two of them watched the cage for a while longer. Only when Scabbers stopped trembling did they feel relieved. They chatted idly for a few more minutes, then called Seamus, Dean, and Neville to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who would shower first.
