Chapter 153: Vaughn Empties Hogwarts
The result is that the North American wizarding world is in a de facto split, with multiple civilian wizarding armed forces clashing with the Ministry of Magic and the Statute of Secrecy across the continent!
In other words, they are also clashing with the International Confederation!
Vaughn is unsure of the International Confederation’s stance on the North American situation, but as of now, they have no intention of deploying their permanent task force—this is another balance of power, and the Ministry of Magic will absolutely not allow Confederation troops stationed there until it is completely unable to hold on!
At least for now, half-bloods and Muggle-born wizards simply want to overthrow pure-blood policies.
And Confederation troops… that’s truly aiming for their political lives!
Under such circumstances, it is highly likely that some forces in the North American wizarding world will be natural partners for the WAC; at least Ilvermorny has sent representatives expressing a desire for cooperation, although they have misjudged the partner…
Sensing Vaughn’s thoughts, Old Bardi’s previously listless eyes lit up, and he hastily dropped a sentence: “I’ll go contact those families, and Joshua Potter.”
And prepared to leave.
Vaughn called him back: “Also, have those families inquire about the situation at Malfoy Manor’s banquet tonight.”
“Alright!”
Agreeing, Old Bardi Apparated away, and only when he materialized at the Ministry of Magic did he suddenly realize—why was he the errand boy again?
At night, Malfoy Manor was brightly lit.
In the magnificent hall, Draco, like a puppet, followed behind his mother, wearing a proper yet stiff smile on his face, greeting one familiar or unfamiliar adult after another.
“Draco, this is Mr. Selwyn, your father’s best friend from his school days. The friendship between our two families dates back to our ancestors.”
Draco smiled obediently: “Uncle Selwyn.”
“What a lovely little fellow, Narcissa, you should bring him to visit us more often.”
After a few pleasantries, Narcissa took Draco away from this “best friend” of Lucius Malfoy and quietly admonished Draco:
“Don’t get too close to the Selwyn family; almost all of their members are dead or imprisoned. They’ve long since fallen.”
The smile on Draco’s face almost faltered.
He admired his mother’s propriety and acting skills in dealing with people. See, she had brought him before another middle-aged blond man.
“Greengrass, long time no see. Oh—is this Daphne or Astoria?”
Hearing his mother’s words, Draco then noticed that a little girl was accompanying Mr. Greengrass.
He looked over curiously; she was a little thing, like a porcelain doll, and in the magnificent light of the hall, her bright blond hair, as radiant as her father’s, cascaded down like gold leaf.
Noticing his gaze, the little girl shyly hid behind her father.
“This is my youngest daughter, Astoria. Madam, Daphne and the Parkinson girl are playing over there,” Mr. Greengrass said, like all the pure-bloods Draco had ever met.
He put on airs and maintained a reserved demeanor.
For some reason, Draco hadn’t found this demeanor problematic before; he even used to imitate it.
But since spending a lot of time with Vaughn Weasley at Hogwarts and getting used to Vaughn’s demeanor, Draco always felt that the affected arrogance of his father and other pure-bloods was… superficial?
He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, only knowing that he hadn’t looked down on people for a long time.
His mother was still exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Greengrass. After politely smiling and greeting Mr. Greengrass as his mother had instructed, Draco’s attention focused on Astoria.
He knew the Greengrass family’s eldest daughter, Daphne.
Although she and Draco weren’t close, she was Pansy Parkinson’s best friend—pure-blood families often had relationships like this, drawing small circles based on family ties, and then filtering by gender.
Draco’s impression of Daphne was very ordinary; she was as temperamental as Pansy, looking down on this person and that.
Very boring!
If those people were truly capable, why did not one of them dare to speak loudly in front of Vaughn Weasley?
Lost in thought, the girl opposite him quietly peeked out from behind Mr. Greengrass, the light casting a halo around her shy, innocent eyes.
Like jewels.
For some reason, Draco suddenly wanted to talk to her.
But at this moment, Narcissa had finished her conversation with Mr. Greengrass.
“Let’s go, Draco, we’re going to find your father. He’s currently entertaining Mr. Babajide Ajinbad. You need to meet more important people like him…”
Draco was pulled away by his mother. He didn’t want to go but had no power to resist.
All he could do was quietly turn back and glance at the girl again.
Figures crossed and weaved through the crowd. Under the dim, amber lamplight, the bright-eyed girl was also looking at him.
Suddenly, she smiled.
A very shy smile, her lips gently pursed, forming dimples.
Draco’s mind went blank at that smile…
When he came to his senses again, his mother had brought him to his father’s side. Many people were around, including Mr. Selwyn, whom he had seen earlier, as well as Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle, the fathers of Vincent and Gregory—Draco’s two followers.
And Mr. Nott, the head of the Nott family, Theodore Nott’s father, a grim-looking old wizard!
They were surrounding a tall, dark-skinned wizard, listening quietly to him speak:
“…The Confederation is, of course, responsible for overseeing all magical organizations. Please believe in the Confederation’s fairness. If the WAC has any violations, I will swear on my honor to investigate thoroughly, even President Dumbledore cannot stop me!”
“But ladies and gentlemen, the WAC has not even been established yet. Its charter, program, and so on have not been finalized. An organization that remains on paper, and has a representative from the Confederation participating in the formation of its committee, you have no grounds to ban it…”
“However, sir.”
Draco heard a familiar voice. He looked up and saw his father calmly saying to the dark-skinned wizard: “Are we just going to let Dumbledore control so many werewolves? Everyone knows the dangers of Lycanthropy. Yes, there is now Wolfsbane Potion, and they are no longer mindless beasts, but what if, one day, Dumbledore suddenly cuts off the supply of Wolfsbane Potion…”
Lucius did not finish his sentence, pausing at the perfect moment.
The tragic possibility in his words was enough for those around to fill in the blanks. Often, people’s imaginations are more terrifying than words and texts.
The pure-bloods around immediately became noisy.
Some were playing along, while others were genuinely fearful.
Draco couldn’t understand the adults’ thoughts. Still a child, he felt nothing from those words. Compared to these uninteresting things, he wanted to see that girl again.
Until a certain moment, his mother took his hand again and led him to the dark-skinned wizard: “Mr. Ajinbad, this is my son, Draco Malfoy.”
Ajinbad lowered his head.
Draco’s pupils reflected the imposing figure. A sense of danger gripped his heart. In that instant, all thoughts of the girl and playing vanished.
He trembled like a quail caught by a predator and stammered, “H-hello, Mr. Ajinbad…”
Ajinbad grinned, but Draco could only see a row of gleaming teeth: “Oh—a fine young man. Are you going to school?”
“He enrolled at Hogwarts last year,” Lucius quickly said. “Actually, we originally wanted to send him to Durmstrang; it has a long history and has cultivated countless excellent wizards over a thousand years. Draco also likes it there. Unfortunately, England does not have a Dream Weaver, a Durmstrang recruiter.”
Draco opened his mouth. The story he heard last year was not this; his father actually wanted to send him to Durmstrang the most.
He didn’t understand why his father was lying.
But it was clear that Mr. Ajinbad was pleased by the words and smiled kindly for the first time, even patting his head: “Hogwarts is not bad either. Study hard, child, and of course, don’t learn from the person who enrolled the same year as you, that Vaughn Weasley.”
The latter half of the banquet, Draco spent in a daze.
His father’s obsequious behavior in front of Mr. Ajinbad made the young boy very uncomfortable, but Draco, having grown up in a pure-blood family, understood that his father was likely acting that way because Mr. Ajinbad was more powerful than the Malfoy family!
Just like how the Goyle and Crabbe families always acted submissively in front of his father.
He didn’t want to comment on it. Lacking experience, he couldn’t offer clear thoughts. For the rest of the time, he remained a “puppet,” led by his mother to meet various people.
Some were from pure-blood families he had heard of but rarely interacted with.
And Ministry officials.
At the splendid banquet, Draco saw many people fawning over and flattering his father, and also saw his father fawning over and flattering Mr. Ajinbad to many people.
It wasn’t until late at night, when the banquet ended and Mr. Ajinbad left, that his mother sent him back to rest. As he passed his father’s study on the second floor, he faintly heard complaints from inside.
“…He’s as slippery as a fish, no promises, no guarantees, not even acknowledging our hints!”
“Yes, he’s always been aloof, and we can’t figure out his intentions at all.”
“Lucius, are you really sure he’ll stand with us?”
“No one can guarantee such a thing, Louis, but I can be sure that if we want the WAC, he, or the Confederation, must also want it… Who can refuse to control a group of werewolves?”
“So when can we get an accurate result?”
“Don’t rush, my friends. We must be patient. This is England, and even the Confederation cannot do anything without our consent. He’s just waiting for the best offer. We might as well let him fight with Dumbledore first.”
“Why do you always mention Dumbledore? I heard that the first president to be elected for the WAC is that Vaughn Weasley!”
“Ha, that child? Do you really believe he has that much ability?”
Faint laughter could be heard from the study.
Ignorant adults!
Draco thought. He didn’t listen any further. Unlike those adults who had never even met Vaughn, he had personally experienced how powerful Vaughn was.
However, no one would take his words seriously.
In the eyes of the adults, he was just an immature child with shallow knowledge!
On his way back to his room, Draco saw Dobby.
This house-elf, who had “eavesdropped” on his parents’ conversation with him last time and shared a common secret, was standing in the corridor, lost in thought, holding a rag.
Draco had never cared about house-elves before; after all, he had been accustomed to their service and their slave status since childhood.
Perhaps because of their shared secret, Draco had suddenly realized recently that this wrinkled-skinned creature also possessed intelligence.
“Dobby, what are you doing?”
Dobby was startled and quickly knelt down: “I’m sorry, young master. Dobby shouldn’t have been daydreaming, bad Dobby!”
He frantically banged his head on the floor.
Draco scratched his hair in distress but was not surprised, saying: “I forgive you, as long as you tell me why you were daydreaming just now?”
Dobby hesitated for a moment, but the deeply ingrained contract prevented him from lying to his master: “Dobby is worried about Harry Potter, young master, because master wants to harm him!”
Draco’s delicate face turned red.
He remembered the night before last, remembered the notebook his parents had summoned. Dobby had told him that day that the notebook was a powerful Dark Arts item.
Any wizarding family’s child knew that Dark Arts items should never be touched carelessly, as you couldn’t expect a dark wizard to be kind-hearted. No one knew what curse a dark wizard might have placed on their items!
His parents’ intention to give that notebook to Scarface was definitely not good.
Draco originally thought he hated Scarface, wishing for his death.
But that night, realizing his parents intended to harm Scarface, he didn’t feel happy.
He only felt that such an action was…
Despicable!
The word laboriously popped into his mind, leaving Draco speechless for a long time. After a silence, he asked, “What are you going to do?”
“Huh?”
Dobby looked at his young master blankly.
Draco glared at him impatiently: “Aren’t you afraid that Scarface will get hurt? Haven’t you thought of saving him?”
Dobby’s large, clear eyes suddenly brightened: “Young master, you’re also worried about Harry Potter…”
“Shut up, I’m not worried about him!”
“But you…”
Draco, enraged, threatened: “If you say one more word, I’ll report you to Mum and Dad, and you can just watch Scarface die!”
This threat was more effective than anything. Dobby immediately covered his mouth.
Draco couldn’t help but feel jealous. Why was his house-elf’s primary concern the annoying Potter?
In fact, he was also confused about his own choice.
He also didn’t understand why he chose to help Scarface…
Damn it!
…
Deep in the night, Crouch residence.
Vaughn, having just finished his day’s treatment, came out of the basement and saw Old Bardi on the sofa, holding a bottle of sherry and lost in thought.
The old wizard was already quite drunk, appearing somewhat dejected.
Seeing Vaughn, his alcohol-numbed eyes looked at him for a moment before suddenly asking, “Do you think he can still be saved? I mean, if… if you could truly clear the Dark Magic pollution one day, could my son return to his former self?”
Before Vaughn arrived, he had entered his son’s mind countless times over the past decade.
But in Barty Jr.’s memories, he only saw distortion, anger, and hatred…
In the magical world, there are no born dark wizards; the fall of every dark wizard is due to a series of subjective choices.
They were polluted and corrupted by Dark Magic, but that was the ultimate result, not the cause.
The son in Old Bardi’s memory had always been an obedient, well-behaved child with a bright future and noble character, but in reality, his son had actively embraced the darkness.
Can such a person truly be “saved”?
Faced with Old Bardi’s dejection and hidden despair, Vaughn thought for a moment and retorted, “Do you believe human nature is inherently good, or inherently evil?”
Old Bardi blinked, unable to answer for a moment.
This was a question without a true answer; different people would give different results, and many could not give an answer at all.
Old Bardi was the latter. Having lived for decades and encountered all sorts of people, he had seen cruel thugs and lived a life with saints.
With his rich experience, such a seemingly simple question was difficult to answer.
Vaughn didn’t seem to expect an answer from him and continued, “I believe neither. In my opinion, human nature is formed postnatally; it can be interfered with, influenced, and corrected. That’s why Muggles invented psychology, and wizards invented Memory Magic!”
Vaughn said these words calmly, even coldly.
So cold that it shocked Old Bardi sober.
He stared at Vaughn, and a thought suddenly flashed in his mind—holding such beliefs, how many people had he used Memory Magic on?
Vaughn noticed Old Bardi’s gaze.
But he said nothing.
In fact, to research Memory Magic and make progress in it, one needs extensive practical experience and sufficient samples and test subjects.
This is also why Hogwarts and even the Ministry of Magic restrict the spread of Memory Magic.
Its dangers cannot be avoided simply by not using it, as the learning process is also a practice process.
After parting ways with Old Bardi, Vaughn took a shower and returned to his room, sinking his consciousness into his mindscape.
Since learning Memory Magic, Vaughn had remodeled his mindscape, organizing all memories in a Memory Archive.
And everyday distractions, thoughts, and other conscious activities were isolated in deeper areas by Legilimency.
Now, his mindscape was completely dark.
The pure blackness was like a vast, boundless screen, devoid of any impurities. There was a shallow layer of water on the “ground,” calm and undisturbed.
Vaughn’s consciousness stood on the water’s surface, looking down at his reflection in the water.
He squatted down, reached into the water, and gently lifted.
The entire mindscape flipped like a kaleidoscope changing scenes. He appeared “underwater,” and looking up, he saw another “self” still standing there behind the curtain of water suspended above.
That was a Persona Embodiment, responsible for maintaining the stability of the external mindscape and acting as a lure when Vaughn’s consciousness sank into “isolated areas” deep within the mind.
If someone were to intrude into Vaughn’s mindscape at this time, its existence would attract the enemy’s attack, buying time for Vaughn’s main consciousness to return.
Of course, such an arrangement was merely a precaution.
In fact, with Vaughn’s current mastery of Legilimency, it was difficult for anyone to break through his mental defenses.
The mindscape “under the water” was an “isolated area.”
Vaughn looked around. This area was also vast and empty, but unlike “above the water,” there were smoke-like humanoid outlines of varying heights in this space.
A cold, yet invisible and unseen force restrained them.
That was the effect of Legilimency!
Vaughn walked up to a Persona Embodiment. This Persona Embodiment, bound by Legilimency magic, was much taller than Vaughn but slender, appearing to be a relatively thin adult.
Faint wisps of dim color floated on its surface.
Vaughn stopped in front of it, wagged his finger, and a wisp of gray-black mist separated from his consciousness, which he controlled and integrated into that Persona Embodiment!
The moment it merged, it was like dropping oil into a hot pan. On the surface of that dimly colored Persona Embodiment, countless ripples and tentacle-like things emerged.
A shrill howl, as if from a great distance, echoed throughout the space.
But the cold power of Legilimency firmly locked down its abnormal activity.
Vaughn watched it calmly until it struggled multiple times, unable to break through the Legilimency magic, and had to subside again, then he looked away.
This was a copy of the Persona Embodiment implanted in Barty Crouch Jr.’s brain.
The materials used to weave it were extracted from Barty Jr.’s mindscape, so it could fully and long-lastingly store Barty Jr.’s mental products, such as memories, thoughts, etc.
Each time he “treated,” Vaughn would place the treatment process and excerpts of Barty Jr.’s memories here as backups and for research.
The surrounding Persona Embodiments served almost the same purpose!
For example, next to “Barty Jr.,” there was a short, thin Persona Embodiment with a faint, almost invisible lightning scar on its forehead, which flickered in and out of view with the rolling smoke.
It belonged to Harry.
Next to “Harry” was a stout man, belonging to Peter; there were also Ron, Hermione, Guo Guo Cha, Draco…
If Old Bardi could enter here, he would discover that his suspicions about Vaughn were not wrong.
Vaughn was indeed abusing Memory Magic!
But Vaughn himself clearly wouldn’t think so; to him, these were simply necessary for researching “Persona Embodiments.”
The development of Persona Embodiments was ongoing, and this need naturally continued.
Of course, some individuals were not just for research purposes; implanting Persona Embodiments in them had another purpose.
Thinking this, he looked at “Peter Pettigrew” and “Draco”!
With the Death Eaters loyal to Voldemort almost all rounded up, Peter was key to Voldemort’s future revival, and Vaughn naturally would not relax his control over him.
As for Draco Malfoy.
It was related to Voldemort’s first Horcrux, Tom Riddle’s diary.
No one would have thought that Voldemort would entrust one of his most important treasures to Lucius Malfoy for safekeeping. Even less could anyone have imagined that even though Voldemort had been “dead” for 11 years, Lucius still feared his former master and dared not destroy the diary.
More than two months ago, Vaughn had found an opportunity to implant a Persona Embodiment in Draco.
The “future” had changed. At that time, Vaughn was unsure how Lucius would deal with the “diary.”
He certainly wouldn’t destroy it, but similarly, he wouldn’t secretly pass it to Ginny as in Vaughn’s memory of the “future.”
After all, there were too many rumors about Vaughn. Even if Lucius didn’t believe that Vaughn, a red-haired child, had already grown into a powerful wizard at such a young age, out of caution, he would definitely avoid the Weasley family.
Unlike other well-known Horcruxes, Tom Riddle’s diary was too ordinary. Once its whereabouts were lost, it would be difficult to find again.
So Vaughn simply solved the problem at the source.
The Persona Embodiment implanted in Draco was hidden deep in his mind, with not many functions, only to discreetly guide him to be more active at Malfoy Manor and use “diary” as a keyword.
Once Draco discovered the diary, the Persona Embodiment would influence him, leading him to approach it and ultimately obtain it.
As for how it would influence him, and the reason Draco wanted the diary, it would depend on his own thoughts.
The Persona Embodiment could currently only amplify certain factors based on the host’s own thoughts.
It could be evil greed for personal possession.
It could also be kindness for others.
“The bill to investigate magical items submitted by Father has reached the Ministry of Magic. Once it passes, Lucius will probably be unable to resist getting rid of the diary… Draco, what will you do?”
Although he always bullied Draco.
However, both in memory and in actual interaction, Vaughn had always admired him.
No one is born a villain or a failure; their downfall is simply a lack of guidance.
After a night of heavy drinking, Old Bardi was once again full of vigor the next day.
Tonight, the WAC conference would be held.
At that time, WAC committee members, werewolves, the Wizengamot, and representatives from the International Confederation of Wizards would all be present.
Simultaneously, as a formal organization of the wizarding world and for such an important event as its founding assembly, representatives from the Ministry of Magic, embassies of various countries’ Ministries of Magic in London, as well as public figures, media reporters, etc., were also to be invited.
Even if those people didn’t necessarily come, the relevant preparations could not be omitted.
Therefore, there was a lot to be busy with today.
As for why Old Bardi, a Ministry official, had to be busy with WAC affairs… it was naturally due to Vaughn’s “invitation,” and according to official statements, the Department of International Magical Cooperation was also a cooperating department of the WAC, a sister department.
If your sibling needs help, isn’t it inappropriate not to offer assistance?
Therefore, although Old Bardi had refused several times, he ultimately succumbed to Vaughn’s power.
Hence, the busy scene at the Crouch residence early this morning.
Tidying hair, trimming beard, Sparky had dug out Crouch’s long-dusty, almost moldy formal wear from last night, washed it thoroughly several times, and ironed it perfectly straight at dawn.
In the morning light, as she helped Old Bardi get dressed after cleaning up, she wiped her tears: “Sparky finally sees her master as he used to be, serious, confident, meticulous, not a tramp holding a bottle of wine… *Sniff*—”
Sparky blew her nose heavily, sobbing uncontrollably.
Old Bardi awkwardly turned his head.
In the corridor outside the door, Vaughn, wearing a purple velvet robe and a Order of Merlin badge pinned to his chest, watched all this with interest.
Once dressed, Old Bardi walked out of the room and glared at Vaughn:
“I shouldn’t have agreed to you!”
Vaughn laughed heartily: “Isn’t this good? It’s quite meaningful to let Sparky see you pull yourself together.”
Old Bardi didn’t want to deal with this prankster.
Although he hadn’t attended formal events in a long time and felt awkward in his formal wear, he had once presided over the Department for the Enforcement of Magical Law and led the Aurors against Death Eaters.
By the time he was having breakfast prepared by Sparky in the Dining Hall, Old Bardi had adapted to the role he was to play today.
He even took out paper and pen and seriously confirmed the schedule with Vaughn:
“…I saw the schedule list WAC gave me, and it doesn’t mention entertaining public figures and media reporters?”
“Ah, that’s William’s responsibility. He has experience organizing large-scale events in Muggle Society. If you have any questions, you can check with him after we get to headquarters.”
“Only has experience in Muggle Society? Then I suggest adding one more person.”
“Who?”
“Ludo Bagman from the Department of Magical Sports. Although I’ve always thought he’s a scoundrel, I can’t deny that he’s done a good job in the Department of Magical Sports, organizing many magical sports events well.”
Vaughn had no requirements for such matters, so he readily agreed, nodding: “Alright, contact him and see if he’s willing to come.”
Old Bardi pouted: “He’ll definitely come, if only for the banquet after the conference… Speaking of the banquet, which caterers did you hire? Don’t tell me it’s those werewolves. I don’t discriminate against anyone, but werewolves will definitely mess everything up!”
Unlike Muggle society, the wizarding world has no companies for event planning or management.
Ordinary wizarding families do not have the conditions to organize banquets, so there is no demand for this. Pure-blood families have demands, but they usually have butlers, house-elves, and other service staff who have received professional training since childhood and do not need to find another team.
The Ministry of Magic is the same.
However, this did not pose a problem for Vaughn. He replied as a matter of course: “I’ve borrowed all the house-elves from Hogwarts from Dumbledore. In all of England, no one has more experience!”
Old Bardi: “…”
Yes, Hogwarts house-elves have to organize banquets for the school several times a year; how could their experience not be rich?
What rendered him speechless was that no one had dared to borrow a team of house-elves from Hogwarts before. Only Vaughn Weasley had such audacity and influence!
He was a little displeased and nitpicked: “But there’s still a manager missing…”
“I’ve also invited Professor McGonagall. She’s managed Hogwarts for decades and is definitely qualified!”
“…Fine…”
Those who are favored are indeed arrogant. What else could Old Bardi say?
