bacchusnovels Chapter 402 Who tattooed Dumbledore on their body?
Chapter 402 Who tattooed Dumbledore on their body?
Chapter 402 Who tattooed Dumbledore on their body?
Fried rats?
Filch was taken aback, but then understood what Sean meant.
He coughed lightly, scratched his head, and said hesitantly, "Sir, this kind of thing... I've never eaten it before."
But I've heard that some people in certain places have actually tried it, and the taste... well, it's said to be very... unique.
Sean nodded, his gaze returning to Peter Pettigrew on the table, his tone earnest as if declaring a sacred mission: "In that case, to help you atone for your sins, I'll give it a try."
These words might not be so frightening if they came from someone else's mouth.
But the fact that it was Sean, a Hufflepuff student, who said it made one's heart skip a beat.
After all, Hufflepuff is known for its tolerance and gentleness, and it is not common for them to say threatening things like "try it out."
Moreover, Sean has another identity: an explorer.
As is well known, in the world of explorers, there is no concept of "taste" or "nutritional value" when it comes to food; the only question is "nutritional value."
Peter immediately began to tremble, stammering and begging for mercy: "Phillips, please, please don't! I... I'm a person! Although... although I can turn into a mouse, I still have a soul!"
Sean's expression remained unchanged, even becoming somewhat cold.
He reached for a pair of chopsticks (which seemed to appear out of nowhere), adopted a serious, discerning look, and said casually, "Peter, fried rats might not be to my taste, but forgiveness isn't easy. I eat what I don't like, and you offer up your... well, existence—isn't that fair enough?"
Peter recoiled in terror, clutching his swollen belly with his missing finger, and cried out rapidly, "No, no, no! I can help you atone! I'll do anything, please don't eat me!"
Filch stood to the side, watching this scene, his lips twitching slightly, muttering under his breath, "What kind of atonement is this...?"
But he didn't say anything more, he just silently took a few steps back, afraid of becoming part of the "atonement" that followed.
Sean pretended to think for a while, then finally put down his chopsticks and stared at Peter, saying, "Since you're willing to help me atone for my sins, then prove it to me, or else..." His gaze swept over Peter, and he lowered his voice, "I'll personally send you into the oil vat."
Peter froze, fighting back tears, and nodded tremblingly: "Yes, you said, whatever it is... I will do it."
Sean smiled and pulled out his wand.
"Take off your clothes."
On a dark and windy night, the Forbidden Forest was like a pitch-black curtain, with only one or two points of phosphorescence flickering in between.
Hermione's breathing quickened, and the branches of the bushes brushed against her robes, making a faint rustling sound, but she paid no attention to it, her gaze shifting between her watch and the surrounding shadows.
Time passed slowly, and Hermione's heart felt as if it were being tightened by an invisible hand.
Eighteen minutes...
Not counting the round trip, this meant she had to find Peter Pettigrew—that cunning mouse—within eight minutes.
Hermione gritted her teeth; this was a task that seemed almost impossible!
Searching for a mouse in the vast forbidden forest is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Mice are small to begin with, and with the complex terrain and ubiquitous cover of the Forbidden Forest, Peter could easily hide himself completely with just a little ingenuity.
And he is Peter Pettigrew, an old book Animagus who is good at slipping away, escaping, and hiding.
Can she really do it?
If you can't do that...
Hermione took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
What she's best at is never searching aimlessly like a headless fly—that's not her style.
To analyze, to reason, to uncover the truth hidden beneath the surface—that's Hermione Granger's consistent style!
So if Peter Pettigrew hadn't managed to completely escape Hogwarts, where would he hide?
Hermione's thoughts raced. Peter Pettigrew—behind that name lay a history of infuriating betrayal.
Back then, he betrayed Harry's parents and cunningly maneuvered between the two camps: he dared not return to the wizarding world for fear of directly confronting Sirius Black; nor did he dare return to Voldemort's camp, because after Voldemort's defeat, the Death Eaters regarded him as a traitor and wished they could tear him to pieces.
In theory, he could live anonymously in Muggle society.
As an ordinary rat, he could easily blend into the Muggle environment without being suspected by anyone.
But he chose to hide in a wizarding family, and even lived with the Weasleys for twelve years.
Why?
The answer was obvious—Peter Pettigrew was unwilling to accept it.
He was extremely unwilling to accept his defeat and to accept that he had become a traitor despised by everyone.
He wants to make a comeback, to one day climb back to a high position and regain power and status.
So, how did he do that?
Hermione frowned.
Although the Weasley family is not particularly prominent in the wizarding world, they are still quite well-known. Peter hiding there undoubtedly puts himself in greater danger.
Compared to the Muggle world, it's like dancing on a knife's edge.
There is only one answer: the most dangerous place is always the safest place.
Peter Pettigrew may appear cowardly, but Hermione understands that behind his timidity lies an almost obsessive confidence.
He trusted his judgment and believed he was smart enough to evade all pursuit.
He risked everything to hide in the Weasleys' house, even becoming their pet Scabbers, and lived there for twelve years.
If such a bold, meticulous, and skilled person hasn't had a chance to completely escape Hogwarts, what kind of hiding place would they choose here?
"The most dangerous place is always the safest place."
Hermione muttered to herself, her mind racing through possible locations. Suddenly, she stopped, her eyes lighting up.
Oh, right there!
That was the most dangerous place—the place where Peter was captured and his identity was exposed, and the place no one would be likely to go back to.
After all, who would have thought that a traitor forced to reveal his true colors and with almost no way to escape would still dare to stay in that dangerous starting point?
Moreover, that place was one that wizards avoided like the plague.
Whether it's the taboo rumors or the desolate atmosphere of being untouched for many years, it makes it an excellent hiding place.
That's right, it's the Screaming Shack.
If you could only choose one place to search in the remaining eight minutes, then that place would undoubtedly be the Screaming Shack.
There is no place more in line with Peter Pettigrew's hiding logic than this.
Moreover, Hermione had a strange feeling deep down, as if some unseen force was calling to her and drawing her there.
The feeling, though vague, was unusually strong.
With this thought in mind, Hermione's gaze became even more resolute.
She gripped her wand tightly, turned without hesitation, and ran towards the Screaming Shack.
Whatever awaits her, she is determined to catch Peter and win the bet with Sophia!
This is her only chance!
On the other side, looking at the curse runes on his body, Peter Pettigrew revealed a smile that was more like a grimace.
Now, he can't escape.
He looked down at the Dark Mark on his left arm, which shimmered with a dark aura, and then at the mark on his right arm bearing Dumbledore's image.
Dumbledore's gaze was so intense that he almost wondered if he was dreaming.
His life is completely over.
If the Dark Lord had seen his own mark, there would have been no way he could have escaped.
No matter how he explains or defends himself, Voldemort will never believe a shred of his loyalty.
Whose Death Eater tattooed Dumbledore on their body?
Looking at his masterpiece, Sean nodded in satisfaction.
"Don't worry, Peter," he reassured him. "You don't need to be afraid. This tattoo doesn't usually appear, and Voldemort doesn't know about it. You just need to... carry out your mission. You have your own mission, just as Voldemort once assigned to you."
If... we absolutely have to find someone to infiltrate Voldemort's side.
So, who is more qualified than Little Petrified Star?
His undercover career can be described as "illustrious".
In other words, he was born to go undercover.
That's what Sean thought, and that's what he said.
He looked at Peter Pettigrew and said earnestly.
"Look, Peter, you are a gifted person."
"When this becomes known to the public, others may think you are not like a Gryffindor. They may say you lack the courage, boldness, and fearlessness of Gryffindor, but only I understand you."
"But only I know that you were born a Gryffindor."
Peter Pettigrew was suddenly startled, a look of confusion and unease flashing in his eyes.
For a moment, he got goosebumps.
For Peter, threats and fear were almost a daily occurrence, while praise and compliments were extremely rare.
These compliments, however, made him feel an inexplicable pressure, a pressure even stronger than the fear he felt when he saw Sean tattoo Dumbledore's name on his body.
Sean watched Peter's reaction, a slight smile playing on his lips. Then, he abruptly stopped, his tone growing more serious: "You know, 'courage' is a quality that's evident in your undercover work. Who has the guts to infiltrate Dumbledore's ranks?"
He paused, his tone suddenly turning extremely stern, "If you ever have the chance to return to the Death Eaters' ranks, go and ask those guys, besides you, who dares? Dare? You can do it, Peter, only you, the true 'Gryffindor.'"
Sean's voice became increasingly oppressive, each word like a hammer blow to Peter's heart.
Peter could almost hear his own heart pounding in his chest.
Yes.
The Death Eaters were shouting in Azkaban that it was all his fault as a traitor that caused the Dark Lord's death there.
But why don't they go undercover?
Why would you let him do something so important?
They're completely shifting the blame!
After the failure, all the incompetence and inaction were blamed on him alone, in order to deny their own incompetence and failure!
Peter became increasingly aware of this.
Those Death Eaters were imprisoned in Azkaban, suffering torment from the Soul Eaters. The only one who lived like a normal person was actually the one who betrayed him.
He even gets to eat cheese every now and then!
Seeing Little Pettigrew's slightly furrowed brow, Sean knew that his words had worked.
If every era has its own main characters, then without a doubt, the main characters from decades ago were James and his group.
Those who can be accepted or even recognized by the main characters, especially those who are mediocre and incompetent.
Little Pettigrew's experience of walking on a knife's edge would have likely resulted in him being discovered by Dumbledore or eliminated by Voldemort.
Who else can live to this day like him?
So Sean spoke again: "Although your undercover work didn't end well, it brought death to the Dark Lord."
Peter Pettigrew's eyes suddenly darkened and dimmed; at that moment, it seemed that all hope had been shattered by Sean's words.
"But—" Sean paused, drawing out his words and deliberately slowing his tone, a deliberately mysterious manner that made Peter pause slightly, "putting aside the facts, isn't Voldemort completely without fault?"
These words completely stunned Peter. He looked up and stared at Sean unconsciously.
He had considered this angle.
It's just not that straightforward.
In other words, your own thoughts are far less impactful and relatable than when they are spoken by others!
Sean continued unhurriedly, "The baby was just there; it posed no threat to Voldemort's rule whatsoever. Why was he so eager to believe the prophecy and choose to kill the baby with his own hands?"
Peter's heart skipped a beat.
Indeed, why was Voldemort so fixated on that prophecy?
How could an infant pose a threat to Voldemort at such a young age?
Logically speaking, he could simply wait until the time was right before addressing the problem.
However, Voldemort chose to make an extreme decision—even to kill an infant himself—not only because of his fear of the prophecy, but also because of a deep-seated stupidity and overconfidence that he himself was unaware of.
Sean chuckled softly, watching Peter's changing expression, seemingly enjoying the wavering in his heart: "Voldemort, standing at the very top, holding the fate of the entire wizarding world in his hands, is still bound by an invisible fear. You see, his unease is the most terrifying thing."
A complex emotion swept through Peter's mind. Sean's words were like a lightning bolt, piercing through the previously vague doubts in his heart.
He had never seen Voldemort's weakness so clearly, nor had he ever realized so clearly that this once-powerful Dark Lord...
There is such a profound fear.