Chapter 604: Chapter 604: Merlin's Medal (Edited)
Today's breakfast seemed to have some issue. Although it was breakfast time, the four long tables were not filled with the usual plentiful breakfast. Hundreds of young wizards sat around the empty tables, their eyes wide open, not understanding what was happening. What was even stranger was that there wasn't a single professor in the staff seats, which usually had at least a few. But today, the entire staff section was empty, not a single person in sight.
People began to speculate about what was happening, and a buzz filled the room. However, soon someone provided them with the answer to their questions.
Dumbledore arrived. He was followed by the Minister of Magic, Bones, Madame Maxime, and Karkaroff. Behind these four were all the Hogwarts staff members and Rita Skeeter, the reporter from the Prophet. They were all dressed very formally and had serious expressions, no smiles. If you looked closely at the microexpressions of the professors, it wasn't difficult to see that they were very content inside.
The presence of the headmaster and the professors calmed the restless students in the room. From this scene, they could deduce that something important was about to happen.
Meanwhile, Tom was sitting nonchalantly at the Ravenclaw table, waiting for the start of the award ceremony.
The professors, the Minister, and the two headmasters made their way to their seats in the staff section, while Dumbledore stood in front of the lectern that was in front of them, looking at the students below.
Once everyone was seated, and the room fell silent again, Dumbledore cleared his throat and began to speak with a calm but firm tone.
"Before everyone enjoys breakfast, I have something important to announce!" Dumbledore's eyes swept over the professors and students below the lectern, finally resting on Tom.
"I'm sure you're all aware of the incident that occurred during the Quidditch World Cup this summer, where dark wizards wreaked havoc. Facing the fierce violence of the dark wizards, a brave young wizard stood up and fought alongside the Ministry of Magic's aurors, bravely battling the dark wizards and repelling them. That brave young wizard is Tom Yodel of Ravenclaw house. After unanimous deliberation within the Order of Merlin, Mr. Yodel will be awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, for his services to the wizarding community."
After Dumbledore finished speaking, the young wizards in the room were briefly silent, needing time to absorb this shocking news.
Many students had already heard about this news through the newspapers and knew about Tom Yodel's accomplishments, but when the medal was presented, their hearts were filled with astonishment. After all, there's a difference between the possibility of receiving a medal and actually receiving it. There have been cases where a nomination was accompanied for over a decade without winning the award. The uncertainty existed until the medal was awarded.
But now, everything was different.
Tom's fellow students looked at him with admiration in their eyes. Tom Yodel was now an important person!
Yes, those who received the Order of Merlin, First Class, were definitely influential people.
As for the result of receiving the Order of Merlin, First Class, Tom could only say it was "unexpected but understandable," as the awarding of the medal has a strong subjective component, and there is no clear evaluation criteria.
The Order of Merlin is divided into three levels. The Order of Merlin, First Class, is awarded for "outstanding feats or remarkable achievements in magic," the Order of Merlin, Second Class, is awarded for "outstanding achievements or efforts that go beyond the ordinary," and the Order of Merlin, Third Class, is awarded for "contributions to knowledge or the entertainment industry." Evaluating these criteria is not straightforward. For example, is Damocles awarded for his contribution to knowledge or for his outstanding achievements in magic? Or is he awarded for his role in improving relations between wizards and werewolves?
All three claims are valid, and in the end, which level of medal one receives depends on Damocles's personal connections.
The upper limit of the Order of Merlin, First Class, is very high. Dumbledore received it after defeating Grindelwald. But the lower limit is also very low. Arcturus Black of the Black family received a First Class medal after donating a large sum of money to the Ministry of Magic. And Cornelius Fudge awarded himself a medal to recognize his contributions to the wizarding society while he was Minister of Magic.
The Order of Merlin, First Class, was like one of those top 100 creators lists on a never-ending website. Some people obtained it to prove their worth, while others obtained it to demonstrate the value of the prize itself.
However, Tom was sure he fully deserved that medal. If the Death Eaters had been a bit slower in their escape, after Voldemort's return, he could only be a leader without followers.
Under everyone's gaze, Tom slowly stood up and made his way to the staff section. A photographer in a corner of the room raised his camera and pressed the shutter all the way down, making a constant clicking sound. A purple smoke cloud rose from the camera, perfectly capturing this scene. At the same time, a thunderous applause echoed in the Great Hall.
Everyone, even the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, applauded vigorously. In the entire Great Hall, only the young wizards from Death Eater families applauded more indifferently. But that was also understandable; after all, their parents had earned those medals.
"Say a few words," Dumbledore looked at Tom, gave him an encouraging look, and took two steps back, yielding the lectern to Tom.
Tom didn't hesitate and walked directly to the lectern, looking at the students below him. It was the first time he had seen his peers from this perspective.
Tom realized today what the view from above was like.
Seriously speaking, the view from above was truly expansive; he could see the entire Great Hall clearly, the faces, expressions, and movements of each person.
Being here awakened an indescribable feeling in Tom. Today, he was only giving a thank-you speech here. If someday he could be here expressing his own ideas, and the people below were willing to act on that ideal...
There's nothing more satisfying than inserting your own thoughts into the minds of others.
He waited for the applause to die down and began his speech. It was the first time he spoke before all the students from the stage.
The students below the lectern also gave him their respect, listening silently to Tom's speech. Tom, under Hermione's supervision, was wearing a completely black wizard robe, elegant and noble, with golden edges on the cuffs. Combined with his handsome face and his achievement of receiving the Order of Merlin, his charm instantly skyrocketed.
Many young witches had their eyes light up.
"I hadn't realized before, but is that Yodel guy really that handsome?"
"Oh, it's dreadful! If both him and Krum were chasing after me, who should I choose?"
"Why not keep them both? After all, they're both your admirers (laughs)."
Sitting at the Ravenclaw table, hearing these words, Hermione's heart was filled with mixed feelings. On one hand, she was genuinely proud of her boyfriend, and hearing others praise him made her pleased. On the other hand, a slight sense of alertness arose.
Those lovesick cat eyes didn't sit well with her at all.
This boy already has an owner!
She regretted a bit for "setting free" Tom.
Tom didn't know what was going on in the minds of the people below the stage, but he looked at Hermione and gave a faint smile.
"When I found out I was going to receive a medal, I was filled with excitement and surprise. I never thought I could get the Order of Merlin, First Class." Tom stood on the stage, speaking clearly word by word. His voice was clear, and everyone could hear him.
"I asked Professor Dumbledore if this had some predetermined support; I am just an ordinary Ravenclaw student, how could I become the winner of the Order of Merlin? Professor Dumbledore told me that the Order of Merlin had already made a decision, and that I was the winner of this medal. In the face of this, I can only say that I feel embarrassed, I have only made a small insignificant contribution..."
In response to Tom's modesty, everyone responded with enthusiastic applause.
Tom's speech soon came to an end.
"...Dark wizards are a plague in the wizarding world; wherever we see them, we must eliminate them. If we see them in Diagon Alley, we eliminate them there; if we see them in the village of Hogsmeade, we eliminate them there; if we see them in the bathrooms, we flush them down the toilet and eliminate them... We must completely rid the wizarding world of dark wizards!"
The powerful speech moved the students; they not only applauded but also stood up and cheered, encouraging Tom. The photographers below also captured Tom's speaking appearance and already had the headline and cover of the newspaper for the next day in mind.
Dumbledore looked at Tom with a subtle expression.
Tom Yodel's speech was very powerful.
"It should be a good thing..." Dumbledore thought to himself: at least he wants to fight against the dark wizards, not advocate for blood purity. If Tom had said "let's completely expel the Muggle-borns," Dumbledore probably would have had a heart attack.
After Tom finished his speech, Dumbledore received a box from Minister Bones. Inside the box was a shiny gold medal with a green ribbon, representing Hogwarts' Slytherin house, where Merlin was from.
Dumbledore placed the medal on Tom's chest, and then music and celebrations filled the room, while a plentiful variety of food appeared on the long tables. Once Tom and the dignitaries on the professors' dais shook hands, the award ceremony was officially concluded.
"How about it, my great hero? How do you feel about the award?" After Tom returned to his seat, Hermione rolled up a corn pancake in the shape of a meat cone and brought it to his mouth to interview him.
"I almost pricked myself with the medal pin..." Tom joked and then bit into the pancake in front of him.
Tom took off the medal from his chest and handed it to Hermione.
"Here, take it and play with it."
Hermione was stunned, not expecting Tom to give her something so valuable so casually.
"This is..."
"It's just a medal, maybe it's not even pure gold," Tom said as he waved his hand, "It's not a big deal to me. Sooner or later, people will say that Tom Yodel is the winner of the Order of Merlin, and not that Tom Yodel obtained the Merlin medal."
As he spoke, Tom skewered a sausage with his fork and ate it whole.
"You're a peculiar guy..." Hermione lowered her head and fiddled with the ribbon of the medal, feeling sweetly pleased.
After breakfast, Tom stood up resolutely and headed for the exit of the Great Hall. However, a witch dressed in a scarlet robe with purple fur collar stopped him.
"Tom, I..."
"I don't have time for interviews," Tom rejected the proposal curtly. He moved quickly, without hesitating for a second, leaving the Great Hall without looking back.
Rita Skeeter stood still in the same spot, frustrated. Today, she had really come to do a serious interview!
Tom's hurry to leave was simple: he had to go to Azkaban. There, along with Dumbledore, he would give Voldemort a "little" surprise.
After shaking off Rita Skeeter, Tom headed straight to the headmaster's office, with Hermione following closely.
"Isn't this not the way to the Ravenclaw common room?" Hermione had been at Hogwarts for four years and knew the way back to her common room well.
"Yes, go to the common room for now," Tom replied.
Hermione: ???
"There's something you're not telling me!" She realized instantly: Tom was going out again, without her!
Selfish man!
"I'm not joking, we really have to do something very important."
"We?" Hermione caught the key subject.
Tom pursed his lips, understanding the meaning of saying too much.
"I'm going to find Professor Dumbledore; he'll never let you succeed. If you have the guts, let me know!"
Listening to Hermione's threat, Tom felt like he had been shot with a shotgun in the chest. Guess what? This time I'm going on an adventure with Dumbledore! The Dumbledore you're trying to contact is out of the service area!
Outside the headmaster's office, when Hermione saw Dumbledore and a tall elderly man beside him, a sense of foreboding came over her.
"Professor Dumbledore, are you...?"
"Miss Granger, I need you to help me keep a secret." Seeing that Hermione was also present, Dumbledore wasn't too surprised; he took out a small bottle from his pocket, filled with a sticky potion.
Hermione recognized the bottle; it was Polyjuice Potion.
"Allow me to introduce you to my brother, Aberforth." Dumbledore made the introduction, and Hermione noticed the elderly man beside Dumbledore. He wore glasses like his brother, was tall and slim, with a silver-gray beard that resembled metallic threads. His eyes were identical to Dumbledore's.
Chapter 605: Chapter 605: Azkaban and Surveillance (Edited)
Aberforth's appearance and hair had many characteristics of the Dumbledore family. When they were together, anyone could immediately see that they were related by blood. Only Aberforth seemed a bit more temperamental, like one of those wizards who would wield a two-meter staff and attack someone.
Wait, Dumbledore has a brother? Hermione was surprised.
She had never heard of it. In her memory, no book or report mentioned that Dumbledore had a brother.
In the face of Albus's introduction, Aberforth only snorted and abruptly snatched the vial of potion from his brother's hands, ripping out a strand of hair in the process.
Hermione silently observed all of this. She noticed that the relationship between the two brothers didn't seem very harmonious.
Curiosity consumed Hermione. She was eager to know the history between Albus Dumbledore and his brother. However, unfortunately, no one present was willing to provide her with answers.
"Miss Granger, can you assure me that you won't reveal what you've just seen?" Dumbledore ignored his brother's rough behavior, looking at Hermione with a sincere expression.
"Um... alright." How could Hermione refuse Dumbledore? Of course, she agreed, but the doubt in her mind was not alleviated.
"It's just that, Professor Dumbledore, Tom...". Hermione couldn't help but think of Tom. Instinctively, she didn't want him to take risks. Or more precisely, she didn't want him to go alone.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Yodel is about to do something great... there are things that cannot be avoided."
Upon hearing this explanation from Albus, Aberforth spat in disgust.
"Great... nonsense!"
Dumbledore acted as if he hadn't heard anything and looked at his brother.
"I beg you." He said earnestly.
Aberforth turned his head to the side, ignoring him.
"You better come back soon, I can't guarantee I won't let something slip for too long." In the end, he uttered that sentence with a somber tone.
"I'll try." No one knew when Voldemort would strike. Dumbledore and Tom couldn't stay in Azkaban indefinitely. Their estimated mental limit was one week; they would stay there until the next meeting of the Death Eaters.
But, according to Tom's opinion, Voldemort would definitely attack Azkaban in a week. The reason was simple; he needed to present achievements impactful enough at the next Death Eater meeting.
He had made a big statement at the last meeting, and if he didn't do anything during the week, it would be extremely awkward at the next one.
Death Eaters: "Great Lord Voldemort, you surely did many incredible things last week! Like breaking into Azkaban and freeing Bellatrix and the others."
Voldemort: "I did nothing last week."
It would be too embarrassing! Voldemort wouldn't allow that to happen. Ever since he uttered the phrase about breaking into Azkaban, there was only one conclusion for him: Bellatrix Lestrange and the Death Eaters must appear at the next meeting.
"Let's go." Dumbledore led Tom into the office; they would depart from there before Voldemort arrived at Azkaban.
Dumbledore's decision to seek Aberforth was surprising to Tom. He originally thought Dumbledore would have someone from the Order of the Phoenix impersonate him, but he never imagined that he would bring his own brother, Aberforth.
What had happened between them in the past had caused irreparable damage to their relationship. Dumbledore's courage to face Aberforth was truly unexpected.
Moreover, Aberforth was really the best choice. If he thought about it carefully, who else was more suitable to impersonate his brother than a real brother? Unlike the busy Professor McGonagall, Aberforth was only the owner of the Hog's Head Inn, and his absence for a while wouldn't attract attention.
And indeed, Tom was not mistaken; Aberforth was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, but few knew about it, even Moody had only seen him once.
Perhaps realizing what Tom was thinking, Dumbledore cast him a look and calmly said, "About the story between him and me, I'll tell you at the right moment... We're getting ready to leave for Azkaban."
It was obvious that now was not the right time.
After Tom and Dumbledore left, Aberforth dropped a strand of Dumbledore's hair into the potion vial, and the potion turned a fiery red. Aberforth drank the entire potion and transformed into Dumbledore's appearance; in fact, the change wasn't very drastic. His figure barely changed, only his hair and beard turned silver, and his nose twisted slightly.
At that moment, he realized that the little girl who had been following Tom Yodel hadn't left but was watching him with curiosity on her face.
Aberforth looked down at Hermione with disdain and said in a harsh tone, "Little one, you'd better leave before I change my mind. I can't guarantee I won't erase your memories with the Obliviate Charm."
Hermione wasn't intimidated by him; she was more intrigued by Aberforth's past. She wanted to know why, being the famous brother of Albus Dumbledore, he had remained virtually unknown in the magical world, and why the relationship between these brothers seemed so tense. Moreover, Dumbledore was entrusting something so important to him, which was quite suspicious.
"How many times do I have to say...?" When Aberforth saw that she had no intention of moving, he became irritated. Aberforth, with Dumbledore's face, initially scared Hermione, but she soon got rid of the "fear" because she knew he wasn't Professor Dumbledore.
"Could you tell me something about your history with Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione's curiosity led her to take a risk.
Aberforth frowned, showing impatience. "There's not much to say between us. I'm just the one blemish on glorious Albus."
"But he's willing to entrust something so important to you... that means you're very important to him."
Upon hearing this, Aberforth paused and finally waved his hand brusquely.
"How am I supposed to know why he does what he does? Maybe he thinks I have too much free time; is it not normal for a pub owner to disappear for a few days to restock?" He seemed exhausted, dismissing Hermione.
Although his attitude was poor, Hermione's curiosity about Aberforth did not diminish at all. She decided that when Tom returned, she would interrogate him to extract information.
At that moment, Tom and Dumbledore had already arrived at Azkaban.
This time, Dumbledore didn't use the Fawkes Express ostentatiously but rather left discreetly through the school gate with Tom and then Apparated there.
"I appreciate you going ahead to choose a cell to stay in. I'll go see my younger brother. When that person arrives, I'll deal with him for a while."
Dumbledore: ...
It was true, but it still sounded strange.
But Tom's suggestion was quite reasonable. Voldemort wasn't stupid. If Dumbledore welcomed him warmly in Azkaban, even he might suspect that there was a traitor in his ranks who had passed on information that he was about to attack Azkaban. That wouldn't be beneficial for the Order of the Phoenix infiltrators among the Death Eaters. Therefore, the strategy that Tom and Dumbledore had thought of was to allow the Dementors and Voldemort to communicate and negotiate first. Then, when the negotiation failed and the confrontation began, Dumbledore would suddenly appear to confuse and deceive. This way, Voldemort would believe that Dumbledore had been summoned by the Dementors.
Once in Azkaban, Tom transformed into his Dementor form and communicated with his followers. The communication was very successful. His followers were delighted that their king was willing to return to his loyal Azkaban, and they offered their loyalty.
As for Dumbledore, the Dementors could sense the powerful magic emanating from him, and without Tom ordering it, they kept their distance from him. Wherever Dumbledore went, the Dementors quietly moved away, as if there was a special repulsion force around him.
Dumbledore chose a cell that he found suitable and settled there after cleaning it.
"How are things on the island...?" Tom asked as he listened to his followers' report on what had happened in the prison during his absence.
During that time, the Dementors had been rotating shifts, with half of them stationed at the White Dolphin prison, where they enjoyed a more abundant "meal."
He also learned from his subordinates that a high-ranking Ministry of Magic official had been stationed in Azkaban recently. However, when he heard that her name was Umbridge, he lost all interest in her and even considered it unnecessary to see her.
Umbridge had been banished to Azkaban for some time, and during that period, she had tried to contact the supposed King of the Dementors, only to find that all her efforts were in vain. This greatly puzzled her. Why couldn't she contact the King of the Dementors? If she knew the truth, she would surely be furious. The reason Umbridge couldn't contact the King of the Dementors was straightforward: as the King of the Dementors, Tom didn't even know that someone was looking for him. Tom had no means of communicating with his lesser subordinates; not even the pure Dementors could contact him. So, how could Umbridge, a witch from the Ministry of Magic, expect to find Tom?
Tom also realized the problem, but it seemed there was no solution. Dementors weren't particularly intelligent, and unless he appointed a wizard to handle communication, there would be no way to solve the communication issue, even if he gave the Dementors a phone.
Wait... a phone?
Tom felt like he had found a solution to the problem. If he couldn't solve the communication problem, why not install some kind of "monitor" instead? Why not have Dumbledore install the same technology he used in the first Triwizard Tournament event at Azkaban?
As for the "monitor screen," he would simply place it in Professor Dumbledore's office; he loved spying on all sorts of secrets like a bee.
Hostile environment. Many people. Confinement. Species diversity, please.
In his cell, Dumbledore sneezed. He looked around the gloomy cell and felt that this place was really not suitable for an elderly person.
After learning about the current situation at Azkaban, Tom "looked around" and realized that Dumbledore was quite far from him. Since his arrival at Azkaban, Dumbledore had kept his distance. Taking advantage of Dumbledore's distance, Tom gave an order to his followers: if anyone attempted to assault the prison, they were to execute the prisoners and give them a "kiss."
Tom wasn't as virtuous as Dumbledore; he had a more flexible moral code. If they were classified according to D&D's nine alignments, Dumbledore would definitely be of a lawful good alignment, while he would be of a chaotic neutral alignment. Issuing this kind of order didn't burden him psychologically.
He couldn't allow those prisoners to escape, right?
After organizing the prisoners inside Azkaban clearly and concisely, Tom realized a problem: had Dumbledore anticipated that he would give such an order? Did his behavior imply tacit consent?
If Dumbledore truly didn't want the prisoners to die, he would have given a direct order not to harm them, but he didn't; he chose silence. If Dumbledore had made his position clear, Tom wouldn't have disobeyed him. In fact, when Tom initially rejected the decision to kill all the prisoners, Dumbledore didn't object.
However, now Dumbledore's behavior was ambiguous, leading Tom to speculate. It seemed that Dumbledore was giving him the option to decide. As for whether Dumbledore had foreseen this situation, Tom didn't believe it.
Tom looked in the direction where Dumbledore was and murmured, "Kind but also rule-breaking... I thought you were of a lawful good alignment, but perhaps you, like me, have a chaotic side..."
Tom and Dumbledore settled in Azkaban, and it wasn't long before Voldemort arrived, just as they expected.
Voldemort flew like smoke, without a broom or Thestral, hovering in the sky.
He cleared the dark clouds and saw the small island on the horizon.
A snake-like smile appeared on Voldemort's face; his loyal followers would soon gain their freedom!
Inside Azkaban, many Death Eaters raised their heads abruptly, feeling the call of their master. Their hearts warmed as much as their arms.
Voldemort materialized from a cloud of black smoke and landed on the ground in Azkaban.
Tom, who had already noticed the prisoners' agitation, sent the Dementors to surround him. As they approached, Tom couldn't help but be surprised: undoubtedly, he was the Dark Lord! Voldemort's soul had been completely corrupted, turning into an extremely malevolent black color, darker than the Dementors, dark creatures by nature. His soul also didn't have the normal appearance of a wizard; it gave off a very unstable feeling.
Tom knew perfectly well that this was due to an excessive fragmentation of the soul.
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