章 64: The Ministry of Magic
On the outskirts, Dumbledore materialized outside the Forbidden Forest. Despite the intact enchantments he left behind, Dumbledore's countenance didn't ease. The closer he approached the Forbidden Forest, the more tense he felt in his heart.
Dumbledore stepped beyond the barrier, extending his hand gently. A ripple of water later, Dumbledore found himself inside the barrier.
"The aura of darkness has intensified. At this rate, the entire Forbidden Forest may become a den of darkness."
Sensing the pervasive darkness, Dumbledore sighed.
The origin of these spider-like monsters eluded him.
If they were connected to the elusive figure, then that entity possessed extraordinary magic.
Dumbledore proceeded deeper into the Forbidden Forest. Along the way, the spider-like creatures multiplied, while once-common magical beings vanished. As he neared the forest's heart, cobwebs proliferated. At the forest's depths, webs interconnected the treetops.
"Is its territory expanding? How are the centaurs..."
Dumbledore halted, grasping the source of his unease.
With a crackling sound, Dumbledore vanished. Moments later, he reappeared at the centaur tribe, only to be greeted by eerie silence.
Dried blood stained the ground, and Dumbledore waved his wand, revealing countless luminous, chaotic footprints.
"These footprints resemble centaurs', but with scorch marks...are these footprints...evidence of centaurs fleeing?"
Dumbledore pointed to one print, following the illuminated trail to a hidden cave where the surviving centaurs sought refuge. Among them were the old, the weak, women, and children, while all others lay lifeless.
.....
"So, you were attacked by two men on flaming skeletal warhorses, clad in armor?"
Dumbledore obtained the answer from an elderly centaur.
After pledging to find a safe new territory for the centaur tribe, Dumbledore departed.
"Flaming skeletal warhorses, formidable armored warriors... why are they massacring centaurs? This is growing more complex."
Dumbledore pondered.
Even as a knowledgeable wizard, he found it impossible to fathom the depths of undead magic from other worlds.
With Dumbledore unable to unravel the mysteries he faced, he decided to take action. He promptly sent a letter to the Ministry of Magic, urging them to find a new habitable territory for the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest.
Returning to the castle, Dumbledore sought out Snape once again, updating him on the situation in the Forbidden Forest. Afterward, he returned to his office to compose a letter to the Ministry of Magic, detailing the urgency of the centaur tribe's relocation.
Snape was taken aback by the news. Hogwarts had not yet completed a thorough investigation, and such a significant event had occurred in the Forbidden Forest. Most of the centaurs had been decimated. Fortunately, the school had enforced a ban when the spider monsters emerged earlier. Without it, any student venturing into the forbidden forest might have met a dire fate, possibly leading to the closure of Hogwarts.
.....
For the next month, Artel's activities slowed down. Aside from refining the potent orc potion, he spent time practicing magic with Hermione or watching the Quidditch Cup together.
Hogwarts regained its former tranquility, and the professors sighed in relief as nothing unusual transpired.
However, there were notable events during this period.
The Ministry of Magic responded to Dumbledore's request. Minister Fudge approved the relocation of the centaur tribe to a new forest. A team of Aurors was dispatched to investigate, but they found nothing. Some Aurors, against Dumbledore's advice, attempted to eliminate the spider monsters in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. The endeavor ended tragically, with one Auror succumbing to a spider bite after returning.
Amelia Burns, and Rufus Scrimgeour visited Hogwarts to assess the threat posed by the spiders. Subsequently, two Auror teams ventured into the depths of the Forbidden Forest, resulting in injuries on both sides. The spiders retreated to an underground cave, evading further confrontation.
In a fit of anger, the Aurors killed all the eight-eyed spiders in the Forbidden Forest, collecting copious amounts of venom. Hagrid, upon hearing the news, held a tearful memorial service for Aragog outside his cabin, with only Harry and Ron in attendance. Artel chose not to disclose the truth about Aragog's fate, allowing Hagrid to believe that the Aurors were responsible for the spider's demise.
During this peaceful month, Harry and Ron busied themselves tracing the name Nicolas Flamel, attempting to uncover the secrets guarded by the three-headed dog. Their daily pursuits involved checking various books, leaving Hermione bewildered at their seemingly endless enthusiasm.
As the month passed without any major disturbances, Artel's system summoning was updated.
.....
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