Chương 79: Visit to Azkaban
After everyone else completed the second task, Ludo Bagman announced the scores. While Neal got a perfect score 50, Harry who completed the task second got 47 points and Krum got 45 points, as for Fleur, she got 25 points for Bubbled-Head charm, although she kept on mumbling that she deserves zero.
After announcing the scores, Bagman said, "now, after combining both the scores of the two tasks, with 94 points, Neal Slytherin is in the first place, Harry Potter is in second place with 87 points, Viktor Krum is on third with 85 points and Fleur Delacour is last with 73 points".
As Hogwarts students were cheering loudly, he continued, "The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June. This time it won't be just 50 points. Additional points will be also awarded to one person. As for what it is, you will know it soon. The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. So, everyone has the chance to win the tournament. Thank you all for your support of the champions".
Alastor Moody, who was staring at Neal thought with a frown on his face, "did he just double-cross me after receiving the dragon eggs and the invitation. Well, it doesn't matter, I will be the one who will design the final task, anyway. Still, that animagus form of him is really troublesome. I should have a talk with him after this".
Later, when he reminded Neal about their deal, Neal replied, "I gave him the clue about the golden egg and even asked Myrtle to help him out. He was even the first to arrive at Merpeople's settlement. I did whatever I could to hold the deal at my end. Don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame Harry for his incompetence". and then he walked away from there leaving Moody in thoughts about how to train Harry indirectly in the form of lessons.
After a month passed, Hogsmeade weekend has arrived. While Harry planned to have a date with Cho Chang, Krum asked Hermoine for a date leaving Ron all alone and agitated. Meanwhile, as Daphne, who was planning to spend time with Neal alone at Hogsmeade, got depressed after hearing that he was going to visit his maternal uncle instead.
On Saturday morning, Dumbledore took Neal to the Azkaban Island which was in the middle of the North Sea and was concealed from Muggles. As they reached the Island, they started to walk towards the only fortress built on that tiny Island, the Azkaban prison.
While looking at the fortress from far, Neal asked, "I read that this wasn't built as a prison before but was just a private residence of some Dark Wizard". Dumbledore replied, "his name is Ekrizdis. One of the worst kinds of wizards existed ever".
Neal nodded, "oh, so, that's his name, huh. So, is he the one who created Dementors?". Dumbledore shook his head, "no one knows about it. After his death, by the time the Ministry of Magic found the fortress, it was already infested with Dementors. It's debatable whether he created them or they existed in that fortress from the start. But seeing their number grown rapidly over the years can give us a conclusion that they were just grown like fungi".
Neal then turned his head towards the fortress curiously as Dumbledore explaining to him how cruel and vicious Dementors are. As they stepped into the fortress, Neal started to feel chilly because of the gloominess around. Soon, Dumbledore led him to the cell where Leon Avery is imprisoned.
As Neal reached it, he saw a very thin and pale looking man with ragged clothes and long ugly beard, sleeping. Dumbledore then knocked the prison bars waking him up, "Leon Avery?". Leon who woke up from his sleep saw Dumbledore and Neal with lifeless eyes. As he never met Dumbledore before and only heard his name, Leon didn't recognize him at first and then when he saw the boy beside Dumbledore, he opened his mouth with great difficulty, "Neal?".
Neal nodded after thinking that his grandfather might have shown him his picture. Dumbledore then saw Leon's dead eyes suddenly came back to life and a big smile appeared on his face while he's dragging himself while stepping forward.
As he clutched the bars, he spoke in a hoarse voice which almost sounded like a whisper, "please come a bit closer". Neal was taken aback in surprise seeing the expression on Leon's face who was using all of his willpower to stay conscious.
As Neal moved closer, Leon tried to raise his hand and wanted to touch his face but failed to do so as his body wasn't supporting anymore. His smile was never gone as he whispered, "hazel eyes just like Dewy's".
While Dumbledore was surprised to see affection in Leon's eyes as he was looking at his nephew, Neal looked at him coldly, "since you managed to remember my face, I guess that old man must have visited you and told everything me. So, you must know the reason for my visit, right?".
Leon didn't listen to him and just replied "I never imagined it would be this early. I thought of holding onto my life for another 3-4 years but now that I have seen you personally, I don't have any more regrets left".
Neal who was getting angry instead of pity even after seeing his condition closed his eyes for a few seconds before calming down, asked, "then, before you die, answer this one question of mine. Did you really kill my mother and father? I heard from Lord Avery that you didn't do it".
Leon stayed silent for a while and replied, "yes, I killed your parents and was paying for my crimes". Neal looked at him blankly and asked, "why?". As Leon replied, "don't waste your time and leave from here", Neal immediately raised his hand and grabbed his face and pressed it to open his mouth surprising Leon and Dumbledore. When Dumbledore was just going to ask something, Neal pulled out a vial that has a clear and colorless liquid like water and poured three drops into his mouth forcefully and took back his hand.
Dumbledore looked at the vial in shock and pointed it while asking, "Is that..." Neal replied without looking at him, "Veritaserum. It took me a lot of effort to brew this one. I would be a fool to believe anything an adult wizard says much less a criminal like him. That's why I was already prepared to use this to know the complete truth".
Then, he looked at Dumbledore, "Professor, if you don't mind, can you leave us alone for a while?".
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