章節 254: Chapter 253 "Skyler's Weakness"

"But that's it," Skyler's tone dripped with indifference laced with disdain. "I thought you had some powerful backup plan? Turns out it's just four shadow demons..."

"Do you have any last words?" Skyler's voice cut through the tension, cold and unyielding.

"Last words?" Crouch Jr. couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. "Considering your lineage, your background, your reputation, your strength—you could easily be a pivotal figure in this era. You could unite our pure-blood families, lead us to glory, and carve a legacy second only to the Dark Lord himself. And now..." Crouch Jr.'s lips twisted into a mocking smile. "Are you asking me for last words? Could it be that you're incapable of taking a life yourself, hmm?"

Skyler's visage remained stoic, but a flicker of emotion danced within his eyes.

Crouch Jr. wasn't entirely wrong. Despite the casualties wrought by his schemes and conflicts—like Kingsley Shacklebolt and Gilderoy Lockhart—strictly speaking, none had met their end directly at Skyler's hands.

"Although I don't want to admit it, what you said is actually right," Skyler paused, taking a deep breath. "You may find me ridiculous and naive, even unreasonable, but..."

"You see, I've never been one to relish in killing, nor have I harbored dreams of becoming an eternal figure..." Skyler blinked, moistening his dry eyes, his voice hushed as if confiding in Crouch Jr., a person seemingly unrelated to him, yet speaking as if to himself. "My pursuit of power was always rooted in a desire to protect those dear to me..."

"If it weren't for the Shadow of the Demonic Dragon's capture of Meredith... If it weren't for the Death Eaters' intentions to ignite war, my family wouldn't have been dragged into the mire of conflict..." Skyler's gaze intensified, his eyes gleaming. "I harbor no ill will toward you or Dumbledore. We might not have even been adversaries, despite Dumbledore's insistence on conflict..."

"But, there's no 'if' in the past..." Skyler's resolve surged, the Thestral Wand in his grip pulsating with energy. A golden glow enveloped it. "The trials of recent years have taught me that avoidance doesn't solve anything..."

"Whether it's the Shadow Dragon, you, or the Dark Lord," the wand's light pulsated rhythmically, each burst stronger than the last, echoing with a melodic dragon's roar in the empty space. "Today, you've obstructed my path..."

Initially, Skyler had contemplated ending Crouch Jr.'s life with his own hands solely to honor his promise to Crouch Sr. However, this had evolved into a trial, testing the resolve of his true intentions.

"Yes, indeed. If today marks the first life I take, I wish to hear his final words." Skyler's eyes betrayed no hesitation, his resolve unwavering. "I simply wish to understand what allure the Dark Lord holds for you. What could prompt you to forsake familial bonds, enabling you to commit the ultimate cruelty of slaying the father who nurtured you... Have you never felt remorse?"

"Remorse? Hahaha..." Crouch Jr. erupted into laughter, tears welling at the corners of his eyes as he inexplicably recalled...

The eager expression on his father's face when he first uttered 'daddy'...

The tender embrace after his first faltering steps, nestled in his father's arms, seeking solace from the pain of falling...

At the age of eleven, he eagerly awaited the arrival of an owl-delivered letter heralding his acceptance into Hogwarts. With gentle pride, his father ruffled his hair, affirming that his son had reached a milestone...

The scene shifted, revealing a time when he found solace in the companionship of a Ravenclaw girlfriend from a mixed-race family, a union fiercely condemned by his father...

In pursuit of understanding the enigma of dark magic, he clandestinely delved into its secrets, driven by a desire to unlock its potency and engage in a bitter confrontation with his father...

Upon receiving his owl-issued report card, adorned with twelve certificates, he soared to the top of his class. Yet, his father's response was a curt, impersonal note of congratulations, citing Ministry of Magic obligations as the reason for his absence from celebratory festivities.

Left alone with his mother, they faced a silent dinner table laden with untouched, frigid dishes...

Brushing away tears, his smile, distorted by sorrow, declared, "I will never regret it, never!"

"I understand..." Skyler's Legilimency was fully engaged, deciphering Crouch Jr.'s turbulent emotional landscape. He pieced together the intricate web of cause and consequence, offering only sympathy for the trials endured. "I can only express my sympathy for your experience. Now-"

"Please, just a moment, hold on," Crouch Jr. interjected, his voice strained with pain yet tinged with an unwarranted sense of pride. "If you proceed with this, you'll come to rue it. Yes!"

"Is your mind addled?" Skyler's patience waned as the dialogue dragged on. Crouch Jr., now incapacitated and bereft of his wand — destroyed by his own explosive spell — posed no threat. Skyler, confident in the irreparable damage inflicted, dismissed any notion of outside intervention, even from Ollivander with the Elder Wand.

Regarding the four shadow demons, their elusiveness in the dark maze presented a formidable challenge. Their ethereal nature demanded spiritual magic for effective confrontation.

Furthermore, they excel at slipping through walls, thriving in environments rich with trees and enclosures. They are adept at launching attacks but are impervious to retaliation.

However, these shadow demons lack the ability to fly or engage in long-range assaults, rendering Skyler, suspended in mid-air, virtually untouchable.

With no capacity to pose a threat to Skyler, he saw no reason to entertain further discourse. Channeling all his magical energy, he focused on unleashing the killing curse. The tip of his wand illuminated with a sinister green glow. "——Avada Kedavra!"

"Behold this!" Crouch Jr. hurled a lengthy object, which landed a short distance away and rolled across the ground.

Skyler's eyes widened in recognition as he realized what it was.

Hermione's wand!

Hagrid's expulsion from Hogwarts in his third year and subsequent appointment as the school's gamekeeper by Dumbledore were common knowledge.

In the preceding year, Hagrid wielded a mysterious influence over the headmaster, securing the position of Care of Magical Creatures teacher despite the presence of more qualified candidates.

Hagrid, a formidable and intimidating figure, abused his newfound authority by introducing a slew of menacing creatures to terrorize the students under his care. In what was described as "terrifying" lessons, Hagrid inflicted injuries and traumas upon numerous students, all while Dumbledore turned a blind eye.

As if these transgressions weren't sufficient, recent revelations by The Daily Prophet have unearthed damning evidence challenging Hagrid's claim to pure-blood wizardry.

Contrary to his assertions, Hagrid is not of pure-blood lineage; in fact, he isn't even a pureblood. Exclusive investigations have unveiled that his mother is none other than the giant Fridwulfa, whose current whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery.

Giants, known for their cruelty and bloodlust, teetered on the brink of extinction due to rampant cannibalism in the previous century. The remaining few rallied under the command of a mysterious figure, orchestrating some of the most savage Muggle massacres during their reign of terror.

While many giants aligned with You-Know-Who perished at the hands of Aurors combating the forces of darkness, Fridwulfa evaded such a fate.

It's likely that Fridwulfa sought refuge in one of the remaining giant villages nestled in foreign mountain ranges. However, an analysis of Hagrid's peculiar behavior during Care of Magical Creatures classes suggests that he may have inherited his mother's ruthless disposition.

Surprisingly, it's rumored that Hagrid formed a close bond with a young boy, who ultimately played a pivotal role in overthrowing the mysterious figure, leading to Hagrid's mother fading into anonymity and seclusion.

Although Harry Potter may have been unaware of these unsavory aspects concerning his towering friend, Albus Dumbledore undoubtedly bore the responsibility of ensuring that Harry Potter and his peers were informed about the complexities surrounding blood lineage and the hazards associated with forging alliances with giants.

Despite their efforts, the trio comprising Harry, Ron, and Hermione find themselves unable to locate and communicate with Hagrid, as he appears to be intentionally evading them.