"Voldemort is very weak right now. He's even afraid of a cat," Wormtail said, glancing at Sean.
"You mean my kneazle, Jerry?" Sean asked.
"Yes. Your kneazle almost killed Voldemort," Wormtail replied.
To be honest, if Wormtail hadn't intervened, Jerry would have become a hero who slew the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore stood to the side, deep in thought. He had no way to open the Chamber of Secrets. He still didn't know that Harry was a Parselmouth. But regardless, now that Voldemort's location was known, action had to be taken.
"You will lead me there," Dumbledore said.
At this point, Wormtail didn't dare refuse. He nodded frantically.
"But the passage is narrow and long. Adults can't get through easily."
Everyone understood what he meant—he could transform into a rat and move freely through the tunnels.
Among those present, Professor McGonagall was the most suitable. Her Animagus form was a tabby cat. Snape, a black bat, could also navigate the tunnels.
"Professor, I'll go with him," McGonagall volunteered.
"I'll go as well," Snape added immediately.
But Dumbledore shook his head.
He considered it too dangerous.
"This is something I must handle myself."
Dumbledore's Animagus form was a falcon. While flying creatures weren't as nimble as rats or cats in tight tunnels, it was still far more practical than staying human.
"You will all stay here. I will go," Dumbledore said.
Sean leaned toward Hagrid and whispered, "I didn't even know what Professor Dumbledore's Animagus form was."
"Him? A falcon," Hagrid replied.
Even someone as powerful as Dumbledore transformed into a common animal. That only made Sean's own Animagus form seem even more unusual.
A two-headed dragon.
He had never heard of a wizard transforming into a magical creature—let alone something so terrifying. He could only assume it was related to his mysterious eyes.
Dumbledore acted immediately.
Besides Wormtail, he brought Fawkes with him. The phoenix served as a safeguard—its ability to travel through space meant it could rescue Dumbledore instantly if needed.
Hoff released the "Rose Thorns," allowing Wormtail to move again. Wormtail transformed back into a rat, while Dumbledore became a falcon.
To prevent escape, McGonagall cast a binding spell, tying the rat and the falcon together with a magical rope.
One rat, two birds entered the sewers.
Wormtail attempted to escape multiple times along the way, but the falcon's sharp vision and lethal talons made that impossible. One strike would tear his rat body apart. Not to mention the phoenix watching from behind.
Under Wormtail's guidance, Dumbledore finally reached the underground space of the Chamber.
Even he couldn't help but marvel.
Hogwarts still held countless secrets.
The chamber door was carved with serpents. Only Parseltongue could command them to open.
Dumbledore couldn't enter.
So he chose another approach.
Taking his wand from Fawkes's talons, he cast a powerful sealing charm on the entrance.
"If I can't enter, neither can Voldemort leave."
However, Voldemort had already abandoned the chamber. By now, he was likely beyond the boundaries of Hogwarts.
At dawn, Hoff left the school. No one knew where he went.
Dumbledore also departed early, taking Wormtail to the Ministry of Magic in London.
Wormtail would be interrogated—and then sent to Azkaban, where his long-overdue sentence awaited.
At the Ministry, Dumbledore encountered a restless Barty Crouch Sr.
Ever since his son's escape, the man had been unable to eat or sleep. His mental state had deteriorated so badly that he didn't even notice Dumbledore greeting him.
"Crouch," Dumbledore said calmly, "guess who I saw at Hogwarts last night?"
Crouch stiffened instantly.
He pulled Dumbledore aside, lowering his voice.
"You saw him? My son?"
"He looked quite healthy. Has the food in Azkaban improved?" Dumbledore replied.
Crouch fell silent.
His mind raced.
If Barty Jr.'s escape was exposed, not only would he lose his position—he might join Wormtail in Azkaban himself.
"I had no choice," Crouch said tightly. "His mother was terminally ill. She loved him so much… she was willing to die in his place."
He explained everything.
His wife had taken Polyjuice Potion, transforming into their son and taking his place in Azkaban, while Barty Jr. was smuggled home and kept under the Imperius Curse.
"You are a high-ranking official of the Ministry," Dumbledore said. "Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"
He didn't use Crouch's name—only his title.
"I told you the truth," Crouch said urgently. "You can't expose me. You owe me that. Last year—with Haierbo—I kept your secret."
His voice grew more frantic.
"If this is exposed, I'm finished. And Chris… if the Ministry investigates deeply, she'll be implicated too."
At the mention of one of his students, Dumbledore fell silent.
Crouch pressed on.
"Keep my secret, and I will keep yours."
Dumbledore looked at him for a long moment.
This old colleague… had changed.
Gone was the proud man of the past. In his place stood someone consumed by power, still unwilling to let go even after losing the race for Minister.
"…Very well," Dumbledore said at last. "I will keep your secret."
Crouch exhaled in relief.
"The Crouch family will remember your kindness."
Meanwhile, Wormtail sat in a holding room.
A small hatch opened.
A sandwich was tossed inside, landing on the table.
A classic British egg sandwich—simple, bland, but popular.
Wormtail didn't think twice. He assumed it was lunch.
Tearing open the packaging, he devoured it hungrily.
The Ministry treated prisoners decently—meals were always provided.
But just as he finished the last bite—
His heart suddenly seized.
He collapsed, writhing in agony.
Ten minutes later, a staff member opened the hatch again.
"Lunch time."
Another sandwich was thrown in, landing on Wormtail's body.
"Hey… what's going on? Peter, get up!"
No response.
Uneasy, the staff member opened the door.
"Oi—"
He nudged Wormtail.
The body rolled over.
Wormtail's eyes bulged, his face pale, white foam spilling from his mouth.
The last bite of sandwich… still hadn't been swallowed.
To Read 60+ ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146