22 Ch. 22: Wormtail's Fireplace Call
As Jon exited the Room of Requirement, his countenance was devoid of the usual satisfaction. Clearly, his exploration of the room had not yielded the results he had hoped for.
While he had discovered a few intriguing items, most were of no use to him.
Given his current power, on par with Voldemort's, it was unsurprising that the objects secreted away by Hogwarts students held little value for him. Many of these hidden treasures were not magical artifacts, but rather personal items such as diaries, essentially things they wished to keep hidden from prying eyes.
"Well, at least it wasn't a complete waste," Jon consoled himself.
As he traversed the corridor, a chilling voice echoed from behind him: "Professor Moody, what brings you to this corridor at such an hour?" The voice was cold, detached, and devoid of emotion.
Jon spun around to find a gaunt wizard, cloaked in black, with long, dark hair, regarding him with an indifferent gaze.
"Professor Snape!" Jon exclaimed.
Severus Snape, a pivotal character in the film, was the head of Slytherin House and the youngest to ever hold the position. Despite his outward hostility towards Harry, he had been secretly protecting him. Back then, he was assigned by Dumbledore to infiltrate Voldemort's ranks, playing a crucial role in the war between the Aurors and the Death Eaters.
At this juncture, Snape, unless otherwise occupied, was likely targeting Jon. Snape had long coveted the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher position, having applied for it several times, only to have it snatched away by Jon.
"Apologies, I seem to have lost my way. I was searching for a restroom," Jon explained.
Snape retorted, his voice deep and resonant, "Indeed? However, as far as I'm aware, Professor Moody, your office is not on this floor. If you needed a restroom, why not use one on your own floor?"
Jon responded with a smile, "Ah, yes! But it's been a while since I've been back at Hogwarts. I thought I'd take advantage of the lull in classes to familiarize myself with the place again, hence my presence on this floor."
Jon then inquired, "By the way, Professor Snape, could you direct me to the nearest restroom? I mean, on this floor, of course."
Snape glared at Jon but remained silent. At that moment, a portrait on the wall came to life, the woman within gesturing in the direction of the restroom.
"Thank you, madam!" Jon expressed his gratitude, bid Snape farewell, and limped off in the indicated direction. After a brief visit to the restroom, Jon returned to his quarters.
Once the door was securely locked, he released the Niffler. The creature promptly retrieved another bag from its special pocket, which Jon emptied onto the floor.
A variety of tools, herbs, and other items spilled out, all potentially useful finds from the Room of Requirement.
As he began to inventory the items, a peculiar noise from the fireplace caught his attention. The flames seemed to be behaving oddly.
A sense of unease washed over Jon. He quickly downed the remaining Polyjuice Potion, suspecting something was amiss.
As he watched, the flames flickered and descended, revealing a human face within.
Despite the distortion caused by the flames, Jon instantly recognized the plump face, sinister eyebrows, and rodent-like eyes.
It was Wormtail!
"Hey! Barty, how are you doing?" Wormtail's voice emanated from the flames.
This was a form of communication in the wizarding world, using flames as a medium for face-to-face conversation. It was akin to a video call, albeit less convenient. Jon recalled Sirius using this method to contact Harry.
Jon hadn't anticipated Wormtail reaching out at this juncture. He was relieved he hadn't reverted to his original form, which would have blown his cover.
After ensuring the potion would prevent his transformation, Jon limped towards the fireplace and retorted, "Have you lost your mind, Wormtail?! This is Hogwarts! Are you trying to expose me?!"
"Calm down, Barty! This is the master's command!" Wormtail's voice was grating, "By the way, could you revert to your original form? That old madman's face is unsettling."
"Deal with it!" Jon snapped, "I must remain vigilant. If anyone were to glimpse my true form, it could jeopardize the master's resurrection!"
He took a deep breath, then asked, "What did the master send you to tell me?"
Wormtail replied, "Ah, yes! Let me remember?"
"Quit playing games!" Jon snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"Alright, alright! The master mentioned that one of his soul fragments was destroyed. He wasn't sure who was responsible, but he's now fairly certain that one of them is at Hogwarts!" Wormtail explained.
"One of them?" Jon asked, puzzled.
Upon hearing Wormtail mention the soul fragments, Jon realized he was referring to the Horcruxes. Presumably, Voldemort had sensed the destruction of one of his Horcruxes. Jon had just destroyed another in the Room of Requirement, leading Voldemort to conclude that Jon was at Hogwarts.
But Wormtail had said "them". Had the real Mad-Eye Moody also managed to destroy a Horcrux?
'This old guy is efficient!' Jon thought, a thrill of excitement coursing through him.
Wormtail continued, "Yes, the master believes there's more than one person involved. He has decided to assign you another task. Of course, if you execute it well, you will be rewarded."
"It's my honor!" Jon responded.
"Find that man!" Wormtail commanded, his face beginning to fade.
"This is the new mission the master has given you. While carrying out your previous assignment, locate the individual who dared to oppose the master. Determine if Dumbledore is involved..."
Wormtail's voice trailed off until his face was completely consumed by the flames.
Once Wormtail had left, Jon let out a sigh of relief.
"It seems I must maintain Moody's appearance at all times, even while sleeping, in case Wormtail contacts me again," Jon murmured.
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