78 Chapter 78 "Busy Summer Vacation"
After capturing Nagini, Skyler's focus shifted to intensive research.
He temporarily set aside dark magic books, alchemy texts, and wizarding laws, immersing himself in the study of Nagini.
The research unfolded within a laboratory nestled in the suitcase's enchanted space.
Confined by an unyielding prohibition, Nagini lay weakly on the experimental platform, subjected to a myriad of methods under Skyler's scrutiny.
The research journey delved into dark and cruel steps, but they won't be detailed here for the sake of the reader's mental well-being.
Nagini endured considerable suffering during the process, with the laboratory often echoing the hissing of snakes.
Only Skyler and Aquila, an excellent research assistant, were privy to these sounds.
Skyler and Aquila harbored no tolerance for Nagini's plight.
Stripped of her memories and emotions as a human being after being fully transformed into a snake, Nagini could no longer be considered human.
In the original book, she remained a major antagonist, causing harm to many innocent lives, including the renowned historian Bathilda Bagshot.
In the midst of Nagini's torment and nearing her demise, Skyler's blood curse research reached completion.
A segment of flesh extracted from Nagini was successfully reversed using a sealing technique, restoring it to human flesh.
Throughout the extended research, Skyler stumbled upon some unexpected revelations.
Referring to Merlin's research notes on increasing magical power by implanting the blood of magical creatures, he discovered that Nagini's blood exhibited the described function.
However, due to Skyler himself having ingested a magic enhancement potion containing basilisk venom, Merlin's proposed magic enhancement method might not be applicable to him.
Skyler planned to use it on his followers after thorough examination.
As August approached, Dumbledore found himself immersed in a busy schedule.
The International Wizarding Federation convened for a meeting this summer, and as its president, Dumbledore shouldered the crucial task of mediating issues across various countries in the wizarding world.
Despite a decline in prestige following last year's events, Dumbledore's stature as the greatest wizard at the end of the century remained unshaken.
Not everyone shared this perspective, notably Rita Skeeter, a special correspondent for the Daily Prophet, who persistently ridiculed Dumbledore as an "Obsolete Senile Wizard" in her articles.
As Hogwarts's principal, Dumbledore immersed himself in a multifaceted workload, collaborating with the Department of International Cooperation, the Department of Sports, Boothbatten, and Durmstrang to orchestrate the forthcoming Triwizard Goblet of Fire event.
This revival marked the first successful reinstatement of the event since its suspension in 1792, emphasizing its substantial significance and the imperative role of Hogwarts as the primary organizer.
Recalling the catastrophic 1792 event hosted at Hogwarts, Dumbledore, though not present at the time, remained acutely aware of the disaster it unleashed—a rampant Cockatrice that injured three school principals and three foreign referees.
The principal during that period, Dexter Fusco, faced expulsion from the school board, tarnishing both his reputation and that of Hogwarts.
(Note: A Cockatrice is a monster with a chicken-headed dragon body, closely related to the basilisk. Its gaze can be fatal or petrifying, and its breath contains a poisonous drama.
Early European folklore differs from the basilisk, but various video games, especially Dungeons & Dragons, depict it as a creature with both chicken and snake features, leading to misconceptions.)
Simultaneously, Dumbledore undertook the task of persuading his old friend Aristo Moody to join Hogwarts as a teacher.
However, the challenges persisted, as faculty hiring decisions were no longer solely within his purview; approval from the Faculty Employment Committee was essential.
Although securing the support of the two deans and Ron Weasley posed no issues, he faced a dilemma with only three available seats, requiring at least two-thirds approval.
The strained relationship with Amelia Bones of the Bones family, inexplicably distant since the last semester, prompted Dumbledore's attempts to reconcile, but with no success. Consequently, he turned to Garley Greengrass.
In comparison to Malfoy and the Selwyn family, Greengrass, while supporting pure-blood supremacy, exhibited a less extreme stance.
After navigating challenges and making some concessions, Dumbledore successfully gained Moody's approval through the rigorous review process.
The root cause of all these troubles lies in the Hagrid and Mrs. Shabini incident, and Dumbledore senses an underlying conspiracy at play.
Initially suspecting Lucius Malfoy's covert machinations against him, Dumbledore believed it was an attempt to target Hagrid as a means to indirectly harm him.
As villains, the Malfoy family had reason to despise Dumbledore and might have orchestrated the entire affair.
However, upon initiating an intelligence network investigation, Dumbledore discovered the plot had no connection to the Malfoy family.
Mrs. Shabini harbored no grudges against him, and there was no apparent motive behind her actions.
Manipulating public opinion was no simple feat, considering the Daily Prophet and other British media outlets had hidden backers.
Dumbledore, pondering the complexity of the situation, realized it went beyond a straightforward scheme.
(Author's Note: Dumbledore's intelligence network includes various sources like portraits, Hog's head bars, Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, etc. In previous instances, his network provided information about Voldemort's whereabouts and even unearthed the complete history of Tom Riddle. Locating Mrs. Shabini proved to be a challenging task.)
Meanwhile, Voldemort is occupied with tasks in the aftermath of losing Nagini.
He compels Peter Pettigrew to hunt more venomous snakes for him to refine the potent venom.
During Pettigrew's mission to gather information, he coincidentally encounters Bertha Jorkins, who was staying at a hotel while visiting relatives.
Jorkins, an employee of the Sports Department at the Ministry of Magic and Ludovic Bagman's subordinate had discovered a secret at Crouch House.
When she went there to obtain Old Barty Crouch's signature on some documents, she was subjected to a powerful Forgetfulness Charm, leaving her confused and forgetful.
Deceiving her easily, Pettigrew lured her into the jungle, bringing her before Voldemort.
Realizing she had been deceived, Jorkins struggled in vain and was swiftly captured.
Delving into her mind, Voldemort keenly sensed traces of the Forgetfulness Charm.
Anticipating its significance, he recognized the value of the memories erased by the Forgetfulness Charm.
So, Voldemort demonstrated another little-known magical effect of the Cruciatus Curse to Peter Pettigrew—the ability to extract hidden memories from the soul by inducing pain.
Although human memories are generally stored in the brain, deeper memories are concealed in the soul.
The Fidelius Charm uses this principle to safeguard secrets.
Voldemort relentlessly tormented Jorkins, employing the Cruciatus Curse for a full day and night.
Remarkably, he expertly gauged the torture's intensity, successfully breaking the Fidelius Charm without driving her to madness.
Under his interrogation, Jorkins revealed secrets about Barty Crouch Jr.'s survival, Dumbledore's plan to hire Moody, and the upcoming Triwizard Tournament.
A new conspiracy began to take shape in Voldemort's mind.
After extracting her last bit of value, Bertha Jorkins, having served her purpose, met her demise with Avada Kedavra being casted, followed by Voldemort chanting an ancient mysterious spell and emitting a long hissing scream, as if his soul had been torn apart—terrifying Peter Pettigrew.
In contrast to the busyness of others, Harry enjoyed a leisurely summer.
Since the Dursleys learned about his murderer godfather, Harry's quality of life improved significantly.
Throughout the break, he exchanged letters with Sirius using colorful tropical birds, indicating Sirius's relocation to a tropical island in southern Europe.
Hermione, however, adopted a quieter demeanor during the summer.
Almost confined to her room, she spent most of her time reading.
Mrs. Granger, noticing the consistent open page in her daughter's book, tried to offer condolences but sensed that Hermione was preoccupied.
Mr. Granger tried to lighten the mood with jokes at dinner, yet Hermione remained unresponsive, prompting Mrs. Granger to subtly halt her husband's attempts.
After dinner, the mother and daughter found themselves alone in Hermione's bedroom.
"Sweetheart, is something bothering you?" Mrs. Granger's voice was gentle, inviting Hermione to open up.
Hermione hesitated, initially tempted to respond with a simple "I'm fine." However, she realized she couldn't conceal her feelings from her mother.
"Mom, I..." Hermione began, grappling with where to start, her voice breaking into sobs.
Mrs. Granger enveloped her daughter in a comforting embrace. "It's okay. Take your time. Just know that Mom loves you and will support you whenever you're ready."
As Hermione wiped away her tears, she asked, "Mom, have you and Dad ever had arguments?"
"Of course, dear—every couple has disagreements," Mrs. Granger replied with a mischievous smile. "But I know the boundaries, and I know how to bring your dad around."
"Listen, my dear, conflicts between people with different backgrounds and experiences are inevitable. Even the closest individuals can't entirely avoid disagreements. What matters is how you actively address it."
Hermione blinked, reluctant to ask, "Are you okay with it?"
"Absolutely. If the person is important to you, you can take the initiative to mend the relationship. It might involve making changes and compromises. As for the worth, it depends on your assessment. You're a clever girl, Hermione; you'll figure it out," Mrs. Granger said with a reassuring smile.
Hermione drifted into contemplation as scenes from the past replayed in her mind—the boy defeating the troll, revealing Nicolas Flamel's identity, persuading her to write to Dumbledore for Ron, holding her hand on the high platform, comforting her in the restroom on a tearful night, and standing by her side during Buckbeak's trial.
The mental imagery froze when the boy, Harry, and Ron faced Slytherin students, and the boy ruthlessly spoke of a breakup.
Hermione bit her lower lip, seemingly reaching a decision.
At the onset of summer vacation, Meredith relocated to Greengrass Manor.
Three semesters later, she had shed the burdens of the past, forsaking meaningless pride.
Her decision to embrace the Greengrass family proved beneficial for both herself and her newfound family.
Mr. Greengrass extended a warm welcome to Meredith, heavily influenced by Daphne.
However, his prior friendship with the late Mr. Shafiq and Meredith's status as an orphan also played a significant role. Eventually, he chose to formally adopt Meredith as his goddaughter.
They would be like father and daughter, alongside his two biological daughters, Daphne and Astoria, transforming their relationship into a harmonious familial bond.
Mr. Greengrass invited both Meredith and her house-elf, Dino, to reside with them at the manor, fostering a sense of unity.
For Meredith, Daphne, and Astoria, this summer carried a crucial mission—learning Occlumency.
Considering them integral to the future, Skyler emphasized the necessity of Occlumency as a vital skill.
Beyond guarding against mental intrusion, Occlumency could also serve as a defense against the ImperiusCurse.
With Voldemort's resurgence, the looming threat of chaos in the UK, and the pervasive use of the Imperius Curse, learning Occlumency became imperative.
Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade Village, the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts, and major wizarding families could all fall under the Imperius Curse's influence.
Mastering Occlumency was the key to safeguarding oneself from such control.
Skyler provided them with the fundamental principles and experiences of Occlumency, even acquiring a Boggart through the black market for their practical exercises.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the three diligent girls devoted themselves to daily practice from the onset of summer vacation.
By the end of July, they had made significant progress.
While their skills might not yet be sufficient to counter a master-level Legilimency or the Imperius Curse, they had surpassed the level achievable by the Boggart.
