Chapter 697 - 698: Became a Vampire; Evil Magic

"I think I've been here before," Harry said slowly, his voice trembling slightly.

"You've been here?" Cedric exclaimed in amazement, eyeing Harry with suspicion.

"Yes, I've been to this place, but in a dream," Harry continued rapidly, his eyes darting around. "I remember the shape of that low mountain, the Chinese yew tree, and a fine old house on that hillside."

Harry could never forget that dream; it had felt incredibly real and left him with a deep sense of unease. He didn't need to mention the presence of Voldemort, the vampires, and the menacing statue of the evil god nearby. All of it could be real, not just illusions or dreams.

The surroundings were eerie and silent, and Harry couldn't help but shiver. "I don't like this place," Cedric said, his voice filled with unease. "No matter what's going on, we must find a way back. Both of you stand still. I'll start by untying the string."

"No, you must leave here quickly!" Evan interjected, gasping for breath. He hadn't expected Cedric to get involved. If Cedric left now, he might still have a chance to escape. But Evan didn't have the time to explain; Cedric needed to leave immediately. Finding any direction to escape would be their best chance. Voldemort couldn't possibly catch them if they ran.

"Leave here?" Cedric retorted. "Enough with the nonsense. I can't just leave you tied up in this damned place. Besides, I don't even know where 'here' is. If you have any information, now's the time to share it."

Cedric paused, drew his wand swiftly, and exclaimed, "Someone's coming!"

They squinted anxiously as a shadow emerged from the thick fog, approaching them step by step. Could it be Voldemort? Or Kreshkov? Evan couldn't see the person's face clearly, but their gait and the object they held suggested something.

The person was tall and wore a hooded cape that obscured their face. As they drew closer, Evan noticed they were carrying something resembling a baby.

"This must be Voldemort," Evan thought. He discreetly grasped his wand just as Harry and Cedric anxiously contemplated their options.

"If Voldemort intends to kill Cedric, we have to act now," Evan decided. Although it wasn't ideal, he couldn't stand by and let Cedric die. Dumbledore might have made such a sacrifice, but Evan couldn't. The case had taken an unexpectedly dire turn.

Besides Evan, Harry suddenly shivered uncontrollably, his scar causing him excruciating pain. It was the most intense pain he had ever experienced as if his head were about to explode. He fell to the ground, his bound hands covering his face, unable to see anything.

Because of the linked string, Evan was dragged down to the ground alongside Harry.

"Get in the way!" a callous voice commanded.

In an instant, a green flash pierced through everyone's eyelids—a Killing Curse. Cedric, apparently frozen in shock, remained in place. Harry's scar throbbed with agony, and he felt nauseous. Then, the pain subsided, and Harry slowly opened his eyes, bewildered and horrified.

Before him lay Cedric, his limbs outstretched on the ground, but he wasn't dead. His eyes were still wide open, devoid of life, as though he were in perpetual surprise.

Harry's brain couldn't fully grasp the horrifying sight before him. He could only think that it was unreal. Cedric had just died right in front of him.

Who was next? Gabrielle, or perhaps himself? Fear began to tighten its grip on Harry.

When the green light struck, Evan moved to intervene but stopped suddenly. The string that had previously loosened had bound him and Harry together again.

Cedric hadn't died; he had been struck unconscious by the curse. The Killing Curse had missed its mark, allowing Cedric to survive. The next thing they knew, a shadowy figure emerged and vanished into thin air with Cedric in tow.

"Kreshkov!" the callous voice exclaimed, growing colder. "Give me the boy, Dark Lord. I'll deal with him. I suggest you begin that spell immediately. Harry Potter is here, and I'm sure you're eager to proceed."

"You're right, I can't wait any longer," Voldemort replied with an icy tone.

Other than Harry Potter, Voldemort had no interest in the others present. He didn't care about their lives. If Kreshkov could guarantee Cedric's fate, he could take the boy away.

Kreshkov inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment and, carrying Cedric, vanished into thin air. Before he left, he seemed to take special notice of Evan as if recognizing his disguise.

As Kreshkov carried Cedric away, Evan wondered what Kreshkov had in mind. Would he turn Cedric into a vampire? Evan had heard rumors about such practices while undercover at Hogwarts. Becoming a vampire was certainly preferable to death.

The man in the hooded cape gently set Harry down and began to approach Evan and Harry. Evan finally got a good look at the man, who had an unnaturally pale face devoid of color. Evan didn't know this person but suspected he might be another vampire or dark wizard.

As the man drew nearer, he continued to drag Harry and Evan toward the center of the open area, surrounded by black weeds. Harry struggled desperately, but Evan remained motionless paralyzed by fear.

"Stay still, Gabrielle. I'll protect you," Harry managed to mumble, his voice weak, as he fought to move his legs.

The cloaked figure forcefully placed a crude gag in Harry's mouth, silencing him.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As the cloaked figure filled Harry's mouth, he lost the ability to make any sound. Bound and helpless, his struggles proved futile. Shivering uncontrollably, he felt the cloaked man's hand reaching out towards him.

Beneath the hood, the man's breathing was rapid and faint, and Harry continued to resist feebly. But the man struck him, forcing him to remain still. Restlessness and humiliation hung heavy, and Harry's muffled cries were inaudible.

Standing behind Harry, Evan intervened, urging him to calm down and cease his futile struggles. Resistance was useless, and they could only wait for Voldemort's return.

The cloaked figure inspected the securely bound string, satisfied that Harry couldn't move. He then turned his attention away from them. Leaving them in the thick patch of grass, he said nothing and quickly departed.

Harry raised his head slightly, peering through the thick mist. Before them, he saw a stone cauldron with Voldemort beneath it, carrying a burden that resembled a baby. Voldemort appeared restless as if he was about to create trouble.

Harry stared at the cauldron in fear and desperation. His scar throbbed with pain, and he suddenly realized he didn't want to see what was inside that burden. He prayed that it wouldn't open.

The impending horror was almost unbearable. Harry realized he and Gabrielle might end here, just as Cedric had. Their corpses might be taken away for dark experiments by evil vampires.

Then, Evan heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Looking down, he saw a large snake slithering through the grass. The snake moved closer to them, its tongue flicking as it eyed Evan and Harry, appearing as though it might try to swallow them whole.

A hissing sound emanated inside the burden, causing the snake to recoil slightly. Reluctantly, it withdrew a short distance, still eyeing them hungrily.

The cloaked figure then began pouring water into the cauldron, creating a splash of sounds. The stone cauldron was massive, larger than any Evan had ever seen, big enough for an adult to sit in.

The thing inside the burden began moving vigorously as if trying to escape. Suddenly, green flames leaped up from beneath the cauldron with a crackling sound, engulfing the responsibility. The liquid inside the pot grew hotter, its surface boiling and sparking like flames.

The vapor thickened, and the surrounding mist grew denser, obscuring the figure by the cauldron. The burden beneath it moved sharply, and they heard Voldemort's cold and ruthless voice.

"Quick!"

The entire surface of the liquid was now sparkling like diamonds.

"Burnt, master!" the figure's voice quivered, filled with fear. "Now..."

The callous voice interrupted, "It's time."

The figure tore open the burden, revealing its contents. Before Evan's eyes, the sight that unfolded was horrifying, far worse than any horror imaginable.

The burden had been opened, revealing what seemed to be a grotesque and terrifying sight. Voldemort appeared as a twisted, snake-like creature, unlike any ordinary baby. It had no hair, and its skin resembled scales, a sickly, meat-like color. Its limbs were thin and weak, and its face was nothing like a normal child's. Instead, it had a flat, snake-like visage with two sparkling red eyes.

It seemed utterly helpless, extending its feeble arms as if seeking comfort from the figure. The figure held Voldemort at the cauldron's edge, and the liquid splashes illuminated Voldemort's eerie, flat face.

Then, Voldemort was lowered into the cauldron with a hiss. His body hitting the cauldron's base was audible even from a distance.

"It has begun," Evan muttered, clutching his wand tightly.

Harry also prayed fervently for Voldemort to drown in the cauldron. The pain in the scar on his forehead was almost unbearable, and he begged for Voldemort's demise.

The cloaked figure began to chant in a low, trembling voice, raising his wand. He closed his eyes and loudly said, "Father's bone, unintentionally given, may your son be reborn!"

A tiny wisp of dust from the ground responded to his summons, rising into the air before gently descending into the cauldron. The liquid inside burst into bright red and blue colors, emitting a poisonous glow.

Evan recalled that Voldemort had sought out his father's grave. Still, Voldemort had already taken the object before they could reach it. All that remained were destroyed tombstones. Voldemort had been planning this ritual since encountering vampires in the Albanian forest.

Before the cauldron, the figure's body vibrated intensely within the flames, and he paused briefly. Then, he reached into his cloak and withdrew a long, thin, silver dagger. His voice trembled as he spoke.

"The flesh of a servant, willingly given, shall make your master reborn."

He extended his right hand and tightly gripped the dagger with his left. With a swift motion, he slashed his right hand.

Evan and Harry instinctively closed their eyes, not wanting to witness the gruesome act. They heard the agonizing screams and the sickening thud of something falling to the ground, followed by a splash as whatever it was landed in the cauldron. The figure had sacrificed his arm, drenched in blood.

Evan had read about such ceremonies in countless dark magic books, but witnessing it firsthand was a different level of horror. This ritual surpassed typical dark magic, constituting the darkest and most terrifying ceremony imaginable.

In pain and fear, Harry struggled to breathe in the thin air. The figure's dagger had also struck him, and the pain was unbearable. In the cauldron, the liquid had turned fiery red and blue, casting a glaring light that caused them to shut their eyes tightly.