Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

Chapter 524: “Moody”

Just as Evan and Caresius were negotiating the details of their cooperation, a dispute was taking place in the entrance hall on the ground floor.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione came out of the castle to the entrance hall, which was packed with people queuing for dinner.

“Have you heard what the Hufflepuff students said? Evan defeated Moody in the Defence Against the Dark Arts class!” said Harry excitedly. “That’s really incredible. How did he do it?” 

“I don’t know, but I hope Evan won’t get into trouble,” said Hermione worriedly.

“Moody’s the best Auror; Evan might have…”

Ron hadn’t finished his words yet when he heard a shout from behind.

“Weasley! Hey, Weasley!”

When they heard the sound, they turned and looked around. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something.

“What?” said Ron shortly.

“Your dad’s in the paper, Weasley!” said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that everyone in the packed entrance hall could hear. “Listen to this!

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

It seems as though the Ministry of Magic’s troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and stillunable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.” 

Malfoy looked up at Ron with malicious eyes.

“Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It’s almost as though he’s a complete nonentity, isn’t it?” he crowed.

Everyone in the entrance hall was listening now. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on:

Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers (“policemen”) over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of “Mad-Eye” Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody’s heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

“And there’s a picture, Weasley!” said Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. “A picture of your parents outside their house … if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn’t she?”

Ron was shaking with fury. Everyone was staring at him.

“How dare you say that to my mother? I’m going to kill you!” He shouted.

“Get stuffed, Malfoy,” said Harry. “Come on, Ron…”

“Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren’t you, Potter?” sneered Malfoy. “So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?”

“Shut up, Malfoy!” Harry and Hermione grabbed the back of Ron’s robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy.

“Weasley, you can’t try to kill someone just because they’re telling the truth.” Malfoy laughed triumphantly.

“You didn’t see your mother, Malfoy?” said Harry angrily, “That expression she’s got, like she’s got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?”

When he heard Harry, Malfoy’s pale face went slightly pink.

“Don’t you dare insult my mother!”

“Keep your fat mouth shut, then,” said Harry, turning to stop Ron.

BANG!!!

Several people screamed and Harry felt something hot graze the side of his face.

He quickly plunged his hand into his robe for his wand, but it was too late!

Malfoy’s next magic hit Harry and he flew backwards.

Hermione screamed loudly, and without Harry’s obstruction, Ron rushed across to Malfoy.

Goyle and Crabbe stopped him, and they wrestled and punched each other.

Ron was no opponent to them at all, he screamed in pain and his eyes were bruised.

He roared angrily, trying to knock Malfoy down, but he couldn’t reach him at all.

Looking at Ron’s miserable appearance, Malfoy sneered in front of him, very proud.

Everything happened so fast, and the entrance hall was a mess.

The next second, a powerful magical force flew from the stairs, separating the students who were scuffling together.

Evan ran down holding his wand. He had just arrived in the entrance hall with Caresius when he saw this scene.

He waved his wand to separate them and was ready to teach Malfoy a lesson.

But behind him, Caresius was faster than him, and all he heard was a second loud BANG, and a roar that echoed through the entrance hall. 

“OH NO YOU DON’T, LADDIE!” Caresius roared and walked past Evan. He now looked and sounded exactly like Mad-Eye Moody. It might be more appropriate to call him Moody.

Evan had just reached an agreement with him. In the school, he would keep Caresius’s secret, not telling anyone about his impersonation of Moody, and help him complete Voldemort’s mission. In turn he would provide Evan with information and the necessary help.

As a sign of sincerity, Caresius also spoke about the pact between him and Voldemort.

They made a pact with magic. Caresius would use magic to help Voldemort regain his strength, and Voldemort would help him and his people do something. After that, they would have nothing to do with each other.

Evan was very skeptical, though. He doubted whether Voldemort would keep his end of the agreement or even let the vampires go.

However, from the current situation, he and Caresius had the same goal, and there was no conflict, nor was there a need to argue about that.

Later, might have more in-depth communication, but in the spirit of cooperation between the two sides, which was the wisest choice.

“Despicable cowards, three against one, and sneak attacking!”

Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing.