Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 176 The Black Case

What are your plans for the future?

Upon returning to the Ministry of Magic, Dumbledore asked directly in the elevator where there were only two people.

Because Gilderoy Lockhart's trip to Azkaban was impossible without Cornelius Fudge's approval, Dumbledore, to maintain appearances of goodwill, politely escorted him in the elevator from the ninth basement level all the way to the minister's office on the first basement level. Then, Dumbledore requested to see Tyrell, and together they managed to snag an empty elevator to head to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

As soon as he entered the elevator, Dumbledore's smile vanished, and he asked coldly.

“I suddenly remembered that Sirius Black has a younger brother, Regulus Black, who is also a Death Eater.” Tierra was already used to Dumbledore’s cold attitude towards Gilderoy Lockhart. “So my next plan is to start with the Black family again. After all, in Voldemort’s eyes, the Black family is a family of loyal martyrs. If possible… I hope the Headmaster can apply to the Ministry of Magic. I want to go to the Black family’s old house—”

"Second floor, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, we've arrived."

"That's what the cold-hearted girl said."

Dumbledore and Gilderoy Lockhart stepped out of the elevator.

“Excuse my bluntness, Mr. Lockhart,” Dumbledore said as he walked, “are you looking for some Black family item?”

“No, I didn’t…” Tiera denied.

“That’s alright,” Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. “I happen to have another task I’d like you to keep an eye out for.”

"What mission?"

"About Sirius Black," Dumbledore said as they walked. "Sirius Black is the only Gryffindor student the Black family has produced in hundreds of years. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a traitor to the Black family. His parents, like most family members, followed the family tradition and were extreme pure-blood believers, taking pride in their pure blood and taking 'forever pure' as the family motto."

“But Sirius is not.” Dumbledore, accompanied by Gilderoy Lockhart, sat on a waiting bench in the public hall of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, where the passing crowd politely greeted him.

“Sit down, Mr. Lockhart, and I’ll tell you the story of Sirius Black,” Dumbledore said, patting the seat next to him.

Gilderoy Lockhart sat down helplessly beside Dumbledore.

Please click on the bench with your butt to receive the side quest.

"When Sirius Black was at school..." Dumbledore paused abruptly, then turned and said, "I remember you, Sirius, James, Lupin, and Peter..."

“Yes, Headmaster, I was two years younger than them, so the reputation of the Raiders Quartet has been with me throughout my student years.”

“Gidrolohart” said.

Yes, Gilderoy Lockhart was two years younger than the Raiders, so he was very familiar with their exploits at school.

However, with Voldemort's rise to power, Gilderoy Lockhart applied for a leave of absence in his fourth year and was hidden away in the Muggle world by his parents. It wasn't until four years later, when Voldemort lost power, that Gilderoy Lockhart returned to Hogwarts to continue his studies.

Many wizards in that era used this method to evade Voldemort's so-called "bloodline cleansing." Gilderoy Lockhart acquired his property and Muggle identity in the Muggle world during that time.

Unfortunately, by the time Gilderoy Lockhart returned to the wizarding world, everything had changed. In addition, the wizarding world was in dire need of manpower due to the Dark Lord's death, madness, crippling, and imprisonment. Therefore, someone like Gilderoy Lockhart could easily graduate by just muddling through.

“Oh, yes, that’s right, I remember now.” Dumbledore slapped his forehead and said, “But you took a leave of absence in your fourth year, I think… you probably hid in the Muggle world back then, right?”

"Yes, Mr. Principal."

“Then let me tell you about what happened after you left Hogwarts,” Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. “About two months after you took a leave of absence, a minor but significant piece of news broke in the wizarding world: Sirius Black, the eldest son of the ancient Black family, had a theoretical conflict with his parents, who valued pure-blood status, and broke with the family to go to the Potter family. James Potter’s parents treated him very well, like a second son to the Potters. This move was unanimously opposed by the Black family, especially his mother, and as a result, Sirius Black was removed from the family tree.” “So…”

"Therefore, I believe there are still doubts surrounding Sirius Black's betrayal of James Potter and his wife," Dumbledore said.

“Why? Just because of Sirius’s friendship with the James family?” Tierra said. “You should know better than anyone else how tempting power and authority are.”

“But he won’t,” Dumbledore said firmly.

“When Voldemort rose to power last time, I secretly formed an organization to fight against him, to… to…” Dumbledore sighed helplessly and continued, “to support the Ministry of Magic, which was already riddled with problems at the time.”

"But shortly after the Raiders quartet, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Porter, and Peter Pettigrew, joined my secret organization, it was like my secret organization was riddled with holes, with intelligence constantly leaking out."

"Because Sirius Black came from an ancient dark magic family, and his brother Regulus Black and cousin Bellatrix Rustrange were Voldemort's favorites at the time, I began to suspect that his break with his parents in sixth grade and his temporary stay with the Potters was a conspiracy planted by Voldemort. So he was the first one I tested," Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. "The result was obvious; he passed all my tests, and from then on, he gained my maximum trust. I even agreed to let him be the Potters' confidant."

“But he betrayed us in the end, didn’t he?” Tierra said.

“I have reservations about that,” Dumbledore said, rising slowly from the bench. “Let’s go, and talk as we walk. I’m sorry to have kept you so long; I think our little Tierra must be missing you.”

“This is what you need to be careful about next,” Dumbledore said.

“Do you want me to clear Sirius Black’s name?” Tierra asked.

“No,” Dumbledore said. “I think the trail with the Black family ends here, so I hope you can start somewhere else.”

As he spoke, Dumbledore took a photograph out of his pocket and handed it to Gilderoy Lockhart.

Tierra looked at the photo—

There was a short, chubby boy with a shy smile on his face.

“Peter Pettigrew,” Dumbledore said, “was another victim of the Black Affair. The Ministry of Magic’s version is that Sirius Black leaked the information, which Pettigrew discovered. Pettigrew went to stop him, but was killed by Sirius along with twelve Muggles in the explosion. For this, Peter Pettigrew was awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class. He himself was never found; only this was found at the scene—”

As he spoke, Dumbledore took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Gidrolohart" carefully opened the handkerchief—

Inside lay a withered little finger, lying quietly.

Tierra: ...

Seriously, officer? You kept all of this?

“I hope you can help me find out the truth about what happened back then. I always feel that Peter Pettigrew is not dead,” Dumbledore said. “Especially in recent years, since Harry entered school, this feeling has become stronger and stronger. I’m afraid that if my guess is correct and Peter Pettigrew faked his death back then, I’m afraid that he has already joined Voldemort’s side. As Harry enters the wizarding world, they may very well secretly harm Harry.”

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(End of this chapter)