Muddling Through to This Day, the Ritual Begins

"You don't mind if I take care of some bugs before we get down to business, do you?" Voldemort asked meaningfully.

"Ah, this..." Aaron glanced at Cedric and the others without making a sound, "Personally, I'm actually quite bothered by it."

"If you submit to me, I may spare their lives."

Aaron's lips twitched, and he rolled his eyes speechlessly. "I won't agree to that."

"I think so too, but I'll give you a chance to back out."

Let's get started! The Wormtail.

"Yes, Master." Peter Pettigrew immediately waved his Wand, "Cruciatus Curse."

"Cruciatus Curse!"

Aaron simultaneously unleashed the Cruciatus Curse, and the two identical spells collided in the air.

Red sparks flew continuously, and the aftershocks of the magical impact crushed the grass on the ground.

"Are you just going to stand by and watch? If you don't want to die, come and help me."

One sentence snapped Cedric and the others out of their daze. At this point, no matter how scared they were, they had to go, or their lives would be in danger.

Cedric hurriedly got up, aimed his Wand at the Wormtail, and hugged Voldemort.

After a brief tremor, his expression immediately became extremely firm.

"Sectumsempra!"

A giant snake, over three or four meters long, suddenly appeared in front of Voldemort. The Cedric Sectumsempra that struck it caused almost no damage.

"Hiss!"

"Spare his life, Nagini," Voldemort said calmly.

The giant snake flicked its tongue and rapidly approached Cedric.

Cedric was horrified and unleashed several different spells in succession, but they only managed to make the giant snake coil up slightly, leaving him feeling Despair.

Phoebe also joined in, working with Cedric to fight Nagini. The two unleashed spells simultaneously, barely managing to hold their own against Nagini.

"WC! What are you doing over there?" Aaron's expression changed drastically. If they were both being held back by a snake, then no one would be watching Krum.

What you fear will come to pass.

Krum's pupils began to turn white, and he approached Harry Potter like a walking corpse.

"Damn it! No sportsmanship!"

Aaron cursed inwardly while simultaneously kicking Harry hard.

Ignoring the pain in his forehead, Harry quickly grabbed his Wand, aimed it at Krum, and screamed, "Conviction..."

Stupefy.

A spell struck Harry Potter from the side, knocking him unconscious.

The Fake Moody limped over from a short distance away. He carefully took Voldemort, placed him on a soft cushion, and then knelt before him with an extremely devout expression, "Master."

Get up!

You did an excellent job, and I will give you a reward you never expected.

"It is my duty to be your master," the Fake Moody said respectfully, then stood up and looked meaningfully at Peter Pettigrew, who was competing with Aaron in magic, but showed no intention of helping him at all.

"Um... excuse me for asking, who are you?"

"You will know that the effects of the Polyjuice Potion will soon be felt."

Aaron seemed to be deep in thought, and then increased his magic output.

The crimson light became even more dazzling, instantly overpowering Peter Pettigrew Peter's Cruciatus Curse and striking him heavily.

"Ah!"

Peter Pettigrew Peter felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and let out a piercing scream.

"Useless," Voldemort said coldly. "Even with Magic Power superior to his, he was defeated."

"There are always differences between people," Aaron said dismissively. "His Magic Power is above mine, but my combat power is above his."

"Master," the Fake Moody looked at Voldemort, "I..."

"Go! Be careful."

"Yes!"

The Fake Moody chuckled coldly, threw away his cane, and launched a frenzied attack on Aaron.

The two fought for several rounds, their various spells clashing together in a dazzling display, and for a time neither could gain the upper hand.

Soon after, Peter Pettigrew Peter joined in. Facing two Archmage, Aaron, with only half his magic power, could only fight and retreat.

"Should we take back the Thought Form?" Aaron wondered to himself, feeling extremely hesitant.

This is his biggest trump card. If he plays this card, Peter Pettigrew Peter and the Fake Moody will be no match for him. However, it will also become more uncontrollable, because Voldemort has not personally taken action yet.

Despite his current frail appearance, his decision to show himself means he is absolutely confident of being resurrected.

This confidence stems from his strength; as long as he can wield the Wand, he remains the all-powerful Dark Lord.

Once their full strength is revealed, they'll have no choice but to go head-to-head with Voldemort.

It's uncertain whether he has any other tricks up his sleeve. To be conservative, the outcome is uncertain, but it's absolutely impossible for him to take the others with him when he leaves.

Just then, a Cedric suddenly came from not far away. Nagini had bitten his shoulder, and the venom had seeped into it, causing blood to flow out continuously.

Phoebe was also entangled by it, making it extremely difficult for her to breathe.

"That's enough," Voldemort said.

Fake Moody and Peter Pettigrew Peter tacitly stopped fighting, while Nagini brought Cedric and Phoebe over with him.

"Gaius, you haven't lost yet, it's you who have lost."

Aaron glanced at the injured Cedric and Phoebe, then at the unconscious Harry Potter and Viktor Krum, who was controlled by the enemy. He felt nothing but helplessness and frustration.

"If even one of you three had listened to me just now, we wouldn't be in this situation now."

Cedric and Phoebe exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads, tears welling in their eyes.

"Um... could you let the three of them leave?"

Do you think you're in a position to negotiate with me right now?

"You definitely want to negotiate with me," Aaron said confidently.

"Smart." Voldemort's voice was hoarse. "Let's wait a while before we start negotiating. After all, my current attitude is somewhat impolite."

It's best if you don't have any means of retaliation before then, don't you think?

Aaron pursed his lips and, quite willingly, threw his Wand on the ground.

"Expelliarmus."

The Fake Moody simply flung out two Wand, Wand Cedric and Phoebe.

"You've really ruined this for me," Phoebe said bitterly. "Competing for the championship has put my life in danger."

"Hey? I'm not taking the blame for this."

"I didn't do this to you, Harry Potter did."

"You could say that," the Fake Moody explained smugly. "In a sense, Gaius saved your lives."

My primary goal is for Harry Potter to win the trophy; in other words, you are all obstacles to him, and you are the ones I need to eliminate.

If it weren't for him, you would have perished in the dragon's jaws on the First Task.

I couldn't participate in the Second Task, not only because I couldn't go into the water, but also because Klein had already set up the competition projection.

The third competition was my last chance. Before the competition, I controlled Krum and gave him instructions at any time through those projections.

Originally, I planned for him to ambush you, or lure you to a place with many Fantastic Beasts... You can die by accident or murder, as long as it helps me achieve my goal.

"Gaius changed my mind. With all the Champion reaching for the trophy together, Harry Potter and Aaron Gaius will fall into the hands of the enemy. Your lives and deaths are less important."

"Did you hear me?" Aaron shrugged. "I didn't really trick you guys; on the contrary, I've helped you live in a daze until now."

"Enough with the nonsense, tie the three of them up."

"Yes, sir," said the Fake Moody, conjuring three ropes that bound Cedric, Phoebe, and Krum tightly.

He then made Harry float up and attach him to a sculpture next to the tombstone.

"Why didn't you tie me up?" Aaron asked, puzzled.

"Why tie me up if I can't?" Voldemort said matter-of-factly. "I know your abilities very well. Unless it's a special prison, I can't keep you in there."

Aaron chuckled, "Aren't you afraid I'll cause you trouble?"

"Nagini will be watching them, and if you dare to move, it will decisively bite off a person's neck."

Even if you don't save their lives, my servants will keep an eye on you.

Aaron's lips twitched slightly, and he chuckled awkwardly, "You've really thought this through."

"Wormtail, have you prepared what I need?"

"Of course, my darling." Peter Pettigrew nodded hastily and pushed a heavy stone cauldron in front of the grave.

The crucible was filled with a special solution, which was constantly boiling as flames crackled below it.

Harry's scars began to throb again, waking him from his slumber.

The moment he opened his eyes, he regretted it. Voldemort was about to be resurrected, and the scene he feared most was about to appear before his eyes.

"Calm down, what's meant to happen will happen," Aaron comforted him.

"Stop him! Don't worry about me! We absolutely cannot let him come back to life!"

"Shut up, you idiot who can't even figure out your own situation," the Fake Moody yelled. "Heart-piercing..."

"Stop!" Voldemort shouted. "He's mine, don't try to take him from me."

"Yes, sir."

"Professor Moody." Harry was incredulous, then quickly realized something. "No, you're not Professor Moody. What did you do to him?"

The Fake Moody's magic eye swirled around, and he said meaningfully, "Perhaps you'll see him after you die."

"He's still alive." Aaron rolled his eyes. "The fact that this guy is still using Polyjuice Potion means that Moody is still alive."

"What a disappointment! I was hoping to see his expression of Despair!"

However, I believe that opportunity will come soon.

"Hurry up, Wormtail, I can't wait."

"Yes." Peter Pettigrew trembled as he picked up Voldemort and placed him in the cauldron.

With a hissing sound, Voldemort was swallowed by the solution, which became even more viscous and turbid.

"Your father's bones, donated unintentionally, can give your son a second life." Peter Pettigrew pointed his Wand at Tom Riddle's grave.

A piece of Voldemort's father's bone flew out of the grave and landed in the cauldron.

The solution turned blue instantly, releasing a large amount of colored vapor.

The Champion were disheartened; they wanted to stop it, but were powerless to do so.

Then Peter Pettigrew fearfully stretched out his right hand, holding a knife in his left, and sobbed in terror, "The flesh of my servant, offered voluntarily, can bring your widow back to life."

Except for the Fake Moody who looked excited, everyone else turned their faces away.

With a scream, Peter Pettigrew's right hand fell into the cauldron, and the potion turned red, as if a pot of fresh blood was being boiled.