Mysterious Figure

Although the Order of the Order of the Phoenix tried their best to conceal it, the news of Dumbledore's injury inevitably reached Skylar's ears. It's worth noting that Skylar had three spies within the Order of the Phoenix: Nymphadora, Snape, and Hestia Jones.

According to the intelligence sent back by Jones, Dumbledore displayed his might in the Fishein Wilderness, single-handedly fighting against Grand Sorcerer, but he was ultimately burned on his left hand by Morgan le Fay's "Hellfire" due to a moment of carelessness.

Afterwards, Snape also informed him in a secret letter that Dumbledore had sought his help for treatment, but the wounds caused by the flames were unusually strange. Although Snape had done his best to treat the wounds, he was unable to completely remove the evil power from them and could only barely control the injuries and prevent them from worsening.

Having personally experienced this move, Skylar knew very well that Hellfire, known as the demonic flames summoned from hell, was an ultimate bloodline magic that combined burning, curses, and karma. Except for a very few lucky cases, it was basically impossible to completely cure.

If he hadn't relied on the "Snake-Shedding Technique," a life-saving secret skill, to shed his burning, karmic skin, he probably wouldn't have met a good end. Dumbledore, like himself, was someone tainted by immense karma in this world, and it was foreseeable that Dumbledore's current situation was far from optimistic.

Skylar was almost certain that Dumbledore's full strength would be significantly affected. Therefore, from now on, without Dumbledore, Skylar could no longer expect the Order of the Phoenix to contribute much in future wars.

Fortunately, although the cost was heavy, intelligence indicated that the enemy suffered even greater losses, with the pirate legion losing at least thirty men, including the elite Auror- level Ge Lang who was killed on the spot.

Another piece of information surprised Skylar.

The operation led by Selwyn, Yaxley, and Crouch to subdue the Travers Family has failed.

The other party was clearly prepared, having abandoned the ancient manor that had been passed down for centuries before the operation even began. All the valuable artifacts, accumulated books, and even the core items of the magical heritage of the clan were swept away. Only empty corridors and silent dust remained in the manor, without a single person in sight.

Skylar could only surmise that this ancient family had made a desperate choice—to join the increasingly powerful Death Eaters. After all, Travers was one of the eleven Death Eaters who had escaped from Azkaban a few months earlier.

Thinking of this, Skylar, who was still working at the Ministry of Magic, reached into his briefcase and took out a piece of parchment from a secret compartment. He spread it out on the table and carefully cast a decryption spell to reveal the hidden text on the parchment.

His gaze fell below the index marked "Death Eaters." The names of Bagman, Gibbon, Jugson, and Fenrir had all been crossed out. He hesitated for a moment, then picked up a quill and began to fill in the blanks with the names of important members of the Travers Family, including Rodan Travers, the former Department of Magical Transportation.

(From now on, there are two Travers among the Death Eaters. One is "Old Travers," who just escaped from Azkaban, and the other is Rodan Travers, the original head of the family. This is to clarify the distinction.)

Then, his gaze swept past the lone Morgan le Fay name under the "Shadow of the Magic Dragon" index and came to the "Walpurgis" section below, where he crossed out Ge Lang's name with a quill pen.

After finishing these tasks and putting the parchment away, he rubbed his temples, a hint of worry on his face.

At this point in the original story, Voldemort was not only frequently carrying out terrorist attacks to force the Ministry of Magic to submit, but also using the Imperius Curse to expand his manpower in an attempt to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic. Only then did he capture Ollivander and Florean Fortescue, search for the Elder Wand to enhance its magic, and arrange for Draco to assassinate Dumbledore.

But Voldemort is too quiet right now...

It was unbelievably quiet.

Apart from organizing an assassination attempt against Amelia, the rest of the operations were nothing more than small-scale attacks against ordinary wizards and civilians, and had long lost their former deterrent power.

Draco was clearly no longer capable of assassinating Dumbledore for Voldemort; Skylar's preemptive action of hiding and protecting Gregorovitch had severed the Elder Wand's trail; as for infiltrating the Ministry of Magic, that was even more impossible. Unlike Dumbledore's approach of letting the Ministry of Magic turn a blind eye in the original books, Skylar not only placed many trusted confidants within the Ministry of Magic but also personally oversaw the power center, ensuring that no movement within the Ministry of Magic could escape his notice.

So the question arises: Voldemort still has at least nine core Death Eaters, the newly recruited Fudge faction, an unknown number of puppet wizards controlled by the Imperius Curse, Dementor, Ogre, Banshee, and the Travers Family recently joined him. His manpower is no less than in the original stories, so why is he so quiet and inactive? What is he plotting now?

He had also asked Snape, but it seemed that Snape hadn't gained much trust from him this time, and he hadn't obtained much useful information.

The most troublesome enemies are those that lurk in the shadows, with no intelligence or indication of their movements.

Moreover, he had a deep-seated premonition that the Death Eaters, or perhaps Walpurgis, were plotting something astonishing. At his level of cultivation, his intuition was often accurate.

As a skilled player, he couldn't allow himself to fall into a passive position.

First, he was wary of the possibility of assassination of important figures on their side—he had solemnly reminded Yaxley, Selwyn, Crouch, Fawley, Slughorn, Carrow, Scrimgeour to strengthen the defenses of their homes and hire more security personnel.

Next... well, I'll still have to make a trip to Hogwarts.

Hogwarts Castle, North Tower.

The wind and snow continued to fall outside the window, but Trelawney's office was much tidier than usual. The heavy curtains were only half drawn, the brazier burned steadily, and there was no excessive incense in the air, instead carrying a calm and solemn atmosphere.

Trelawney stood by the table, already waiting.

When Skylar entered, she did not react dramatically; she simply nodded slightly, her expression focused and clear-headed.

"You've come at the perfect time," she said, her tone steady, as if she had already anticipated Skylar's arrival. "I've already cleared away any distractions that might interfere with the Divination."

Skylar took off his gloves and walked to the opposite side of her.

"I need to know what Voldemort and Walpurgis have been up to lately," he said bluntly, "But I'm not going to risk letting you see them directly."

Trelawney nodded, unsurprised by this assessment.

"It points directly to the fate of Grand Sorcerer, but there are too many variables, and the backlash is uncontrollable." She looked up at Skylar, her tone serious. "Even I wouldn't try it lightly."

"So let's change the anchor point," Skylar said.

"Who is your choice?" Trelawney asked softly.

"It seems you were prepared," Trelawney said with a slight smile, a shrewd glint in her eyes. She reached out and took the doll, placing it in front of the crystal ball with precise and restrained movements, without any unnecessary ritualistic gestures.

Then, Trelawney took a deep breath and placed his hands back on the crystal ball.

The Divination began quietly.

The mist inside the crystal ball didn't suddenly surge, but rather seemed to be slowly stirred by an invisible hand, with the scene unfolding layer by layer.

Skylar saw a figure.

In the vast expanse of white snow, Bellatrix, still looking frantic, wasn't wandering aimlessly; her steps were clear and her direction firm. Beside her was her husband Rodolphus Lestrange, his face grim and alert.

Behind the two was a very blurry Black Shadow. Judging from its shape, it should be Morgan le Fay, because as a mage, Trelawney's Inner Eye power was insufficient to see her true face.

"Morgan..." Skylar's expression was solemn. Bellatrix hadn't followed her master Voldemort, but instead left Great Britain with Morgan at this critical juncture. Clearly, they weren't going on a snowy outing.

As a fourth figure slowly appeared in front of them, Trelawney's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, because even the figure in front of them was as blurry as Morgan's!

"Not a Britain wizard. A very unfamiliar aura..." she whispered, "I sensed the aura of Dark Arts emanating from him; he's a powerful dark wizard. And..."

"And what?" Skylar couldn't help but ask when Trelawney hesitated.

Trelawney didn't answer immediately. A strange expression appeared on her face. After hesitating for a long time, she slowly spoke, "I don't know how to describe it. There's a very strange power about him... It makes me very uncomfortable to peer into his field of vision, as if... I've touched some forbidden existence... It's as if this isn't a power from the mortal realm..."

The two fell silent.

Meanwhile, the images inside the crystal ball continued to unfold.

Snowflakes filled the sky.

The frozen lake and forest are surrounded by mountains.

"I can feel it—in the North," Trelawney said with certainty, "And not just any North."

Skylar stared intently at the projection on the crystal ball—he was quite familiar with this peculiar terrain; wasn't this the snowfield near Durmstrang? What were they doing there?

In the original story, Voldemort did indeed hunt Karkaroff, but that was because Karkaroff abandoned Durmstrang and ran away alone. In this world, after Karkaroff decided to follow him, Voldemort sealed his Dark Mark, allowing him to remain in Durmstrang, hidden by Mahoutokoro, so that even Voldemort could not find him.

Now, Voldemort didn't come; instead, Morgan and the Mysterious Man arrived, accompanied by only two people. They didn't seem to be there to search for Durmstrang's whereabouts, which puzzled Skylar.

Trelawney did not delve any further, but decisively ended the Divination.

The fog dissipated quickly.

Trelawney took a step back, his breathing slightly heavy and labored, but he was still relatively conscious, though he seemed to be nearing his limit.

However, for Skylar, this intelligence was sufficient.

"Thank you for your guidance, Professor." Skylar politely rose to take his leave. Trelawney simply nodded slightly without speaking; she had just exhausted her strength and was inevitably feeling mentally fatigued.

The camera then moves to Ella Cottage.

The fireplace burned with a low, steady flame, casting slow, flickering shadows on the stone wall. Outside the window, the night was deep, and the sound of the wind was blocked out by the barrier. The whole cabin was like a carefully sealed chess piece, quiet yet harboring deadly intent.

Skylar stood before his desk, sealing and folding several parchments one by one. Spread out on the table was a newly compiled map of Northern Europe intelligence—snowfields, mountains, waterways, and the black dot where Durmstrang was located, all firmly marked with tiny magical symbols.

"Sasha."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable clarity.

With a loud bang, a slender figure appeared beside the fireplace. It was an elderly yet vigorous House Elf, with erect ears, neat clothes, and a solemn expression.

"Master summons Sasha."

It knelt on one knee, its forehead almost touching the ground, and said in a respectful and steady voice, "Please give your orders."

Skylar turned around and looked at it, his tone calm, but noticeably more cautious than usual.

"Sasha, I have some classified information here that you need to deliver personally," Skylar said in a deep voice. "Contact Magina of the Northern European Troll Joint Hunting Force, Ji Lufan of the North Sea Viking Corps, and Karkaroff of Durmstrang. Inform them that enemy tracks have appeared in the Northern Europe snows. Among the enemies is a Grand Sorcerer, and another the Mysterious Man whose strength I don't even know. Tell them to be on high alert and keep a close watch—"

Sasha responded softly, "Yes, Sasha will certainly convey Master's meaning completely."

Skylar let out a soft breath, then his tone shifted, becoming calmer and sharper. "The second batch of notifications is to be sent to Germany."

Sasha subconsciously tensed up a bit.

"Notify the Hohenheim Family and Vogel Family families in Germany, Carl stationed in the Black Forest, and Helmut of the Ashen Blade."

With each name spoken, Skylar's wand would lightly glide across the map on the table, and one red mark after another would slowly appear on the map.

"Tell them to prepare for battle and be ready to march north at any time." Four sets of red arrows slowly appeared, advancing towards Northern Europe on the map, as if they were planning their advance.

Sasha's voice was deep and firm. "Sasha will make them understand that this is a summons personally issued by their master."

A faint smile suddenly appeared on Skylar's lips. It wasn't a smile of pleasure, but rather a cold, calculating one.

"One last thing." Skylar looked up, his grey eyes gleaming sharply in the firelight. "Go and inform Stahlmann at the Auror Office in Germany."

"Tell him to share the intelligence with the International Aurors Division of the International Confederation of Wizards," Skylar said casually, yet every word was sharp. "Bring them in too."

He paused, as if confirming the final move in the game.

"As for the Order of the Phoenix— " Skylar chuckled, lowering his voice, "They won't miss something like this. Once they confirm the presence of Death Eaters, they'll naturally be drawn in."

Sasha looked up at Skylar, her eyes filled with undisguised awe. "Master is going to... drag everyone into this storm?"

"It's not about dragging them out," Skylar corrected, his tone calm to the point of indifference, "It's about making them stand where they belong."

Sasha bowed deeply. "Sasha understands. Sasha will finish conveying everything before dawn."

As soon as it finished speaking, its figure quickly blurred, transforming into an almost silent wave of magical energy, and disappeared into Ella Cottage.

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