Under Interrogation

But... how could that be possible?

No matter how outstanding Wade was, he was still only fourteen.

Well... on the night of the World Cup Final, he had only been exposed to magic for three full years. Even if he was exceptionally talented... there had to be a limit, surely?

Saying that Wade had killed Voldemort with a single spell was as absurdly laughable as saying Harry had defeated Voldemort and Barty Jr. working together head-on.

But Sirius could not laugh.

His eyes flickered violently. Reason told him it was impossible, yet his instincts screamed at him to believe it.

Yet the others' reactions did not disrupt Barty Jr.'s account, nor did they cause even the slightest ripple in Dumbledore's rock-steady expression.

The Headmaster's reaction abruptly made them realize—

What Barty Jr. had said was probably true, and... Dumbledore must have known about it long ago.

"It took me a long time to find my master again. He had grown even weaker. For a time, it was difficult for him even to create a temporary body to inhabit, and he had no choice but to possess animals..."

Barty Jr. continued in his half-dead tone:

"Fortunately, we remembered a legend at that time—supposedly, the Wand once used by Salazar Slytherin himself was buried outside Ilvermorny. A Snake Wood tree had grown above the burial site, and its leaves possessed powerful healing properties..."

"I brought my master to Ilvermorny, and we did indeed find the Snake Wood there. My master used Parseltongue to awaken Slytherin's Wand and remained at Ilvermorny to recover his strength."

"Voldemort is still at Ilvermorny?" Dumbledore asked.

"...I don't know."

Barty Jr. said dryly, "My master asked whether I was willing to risk everything for him... Of course, of course I was willing... I could do anything, serve