Death's Servant

Speaking of Merlin, Merlin...

William and Hermione were chatting about Babbling when this great Goblin suddenly appeared in the room.

Babbling had obviously heard William complaining about her, saying that she was an old pervert who preyed on young girls.

Babbling sat down at the table with a cold expression and ate William's breakfast without any politeness.

She devoured the food in a flash, thoroughly enjoying it.

"It tastes really good. I haven't had food made by Hogwarts House-elf in a long time."

William didn't pay it any mind and asked directly, "Professor Babbling, how's it going in United States?"

"Chaos!"

Babbling snapped her fingers, conjuring a glass of dragon's blood wine. She picked it up, sniffed it gently, and said:

"The Scourers bombed a large portion of Congress, Muggle government no longer trusts them."

The war has now evolved into a three-way conflict. The scale of the war is certainly much larger than the United Kingdom Wizarding Wars.

"There's no Dumbledore over there with you; the war won't end so easily."

William nodded slightly.

It's a mess, isn't it?

As long as the United States government, the Scourers, and the Magical Congress are all in cahoots, it will be beneficial to Europe.

This is not a wizarding war in the United States, but rather involves Muggle, which gives the International Confederation of Wizards grounds to send troops under the International Statute of Secrecy.

He still holds the Europe coalition forces for the time being and has no intention of disbanding them immediately.

This is the perfect opportunity to interfere in America's domestic affairs.

Of course, William could also take the opportunity to establish the Europe Wizarding League.

"When I returned, I heard you had killed Voldemort..."

Babbling took a sip of the chilled dragon's blood, which was truly refreshing. She smiled and said, "Not bad, you're quick enough."

"Voldemort is dead, but not completely," William said expressionlessly.

"What? There are still Horcrux that haven't been destroyed?"

"The Horcrux have all been destroyed." William stared into Babbling's crimson eyes and said:

"But do you know... Tom is still alive?"

Babbling raised her eyebrows slightly, flicked her wine glass lightly with two fingers, and said, "Didn't you already know he was dead?"

"What, you didn't kill him?"

"He was killed, then he came back to life. He was probably saved by an old man," William sighed.

"Of course, this is just my guess."

"An old man? What old man?"

"I've met Hermione a few times. She wears strange clothes and looks quite ordinary, but she always appears in places she shouldn't be," William said quickly.

He also tricked Rosier into placing Vivian's soul into Arya's body.

Tom's quest to obtain the Deathly Hallows in the Underworld is likely also related to him.

William recounted his journey to the Underworld.

Babbling looked up at William and Hermione, lost in thought. She hadn't realized that the two of them had already been to the Underworld.

To their surprise, they had met him before.

William didn't make a sound to disturb them, and sat quietly to the side with his eyes closed, resting.

One of his purposes in bringing Babbling back from the United States was to have an open and honest conversation with her.

In particular, I wanted to ask Babbling about her elderly father, Corvinus Gaunt.

He disappeared without a trace after finding Death and saving his daughter.

Who exactly is that old man, and what is his connection to Gaunt?

After a long silence, a complex look flashed in Babbling's eyes. She made no attempt to hide it and said:

"I have a story, would you like to hear it?"

"Of course." William sat up straight; he loved listening to stories.

Whether it's Dumbledore's short films, the story of Nicolas's the Tale of the Three Brothers, or Grindelwald's Gaunt and Death version of "The Snow Queen."

Babbling took a sip of her drink calmly and said slowly:

Once upon a time, there was a wizard who had a beautiful wife and a lovely daughter.

But when her daughter was a child, she was bitten by a vampire and became Obscurial.

His wife was killed in Obscurus attack while caring for their daughter.

The man went to the Death Reaper for help, and the Death gave him a talisman that could protect his daughter and ensure her immortality.

As for his wife's soul, it was also in the hands of Death.

In exchange, the man must become Death's servant, walking among the earth for Death and doing his bidding.

William fell into deep thought.

During that trip to Northern Europe, he learned from Grindelwald the story of Corvinus Gaunt and his wife Babbling.

The Obscurial's daughter is none other than Bathsheda Babbling's professor.

Gaunt also received Death's help and saved his daughter's life.

But William never expected that the condition would be to become a servant of Death.

"This is all a trap set by Death!" Babbling's calm eyes suddenly sharpened as she stared intently at William.

"William, that man's wife is named Babbling... Elaine Babbling."

"Elaine?!" William stared in disbelief, "Isn't Elaine the daughter of Death?"

While in the Underworld, William heard Vivian say that Death had three daughters:

Vivian, Morgan, and Elaine.

When Vivian was placed in Egypt's Beautiful Queen Merlin, Elaine was still a child, and her whereabouts have been unknown ever since.

Unexpectedly, she became Gaunt's wife.

"Yes, my mother is the daughter of Death, and I am the granddaughter of Death."

Babbling raised her glass, gave a self-deprecating laugh, then downed it in one gulp, saying:

"Death set a trap, sending my mother to Gaunt, a descendant of Slytherin."

They then used my mother and me to lure my father into their trap step by step.

He must submit to Death, become Death servant, in order to save me, in order to resurrect my mother.

"So, what exactly does Death want to do?!" William asked.

"You should ask..." Babbling said meaningfully, "Why did Death make my father work for him instead of doing it himself?"

William turned to look in the direction North Sea and said softly:

Grindelwald once said that Death cannot walk among us.

He can observe wizards and send messages through dreams, but he can't descend to earth; he's separated from us by two worlds.

"That happened later." Babbling swirled her glass and smiled. "Don't forget, Death also has three daughters."

His second daughter, Morgan, was born to him and Muggle in this world.

William pondered for a moment, then guessed, "Vivian told me that Merlin once fought a great battle with Death, even breaking through the River Styx."

Perhaps it was Merlin who used magic to sever Death's ability to descend, trapping Death in the Underworld?

He needs to find a wizard to help him control things remotely?

"Possibly." Babbling glanced up at William and said seriously:

"Even the later Four Founders may have contributed to helping trap Death."

This is probably why Death found my father. He's Gaunt... a descendant of Slytherin."

"If that's the case..." William tapped the edge of the chair with one hand and propped his forehead with the other:

"The Death's purpose is nothing more than to return to this world?"

"Yes," Babbling said, gazing out the window. "A Death whose power far surpasses ours will forever rule this world."

It's terrifying to even think about!

"Can you persuade your father to give up?"

"Absolutely impossible." Babbling shook her head.

He raised me to adulthood, and then suddenly left.

I searched for him for two hundred years, but never saw him again.

He is a man of strong will. When he was young, he was willing to travel thousands of miles to find my mother.

I'd do anything to bring my mother back to life, even serve Death.

Babbling paused and said:

Instead of trying to persuade him to abandon the plan, we should find Tom.

Since my father resurrected Tom, he is the key.

Find him, kill him, and maybe the plan can be stopped.

Can it really be stopped?

William didn't speak. He placed his hands on his knees, stared at the ceiling, and thought of Grindelwald's words when they parted.

The old man made a Prophecy, foreseeing a hopeless future.

Only then did he leave Nurmengard and head towards the Underworld, intending to kill Death.

For the first time ever, Babbling poured William a glass of dragon's blood wine, pushed the glass towards him, and asked:

William, what are your plans?

William raised his glass, and said suspiciously, "For example?"

"For example... a plan that could kill Death!"

William choked on his drink, rolled his eyes, and said irritably, "Do I look like someone who can kill Death?"

"So alike, so very alike." Babbling pressed a wine glass against half her cheek and said earnestly:

"Why don't you count how many Deathly Hallows you've collected in total?"

"In any previous era, how many wizards could have obtained so much at once?"

William raised his glass, gave a self-deprecating laugh, then downed it in one gulp, shaking his head and saying, "I really hadn't thought about that."

Babbling looked at the man, who was not yet twenty years old, her eyes flickering.

What she didn't say was... the reason she was willing to teach William Ancient Runes was because of the Ravenclaw Ring.

He was Ravenclaw's chosen man.

Everything that followed made Babbling increasingly convinced that Merlin and the Four Founders were preparing to have William bring this millennium-long affair to a close.

"Speaking of plans, I do have one that I need your help with," William suddenly said.

Babbling said calmly, "Speak quickly."

William laughed and said, "Vivian went to kill Morgan. She promised to help me take the trident from Morgan."

But I'm a little worried she's no match for you, Professor. Could you help me make a trip to the Underworld?

I have prepared the golden coffin, the map, and the compass.

This is the second reason why William wanted Babbling back.

She is powerful enough to be a suitable candidate for a trip to the Underworld.

Babbling remained silent for a moment, then nodded, without refusing.

She cautioned, "After Death is resurrected, he will definitely take all the Deathly Hallows and kill Hallows owners."

You're the biggest slippery fish; there's no escaping it.

"Yes, thanks for reminding me." William smiled.

"So, if I accidentally kill Death, you, my granddaughter, won't stop me, will you?"

"Stop me? Why should I stop him?" Babbling said matter-of-factly, "He ruined my family and caused my death, I wish he were dead!"

Babbling got up and walked towards the door.

Just before leaving, he suddenly turned around and took off the protective amulet he almost never took off his neck.

She held it in her palm, reluctant to part with it, but finally gave it to William.

"It could save your life in a critical moment. When the time is right, destroy it without hesitation!"

William, puzzled, took the lapis lazuli amulet, felt the warmth of the milk on it, and then hung it around his neck.