Chapter 528
: Did you have fun, Lucius?
Chapter 528: Did you have fun, Lucius?
As the squirrel leaped up the tree, a spell struck where he had been, blasting the protruding roots apart.
"Tsk, what a quick reaction!"
One person said in a dissatisfied voice.
"Who is it?" Lucius Malfoy immediately pointed his wand over.
A vaguely familiar voice sounded, "Did you have fun, Lucius?"
I seem to have heard this voice somewhere before. It sounds very familiar, but I can't remember where it is.
Lucius Malfoy stared in that direction vigilantly, but because the other party had just extended a helping hand, he did not act rashly before figuring out the man's identity and purpose.
The sound of rustling footsteps was heard in the woods, and a person slowly walked out of the darkness.
When Lucius Malfoy saw the man's appearance clearly, his eyes widened and his face was full of disbelief.
"It's you?" Lucius froze in place and asked in astonishment, "You're still alive?"
There was a sick smile on little Barty's pale face, his eye sockets were sunken, and his eyes flashed with a slightly crazy light against the flickering firelight in the woods.
He took two steps forward, his boots crushing the dead branches on the ground, and said with a smile: "Why... so surprised?"
Lucius's Adam's apple rolled, his wand dropped, but still held tightly in his hand, and he whispered, "The Ministry of Magic has declared you dead."
"They thought I was dead, but because of my dear father——" Little Barty's eyes flashed with sarcasm and resentment: "I'm still alive."
"Barty Crouch? I didn't expect that."
Lucius guessed how little Barty was stolen from prison by his father, and the smile on his face was filled with contempt and disdain:
"I thought he was just like the propaganda... a tough guy who stood firm and would not tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes!"
He relaxed, because Lucius knew very well that Barty Jr. was a loyal Death Eater. If bones could be engraved, probably every bone of Barty Jr. would be engraved with the Dark Mark.
To be honest, the madness of this young man who had just graduated from school once made Lucius feel terrified.
So even if more than ten years have passed, little Batty will never choose to mend his ways because of his parents' protection or his father's teachings.
In Lucius's opinion, as criminal partners who had also escaped prison by chance, they could still be considered companions.
Of course, there is basically no sense of comradeship between Death Eaters. Mutual exploitation and cooperation are the norm. As in the situation just now, it is common for them to lend a favor and trick the hound that is chasing them relentlessly.
Feeling the blood flowing from the wound on his shoulder and his body beginning to grow cold, Lucius quickly turned his wand, pointed it at the wound and cast a healing spell.
Seeing the gloomy face of Little Barty opposite him, his heart tightened, and he quickly said with a smile:
"Thank you for your help just now. Those crazy leprechauns were also cursed by you, right? What a masterpiece. It seems that we have the same idea, to take advantage of this competition to make a big fuss."
"What is the purpose of your disturbance, Lucius?"
Little Barty looked at him and slowly smiled, revealing his white teeth.
"You've had a really good life over the years! You have a manor, a treasury, and a huge fortune. You're also a member of the Hogwarts board of directors, a guest of honor at the Ministry of Magic, and a special advisor to Minister Fudge..."
He seemed to be grinding his teeth, making a low hissing sound like a venomous snake: "Lucius, you are living such an enviable life, why do you still wear a mask and cause trouble? If you are caught, everything you have will be gone."
Lucius's jaw was tense, and his fingers turned white from the force. Perhaps because he had lost too much blood, although his wounds were gradually healing, he still felt cold all over and his heart was beating fast.
"I..." Thinking of Barty Jr.'s fanaticism and loyalty, Lucius whispered, "I want to declare to the entire wizarding world that we still exist... I think we can't forget who we are..."
"Really?" Little Barty approached slowly. "I thought you were going to say... you suspected that the master might have been resurrected because of the changes in the Dark Mark, so you used this method to test it!"
"How could it be?" Lucius' heart suddenly rose to his throat. He subconsciously took a step back, clenched his wand again, and tried to defend himself: "Of course, we also want to find the master and hope to continue to serve him..."
"Oh?" Little Barty sneered, "A coward like you who doesn't even dare to go to Azkaban for him, a despicable thing without faith, has been at large for more than ten years. Who still believes in your loyalty?"
Lucius frowned and said, "Don't say such harsh words. What's the difference between you and me? Is it really better to rot in prison than to be active outside? You, me, Nott, McIlwain, Severus, we all just chose a smarter way to be loyal."
"Don't compare me to a bunch of cowards like you!"
Little Barty waved his wand violently, and Lucius hurriedly cast a spell, but because he was a step late, the red spell hit his wrist, and the wand and he flew out.
He covered his arm and looked up, and saw Little Barty's cold and murderous eyes, and the wand pointing at his nose.
"Let me ask you, Lucius Malfoy..." Little Barty said slowly, "Have you ever tried to find your master over the years? Even just once?"
Cold sweat rolled down Lucius's forehead.
"I..." He stared into the other person's eyes and forced himself to speak: "Of course I..."
Before he could finish his words, Barty Jr. said calmly, "No, you didn't!"
Lucius' pupils suddenly contracted, and before he could do anything, a bright light burst out from the tip of his wand.
With a loud "bang", Lucius' body spasmed violently, his bones twisted and deformed, and his screams were strangled in his throat. By the time the air rushed out, it had turned into a "gurgling-gurgling" sound.
He looked in shock and fear at little Barty, who seemed to have turned into a giant, and his already bulging eyes appeared even more bulging.
Lucius Malfoy's clothes and wand fell to the ground, and a fist-sized, yellow toad appeared in their place.
At the malicious smile of little Barty, the Toad was shaking with fear all over. He tried to jump up, trying to escape from the demon in front of him and find someone to lift the curse for him, but after just two jumps, he was pulled back by a magical force.
"I shouldn't have turned Sirius Black into a squirrel just now." Barty sighed, "Otherwise, he wouldn't have escaped from my grasp now."
As he spoke, he took out a thin golden ring and put it behind the toad's forelimbs. Then he pointed his magic wand and the ring shrank smaller and smaller, until it was firmly fastened to the toad's body and sank into its flesh.
Little Barty grabbed Toad, forced him to look into his eyes, and sneered:
"I know you have a way to remove the Transfiguration Curse, but if I were you, I wouldn't do it... Do you know why?"
He flicked the golden ring with his fingers and said, "I asked the master to cast a strengthening spell on it himself. The moment you turn back into human form... it will split you in half!"
"Enjoy your new form, Lucius Malfoy!"
Little Barty threw the toad on the ground, bent down to pick up Sirius's clothes, found a black hair from it, and then waved his wand.
Lucius Malfoy's clothes, wand and other things thrown on the ground were all set on fire. Little Barty turned and left, leaving only a toad squatting on the ground, making a "cuckoo" sound in despair.
(End of this chapter)