"Is that all there is to it?" After listening to Jon's brief introduction, Headmaster Phineas-Black said a little lazily, "Then I will take my leave, and I will tell Dumbledore!"

Although the other party's attitude seemed a little cynical, Jon knew very well that the old Headmaster of Hogwarts from Slytherin was quite reliable.

"Thank you......"

Phineas Black didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave, but made a very casual expression, adding: "By the way, for your sake, I'll tell you one more piece of information......"

“...... The latest news, in a small wooden house in eastern Siberia, Russian wizards found the body of Igor Karkarov, and the black mark hung in the air-" Phineas pouted: "Frankly, I am surprised that he was able to run for so long!"

Karkaroff is dead?

This is not surprising news. After all, when the mystery man lost power, Igor Karkaroff betrayed all the Death Eaters he knew in order to clear his name.

Compared to the plot of the original book, Karkaroff's death seems to have come a few months later, which is also fully justified......

Just as Jon was frowning and guessing, only Phineas's voice was heard again: "Dumbledore believes that Tom Riddle personally participated in the hunt for Igor Karkaroff......"

Voldemort personally took part in the hunt for Karkaroff?

Jon couldn't help but look at it...... If Voldemort had been in Siberia for the rest of his time, it would not have been easy for him to get back to England in time, and that would have meant that he would have to move on the Isle of Man as soon as possible!

Just as he was about to say thank you to Headmaster Phineas Black, Jon looked up to find that the figure in the portrait had disappeared.

"Did you just talk to you?" Astoria Greengrass walked into the room with a smile on her face.

Ever since leaving Greengrass Manor, she seemed to have stepped out of the shadow of her mother's capture into Azkaban, and her smile had regained its former pure smile, and if it weren't for the paleness of her complexion, she would have been almost the same as usual.

"No!" Jon denied, glancing at the empty portrait on the wall.

Then he motioned for Astoria to come over and sit on the bed, and at the same time proposed, "It's getting late, why don't you get some rest...... Tomorrow morning we will go to the beach in Port Douglas to have fun!"

Astoria nodded obediently.

After a moment of silence, she asked softly, "What about you, Jon...... You look like you're ready to go out?"

"That's right!" Jon replied, "I'll go out for a walk, you stay in the room and don't move......"

"That'...... Then be careful......" Astoria muttered as she lowered her head.

"Definitely!" Jon smiled, then pulled out a crystal bottle from his pocket, filled with the "smoke potion" he had prepared earlier.

At the same time, Jon advised, "If you get into any trouble, break this bottle, and I'll come back as soon as I see the smoke...... Be careful, don't use any magic!"

Astoria was an underage wizard after all, and she wasn't like herself, the trail had faded...... If she uses any magic outside of school, there is a good chance that she will reveal her location and even her intentions.

So Jon had to tell her so.

"I understand......" Astoria whispered.

After settling into Astoria, Jon walked out of the hotel alone, seemingly casually observing his surroundings...... He's looking for traces of magic.

If it goes well, it would be nice to find traces of the giants before Voldemort returns to England!

......

Meanwhile, at Hogwarts.

As the night breeze blew in, Draco Malfoy carefully walked down a cobblestone path, taking his steps as lightly as he could.

At the end of this path is the junction between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade......

After the Dark Lord officially announced his return, Hogwarts became heavily defended...... At least ten Aurors are guarding the various exits of the campus, including Hogsmeade, of course.

Malfoy wasn't prepared to sneak out of the campus at night, knowing it wasn't possible...... There was no way he could have fooled Albus Dumbledore's magic, or he could have dodged the Aurors who guarded him.

Vigilantly pacing down the cobblestone path, his real purpose was actually to wait for someone!

Even in such an emergency, there are people who are able to move freely between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade...... That was Mrs. Rosmerta, the hostess of the Three Broomsticks Bar.

She is responsible for providing the butterbeer, mead and rum that students and faculty on campus demand...... The charming and well-liked proprietress had a good relationship with Filch, the professors, and the Aurors, and in general, she would not be troubled to get into the campus.

And the Three Broomsticks Bar has a long history with the Malfoy family...... So back in the summer, Draco Malfoy took the opportunity to use the "Imperius Curse" on Mrs. Rosmerta.

However, after using the spell, Malfoy didn't give her any instructions so that she wouldn't appear out of the ordinary.

......

As the minutes ticked by, Malfoy grew a little impatient, and he even began to wonder if his plan had deviated from the mark.

Finally...... He saw the figure of a middle-aged woman with a graceful figure, appearing at the end of the path.

Malfoy didn't rush to meet her, but carefully looked around, and only after finding that there was no accident did he walk up to her—

"Young Master Draco......" Lady Rosmerta said with a blank look in her eyes, "this bottle of oak-aged mead that you want me to bring is of the highest quality from Grunwald. ”

Malfoy took the bottle, looked at it carefully, and nodded.

Then, he carefully took out a package from his backpack, which contained an ornate opal necklace.

"When the students of Hogwarts go to Hogsmeade tomorrow, give it to a random student and tell him to bring it to Headmaster Albus-Dumbledore!" Malfoy instructed softly.

Mrs. Rosmerta nodded smugly.

Then, stiffly, she tried to reach into the package, ready to take the opal necklace—

"Don't touch it!" Malfoy hurriedly roared, "Don't touch it...... I mean, I forbid you to touch it!"

Mrs. Rosmerta nodded again.

......

Draco Malfoy breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Lady Rosmerta's distant back.

Picking up the bottle of mead, he began to tiptoe back to Hogwarts Castle.