Harry knew it was time to speak his mind. "When we get there, we're going to hide ourselves with the Illusion Charm. When Malfoy opened the door, we waited for an opportunity to sneak in with the Death Eaters. Wormtail should show up at the party so we don't have to go down the drain to find him. ”

"I'm okay with your first and last sentence," Ron said thoughtfully, "but you have to take into account that Malfoy knows you have an invisibility cloak. In other words, he may be wary of other ways to become invisible. ”

"But he thought we were at school. Harry explained, having thought about it, "And I've noticed that the Malfoy servants will clear the snow from the car lane as soon as possible." As long as we are careful enough, nothing will be left behind. ”

Hermione thought for a moment. "What's next?"

"Then we went out into the party. Mr. Malfoy's invitations are probably all people in his network, and his attitude towards Wormtail is likely to be similar. ”

"Are you implying that no one really cares about Wormtail?" Ron began to rub his chin, "If Wormtail is left alone, the three of us should be enough to deal with him - before he uses any dark magic, of course." However, I still don't see the possibility that other Death Eaters can't see that someone around them is being attacked. "And once discovered, they are the ones who are unlucky.

Harry didn't speak, because Ron was right. In addition, they can disguise themselves as some Death Eaters through Polyjuice Potion, but even if the question of how to quietly put down the Death Eaters is set aside, those people have too many secrets, and it is very likely that they will be revealed in a few words.

"We're going to use the Anti-Animagus Charm on Wormtails whenever we get the chance, or we'll have the same results as we did in third grade. Hermione was visibly immersed in technical thinking, "And the anti-illusion disfigurement charm - theoretically, the magical barrier at Malfoy Manor should be outward and not inward. ”

Harry was startled, realizing that it was very likely. "You've been very thoughtful, Hermione. He thought for a moment and concluded, "The best-case scenario is that we capture him without alarming the others, and then safely deliver him into the hands of the Aurors." ”

The three of them exchanged glances with each other. This is indeed the best outcome, but the most critical issues in the implementation process remain.

"After all, we don't know what's going on inside, so when the time comes, we'll see what happens?" Harry suggested uncertainly.

He expected Hermione to decide that it was inconsiderate, but the brunette nodded. Facing Harry's surprised gaze, she said angrily, "This matter itself is a big adventure, is there still a lack of details?"

Three days passed quickly. At noon on the night before the feast, the three of them had eaten their fill, and then returned to the tower. After Hermione counted the contents of her bag one last time, they set off.

Even though it was afternoon, there was still a cold winter chill in the breath. The sun is sluggish, and the sky is weak, like a new snow brewing.

Hermione looked around, hoping to see the familiar figure, even if he was with Cho, but she was disappointed that Andrew didn't show up at all, and he didn't seem to care about it.

Neither Ron nor Harry noticed, and out of the area where the apparitions were forbidden to move, they set off. The first time Ron and Hermione arrived, they took advantage of the free time to observe the terrain around them. Harry, wearing his cloak of invisibility and holding a Quidditch telescope that had been turned out, kept looking in through the hollow pattern of the iron door.

Today was very different from the last time he came. Some of the windows were opened, and servants hurried through, most of them holding something, and the carved doors were half-opened, and the lights were bright, reflecting the great foyer, the thick carpets of opulence that almost covered the stone floors, and the rows of portraits on the walls.

Harry gasped. Under the gaze of so many pairs of eyes, the smallest anomaly can be infinitely magnified. It would be nice to have more people coming...... But not too much......

He thought wildly, knowing that it was useless, and continued to observe the mansion from a distance. Most of the time, he could only see servants coming and going, Malfoys and his sons flashed out of sight and could not be found, and the person he was really looking for was nowhere to be found.

Harry couldn't help but be a little impetuous. He lowered his binoculars and scolded the worm for hiding its tail too tightly. But he immediately realized that this mentality was dangerous, and he comforted himself that Wormtail was a Death Eater who had successfully lurked for more than a decade.

Suddenly, there was a faint sound of footsteps approaching, and Harry looked up, but saw nothing. "Ron?Hermione?" he called softly—they had made an appointment to meet here before they parted.

"Well, we're back. ”

It was Ron's voice. Harry hurriedly unwrapped his cloak, allowing the two of them to slip in. The space suddenly became so crowded that they had to crouch on the ground and hug their knees.

The arm couldn't be cast, and Hermione struggled to remove the illusion spell from her and Ron's bodies. "It's basically the same as you say," she said quickly, "and there's no other exit." ”

"This place is too big. Ron commented.

"I found out last time. Harry said, not noticing the sourness hidden in Ron's words, "There's no way I'm going to catch him in the Animagus state." ”

"It's not just you. Hermione nodded in agreement, and for a moment she seemed to have completely forgotten her earlier anger. "It's a rare opportunity, and today we have to take this risk. ”

Next, the trio proofread the details of the action based on what Harry had observed, and Hermione cast a disillusionment charm on them one by one. Harry took off his cloak of invisibility and fumbled with it into his bag in his phantom state—which felt rather eerie—and slipped silently to the other side of the door.

They waited quietly for about ten minutes, and finally a figure appeared on the wide car lane. There were three of them in all, all dressed in black robes with their hoods pulled low.

Harry subconsciously looked into the manor. As expected, Draco Malfoy was approaching the door, followed by several respectful servants. Just when he wondered if Malfoy Manor needed someone to open the door himself, there was a loud sound, and the rope-like iron lock rushed to both sides like a snake, and then the door slowly opened.

Now is the time!

Harry pinched his nose and stood on tiptoe, trying to slip in the arc of its opening without touching the door. They had all practiced for it, and he thought he was doing a good job, but unluckily, Malfoy walked his way to his side.

The two simply came face to face shortening the distance. Harry said something was wrong, and slowly lowered himself to avoid the slight refraction of the air from crashing directly into the other party's eyes, and at the same time quietly sped up the speed of his feet-

The moment they passed by, Draco Malfoy suddenly glanced down. Harry kept an eye on the other man, and couldn't help but freeze in a half-crouching position.

It could be half a second, or it could be a long time, but Malfoy finally looked away. Harry saw that the other man's eyebrows were slightly frowned, but the next moment it turned into a polite smile. He moved extremely slowly inward, until he was sure he was out of Malfoy's range of perception, and then picked up speed again, meeting up with Ron and Hermione at the end of the lane.

Further on is the mansion. The Malfoys were standing on the stone steps in front of the door, and eight servants were hanging their hands. Like their son, the couple was well-dressed and meticulously combed with their hair.

None of the three dared to make a sound, and they relied on writing each other in the palm of their hands to communicate. Harry was the last to arrive, and Hermione couldn't afford to ask him a few more questions. By the time they finished communicating, the first guests had almost arrived.

"Lucius!" said a Humpty Dumpty wizard warmly, "thank you for the invitation...... You're always so generous!"

"Happy feast, Lucius, Narcissa. Another tall, thin wizard quipped, "Did you let Draco stand outside because he was more competent?"

This was unanimously agreed by the other two. The reserved smile on Mr. Malfoy's face became more real, and even Mrs. Malfoy smiled. "Draco would have been happy to know that he had received such a high rating. Mr. Malfoy said, gesturing in, "Come, my friends, an evening beyond your imagination awaits you." ”

They exchanged a knowing glance with each other, and the three of them entered the door with the servant leading them in. Then came the second wave, the third wave......

Harry had to notice that everyone seemed to come in droves. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a clique among the Death Eaters. But before he could come up with a reason, he felt the corners of his clothes be ripped off—they should have gone in, too.

While the Malfoys were busy greeting each other, the three of them climbed the stone steps without danger. It was easier than expected to get through the foyer, because there were decorated banquet trees at regular intervals on the wall, and they could hide under the branches and rest for a while when they couldn't hold their breath. Relying on servants who came and went, they easily found the living room, the actual place to meet.

The interior is lavishly decorated, with long tables, round chairs, fireplaces, and mirrors all gilded with gilded edges, reflecting dazzling light under the golden chandelier. The aroma of food and wine mingled with each other, and the guests gathered in small piles to chat, and occasionally looked towards the entrance, apparently waiting for everyone to arrive.

Against this backdrop, the unkempt and cowering short figure is particularly eye-catching.

Harry clenched his holly wand in an instant.

However, it's obviously not a good idea to get started in a stall with more and more people. The three of them squeezed each other's hands and separated as they had planned - Ron was in the door, and Harry and Hermione slipped in left and right, outflanking the middle.

It took a bit of effort for them to get in, but when their backs were taped to the living room wall, things were a little easier. Harry moved along the base of the wall, his eyes fixed on the short man for a moment-

Gray-haired, bald from the top of the head to the middle of the back of the head, a pointed nose and small, watery eyes that were characteristic of a mouse, and a loose body that seemed to be back to the way it had been in a screaming shack, but more aged.

This gave Harry reason to believe that Peter Pettigrew had not only had a very uncomfortable life recently, but under the rule of the Dark Lord, the Demon King liked you, you were doing well, the Demon King didn't like you, you were not as good as a pig and a dog, but unfortunately, for whatever purpose, the Dark Lord was extremely disgusted with the Death Eater who had saved him. Harry pursed his lips in disgust and pity.

No one spoke to Peter Pettigrew, and no one looked at him. He seemed a little annoyed and unwilling, but he was undoubtedly also cringe, and only dared to follow along. The crowd occasionally erupted in laughter, and he didn't know if he heard it clearly, but he laughed along with it.

Harry couldn't help but look away. At this moment, there was a small commotion at the entrance, and more than a dozen people appeared. Among them was a strange man, with whom Mr. Malfoy was chatting enthusiastically. Draco Malfoy walked to the other side of the man, his face sideways, nodding from time to time.

The starry moon was a little new, and Harry looked more closely at the man he hadn't seen before. The other party is not tall, with short, thick brown and black curly hair, short beard, and looks to be in his thirties, but his back is a little strangely stiff.

Harry thought hard and thought about it, but he still hadn't found someone with this kind of appearance from any corner of his memory. He was so curious that he forgot about the worm tail for a moment and focused on the man. Obviously, he couldn't use his retractable ears at the party, so he could only try to brace his ears, trying to hear the words that occasionally floated by.

“…… It was a wonderful arrangement," said Mr. Malfoy, "...... Memory Write-off...... I swear no one is better suited for that position than you!"

The man laughed. "I'm not afraid to tell you that before I went to the Ministry of Magic, I always thought it might be ......," he shook his head disapprovingly, then nodded, "but I soon discovered that the master was right...... At least half of the Ministry of Magic is useless and forgetful, can you imagine?"

The remark elicited laughter from everyone, full of mockery. "It's all straw bales, idiots, scum! What's left? Oh, self-proclaimed noble mudblood protectors!"

Loud laughter echoed through the living room, and Harry shifted uncomfortably. He began to wonder where Hermione was, if he was enraged.

By the time he came to his senses, Mr. Malfoy had already reached the central dance floor. "Thank you for joining us today," he said, opening his arms, "enjoy!"

The crowd replied with the crisp sound of wine glasses clashing. The atmosphere of the banquet was warm, and the crowd was full of voices and staggered plans.

Harry snapped to his senses and realized that he had just lost his senses. He hurriedly searched for Peter Pettigrew again, and found that the other party had gathered in the largest circle, that is, the circle centered on Mr. Malfoy and the man.

It seems that while Wormtail is not welcome, he also knows exactly how to save his life - such as trying to get more inside information. Harry weighed the distance between them, and the obstacles in his path, and realized, almost in despair, that he couldn't get to Wormtail's without touching anyone.

This was a problem, Harry gritted his teeth. But that's not all. He soon discovered that those present were either squeezing into the middle circle or hiding in the middle of nowhere. He had to keep an eye out for the corners where he was hiding.

In just over a dozen minutes, Harry was forced to switch three positions. Not long after he had stood still at the fourth spot, two more men came in his direction. He could barely hold back his scolding, but the sound of the approaching words caught his attention.

“…… It's just a matter of luck, and I'm just on my toes like that. A man in a silver-green robe was indignant.

His companion hurriedly looked behind him to make sure no one was paying attention, and then turned back and said, "That can't be helped, Selwyn." It is likely that the owner has taken a fancy to their more than ten years in Azkaban. ”

The man named Selwyn snorted. "Azkaban is really incomparable. Moreover, Murseber is indeed a master of the Imperius and Oblivion Charms. "But what about Wormtail? I've heard he's going to be a knight soon." ”

…… Murseber, Imperius and Oblivion, Memory Cancellation?

Harry couldn't help but wonder if the man he didn't know was Murseber, and he moved cautiously to hear better.

Cerwin's companion looked back again. "I know what you mean. Although he was the first to find his master, he was only forced to do so. How can one be a knight if one is not loyal? He paused, "Maybe it's just a rumor?"

Selwyn's eyes lit up, then darkened. "Who would dare to say that without the acquiescence of his master?" but you reminded me......" he suddenly became thoughtful, "If this is true, why doesn't Lucius pay more attention to Wormtail than he used to......?"

The two looked at each other and smiled tacitly.

"It looks like there's something hidden in there. After a moment of silence, Selwyn spoke again, in a more certain tone than before.

"You mean, Lucius was mistaken?" asked his companion in a low voice.

Selwyn nodded, shook his head again, and said nothing.

What the hell is this implying that?

But the other seems to get it perfectly. He nodded as well, with a serious expression. The two Death Eaters looked at the largest circle together, and for a moment Selwyn gritted his teeth and said, "I should have been in the middle." ”

His companion turned his head amusedly. "You're kidding......"

"I should have been in the middle of that," Selwyn re-emphasized before he could finish, "Sixteen years ago, I arrived in Godric's Hollow before anyone else. ”

…… What the?!

Harry never dreamed of hearing such a thing, and almost jumped. Selwyn's companion was also visibly frightened, his eyes widening, "Where were you?"

"Yes, I happened to be nearby. Selwyn said, with a look of anger on his face, "I heard the movement and noticed that the color of the sign had changed. He pressed his left arm, "and I rushed over at once." The Potter family's house was almost in ruins, and there were two bodies — the man in the foyer and the woman upstairs. ”

As if choked by an invisible hand, Harry nearly choked. He clasped his hands against the wall, afraid that he couldn't help but rush forward and ask for more details.

"I wanted to look for it again, but someone else came, someone from the Order of the Phoenix...... I had to leave. Selwyn continued. "Of course I don't want to believe it, but anyone who sees that scene will think that the master ......" He didn't say any more, and his tone became stupid, "If I had known that my master was still alive, where would I get the worm's tail now?"

The other man froze, apparently trying to digest the new news. It took him a long time before he muttered, "Who knows if anyone can survive the death curse......

This is not so much an answer as it is to talking to oneself. There was another moment of silence, and they walked back and forth.

Harry let go of his hand, and found that his body was sliding uncontrollably, as if all his strength had been drained. He squeezed against the wall, breathing inhibitedly. Just when he thought he should be able to regain his grip on his wand, something hit him on his left shoulder.

"Harry?" Hermione asked in a low voice, a little nervous. "What are you doing here?"

There's no one around. Harry straightened up, glad Hermione couldn't see the cold sweat oozing from the tip of his nose on his forehead. "Nothing. ”

Hermione hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Really?" she was a little skeptical, "your tone sounds a little weird. ”

Harry intended to get around the question. "Do you know what to do?" he asked, "and now it looks like we can't get into it unless we turn it into air." ”