Chapter 767: Husk?

The sun shed crimson rays as it started to set, marking the passing of another day and the last few days of the year.

Inside the study, Andy calmly read the book with hot chocolate in his hand.

As the time passed, a few minutes ticked past six o'clock.

"Ding Dong."

The calling bell was heard, followed by the hurried steps of the nanny making her way to the door.

Knowing who might be visiting, Andy summoned a cup and poured hot chocolate from the kettle. Even if Grindelwald didn't drink and intended to leave immediately, Andy has no problem drinking another cup in this cold weather.

A few minutes later, with a sound of footsteps, the door to the study opened with a creak.

Andy closed the book and greeted. "Good evening, Mr Grindelwald. Do you want some cocoa before leaving?"

Along with his words, the piping hot cocoa floated and landed on the coffee table, when it once again floated and reached the hand of an old gentleman in a formal suit.

"For an old man like me, cocoa is really a must during winter." As he sat on the single sofa opposite Andy, Grindelwald said with a smile.

Really. I thought old people shouldn't consume too much sweets.

"Is the ritual about to start soon?" Andy asked while complaining inside. "And thanks for preparing the ritual and showing me the process."

"Hm. They should be grinding and sorting the herbs and other materials as we speak. They will complete the preparation in 30 to 60 minutes." Grindelwald took a sip of cocoa and replied with a closed eye. "As for preparing the ritual. I am planning to experiment with it since I learned how that little guy was resurrected. It's just I would've postponed it a month if you weren't interested."

"Do you know the real name of the ritual?" Grindelwald looked at Andy and asked.

"Hm. Husk creation ritual, right?" After a brief pause, Andy spoke.

After watching Voldemort's resurrection, Andy rummaged through the restricted section but found nothing with the name resurrection ritual.

But he found a book named 'Dark Alchemy' that talked about a body-creation ritual using the father's blood, the servant's flesh, and the enemy's blood. 

Although it didn't talk about steps and other ingredients, it talked about its creator and why it became unpopular later on.

It said that the creator of this ritual felt that one of the three greatest alchemical creations, Homunculus, needs years to make, so he made a dark version of it due to his impatience.

"Yes. Husk Creation Ritual." Grindelwald explained calmly. "Without a spell to separate your soul from your body, it is just a spell that can be used to create bodies as consumables for experiments."

Indeed, without a Horcrux's ability to keep the soul in the living world after death, it won't be a resurrection ritual but just a body creation ritual.

"But, back then, they could get good-quality living consumables for a handful of copper coins." He talked about the horrifying fact in a tone of talking about breakfast. "So when the last wizard who knew the spell to separate the soul died without leaving the knowledge of that spell. It just became an expensive consumable creating spell." 

When Andy thought about it, apart from him, only Dementor can separate a soul from a body.

If it's not a dark ritual that requires Father Bone, it might be suitable magic for him.

"But now, that lad made use of the Horcrux to complete the missing part." Grindelwald spoke in a praising tone: "Although he was crazy. We have to admit he was a genius as well."

"If not for the need for a father bone and the need to make a Horcrux, I wouldn't mind trying it once."

"Even its flaws can be made up for by spending a huge chunk of money."

"Flaws?" Andy asked, confused.

"Oh, the book you read didn't mention the flaw?" Grindelwald asked, looking intrigued. 

"It just gave a brief overview of the ritual; there was no mention of steps and flaws in it." Andy sighed and said in a slight frustrated tone. "No matter how I looked, there was no other book mentioned that ritual in the Hogwarts library."

'Dumbledore must have hid it.'

This thought flashed through the minds of the two as they looked at each other and showed a knowing smile.

"The biggest known flaw is the lifespan of the body," Grindelwald explained.

"Lifespan?" Andy asked, looking surprised. "How much?"

Does that mean Voldemort needed to change his body later if he is still alive…

"The lifespan of the body is based on the ingredients used." Grindelwald explained seriously, "If you use normal ingredients for the potion, the body will have a maximum of five years."

"But if you can use unicorn blood, phoenix tears, dragon hearts, and so on, the body will have a lifespan of two to three hundred years." 

"Thought you would get the curse of a unicorn and would have to live as a cursed life."

"Anyway, we are going to use normal ingredients for the upcoming ritual. We are not prodigal to burn gold galleons on an experiment."

Andy and Grindelwald continued to talk about magic while drinking cocoa.

When he finished the last sip, Grindelwald stood up and said, "Let's go."

Andy, who had already finished his drink and was waiting for him, followed behind him as they left the compound. Where he used Side-along Apparition to follow along.

***

"Pop."

With a crackle in the air, Andy and Grindelwald appeared before the gates of the abandoned castle.

A young wizard in a dark hood, who seemed to be waiting for them, greeted them by the gate.

"Welcome, Mr Grindelwald. Mr Collins." The young wizard's voice quivered in excitement as he looked at them.

The former dark lord, whose stories he heard growing up enough to make his ears 'callous. A noble wizard who fought for the wizards' future.

And a young genius, who has grown strong enough to compete against a strong wizard like Voldemort in just four years. Whose achievements now have been spreading all over the world. 

The young wizard felt honoured to seize this opportunity to welcome them.

"I am Henri Totenkopf. It's my pleasure meeting you, Sir." Henri introduced himself excitedly.

After thanks and a nod from the duo, Henri pushed open the gate, which made a loud creak in the silent night.

Then he led them to the backyard, which looked like a gathering of a cult in Andy's eyes.

With wizards in dark cult-like attire surrounding an altar that has a big cauldron depicted in the fairy tales, said to be used by a hooked-nose witch.

And a middle-aged man was sprawled on the altar with his hands and feet tied, unconscious.

Beside a cauldron, a wizard was crushing something in a stone mortar that made a bone-crunching sound. 

Looking at the dark and eerie setting, Andy felt a little thrill.

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