Hogwarts
"Professor Dumbledore," Scrimgeour called out.
Dumbledore turned his head toward the fireplace.
Fawkes, startled by the green flames and the sudden appearance of a head within them, flapped his wings and took off.
"Ah, Rufus. What brings you here?" Dumbledore stepped closer and asked.
Scrimgeour spoke rapidly, "Professor Dumbledore, bad news—a rebellion of goblins, numbering at least over a hundred, has seized control of Gringotts."
"And alongside the goblins, a Death Eater appeared."
"The Dark Mark has been cast above Gringotts!"
Dumbledore frowned.
"Professor Dumbledore, the wizarding world needs your help," Scrimgeour said, taking a deep breath and slowing his speech. "And Mr. Potter's."
"Only the two of you can resolve this."
He didn't hesitate.
Though it was a loss of face for a Minister of Magic to say so, he knew full well that, compared to the peace of the magical world, his pride was meaningless.
What good was pride if it couldn't resolve a crisis?
Was he to become another Cornelius Fudge?
Dumbledore shook his head.
Scrimgeour was stunned.
A shake of the head—what did it mean?
"Harry isn't at Hogwarts right now," Dumbledore said quietly. "And due to certain special circumstances, I too cannot leave the school at this time."
Scrimgeour's eyes dulled, his thoughts descending into disarray. It was over—his two greatest hopes were now out of reach.
"Don't panic, Rufus," Dumbledore reassured him.
Scrimgeour shook his head. "How can I not panic, Professor Dumbledore? Without your and Mr. Potter's help, the Ministry alone cannot deal with this many goblins—let alone a powerful Death Eater."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore said softly, "that Death Eater isn't so powerful."
Scrimgeour looked at him. "Crouch isn't exactly someone easy to handle."
"Crouch has already been captured by Harry," Dumbledore explained. "He's being held at Hogwarts."
Scrimgeour was taken aback—this was news he hadn't heard before.
"The dark wizard at Gringotts isn't Crouch," Dumbledore continued. "The other powerful Death Eaters died at Malfoy Manor—as you know."
Scrimgeour nodded. "So the real threat is the goblins."
"Harry will return soon," Dumbledore added.
Scrimgeour regained his composure. "Understood, Professor Dumbledore."
"I'll head to Gringotts now."
"But I still hope that, once you're both free, you can come assist us."
He bid Dumbledore farewell and his head vanished into the flames, which reverted from green to orange.
Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and stared into the fireplace.
The powerful Death Eater at Gringotts—
Undoubtedly, that was Snape.
Making such a commotion—was it an attempt to lure him out of Hogwarts?
That aligned well with the guess he and Harry had made earlier.
Voldemort clearly had plans involving Hogwarts.
He gestured, and the Marauder's Map flew from the wall into his hand. Sitting beside the fireplace, he stared at it carefully.
Hogsmeade.
Just outside the Shrieking Shack.
Karkaroff apparated there, wearing a pointed wizard hat that concealed the Ravenclaw Diadem.
Through his eyes, Voldemort peered into this world.
"A familiar scent," he murmured, laughing.
He raised his wand, casting a series of complex enchantments upon himself.
Crouch had told him—
Harry and Dumbledore had a map that could display the names of everyone in Hogwarts.
Crouch never quite understood how they managed that.
But Voldemort, with his knowledge and insight, figured it out easily.
The Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance.
These magical artifacts, bound by a contract with Hogwarts, could be used to create such a map.
A clever method.
But.
Knowing the principle also meant it could be bypassed.
The spells Voldemort cast wouldn't entirely block the contract's effects, but were more than sufficient for concealment.
After all, he wasn't here to study.
As the spells settled, Karkaroff's form shimmered with a strange, ashen aura.
He followed the road he'd walked for four years—so familiar—as he approached Hogwarts.
Human presence thinned. At the end of the road stood a locked iron gate and two stone statues barring entry.
The statues leaned forward and glanced at Karkaroff but made no move.
They stood guard to prevent students from leaving on non-weekends, and outsiders from entering without permission.
But.
The magic within them worked the same way as the Marauder's Map—recognizing individuals through contracts.
And Voldemort had cloaked himself outside the bounds of that contract.
To the statues, he was merely a large tumbleweed, a non-magical animal, or some other harmless entity.
He drew his wand and pointed it at the gate.
"Alohomora."
A basic charm taught in first year.
Now, returning to Hogwarts, he used it once more—this time against the school itself.
The gate opened. The statues remained motionless.
Voldemort stepped through, following the shore of the Black Lake to a spot not too close to the castle.
He had Karkaroff remove his hat and toss it into the lake.
With a wave of his wand, he conjured a golden pedestal, chest-high.
He placed his wand atop it.
Then he removed the Ravenclaw Diadem and solemnly set it on the pedestal as well.
Once the diadem was removed, Karkaroff seemed to regain some awareness. His eyes filled with terror.
But his body still wouldn't move.
"Your mind is stronger than I expected," a voice echoed from the diadem, sounding surprised.
"M-Master," Karkaroff stammered through clenched teeth.
"Karkaroff, my dear friend," Voldemort said wistfully. "I once thought you'd be my most loyal servant."
"But when I fell from power, you were the first to betray me."
Karkaroff looked pained, his voice filled with grievance. "No, Master—I didn't. I only..."
"Only what?" Voldemort interrupted coldly. "Lied in wait, preparing for my return?"
Karkaroff nodded like a pecking chick.
"Is that so?" Voldemort whispered. "Then prove your loyalty, Karkaroff."
"Offer your power... for my rebirth."
As he spoke—
Karkaroff's face twisted in horror.
He could feel his magic draining from his body, flowing rapidly into the golden pedestal.
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Powerstones?
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