Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 692 Oath
“But it is indeed a good idea. Kirin hates the smell of dark magic,” Audrey Simitch said with a smile. “However, you should know that you are not the only wizard among all the candidates who thought of using such a trick.”

“Oh? This?” Nathaniel Calhoun quickly rolled up his sleeves to show Audrey Simitch, then quickly put them down again. “This is just a simple initiation badge. You should have heard of it, right? The ‘Secret Society’ that has suddenly appeared and become popular recently.”

"You joined?" Audrey Simitch asked directly. "Oh, my old friend, I never thought you, at your age, would still have such a youthful heart, joining some strange secret society."

“It’s not some strange secret society, it’s,” Nathaniel Calhoun paused, then said in a low voice, “Voldemort.”

“…” Audrey Simitch did not answer, but simply raised an eyebrow with an expression that said, “I knew it.”

“What did you give up?” Audrey Simitch asked. “Or what did you gain?”

“Just a simple deal,” Nathaniel Calhoun said casually. “He wants to become the new president of the International Federation of Magic, and apparently, like Grindelwald before him, he seems to want to use this position to gather wizards and pool their power to fight against… well, you know.”

Nathaniel Calhoun dared not utter the name Tyella, just as the wizards of the former British Ministry of Magic dared not utter the name Voldemort.

Both humans and wizards have always been afraid of things they do not understand or that exceed their imagination.

“Hmm.” Audrey Simitch nodded and took a sip of her drink. “In the short term, it will save us from having to worry about sitting in that hot seat. In the long term, hehe, it will keep them busy with each other and thus prevent them from paying attention to us little fish.”

"So, Nathanil, what is the purpose of telling me this news? Just to make us relax a little?" Audrey Simitch's beautiful emerald eyes rippled with strange waves, like emerald pools rippling in the wind, as if one could be drawn into them with just one glance.

"Ding--"

Nathaniel Calhoun tapped the rim of his glass lightly, making a crisp sound. "Oh, Audrey, my old friend, these little tricks won't work on me."

“Okay, okay, it’s always worth a try.” Audrey Simitch, who had been exposed, was not annoyed at all. She just shrugged boredly. “I have to make sure that the person I’m talking to now is my old friend or a puppet controlled by Legilimency.”

“Alright then, Nathaniel, tell me, what does your secret society leader want from me?” Audrey Simitch straightened her posture and said, then turned around lightly and led Nathaniel Calhoun to a balcony covered by huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

“No, it’s not about the Dark Lord, but rather,” Nathaniel Calhoun paused before saying, “I want you to help me remove this from my arm.”

He hesitated before revealing the Dark Lord mark on his arm.

"You regret it already?" Audrey Simitch didn't ask any more questions. She reached out and grabbed Nathaniel Calhoun's left arm, while her other hand covered the Dark Lord's mark, as if she was quietly sensing something.

"Clearing it is not difficult. I even believe that there are many professional anti-spellcasters in your Norwegian Magic Association who can do it. But to remove it without alerting the Dark Lord... heh." Audrey Simitch didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was very clear. She looked up at Nathaniel Calhoun, her eyes seeming to say: Good luck to you.

“Sigh,” Nathaniel Calhoun scratched his thinning brown curls and sighed with frustration. “His reputation isn’t very good.” “I’ve heard that, of course. He’s nothing like our great leader,” Audrey Simitch said with a mixture of relief and nostalgia. “I still remember when we were part of that great army, conquering every inch of Europe, until…”

“Yes. He is nothing like our great leader,” Nathaniel Calhoun said bitterly, rolling down his sleeves and downing the wine in his glass in one gulp. “Our great leader will never come back.”

“But,” Audrey Simitch’s emerald green eyes flickered, “I’ve heard that the one who’s entrenched at Hogwarts is our new leader.”

“What? Him? Where did you hear such absurd remarks?” Nathaniel Calhoun asked in shock.

“Vendor Rosie,” Audrey Simitch said calmly.

"What? Miss Rosie? What did she say?"

"What she says doesn't matter. According to reliable intelligence, the German Ministry of Magic will sign a joint agreement next month to form the Anglo-German Magical Alliance with the British Magical Federation, with...tsk." Audrey Simitch clicked her tongue in disdain, "and Cornelius Fudge, that good-for-nothing, will serve as the Secretary-General of the Anglo-German Magical Alliance."

"Moreover, our old friend, Kraft, also traveled all the way from Germany to Seville half a month ago. He talked intermittently with the people at the Royal Estate for more than half a month and also consulted us honorary elders."

"Is Miss Rosie truly determined to follow the one who controls Hogwarts?" Nathaniel Calhoun asked in shock. "Is she sincere, or is she being manipulated?"

“I see no signs of being controlled,” Audrey Simitch said. “Before coming here, I went to Germany to see Miss Rosie. You haven’t seen her like this yet, have you?”

“What do you mean by her current appearance?” Nathaniel Calhoun asked, puzzled.

“She has regained her youth.” Audrey Simitch’s emerald eyes sparkled with longing and a strange light. “Not like me, who used magic to slow down aging, but completely broke free from the constraints of time.”

“You call this undetectable control?” Nathaniel Calhoun almost growled.

“Her vow remains unchanged.” Audrey Simitch casually placed her wine glass on the edge of the windowsill and stretched out her hand to show Nathaniel Calhoun her wrist.

On her pale wrist was a gold and blue bracelet, but to Nathaniel Calhoun, the dreamlike bracelet was a beautiful ring burning with a blue flame.

"The oath! The oath has been activated!" Nathaniel Calhoun exclaimed in delight. "The Great Leader has truly returned!"

(End of this chapter)