Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1562: The Secret of the Wand

“Okay, all of you, cheer up. Don’t be so upset just because I have an extra hole. Harry, smile. After all, we got you back okay,” George looked around and continued, “Where are Ron and Bill? Why aren’t they huddled round my sickbed?”

“Bill’s not back yet. Ron’s upstairs. He’s unconscious,” said Mrs. Weasley. “Their group ran into You-Know-Who.”

George’s grin faded. “Is Ron okay?”

“Nothing’s serious. He might already be waking up,” said Evan. “Let’s go check on him.”

The group went upstairs to Ron’s room, where he lay silently in bed.

“Oh, Ron, is he really okay?”

“I’m sure there’s no physical harm,” said Evan. “He —”

Just then, a flicker of pain passed over Ron’s face.

“Evan, what happened to him?” Ginny asked hurriedly.

“He looks like he’s in pain!”

“That’s exactly what I was worried about, magic that acts directly on the mind or even the soul,” said Evan, observing Ron’s expression. “When we got there, he was tangled in Voldemort’s black smoke. Part of Voldemort’s body has been corrupted by the evil god, and that black smoke isn’t just Dark magic; it also carries part of the evil god’s attack properties. It can act directly on the mind or spirit, like a Dementor does. It seems to be affecting Ron, and that’s why he’s been unconscious. His condition isn’t great.”

Noticing the expressions of Harry, Ginny, and Hermione, Evan hurriedly added, “But don’t worry too much. This kind of mental or soul influence usually doesn’t last long, and it won’t cause lasting harm. Ron will probably have a few nightmares and then wake up.”

Unless Voldemort had left part of his soul inside Ron — like the way he once affected Harry — he would recover quickly once the magic dissipated.

Of course, Voldemort wouldn’t do that. His soul couldn’t split any further, and even if it did, Ron wouldn’t be chosen as a Horcrux. Still, Evan didn’t know much about the evil god, nor what traits Voldemort might have after becoming one. He thought it best to check Ron’s condition again after he woke up.

“I just hope he gets better soon. … Their group had it worst. I heard Moody —”

“It’s all my fault!” Harry suddenly said quietly. “Mad-Eye and Ron, George’s ear, and… if I hadn’t agreed to this plan…”

“Don’t say that, Harry!”

“No, it’s all my fault!” Harry said stubbornly. “I should have fought Voldemort alone.”

Looking at Ron lying in pain on the bed, his insides clenched like a fist.

“You did very well. I heard from Hagrid that your magic repelled him; that’s something no one else has ever done.”

“It wasn’t me,” said Harry flatly. “It was my wand. My wand acted on its own accord.”

“But that’s impossible, Harry,” said Hermione tactfully. “You mean that you did magic without meaning to; you reacted instinctively.”

“No,” said Harry. “I just told Evan and Sirius — the bike was falling, I couldn’t have told you where Voldemort was, but my wand spun in my hand and found him and shot a spell at him, and it wasn’t even a spell I recognized. I’ve never made gold flames appear before.”

“That sounds really bizarre.”

“Maybe you’ve got a power you don’t even realize you have — something strong enough to defeat Voldemort,” said Elaine.

“My dad used to say when you’re in a pressured situation you can produce magic you never dreamed of,” Ginny nodded. “Small children often find, before they’re trained —.”

She was about to give the example of magical outbursts, but Harry cut her off through gritted teeth. “It wasn’t like that. That wasn’t my power!”

“It might be because of the wand,” said Evan.

“The wand?”

“Yes. I started wondering as soon as I heard you talking about it, but I’m not certain,” said Evan. “Harry’s wand may be connected in some way to Voldemort’s power, and when he tried to kill Harry, it automatically struck back. Just like what happened years ago, when he was resurrected —”

Harry didn’t hear what Evan said next because his scar suddenly began to burn without warning.

The pain in his scar peaked. As he clutched his forehead and closed his eyes, a voice screamed inside his head.

“You told me the problem would be solved by using another’s wand!”

And into his mind burst the vision of an emaciated old man lying in rags upon a stone floor, screaming, a horrible, drawn-out scream, a scream of unendurable agony. …

“No! No! I beg you, I beg you. …”

“You lied to Lord Voldemort, Ollivander!”

“I did not. … I swear I did not. …”

“You sought to help Potter, to help him escape me!”

“I swear I did not. … I believed a different wand would work. …”

“Explain, then, what happened. Lucius’s wand is destroyed!”

“I cannot understand. … The connection … exists only … between your two wands. …”

“Lies!”

“Please … I beg you. …”

And Harry saw the white hand raise its wand and felt Voldemort’s surge of vicious anger, saw the frail old man on the floor writhe in agony —

“Once my magic is complete, I’ll discard such a feeble weapon as a wand — but until then, you will tell me the wand’s secret. I want —”

“Harry?”

It was over as quickly as it had come: Harry was sitting next to Ron, his hands clutching the quilt tightly, his scar still tingling. It was several moments before he realized where he was.

“Are you listening to me?” Evan asked.

“You look awful!”

“Well,” said Harry shakily, “I probably look better than Ollivander. … It’s definitely the wand that’s causing the problem…”

When he had finished telling them what he had seen, everyone seemed terrified.

“But it was supposed to have stopped! Your scar — it wasn’t supposed to do this anymore!” said Hermione immediately.

“You mustn’t let that connection open up again — Dumbledore wanted you to close your mind!”

“Whether you’re breaking into his mind or letting him into yours, it’s extremely dangerous,” said Evan.

After Voldemort broke through magical protections tonight, the connection between him and Harry had been re-established.

Whenever Voldemort’s emotions surged violently, Harry could enter his mind.

Voldemort had probably forgotten to seal his brain, or maybe he was no longer able to do so in his current state. The damage he suffered from invading Harry’s mind tonight must have been severe, so severe it couldn’t be repaired.

When Harry didn’t reply, Hermione stepped forward and gripped his arm.

“Harry, he’s taking over the Ministry and the newspapers and half the Wizarding world! Don’t let him inside your head too!”

“I understand!” Harry murmured, “I’ll control myself and try to seal my brain. But don’t you think what I’ve seen is valuable? He’s captured Ollivander and wants to get the secret of the wand, and he’s working on some magic. If he succeeds, he won’t even need a wand anymore!”

Translating_Wizard

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