[139] The Hollow Egg

Hall shook his head, straightened his posture, and looked at Dumbledore with a resolute gaze. "Headmaster, I am the victim. I have the right to know how he harmed me."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, his brow furrowing. Using Veritaserum was not a simple decision. The Ministry of Magic had strict controls over it. Unauthorised use could anger them — they might use it to interfere with Hogwarts, even disrupt the school's normal order.

But on the other hand, Dumbledore recalled the dragon's corpse. Its soul had suffered immense torment. This made him suspect the symbol on the scale affected the soul. If that were true, they needed information quickly.

"Headmaster, we can't wait," Hall pressed. "This time it was me. But what about next time? Voldemort's ultimate goal will never change."

Hall's words were pointed. Dumbledore understood — he was referring to Harry.

Dumbledore closed his eyes briefly, weighing the options. Ministry regulations on one hand, the imminent threat to Harry on the other. When he opened his eyes, a resolute light shone in them.

"Hall, I understand your feelings. But we must proceed with caution."

Hall nodded. He knew Dumbledore's concerns were valid. But that would not stop him from acting covertly.

"Headmaster, I will be careful. I only want the truth about that symbol."

He made a solemn promise. Naturally, he would not ask about anything else. He simply wanted to seize the opportunity to cripple Barty Crouch Jr. Since Dumbledore was willing to spare Barty's life, Hall would not kill him. But nothing was more reassuring than someone who could not move.

With Hall's assurance, Dumbledore finally nodded. "Alright, Hall. We must ensure our information is accurate and reliable. If it's truly as we suspect — then it's terrible indeed."

Dumbledore led Hall to the place where Barty Crouch Jr. was being held — an empty classroom next to the Headmaster's office. Hall had passed by it before but never noticed it. Dumbledore had placed numerous obscuring spells around the room. Without him, Hall would never have found it.

Inside, the room was dim. The walls were dark and old. Faint rays of light filtered through the small windows but could not dispel the gloom. Barty Crouch Jr. was magically bound to a stool, his mouth sealed with a Silencing Charm, preventing him from speaking.

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Seeing them, Barty's face contorted into a ferocious expression, his eyes blazing with fury.

Hall pulled out a vial of Veritaserum and walked up to him.

As Hall drew out the vial, Barty's eyes changed. Fear and resistance flickered in them. He clearly knew what Hall held. His body trembled slightly, trying to break free, but to no avail.

Seeing Barty so terrified, Hall smiled with satisfaction and poured the Veritaserum into his mouth. Three drops. Even though Barty gritted his teeth, he could not resist.

Hall stepped back, narrowing his eyes, watching Barty intently.

After a moment, Barty's eyes went unfocused.

Hall took a deep breath and leaned forward. "Mr Crouch. What exactly is that symbol?"

"That symbol was — given to me by my master —" Barty's voice was low and hoarse.

"Tell me in detail. What does it do?"

"Master said it can plunge a person into endless suffering. Unbearable agony. A desire for death that cannot be fulfilled. It can gradually make them lose their sanity and sense of self."

Hall's expression grew even more grave. "Where did it come from? How did Voldemort obtain it?"

"I don't know exactly where it came from. Master gave it to me. Told me to use it to complete the mission." His lips trembled, as if trying to recall something.

Hall shook his head, disappointed. He paced a few steps, then stopped, arms crossed. "Why was the dragon's body unharmed?"

"Because the spell works on the soul —" Barty answered mechanically, his voice devoid of emotion. "The soul is tormented and shattered, but the body remains unharmed. The power of this symbol is specifically directed at the soul, having no direct effect on the body."

Hall and Dumbledore exchanged a glance. Their worst fears had come true.

"Hall, it seems our worries were justified," Dumbledore said, his eyes filled with deep concern.

The two walked out slowly.

Hall lagged behind Dumbledore, who, lost in thought, did not notice him falling a few steps behind. Hall glanced back at Barty Crouch Jr. just before stepping out the door.

Although Barty's face was expressionless and his gaze vacant, his body had begun to tremble slightly. The tremor was so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

But Hall saw it clearly.

A tiny crack first appeared on Barty's forehead, spreading rapidly. Then the magical circuits in his arms, chest, and legs began to break, one by one. Each break was like a taut string snapping. Barty's body twitched, as if enduring immense pain.

When Hall had poured the Veritaserum, he had secretly mixed in a potion to break the magical circuits. The dosage was not large, but it was enough to cause excruciating pain.

Consider it revenge for the dragon.

A cold glint flashed in Hall's eyes. A barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Then the door closed, plunging the room into darkness.

After that, Hall seemed to forget about Barty Crouch Jr. entirely. He never inquired about him again. He knew Dumbledore could restrain Barty's magic, but one day someone would be able to break that restraint. What Hall had done was prevent that possibility. Barty Crouch Jr. was too loyal to Voldemort — a very dangerous blade. Hall had to ensure it could never harm anyone again.

Now his mind was completely focused on another matter — finding out the secret of the golden egg.