Wade cast an Engorgement Charm on the goblet, making a single scoop almost equivalent to half the basin.
Yet, as the goblet was lifted from the surface, the potion in the basin remained at its original level, as though it hadn't diminished at all.
He controlled the "toad-man" formed from the pig to drink the potion in the goblet.
Thanks to extensive practice with insects, Wade had become highly skilled at using Confundus Charm. With ease, he made the pig believe the goblet contained its favorite food. A few gulps later, the potion was gone.
As it swallowed, the liquid level in the basin finally began to decrease. However, it dropped only slightly, far less than the amount the pig had consumed.
"Wow," Dumbledore couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, not expecting such a cunning method to actually work.
Wade, however, was dissatisfied. "The potion decreased less than I anticipated."
"I suspect it's because the magic energy in its body is too weak," Dumbledore suggested. "Perhaps only magic can properly digest the potion."
"But… the puppet had magic in its body too!" Wade said puzzledly.
"The magic in a puppet isn't innate; it's enchantments imposed upon it by others," Dumbledore hypothesized. "It's possible the potion was reduced just now, but the quantity was so small it couldn't even offset the potion's natural restoration rate."
Wade continued to feed the pig a second goblet of potion. By the third goblet, the Confundus Charm was losing its effect. The pig struggled fiercely for a few seconds before reluctantly drinking.
The pig began to roll on the ground in agony. The Transfiguration cast by Dumbledore started to wear off. Within seconds, parts of the pig's body reverted to its original form, leaving it looking even more grotesque.
Suddenly, the pig calmed down again—Dumbledore intervened. He managed to make it drink the fourth, fifth, and sixth goblets of potion before stopping.
The pig, which was now fully reverted to its original form, lay on the ground weakly gasping for air, and it looked as though it was on the brink of death.
Dumbledore lowered his wand and said, "It's still possible to save it now. Any more, and it will undoubtedly die."
"Professor, there are pork chops and lamb chops on the dinner table," Wade reminded him.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "but killing animals for sustenance is different from killing one that has helped us, my child."
"Alright, you've convinced me," Wade shrugged. "Luckily, I have plenty of animals at my disposal."
He turned and entered his wardrobe space again.
Inside, two Jarvey cubs were playing under a tree. A female puppet was tending to a Bowtruckle perched on a branch, while a broomstick was furiously chasing a Snidget that had plucked one of its twigs.
The scene was bustling with life.
Wade walked through the middle of it, gently placing a juvenile Fwooper that had perched on his shoulder back onto a tree.
These magical creatures were gifts from his friends and had grown fond of him. Naturally, Wade wasn't going to sacrifice them to drink poison.
However, there were also other magical creatures in the wardrobe space, ones he had brought in for various other reasons.
Turning past a large rock, Wade came upon a structure resembling a prison. High walls surrounded it, and its roof was sealed with iron mesh and enchantments.
He opened the door, and the creatures inside were stunned for a moment and then scuttled toward the entrance with a clattering noise.
It was a group of man-eating Acromantulas.
They had eight hairy legs, massive pincers, and were now eagerly tapping and clicking, their eight eyes locked on Wade with the clear desire to tear him apart and devour him.
When Wade had first "picked up" these creatures, they were about the size of basketballs. But they grew quickly, and now each one was larger than an ordinary goat.
Their reproductive abilities were impressive too—they could lay a hundred eggs at a time. Had they not been magically confined to this small space, they would have overrun the entire wardrobe space by now.
But now, due to the limited space and controlled food supply, the Acromantulas had been forced to keep their numbers in check, peaking at no more than fifty.
Wade waved his wand, restraining the fastest ones rushing toward him. After shrinking a few of the spiders, he brought them out.
One of the spiders behind him suddenly spat a web at Wade, attempting to trap him.
An invisible shield materialized in the air, blocking the sticky web.
In the next moment, Wade closed the door, and a flash of spell light sealed it shut.
A bird's cry rang out from above. Mikael, with wings folded, dove down from the sky, slipped through the narrow gaps in the wire mesh, and landed directly on the Acromantula that had attacked Wade.
Flames erupted and engulfed the spider, which screeched in agony. In seconds, only a pile of black ash remained.
Mikael proudly raised its head, flapped its wings, and let out a challenging cry at the other Acromantulas, which were several times its size.
The Acromantulas quickly retreated, shrinking into the corners.
Wade chuckled, and casually transformed a rock into a box. He placed a few shrunken, petrified Acromantulas inside and left the wardrobe space.
"Professor," he said, opening the box. "I think these should work too?"
Acromantulas are natural magical creatures, classified by the Ministry of Magic with a danger level of XXXXX—the same as dragons and Dementors. They are far beyond comparison to a pig with only one-sixteenth magical bloodline.
The liquid in the stone basin began to decrease at a visible pace.
The last Acromantula, unable to withstand the potency of the potion, collapsed on the ground and its eight legs twitched uncontrollably.
At the same time, the golden locket hidden in the basin finally revealed itself.
Wade returned the remaining Acromantulas to the wardrobe space. When he came back out, he saw that Dumbledore had already retrieved the locket and was studying it intently.
Dumbledore set down the locket, and sighed. "I'm afraid… we've been chasing the wrong target."
He flipped the locket in his hand, ensuring Wade could see it clearly.
"To my knowledge, Voldemort did indeed have a golden locket—it belonged to Salazar Slytherin and bore his distinctive 'S' mark. But this one… it has nothing of the sort."
"Well, not nothing entirely… it holds the last trace of a brave individual…"
Dumbledore opened the locket, revealing a folded piece of parchment inside.
Wade unfolded the note and saw a message he was somewhat familiar with:
I know I will be dead long before you read this,
but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.
I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.
I face death in the hope that when you meet your match,
you will be mortal once more.
Dumbledore said in a low voice: "Regulus Arcturus Black. He did not die at the hands of his master but gave his life resisting Voldemort."
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