The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 280 Revealed

Chapter 280 Revealed (5K) (2/2)

Looking at Lupin, who was extremely agitated and almost overwhelmed by pain and anger, Lin Qi suddenly said, "Perhaps it's not all torture."

Lupin was stunned. He couldn't understand what Lin Qi meant at all and could only stare blankly at him.

Lynch continued, his tone still calm but unusually candid: "First, I want to apologize to you, Remus. To confirm your true attitude and stance, I just made a baseless accusation. Now, I understand that your pain is real and not feigned. So, we can continue our discussion."

This sudden apology and explanation left Lupin even more confused. He couldn't follow Lynch's train of thought at all and could only subconsciously ask, "—Continue? Continue what?"

Lynch looked directly into Lupin's eyes and said clearly, word by word, "Of course I know you have nothing to do with Sirius's intrusion. Because the person truly involved in that night's events is me."

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Lupin's anger, sadness, and confusion froze, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could only stare intently at Lin Qi, as if he were seeing this person for the first time.

"What are you saying?" Lupin's voice was dry, almost as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

"As you've heard," Lynch said calmly, as if stating a given fact, "I'm telling you, the one who truly 'colluded' with Sirius that night was me."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, shattering Lupin's last glimmer of hope.

Almost instinctively, he took a step back, simultaneously raising the wand he had been gripping tightly in his hand and pointing it steadily at Lynch's chest.

His eyes sharpened and became hostile, all his previous gentleness and weariness replaced by vigilance and determination.

"You—you're his accomplice?!" Lupin's voice trembled with shock and anger, yet carried a chilling edge. "You're the mysterious man's henchman?!"

The tip of his wand gleamed with a dangerous light, revealing his inner turmoil and his determination to launch an attack at any moment.

But Lupin did not want to launch an attack.

The scene of Lin Qi effortlessly subduing Buckbeak with that eerie "Soul-Snatching" technique flashed through his mind, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew that if a fight really broke out, he would probably be no match for this unfathomable colleague.

The only way out now is to try to maneuver and find an opportunity to send a signal to alert professors who may be nearby, such as Hagrid, whom they have just parted ways with—only then will they have a chance of survival.

He gripped his wand tightly, staring intently at Lynch, wary of any possible attack, while also looking for an opportunity to cast an alarm spell.

Lynch looked at the faint glow emanating from the tip of Lupin's wand, which was shimmering with magical energy, and showed no hostility or tension. Instead, he spoke calmly, "Relax, Remus. Put down your wand, and perhaps we can talk more peacefully."

He paused briefly, looking at Lupin's unwavering wariness, and continued, "I will never be Voldemort's henchman. In fact, my desire to kill Voldemort is just as resolute as Voldemort's determination to kill me, perhaps even more so."

These words deepened the look of surprise and doubt in Lupin's eyes, and his hand gripping his wand paused almost imperceptibly.

A crucial detail flashed through his mind, shaking his initial judgment: no true, fanatical Voldemort follower would so calmly, even with a hint of contempt, call out the name "Voldemort."

They would only refer to him with awe as "the Black Demon King".

Lynch's attitude and wording were completely different from his understanding of Death Eaters.

However, this does not completely clear Lynch of suspicion, especially since he has just admitted to "colluding" with Sirius Black.

Lupin's wand was still pointing at Lynch, but the hostility in his tone had softened slightly, replaced by confusion and caution: "—Then who exactly are you? What did you mean by what you just admitted? If you're not Voldemort's man, why are you helping that traitor and murderer, Black?"

"You asked quite a few questions in one go," Lynch said, shifting his gaze from Lupin as if genuinely considering how to answer, his tone even carrying a hint of casual conversation. "Hmm... let me think about which one to answer first..."

Just as Lin Qi looked away, seemingly distracted, a glint flashed in Lu Ping's eyes!

He suddenly raised his arm, ready to strike, the tip of his wand about to burst into a dazzling spark or a loud bang, attempting to send the most conspicuous signal into the sky to attract the attention of the castle or others—this was his only chance!

However, his arm had barely risen half a foot when his movement suddenly froze as if he had hit an invisible wall!

Not just his arms, but all the joints in his body seemed to be tightly bound and tightened by countless cold, invisible ropes at the same moment!

A suffocating sense of confinement descended, even swifter and more thorough than when Buckbeak had been bound before.

He remained frozen in place, still in the posture of attempting to cast a spell, his wand pulled forcefully from his palm, his eyes filled with intense shock and resentment.

Lin Qi's gaze slowly turned back to Lu Ping, who was completely subdued by "Soul Hooking". A faint, almost admiring look seemed to flash across his calm eyes.

"You seized the opportunity perfectly," Lin Qi commented, his tone ambiguous, neither sincere nor sarcastic. "Quick reaction, decisive and ruthless. It seems your years of wandering haven't been in vain; at least you've honed your alertness and courage in seeking a way out of a crisis quite well."

Lupin understood perfectly at that moment.

Lin Qi's deliberate averting of his gaze was a carefully set trap, a bait to lure him into making a move and thus completely deprive him of his ability to resist!

A wave of humiliation, a feeling of being utterly mocked and crushed, washed over him. A suppressed, angry gurgling sound escaped his throat. With all his might, he managed to squeeze out a muffled but hateful curse from his throat, which felt constricted by an invisible force: "Despicable!"

Lynch neither agreed nor disagreed with such comments. He simply took a step and slowly approached Lupin, who was fixed in place, like a craftsman examining his own work.

"There's no other way," Lynch explained calmly, looking at the completely restrained Lupin, as if stating a helpless fact. "What I'm about to tell you is quite a lot, and rather—astonishing. In order for us to have a smooth conversation, I think it's best if you remain in a relatively calm state."

He stopped three steps away from Lupin, a distance that was both safe and allowed him to clearly observe every subtle expression on the other's face. He opened his palm, and Lupin's wand, which had been suspended in mid-air by an invisible force and was trembling slightly, slowly flew into his hand as if drawn by a thread.

Lin Qi lowered his head and carefully examined the slightly worn wand in his hand, the staff even showing some minor wear. His fingertips gently brushed over an inconspicuous scratch, as if he could read the owner's turbulent past from it.

"Cypress wood, unicorn tail hair core—it's been well-maintained, but these wear and tear," he raised his eyes, his gaze falling again on Lupin's face, which was taut with anger and humiliation, "it seems that life as a wanderer is indeed very hard."

Lupin simply stared intently at Lin Qi with his eyes burning with anger, his lips pressed tightly together, refusing to utter any sound that might be perceived as weakness or compromise.

Lynch seemed unconcerned by his silence. He raised his head, met Lupin's resentful gaze, and continued, "However, this also answers your first question—about who I am."

He casually held Lupin's wand in his left hand as if it were just an ordinary wooden stick, while raising his right hand and making a twisting motion in Lupin's direction.

In an instant, Lupin clearly felt that the invisible rope binding his entire body tightened suddenly around his neck!

A cold, suffocating sensation suddenly gripped his throat, not to kill him, but with a despairing, absolute control, as if his life was entirely at the mercy of the other's will.

In the midst of this suffocating oppression, Lynch calmly uttered a name, a name that struck fear into the hearts of those in the dark world, yet few could associate with any specific wizard: "I am the 'Mist Hangman'."

Lupin's eyes widened to their limit the moment he heard the name!

His pupils contracted sharply, filled with extreme shock and disbelief, which even temporarily overshadowed his previous anger.

The meaning behind that name is far more complex, darker, and more chilling than the accusation of being "Voldemort's henchman."

Then, Lin Qi loosened his grip slightly on his right hand.

The suffocating pressure on my neck suddenly disappeared.

Lupin suddenly arched his back and began to cough violently and uncontrollably, breathing in the cool forest air. But his eyes remained fixed on Lin Qi, no longer filled with simple anger, but with a mixture of horror, confusion, and a deeper vigilance.

The icy, bone-chilling feeling of constriction on my neck had not completely dissipated, and the burning pain and suffocating sensation of being squeezed by an invisible force still lingered deep in my throat.

Lupin breathed deeply, but his gaze remained fixed on the figure three steps away.

The absolute suppression of that instant, the power that effortlessly stripped him of all ability to resist with a mere gesture, and the precise, soul-chilling binding magic—all of this perfectly overlapped with the legendary image of the mysterious, powerful "Mist Hangman," renowned for his ruthless hunting of dark wizards.

He no longer doubted Lin Qi's self-narration—this man was indeed the terrifying being who roamed the shadows.

However, a great deal of confusion welled up inside him, almost overshadowing the physical discomfort and initial anger.

Why is the Mist Executioner involved with Sirius Black?

Lupin's thoughts raced.

As far as he knew, although the "Hangers" were elusive and ruthless, their targets were always clear: Voldemort's followers or notorious dark wizards. Their stance did not seem to conflict with the Order of the Phoenix, and they were even vaguely on the same side.

But Sirius Black—he is a recognized traitor, one of the main culprits who killed James and Lily, and a henchman of Voldemort!

As far as I know, Jim Lynch is Lily's good friend.

How could these two people possibly collude together?

Unless—an absurd yet faintly possible thought flashed through Lupin's mind, making his heart leap.

Did Sirius betray the mysterious man?

This time, he chose to team up with "The Hangman," who specializes in killing dark wizards.

The idea was so astonishing that it almost overturned his deeply ingrained beliefs of the past twelve years.

But the identity and power that Lin Qi displayed before them were like a stone thrown into stagnant water, stirring up ripples.

Lu Ping forcibly suppressed the discomfort in his throat and the turmoil in his heart. He knew that a direct confrontation was futile, and anger would not solve the problem.

He must find out the truth behind this, for Harry's sake, and for James and Lily's.

He raised his still slightly red eyes, the resentment in his gaze replaced by a cautious inquiry. His voice was slightly hoarse from the discomfort in his throat, yet unusually firm: "—What exactly is your purpose?"

He decided to stop attacking blindly and instead try to pry some valuable information out of this dangerous "hanger" and see if there was any chance to send the information back to Dumbledore.

Lynch, seeing the lingering anger and distrust in Lupin's eyes, calmly stated his purpose: "My purpose is simple: to let the entire wizarding world know what really happened in Godric's Hollow on Halloween night twelve years ago. Not the version in the Ministry of Magic's announcement, but the truth."

"The truth?" Lupin chewed on the word, his brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on Lin Qi. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, someone is bearing a burden of guilt they shouldn't have, while the real culprit is at large, and may even still be operating in the shadows," Lynch said. "I found Sirius shortly after he arrived in London, and—I subdued him. Afterwards, I heard from him a story about that night, about you..."

A story completely different from what everyone knows.

Lupin's heart sank, a sense of foreboding gripping him, but he forced himself to ask, "What—story?"

Lynch looked directly into Lupin's eyes and said clearly and slowly, "He said that the Potters' secret keeper was replaced at the last minute. The one who truly leaked the secret to Voldemort and betrayed his friend was not Sirius Black, but—Peter Pettigrew."

"Nonsense!" Lupin practically roared, his restrained body trembling slightly with agitation. He could no longer contain his surging emotions. "Putting the blame on a dead man! Dead men tell no tales! Shameless! That traitor is utterly shameless! How could he fabricate such outrageous, such vicious lies! Peter—he—sacrificed himself heroically in pursuit of Blake! In front of so many witnesses! How could he—"

His voice choked with extreme anger and the humiliation he felt for his dead friend, and he could barely continue speaking.

Faced with Lupin's fierce rebuttal, Lynch's expression became somewhat subtle, a mixture of pity, sarcasm, and knowing "as expected."

He waited until Lupin's angry rebuke subsided before asking in a soft yet penetrating voice, "What if—Peter Pettigrew—didn't die at all?"

These words were like the coldest spell, instantly freezing all of Lupin's voice and movements.

The anger on his face froze, his pupils dilated again from extreme shock, and his brain seemed to have been struck by a sudden thunderbolt, going blank, with only that absurd yet terrifying question echoing wildly in his mind.

Peter—didn't die?

"What did you say?" Lupin's voice was distorted with extreme shock; he could hardly believe what he was hearing. "Say it again?!"

Lynch's tone remained as calm as if he were discussing the weather, but every word pierced Lupin's consciousness like an icicle: "I said, Peter Pettigrew isn't dead."

The air seemed to freeze.

Only the rustling of leaves in the wind and Lupin's heavy breathing remained in the Forbidden Forest.

His imprisoned body was unable to move, but the expression on his face underwent drastic changes—from complete disbelief at first, to a wavering sense of doubt, and then to a gradually spreading, chilling fear.

"This is impossible—" Lupin's voice was hoarse. "I saw it with my own eyes—many people saw it—the explosion, and they only found one of his fingers—"

"One finger," Lynch repeated, a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm in his voice, "is enough to prove someone's death? Remus, think about what those three secretly learned when we were in school?"

Animagus!

This word struck Lupin like a bolt of lightning.

Lynch continued, "He cut off a finger, then transformed into a rat and escaped. No one noticed his fake death trick, not even Sirius Black, who was present at the time."

Countless images swirled in Lupin's mind: Peter always following behind James and Sirius with an expression of both admiration and timidity; his nervous and uneasy demeanor at the Order of the Phoenix meetings; and—the streets after that "heroic sacrifice" explosion, where only wreckage and a finger remained.

If it was a carefully orchestrated faked death—if he had been lurking in another form all along—if what Blake said was true—

The shock of this thought was far more dizzying than the idea that Lynch was the "Mist Hangman." He felt a wave of vertigo, and if he hadn't been held up by invisible ropes, he would have almost lost his balance. Twelve years of belief, hatred, and sorrow had, in this moment, revealed a huge, terrible rift.

He looked at Lin Qi, his eyes filled with confusion and struggle, his voice trembling: "—Evidence? If what you're saying is true—where's the evidence? How can you prove what you're saying is true!"

He needed something concrete to deal with this disruptive possibility that was threatening to consume him.

Lynch smiled and gave Lupin the answer he desperately needed: "The evidence is right here, Peter Pettigrew, right now, at Hogwarts."