The squirrel had just darted up the tree when a spell struck the spot where it had been, blasting the protruding tree roots into pieces.
"Tsk, quick reaction!"
A voice said in dissatisfaction.
"Who is it?" Lucius Malfoy immediately pointed his magic wand.
A vaguely familiar voice sounded: "Having fun, Lucius?"
This voice seemed to have been heard somewhere before, familiar but hard to recall at the moment.
Lucius Malfoy stared warily in that direction, but since the person had just extended a helping hand, he didn't act rashly without understanding the person's identity and purpose.
The sound of "rustling" footsteps echoed in the woods, and a person slowly emerged from the darkness.
When Lucius Malfoy saw the man's face clearly, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Is it you?" Lucius froze in place, asking in astonishment, "You're still alive?"
Barty Crouch Jr. had a sickly smile on his pale face, his eyes deep-set, and the firelight flickering in the woods reflected in his eyes, showing a hint of madness.
He took two steps forward, his boots crushing the dead branches on the ground, and said with a smile: "What's wrong... surprised?"
Lucius's Adam's apple bobbed, his magic wand lowered but still held tightly in his hand, and he spoke in a low voice: "The Ministry of Magic announced you were dead."
"They think I'm dead, but thanks to my dear father—" A flash of sarcasm and resentment appeared in Barty's eyes: "I'm still alive."
"Barty Crouch? Really unexpected."
Lucius guessed how Barty Crouch Jr. was smuggled out of prison by his father, his smile tinged with disdain and scorn:
"I thought he really was like the propaganda... a staunch, iron-willed warrior who wouldn't tolerate a speck of sand in his eyes!"
He relaxed because Lucius knew well that Barty was a loyal Death Eater, if bones could be engraved, Barty's every bone would be marked with the Dark Mark.
To be honest, the craziness of this young man, who had just graduated from school, back then had been enough to make even Lucius scared.
So even though decades had passed, Barty absolutely wouldn't change for the better due to his parents' protection or his father's teachings.
In Lucius' view, as fellow criminals who had also escaped jail by luck, they still barely qualified as companions.
Of course, among Death Eaters, there was little talk of camaraderie; mutual exploitation and collaboration were the norms. Helping out, as in that recent situation, or dumping an obsessively hunting hound was common practice.
Feeling the blood flowing continuously from the wound on his shoulder, his body started to grow cold. Lucius quickly turned his magic wand, pointing it at the wound to cast a Healing Spell.
Seeing Barty Jr.'s face darkening, his heart tightened, and he quickly said with a smile:
"Thank you for your help earlier. Those crazy Leprechauns were cursed by you, right? It was truly a masterpiece. It seems our thoughts are the same, taking advantage of this match to stir up trouble."
"What's your purpose in causing trouble, Lucius?"
Barty Jr. looked at him, slowly revealing a smile, showing his white teeth as well.
"Over the years, you've been living quite well! Manor, vault, vast wealth, still a member of the Hogwarts board, a guest at the Ministry of Magic, Minister Fudge's special advisor..."
He seemed to be grinding his teeth, like a snake emitting a low "hissing" sound: "Lucius, living this enviable life, why do you still wear a mask to cause trouble? If caught, you'll lose everything."
Lucius' jaw tightened, his fingers whitening from holding tightly.
Perhaps from losing too much blood, though the wound was gradually healing, he still felt cold all over, his heart pounding rapidly.
"I..." Thinking of Barty's fanaticism and loyalty, Lucius spoke in a low voice: "I want to declare to the entire Magic World that we still exist... I think we cannot forget who we are..."
"Really?" Barty Jr. took a step forward, closing the distance: "I thought you would say... you suspect the master's possible revival due to changes in the Dark Mark, using this method to test!"
"How could that be?" Lucius' heart leapt to his throat, instinctively taking a step back, gripping his wand tightly again, barely defending himself: "Of course, we also want to find the master, hoping to serve him again..."
"Oh?" Barty Jr. sneered: "A coward like you, who doesn't even dare to enter Azkaban for him, a faithless and despicable guy roaming free for decades, who would believe in your loyalty?"
Lucius frowned and said: "Don't speak so harshly, how are you any different from me? Rotting in prison, could it really be better than being active outside? You, me, Noat, McWell, Severus, we just chose a smarter way of loyalty."
"Don't lump me with you bunch of cowards!"
Barty Jr. swung his wand fiercely, and Lucius quickly cast a spell, but he was a step too late; the red spell hit his wrist, sending both his wand and himself flying.
Clutching his arm, he looked up to see Barty's cold, murderous eyes and the wand pointing at the tip of his nose.
"I ask you, Lucius Malfoy..." Barty Jr. spoke slowly: "Have you tried to find the master over these years? Even if only once?"
Cold sweat slid down Lucius' forehead.
"I..." He stared into his opponent's eyes, forcing himself to speak: "Of course I..."
Before he could finish, Barty Jr. calmly said: "No, you haven't."
Lucius' pupils shrank suddenly, unable to do anything before the tip of the wand burst out a bright light.
With a loud "bang," Lucius' body violently convulsed, his bones contorting out of shape, his scream cut off in his throat, transforming into a "ribbit-ribbit" sound when air escaped.
He looked shocked and terrified at the seemingly giant Barty, his already prominent eyes appearing more so.
Lucius Malfoy's clothes and wand fell to the ground, and in their place was a fist-sized, yellow toad.
Under Barty's malicious smile, the toad trembled fearfully all over, trying desperately to jump away to find someone to lift the curse, but after a couple of hops, a magical force drew it back.
"Shouldn't have turned Sirius Black into a squirrel earlier." Barty Jr. sighed: "Otherwise, he wouldn't have escaped my grasp now."
As he spoke, he took out a golden fine ring and placed it around the front limb of the toad, then used his wand to make the ring shrink smaller and smaller until it clamped tightly onto the toad, sinking into its flesh.
Barty grabbed the toad, forcing it to look into his eyes, smirking:
"I know you have a way to break the Transfiguration Spell, but if I were you, I wouldn't do it... Want to know why?"
He flicked the golden ring with his finger, saying: "I requested the master, who personally placed an Unbreakable Charm on this. The moment you turn back into human form... it will split you in half!"
"Enjoy your new form, Lucius Malfoy!"
Barty threw the toad onto the ground, bent down to pick up Sirius' clothes, finding a black hair inside, and then waved his wand.
Lucius Malfoy's clothes, wand, and all other belongings left on the ground were ignited. Barty turned and left, leaving only a toad squatting on the ground, despairingly emitting "ribbit" sounds.