Chapter 399

Yuer didn't go straight to Harry; instead, he slipped away from the group and headed toward the castle's backyard.

Translation: Yuer did not go directly to find Harry, but instead left the group and headed toward the castle's backyard.

Harry is in the castle's backyard.

Harry also slipped away from the group, heading toward the backyard from another direction.

Translation: Harry also quietly left the group and went to the backyard from another direction.

Their destination was Hagrid's hut.

Translation: Their destination was Hagrid's Hut.

That place, far from the castle, was a good spot to discuss secrets.

Translation: That place was far from the castle, a good spot to discuss secrets.

After meeting in the backyard, they climbed the footbridge together.

Translation: After meeting in the backyard, they together went up the Corridor Bridge.

"Hermione and Ron are Class Monitors; they need to bring the students back to the common room before they can come over."

Translation: "Hermione and Ron are class monitors; they need to bring the students back to the common room before they can come over."

Note: The term "Class Monitor" corresponds to the original Chinese term for a class leader. The phrase "bring the students back to the common room" is the translation of the original wording.

Yuer nodded, but no—he was now John.

Translation: Yuer nodded, no, now he has become John.

Note: Keep the name Yuer for the original character and John for the later name.

"Harry, the recent unrest across Europe was clearly premeditated."

Translation: "Harry, this time Europe has collectively erupted in turmoil; it's clearly premeditated."

"Our plan succeeded."

Translation: "Our plan succeeded."

"Voldemort must have noticed Dumbledore and Grindelwald's recent fire‑fighting activities, so he deliberately orchestrated this widespread unrest to lure the two of them away."

Translation: "Voldemort must have noticed Dumbledore and Grindelwald running around putting out fires recently, so he specially plotted this collective turmoil to draw them away."

Harry nodded; he had naturally guessed that as well.

Translation: Harry nodded; he naturally had also guessed this.

That was precisely the illusion they wanted to show Voldemort.

Translation: This is exactly the illusion they wanted to show Voldemort.

"News of Dumbledore's departure should reach Voldemort's ears soon, and he'll be coming shortly."

Translation: "The news of Dumbledore's departure will soon reach Voldemort's ears; he'll be here shortly."

"Are you ready, Harry?" John's question naturally referred to their ultimate goal.

Translation: "Are you ready, Harry?" John's words naturally referred to their ultimate goal.

To have Voldemort kill Harry with his own hands, thereby destroying Voldemort's Horcrux completely.

Translation: Let Harry be killed by Voldemort's own hand, completely ending Voldemort's Horcruxes.

"... I'm ready."

Translation: "...... Ready."

Harry took a deep breath, but his body began to tremble involuntarily; saying he wasn't afraid would be a lie.

Translation: Harry took a deep breath, but his body began to tremble involuntarily; saying he wasn't afraid was a lie.

He was still just a newly‑grown teenager, with a bright future ahead of him to experience.

Translation: He was also just a newly adult teenager, with a bright future awaiting him to experience.

Even though he had done countless mental preparations.

Translation: Even after having done countless mental preparations.

But when death truly loomed, instinctive fear surged like a tide.

Translation: But when death truly approached, instinctive fear still surged like a tide.

John offered him no comfort.

Translation: John did not comfort him.

At this point, he wouldn't say things like "there's still time to choose another path".

Translation: By now, he wouldn't say again something like "there's still time to choose another path."

That would shake the resolve Harry had struggled so hard to build.

Translation: This would only shake the determination Harry had painstakingly built.

It would turn his perseverance over this period into a joke.

Translation: It would turn his perseverance over this period into a joke.

He slowly reached into his coat and took out a golden sphere.

Translation: He slowly took out a golden sphere from his pocket.

It was the golden Snitch from Quidditch.

Translation: That was the Golden Snitch of Quidditch.

"Dumbledore gave this to you; he said what's inside will give you the courage to face death."

Translation: "Dumbledore gave it to you; he said the thing inside will give you the courage to face death."

Harry froze for a moment, his hand trembling slightly as he took the golden Snitch.

Translation: Harry froze, his hand slightly trembling as he took the Golden Snitch.

He gently ran his fingers over the Snitch's smooth surface; its wings quivered faintly, as if responding to his touch.

Translation: He gently rubbed the Snitch's smooth surface; its wings trembled slightly, as if responding to his touch.

"How do I open it?" Harry whispered.

Translation: "How do I open it?" Harry asked softly.

"I don't know. Dumbledore said you open it the same way you first caught the golden Snitch—by the way you touched it."

Translation: "I don't know; Dumbledore said, however you first touched the Golden Snitch when you caught it, that's how you open it."

Hearing that, Harry's thoughts instantly flew back to that autumn six years ago.

Translation: Upon hearing this, Harry's thoughts instantly flew back to that autumn six years ago.

He was only a first‑year then, standing on a Quidditch pitch for the first time in his life, competing against Slytherin.

Translation: At that time he was only a first-year, standing for the first time on a Quidditch pitch, facing Slytherin.

He was terrified, nervous, and worried he would mess everything up.

Translation: Back then he was very afraid, very nervous, very worried he would mess everything up.

But the moment he mounted his broom and rose into the sky, all his fears vanished.

Translation: But when he mounted his broom and rose into the sky, all fear vanished.

Relying on his courage and daring, he seized the first glimmer of hope in his life.

Translation: He relied on his own courage and daring to seize the first glimmer of light in his life.

Harry remained silent, his fingers lightly tracing the Snitch's pattern before slowly bringing it close to his lips.

Translation: Harry remained silent, his fingers lightly stroking the Snitch's pattern, then slowly bringing it to his lips.

John raised an eyebrow; after all, he truly didn't know the scene when Harry first caught the golden Snitch.

Translation: John raised an eyebrow, after all he truly didn't know the scene of Harry first catching the Golden Snitch back then.

Because he hadn't even enrolled at the school back then.

Translation: Because he hadn't even enrolled at that time.

When the Snitch touched Harry's lips, it emitted a crisp "click," and the golden Snitch slowly opened.

Translation: At the moment the Snitch touched Harry's lips, it emitted a crisp "click", and the Golden Snitch slowly opened.

Inside lay a black rhombus‑shaped stone, its surface smooth as a mirror, faintly reflecting Harry's face.

Translation: Inside lay a black diamond-shaped stone, its surface smooth as a mirror, faintly reflecting Harry's face.

He carefully extracted the stone; when John saw it, he instantly understood Dumbledore's thoughtful intention.

Translation: He carefully took out the stone; John, upon seeing it, instantly understood Dumbledore's painstaking intention.

The Resurrection Stone.

Translation: Resurrection Stone.

A Deathly Hallows artifact said to be able to bring the dead back.

Translation: A legendary Deathly Hallow capable of resurrecting the dead.

Dumbledore hid it inside the golden Snitch, concealed within the bravest moment of Harry's life.

Translation: Dumbledore hid it inside the Golden Snitch, hidden in the bravest moment of Harry's life.

And that moment.

Translation: And this moment as well.

Harry cradled the Resurrection Stone.

Translation: Harry cradled the Resurrection Stone.

He felt a warm force flow from his palm, as if someone were gently holding his hand.

Translation: He felt a warm power flow from his palm, as if someone gently grasped his hand.

He closed his eyes, and the images of his parents—James and Lily—appeared before him, their smiles warm and resolute.

Translation: He closed his eyes; in his mind appeared the figures of his parents, James and Lily standing before him, their smiles warm and steadfast.

"We're proud of you, Harry," Lily said, her eyes full of love.

Translation: "We are proud of you, Harry." Lily looked at Harry, her eyes full of kindness.

"We've always been by your side," James said, pride shining in his eyes.

Translation: "We have always been by your side." James looked at Harry, his eyes full of pride.

"Go ahead, child."

Translation: "Go on, child."

Their voices rose together like the warm sun of spring.

Translation: Their voices sounded together, like the warm sunshine of spring.

"Go do what you're meant to do—"

Translation: "Go do what you ought to do—"

Harry slowly opened his eyes, as if he could see his parents standing before him, smiling and nodding.

Translation: Harry slowly opened his eyes, as if seeing his parents' figures standing before him, smiling and nodding.

He inhaled deeply, and his body finally stopped trembling.

Translation: He took a deep breath; his body finally stopped trembling.

Facing the sunrise, Harry suddenly raised his hand and hurled the Resurrection Stone into the bottomless gorge below.

Translation: Facing the morning sun, Harry suddenly raised his hand and threw the Resurrection Stone, hurling it toward the bottomless chasm beneath his feet.

The stone traced an arc through the air, vanishing into the morning mist beneath the gorge.

Translation: The stone traced an arc in the air, disappearing into the morning mist below the chasm.

John watched Harry's action and said nothing to stop him.

Translation: John watched Harry's action, without speaking to stop him.

They know that Harry is no longer afraid of death.

But John couldn't help teasing, "Not a buddy, why act like that?"

Harry curled his lips in a smile, "Can't help it, the mood's right, couldn't hold back."

The two exchanged a glance and couldn't help laughing.

Hagrid's Hut.

Hagrid was sitting on a wooden post in front of the door, with a massive crossbow beside him.

Apparently he had also received Professor Maige's notice and began to be on guard.

"Harry, and, uh, you are…"

"I'm John."

"Oh John, long time no see."

Seeing the newcomer, Hagrid waved.

But John still bore Yueer's face at this moment, so he was a bit uncertain.

After confirming, he invited the two inside to sit.

"No, Hagrid." Harry shook his head, "We probably don't have time to sit down for tea."

Hagrid tilted his head, thinking Harry was probably worried about something.

So he patted Harry's shoulder and, in a gruff voice, said, "Don't be afraid, kid. If those guys dare come, this crossbow of mine won't be polite to them."

Obviously, simple Hagrid didn't know Harry's current situation and just thought Harry was worried about Voldemort's attack.

Harry gave a slight smile and nodded.

The little Giant before him was the guide who brought him into the Magical World, one of his most trusted friends.

"Thank you, Hagrid."

Hagrid chuckled, not noticing the change in Harry's tone.

"By the way, John, how's your health now?"

"I heard you fell into a deep sleep again not long ago?"

Turning his head, Hagrid said to John again.

He was naturally referring to the incident not long ago when he and Yaomei swapped names, causing their souls to fall into a slumber.

"Uh… I'm fine, don't worry," John scratched his head and said sheepishly.

"Is that so, you still need to watch your health."

Hagrid said concernedly.

"Got it, Uncle Hagrid," John replied helplessly, truly not wanting to bring it up again.

So embarrassing.

Suddenly, the sky grew dark.

Black clouds surged from all directions, as if driven by some force, quickly covering the rising sun.

Even the temperature dropped a few degrees abruptly.

Harry and John looked up together, their expressions solemn.

The wind began to howl, swirling leaves and dust from the ground.

"Looks like someone can't wait any longer."

"Indeed."

"Kids, come in quickly!" Hagrid, also sensing something wrong, urged in a rough voice.

Harry and John, however, did not move.

At this moment, Hermione and the others finally arrived from the Castle direction.

"Harry!"

Ginny was the first to dive into Harry's arms.

She had just learned the truth about Harry from Hermione's mouth.

Ron, for the first time, didn't feel upset that his sister was hugging his good friend, but instead patted Harry's shoulder.

Hermione first went to John's side, took his hand, then looked at Harry, her eyes full of worry.

"Harry, are you sure you want to do this?" Hermione's voice trembled slightly.

She hoped Harry could change his mind.

Harry nodded, saying nothing.

From the Castle side, many people emerged again: Neville, Luna, Draco, Titus and several professors.

But before they could approach, a massive bolt of heavenly thunder suddenly descended from the sky, striking straight between the two groups.

The ground was furrowed with a charred trench, shards of stone scattering, separating them.

A cold voice came from the black clouds, as if from all directions: "Harry Potter, your time has come."

Voldemort's figure fell from the sky, wrapped in Black Mist, slowly descending to the center of the arena.