As the largest cemetery in human history so far, Piskarev Cemetery does not have a gate. There is only a giant sign with "1941-1945" as the dividing line of this area, reminding that period of history.
Newt Scamander stood in front of a tombstone, silent.
Next to him was the "stall owner" with gray hair on his temples, who was also his guide on the trip.
After chatting along the way, he already knew the old man's name and some simple information: Alexander Ivanov, a veteran who served in the 20th Tank Destroyer Brigade of the 62nd Army of the former Soviet Union.
According to the regulations of the former Soviet Union, Ivanov, who had served in the military for more than 40 years, was originally eligible to receive a pension.
However, with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the hastily established CIS countries have fallen into complete chaos in the economic, political, and people's livelihood fields. The authorities have no extra finances to continue to maintain and subsidize the welfare of veterans.
The former heroes have become social "burdens". In comparison, Ivanov is already considered to be in a better situation.
"Last Christmas Eve... Well, I think you should have heard about that... Anyway, shortly after that, the mayor of Leningrad held a general vote and finally decided to restore the name of the city to
St. Petersburg.”
Ivanov glanced at the old British man next to him and introduced with complicated emotions.
"As for the Stalingrad you asked about, it was renamed Volgograd ten years ago. There have been so many changes over the years. Sometimes I even feel as if I am dreaming.
"
"But did you really find the person you were looking for? I don't mean to offend, but this tombstone..."
After a pause for a few seconds, Ivanov turned his head and looked at the tombstone in front of them.
Like most of the tombstones in the cemetery, this is an unnamed tombstone without any words inscribed on it. Most of the people buried here did not leave their names. In that era, it was simply impossible to complete archival work.
matter.
Therefore, Soldier Ivanov didn't understand why Newt stopped here so firmly.
"Ivanovich..."
Newt sighed, stretched out his hand and patted the tombstone in front of him.
In Piskarev Cemetery, there are some slightly different tombstones. Perhaps to Muggles, they look no different from ordinary unnamed tombstones, but in the eyes of wizards, each of them is imprinted with magical words.
.
The text that only wizards can read simply records the name of the tomb owner, the date of birth and death, and the cause of death.
"Novot Ivanovich, graduated from the Kodosdoriz School of Magic (koolдoвctopeц in Russian), seriously violated the "International Federation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy" in Pripyat in 1986, and accidentally became contaminated with non-magic
An unknown curse created by the world, and after the treatment failed, it was secretly buried here through the non-magical world government and his own wishes."
"That's right, it's him. But I didn't expect that it would be like this when we meet again..."
Newt Scamander shook his head. Regarding the disaster that happened on this land six years ago, even he had heard about it even as far away as the UK. Muggles paid their dues for playing with power that did not belong to them.
He paid a heavy price, and according to the conventions of the International Federation of Wizards, all disasters caused by non-magical factors have nothing to do with wizards.
In fact, most of the wizards living here have chosen to evacuate.
Traveling long distances is not a difficult task for wizards who have no nationality or geographical restrictions.
Only a very small number of wizards from the "former Soviet Union" chose to blatantly violate the regulations of the International Federation of Wizards and take the initiative to go near the city of Pripyat to participate in the rescue and aftermath work of the non-magical world, and among them was Ivanovich.
After that, Ivanovich had his wand confiscated for violating the "Secrecy Act" and has been under house arrest near his home.
"So, are you friends with this... well, Mr. Ivanovich?"
Ivanov hesitated for a moment, turned his head and looked at Newt Scamander seriously, and asked in a deep voice.
"Well, we fought together more than forty years ago." Newt nodded.
In order to prevent Gellert Grindelwald from ruling the magical world, almost half of the wizards in Europe, America, and Asia at that time united together. The magical world was divided into two distinct factions, and the war spread from England to Siberia.
Compared with wars in the non-magical world, the battles between wizards are more cruel and extensive.
By the time the First Wizarding War was about to end, there were almost no professors over the age of thirty in the Kodos Doriz Magic School, so that there was a serious fault in the magic inheritance in the former Soviet Union.
As the backbone of the resistance against Grindelwald, Newt Scamander naturally also fought in this land.
"Forty years ago...we fought together?"
Ivanov looked at the wrinkled Newt carefully for a while, and then looked around at the surrounding tombstones.
After a moment of silence, the old man breathed a sigh of relief. As if he had made up his mind, he reached out and took out the carefully folded twenty-pound note from his pocket, and solemnly placed it in Newt's hand again.
"Well, Mr. Scamander, I'm sorry, but I can't take your money."
"Mr. Ivanov, what do you mean?"
Newt frowned and looked at the old man next to him in confusion.
"This is the guide fee we agreed on before. Now we have just visited a place. If you think there are any problems, we can discuss more about the price or other places. Besides, you still need..."
After more than half a day of conversation, he already knew that the old man's current condition was not good, and more importantly, Ivanov also needed to help several other comrades who were disabled in the war, and the pressure in life was extremely huge.
The medals that Ivanov had previously sold at the stall were the only valuable things around these veterans.
"It's not about money, it's the last thing we have left."
Ivanov struggled for a few seconds, sighed helplessly, and pointed to the tombstones around him.
"Although I don't know which battlefield you are on, I absolutely cannot do this...this kind of charging my comrades who have fought side by side with guide fees to go to the cemetery to find someone, otherwise I may not have the shame to come and lay flowers in the future."
After a slight pause, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Ivanov's face, he gritted his teeth and said bravely.
"However... if your financial conditions allow it, you may consider buying a few more medals. I can help you ask more. I can help you find most of the rare medals... just treat it as
, it’s the guide’s fee.”
"No, you may have some misunderstanding, I..."
Newt was stunned for a moment and was about to retort, but he suddenly stopped when the words reached his lips.
There is no doubt that this veteran of the former Soviet Union must have misunderstood something, but due to the restrictions of the International Wizarding Statute of Secrecy, Newt cannot explain the subtle differences. Besides...
Newt glanced at the words on the tombstone.
The city of Pripyat...violated confidentiality laws...
The stories Elena told him last night suddenly came to Newt's mind.
After a few seconds of silence, Newt put away the banknotes in his hand, nodded extremely seriously, looked at Ivanov and said.
"Okay, I still have a few old friends that I need to visit. In the next few days, I may need to trouble you to help guide me. And after these things are over, I would like to trouble you to collect what you can here.
Give me a list of medals. I have a friend who is very interested in collecting these medals."