Chapter 1348: No More Pretending
Chapter 1348: No More Pretending
Before Hagrid could comprehend what was happening, he was suddenly pulled by an irresistible force, losing his balance and falling to the ground.
"Stunned!"
Two streaks of red spells flew towards the struggling Death Eaters, knocking them back down as they tried to get up.
Sirius and Lupin quickly exchanged glances and stepped forward to finish off the Death Eaters who had been transported along with Hagrid. They made sure these foes wouldn't cause any more trouble in the near future.
"Hagrid, are you alright!"
Hermione took a step forward, intending to give Hagrid a hug, but Harry stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"It's all my fault. If I had listened to Albert and left Hogwarts, Grawp wouldn't have died. It's all my fault."
At this moment, Hagrid was deaf to any words of comfort. He was overwhelmed by deep self-blame and guilt, his cheeks wet with tears.
Grawp's death had shattered Hagrid's heart.
Regret consumed him entirely.
"It's not your fault, Hagrid."
Seeing Hagrid's state, Harry knew he had to do something.
"It's the fault of the Death Eaters. They're the ones who killed Grawp."
"Yes, it's all the Death Eaters' fault! They killed poor Grawp. They deserve to die! All Death Eaters should perish!"
Hagrid's gaze fell on the two unconscious Death Eaters beside him, and his eyes gradually filled with rage and hatred. Ignoring the shackles on his hands, he lunged at the fallen Death Eaters like a rabid beast.
In that moment, Hagrid resembled a bloodthirsty giant, raising his fist, larger than a bowl, and pounding it down on the Death Eaters. After a satisfying beating, not only were the Death Eaters' faces contorted and their heads flattened, but their chests had also caved in.
The two Death Eaters were beaten beyond recognition, and it was unlikely they would survive.
"That's enough, Hagrid!"
"Someone stop him, quick!"
"Stun him and take him away," Kingsley said.
"Let Hagrid vent for a while," Sirius shook his head. "His brother just died. He needs to let it out."
"It's too gruesome. I'm afraid Hagrid might lose control," Lupin said, looking at the broken bones and torn-off head of one of the Death Eaters. He had already raised his wand, aiming it at Hagrid.
"Take Hagrid down first. We'll deal with this when we get back to the Order's headquarters," Harry instructed the other Order members to use the Stunning Spell on Hagrid.
After Harry's reminder, the group snapped out of their shock and followed suit, stunning the half-giant Hagrid and then using Disillusionment Charms to forcibly drag him away.
Having just slipped away from Voldemort's grasp, it was unwise for them to linger. No one could guarantee how long Albert could hold Voldemort back, nor if he would come after them.
No, Voldemort would definitely do so.
Harry's worries were justified.
Not long after, Voldemort arrived with his Death Eaters in tow.
The sight of the two Death Eaters brutally killed by the giant made their faces grim. They knew their plan had failed.
...
"So, was it successful?"
As soon as Albert returned to the Defense Association, he was surrounded by a large group, their voices buzzing with eager questions.
"Quiet!"
Albert silenced the commotion and announced loudly, "Hagrid has successfully escaped, right under the nose of the mysterious figure!"
A louder cheer erupted, nearly lifting the roof off the house.
Everyone was celebrating this great victory.
They believed that this blow would leave Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and the Ministry of Magic bruised and battered, their authority in tatters.
When people no longer feared the Death Eaters, there would be brave souls who would stand up in defiance.
"Now, I have something even more important to say."
"What is it?"
"The mysterious figure and the Death Eaters will likely start causing panic on a large scale again." Albert looked at the group with a warning expression. "We need to maintain silence for a while, even at Hogwarts, to avoid attracting the attention of the Death Eaters."
After warning the group, Albert asked Fred to contact the Order of the Phoenix to confirm Hagrid's safe escape. As for himself, he planned to get some rest and visit Hagrid at the Order's headquarters tomorrow.
He had been working tirelessly all day and needed a good night's sleep.
"It seems the plan was a success."
Isabella kissed Albert's cheek and said, "But you don't seem to be in a hurry to reap the rewards."
"Some things can't be rushed. We need to let this ferment a little longer," Albert said meaningfully. "This time, the mysterious figure has been thoroughly humiliated. He will definitely seek ruthless revenge on anyone associated with us. I hope the members of the Order won't lose their lives because of this."
"Do you think anyone will die because of this?" Isabella asked with a smile as she wrapped her arms around Albert's neck. "If a few more of them perish, the rest of the Order might be more willing to follow your lead."
"I've warned them," Albert said softly. "To completely correct their mindset, they usually need a painful lesson. I hope this one will spur Hagrid to grow up quickly."
"That's a heavy price to pay," Isabella murmured.
"Yes, heart-wrenching. But it's his own doing. I didn't even have time to pull him back," Albert glanced at the contents of the communication log and then fell back onto the bed. He needed rest.
The defenses set up by the Order last night were far from sufficient.
Isabella pulled the blanket over Albert and leaned down to kiss his cheek. She murmured, "I guess a lot more people are going to die because of this."
"This is war. People die in wars. As long as it's not someone I care about, I can accept it," Albert whispered.
He was right.
After failing to stop Harry Potter, an enraged Voldemort took out his frustration on the suspicious individuals beneath the execution platform.
With the dazzling green light of the Killing Curse, Voldemort no longer bothered to conceal himself.
He appeared unreservedly before everyone and personally killed a few unlucky souls.
This bold and unconcerned act was like a declaration to everyone that Britain was now under Voldemort's control.
It wasn't that Voldemort wanted to do this, but that he had no choice.
Albert's punch had been too heavy.
The Ministry of Magic, the Death Eaters, and the mysterious figure had all become laughingstocks, and their carefully laid plans had turned into a joke.
The already shaky rule had been directly shaken to its core.
It was now impossible to maintain the status quo.
This forced Voldemort to cast aside the last shred of pretense and personally remind everyone of the death and fear he had once brought upon them.
(End of Chapter)
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