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Chapter 1519: Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 1519: Calm Before the Storm
Ever since the startling news broke from the Witch's Outlook, there had been an influx of witches and wizards rushing to Hogsmeade overnight. However, most of them weren't there to lend a helping hand to Harry; instead, they intended to retrieve their children from Hogwarts before a full-blown battle erupted.
Unfortunately, they were too late.
Hogwarts was now protected by a formidable protective barrier, making it inaccessible by conventional means, leaving these concerned parents no choice but to try their luck in Hogsmeade.
To make matters worse, Lee Jordan had explicitly mentioned on the radio that Hogwarts students had already been evacuated, but he hadn't disclosed their location.
Naturally, everyone assumed the students would be brought to Hogsmeade, as it was the closest village to the school.
However, whether it was Albert's intention or not, he hadn't instructed the house-elves to send the students to Hogsmeade. Instead, they were taken to the former headquarters of the Defense Association, leaving the anxious parents scrambling for information about their children's whereabouts from the Aurors.
But the Aurors knew nothing, and they were busy preparing for the impending battle. They had no time or patience to appease these distraught families.
Initially, they thought they had been assigned a reasonable task, but now they just felt agitated. These families were causing a ruckus and creating more problems for them.
Many Aurors suspected they had been set up by Kingsley, but they couldn't fault his strategy.
It was only reasonable for the group of volunteers willing to stand against Voldemort to be received and guided by the Aurors, who undoubtedly had more experience in such matters.
"How many are willing to join us?" Gawain Robards, who had been busy fortifying Hogsmeade's temporary defenses, finally turned to his deputy for an update.
"Thirteen," Williamson replied with a bitter smile. "However, out of those, eleven are supporters of the Order of the Phoenix, and the remaining two only joined because their children are part of Dumbledore's Army. So, in essence, most of them aren't actually committed to fighting alongside us against the Death Eaters."
Robards fell silent for a moment before chuckling bitterly. "That guy probably anticipated the unreliability of others, which is why he became the Defense Association himself."
If given a choice, none of the Aurors present would want to be entangled in this war. But they had been thrust into the fire, leaving them with no option but to fight.
He didn't blame them, especially after witnessing the current situation. He understood that without Albert's intervention, Harry Potter would never have had the strength to stand against Voldemort's forces, let alone win this wizarding war.
To completely defeat Voldemort, sacrifices had to be made. There was no such thing as a free victory.
"Now, we must focus on the bigger picture," Robards said meaningfully. "Let's keep those who are willing to fight by our side, and persuade the rest to leave. We can't have them causing further disruptions."
"That won't be easy," Williamson frowned. "Even Professor McGonagall doesn't know where Anderson instructed the house-elves to take the students." He feared that these families wouldn't give up so easily.
Robards' gaze shifted to the disgruntled crowd, and his expression turned cold. "If they refuse to leave, knock them out and dump them in the Three Broomsticks. We can't allow them to hinder our preparations. Who knows if any Death Eaters might take advantage of the chaos and launch a surprise attack."
This statement, of course, stirred up even more discontent among the families, but Robards' voice remained calm in the face of their anger.
"If you're unwilling to fight for the future of the British wizarding world against Voldemort, we won't force you. However, please leave immediately. A battle may break out at any moment, and your presence here will only endanger yourselves and us."
"We just want to take our children home," a voice cried out.
"They aren't here," Robards replied, his voice colder now. "As for their location, we aren't entirely sure either, but they are definitely safe."
"In any case, we are about to face off against the Death Eaters in a major battle. We do not want you causing trouble here any longer, as we cannot be certain that there aren't any Dark Wizards among you, nor can we rule out the possibility of Death Eaters using your presence as cover for an attack.
Unperturbed by the commotion from the families, Robards issued a direct order for them to leave.
"Alright, off you go. You should be able to see your children tomorrow. I hope you know how to distinguish right from wrong, or don't blame us for taking drastic measures."
These words angered the families, but Robards didn't bother to appease them. Instead, he demonstrated his seriousness by casting a Stunning Spell on one particularly obstinate individual, knocking them unconscious.
This action caused an uproar, but the Aurors present backed him up, their wands at the ready, and the heated tempers of the families cooled under the threat of magic.
Looking at the unconscious person being carried into the Three Broomsticks, Robards scoffed, "What foolish people, not knowing the severity of the situation. If they were treated as spies and disposed of, no one could blame us."
With the crucial moment at hand, everyone's nerves were taut, and no one had the patience for their nonsense, especially the Aurors who had staked their lives on this cause. They would not tolerate any disruptions.
"I'm counting to three," Robards continued, his irritation growing at these unhelpful troublemakers. "If you don't want to leave, then stay here and wait for the war to end." He eyed them coldly, "You might even be safer here. Running around blindly could lead you straight to a Dark Wizard."
"Three... Two... One..."
When Robards finished counting, there were still two people left, who were promptly stunned by the Aurors.
"To dare cause trouble during wartime, I wonder how such idiots have survived this long. Next time, anyone causing trouble will be stunned and dumped in the Three Broomsticks," Robards declared, sending a clear message to the remaining families.
Williamson signaled to the other Aurors to carry the unconscious individuals into the Three Broomsticks, and the rest of the families fell silent, finally seeming to grasp the gravity of the situation. They didn't dare to cause further trouble, understanding that being knocked out and left in a room would likely lead to an unpleasant end.
If Hogsmeade became a battlefield, no one would have time to spare for those unfortunate souls.
The changes in Hogsmeade did not go unnoticed at Hogwarts.
With Albert's arrival, the defenses were further strengthened, and a powerful magical barrier was erected, enveloping the entire school and preventing any enemy from launching a surprise attack.
This was the main reason why countless families were unable to enter.
One unnamed family member, who refused to comply with the broadcasted instructions, was instantly vaporized by the super ironclad barrier used by nearly a hundred people.
"These defensive measures should hold for a while!" Professor McGonagall finished her preparations and approached Albert, voicing her concerns. "Do you think Voldemort will really lead an attack on Hogwarts?"
If it were up to her, she certainly wouldn't make such a foolish move.
"He will," Albert replied, understanding her unspoken question. "His most precious secret is hidden within Hogwarts. To prevent Harry from destroying his last Horcrux, Voldemort will stop at nothing to breach our defenses."
"Is that where he keeps his secret to immortality?" Professor McGonagall surmised.
"Yes, which is why the final battle will take place here. Voldemort has no other choice," Albert explained, his gaze drifting towards the direction of the Forbidden Forest. "It seems Voldemort is truly desperate."
At that moment, on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, Death Eaters were using Inferi to test the massive barrier surrounding Hogwarts.
Unsurprisingly, the Inferi were instantly vaporized.
"However, I estimate that it will take at least half an hour for Voldemort to gather all his forces for a full-scale attack. Let's head back to the Great Hall to rest, and I'll give a final pep talk before the battle," Albert suggested.
As he summoned the house-elves, something suddenly occurred to him, and he turned back to Professor McGonagall. "I recall that the four founders of Hogwarts left behind a spell to be used against external enemies. If you know how to cast it, now would be a good time to use it. Those statues might come in handy as cannon fodder, and we can't let Voldemort's army outnumber us."
(End of Chapter)
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