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Chapter 1523: The Ineffective Triple Threat
Chapter 1523: The Ineffective Triple Threat
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry and summon your Patronuses!"
Albus Dumbledore had already taken the lead, waving his wand to summon his goat Patronus.
Unfortunately, not every Auror, even those considered the elite of Britain's wizarding world, could summon a corporeal Patronus. And of those who knew the Patronus Charm, Dumbledore had already gathered them earlier.
Hearing Dumbledore's shout, they snapped out of their stupor, recalling his earlier words. They quickly waved their wands, summoning their respective Patronuses just before the Dementors breached Hogsmeade.
Once the Dementors entered the village, the difficulty of summoning a Patronus amidst their oppressive presence would increase exponentially.
Furthermore, if they couldn't expel the Dementors immediately, they would be at a severe disadvantage in the upcoming confrontation with the Death Eaters.
When the enemy was prepared, the Death Eaters' usual triple threat would be ineffective.
Undeniably, Dementors were incredibly deadly to wizards who hadn't mastered the Patronus Charm. However, when faced with opponents who anticipated their attack and summoned their Patronuses in advance, it was the Dementors' turn to be out of luck.
The deathly black tide formed by the horde of Dementors was like a surging wave crashing against the reef of Patronuses, only to be repelled by an invisible force.
In just one clash, the Dementors were defeated, fleeing from the pursuing Patronuses.
The late-night warmth returned to Hogsmeade, but the Aurors felt no joy. They knew all too well that this was just the beginning.
Something flashed in the sky, and then a house in the village was suddenly blasted by a well-timed curse, reducing it to rubble.
As the Aurors looked up, more lights approached from the distance, drawing elegant parabolas in the sky. A series of violent explosions rocked the village, leaving the Aurors dazed.
"Defensive barrier!" Dumbledore roared at the Aurors, his voice barely audible over the deafening blasts.
Fortunately, the Aurors had received prior training and Dumbledore had briefed them on what to expect. They soon realized that these explosions were meant to disrupt their rhythm and cover the sneak attack by the Death Eaters. Unless their goal was to raze Hogsmeade to the ground, the enemy wouldn't sustain this level of firepower.
Despite being caught off guard by the initial onslaught, the Aurors couldn't suppress their fear and anxiety, especially as the enemy advanced.
It wasn't that the Aurors were incompetent, but they had never been fully committed to the fight. Even with their extensive battle experience, they were no match for their opponents.
Not only did Voldemort have far more followers than the Aurors gathered in Hogsmeade, but the earlier wave of Dementors had also taken a toll on their resolve.
Ultimately, they were all cannon fodder brought in by Albert, lacking the resilience of Dumbledore's Army.
If not for the fear of dire consequences in the event of failure, these Aurors would have likely fled the scene instead of staying to fight.
After all, Voldemort showed no mercy to those who resisted.
No Auror would willingly take such a risk, especially since Dumbledore couldn't inspire confidence in them.
If Albert were leading them, the situation would undoubtedly be much better.
They all knew that even if they couldn't defeat the Death Eaters, Albert would find a way to lead them to a resounding victory. He would then safely escort them back to Hogwarts, right under the Death Eaters' noses.
Well, Dumbledore's orderly commands did have some effect. At the very least, everything that had happened so far aligned with Albert's plan.
Dumbledore was the first to raise his wand, pointing it at the sky. Accompanied by a series of incantations, bursts of magical energy erupted from his wand, gradually forming a milky-white barrier in the night sky.
A handful of Death Eaters who had managed to breach Hogsmeade tried to stop Dumbledore and his group, but the Aurors quickly restrained them. They could only watch helplessly as the milky-white barrier closed in, enveloping the entire village and creating an absolute advantage for the Aurors within.
The Death Eaters who had transformed into black mist and were "speeding" towards Hogsmeade fared no better. They probably never expected it to be their demise.
Any unfortunate soul who failed to brake in time and collided with the protective barrier would be instantly vaporized by the power of the "Ultimate Protection" curse.
It's over! The group of Death Eaters who had entered Hogsmeade village felt utter despair as the defensive barrier enveloped the village, trapping them inside.
The dogshit sneak attack planned by the Death Eaters had absolutely no effect.
Not only had the Dementors failed to distract the Aurors, but the firebombing had also not diverted their attention. Moreover, the enemy had anticipated the sneak attack, intercepting the Death Eaters as they charged into the village, negating any element of surprise.
Especially with the magical barrier isolating the outside Death Eaters, the majority of the Aurors finally had the opportunity to deal with the smaller group within.
Outnumbering and outmatching their opponents, the Aurors easily took down the Death Eaters.
However...
"It's wartime now. Why are you keeping them alive?" Dumbledore asked, noticing that the Aurors hadn't directly killed the Death Eaters. He reminded them that they were in the midst of a wizarding war and shouldn't show mercy to their enemies.
"Moreover, we might have to retreat from here soon. Do you intend to just let them go, only for them to rejoin Voldemort's forces and continue the attack on Hogwarts?"
The Aurors fell silent. It wasn't that they hadn't considered killing the Death Eaters, but they didn't like the idea of slaughter... Well, they would rather someone else do the dirty work, even if it meant dealing with these evil wizards.
"Leave it to me!" A voice suddenly rang out, and Nelson Tobin stepped forward from somewhere in their midst.
Under the watchful eyes of his fellow Aurors, he proceeded to deliver the finishing blow to each of the incapacitated Death Eaters.
Dumbledore glanced at the group of Aurors who were stunned by Nelson Tobin's decisiveness, and then stepped forward to help with the grim task.
(End of Chapter)
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