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Chapter 1524: The Destruction of Hogsmeade
Chapter 1524: The Destruction of Hogsmeade
Aside from a few psychopaths, no one truly enjoys taking lives.
Albus Dumbledore was no exception.
Thankfully, most of the dirty work of finishing off enemies was done by Nelson Tobin.
To be honest, Albus felt sympathetic towards the young man before him. What deep-seated hatred must one hold to turn a young man into what Nelson had become?
However, there was little he could do, and he certainly wasn't foolish enough to try and dissuade Nelson from his path.
"Have you thought about what you'll do after the war ends?" The elderly wizard tried to show as much kindness as he could.
"I have." Nelson Tobin nodded seriously. "Mr. Anderson has asked me similar questions."
"I'm glad to hear that." Albus was relieved.
"I hope to become an Auror and fight against Dark Wizards."
Nelson waved his wand, binding the corpses at his feet with ropes before using a Floating Charm to move them towards the edge of the protective barrier, preparing to dispose of them and get rid of the eyesores.
"Let those Death Eaters who managed to escape the battle pay the price."
Albus's expression froze, and after a deep sigh, he suddenly understood why Albert had sent Nelson Tobin to help them.
This one was beyond saving! Perhaps one day, when Nelson had tired of killing, he would pause and reflect on what he should truly be doing.
Albus didn't dwell on it further, as he had more pressing matters to attend to. Turning his attention to the Aurors around him, he began to outline their next steps.
"I believe you've all noticed that Voldemort's main force is not here, nor will they appear here. What we need to deal with... are mostly insignificant Dark Wizards."
As if to give the Aurors some time to process this information, Albus helped Nelson dispose of the corpses by tossing them towards the defensive barrier before turning back to continue the discussion.
"If possible, we should take this opportunity to eliminate these Dark Wizards. Even in the worst-case scenario, we can always fall back to Hogwarts."
"No, I think we don't need to take such risks at all, nor do we need to risk our lives!"
The Aurors felt that Albus was being too reckless, and they were unwilling to take any chances.
"Risk our lives? You are the ones who have undergone professional Auror training. Those worthless Dark Wizards are no match for you."
Albus couldn't understand how these cowardly individuals before him fulfilled their duties as Aurors.
"Ahem."
Everyone turned to look at Nelson Tobin, who was coughing repeatedly.
"Actually, the people from the Defense Association were supposed to take on this task, but Albert didn't agree."
None of the Aurors responded, but Nelson continued regardless.
"Mr. Anderson seems to think that you might not be able to handle the brutal fighting. To avoid any incidents of desertion during the final battle, he believes it's better for you to contribute in other ways."
"So, you don't really need to worry about your lives being threatened. The battle at Hogwarts Castle will only be more dangerous than this."
There was a strong note of sarcasm in his words, causing the Aurors' faces to twist in anger.
However, Nelson Tobin clearly intended to provoke them.
After a brief interaction, he understood why Albert didn't want this group of Aurors at the school.
They were simply too unreliable! Any wizard who volunteered for the final battle at Hogwarts would do their best to help and support each other. However, this group of Aurors might very well resort to underhanded tactics to ensure their own survival, even if it meant endangering their comrades.
"This place was originally taken by the Defense Association. Their numbers were only half of the Death Eaters stationed here, yet they annihilated the enemy without a single casualty."
"Ahem, that's enough, Tobin. You can't expect people who have lived under Voldemort's shadow to bounce back immediately."
Albus's voice was calm, but to the Aurors, it sounded condescending.
"Enough!"
The Auror standing behind Robards turned red with anger. No one could bear such humiliation.
"More reinforcements will arrive soon. Those who are deemed unreliable will be sent here." Nelson Tobin ignored the angry glares of the Aurors and turned to Albus. "The next wave of Death Eaters will probably give us a tougher fight. However, according to Albert's estimation, Voldemort's patience is running thin, and he will launch an all-out assault on Hogwarts soon. We should take this opportunity to eliminate another batch of Dark Wizards."
As they spoke, a barrage of Dark magic rained down on Hogsmeade like shooting stars in the night sky, striking the protective barrier and causing a series of violent explosions.
Fortunately, the barrier held firm, enduring several rounds of bombing without faltering.
Robards watched the explosions overhead, feeling his scalp tingle. He didn't know how much longer the protective barrier could last, and he dreaded to think what would happen if those spells broke through and rained down on them.
"Once the protective barrier is shattered, we'll give them another round."
Albus, however, was completely unconcerned. He was thinking about the tactics he had learned from Albert and considering how to best welcome the incoming Dark Wizards.
"Are you mad?"
"After the previous incident, no Dark Wizard will fall for the same trick again. They will simply use their magic to completely destroy Hogsmeade."
Albus's suggestion was met with disbelief by the Aurors.
No one wanted to be cannon fodder.
Even though they knew they were likely already doomed.
"Those guys aren't as smart as you. It's normal for them to launch an aggressive assault after witnessing the destruction of the defensive barrier." Albus dismissed their concerns. He wasn't a fool either; in case of any trouble, he could always use the Disillusionment Charm to appear at the edge of the village and give those Dark Wizards a nasty surprise.
"You're all a bunch of lunatics!"
Their reinforcements were ultimately too late. The protective barrier above them, after enduring the intense bombardment, finally showed signs of strain and began to crack.
But as Robards had predicted, the Dark Wizards weren't fools either. They didn't rush in immediately but instead unleashed a barrage of Dark magic on Hogsmeade, leveling most of the village.
As soon as the explosions ceased, the Death Eaters, led by Dementors, poured into Hogsmeade.
However, there was little left of the village except rubble and... a nasty surprise.
A curse sliced through the night sky in an elegant arc, landing amidst the ruins of Hogsmeade. The spell acted like a missile, triggering a massive explosion that engulfed two nearby Death Eaters.
They probably never imagined that this entire place was a trap set up just for them! Just as the Dark Wizards had bombarded Hogsmeade earlier, Albus and his team did the same, razing what little remained of the village.
It didn't matter if it was reduced to rubble.
A torrent of Dark magic rained down like a meteor shower, engulfing the Dark Wizards who had taken refuge in the village's ruins.
This time, the Dark Wizards weren't as lucky as their counterparts, with no protective barrier to shield them.
(End of Chapter)
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