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Chapter 1538: For Victory
Chapter 1538: For Victory
As Alecto Carrow led the group of disgruntled Death Eaters around the blocked corridor, unaware that their movements had already been detected by the house-elves that Albert had stationed in the kitchen to monitor the entire castle.
It was unlikely that they would ever guess that their headquarters had been set up in the kitchen.
And that was precisely what made it a safe location.
"So, was it successful?"
With the help of the house-elves, Hermione and Ron had been transported back to the kitchen using Disillusionment Charms, and they now anxiously awaited the outcome of their efforts.
Moments ago, the pair had used one of Albert's magical gadgets to try and intercept Alecto's group, hoping to prevent Bill's team from being crushed in a pincer attack.
After all, unlike Albert, they knew that confronting the large group of over a hundred Death Eaters head-on would only lead to disaster.
"It worked; they're taking a detour," Dobby said, turning to Hermione and Ron. "But you two might have to go out again."
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, her eyes immediately falling on the large map in front of her. With Dobby's wand as a guide, she quickly understood the situation.
"A group split off from the main force and formed three smaller teams. They seem to be attempting a flanking maneuver to sneak up on our ambush party from behind and clear the way for the enemy," Dobby explained to the pair.
"They're trying to surround us," Hermione murmured as she looked at the red dots on the large map. "If it weren't for Albert's preparations, things could have turned out very badly."
"Those guys are getting sneakier," Ron said with a hint of frustration.
"Everyone's improving," Dobby said nonchalantly.
"Are you sure that's the right word?" Ron retorted.
"I already informed them about this earlier. We'll probably be able to ambush them on their way back, but…" Dobby pointed his wand at the area near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, "…it looks like Aberforth's side is taking heavy losses. I'm a little worried about their situation."
"We'll go reinforce Hagrid now. Oh, don't make that face, Ron," Hermione said, noticing Ron's reluctance.
"You know I hate spiders," Ron grumbled.
"They're not that scary…"
"Yes, they are!"
"Then we'll leave it to you two. Don't engage them directly. Most of the members in Aberforth's team are newcomers and don't have much combat experience. The battle on that side isn't over yet, so I suggest you help them stall the Death Eaters for now. Once Aberforth takes care of those giant spiders, we can use the centaurs' power to wipe out the Death Eaters in one fell swoop."
Dobby then turned to Moody, who nodded and hobbled toward Hermione and Ron with the aid of his cane.
Moody had been left behind not only because of his physical limitations but also because he was their last resort. And now, it seemed, it was finally his time to shine.
To be honest, Albert's arrangements had shocked Moody, and they had indeed given them a significant advantage. Otherwise, with their vast numerical disadvantage, a direct confrontation would have only ended in their defeat, unlike the current situation where they still held the upper hand thanks to their intelligence.
Dobby, too, wished to join the battle, but someone needed to stay behind to oversee the entire operation, providing timely reminders to the teams to prevent them from being overwhelmed by the enemy.
Of course, Dobby had also been entrusted with an even more critical task by Albert: to keep an eye on the entrance to the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor and ensure that they were immediately aware of Voldemort's movements.
As Dobby frowned, his eyes fixed on the large map, worrying about the increasingly dire situation, an unexpected voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Miss Wilson, Mr. Anderson wishes for you to gather some people and block the Death Eaters on the third floor."
Dobby glanced at the situation on the third floor and murmured, "That won't be easy."
He was well aware that their early advantage was solely due to the Death Eaters' underestimation of the fierce retaliation they would face, leaving them unprepared.
However, at this point, anyone who wasn't a fool could sense the intense battle raging throughout the castle and naturally wouldn't dare to take them lightly anymore.
This shift had led to their initial advantage gradually slipping away, and many teams were struggling to end their engagements quickly, resulting in them being held back by the enemy reinforcements.
While they hadn't fallen into a disadvantageous position yet, it was undeniable that the situation was turning against them.
Especially with the addition of the Auror forces, who, despite their prior experience and considerable strength, still fell short of the members of the Defense Association who had consumed Felix Felicis.
This resulted in the first Auror casualty—a team of seven Aurors who failed to evacuate in time, becoming the first Auror team to perish. And to make matters worse, they had been indirectly betrayed by their fellow Aurors.
But it couldn't be helped; the Aurors who hadn't consumed Felix Felicis were simply less fortunate.
Moreover, the enemy was just too numerous. Once entangled in their ranks, it was incredibly difficult to break free and escape.
Even with Albert's efforts to weaken the enemy and give them a slight edge, their numerical disadvantage remained a significant problem.
No matter how strong Albert was, he couldn't turn the tide of the entire battle by himself.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone.
He had a group of companions who believed in him, or else Albert wouldn't have dared to take such a risk.
"You're really going to do that?" Kingsley asked, pausing in his tracks and furrowing his brow. "What about those who are left behind?"
"If we want to win this war, sacrifices must be made. We also need to find a breakthrough point; otherwise, we'll be worn down eventually," Albert replied, understanding Kingsley's concern. "There are many ways to stall the Death Eaters, whether by destroying the stairs, setting up traps, or using other means."
"You know those are just excuses," Kingsley said with a bitter smile. "Alright, I'll stay behind, too. Someone needs to organize them; otherwise, they'll just be a disorganized mob."
As long as they could eliminate the Death Eaters on four or five floors and use that as a breakthrough point, they could gather the forces scattered throughout the castle. Whether they chose to focus on the upper or lower floors next, they would be able to handle the situation more comfortably.
As for those left behind to serve as cannon fodder, it would likely be the Aurors who were currently engaged and unable to retreat, something Kingsley was also aware of.
He also knew that Albert wouldn't outright ask the Aurors to stay behind and hold off the Death Eaters, but he would achieve the same result through other means. And in this regard, those who had consumed Felix Felicis, like Kingsley himself, were clearly more advantageous.
As for whether this damned decision would cause the previously scattered Death Eaters to unite, there was no other choice.
No one was a fool, especially after experiencing the ambushes by the Order of the Phoenix. Their instinct would be to band together, seeking safety in numbers to defeat their enemies.
(End of Chapter)
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