Chapter 248: The Worn Crown
Chapter 248: The Worn Crown
As Sherlock unleashed over a hundred Patronus Charms, he started continuously pulling out bottle after bottle of Sadness Potion from his pockets.
He struggled to suppress the overwhelming positive emotions that were flooding back, controlling the urge to dance on the spot and continuously downing the potion.
Sherlock's supply of Sadness Potion was roughly three times the amount he had used the first time he cast multiple Patronus Charms to suppress his positive emotions.
However, this time, the flock of crows he summoned was more than double the number from last time.
So, he strictly controlled his consumption of the Sadness Potion, using less rather than more.
Drinking too much would amplify the negative emotions, causing significant problems for his subsequent spellcasting.
The silver crows circled around Sherlock, and under the glow of their light, he finally got a clear view of the entire room.
It was a vast square, about the size of two football fields, cut out from a rectangular space.
Standing in the far corner of the room was the Straw Golem, one hand holding a lantern and the other gripping a scythe.
The moment the flock of crows appeared, it let out an ear-piercing screech!
Without hesitation, Sherlock waved his hand toward the Straw Golem.
The silver crows cawed and swarmed forward!
This was a test, but if Fidelius had truly been so foolish as to seek him out again after making no progress from last year, the test would turn into a deadly strike!
Just as the silver-white sun formed by the flock of crows was about to touch the Straw Golem, a blood-red light flashed.
The screech abruptly stopped, and an endless darkness spread from its body, clashing fiercely with the invading silver-white crows!
Silence, gloom, and decay entwined with hope, joy, and positive light.
At this moment, Sherlock finally saw what the darkness emanating from the Straw Golem truly was.
It was another flock of crows!
A flock of pitch-black crows with blood-red eyes!
The black and silver crows collided, their colors intertwining like a Chinese ink painting.
But the black crows clearly had the upper hand. After canceling out the silver crows, they immediately replenished their numbers, while the silver crows, filled with positive emotions, steadily decreased!
Sherlock immediately identified the problem.
On top of the Straw Golem's head, where it held the lantern and scythe, was a worn crown!
The endless stream of first-year crows emerged from the crown, clearly not its own inherent power.
Sherlock's expression grew grim, and he once again controlled a small number of wands, this time casting a new spell he had learned—a dark magic spell.
"Sectumsempra."
A spell he had learned from the magic notebook Snape had given him on the first day of school, its power was undoubtedly immense, comparable to the Explosive Charm.
Combined with the effect of multiple wands, this spell's potential was infinitely amplified!
Dozens of invisible blades materialized in the air, then instantly traversed the distance, appearing in the center of the black and silver flock like Apparition itself!
However, none of the black crows were affected by the spell, as if a blade had sliced through water, creating only a faint ripple before striking the walls of the room, leaving a dozen deep slashes.
These black crows also ignored regular spells, and the only thing that could counter them was the Patronus Charm.
But even with the extravagant number of Patronuses Sherlock summoned, they were quickly being worn down. The flock of black crows not only didn't decrease but continued to emerge from the crown, growing in number.
The silver crows, originally on the offensive, were now being suppressed and were at risk of breaking apart at any moment!
At this moment, the Straw Golem didn't just stand there idly. It had already raised its scythe, and with its other hand, it swung the broken kerosene lamp like a flail. It took strides with its legs made of woven dry branches and charged toward Sherlock!
Sherlock, who seemed to have no more tricks up his sleeve, remained calm. He waved his wand again, raising it without hesitation and casting the Patronus Charm for the second time!
"Expecto Patronum!"
The silver light flashed again, and even before forming a flock, it kept the Straw Golem at bay, which was less than ten steps away from Sherlock.
He then unhesitatingly drank all the remaining Sadness Potion from his pocket. The amount was far from enough, but it was better than no suppression at all.
Hundreds of silver crows once again circled around Sherlock, but this time, he didn't control them to attack. Instead, he retreated toward the room's exit, using them for protection.
Sherlock's house was Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor, and he wasn't one to stubbornly persist. Knowing that the Straw Golem had a way to counter him, he had no intention of engaging in a futile battle.
This castle wasn't just his domain. After gathering information and learning about the crown, finding a way to counter it was the best course of action.
Fidelius, despite its straw-woven head lacking brains, wasn't a fool. It clearly understood Sherlock's intentions.
Black crows continued to surge from the crown, tearing a hole in the protective net formed by the silver crows. Its advance was slow, but it kept moving step by step toward Sherlock!
Sherlock's retreat wasn't slow either. As Frederick approached within five meters, needing just a few more steps to reach him, Sherlock had already reached the edge of the Room of Requirement's entrance.
His face couldn't hide his suppressed smile, and his eyes, filled with excitement from the Patronus Charm's emotional feedback, flashed with a subtle light.
Just as he was about to escape the Room of Requirement, Frederick let out a sharp screech and lunged forward, raising his scythe high.
The silver crows surrounding Sherlock suddenly shifted from defense to offense, charging straight at the Straw Golem's body!
"Bang!"
The sound of a heavy impact echoed as Frederick's massive straw body was thrown backward, and countless strands of straw fell from it!
(End of Chapter)
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