Chapter 340: The Madagascar Cat
Chapter 340: The Madagascar Cat
"If I could, I would applaud for you right now, Sherlock."
Voldemort's cold voice did not hide his admiration.
"Even in my current state, I have heard of your deeds. You even managed to defeat the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. If I had met you earlier, I would have extended an olive branch and invited you to join my ranks."
Sherlock let out a light laugh.
"The legendary Dark Lord seems a bit too full of himself."
In the air, the masked Death Eaters suddenly became agitated.
No one expected Sherlock to be so bold, openly mocking Voldemort with such audacity.
Even Voldemort's voice grew colder. He was never a forgiving man, known instead for his small-mindedness.
"You are just like your foolish mother, unable to see the reality of the situation! Her end was tragic, and yours will be no different."
"I do place more importance on Harry, needing to bring him before me, but you seem to be overestimating yourself, Sherlock. Do you really think that by switching identities with Harry, you have foiled my plans?"
"Without Harry, you can still serve as a suitable material!"
Sherlock looked down at the weak Voldemort, who was still issuing threats from within his cradle, and then raised the hand holding the Phoenix feather.
Everyone's attention was fixed on his hand, including Voldemort's pet snake, Nagini.
"You know what I'm holding. We can make a reasonable deal. Release my student, and I'll drop the feather. After that, whether we escape or not is up to our own abilities."
"It seems like a fair deal", Voldemort's voice remained calm, but the calmness was unsettling.
Sherlock stared at the Death Eaters, and everyone else focused on the feather in his hand.
"I'll count down from three. When I say one, I'll let go, and you tell your snake to release my student."
"As long as you keep your word, I will do the same."
Sherlock took a deep breath, and the Death Eaters held their breath, instinctively gripping their wands tighter as he began to count down.
"Three... Thunder Blast!"
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light erupted around Sherlock!
At the same moment, multiple layers of faint Armor Charm light enveloped him!
The Death Eaters in the sky had no time to react, and Nagini, who had been fixated on the feather in Sherlock's hand, was completely unprepared for defense.
The explosion occurred right next to her, and her coiled body, which had been holding Cedric, was instantly torn apart, her muscles involuntarily relaxing!
Cedric, who had been tightly bound, finally broke free. His feet touched the ground, and with Nagini blocking all the explosive charms, he was only covered in dirt and looked disheveled but was otherwise unharmed.
At this moment, with Cedric's safety confirmed, Sherlock prepared to use the Phoenix feather in his right hand, making it ignite.
However, from the ground beneath him, a dark shadow burst forth, swiftly biting the hand holding the feather!
In the instant he was bitten, Sherlock felt the feather in his hand being corroded by the creature's saliva, and his hand felt as if it were being cut by a thousand knives, blood gushing from the creature's mouth!
This was a skeletal, pitch-black cat with eyes as big as cymbals, a Magical Creature in feline form.
Sherlock recognized it at once.
A Madagascar Cat!
A magical cat from France and an important guardian for the French Ministry of Magic. These Death Eaters must have somehow acquired one.
Voldemort had never intended to make a deal with him. Instead, he had kept the cat lurking at his feet, where Sherlock's Control Magic couldn't detect it. This gave the cat the perfect opportunity to strike, and it succeeded!
The intense pain in his right hand contorted Sherlock's face.
Without needing to act himself, dozens of Wands floated around him, aiming at the magical cat.
"Sectumsempra!"
Tiny, invisible blades of magic instantly formed in the air.
At such close range, the cat had no chance to evade.
In the next second, its body was covered in countless blood blooms.
The magic-infused deep wounds continued to erode its flesh.
The cat let out a pained howl, releasing Sherlock's right hand, and fell to the ground.
"Kill that boy! Capture Sherlock!"
At this moment, the Death Eaters in the sky finally reacted.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Countless blinding green lights shot toward Cedric, who had just escaped, while various colorful Spells were aimed at Sherlock!
There were too many Killing Curses. The green shadows of death reflected in Cedric's desperate eyes.
Just as he closed his eyes to await his fate, a wall of vines grew rapidly in front of him, blocking the curses.
Innumerable Killing Curses hit the wall, but the unbreakable Spell couldn't penetrate the physical barrier, leaving only scorched marks.
Various Spells rained down on Sherlock's Armor Charm, which grew increasingly thin. Nagini, who had been dazed from the earlier explosion, finally regained her senses.
Without hesitation, Sherlock, whose right arm was now completely numb and immobile, grabbed Cedric's arm with his left hand and sprinted down the hill.
The slopes were surrounded by Anti-Apparition Charms, so they had to escape this area before attempting to Apparate away.
Most of the Death Eaters on Broomsticks pursued them, but a small group descended and knelt before the Black-robed Wizards holding the bundle.
The nearly lifeless magical cat, its body torn by Sectumsempra, was also carried over.
Someone produced a small glass bottle, placed it under the cat's mouth, and pried it open.
Sherlock's blood dripped into the glass bottle.
Behind the Black-robed Wizards stood a large cauldron, its contents boiling.
Huddled by the cauldron was the small male wizard, Peter, looking pitifully at the person in the bundle.
"Master, everything is ready... everything is prepared..."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
