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Chapter 687: After the Battle
Chapter 687: After the Battle
It has to be said that it's quite interesting to watch Voldemort and his Death Eaters turn on each other, but unfortunately, this scene didn't last very long.
Voldemort had also noticed the group that emerged from the elevator, and his gaze passed over Dumbledore, landing on Kyle and Harry.
"You two again..." he said coldly, "It's always you, time and time again, annoying me. Avada Kedavra!"
True to his reputation, Voldemort's Killing Curse was as thick as a snake slithering through the air. Kyle even suspected that if Norberta, the Norwegian Ridgeback, were hit, she would be finished.
However, he didn't feel panicked, and he didn't even bother to dodge.
The next second, a large, red-glowing hand suddenly extended from the nearby wall, shielding both of them.
The Killing Curse bounced off the hand.
"Tom, don't forget that I am your opponent," Dumbledore said calmly.
"Of course, I know," Voldemort replied, seemingly having anticipated that his curse wouldn't take effect and thus, didn't pay it much mind.
However, this Killing Curse once again ignited the battle.
The water in the fountain instantly condensed into sharp swords and flew towards Dumbledore, piercing the remaining half of the statue and creating a gaping hole.
But Dumbledore merely raised his wand, and an invisible shield seemed to appear before him, blocking all the attacks.
He then directed the surrounding water droplets back at Voldemort with the same technique, and the attack seemed even more powerful than before.
Voldemort had no choice but to conjure a shiny silver shield to defend himself. The shield surrounded him, and the water droplets hitting it emitted a deep, gong-like tremor.
Kyle's eyes lit up, and he wanted to learn this spell...
While Dumbledore's magic was impressive, he still preferred this substantial silver shield.
"Professor Lupin, do you know what magic this is?" Kyle asked in a low voice.
"Huh?" Lupin was surprised that in such a situation, Kyle would be curious about a spell... But he still subconsciously glanced in Voldemort's direction.
"Sorry, I don't know," Lupin shook his head, "It looks like the Ironskin Curse, but it's more profound than the ordinary version. It probably incorporates ancient runes."
"Okay," Kyle said, unable to resist taking out his wand. He first cast the Ironskin Curse and then gently flicked his wrist.
Golden runes floated out from the tip of his wand, and these runes then formed a larger diagram.
Kyle slowly moved his wand, trying to merge the diagram with the Ironskin Curse.
But just then, a red light suddenly flew over from the right.
The Ironskin Curse, merged with the diagram, deflected the red light, but due to the external force, it shattered.
"Who?"
Sirius immediately drew his wand, standing in front of Harry, and Lupin shielded Kyle behind him.
But with the remaining Death Eaters still on Voldemort's side, it was clear they weren't the culprits.
Kyle also looked up and realized that the battle in the main hall had reached its climax, with spells flying back and forth like a torrential downpour. The spell that had just shattered his Ironskin Curse was one of Voldemort's large-scale attacks.
Kyle glanced at the wall beside him, which now had a huge crater from the red light impact.
Lupin also noticed this and felt annoyed that he had become distracted. But at the same time, he was amazed by Kyle's talent.
Not many could block Voldemort's curse with the Ironskin Curse, and what's more, Kyle was only sixteen this year...
On the other side of the battlefield, Voldemort's breathing had become rapid, while the older Dumbledore still looked relaxed and in control.
At this rate, victory was only a matter of time.
Voldemort spat out a mouthful of flames that transformed into a massive serpent and lunged at Dumbledore, seemingly intending to swallow him whole.
Dumbledore extended his hand and precisely grabbed the serpent's fangs, turning it into a long flaming rope that bound Voldemort tightly.
Voldemort's body emitted a cloud of black smoke, and he couldn't help but let out a shrill cry.
"Master!" Bellatrix screamed, wanting to help.
But at that moment, Voldemort suddenly broke free of the rope, turning into seven clouds of black mist that flew in all directions.
Although Dumbledore quickly destroyed most of the mist with a spell, one cloud escaped and headed straight for the group by the elevator.
"Be careful, get away from there!" For the first time, a hint of fear crept into Dumbledore's voice.
But it was too late.
The black mist easily bypassed Lupin and Sirius, penetrating Kyle's Ironskin Curse and enveloping him.
Kyle felt his head buzzing as if something was hissing by his ear, trying to burrow into his brain.
But the next second, the hissing disappeared, and the black mist left Kyle's body, rushing towards Harry beside him.
Then, Harry suddenly clutched his forehead, where the lightning-shaped scar was, and fell to the ground, letting out a piercing scream.
Harry's eyes turned red.
"Don't you want to kill me, Dumbledore?"
Harry opened his mouth, speaking in Voldemort's voice, and laughed loudly as he looked at everyone.
"Whoever you are, come on, kill this boy!"
Dumbledore's face was grim, and Sirius's wand-holding hand trembled as he pointed it at Harry. He seemed to have suddenly forgotten how to use magic, unable to cast any spells.
"Get out of him, you!" Sirius roared.
Voldemort turned a deaf ear, continuing to laugh wildly. But at that moment, he suddenly saw a pair of eyes... deep purple eyes, like amethyst.
In an instant, the redness in Harry's eyes seemed to fade slightly.
Dumbledore seized the opportunity and vigorously waved his wand.
It was as if an invisible fist struck Harry, forcing the black mist out of his body.
At the same time, Voldemort, transformed into a cloud of black mist, flew to the side of the remaining Death Eaters. Enveloping them, he crashed through a window and escaped from the Ministry of Magic's Great Hall.
"He was just here!" shouted a wizard wearing a red robe. "I saw him, I'm sure of it!"
"I know, Williamson. We all heard his voice," Fudge said as he emerged from the back, constantly wiping his forehead.
"Sorry, Albus, we're late." He stepped forward and said, "Are you all right...?"
"You're just in time, Connelly." Dumbledore first examined Harry before finally sighing in relief and looking up. "You're just in time; he's scared."
"Well done, but now you mustn't show yourself. Come on in." As everyone's attention was focused on the escaping Voldemort, Kyle patted the Cat Panther and then opened his box in the elevator.
The Cat Panther immediately jumped in.
Only then did Kyle step out again.
"Outrageous, daring to cause trouble at the Ministry of Magic, absolutely outrageous..." Fudge looked at the devastated Great Hall and the ruined magic fountain, again wiping his forehead.
"What can we do for you, Albus?" he asked. "Whatever you need."
"I think you can go to the Department of Mysteries," Dumbledore said. "There are many Death Eaters who didn't escape in time, and Kingsley is watching them."
"Oh, and..." Dumbledore continued, "They seem to have been stimulated in the Department of Mysteries, always babbling."
"That's perfectly normal..." Hearing that there was something to do, Fudge finally calmed down a bit and said with a smile, "No one ever knows what secrets are hidden in the Department of Mysteries.
"I once knew a foolish thief who broke into the Department of Mysteries, and the next day he went insane.
"Oh, I almost forgot, now is not the time to talk about this. Dexter, Williamson, you go downstairs to the Department of Mysteries. Albus, you..."
"I want to go back to school first." Dumbledore pointed to the unconscious Harry on the ground. "Let's discuss what just happened after Harry wakes up."
"Of course." Fudge seemed to have just noticed that there was another person lying on the ground, and that person was none other than the savior, Harry Potter...
"What's he doing here? Oh, Merlin, do you need me to contact St. Mungo's?"
"Thank you, Connelly." Dumbledore shook his head. "Harry has just fainted and doesn't need to go to St. Mungo's. Madam Pomfrey can take care of him, but I need you to approve the use of a key."
"Not at all." Fudge breathed a sigh of relief.
Dumbledore picked up a golden stone that looked like a centaur's leg.
He took out his wand and whispered, "Portus."
The long stone glowed blue in his hand, trembling for a few seconds before calming down.
"There, it's done." He put the stone into Harry's hand and said, "Anyone who wants to go to Hogwarts, place your hand on it."
Kyle was the first to reach out, followed by Sirius, Lupin, and Mr. Weasley.
"Get ready." Dumbledore said softly, "One... two... three!"
The devastated Great Hall of the Ministry of Magic disappeared, along with Fudge. They flew forward in a whirl of colors and sounds.
...
When they returned to Hogwarts, Sirius immediately rushed to the hospital wing with Harry in his arms.
The others followed.
Soon, the hospital wing was bustling with activity. Harry lay in the bed closest to the door, with Ron, Hermione, Tonks, and Moody by his side.
"What happened...?" Madam Pomfrey was frightened, quickly searching the shelves for potions. "Goodness, they show signs of being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse. Could this be the result of the Imperius Curse...?"
As she spoke, she glanced back at Dumbledore, seemingly unintentionally.
Mr. Weasley sat by Ron's side, anxiously asking, "How is he?"
"He'll be fine. It wasn't for long, so he should be all right." Madam Pomfrey brought over a bottle of potion. "But I still suggest you take him to St. Mungo's for a check-up. To be honest, I'm not very skilled at treating the effects of the Cruciatus Curse... This is a calming draught; it will make him feel better."
"Thank you." Mr. Weasley took the bottle and used his wand to send the potion into Ron's mouth.
Soon, Ron's furrowed brow relaxed, and he began to snore softly.
Lupin did the same for Moody, administering the potion.
Once everyone had completed their treatment, Dumbledore looked at Madam Pomfrey and said, "Thank you, Poppy, but could we have a word with you in private?"
Madam Pomfrey didn't seem too pleased, but since it was the headmaster, she hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Make it quick, then. The patients need their rest... and so do you."
"We will." Dumbledore smiled.
"What's wrong with Harry?" As soon as Madam Pomfrey left, Sirius asked eagerly, "He'll be fine, right?"
"Of course, Sirius." Dumbledore said, "He's just been through a bit of a shock and should wake up soon."
As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, Harry, who was lying on the bed, slowly opened his eyes. He looked around and realized he was no longer in the Great Hall of the Ministry of Magic.
"Where is this...?" he asked hoarsely.
"The hospital wing at Hogwarts.
"Don't worry, everyone's fine," Sirius reassured him.
"That's good," Harry said, reaching up to touch his scar again. "What just happened?"
"That's what I'd like to know," said Sirius.
"I suspect it was a variation of the Imperius Curse, an even more sinister form than the Unforgivable Curse itself," Dumbledore said softly. "If you had given Voldemort enough time, he could have fought through your body."
Harry remembered feeling as though he were being tightly coiled by a red-eyed monster, unable to move, while the monster controlled his body.
"Thanks to you for buying us time..." Dumbledore turned to Kyle.
"It was the Cat Panther, it had nothing to do with me," Kyle replied.
"I was just about to ask about that," said Dumbledore, his tone rising slightly. "When did you get a Cat Panther in your box? I don't recall seeing any such creature in the Forbidden Forest."
"I borrowed it from Newt," Kyle admitted. "To help Harry learn Occlumency."
"Yes," Harry shuddered at the memory. It was not a pleasant experience.
"I see," nodded Dumbledore.
"Wait..." Sirius looked at them, his eyes clouded with confusion. "What does this have to do with the Cat Panther?"
"Don't you ever read books?" Lupin rolled his eyes at Sirius.
Harry felt a sense of deja vu—Hermione had given him and Ron the same look when helping them revise at the end of the year.
"When did I have the chance to read books?" Sirius retorted defiantly.
Lupin sighed in exasperation and explained, "Cat Panthers are a very unique type of magical creature. They can run faster than most brooms, and their eyes... their blue eyes can see into your soul. They are natural Legilimens, and I suspect that's why you chose it to teach Harry Occlumency."
"You're right," Kyle nodded. "That's how I learned the spell. It was tough, but it worked."
Harry shuddered again.
Kyle was being modest; it was more than just "tough." To this day, he still had nightmares about being chased by a six-legged monster.
"I suppose only you, with your close connection to Mr. Scamander, could learn Occlumency in such a luxurious way," Lupin said enviously. "Cat Panthers are incredibly rare. Most people would be lucky to catch a glimpse of one in their lifetime."
Kyle shook his head but remained silent.
Sirius, however, only looked more confused.
"But what does that have to do with what just happened? Was the Death Eater afraid of having his secrets seen by the Cat Panther?"
"Hold on," Lupin continued, "Aside from Legilimency, Cat Panthers have another ability. When their eyes turn purple, they can hypnotize their prey."
"Exactly," said Dumbledore. "The Cat Panther's hypnotic ability caused Tom to temporarily lose control over Harry. I doubt he expected to be bested by a magical creature like that."
Dumbledore wanted to laugh but felt it inappropriate.
"But why was Kyle unaffected?" Harry asked, frowning. "Sorry, Kyle, I don't mean anything by it, but I saw the black mist circle around you first."
"Because of Occlumency," Dumbledore's tone turned serious. "Voldemort was in a severely weakened state, and he couldn't enter Kyle's mind... though I suspect he wouldn't have been able to even if he was at full strength."
"But I can do Occlumency too," Harry said without thinking.
At this, everyone in the hospital wing gave him a strange look, even Hermione, who had just woken up, covered her face and shook her head.
"I have a question for you, Harry," Dumbledore asked calmly. "Since Christmas, have you actively practiced Occlumency at all?"
"No... no, I haven't," Harry mumbled, his face turning red.
He hadn't just not practiced; he had returned all the books on Occlumency to the library.
"There's your answer," said Dumbledore, looking at him. "As far as I know, Kyle has been practicing Occlumency consistently for three years without a break."
Harry's face burned with embarrassment, and he lowered his head, unable to speak.
No wonder Voldemort had failed with Kyle but had easily taken control of him.
"I suggest you do the same, Harry," said Dumbledore.
"I will," Harry nodded.
Dumbledore was right; he needed to delve deeper into Occlumency and not let what happened today occur again.
If anyone had been hurt because of him, he would never be able to forgive himself.
"Well, that's all for now," Dumbledore stood up.
"But Professor, I still have so many questions..."
Harry wanted to ask more, but Dumbledore shook his head. "There's no rush. You can ask tomorrow. If we keep disturbing your rest, Madam Pomfrey will be chasing us out."
"But you're the Headmaster..." Harry said.
"In here, the Headmaster's word doesn't carry as much weight," Dumbledore smiled and turned to leave the hospital wing.
"Get some rest."
Though Mr. Weasley and Sirius wanted to stay, they hesitated and eventually followed Dumbledore out.
(End of Chapter)
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