Chapter 747: Ambush
Chapter 747: Ambush
"What are they waiting for?" Penelope asked, puzzled, as she watched the wizards and puppets stand motionless in formation. Just as she finished her sentence, the people below suddenly began to move. However, they did not charge toward Hogsmeade; instead, a portion of them neatly split to the sides, revealing a path leading into the forest.
"I bet Voldemort is coming", Liam whispered to Hermione. "Look at this grand entrance, tsk tsk tsk."
Voldemort indeed did not keep everyone waiting for long, or perhaps he dared not waste any time. As the puppets and Death Eaters cleared the path, a figure in black robes, with a ghastly pale, snake-like face, emerged. The moment he appeared, it was as if a mute button had been pressed on Hogsmeade. Everyone, including the townspeople, suppressed their coughs and breaths to the minimum.
"It seems you intend to resist", Voldemort's voice, high-pitched, cold, and clear as if it had been soaked in ice water for millennia, echoed from his position. Liam noticed he did not move his lips, indicating Voldemort was using some magic to amplify his voice for a menacing effect.
The magic certainly did its job, as many of the people on the walls began to tremble, their faces showing signs of fear. Liam even heard the teeth of someone nearby chattering.
"Your efforts are futile. You are not my match. I do not wish to kill you. I have great respect for Hogsmeade, the only wizard town in Britain, and I do not want to see wizard bloodshed", Voldemort's voice reverberated over Hogsmeade, and everyone listened in silence.
"Today, I am going to Hogwarts to find Harry Potter", Voldemort continued. "None of you will be harmed. As long as you do not obstruct my army. And if you cooperate, you will be rewarded."
With that, Voldemort led his entire army toward Hogwarts Castle. The people on the walls of Hogsmeade, wands tightly gripped, watched the massive force in silence.
"Is Voldemort bringing all these people just to kill Harry?" Hermione's eyes widened as she sent a message via the Phoenix Mark. "Why is he doing this? Most of our war potential is concentrated in Hogsmeade. Even if they just burn down the bank, it would be a significant blow to us." Hermione glanced at the Pandaren Brothers, who stood with the reserve forces, clad in armor, wearing casting rings and gauntlets on their arms.
"Don't forget the prophecy about Harry", Liam explained. "Voldemort has only one chance, so he naturally targets Harry as his primary goal. The prophecy states that Harry is The Chosen One, and by killing him, Voldemort will achieve true victory."
"Believe in a prophecy?" Hermione snorted, always considering prophecies to be nothing more than tricks. Especially those made by Trelawney.
"Whether you believe the prophecy is real or not, the core is that Voldemort himself believes in it", Liam said with a strange expression, as he too found it overly pessimistic to place one's fate in a prophecy.
As Liam and Hermione conversed through the Phoenix Mark, Liam noticed Sirius Black, unable to contain his inner turmoil, slowly raising his wand arm.
"Wait a bit longer, the time is not right yet", Liam quickly pressed down Sirius Black's raised right hand. "My magic is not ready to be released. And look around, now is not the time to fight."
Sirius Black lowered his wand and looked around. Indeed, many on the walls, especially the volunteers, appeared demoralized, some even too afraid to look down at Voldemort.
"Can you use your Rose Madonna's power to destroy those puppets?" Hermione leaned in and whispered. "I remember that when you used Rose Madonna, the magic you released was lethal enough to these magical constructs. If we could take out these thousands of puppets, the fight would be much simpler."
"It's not that simple", Liam replied in a low voice. "When the first Obsidian Puppet Wolves appeared, I tried to test it. However, Voldemort must have known by now that I have a special method to destroy magical items. Therefore, these puppets now have specialized magical defenses. Even with the help of Rose Madonna, I can only take them down one by one. It's impossible to destroy them all at once like I did with the broomsticks."
"How did Voldemort manage that? I don't think he's better at alchemy than you", Hermione frowned, but then she quickly realized the answer. "Damn! It must be the accumulated treasures of the Pureblood wizarding families."
After spending so much time with Liam, Hermione had naturally learned a lot about alchemy. She knew that a gap in skill could be bridged with the right investment in high-quality raw materials. Even with average skill, one could still create exceptionally powerful magical items.
Just like some ancient magical items that have survived to this day, despite their outdated techniques, they remain incredibly powerful due to the exceptional quality of the materials used. Liam had also collected several such antique magical items in the past. His conclusions were drawn from studying these items, and many of them were subsequently dismantled by him for their valuable materials.
"What should we do now?" Hermione whispered. "We can't just stand by and watch these things attack Hogwarts Castle. Our classmates and professors are there."
"Don't forget about the army we prepared in the Black Lake. They will deliver a devastating blow to Voldemort's forces", Liam said, his eyes fixed on Voldemort. At that moment, Voldemort also sensed something and stopped, raising his head to look at Liam.
As they locked eyes, both of them tightened their grips on their wands. However, due to mutual caution, they only glared at each other without making a move.
After a moment, Voldemort's army bypassed Hogsmeade and marched toward Hogwarts Castle. After more than two-thirds of his forces had left the town, Voldemort suddenly threw back his black robes and strode to the front of the line. Behind him, Nagini, protected by a powerful magical shield, floated along.
"We can't just stand here and watch", Sirius Black said impatiently. He noticed that only a portion of the Ministry of Magic personnel and the civilian guards on the walls were tense. Liam and Lupin's combat-experienced wizards, who had been initially stunned, quickly regained their fighting spirit.
"You're right", Liam, to Sirius Black's surprise, nodded in agreement. He then raised his wand and drew a complex rune in the air. "Now is the time to act."
As he finished speaking, a dark mass suddenly surged out of the Black Lake, splitting Voldemort's marching army into two. The unexpected attack caught the puppets off guard, dividing them in half.
(End of Chapter)
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