Chapter 931: Victory
Chapter 931: Victory
In typical circumstances, when a wizard casts a spell, the thickness of the beam is generally fixed, roughly the size of a wand tip.
Of course, some individual wizards may exhibit more noticeable beams.
For instance, Voldemort's Killing Curse is noticeably thicker than a regular Killing Curse, indicating a more powerful spell.
However, a beam as thick as an arm... Kyle couldn't recall ever hearing about such a thing, let alone seeing it.
This was beyond the scope of normal magic.
Naturally, the effect it produced was equally astonishing.
It was a simple Repelling Charm, a spell that any third-year student could master with ease, yet it rendered the Dark Lord utterly helpless.
Voldemort had forcefully crashed through the wall of the Great Hall, creating a massive hole.
But it didn't end there. Voldemort continued to be pushed, leaving a fifty-foot-long trench in the grounds outside before finally coming to a halt.
His appearance had drastically changed; his limbs were twisted, his body sunken, and even his face had flattened, resembling an Acromantula that had been relentlessly battered by a Bludger for five minutes.
The entire battlefield came to a standstill as everyone, including Kyle, fixed their gaze on Michael at the entrance of the Great Hall.
Kyle stiffly turned his head to look at Michael, who had collapsed due to exhaustion. He subconsciously licked his dry, cracked lips.
He had almost forgotten about Michael's unique situation.
Michael couldn't control his magical power, especially when he first entered Hogwarts as a first-year student. With just a simple Lumos Charm, he had drained himself of magic, nearly becoming a Squib.
For a while after that, he had to rely on Anti-Magic Potion to barely maintain his magic during classes and spent his free time learning to control his power under Professor Sprout's guidance.
Unlike other wizards who were born with innate talent, Michael had to work hard to control his magic, which directly affected his performance in other areas, such as practical spellcasting exams.
Michael's practical spellcasting grades were among the lowest even in Hufflepuff.
Fortunately, Hogwarts didn't have a grade retention system; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to graduate, and he would likely still be stuck in third year.
However, his inability to control his magic also granted Michael a capability that other wizards couldn't achieve.
He could concentrate all his magical power into a single spell, drastically enhancing its power...
Just like the Repelling Charm he had just cast.
Kyle had no doubt that even a peak-condition Voldemort or Dumbledore would have been forced to dig a ten-foot trench.
"By Merlin, it's a good thing Michael only used a Repelling Charm," Kyle thought to himself, feeling relieved.
If it had been a Blasting Curse instead of a Repelling Charm, Kyle shuddered at the thought and didn't dare continue.
Whether he would have been affected or not didn't matter; if it had been a Blasting Curse, Hogwarts might have needed to be rebuilt from scratch.
"Damn it, kill that guy!" a Death Eater's furious voice nearby snapped Kyle back to attention.
"Sectumsempra!"
Ignoring Voldemort, who had been pushed outside, Kyle turned and aimed his wand toward the direction of the Great Hall entrance.
Two Death Eaters attempting to ambush Michael fell to the ground, blood gushing from their massive chest wounds.
"Michael, are you okay?" Kyle asked as he approached.
The Repelling Charm had also dispersed the Fiendfyre near the entrance, and Michael lay on the ground, his body limp and barely conscious.
This was inevitable; magical exhaustion was like running ten kilometers in a second, and it was only due to his experience that he hadn't fainted on the spot.
Seeing Kyle approach, Michael slowly gave a thumbs-up.
"That was incredible," Kyle said with a smile. "The school should give you a certificate for a perfect score in spellcasting. What you just did, even Dumbledore couldn't have achieved."
Michael didn't respond; he had already passed out. Professor McGonagall stunned a Death Eater and squeezed through the crowd.
"Leave him to me!"
Professor McGonagall waved her wand, and a table rushed over to carry Michael out of the battlefield.
It was only then that Kyle turned his gaze back to the hole in the Great Hall wall and looked outside at Voldemort.
Voldemort appeared dazed, still processing what had just happened.
Perhaps he never dreamed that Hogwarts concealed not only Kyle but also such a formidable wizard.
Without exaggeration, he had felt the threat of death from that single spell.
Voldemort couldn't believe it; a mere Repelling Charm could have killed him. The last time he felt this way was on the Hebridean Islands when he faced the Fiendfyre that spanned the entire island.
But Fiendfyre and a Repelling Charm... They were on completely different levels, just like the Gryffindor Sword and a Butterbeer Knife.
Voldemort was genuinely afraid... This time, he was truly terrified.
He feared the caster might strike again. If it was a Repelling Charm this time, what if it was a Killing Curse next time?
Moreover, in his current state, he couldn't even handle another Repelling Charm, let alone a Killing Curse.
Wait, this was a conspiracy. Dumbledore must have done something before his death or left a secret weapon specifically targeting him!
"Damn it!"
Voldemort clenched his teeth in anger, glancing at the Elder Wand in his hand, which was now riddled with holes. He wanted to flee.
There was another reason for his failure: this wand had restricted his spells. If they fully controlled the Elder Wand, not even all of Hogwarts combined could stand against him.
Yes, he must first gain control of the Elder Wand.
Voldemort transformed into a cloud of dark fog and flew toward the school.
But at that moment, Kyle burst out of the castle.
A massive Fiendfyre Dragon, formed from Fiery Magic, blocked Voldemort's path, forcing him to halt. Voldemort glared at Kyle.
Kyle stared back, unyielding.
After battling for so long, there was no way Voldemort could escape. Kyle had already discovered that the Dark Fog, though troublesome, could be ignited by the Fiery Magic.
With the additional restriction of no apparition at Hogwarts, there was no way Voldemort could flee.
"Do you think you've won?" Voldemort's crimson eyes fixed on Kyle.
Kyle remained silent.
More and more people were arriving: Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Chris...
Voldemort might stand a chance against one, but against so many, he would surely be killed.
Voldemort's face darkened, his wand hand clenching tightly.
"I'm not finished yet," he hissed, his voice hoarse and sibilant like a snake.
Indeed, he wasn't finished.
Outside Hogwarts, a group of Death Eaters awaited, summoned by Voldemort earlier. With their help, he would have a chance to escape.
Voldemort thought, cursing the useless fools for their tardiness.
His Dark Sign had appeared five minutes ago, and still, they hadn't arrived. Even a group of Muggles could have made it by now!
Voldemort defended against the increasing number of spells with all his might, his movements becoming more and more strained.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, he heard footsteps.
"Get them, kill them all!" Voldemort excitedly commanded.
But no one responded, the silence behind him eerie.
Voldemort couldn't help but turn around, only to discover that there was no Death Eater army behind him, only one person from start to finish.
A witch.
"You're... Diana Shafik!"
"Oh, Mum?!"
Voldemort and Kyle exclaimed simultaneously.
"It's me," Diana smiled, then turned to Voldemort, "If you're waiting for them... I'm sorry, they might not be able to make it."
"You killed them," Voldemort's face contorted.
"No, when I arrived, there was no one outside." Diana's expression remained unchanged.
"Impossible!" Voldemort blurted out.
He could even smell the faint scent of blood on Diana, it was impossible that she hadn't encountered anyone.
"If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself. There's no one outside anyway." Diana raised her wand, flicking it upwards.
A thirty-foot-tall wave suddenly emerged from the nearby Black Lake, crashing towards Voldemort.
Voldemort dodged, and the wave smashed into the ground, quickly freezing into ice. Countless sharp icicles exploded, piercing towards Voldemort, like a frozen bed of thorns.
The massive Fiendfyre Dragon appeared above Voldemort.
This left him completely exposed, his shoulder and thigh simultaneously pierced, leaving a glaring trace of blood on the icicles, soon melted away by the Fiery Magic.
"It's over!" Kyle waved his wand again, the Fiendfyre Dragon diving towards Voldemort.
"Stone Revival!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
Seven or eight broken statues rose, wielding their weapons and striking at Voldemort.
Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout...
"Wind Blade Thrust!"
"Explosion Charm!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
...
"None of you will kill me!" Voldemort roared.
"Avada..."
The Elder Wand erupted with a burst of green sunlight, a Killing Curse wider in range than before, sweeping away all the spells aimed at Voldemort.
But the Elder Wand also emitted a rattling sound, leaving only a wand core connecting the broken halves.
"I'll see how many times you can block it!" Kyle panted, raising his wand again. Professor McGonagall also struggled to stand up.
However, at that moment, a dark shadow suddenly crashed into Voldemort.
Kyle saw it, but couldn't stop it.
The Fiendfyre Dragon had already disappeared, and Kyle's exhaustion was taking its toll. Standing was already a challenge, let alone controlling such a massive dragon.
Without the Fiendfyre Dragon's obstruction and the breach created by the unexpected intruder, Voldemort immediately found an opportunity and escaped as a cloud of Dark Fog with the other person.
"Come back, you coward, come back!" Professor McGonagall roared at Voldemort's retreating figure.
She couldn't accept that Voldemort had escaped when they were so close to victory.
"Never mind, Minerva." Diana said, "Voldemort was ready to fight to the death. If we had continued, we might not have been able to completely kill him, and half of us here would have died."
"I don't care, I wish I could die with him!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout echoed her sentiments. It was clear that if they could take Voldemort down with them, they wouldn't hesitate.
However, Kyle noticed Diana's words... not completely kill him.
Completely... that's right, Horcruxes.
Kyle slapped his forehead.
He had gotten carried away in the fight, forgetting about Voldemort's Horcruxes. Even if he were turned into a Wraith by the Fiery Magic, he would still survive, just like before, and might even possess a professor and come to Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest to drink Unicorn blood.
Perhaps in a decade or so, he would return, possessing a professor and coming to Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest to drink Unicorn blood.
Kyle rubbed his numbed face.
He wasn't worried or afraid of Voldemort's return.
First, his loyal Death Eaters have been nearly wiped out, and without any help, Voldemort's resurrection would be extremely difficult, almost impossible.
First, the servant's flesh is unattainable... Oh, and his father's bone is also impossible to find.
Additionally, even if Voldemort somehow survives for over a decade and finds a way to resurrect, Kyle is confident he can beat him up...
After all, he can't just stand still during this time, right? When it comes to dealing with Voldemort, it's as easy as hanging him up. Eventually, they'll hang him from the highest tower in the castle.
So, Voldemort's resurrection is just a matter of a few beatings; it's not that significant.
But letting him escape this time made Kyle feel frustrated, and he couldn't help but curse Snape in his mind.
He saw the one who took Voldemort away—Severus Snape. Kyle really wanted to ask if he had truly considered him a Death Eater.
"So, do you want to see Professor McGonagall and the others killed?"
"Of course not," Kyle said, looking up at Diana, who was standing before him. "I just feel a bit unwilling to give up."
"That's the situation," Diana replied.
Kyle sighed, "But Mom, why are you here?"
"Yeah," Chris added, running over, "The Silenced One shouldn't be involved in a war that could change the wizarding world, right? Or did you change the rules?"
"No, I just resigned," Diana said calmly.
She seemed reluctant to discuss this topic further, and after a few more words, she went to find Professor McGonagall.
Kyle returned to Hogwarts Castle.
While they were outside confronting Voldemort, the others had already dealt with the Death Eaters inside the castle and were now cleaning up the battlefield.
Some had been killed, not only Death Eaters but also students and staff, like Dennis Creevey, a fifth-year student whose small body lay on the cold floor.
Given his age, he definitely wouldn't be allowed to stay at school. He must have sneaked back without anyone knowing.
Even the Head of the Auror Office, Scrimgeour, had died, and only half of his body was found.
Several newly graduated students stood by, their faces expressionless, devoid of the excitement and enthusiasm they had before the war, even though they had won.
But this is war.
Everyone thought war was about bravery and courage... until they witnessed the loss of life firsthand.
Then they would soon realize the true nature of war.
That kind of relentless pressure can crush and shatter your will, leaving you completely demoralized and broken.
They were lucky. Most Death Eaters were restrained outside, giving the professors the energy to focus on the enemies inside the castle. Otherwise, the situation would have been even more dire, and they might not have lasted until the end of the war without breaking down.
Kyle also saw Lupin, who was severely injured. His entire body seemed withered, reduced to skin and bones, and he looked shriveled, like a flower dried up by the sun.
Given the circumstances, it seemed like some kind of dark magic was at play. Fortunately, it was a full moon, and Lupin's werewolf nature granted him a stronger life force and recovery abilities beyond that of a normal wizard, keeping him alive.
Tonks was by his side, taking care of him.
Next to her were Dedalo and Hestia, both former members of the Order of the Phoenix, but their luck wasn't as good as Lupin's. They lay there, expressionless.
Kyle walked around with a heavy heart, feeling a bit selfish, but truly grateful that he hadn't seen any familiar faces, any close friends.
Cedric was alive, as were Ryan and Michael, who had narrowly escaped harm.
Fred had lost an ear, but he didn't seem to consider it a sad matter. Instead, he thought they should celebrate, as it would finally allow people to tell him and George apart.
"I have a great idea," George said, leaning against the wall, not wanting to move. "We can design a fake unicorn ear. Trust me, when you put on your glasses, it'll look great. You'll finally be able to tell us apart."
"I think a three-headed dog's ear would be even better," Fred said, excitedly discussing the idea.
"Or an elephant's ear," Kyle added, joining in. "You can even use it as a weapon in a pinch."
"That's a good idea," Fred laughed. "Just make sure it looks good. It should have the ability to stretch and shrink, otherwise it'll be a waste of space."
"I'll try my best," Kyle said, smiling. "But aren't consider using your original one? Madam Pomfrey should be able to reattach it."
"Hmm... let's forget about it this time," Fred shrugged, unconcerned.
"Hey, Harry, I'm so glad you're still alive," Neville's voice came from around the corner. "Where are you guys going?"
"To do something, something that needs to be done," Harry said. "Only then can we defeat Voldemort."
"But..."
"Listen to me, I want you to help me with this."
"But Voldemort has..."
"If you see a three-headed snake, you must kill it."
"Harry, I want to say..."
As they spoke, they had already walked past the busy crowd in the castle.
Looking at the bustling crowd, Harry suddenly froze.
What was going on? Why was everyone busy cleaning up and treating the wounded?
Where were the Death Eaters?
Where were the relentless spells?
"That's what I'm talking about," Neville finally found an opportunity to speak. "Voldemort has been driven away. We won."
...
(End of Chapter)
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