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Ten minutes later, Robert walked out of the tent. Without looking back, he flicked his wand, and the large tent behind him was instantly engulfed in flames. Within seconds, it was consumed entirely.
Just as Robert was about to leave, several crackling sounds echoed through the air. He paused, instantly recognizing the sound—it was the unmistakable noise of Apparition.
Sure enough, six wizards appeared at the entrance of the camp. They stared at Robert and the blazing tent in astonishment.
Robert's eyes narrowed as he recognized several familiar faces among them. It was the Witch Party.
"Who are you? What have you done to these goblins?" one of them demanded.
As he spoke, the other members of the Witch Party quietly surrounded Robert.
Robert didn't answer but instead asked in a disguised voice, "Do these goblins work for you?"
"So what if they do? You still haven't answered my question!" the man snapped impatiently.
Robert's tone turned cold. "Why does everyone keep asking me such boring questions tonight?"
"Enough talking! Capture him first, then we'll interrogate him!" another Witch Party member shouted, raising his wand. In sync, the others followed suit.
"Crucio!"
In an instant, six Cruciatus Curses hurtled toward Robert. If they hit, the consequences would be devastating. The spells blocked all escape routes—there was no way out.
But Robert was no longer the same man he was a month ago. And this was the Forbidden Forest—there were no anti-Apparition spells here.
With a sharp crack, Robert vanished. The curses hit the ground, leaving small craters in their wake.
When he reappeared, he was behind the Witch Party members.
"He's behind us! Watch out!"
"Iron Armor!"
The Witch Party members reacted swiftly, casting protective spells without hesitation. They were seasoned fighters, and their reflexes were sharp. They showed no mercy—they were ready to kill.
But Robert had changed. His long hours of practice were finally paying off.
"Avada Kedavra!"
An emerald light shot from his wand, illuminating the fear on their faces. The Iron Armor Curse was powerless against the Death Curse.
"Dodge!"
They reacted quickly, leaping to the side. But just as they thought they had evaded the curse, the green light split into three beams, striking the three nearest wizards.
Without a sound, they collapsed, lifeless.
The remaining three were horrified. They had come to capture an enemy, but now half their group was dead—taken down by a single Death Curse that split into multiple beams.
Could the Killing Curse even work like that? Was this man Dumbledore in disguise?
"Run! Split up!"
Their confidence shattered, they turned to flee, firing Killing Curses behind them to cover their escape. But Robert dodged each one with effortless Apparition.
Panic overtook them. If they had stood their ground, they might have stood a chance. But their fear gave Robert the advantage.
The three scattered in different directions. One of them hid behind a tree, readying himself to Apparate away. But before he could, he froze. In the next instant, he and the tree were sliced in half. Robert had anticipated his move and struck without mercy.
The others were terrified, convinced Robert could see through Apparition itself. They fled even faster, too scared to teleport, believing it would mean certain death.
They ran in opposite directions, hoping at least one of them could escape and report back. Their strategy was smart—Robert could only chase one at a time.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Robert fired a curse at one of the fleeing wizards. The man dodged quickly, but the curse curved mid-air, striking him down. He collapsed, eyes wide with shock, as life left his body.
Robert's training had paid off. He could now split and control spells with precision. He could even make them change direction.
But there was no time to celebrate. His delay had allowed the last Witch Party member to get away. The man smiled triumphantly, ready to Apparate to safety.
Just then, a voice called out from the darkness. "Avada Kedavra!"
A green light shot through the air, hitting the wizard before he could react. He fell to the ground, lifeless.
Robert turned to see Tom stepping out from the shadows, gripping his second-hand wand tightly. His body was trembling, his eyes fixed on the man he had just killed.
It was his first time taking a life. But... why did it feel so exhilarating?
Robert approached and checked the body. There was no doubt—he was dead. Robert looked at Tom and smiled.
"It's been a while since I've seen your true face, Tom. Has anything changed in your mind?"
Tom's hands still trembled as he raised them, a manic gleam in his eyes. "Changed? I feel... happy... very happy..."
A sickly flush crept up his cheeks. The thrill of killing, the rush of power—it was intoxicating.
As they walked through the secret passage from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts, their wand lights illuminating the darkness, Tom finally spoke. "How did you follow me?"
Robert just smiled. "I have my ways."
Tom didn't press further. After a moment, he asked, "Who were those wizards?"
Robert's expression darkened. "They were from the Witch Party. They're working with the goblins, probably to find that power."
"The Witch Party again?" Tom's face twisted in anger. "I thought only the goblins knew about that magic."
"They must have made a deal. The Ministry of Magic is watching the goblins closely. With Grindelwald's help, they can act freely."
Tom's eyes narrowed. "We've made powerful enemies tonight. We stole what they wanted and killed their men."
Robert's face was cold. "They attacked first. If we didn't fight back, we'd be the ones dead. And no one will know it was us—I destroyed all evidence. Not even Grindelwald can trace it back, unless his prophecies show him."
Tom's tension eased. "You're right. We'll be safe in the school dormitory tonight. Whatever happened in the Forbidden Forest has nothing to do with us."
A wicked smile played on his lips. "And we've taken back some payback for what they did last time."
Robert nodded silently. But as they continued down the dark tunnel, he couldn't help but glance at Tom's face—the face of a boy who had just tasted the power of death... and loved it.
The night was silent, but the echoes of that deadly encounter lingered. Something had awakened within Tom. And Robert knew there was no turning back now.
(End of Chapter)
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