Chapter 48: Phoenix
The next moment, Vaughn cast “Expelliarmus” again.
The dark-robed figure’s Full Body-Bind Curse instantly shattered, but that brief moment was enough for him to prepare a counterattack. As the Full Body-Bind Curse broke, his wand also shot out a red light.
But to his surprise, the red light shattered into sparks directly in front of Vaughn, and a Full Body-Bind Curse that looked even more skillful than his own blocked his attack.
“Expelliarmus!”
“Expelliarmus!”
Protected by the level 4 Full Body-Bind Curse, Vaughn continuously cast spells, beams of red light tearing through the dark corridor, forcing the dark-robed figure into a flurry.
No one knew how shocked he was inside.
Because of Vaughn’s skillful spells, and because Vaughn possessed magic power that was as abundant as that of an adult wizard.
Cornered and in disarray by several consecutive “Expelliarmus” spells, the dark-robed figure let out a deliberately distorted, sharp cry: “Sorry, Master, help me!”
The moment he finished speaking, the faint, low hissing sound that had disappeared earlier echoed in the corridor again.
Another strange magic awakened within the dark-robed figure.
It was so clear that just its ripple-like fluctuations spreading out caused the faint magical flames on the wall to suddenly turn pale.
It was as if everything was fading.
The dark-robed figure was screaming and wailing, as if someone was torturing him, and also—controlling him!
Harry let out another pained hiss.
The terrifying scene from moments before reappeared, this time more intense, and Harry’s eyes were filled with only the outlines of distorted light.
He saw the terrifying figure raise its wand!
Vaughn’s expression was also unprecedentedly solemn.
“…Voldemort…”
If it weren’t for Harry and Hermione, he wouldn’t have encountered the other party at all right now, not out of fear, but out of habitual caution!
He had never feared anyone!
Various complex thoughts flashed through his mind. Vaughn, facing the now extremely terrifying “dark-robed figure,” channeled all his malicious thoughts and shouted the spell:
“Sectumsempra!”
There was no light, no sound of tearing air, the silent and incredibly venomous spell drew ripples through the air.
In Harry’s hazy vision lying on the ground, everything was like a slow-motion movie. He saw Vaughn cast an unfamiliar spell, the spell dragging ripples through the air, sharply piercing the “dark-robed figure’s” Full Body-Bind Curse, and embedding itself in his shoulder.
He saw the “dark-robed figure” let out a hoarse roar, the tip of his wand glowing with an unprecedented green light:
“Avada—”
He also saw Vaughn, immediately after casting the spell, pull a fiery red feather from his bag and throw it into the air just before the “dark-robed figure’s” spell was completed.
A wave of his wand ignited it!
“—Kedavra!”
The green light and the flames erupted simultaneously and collided!
Sensing someone summoning him at Hogwarts, Fawkes apparated and, before he could react, saw a blinding green light fill his vision.
The most tragic thing in the world, perhaps, would be this.
Recognizing the green light, Fawkes’ mind subconsciously conjured this question.
Then, with a “caw,” its feathers exploded.
It landed on the ground with a thud, transformed into a bald chick…
At the same time, another immense magical power was rapidly approaching from below!
Dumbledore!
The “dark-robed figure” also sensed it. He let out a completely different roar, filled with both fear and anger, but still resolutely clutched his shoulder and turned into a black mist, fleeing in a panic.
It was only then, having embraced Hermione and Harry and apparated into the Charms classroom the moment he ignited the phoenix feather, that Vaughn finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He was grateful for his caution and for having informed Ron before coming up.
He was grateful to Fawkes!
It was only now that Vaughn realized… his clothes were soaked with sweat, and his wand-holding hand was trembling slightly.
Unlike his previous experience of easily killing a troll, this was his first battle against a wizard.
And the opponent was the infamous Dark Lord… Voldemort!
Even if it was just a damaged version…
He subconsciously ignored Quirrell; that guy was useless.
After sitting on the ground and gasping for breath several times, Vaughn looked at Harry, still limp, and Hermione, whose face was pale but whose eyes were bright and sparkling. He had no mood to blame them.
The professors would handle it.
He looked towards the corridor outside the door, at Fawkes still sitting bald on the ground, its eyes dazed, seemingly still caught in this sudden misfortune.
Vaughn crawled over and held it in his hands, saying gratefully, “Thank you, Fawkes, I knew you would come.”
Fawkes finally came to its senses, staring at Vaughn in disbelief, its short, pink beak trembling.
If it could speak, it would have probably cursed him out long ago.
Was this something a human would do? Why was it so foolish to hurry over as soon as it sensed a summons? It suddenly wished it could turn back time to the day Vaughn picked up its feather, the day it proudly stood on its perch, watching Vaughn treasure his shed feathers, secretly mocking the poor, weak young wizard.
If it could go back to that day, it would have given itself a kick and then pecked Vaughn furiously on the head!
Just then, a mass of white mist flew up, rapidly coalescing, and Dumbledore landed, hurrying to Vaughn’s side.
The old man’s expression was hurried. His bright blue eyes quickly scanned Vaughn, the dazed Harry, and Hermione, finding all three unharmed.
He then glanced at the corridor, which was in ruins from the spells cast, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Then, he saw Fawkes, already reborn, in Vaughn’s palm…
Dumbledore’s lips trembled a few times.
…
“I can’t believe it, how can you be such reckless children? Two of you skip the banquet and sneak out to play, encounter a troll, then when you find your friend missing, instead of telling a prefect or a professor, you go to find them yourselves.”
“You…”
In the Headmaster’s Office, Professor McGonagall clutched her chest, taking deep breaths to calm her agitated emotions.
Vaughn, Ron, Harry, and Hermione stood obediently in front of her, having been scolded for over ten minutes. What made Professor McGonagall angry was that none of the four showed any guilt or remorse.
Vaughn looked around, Ron’s face was flushed, Harry looked dazed and absentminded, only occasionally glancing at Vaughn and the other professors, thinking whatever they were thinking. Even Hermione, who was usually well-behaved and disciplined, was uncharacteristically spacing out.
Snape was also spacing out, his vacant eyes fixed on Vaughn, no one able to guess his thoughts.
Until Dumbledore called his name: “Severus, you and Filius clean up the troll’s body. Our dear Vaughn blew its head off, blood is everywhere, it’s a gruesome scene.”
Professor Flitwick nodded and left the office with the silent Snape.
Dumbledore then instructed Professor McGonagall: “Minerva, please take Harry, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger to Madam Pomfrey for a check-up… Ah, yes, and Professor Quirrell, who is lying in the Great Hall.”
Professor McGonagall, still angry, finally stopped scolding. Just as she was about to dismiss them, she heard Dumbledore say, “Vaughn, you stay.”
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to speak, then closed it.
She exchanged a glance with Dumbledore’s blue eyes and ultimately said nothing.
Ron, pulling the bewildered Harry, walked out with his head held high behind Professor McGonagall. Hermione looked at Vaughn worriedly. Vaughn nodded at her, and she reluctantly followed.
