Harry and his friends, with Fleur leading the way, meandered through the charming streets of Paris. Having a local like Fleur was proving invaluable, guiding them to hidden gems far from the typical tourist traps. Malfoy and Luna, despite being raised in the wizarding world, found the Muggle metropolis incredibly novel and exciting.
Meanwhile, the "old, weak, sick, and disabled" quartet, along with Isolde, hurried through the same Parisian streets. Their coats billowed behind them, attracting puzzled and irritated stares from the bustling passersby. Their large group and erratic behavior were enough to discourage anyone from causing trouble.
"Wait, just a minute!"
Ivo limped along desperately, falling behind the others. Frustrated, he called out to Tobias and the others several times without a response, feeling like an outsider despite their recent alliance against a common enemy. He called out again on a whim, and to his surprise, they actually stopped.
Woj beamed and quickly hopped over on one leg. Upon reaching Tobias and the others, he noticed their ashen expressions, as if they'd all swallowed something foul. Even Emil, with his cross-eyed gaze, looked even more absurd with his "wise" cross-eyed expression.
Cursing under his breath, Woj followed their line of sight. Across the street stood a group of young people.
The good news was that they'd encountered someone related to their target. The bad news was that their target wasn't among them.
"Lucas?"
Harry's eyes widened, his lips parted slightly, and he instinctively tightened his grip on the treasure box he held.
"Who are they?"
Luna frowned slightly, sensing the considerable malice emanating from the middle-aged men, despite their attempts to conceal it.
"Foolish traitors who refuse to submit to the Dark Lord," Cassandra said indifferently, drawing her ornate wand. "They caused the disturbance at the Quidditch World Cup."
"..."
Fleur listened silently, a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
"What a joke! You're the ones who refuse to submit to the Dark Lord!" Tobias's beard twitched with fury.
Emil, with his cross-eyed gaze, asserted with "wisdom," "Exactly! How could that guy with hair, a nose, and not ugly be the Dark Lord?!"
"..."
Lucas and the others instinctively distanced themselves from him, fearing they might inadvertently become targets of an Avada Kedavra.
"But... what makes you so sure that guy is the Dark Lord?" Hermione recalled her impressions of Voldemort's remnant soul. "Because he's weaker? Because he's more stupid and insane? Or is it simply because, as you say, he looks to your liking?"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Lucas sneered, rubbing his wand between his fingertips. "Hmph, enough with the nonsense. Since that Veela isn't here, my master would be just as happy to kill you all!"
Before the words had even fully left his lips, Isolde unleashed a full-force Thunderclap Explosion!
BOOM—!
The blast, nearly twenty meters in diameter, engulfed both sides of the street! Asphalt was ripped apart, street rubble shattered, and even streetlights and cars were twisted and hurled dozens of meters away by the force of the blast.
Aaaaa—!
Muggles near the blast radius were vaporized, while those further away immediately ducked for cover, screaming, convinced it was a terrorist attack. The continuous explosions of cars echoed, and billowing dust completely obscured the spot where Cassandra and the others had been standing.
"..."
Isolde gripped his wand warily, knowing that these youngsters were not to be trifled with. Just as he was about to cast two more spells, Emil grinned, eager to steal their physical forms and claim the credit.
But as the smoke cleared, a stark white barrier shimmered against the hazy air. Emil's eyes widened in disbelief. Cassandra lowered the barrier and immediately unleashed a Wandless Spellcasting Avada Kedavra.
A ghastly green bolt grazed past Emil. Having narrowly escaped death, Emil dared not be careless, but the sudden appearance of a longsword forced him to hastily dodge.
Enraged, Emil roared, "Damn brat, don't think you can beat me by sneaking up! Since you're in such a hurry, I'll kill you right now!"
Emil swung his wand at Harry, who was charging towards him.
"This brat..."
Isolde frowned, his eyes bloodshot. He recognized the fearsome youth as being one of those who had captured his brother. He had initially intended to kill him outright, but now he realized that the task was far from easy.
Cassandra didn't waste time on words. With a flick of her wand, a Petrifying Charm flew out, but Isolde deflected it. The next moment, with a "crack," Cassandra vanished.
!!
Isolde's heart pounded with alarm, and he barely managed to dodge the Scarlet Spell that came from behind! Even the Cruciatus Curse, cast without any special spells, gave him a dangerous feeling; the Unforgivable Curse was being wielded with such skill. Who was the real villain here?!
Although it seemed like both sides were villains—after all, they were both under Voldemort's command.
Isolde pointed his wand to the side, then forcefully pulled it towards Cassandra, tearing apart nearby buildings into a torrent of bricks and stones that crashed towards her! Scattered tendrils of black mist pierced through the storm of debris.
Seeing this, Isolde grew alarmed, realizing his opponent was far more than a "somewhat powerful brat." Even the Flight Charm was so skillfully employed, highlighting her potentially superior magical prowess, making him susceptible to being caught off guard and suffering a crushing defeat!
Isolde immediately used Apparition to escape!
Cassandra, solidifying in mid-air, glanced into the distance and vanished as the surrounding space warped.
"..."
Malfoy looked somewhat wistfully in the direction the two had disappeared. "Isn't Cassandra getting scarier and scarier? Maybe we shouldn't mess with her anymore."
"As if you've ever dared to mess with her?"
Harry kicked away Emil, whose chest was ripped open to reveal bone, and wielded the Gryffindor Sword, cleaving the approaching flames in two!
"Lucas, save me!"
Seeing Lucas join the fight against Harry, Emil, overjoyed, clutched his wound and scrambled away in a disheveled manner. That brat was far too dangerous! His sword was also faulty! The spells were completely ineffective! If it weren't for his remaining strength and combat instincts, he would have been cleaved in two by that sword!
That damned guy actually managed to create sword energy! Although the area wasn't vast, cutting the highway in two wouldn't be a problem... Is this guy even a wizard?!
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