Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
A large number of Acromantulas were engulfed in scorching purple flames, their agonized howls filling the air. Some, having accidentally inhaled the dark green sleeping poison mist, twitched violently before succumbing to deep slumber.
Aragog, the king of the Acromantulas, was enraged at the sight of his children in such a miserable state.
"Dark wizard! Powerful dark wizard! I have done as you asked!"
"Damn it, why haven't you come out yet?"
"Despicable wizard..."
"...!"
Aragog continued to shout, desperately hoping that the dark wizard he had made a deal with would appear and minimize the deaths of his offspring. However, no matter how much he roared, there was no response. The silence only fueled his anger.
Untrustworthy wizards... Damn wizards! Their souls should fall into the abyss of darkness, suffering the unchanging wrath of evil for eternity.
As Aragog's cries grew increasingly furious, the so-called dark wizard still failed to appear.
Meanwhile, outside, Wanda, Harry, Remy, and the others grew wary.
"Light of Perception!"
"Detect Ripples!"
"Destiny Search!"
"Life Detection!"
"...!"
Almost immediately after hearing Aragog's calls, Ian, Remy, and Harry cast their respective detection spells. Even Hermione, despite Ron's evident panic, had already begun casting magic, trying to locate any possible threats lurking nearby.
Yet, despite the numerous detection spells sweeping through the surroundings—even with Wanda using her mystical fate magic—there was no response.
It seemed that Aragog, the Acromantula King, was lying.
"Any results?" Ian asked, his gaze shifting between his companions. "Other than the Acromantulas, are there any energy fluctuations or signs of life nearby?"
The others shook their heads in response.
"Could Aragog be lying?" Hermione speculated. "Maybe he's trying to scare us into leaving."
"After all, he's nearly extinct."
Hermione's reasoning made everyone fall silent. Unless the enemy was powerful enough to completely evade their spells, this was the only logical explanation.
"Stay vigilant and be on guard for any possible sneak attacks," Ian ordered firmly.
As the first student of Lockhart and a member of Kamar Taj's elite echelon, Ian naturally assumed the role of captain. No one objected—because being the captain didn't just grant authority, it also meant bearing responsibility. If anything happened, the captain would take full accountability.
Following Ian's command, Wanda, Remy, and Vera swiftly formed a defensive formation, standing in a protective circle while surveying their surroundings.
Wands raised, they poured immense magic into them, the tips glowing with a faint red light, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Harry could clearly sense the moment their auras merged—four forces intertwining into one. It was as if the moment one of them moved, the others would follow in seamless coordination. His keen battle instincts immediately registered the immense pressure they radiated.
Hermione and Ron, however, were utterly astonished.
These four weren't acting like students at all. They moved with the precision and discipline of Aurors who had undergone years of rigorous training.
"Ron, raise your wand and stay alert!" Hermione urged, her voice laced with frustration.
Watching Ron's panicked state, she wanted to bury her face in her hands. Compared to Wanda and the others, he was utterly embarrassing.
"Ah...!"
Snapping out of his daze at Hermione's urging, Ron hastily lifted his wand.
He tried to mimic Wanda and the others, but his movements were stiff and awkward—like someone learning to walk for the first time. His head darted left and right as if expecting an attack at any moment, sometimes even retracting his neck like a frightened squirrel.
Hermione let out a tired sigh. She had a sinking feeling that Ron would bolt the moment danger struck.
"Harry..." she called helplessly.
Hearing the plea, Harry walked over to stand beside her, facing the unknown threat together.
Ron, seeing Harry's presence as reassurance, immediately scampered over as well.
"Harry, Harry, is the enemy a dark wizard?"
"The kind that knows the Unforgivable Curses?"
"...!"
Ron's nervous chattering made Harry frown. Seeing this, Hermione yanked Ron beside her, shooting him an irritated glare.
No matter what, their performance couldn't be too embarrassing. At the very least, they couldn't disgrace Hogwarts in front of Kamar Taj's students.
Fine…
At least they had Harry Potter.
Meanwhile, Wanda, Ian, and the others paid no mind to Hermione and Ron's exchange.
Their breathing synchronized, their focus sharpened, and their mental energy expanded outward, carefully analyzing every detail in their surroundings—even the faintest movement of plants and trees.
Though their expressions remained composed, their hands gripped their wands tightly, the magic within them suppressed yet ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
Suddenly, a furious voice rang out.
"Damn dark wizard! I curse you! May your soul fall into hell and endure the eternal flames of torment!"
"Forever awake! Forever in pain! Forever suffering a fate worse than death!"
Aragog, the Acromantula King, cursed with all his might.
Nearly all of his children were dead. And that bastard—who had claimed he would help them hunt wizards—had yet to show himself!
However…
"Avada Kedavra!"
A streak of dark green light shot out, striking Aragog mid-curse.
In an instant, his massive body collapsed, lifeless.
At some point, a figure had appeared.
Dressed in dark green wizarding robes, he had a slender frame and a strikingly handsome face. Yet, the sinister aura surrounding him was unmistakable. Death and slaughter clung to him like a second skin.
Fidgeting with the purple wand in his hand, the Dark Lord Voldemort gazed at Aragog's corpse with amusement, entirely unfazed by Wanda and the others behind him.
He had originally planned to spare the Acromantula King, allowing him to wreak havoc on Hogwarts in the future.
But the foolish creature had spoken out of turn—said something he should not have.
No, Voldemort hadn't cared about the curses Aragog hurled at him. But that last phrase—"Forever suffering a fate worse than death "—had struck a nerve.
The moment he heard it, a shadow crept over his mind. He remembered his other self—Tom—trapped in a skeletal form, engulfed in eternal flames. The sheer thought of fire consuming his soul sent a chill of fear through him.
That spider?
It was damned the moment it uttered those words.
"Dark Wizard!"
"Voldemort!"
Hermione's shocked scream filled the air, while Ian's wary voice called out the dark wizard's real name.
Kamar Taj's intelligence network had already painted a clear picture of Voldemort.
There was no doubt—standing before them was none other than the Dark Lord himself.
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New fanfic :
Marvel : The God Of Punishment System
I Am Raditz
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