Chapter 165: Thunderstorm Descends
"Come out!"
Though puzzled by One-Eye's reaction, George didn't let it distract him from seizing the best moment to attack.
While using his wand and light magic to take down two dark wizards, he simultaneously summoned his razor blades with his superpower, aiming to swiftly eliminate the last dark wizard and restrain One-Eye.
But just then, a witch suddenly charged out from the side, launching an attack at One-Eye.
"Expelliarmus!"
It was Amy, who, like George, had tailed Lina. After seeing One-Eye take hostages, she had deduced—based on her experience—that he would try to escape through the tent's exit with them.
So while the Auror captain negotiated with One-Eye, she had quietly positioned herself near the exit, hiding behind some clutter.
Now, witnessing George's sudden ambush and the hostages' rescue, she abandoned concealment and joined the assault on One-Eye.
If Amy and George succeeded, One-Eye and his last follower would be subdued instantly.
But One-Eye, ever the seasoned dark wizard, proved tricky. Even as his lips continued murmuring an unknown incantation, he patted his robe—which suddenly conjured a Shield Charm on its own.
Clearly, this wasn't an ordinary robe but one enchanted with a pre-set defensive spell.
His companion wasn't so lucky. George's razor blades severed one of his hands, rendering him incapable of casting spells.
Thanks to the Shield Charm blocking Amy's Expelliarmus, One-Eye managed to bolt out of the tent.
"Amy! George! We've set up Anti-Apparition Jinxes across the entire magical street—he can't escape! Go after him!"
Lina's voice rang out.
The Aurors had rushed over the moment they saw George's ambush, but they were still a dozen meters away.
[Translator: sauron]
Amy immediately dashed out in pursuit, while George paused to politely check on Hermione.
"You're not hurt?"
"No."
Hermione nodded dazedly.
She had originally been vacationing with her parents in Dijon. But after receiving George's reply letter—mentioning he was also in France, in Paris—she'd inexplicably felt compelled to visit the capital.
After some pleading, her parents had agreed to adjust their itinerary.
Yet on their very first day in Paris, during what was supposed to be a fun magical creature show, they'd been caught in a battle between dark wizards and Aurors—and taken hostage.
Witnessing a dark wizard cast the Killing Curse had terrified her. The Basilisk had been frightening, but at least no one had died.
And then George had appeared out of nowhere, like a hero descending from the heavens, saving her yet again.
"Hermione! Hermione, sweetheart, are you alright?"
Her parents, who had been among the adult hostages (both Muggles), rushed to her side with the Aurors.
Meanwhile, the two other rescued girls approached Hermione. The older one asked, "You know the boy who saved us?"
Hermione studied the pair—one tall and elegant, the other small and delicate—before replying with pride, "We're both Hogwarts students. And we're best friends."
"I'm Fleur Delacour, fifth-year at Beauxbatons. This is my sister, Gabrielle. Thank your friend for us—he was incredible."
Fleur's voice brimmed with gratitude. She'd brought her eight-year-younger sister to the show, never expecting such danger.
If not for that boy—who looked even younger than her—intervening, she and Gabrielle might have died today. So upon realizing he and this other girl knew each other, she'd come to express her thanks.
"His name is George, a first-year at Hogwarts. I'm Hermione Granger, second-year. He's the most brilliant wizard in our school."
For some reason, hearing Fleur praise George filled Hermione with even greater pride.
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Meanwhile, Outside the Tent
George and Amy burst out just in time to see One-Eye standing in the middle of the street—not fleeing, but glaring at them with a sinister grin.
"Finally finished chanting. Ancient magic is such a hassle… Now, let me show you its power!"
Raising his wand overhead, he began swirling it in circles.
The sky above the magical street darkened instantly, clouds churning as thunder rumbled and lightning crackled.
"Ancient Magic: Thunderstorm Descends!"
A torrent of lightning bolts rained down, engulfing half the street in a terrifying electrical storm.
From the moment he'd been surrounded, One-Eye had suspected the Aurors might block Apparition across the entire street.
So while retreating with the hostages, he'd begun chanting this ancient lightning spell—a magic with an absurdly long incantation but devastating power.
Even if it didn't kill the Aurors, the chaos would buy him time to escape.
The boy and the female Auror's ambush had nearly disrupted his casting, but he'd barely managed to complete it.
"What kind of spell is this? This isn't a Weather Charm!"
As lightning streaked toward them, George hastily cast a Shield Charm. Amy and the pursuing Aurors did the same—but even they were baffled by the sheer scale of this magic.
Weather Charms could alter conditions—sunshine to rain, rain to snow—but they couldn't summon a storm of lethal lightning bolts.
"This lightning's too strong—damn it, the tent's collapsing!"
Each bolt carried terrifying force. Even the Shield Charms trembled under the assault, on the verge of shattering, making movement nearly impossible.
Worse, the magical creature tent, struck by multiple bolts, began to disintegrate. Everyone inside—wizards, creatures, and objects—were violently ejected onto the street.
"Hahaha! I'll kill you all! Every last one of you!"
One-Eye continued whirling his wand, maintaining the storm. The lightning now targeted everyone in range—including Hermione and her Muggle parents, who couldn't cast Shield Charms, as well as Fleur, Gabrielle, the magical creatures, and the performers.
Most wizards outside the Auror Corps hadn't even mastered the Shield Charm.
Early month, pushing for two more days!
(End of Chapter)