It was a witch wearing Auror robes, though her appearance was somewhat dishevelled. Her short hair appeared an eerie dark purple beneath the moonlight, and her pretty face was filled with tension.
Sagres narrowed his eyes, immediately recognising her.
"Nymphadora Tonks?"
He spoke her name calmly, though his wand remained raised.
"You shouldn't be here."
This young Auror was a former Hogwarts student from three years below him and a gifted Metamorphmagus.
Tonks clearly recognised Sagres as well and let out a sigh of relief.
"Professor Greengrass? I was about to ask what the two of you were doing here!"
She spoke rapidly.
"I've been tracking this pack of werewolves for days. They've captured several Muggle-born Wizards!"
Sagres raised a hand to stop her stream of words and asked directly,
"So, what is the Ministry of Magic's decision?"
Tonks opened her mouth, looking somewhat dejected.
"I reported the situation, but the Ministry... the Ministry says the full moon is approaching and the risk is too great. They've ordered me to observe and remain on standby. No unauthorised action."
Her tone was full of frustration.
However, this was more or less what Sagres had expected.
He was all too familiar with the Ministry of Magic's bureaucracy and its excessive caution regarding incidents involving werewolves.
He lowered his wand, signalling Lupin to do the same.
"When the full moon rises, we all know what will happen."
He looked at Tonks and calmly said the words she had not dared to voice.
"I assume the Ministry of Magic intends to launch a 'safe' raid after the full moon has passed, when the werewolves have been weakened by their transformation."
"Yes..."
Tonks admitted quietly.
She did not agree with the Ministry's almost cold-blooded decision either, but she had no power to change it.
Lupin, who had been standing nearby, showed a rare flash of anger on his usually gentle face.
He narrowed his eyes and said stiffly,
"A very logical calculation. It's just a pity that by then, these captured Wizards will probably have become sacrifices to darkness."
His words were like cold knives, mercilessly piercing through the Ministry of Magic's facade of "caution".
Tonks's face paled.
She gripped her wand tightly, her eyes filled with conflict.
"Listen, Tonks."
Sagres had no intention of wasting time arguing.
"My objective is to destroy this place completely. But before that, we need to rescue the Wizards being held here."
"Just... just the two of you?"
Tonks looked back and forth between Sagres and Lupin, her expression full of disbelief.
"I mean, no reinforcements or anything?"
Sagres shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"No."
The brevity of the answer stunned Tonks.
She seemed unable to comprehend such an almost recklessly daring method of operation.
As an Auror, she was accustomed to teamwork and meticulous planning.
"Then... what's the plan? There has to be a plan, right?"
She pressed on, as though clinging to a final hope.
"There is a plan."
Sagres replied firmly.
"Lupin is responsible for the rescue. I am responsible for levelling this place."
Tonks immediately straightened up and listened attentively, waiting for the detailed explanation.
However, after two seconds of silence, she blinked, realising that he had no intention of elaborating further.
"That's it?"
She could not help raising her voice slightly, her confusion deepening.
"Huh? That's the entire plan?"
"The core of it, yes."
Sagres's gaze had already returned to the distant stone circle, his tone calm.
"You may choose to join us, or you may leave now."
Tonks was not indecisive.
She took a deep breath, suppressed her unease, and made her decision.
"Alright. I know a small path that loops around to the back of the altar. There are relatively few guards there."
"No need."
Sagres confirmed one last time.
"You only need to remember that rescuing the captives is your primary objective. Once they are safe, withdraw immediately."
"Wait, wait!"
Tonks suddenly remembered something and hurriedly grabbed Sagres, who appeared ready to act at once.
"Apparition! I can only take one person at most! There are... one, two, three, four, five prisoners over there. How many can Lupin take? How are we supposed to get everyone out?"
Sagres did not answer.
He merely raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
The crisp sound echoed softly in the night.
The next moment, a raven appeared silently on his shoulder.
Its black feathers gleamed with a cold sheen beneath the moonlight, startling Tonks.
"What is that? A Phoenix?"
Tonks's eyes widened, and she instinctively took half a step backwards.
Then she shook her head.
"No, no! What kind of Phoenix is black?"
"It's not a Phoenix," Sagres replied expressionlessly.
"It will take all of you away."
Before he had even finished speaking, Noctis had already flapped his wings and gracefully landed on Tonks's shoulder.
At the same time, Sagres raised his wand, and a dense, almost tangible wave of magic spread out from him like an invisible dome, instantly enveloping the entire stone circle atop the moor.
Space itself was locked down.
Any form of Apparition had become impossible.
He had established an Anti-Apparition barrier first, cutting off every avenue of escape for his prey.
Then he waved his wand once more.
"Murus Flammae."
The moment the incantation left his lips, two blazing walls of fire erupted on either side of them.
The roaring flames surged forward like living creatures, rapidly extending until they formed a complete ring of fire around the entire camp—a burning prison of death.
The towering flames instantly illuminated the moorland and revealed the panicked expressions of the werewolves.
Shouts and howls immediately erupted, but not a single dark creature dared to cross the deadly barrier of fire.
Tonks and Lupin were momentarily stunned by the overwhelming display of power, but Noctis had already spread his wings and shot towards the altar like an arrow released from a bow.
As he flew, his body rapidly expanded.
His wings spread wider and wider, casting an enormous shadow.
By the time he reached the sky above the altar, he had transformed into a colossal black beast that seemed to blot out the sky itself.
The werewolves gathered around the altar stared up in horror at the sudden appearance of the giant creature.
The raven's massive head plunged down.
Its scythe-like beak opened.
With a single bite, the nearest werewolf was crushed instantly, accompanied by the sickening sound of breaking bones.
"What are you waiting for?"
Sagres's voice remained calm.
Without even turning his head, he continued to maintain the immense wall of fire with a casual wave of his wand.
Lupin and Tonks finally snapped back to their senses and charged towards the altar at full speed.
"Rennervate!"
They rushed onto the altar and used the prepared spells to revive the unconscious captives while quickly removing their restraints.
Supporting the weakened Wizards, they helped them to their feet.
Yet despite themselves, their eyes kept drifting towards the enormous raven looming amidst the firelight like a demonic god.
Three werewolves near the altar attempted to fight back.
But against the raven's overwhelming strength, their resistance was meaningless.
They were torn apart almost instantly.
Another werewolf tried to break through the wall of fire.
The moment it touched the flames, it was transformed into a screaming ball of burning flesh, its cries ending abruptly.
"Let's go!" Lupin shouted.
Supporting the captives alongside Tonks, he ran as fast as he could towards the giant raven waiting silently nearby.
Noctis lowered his head.
His dark eyes held no emotion.
He simply offered his broad back as a path to safety.
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