At dawn, Wade pushed open the window, and the cold morning air rushed in eagerly, sweeping away the stale atmosphere that had lingered in the room overnight.
He tilted his head up to look at the sky. Faint stars still hung above, and the distant mountains were hidden in darkness—only the snowy peaks could be vaguely seen, outlined by the faint reflection of starlight.
This time, the Alliance had chosen to act very early. There were still two hours until sunrise. Candles began lighting up in rooms throughout the castle one by one, and footsteps could be heard in the hallways.
Hogwarts has already been in session for two days, but at such an early hour, probably only the house-elves are busy preparing breakfast. The students must still be lost in their dreams.
Wade let out a light sigh and suddenly found himself missing life at school.
Surrounded by the scent of burning pinewood from the fireplace, Wade washed up, got dressed, and donned a cloak that obscured his appearance. He then hung a few Jinx-Off items he had crafted himself onto his body.
Turning around, his eyes fell on the magic books stacked across the bookshelf.
Due to the language barrier—he had only just begun learning German—Wade's reading speed was slow. He had only skimmed the tables of contents and selected a few of the most interesting books to read in detail.
But he hadn't given up on the other books either. He used a duplication charm to copy all of them and had even applied an Undetectable Extension Charm to his clothing pockets, where he stuffed the duplicated copies.
This outing was a chance to escape. Even if the so-called Adler Manor had Anti-Apparition Spells, Wade could first transform into a peregrine falcon to exit the spell's range, and then Apparate away.
The key was to get out of Grindelwald's sight.
By now, Wade had a fairly clear idea of the Alliance's true level. Far from being the unstoppable, ruthless dark wizard legion of legend, today's Alliance was, in reality, not much different from the Ministry of Magic's own ranks.
To put it simply: over half of the members had recently started relearning the Shield Charm. Three-quarters of them were only pretending to do nonverbal spells by whispering them, and many of them, when casting spells while running, were relying on sheer luck to hit their targets.
Compared to the Ministry of Magic, their only real advantage was their willingness to use highly destructive dark magic without hesitation—magic that often inflicted injuries difficult to heal.
Still, combat is the best catalyst for improvement. Judging from the videos, the dark wizards' skill levels were quickly rising.
But at their current level, most of them neither had the awareness nor the strength to stop a peregrine falcon-sized target in a chaotic battlefield.
Life in the castle wasn't bad, actually. But Wade had never gone this long without contact with his parents—they must be extremely worried by now.
And when it came to learning magic, Hogwarts' library is far more welcoming to him.
At least there, he didn't have to constantly flip through dictionaries, ask others about grammar, or worry about mispronouncing a word and triggering a dangerous magical mishap, making him too hesitant to try new spells.
That wizard who had nearly been trampled to death by a cow kept reminding Wade just how dangerous a misfired spell could be.
When he stepped out of the room, Wade's bedroom still looked just as it always did—unfinished notes lay on the desk, and two sets of spare clothes hung beside the bed.
In case he didn't find a chance to escape this time… Wade could always pretend nothing had happened and continue maintaining the current atmosphere of harmony and friendliness.
…
In the early morning mist, a thin branch snapped with a soft crack under a black boot.
Immediately after, a thick-bodied serpent slithered behind with its body rustling across dead leaves and snow.
A wizard in a gray cloak blended almost seamlessly into the mist and trekked through the dark forest along a winding path.
Eventually, he stopped on a hillside and drew his wand. With a gentle wave, thick fog gathered around him, making his figure blur and gradually meld into the environment.
He then tapped a nearby tree stump with his wand, transforming it into a tall, soft seat. Only then did he lift his cloak, revealing a baby with a snake-like face.
The baby clung to the wizard's neck with its thin arms and was now placed on a chair as tall as the wizard's. Several flames flickered into existence nearby, warming the area.
The serpent seemed to enjoy the warmth and coiled up the side of the chair. It eventually rested its head on the armrest and softly flicked its tongue.
"Master," the wizard said, bowing his head, "the Muggle's manor lies just down the slope."
The baby opened his narrow eyes, revealing blood-red pupils. His soft, feeble hands rested on his belly with one of them holding a wand nearly as long as his body.
"Wait," the baby said in a cold, sharp voice. "We're likely to witness quite the show today."
"Yes, sir."
The wizard turned his head. Under his hood was a pale, thin face with freckled cheeks and yellowish-blond hair falling over his forehead. He looked to be in his thirties, with a certain delicate beauty.
"How is your father lately? Still searching for you, Barty?"
The baby—none other than Voldemort—asked softly.
It sounded like casual small talk, but from his lips, the words carried an unmistakable threat.
Barty Crouch Jr.'s face twisted into an expression of loathing at the mention of that man. He frowned and said, "No, he's returned to work. He's been swamped lately—"
After a pause, he added, "But I don't believe he's completely forgotten about me. That man is as stubborn as a rock. If you need me to, I'm ready to kill him anytime!"
"No need," Baby Voldemort said contentedly. "He's still useful to us. It's best things remain just as they are. The spell at the Brain room of the Department of Mysteries was a great success—no need to worry about him exposing us."
Barty Crouch Jr. looked at the snake-faced baby with reverence and whispered:
"They say even the Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries dare not use the Brain Room to tamper with wizardkind's collective awareness, but you figured out how to use it...
If Grindelwald had been as knowledgeable and fearless as you, perhaps he wouldn't have failed time and again."
Baby Voldemort let out a laugh and said:
"Grindelwald's cause back then was built upon the Muggle war. When the Muggle government allied with him declared defeat, the downfall of his cause became inevitable—even the Brain Room couldn't change that."
The distant manor was now very quiet and looked almost like a still painting. Bored from waiting, Baby Voldemort didn't mind talking a bit more with his most loyal follower.
"You know, Barty, when I was young, I once worked at Borgin and Burkes. It wasn't a respectable job, but it gave me access to many hidden and ancient secrets."
"Some impoverished descendants of noble families even sold their treasured magical books. One precious research notebook was traded for just two Galleons and thirteen Sickles."
Baby Voldemort sneered. "Its author had been an Unspeakable—a specialist in the Brain Room—and knew that place better than anyone. But among everyone who came into contact with that notebook, only I… recognized its value."
Barty Crouch Jr. listened intently to Voldemort's recollections. Whether it was about being a lowly shop clerk or acquiring a priceless notebook at a cheap price, none of it changed his expression in the slightest.
Unlike those who became Death Eaters out of a love for violence, a hunger for fame, wealth, status, or a desire for chaos and bloodshed, Barty Crouch Jr.'s loyalty to Voldemort was pure.
Even now, when Voldemort had become weak and grotesque in appearance and revealed a heart as venomous as his current form, that extreme loyalty never wavered.
Baby Voldemort shifted his sitting posture and said, "The Brain Room can subtly alter a person's consciousness, but it cannot override personal will."
"If Grindelwald tried to use it to make all the world's wizards loyal to him, it wouldn't work at all—and he himself would turn into a hollow-minded imbecile."
"It can only change slight, hard-to-detect thoughts—for instance, making everyone subconsciously ignore the existence of two people who are officially believed to be dead."
He smiled smugly and said, "So while they're all fighting to the death, we get to sit back and enjoy the show—until we've finished all the preparations for my resurrection, and all my loyal followers have returned to me. When that time comes…"
Voldemort didn't finish his sentence—he simply smiled and reached out to stroke Nagini's head beside him.
Barty Crouch Jr. glanced at Nagini with envy, but then reminded himself that it was just a brainless beast, and his heart calmed again.
"I will bring Harry Potter to you, my Lord," Barty said calmly, "—no matter the risk."
And I'll kill every one of those traitors and cowards!
Harry Potter belonged to his master, but what Barty Crouch Jr. despised the most were those who never even tried to look for the Dark Lord.
When Barty had been imprisoned by his father, lost in a fog of confusion day after day, every brief moment of clarity had been filled with a burning desire to return to the Dark Lord's side.
But those other so-called Death Eaters—those who had evaded justice—were still living in luxury and comfort. They never lifted a finger for the Dark Lord and let their master's soul drift in sorrow through the forest, living a fate worse than death.
"I won't let you risk your life, my child. Your survival is extremely important to me," Baby Voldemort said gently. "Be patient—the right moment will come…"
Suddenly, he sensed something and whispered, "They're here!"
Even before the words fully left his mouth, the space several hundred meters from the manor seemed to twist and the air formed vortex-like ripples—and soon, numerous figures began to appear.
The sharp, ear-piercing sound of an alarm rang through the manor. People swarmed out and countless figures emerged from what had seemed like quiet houses.
"It looks like they can't make a surprise attack anymore." Voldemort propped his head up with one hand and let out a cruel laugh. "They were already prepared, and Dumbledore is on his way... Ha, this is much more interesting."
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, a missile screamed through the air with its hot tail trailing behind as it sped towards the gathering of the Wizards of Alliance.
…
Boom—Boom—Boom—
A series of huge sparks exploded above the manor, scorching hot air blasted in all directions, and some charred objects could be seen flying out.
Machine guns sprayed bullets like a torrential downpour, but the leading dark wizard suddenly plunged his wand into the ground, conjuring a huge transparent barrier out of thin air, protecting all his comrades.
Wizards who had been a little late to use their Portkeys also appeared, surrounding the manor with a dark sea of people, like a flock of crows at a funeral.
John Adler looked up at the sky, which now turned red, and his face turned pale as a sheet and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
"They were already prepared!" Adler trembled, "Aren't you wizards all ancient relics from the Middle Ages? How can you deal with missiles?"
A confident attack, one that was supposed to cause heavy casualties, had almost no effect at all.
Compared to the spells that wizards could cast instantly, missiles were simply too slow. The Wizards of Alliance seemed to have suffered only a few casualties, and even bullets had minimal effect on them.
The simple Shield Charm might not stop bullets, but when combined with other spells, like an Obstacle Charm, it proved incredibly effective. A Dragonhide Cloak enchanted with a Shield Charm was as effective as a bulletproof vest, although the effect didn't last long.
Grindelwald, who had experienced World Wars, knew many small tricks like this.
Even though he had been isolated for years, his understanding of Muggle weapons still surpassed most wizards and even many Muggles. After escaping from prison, he had not forgotten to continue his studies in this area.
In response to Adler's question, Abigail, who was standing beside him, simply said, "It's too early to be afraid now. Our attack has just begun."
The next moment, both of their expressions changed drastically.
Among the wizards, countless paper planes suddenly soared into the air, with familiar-looking bombs hanging beneath them.
"Get away—there are bombs!"
Heart-wrenching screams echoed across the manor, but countless people merely looked up and stared at the vast sea of white paper planes. Overcome by fear and despair, they forgot to react.
Gunfire shifted to the sky, shooting down some of the paper airplanes, adding a few more vibrant bursts of color to the sky. However, more of the planes nimbly dove toward the crowd below.
Whether they were ordinary soldiers armed to the teeth or thick-skinned werewolves, they were as fragile as paper in the face of such firepower.
Only a few vampires turned into bats and flew up just in time. But as they flew higher, they flapped their wings and flew away from the desperate looks of their comrades.
When the deafening explosion sounded in the distance, the flight paths of some of the bats suddenly became erratic, and some even crashed headfirst into the heart of the explosion!
"How could this be... they didn't show this ability before..." Adler murmured as he suddenly jumped up and grabbed Abigail's arm, shouting, "Get me out of here! Now! Immediately! I need to get out of this damn place!"
Another male wizard in the organization sneered, "What a coward! These guys were sent here to die as cannon fodder. When the Wizards of Alliance step into the manor, that's when you'll see our true power…"
"Bastard! Do you have any idea how much funding I provide to you every year?"
Before the male wizard could finish his words, Adler's finger was almost pointing at his nose, and he roared angrily:
"I spent so much money, not to stand here as bait! I don't care how many backup plans you have; take me away right now!"
The male wizard's expression turned cold, but Abigail stepped forward, blocked him, and said:
"Mr. Adler is right. Since the Wizards of Alliance are already here, he indeed doesn't need to stay here. You all continue watching, I will escort him out."
The male wizard snorted and said no more.
Adler, ignoring his attitude, picked up his important briefcase and followed Abigail out. As they left, he continued to promise her:
"My life is more important than anything. As long as you take me to a safe place, I will give you an amount of money that you could never earn in your entire life…"
Abigail remained silent, holding her wand, acting as a loyal protector.
…
Grindelwald put away his wand and waved his hand.
Several Wovilette's alchemy apprentices opened the boxes they were carrying, and an endless stream of paper airplanes flew out, like an unbroken wave of white, endless and boundless.
The paper airplanes were carrying bombs many times heavier than their own weight, flying unhesitatingly toward the enemy's position, their light bodies resembling death's letters sent to the enemies.
Even many of the Wizards of Alliance didn't expect this. They looked up in shock with their mouths agape, unable to speak.
"Did you see that? Although we are wizards, it doesn't mean we can only use magic."
Grindelwald coughed twice, lowered his head, and said, "The biggest problem with Muggle weapons is that—the killing machines they invent often end up being used on themselves."
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⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +235 Chapters
⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460
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⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450
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