The battle erupted swiftly.
Though Lys couldn't quite understand why Potter's son was so bloody curious about everything...
Wanting to touch everything he saw...
Lys nearly called out to stop him from touching that stone archway... If he died here, would that be good or bad?!
And why drag a bunch of little brats along on your own dangerous adventure?
Could they even get their hands on that orb now?
And that orb—just because your name's written on it, you have to examine and study it?
How had someone this curious managed to survive at Hogwarts until now?!
Even as shelves collapsed and countless prophecy orbs shattered, releasing silver figures that began whispering amongst themselves, Lys merely watched with cold detachment.
But when those little things started scattering in all directions, Lys chose to separate from Lucius.
Bellatrix behind her was acting completely mad, all because Potter had spoken the truth about the Dark Lord's origins...
Lys pursued two children other than Potter into another chamber. Such a crucial operation meant the Dark Lord's scrutiny, and she had no desire for those crimson eyes to observe her.
But... that Potter boy actually followed them here too, though he fled again, clutching the prophecy orb and leading Lys's fellow Death Eaters away.
Lys glanced at the two unconscious girls on the floor and discreetly cast a diagnostic charm. Finding nothing seriously wrong, she quickly shouted at the sole remaining Death Eater who hadn't yet reacted: "Chase them, quickly!"
Though she shouted this, Lys barely took a step forward.
But those two steps she didn't take led to her being 'ambushed.'
Lys had long known her resistance to mental magic was pitifully low.
But she hadn't expected that those tentacled brains—which even that red-haired brat could barely struggle against—would trap her there, nearly preventing her escape.
The Death Eater accompanying her saw Lys get ambushed by a strange, slimy brain and simply weighed his options before pursuing those children.
He craved the Dark Lord's promised rewards more than some useless person's gratitude...
Lys froze like a frog transfixed by a serpent's gaze.
Simply because that naked brain extended its colorful tentacles—filled with countless human shadows—from the tank behind her, then gently draped them across Lys's neck.
Countless thoughts that weren't Lys's own came flooding in, cramming her skull.
Mixed, hopeless, dark, joyful, melancholy, ecstatic.
Lys found herself surrounded by those thoughts, attempting to flee among phantoms that weren't her own. More brain tentacles sought to touch Lys's exposed skin. Her mask was pushed aside, and her flesh began reddening and swelling from the tentacles and solution.
Perhaps because Lys didn't struggle, or perhaps because those brains hadn't abandoned their soaking solution as they had when pouncing on that red-haired boy.
Either way, those tentacles composed of countless human shadows and visions didn't excessively harm or entangle Lys.
They simply attempted to fill Lys's mind with 'everything,' like storytellers sharing their tales.
Lys quietly slid down to sit against the tank containing the brain behind her, gradually falling silent save for occasional tremors...
The battle outside raged on.
By now, Lucius was beginning to regret not seizing that orb immediately, regardless of method!
But now there was trouble! Serious trouble! Order of the Phoenix members were already providing reinforcement!
What made Lucius even more desperate was Dumbledore's arrival. He could even hear MacNair shouting something about it being shattered.
But he had no time to spare. Dumbledore's wildly flung spells forced him to nearly take a hit while facing another wizard!
He tried locating his former student to rescue him from this predicament, but couldn't spot her anywhere. He only saw Bella being chased about by that Potter boy!
When a spell bound him, his mind filled with thoughts of doom! Finished, everything's finished! The Malfoy family is ruined!
Bellatrix, being pursued by Potter, harbored fewer such thoughts.
After successfully eliminating Sirius—that shameful Black family traitor—she only wanted to lure Potter somewhere that old fool Dumbledore couldn't see, then present him to her lord!
She passed through unknown chambers, splashing disgusting solution and the brains within onto him, attempting to further enrage that foolish, arrogant boy.
Indeed, she was correct. That boy allowed himself to be lured alone into a more isolated hall. She would claim exclusive glory for presenting both the prophecy orb and this boy to her master!
She would receive rewards even superior to the intoxicating Dark Magic she'd previously learned—rewards beyond imagination!
Ah... my lord, behold what your devoted servant has brought you?
"Little baby Potter~ Hahahaha Crucio!"
But she failed. The magically enchanted fountain blocked her curse.
She even heard something that terrified her more—what had that boy said?! The prophecy orb was broken!
The Dark Lord had come!
The Dark Lord had arrived in person!
Standing directly opposite Potter!
He'd heard his prophecy orb was shattered!
He was furious, absolutely livid...
He raised his wand, targeting Potter.
Bellatrix no longer contemplated exclusive glory. She merely begged the Dark Lord not to punish her—she'd done her utmost!
The Dark Lord couldn't eliminate Potter as desired.
Dumbledore intercepted him. Their magical duel produced bone-chilling, deep sounds like struck gongs, drilling into everyone's ears and stimulating their brains with ceaseless reverberations.
At this moment, the brain tentacles on Lys had already been shaken loose due to Bellatrix and Potter's conflict.
This distant sound acted like a banishing charm, shattering many phantoms drowning her consciousness.
She collapsed, releasing unbearable shrieks, but no one could assist her. The two previously unconscious children had awakened and pursued Potter, slamming the door shut behind them.
Now only Lys remained with a collection of brains sliding about on the distant floor.
As Lys writhed on the ground, voices emerged from beyond the door.
"Lupin! There appears to be another one inside!"
Kneeling while clutching her head, Lys looked up to see several wands attempting to target her through the door's gap. A familiar woman's voice in her mind declared, "Starlis! Every battle is your final battle! Never allow yourself to be at wandpoint!"
"Don't point wands at me!! Never!" Frenzied magical power erupted with Lys's scream.
The Fiendfyre serpent on her wand also released its tail from its mouth.
Before even striking the ground, it blazed under magical enhancement, burning back along the spells aimed at its master.
Someone behind shouted: "Anti-Disapparition jinx first! Don't let her escape!!"
But this reminded the dazed Lys. She didn't understand why her sobbing carried strange laughter:
"Why are you trying to catch me?! I didn't want this either! Ah! Hahahaha!" After several laughs, she lay on the ground and Disapparated within the surrounding black flames.
Everyone frantically attempted extinguishing those dangerous flames, and no one clearly heard what that escaping Death Eater had said.
Only Lupin gazed thoughtfully at where that witch—face swollen beyond recognition—had just vanished.
Blood and robes remained from Splinching, along with two strands of black-and-red hair, gradually corroded into murky foam by that revolting brain solution.
Beside him, a wide-eyed girl covered the back of her head, still attempting to locate the Heliopaths her father claimed the Ministry kept...
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