The alchemical array's power grew stronger, and cracks began to spread across the surfaces of the two Horcruxes, as though invisible hands were tearing them apart.
The air was thick with unease, carrying faint echoes of wailing souls—the fragments of Voldemort's soul within the Horcruxes crying out as they were destroyed.
Suddenly, a surge of dark magic erupted from the Horcruxes—Voldemort's prearranged defense mechanism.
But Wes had been prepared. He had laid down a powerful barrier around the array. The force smashed into it, held back, but its sheer strength startled everyone present.
"This level of dark magic could kill a grown wizard with ease," Moody judged coldly, recognizing its destructive power.
Arthur Weasley, meanwhile, was fascinated by the glowing symbols. "This array Wes drew is unusual—it looks like some form of alchemy."
At last, when the two Horcruxes were utterly destroyed, everyone breathed easier—none more so than Kreacher, who finally shed the crushing burden he had carried for years.
Dumbledore carefully pocketed the Resurrection Stone, the vital treasure they had extracted from Marvolo Gaunt's ring.
"Only two Horcruxes remain," Arthur said, a little relieved.
"Don't get careless," Moody barked, still vigilant. "Finding those two won't be easy. We still don't know where Bellatrix hid Hufflepuff's cup."
Molly wrung her hands, her face lined with worry. "Exactly. Bellatrix is Voldemort's most fanatical follower—and now no one even knows where she's gone."
"Leave that to me," Dumbledore said calmly, his tone filled with certainty. "They won't be able to hide it forever."
Afterward, the members of the Order of the Phoenix gradually dispersed, each returning to their duties.
Ever since the mass breakout from Azkaban, the Ministry of Magic had been overwhelmed with work, and every member had their hands full with assignments.
Before Dumbledore departed, Wes asked, "Can Professor Snape discover where they've hidden the remaining Horcruxes?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "Not yet. Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jr. are extremely cautious. Severus hasn't fully earned their trust." He paused, then added with a glint in his eye, "But we can lure them out."
---
France, deep within the Brocéliande Forest, a place seldom visited by man throughout the year.
Five shadowy figures moved silently through the ancient woods.
Leading them was a short, fat man whose nerves were plain to see.
He gripped his wand tightly, glancing about in panic, ready to strike at the slightest provocation. His right hand was a silver prosthetic, gleaming eerily in the moonlight.
Suddenly, a shadow darted across their path. Startled out of his wits, Peter shrieked, "Avada Kedavra!!"
A flash of green light—then the shadow fell, revealed to be nothing more than a wild deer.
Peter Pettigrew exhaled in shaky relief, only to hear Antonin Dolohov's scornful laughter.
"And you call yourself a servant of the Dark Lord? With courage that small?"
Antonin's twisted, pallid face was set on a dark, hulking frame. His brutish nature was infamous, his hands stained with the blood of countless innocents, a loyal and merciless servant of Voldemort.
"Pathetic," Antonin spat with disdain. "You're nothing but a rat…"
Bellatrix Lestrange cut him off. "Antonin, enough. Peter Pettigrew has done his part, and this mission can't succeed without him."
Hearing Bellatrix speak, Antonin fell silent, though his disdainful gaze remained fixed on Peter.
Peter, meanwhile, said nothing, but his mind was a storm of thoughts:
Damn it, why did it have to be me carrying out this mission? Why was He defeated?
Is it too late to surrender to Dumbledore now?
Impossible—Sirius would tear me to pieces if he found out.
Peter's gut churned with regret.
Though the five Death Eaters were careful, they had unknowingly stepped into the trap Wes had meticulously set.
When the surrounding barrier suddenly manifested, their hearts sank. They realized immediately that this was a trap.
"Enemy attack!"
"It's a trap!"
"Retreat!"
Bellatrix and her companions reacted instantly—but it was too late. Apparition failed, and no message could be sent out.
When Wes appeared before them, their hearts dropped. Facing a wizard of Voldemort's caliber, they knew victory was almost impossible.
In desperation, Peter transformed back into his rat form, attempting to dig his way out—but Wes's barrier had no gaps. Peter's effort failed.
Bellatrix and the remaining three Death Eaters immediately launched their assault, trying to break the encirclement:
"Avada Kedavra!" A green curse shot toward Wes.
"Volley of spells!" Countless spells flew like bullets.
"Fiery Inferno!" Huge fireballs erupted from their wands.
"Excruciating Pain!" Curses meant to shatter his will struck him.
All attacks were blocked by Wes's Armor Protection spell. His protective shield held firm, showing no sign of weakening.
Wes raised his wand and aimed at the struggling Peter. "Stupefy!"
Peter collapsed, unconscious. The other four Death Eaters panicked, but they were trapped inside the barrier with nowhere to escape.
Antonin chanted spells rapidly, sweat dripping from his forehead. Black smoke erupted from his wand, spreading quickly—a powerful form of dark magic.
Wes waved his wand, and the Incendio spell instantly burned the black smoke to nothing.
"Disarm!" he bellowed. Four spells shot from his wand, hitting Bellatrix, Antonin, and the other two Death Eaters. Their wands flew from their hands, and before they could react, Wes's Stunning Spells knocked all of them unconscious.
The entire process was clean and efficient. Wes had subdued five Death Eaters with almost no effort.
This time, he chose to capture them alive.
With a snap of his fingers, Jandi appeared and bound the five tightly, giving them Draught of Living Death to put them into a deep slumber.
"Keep a close watch on them," Wes instructed.
Jandi immediately guided four of the Death Eaters into a box under strict guard.
Wes personally held Bellatrix, activated the Portkey, and in the next moment, they were back at the Black Manor.
The moment they appeared in the basement, Moody couldn't help but ask eagerly, "Success?"
°°°
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