Though not as infamous as the three Unforgivable Curses, it's no less terrifying.
Fiendfyre.
Also known as Pestis Incendium.
This summoned fire can morph into various shapes and relentlessly pursue anything flammable—friend or foe. What makes it especially dangerous is that without the proper counter-curse, it's nearly impossible to extinguish.
Beyond its cursed nature and sheer power, Fiendfyre's most horrifying trait is its wide-area assault and its unstoppable advance...
"Hermione!"
Draco's sharp warning jolted Hermione into instinctively running behind him. Only when the familiar scent hit her nose did she realize just how quickly she'd followed his lead.
But there was no time to dwell on it. Fearfully, she turned her gaze toward Lockhart. As the ever-prepared know-it-all, she knew exactly what Fiendfyre was.
Was he really trying to kill them?
"Draco!"
She looked up suddenly at the figure standing protectively in front of her. In her voice was a complicated mix of emotion—even she didn't fully understand it...
Feeling the magic roiling in the air, Draco had no intention of sitting still and waiting to die. The force rising from him made his robe stir slightly.
If it was dark magic, Draco wasn't unfamiliar with it.
But...
"Only enough for one shot?"
Clutching his wand, Draco gauged how much magic he had left, frowning as he considered whether they should retreat. He had no desire for a fight to the death.
Besides, he didn't think Lockhart did either. If that were the case, they wouldn't have limited themselves to just using Disarming Charms.
So if he took Hermione and left... maybe Lockhart wouldn't chase them?
Though looking at him now, Lockhart didn't seem the least bit rational...
Just as their magic clashed and the air began to warp from the pressure, something shifted. Lockhart's wild expression suddenly froze, as if he'd sensed something.
"Tch."
"Huh?"
With a click of his tongue, the chaotic energy around Lockhart oddly began to settle, and the wand he'd aimed at Draco slowly lowered.
Draco raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift but didn't let down his guard.
"So it ends here? What a buzzkill."
Ignoring the strange looks from Draco and Hermione, Lockhart casually began fixing his crooked wizard hat and scarf.
The charming smile that reappeared on his face made Hermione doubt her own eyes. Just moments ago, he looked like he was ready to kill them—and now he was acting like nothing had happened at all.
But she had heard him say it loud and clear: Fiendfyre.
"A mask, huh..."
"Well then, I'll leave this place to you. The guests outside are mine to handle."
"Guests?"
Without offering any explanation, Lockhart turned and walked off. Before leaving, he even winked at them, completely unconcerned by the wand Draco still had pointed his way—as if it never even crossed his mind that Draco might take the chance to strike.
Click!
The door shut and locked behind him. Hermione, eyes wide, poked Draco in the side, as if to ask whether she'd just missed something important.
Then the voices outside reached her ears—and suddenly, she understood.
"Professor... Lockhart?"
"Harry! Just in time. I've been getting loads of fan mail lately. I'm sure you'll be more than happy to help me sort through it. Of course, I'll throw in a few signed photos as a reward."
"But... I don't..."
The voices trailed off—proof that Harry Potter hadn't been able to refuse Lockhart's invitation.
The stark contrast between that cheerful voice and the destruction around them made Hermione look suspiciously at the ruins of the girls' bathroom.
If she hadn't seen Lockhart's crazed face with her own eyes, she might've thought the man outside was a completely different wizard—and that someone else had caused all this damage...
The sudden shift was jarring, but Draco wasn't entirely surprised.
In fact, judging from how things had started, it was obvious Lockhart hadn't shown up with the intent to kill them.
More likely, this whole situation had spun out of control because—well—Lockhart was a complete battle maniac.
Draco was pretty sure of it...
"So, what exactly is that 'plan' he mentioned?"
Just as Draco was lost in thought, putting away his wand, a groan came from behind him.
"What is even going on!?"
They were supposed to be here to study magic. So why did this keep happening?
Hermione rubbed her head in frustration, completely baffled. She couldn't believe other students went through this kind of chaos in their school life.
First it was the Philosopher's Stone, then the whole mess with the Chamber of Secrets... and now this? Another conspiracy?
Her messy hair reflected just how overwhelmed she felt...
Watching her stomp her foot and frizz out in frustration, Draco froze for a moment, then chuckled and flicked her on the forehead.
Thunk!
"Ugh—what was that for?!"
"If you're scared, then just stay away from me—wait... what's with that look?"
Draco wasn't sure if he was imagining things, but the moment he said that, Hermione's eyes sharpened with fury. Her gaze turned fierce, and if he looked closely, her eyes were slightly red.
Anyone else would've thought he'd been bullying her.
"Who's scared?! Bastard! Pervert! Creep!"
"..."
Draco twitched as she started kicking his shin with full force, all while yelling insults.
As the furious little kitten grew even more agitated in his silence, Draco scowled and reached out to pinch her cheek.
"Let—go! Pervert!"
Even in that state, she still managed to enunciate the word "pervert" perfectly. Seeing that, Draco decided it was time to make her stop calling him that. With a dark expression, he tugged at her soft, pale cheek.
"This isn't something an idiot like you should get involved in."
"You're the idiot!"
Hermione had just escaped from his grip, but the moment she heard that, her eyes blazed with anger.
Her pride—and something else she couldn't quite name—made her unwilling to just walk away.
As she glared at Draco, a curious voice suddenly floated into her ear...
"So there was another hole here?"
"..."
"..."
They followed Myrtle's voice to a section of the wall—now partially destroyed.
Behind the damaged wall, something had been hidden. And now, it was exposed.
Draco and Hermione exchanged a glance.
This hole looked way too suspicious...
...
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