The next instant, every wizard behind Erwin unleashed a barrage of spells at the shimmering blue barrier of Protego Totalum. Over a hundred curses slammed into it, but they shattered harmlessly, sending faint ripples across its surface.
Erwin frowned. This defensive barrier was a real headache.
In the original tales of the Battle of Hogwarts, a similar Protego Totalum woven by professors and students alike had withstood assaults from Voldemort and his horde of dark wizards. It took the Dark Lord's full fury to finally breach it.
After the volley died down, the Yaxley patriarch shot Erwin a smug glance. He was convinced no one could pierce their Protego Totalum. And once his reinforcements arrived, Erwin—and everyone with him—would be done for. Not just Erwin, but Malfoy, Parkinson, and that wretched Selwyn too. They'd all pay.
The patriarch's face twisted with malice.
Lucius stepped closer to Erwin. "We can't break this Protego Totalum with our numbers. The remaining Yaxleys are few, but their combined barrier is unbreakable for a handful like us. That's what makes it so devilish."
Erwin flexed his wrist absently. He knew exactly what Lucius meant. Protego Totalum's strength lay in its layered defenses, arguably the mightiest shield in the wizarding world.
There were only three ways to shatter it. First, dismantle it from within—its ironclad exterior left the interior vulnerable, but that required infiltration. Second, wait it out; the magic sustaining a Protego Totalum infusion would eventually fade, though it could take five hours or more.
The third option was brute force: a single wizard pouring everything into one focused strike. The barrier's resilience came from its regenerative properties and dispersed magical load. Numbers alone wouldn't do—coordinating a group attack meant imprecise aiming and staggered timing, diluting the burst. That was why, in the stories, even with armies at his back, Voldemort had to strike alone.
More allies weren't useless, though. A relentless onslaught could drain the barrier faster. But by then, everyone's magic would be spent, leaving them easy prey for the Yaxleys' counterattack.
Erwin mulled it over. Every spell had a counter, after all—even the Killing Curse couldn't pierce solid stone. Was there a charm tailored to unravel Protego Totalum?
His eyes sparked with an idea. The wizarding world might not know, but he had an edge: his ever-present guide.
Erwin reached out mentally to Rowena Ravenclaw. "Founder Ravenclaw, you there?"
Her voice drifted back, languid and sharp. "What is it?"
"Blessing of All—Protego Totalum, I mean. Any counter-spell?"
He waited, pulse quickening.
"Yes," she replied after a pause, "but it's a dark incantation."
Perfect. Erwin thrived on dark magic; it amplified his talents like nothing else. Other spells might fall short, but this? It would hit like a thunderbolt.
"Teach me, Founder," he urged.
Silence stretched. Erwin wondered if she'd refuse—modern wizards shunned the dark arts, but the founders' era had been brutal, and such magic was their lifeline.
Then her voice returned, measured. "This curse targets Protego Totalum directly, but it's volatile—few dare wield it. I'll show you, but heed this: leave a sliver of magic in reserve, win or lose."
"Understood," Erwin said firmly.
Ravenclaw imparted the incantation. The moment it touched his mind, the System logged it at level one. His dark affinity made mastery effortless; other spells demanded grueling practice before the System acknowledged them.
Yet level one wouldn't suffice. No time for drills now. Erwin had planned ahead, hoarding proficiency points to jump spells to level three in a pinch.
"System," he thought, "allocate points."
The proficiency surged, elevating the curse to level three in seconds. The whole exchange had taken barely a minute.
Lucius and the others watched in tense silence, expecting Erwin's command. To them, the Yaxley purge was already a lost cause. Pure-blood feuds rarely escalated to open war for this reason: once the barrier rose, battleground or graveyard, it didn't matter—the fight ground to a halt.
No one wanted to squander hours and lives on a siege.
...
Power Stones:[85]/100
5 Star Reviews: [6]/10
WANT 15 BONUS CHAPTERS?
Finish this milestone and they are yours! Hit the Power Stones and Reviews now to trigger the next big drop.
— MrGrim