"I... I feel unwell..." Lys hadn't finished her sentence when Bellatrix's wand shot out a red light, its power vastly different from her husband standing beside her. The spell's glow stirred up a huge cloud of dust.
Seeing Lys's reflexive and precise defense and counter, Bellatrix impatiently said, "I can't see where you're unwell. You'd better follow obediently, or you might want to know the fate of those who oppose us."
Clutching the spot on the report card where her surname was written, Lys tucked it into her small cloak's pocket. Her dad loved her good grades, so she had to keep it safe.
Turning back, she saw the student with decent magical ability slowly putting away the parchment. Bellatrix cursed angrily, "Damn bookworm, did school make you stupid? Keep up!"
"Alright, Bella, we need to go, don't we? The master has a show waiting for us to start! Forget about her."
Rodolphus gave Lys a fierce glare. His wife already looked down on him, and now, disgracefully, he had another label: couldn't beat a fifth-year student.
Lys waited until the two turned and disappeared, pausing at the screams on the street.
Half a minute later, a Dark Mark rose from the second-floor building by the street, a giant skull with a sinister, glowing green snake emerging from its hollow mouth.
This was the Death Eaters' mark and intimidation after killing someone.
Even in the daytime, that hint of green brought new fear to the streets filled with screams, cries, and eerie laughter.
Footsteps sounded again, and Lys, carrying Gaba, wanted to return to the bookstore but found the gap blocked by a bookshelf.
As Gaba's tail thumped harder, Lys chose to hide behind the initial half-ruined wall.
Arrogant laughter mixed with a woman's shrieks came closer. Lys peeked and saw a person with a wand raised high, the left sleeve half-draped, revealing a dark mark on the flesh identical to the Dark Mark in the sky.
It was a Death Eater, a follower of the Dark Lord. Over the past two years, assassinations, exterminations, massacres of Muggle villages—they had committed countless bloody and disgusting acts.
They were so mad they lost Slytherin's elegance. Slytherin's motto was ambition and cunning, valuing honor, knowing the times, staying safe, and prioritizing victory.
What were they now? Lunatics! Floating an Auror on the street with the Cruciatus Curse!
There wasn't a trace of elegance...
A girl's cry of "Mom!" came from the side.
Almost reflexively, Lys cast a Silencing Charm, as the tortured woman's screams were too piercing. The sound in this corner didn't attract anyone's attention.
Grabbing the little girl who ran to her, Lys covered her mouth and pressed her beside her, holding her tight despite her struggles.
Even with her slow reaction, Lys wanted to curse. Why were there so many young wizards today?
But she knew she couldn't save those she couldn't save. Only by not risking her life could she barely lend a hand.
"Stop playing, those two brothers haven't been found yet. If we can't complete the task, do you want to taste the master's Cruciatus Curse?" A superior among the Death Eaters scolded the others on the street.
"These Mudbloods and blood traitors, the master will deal with them someday. The focus now is on those two pests from the Order of the Phoenix. If we don't catch anyone, what do you think will happen? Idiots, hurry up and search! Search every house!"
Lys, holding the little girl, looked at the ruins almost leveled on both sides of the restaurant, trying to find a more concealed place to stay until it was over.
"Senior! Senior!" A low call came.
Lys turned to see, on the second floor of the bookstore, were Tok Moody and Dolores Black, Hufflepuffs blocked by Death Eaters on the snowy Hogsmeade path last term.
The two looked around, and when no one was watching, they stepped on the sign and climbed down. "Senior! Senior!" Dolores Black even sniffled.
Lys glanced around, holding the now quiet little girl, and led the two to a more secluded alley. She glanced at the bookstore's glass door, seeing no reflection of anyone.
Looking at the two children with eyes full of unwavering trust, Lys's mind wandered back to last term's career consultation. If she were trusted, not only could she be a healer at St. Mungo's, but an Auror seemed good too...
Moreover, she needed some witnesses to prove her harmlessness. When she was talking to the Lestranges, the bookstore clerk saw her. He even blocked the blown-open passage. If he testified that she was also one of the perpetrators, it would be troublesome.
Seeing the senior standing still without responding, Moody became anxious, "Senior, senior, if we need to escape, we should hurry. Let me carry the little sister in your arms!"
Lys glanced down. What a coincidence, this was the little sister of that Gryffindor creep. If she remembered correctly, her name was Tinnie, and her mom was also an Auror.
With a Weight-Reducing Charm cast on her, the little girl, though slightly uncomfortable, sensibly endured.
Dodging and leading the three tagalongs, she inevitably encountered a Death Eater. The person seemed to have a low-level sense of humor, trying to lift Lys's skirt at such a time...
"My dad bought me this skirt! What kind of person are you to even think of touching it?" Although Lys misunderstood the person's intention, it didn't stop her from knocking him out and stuffing him into a trash can, breaking his wand.
Seeing the rolled-up sleeve revealing a smooth, white left arm without the Death Eater mark, it seemed he wasn't a central figure.
Noticing a fleeting figure at the street corner, Lys cautiously gripped her wand, its familiar, splendid handle. But after half a minute, the person showed no intention of coming over. Lys sluggishly nodded in that direction and continued leading the three tagalongs forward.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Discover 10 Amazing Fanfics on My Patreon!Unlock 400+ Advance Chapters and Dive into the Story Early! 👉 [patreon.com/DarkGolds]