A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 579: Duel, No End in Sight - (2)



The Patronus suddenly dispersed, and Umbridge couldn't believe it. Potter was not far from her, looking surprised. Her eyes went past Potter to see Severus Snape on a broomstick, holding his wand with a grim expression.

If one were to judge by the outcome, it might seem like an accident. Snape's spell accidentally hit Potter's Patronus, inadvertently making things worse.

But Umbridge knew Snape was a spy. Her hopes soared. She flew the remaining distance, skimming over Hogwarts' walls.

She smelled the scent of freedom, of power. She didn't care who granted the power, as long as she could claim it. She eyed the battlefield in the distance, ready to cast the Patronus Charm.

She hadn't tried performing the charm while flying at high speeds, but she was confident. At least in that moment, Umbridge equated her desire for power with the desire to be beside the mysterious figure.

"The Horcrux is flying in." A young, calm voice spoke, vaguely familiar to Umbridge, but she couldn't place it immediately. Horcrux? What was a Horcrux?

Then she felt a lightness in her pocket. She watched in disbelief as the locket and diadem flew out of her pocket, tracing nearly identical arcs before landing in the hands of a man who appeared abruptly outside the school walls—

It was Felix Harp!

Umbridge didn't even have time to feel fear towards him; instead, an absurd thought struck her: So, the diadem and locket are Horcruxes. In the next instant, she vanished entirely, successfully casting the Patronus Charm to escape.

Felix silently tucked the locket and diadem into his pocket. "Professor Harp?!" Harry, controlling the fire arrows, futilely circled the spot Umbridge had disappeared from before landing in front of Felix.

"Harry." Felix nodded to him. "You did well, and very bravely. Everyone did."

"Too bad Umbridge got away." Harry looked quite regretful, then he, as if remembering something, asked urgently, "So, her target was really the Horcrux? You and Professor Dumbledore haven't destroyed it yet?" He complained, "That's too dangerous. Luckily, you arrived in time. If she had taken it—" He shuddered, unable to imagine what might have happened.

Several broomsticks descended. As their feet touched the ground, Moody, Tonks, and Sirius seemed to encircle Snape vaguely.

"What's going on?" Felix pretended to be surprised.

Moody, Tonks, and Sirius didn't say anything; they just glanced at Snape, who said coldly, "It was probably due to my spell going awry, didn't hit the enemy, but rather Potter's Patronus..."

"You dare say it wasn't intentional?" Sirius glared at him.

"So that's what happened," Felix said, surprising everyone with his nonchalant tone. They all looked at him.

Harry also scrutinized the professor; his thoughts were more complex than anyone else's present. Snape had prevented him from entering the Headmaster's office, leading Umbridge to successfully retrieve the Horcrux. If it weren't for Professor Harp's sudden appearance—yeah, how did he conveniently show up?

Harry stayed silent. Well, the Horcrux wasn't lost, just Umbridge ran off with it. That outcome was acceptable. He considered a possibility: that Snape was a spy...

Felix explained, "Harry's Patronus is quite unique, transcending the typical Patronus. Severus doesn't know much about Patronuses, perhaps mistakenly thinking his spell could pass through... It was an accident."

Snape stood, his facial expression silent, not offering an explanation.

After a while, the fierce-eyed Moody said gruffly, "Let Dumbledore handle this; he's at Hogsmeade, right?" He directed the question at Felix.

"It's quite a commotion, isn't it?" Felix gazed into the distance. He estimated the battle was coming to an end—because of Umbridge. He had quietly set a trap for Umbridge, unsure if it would work...

Hogsmeade.

Voldemort and Dumbledore faced off, billowing smoke and dust rushing towards them from afar. It was the aftermath of their previous battle, a mountain collapsed, the smoke merely a remnant of the battlefield.

"Anything else, perhaps?" Voldemort roared, "It seems I've hit a nerve; that person is your brother? He looks like a wild child with no one to care for him, look at his dirty clothes!"

Dumbledore waved his wand, changing the terrain completely. Every stone, tree, blade of grass, even the air itself exuded hostility towards Voldemort. Attacks could come from all directions. Voldemort disappeared from one spot, appearing in another.

He raised the wand made of snake wood—there was a sudden bang, a stout woman materialized out of thin air, startling Voldemort. It was Dolores Umbridge. How was she here? Whether she succeeded or failed, she shouldn't be here.

"Mysterious, oh—master, save me!" Umbridge cried out, ecstatic. She had finally escaped, from Felix Harp's hands! But what greeted her was a pair of crimson snake-like eyes. Umbridge's eyes turned vacant and empty. Today—especially the past half-hour—flashed before her like a revolving lantern:

"You're too careless! Someone is coming, I'll hold them off. Remember, the password is 'ruins'." Snape whispered lowly. Umbridge, disguised as Mafalda, stared wide-eyed, frozen in place. The beast blocking the way obediently stepped aside.

"Go!" Snape growled at her, pushing her towards the spiraling staircase.

She stumbled and floundered, while Snape tidied his robes and walked in the opposite direction...

Another scene: in the Headmaster's office, Umbridge opened a drawer—Voldemort's snake-like nostrils flared—inside the drawer were his coveted Horcruxes, the locket, diadem, even his former yew wand, along with the destroyed diary and Gaunt's ring...

Next was Umbridge being chased by a phoenix, singing loudly, showering golden flames.

The scene shifted. She was riding a broomstick, beside her was Avery. These two fools had managed to escape. No, they had the cleverness of Felix's assistance, truly smart. His undercover work could continue... The situation took a sharp turn; Avery was knocked down, and there appeared an unconventional Patronus...

It was Harry Potter, the boy who survived. Once again, he tried to hinder him.

Then Voldemort heard a voice say, "The Horcrux is flying in." The diadem and locket flew out of Umbridge's pocket. He empathized, weakly reaching out, but it was just a memory. He felt utterly disheartened. The Horcrux fell into Felix Harp's hands, who else could take it from him? He couldn't even do it himself.

Voldemort realized, once again, he had failed, and his subsequent plans were completely useless

.

Dumbledore also saw it—Umbridge's empty eyes, the memories flashing within them. His gaze shifted towards the ruins of the mountain—Felix Harp's trap. Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly. What was Felix planning?

"Ah, the great master, the Lord Voldemort. Who would've thought I'd find you here?" Felix's voice came from behind. He calmly stepped forward, the Horcruxes in his hand.

Voldemort's face darkened, his eyes slits. "You!"

"I'm not sure what you're doing here, nor do I want to know." Felix sighed, slightly shaking his head. "But you left something important behind. And I suggest you stop this fruitless struggle. It's over."

Dumbledore watched Felix closely, his expression unreadable. He knew this young man had just made a move that would change the course of the war. He just didn't know how yet.

Voldemort, surrounded by Felix's mysterious aura, felt an inexplicable chill. "Crucio!"

But the curse seemed to dissipate around Felix, as if it encountered an invisible barrier.

"Please, stop." Felix's voice was calm, but it held an unusual authority. He looked at Voldemort and then at Dumbledore. "I'll take care of this."

Dumbledore nodded slightly, trusting Felix's judgment. The battlefield was veiled in an eerie silence. Everyone held their breath, witnessing a confrontation that seemed to bend reality itself.

Felix closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, then opened them again, fixing his gaze on Voldemort. With a flick of his wrist, the Horcruxes vanished into thin air.

"Goodbye, Tom."

A bright light engulfed the area. When it faded, Voldemort was nowhere to be seen. The battle was over.

Felix Harp stood alone, surrounded by the remnants of a war that had now ended. His enigmatic presence held an air of finality, and yet, an aura of mystery lingered around him.

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