One spell. It took only one spell for everyone to realize the overwhelming advantage Voldemort had gained by using the formation.
"Afraid, Antonio Olario?" Voldemort called out. "Frightened for your life?"
"Why do you not grovel and beg before me?" he continued. "I may consider the option of granting you an easy and painless death. I am a magnanimous man at heart."
"Afraid?" Antonio retorted, a mocking expression returning to his face. "Afraid of you? Afraid of a coward like you?"
Voldemort's face nearly contorted with rage and fury. However, he did not lash out, remaining silent to allow Antonio to continue.
"I might be afraid of a few things in my life, Voldemort," Antonio said. "But you are certainly not among them. Even at my weakest, I do not and would not fear you."
Voldemort was livid. He was not used to being spoken to in such a manner. After displaying this overwhelming power, he had expected Antonio to cower in fear, or, at the very least, appear nervous in the face of his impending death. But Antonio stood as tall as he could, and this irked Voldemort immensely.
This was the end. There was nothing more to be said or heard. He was going to grant death to Antonio.
Voldemort raised his wand once more and gave it a sharp slash. A vertical beam of magic erupted, racing toward Antonio with the clear intention of splitting him in two. Compared to the previous beams he had fired, the power and speed of this attack were far greater.
Antonio responded in kind. He slashed his wand, and a powerful beam of energy erupted from it. But his magic was severely lacking. It was weak compared to his previous efforts, and his exhaustion was showing.
The two beams collided. There was barely a stalemate for a single moment before Voldemort's magic overpowered Antonio's. Antonio's beam shattered, and Voldemort's attack was upon him.
Antonio was about to attempt one last spell when someone else moved before him. Minerva, who was standing next to him.
A spell erupted from her wand and collided with Voldemort's incoming beam. Minerva had poured her full power into the charm, and a prolonged stalemate ensued before the two spells finally canceled each other out.
Voldemort raised his eyebrows as he took a long, hard look at the Vice Headmistress of Hogwarts. It was as if he was studying her and also warning her silently to back off.
Minerva did not flinch, despite being in the direct line of sight of the Dark Lord. In fact, she held her head high, a determined expression settling on her face. In that moment, she decided she would give everything she had to protect Antonio Olario. She was not certain if her interference would make a difference, or if she could even save him. But even if she failed and perished alongside him, she would not carry the guilt of having failed to do what was required of her.
Voldemort said nothing as he whipped his wand once more. Another spell erupted from it. A dark, hazy, whip-like structure that slithered like a snake toward Antonio.
Antonio also weaved his wand, and a blinding flash of blue light emerged. The spells collided. There was another momentary stalemate before Voldemort's magic again overpowered Antonio's, continuing its race toward him.
Minerva moved again. She whipped her wand, and a red coloured shield flared from it. The whip smashed against the barrier. Upon impact, the shield cracked, though it did not shatter. The shield held on as the whip continued to push against it.
After a brief struggle, the whip finally overwhelmed the defense of the shield. The shield shattered, and the hazy coil raced forward.
Minerva did not flinch. She thrust her wand forward, taking the force of the whip head on against her wand. Despite pouring everything into her defense, she felt a massive amount of force smashing against her. She was forced back a couple of steps, her expression turning grim. Her hands trembled and she gritted her teeth in concentration. Finally, with one last desperate push, she swatted the whip away, redirecting it toward the Wizengamot wall.
The whip collided with the stone. The wall immediately began to corrode as thick smoke rose from the site of the impact. Seeing the scene, the spectators sat with their mouths agape. If that spell had struck a human body, would they have simply corroded and vanished?
"Impressive," Voldemort mumbled. "But this is all that you would be allowed to show."
Voldemort raised his wand and channeled a massive amount of power through it, and when he meant massive, it truly was. As he weaved his spell, smoke began to emerge from the tip, dark and it almost had a metallic glint to it.
The smoke started to coalesce in the air slightly above Voldemort's head. In a couple of moments, it took the shape of a colossal creature, resembling a bird with its wings fully extended. Voldemort gave one last smirk toward Antonio before bringing his wand down in a sharp, cleaving motion. The bird erupted. It literally flared as its wings caught fire, and it soared toward Antonio.
Antonio slashed his wand. A beam erupted from it and smashed against the bird, but the creature barely faltered and continued its flight. Minerva followed with another of her powerful spells. There was a brief jerk in the bird's momentum before it pressed on. Then, Edmund Bones made his move, firing a spell of his own, but the bird was barely affected.
Antonio followed with one more spell, then Minerva, and then Edmund again. Antonio was already exhausted and he was pouring the last bit of his power into his spell. His face had turned extremely pale and he was almost on the verge of collapsing.
This cycle of attack by Antoni, Minerva and Edmund repeated once more. Though the bird had weakened, it continued moving forward until it was right upon Antonio. It was only a single moment away from smashing into him when, at the last second, someone jumped between Antonio and the spell. It was Edmund Bones.
"Lord Bones!" Antonio screamed, his magic flaring for a brief moment, but the deed was already done.
Edmund's body began to blacken as life fled from him. It barely took a moment for everything to happen.
"Lord Olario," Edmund turned toward Antonio for only a brief moment. "Please! Take care of Amelia."
'If you survive this' was what he could not add or perhaps did not speak it intentionally. His body collapsed. He was dead.
"Lord Bones!" Antonio screamed at the top of his lungs, tears streaming from his eyes. "Why? Why would you do this?"
[Who do you think would save Antonio Olario?]
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