Harry vanished from the spot, leaving behind a scene of utter brutality and carnage. Blood and gore was splattered all around and it was a gruesome site to witness. The nearby wizards and witches who had witnessed everything were under immense shock.
With its source of magic, Harry, gone, the protective dome shimmered one final time before dissipating into the night.
Even so, Amelia Bones stood rooted on her spot, her eyes fixed on the dead bodies, if they could still be called that after what Harry had done to them. Nothing more than pieces of the flesh was remaining of them. The only complete corpse was of the death eater who had been killed by his throat getting pierced by the spear.
Behind her, an auror stepped forward. He was Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head Auror.
"What do we do now, Madam Bones?" he asked hesitantly. "I doubt the Ministry will be pleased that we let him escape right in front of us, after all what he had done."
Amelia remained silent for a long moment.
"Tell me, Head Auror Scrimgeour," she said slowly. "Do you honestly believe that the aurors you brought with you tonight would have been able to stop that man if, instead of staying within that dome, he had decided to attack us?"
"Let alone stop him," she continued. "Would they have even survived?"
Rufus flushed with embarrassment as his eyes swept across the gathered aurors, many of whom were still visibly shaken and terrified.
Some looked as though they might fall sick at any moment, unable to tear their gaze from the grotesque battlefield. They were in no way prepared to face a man of that calibre. The aurors simply were below average.
"What should we do then?" he asked quietly, awaiting instructions. He was thankful that it was not he that would have to make decisions.
"Clean up the battlefield," Amelia said.
"Identify the bodies of those Death Eaters who are still intact," she said in an unsure voice. "For the rest, try to identify them through their wands or anything else that might have survived."
Rufus nodded grimly and began issuing orders to his more seasoned team members. Amelia, however, remained unmoving, lost in her thoughts.
As the cleanup began, murmurs spread through the crowd. Panic and disbelief laced their words. Most had seen the massacre with their own eyes, had witnessed Death Eaters not just being defeated, but obliterated and a new fear had rooted itself in their hearts.
Although the unknown masked man had saved them from the death eaters, he now had become the symbol of fear. Such was the wizarding world.
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.
.
When Harry reappeared, he was standing within a dense forest surrounded by large trees all around. Moonlight was filtering weakly through the thick canopy above, and was casting pale shadows on the ground.
Not far from where he was standing, the infamous Dark Mark of Voldemort was hovering in the air. It was an enormous spectral serpent twisting ominously in the air.
Harry realised seeing the Dark Mark that Barty Crouch Jr. had escaped. It was him who had casted the dark mark in his previous life and this time it was in all likelihood him only. After all, Harry had freed the man from the imperius curse and he must have escaped his father's captivity.
Harry had apparated near Hermione's location using the mark he had left on her. Just as it had happened in his previous life, he, Hermione, and Ron had ended up too close to the mark's origin point.
It seemed fate had not changed that detail. Without hesitation, Harry moved swiftly in her direction. Moments later, he reached a small clearing. What he saw mirrored events from his previous life.
On one side stood a group of wizards, their posture confrontational and aggressive. At their head was Barty Crouch Sr.
Facing them were Ron and Hermione. Ron was almost trembling with anger, fists clenched, while Hermione was standing tall, her defiance unmistakable. Though she was trying to be brave, the anxiety on her face was clear to Harry.
Hermione was the first to spot Harry. And relief flickered in her eyes.
Normally, she might have restrained herself but over the past month, she had come to trust Harry deeply. His presence meant safety. She had somehow developed a blind faith in Harry.
"Harry," she called out and jogged toward him.
He nodded and caught her as she threw her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her, patting her back gently in reassurance. A soothing feeling washed over Hermione.
"Girl," barked a harsh voice. "We are asking questions. Are you ignoring us?"
Barty Crouch Sr. had stepped forward, his expression hostile. Hermione stiffened in Harry's arms, but before she could turn, Harry held her gently in place. He did not let her move and face Barty Crouch Sr.
Harry's eyes narrowed as he glared at Crouch with cold fury. The man opened his mouth, clearly preparing to spit more venom but then it happened.
A crushing magical pressure exploded from Harry. The entire group, including Ron, were forced to their knees. Even the experienced wizards like Barty were not able to resist the massive pressure which had descended upon them out of nowhere. With immense effort, everyone craned their neck to look up and what they saw froze the blood in their veins.
Behind Harry, a phantom had taken form. A phantom.
It was a beast, a four legged creature formed in a slight hue of green mist, its eyes glowing with a murderous red light.
It was as if death and dread was clanging to its presence. From its back unfurled a pair of majestic, pitch black wings. It towered at seven feet tall, over ten feet in length, and its wingspan stretched at least five feet.
Barty Crouch trembled uncontrollably. He might have stumbled back if the pressure had not kept him rooted. He could recognise this phantom even in his sleep. It was not something that anyone could forget.
Harry stood unmoved, Hermione still in his arms, his glare fixed like a blade on Crouch.
"Do not talk to her like that," Harry said quietly but his voice echoed in the entire surrounding.
His emerald eyes shimmered, cold and inhuman as another wave of pressure rippled from him.
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