They were all her students…
Even though she understood what Dumbledore meant, and knew he was trying to protect Potter and Weasley, the words still sounded unbearably harsh in her ears.
Snape curled his lip but knew just as well that he couldn't do anything about those two.
"Pomona, how's the situation?"
"Still within control," Professor Sprout replied, circling the Whomping Willow. She used a Lumos charm to carefully inspect the damaged sections. "Professor Snape, I'll need your help brewing a batch of specialized nutrient potion, and I'll also need medical bandages. Many of the branches can still be healed."
"No problem. As for the ones that can't be fixed, give them to me. I just happen to need a supply of Whomping Willow branches."
Snape's eyes gleamed greedily. After all, there was only one Whomping Willow in all of Britain, and Sprout guarded it like her own child.
In this light, Harry had somehow ended up helping him?
"All of them?"
Sprout glared at Snape's opportunism and was about to argue when the night sky split with the clash of dragon roars and phoenix cries.
Fawkes burst out of the castle like a blazing fireball, igniting the darkness with his glow. Across from him, Usagi was equally unwilling to yield—mysterious golden patterns lit up along her body as the two mythical beasts tangled in the sky.
Even Dumbledore was stunned.
What in Merlin's name—? Why had they suddenly started fighting again? And what was this strange magical creature? To be able to go toe-to-toe with Fawkes…
A commotion followed as waves of students poured out of the castle. Who cared about supper anymore? Watching a phoenix battle was worth far more than pumpkin pasties. Tom ran ahead of everyone, worried Usagi might suffer. She had eaten plenty of meteor fragments, but she was still only a two-and-a-half-month-old hatchling—young and inexperienced.
But things weren't as bad as he'd feared. Usagi was clever. The moment she had taken to the skies, she had secretly stacked layer upon layer of Dragon Dance, increasing both her speed and power until she could meet Fawkes blow for blow.
The phoenix beat his wings rapidly, gathering a blazing fireball at his chest. The sphere swelled until it was larger than Fawkes himself, then shot forward like a miniature sun.
"Usagi, Hyper Beam!" Tom couldn't help shouting.
To hell with being a wizard—in that moment, he was a Pokémon Master—Dragon Trainer Tom!
"ROAAAR!"
Usagi opened her jaws and unleashed a violet beam laced with sheer destructive force. It not only scattered the fireball but also forced Fawkes to dive lower to avoid it.
The phoenix glared at Tom as he dodged, his golden eyes sharp.
Really? This cheeky little brat was ordering that ugly dragon to attack him?
Tom met Fawkes' gaze and offered a sheepish grin. "Couldn't help myself, couldn't help myself. Carry on, I won't interfere."
"SCREEECH!"
Usagi seized the chance to stack two more Dragon Dances before launching herself skyward again.
"Riddle, my boy… is this… your pet?" Dumbledore, along with several professors, had gathered at Tom's side.
As they all gazed at Usagi, who was growing fiercer by the moment, a strange glint flickered in Dumbledore's eyes.
Her form was unlike that of any pure-blood dragon, yet the aura of draconic might she carried outstripped even them. Not even the proudest Hungarian Horntail could compare—let alone any half-blooded wyvern.
"Yes," Tom admitted with a nod. "Her name is Usagi. I came across her by accident during the summer holidays. It looks like she's had a little quarrel with Fawkes."
He spread his hands with mock innocence. "She's a bit possessive. When she saw Fawkes perched on my shoulder earlier, she wasn't happy about it. That's all this is."
Really, Tom was using this as a chance to let her stretch her wings. Since birth, Usagi had never had a proper fight. She spent her days either eating, sleeping, or clinging to him affectionately. If that went on much longer, she might end up a spoiled, useless dragon…
Dumbledore's mouth twitched at his explanation, but he didn't intervene. He wanted to observe this strange magical beast a little longer.
Snape, however, stared at Tom with a mixture of frustration and envy.
Why did every good thing fall into this boy's lap? Normally he wouldn't care about magical beasts, but something strong enough to rival a phoenix? Where in Merlin's name had this brat found it? Couldn't someone let him stumble on one as well?
"SKREEEEE!"
As Usagi stacked more Dragon Dances, the playful Fawkes began to realize something was wrong. He dropped his games and ignited in earnest, his body cloaked in blinding, sacred flames. His aura surged, so overwhelming even Dumbledore's eyes widened.
For Usagi to push Fawkes this far—unbelievable.
The very air grew scorching. Fawkes blazed like a second sun in the midnight sky, while Usagi roared back, hurling an energy sphere upward. The blast ripped through the clouds before exploding, scattering a rain of meteors across the heavens.
Fawkes crashed through several of them with fiery dives, but fragments still struck the ground, blasting craters into the earth. Others plunged into the Black Lake, throwing up towering waves that sent terrified students scrambling back.
The meteors had looked harmless while they burned above, but when they hit—everyone finally understood just how devastating Usagi's power truly was.
BANG!
Fawkes slammed into Usagi head-on, knocking her spinning through the sky. The phoenix's fire burned so hot that Usagi roared in pain, then climbed higher, her body twisting as she spun. The wind howled in answer, and clouds churned into the beginnings of a monstrous tornado.
Dumbledore's expression darkened.
"Mr. Riddle, this cannot continue. The students may be caught in the crossfire—"
But Tom only smiled and shook his head. "Professor, Usagi just took a hit. If I stop her now, she'll sulk for days. As for safety—no need to worry."
With a flourish, he raised his wand. A brilliant white glow surged from the tip and spread outward, forming a massive protective barrier that enveloped every single student behind him.
Over the past year, the Strengthening Potions and his own frightening natural growth had transformed him. Tom's magical power was no longer what it used to be.
At least…
He shot Snape a meaningful glance.
Snape caught it, scowled, and snapped furiously, "Riddle! What are you staring at me for?"
…
And so, as the new month began, the battle raged on in the skies.
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