Like a real meteor striking the earth, the instant Neville's silver meteor touched the leaf-covered ground, boundless radiance flooded everyone's vision, and Astoria's frail body was blasted straight away like a withered fallen leaf!
"Astoria!"
Boom!
Draco let out a furious roar, but his cry was immediately drowned out by the storm sweeping in all directions with devastating force.
The fierce wind rushing at him even forced Draco back several steps.
"Longbottom, I'm going to kill you!"
Amid the rumbling howls, Pansy's face twisted as she screamed and tried to rush forward. But her unsteady footing was robbed by the gale, and she rolled across the ground, swept backward by the wind for more than a dozen feet!
Under Neville's powerful blow, everyone present was affected to varying degrees.
The dirt and shredded leaves thrown up by the explosion rattled into the woods. Blaise and Nott, who had just poked their heads out to assess the situation, were forced back again.
The notes Luna had left floating in the air were swept by the blast wave and winked out one after another. The resulting magical backlash made Luna knit her brows slightly, pain showing on her face.
As for Cedric.
His fate was much the same as Pansy's. Having remained utterly vigilant against Draco and Pansy, Cedric was struck in the back by the storm. He stumbled and fell to the ground, rolling twice before managing to steady himself.
Just as Cedric overcame the gradually subsiding storm and tried to climb to his feet, a hand was extended before him.
"Neville?"
Cedric stared at Neville's resolute face in a slight daze.
"Keep Blaise and Nott trapped in the woods, Cedric!"
Neville seized Cedric's hand and hauled him to his feet, then turned and called to the panting Luna,
"Hold Parkinson