Venomous Tentacula

Narlack was stunned by the sudden commotion. For one moment, he thought the Department of Security really had come to raid his lair.

Hobi, perched on his shoulder, reacted swiftly. It sprang up, dodging the shards of glass raining down on it with a crackle, then, before the rushing wind had died down, shot through the shattered window into the boundless night like an arrow loosed from a bow.

"Amosta!"

Amid the clattering din, Remus shouted.

"Let's get out first."

Amosta reached out and grabbed Remus and Amelia. In a dizzying whirl, the three of them appeared on the roof of an old six-story building on the other side of the alley where the Blind Pig pub stood.

In the neon-diluted night, a slab-like building a block away was spewing flames into the sky. One corner of its rooftop had already collapsed, and masonry and glass were falling like rain. From the brightly lit windows on the lower floors came panicked cries of escape, and even across the busy street, the Muggles' anguished screams could faintly be heard.

"Oh— we have to—"

Compared to the tedious, mechanical work in the office, the horrific scene before her was far beyond Amelia's expectations. For a moment, the young witch who had only just graduated from magic school was at a complete loss for words, unsure what to do.

"What should we do?"

Remus was no wizard unfamiliar with grand scenes. Though he too was shocked by what lay before him, he quickly regained his senses and looked at Amosta uncertainly.

Judging by this spectacle, something major had clearly happened, and it was obviously connected to magic. This was MACUSA's problem; intervening while they were in a foreign country was hardly a wise move.

"Let's take a look."

Calm and restrained as ever,