Phoenix

The next instant, Vaughn fired another Expelliarmus.

The Black-robed Man's Shield Charm shattered at once, but that brief moment was enough for him to prepare a counterattack. The instant the Shield Charm broke, his wand shot out a red beam.

But to his surprise, the red light shattered into sparks directly before Vaughn. A Shield Charm that appeared even more practiced than his own blocked his attack.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Protected by a Level 4 Shield Charm, Vaughn cast spell after spell without pause. Red beams sliced through the dark corridor, forcing the Black-robed Man into a frantic scramble.

No one knew just how shocked he was.

He was shocked by Vaughn's masterful spells, and by Vaughn's abundant Magic Power, nearly equal to that of an adult Wizard.

Driven into a sorry state by several consecutive Expelliarmus spells, the Black-robed Man let out a deliberately distorted, piercing cry. "I'm sorry, Master, help me!"

The instant his words fell, the faint, low hissing that had vanished earlier echoed through the corridor once more.

Another strange Magic Power awakened within the Black-robed Man.

It was so distinct that merely the ripple-like waves spreading outward made the weak magical flames on the walls suddenly turn pale.

As though everything were losing its color.

The Black-robed Man screamed and wailed, as though someone were torturing him—and controlling him!

Harry let out another pained hiss.

The terrifying scene from moments ago appeared again, only stronger this time. All that remained in Harry's eyes were distorted halos of light.

He saw that terrifying figure raise his wand!

Vaughn's expression turned graver than ever before.

"...Voldemort..."

If not for Harry and Hermione, he would never have come face-to-face with him now. Not because he was afraid, but because he was habitually cautious!

He had never feared anyone!

A jumble of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Facing the Black-robed Man, who had become utterly terrifying, Vaughn drew on every vicious thought he possessed and shouted the spell:

"Sectumsempra!"

There was no light, no sound of air being torn apart. The silent, incomparably sinister spell sent ripples through the air.

Through Harry's hazy vision as he lay on the ground, everything seemed like a slow-motion Movie. He saw Vaughn cast that unfamiliar spell. Trailing ripples through the air, it sharply pierced the Black-robed Man's Shield Charm and sank into his shoulder.

He saw the Black-robed Man let out a hoarse roar, unprecedented green light flaring at the tip of his wand.

"Avada—"

He also saw Vaughn immediately pull a fiery red feather from his pocket after casting the spell. Just before the Black-robed Man could complete his incantation, he tossed the feather into the air.

With a flick of his wand, he ignited it!

"—Kedavra!"

Green light and flames blossomed at the same time, colliding!

The instant Fawkes Apparated over after sensing someone at Hogwarts summoning him, before he could even react, miserable green light filled his vision.

Was there anything more miserable in the world than this?

Recognizing that green light, Fawkes instinctively found that question rising in his mind.

Then, with a "Caw—", all the feathers on his body exploded outward.

He landed on the ground with a thud, transformed into a bald little chick...

At the same time, another immense Magic Power was rapidly approaching from below!

Dumbledore!

The Black-robed Man sensed it as well. He let out a completely different hiss, one filled with both terror and rage, but decisively clutched his shoulder and turned into a stream of black smoke, fleeing in panic.

Only then did Vaughn, who had grabbed Hermione and Harry and dived into the Charms Class classroom the moment he ignited the Phoenix feather, finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank Merlin for his caution—he had notified Ron before coming up.

And thank Fawkes!

Only now did Vaughn realize... his clothes were already soaked with sweat, and even the hand gripping his wand was trembling slightly.

Unlike the easy experience of slaughtering the Troll earlier, this counted as his first battle against a Wizard.

And his opponent had been the infamous Dark Lord... Voldemort!

Though he was only a battle-damaged version...

He instinctively ignored Quirrell. That guy was utterly useless.

After sitting on the floor and gasping heavily for a few breaths, Vaughn looked at Harry, who was still limp on the ground, then at Hermione, whose face was pale but whose eyes sparkled. He was in no mood to reprimand them.

The professors would do that for him.

He looked into the corridor beyond the door, where Fawkes was still sitting bald on the floor. His eyes were vacant, as though he were still immersed in this sudden misfortune.

Vaughn crawled over and lifted him into his hands, saying gratefully, "Thank you, Fawkes. I knew you'd come."

Fawkes finally came back to himself. He stared at Vaughn in disbelief, his short pink beak trembling.

If he could speak human language, he would probably have started cursing already.

Is this something a person could do? Why was I so stupid that I rushed over the moment I sensed someone summoning me? He suddenly wanted to turn back time, back to the day Vaughn had picked up one of his feathers. That day, he had stood proudly on his perch, watching Vaughn treasure one of his shed feathers, secretly mocking the poor, weak Young Wizard.

If he could return to that day, he would definitely kick himself, then sit atop Vaughn's head and peck him like mad!

At that moment, a mass of white mist flew up, gathering together in an instant. Dumbledore landed and hurried over to Vaughn.

The old man looked rushed. His deep blue eyes swiftly examined Vaughn, the dazed Harry, and Hermione, finding that none of the three was hurt.

Then he glanced at the corridor, which had been left in a complete mess by the flying spells, and relaxed slightly.

Then he saw Fawkes in Vaughn's palm, already in Nirvana...

Dumbledore's lips trembled a few times.

"I simply cannot believe it. How could there be children as reckless as you? Two of you skipped the Banquet and snuck out to play, only to encounter a Troll. Then two of you discovered that your friend was missing, yet instead of informing a Prefect or finding a professor, you went looking yourselves."

"You..."

In the Headmaster's Office, Professor McGonagall clutched her chest and took several deep breaths, trying to calm her agitated emotions.

Vaughn, Ron, Harry, and Hermione stood obediently before her. She had already scolded them for more than ten minutes, but what angered Professor McGonagall was that not one of the four showed any remorse.

Vaughn looked around distractedly. Ron's face was flushed with excitement. Harry looked dazed and absent-minded, only occasionally glancing at Vaughn and the other professors, seemingly lost in thought. Even Hermione, who had always been well-behaved and disciplined, was unusually distracted.

Snape was distracted as well. His lifeless eyes were fixed on Vaughn, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

Until Dumbledore called his name. "Severus, you and Filius should clean up the Troll's corpse. Our dear Vaughn blew its head off. Blood is everywhere, and the scene is quite gruesome."

Professor Flitwick nodded and left the office with the silent Snape.

Dumbledore then instructed Professor McGonagall, "Minerva, please take Harry, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger to Madam Pomfrey for an examination... Ah, right, and Professor Quirrell, who is lying in the Great Hall."

Professor McGonagall, whose anger had yet to subside, finally stopped scolding them. Just as she called for them to leave, she heard Dumbledore add, "Vaughn, you stay."

Professor McGonagall seemed about to speak, but stopped herself.

She met Dumbledore's deep blue eyes and ultimately said nothing.

Ron dragged the muddled Harry along, following Professor McGonagall with his head held high. Hermione looked worriedly at Vaughn. Vaughn nodded to her, and only then did she reluctantly follow the others out.