"Whoosh—"
Without Dumbledore making any move, a fierce wind suddenly howled through the forest, swiftly blowing away the corrosive blood mist.
Once the blood mist had dispersed, Dumbledore removed his shield and, in a flash, arrived before the seven Wizards bound by branches and vines.
Although the seven Wizards had been farther away and were not at the center of the blood mist's explosion, they were still in a miserable state.
The black robes on their bodies had been corroded into rags, and their flesh looked as though it had been soaked in strong acid.
Had Dumbledore been any slower, the blood mist might have corroded all seven Wizards away entirely.
Lockhart's head was still wrapped in bandages. The injuries he had suffered while hosting the Dueling Club had not fully healed before he suffered another devastating blow.
He tightly shielded his face with both arms, terrified that the blood mist would damage his handsome features. Because of that, his face had not been seriously injured.
"Ah—It hurts—Professor Dumbledore—save me—" Lockhart seemed to have seen his savior and repeatedly begged Dumbledore for help. "I'm not with them—I accidentally stumbled upon what they were doing and wanted to stop them!"
The other six were all Hogwarts students, and they too were wailing in pain.
Dumbledore's expression was sorrowful. This was the last thing he had wanted to see.
At this moment, another person arrived in the forest.
Professor Snape had come as well. Matthew had not only informed Dumbledore, but Snape too.
He swiftly surveyed the scene, his cold gaze passing over the faces of the six students one by one.
Professor Snape's face darkened several shades at once.
"Severus... can you help treat their injuries?"
Without a word, Professor Snape stepped forward to inspect their wounds. He then took out