The Unbreakable Vow

Chapter 42

London, Britain. The Oxford Street Underground Mall.

A warehouse in one of the malls blazed with torches. Wizards arrived one after another, Apparating with their families in tow. Before long, more than a dozen wizarding families had gathered inside. Every adult wizard who had arrived let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Everyone's here."

Professor McGonagall said to Professor Flitwick.

"Only these few."

Professor Flitwick said, disappointed.

Many professors with little combat experience had died before they even appeared in the Battle of Hogwarts. Nicolas Flamel's Castle had left elite wizards from several countries almost completely wiped out. They had tried every means to contact people over the past few days, but in the end only these dozen or so families, a few dozen people in all, still intended to resist the Phoenix City Lord.

How could such a small force possibly defeat the Phoenix City Lord?

It seemed they could only prioritize protecting themselves for now, making sure these sparks of resistance survived. Then they could wait for a chance to oppose the Phoenix City Lord. The various countries' Ministries of Magic would never let him get away with nuking their elite wizards.

"We meet again."

A voice suddenly reached Professor Flitwick's ear, sounding to him like a demon's whisper.

"If you don't want all these wizards to die here, pretend you know nothing."

The voice came again, leaving Professor Flitwick utterly despondent.

Their warehouse was clearly protected by the Fidelius Charm. How could the Phoenix City Lord know about it? Unless there was a traitor among them. That was the worst blow of all: the last sparks of resistance in the British Magic World were about to be extinguished.

"Nicolas Flamel has gone mad..."

Li Mu spoke through the Whispering Spell. "Through Prophetic Means, I discovered that Nicolas Flamel is planning to use the Imperius Curse to unleash a Nuclear War across the Muggle World. You should have learned about Muggle nuclear weapons these past few days. You know what kind of consequences that would bring.

"If you want to talk to me, just think the words."

"Legilimency?"

Professor Flitwick thought.

"Yes!"

Li Mu replied.

"You think I'll believe you?"

Professor Flitwick thought furiously.

"I can make an Unbreakable Vow with you."

Li Mu said.

"An Unbreakable Vow?"

Professor Flitwick's heart sank. It was an oath in the Wizarding World; any wizard who broke one would die.

If the Phoenix City Lord really dared to make an Unbreakable Vow with him, that meant his claim about the Prophecy was true. Nicolas Flamel really was preparing to unleash a Terrifying Nuclear War with weapons controlled by Muggles. After learning about nuclear weapons over the past few days, he understood all too well how terrible the consequences would be.

"I can spare all of you, on the condition that you stop playing with fire."

Li Mu stated his bottom line plainly.

Professor Flitwick looked at the dozen or so wizarding families in the warehouse. Perhaps one of them was a traitor, but most had come because they trusted him and McGonagall, and because they had trusted the late Dumbledore.

If he refused the Phoenix City Lord, not one of them would survive.

"Professor McGonagall..."

Professor Flitwick called out.

"What is it?"

Professor McGonagall asked in confusion, as she was calming the other wizards.

"Take them to an island far from the mainland," Professor Flitwick said gravely. "The Phoenix City Lord is here. I'll make an Unbreakable Vow with him. He promised to spare you. Look at these children. Take them with you, give up resisting, and live. This is all I can do..."

Professor McGonagall stared in astonishment as Professor Flitwick Apparated away, then turned to face the dozen or so wizarding families.

She didn't know what agreement the Phoenix City Lord and Professor Flitwick had reached, but she trusted Professor Flitwick and his final words of warning. The Demon King would fall sooner or later, and these wizarding families would eventually see the dawn.

As Professor McGonagall was about to persuade the others to leave, the entire warehouse was suddenly engulfed in roaring Fiendfyre.

Amid the Black Demonic Flames, everything in the warehouse was consumed by Fiendfyre except for a rat with a severed finger.

The Severed Finger Rat leapt in terror from Ron Weasley's pocket, clutched its head, and cowered on the ground, trembling. Only after the Fiendfyre had died down did it raise its head and look fearfully at Li Mu, who had lifted the Illusionary Body Curse. Trembling, it ended its Animagus Transformation and fell to its knees, shivering.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The Killing Curse burst from the Elder Wand in Li Mu's hand at close range, instantly taking the Mole's life.

He had promised Professor Flitwick he would spare the wizards, but he had also lied.

Nicolas Flamel had made him realize just how troublesome a wizard could be if he went mad. He wasn't about to release this Resistance Force and let them become a threat later. He had already given them a chance to join Phoenix City. Since they had chosen to become his enemies, he never showed mercy to foes who had no value.

Outside the Ministry of Magic, Professor Flitwick felt uneasy.

He had Apparated to the location the Phoenix City Lord had given him, but the Phoenix City Lord still hadn't appeared.

Just then, Lucius Malfoy emerged from the Ministry of Magic.

"Come with me. The master is waiting inside."

Lucius said proudly.

Professor Flitwick suppressed the urge to sneer and followed Lucius into the Minister of Magic's office.

Li Mu had already returned. When he saw Professor Flitwick enter, he snapped his fingers.

With wandless, silent magic, the chair across the desk transformed into a tall stool suited to a Gnome.

Professor Flitwick climbed onto it. Li Mu raised a flame at his fingertip.

The flame stretched through the air, forming lines of text: the terms of the Unbreakable Vow he was proposing.

After making the Unbreakable Vow, he would spare the wizards in the warehouse and guarantee that everything he had said about Nicolas Flamel was true. In return, Professor Flitwick would help him draw Nicolas Flamel out. Anyone who broke the vow would die.

"Let's begin!"

Professor Flitwick held out his right hand.

Li Mu clasped Professor Flitwick's right hand, and Lucius immediately touched his wand to their joined hands.

"Master, is it true that Nicolas Flamel is planning to unleash a Nuclear War?"

Lucius asked.

"I so vow."

Li Mu said.

Brilliant tongues of flame surged from the wand, winding around their right hands like red-hot wire.

"Master, do you vow to spare Professor McGonagall and the other rebels after making the Unbreakable Vow?"

Lucius asked again.

"I so vow."

Li Mu said again.

A second tongue of flame appeared, forming another wire-like binding.

"Professor Flitwick, do you vow to help draw Nicolas Flamel out?"

Lucius asked at last.

"I so vow."

Professor Flitwick said.

The final tongue of flame flashed into being, and the three blazing strands intertwined, forming a chain that glowed red.

Seeing the Unbreakable Vow take hold, Professor Flitwick let out a sigh of relief.

Li Mu smiled as well. With Professor Flitwick's help, finding Nicolas Flamel would be much easier.

He had considered using the Imperius Curse, but it might not fool Nicolas Flamel.

As for the Unbreakable Vow, he had promised to spare Professor McGonagall and the others after the vow was made. But if they were already gone before it took effect, there would never be any chance of him breaking it.

PS: Thanks to my brother Hongchen Zhong De Lianxin Zhe for the 100-unit tip.