As they headed toward the mahogany door, Wizet, who walked at the very front, was instead the calmest of them all.
The four Hit Wizards looked far more nervous. They gripped their wands tightly, and sparks trembled from the tips as they stepped forward.
Paul Smith was intensely focused. Having visited the Appaloosa Family estate before, he noticed the difference in the door's appearance when he reached it.
"This door has definitely been replaced..." he analyzed gravely. "This isn't the kind of lock wizards use. It's a steel lock used by No-Majs."
He waved his wand at the coldly gleaming handle. When it remained completely still, having not been turned, his brows drew together. "There's magical protection on it too..."
He turned to Wizet and asked in a low, uneasy voice, "Mr. Lovegood, are we sure we're just going in like this?"
"Yes, Mr. Smith." Wizet nodded. "Please keep the magic going and record what happens next. Thank you..."
He raised his wand and lightly tapped the coldly gleaming handle.
The handle seemed to turn beneath an invisible hand. Accompanied by a series of clicks, there came the sound of the latch rotating, along with the faint sound of some magic failing.
The four Hit Wizards watched Wizet's movements closely. Seeing him turn the handle so easily, Will, who stood nearest to Paul Smith, asked softly, "Didn't you say it had magical protection?"
Jimmy offered his own guess. "Or... was there actually no magic on this lock? Maybe it wasn't even locked, and the door was just shut?"
"It was locked, and it had magical protection. As for why it could be opened..." Paul Smith explained in a complicated tone, "it was probably broken with some sort of nonverbal spell."
After all, when he had waved his wand just now,