Can't Love You

"Malfoy." McLaggen narrowed his eyes, a barely perceptible hint of apprehension flashing across them, but a cold smile played on his lips as he forced a calm expression. "I lost to you last time because I was careless. Did you really think I was afraid of you?"

He instinctively took a step back, as if preparing to fight. Skylar stood silently at the shed doorway like a shadow in the night, still carrying the chill of the morning mist. His eyes were lowered, seemingly not taking McLaggen and his three henchmen seriously, his grey-gold pupils flashing with an emotionless cold light in the night.

McLaggen gritted his teeth and continued, "You're alone, and there are four of us. It's not certain who will win or lose—"

Snap!

Before he could finish speaking, a white light suddenly ripped through the air, and an unseen force swept past like a pouncing beast. With a loud "bang," a shattered white barrier appeared in front of McLaggen, and he also noticed that the gemstone in his family heirloom pendant, hidden in his bosom, had cracked.

Since being humiliated by Skylar on the train, McLaggen has worked hard and cultivated diligently, finally mastering many powerful curses and greatly improving his strength. Moreover, he has obtained the family's treasure, an artifact that can automatically block all attacks. These are the reasons that give him the confidence to face Skylar directly.

Unexpectedly, the family heirloom was destroyed in just one encounter.

"You're asking for it!" McLaggen's eyes were bloodshot, fear and rage swirling into a frenzied rage. He abruptly raised his wand and roared, "Myriad Arrows Pierce the Heart!"

In an instant, a sharp, piercing sound of air being torn apart erupted, as if the entire space was wailing. Dozens of dark blue magic arrows condensed in the air, sharp as solid, like a magical storm, rushing towards Skylar from all directions!

Magic surged, a whistling whirlwind swept across the ground, and the arrow, trailing a fiery tail, pierced through the line of sight like a falling meteor.

Skylar didn't even lift an eyelid.

"Boring."

With a casual wave of his hand, a dazzling silver-white light flashed from his palm, like a sword sweeping across the sky at dawn.

Boom--!

The arrows disintegrated in mid-air, as if their foundation had been severed, shattering into fragments of light that scattered like fireflies, instantly returning to nothingness. The air fell silent once more.

--At this very moment!

Behind Skylar, a Black Shadow silently darted out!

Whoosh!

It was a Black Mamba, its body jet black and its scales gleaming with a cold light. Like a twisted black lightning bolt, it leaped from the ground, almost without making a sound, and pounced precisely at Skylar's nape! It bared its fangs, and deadly venom had already gathered between its sharp teeth, emanating a chilling aura.

This is McLaggen's real killer move!

His lips twisted into a distorted smile.

Die!

This combined attack was quite insidious, using a massive, overwhelming rain of arrows as a frontal assault, but actually covering a sneak attack from behind. The Black Mamba is also the fastest and most deadly snake species known.

Unfortunately, he ran into Skylar.

Skylar possessed Divine Insight of Amaterasu; no one could ambush him.

A pair of grey-gold eyes suddenly lit up, like stars reflected in the sky.

Skylar tilted his head slightly, his gaze already locked onto the trajectory of the Black Mamba's attack. He didn't even need to turn around; his wand deftly reversed direction in his palm—

"Myriad Rending Strangulation."

A silver thread as thin as a hair suddenly shot out, wrapping precisely around the neck of the venomous snake as it lunged forward. Just before the snake could bite, the silver light abruptly tightened!

"Snap!"

With a crisp sound, the snake's head flew high into the air, blood splattering in eerie arcs, while the remaining body vanished into a cloud of black smoke before even hitting the ground.

McLaggen's smile froze.

Skylar slowly turned around, his face devoid of any emotion. He looked at McLaggen as if he were looking at a pitiful creature struggling in a corner.

"A sneak attack is an art," Skylar said calmly, his tone icy. "Unfortunately, you've learned it terribly."

McLaggen raised his wand and attacked again--

But Skylar was faster than him.

With a loud bang, McLaggen was sent flying, crashing into the stone wall of the Owlery. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he rolled down.

"You're wrong about one thing," Skylar finally raised his eyes, his tone indifferent yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure, "Last time you lost not because you were careless, but because I was willing to let you live. Today—I may not have the patience."

The air became oppressive, and even the owls perched there seemed to hold their breath, their hooting cries abruptly ceasing.

Toller, Dingo, and Bertha Jorkins instinctively took a step back, but Skylar did not raise his wand—he merely extended a finger and lightly traced an arc in the air.

In an instant, the three wands seemed to be gripped by invisible chains. They felt a powerful force strike their wrists, and their wands were instantly snatched away and sent flying to the corner of the Owlery.

"You're all too noisy," Skylar said coldly. "Shut up."

It's not the Silencing Charm that Flitwick just taught this academic year.

It was Throat-Locking Curse.

Before the three boys could even speak, they found their throats were locked shut, unable to utter a single syllable. They instinctively covered their necks with their hands, their eyes widened, their faces flushed red, and veins bulged on their foreheads.

A suffocating feeling spread from their necks, and fear spread across their faces like a plague. They realized then that this man was someone they could not afford to mess with.

Skylar slowly walked past McLaggen, stomped on his chest, and forced him back to the ground. Looking down at him, he said casually, "You think you can challenge me just because you've mastered a few evil spells?"

McLaggen's body convulsed, half his face contorted in pain, but he gritted his teeth and forced a defiant smile, "What... what can you do to me..."

Snap!

Skylar kicked him several feet away without hesitation, knocking over the owl's feeding rack, sending the barrel tumbling to the ground and feathers flying everywhere.

Skylar slowly withdrew his steps and looked back.

Hermione slumped in the corner, her eyes blurry with tears, her face pale, her robes torn and disheveled, hanging halfway from her shoulder, her body still trembling slightly, as if shrinking away from the aftermath of a nightmare.

In that instant, a long-forgotten yet unfamiliar emotion welled up in Skylar's heart—

The feeling of heartache.

He was stunned.

He had always believed that his feelings for Hermione were just a shallow affection he had once had during his youthful years. With their differing stances and several conflicts, that initial hazy affection had long since vanished.

But what he saw before him made him suddenly realize something.

It wasn't sympathy, nor apology—but a profound and genuine concern that was rekindled in her trembling features.

Skylar instinctively wanted to walk towards her, but reason instantly held him back like an iron chain.

No.

He couldn't waver. He was the leader of the Sleeping Dragon Society, a key player in planning the future of the wizarding world, and a man burdened with ideals and responsibilities. If he were to become entangled with Hermione now, it would mean endless problems—

What will happen to the Sleeping Dragon Society? What about his ideals? What will his other girlfriends think?

But in that fleeting moment of hesitation—

Hermione pounced on her.

She didn't give him any time to think.

At that moment, for Hermione, who had just returned to reality from a nightmare, the whole world consisted only of that tall figure standing between the morning light and the afterimage.

This man was someone she both loved and hated, yet she could never let go of. This time, he saved her.

The light behind him shone on his shoulders, casting half of his face in shadow, yet it seemed to shield her from all fear and darkness. A powerful emotion welled up inside her, and she could no longer control herself. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

Tears welled up instantly, soaking his wizard's robe. She buried her face in his chest, trembling violently, clinging to him tightly as if letting go would send her plummeting back into the abyss.

Skylar stood there, stunned.

His hand hovered in mid-air; he neither embraced her nor pushed her away.

His gaze swept past Hermione's trembling back and landed on Harry, Ron, Ernie, and Hannah, who were staring in disbelief not far away. His eyes regained their coldness and sharpness.

He pursed his lips and said coldly, "Potter, Weasley, and you—" He looked at the stunned Ernie and Hannah, "Take Granger and get out of here. I'll handle the rest."

Harry opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he looked down at Hermione, who was already sobbing uncontrollably in his arms. Ron also silently stepped forward, and the two of them, one on each side, almost dragged and carried her away from the Owlery.

The moment the door closed, Skylar's lowered eyelids trembled slightly.

He slowly exhaled, quietly suppressing the emotions that surged within him. Something seemed to be struggling in his chest to break free of the prison of reason, and a muffled heartbeat seemed to echo in his ears.

Please forgive me, Hermione.

I cannot love you.

The light in his eyes turned cold as he turned his gaze back to McLaggen and his group, who were still unaware of the impending crisis. The emotions he had previously suppressed now surged forth like a floodgate opening—

A strange shadow churned in his eyes, as if a ferocious beast within him was about to burst forth.

Since that's the case, I'll take it out on you all!