"They're just simple combinations of spells," Scrimgeour said through gritted teeth. "Combined Transfiguration. Don't let him scare you, rookies. Use powerful spells to smash those puppets! Everyone else, watch out!"
The Aurors immediately obeyed.
Shattering and blasting spells rained down on the earth-and-stone giants, but did little good—whenever an arm shattered, soil immediately filled the gap; whenever a leg exploded, the rubble gathered together again.
Worse still, Will himself had not been idle. Standing at the center of the battlefield, he waved a hand gently, and his wand flew back into his grasp—a Summoning Charm.
Then Scrimgeour watched him wave his wand like a conductor, muttering strange words like a Dark Wizard who had lost his mind.
"Wizards can exert mind over matter and warp reality."
The rain in the air turned into spikes of ice that hovered overhead, though their tips were not particularly sharp. With a light flick of Will's finger, dozens shot like a volley of arrows toward the Aurors attempting to flank him from the air. Shield Charms stopped some, but three Aurors still had their broom handles struck and tumbled down in disarray.
"Wizards can transform matter and toy with souls."
The withered grass at the edge of the valley suddenly grew wildly, turning into tough vines that coiled around the ankles of the Aurors on the ground. Two who reacted too slowly were dragged off their feet, their wands slipping from their hands.
Will curled his left hand around empty air. The embers the rain had already extinguished reignited, coalescing into three enormous birds of flame. They spread their wings amid the sheets of rain and swooped toward Scrimgeour with silent shrieks.
Scrimgeour's expression grew grave. He waved his wand, striking the firebirds with several spells. The flames scattered but swiftly re-formed. He had