"Avis!"
Harry had never seen a flock that size. The birds wheeled through the air like a school of sardines and shot straight at Pheobe.
"Merlin's canned fish, what is that?" Pheobe cursed under her breath. She slowed. "Protego!"
Will ignored her reaction. He pointed his Wand at the ground, and the earth churned as though alive. It rose beneath Pheobe's feet, swiftly forming a curved wall that blocked her and everyone else.
The wall grew higher and thicker, like a rampart dividing the entire battlefield.
Pheobe and Marc started attacking it, but the earthen wall was solid. It kept shifting and repairing itself, stopping every spell they cast.
Harry heard Pheobe's startled cries and Marc's curses from the other side. Neither could do more than shout.
"This is..." Harry stared at Will in disbelief, then noticed how pale he was. Will clutched his forehead, sweat pouring down his face, his expression twisted with pain.
"Are you all right, Will?" Harry hurried to support him and felt him trembling. "Is it bad?"
"I'm fine. Let's win this." Will turned and stumbled toward the stone platform.
"Mr. Behrens has divided the battlefield with an incredible feat of Transfiguration! But it seems to have taken a heavy toll on him! He's in terrible shape now! Still, they're one step from victory! Can the champions from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang stop them?" Ludo exclaimed.
It was not just the crowd at Hogwarts watching. Countless Wizard viewers across Europe were following the broadcast from home.
Harry helped Will rush to the stone platform. The cup was right before them, its golden glow gilding their faces.
"Together," Will said.
Harry nodded and reached out.
Their fingers touched the cup's cold surface at the same time.
A powerful force seized them, as though an invisible hand had