Seven rounds.
Against Voldemort's strange red lightning magic, the members of the Order of the Phoenix held out for seven rounds before they could hold out no longer.
Apart from Professor McGonagall and Moody, even Lupin and Sirius struggled to take on a single bolt of that thick lightning alone. In the seventh round, when the number of red lightning bolts reached eight, eight Wizards from the Order of the Phoenix acted.
Yet apart from Professor McGonagall and Moody, the other six all had their magic shattered by the lightning and scrambled to dodge. Had those beside them not helped cover them, they would likely have been seriously injured.
Voldemort, meanwhile, merely stood there at ease, watching the members of the Order of the Phoenix like a cat toying with mice.
The Death Eaters behind him were beaming. Clearly, seeing their master display his might was something well worth celebrating to them.
Dark magic.
After eight consecutive rounds, Harry had accurately identified the nature of that strange magic. It was not conventional magic, but a powerful piece of dark magic. Then perhaps...
Just as ten lightning bolts struck down in the ninth round, Harry waved his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"
Amid dazzling silver light, a majestic lion came roaring out to meet the lightning falling from above. The other members of the Order of the Phoenix, who were preparing to defend themselves, all paused slightly. The Patronus Charm?
It was a choice they had never made before.
After all, while the Patronus Charm was remarkably effective against soul-related dark magic attacks, it did not offer particularly good protection against other types of dark magic.
But the next moment, everyone's eyes lit up.
After a bolt of red lightning struck the great silver lion, its form remained completely unaffected, as majestic as