Hermione stood alone in the moonlit clearing, the darkness of the midnight hour wrapping around her like a shroud. Her chest rose and fell with anticipation, her hazel eyes fixed on the looming shadow that gathered in the distance. A horde of demons, their malevolent forms flickering with fiery eyes, closed in on her from all sides. She raised her wand, the slender instrument of power gleaming in her hand, ready to unleash her formidable magic upon the encroaching darkness.
With a voice steady and strong, Hermione began to chant, her words carrying the ancient resonance of incantations passed down through generations. "Ignis ardeo!" Her voice rose, infused with power, and flames burst forth from the tip of her wand. The flames, blue and white like the hottest stars, erupted in a torrent, dancing and swirling around her with an intensity that matched her unwavering determination.
The first wave of demons lunged at her, their grotesque forms distorted by the firelight. With a sweeping motion of her wand, Hermione conjured a shield of shimmering energy, the flames rebounding off it harmlessly. She chanted again, and a gust of wind whipped through the clearing, extinguishing several demons in its wake. But they were relentless, their numbers seeming to replenish from the very shadows they emerged from.
Hermione's lips moved faster, her voice a constant stream of incantations. "Flamma fervens!" Her words were like a symphony of power, and jets of searing fire shot forth, engulfing the nearest demons. The air around her became a maelstrom of heat and magic, and her enemies were met with a relentless barrage of flames that turned them to ash before they could draw close.
The ground trembled as more demons rushed at her, their guttural cries a cacophony of malice. Hermione's expression remained resolute as she summoned pillars of fire from the earth, the searing columns rising to consume her foes in a fiery embrace. With a flick of her wand, she sent bolts of lightning arcing through the night, illuminating the battlefield with their blinding brilliance. Each strike found its target with uncanny precision, leaving smouldering remains in its wake.
Time seemed to blur as the battle raged on, the minutes stretching into an eternity of spellcasting and infernal onslaught. Hermione's movements were a dance of power and grace, her mastery over the elements evident in every gesture. Her sweat-slicked brow remained furrowed with concentration, even as her chants grew louder and more fervent.
Yet, for all the demons that fell before her, more seemed to take their place. The horde was unending, their determination fueled by their sheer numbers. But Hermione's resolve was unbreakable, her belief in her own abilities unwavering. As her breath quickened and her heart pounded in her chest, she reached deep within herself, tapping into a wellspring of magic that she had never before accessed.
Her voice rose to a crescendo, the incantations weaving together in a tapestry of raw power. "Flamma aeterna!" The words reverberated through the night, and the flames around her blazed with a newfound intensity. The air itself seemed to catch fire, swirling around her in a vortex of elemental fury. With a sweeping gesture, she sent a shockwave of flame surging through the horde, obliterating demons in a cataclysmic explosion of heat and light.
The clearing fell silent, the only sound the crackling of fading flames and the distant echoes of the battle that had raged moments before. Hermione stood amidst the smouldering remnants of her enemies, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Her wand trembled slightly in her hand, its wood still warm from the magic she had channelled through it.
In the aftermath of the battle, Hermione's gaze swept over the scene, her heart swelling with a mix of relief and pride. The horde of demons had been vanquished, their threat reduced to nothing more than ashen remnants. She had stood her ground, channelling her magic with a mastery that had left no room for doubt.
With a weary yet satisfied smile, Hermione lowered her wand, its tip no longer ablaze with fire. The moon bathed her in its soft light, casting a gentle glow upon her sweat-smeared face. She had faced the darkness and emerged victorious, proving once again that her prowess as a wizard was unmatched.
*******
Hermione's display of power left me utterly mesmerised. I couldn't help but chide myself internally for ever entertaining the notion of her weakness. The words I had silently labeled her with seemed laughable now, drowned out by the reality of her astonishing abilities. I shifted my gaze to Mavka, a bewildered expression painted across my features, and posed the question that tugged at my thoughts. "I can hardly believe that a girl as mild and reserved as Hermione could possess such immense strength," I marveled aloud, genuine shock imbuing my voice.
Mavka's response carried a wisdom born from experience, and her words resonated with a profound truth. "That's a common misjudgment people make upon encountering Hermione for the first time. It's a mistake that often leads her enemies to underestimate her, a lapse in judgment they eventually come to regret," she explained with a knowing glint in her eyes.
Surprised by Mavka's candid response, I cast a brief glance in Jade's direction, curiosity flickering within me, as if inviting her to weigh in. To my amusement, Jade met my gaze and offered a succinct response, her tone carrying a hint of amusement, "She pretty much covered it all."
Jade's dismissal led my focus back to the scene of the aftermath. The haze of smoke and debris, a testament to Hermione's unleashed power, began to disperse, unveiling the landscape altered by her raw might. The battleground had been transformed into a chaotic canvas, an awe-inspiring spectacle that made me realise the extent of Hermione's prowess. But amidst the turmoil, amidst the aftermath of the destruction she had wrought, Hermione emerged unscathed, her silhouette emerging from the dissipating smoke.
As Hermione approached our position, her expression bore a mixture of weariness and accomplishment. With a calm that belied the chaos she had conjured, she addressed us, her voice a beacon of authority amidst the disarray. "Let's start going to the hideout , we are already behind schedule," she said.
In the next instant, her command activated the intricate web of teleportation magic, enveloping us in its arcane embrace.