"Retreat! Run for your lives!"
"Get out of here!"
The desperate cries of the centaurs echoed through the forest, and in their panic, some of them hastily retreated, putting distance between themselves and the unfolding nightmare.
"Embrace death peacefully."
"Don't worry, I'll transform you into the most powerful warriors..."
A childlike voice, devoid of any emotion, resonated from the void. Then, a translucent wave of light swept over the centaurs.
"Aura of Fear!"
A paralyzing dread surged from the depths of their hearts, rendering them powerless to escape, their limbs heavy and numb. Even the bravest among them lost their will to flee.
However, the two death knights remained unshaken. Instead, the flames beneath their skeletal horses burned even brighter. They absorbed the fear radiating from the centaurs, resulting in an eerie, bone-chilling neigh.
In this way, most of the centaur tribe in the Forbidden Forest met its tragic end. Artel, utilizing magic, collected the blood of the centaur warriors, summoned the two death knights back, took a brief rest, and summoned a hundred low-level skeletons to transport the centaur corpses to the spider's lair.
After all, Shilob was his future subordinate, and Artel had to provide him sustenance.
"Eat up, but remember to work for me."
Artel hummed a tune, approached the Forbidden Forest's barrier, took a swig of an animal potion, passed through the barrier, and made his way back to Hogwarts.
....
During lunch in the Great Hall, a flurry of owls descended.
Ron's owl delivered a fresh issue of the Daily Prophet, and as he scanned the headlines, he couldn't help but exclaim.
"Oh my goodness! You've got to see this!"
Ron pointed to the largest headline on the Daily Prophet, featuring a photo of Dumbledore and Lupin. Artel glanced at it and had a pretty good idea of what was happening.
Harry and Ron read the newspaper together, and their animated conversation filled the air. Nearby students picked up on the discussion.
"So this fellow Lupin is a werewolf..."
"Headmaster Dumbledore used a magic called Aria of Light to completely cure Lupin's lycanthropy. He didn't transform into a werewolf during the last full moon, which means the age-old magical disease in the wizarding world can finally be cured."
"In addition, the Aria of Light can potentially heal most of the damage and effects caused by dark magic and dark creatures, and it might even counteract blood magic spells..."
"The International Confederation of Wizards is planning to honor Dumbledore..."
After reading this, Harry clapped his hands joyously and exclaimed, "Dumbledore truly is remarkable! He's the greatest white wizard of all time..."
Ron was equally thrilled but soon wore a shocked expression.
"Huh? It turns out this magic wasn't invented by Dumbledore. The true creator of this magic is Gandalf, an ancient wizard. A first-year wizard at Hogwarts, Hermione... Oh, my God, Hermione is in the Daily Prophet!"
Ron couldn't contain his surprise as he exclaimed, drawing the attention of the young wizards and witches around them. All eyes turned to Hermione, who was sitting beside Artel, calmly eating her meal.
Hermione attempted to maintain an air of indifference. However, the subtle smile playing at the corner of her mouth revealed her true mood. She was undeniably pleased with the attention she was receiving.
"Ms. Hermione Granger was sorting through the Hogwarts library when she discovered Gandalf's journal, which recorded this powerful magic..." the article explained.
"Headmaster Dumbledore has handed over the Aria of Light to the Ministry of Magic for research, and donated it to wizard hospitals in various countries for free," it continued.
"However, scholars have not found Gandalf's name in recorded history, and reporters suspect that he is a fictional character... The real creator of magic may be Dumbledore or some wizard associated with him..." the article speculated.
Harry and Ron finished reading the article and put down the paper. Harry couldn't help but envy Hermione for the recognition she was receiving.
"Humph! She's just lucky, if I was punished to sort out the books..." Ron muttered, echoing Harry's envy. Like his friend, Ron couldn't help but wish his name was in the Daily Prophet too.
Hermione, taking a moment to bask in her newfound fame, mused, "I didn't expect that Headmaster Dumbledore would be able to successfully cast the Aria of Light so quickly, and also cured a werewolf..." She calculated the timing and realized that Dumbledore had managed this feat within two days of obtaining the parchment. Hermione, in contrast, hadn't been able to perform the spell as of yet.
"After all, it's our headmaster," she added, her tone filled with admiration. "You have heard Harry say that he is the greatest white wizard in history, and he should have such strength."
Artel couldn't help but reflect on Dumbledore's capabilities, especially considering the powerful enchantment he had encountered at the Forbidden Forest's entrance. He realized that Dumbledore might be even stronger than he had initially thought. It was no wonder that Voldemort had feared Dumbledore so greatly. If not for the Horcrux-related injury, Dumbledore might not have fallen so easily.
Thinking back to the days when Dumbledore had defeated Grindelwald, Artel marveled at the headmaster's strength. Back then, Dumbledore had been in his prime, without the signs of old age that sometimes affected wizards.
Hermione, radiant with delight, summed it up by saying, "Anyway, it's a good thing." Her smile reflected her genuine happiness at the positive turn of events.
.....
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