As the white light flashed around the iron ring, the battle erupted instantly.
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The Aurors stationed at Azkaban were undoubtedly well-trained.
When they saw a crow clutching an iron ring, covered by Dementors, they immediately pieced together most of the truth.
After all, Azkaban, the renowned wizard prison, was known for its unmatched defenses.
In addition to the Anti-Apparition charm, similar to Hogwarts, Azkaban had been enchanted with protections to prevent anyone from Apparating into the prison.
Azkaban's location was a closely guarded secret, known only by a few. Even those who had been there couldn't breach it due to the Anti-Apparition spell.
Moreover, the Ministry of Magic tightly controlled the Floo Network connected to Azkaban, with only a few specific fireplaces allowed to use Floo powder to travel there.
Thus, if someone wanted to infiltrate Azkaban, aside from physically traveling there, the only way was by using a Portkey.
The only issue with this method was how to get the Portkey into Azkaban in the first place.
In the past, Azkaban was under the leadership of Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, and was a fortress that had never been breached in its centuries of existence.
At that time, the Aurors might not have been as vigilant.
However, after Sirius Black's escape, and under the leadership of Amelia Bones, Azkaban had taken on a different demeanor, especially in light of the rising conflict with Voldemort.
The possibility that the Death Eaters might use a Portkey to invade Azkaban was something the Aurors had already considered.
So, when they saw the space around the iron ring distort, showing signs of a Portkey, they wasted no time launching their attacks.
In wizard duels, striking first was often crucial.
In larger battles, while more complicated, being the first to attack still gave an advantage—especially when they were using non-lethal spells. Given the Ministry's orders, subduing the intruders was the priority.
However, the Death Eaters were no pushovers.
While most of the top-tier Death Eaters were imprisoned in Azkaban, there were still a number of skilled members among those outside.
These individuals were the vanguard of the assault.
Their mission was to establish a foothold once the Portkey reached Azkaban, so that when reinforcements arrived, they wouldn't be caught off guard.
It's well known that whether it's Apparition, Portkeys, or Floo powder, none of these methods of magical travel are exactly comfortable.
Among them, the Floo Network, with its stable and fixed paths, offered the smoothest ride. Portkeys came next, while Apparition, despite being the most convenient, was also the most dangerous and unpleasant.
For wizards with fragile bodies, traveling through poorly made space portals could be quite painful.
Many wizards suffer from injuries due to botched Apparition attempts every year, and even Portkeys can cause a sickness known as "Portkey sickness."
Thus, unless someone was exceptionally skilled in spatial magic or had great physical endurance, wizards often found themselves temporarily disoriented after traveling via Portkey.
This was why the first wave of Death Eaters had to be elite.
If the initial group couldn't secure the area around the Portkey quickly, the Aurors would arrive and surround it, making it impossible for the rest of the Death Eaters to enter Azkaban.
At one point, Voldemort even considered lowering his standards and personally leading the assault to establish the beachhead.
But, fortunately, he had a few capable subordinates who could handle the task, sparing him from the indignity of stepping in himself.
The vanguard Death Eaters didn't disappoint him. As soon as they arrived at Azkaban, before they even saw their enemies clearly, they immediately cast Protego, without hesitation.
That decision saved them from being knocked out by the Aurors' quick-response attack.
Except for one unlucky individual who wasn't quick enough and got hit by a Full Body-Bind Curse, leaving him stiff and immobile on the floor, five other Death Eaters stood firm, cloaked in black robes and wearing skull masks, their Protego shields absorbing the Aurors' spells.
"A Death Eater invasion!" the Aurors shouted in alarm.
None of them had anticipated that the Death Eaters would dare to invade Azkaban.
This had never happened, not even at the height of Voldemort's power years ago.
Well, perhaps it had been considered before.
Their superiors had anticipated such a scenario and had warned them repeatedly to remain vigilant.
Their shock was purely a result of Azkaban's unblemished record of being impregnable.
But the prior training and warnings were now paying off.
The Auror squad leader was the first to snap back to his senses.
"Everyone, continue the attack! Destroy the Portkey! Don't let them bring in reinforcements!"
The Aurors resumed their onslaught, casting a barrage of spells at the Death Eaters.
Colorful magical beams shot towards the masked figures.
But instead of fighting back, the Death Eaters stood in formation, using Protego to fend off the barrage, doing nothing to counterattack.
They were focused solely on protecting the Portkey behind them.
The Aurors' spells collided with the Death Eaters' shields, like waves crashing against an invisible wall, but the Death Eaters stood unharmed.
Though their defense seemed to waver under the relentless assault, the Aurors' attacks slowly began to wear them down, forcing the Death Eaters to step back slightly.
It seemed the Aurors had the upper hand. The Death Eaters' defenses were about to crumble—it was only a matter of time before they would be overwhelmed.
But the Auror squad leader furrowed his brow.
"Tch, this is troublesome," he muttered.
And he was right.
It might appear that the Death Eaters were on the defensive, but in reality, they were executing the perfect strategy.
They had successfully protected the Portkey.
As long as they could hold off the Aurors, reinforcements would soon start pouring in. Then, the small squad of Aurors would be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.
Already, the Auror leader could see white light flashing behind the Death Eaters once again.
Their reinforcements were arriving.
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