#552 - Chapter 552 Prologue

The night was deep, and the flames of war were about to ignite.

In the midsummer night, the air was thick with scorching heat, and the dry, hot breeze swept through the streets of Hogsmeade New City, carrying a burnt scent.

Beneath this night that should have been tranquil, the earth trembled faintly, like a storm about to break.

A silver-white light screen rose from the center of the city, like an invisible giant hand, protecting the entire Hogsmeade New City within it.

This was a powerful protective magic cast jointly by hundreds of wizards, every wisp of flowing light containing immense magic, constructing an indestructible barrier.

Amelia Bones stood on a high tower at the edge of New City, her short golden hair fluttering in the cold wind, her eyes like torches, scanning the entire battlefield.

Behind her, the Aurors and Hit Wizards of the Ministry of Magic had already taken their positions at various key locations, hiding under the eaves on both sides of the street, ambushing on the high buildings.

Everyone held their breath and concentrated, standing in their respective positions, their eyes piercing through the darkness, casting towards the surging shadows approaching from afar.

They gripped their wands tightly, sweat trickling down their foreheads, but no one reached out to wipe it away.

The night wind swept past, their cloaks fluttering gently in the dim light, reflecting tense or determined faces.

"Everyone listen!" Amelia's voice clearly resounded throughout the town, her gaze firm, without a trace of wavering.

"We are not defending a city, we are defending our home, our future! We have no retreat, only battle!"

Outside the barrier, the Death Eater army advanced like a dark cloud, densely packed, their robes rustling in the wind, like an army from hell.

Behind the legion, a dozen giants held huge weapons, precisely the remnants of the giants that Macnair had gathered.

And in the sky were countless Dementors, obscuring the sky and the sun, fluttering incessantly.

Voldemort led the army slowly approaching, his black robes fluttering in the cold wind, his scarlet eyes flashing with cold light in the night.

He raised his hand, signaling the Death Eaters to hold their advance, then his gaze penetrated the silver-white barrier, looking at the crowd inside the shield, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Look at these poor fools..." Voldemort's voice echoed faintly, clearly reaching everyone's ears, "Actually attempting to stop our advance with such a barrier."

The Death Eaters immediately let out a low chuckle, the laughter cold, eerie, full of mockery and cruelty.

"How long can this little magical barrier stop us? A minute? Or half a minute?"

"It's laughably naive, they probably still think they can hold out until tomorrow morning, they should open their eyes and take a good look at how many of us there are, how many of them there are."

"When the light screen shatters, when their blood stains the streets red, they will understand who is the master here."

"Master." Lucius stepped forward, bowing slightly, "We have not found any trace of the Order of the Phoenix in the New City, could they be lying in ambush in the dark?"

Voldemort's lips curled slightly, he chuckled softly, a hint of contempt flashing across his face.

"Haha, Lucius, you worry too much!" Karkaroff immediately spoke, his tone carrying a bit of nonchalance, "Those people from the Order of the Phoenix are probably already scared out of their wits, it's only natural that they'd cower and refuse to come out when they see our army pressing down on them."

"No, Karkaroff." Voldemort slowly shook his head, "The Order of the Phoenix are not cowards.

I don't believe Alastor Moody, Minerva McGonagall, the Longbottoms, or even that Sirius Black, can restrain themselves."

His gaze was deep, he turned his head and glanced at Hogwarts Castle, faintly visible in the distant night, his tone certain: "If they are not in the New City, then there is only one possibility—they are hiding in Hogwarts, waiting for us to attack the New City, then launching an attack from the rear."

"However, it doesn't matter." Voldemort continued, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "In the face of absolute power, all conspiracies and tricks are meaningless.

The Order of the Phoenix... ha, their little manpower is just a trapped beast fighting to the death, unable to stir up any waves."

Saying this, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the mad woman on the right.

"Bella."

"Master?"

"If those people dare to attack from Hogwarts, I want you to lead people to completely wipe them out."

"As you command, Master," Bellatrix Lestrange looked up towards Hogwarts, she licked her lips, her voice sharp and excited, her eyes full of bloodthirsty madness, "I will make them regret living in this world, especially that traitor who disgraced the Black family—I will tear him apart with my own hands!"

Voldemort nodded in satisfaction, his scarlet eyes swept around, his gaze falling coldly on all the Death Eaters.

"Death Eaters—" His voice echoed in the ears of all the Death Eaters, like the final order before the battle drum sounded, "This time, hold nothing back."

He looked at the silver-white barrier covering the New City, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Destroy this city, kill Bones.

Capture Sebastian's wife, parents, and his grandparents.

I want Sebastian to be afraid to act rashly, I want him to die!"

As the last word fell, he suddenly raised his wand, and whispered the command that made everyone tremble—

"Attack!"

In an instant, the night shattered, and the darkness boiled.

The Death Eaters simultaneously raised their wands, fanatical laughter and low incantations mixed together, and in the next second, countless spells spewed out from the tips of their wands, converging into a scarlet, emerald green, and blazing white torrent, overwhelmingly bombarding the New City's shield.

The silver-white barrier trembled incessantly under the relentless bombardment of the spells, ripples spreading layer by layer, like a giant stone thrown into the water, the entire night sky illuminated with mottled light.

A great battle officially began.