Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 271 The Tower

No one knows how Draco located the observatory so precisely, nor does anyone know when the battle began.

Anyway, when Draco stormed into the observatory, Harry keenly heard the increasingly intense clash of spells coming from downstairs.

"Except your weapons!"

The familiar incantation came from Draco's mouth this time, and this time, he didn't stray from his target.

Dumbledore's wand deftly slipped from its master's grasp, tracing a graceful arc through the air before vanishing.

It was in that instant that Harry belatedly realized he couldn't move, not even his lips.

A silent spell.

Dumbledore gave him a talisman at the last second, but he himself completely lost the chance to protect himself.

This realization nearly broke Harry, but he couldn't give up; his intuition told him that what was about to happen was likely a sacrifice he would never forget.

He desperately wanted to close his eyes, but the anger within him forced him to keep them open and witness the impending tragedy.

Good evening, Professor.

Draco even greeted Dumbledore politely, his hypocrisy making Harry want to vomit.

Dumbledore was clearly more refined; even when facing the executioner who was about to kill him, he still smiled kindly—as if he were facing an ordinary student.

"It's not a good habit to go out at night."

"It's probably due to the professor's teachings and example."

Dumbledore adopted the demeanor of a professor, and Draco retorted without backing down.

“Oh,” Dumbledore seemed to realize something, “where are your companions?”

“They’re downstairs,” Draco smiled slightly. “They’re clearing away the obstacles in our way.”

Draco didn't seem to care about Dumbledore's probing, perhaps thinking it was insignificant to reveal things to a dead man.

“Hogwarts security isn’t very good,” Draco commented dismissively. “I only opened one door, but my companions managed to follow the trail and open all the doors of Hogwarts.”

Dumbledore listened quietly, nodding occasionally, seemingly genuinely concerned about the security of Hogwarts.

Draco seemed intrigued as well. "Where's Potter? He's your star pupil. Is he still fast asleep?"

"When you get to my age, you'll understand how precious it is to have good sleep quality."

Dumbledore didn't deny Draco's statement, which made Draco curl his lip in disdain. "Nobody can predict what will happen in the future. I might not even live to see you!"

Dumbledore was somewhat surprised at this point. The Death Eaters were truly sinful. How could such a young child hold such a pessimistic view?

He was just about to fulfill his duty as a professor one last time when the increasingly loud sounds of clashing spells downstairs made everyone present turn cold.

It was at this moment that both Dumbledore and Harry noticed something was wrong with Draco; his right hand, which was holding the wand, seemed to tremble unnaturally.

Dumbledore suddenly laughed. "Draco, what are you waiting for? Or... what are you afraid of?"

"I don't!"

The sudden and intense attitude caught Dumbledore's attention, but Draco quickly recovered.

He stared at the person in front of him in disbelief. "I knocked your wand away, and now I'm raising my wand at you, and you still expect me to lay down my sword?"

As if that wasn't enough to express Draco's surprise, he added,

"Saint Potter's teacher was actually a real saint?!"

Dumbledore was amused by this remark and leaned forward slightly.

But Harry wasn't fooled by this action. Thanks to his special position, he could easily see that Dumbledore's steps had just swayed.

"Stop, Draco, you're not the kind of person who can kill."

Am I not?

Who is that?

Was Thea born that way?

Dumbledore's words seemed to break the last shackle in Draco's mind.

"Dumbledore, do you regret your decision to send Thea away?"

Dumbledore paused slightly. Regret? Regret for diverting that troublemaker to the Ministry of Magic?

Dumbledore didn't speak, but shook his head firmly and slowly.

Draco got his answer, though his intuition told him that something was off tonight, such as Gellar's disappearance and Potter's vanished whereabouts.

But it doesn't matter, the Death Eaters are already in, and now only the last step is left—killing Dumbledore.

As long as he is killed, no matter how many flaws there are in the plan, he will have achieved his goal.

Killing him is just a spell.

It was only for a second...

Draco fell silent. He stopped speaking and began to stare intently at Dumbledore. Only his repeated stroking of his wand proved that he was still alive.

The sudden silence left Harry somewhat bewildered. He couldn't quite grasp the current situation. Wasn't Draco going to make a move against Dumbledore? Then why wasn't he doing anything yet?

Did he soften his heart?

Was he right after the professor's prediction? Was he waiting for someone?

Or is he afraid?

Before Harry could figure it out, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence.

Even though the chances were slim, Harry still hoped that the person who came in was from the Order of the Phoenix.

Logically speaking, black robes are the least reflective, but when the group of people dressed entirely in black robes rushed in, Harry seemed to be hurt by the reflection in their robes.

"Why haven't you made a move yet?!"

The person who rushed in spoke rudely, but avoided touching Draco.

"Isn't this what I've been waiting for you to be my witnesses?"

Draco moved listlessly, but his tone was gloomy.

"Hey!" Draco's tone clearly angered one of the dirty, black-robed men with tangled hair and beard, who raised his wand and tried to charge at Draco.

"Who's causing trouble?"

"boom!"

The question had barely left his lips when, with a deafening crash, the filthy man was instantly lifted up by an unseen force and slammed against the observatory's thick pillar before sliding limply down, his fate unknown.

Harry watched the scene and silently swallowed. He didn't hear any incantation being chanted, so... it was another silent spell.

The emergence of a formidable opponent among the Death Eaters is not a good thing.

While worried, Harry glanced to the side and got a clear look at the person who was coming.

A black robe accentuated her slender figure, and beneath the wide brim of her hat, the girl's pale skin and delicate features looked remarkably familiar.

Thea?!

What is she doing here?

Was that silent spell she just cast?!

Harry's doubts remained unknown to anyone. Soon, the person behind Thea revealed himself—it was Snape.

He frowned, his right hand slightly raised, as if intending to walk around the person in front of him.

He wants to go ahead?!

He wanted to do it himself!

This realization chilled Harry's heart even more. For the first time tonight, he wished the sounds of the battle below would be louder, to interrupt everything that was about to happen.

The Death Eaters dared not utter a sound because of Thea's recent attack, and an eerie silence fell over the room.

Thea remained silent, simply staring intently at Dumbledore.

Snape could no longer contain himself; he suddenly raised his hand—

But someone else was faster than him.

“Avada Kedavra!”

A flash of green light appeared, and Dumbledore, like a kite with a broken string, floated down lightly.