At Juma's words, even Snape couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
But Juma, beaming with pride, continued:
"I'm going to make that dormant volcano erupt again! There are Anti-Apparition spells cast on the island, they can't leave! No matter how powerful they are, they're still human. Human strength will never triumph over the fury of nature!"
"I'm going to bury every last one of them on that island! Every. Last. One!"
His final roar sent a chill down the spines of the gathered witches and wizards. Albus Dumbledore's face darkened, his expression like still water before a storm.
...
Meanwhile, on the island hosting the Wizarding Schools Potions Championship, Wentworth stared out at the approaching group of wizard hunters. In a low voice, he asked Newt Scamander:
"Mr. Scamander, since you once captured my grandfather yourself, I imagine this little band of wizard hunters won't be too much trouble for you?"
Newt's mouth twitched slightly before he replied slowly:
"It's true I apprehended Gellert Grindelwald myself back then, but it wasn't my doing alone. I wasn't surrounded by a bunch of not-yet-graduated schoolchildren at the time."
Despite being surrounded, Wentworth couldn't help his curiosity and asked:
"Then, Mr. Scamander, who was with you back then?"
Newt paused for a moment, thinking, before answering:
"My brother, who was an Auror... some friends from the wizarding world... and a Muggle."
Wentworth: "...??? A Muggle???"
Just then, one of the wizard hunters on the other side spoke up, confusion in his voice:
"Wasn't the target just a Hogwarts student? Why are there so many people here?!"
Another hunter responded:
"Obviously, the others are contestants from the other magical schools."
"That old guy with the suitcase, is he a school contestant too?!"
"...Maybe he was held back a few years?"
Hearing this, Newt sighed silently and then whispered to Wentworth:
"Buy me a little time."
Wentworth gave a slight nod, then quickly pulled Yukina behind him and said:
"Stay behind me!"
With Yukina safely at his back, Wentworth faced the hunters and raised his voice:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know who paid you to come kill me, but whatever the offer was, I'll double it. Double, just to let us walk away."
His words caused a visible stir among the hunters. But soon, one stepped forward, sneering:
"Clever kid. But do you really think we'll fall for that? Do you know how much we're being paid? You're just a Hogwarts student, not even graduated, where would you get that kind of Galleons…"
Before he could finish, Wentworth reached into his robes and pulled out a pouch enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm. He opened it, and golden Galleons poured out like a waterfall.
The mocking hunter immediately fell silent. Many of the others stared at Wentworth with raw greed gleaming in their eyes.
Wentworth spoke again:
"I've changed my mind. However much they're paying you to kill us, I'll pay triple. Triple, if you kill them instead."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Many of the wizard hunters looked uncertain.
But one stepped forward and shouted:
"Don't listen to him! Look at how this kid throws money around, you think he comes from a regular wizarding family? If we do let him go, forget the Galleons, there's no guarantee we'll live long enough to spend them!"
At that, many hunters nodded in grim agreement. Their eyes turned deadly once more.
Seeing this, Wentworth turned his head and called to Newt Scamander:
"Mr. Scamander, are you ready yet?"
Behind him, Newt was fiddling with something in his suitcase and replied:
"Almost... By the way, anyone afraid of heights?"
Wentworth shot him an irritated glance.
"We flew here on the back of a giant storm-petrel. What do you think?"
Newt went quiet for a second, then added:
"All right... but how about being dangling in mid-air?"
Wentworth: "...???"
Just as the wizard hunters were once again shifting their focus back toward their targets, a thunderous cry suddenly pierced the air.
In a flash, the previously clear sky turned dark, heavy clouds rolling in. A blinding bolt of lightning slashed across the heavens.
The hunters looked up in alarm at the sudden change in weather. In that instant, Newt Scamander grabbed Wentworth and shouted:
"Grab those two!"
Without hesitation, Wentworth reached out and pulled both Yukina and Nala close, gripping their arms tightly.
Before their eyes, a massive Thunderbird burst out from Newt's suitcase and soared skyward with incredible speed.
Clutching Wentworth, Newt flung the suitcase toward the ascending Thunderbird and grabbed onto its talons himself.
Together, they shot up into the sky.
The wizard hunters finally reacted, raising their wands, but before they could cast, the Thunderbird's wings swept wide, and a violent storm erupted over the island.
Those closest to the storm were blown off their feet, flailing helplessly. Most spells missed wildly, and some even hit their own allies.
A few curses did make it through, aimed at the rising escapees, but with the combined efforts of Wentworth and Yukina, they were deflected one by one.
Even as he dangled high above the island, Wentworth couldn't hold back his excitement:
"Mr. Scamander, I knew you could do it! After all, you're the wizard who caught my grandfather!"
He looked down at the disarrayed hunters below, his eyes sharpening.
"Mr. Scamander, let's just head straight back to Britain. To hell with the Potions Championship. I don't believe for a second this ambush didn't have an inside man. Whoever hired those hunters, and the bastards themselves, I'm not letting a single one walk away from this."
But before Wentworth could finish, he noticed something alarming, the Thunderbird was descending.
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This fanfic has been fully translated!