!
In the sky above, Tonks was completely distraught. She had been haunted by the house-elf for what felt like an eternity. She knew that no matter how well Char was hidden, he would probably be caught by Porgy Charlemagne soon. She couldn't delay any longer; she had to get rid of this entanglement quickly.
But the house-elf opposite her was determined to harass her, and Tonks was helpless. House-elves could cast spells without wands or incantations and could even Apparate multiple times over short distances. They were a nightmare in combat. And they would obey their master's orders unconditionally. Even though it was obvious the creature was being abused, even though it was almost exhausted, it still had to follow Porgy's orders to stop her. How could she possibly get free?
And then, an idea struck her. House-elves will obey their master's orders unconditionally. What if I become its master? For others, this would be impossible without a pre-prepared Polyjuice Potion. But Tonks was a Metamorphmagus, a very special talent that allowed her to change her appearance at will. Becoming Porgy Charlemagne would be easy.
The next moment, her appearance shifted. In the blink of an eye, she looked almost exactly like Porgy. The house-elf, about to cast another spell, froze in shock. "Master? Another master?!"
Tonks saw that it was working and her eyes lit up with joy. She shouted in a hoarse voice, "Do you want to hurt your master?! Stop it now!"
Caught between the conflicting orders of Porgy and the woman who looked exactly like him, the house-elf was completely paralyzed, not knowing what to do. Tonks took advantage of the opportunity, quickly stabilizing her broom and leaving the elf behind. She anxiously chased in the direction where Char and Porgy had disappeared.
Soon, she saw the crack in the island, and the flesh-and-blood vines spreading out from it. The moment she saw them, her pupils contracted. As a trainee Auror, she had received detailed training in combating the three Unforgivable Curses, led by none other than Mad-Eye Moody himself. Moody had also told them about an extremely evil form of dark magic, one that, in a sense, was comparable to the Unforgivable Curses: Dark Magic Transfiguration.
"It is an evil magic that transforms flesh and blood and desecrates life," he had growled. "Any use of it on another person is comparable to using an Unforgivable Curse. If found, they are to be immediately escorted to Azkaban."
She had never expected to see such evil magic here. Her heart sank. It looked as if Porgy had most likely already succeeded. She had to be faster. She aimed her wand at the vines blocking the entrance. "Incendio!" A thick flame gushed from the tip of her wand, and the vines reluctantly made way.
She took a deep breath and strode in. Even though she was prepared, the sight of the cave, completely filled with the pulsating, living vines, was still a shock. What evil magic! she thought. She saw Porgy, wrapped in the vines in the center of the cave, and shouted angrily, "Porgy Charlemagne, you are absolutely mad! To seek revenge, you actually resorted to such evil black magic! If you dare to resist, you will be sentenced to death in Azkaban. The Dementors will surely like such an evil soul as yours!"
Porgy was stunned. At the moment Char had cast his own Dark Magic Transfiguration, Porgy had been completely powerless, trapped in the cage of his own creations, his wand broken. He had thought that when the trainee Auror arrived and saw Char's evil magic, she would surely stand on the side of justice. But now… she thought he had done this?
"What? Why?!" he shrieked. "It wasn't me! That little badger did all this! Go get Dumbledore! He has the potential to become the next Dark Lord! You have to put him in Azkaban!"
Tonks's face was full of disdain. "You think I'll believe that? Although that kid is a little weird, he's still a Hufflepuff. A Hufflepuff using Dark Magic Transfiguration? I think the dark magic has backfired on your brain. You've gone crazy. What bad intentions could a little badger have? Next time you try to quibble, at least use your brain."
Porgy stood blankly in his cage, his face a mask of despair. This world is so messed up, he thought. I'm telling the truth, so why does no one believe me?
At that moment, Tonks came to Char's side. Looking at his calm expression, she felt a surge of fear and shame. If she had been just a little later, the consequences would have been unimaginable. She put the thought of Umbridge's death out of her mind and said softly, "It's okay, Char. With me here, you are safe. This bad man will be sent to Azkaban soon. Don't be afraid."
Char tried hard to suppress the excitement in his heart and forced a smile. "Yes, yes. I was so scared." He was so scared he had almost laughed out loud. He had gotten the Cinderis Fern spores, a potential platinum-level reward plant, and had even made progress in Dark Magic Transfiguration. The bronze-level skill was a powerful new trump card, not to mention its potential value in plant cultivation. This trip had been a huge success.
Porgy Charlemagne watched as Tonks comforted Char, fire practically bursting from his eyes. This world is so unfair! he fumed. Char is the one with a deeper understanding of dark magic, and the trainee Auror ignores him? It's not fair! He gritted his teeth, took a piccolo from his pocket, and began to play it vigorously. "You bastards! You must all die!"
The shrill sound of the flute penetrated the rock and the land, a special magic spreading out through the seawater. In a nearby area of the sea, there was a dead silence. It was a sea of death. But as the sound of the flute passed by, deep in a dark trench, countless eyes opened. A huge black shadow, as large as a mountain, stirred, creating violent turbulence on the seabed. It was the legendary Kraken. It woke from its slumber and, as if hearing a call, rushed toward the island.
Porgy played his piccolo and burst into laughter. "You are dead! All of you are dead! You will all be buried at the bottom of the sea!"
Tonks was speechless. She thought Porgy had finally lost his mind. He was a prisoner, his wand broken, and he was playing a flute? And laughing about how they were all doomed? He was truly sick.
But Char's expression suddenly became solemn. He had thought Porgy was just babbling, but with his platinum-level night vision, he could see the special magic particles spreading out with the sound of the flute. It was no trivial magic. And then Porgy said, with a sinister grin, "You have no idea what you're getting into. Prepare to face the most terrifying creature in the North Sea."
Char's heart suddenly moved. Tonks's expression also changed. The same name came to both their minds. The Kraken?!
Just then, a rumbling vibration came from the bottom of the sea, accompanied by the roar of the waves, like bursts of thunder. Some huge creature was approaching. Char quickened his pace, walking toward the crack. Tonks quickly conjured a rope, tied up Porgy, and followed.
Once on the island, a magnificent and terrifying sight greeted them. A high wave, like a city wall, was advancing toward them. Char could see it even more clearly with his night vision. The number of magic particles emitted from the sea surface was astronomical, outlining a huge shape over a hundred meters long, with countless tentacles. He was completely certain. Porgy's flute could actually attract the Kraken.
The wave, which had seemed to be moving slowly, was actually incredibly fast. Char could now see the huge, pitch-black, slimy tentacles looming in the waves. He had a new understanding of the Kraken's strength. It was a true monster of the ocean, a creature that would make other 5X-level beasts feel inferior. A dragon would be nothing but food for it. He felt a sense of relief. He was glad he had brought the [Giant Killer].
The wave crashed onto the island with a deafening, thunderous roar. Tentacles, each over a hundred meters long, stretched out from the sea, ready to sweep away all life on the island. Tonks's face was extremely pale. She knew there was no way she could deal with such a monster. She probably couldn't even penetrate its thick skin. But as she saw Char standing beside her, she gritted her teeth. She drew her wand, climbed onto her broom, and said to him, "I'll deal with that thing. You have a Nimbus 2000. It's fast. Go now. Don't worry about anything else. Run!"
Char looked at her in surprise. The Kraken was obviously no match for an ordinary wizard. She still wanted to fight it? Seeing his look, she forced a smile. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not a Gryffindor. I'm not that brave. Look, my legs are shaking." He looked down. It was true. "But you said before that I had forgotten the qualities of Hufflepuff. But I didn't." She took a deep breath, tightened her grip on her wand, and cast a spell. "Stupefy!"
Char fell down. Tonks immediately tied him to his Nimbus 2000. Then she waved her wand, and the broom took off on its own. "Nimbus 2000," she whispered, "I leave this little badger to you. Go, go. Junior… live, with this gift from your senior."
The Nimbus 2000 shook a little, then flew away into the distance. But the Kraken didn't want anything to leave its hunting range. A tentacle began to move, ready to grab the broom from the sky. But the next second, an explosive spell whistled out, exploding on the tentacle. Tonks rose into the wind. "The Auror from the Ministry of Magic and a senior from Hufflepuff are here! I won't allow you to hurt any little wizard in front of me! Not to mention, that's my junior! If you want to get to him, you have to get past me!"
The explosive spell had done nothing. The Kraken was unharmed. But it was enraged by the "provocation." The overlord of the North Sea had never been challenged like this. The tentacle changed direction, slapping down at Tonks. She tried to dodge, to buy a little more time, but the force was like an overwhelming tidal wave. Her broom was like a small boat in a raging sea. She could see the tentacle getting closer and closer. You shouldn't even feel pain, she thought. It will be over in an instant. Shit. I should have gotten a cooler hairstyle, with a brighter color. That way, when they come looking for me, they can at least find my hair and build a cenotaph.
Just as she was about to close her eyes and wait for death, a shadow, as fast as lightning, rushed out. Char, who had been knocked unconscious, had turned around and was riding back on his Nimbus 2000. He pulled her onto the broom, and at the last possible moment, the Nimbus broke through the airwaves and flew out with a roar, avoiding the Kraken's attack.
Tonks stared at him blankly. "You idiot!" she cursed. "I bought you time to escape! Why did you come back?! What would Professor Sprout do if something happened to you?!"
Char's voice was soft. "You've been following me around for so many days, and it's been really annoying. But today… I owe you. Senior Tonks from Hufflepuff—" His gaze turned to the tentacles extending from the waves. "Hide behind me. The Kraken… let me handle it."