"I've already received enough help from you... If possible, please take Marie out of here on my behalf and protect her. There's no need to risk yourselves for me any further..."
In response to Rosier's plea, Lupin, who was still running wildly, spoke only during a gasp for breath.
"A nine-year-old boy had the courage to decide to rescue you. Don't you have the guts to stand against them?"
"It's not that I'm afraid to oppose them!" Rosier's face was bleak, "If it were just me, I wouldn't be afraid of anything. But they used Marie to threaten me, and now I'm dragging you into this as well!"
"This isn't dragging us in. Even if it weren't for you, we would have inevitably clashed with this group sooner or later!"
Lupin heard the whistling sound of the skateboards. He turned his head and saw the two goblins who had already caught up from behind!
Discovering that not all three were chasing him, Lupin's expression darkened slightly. The goblins' choice was somewhat unexpected, making him start to worry about Harry's situation.
But the moment Narlak and Blackclaw spotted Lupin, they showed no hesitation whatsoever, immediately raising their wands.
A dense barrage of spells shot toward Lupin!
Relying on his own agility, he dodged the vast majority of the spells, but a few still struck the Shield Charm he had repaired after escaping from the Minister's office.
Fortunately, the spell of these two goblins couldn't compare to Vinda's. Lupin could still barely maintain it and even find openings to organize counterattacks.
However, the goblins on flying skateboards possessed far greater mobility than Lupin relying on his two legs to run. Lupin's spells had almost no chance of hitting them. Under their continuous assault, it was clear the Shield Charm would soon be completely shattered.
Realizing this, Lupin made a decision!
He stopped running with Rosier, turned around, and faced the two goblins on their skateboards.
Narlak and Blackclaw positioned themselves front and back, completely cutting off Lupin's retreat. Around them, a large number of Matagot cats had gathered, trying to use the walls on both sides for leverage to leap into the air and drag the goblins down.
But the efforts of these Ministry guards were ultimately in vain. Narlak and Blackclaw moved their skateboards vigilantly, never giving the black cats a chance.
"Wizard, this Squib has nothing to do with you. Vinda specially asked for him. If you hand him over to us, we can avoid any conflict altogether!"
Narlak stared coldly at Lupin, his wand in hand. Clearly, he didn't want to engage in a more intense fight with this capable wizard.
The fact that they had smoothly reached the French Ministry today meant their ultimate goal was achieved. Capturing Rosier was an additional order from Vinda, and she had said in the end that if it proved too difficult, they needn't force it.
Therefore, resolving this matter with minimal risk was naturally what the goblins preferred.
Lupin didn't speak immediately. He simply straightened his robes, slowed his breathing which had become rapid from exertion, and finally met Narlak's gaze calmly.
"Do you know the consequences you'll face once it's exposed that you've violated the Goblin Wand Ban by obtaining those things?"
His words angered Blackclaw on the other side, who jumped up in rage on his skateboard.
"Consequences? We're just taking back the power that should rightfully be ours! It's you cunning wizards who deliberately use such methods to oppress us!"
"Oppress?" Lupin's voice was flat, "This is the punishment you deserved after your defeat. You brought this upon yourselves."
"No need to say more to him, Blackclaw."
Narlak spoke loudly, cutting off Blackclaw who was about to continue arguing with Lupin. He looked down on Lupin as if seeing through everything he was thinking.
"I know you're trying to stall for time, to let others in the Ministry discover our intrusion. There's no point talking to a fool like you who can't understand the greater picture. You cannot comprehend us."
"Then who can understand you?" Lupin just stared at him, "The Dark Lord you speak of?"
Narlak and Blackclaw exchanged a glance, revealing scornful sneers.
"Perhaps. If you think we are his subordinates, then that's correct!"
The two goblins had already raised their wands again. Narlak issued Lupin an ultimatum.
"Hand that brat over to us, and we won't attack you!"
But Lupin had already struck first.
"Bombarda!"
A tremendous explosion roared across the ceiling of the corridor.
Narlak clearly hadn't expected Lupin to be so decisive. However, the advantage of their fast-moving skateboards was demonstrated at this moment.
The two goblins swiftly lowered their skateboards. The flying skateboards, products of goblin craftsmanship, emitted a piercing shriek as both goblins simultaneously brandished their wands.
An explosion even more bigger than the one Lupin had cast suddenly erupted with a flash of light right beside him.
The Matagot cats, which had been attempting high jumps to pounce as the goblins descended, were caught in the blast. Dozens of them were sent flying.
As for Lupin and Rosier, the Shield Charm absorbed this final blow before shattering completely like glass smashed by a giant boulder!
"Ungrateful wretch!"
Narlak cursed, then continued driving his skateboard while relentlessly casting spells at Lupin.
However, this young-looking yet life-haggard wizard proved far more troublesome than he had anticipated!
Lupin had to protect another person with one hand. Even having completely lost mobility, he could still contend against the two goblins.
But while Narlak and his companion weren't getting impatient, Lupin was growing increasingly anxious.
He could handle these two goblins, but what about Harry?
Harry was just a nine-year-old child!
Although he had a wand and knew some spells, even a proper upper-year Hogwarts' student would struggle to deal with any one of these three goblins, let alone Harry, who hadn't even attended Hogwarts yet!
Just as Lupin gritted his teeth, determined to capture at least one of the goblins to ensure they had a hostage for exchange even if Harry was caught...
A figure on a broomstick, like a rocket, suddenly shot straight toward Narlak!
Narlak had almost no time to react. It was his companion, Blackclaw, who acted quickly, shoving him aside forcefully.
The broomstick shot through the space between them at high speed, then executed a beautiful spin about twenty meters away.
Both Lupin on the ground and the two goblins flying in the air stared in shock at the boy on the broomstick.
"Ha… Dudley!!"
Lupin almost blurted out Harry's real identity on the spot. His eyes widened as if he'd seen something unbelievable.
Narlak, who had narrowly escaped, and Blackclaw were also stunned. They stared at the boy who had made such a flashy entrance and quickly realized: 'If this boy was here now, then what about Bitho...'
As if confirming their suspicions, Harry wore a victor's smile and pulled a familiar corner of a skateboard from the satchel in front of him.
"If you don't hurry over to help, your friend is going to be torn to pieces!"
Narlak's ugly, rotten-orange-like face visibly flushed with rage. He looked absolutely furious.
"That fool Bitho!"
Blackclaw was at a loss, unsure what to do in this situation. What he couldn't understand even more was how Bitho, such an experienced goblin, a leader in the wizarding underground, could possibly lose to a child!
"Let's go!"
Narlak, however, reacted faster.
Capturing Rosier wasn't essential, but if Bitho died here or fell into the hands of the French Ministry of Magic, it would ruin Vinda's plans and land them in big trouble.
The two goblins soon disappeared down the corridor on their skateboards.
Only then did Harry land the broomstick beside Lupin.
"Hurry, Remus! Can this broom carry two people? Grab Rosier and get on quickly!"
Lupin didn't hesitate. He kept hold of Rosier, who was under the Levicorpus spell, and mounted the broomstick behind Harry.
They needed to leave this place immediately. Who knew if those two goblins, after finding their companion, would give up and come back for them!
But even seated on the broom, Lupin couldn't hide his astonishment.
"How did you do it?"
Harry said excitedly, "On the broom! And those black cats! We pulled off a great coordination and took down that goblin together!"
"On the broom?"
Only then did Lupin suddenly realize that he was merely sitting on the broom, while Harry, controlling this Nimbus 1700 professional Quidditch-grade broomstick, handled it with the skill and fluency of a true Quidditch player!
This made Lupin feel even more dazed.
Previously, regarding the so-called Chosen One's prophecy, Lupin's primary emotion had actually been hatred.
Because it was that vague prophecy that had cost him his friends, James and Lily.
But now, Lupin was starting to believe it, deep down!
Harry had grown up in such a poor environment at his aunt's house, yet hadn't picked up any bad habits. Instead, he had inherited all his parents' strengths and talents.
Sitting behind Harry, watching his excited face as he leaned forward on the broom, Lupin pondered silently.
'Perhaps…'
'Severus's decision to take him out of the Dursleys' home was indeed the right one!'