Chapter 3: Alger Rosier
This name is no stranger to Ivan. During the first few months of Voldemort's downfall, his parents often mentioned his name after dinner.
The Rosier family, one of the "Sacred Twenty-Eight Families," was well-liked by the professors due to their outstanding talent when studying at Hogwarts. They also served as Prefects and usually the Head Boy or Girl.
After finishing his studies, he joined the Ministry of Magic and became an Auror, actively fighting against dark wizards.
However, during the grim and terrifying days of Voldemort's rise, Alger quietly joined the ranks of Death Eaters and took part in many attacks and even massacres against Muggles.
But after the fall of the Dark Lord, facing many accusations, he and Lucius Malfoy escaped trial on the grounds of being "controlled by the Imperius Curse," which caused an uproar at the time.
Since then, Alger has vanished and never appeared in the public eye again, and people have gradually forgotten him.
Ivan never thought that such a dangerous person, who had followed Voldemort, would reappear and come to his house to ask for something that was "Kept by the Vesemir family".
What kind of thing was it that required him to come collect it in person?
The most important thing is, if the Vesemir family really kept a treasure he was meant to acquire, why didn't he come sooner or later? Why did he choose today?
A series of questions stayed in his mind, but Ivan had no time to think.
He was lying on the stairs in a very awkward position, listening to the "crackling" explosion caused by the collision of spells in his ears and Madam Vesemir's crying for him after protecting the twins; he dared not even breathe out.
That's all you can do. Huh?" He heard Alger's wild laughter, "A coward who hides his face!"
The black-robed wizard was silent and didn't respond. Ivan could feel his panting gradually getting heavier, as if he had already exhausted his energy and was at a disadvantage in this sudden duel.
Without thinking, Ivan immediately started to move his body slowly, crawling towards the back of the black-robed wizard. If he can get back to the room, he can send an owl to inform his father if there is time—
"Did someone tell you that you can wriggle on the ground like a disgusting maggot?" The black-robed wizard's cold voice sounded above Ivan's head, and then, before Ivan could react, he lifted his robe, stepped on the boy's waist, and crushed him twice.
Ivan almost cried out in pain.
"Lie down and don't move, don't think about telling your father, I'll take care of this matter." The black-robed wizard, who suddenly put away his wand, lowered his head and said to Ivan. Alger, who was standing in front of the door, also stopped the spell almost at the same time, with a look of surprise on his face.
What happened? Ivan wondered. Although he didn't understand why both stopped at the same time, he still nodded in pain.
Judging by the current situation, his mother seems powerless against Alger Rozier. However, this black-robed wizard of unknown origin can match him blow for blow and has shown no obvious signs of being a dark wizard other than maliciously kicking him twice.
Concluding that the best thing to do right now is to act subdued and secretly find a way to inform his father or the Aurors.
While he was thinking about how to contact his father, the black-robed wizard raised his foot from Ivan's waist, strode down the stairs steadily, and raised the wand in his hand to aim at Alger again. The latter shot the black-robed wizard a peculiar look and suddenly smiled.
"I know who you are, wizard," Agler said softly. "I dare not fight someone like you, but you shouldn't meddle in my private affairs." He stared at the wizard, who was now standing near a wall, before continuing, "You do what you must do, and I will do what I must do. How about not interfering with each other?"
"How do you know that I didn't come here for you?" the black-robed wizard asked back.
Alger's expression changed slightly.
"Our fight is completely avoidable," Alger said after a moment of silence.
Listening to the conversation between the two, Ivan gradually felt a strange sensation in his chest. The way they communicated made him feel a bit off. It seemed there was some important information he was missing, and he couldn't figure out what it was; he only had a vague sense of déjà vu.
He was thinking calmly here, while Mrs Vesemir appeared a bit flustered and frightened. She believed that this mysterious wizard, who was cloaked in a black robe, was as dangerous as Alger—possibly more so—due to his ability to counter the Avada Kedavra with the Disarming Curse, his immense magical strength, and the fact that he had shown no intent to fight Alger to the end. Now, their talk suggests Alger might persuade him; they could potentially join forces.
Of course, it was Ivan who worried Veronica the most. The child seemed not to have figured out the situation at all. Not only did he not escape in the chaos, but he stood on the stairs, with a look of interest, watching the excitement. She gestured desperately at Ivan, but Ivan's attention was only on the two confronting each other.
"Floo powder can't be used." At that moment, one of the twins leaned towards her and whispered in her ear. Veronica turned her head to look at the fireplace. The burning fire had been completely extinguished at this moment, and a layer of slightly transparent light shrouded the fireplace.
It appeared as though one of the wizards had cast a spell over the fireplace to prevent them from escaping.
As for the more convenient, quicker transportation like an apparition, it was restricted from being used in their family's house. This was a method arranged by the Ministry of Magic to protect their senior staff, but at this moment, it turned the house into an inescapable cage.
Before that, don't you think we should eliminate those unstable factors first?
At this moment, she didn't know what the black-robed wizard and Alger had said, but the latter suddenly turned his eyes to Veronica and the Weasley twins, flashing a malicious smile.
Madam Vesemir subconsciously shielded the twins behind her, and almost at the same time, Alger's wand shot a dazzling red light.
"Stupefy!"
"I—"
Madam Vesemir's shouting stopped suddenly, and the red light of the curse struck her chest directly, followed by two more red lights. The Weasley twins hugged each other and even when in danger, still fell to the ground in a funny way.
"And you, my dear nephew." Alger turned his gaze to Ivan, who had already tried to run towards the door of the room. The tip of his wand flashed red. "Stupefy!"
Ivan fell down.
From the beginning to the end, the black-robed wizard did not take any action, just silently watching all this happening before his eyes.
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