But if the two sides start fighting, the Order of Phoenix members would secretly cheer for the Witch Pure Party.
The group didn't say anything more, turned around, and called the two companions who were guarding the Muggle soldiers, and all used the Portkey to return to the United Kingdom.
Before leaving, Lupin turned his head and happened to lock eyes with Peter the Second.
The masked man's eyes looked very familiar, and his figure too... But his gaze was calm and gentle, like a deep starry sky or a clear lake, making one feel that the person with these eyes must also have a soul full of warmth.
Lupin nodded to him, dismissing the extremely absurd thought that had suddenly emerged in his mind.
Perhaps it was because he had been searching for Peter Pettigrew for too long, seeing someone with a similar figure made him subconsciously suspect this person was Wormtail.
But Lupin knew well, even if Wormtail were broken and reassembled, even if Voldemort stuffed his own soul into Wormtail's corpse, that rat could never have such eyes.
He chuckled at himself, shook his head, and caught up with Sirius, who was flying leisurely ahead.
Before using the Portkey, Sirius also looked back and asked in a low voice, "Are we just leaving? That Obscurial called Mabel is right there!"
"But you heard, they're here searching for Vid just like us." Lupin said, his voice as soft as a whisper: "If I'm not mistaken, those beside her should be Vid's poppets."
"Vid's poppets...mixed with an Obscurial?" Sirius said in surprise, "How did they associate with each other?"
Lupin shook his head: "Before we figure out the reason behind this and Vid's stance, it's best not to let others know... I think Dumbledore has a clue."
A moment later, Sirius said in a deep voice: "I heard that Dumbledore initially wanted the Obscurial to attend Hogwarts, but Fudge firmly disagreed, which led to her running away and becoming a fugitive..."
Thinking of the Minister of Ministry of Magic who insisted on world peace and acted like nothing happened if he didn't acknowledge it, the two sighed in unison.
...
Mabel held her breath, turned her head, and saw all the British wizards had left without intending to capture her, so she relaxed secretly.
"Let's head back too." the Cube Poppet said joyfully: "Fly a little faster, perhaps we can see the master tonight!"
"No problem!" the Broom said, shifting its body: "I will use my fastest speed!"
"Wait a moment! I have something to give to Vid Gray!" Vorvillet hurriedly shouted to stop them.
The Broom, which had already turned away, halted and looped back to the window.
"What is it? You know my master?" the Broom asked.
"I'm warning you, old man, Mr. Cloak is very clever! If you want to trick us, you're going to be wrong!"
the Cloak said, pretending to be powerful alongside them.
Vorvillet gestured to send the surrounding young people to care for the wounded, repair the parts of the castle that were blown up, and send those distant Muggle soldiers tied-up into the dungeon.
When no one else was around, Vorvillet cautiously approached by several steps until he was almost falling out of the window, and then stopped.
"You..." His gaze ignored Mabel and the masked man, looked at the Broom, the Cube, and the Cloak, and asked, "Are you all poppets made by Vid?"
"Of course." the Cube Poppet said: "It's obviously so."
"And..." Vorvillet looked at Firebird Mikhail, asked with shining eyes: "Is it as well?"
The old man's gaze locked tightly on Mikhail, his hand moved forward unconsciously, as if wanting to touch it.
Mikhail immediately leaped disdainfully backward, suspecting the old man of trying to bump into it.
The Cube Poppet did not answer, it countered: "What do you need delivered to the master? If it's just an excuse to delay..."
Its metallic left arm snapped, revealing a pair of gleaming scissors.
Vorvillet snapped back to reality, he quickly said: "Of course there is! Of course! Please wait."
He rummaged in his pocket for a while, then pulled out a thick notebook he had bound himself.
Vorvillet tenderly stroked the cover of the notebook and handed it over saying: "This is my Alchemy Notes, give it to Vid, and say... I hope there will be a chance to study alchemy together in the future."
— Best if he could also lend the Time Turner and that strange Firebird for some study.
"Got it, I'll pass it on."
The Cube Poppet stuffed the notebook into its belly, tapped the Broom, and quickly disappeared into the sky.
Vorvillet stared obsessively at the spot where they flew away, his eyes showing a nearly devout focus.
— If he didn't see wrong, even though that bird resembling both an accursed fiend and a Phoenix bore marks of alchemy, it seemed more like a true life.
Actually, the speaking poppets all seem more human both in speech and thought. The Firebird never made a sound; its actions are like a real bird.
But only it... only it possesses not merely "thought" but also seems to have a "soul."
— A true soul.
The taboo in Alchemy... Life Alchemy? Damn Morry, unexpectedly teaching such dangerous things to his student?
What's more... Vid actually made it? How did he achieve this... Even Morry should only grasp some ancient and fragmentary theories...
Vorvillet's brows furrowed and relaxed at times, his mind rapidly contemplating various alchemy formulas and Ancient Magical Runes, completely immersing himself in the sea of thought, forgetting everything around.
It wasn't until much later, the great hall of the castle erupted in golden light.
Grindelwald led the Witch Pure Party members back.
...
The final group of dark-robed wizards raised their Magic Wands, and the entire estate was fully engulfed in raging fire.
This time, they didn't leave the mess to the local Ministry of Magic but used the cursed fire to burn everything down.
The estate's outer ground was either covered by snow or turned into ruins in the battle, with no flammable materials, thus not worried about the fire spreading uncontrollably.
Of course, the Ministry of Magic will definitely come to check, so even if there's any fallout, they can leave it for them to deal with.
More importantly, quite a few Witch Pure Party members left bloodstains here, and Muggle recordings might have captured some of them, making it simplest to burn everything to avoid future trouble.
After all the Witch Pure Party members had left, Voldemort said in a good mood, "Let's go back."
From the battle earlier, Dumbledore is just as difficult to deal with, seemingly unaffected by age, a terrifying old man... yet Grindelwald, doesn't seem as powerful as he imagined.
— No matter what, neither of them is my match.
Voldemort thought confidently.
He firmly believed he mastered spells Dumbledore could never imagine, his magical knowledge is more extensive than Dumbledore's, the most powerful wizard in the world, even surpassing all those in history.
Originally believing Grindelwald, who once ruled Europe, would be a formidable rival, but seeing that person nearly killed by Dumbledore in less than a quarter-hour, Voldemort almost laughed aloud.
— Once revived... I will become stronger than ever... The Order of Phoenix or the Witch Pure Party, Dumbledore or Grindelwald... are all mere stepping stones on the path to immortality.
The baby's snake-like face revealed an evil smile.
Barty Crouch Jr. picked up the baby, shielded him from the wind with the cloak, then reached out to grab Nagini's tail.
The large snake hissed and bared teeth, but knew it was for Apparition, so it endured, not turning back to bite him.
They too disappeared from the hillside.
Behind, only the once grand estate collapsed in flames, thick smoke rising into the sky.
In the distant Muggle City, the shrill and urgent sound of the fire alarm rang, forcing people from their peaceful slumber in shock.