He Couldn't Be That Bad? // Sebastian Sallow and You (spicy)

43. Poacher Problems

From the back of the crowd Professor Hecat leaps into action. A bolt of white light shoots out from her wand and hits the nearest cloaked figure. They drop to the ground in a limp heap.

"Everyone! Back to the castle!" I bellow to the students.

The crowd breaks into an all out frenzy. The hooded figures descend into the students but as one gets near, Sebastian casts his spider web spell, and stopping them from leaping over the wall onto a young Hufflepuff. He's frozen in mid air and stuck in a jump position, shouting in frustration.

"Why'd you have to do this the hard way?" The black eyed man groans, like this whole thing is an inconvenience. Then he turns to Hecat and screams. "Crucio!"

"Noo!" Sebastian and I cry out together.

Hecat drops to the ground, the sound of her cries are barely audible over the screams of panic from the crowd. But I can still hear them, and I know I'll hear them for the rest of my life.

I dash forward, eager to put myself between the cloaked figures and the students. If I can stop anyone else from getting hurt, I'm ready to die trying. I shout as loud as I can. "Head for the floo, but if you have brooms, fly back to the castle. Take as many back as you can."

"Not so fast!" A woman's voice from the cloaks calls out, and the invaders begin a wild frenzy of spells. But it looks like they're not here to maim, they're here to collect. Freezing over many students, or simply flinging them away as they search the crowd for Ominis.

Spells sling back and forth, Sebastian is quickly joined by some of the older students, many are the other contestants of the tournament, or from the Anti-poacher club. They are blocking spells, and attempting to partake in any offense they can. We have numbers, but they have expertise.

I find Sebastian in the chaos, even though it's risky, I still try to appeal to his good nature. "No unforgivable curses."

"What?" Sebastian looks at me with disbelief and pulls up his shield just in time. "They are! They won't pull punches!"

"I know." I swallow hard, sending a stupify into a cloak that is trying to pull his comrade down from the invisible web. "But– Show everyone the kind of wizard you really are."

"Ugh, I really dislike this responsible side of you." He sprints off towards Hecat. Blocking and counter casting along the way.

A scream turns my attention as a cluster of crying students waiting for the floo flame get frozen into place. I lift my wand, not on my watch. I levioso the cloaked person, then launch them clear over the keep with a bombarda. The floo flame is still the best means of escape and I need to make sure these students get out. Summoning as much Ancient Magic as possible, I concentrate it around the floo flame where about two thirds of the students are gathering. If Sebastian can make up spells, so can I. Shooting my shot and praying this works, I bellow. "Protego Maxima!"

I feel the energy leave my body, like the wringing out of a sponge. A streak of purple light shines out and swells. A wide round shield emerges from the ground, its glimmering purple veined with my silver magic. It cuts up from the ground, slicing through the air and encompasses at least fifty of the students and the floo station. Out of fear, the students at the edges recoil at first but once a few spells hit into it with no success, the students inside continue to disappear into the green flame.

"Take the frozen ones with you too!" I command the girl closest to me and turn back to assess the rest of the student body.

The ones that are left still need a way to get back. I lift my chin to the sky and whistle to call Highwing. Poppy hears this too and copies my sound, putting her wand to her throat and the melody is quadrupled in volume.