Hogwarts Legacy: The Price of Power

Battle

As the Ashwinders stormed into the tiny pub, their wands raised, their outlines glowing with an eerie red hue thanks to Garreth's potion, Dracaena tried to shove at the heavy table before them to clear their path. The next moment, Sebastian had launched himself sideways, snatching her and Ominis about the neck and hurling them to the floor, covering them with his body as one of the Ashwinders unleashed Bombarda, right at where they had been a second before.

Chaos erupted. Coughing at the smoke and dust that billowed around them, Dracaena struggled to her knees, grabbing Ominis by the arm and tugging him along, Sebastian scrambling after them, shoving them into a corner and kicking over a table for cover. Dracaena peeped around, spotting Natsai leaping into the fray, brandishing her wand, a pale-faced Amit right behind her. The distraction was minimal, but it was enough, and she aimed a vicious Diffindo into the Ashwinders, scattering them. Her heart lurched as she saw yet more crowding beyond the doors.

"That bastard!" Ominis snarled, aiming his wand over the table and firing a curse at their enemies. "I knew he couldn't be trusted!"

"We'll deal with it later," Sebastian spat, leaping to his feet and firing Confringo into the throng. "We need to get out, now."

Dracaena reached inside herself and pulled her magic forth, bidding it to do as it would. A sudden wind whipped up around the pub, knocking the Ashwinders off their feet and blowing the dust and dirt from the explosion up into a thick, impenetrable cloud, shielding them from view.

"This way!" she said, scrambling to her feet and driving her elbow through the nearest window. The shattering of glass was almost lost in the clamour, and Sebastian grabbed Ominis by the collar, shoving him through the gap. Dracaena followed, helping him out of the crumpled heap he'd landed in, tugging him upright just as Sebastian came tumbling out, the three of them staggering on the wooden platform above the dock, and not a moment too soon. There was an oomph, and a billow of fire shot out of the window.

"Shit!" Sebastian grabbed her hand and ran for the road, then pulled up short.

If the inside of the little pub had been chaotic, it was nothing compared to what greeted them in the middle of Upper Hogsfield. Villagers and Ashwinders alike ran to and fro, firing jinxes and hexes indiscriminately. Dracaena bared her teeth as a ring of Ashwinders began to close in on Natty and Amit, the pair of them staggering away from the pub, standing back-to-back, dodging curses and firing hexes as best they could, but there were too many. Without a second thought, Dracaena lunged forward, lashing her wand and hurling Ashwinders out of her way, pushing to get to her friends. Natty shrieked as a sickly streak of green light passed by her cheek, and Dracaena saw red.

She drew a breath, a deeper breath than should have been possible, and she roared at the top of her voice. It was a sound reminiscent of her panther form, but it was deeper, echoingly loud and somehow ethereal, as if some ancient creature had spoken a word in a long-forgotten tongue. A ring of force rushed out from her, throwing the Ashwinders aside, leaving her friends untouched.

Amit yelped and ducked, but Natty grabbed him by the hand, sprinting over to the trio.

"This is more than I had bargained for!" she gasped, blood sheeting down her arm, a bruise welling on her cheek.

"Us too," Sebastian said, staring around at the pandemonium, firing a few curses into the mess. "Where the hell is Poppy? She wasn't by the dock!"

"I don't know," Amit managed, trying to staunch Natty's wound. "I haven't seen-"

He broke off as a fresh wave of screams sounded around the corner. Poppy came pelting into view, snapping the nabsack shut, followed closely by Garreth, who was hurling vials of potion at every Ashwinder he could see. As they struck and shattered, the unfortunate Ashwinders screamed, covered in acid, in fire, in ice, and something that looked a bit like custard. These last were swiftly descended upon by a swarm of bees. Dracaena hesitated, gaping, when an almighty roar echoed, almost as loud as hers had been, and the screams increased in intensity.