While Tver was enjoying a hero's welcome among the students, Marvolio had to endure Voldemort's fury on the other side.
"Use those stupid heads of yours and think. If I'm defeated, do you really believe your situation will be any better?" Voldemort said, sounding almost angry at their failure to live up to expectations.
Just as he could only rely on these Death Eaters now, for these Death Eaters, with the countless crimes they had committed, there was no way they could escape punishment except by relying on him.
Especially when the person leading them in rebellion against him was Marvolio.
The Death Eaters immediately grew hesitant, and their movement toward Marvolio slowed considerably.
Voldemort's defeat was already obvious, but that did not mean they were willing to climb out of one pit only to jump into another.
"You won't escape."
At some point, Tver had finished his preparations and silently walked over with a group of people.
Tver walked at the front, his expression and movements utterly relaxed, yet for some reason, he gave Voldemort an intense sense of déjà vu.
As if Voldemort were the innocent one being oppressed.
"You're not dead!"
Harry had escaped the Killing Curse twice, once because of the ancient magic left by his mother, and once because Voldemort's own soul had blocked it.
But Tver Fawley?
Voldemort looked Tver up and down in shock and suspicion, but no matter how he searched, he could not find the slightest flaw.
"Speaking of that, I really should thank you." Tver smiled faintly, his words perfectly sincere.
It had been dangerous, but he had gained something from it, and not a small gain either.
Of course, he absolutely did not want to go through it again, so he did not dwell on the subject.
"Voldemort, do you think you still have any chance of winning?" Tver spread his hands, gesturing at the difference in strength between the two sides.
Before, the forces of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic had been divided, which made Voldemort's side seem far more rampant.
But now, Tver's authority over Hogwarts was even higher than Voldemort's. Naturally, the walls and Protective Enchantments that had been blocking the Ministry of Magic could no longer stop them.
So once the forces of justice had all gathered together, let alone the Death Eaters and Dark Wizards, even the Dementors in the sky tactfully retreated a good distance.
Voldemort's face darkened at once.
He had never expected these subordinates to win, but the difference in strength was now so overwhelming that these Dark Wizards, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, could easily become a burden.
But what Voldemort had not expected was that Tver was not satisfied with just that.
"I can tell you very frankly."
Tver turned his attention to the Death Eaters, deciding to add his own weight to their hesitation.
Or rather, his own threat.
"Even if you choose to surrender, I will still judge each of you according to the crimes you have committed. Of course, I don't think Azkaban will need Dementors anymore, so your prison life should be somewhat better than before."
Marvolio stared at Tver in astonishment.
How was this different from what they had agreed on before?
Originally, they had planned to put on a show and have the Death Eaters scatter and flee with him. That would both disrupt morale on Voldemort's side and secure his position among the Death Eaters.
As for after they escaped, once Tver and the others dealt with Voldemort, even if these Death Eaters fled into outer space, they still would not escape a worldwide manhunt.
But now, Marvolio glanced slightly at the equally surprised Death Eaters and knew they were dumbfounded.
If they continued following Voldemort, they would have to face the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix, whose strength far surpassed theirs.
But if they did not follow Voldemort, they would be caught on both sides and still have to face the judgment of the law.
Unless...
"But if you continue following Voldemort and helping him commit atrocities... then there is only one road left. Death."
Tver still wore a smile, but the sight of him and everyone behind him slowly drawing their wands sent a chill through the Death Eaters.
"In other words, there are only two paths in front of you. Surrender and go to prison, or be buried with Voldemort."
"Avada Kedavra!"
Unexpectedly, the first one unable to hold back was Voldemort himself.
Of course, Voldemort knew that if Tver was allowed to keep threatening them, the Death Eaters' mental defenses would not hold for long.
Better to strike first and drag his subordinates with him, forcing them to resist the Ministry of Magic's counterattack.
Tver waved lightly, and a small bird transfigured from stone blocked the Killing Curse. But Voldemort's attack was like a signal.
The final battle of this war had begun.
Of course, the Death Eaters were still hesitating, and top-level wizards like Tver and Dumbledore disdained attacking those Dark Wizards personally.
So in this final battle that erupted in an instant, the main force instead became the Dark Wizards and the Aurors.
The students, however, were unusually excited.
Unlike their earlier fear of war and death, Professor Fawley's return had not only brought elite Aurors with him, but had also given them tremendous courage.
There was a bit of borrowing power from others in it, but for them, the battle now was a chance to gain experience.
"Expelliarmus!"
Harry's face was flushed with excitement. This time, he did not have to be separated from Ron and Hermione, and with Draco's group not far away, the few of them were almost treating this place as a practical combat class.
"Potter, if all you know is the Disarming Charm, I'd advise you to hide obediently behind me."
Although he was very grateful that Harry had saved him earlier, Draco still spoke stubbornly.
"Boom!"
An explosion suddenly went off beside his ear, startling Draco badly.
"Sorry, my magic doesn't seem very controlled!" Seamus shouted, though the broad grin on his face showed not the slightest hint of guilt.
On this chaotic battlefield, the most fanatical ones were the Weasley twins.
At first, the chaos left them with nowhere to fire Blasting, but then Wood and Cedric entered the field on Broomsticks, and their eyes immediately lit up.
"The bombers are here!"
George and Fred shouted excitedly while sitting on Broomsticks, frantically throwing down the Impediment Jinx grenades they had developed.
Wood and Cedric, who were flying them around, were having their ears hurt by all the noise.
"Could you two keep it down? Otherwise, we might end up the most seriously injured people on our side!"
Watching the battlefield suddenly descend into chaos, even Tver was somewhat speechless.
Those odd-looking anti-curse robes were one thing. After all, they truly protected everyone's safety.
But this strange style of fighting, these strange weapons...
He had only sent the Weasley twins to Egypt for less than half a year, yet he had never imagined that once their talent received proper guidance, they would charge off into the military industry and never look back.
Still, Tver looked up thoughtfully at the small black dots appearing on time in the distant sky, and finally showed a satisfied smile.
The guests had entered.
Now it was time for him, the lead actor, to step onto the stage.