By the seaside, Goyle, his face and head covered, spoke in a muffled voice against the salty, biting sea breeze.
Lucius glanced at him. "Relax. Logic is a madman. When have you ever seen a madman with the patience to toy with me? Besides, the appointment was for midnight. It's only 11:55..."
Hearing this, Goyle said no more.
In truth, Lucius was only calm on the surface; his heart was filled with unease. However, the arrow was already on the string—there was no turning back now.
He only hoped that bastard Victor Wick didn't really want him to...
This time, he had brought all his friends along, more than a dozen of them!
Time ticked away, and soon it was exactly midnight.
Just as Lucius was about to lose his composure, suddenly, streaks of black mist erupted into the sky above the beach...
The black mist landed on the ground, quietly transforming into figures dressed in black robes and wearing skull masks.
Everyone present was familiar with this attire; it was exactly what the Death Eaters wore when they went out on missions in the past!
In the blink of an eye, over a hundred people appeared on the shore...
At this, Lucius's restless heart finally settled down.
Those people stood silently, but they carried a daunting aura of bloodlust. It was clear that every single one of them was a battle-hardened wizard.
Lucius couldn't help but feel inwardly shocked.
In these ten-odd years, Victor Wick had actually recruited so many powerful figures in secret!
Having gathered so many talents for the Dark Lord, even if Victor Wick didn't attack Azkaban, his contributions would still surpass everyone else's once the Dark Lord returned!
However, with so many people, it wouldn't make sense if they didn't cause a stir.
Lucius gradually began to believe Victor Wick's previous claims.
"Follow me and obey my orders," a black-robed figure said bluntly to Lucius.
Goyle frowned and took a step forward to protest. After all, whether in terms of seniority or anything else, why should veterans like them listen to these new recruits?
But before he could speak, Lucius stopped him.
"We will fully follow your orders," Lucius said decisively.
He thought Goyle was an idiot. Since Victor Wick had decided to attack Azkaban, he had obviously made all the necessary preparations.
For people like them who were just here to ride his coattails for credit, it was naturally better to follow their lead. If they acted rashly and disrupted the plan, Victor Wick would tear them apart, let alone give them any credit!
The lead black-robed figure said no more. With a slight wave of his hand, those ten-plus figures transformed into black mist again and flew toward the sea!
Lucius also nodded to the people behind him, then took out the broomsticks they had prepared and followed from a distance.
Their goal this time was just to share the credit; they only needed to trail behind and didn't need to put in much effort.
Victor Wick's willingness to share some of the glory was merely to support and win them over.
When the Dark Lord returned, they would stand on his side to counter the Dark Lord's other inner circle factions.
Otherwise, with Wick's strength, he could have done it himself. Why bring them along?
Overall, Victor Wick's decision was correct.
Those who hadn't gone to Azkaban would never be able to compete with those who had gone to prison for the Dark Lord unless they united.
They had to prove they hadn't betrayed him and that their loyalty was no less than those locked up in Azkaban!
Azkaban was built on a solitary island.
Theoretically, neither wizards nor Muggles could find Azkaban at sea.
But Victor Wick's subordinates seemed to have eyes everywhere; they didn't stop for a moment and found the location of Azkaban in just five minutes.
The black mist dissipated, and the wizards reappeared. During their descent, they pulled out broomsticks one after another, hovering in the night sky outside Azkaban, blocking the bright moonlight.
Lucius and his group also stopped at a distance, quietly watching the actions of the group in front of them.
The black-robed wizards drew their wands and pointed them at Azkaban from afar.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Streaks of white spell light suddenly shot toward various corners of Azkaban!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
As the white light exploded, the Dementors lingering over Azkaban actually scattered, seemingly terrified of the white radiance.
Then, the white mist transformed from the light slithered like snakes, deftly slipping into the windows of Azkaban...
Inside Azkaban, several hit wizards were on patrol. Suddenly, they saw a flash of white light overhead, illuminating the dark prison!
Immediately after, a surge of white mist swept over!
"What's going on?"
"Ah... my head is so dizzy!" One hit wizard was touched by the white mist and collapsed unsteadily to the ground.
"Oh no! Send the signal!" Another hit wizard hurriedly pulled out his wand and cast a Patronus Charm behind him.
Then, he too was covered by the mist...
*Thump! Thump!*
Inside Azkaban, prisoners and Aurors alike fainted to the floor.
When the Warden received the signal, he managed to send an emergency SOS to the Ministry of Magic just a second before the white mist hit him!
However, after he collapsed, the fireplace used for rapid transport was directly extinguished by the white mist!
In the cells where the white mist hadn't reached yet, the prisoners seemed to notice the anomaly. Realizing what was happening, they began to let out excited shouts.
However, these shouts soon died down as they, too, quickly fainted...
Outside, the black-robed figures hovering in the sky waved their wands again.
This time, they fired Exploding Charms radiating an orange-red light!
"Boom!"
In an instant, Azkaban—famed for being a place no one could ever escape from—had several massive holes blown into it!
"Go!"
The black-robed figures rushed toward the holes like lightning.
At that moment, savage figures charged out from the holes...
It was the Dementors that had just hidden inside!
With so many Dementors rushing out together, even the sea surrounding Azkaban began to freeze over with thick layers of frost...
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Streaks of white light were fired by the black-robed wizards, hitting the Dementors and making them shriek incessantly!
Watching from a distance, Lucius understood.
Clearly, none of these people could use the Patronus Charm; they were undoubtedly dark wizards!
However, even without the Patronus Charm, this spell—one he had never seen before—seemed capable of effectively harming Dementors!
Lucius really wanted to go up and join the fun now, but... the Dementors, who usually fled when countered, were now uncharacteristically stubborn, throwing themselves forward desperately!
This caused Lucius to immediately retreat another hundred meters...
They didn't know the Patronus Charm either, nor did they know the magic the black-robed figures were using. If a few Dementors slipped through, they wouldn't be able to handle them.
Fortunately, those black-robed figures were incredibly valiant. Each of them moved nimbly through the air, tearing through the swarm of Dementors like gods of war...
Nevertheless, those Dementors still stalled them for quite some time.
Lucius uneasily pulled out his pocket watch. He wasn't worried about the Ministry; with their efficiency and the fireplace being extinguished, it would definitely take a long time for reinforcements to arrive.
It was Dumbledore's side... he didn't know how long Victor Wick could hold Dumbledore back...
Finally, the black-robed people dispersed the Dementors and entered the interior of Azkaban!
"Let's go too! It won't be good if we just keep watching from here," Lucius urged.
Although Victor Wick hadn't explicitly told them to help, it would be hard to justify if they did nothing at all.
At the very least, they had to take a stroll inside Azkaban...
When Lucius entered Azkaban, he happened to see a black-robed figure smash a door lock, grab a prisoner by the hair to check their face, then toss the prisoner aside and run to the next cell to start smashing the door...
Lucius was secretly shocked. If Victor Wick hadn't told him this was a fake rescue, he would have thought these guys were playing for real!
Soon, he saw a black-robed figure running out carrying a tall girl.
Under the moonlight, he saw the prisoner's face... It was actually the Dark Lord's most trusted servant, Bellatrix...
The black-robed figure carried Bellatrix, jumped out of the hole, and flew away on a broomstick.
'Wait, you're actually saving them? Didn't you say it was fake?'
Lucius watched the departing figure in shock.
After a while, another person found their target and left through the hole...
Clearly, these black-robed people all had a plan. As soon as they found a target, they left immediately—saving whoever they could. Even if the Dark Lord himself were watching from the sidelines, he wouldn't be able to find any fault...
"Let's go too..." Goyle urged.
"Fine..." Lucius nodded, his mind starting to whirl.
He also had a few close friends locked up in here. If Victor Wick really intended to turn this fake show into a real one, he should try his best personally to rescue those few.
That way, no matter what, the Malfoy family would stand to gain...
Hogwarts.
The gargoyle in front of the Headmaster's office suddenly leaped aside.
Dumbledore's figure emerged, walking briskly toward Victor Wick's office.
"Victor! Something has happened!"
At the door of Victor Wick's office, Dumbledore spoke urgently.
"What happened?"
"There's trouble at Azkaban!" Dumbledore beckoned, and Fawkes appeared on his shoulder.
"We must go quickly!"
As Dumbledore spoke, he grabbed Victor Wick's arm. With a flash of fire, both figures vanished from Hogwarts!
In a dark corner nearby, Quirrell's face slowly emerged from the shadows...
In a certain classroom, Harry was chatting happily with his mother, Lily.
Every meeting with his mother was Harry's happiest and most anticipated moment these days.
Just as he was in high spirits, someone suddenly hurried past the classroom...
Harry looked curiously out the door.
"Want to go see?" Lily seemed to have read his thoughts, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Is... is that okay?" Harry said, feeling a bit uneasy.
"We're Gryffindors, aren't we? Your father and I used to wander out at night quite often..." Lily chuckled.
"Okay!" Harry replied happily.
The experience of going on a late-night adventure with his mom was a novel feeling for Harry.
Harry put on his Invisibility Cloak and walked out.
Lily followed beside him. She was in ghost form, so even if she wandered around the castle, she wouldn't attract much attention.
"It's too late," Harry said with some frustration. "There's a fork in the road ahead. If we don't catch up, we won't know which way they went."
"Go this way. There's a secret door here; we should be able to take a shortcut and reach the junction before they do." Lily pointed to a portrait nearby.
Next, Harry was shocked to discover that his mother seemed even more familiar with Hogwarts than the Weasley twins.
She knew every secret passage and shortcut...
They had just come out of the secret passage when, sure enough, they saw the person just reaching the junction.
"Snape!" Harry covered his mouth, looking at the dark figure in shock.
Lily's eyes flickered as she looked at Snape's back.
Just as Harry was about to follow him.
Another set of hurried footsteps came from behind.
Harry quickly dodged to the side. He saw Quirrell walking briskly toward them.
He merely glanced at Lily, and seeing she was just an ordinary Hogwarts ghost, he ignored her and continued following Snape's lead.
Harry and Lily exchanged a glance and immediately followed quietly.
Harry could no longer see Snape, but he knew he just had to follow Quirrell.
Because based on the previous experience, Quirrell was definitely tracking Snape again!
Sure enough, Quirrell soon turned into the forbidden area on the fourth floor!
Harry held his breath and gestured for Lily to step back slightly, as she couldn't turn invisible, and then he took the lead in following.
The heavy, locked door of the fourth-floor forbidden corridor was now open.
Quirrell hurried inside...
Harry was taken aback. Had Snape already entered?!
Oh no! Snape has started his move! But Professor Quirrell is no match for Snape!
Harry was about to follow him in.
But Lily stopped him. "Harry, you can't go in! It's too dangerous!"
Harry grew anxious. "But... that's the thing Professor Wick is protecting. I can't just stand by and watch Snape steal it!"
"Snape?" Lily looked at Harry with a strange expression.
"Yes! I realized long ago that he has designs on the Philosopher's Stone!" Harry said firmly.
'This child's prejudice against Severus is truly deep... But given Severus's previous attitude toward him, it's no wonder he thinks this way.'
"Wait!" Lily called out to Harry again. "I don't think you should follow. You're just a first-year wizard; you won't be able to help. You should go call the professors immediately!"
"But... but it's too late!" Harry said urgently. "And... if I go looking for professors in the middle of the night, they'll probably just catch me for wandering after hours. Besides, they'll find it hard to believe me."
"You go back first, I'll report it," Lily said. "I'm a ghost, I can move faster. And if I report it as an eyewitness, they'll definitely take it seriously."
Lily's figure quickly passed through the wall and vanished...
Harry looked at the open door with indecision. Should he really go back to bed now? But...
What if Snape had already left with the Philosopher's Stone by the time the professors arrived?
No! I absolutely cannot let Professor Wick's things be stolen!
Harry gritted his teeth, tightened his hold on the Invisibility Cloak, and ran quickly toward the door!