Chapter 362: Snape's Defection

Seeing Grindelwald gain the upper hand, the people of Hogwarts all grew tense.

Harry and the others drew their wands, ready to rush out and help.

But Professor Snape directly shouted them down.

"Stand still, all of you!"

Professor Snape had Draco come over to where they were.

He did not mock Harry, but spoke coldly.

"Now is not the time for you to step forward."

Harry was taken aback by those words.

He had actually intended to grit his teeth and go out to help.

He had thought Professor Snape would mock him for overreaching, getting in the way.

As it turned out, he said it wasn't yet the time.

In other words, there really will be a time when he needs to step forward?

But Professor Snape offered no explanation, instead shoving Draco in front of them.

"Watch him."

Draco immediately locked eyes with Harry.

"Wait, Professor, can you have someone else watch him?" Draco shouted hurriedly.

He really didn't want to face Harry right now, fearing he couldn't hold himself back.

But Professor Snape paid him no heed.

Instead, he turned and walked toward the edge of the battlefield.

The view returned to the battlefield's center; John caught his breath and, supporting himself, rose to his feet again.

Dumbledore also rose slowly, glancing at the roiling dark clouds in the sky.

"It turns out this isn't natural weather, but a Weather Spell Grindelwald has been brewing for a long time, so vast it has merged with true nature."

"I was wondering why the villain shows up with his own atmospheric lighting." John wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth and gave a light chuckle.

This amounts to Grindelwald, before truly acting, having already turned this whole area into his home turf.

He can call upon lightning assistance at any moment.

"Can you handle it?"

Dumbledore spoke lightly, sounding like a question but actually issuing a task.

"I suppose... I can?" John gazed at the thick thunderclouds overhead, scratched his head, and spoke uncertainly.

"Then it's yours." Dumbledore showed no hesitation, directly casting a spell at a patch of air.

That air suddenly twisted, revealing Grindelwald's form.

The two directly clashed with magical force.

As for the thunderclouds above, they seemed to be brewing another bolt of lightning.

John no longer wasted words, raising his wand high.

A mass of Golden Flame gathered at the wand tip.

Pinpoints of sparkle rose like fireflies, merging into that blazing mass of Golden Flame.

Grindelwald also saw what spell John was charging, and the corner of his mouth twitched up.

He launched straight at John.

But Dumbledore swiftly blocked Grindelwald's attack.

Boom!!

The thunderclouds roiled suddenly, clearly having readied a lightning strike.

John frowned, wondering whether to cease charging or first block the lightning.

But then, a voice sounded.

"Focus on charging."

Professor Snape had appeared nearby at some point.

He likewise raised his wand high.

A Magic Dome instantly unfurled above John's head.

Boom!!

As the dome just unfolded, the lightning arrived right on schedule.

It struck the barrier head‑on, electricity cracking the surface in a spiderweb of blue‑white fissures, yet failing to pierce it in the slightest.

The Golden Flame burned ever brighter beneath the dome.

As the Golden Flame finally finished condensing, it blazed like a scorching sun.

John's temples twitched with veins, his breath grew heavy, and a trickle of blood seeped from his nose.

"Go!"

The Golden Flame slowly rose, like the sunrise in the east, flying toward the horizon.

Everyone could clearly see a glint of gold rising.

As the gold light sank into the clouds, it vanished deep within the thunderclouds.

Everyone was stunned again.

Is that it?

But the thunderclouds suddenly went still.

The next second.

Swish!!!

Boom!!!

First, a blinding golden light burst from the heart of the cloud.

Immediately after, a terrifying explosion tore apart the entire leaden-gray sky.

The earth trembled, the air humming.

Even the aftershocks of Grindelwald and Dumbledore's magical clash paused, both turning toward the explosion on the horizon.

"Really? You made such a big deal?"

Grindelwald muttered to himself.

"Albus, how did you teach this student?"

Dumbledore's lips curled slightly, his wand twirling lightly as another spell shot toward Grindelwald.

"He stole my spell and then improved it himself."

Grindelwald blocked with a wave of his wand while letting out a low chuckle.

The remnants of the Golden Flame had not yet dissipated, as several streams of molten-gold light poured down from the rifts in the clouds.

Then they gradually faded away.

The overcast sky suddenly blazed bright enough to sting the eyes.

"I said this flashy spell might actually be useful, didn't I?"

John wiped away a nosebleed, panting heavily as he gave Professor Snape a grin.

Professor Snape gave him a cold glance, the tip of his wand lowering silently.

"Of course, you helped a lot."

"Uh...."

Just as John was about to say something more, Professor Snape's wand pressed firmly against his lower back.

"Don't move, Mr. Merick."

Another figure appeared at their side before anyone noticed.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald did not notice this right away.

But over at Hogwarts Castle, cries of alarm rose and fell, accompanied by fearful, strained screams.

John's body went completely rigid; he could only grit his teeth and stare at the newcomer.

"...... Voldemort."

"Long time no see, Mr. Merick."

His black robes billowed like ink waves, his scarlet eyes glowing faintly beneath the hood.

Voldemort's voice sounded like an ice pick scraping stone, chilling with murderous intent.

"... Professor...?"

John stared at Professor Snape with utter disbelief, while Snape lowered his gaze expressionlessly and gave Voldemot a slight bow.

"Heh, surprised?"

"Xifeilesi is one of my most loyal Death Eaters."

Watching John's eyes nearly burst from their sockets, Voldemort's deranged grin slowly spread across his lips.

He was very pleased with John's expression, feeling immense satisfaction.

At that moment, several spells struck simultaneously.

"Voldemort!! Release John!!"

Across the collapsed stone bridge, Harry roared as he charged forward, accompanied by Professor McGonagall, Hermione, and a few others.

Several spells flew toward Voldemort.

But Voldemort didn't need to lift a finger; Professor Snape merely flicked his wand.

And deflected every attack.

They, too, looked at Professor Snape in disbelief.

Just moments ago, due to the angle, they hadn't realized it was Snape who was controlling John.

They had assumed Voldemort was controlling both of them at once.

Now they saw Snape standing directly beside Voldemort, and they all wore looks of incredulity.

"Xifeilesi...." Professor McGonagall's voice trembled as she gazed at Snape standing beside Voldemort.

"How...?"

Snape said nothing, while Voldemort burst into loud laughter.

He loved watching such betrayal play out.

"Hahaha, Potter, don't rush."

"Your turn is coming up soon!"

Voldemort laughed maniacally as he spoke, then raised his wand and aimed it at John.

"Avada......."

A point of green light sparked from the tip of the wand.

But before it could be fired, Snape suddenly spoke.

"Please wait, master."

"Huh?" Voldemort's wand twitched slightly, his scarlet pupils slanting toward Snape.

"Dumbledore still has your treasure in his hand; I think we can use him as a hostage to negotiate with Dumbledore."

Hearing this, Voldemort narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Snape.

The treasure he spoke of was naturally Voldemort's Horcrux.

"Did Dumbledore tell you?"

Actually, even when Voldemort first saw his Horcrux destroyed, he had already questioned Snape.

Why did Dumbledore and his group find his Horcrux, yet Snape didn't come to report to him?

Snape's answer was that Dumbledore had not informed him.

At that time he already had some doubts.

Why could even John and those few members of the Order of the Phoenix know about the Horcrux?

Yet this confidant of Dumbledore's did not inform him.

Now, however, he voluntarily brings up the Horcrux and speaks of it with such certainty.

If it weren't for Snape's proactive help in capturing John just now, he would almost have doubted Snape's allegiance on the spot.

"No, it was Meilik who let it slip."

Upon hearing that, John immediately put on an expression of mingled shock and anger.

As if realizing he had said something he shouldn't have.

Hearing this explanation and seeing John's expression, Voldemort only then believed it a little.

After all, judging from his few brief skirmishes, John is indeed a careless oaf who can't keep his mouth shut.

"Take him back first."

Seeing the battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald in the distance grow ever fiercer.

Voldemort also didn't want to delay any further.

This is a great opportunity for him to eliminate Dumbledore.

First, lock John up.

He will go deal with Dumbledore; if he can settle Dumbledore in one fell swoop, there's no need to keep John around.

Anyway, no one can stop him anymore.

But if he can't deal with Dumbledore, John will be an important bargaining chip for him.

"My lord is wise." Snape said, bowing his head in flattery.

Thereafter, he hesitated no more.

He directly cast Dizzy Fall to knock John out, then used a Magic Spell to truss him up tightly.

He also respectfully handed John's fallen wand to Voldemort.

This made Voldemort nod in even greater satisfaction.

Next, Snape took John, and under everyone's gaze, turned into a wisp of Black Mist that flew toward the horizon.

"John!!"

Hermione let out a heart-rending cry, wanting to rush forward, but Professor McGonagall firmly held her shoulders.

Because Voldemort's gaze had already locked onto them.