Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

"Huh?"

Watching Quirrell, who had been sprinting wildly just a second ago, suddenly stop in his tracks from afar, Charlie couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly, a sound of doubt escaping his nostrils.

Just as he was about to raise his hand and send another spell to intimidate him, Quirrell suddenly "thumped" and knelt to the ground…

Then, under Charlie's gaze, the gaunt body inside the wide robe began to tremble violently like a sieve, accompanied by a series of meaningless, strange groans resembling "Uh… Ooh… Ah…"

"Tom… is this one of your tricks too?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of inexplicable expression surfaced on his originally indifferent face.

Almost without thinking, Charlie instantly realized something. He didn't plan to give Voldemort any chance to turn the tables. Although he didn't know what exactly had happened, his years of accumulated combat experience still drove him to take swift action.

In an instant, his wrist flicked violently, and the red light gathered again at the tip of his wand, quickly solidifying in less than half a second, its speed so fast that even "Mad-Eye" Moody would be amazed.

"Shh!"

With a sound like thunder, a scarlet chain as thick as an arm was pulled from the tip of the wand.

"Buzz!"

The magic chain cut through the air, and with a piercing roar, shot straight towards Quirrell's location.

However, just as the magic was about to hit Quirrell, he suddenly raised his head, his face contorted, and let out a painful and terrifying roar towards the sky.

"Aaaaaah!"

As the roar echoed through the silent Forbidden Forest, once again startling the birds on the branches into scattered flight, a stream of intangible, dark green mist burst forth, centered on Quirrell, and began to surge outwards like a tsunami! In a daze, it seemed like a giant wave, about to engulf everything…

Originally, the chain, which was always effective in Charlie's hands, lost its original power in an instant after coming into contact with the dark green mist, as if a mud ox had entered the sea.

Even the mist tried to cling to the chain, attacking towards the wand itself.

However, the experienced Charlie did not give the opponent such an opportunity. Facing the menacing unknown magic, his face remained unchanged.

He decisively dissipated the magic power supplied to the chain… Losing the power to maintain its basic form, the chain, which had already solidified to a certain extent, immediately began to disintegrate. Just as the dark green was about to encroach on Charlie, it completely disappeared.

Only a red and green mixed afterimage remained in the void, carrying unwillingness, but it also slowly dissipated with the cold wind…

"Aaaaaah! You tricked me!! My master!! No! Please!!"

Roaring wildly, Quirrell's eyes were wide open at this moment, bloodshot veins covering them, each one distinct, and even bloody tears streamed down his eyes, passing over his hideous cheeks, and finally falling to the ground, gathering into a small pool of blood.

Sweat poured out from every part of his body as if endlessly. It was clearly freezing weather, but he was already like midsummer…

At this moment, indescribable pain was spreading from the soul, running through everything in Quirrell.

Helpless, he could only wail under this torment, like a dying old dog, pitifully hoping for his master's last mercy.

"I don't want it anymore!! Master! I don't want to be the Head of the Department anymore!! Please! Please let me go… I am your loyal servant… I will serve you forever… Please let me go!!"

However, facing this constant begging, how could Voldemort, who had already lost his humanity, care? On the back of his head, that blurred face began to squirm madly, even easily squeezing off the turban wrapped around Quirrell's head, completely exposing it to the air.

If you observe carefully, you will find that the dark green magic mist that is constantly surging outwards is gushing out from the eyes and mouth of the human face on the back of Quirrell's head.

"Too late!!"

Voldemort's hoarse voice sounded particularly loud at this time, while making a sinister laugh like "Jie Jie Jie Jie", he also used a not very sincere lie to casually appease Quirrell's emotions.

"Don't worry! My loyal servant… I will remember the contribution you have made for me!! When I have contributed the entire British wizarding world, as I promised you, I will let you be the first Minister of Magical Law Enforcement in the new government! From then on, no matter who takes office, they can only start from the second term! Because I will write your name into magical history, so that you die gloriously!!"

After saying this, his squirming became even more intense, and the gushing magic mist became even stronger.

"No!!!"

… … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Outside the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid, carrying Fang, holding an umbrella for defense, and walking step by step towards the depths, couldn't help but stop.

Listening to the chilling screams, even he couldn't help but feel goosebumps all over his arms.

"Damn it… what the hell is going on."

Under his thick beard, he opened his mouth, muttering, while panting roughly.

The exhaled turbid air turned into white mist in the cold and disappeared into the air.

After hesitating for a moment, Hagrid's eyes drooped down, and he glanced at Fang beside him.

Fang also looked at his master, and there was no fear in his expression like an animal in the Forbidden Forest should have. He just stuck out his tongue and kept panting. The firmness in his eyes had never changed…

"My good boy…"

A gentle look appeared on Hagrid's face. He patted Fang's head affectionately, then skillfully opened his coat and took out several bags of candy hidden inside.

Tearing open the packaging, he dumped all kinds of candies mixed with different flavors into his mouth and chewed them loudly.

"Come on! I've seen Voldemort before, let me see if there's anything more scary!"

Encouraging himself, he gripped the small pink parasol in his hand even tighter. At this moment, Hagrid no longer hesitated, and strode forward in the direction from which the screams came.

… … …

And behind Hagrid, a little further away, several young wizards were far from as calm as usual.

They stopped in unison at the same time.

"Did you guys hear that!?" Ron's voice trembled, his upper teeth chattering against his lower teeth, he grabbed the corner of Hermione's clothes beside him, and then desperately turned his head to observe the expressions of the others.

It wasn't just Ron; even Draco's face paled instantly. He pursed his lips, his heart pounding faster involuntarily.

By this point, Hermione had no time to worry about Ron tugging at her sleeve. Her small hands gripped her wand tightly, trying to mask her inner fear. She forced herself to remain calm and asked the other two,

"That sounds like Quirrell's voice… Although I don't know what's happening, do we really have to go over there?"

"Of course!"

Harry's eyes shone with determination. Even though his legs were trembling, the thought of Hagrid going in alone made him nod resolutely.

"…" Draco, however, remained silent, staring helplessly at the dark Forbidden Forest, unsure of what to do.

A sense of foreboding arose in his heart, constantly reminding him of the danger and terror within…

Ron and Hermione noticed the unease in Draco's eyes, and they fell silent, lost in their thoughts.

Harry glanced at the three who were still struggling with their decision, his brow furrowing and his breathing quickening.

But he said nothing. After a long moment, he finally spoke,

"You guys go back first. I have to find Hagrid… Don't worry, nothing will happen. I won't be long before I come back."

With that, he turned abruptly, took a step, and began to run blindly, plunging headfirst into the Forbidden Forest.

"Harry!"

"Hey! Wait!"

"Don't!!"

Finally, Harry's figure disappeared completely into the darkness, leaving Draco, Ron, and Hermione in stunned silence.

… … … … … After Harry left, another silence fell.

"I…" Ron's face nearly drooped to the ground. He looked at the eerie path that seemed like a man-eating monster and finally raised his wand resolutely.

"I can't leave Harry alone!"

With that, he mimicked Harry, closed his eyes, and charged in headfirst, shouting as he ran,

"Ahhhhh!! Harry!! Harry!! I'm coming to find you!!"

However, before rushing out, he seemed to have forgotten that he was still holding onto Hermione's sleeve.

"Hey! Wait, Ron, what are you doing!!"

Caught off guard, Hermione had no choice but to be dragged into the Forbidden Forest by Ron.

"…" Watching his companions enter one after another, Draco stood on the spot and took a deep breath.

Clenching his fists and swinging them hard a couple of times, he forcibly suppressed the lingering fear and unease in his heart and desperately chased after the three ahead.

…

In the Forbidden Forest, there was no light. The trees cast ghostly shadows, and a single glance around conjured up a terrifying scene in one's mind.

However, facing all of this, Harry not only didn't stop, but his speed increased even more.

Images of his acquaintance with Hagrid flashed through his mind… the figure in the leather coat, riding the motorcycle, carrying the cake.

Although they had only known each other for a few months, every time he thought of Hagrid's care and warmth towards him, this somewhat rough man felt like family to him.

… … … … … … … … … … … …

The scene returns to Charlie's perspective.

Before him, the green mist that had been spreading wildly began to converge, forming a spiral shape that surrounded Quirrell, making it impossible for Charlie to see anything inside…

Charlie had tried to break through the barrier formed by the mist, but everything he did was in vain. All ordinary attacks vanished upon entering it. Powerful spells like Fiendfyre were impossible to cast due to the environment. Even his most proficient Transfiguration spells became ineffective upon touching the object shrouded in the green mist.

It was as if that area had become a magical forbidden zone, leaving Charlie feeling extraordinarily restricted… … …

Quirrell's screams continued, though they were far less intense than before. They grew weaker and fainter, and even his voice became hoarse.

Like an old bellows, the wails carried the resentment and curses of hell…

As a top student who had read a large amount of black magic material in the restricted section of the library during his school days, Charlie clearly understood a common characteristic of soul-related magic…

That is, the more intense the torment suffered by the soul you sacrifice before death, the more refined the power of the magic will be.

Therefore, although he couldn't know exactly what spell Voldemort was using at this moment, Charlie knew that once this magic was fully accumulated, the effect it could achieve would be surprisingly terrifying… … …

He took a deep breath of the cold air.

The light in Charlie's eyes flickered, and his expression gradually changed from calm to serious.

Indeed… no matter how down on his luck Voldemort was, he was still Voldemort; no matter how pathetic the Dark Lord was, he was still the Dark Lord.

If he wasn't careful, he might end up capsizing in a gutter… … …

"Come on… I'm waiting," Charlie muttered to himself, still staring at the thick mist, as if trying to see through it to the familiar figure from long ago.

Finally… after who knows how long, Quirrell's wails completely disappeared in the mist…

Charlie knew that he was dead. Not a physical death, but the annihilation of his soul… He had been devoured by an extremely evil curse.

However, the very next second after the wails disappeared, a hoarse and disgusting laughter gradually grew from small to large, finally becoming unrestrained and manic, completely uncontrollable.

It was too familiar… that damned voice.

Whether it was due to psychological reasons or not, Charlie's right hand, which was lightly gripping his wand, showed a slight tremor beyond reason.

Even if it was only a fraction, it was enough to show the unrest in Charlie Black's heart.

"Hahaha, hahahahaha!! Hahahahahaha!! … … …"

The green mist was suddenly stirred, instantly becoming chaotic, all rushing towards the center.

Amidst the hazy mist, Charlie finally saw the body of Quirrell kneeling on the ground, staggering to its feet, opening its arms, trying to let the mist rush into its body faster.

"My dear Charlie Black, I've missed you so much… … …"