Chapter 683 - Ruse Ⅵ (1/2)
Following the explosion of the cottage, the Death Eaters spread out to attack the Auror's, who had arrived not too long ago and had taken refuge in the woods to position themselves to counterattack. With the woods serving as a successful cover for the Auror's, the Death Eater's had no choice but to descend and attack. The Death Eaters began to spread themselves across the entire forefront lest the Auror's encircle them from any flank and plunge from behind them to attack. The result was that Lord Voldemort was left alone on the hill to hunt down Auror Percius Clements and force the stubborn Auror to reveal the location of Potions Master, Damocles Belby.
Down below the steep slope at the edge of the woods, the burly, broad-shouldered figure of Antonin Dolohov can be seen with a merciless smile as a cleverly wicked idea appears in his mind. Rather than hunting the slippery Auror's, he'd force the rats out of hiding. Lifting his wand, he says, ”Incendio,” and sets the woods aflame.
Dolohov's long, pale twisted face is ruthlessly revealed beneath the sight of the bright, flickering flames. ”Fools, they should have set the woods ablaze since the very start,” he arrogantly remarked out loud. ”The Auror's will have to flee or emerge from their hiding hole lest they be trapped in the fiery inferno.”
Dolohov's eyes glimmer catching sight of a nearby Auror. He ruthlessly casts his trademark spell as purple sparks emerge from the tip of his wand and catch the unaware at the edge of the woods. The Auror goes down with a pained grunt as his fellow Auror's grab him and retreat further into the woods with their wounded comrade.
”Weaklings,” Dolohov sneered under his breath. They should have abandoned their comrade and instead turned to face him. Their numbers would have been enough to even cause him to pause. This was what sentimental nonsense cost those fools, who cede to such lesser emotions. It made them weak, brittle in front of those with true strength of heart.
Dense clouds of smoke begin to fill the woods as Auror's and Death Eaters are forced to take precautions against the flying embers of ashes that spread the hungry flames even further through the woods. Auror's and Death Eater's alike cover their faces with clothes in order to breathe, while their eyes fiercely sting from ash and the smoke. The hungry fire spreads even faster and faster singing clothes, and various body parts.
With the woods beginning to transform into a fiery inferno, the Auror's split up. Half of the Auror's provide defense and attacks, while the other half attempt to extinguish the flames as the Death Eaters keep setting the woods afire. They had no other choice lest they be burned alive or worse find themselves trapped!
Wading into the worst of the foray, Dolohov expertly defends himself as he casts spells left and right. To his astonishment, he finds himself stopped by three young Auror's guarding the flanks. One of them was a handsome dark-skinned wizard, whose bare scalp glinted in firelight accompanied by the glint of a single golden hoop earring. The other two Auror's are witches; one has auburn hair, pale skin, and brown eyes. And the other is a petite witch with tan skin and curly hair.
”And might I know who I have the pleasure of dueling?” Dolohov flippantly asked, before shouting with his next breath, ”Crucio!”
The three Aurors throw themselves to the ground and roll to the side, before scrambling onto their feet. Rising to their feet with leaves, mud, twigs on their clothes, and tangled in their hair, they each cast a spell at their shared foe. However, despite their combined forces with ease Dolohov parries their spells by casting the Shield Charm, ”Protego.”
”Not bad,” Dolohov earnestly remarked, before casting his trademark spell. Purple sparks emerge from the tip of his wand and cut the auburn-haired witch.
Clutching her shoulder, Auror Marlene Stein does not cease to move as she hastily casts, ”Episkey,” onto her shoulder to staunch and heal the bleeding wound. The gaping wound does not heal very much, but at least it scabs over enough to not permit her to bleed to death. Knowing she is a liability rather than an asset; she begins to retreat and provide cover for her fellow Auror's should they need it.
Seeing that Marlene is wounded, Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt shouts, ”Retreat Dorcas,” and begins to drawback. He understood that the Death Eater before them would mercilessly continue to attack the already wounded Marlene. Without a doubt, the Death Eater would ignore the two of them and aim for the kill. And Kingsley was not about to for any friend of his to die on his watch!