Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 229 Ike and Dumbledore

"Immediately imprison them!"

A dozen ropes suddenly appeared, binding the Death Eaters who were left behind tightly. Apart from the unconscious Lucius and Lukewood, McNeil, Dolohoff, Crabbe, Rabastein, Rodolphs, Gargson, and others also failed to escape. In the end, only Ike and Bella managed to run away.

"We can't let them get away, Dumbledore!" Sirius Black kicked Lukwood and said, panting, "They're too dangerous!"

Dumbledore nodded, his gaze sweeping over the scattered figures around him. Hermione and Luna were still unconscious on the steps, Tonks was also unconscious, and Ron and Ginny lay nearby. Lupin's arm was bleeding profusely, Kingsley was limping, and Mr. Weasley had a patch of hair missing and a bloody gash on his face. Sirius was slightly better off, but he could no longer bend over or turn around, and his fight with Bellatrix had not been easy.

"Where is Moody?" Dumbledore suddenly asked.

"He held off Ike for us earlier, and then..." Neville plopped down on the ground, feeling dizzy. The hand-to-hand combat had taken a toll on his strength.

"You stay here and keep an eye on these guys. Leave the rest to me." Dumbledore said sternly, turning to leave.

"Wait, Professor! I'm going too!" Harry shouted, but Dumbledore stopped him before he could take two steps.

"No! Harry, you stay here."

"for……"

"Stay here!" Dumbledore said to Sirius again. "Keep an eye on him, Sirius!"

As Dumbledore's figure disappeared through the doorway, Harry kicked it in frustration, sending Lucius's ornate wand flying quite a distance.

"Calm down, Harry, Dumbledore will catch them," Lupin said, patting Harry on the shoulder after stopping the bleeding with a Healing Charm.

"I can help..." Harry muttered, and Lupin pulled him aside, giving Sirius a wink.

"That's right, Harry, calm down." Sirius walked over, pursed his lips at Lupin, and put his arm around Harry to sit on the steps nearby. "You did very well. Trust Dumbledore, those two won't escape his pursuit."

"I know, but... I can do more, you understand, Sirius?"

Seeing Harry's resentful look, Sirius patted him on the shoulder, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Don't worry, do you really think we need so many people to watch over these guys without wands?" He then winked.

Harry immediately understood, but before he could speak, Sirius shushed him, patted him on the shoulder, and walked toward Lupin.

"Moonface, let's all stay here..." he said. "I've only just warmed up."

"You..." Lupin had barely opened his mouth when Sirius Black continued, "Dumbledore needs us. He's very old, and we have to help him."

"Alright, alright, Sirius," Mr. Weasley said with a smile. "You two can go ahead. Kingsley and I are enough here."

"Great job, Arthur!" Sirius gave Weasley a thumbs-up, then pulled Lupin toward the door. He didn't forget to turn back and shout to Harry, "Come on! What are you waiting for!"

The three passed through the door and several different rooms, including the completely destroyed Time Hall, Brain Hall, offices, and Specimen Hall, finally returning to the Rotunda. They walked down a long, dark corridor, entered the elevator, pressed the button, and waited for it to clatter upwards. When the gates opened again, they were in the Ministry of Magic's main hall.

The scene that came into view was a battle. Dumbledore had already stopped Ike and Bella. Various spells were flying around in the air, and half of the huge fountain had been smashed.

"Hey, Bella! I'm your opponent!" Sirius shouted, wand in hand, and charged forward, with Lupin and Harry close behind. Three spells flew out simultaneously, enveloping Bella in their spells.

Suddenly, a silver shield appeared in front of Bella, blocking the three spells for her. But at the same time, Dumbledore suddenly unleashed a spell that separated Ike and Bella.

"Don't get distracted while you're fighting me, Ike," Dumbledore said, his wand flashing with a blinding light. The centaur statues in the hall came to life and shot an arrow at him.

"Obstacles are numerous!"

After completing the first attack, Ike chanted the incantation, and the arrow that was shot trembled seven times in the air before plunging down and embedding itself firmly in the ground, disappearing a third of its length.

With a wave of the wand, a golden light flashed on the centaur statue, and another arrow shot out, this time aimed at Dumbledore. Before it was over, the wizards, witches, house-elves, and goblins nearby also came to life and launched their attacks.

Dumbledore remained calm, maintaining his spell suppression over Ike while extending his left hand to easily block all attacks. With another wave of his wand, a flash of red light appeared on the statues, simultaneously interrupting Ike's control over them.

"Excellent Transfiguration and Animation, but not enough," Dumbledore said, raising his wand with a creaking sound. Suddenly, all the magical creatures and figures carved on the walls and pillars of the hall, except for the five giant statues, came to life and struggled to leap out.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The ground trembled as a large number of stone figures and statues advanced towards Ike. They moved forward in orderly formation, carrying various weapons: wands, spears, bows and arrows, and even hammers and clubs, which they threw as they got closer to Ike.

"Armor Protection!" Ike chanted the incantation again, and a silver light shield immediately appeared. At the same time, he stretched out his left palm and then clenched it tightly.

"Thunderous explosion!"

A flash of red light, like a lit firecracker, caused the weapons in the air to explode, and debris rained down, hitting the silver light shield and creating ripples.

"Clap clap clap..." All the fragments were stopped a foot away from Dumbledore. He clapped his hands and calmly said, "Good, shall we continue?"

"They'll all be petrified!"

"Obstacles are numerous!"

"Flames are raging!"

"The Divine Blade is Without a Shadow!"

Ike unleashed a furious barrage of spells at Dumbledore. Dumbledore, however, managed to shield them all with a single Ironclad Charm, and even managed to launch a few counterattacks during the gaps in Ike's spellcasting.

The timing was perfect, which made Ike very uncomfortable.

While Ike could still hold on, Bella on the other side was completely outmatched. Although Sirius, Lupin, and Harry weren't at their best, a three-on-one fight against a Bella who was also not at her best was still quite easy.

Soon, Bella was left only able to defend herself, but even so, she kept laughing, and her laughter grew louder and more rampant.

Suddenly, she paused, just as Ike detonated the barrage of weapons. Sirius seized the opportunity and cast a stun spell that struck Bella directly.

She fell backward, and a smile appeared on Sirius's face.

Suddenly, her smile froze, turning serious. A person dressed in a black robe appeared behind Bella and reached out to stop her.

He gently placed Bella on the ground, waved his wand to dispel the stun spell, and at the same time, a huge green light shot towards Dumbledore.

Dumbledore swung his wand violently, and a red light collided with the green light, the two sparking and crackling with countless sparks.

Suddenly, with perfect unison, the two withdrew their magic. Dumbledore's expression remained calm as he looked at the unexpected figure and softly said:

"Long time no see, Tom..."

(End of this chapter)