Although Hermione more or less understood the situation, she hesitated, holding back from entering the suitcase. Instead, Kanna stepped forward as the first volunteer.
"I won't be any trouble," she said with a smile. "Besides, I'm curious about what's inside this suitcase of yours."
"Just don't wander off once you're in," Kyle warned. "And try not to be alard by anything you see. I promise, as long as you stay in the main room below, you'll be safe."
Kanna gave Kyle a curious look, her instincts telling her there was sothing extraordinary inside. But with ti running out, she held back her questions and climbed in.
"Wait for ," Cho said, following quickly behind.
Fred and George exchanged a glance, and despite Ginny's protests, they promptly shoved her into the suitcase as well.
Kyle then looked over at Harry and Hermione.
"I can help!" Harry said quickly, trying to stay above the fray.
"No, the one who needs hiding is you," Kyle replied firmly. "Don't forget, you almost got killed just now. If sothing like that happened again, I can't promise I'd get to you in ti."
"Kyle's right," Hermione sighed, looking at Harry. "They're after you, and it was close—too close."
"But—" Harry started, frowning, still determined.
But Hermione had already taken his arm, guiding him to the suitcase. After what had just happened, she knew they'd be safer hidden away. If Kyle hadn't spotted the danger, Harry might have been killed, and she wasn't willing to risk another close call.
"Co on, we need to keep an eye on Ron in there," she said. "It's safer. Besides, no one would pay attention to an old suitcase, would they?"
Harry glanced reluctantly at the suitcase, his recent brush with death fresh in his mind. After a mont's hesitation, he followed Hermione inside.
Nearby, Kyle's eye twitched. An "old" suitcase? Although his suitcase had been in use for three years and was a bit worn, he'd taken great care of it. There wasn't even a major scratch. It certainly wasn't "shabby." Tactless Gryffindors... he thought with a sigh.
Now only three of them remained.
Fred and George, catching Kyle's look, imdiately shook their heads, a firm refusal in their eyes. They weren't about to be confined inside a suitcase under any circumstances.
"All right, then," Kyle said, gathering up the suitcase. "Let's go check on the campsite."
"Yes!" Fred and George nodded enthusiastically. "We'll grab our backpacks first. Got Dungbombs in there..."
As they turned, Kyle raised his wand and gave Cedric a quick wink.
Cedric got the hint imdiately.
"Stupefy!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Without any surprise, Fred and George dropped to the ground, immobilized.
Kyle reopened the suitcase and unceremoniously shoved the unconscious George headfirst inside.
"I've got a feeling..." Cedric said, hoisting the petrified Fred over his shoulder, "we won't be living peacefully for at least the next half year."
"Probably not," Kyle replied with a shrug, "but that's tomorrow's problem. You go ahead and get inside. And rember to keep an eye on everyone. There are so... pretty dangerous things in there."
"All right," Cedric said, peering into the suitcase. "But you're not planning on joining this fight, are you? It's too dangerous—especially with them using Unforgivable Curses."
"Don't worry," Kyle said, giving him a reassuring nod. "I've got help... it's hard to explain, but you'll understand soon enough."
Just then, a rustling sound ca from the trees nearby.
"Who's there?" Kyle called, raising his wand and creating a translucent barrier in front of him.
Two witches hurried past, glancing briefly at him before disappearing into the trees. Kyle didn't lower his wand until they were out of sight. He then picked up the suitcase and sprinted toward the camp.
By now, the camp was in utter chaos. Cries and screams filled the air as spells of every color ricocheted wildly, casting flashes of light across the disordered grounds. Kyle pushed on, heading straight for the thickest part of the fray.
Finding Mr. Weasley was easier than he expected. Even in a chaotic battlefield, the distinctive red hair of the Weasley family stood out. Soon, Kyle spotted him in the middle of the camp. Mr. Weasley, along with Bill and Charlie, was standing protectively around a group of children in pajamas.
A group of seven or eight hooded wizards surrounded them, not in attack but in amusent, taunting the Weasleys like cats toying with mice. They leisurely fired curses at the terrified children, clearly entertained by the scene. Mr. Weasley was attempting to shield the group, but his efforts only seed to amuse them further.
"That's enough fun for now," one of the hooded figures said, his voice low and rough. "The Ministry's backup will be here soon. Let's get on with the real business."
Another figure chuckled darkly. "Maxi will be so surprised to find so many Beauxbatons students in the ss. That dim-witted giantess—she'll be licking my boots after this!"
"Do what you want then!"
The hooded figures raised their wands, ready to unleash a more serious attack.
Then, from behind them, a voice rang out.
"Stupefy!"
At that exact mont, several round objects rolled silently toward their feet.
"Cruci—Ahhh!" one of the hooded wizards scread, dropping his wand and collapsing as a fierce, stabbing pain tore through his shin. His scream was so loud it could have been mistaken for the Cruciatus Curse itself.
Another scream followed, and the remaining hooded figures began to fall to the ground, one after the other. Only now did they notice that their legs were being attacked by round, chomping plants—Chomping Cabbages latched onto their limbs with sharp, relentless bites.
"Blasted Chomping Cabbages! Why are they here?" one of them yelled in panic.
The wizards struggled to pull the cabbages off, but Mr. Weasley and his sons seized the opportunity.
"Stupefy!"
"Stupefy!"
"Incarcerous!"
In an instant, the situation had shifted dramatically. The group of hooded wizards, once confident with their numbers, was reduced to a single figure. He had been the quickest to react, pulling back just in ti to evade the Chomping Cabbages' attack. But now, he was alone, facing the furious Weasleys.
Bill held his wand steady, a vengeful satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Had a good laugh, haven't you?" he sneered. "Well, go on—don't stop now!"
The remaining wizard cursed under his breath and turned to flee. But before he'd made it more than a step or two—
"Stupefy!"
The wizard dropped with a dull thud, sprawled out and motionless. His wand, which had slipped from his grasp, rolled a few feet away. It was distinct from the others—at the end was an elegant tal snake's head, and two eralds set in the eyes sparkled ominously in the firelight.
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