Hidden Strike

April 10, 1992, 9:10 PM, Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts

Adam Clarke

As the chaos erupted around us, I stood my ground, my chains whipping through the air like agitated, silver serpents. They formed a protective barrier around our group, deflecting spells that came too close for comfort.

Hien let out a wordless shout from somewhere behind me, his wand arm a blur of motion. A jet of red light shot past my left ear, striking one of Grindelwald’s followers square in the chest. The uniformed figure crumpled to the ground.

I felt a surge of magical energy to my right as Fleur stepped forward, her silvery-blonde hair whipping in the magical wind.

“Incendio Tria!” She cried, her wand quickly tracing a spiral. A vortex of blue flames erupted from its tip, engulfing two more attackers who’d been trying to flank us.

“On your left!” Akio’s voice cut through the din of battle. I instinctively lashed out with my chains, catching a spell mid-flight and redirecting it back at its caster. The attacker barely managed to deflect it, stumbling backward.

Mira seized the opportunity.

“Expelliarmus!” She incanted, disarming the wizard before he could regain his footing. His wand arced through the air, and one of our allies— a tall boy whose name I couldn’t recall— snatched it deftly.

“Nice catch!” I called out, before turning my attention back to the fray. My chains danced around us, intercepting curses and hexes from all directions. The air crackled with magical energy, filled with multicolored flashes of light as spells flew back and forth.

A particularly nasty curse— sickly green and crackling with dark energy— hurtled towards us.

“Everyone, down!” I shouted, concentrating hard. My chains coalesced into a solid shield, absorbing the impact with a resounding gong. The force of it sent tremors down my arms, but I held firm.

“Get him!” I roared as soon as the dust settled, and our group sprang back into action. Hien and Akio moved in perfect sync, their wands weaving intricate patterns as they cast a joint spell.

“Kurai Yagare!” A near-tidal wave of water rushed outward, sweeping one side of the attackers away and crashing them against the forest trees.

On the other side, Fleur, Mira, and another of our allies— a girl with short, spiky hair— were working in tandem, with Mira and the other girl shielding while Fleur unleashed a rapid series of flame-infused Severing Charms, her aim precise and deadly.

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride as I watched us work together, strangers united against a common threat. My chains continued their relentless dance, giving us the protection we needed while seeking out further opponents to harry in the backline.

As we pushed forward, driving Grindelwald’s followers back, a particularly skilled opponent revealed himself, redirecting my chains, as well as any other spell away like they weren’t even there.

I could not touch him.

“There! Concentrate fire on that one!” I called out, recognizing the threat. As one, our group turned their attention to this new target, a barrage of spells lighting up the night sky.

To that, the man only laughed, deflecting our onslaught and thrusting his wand forward.

The ground beneath us shuddered as he unleashed a devastating wave of force. It hit us like a physical wall, knocking the breath from my lungs and sending us all crashing into the earth with multiple thuds.

My chains clattered to the ground, momentarily dispelled by the shock. I gasped, struggling to regain my bearings as pain blossomed in my forehead and the world spun around me.

Akio was the first to recover. He sprang to his feet, his face a mask of determination and gleeful excitement.

“Kazekiri!” He roared, his wand slashing through the air.

Blades of wind, razor-sharp and nearly invisible, hurtled towards our opponents. I watched in awe as they cut through the air, leaving faint distortions in their wake. Some of Grindelwald’s followers cried out in pain as the wind-blades found their marks, opening deep cuts on exposed skin and even dismembering some of the unlucky ones.

But our foe was ready for it. With a casual flick of his wand, he conjured a shimmering barrier that absorbed Akio’s wind blades.

Fleur was back up next, her silvery hair whipping around her face as she cast from her knees.

“Flagrante!” She cried, her wand describing a fiery arc. The ground at our enemies’ feet began to glow red-hot, forcing them to dance and leap awkwardly to avoid being burned.

Still, the skilled enemy seemed a step ahead of us, as, with another gesture, he extinguished Fleur’s heated ground.

Seeing my allies in action galvanized me. I pushed myself up, my arms trembling with effort, and focused on reanimating my chains. They came back to life, sluggish at first but quickly gaining speed.

Odgovor! The chains flew in an arc, forming blades as they encircled the man, hoping to tear his shield to shreds. My eyes went wide, however, when the chains did not penetrate, instead being caught by a strange spell which molded itself to the chains and kept them from moving any further.

My eyes narrowed, and I dispelled those chains, instead launching a smokescreen spell to buy ourselves some time. Our other companions were still struggling to their feet, clearly dazed from the initial blast.

I gritted my teeth, knowing we had to buy them even more time to recover.

“Fleur, Akio. Cover fire!” I ordered, my voice hoarse as Hien staggered to his feet. “Hien, try to flank him with your wolves!”

Fleur nodded, launching a rapid series of Fire spells. Beside her, Akio added his own cutting winds to the mix, intensifying Fleur’s flames and forcing their opponents to focus on the threat in front of them. Hien, meanwhile, used the distraction to gain a better angle.

I concentrated on my remaining chains, willing them to move faster, strike harder. They whirled around me in a frenzy, deflecting incoming spells and lashing out at any opening I could spot.

For every spell we cast, though, our enemies seemed to have a counter. Shields sprang up at just the right moments, deflection charms sent our own magic hurtling back at us. The masked opponent, in particular, moved with an almost prescient grace, as if he could read our intentions before we even acted.

They’d gotten a bead on our fighting style.

As Hien’s conjured wolves were caught and destroyed at the moment of their ambush, I realized with a sinking feeling that we were definitely outmatched. We needed a new strategy, and fast, or this fight would be over before the rest of our group could even rejoin the fray.

Our backs were pressed against the metaphorical wall, with us straining to even defend at this point. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I fought to keep my chains intact and going, each impact from our enemies’ spells sending tremors through my body.

Fleur stood to my left, her wand a blur as she cast spell after spell, her face set in grim determination. Akio crouched to my right, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he alternated between shielding and attacking. He’d taken a bone breaker to the arm, and could barely stand at this point, but he was still fighting. The others in our group huddled behind us, wands at the ready but clearly exhausted and drained.

Won’t be long now. They’ll break through… I thought, the expression on my face turning ugly. I won’t let them leave this exchange unscathed. I’ll—

A chorus of voices rang out from behind our opponents, interrupting my thoughts. “Stupefy!” “Expelliarmus!” “Impedimenta!“

A barrage of spells lit up the night once more, catching Grindelwald’s followers completely off guard. Stunning Spells,  Disarming Charms, and the pale blue light of Impediment Jinxes rained down on our foes from all directions.

The leader whirled around, his wand a blur as he attempted to shield his comrades and counterattack, but he couldn’t block everything. Several of the enemy wizards fell, stunned or disarmed, while others stumbled, caught by slowing jinxes.

“Now’s our chance!” I shouted, my voice cracking with effort and excitement. “Let ’em have it!”

Sensing the tide turning, our group surged forward with renewed energy. Hien let out a battle cry, his wand spurting jets of purple light that wrapped around two opponents like thick ropes. Mira followed up with a volley of Stunners, her aim true.

I retracted my defensive chains, focusing instead on the offensive. With a roar, my chains wrapped around several distracted foes’ feet, crushing them before they even had the chance to look down in alarm.

Screams filled the air as Fleur stepped up beside me, her hair whipping in the magical wind.

“Confringo!” She casted, sending blasting curses into the fray. Explosions rocked the battlefield, scattering our already disoriented foes.

Akio moved like a brute, his gracefulness all but gone as he dodged incoming spells while casting his own.

“Kazekiri!” Cutting winds once again engulfed our enemies, filling the air with more shouts of pain, further adding to the chaos as several of them attempted to defend.

The leader was a whirlwind of motion, deflecting spells from both sides, but even he was beginning to show signs of strain. His movements, once fluid and precise, became more frantic as he struggled to counter attacks from multiple directions.

“Focus on the leader!” I called out, pointing at the figure. “If we take him down, the others might surrender!”

As one, our group turned our attention to the current bane of our existence. Sharing a look, we all went into action. Spells flew thick and fast— not basic Charms this time, but spells meant to end fights permanently.

I sent my own chains hurtling forward, aiming to maim and kill.

No mercy.

The air crackled with magical energy as our combined assault bore down on the masked figure. For a moment, the look of shock on his face allowed me to think that we’d won, but then the moment passed and he blurred into motion, deflecting, dodging and redirecting spells with the grace of a dancer.

We spread out, forming around our foe, but even as Fleur launched her flames, he met her fire with a torrent of water, creating a cloud of steam that momentarily obscured our vision. As the mist cleared, I saw him point his wand at the ground. “Glacius Maxima!“

A wave of frost spread rapidly across the floor. Fleur lost her footing, slipping on the suddenly icy surface. As she struggled to regain her balance, our foe struck. A silent spell hit Fleur squarely in the chest, encasing her in a block of ice up to her neck and knocking her out instantly.

Another spell struck Akio as he dove to the right, and a second later, he was sent flying into Hien and Mira, who had moved to protect the other contestants, knocking them all down.

“And then there was one.”

“Confringo!” I shouted, aiming at the ground near his feet. The blasting curse cratered the floor, but he leapt clear, retaliating with a barrage that I barely managed to block.

I was being pushed back, my chains moving frantically to intercept his spells. Sweat poured down my face as I struggled to keep up with his relentless assault.

A particularly powerful blue curse tore through my defense, sending my chains flying wide. I saw the triumphant gleam in his eyes as he raised his wand for the finishing blow.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind him. “Petrificus Totalus!”

The masked figure’s arms snapped to his sides, his whole body going rigid. He toppled forward, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

I looked up, panting, to see a woman with bright pink hair and a heart-shaped face grinning at me, her wand still pointed at our fallen foe.

“Wotcher.” She said cheerfully. “Looks like you could use a hand, kid.”

Relief washed over me as I realized the duel was over.

“Thanks.” I managed to gasp out, my legs shaky from exertion and adrenaline. “Your timing couldn’t have been better, Tonks.”

As I caught my breath, still reeling from the intensity of the duel, I noticed more figures emerging from the shadows behind Tonks. My jaw dropped as I recognized the man leading them.

“Is that… Lockhart?” I asked incredulously, wondering if the stress of battle had addled my senses.

There he was, resplendent in flowing lilac robes, his golden hair gleaming even in the dim light. He flashed his famous smile, raising his wand in a flourish.

“Indeed it is, young man!” Lockhart announced, his voice carrying across the battlefield. “Fear not, for I have everything under control!”

I turned to Tonks, my expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. “Lockhart? Really? These have to be the end times.”

Tonks shrugged, a wry smile on her face. “I know, right? But I’ve got to hand it to him— he’s pretty obnoxious, but a damn good fighter. Surprised us all, to be honest. When our lead went down, he took control fairly quickly.”

I shook my head, still struggling to process this information. Then a thought struck me. “Wait, where’s Moody? Shouldn’t he be leading this group?”

“Ah, Mad-Eye.” Tonks replied, her expression growing more serious. “He’s in the thick of the major fighting. Last I saw, he and the other heads of school were taking on a group of Grindelwald’s elite soldiers, maybe even Grindelwald himself. You’ve met Moody— he’s always where the action is hottest.”

I nodded, a mixture of awe and concern washing over me. If Moody was in the main battle, things must be intense.

Lockhart’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Come now, we must press on! There are more villains to vanquish, more innocents to save!” He gestured grandly with his wand, leading his group forward.

I exchanged a bemused glance with Tonks before turning my attention to my fallen comrades.

“We need to help the other contestants. They took a pretty hard beating.” I said, moving towards where my allies lay.

As Tonks and I worked to revive and free my friends, I couldn’t help but marvel at the strange turns this battle had taken. Gilderoy Lockhart, of all people, leading a charge against Grindelwald’s forces— it was almost too bizarre to believe. 

Yet, as I watched him confidently directing his group, I realized that in times like these, heroes could emerge from the most unexpected places. Whether I liked it or not, it seemed Lockhart was one of them.

oooo

Gilderoy Lockhart

Gilderoy Lockhart surveyed the scene before him, his dazzling smile never faltering. His lilac robes swirled dramatically as he turned, adding just the right touch of flair to his heroic stance. 

“Well, well.” He announced to no one in particular. “It seems Gilderoy Lockhart has arrived just in the nick of time! As usual, of course.”

He strode confidently towards the group of students, his wand held aloft like a conductor’s baton.

“Now then, let the master of magical defense assess the situation.” He declared, his voice carrying an air of self-importance that seemed almost palpable.

Turning to the team of magical law enforcers, Lockhart gave a commanding nod.

“You there, check each other for injuries. Can’t have anyone slowing down the great Gilderoy Lockhart’s rescue mission, can we?” He chuckled at his own perceived wit.

As the officers began their checks, Lockhart approached the students, his keen eyes— which he often boasted could spot a Yeti at a hundred paces— scanning for any signs of harm.

“Fear not, my young friends.” He said grandly. “You’re in the presence of a thirteen-time winner of Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award. Your safety is assured!”

However, as he looked over the students, his perpetual smile faltered slightly. His gaze had fallen upon a young witch with short hair, wearing the unmistakable insignia of Longling Academy. For a brief moment, a flicker of genuine regret passed across his face.

“Ah, my dear.” He said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “I do apologize for this. Stupefy!”

The red jet of light struck the girl before she could react, and she crumpled to the ground. The other students gasped in shock, some reaching for their wands.

Lockhart raised his hand, his expression serious for once.

“Now, now, let’s not be hasty.” He said, his usual bravado tempered with gravity. “I’m afraid Longling has joined in this dastardly attack. Castelobruxo too, if you can believe it. Terrible business, really. Almost as terrible as the time I single-handedly fended off a pack of werewolves in Tibet… but that’s a story for another time.”

He turned back to the Stunned Longling student, a touch of genuine sadness in his eyes. “It pains me to do this, truly. But fear not! Gilderoy Lockhart shall get to the bottom of this treachery. After all, unraveling complex magical conspiracies is just another Tuesday for a wizard of my caliber!”

With a flourish of his wand and a flip of his golden locks, Lockhart turned back to the group. “Now then, who’s ready to follow the greatest wizard of our age into glorious battle? I promise, you’ll all feature prominently in my next bestseller!”

Gilderoy Lockhart noticed the students rolling their eyes at his grandiose speech, but he took it in stride, attributing their reaction to awe at being in his presence. His megawatt smile never faltered.

“Ah, young man.” Lockhart beamed at Adam, who had stepped forward. “Eager to learn from the master, are we? Well, who could blame you? Why, I remember when I was your age, already showing signs of the greatness to come…”

Adam cut him off, asking directly. “Where are we going next?”

“Excellent question!” Lockhart exclaimed, as if Adam had just solved a particularly clever riddle. “Our next destination, my brave young followers, is none other than the quaint village of Hogsmeade!”

A murmur of surprise rippled through the group of students. One of them spoke up, confusion evident in their voice. “But… we thought Hogwarts was under attack.”

“Are you just taking us to a safe place?” Adam, and Gilderoy swore that his white eye almost glowed with anger.

Lockhart’s team members shook their heads solemnly, and Tonks stepped forward, her pink hair turning into a muted brown, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

“I’m afraid it’s worse than that.” Tonks said, her voice grave. “From what we understand, this is a coordinated attack on multiple locations. Hogsmeade is under siege, yes, but so is Diagon Alley. We’ve also received reports of attacks in Godric’s Hollow and several other significant wizarding locations. There are no safe places right now.”

The students’ faces paled as the full gravity of the situation sank in. Lockhart, sensing the mood, attempted to rally their spirits.

“But fear not!” He declared, striking what he clearly thought was a heroic pose. “With Gilderoy Lockhart leading the charge, victory is all but assured! Why, this reminds me of the time I single-handedly saved a village from a horde of rampaging Erumpents. Did I ever tell you about that? It’s all in my book ‘Erumpent Escapades‘…”

Tonks cleared her throat loudly, cutting off Lockhart’s reminiscence. “Right, well, the point is, we need to move quickly. Hogsmeade is closest, and they’ll need all the help they can get.”

Lockhart nodded vigorously. “Indeed, indeed! And who better to provide that help than me, of course? Now, let’s be off! Glory and adventure await!”

With a dramatic swish of his robes, Lockhart turned and began striding purposefully in the direction of Hogsmeade. The students exchanged glances, a mix of disbelief and determination on their faces, before falling in line behind him. Despite Lockhart’s overblown bravado, they knew the seriousness of the situation, and they steeled themselves for the battles to come.

Gilderoy Lockhart strode confidently at the head of the group, his lilac robes billowing dramatically behind him. He hummed a jaunty tune to himself, occasionally tossing his golden locks or flashing a winning smile over his shoulder at his followers.

From the rear of the group, he could hear the low murmur of the students’ voices, no doubt discussing his many heroic exploits, he assumed. One of the magical law enforcers who had deferred to Lockhart’s leadership caught up to him, a concerned look on his face.

“Mr. Lockhart.” The enforcer began hesitantly. “Are you certain it’s wise to bring the children along? I know they’re tournament contestants, but this seems terribly risky.”

Lockhart’s smile widened, if that were possible.

“Ah, my good man.” He said, his voice dripping with self-assurance. “You show admirable concern, but fear not! I, Gilderoy Lockhart, understand these young adventurers better than most.”

He lowered his voice conspiratorially, as if sharing a great secret. “You see, these spirited youths would leap headlong into danger whether we supervise them or not. It’s in their nature— why, it reminds me of myself at their age! By bringing them along, we can ensure they have the help they need, safely away from the thick of the fighting.”

Lockhart nodded sagely, clearly impressed with his own wisdom. However, said wisdom proved to be useless, minutes later as they beheld Hogsmeade. His steps faltered for a moment as he understood what was going on.

“Oh dear.” He muttered, his usual bravado slipping for just a second. “It seems I may have slightly miscalculated. Hogsmeade appears to be just as rife with fighting as Hogwarts.”

But Lockhart was nothing if not quick on his feet— both literally and figuratively. His confident smile snapped back into place as he turned to address the group.

“Change of plans, everyone!” He announced grandly. “It seems Hogsmeade is in even greater need of the talents of Gilderoy Lockhart than we initially thought! We shall have to be extra vigilant. But fear not! With my vast experience in dealing with dangerous magical situations— did I ever tell you about the time I defeated a Chimaera with nothing but a teacup?— we shall prevail!”

As they continued towards Hogsmeade, Lockhart’s mind raced, trying to figure out how to keep the students safe while also ensuring his own heroic actions would be prominently featured in his next bestseller. After all, one must have priorities, even in the midst of a crisis.

Gilderoy Lockhart led the group into Hogsmeade, his wand at the ready and his hair somehow still perfectly coiffed despite the chaos around them.

“Aqua Eructo!” He called out dramatically, dousing a nearby fire with a jet of water from his wand. “You see, children? This is how a true hero handles a crisis!”

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. Lockhart’s head whipped around, his eyes narrowing.

“Danger calls, and Gilderoy Lockhart answers!” He declared, sprinting towards the sound with surprising agility for a man in flowing robes.

To his surprise, young Adam Clarke was hot on his heels. Before Lockhart could even raise his wand, Adam’s enchanted chains flew forward with astonishing speed. They crashed into a dark-robed wizard who had been standing menacingly over a young boy, sending the attacker flying into a stack of cauldrons with a resounding crash.

“Well, I never!” Lockhart exclaimed, genuinely impressed. “Excellent form, young man! Though perhaps a touch flashy— one must always consider one’s audience, you know.”

But there was no time for further critique. Several more wizards Apparated into the area, their wands raised threateningly.

“Ah, reinforcements!” Lockhart announced, his voice carrying a hint of excitement rather than fear. “Now you’ll see why they call me the most charming— and dangerous— smile in the wizarding world!”

With a flourish of his wand, Lockhart sent a barrage of spells towards the newcomers, with each bit of magic accompanied by a dazzling smile and a swish of his robes.

Adam’s chains lashed out again, providing cover as Lockhart dueled. The young wizard was proving to be quite the ally, his unique magic complementing Lockhart’s more traditional spellwork.

One of the dark wizards sent a jet of purple flames towards them.

“Protego Maxima!” Lockhart shouted, erecting a powerful shield charm. The flames dissipated harmlessly against it. “You’ll have to do better than that to best Gilderoy Lockhart, thirteen-time winner of Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award!“

“Just shut up and die already!”

The battle raged on, spells flying in all directions. Lockhart ducked and weaved, his wand a blur of motion.

Petrificus Totalus! He cast, freezing one attacker in place.

Afterward, ropes sprang from his wand, binding another.

Adam’s chains continued to whip and strike, keeping their opponents off-balance. Together, they made a formidable team, slowly but surely gaining the upper hand.

As the rest joined them, the last attacker falling to a well-placed Stunning Charm from Lockhart, he turned to Adam with a beaming smile. “Well fought, my boy! You know, you remind me of myself at your age. Perhaps you’d like to hear about the time I single-handedly defeated a clan of vampires in Venice? It would make for an excellent tutoring session!”

Gilderoy Lockhart’s beaming smile faltered as Adam fixed him with a penetrating stare. The boy’s gaze seemed to cut through Lockhart’s carefully constructed persona, making him feel uncomfortably exposed.

“Your clownish attitude is an annoyance.” Adam said bluntly, turning away from Lockhart to help the young boy to his feet.

For a moment, Lockhart’s facade cracked, revealing a flicker of genuine hurt and understanding. He took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice lacked its usual bombastic tone.

“You’re right, of course.” Lockhart admitted quietly. “But look around you, young Adam.”

He gestured towards the boy Adam was helping and then to the other students nearby. Their faces were etched with fear and tension, eyes darting nervously at every sound.

“Do you really think more seriousness is what they need right now?” Lockhart asked, his voice gentle but firm. “Sometimes, a bit of levity can be a shield against despair.”

Adam opened his mouth, clearly ready to argue, but then he paused. His eyes swept over the frightened faces around them, lingering on the young boy who was now clinging to his robes. After a moment, he pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh.

“Fine.” Adam conceded reluctantly. “I see your point.”

Lockhart’s smile returned, but it was softer, more genuine than his usual dazzling grin. “Thank you, my boy. Now, shall we continue to save the day? I believe I was about to regale everyone with the tale of how I vanquished a particularly nasty Banshee with nothing but a hairbrush and my wits!”

“No, it was about a vampire in v— you know what? Just tell your story.”

As Lockhart launched into his story, his voice once again carrying its theatrical flair, he noticed some of the tension easing from the students’ shoulders. Adam rolled his eyes, but Lockhart caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of the boy’s mouth.

oooo

London

The quiet streets of London lay still under the early night sky. A lone, young wizard strolled purposefully through the empty streets, eventually turning into an alleyway housing a rarely used phone booth. His eyes scanned the area, noting with satisfaction the absence of any Ministry officials, enforcers, or Aurors.

Nodding to himself, the wizard gave a subtle signal. From the shadows of the alley, a group of figures emerged, reporting in hushed tones that they had found no trace of anyone in the vicinity.

The wizard reached into his robes, producing a small mirror.

“Rafiq.” He called softly. The mirror’s surface shimmered, revealing the face of a well-traveled, older man.

“Mr. Marco.” The man in the mirror spoke, his voice gravelly. “We are ready. All Ministry personnel have been called to the ongoing crises in England.”

Marco nodded to someone off-screen before responding. “No sign of activity at the eastern entrance either. We are prepared to carry out our orders.

“Then you may begin, Mr. Marco. While my team’s mission is underway, yours will be to sabotage the following locations to cause chaos.” He began listing off a series of targets.

As Rafiq detailed the plan, a smile spread across Marco’s face. The moment he had long awaited was finally at hand.

“Very well.” He replied, his voice betraying a hint of anticipation. “For the order.”

And for myself.