Voldemort's attack came fast and sudden.
If Draco had not been prepared in advance, he might truly have been unable to dodge the Killing Curse shooting toward him.
But if Voldemort's attack ended there, that would be far too careless a thought.
"Draco!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
Voldemort, transformed into black mist, flew into the sky and fired his signature Killing Curse once again at Draco, who had used Apparition.
It was worth noting that this time, Draco did not bring Norberta with him in Apparition. Instead, he landed on the ground and began a close fight with Voldemort.
After all, defeating Voldemort would not be that easy, and Draco did not have enough magic to keep bringing such a massive fire dragon along with him in Apparition.
A few more times, and Draco's magic would be completely drained.
Watching from the side as Draco actually fought Voldemort back and forth, Lucius did not lose his head and rush into the battlefield between them. Instead, he came to Snape's side and poured a healing potion into his mouth. "We need to recover as quickly as possible, Severus."
"I know, but before that..."
Their long-standing understanding let Snape immediately grasp what Lucius meant.
But before that, Snape had someone he was even more unable to leave alone.
And that person was naturally Harry Potter, who seemed to have been frightened by the attack just now.
"I think our Mr. Potter has been scared stiff. His courage is no bigger than a sewer rat's."
"....."
"If you can't be of any help, then leave this place at once, Potter!"
Although the situation was hardly appropriate, and Lucius always upheld noble elegance in his every movement, even he could not help rolling his eyes in speechless exasperation as he listened.
The person who had just risked his life to save Harry Potter was clearly Snape. His eyes were clearly filled with concern and urgency, yet Snape's mouth still showed no mercy whatsoever.
Anyone who did not know better might have thought he loathed Harry Potter to the bone.
Whether Snape's sharp tongue had taken effect, or Harry Potter simply refused to admit he was inferior to Draco, just as Snape was about to take Harry Potter away from here, Harry Potter forcefully broke free of his hand.
"Let go of me! How can I just leave like this?"
"...This is an order, Potter!"
Snape's brow furrowed hard. With a dark expression, he grabbed Harry Potter by the shoulders and stared into those green eyes that made it so difficult for him to stay calm.
"I have never acknowledged you as my headmaster, Professor!"
"You!"
"This is something I have to do, because..."
"....."
Looking into Harry Potter's green eyes, Snape felt an inexplicable surge of panic and unease, as though he was about to hear something terrible from the boy's mouth.
And in fact, Harry Potter's next words proved that his sixth sense had not been wrong.
Harry Potter's expression twisted slightly.
It was a complicated look woven from resentment and hatred.
Looking at Voldemort, who was currently fighting Draco, Harry Potter quietly said the words that made Snape and Lucius's expressions change.
"Horcrux..."
"I... I'm actually Voldemort's Horcrux!"