Trapped in a narrow passage choked with rubble, the sudden appearance of the goblins left Harry, Malfoy, and the others visibly annoyed.
"Seriously?! Why are you everywhere?!" Malfoy practically shrieked, his aristocratic composure shattered. Couldn't those blasted goblins resist stirring up trouble? And this wasn't even England! What were the odds of running into goblins while traveling abroad?
Harry mirrored Malfoy's frustration. His dislike for goblins had only intensified since his near-fatal encounter with them at Gringotts.
While the two boys vented their anger, Hermione and the others quietly drew their wands, ready to unleash an ambush at the slightest provocation.
The goblins, facing the barrage of angry accusations, felt equally aggrieved. Why are these brats EVERYWHERE?! Most of them were former Gringotts employees, forced to flee during Harry's last escapade. Now, even outside England, they were running into each other again. Were they truly destined to be hunted down relentlessly?
The goblins felt wronged on top of everything. All they wanted was to capture a Veela. Why did they have to contend with Tom Riddle? Frozen in place, they waited for an opportunity to escape. Capture, they knew, meant certain death. Even surrender offered no guarantees.
"Did you blow up the opera house?" Leonie Delacour's voice cut through the air, her face a mask of fury. The temperature seemed to rise around her. She loved Muggle opera, and these damned goblins had destroyed the building, narrowly missing her granddaughters! Only Tom Riddle's presence kept her from unleashing her full power.
"Would you believe us if we said we didn't?" the goblins tried to bluff, knowing full well they had indeed blown up the opera house to lure out the Veela. Admitting guilt now, even in the face of Leonie's rage, was not an option.
"I used Legilimency," Severus Snape announced, his voice flat as he stared impassively at Tom Riddle. "They were responsible."
The goblins faltered, their eyes darting towards Tom Riddle's enigmatic smile. Without another word, they turned and fled, a dozen or so scrambling to escape. Unfortunately, the only exit was the narrow passage they had created, far too small for a quick getaway.
Regret washed over them. They had been too clever by half. To isolate Leonie within the opera house, they had meticulously planned everything, blocking Apparition and removing any Portkeys. Now, their perfect hunting arena had become their prison.
In desperation, some goblins charged towards the blocked passageway, while others hammered at the walls, hoping to create a new escape route.
Harry and his companions were not about to let them off so easily.
"Go. Kill them all," Tom Riddle said, his voice devoid of emotion.
With a flick of his wrist, the slowest goblin was yanked towards him by unseen magic. Tom Riddle vanished with the struggling creature, reappearing inside a still-intact luxury box within the opera house. There, he magically bound the goblin, leaving it suspended helplessly in mid-air. "Let's see what you're hiding," Tom Riddle murmured, casting Legilimency with a disturbing glint in his eye.
...
Tom Riddle's chilling command echoed in their ears. The scattered goblins found themselves relentlessly pursued by the divided group of wizards. A dozen goblins together might have posed a challenge, but separated, they were easy prey.
Their short legs pumped furiously as the powerful wizards hunted them down. These damned wizards weren't content with simply attacking. When they grew bored, they toyed with their prey like cats with mice. Each spell seemed destined to strike, only to veer off course at the last moment. Do you expect me to praise your accuracy?!
And those two brats who had broken into Gringotts! They were wildly swinging swords, slicing through stone pillars as if they were made of tofu, all while emitting manic laughter. Yes, yes, we hunted you, but do you have to play with us like this?! Laughing as you hack us to pieces…you're terrifying goblins!
...
Before the explosion, the opera house had been filled with Muggles – hundreds, if not thousands. The goblins' attack had caused widespread chaos and casualties, but the building hadn't collapsed, leaving many survivors with minor injuries.
Now, goblins and wizards engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse amidst the wreckage, exposed to the horrified gazes of the Muggle survivors.
The dazzling magic shattered their mundane worldview, temporarily eclipsing their fear. People were endlessly drawn to the unknown, regardless of the danger. This contradictory psychology held them captive.
Muggles yearned for magic; the extraordinary power they had finally witnessed after countless years made those living in a material world feel like fish released from a tank into a vast river.
But the explosions, the flashing blades, and the splintered debris served as a stark warning: approaching the warm, beautiful sun could result in scorching heat.
Most people, in such a perilous situation, would wisely retreat out of fear, but in a crowd of that size, there were always a few fools.
The wizards paid them little mind, easily rescuing Muggles trapped under rubble if they encountered them. But if someone ran directly towards the spells and blades, there was little they could do. They might offer a moment's silence before resuming their pursuit of the goblins like their existence was dependent on it.
The goblins, however, were beyond exasperated. Weren't these the same people who used to cower at the sight of wizards? Why the hell are they blocking our escape?! If you want to launch a witch hunt, then do it properly! But if you're not strong enough, stay out of the way!
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