With Barty Crouch Jr.'s arrival, a great force of Death Eaters in black robes could be seen following him onto the scene.
This was not surprising at all.
With Voldemort's whereabouts unknown, the only ones capable of commanding these Death Eaters were probably Barty Crouch Jr. and a small number of other wizards.
And now that Barty Crouch Jr. had appeared here, aside from supporting Fenrir Greyback and the others, he had also come to deliver Voldemort's order to attack.
Faced with Barty Crouch Jr.'s tone, as if he were ordering around a dog, Fenrir twisted his neck hard, producing a series of sounds that made one frown. "I don't remember being one of your subordinates, so don't speak to me in that commanding tone."
"Hmph... so you intend to refuse the Master?"
"..."
In the silent air, with restless magical fluctuations stirring around them, it seemed for a moment that the two were about to fight.
Only then did Fenrir Greyback split his mouth into a wide grin and wave at the Werewolves under him, who had already taken up attacking stances.
"Pass the order down. Tell everyone to prepare for battle. And remember, have those stupid big brutes charge at the front."
"...Yes, Leader."
Only then did Barty Crouch Jr. restrain the surging magic around him and turn toward the Death Eaters already waiting at the front.
Although Death Eaters gave people the impression of being lawless and willful, a group even madder than madmen, under normal circumstances, making them obediently follow orders would be almost impossible.
But now, under the gazes of Barty Crouch Jr. and Fenrir Greyback, these Death Eaters, their faces hidden beneath black robes, stood neatly in formation.
Their eyes glowed green, giving off a deeply unsettling feeling, but until they received their orders, they still suppressed the violent urge in their hearts to destroy everything.
It was worth noting that among them was a figure who was clearly a witch. The malevolent magic surrounding her was so fierce and obvious among the Death Eaters that it was like the sun.
As if noticing the gazes of Barty Crouch Jr. and the others, the witch lifted her chin slightly and looked in their direction.
Because of that movement, the face that had been hidden was revealed just a little.
Her skin was pale from long years without sunlight, and her thin, slightly pursed lips made her look cold and harsh.
And when one met this witch's eyes, one could see the typical beauty and arrogance of the Black family.
Yes.
This witch, who seemed impatient to devote herself to Voldemort, came from the pure-blood Black family and had ties to Draco.
Bellatrix Lestrange!
...
Speaking of Bellatrix, she was actually Draco's mother's cousin and one of the few female Death Eaters.
And today, she stood on the opposite side of Hogwarts, with her sights set on Draco himself.
It had to be said that this was truly ironic.
In any case, as the Giants continued striking the magical barrier before them with their clubs, increasingly clear cracks could be seen spreading across its surface.
At this rate, the Giants would surely be able to shatter the magical barrier.
Boom, boom, boom!
Watching the Giants, who showed no sign of tiring, Fenrir stroked his chin and remarked with interest, "Their heads may not be very bright, but that strength really is enviable."
"...Instead of that, you'd better think about how we're going to break into Hogwarts."
Compared with Fenrir Greyback, who looked relaxed, almost as if he had come hunting, Barty Crouch Jr., who was responsible for commanding the Death Eaters' assault, stared at the great bridge already occupied by the stone soldiers with a solemn and focused expression.
Part of it was because dealing with these stone soldiers would indeed not be easy.
But it was also probably because this matter was extraordinarily important to Voldemort.
Or perhaps Hogwarts held an unusual place in the Dark Lord's heart.
At that moment, a sound like shattering glass reached their ears.
Then, in the pitch-black night sky, orange butterflies appeared one after another.
Of course, they were not truly butterflies.
They were an illusion created by the shattering barrier.
The instant Barty Crouch Jr. saw that the time had come, he raised his arm with force.
In truth, it was not only Barty Crouch Jr. Every Death Eater who noticed raised their left arm as well.
Serpentine shadows.
Skulls.
Along with wave after wave of magical rumbling, skulls glowing with eerie green light appeared above Hogwarts.
That was the Dark Mark.
It meant that they had arrived.