Harry Potter gasped for breath, his face flushing a deep crimson. He stared at Erwin in genuine terror. The killing intent radiating from the young man was palpable—he truly intended to end Harry's life.
Sirius Black scrambled to his feet. "Damn it, let him go!" he roared, charging recklessly at Erwin.
Before Sirius could close the distance, an invisible wall of pressure slammed into him. His knees buckled instantly, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. He looked up at Erwin, bewildered. How could a teenager possess such overwhelming power?
Remus Lupin, seeing his godson in peril, didn't hesitate. He swung his wand, sending a hex flying toward Erwin.
Erwin snorted coldly. With a casual flick of his wrist, the spell deflected harmlessly away. A second later, a counterattack sent Lupin hurtling backward. He crashed into the stone wall, sliding down in a daze, eyes wide with shock.
"A werewolf, daring to attack me?" Erwin sneered, his voice icy. "Stay down. I'll deal with you shortly. But first..." He turned his gaze back to the boy in his grasp. "Harry Potter. Tell me, how do you wish to die?"
Erwin's grip tightened. The air grew heavy with the promise of violence.
"Headmaster, please! Stop!" Draco Malfoy rushed forward, grabbing Erwin's arm. "Harry didn't mean it! He was just trying to break up the fight! Please spare him!"
Hermione Granger stepped forward as well, her voice trembling. "Erwin, it was Harry's fault, but he never meant to hurt Professor Snape. Please, give him a chance."
Erwin's cold eyes locked onto Hermione. "Move. I will only say this once. Hermione Granger, don't think you're exempt from consequences today. Instead of pleading for him, start thinking about how you'll answer for your own actions later."
He turned to Draco, his expression one of utter disappointment. "And you, Draco. You're a disgrace to the Malfoy name. Do you even remember you're a Slytherin? Do you remember who Professor Snape is to your House?"
Draco kept his head down, too terrified to speak.
"Answer me, Malfoy!" Erwin barked.
"I remember!" Draco stammered. "I'm a Slytherin! I'm sorry, Headmaster! I was wrong!"
"Get out of my sight," Erwin commanded.
Draco didn't argue. He gave Harry a helpless look and stepped aside.
Snape opened his mouth to speak, but Erwin shot him a subtle signal. Snape's heart lurched. While he didn't know Erwin's exact plan, he trusted his student implicitly. He fell silent, stepping back.
Sirius watched Harry's face turning purple. "Snape!" he choked out. "Have you forgotten? Harry is Lily's child! Are you just going to stand there and watch?"
Snape remained silent. He would never impede Erwin's will.
Suddenly, a sigh echoed through the chamber. From the shadows of the passage, Albus Dumbledore appeared.
"Erwin," Dumbledore said, his voice heavy but calm. "Give an old man some consideration. Harry bears no malice in his heart."
Erwin turned slowly. "Oh? No malice? Dumbledore, do you even believe that yourself? He attacked my godfather—he attacked a Professor of Hogwarts. Are you asking me to overlook that?"
Dumbledore frowned. "Erwin, no irreparable harm was done."
"Is that so?" Erwin's voice rose, dripping with sarcasm. "And if I hadn't arrived? What then? Would that brat and that wolf have let my godfather walk away? Or would he be in the Hospital Wing—or worse?"
"I am here now," Dumbledore insisted. "That scenario won't happen."
"Then where were you earlier?" Erwin unleashed his fury. "What, were you hoping they'd talk it out? Shake hands and make peace after they attacked my godfather? Are you blind? Senile? Or just plain incompetent? You call yourself the greatest wizard of the century? You're just a doddering old fool!"
The room fell into stunned silence. Dumbledore looked genuinely taken aback. Their relationship had always been strained, but they maintained a fragile truce. Erwin was shattering it.
"Erwin," Dumbledore said, frowning deeply, trying to gauge the boy's true intent. "What do you want? You know Harry is Lily's child. You know what Lily meant to Professor Snape."
Erwin laughed, a cold, humorless sound. "Yes, I know. So what? I will bring Lily back to life. I will fulfill my godfather's deepest wish."
Dumbledore's pupils contracted sharply. "What?"
"Tempting, isn't it?" Erwin taunted. "Want your sister back too? But you can't. I'll tell you the truth today, Dumbledore. I can resurrect Lily. So, what value does Harry Potter hold? To serve as some emotional anchor for Snape? I'm sorry, but I don't need that. I could kill Harry right now and take his eyes—after all, that's the only thing resembling Lily, isn't it?"
Dumbledore stared at Erwin, sensing something was terribly off. The Erwin he knew was calculating, not prone to such reckless verbal assaults. This felt... deliberate.
"Lily would resent Snape for this," Dumbledore warned. "You don't want that."
"So you want to use Lily's memory to chain my professor to your whims forever?" Erwin stepped forward, his wand rising. "Enough talk! You want to protect Harry? Fine! Try and take him from me! If you win, I'll spare him. If you lose... I'm done with these games. You and the boy can perish together!"
Murderous intent flared around Erwin like a physical force.
Dumbledore's heart pounded. He finally understood. Erwin wasn't just venting—he was forcing a confrontation. He wanted to duel.
But why? Dumbledore didn't believe Erwin could defeat him, yet the boy was pushing for battle.
"Have you thought this through?" Erwin challenged. "If you want to fight, step forward. If not, get out! Dumbledore, I want to see exactly what the 'most powerful wizard of the century' is truly made of!"