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Chapter 15: The Evil Dragon, Hydras
Hydras had originally come to Diagon Alley for a very simple reason—
to save money.
She needed her own vault.
However, it seemed that fate had now handed her a brand-new task.
Steal back the money the Grey family had withdrawn—
and while she was at it, teach them a proper lesson.
Hydras followed closely behind Serenise Grey. As expected, the Grey family's financial steward entered Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Completing the formalities, descending into the underground vaults, withdrawing the Galleons… the entire process would take anywhere from forty minutes to an hour.
Plenty of time.
One of the entrances to Knockturn Alley lay diagonally opposite Gringotts.
The fact that Knockturn Alley was positioned here made one thing very clear—even dark wizards and unsavoury characters had financial needs.
Hydras stepped into Knockturn Alley without the slightest hesitation.
The moment she entered the narrow, shadowy alley, cloaked figures closed in around her.
"Oh? A little witch."
"She's wearing Muggle clothes."
"A Mudblood?"
"Doesn't matter. Those old perverts don't care."
The whispers drifted straight into Hydras' ears.
She sighed.
This was the dark side of the wizarding world—raw, brutal survival of the fittest, stripped of even basic civility. If you were weaker, you deserved to be cheated, robbed, or killed.
"Child, are you lost?"
An old woman with a hooked nose and a face riddled with pockmarks shuffled toward her. When she spoke, she revealed a mouthful of rotten, yellow, foul-smelling teeth.
A hand as thin as a decaying branch seized Hydras' wrist and yanked her forward.
"Come with me, dear. I have many interesting things at home."
Unbeknownst to Hydras, the old woman had already crushed the hidden capsule inside her necklace. A bewitching potion vaporised and drifted out with her breath, blowing directly onto Hydras' face.
"Come now, come now—come with me."
The surrounding dark wizards were filled with regret, cursing their own hesitation.
"Damn it, old Ames got there first again!"
"That hag is always too quick!"
"Next time, we won't just stand around!"
Hydras lowered her head, appearing obedient, as though completely affected by the potion. Old Ames swelled with pride.
Such beautiful skin…
If I extract her life essence, I could extend my life by months!
But no matter how hard she tugged, Hydras did not move.
It felt as though she were dragging an iron mountain.
Hydras slowly raised her head.
Her pupils had turned into vertical, golden slits, filled with mocking amusement.
Emerald dragon scales surfaced across her skin.
Old Ames' blood ran cold.
She had kicked an absolute deathtrap.
More importantly, Hydras discarded her disguised magical physique and restored her true form—that of a fire dragon.
Though transformed, her features remained recognisably humanoid.
"—Miss Lestrange!"
Old Ames' legs gave way. She dropped into a deep bow, trembling.
"I—I didn't know it was you! I truly didn't know!"
The surrounding dark wizards scattered instantly, melting into the shadows.
"Run! It's Hydras Lestrange!"
"The one wanted by the Ministry!"
"She killed two adult wizards and escaped multiple Auror hunts!"
The residents of Knockturn Alley were weak—pathetic, really. Even someone like Lucius Malfoy could slaughter his way through this place.
Hydras, who had killed two grown wizards, was an existential threat to them.
Someone they absolutely could not afford to offend.
Old Ames didn't dare flee. She stayed kneeling, bowing again and again.
"Please forgive me, Miss… please…"
"I never said I was going to kill you," Hydras tilted her head innocently.
"You just wanted to take me somewhere fun, didn't you?"
Old Ames seized the opening immediately, forcing a smile.
"Yes! Yes, exactly! I only wanted to make you happy!"
A foolish rich girl.
Strong, but naïve.
Easy prey.
Hydras nodded thoughtfully.
"I just thought of something fun. Since you want to make me happy… you'll play along, won't you?"
Old Ames' heart sank.
"W-what would you like to play?"
"Grandma," Hydras asked sweetly, "have you ever tried flying?"
Before the old witch could react, Hydras grabbed her arm and hurled her upward.
Old Ames shot into the sky like a rocket.
"Is it fun?" Hydras called cheerfully.
Old Ames was beyond terrified.
This girl was acting—from start to finish!
She flailed helplessly in mid-air, screaming.
"AAAH—!"
Her already short lifespan seemed to halve on the spot.
At the last second, she remembered she was still a witch and cast a Levitation Charm with everything she had.
She couldn't fully cancel the fall, but she slammed into the ground hard instead of splattering.
Barely alive.
Hydras walked over and looked down.
"Is it fun?"
Old Ames lay face-down, trembling. All she could see were a pair of small white leather shoes.
She couldn't see Hydras' expression—but she knew that one wrong answer would end her life.
"I won't dare again! Never again, Miss! I swear!"
She knelt so low her forehead scraped the stone.
"I was blinded by greed! Please spare me!"
Hydras kicked her lightly.
"Do you have any Galleons? Compensation for emotional distress. Hand over everything."
Old Ames froze, then desperately rummaged through her robes.
She produced thirty-two silver Sickles and twelve bronze Knuts.
"Tsk. So poor."
Hydras complained, yet snatched the coins without hesitation and turned to leave.
Old Ames remained kneeling, looking repentant.
But that wasn't the end.
A flash of venomous hatred crossed her eyes as she lifted her head slightly.
We must kill her.
Drain every drop of essence.
Turn her head in for the bounty.
No—that's not enough.
I'll skin her.
Use her blood for bathing.
"He collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious!"
With a shriek, old Ames slashed her wand.
A red spell slammed straight into Hydras' back.
It hit!
You little brat—let's see how smug you are now!
Old Ames sprang to her feet, moving with shocking agility.
Then she froze.
Hydras stood up.
Slowly.
Unharmed.
She turned around, fury blazing in her dragon eyes.
"Do you know," Hydras said softly,
"I only own two sets of clothes like this?"
Dragon scales possessed terrifying magical resistance. Someone like old Ames couldn't even scratch them.
But spells could still destroy clothing—
especially Muggle clothing.
One set ruined meant she had to buy another.
Buying clothes meant—
Money.
Money.
Money.
The dragon's fury surged, tempered by coldness, fusing into something terrifyingly precise.
Hydras exhaled.
A controlled blast of dragonfire engulfed old Ames.
Not even the wooden sign beside her was scorched.
Before the old witch could scream, she was reduced to a pile of blackened ash.
The watching dark wizards trembled.
A humanoid dragon.
An evil dragon.
From that day onward, Hydras became an untouchable taboo in Knockturn Alley.
Think of old Ames before you try your luck.
…
…
Still fuming, Hydras walked a little farther before stepping into Borgin and Burkes.
"Welcome, Miss Lestrange."
Borgin himself appeared.
His voice was as greasy as his thinning hair, which glistened under the dim shop lights like it had been dipped in oil.
Hydras was still in dragon form.
The fact that he recognised her instantly surprised her.
"Don't be surprised, my dear," Borgin smiled.
"I have many eyes and ears in Knockturn Alley. News travels faster than footsteps."
Hydras stepped into the light, like an ancient beast emerging from shadow.
She was only 1.4 metres tall—
Yet her golden eyes and emerald scales made ignoring her impossible.
Borgin felt as though he were looking at Tom Riddle, decades ago.
"What would you like, Miss?"
Hydras pulled out an empty Galleon chest.
"Fill this with lead blocks. Add a few curses, if you like."
"I also need an alchemical item with a Confundus Charm, so anyone examining the chest believes it's full of Galleons."
Borgin chuckled.
"Planning a little prank?"
"Lead isn't necessary," he continued thoughtfully.
"And enchanted artefacts are expensive. A permanent Confundus Charm on the chest itself would be much simpler—and just as effective."
Hydras nodded. She trusted Borgin's expertise.
"As for the prank…" Borgin mused.
"How about giving whoever opens it a full-body acne curse?"
Hydras nodded again.
"Fine. Hurry. And find me a wizard's robe that fits."
"No problem at all, Your Excellency," Borgin bowed.
"That will be seven Galleons."
Hydras paid—and winced.
Then she smiled again.
After all, she was about to get much more from the Grey family.
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