Chapter 107: Apparition

As Kyle had planned, after learning of Hagrid's attack, he'd gone to the Room of Requirement to retrieve the two Chomping Cabbages, storing them in his modified Mokeskin pouch. This pouch—an upgrade of the one Newt had gifted him—allowed him to carry both Magical Creatures and plants, albeit in limited quantities.

He'd originally intended to use the cabbages to ambush the witch, but they'd ended up coming in handy against Oren instead, a satisfying turn of events.

Meanwhile, Oren was in a grim struggle on the ground, rolling around to avoid both the Chomping Cabbages gnawing at his legs and Kyle's relentless stream of Disarming and Stunning Charms.

"Enough!" Oren spat, deflecting yet another Disarming Charm. He took a swift bite from one of the cabbages and finally managed to cast his own spell.

"Incendio!"

Scarlet flames erupted from his wand, blackening the cabbages until they fell still. Breathing heavily, Oren straightened, his expression steely.

"I admit it—I underestimated you." Oren raised his wand, and the surrounding fallen leaves transformed into sharp, whirling blades that hurtled toward Kyle.

"Confringo!" Kyle aimed his wand at the ground, setting off an explosion that cloaked the area in dust.

"Blinding me? Not a bad strategy," Oren sneered, eyes narrowing as he unleashed the leaf-blades into the smoke. "But where can you hide?"

The blades rained down over the area, scattering through the dust. Oren smirked, satisfied.

"Stupefy!"

A voice rang out suddenly from behind, sending a jolt of alarm through Oren. It was Kyle's voice—but how? How had he gotten behind me?

Before he could react, he felt a weight against his back, and then—

Bang!

The spell had hit, but the Swooping Evil unfurled from behind him like a shield, blocking the Stunning Spell just in time. Kyle staggered as pain surged through him, fighting to keep his focus. "The Swooping Evil… it didn't go after Kanna," he rasped.

Oren turned, a mocking smile on his face. "Who said it was ever after the girl? I simply asked you to guess where it was."

He chuckled, amused. "First the Chomping Cabbages, now Apparition mid-battle… you've impressed me today, Kyle."

"Compared to you, I've wasted my first year here. How about I let you go as a reward?"

"Oh? Letting me go? Don't flatter yourself," Kyle replied, defiant. "Do you think you can kill me?"

Oren hesitated. He didn't believe Kyle could best him outright, but he'd lost the element of time. The Ministry was closing in, and every second he wasted here brought him closer to capture. But to walk away after being matched by an eleven-year-old? It would ruin him.

"You're really not leaving?" Oren asked, trying to mask his frustration.

"Nope." Kyle shrugged, idly scratching a Billywig perched on his shoulder.

Five minutes earlier, Kyle would have turned and run without a second thought, but not now. He had been threatened, deceived, and mocked. He wouldn't let that go unchallenged.

Besides, this was the Forbidden Forest. Kyle wasn't the one who had to hurry now.

"You want to die!" Oren's face twisted in fury, realizing that the Billywig resting on Kyle's shoulder was the very one he'd lost.

Raising his wand, he began to gather a sickly green light at its tip. "Avada—"

Whoosh!

An arrow sliced through the air, forcing Oren to retract his arm to avoid being hit. The pounding of hooves grew louder, and a group of Centaurs burst from the trees, longbows drawn, arrows aimed at both Kyle and Oren. Though their eyes narrowed particularly on Oren, some of the Centaurs recognized Kyle.

Firenze stepped forward cautiously, addressing Kyle. "You're a student from the castle. What are you doing here? And who is this?"

"A Dark Wizard!" Kyle said urgently. "He's the one who stole the unicorn's cub—and he used Unforgivable Curses!"

In an instant, all the Centaurs shifted their aim squarely onto Oren.

Suddenly, explosions sounded all around them—the Ministry had arrived.

"You're in luck!" Oren said, a bitter smile stretching across his face. "Alright, I give up." He tossed a cloth bag to Kyle. Inside was the unicorn's cub, its small golden body curled up peacefully, appearing as though it were asleep.

"It's him!" a voice called out. A Hit Wizard stepped forward, teeth clenched in recognition. "Morris Oren!"

The wizard was Hadd, the same captain of the Hit Wizards who had previously tried to arrest Hagrid.

"We meet again, Mr. Brave Hit Wizard," Oren mocked with a twisted grin. "You had a chance to arrest me before, but you failed. I should thank you for letting me slip away… Oh, wait," he sneered, "you fools only knew about the Swooping Evil—you never figured out who I was. So, thanks for absolutely nothing."

"You're not getting away this time!" Hadd snapped, aiming his wand at Oren. "I'll personally escort you to Azkaban. We'll see if you're still smiling when the Dementors get to you."

"Sorry, I'm not a fan of Dementors," Oren replied with a sigh. "Could I stay at Hogwarts instead? Being a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor has been quite… educational."

"That's not up to you!" Hadd barked, gesturing to the other Hit Wizards, who swiftly raised their wands in unison.

"Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Incarcerous!"

A flurry of spells shot towards Oren.

...

A dozen charms shot toward Oren from every direction.

"What a shame—I haven't even graded the exam yet..." Oren sighed, and the platform of fallen leaves beneath him instantly gave way.

With no footing, Oren started to fall, letting him evade every charm aimed at him.

The next moment...

Pop!

A familiar popping sound echoed through the Forbidden Forest as Oren vanished from sight.