Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

David swiftly pulled away from the tree trunk he had been leaning on just moments before. A flurry of spells struck where he had stood, ricocheting in all directions. The trunk itself was blasted apart, split into two and flung to the sides.

When were we discovered? he wondered. Or were they here the whole time?

His sharp gaze swept the area. He had scanned his surroundings carefully before, yet he had spotted no one. Were they all masters of the Disillusionment Charm?

Jason and Anna stood back-to-back, their wands at the ready. Jason shot David a questioning look. David shook his head, signaling him to stay alert.

The wind rustled through the leaves, opening gaps in the canopy and allowing the moonlight to filter through. That's when David saw it—a faint movement in the shadows of a large tree to his left. He didn't hesitate.

"Bombarda!" he commanded, sending an explosive hex flying toward the hidden figure.

Flames erupted as the spell struck its target. A cold, female voice rang out from the trees, her tone sharp with urgency.

"They've found us. Finish this quickly."

The once-silent trees sprang to life. Wizards materialized from the thick branches and dense underbrush, their wands raised.

How many of them are there? David's eyes narrowed. He barely had time to react as one of them flicked their wand.

"Confringo!"

David dodged just in time, sending his own counter-curse in return. The battle erupted in full force, spells flashing through the darkness like streaks of lightning. But David knew they couldn't hold their ground for long.

"We need to get out of here," he muttered. His eyes darted across the battlefield, searching for an opening. There—the southeast. The defenses were thinner there.

"Incendio Maxima!"

An enormous wave of fire shot from his wand, forcing several attackers to focus on extinguishing the flames.

"Go that way!" David shouted at Jason and Anna.

High above, his Norwegian Ridgeback circled in anticipation. Wasting no time, David grabbed onto one of the dragon's claws as it swooped down. Jason followed suit, clutching onto another talon. But when Anna reached for her lifeline, she was just a moment too late. The dragon had already begun to ascend.

Damn it! David reacted instantly. "Protego!" He cast a shield over Anna as he severed a thick branch with a precise slash of his wand. With another flick, he transfigured it into a sturdy iron rope and sent it slithering toward Anna, wrapping it around her waist.

With a powerful tug, he pulled her up into the air, right into Jason's arms.

"Thanks," Jason gasped, his knuckles white from gripping the dragon's talons.

"No problem," David muttered, his gaze locked onto the ground below. At least thirty or forty wizards were still in pursuit. More than he had anticipated.

I was careless…

But something else caught his attention.

"Fly higher," he instructed. The dragon obeyed, lifting them above the treetops just as a new wave of spells streaked toward them from below. David's eyes widened.

"Wait… they're fighting each other?"

Jason and Anna turned their heads in confusion. Below them, the wizards who had been chasing them were suddenly under attack—by another group.

"It's not us they were after," Anna realized, stunned.

David leaned forward. The newly arrived wizards in black robes were overwhelming the original attackers, steadily pushing them back. More figures emerged from the shadows, bolstering their ranks.

Then a chilling howl echoed through the forest.

"They're transforming!" a panicked voice screamed.

David's breath hitched. He scanned the battlefield, and there, amidst the chaos, long-haired figures with elongated snouts and gleaming fangs emerged. Werewolves.

"But the moon isn't full…" he whispered, confusion flooding his mind.

The werewolves tore into both groups, their razor-sharp claws slashing through flesh. Wizards screamed, some trying to Apparate, only to fail.

"They've placed an Anti-Disapparition Jinx," a desperate voice called out.

The black-robed wizards began a tactical retreat. A woman, standing at their center, barked commands with authority.

"One group, fall back! The second, cover their escape!"

Bats swarmed from the treetops, their dark forms twisting through the air. Vampires? David realized with a start.

"The two groups take turns leaving," the woman ordered again.

"Yes, Commander," one of the wizards responded, transforming into a bat and disappearing into the night.

Suddenly, another piercing howl shattered the air. The werewolves, previously disorganized, snapped into formation, attacking with terrifying efficiency. Several wizards were thrown to the ground, their lives extinguished in an instant.

The woman attempted to retreat, but faltered mid-transformation, her body trembling. She's injured… David realized.

The delay cost her. A massive werewolf—larger than the rest—lunged at her from behind.

No time to think!

David let go of the dragon's claw, plummeting toward the battlefield.

With a precise burst of magic, he slammed into the werewolf, knocking it off course. In the same fluid motion, he caught the woman in his arms, pulling her close as he landed. Her body was tense, her breath ragged.

Around them, a circle of red eyes gleamed in the darkness, saliva dripping from sharp fangs. They were surrounded.

The woman exhaled shakily, leaning against him. "Little one… I misjudged you," she murmured, her voice laced with pain. "Thank you."

David gritted his teeth, lifting his wand. "Don't thank me yet."

The werewolves snarled, muscles coiling in preparation to pounce.

With a final whisper, David unleashed his spell. "Oppugno Maxima."

The ground trembled as an explosion of debris—stones, branches, even the bodies of fallen wizards—shot outward in a deadly storm. The werewolves reeled, momentarily stunned.

David tightened his grip on the woman and, in the blink of an eye, Disapparated.

The battle raged on behind them.