Stealing Magic: A Darker Hogwarts

Barre's heart sank as he recognized the voice—Aldridge Brown, Sean's loyal butler. The "young master" could only be Sean. How had Sean unraveled his scheme so swiftly? How had he intercepted him? And why had Barnabas's Portkey delivered him straight to Sean and Aldridge? The questions burned, but answers eluded him.

Barre wasn't ready to give up. With a surge of defiance, he spun around, yanking his wand from his cloak, desperate to cast a spell on Aldridge. But before he could utter a syllable, a red flash streaked from Aldridge's wand, striking him square in the chest. The nonverbal Expelliarmus sent Barre crashing against the wall, his wand arcing through the air and landing neatly in Aldridge's hand.

A disarming spell—cast without a word. Barre's mind reeled. Aldridge, with his polished demeanor, was no mere servant. His skill rivaled an Auror's, a truth Barre realized far too late.

Aldridge's wand remained steady, his polite smile unchanged, but to Barre, it now seemed as chilling as a charmed portrait's smirk. "Please, Mr. Barre," Aldridge said, voice calm but firm.

Barre staggered to his feet, his body aching from the impact. Under Aldridge's unwavering gaze, he shuffled forward, led into an inner chamber cloaked in charmed gloom. There, Sean sat on a chair conjured by Transfiguration. Jason stood at Sean's side, his stance protective, ready to shield him if Barre tried anything foolish.

"Barre," Sean began, his voice heavy with disappointment, "I thought you and Fleur were true friends at Beauxbatons. Fleur trusted you completely, yet you betrayed us. You wanted us dead. Why?"

Barre's lips tightened, his silence a wall. He had no words to justify his actions—not to Sean, not now.

Sean sighed, his gaze steady but tinged with hurt. "If you won't speak, I'll see for myself. Memories don't lie. But first, for the sake of the friendship we once had, I'll give you one last chance—a fair duel."

"Can you tell me how you altered the Portkey?" Barre asked, his voice tight with lingering defiance.

Sean's lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes sharp. "Barnabas's network still answers to the Bulstrode family. When the true head of the Bulstrodes makes a move, Barnabas's plans don't stand a chance. Understand?"

Barre's gaze flickered. "So, Master Barnabas didn't betray me, did he?"

Sean studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "No, he didn't betray you. But his followers obey the head of the Bulstrode family first. When their orders clash, the family head's will takes priority."

Barre's eyelids drooped, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "I see… Fine. If you want a duel, let's get on with it. Give me my wand."

Aldridge tossed Barre's wand with a casual flick, the wood glinting like a falling star in the dim room.

Barre caught it, his fingers trembling slightly. He met Sean's gaze, a mix of regret and resolve in his eyes, then steadied his breathing and eased into a dueling stance, wand raised. "Beauxbatons, Barre Garcia!" he declared.

"Hogwarts, Sean Bulstrode!" Sean replied, his voice firm, wand at the ready.

No more words were needed. The duel began.

Barre struck first, slashing his wand with practiced precision. "Expelliarmus!" A red jet shot toward Sean, slicing through the air.

Sean flicked his wand, conjuring a shimmering Protego shield. A blue-white halo rippled before him, deflecting Barre's Expelliarmus with a faint hum, like a charmed spark fizzling out. In the same breath, Sean's Agile casting LV1, honed through Felix Varnholt's talent, kicked in. His movements sharpened, spells flowing faster, his body lighter. As the shield held, Sean's wand carved a swift arc downward, aimed at Barre. "Petrificus Totalus!"

A gray-white beam lanced forward. Barre dove aside, but the cramped room offered little space. He barely regained his footing when an emerald glow flared at his feet. Thornvine Surge erupted, thorny vines sprouting from the floor, coiling toward his legs like a Hogwarts greenhouse trap gone wild.

"Diffindo!" Barre countered, his wand slashing. The Cutting Curse severed the vines, their fragments scattering like snapped quills. He'd faced Thornvine Surge before and knew its weakness, reacting with the speed of a seasoned duelist.

But Sean wasn't aiming to win with vines alone. His wand rose, voice low and steady. "Stupefy!"

The Stunning Spell came too fast. Barre, fresh from slicing the vines, had no time to dodge. With no room to maneuver, he thrust his wand forward, meeting Sean head-on. "Expelliarmus!"

Red lights clashed, a crackling web of scarlet sparks bursting from the collision, illuminating the room.

Barre gritted his teeth, pouring his magic into the spell. He was older, more experienced—his magic should overpower Sean's. Yet, as their spells locked, he felt his strength faltering. Sean's magic surged, steady and unrelenting, far beyond a first-year's.

How is this possible? Barre's mind raced, panic creeping in.

The red light of Sean's Expelliarmus surged forward, overwhelming Barre's. His wand tore from his grip, spinning through the air, and the spell's force sent him crashing against the wall. He slumped, unconscious, as the room fell silent.

A faint chime echoed in Sean's mind, the system's voice clear:

[Win the duel and randomly select an ability of the duel opponent.]

[Drawing…]

[Drawing completed, obtained: Expelliarmus LV2]

Sean's mind lingered on his duel with Marwood, where he'd gained Stupefy LV2 and Pustule Curse LV2. The Stunning Spell was a reliable asset, but the Pustule Curse—a dark spell that sprouted painful, itchy pustules across its target's body—was less practical. It could overwhelm those with weak resolve, reducing them to scratching wrecks, but its effects were fleeting. Sean smirked, imagining casting it on Malfoy back at Hogwarts, watching the smug Slytherin squirm. Still, its utility was limited, more a prank than a weapon.

"Master, how should we deal with him?" Aldridge's voice broke Sean's thoughts, his tone calm but expectant as he nodded toward Barre's unconscious form.

Sean studied Barre, sprawled against the wall, his chest rising faintly. The urge to end him was strong—a clean solution to a dangerous traitor. But complications loomed. Fleur had suspected Barre's role in the Portkey trap, and Sean had convinced her to keep it secret, promising to handle it himself. She'd agreed, trusting him. If Barre vanished or died, questions would arise, and Fleur's knowledge could entangle Sean. Killing Barre and destroying his body might work in the Muggle world, but not here. The wizarding world had spells to investigate scenes or track individuals—Priori Incantato, memory charms, even enchanted trackers. Sean knew Beauxbatons' Aurors weren't incompetent; underestimating them would be foolish.

Since killing Barre wasn't an option, turning him over to Beauxbatons' authorities was the safest path. But first, Sean had settled a personal score, dueling Barre to claim Expelliarmus LV2 and vent his anger. Now, justice awaited.

"Hand him to Beauxbatons' authorities," Sean decided. "Can you contact the Auror from before?"

"Of course, Master," Aldridge replied, his wand already moving to send a charmed message, swift as a Hogwarts owl.

"Thank you, Aldridge. Your help was crucial," Sean said, offering a nod of gratitude.

Aldridge contacted the Auror, and soon, a team arrived at the dimly lit hideout. The lead Auror, a tall, dark-skinned wizard with a commanding presence, surveyed the scene, his eyes sharp like a Hogwarts portrait's scrutiny. "Mr. Bulstrode, thank you for cooperating and turning over the prisoner," he said, his voice steady but probing.

Sean met his gaze, keeping his expression neutral. "Though I'm from Hogwarts' region, I'm in Beauxbatons' region now. It's my responsibility to assist your authorities. No thanks needed."

The Auror's eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing glint within them. "I must thank you still. Not everyone stays calm and contacts us after facing someone who tried to kill them."

Sean knew the Auror suspected he'd hidden details earlier, when he and Fleur claimed ignorance about the attack. Admitting nothing, Sean flashed an innocent smile, playing the naive student. "He meant to harm me, but I'm fine, so I won't hold a grudge. Besides, I hit him with a Stupefy during our duel, so I've settled the score."

The Auror nodded, his expression unreadable but accepting. He'd heard of the Bulstrode family's vast influence, stretching across wizarding regions. As head of an Auror team, he wasn't naive. As long as Sean stayed within bounds, he wouldn't press further. With a final glance, he signaled his team to take Barre, who was levitated, still unconscious, and whisked away under charmed restraints.

Sean, Aldridge, and Jason returned to Beauxbatons, the palace's spires gleaming under protective enchantments. Word of Barre's arrest spread quickly, like charmed whispers through the halls. The news hit hard. Barre Garcia, a well-known student, admired for his charm and skill, was a traitor. Faces in the common rooms turned grim, some disbelieving, others conflicted. No one wanted to accept that a star like Barre, who shone as brightly as a Quidditch hero, could betray his friends.

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