The cold stone walls of Hogwarts seemed to close in around Evan as he sat by Leo’s bedside in the hospital wing. The room was eerily quiet except for the faint beeping of medical devices that Madam Pomfrey had insisted on using in combination with her spells. The dim light from the enchanted candles flickered, casting long shadows across the floor. Clara sat on the other side of the bed, her hand gripping Leo’s pale, limp one, her face pale and eyes red from crying.
Leo hadn’t woken up since the battle.
Evan stared at his friend’s face, willing him to open his eyes, to crack one of his usual jokes, but nothing happened. Leo’s chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, and the faint glow of the healing charms surrounding him gave little comfort. Even with Madam Pomfrey’s magic, the damage was severe, and though she worked tirelessly, the prognosis remained uncertain.
“He saved us,” Clara whispered, breaking the silence. Her voice was raw, filled with a mixture of guilt, pain, and helplessness. “He shouldn’t have had to… he shouldn’t have been the one lying here.”
Evan couldn’t find the words. A knot of guilt sat heavy in his chest, twisting tighter with each passing second. Clara was right. Leo had thrown himself into danger without hesitation, without fear, to protect them both, and now… now, he might never wake up.
Evan clenched his fists, the weight of the relic around his neck suddenly unbearable. It felt like a curse, not a tool. Everything seemed to lead back to this—this ancient, powerful object that had brought nothing but pain and destruction into their lives.
“I should have been faster,” Evan said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes stayed fixed on Leo’s unmoving form. “If I had been stronger… or smarter… Leo wouldn’t be here.”
Clara’s hand tightened around Leo’s, her knuckles turning white. “It’s not your fault, Evan,” she said softly, but the pain in her voice was unmistakable. She didn’t sound convinced.
The guilt gnawed at him, growing stronger with each second. The battle, the relic, the relentless pursuit of Megatron—it all led to this moment. And Leo had paid the price.
“He’ll wake up,” Clara said suddenly, her voice firmer now, as if she were trying to convince herself as much as Evan. “He has to. We’ve seen him get through worse, right? He’s strong.”
Evan didn’t respond. He wanted to believe her, to believe that Leo would somehow pull through, that everything would go back to how it was. But deep down, a cold certainty settled in his bones. Things would never be the same again.
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Hours passed in silence before Madam Pomfrey quietly ushered them out of the hospital wing, insisting they rest. But rest was the last thing on Evan’s mind.
As soon as they stepped into the cold, dimly lit hallway, Clara turned to Evan, her face streaked with fresh tears, her lips trembling. “We have to stop Megatron, Evan. We have to finish this before anyone else gets hurt.”
Evan nodded. He felt the same resolve burning in his chest, but there was something more—fear. Fear that they were running out of time, that every minute they waited, Megatron was getting stronger, more dangerous.
As they made their way through the winding corridors of Hogwarts, the weight of everything—Leo, the relic, the battle—pressed down on Evan’s shoulders, threatening to crush him. But as they neared Dumbledore’s office, a sense of grim determination began to take root.
They had to stop Megatron. No matter the cost.
The stone gargoyle guarding Dumbledore’s office slid aside as they approached, and they climbed the spiraling staircase in silence. Inside, Dumbledore was waiting for them, standing behind his desk, hands folded, his expression grave.
“Evan, Clara,” he greeted them with a nod, though his eyes lingered on Evan with a mixture of concern and understanding. “I’m sorry about your friend. Madam Pomfrey is doing everything she can.”
Evan nodded stiffly. He didn’t trust himself to speak, not without breaking down completely. Instead, he took a deep breath and forced his focus onto the task at hand.
“We need to finish this,” Evan said, his voice steady but hard. “Megatron… he’s still out there, planning something. We can’t wait any longer.”
Dumbledore’s blue eyes flickered with a sadness that Evan didn’t fully understand. “You’re right, Evan. Megatron will strike again, and his power grows with each passing day. But this is not a battle you can face alone.”
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“Then we need to gather everyone,” Clara said, her voice quiet but determined. “The Autobots, the professors, everyone. We need to be ready.”
Dumbledore nodded. “I’ve already sent word to Optimus Prime. The Autobots are regrouping, and the professors are preparing the students for a full defense of the castle. But this will not be a simple battle.”
Evan frowned, a knot forming in his stomach. “What do you mean?”
Dumbledore’s gaze softened as he studied Evan’s face. “Megatron has not only tapped into the raw power of dark magic, but he’s seeking to merge the magical and mechanical worlds in a way we’ve never seen before. If he succeeds… the consequences will be catastrophic for both.”
The weight of Dumbledore’s words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation settling over them like a heavy fog.
“So, what do we do?” Evan asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn’t feel strong enough for this, not after everything. But there was no one else. No other choice.
Dumbledore’s expression grew somber. “You hold the key, Evan. The relic you carry is the one thing that can stop Megatron’s plan. But its power is dangerous—every time you use it, it takes something from you. A piece of your magic, your strength, your very essence.”
Evan’s hand instinctively moved to the relic hanging around his neck. He had felt its drain before, during the battle, but he hadn’t fully understood the cost. Now, he did. And it terrified him.
“But what happens if I keep using it?” Evan asked, his voice shaky. “What if I use it to stop Megatron, and there’s nothing left of me?”
Dumbledore’s gaze softened with understanding, but there was no comforting answer. “That is a decision only you can make, Evan. The relic is powerful, but it will demand a great price from you. You must decide how far you are willing to go.”
Clara’s eyes widened, and she stepped forward, her voice sharp. “But there has to be another way! Evan can’t—”
“There may be another way,” Dumbledore interrupted gently, “but time is not on our side. Megatron grows stronger with each moment, and soon he will be unstoppable. The choice must be made soon.”
Evan felt a cold chill wash over him, the weight of the relic around his neck suddenly heavier than ever before. He thought of Leo, lying unconscious in the hospital wing. Of Clara, standing beside him, full of hope and fear. Of the battle that still loomed ahead.
Could he sacrifice everything—his magic, his very self—for the chance to save them all?
His mind raced, but before he could answer, the ground beneath their feet rumbled.
A distant explosion echoed through the castle, shaking the very foundations of Hogwarts.
“They’re here,” Dumbledore said quietly, his voice grave. “The final battle has begun.”
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Evan felt his heart stop as the distant rumbling grew louder. It was as if the air itself had thickened with the weight of impending doom. Clara reached for his arm, her grip tight, her eyes wide with fear. Neither of them spoke, but the unspoken truth was clear: this was it.
Another explosion rocked the castle, sending a cascade of dust and rubble from the ceiling above. The portraits lining the walls shifted and shouted in alarm, and Fawkes, Dumbledore’s loyal phoenix, let out a piercing cry, wings flapping in agitation.
“We need to move,” Dumbledore said, his voice calm but firm. He turned toward the door, his long robes swishing as he moved. “The Autobots will meet us in the Great Hall. The battle will likely reach us before then.”
Evan nodded, the weight of the relic pressing hard against his chest. His fingers brushed against the cool metal, and for the first time, he felt a faint pulse of energy—an unsettling reminder of the power he now held. Power he feared he would have to use.
As they hurried through the corridors, the sounds of the battle grew louder, the unmistakable whine of Decepticon blasters mixed with the crackling of spellfire. They passed students, some standing frozen with fear, others scrambling to safety, their faces pale in the flickering torchlight.
Evan’s mind raced. Megatron was here. The final confrontation had come.
“We’re going to stop him,” Clara said beside him, her voice barely above a whisper, as if trying to convince herself. “We have to.”
Evan glanced at her, seeing the determination in her eyes despite the fear that lingered there. He wished he could share her confidence, but doubt gnawed at him.
They burst into the Great Hall, where chaos had already erupted. Students were being ushered out of the room, while professors and the Autobots worked to establish a defensive perimeter. Optimus Prime stood tall in the center of the hall, his blue optics glowing as he barked orders to his Autobots.
“The Decepticons are breaking through the outer wards!” shouted Professor Flitwick, his wand flashing as he reinforced the magical barriers surrounding the castle.
Optimus’s deep, booming voice echoed through the hall. “We need to hold the line until everyone is evacuated. The Decepticons must not reach the core of the castle!”
Evan and Clara ran toward them, skidding to a halt beside Bumblebee, who was locked in conversation with Optimus. Bumblebee’s usually calm demeanor was strained, his damaged armor still bearing the marks of the last battle.
“We’re losing ground fast,” Bumblebee said, his voice tinged with worry. “Megatron’s forces are more coordinated than before. They’re targeting the castle’s foundations. If they succeed…”
Evan’s heart sank. He knew what that meant. If the Decepticons managed to breach the foundations, Hogwarts would fall.
Optimus turned to Evan, his voice steady but urgent. “Evan, the relic is the only thing that can stop Megatron. His forces are too powerful. We need you.”
The weight of the words hit Evan like a punch to the gut. All eyes were on him now. Clara. Optimus. Bumblebee. The professors. They were all counting on him.
Evan took a deep breath, his fingers wrapping around the relic once more. He could feel it humming, its energy pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He knew what he had to do.
“I’ll use it,” Evan said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll stop him.”