Chapter 222 Sudden Duel
In the dark alley, Hermione had vanished without a trace, and he didn't know where to turn.
Evan and the peculiar girl standing before him were at a standstill. Two figures lingered under the Christmas tree. Shadows danced on the dark candles hung from the trees, elongating and stretching into the depths of the dim alley with no light in sight.
Evan gazed at the girl across the street with a headache. Draped in a voluminous tattered black robe, her dainty white nose twitched in the air. Like a kitten, she inched closer to him. Closer and closer…
Her movements were charming, showing no hint of danger, yet Evan felt a heavy weight pressing down on him. There was a strong scent in the air akin to hers, with only the chill of the night and a faint whiff of wine from distant revelers wafting around.
At least Evan sensed no odors.
Observing the girl's appearance, it seemed as if she intended to draw near, relying on her sense of smell to find the sustenance she must crave.
Evan took a half-step back, for even though he didn't sense any danger, it was highly inappropriate for a girl he had just encountered to approach him so closely.
Beneath the Christmas tree, the girl ventured to the spot where Hermione had just stood. Through the dim candlelight flickering around her, Evan could clearly discern her features.
In the dark corner just a moment ago, he had instinctively felt her to be exquisite, petite in stature, with delicate features and fair skin like a porcelain doll.
Upon closer scrutiny of the girl in the candlelit glow, Evan realized her appearance could only be described with one word: "ASTOUNDING."
It was a beauty that could reach straight into the depths of one's soul.
Especially her ruby red eyes. Like twin rubies, they gleamed with intelligence.
Contrastingly, her complexion remained somewhat flushed, as if all the blood in her body concentrated in her eyes.
"Food..." the girl murmured faintly and appeared somewhat frail.
"Stop! If you come closer, I will attack!" Evan exclaimed.
He raised his wand, the magic within building up, causing the light at the wand's tip to intensify.
Upon hearing Evan's words, the girl halted, a flicker of hesitation crossing her features.
"Very well, we need to talk. As you can see, I mean no harm. I simply overheard your song by chance. It piqued my interest to see you in the corner," Evan spoke patiently. "My name is Evan Mason. What is yours?"
"Evan Mason?!" the girl echoed. She didn't disclose her name. Continuing to sniff the air, she slowly said, "The scent of food..."
Her condition was quite peculiar. She appeared very feeble, as if she had gone without sustenance for a long while.
Apart from food, it seemed there was nothing else that could entice her.
"I have no food on me. If you don't mind, I can lead you to the Leaky Cauldron, where a Christmas feast is underway with plenty of delicious fare."
"I cannot go, I must stay here. There are important matters at hand!" The girl vehemently shook her head. "I smell the scent of food, it's emanating from you..."
She finished her sentence and drew closer to Evan.
There was no apparent reason for her to utter this, leaving Evan puzzled.
He was certain he had nothing edible on him except for many dark magic books that had been shrunk by the Shrinking Charm.
Seeing the girl approach, Evan didn't hesitate; he tightened his grip on his wand and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!"
A white light shot out from his wand, striking her accurately.
Though uncertain of the girl's intentions, Evan opted for caution. Her behavior was far too abnormal.
He planned to employ the Total Immobulus Curse to freeze her and then engage in a proper conversation.
If there really was no way to escape, he could take her back to the Leaky Cauldron and ask the innkeeper, Lupin, Sirius, or anyone else to find the girl's family or gather more information about her.
Evan's petrifying spell was heading towards her, and just when he thought he had succeeded, the white light suddenly veered to the right, changed direction, grazed the girl's body, and landed on the opposite wall.
Evan was dumbfounded. He saw the girl's hand hidden in her wide sleeve, holding a black wand.
The wand was very short, about seven inches long.
It was astonishing that she indeed had a wand.
In addition to this wand, what concerned Evan the most was that this girl was very powerful.
She had just cast a Shield Charm almost simultaneously as the Full Body-Bind Curse was about to reach her, and she used a silent spell, a spell recited silently in her mind.
Casting a spell silently at this speed, thought Evan, should be very challenging even for him to accomplish.
Thinking about the strange blood-like stains and the faint yet potent magic, Evan focused intensely. He could not afford to make mistakes.
He waved his wand and invoked several spells consecutively.
The girl did not counterattack, but Evan's spells that were about to reach her were deflected at the last second and grazed her body to the side.
There was a magical shield around her body protecting her from any harm.
Evan was certain that she was not using the Shield Charm.
It must be a protective spell unknown to him. Whenever his cursed attack was about to reach her, there was always a flash of red light around her body.
He could not go on like this. Evan could confirm that she was stronger than him.
He was about to use a more powerful, or perhaps, more spectacular magic to create a loud noise that would attract the crowds from the streets.
But before he could do anything, a red chain suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was like a viper, and it firmly bound Evan from bottom to top.
"Curse it, it was a silent spell!"
Evan fell heavily to the ground. It was then that he realized what was happening.
He found himself too inexperienced in battle. In fact, he had been facing this issue since his last battles with the werewolf Greyback and Snape.
They were two different fighting styles, but there was one thing in common. And that was Evan had made many mistakes he should not have made, and there were too many opportunities he had not seized. Like this time, his true strength had not been fully exerted.
In the exchange with Sirius, he also pointed out that Evan had this issue.
Like Hermione, they both read many magic books and mastered many spells, but in real combat, due to lack of experience, they could not fully demonstrate their strength.
And this gap had become increasingly evident in their successive battles.
Before that, Evan had never fought an enemy who used a Silent Spell. He did not master this spellcasting technique nor know how to deal with it.
His opponent used silent spells to take the lead, and used two magical spells that Evan was not familiar with. Therefore, he could not defend himself at all. He was confused and outmatched.