The battle erupted instantly. Professor McGonagall did not hesitate for a second, charging straight at the sprinting Nundu. Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout, meanwhile, led the remaining few to deal with the Quintapeds, trolls, and the advancing Death Eaters.
"How on earth did they get their hands on so many of these things?!" Hagrid's voice boomed exceptionally loud as he clumsily waved his wand. Everyone wore a grim expression. The magic resistance of the Quintapeds and trolls was simply too high; an ordinary Stunning Spell cast upon them didn't even elicit a reaction. The Death Eaters hung back behind the beasts, making sure to keep a certain distance from the trolls while occasionally poking their heads out from behind them to fire off a few jinxes at Professor Sprout and the others.
The scene could well be described as magical combined arms warfare—infantry and armor cooperating. Professor Flitwick urgently directed the meager handful of defenders in a counterattack. Everyone had been assigned grueling combat duties, and nerves were stretched to the absolute limit as they cautiously dealt with the fast-advancing trolls and the dozen or so black-robed figures behind them. No one noticed Hector moving swiftly through the shadows of Hogwarts Castle—or so he thought, at least.
Chapter 65