Harry Potter: Archmage of Another World

The autumn of this world seemed exceptionally cold. Under the glow of the blood-red moon, the mountain range stood solemn and desolate. Shadows of overlapping night curtains cast a bleak and mournful aura over the ridges and forests.

Hermione extended her slender hand and muttered softly. A beam of incandescent light emerged, shining as brightly as liquid crystal held within a bottle. The dazzling, glass-like purity of the light floated quietly above her left side. The cold wind continued to linger in the air, yet the light brought a sense of warmth, even though the glow itself carried no heat. Under its radiance, the faces of the group gradually regained some color.

"From here, making our way through this mountain range ahead will not be a matter of a day or two," Ron sighed, his tone disinterested. "Leaving aside whatever dangers might await us on the road, food alone is likely to be our first challenge. And besides, there's something eerie about this moonlight. That blood-red hue feels far from auspicious."

"Training is always valuable," Cho Chang said calmly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "As for food, there's no need to worry too much. Arcane magic can create bread and water. Although my current magic reserves can only produce enough for about ten people a day, if we ration carefully, it should suffice."

"That's a relief," Ginny said, a smile brightening her adorable face. "I'd been worried about food, but if Senior Cho can conjure bread and water, that's wonderful."

"Given the current circumstances, we shouldn't rush to travel tonight," Angelina suggested, glancing at Hermione. "I propose we rest for the night. Tomorrow, once we've scouted the area, it won't be too late to set out."

Hermione nodded. "It's unwise to venture forward when so much remains unknown. From what I know, wind mages are better at surveying the terrain. Tomorrow, Malfoy, could you help map out a route through this mountain range for us?"

Draco's gray-blue eyes gleamed with indifference, and a trace of disdain curled at his lips. "My abilities are limited; I'm only a novice mage. How could I use wind magic to survey the terrain? If you want to map the mountains, find someone more capable."

Hermione sighed inwardly but managed a small nod. Her request to Malfoy had merely been a test. Although they were all part of the same group, the four Slytherins didn't blend well with the rest. Beyond the usual inter-house rivalries, their power disparity was stark. Even the weakest among them, Draco, stood far above the fledgling elemental mages in the group.

In this unknown land, relying solely on their apprentice-level skills to navigate future dangers seemed nearly impossible. Furthermore, having four aloof and independent individuals within a team hindered cohesion and execution.

Suppressing her frustration, Hermione smiled and said, "Since we're in this together, we should set aside past grievances and misunderstandings. Not just as classmates, but as disciples of Lord Augustus, we ought to support one another. Unity and cooperation are key to completing this trial."

"Our most pressing concern right now is figuring out how to rest," Harry said with a bitter smile. "This is the wilderness. Even ignoring safety concerns, how are we supposed to sleep in this weather? The cold at night is unbearable. Can the girls even endure it?"

Parvati crossed her arms and nodded repeatedly. "Harry's right. It's freezing here. Sleeping outside seems impossible. And even if we do, we'd need a watch rotation."

The mist grew denser, shrouding the mountains in thick fog. Even the cold, crimson moonlight blurred amidst the haze. It was already midnight, and weariness weighed heavily on everyone. The damp air encircled them, and several girls were beginning to shiver uncontrollably from the bone-chilling cold. Despite their discussion, no solution for spending the night had been reached.

A sudden clap of thunder split the sky. Lightning streaked across the dark night, illuminating the surroundings for a fleeting moment before plunging them back into darkness.

An ominous feeling crept into everyone's hearts.

"Is it going to rain?" Fred's expression darkened, his tone laced with dread.

"Judging by the scale of those lightning strikes, it's likely a storm," George said bitterly, stroking his chin.

Neville's face turned pale. "If it starts pouring now, where can we take shelter? My gran was right—staying out past 2 a.m. is asking for trouble."

Malfoy let out a derisive laugh. "Sounds like we should thank your gran for her foresight. At least she's given us a convenient excuse for this rain."

"Shut up, Malfoy," Lilian snapped, waving him off impatiently. She glanced at the sky with concern. "You can't stop picking fights even now? The thunder's getting louder. I'd say we've got ten minutes before the storm hits."

"Now what?" Justin Finch-Fletchley turned to Hermione, his voice tense. "There's no shelter nearby, and this place is already freezing. If it rains, most of the girls will end up seriously ill."

The Creevey brothers exchanged a look of despair. Both were naturally prone to colds, and a downpour would likely affect them even worse than the girls.

Lavender Brown suddenly turned to Loki. "Loki, among us, you're the most skilled. Do you have any solutions?"

Loki's calm face softened with a faint, serene smile. "This weather isn't exactly my expertise," he said, "but it happens to be Thor's specialty."

All eyes turned to Thor, who had been silent. They were puzzled by Loki's comment.

Thor's deep blue eyes flickered with a bright, electric light. Thunder rumbled across the heavens as if answering his unspoken command. He pointed casually into the darkness. "About six kilometers in that direction, there's a cave. We can take shelter there."

Joy spread through the group. After quickly orienting themselves, they followed Thor, relief mingling with anticipation as they hurried toward the cave.

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