Harry Potter: Archmage of Another World

The deep, dim night sky was cloaked in dense clouds, gradually veiling the crimson moonlight. Above the heavens, intermittent rumbling thunder echoed, with dazzling streaks of lightning illuminating the firmament.

"We need to pick up the pace," Harry said, his eyes fixed on the vast, open sky as the group trudged along a muddy mountain path. "Judging by the density of these clouds, the downpour will likely start in five minutes. At our current speed, how much longer before we reach the spot Thor mentioned?"

Thor's deep blue eyes flickered with silver-white strands of light—an indication of heightened activity in the lightning element. He glanced toward the currents flashing through the clouds and replied calmly, "It's not much farther. If we keep moving, we should reach the destination in three minutes."

The group collectively relaxed. In such unfamiliar terrain, where darkness weighed heavily and a storm loomed, getting stranded in an open wilderness without shelter was a dire prospect. Wild beasts aside, the downpour alone would be unbearable. The dry safety of a cave seemed like a rare blessing.

Lightning bolts no longer contented themselves with the skies. The sparse, towering trees nearby became ideal conductors, and as the group advanced, they saw the towering trees struck repeatedly, falling to nature's raw power.

Rain began to fall—a gentle drizzle carrying the crisp scent of the storm, trickling down from the boundless sky.

The cold droplets landing on their hair signaled the storm's imminent arrival. Spurred by urgency, the group quickened their pace, hurrying up the sloping path.

"Hey, look! Up there, on the left side of the trail—is that the cave Thor mentioned?" Susan Bones exclaimed, pointing ahead with excitement.

The group followed her gaze and saw, faintly visible, a dark cave entrance surrounded by dense undergrowth.

Hermione turned to Thor and asked quietly, "Is that the one, Thor?"

Thor nodded, brushing his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, this is it. Within a ten-kilometer radius, this is the only cave."

The drizzle had intensified into larger raindrops. The group, now soaked and muddy, rushed toward the cave.

By the time the last person entered, the world outside had been consumed by a torrential downpour. Even the deafening thunder couldn't mask the relentless sound of rain striking the earth. Trees and soil splashed up water as the forest floor transformed into streams and temporary rivers.

"Thankfully, Thor guided us. With rain like this, we'd be stranded by now," Zacharias Smith said with relief.

"True, but this cave feels damp and unpleasant. We should see if there's any wood to start a fire," Parvati said, leaning against the cave wall to avoid the rain blowing in. Her skin shivered slightly from the chill.

"Lumos," Ron muttered, raising his wand. A faint blue light illuminated their surroundings, revealing that the cave was not just a shallow shelter but extended deeper into the mountain, its depths disappearing into unknown darkness.

Although the outer area of the cave was spacious, the path inward narrowed into a single corridor, and the light of Ron's wand could only illuminate about ten meters before it was swallowed by the void.

"The outer area of the cave is too exposed to the elements and still quite cold. With no firewood nearby, should we explore further inside?" Fred asked, looking toward the dark recesses of the cave. "This rain isn't stopping anytime soon. If we just sit here, we won't be able to rest properly in these conditions."

Some glanced toward the cave's depths, where the darkness seemed to hold an inexplicable allure.

George patted Fred's shoulder and glanced outside at the crimson-tinted rain-soaked world. Shaking his head, he said, "I think we should stay put. Let's endure it for the night. Once the rain stops tomorrow, we can continue with Augustus's mission—that should be our priority."

The group, reminded of their task, turned their focus back to resting and shook off the idea of venturing further into the cave.

Fred, however, felt an unexplainable surge of anger. He shrugged off George's hand violently and glared at him with dark intensity before isolating himself in a corner.

A small flame appeared in the center of the cave, conjured effortlessly by Lilian. Its warm glow danced across her pale features. "George is right," she said coldly. "Our mission is the priority. Exploring this cave might lead to unforeseen dangers, delays, or worse—getting lost. We can't afford that risk."

Fred's hateful gaze flickered toward Lilian before he buried his face in silence. Most of the group gathered around the fire for warmth, but Fred stayed in his isolated spot. Concerned, George moved closer.

"Hey, what's up with you?" George asked, nudging his shoulder. "I know you like adventures, but this time, we have a mission. If we get lost here, we won't make it to Augustus's designated location, and there's no telling how we'd even get back. Safety first, right?"

"Get away," Fred muttered darkly.

"What?" George asked, confused.

"I said, get away!" Fred roared. His voice was low and venomous, echoing through the cave. He lifted his head

, revealing pitch-black eyes filled with hatred. Positioned in the dim corner, George failed to notice the unnatural change in Fred's pupils and was stunned by the raw malice in his tone.

Harry, startled, glanced at Fred. In all their years of knowing him, he had never seen Fred like this—especially turning on George. Was it suppressed frustration, now erupting after their prolonged struggles?

Most of the group hesitated, unsure how to intervene. Only Angelina and Alicia, fellow Quidditch teammates, approached to offer comfort.

After his outburst, Fred said nothing more, ignoring the group's attempts to calm him. He sat silently, unmoving.

Meanwhile, Loki exchanged a meaningful look with Thor before closing his eyes and leaning back against the cave wall, his expression unreadable.

Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon

https://patreon.com/Glimmer09