The primary reason Alan had used Yaxley as a human shield was that the boy had been tormented so thoroughly that his mind was beginning to fracture. If he truly slipped into madness, it would be effortless to blame the trauma on the crossfire from his own accomplices.
"That's Crabbe. The man is a brute—no education, no talent, just a waste of space. But you did a magnificent job, lad. Using a Grounding Jinx in the middle of a chaotic scramble? That takes a level of composure most Aurors don't find until their tenth year." Moody listened with rapt attention, his admiration for Alan's tactical mind growing with every detail.
Alan offered a humble nod before continuing. "You're too kind, sir. After taking down the first two, I immediately deployed a Mist-Clouding Charm to break their line of sight. But the remaining three were fast. One used a localized Gale Curse to strip the mist away, while the others hammered my position with Blasting Curses and Fire-Making Spells."
Alan gestured toward the jagged craters and scorched earth that littered the clearing.
"How did you stay standing?" Moody asked, mentally reconstructing the scene. Even as a veteran, he felt a twinge of phantom adrenaline imagining the boy's predicament.
"I was lucky to have my Phase Boots and my Protection Ring," Alan said, showing Moody the enchanted items. "With the Echo Spell active, I could feel the spells coming before they arrived. I used the boots to surge out of the way of the direct hits and relied on the ring to absorb the kinetic aftershocks of the explosions. In the confusion of the smoke, I closed the distance on a third and stunned him at point-blank range."
Alan pointed at Karkaroff, then tapped his ring. A translucent, arc-shaped shield shimmered into existence around his arm, humming with stable power.
"I didn't realize you were carrying such high-grade gear, Alan," Moody noted, a grin tugging at his scarred mouth.
"I try to stay prepared," Alan replied shyly. "At that point, only two were left. They became desperate and reckless—they even fired off Unforgivable Curses. Fortunately, the boots allowed me to keep my distance."
Regarding the Unforgivables, Alan was technically telling the truth. During the staging, he had forced Karkaroff to fire various curses using the wands of the other four, ensuring that a Priori Incantatem check would reveal a history of Dark Magic.
"And the finale?" Moody prodded.
"The Sonic-Burst Charm. I used it to disorient both of them simultaneously, then picked them off while they were reeling. After that, I sent Shunfeng to find you." Alan detached a small metallic button from his lapel.
"Another one? Is your wardrobe a secret armory?" Moody took the charm, fed it a pulse of magic, and tossed it into the distance. The resulting pulse of infrasound made his vision swim and his knees buckle slightly. It took him a moment to shake off the vertigo.
Alan watched with a slight smile as Moody regained his balance. "Ever since I studied under Professor Bones, I've been obsessed with the potential of alchemy. I'm actually considering opening a shop in Diagon Alley one day. These could be the flagship products. What do you think? Is there a market for them?"
The long explanation hadn't just been about providing a cover story; it was a targeted pitch. Alan had just acquired prime real estate in the Alley, and he wasn't about to let it sit idle. He was using the Ministry's most famous Auror as his first focus group.
"A market? Lad, these are far more practical than half the junk the Ministry issues," Moody said, his eyes gleaming. "When you're ready to go into production, you tell me. I'll be your first pre-order."
"I'll make sure you get the prototype for testing," Alan promised. "I'm also working on something I call 'Dampening Manacles.' Once they're locked, they steadily bleed the prisoner's magic into a storage cell. Even the most dangerous wizard won't be able to cast a spark once they're on."
"Truly?" Moody leaned in, and the two fell into a spirited technical discussion.
Alan spent the next few minutes absorbing everything Moody had to say about the daily struggles of an Auror: the constant delays in reaching a scene, the difficulty of tracking fugitives through Muggle areas, and the lack of reliable communication during a raid. Every complaint Moody uttered was, to Alan, a potential product and a clear research goal.
The conversation was cut short by a series of sharp, rhythmic cracks—the sound of multiple Apparitions. The Ministry reinforcements had arrived.
The Hit Wizards landed with wands drawn, seeing only the scorched earth and the aftermath of a XXXX-level incident. They didn't know the context; they only saw a stranger standing over a heap of bodies. Several wands swiveled toward Alan, tips glowing with lethal intent.
"Lower your wands!" Moody roared, his voice booming across the park. "Do you even know who you're looking at? This is the boy who just neutralized five Death Eaters single-handedly! Stand down!"
The Hit Wizards flinched, recognizing the voice of their legendary superior. They exchanged bewildered looks, slowly lowering their wands in a state of collective shock. They moved closer, peering at the unconscious fugitives.
"Officer Moody," one of the men asked, his voice thick with disbelief. "Are you saying a student did this? To all of them?"
"I have the full account of the engagement, and the evidence on the ground speaks for itself," Moody snapped. "There is no room for doubt. Now, get these scum into custody and secure the perimeter!"