Sorcerer Supreme at Hogwarts (English Versión)-Chapter 148: “The Shadow Claw”

"The Shadow Claw"

France. In a desolate area where everything seemed to have been consumed by flames, only blackened ruins and ashes remained. Even though it was clear that several years had passed since the disaster, the smell of burnt wood still lingered in the air, mixed with a cold emptiness that seemed to freeze the soul.

Natasha appeared with a faint crack, materializing right where the main entrance of the mansion once stood. Her eyes scanned the place cautiously but also with a suppressed annoyance as old memories emerged without permission.

Where once a proud mansion stood, now only scattered and broken remains lay, like the charred bones of a long-dead animal. Natasha walked among the debris, her steps leaving marks on the fine layer of ash. She was searching for any clue about who might have sent her that letter, a warning so outdated that only a family like hers would have considered using.

"Stupid nobles..." she murmured with disdain. Those who thought themselves superior by right of blood, who had tried to impose their rules on her and her mother. Those who perished by her hands when she was still a child, desperate to protect her mother and herself.

After several minutes of searching, something caught her attention: a small improvised altar in the center of what once was the mansion. Melted candles rose like wax stalactites, and although nearly consumed, they still emitted some warmth.

"Seems like someone was here recently..." Natasha whispered.

A sudden noise interrupted her thoughts. Hasty footsteps approaching from all directions. Natasha had sensed them before, but she decided to wait to assess the situation. She let them surround her.

"Well, aren't you a beauty. The boss was right." A wizard with an American accent grinned with disgusting enthusiasm upon seeing her.

"American?" Natasha replied, noticing his English pronunciation.

"Sorry, sweetheart, but you'll have to come with us." The leader of the group raised his wand, and the others mimicked him without saying a word, their eyes gleaming with greed.

"I was supposed to be done dealing with idiots like you..." Natasha sighed with annoyance and, without hesitation, activated her magical weapon.

The artifact, a creation of Tony, allowed her wand to cast spells much faster and without the need to verbalize them. She only needed to speak the incantation when she wanted to change the type of spell she was firing.

Blue flashes from her weapon filled the place as she fired with lethal precision. Three enemies fell before the rest could react.

"Idiots! Get her!" shouted the leader, seeing Natasha's efficiency.

"Imperio!" another man roared in desperation.

Natasha moved with feline grace, dodging green rays and control spells with elegance. She shot, struck, and brutally knocked down those who dared to approach her. For those foolish enough to try hand-to-hand combat, a simple punch to the chin was enough to knock them out.

"Avada Kedavra!" screamed one of the men, his voice trembling with fear.

"You idiot! The boss wants her alive!" roared the leader, only to find himself completely alone. His men lay dead or unconscious around him, and Natasha stood before him with a cold smile.

With a swift movement, she twisted his arm, forcing him to fall face-first into the ashes. The man's wand slipped from his hand, and Natasha kicked it away.

"Well, now that we're alone... Could you tell me who your leader or boss is?" Natasha asked while twisting his arm with force, her tone calm but deadly.

"All right, I'll tell you! Please, don't hurt me!" the man pleaded, his voice cowardly.

But before he could say anything useful, he began to cough up blood. Natasha stepped back, surprised, as she watched him die in front of her, his eyes losing their shine within seconds.

"What the hell...?" Natasha muttered, seeing the same thing happening to the other wizards she had left unconscious. All of them were dead.

She let out an annoyed huff and quickly searched the bodies. On their necks, they bore a strange tattoo: a majestic eagle being attacked by a cunning fox.

A chill ran down her spine. Her danger instincts kicked in, and she looked around carefully. There was nothing visible, but something was very wrong. She tried to Apparate to escape, but an Anti-Apparition barrier had been raised. She had no choice but to run towards the exit with all her might.

Just as she reached the door, a massive explosion consumed the ruins. Natasha raised her weapon-wand to conjure a protective shield, blocking the fire and debris that flew toward her. When the explosion finally subsided, Natasha looked at the place with evident irritation.

"They were supposed to want me alive. So... why do something so absurd?" she asked aloud while pulling out her magical phone. She sent a message and waited a few seconds. The sound of a Ting alerted her.

[Place Cachée, Rue Richer/Rue Girardon, Patisserie Matagot]

She read the message and quickly vanished from the place before the French police, alerted by the explosion, arrived with their sirens echoing in the distance.

........

Natasha arrived at a patisserie in Place Caché, the equivalent of Diagon Alley in France. As soon as she entered, a cute receptionist greeted her with a smile.

"Bonjour, que puis-je vous servir aujourd'hui ?" [Hello, what can I serve you today?]

"Je cherche des informations." [I'm looking for information.]

Natasha took out one of her buttons and placed it in front of the receptionist, who stared at it intently before looking at her again. Without saying a word, she gestured for Natasha to follow her to the back.

Natasha followed her down a dark corridor with determined steps. Then she saw it. Something she would recognize at first glance: one of Stephen's portals. Without hesitation, she stepped through the portal along with the receptionist, appearing in a cluttered office where a man with tired eyes was sifting through documents nonstop.

The receptionist placed the button bearing the Flamel family crest on the desk and left silently.

"Hello, I'm Mark." The man said quickly, with a hint of caution in his eyes. "Nobody's foolish enough to forge the Flamel family crest, but I'd like confirmation, just in case."

Natasha looked at him for a moment before her eyes, previously concealed by a spell, regained their natural, magic-filled blue.

"So, you're one of his sisters. Tell me, what do you need?" Mark asked as he respectfully returned the button.

Natasha used her wand to draw the tattoo she had seen on the men before, letting its outline float in the air. It was an eagle being attacked by a fox. Seeing it, Mark's expression turned serious and cautious.

"The Shadow Claw"

"Give me all the information you have." Natasha ordered firmly.

"It's an underground group of dark wizards in the United States, known for their unsettling symbol: a majestic eagle being attacked by a cunning fox. That emblem represents their philosophy: even the most powerful can be defeated through cunning and strategy. They operate in the shadows, based in the Appalachians, and are dedicated to collecting forbidden magical artifacts and destabilizing the balance between wizards and non-magical people." Mark explained quickly, as if every word was a relief to get off his chest.

"America... So, why did I see them here in France?" Natasha asked coldly.

"They changed leaders a few years ago. He's not particularly strong, but his tactics to take down rival gangs earned him the respect of most of his men. It seems they've begun expanding into several European countries. France and England are their main targets. Sorry, but I don't know what exactly they're after." Mark paused, recalling something important. "However, I do know they have some contacts with pureblood families. A couple of months ago, the leader's right-hand man was seen having a meeting with the now-imprisoned Lucius Malfoy. I've also heard that some of their men frequent Knockturn Alley."

"Fine. How much do I owe you?" Natasha asked impatiently.

"Don't worry. The Flamel family sponsors our group. Just tell your brother to stop sending me so much work, please." Mark said with a pleading smile as he glanced at the pile of papers surrounding him.

"Sure." Natasha replied before turning around and leaving the shop. In a matter of seconds, she Apparated to England, specifically to the Leaky Cauldron.

The place was crowded with people pouring into Diagon Alley or asking for rooms to stay. It seemed everyone was following the orders dictated by martial law. Natasha paid little attention and quickly headed towards Knockturn Alley.

As she walked, her appearance began to change until she resembled an old woman, and with a wave of her wand, her clothes transformed into the typical attire of a dark wizard.

Entering Knockturn Alley, she went unnoticed. Although some people eyed her with suspicion for being a stranger, they quickly lost interest.

Frowning, she walked toward a bar known to be a gathering point for dark wizards. But as she moved forward, she felt a hand dangerously close to her shoulder. In one fluid motion, she grabbed it, threw the person to the ground, and aimed her weapon at the stranger's neck.

"Natasha?" The hooded man asked in surprise, feeling the cold steel against his throat.

Natasha quickly removed his hood, revealing Sirius's face, who looked at her with confusion.

"You? How did you figure it out?" Natasha asked, not lowering her guard.

"Well, that move is pretty characteristic... And also your weapon. Could you...?" Sirius said with an awkward smile, glancing at the gun still aimed at his neck.