Disclaimer; I dont own HP
Chapter 34: The Endgame Begins
February 14, one day before the Trial…
"Do you understand what you've gotten yourself into Minister?" The blond aristocrat asked angrily.
"I know what I'm doing Lucius. Do not take me as a fool." The man said. "Besides, you and the Potter family had been at war for years, I had thought this would make you happy."
"That would be true but this boy is my son's friend and therefore, my friend. I am Oath bound to help him. Back off while you can Fudge, otherwise, your precious administration might find itself lacking in terms of funding. Potter has friends in the Goblins and I will not support you in this act of foolishness. The choice is yours. Good day Sir!" Lucius said, storming off angrily.
This does not bode well for my plans. I had thought Lucius would be swayed to our side. His support is a great loss, but will not change the outcome of the voting. The problem lies in the funds he possesses. Without it, I could hardly continue keep my political superiority in the Ministry. I would be unable to pay off my spies and then, they would refuse to give me valuable information to keep some idealistic opponents on a short leash. I would lose my power. That cannot happen if I am to be able to keep Potter contained and the Ministry pacified. I will have to find other sources. Fudge thought, watching Lucius storm off.
I must warn James Potter immediately. Without his help, our resistance, no matter how stiff, will fail. The only hope now is young Alex to rally enough support to stall until Potter Senior arrives. I just hope he's up to it. He'll need to gather his wits about him. Lucius thought. He took out his wand and ported out of there back to his Manor.
Longbottom…
Frank Longbottom had to admit, he held no great love for the Malfoys or the Potters. He might not have hated them, but that didn't mean he liked them. His attitude was closer to indifference than anything else. And yet, he could not help but feel compassion for the young Harry Potter when news reached him of the boy's incarceration and subsequent trial. The boy was blameless, this much he knew.
But to actually vote him innocent? The repercussions of such an act might attract unnecessary anger towards his family. And the continuation and protection of Family always came before personal attachments or decisions. It was tradition.
This led to the fact that one Lucius Malfoy and one Alex Potter were standing before him, asking him of his help against Fudge and Slivenson. If I help you against them, what assurance of protection would I gain? I must, after all, be responsible for my family."
"We can guarantee that the Potter, Black, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Weasley Families will support your defense. Those Families following the Malfoy Family will also pledge an Oath of Mutual Defense, whether they choose to or not." Lucius said smoothly. "In addition, the Dark Faction has agreed to support me in this decision of voting against Slivenson. Our main problem is convincing those still uncommitted. They hold the key to winning this political battle. Your active resistance against his condemnation would be a huge boost to us. We only need to wait until James Potter returns to rally his supporters more effectively."
"And if we fail? What then?"
"Then nothing. We lose a valuable asset, but by that time Potter would have returned to save us. However, trying to free the young lad would be immensely difficult." Lucius stated.
"Really? So this all to try and save the boy from mental trauma and the dementors." Longbottom concluded.
"You could say so. He is too valuable to the Potter Family to be sent to Azkaban. His mind is one of the finest we've seen in years. Any damage to it and we would lose a great ally."
"Listen here Malfoy. I allow the both of you to present your case to me because of the Pact of the Last. For your sake's, I will remain a neutral partying this conflict. You have my word on that. Unfortunately, I cannot and will not act on such presumptions."
"Very well, Lord Longbottom. We will honor your choice." Alex suddenly said, stopping Lucius from speaking. The two left Longbottom to his thoughts.
Did I make the right choice, shunning them like that?
Of course! I did this for my family.
But there is a difference between family and being right. His conscience countered.
I could have done nothing for that boy! His fate was sealed the moment he made Slivenson his personal enemies.
I could save that boy from imprisonment. I would protect his youth and innocence, or what is left of it. Something I swore I would do many years ago.
And yet, that seems so very long ago. What importance is a promise to no one but yourself?
To know that I am still the man I once was. That politics, money, power, and bureaucracy has not changed me or my morals. There is a difference between what is right and what is easy. I fear I have chosen what is easy.
Moral character will not keep your lineage safe from harm!
Better to die with honor then live with shame! Better to fight for the truth then to hide behind lies!
And what of loyalty to family? The honoring of your responsibility to your family?
What about loyalty to self and to others? Loyalty to the government and the Wizengamot? The responsibility of keeping the law fair and equal?
You forget about our Motto. Prosapia supremus totus His conscience was silenced…for now. He had justified his actions before his own eyes and sated the guilt of knowing he did nothing to let a boy go to hell on earth. Prosapia supremus totus! Family above all!
Ireland, Magical Belfast Outskirts…
"Make ready!" Rookwood shouted so his voice would be heard by all his men. The five hundred handpicked Death Eaters formed up quickly according to the squad they belonged to. "Take Aim!" All along the line, wands were taken out and aimed at the Front of the Auror Headquarters Camp. Many wands could be seen glowing with malicious, sickly colored lights as they prepared to unleash their fury upon their unsuspecting and hapless enemies.
"FIRE!" A wave of magic shot out of the Force; almost melding together to form one mass of energy, and crashed into the first line of defenses of the Auror camp, completely and totally obliterating it. The agonized screams of dying men filed the air, as their bodies were quite literally torn apart by the sheer intensity of it all. The other who died were instantly vaporized, not even knowing they were under attack.
Startled cries of alarm soon filled the air afterwards, the camp bursting to life at the face of this new threat. "CHARGE!" The Death Eaters started running forward, firing spells as they did. The first two lines conjured shields to defend those behind him while those in the third and fourth row began to change their wands into swords and spears. Spells hit both sides causing gaps in the ranks. The difference was this: for every Auror that fell, another took his place; for every Death Eater dead, the gap stayed unfilled.
Yet, despite this fact, the Death Eaters still continued in their charged. They were trained well, to attack and charge in the heat of battle, to obey each and every command instantly and effectively.
100 Meters, more men continued to fall form both sides, the Aurors sneered at their enemies' suicidal charge; a feeble attempt not to mention a stupid a stupid one.
50 Meters, violent bursts of energy shaked the ground. A screen of smoke erupted form the very ground, blocking the Auror's line of sight.
30 Meters, the Aurors were now fighting blind, shooting wildly into the smoke. The Death Eaters continued in their charge, dropping what shields they had and converting into an entirely melee force.
5 Meters, the first line of Death Eaters reached the Aurors. They thrusted their weapons forward, their blades bathing in blood for the first time.
The Death Eaters drove deeper and deeper into the Auror force, slaughtering the hapless long range combatants. In the enclosed space, their swords and spears created havoc and fear within the Aurors, haven't seeing such ferocity and weapons in combat in their entire lives. The last time such weapons were used was five hundred years ago. A frantic melee ensued, one which the Aurors could not win though they outnumbered the Death Eaters 5 to 1. They simply had no way to counter such an attack. Magical Shields could not stop Steel and Mithril. Spells could not be used at such close distances without friendly casualties.
Quickly and brutally, the Aurors were shredded and scattered, forced to run for their lives. They found out however, that these Death Eaters were much faster runners than them. Their hand was forced. They either hoped to shoot a spell that would kill them fast enough or get butchered as they tried to out run them. Some chose to fight, hoping to save the others and buy them some time. Their efforts were futile.
Within an hour, the entire camp was decimated. Its residence of three thousand Aurors was put to the sword like sheep. Less than five hundred men escaped that night of death, none of them officers or commanders. They retreated in groups or as individuals depending on their skill and rank.
Dawn broke over the bloodied camp finding no one to shine over but the dead. There was an ominous feeling in the air as the fire continued to grow, engulfing the area. A deathly still hung over the remnants of the camp, hundreds of men slain for the ideals of some madman and the stupidity of an inept government. The Death Eaters veterans were all but decimated, such was the price of victory and war.
The End draws near.
Hogwarts…
"Scour the walls! Leave nothing unchecked. We have to find a trace of that creature." Mitch commanded. The results of their search for the monster had, so far, bared no fruit, but they were getting closer each day. Just the other day, they had extracted and preserved the essence of the creature with a little bit of luck. Its essence was pitch black, almost invisible to even Aura Seekers; almost impossible to find.
From what they had found out about it, it seemed that the creature was similar to a shadow, being able to be part of their surroundings and more specifically, in darkness. It was almost like a chameleon, except it could only hide in the dark. But with the amount of objects and shadows in the world, it wouldn't be difficult, even at day.
Soon we'll find the creature behind these attacks and put it down for good. That should show the students of our goodwill and intents towards them. Certainly it would stop some support from reaching Morris. "Make sure you get as many samples as possible. We need more for our experiments on its capabilities and behavior so we can capture it."
FOOLISH HUMAN! YOU DARE TRY AND HUNT ME, THE MASTER OF HUNTERS? The voice suddenly boomed in his mind.
Who are you? Mitch asked.
I am the shadow you seek. I am the master hunter. Be warned. No mercy is shown to my enemies.
We do not need or expect any mercy from beasts and savages. Mitch remarked insultingly.
It shall please me to bring upon your demise. Until we meet again Human scum. My time has not yet come.
"…One of the oddest things a Shadow would do as an assassin was to speak to its prey weeks or even months before he would kill them. It appears they seem to delight in taking out a prepared enemy. From what has been gathered on their Clan based society, it seems it shows a testament of their skill. A competition, per se."
-excerpt from: Notes of Professor Neville Longbottom on the Shadow Fiend Species…