Chapter 13: The Chosen Few
{"Stop talking about a resolution...With the weight of a loaded gun...Keep standing in the noise pollution...And prepare for the war to come...Stay calm is critical...Standing in the firing line alone...With only hell to pay..."}The Killing Kind, Rev. Theory
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Ministry Of Magical Offices, Wizarding World...
There was more panic filling the hearts and minds of the wizarding world as the same flaming serpent that destroyed The Daily Prophet's main headquarters had returned this time setting it's sights on the Ministry Of Magical Offices. Broken glass had flown every which way as the strange masked and black robed men entered the building.
The leader had appeared to be greatly agitated as he gripped the throat of the current Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. It had been no easy feat to take on the former Auror hand picked and trained by the legendary Mad-Eye Moody himself.
The large dark skinned wizard had put up quite a valiant fight but it was of to no avail. He had not been as young as he use to be and years of peace only saw his belly grow more round and his reflexes dull. He had been more than a match for the common rabble but nothing in comparison to this strange dark wizard.
The masked leader held Kingsley up by his throat with only one hand making it a show for all to see following them bursting through the glass window of the Minster of Magic's office.
"Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt." said the masked leader with darkness in his tone. "Such a weak leader to represent such a weak foundation of wizarding authority."
The Minster of Magic struggled against the ever tightening grip of his captor.
"W-What do you want?" he struggled to ask.
The masked leader rolled his dark menacing eyes.
"Have you not been listening?" he asked impatiently tightening his grip on the Minister of Magic's throat. "I want destruction, I want justice, and most of all I want Harry Potter bowing at my feet."
Minister Shacklebolt again continued to struggle despite the enormous amount of pain he had been feeling and the loss of his feeling in parts of his body.
"Amusing." chuckled the masked leader darkly. "But in vain."
He sighed and threw the Minister of Magic to the floor.
"What business do you have with Harry Potter?" asked Kingsley rubbing his sore throat.
"I am going to open his eyes to the beginning of a new era." replied the masked leader. "Then I am going to slowly break every bone in his body while he begs for death."
"You'll never get away with this..." began Kingsley only to find himself flung into a nearby wall with enough force to knock him out cold and break most of his ribs.
"Let this be a lesson to you." said the masked leader in a dangerous tone. "I WILL HAVE MY VENGEANCE NO MATTER THE COST!"
The stunned on lookers knew not what to do as their only means of protection had been silenced.
The enraged Masked leader began making a mess of The Ministry Of Magical offices. He had been so into letting his temper run wild that he had not noticed that Auror Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley had entered the building wand at the ready.
She launched him back into a nearby wall while she tended to Minister Kingsley. Upon seeing their leader struck, the obedient other black robed men in ivory masks joined in the battle each one attempting to teach the meddling Auror her place.
They had not counted on Hermione being as adept at charms and hexes as she had been easily over taking quite a few and leaving them unconscious for an arrest. She had not time to celebrate her small triumph as The masked leader quickly revealed that he had gotten back to his feet and the combat between them resumed.
Their battled ranging from quick hand to hand combat to long distance spell work before they both spilled into Kingsley's private office.
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Kingsley Shackbolt's Office, Ministry Of Magical Offices, Wizarding World...
Hermione launched a well timed hex in the direction of the masked leader. He blocked it with what she recognized easily as Wand-less magic while summoning flames from both his black gloved hands and launching them at her.
She had managed to dodge one while the other hit her in the arm burning it indefinitely. She screamed out in agony drawing away from another barrage of fireballs. They were much to fast for her to block with only one good arm and her focus split a sit was.
Hermione managed to conjure a water charm that kept the fire balls at bay but they did little in terms of damage to the masked leader whom brushed them aside and advanced upon her. He wrapped his black gloved fingers around her throat much as he had Kingsley, the rage behind his dark eyes almost palpable.
The amber eyed witch struggled to get free only to find herself more than helpless due to her injure and that the masked leader had broken her wrist on her wand hand. He slammed her against the wall hurting her back before firmly pressing his tense body into hers.
She gasped when he leaned close to her ear and whispered words she had heard so many times before.
"Foolish girl." he said in a dangerous tone. "Did you really think you stood a chance against me?"
Hermione's eyes widened as visions of Severus Snape the death eater filled her mind.
The masked leader had been quite amused by her mind's apparent classification of him. He let out a feral growl and tossed her rather effortlessly against the far wall before making his exit.
"Congratulations, you are one of the chosen few that I cared to leave alive due to pressing matters elsewhere." he said with a hint of amusement. "Now run along and tell precious Potter all about our little encounter, I am sure he'll be all ears as far as you are concerned...Miss Granger."
Again the way he spoke to her reminded her so much of her Potions Professor. She had not seen him as a death eater as Harry had but she was told he was capable of a kind of darkness that made even Voldemort pale in comparison.
With that, The masked leader took off with his members leaving a blazing double serpent sigil in the sky above the Ministry Of Magic offices along with shattered glass and flames. Hermione Granger slipped into unconsciousness due to her injuries. One thing had been clear about the strange organization, they were well trained, highly adaptive, and their leader hated Harry Potter and everything of note in the wizarding world.