The last warning


June 10th of 1985 Azkaban, 10 pm:

Along the wizard's prison hallways, the dementors hovered away in a swirl of black capes, clearing the way for a sluggishly marching silhouette, face concealed behind a gold mask featuring arabesque patterns.

The man strolled confidently along the prison's hallways, ignoring the begging eyes that followed him until his march found its end when he reached the last floor, where the most dangerous criminals were imprisoned. The floor where the cells had no windows, beds, or even a simple hole to use as sanitary. He stood in front of an iron cell's door, with a horizontal row of silver keylocks, then took off his glove and placed a hand against the cold iron.

At the contact with his skin, the locks ticked, and the door unlocked before him, letting a group of rats escape. He entered the dark cell, and a small ball of light came out of his index, rising to the ceiling and enlightening the cell. On the dirty floor, heavily chained, back against the wall, a defeated man slowly raised his head, looking scared at the newcomer.

"Have the dementors already broken you, Fenrir? Where two days enough?" The man asked, taking out his wand.

Fenrir's eyes glanced at the wand and whispered, "I only answer to the dark lord", before the man turned slightly his wrist and Fenrir levitated slowly, and only his toes skimmed the floor, his broken nails letting a drop of blood fall on it.

"PUNISH THE VERMIN! KILL HIM!" A woman's voice shouted from a cell further down the hallway.

"SHUT UP BELLA! OR WE'LL BE NEXT!" A man's terrified voice immediately followed.

The man ignored them, instead, he pointed his wand at Fenrir, and a second later the werewolf wriggled in pain, his shriek resounded between the walls until his body dropped heavily on the floor.

"You will watch your words carefully," The man said coldly, before moving two fingers, levitating Fenrir, who struggled to retake his breath, before ejecting him to hit the wall. Then, he looked down at Fenrir and said, "We assigned you a straightforward task and placed you on the path to acquire a new power, yet you disappointed us deeply…We request an explanation. Now!"

Fenrir spat blood on the floor, then replied, "I had the upper hand…Only I couldn't control it long enough. I got distracted and he…"

"Lies," the man said, before casting the cruciatus curse on Fenrir again and holding it active until he saw Fenrir's eyes about to pop out before lifting the spell. Fenrir fell on his side, his head against the floor, looking straight at the man's boots.

"Shall I ask again?" The man asked.

"Please, don't…" Fenrir whispered.

"Talk the truth then, my patience is as limited as is my time," The man said.

"I couldn't keep my mind clear more than a few seconds after I transformed…I only remember regaining my consciousness on a roof, before felling from it" Fenrir said, breathing heavily, "I tried to take him by surprise, only he was always followed closely by Ludvik Balasko. The old..."

"I know who Ludvik Balasko is," The man said sharply, then remained silent for a moment before turning his back to Fenrir and then said, "Before I leave. You've said something disturbing earlier, Fenrir. You said that you answered directly to the dark lord, and I can't let that pass without bringing some clarifications. For pureblood wizards, it is indeed an honor to serve the dark lord. However, for all the low vermin that doesn't fit that criterion, the dark lord only blesses you with his tolerance"

Then, the man stepped out of the cell and the iron door closed behind him. He faced the hallway and said, articulating every word, "All of you here claim yourselves to be the dark lord's most loyal followers. Don't fool yourselves, because you are his most useless! Confined to cells while his useful assets are roaming the world in his search! Tightening the ranks in the wizengamot, faithful to his commands! The dark lord will rise again, it is announced, IT IS INEVITABLE! With his return, he shall reward the worthy! This fortress' stones will melt to his will and your mediocrity will meet his judgment!". Then, he walked away, leaving the dementors to burst back inside from the windows and roam again the hallways as he progressed toward the exit.


London, Ministry of Magic, Aurors Office. 11 pm.

Sitting in his box at the Aurors' office, Kingsley, on duty for the night same as every night for the last two weeks, dropped the Daily Prophet's evening issue on his desk. Since the trial of Peter Pettigrew, the Aurors had not made any other arrest.

The Voldemort page seemed to have been turned, and he wasn't complaining. Five years earlier, the press same press that continuously reported about the most gruesome news and events in the magical world, was now front-paging Quidditch.

Even the Ministry had visibly slackened since the election of Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic after Millicent Bagnold's term officially ended. At least, the new administration appointees seemed to indicate.

Bartemius Crouch had been transferred to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, several department heads had been pushed into retirement to be replaced by technocrats from Cornelius Fudge's close circle. There were even whispers about the soon retirement of Alastor Moody, who, therefore would leave the Aurors' office leadership after decades, holding the fort strong.

However, Kingsley, looking silently at his cigarette's end, turning into a dark grey smoke, knew this war was still far from being over. Lord Voldemort's remains were never found in Godric's Hollow, they haven't arrested all his death eaters, and according to Pettigrew's testimony, it wouldn't be the first time Lord Voldemort vanished without instructing his ranks.

Pettigrew also mentioned seven particular death eaters who stood higher in the hierarchy of the dark lord's army. Who were they? Was their position due to their power, other capacities, or both? But most urgent, what were they doing now? Rebuilding his army?

Kinglsey's eyes stared at the opened envelopes on his desk, stamped with a red 'DENIED'. He smoked before sighing, looking disappointed at the various request he had made to reopen a few investigations and question again some high-profile prisoners and persons. However, since his last denied request, Moody had been sending him to assist low-level delinquents Weasley and Perkins reported, night shifts, and a few bodyguard missions for foreign diplomats.

Kingsley crushed his cigarette in the ashtray, glanced at the clock, and sighed in annoyance before leaning his back against his chair, stretching his arms above his hands. However, before he could close his eyes, he heard someone knock softly on his box's wood. He looked to his right and found Moody, looking sternly at him.

"Don't let your guard down, kid. Particularly in the Ministry" Moody said.

Kingsley nodded and said, "I thought you had already left sir", then retrieved his bag from the chair to clear the place for Moody.

"I was on my way out when I saw the light" Moody said.

"Do you have anything for me? Apart from following some politician?" Kingsley asked.

"No, you'll be doing that for the moment…At least until you calm down" Moody said, nodding at the denied requests, "So, Am I the only one to pick up a few things from Pettigrew's trial?"

Kingsley's eyes met the man's magic eye, and shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about"

Moody chuckled and said, "Fair enough, I'll talk to myself, and you'll listen…You must be careful if you want to last in this office"

"Why? I just want to do my job, the best I can…Unless I'm wrong, that's what's expected from me" Kingsley said, irritated.

"What the ministry of magic expects from you is not to make any waves…No, I'll rephrase it. The new incompetent minister of magic is terrified by the waves you could make" Moody said.

"Where are you going with this?" Kingsley asked, frowning.

"Straight to the point…Fudge is delighted by the privileges and the power his new position brings him, but terrified by the complications and responsibilities that it involves. He's the kind who hides the dust under the carpet, and prays it never gets noticed" Moody said.

"That's why he denied my requests? He just wants to leave everything behind and hopes it disappears?" Kingsley asked.

"No, that's why I denied your requests before they could climb higher in the chain of command," Moody said.

"You…You did?" Kingsley said.

"You bet I did…Fudge hates being contradicted or challenged. That's the reason he went out of his way to transfer Crouch to the most boring department, to dilute him in it! And you would have followed if one of the requests had landed on his desk" Moody said, then, rubbed a hand on his face, and said, "All his panel his stupid…Ludo Vervey head of the magical games and sports…"

"How does he plan to govern without a competent administration around him?" Kingsley asked.

"Considering he picked them in the first place," Moody said.

"What?" Kingsley asked.

"Ask yourself about who funded his campaign. Especially, how his candidacy was approved by the wizengamot, considering he never mattered back when he was head of the department of magical disasters" Moody said.

Kingsley remained silent, thinking until he whispered, "Pettigrew's trial…"

Moody nodded, "That's the reason someone whispered to Fudge's ear that it would send a confident message to the wizarding community if Dumbledore was his advisor, and Dumbledore kindly agreed. That's how he'll counterbalance whoever lurking in the dark, limit the damage Fudge could cause, and investigate cleaver than whatever stupid plan you have thought"

Kingsley nodded, then asked, "How about us? How can we help?"

"There is no us anymore. Starting tomorrow, I'll be retired," Moody said.

"Oh…So, the rumors are true…" Kingsley whispered.

Moody nodded, glancing at the other empty boxes around Kingsley's, then said, "My cycle is over. I gave an eye, a leg, my nose, half my face and I refuse to answer to Fudge…However, I have one last mission for you"

"Name it!" Kingsley immediately said.

"Keep your head down and play along…Work your way up to head of the office if not the department. Because, believe me, we will need you when the day comes" Moody said.

"The day Lord Voldemort returns," Kingsley said.

Moody nodded and said, "Dumbledore is sure that his assets are already on the move, placing themselves smartly in the most crucial spots. To strike us hard when he commands it…Therefore, we must do the same. You better start navigating around politics, kid"

"You can count on me," Kingsley said.

"Then, you'll need this" Moddy said, tossing him a silver badge.

Kingsley caught it and looked at it, "Are you promoting me?"

"I made it approved, and the paperwork was signed by Amelia this evening. She is probably the only new department head with a working brain. However, starting tomorrow, you'll command a team of five Aurors…Try to make the best of them" Moody said before grabbing his walking stick and standing up, "There'll be moments you'll want to do things your way…When it happens, remember this conversation. Until then, Constant vigilance!"

Moody left his box and Kingsley's eyes, his heart heavy, followed the old Auror's back until the man stopped at the office's entrance. Moody's eyes roamed slowly the office, for the first time his magic eye was motionless, then the man sighed deeply before knocking softly his knuckles on the wooden sign and left to never step back into the ministry of magic ever again.


Hello everyone! As I said the last week, here is a short chapter to keep you informed about what's happening while Sirius is still away, and also to give an idea about how Voldemort will be in this story. As always, thank you for reading, and please review! Have a good weekend!