Again, this is just for fun, I do not own the Harry Potter Characters and mean no harm by their use.

Chapter 18, Voldemort's Plot

The Evening Prophet carried the unfortunate news in Rita Seeketer's words. Harry Potter, the chosen one, along with his two best friends condemned to death by the ministry of magic. Not only so but the Nasserites were now declared "Enemies Combatants." After some preliminary arrests, the members of the order of the cross in Great Britain were warned to disappear which they did so. Even some of the ones the ministry had arrested managed to escape. Also in the Evening Prophet was a statement to all British Wizardry from Minister Scrimgeour…

"In light of the threats posed to the world of Wizardry both from You-Know-Who, the Death Eaters, and the fulfillment of the prophesy of the antichrist, By decree of the Ministry of Magic for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, British Wizardry is to be placed on full war footing. As such, all wizard civilians are now under curfew, they shall be in their homes at 10:00 PM or face arrest. All members of the Order of the Cross are now hereby Enemies of Wizardry and are to be arrested and detained. In addition, anyone found to be engaged in sedition, either through published writing or verbal communication shall be subject to arrest for treasonous misconduct, punishable by death. The public carrying of wands and other weapons by civilians is also hereby outlawed until further notice. By order of Rufus Scrimgeour Minister of Magic."

The ministry held its first public execution that very evening, one of the Nasserites who had not managed to escape, a middle-aged wizard. He was publicly beheaded in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic after mounting the scaffold bravely and signing the cross. He was not allowed any last words but was heard muttering… "I go to a better world." By evening, rumors spread of disappearances that were not traced to Voldemort. Kingsley Shackbolt, Tonks, Alastor Moody, and several other Aurors who were known members of the Order of the Phoenix were now missing.

At this news, Voldemort rejoiced. As he read a copy of the daily prophet, he beamed in satisfaction. He paced back and forth in a large room with a long table, in the home of his father atop the hill overlooking the graveyard and church in Little Hangleton. At the table sat several of his followers including several who had escaped from Azkaban: Lucius Malfoy, Alecto, Amycus, both Averys, Mulciber, Nott, Rudolphus and Belletrix Lestrange, Agustus Rockwood, Walden McNair, Crabbe, Goyle, Antonin Dohlov, and Wormtail. Joining them at the table were several individuals in the uniforms of foreign dignitaries from Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, various African Nations, India, and even the United States.

After setting down the copy of the Evening Prophet, Voldemort addressed his followers.

"My friends, the ministry has played right into our hands," Voldemort began. "And now it is time to act. The time we have dreamed of is at hand, all wizardry will fall before us. All is proceeding according to plan, the Dementors are prepared to go along with the surrender. As are my Death Eaters, and all of our minions, the war shall now end, but begin again, and this time we shall have control of the ministry, and our enemies shall be the rebellion."

"There is still one thing I'm not exactly clear on my lord," Said Lucius Malfoy. "What is to prevent the Ministry of sending us all to Azkaban after our surrender?"

"We will promise them what they want," said Voldemort slightly annoyed, as if he had been over this several times. "The only thing they see as a greater threat than us, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and Harry Potter. We will bring them their heads on a plate, securing forever their friendship, then catching them off balance, then we shall overrule their authority."

After Voldemort finished speaking an elderly Wizard in the uniform of a German Dignitary spoke, his accent was Bavarian, his expression powerful, well beyond that of Reverend Ewls'.

"Reports from our supporters internationally have showed readiness to Strike," He said. "All of Europe has been enticed by the British Ministry of Magic to find the four fugitives, promising to produce them will secure an alliance with the other magical governments across Europe, placing our supporters in perfect position to overthrow their respective governments, a world-wide revolution is now on our hands."

"This will be a day long remembered," Said the Russian Dignitary in a triumphant voice. "First we shall secure the return of the control of Wizardry to Purebloods, and then wizardry shall take its rightful control of the Muggle world."

----------

These events were unbeknownst to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Reverend Ewls and Buckbeak, who were still carrying on at night after a very tiring first day on foot. They were now proceeding south through a wooded, hilly area. Reverend Ewls had charmed his eyes so that he could see in the dark and Harry and Ron held on to his robes as they walked in the near-pitch-blackness. Hermione sat atop Buckbeak whose reins were being pulled by Ron and who walked along cooperatively, still holding the feather of his brother Frogtongue in his mouth.

"I don't understand why you three insist on walking, while I get to ride atop Buckbeak," said Hermione guiltily. "I'm fine I can walk you know, it's been a long day you three are tired, Harry, Ron, why don't one of you trade me places."

"Hermione, your condition could worsen at any moment," responded Ewls. "You know that as well as I."

"I'm not going to go into labor for at least another three weeks."

"Wouldn't count on that," replied Ewls. "Your due date may be four weeks away but babies have been known to be a month early."

"I just feel bad, you all are doing so much work on my account, and I get to ride Buckbeak."

"It's alright Hermione," said Harry. "We're not that tired, believe me."

"Hermione your staying atop Buckbeak and that's the end of it," said Ewls almost harshly, his voice giving finality to the conversation. Upon finishing his statement Buckbeak gave a slight screech. "See, Buckbeak agrees."

With that, all four gave a short laugh. The four came to a small clearing in the woods, still surrounded by trees, however. With his wand, Ewls conjured three cots which were raised slightly above the ground. One of the cots was large enough for two people.

"We'll stop here for the night," Said Ewls. Ron, Hermione, can I trust you two not to engage in anything immoral."

"Yes, Reverend," said Ron in an almost annoyed tone of voice.

"Ron and I will go and look for firewood," said Harry.

"There will be no fire," Ewls commanded.

"Wha?" Ron began. "It'll get awfully cold."

"Fire would attract attention, we can't give them any clue that we're here," Ewls instructed. "We'll keep two hour watches, we'll take them in turns, I'll go first, Harry, you'll be next, Ron third, Ron you'll have to wake us up in the morning after your watch."

"Only four hours of sleep a piece?" asked Ron.

"I want to get moving at six tomorrow morning, it's midnight now," Ewls replied. "Get used to it."

Hermione was now slightly frustrated, feeling quite guilty that she would not be helping them by keeping watch. Her expression of guilt fixed on Reverend Ewls.

"Reverend I…"

"Don't even think about it," Ewls interrupted. "You'll need your rest. Now get some sleep all of you, we have a long way to go.

After saying this, Hermione slowly turned away from Ewls and, along with Ron, moved toward their cot. The two laid down together, their arms interlocking in various places around each other's bodies. Reverend Ewls drew his sword and sat down cross-legged with his sword resting across his waste, he closed his eyes and rested his hands on the blade of his sword. Rather than laying down on his cot, Harry approached Ewls and sat down in front of him.

"Reverend, can I ask you…"

"Harry I thought I told you to go to sleep," said Ewls coldly, he did not even open his eyes. "We all need our rest."

Harry did not get up to go to his cot, but rather remained in front of Reverend Ewls, his expression as determined as ever.

"Why do you think I'm supposed to be a Nasserite?" Harry asked. "I'm not sure it's what I want."

Reverend Ewls still did not open his eyes, his response was calm, not his usual powerful address.

"What you want Harry, and what God wants for you are not always in harmony. But if you submit yourself to God, he will lead you to true happiness," Reverend Ewls said.

Harry looked down to his waste, his expression was one of nervousness, for some reason he did not want to be a Nasserite, he did not know why, perhaps out of fear. Perhaps because all he ever wanted to be was normal, and he had never had a normal year at Hogwarts, it seemed as though he was called to be a hero before he gave any opinion of his own in the matter. This was a fact that he despised. Just as he was about to stand, Reverend Ewls spoke…

"Cross your legs, close your eyes," Harry did so reluctantly, his shoulders were tense, he concentrated intently at what Reverend Ewls was instructing him to do. "I want you to relax, let go of your conscious self, and of the world around you. Drop your shoulders, don't bother with concentrating, it won't help you, relax."

"What am I doing?"

"Meditation Harry, is a powerful tool of enlightenment," Ewls' eyes were still closed, his speech relaxed, not powerful. Harry had obvious trouble relaxing, often he opened his eyes to look at Reverend Ewls in order to make sure that his posture matched Ewls' exactly. "If you release yourself from what is happening around you, and the consequences of your actions Harry, realizing that your failures and your victories are in the hands of God, that you yourself are in the hands of God, love will surround you, and bind you, and overflow you, God will show you things, understanding of truth, your place in his creation, his kingdom, you will even see visions Harry, the past, the future, what is going on around you."

Harry closed his eyes and actually managed to drop his shoulders, he concentrated hard on what Ewls had told him. Ewls opened his eyes and could tell from the get-go that Harry was doing it improperly.

"What do you see?"

Harry concentrated for a second before giving a sigh and opening his eyes with an expression of frustration.

"Nothing, I see nothing Reverend."

"All that means is that there is nothing that God wills you to see," said Ewls calmly, his expression perfectly relaxed but his eyes open. "The reason why you do not see anything Harry is probably because you are trying to see something. Do not despair Harry, what we are doing is about letting go of our burdens, not making new ones."

"I don't understand why…"

"…God doesn't speak to you?" Ewls finished Harry's sentence. "He does, all the time, in everything that goes on around you. The reason why you think what we're doing is unsuccessful is because you don't understand it. You think this is a superior means of communication, it's not you communicate to God through prayer, and God answers your prayer through your surroundings or direct communication if he wills it so. What this is, is feeling the love of God flowing through you. Through this we do not necessarily communicate with God, or receive messages from God, but perceive what God is already telling us through our surroundings. Close your eyes." Both Harry and Reverend Ewls closed their eyes together, Ewls still detected Harry's intense concentration and lack of relaxation. "Drop your shoulders, relax, feel the love, it surrounds us, it is in all things, it binds us, it is the basis of magic."

Harry suddenly opened his eyes in despair.

"I don't even know what to feel."

"Hogwash Harry, you felt it when you came to Christ, you felt it when you heard the hymns that brought you to Christ, do you remember those hymns? Do you remember what you felt as you listened to them, as you sung them?"

Harry closed his eyes slowly, trying to remember. In his mind, he heard the organ which played the hymns at the very first Liturgy held at Hogwarts where he made confession. He heard it play "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." He remembered the lyrics as he slowly let his shoulders down and released himself from his concentration.

O to Grace How Great a Debtor, Daily I'm constrained to be

Let thy Goodness Like a Fetter, Bind by Wandering Heart to thee.

Prone to Wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love,

Here's my heart, Lord, Take and Seal it, Seal it For thy Courts Above.

"Do you feel it?" Asked Reverend Ewls.

Tear drops began to form in Harry's ducts as he literally began to hear the song. The burning feeling that he had experienced that day when he went forward to confess, once again was ignited in his heart. He felt the deepest sense of peace he had ever felt, it gave his mind understanding, he understood the very nature of the cosmos, though he could not put it into words, he understood it, it's order, it's perfect harmony. Even it's chaos and imperfection.

"Yes," Harry Responded.

"Let go of all else," Ewls' voice was soft, soothing, comfortable. "Feel it flowing through your surroundings, radiating from the trees, the rocks, the leaves, binding you, surrounding you, penetrating you, it is God, it is his force."

The music in his head slowly died, though the feeling remained. In his closed eyes, the blackness faded into shapes, blurred but identifiable. He stood atop the Astronomy tower whereupon Dumbledore was killed. Across from him stood Lord Voldemort with a sword drawn, Harry clutched the sword of Godric Gryffindor in his hands. Voldemort's face was one of intense hatred, Harry had no fear as the feeling continued to penetrate him. After only a few seconds, the two charged each other. After finally arriving within sword striking distance of each other, as Harry raised his sword to deal the fatal blow, his eyes quickly went black, he opened them without hesitation, the feeling was gone. He once again regained consciousness of his surroundings. Reverend Ewls' eyes were still closed.

"You have opened your eyes Harry, have you finished?"

"I have what I need," said Harry. "Thank you Reverend."

Harry stood, but before he could move toward his cot, Reverend Ewls' voice stopped him.

"You have taken your first step Harry," Ewls said, Harry looked down to notice that his eyes were now open, he was staring at Harry, his powerful gaze had returned. "Good night."

Harry nodded, still reluctant about the call that he too was now confident God had given him to. He set off for his cot to go to sleep.

Meanwhile on the cot made for two, Hermione and Ron held each-other tightly as they struggled to fall asleep in the cooling night air. Hermione's arms were rapped around the small of Ron's back, while one of Ron's arms rested on Hermione's shoulder. The other arm stroked her hair gently.

"Ron?" said Hermione gently, her voice just above a whisper.

"Yeah," Ron whispered back, his voice as gentle and above whisper as hers.

"Are you scared?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Really?"

"Well, our only hope is to make it to a place over a two thousand miles away in four weeks, and if we're caught we'll probably be killed immediately. Yeah I'll admit that makes me a little nervous."

"Me too," Hermione admitted, her voice still gentle but becoming somewhat shaky. "Do you think we're going to die?"

Ron maneuvered in the bed in order to face Hermione directly in the eye, his hand, rather than stroking her hair, now gently rubbed against the side of her face.

"No, I don't," He said, giving her a short peck on the lips, after which he returned his stare directly into her eyes. His expression was unusually powerful. "Somehow we'll make it, at least I think so."

With this Hermione smiled, it seemed as though she managed to let go of a burden which was troubling her quite extensively.

"Thank you Ron, for being there for me, and for the baby," she whispered. "I wanted you to know that in case I don't make it."

"What do you mean in case you don't make it, of course your gonna make it," Ron protested.

"Ron, Healer Ewls said that my delivery is not going to be an easy one, that I could very well die," She explained. "Not like I have a choice but I am willing to go through with it for the baby. I just wanted you to know that in case I did in fact die."

Ron's powerful expression was maintained but a hint of worry entered his eyes. With both hands, he seized her shoulders. A single tear fell from his eye.

"Hermione, we're going to make it, we're going to survive," He said solemnly. "And we will raise our child together, everything will be alright."

"Ron why won't you give the ring to me?" asked Hermione. "You talk like we're going to be married, and yet you won't even ask me to marry you."

Ron's powerful expression fully died into one of shame and nervousness. He could not answer, instead he maneuvered his head to rest atop the side of hers. She sighed realizing that she would not get an answer from him, and simply buried her head in his shoulder and fell asleep.

The sun rose early that morning, daylight began to sparkle through the trees. Harry lay sound asleep when Ron shook him on his cot in an attempt to awaken him. Harry's eyes flickered open until finally his gaze concentrated on Ron, whose expression was drowsy, he yawned. Hermione was sitting on her cot, eating food that she had conjured for herself with her wand. Harry also noticed Reverend Ewls, who was still in the same meditative position as he had been in last night, with his eyes closed.

"He's been like that all night," Said Ron.

"He woke me up for my watch, then went right back to it, must not have gone to sleep at all."

Reverend Ewls suddenly took his sword by its handle and stood, opening his eyes. He walked to face Harry in an almost standoff posture.

"Ron, please stand aside," Ewls said, Ron went to Hermione's cot and sat beside her. "Harry, draw your sword, be on your guard."

Harry stood slowly, drowsily, and pulled his sword out of its sheath. He held it in front of him in a defensive posture.

With the wave of his wand, the cot behind Harry disappeared. Reverend Ewls Lunged at Harry with his sword, first swinging for Harry's side, Harry attempted to block Ewls' attack but his sword was thrown out of his hands by the power of Ewls' strike. Harry fell back several feet, and quickly drew his wand.

"Stupefy!"

Several red sparks flew out of Harry's wand, all of them were deflected by Reverend Ewls' sword, one of which was sent by Ewls' sword directly back at Harry. When it hit him, Harry fell to the ground unconscious.

"Reverend!" came Hermione's surprised, concerned voice.

"It's alright," assured Reverend Ewls.

Ewls took his wand and pointed it at Harry.

"Enervate."

Harry Drowsily awoke, took his sword into his hands, and got to his feet. Hermione and Ron now observed the duel intently.

"Your wand will be useless against a Nasserite's sword, they are specially charmed to deflect even the Killing Curse," said Ewls. "This means that in the hands of a fully trained Nasserite, the sword makes the wand virtually obsolete. But all in all you fight well, let's work on your skills."

Harry pocketed his wand and held his sword at a defensive posture in front of him. Without appearing to exert any physical effort at all, Reverend Ewls lunged at him, swinging at his sides. This time, Harry managed to deflect Ewls' strikes. He even swung his sword at Ewls in a counter attack, which Ewls managed to dodge. After Dodging Harry's single counter-strike, Ewls made a stabbing motion for Harry's gut, which Harry deflected with his sword. The two continued to duel for several seconds, neither having the upper hand until finally Harry's sword was once again knocked out of his hand. Ewls held his sword at Harry's chest threateningly.

"Notice how I'm not using hardly any physical strength Harry," Ewls said. "If you feel the Love of God flowing through you, it guides your actions to where you don't have to. Now attack!"

Harry picked up his sword again and the two resumed their duel. Harry was getting much better with every successive session. Ewls attempted to uppercut toward his lower torso, Harry executed a block. Harry tried to swing for Ewls' side, Ewls deflected. Ron and Hermione were both quite captivated by their duel until Ewls, without any warning, suddenly turned his back from Harry and repositioned his sword into a defensive posture, deflecting actual red sparks and fireballs coming from the trees with his sword.

"Get out of here, I'll cover you!" Ewls shouted as he deflected stunners, fireballs, and Jinxes.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione each took off running into the woods, Ron held Hermione's hand and led Her. Before disappearing into the woods, Hermione fired off a stunner into the woods opposite them from which came the curses, they could now see the men in dark robes, from which the curses originated. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione kept running, the slope suddenly curved downward. After running a few steps down the slope, he turned around and dove for the ground, landing chest-first in the dirt. Hermione and Ron followed his example. They were too far away to see the fighting but they heard it, curses and jinxes going off, people shouting in pain, and then suddenly silence.

After what seemed an eternity of silence, during which they three breathed heavily, not knowing what had happened to Reverend Ewls, they began to wonder what to do if he had been killed. Two bodies in black robes suddenly appeared as if out of nowhere and fell down the slope against which, Harry, Ron, and Hermione lay. The bodies groaned as they fell, they were alive. One of them had red hair and was identifiable to Ron. Harry, Ron, and Hermione held the two at wand-point, after their fall was completed, they rose to their knees and held their hands in the air.

"Percy?" said Ron in shock.

"Unfortunately," replied the red-headed one.

Over the crest of the downward slope came Reverend Ewls at a quick-paced walk, both his wand and his sword drawn.

"Ron I take it you'll recognize one of our two friends, the other I'm not sure of, though he does have quite a pronounced French accent," Ewls' voice gave hints of intense frustration. "Perhaps Mr. Percy Weasley, you wouldn't mind enlightening us on why your associate is French."

Percy Weasley sighed, he looked resigned to what was about to happen to him. His voice was one of defiance.

"You cannot escape the judgment of the ministry."

"You right foul git Percy," Ron shouted nastily. "Doesn't family mean anything to you?"

"Why is this gentleman French?" Repeated Reverend Ewls.

"An Owl was sent to the magical governments of every nation in Europe," Percy said defiantly. "And all the nations in North Africa and the nations in the Middle East with Magical Governments, now everyone in Europe is looking for you. You can't possibly escape, you might as well turn yourself in now and d…"

Before Percy could continue, Reverend Ewls raised his wand quite suddenly, and without any incantation, a red spark was hurled from it at Percy Weasley, who fell to the ground unconscious. Reverend Ewls then turned his wand to the Frenchman.

"I do apologize my French Friend," Ewls began. "Stupefy!"

A red spark, emanating from Reverend Ewls' wand hit the Frenchman square in the chest, he fell to the ground unconscious.

"Let's go," said Ewls, setting off without hesitation. Buckbeak suddenly emerged from the trees, he, Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Reverend Ewls without any hesitation.

----------

Rufus Scrimgeour sat at his office desk deep in the Ministry. As he went about his daily paperwork, a knock was heard at his door.

"Come in," Scrimgeour said, almost annoyed at the prospect of now having to interrupt his paperwork to entertain someone. Into the room entered Cacius Ewing, whose expression was now quite confused, his usually calm charismatic voice was now quite shaky.

"Minister we have an interesting situation," he said.

"Yes,"

"You-know-who's forces have," he paused, unsure of how to proceed. "Surrendered."

At this, Scrimgeour was quite taken back. He did not believe it, he gave an expression of deeper confusion than the one which continued upon the face of Cacius Ewing.

"Are you certain?" asked Scrimgeour.

"Even the Dementors, which have been sent back to Azkaban," said Ewing.

"Well then… er… Good, place them under arrest, send them to Azkaban pending a war-crimes tribunal."

"Sir, I'm afraid It's more complicated than that," said Ewing, his voice even more shaky.

"Cacius, we do not negotiate with dark lords," Scrimgeour said resolved. "And we will not accept anything less than unconditional surrender."

As he was saying this, through the opened door stepped Voldemort, accompanied by Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. They were being followed by Artemis Grey, Arius Day, and several Aurors who held them at wand-point. Voldemort gave a look of insignificance toward the Aurors, communicating very clearly that had he wanted to escape he would have easily been able to.

"But minister you haven't heard what I have to say," said Voldemort.

Scrimgeour rose quickly from his desk and drew his wand, Voldemort did not bat an eye at this but stood confidently, powerfully, surrounded by enemies.

"If you think you're going to impress any of us with this, you are greatly mistaken," Scrimgeour said to Voldemort, his voice attempting to sound powerful but a definite fear penetrated it, which Voldemort undoubtedly detected.

"Come now Minister, the enemy of my enemy is my friend," said Voldemort.

"We don't have a common enemy?" said Scrimgeour.

At this, Voldemort laughed, Lestrange and Malfoy grinned. Voldemort leaned in toward Scrimgeour, his powerful gaze penetrating Scrimgeour's very soul. Scrimgeour hated him, but somewhere in his mind arose a new cognition, one of… resignation. It seemed to Scrimgeour, and this certainly was not far from the truth, that he had no choice but to accept Voldemort's offer, that Voldemort, not he, was dictating the terms of the surrender.

"Do you honestly think minister, that if I wanted to escape, you could stop me?" said Voldemort's smug, arrogant, but calm voice. "And of course we have a common enemy, death, the very thing I have spent my whole life trying to conquer. In this case our common enemy is death, destruction, and mayhem on a, how shall we say, biblical scale."

Scrimgeour's voice was undoubtedly shaky, he was afraid, scared out of his wits in fact, but he spoke attempting to appear powerful, failing dismally.

"I have no clue what your talking about," Scrimgeour lied. "And unless you make it more clear I will have you carted off to Azkaban, though that's where you're going anyways."

Voldemort laughed, "I've over twenty-three-hundred supporters at my disposal, not including the Dementors, with our combined forces, more than a match for Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Ewls."

Scrimgeour knew exactly what he was saying, and exactly what he was proposing. Something in his gut told him to take the offer, his rationality resisted. A terrible inner-conflict raged within the soul of Rufus Scrimgeour, his hands now visibly shook, it was impossible for him to hide his fear anymore. Voldemort, the most evil, powerful wizard who had ever lived now stood right before him. What could he do?

"I don't know what your talking about," Scrimgeour simply continued, obviously lying.

Please, Minister," Voldemort's voice sounded empathetic. "I don't want this child to be born any more than you do and likewise I am prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent it."

"What are you proposing?" came Scrimgeour without thinking. His entire body was on the verge of convulsing. He was honestly, he did not know how, considering an offer of alliance between himself and Lord Voldemort. Was it at all possible?

"Appoint me to the Ministry of Magic," said Voldemort. "Director of the department of, oh say, Secret Investigations or Mysteries, whatever, my entire army will be at your disposal and we will all swear allegiance to you, forever.

"I don't trust him sir," said Cacius Ewing.

"They have evaded you," Voldemort's voice penetrated Scrimgeour, his face now visibly shook, tears were beginning to form in his ducts. "And they will continue to evade you, you can't stop them, I know Harry Potter, I know his weaknesses, you need me."

"Minister, we don't need him, we have every government in Europe looking for them don't do this," pleaded Artemis Gray.

Voldemort continued, ignoring Gray and Ewing. His stare now activated some mysterious cognition within Scrimgeour that he could not identify. Scrimgeour was going to accept his offer, even Scrimgeour himself wondered how it was possible, how he could even be considering it. He even tried to resist this cognition but to no avail.

"I also have sizeable supporters in every other nation in Europe, they won't escape."

"Don't do this sir," Ewing said.

"Come now Minister, let us join together," said Voldemort. "We have had the same enemy all along, and that is death, none of us want to die, and with our combined powers, I know that we can conquer its finality, I know that we, together, can bring peace, justice, and harmony to the Wizarding world."

Scrimgeour's shaky head nodded slowly.

"Yes, join me, only together can we defeat that mudblood and her child."