Harry flicked his wand, making the various vials in the room move and mix themselves as he poured overed the plans on the table. He had done several days worth of research on masterpieces, and it was a surprise that most of the great artifacts from wizarding history were connected to masterpieces in some manner. Either they were masterpieces, or they were inspired by past masterpieces. The Mirror of Esired, The Gauntlet of the Magi, the Claws of Dartmouth, Grindstone Chains, all of them made as masterpieces.
He was determined that his would eclipse them all. The key to understanding what all masterpieces had in common was that they all had a primary purpose. The Mirror showed the deepest desire of whomever stared into it. The gauntlet amplified magic at the cost of one's body, the claws were really knives that were created to preform the most intricate of cuts in surgeries before several modern medical charms were created. The grindstone chains were the most recent masterpiece to be created that had intimate details recorded in the Hogwarts Library. Created in 1899 by a charms master named Godric Surren, they were chains that absorbed magic to strengthen themselves into being unbreakable. Created to restrain dragons, nundu and other such creatures, they were an example of a mass-produced masterpiece, as the creation of them was the masterpiece itself.
His masterpiece though was one that had a singular purpose. He needed something that could defend as well as attack, something that would be usable in his every day life as well. He had come up with a ring design, with two bands surrounding a chrysalis runic structure that was purely decorative. The function of course was one that he had fallen in love with even when he was first year.
Telekinesis was, as described by magical standards, the usage of magic to direct and move an object without touching it. Many spells, charms and curses touched on the concept, but the use of pure telekinesis in a single spell was… difficult. The closest that magicals had come to such a thing was the locomotor charm and the orchestra charm. The latter was a common dueling technique that allowed the precise control of an object with deft movements of the wand. So common were the core components of both charms that it was taught in first year.
Harry still remembered the utter joy of making that feather float, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt he was a wizard. He also remembered how dangerous a single object could be. He shuddered slightly as he remembered the stone that he banished at near sonic speeds towards Bellatrix. He researched what would have happened to her if that stone hit, and he idly thought that though she deserved it, it would have been messy. But that moment also sparked an idea.
What if he could do that with just a twitch of his fingers? What if he could create an instant defense as he conjured rubble around him, instantly making it move with his mind? The Potter Defense was strong, but it wasn't easy to maintain, having to conjure, enchant, and control the links all at once. It was why his father and he only used it in the most perilous circumstances. It was also why when Crowned, he preferred to use other methods… it was wasteful. Flashy, effective, but wasteful.
But, to create the effect he wanted, he would have to create a new charm or spell entirely. He sat back and with a few flicks, lowed the vials that were still moving around his body, before sinking into a meditation.
Adrian chuckled softly as Hermione disarmed the fourth and final sparring partner of the day. Her wand was beautiful; with little to no wasted movements, and only elegant footwork to accompany it. She was the equal of any auror that the British Ministry could send. He stepped away from the wall he was leaning on.
But being equal to any auror is not enough. Not for this. Sonja would be upset if she returned damaged… "One last time, General. It's time to see how you fare against the Lieutenant."
Hermione nodded and sank into her stance. Adrian flicked his wand into his and started to cast. Layers of illusions erupted forward, mixed with several real curses. Images of flames blasted forward, while iron barbs burst from the ground and chains of black metal struck like serpents.
Hermione's shield blocked the barbs, yet the chains wrapped her tightly before shifting into smoke that then solidified into a rock wall to block the illusionary flames. She froze when she felt a wand point touch the back of her neck.
"The first lesson I will teach you, General, is that what you see, is hardly ever a reality." Adrian softly whispered in Hermione's ear through his illusion that held her hostage. With a flick, he dispelled it, showing that every single attack was merely his illusions.
"How… how do you do that sir?" She asked breathlessly after a fifth attempt at fighting him. Each result was the same. Sometimes he would shake things up and use illusions to mask a real spell, like a disarming charm, or he would give her the illusion that she won, only to tap her in a vital area with his wand.
"Illusion magic is one of my specialties. I designed most of the common illusion spells that are taught nationwide. I specialize in mental-based assaults and illusions are the best example of that. Plus, when you know enough of other branches of magic, you can make those illusions do realistic damage. Observe." Adrian lightly touched her shoulder and thrust his wand, allowing her to see the illusion of a spear slamming into a dummy in the corner, even as a piercing curse hit the same area. "That is what is commonly done. It's called Illusionary Layering. Here is the pinnacle of the art." A swift repair charm, and then the spear appeared again, its blade glowing an eerie purple. Another thrust and the piercing curse imbued in the illusionary blade caused horrid damage.
Hermione looked in awe as Adrian smiled. "So long as I can make an illusion, and can think, I can beat anyone General." He tapped her temple. "Second lesson. Your mind is the strongest weapon you have in your arsenal."
After they both had showered and reconvened in the main room, Hermione asked Adrian another question. "Why do you fight with our Lord?"
He sighed, as he sipped his tea. It was really a terrible blend, but alas it was the only one available. He thought a moment before he spoke. "What do you know of me General?"
Hermione thought of the question and cataloged all the information that she had available. "Well, I know you are married to Madame Sonja, you served Lord Grindelwald in the first War, and once he was captured, was subsequently captured in a castle in modern-day Transylvania where you were found with experiments and various followers. You were then imprisoned until we freed you. I know you were taught directly by Nicolas Flamel, but I don't know how much you learned or even how old you are."
Adrian smiled at the synapsis. "Accurate but let's start at the beginning. I was born in a small village, with little to my name. However, I had a loving mother and father. At least for a time. We lived-in modern-day Italy, just by the border of Napels, in the Papal States. I was magical, by every term of the word, gifted with great intelligence, and magical ability. My family was… mundane, with my father being one of the few muggles knowledgeable about magic in any sense, as he was a high-ranking member of the Catholic church. He should have known what would happen when I displayed magical abilities…." Adrian frowned slightly, before continuing. "I survived the mob that attacked, but I was an orphan, driven from my home, left alone to brave the world."
Hermione sat captivated as Adrian spoke of his travels around Italy, until finally meeting Nicolas Flamel and becoming his apprentice. "He was… an amazing teacher. He was arrogant, but brilliant. Firm in his expectations, but he always gave realistic goals. I learned magic, languages, and more from the man and his wife." Adrian looked out the window, watching the clouds as he composed himself. "Madam Flamel was, and to this day is, the kindest woman to ever live. She was the one who ensure that from the time of eight, until my mid-twenties, I was taken care of. She ensured that I was a gentleman. She… even though her husband refused, attended my wedding to Sonja. I remember her words that day."
Flamel walked into the room, her footsteps silent on the bloodred carpet of the castle that her surrogate son would be married in. She had already spoken with Sonja, and had already told her to take care of her boy. She was silent as Adrian fumbled with the bow tie, his hat askew.
She sighed,"You were always terrible at tying your own ties Adrian. It was always a struggle to get you to dress up for the balls we attended." She walked forward, turning Adrian gently, and swiftly tying the bowtie and then straightening his top hat. As she straightened his lapels, she answered his unasked question.
"Of course, I couldn't miss your wedding, Adrian. You may be on the other side of this conflict, but we are eternal and this conflict will pass. He may not be able to bring himself to attend, but that is not because of you. It is for you. He knows he would cause a scene, for he despises several of your guests." Her eyes flicked towards the two brutes of men who were leering at her from their positions on the walls. "He is happy for you, il mio ragazzo. Nearly as much as I am. Now come, you will not keep this woman waiting any longer, and you will have a wonderful, beautiful wedding, and a happy night. The war will wait until marrow."
"She was my mother in every sense of the word. And now, Voldemort thinks he can take her from me."
Hermione flinched at the anger in Adrian's tone.
"When we attack Azkaban, we kill every single death eater in the prison Granger. And when Voldemort shows his face, We kill him too." The manic look in Adrian's eyes hid the cold certainty that he had.
"I… I understand your orders, Lord Frankenstein. However, I must prioritize-"
"You will do as you are told General. Don't worry about our Lord's mission. The Dementors will be handled." Adrian spoke with finality, ending the discussion. "Dismissed General. Rest up, we attack in three days our first target."
Bellatrix frowned at the list of necessary components for the ritual to hide away the location of their next safe house. Unlike the Order of the Phoenix, the Death Eaters were unable to utilize the Fidelius protection, or the heavily fortified defensive wards of war that the Armies of Grindelwald utilized. That was largely due to the organizational structure of the Death Eaters. The only Death Eaters aware of the identity of other members were high ranking members, who all had access to multiple safehouse locations. It was a necessary methodology that her Lord had created to ensure the safety of their members should one of them be captured.
It did make the acquisition and fortification of a new safehouse tedious and dangerous, however. Even now she needed an item for the ritual to hide the location away, by forcing an occlumency barrier in the recesses of the minds of those aware of the property that would only unlock with the conceptual idea that the person was loyal to the Dark Lord as one of his Death Eaters. This would be reinforced by a secondary ritual that would sacrifice the blood of a muggle or mudblood to soak the very foundation of the building to essentially fold it into a different pocket of space that would only be accessible by breaking of the enchantment.
Luckily, she already had a muggle that was available to bleed; it was the Peruvian Vipertooth's venom that she was missing. Considering how difficult the ingredient was to find in the first place, it did not surprise her that the raid on Diagon Alley failed to procure it. However, it would make the current ritual impossible to complete without it, so she snapped her fingers to make a house elf appear.
"Bring me Augustus and Antonin." With a pop, the elf vanished. Within a few minutes, the two men entered the study their faces clearly displaying their pleasure at being called upon. Rookwood leaned casually against the desk, knowing that his abilities were more than enough to survive Bella's wrath should she be irritated by his actions. Antonin however sat upon the edge of the lone chair in front of the desk.
"We have an issue. Our Lord's ritual to protect the newest safehouse requires Peruvian Vipertooth venom. We have none." Bellatrix cut straight to the point. Antonin huffed.
"Does Snape not have access to some as a potions master? He is stationed at Hogwarts is he not?"
"Severus would not have access to such a rare ingredient in the quantities necessary to complete a ritual. He would only need two drops at a time, even if he was having his students brew the potions this year, he would only need a quarter vial." Augustus spoke up before Bellatrix could respond, his voice much like dried parchment. He continued to speak,"Do you have the other components? We may be able to swap some quantities around to utilize another ingredient."
"I doubt you could improve upon this, as our Lord did design it himself. However here." With a flourish, the ritual components were handed over to the resident genius of the Death Eaters. With rapidly flicking eyes, Rookwood took in the ritual.
"This is… extremely complex. Luckily, I am well versed in the arithmancy required, and can see why the ritual is balanced such. Hmm, our Lord is clever. See this here Bellatrix?" Rookwood pointed at the left curve of the circle that held the venom. Bellatrix frowned as she followed the yellowing fingernail on the parchment as it traced the runic line that was to be placed there. "This allows the concept of the venom to erode the location from the minds of those who we don't wish to know. This line here, connecting it to the brains, which passes through the burning cedar and ash, protects the minds of those affected by the ritual. It is just strong enough to protect from the venom, but if it was a different venom, this whole array would be too strong or weak. This array here would be where any shifts would have to be made. But see how it is anchored at the trinity points?" He pointed out the two lines that anchored the array back to the larger ritual circle, forming this portion of the triangle that created the reverse four pointed star ritual circle. Bellatrix nodded, easily following Rookwood's explanation. He was always a great teacher. "If we shift this array's weight at any point, it will tip the ritual circle entirely, likely causing a catastrophic failure at worse and a cessation of its effects at best. Thus, if we switch venoms, we would have to shift this array entirely. Its nearly too balanced. Our Lord must have studied under Howard during his Hogwarts years, because this is the kind of safe and measured ritual he would have preferred."
"Do you have a suggestion, or are you merely slapping your lips Rookwood?" Antonin asked as he twirled his wand. He hated these intellectual conversations, unless it was about more obscure magics.
"Certainly. There are three options. One, we find the venom required. That would be the most manpower intensive, but its also the safest for those involved with the ritual itself. Second, we invert the whole ritual array, which will fix the balancing issue, but would possibly weaken the protection the ritual offers. Third, we switch venoms, rework the entire ritual using Grox's Methodology. This is the most time intensive, likely taking months, but would guarantee the same power and result of the ritual."
"The second is not an option." Bellatrix spoke firmly, her chin on her cupped hands as she thought. "You say it would take months to use the third option? Why?"
Augustus shrugged. "Grox's Methodology is slow. It's the only method I can think of that would allow you to translate the ritual's intent while also shifting the ingredients and keep the array structure which would allow it to be preformed by a single person. Sure, we could use Grindlewald's Flip, which before you get mad is merely a quick balance by shifting ingredients to different sides using the inherent magic of the ritual location to dictate placement, and then moving the whole circle on a specified axis that is relative to the position of relevant stars and magical bodies in various planes. Its deliciously complex, and it's still not certain that it would keep the power of the ritual at its current level or if it would boost it by its interaction with multiple planes. Find the Venom Bellatrix. You know that's the best solution."
Bellatrix swore as she racked her brain to think of a location that the Death Eaters could raid that would grant them the ingredient. "The only place that we could access the amount required is the Ministry Ingredient Storage in Cambridge. A place with a constant Auror rotation, and currently protected a team of three gargoyles."
Antonin and Augustus both flinched. Gargoyles were some of the most dangerous magical beasts to ever exist. Whomever thought it a good idea to breed dragons with ogres deserved to be slain in the most gruesome of manners. With craggy skin that was magically resistant, the ability to sense magic in a sphere around them, and a connective consciousness, gargoyles were some of the best protectors to exist. If they weren't illegal to breed, it would likely the entirety of the Ministry would be protected by them instead of just critical locations.
"I may be the expert on dealing with magical abominations Bellatrix, but a team of gargoyles would be… annoying to circumvent," Antonin admitted as he scratched at his goatee. Bellatrix nodded, knowing that the easiest method would be to overcome the defenses with numbers and might. A single gargoyle was likely worth fifteen of their newest recruits. Three of them were a prospect that even Bellatrix wasn't keen on attacking head-on.
"… Who said anything about having to circumvent them? Why don't we just figure out the Aurors and their shifts, place one under the Imperius before they change, have that Auror get the ingredients and anything else we want, kill their companions and then deliver it all to us? We then kill the last auror, Burn the whole building down with Fiendfyre gargoyles and all." Augustus suggested coldly.
"Wouldn't work. Auror rotations are assigned randomly, with only the Head Auror having a schedule. They learned from the last war apparently." Bellatrix spat. Augustus scratched his bald head before grinning.
"Well, in that case, I have another idea."
Auror Thomas was tired. He had pulled three double shifts this week, with only a single day off thus far. A day he spent sleeping to his girlfriend's disappointment. It wasn't her fault; he did voluntarily sign up for the extra guard shifts after all. It was an easy post, and the pay was just below that of the highest tiered posts at two hundred galleons per three day week, with a bonus of forty galleons per extra day. Of course, no one cared about the money, as Auror Thomas would have been paid one hundred galleons just to sit at his desk this week, but when your girlfriend was expecting a child that you were pretty sure you were the father of, you saved up. He couldn't afford a ring or a wedding yet, so he had to work. He leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly as his partner, Auror Plachard, snored softly on the cot behind him. To his left and right, each sat another Auror.
Auror Brutus was a short man with no hair on his head, but an impressively bushy mustache. His partner, the only female Auror in the room in Aries Brown, was also the highest ranked Auror on the Ministry Ingredient Storage Team, as an Auror First Class. A1s as most called them were Aurors who had been on the job for a minimum of three years and had experience dealing with Dark Wizards in combat. They were also the step below Senior Auror, of which there were only five at one time. Only Senior Aurors were selected to become Head of the Auror Department, and only A1s and above were considered for Hitwizard training outside of Wartime Protocol.
As the highest ranked auror and the most experienced, when the proximity wards started screaming, Auror Brown was the first to react. Her wand was in her hand and she was pointing at the only door to the room they were in before the first wail was fully completed.
"Thomas, wake Plachard. Brutus, send a message to HQ. We have company, and I don't know if the Gargoyles are going to be enough." Her grim face was enough to force the team to move swiftly even as the wail of the proximity ward died abruptly. She flicked her wand towards the image projectors on the walls. Before the image flickered out due to a flash of orange light, the dragon skin jackets with Grindlewald's insignia were clearly seen.
Hermione barked several orders for her troops as Adrian smiled faintly. The three gargoyles were flying in circles around each other, swiping at empty air as the illusion that Frankenstein layered over them compelled them to. Their minds were different from his standard victims, and it took considerable effort to make the illusion stick. If they so much as touched each other, the illusion would shatter, as their connected consciousness would force information between them upon contact. Adrian glanced back as the last of their men entered the building. Slipping in behind them, he flicked his wand, ending the illusion entirely and stepping over the warded line just as the three gargoyles slammed into the ground around the door growling.
Bellatrix snapped off an imperius curse as strong as she could muster, aimed at the central gargoyle. She didn't see who had just entered the building, but she was certain that it wasn't one of her loyal ones. Thus, she had to hurry. She felt the magic rush forward and slam into the stony mind of the beast she was aiming at. Twisting her mind in time with her wand, in a moment the gargoyle was under her control, and she forced it to slam its claws into the one on the left. In moments, the three gargoyles were at each other's throats, growling and screaming as they tore into each other.
She idly wiped the blood from her nose as she waited a moment before ordering her Death Eaters to attack. Cries of Avada Kedavra and flashes of green blasted forward, two hitting each gargoyle and sending them to the ground dead even if three or four of the killing curses were dodged by the fighting beasts. In moments, the Death Eaters surged forward and entered the Ministry Ingredient Storage.
Hermione swayed gently to the side as she snapped off another shield to protect her men. Her shield was tri-layered, which was likely the only reason it stopped the extremely powerful piercing curse that the Auror in front of her blasted their way. She wasn't sure who this auror was, but she was extremely good. She believed firmly that only the top aurors in the country could contend with her, and this one was doing more than that.
Hermione flicked her wand forward, summoning a dozen birds that flew forward, only for them to be casually shifted into lions that pounced towards her. The lions were immolated by a pillar of fire that Jonathan flicked into existence. Fire that was quickly twisted from his control, formed into small balls of white fire and flung towards Hermione. Jonathan swore as he swiped the air with his wand, vanishing the fire even as Hermione engaged with her barrage of piercing curses. One curse did pierce the woman's left thigh, even as Jonathan went down to a transfigured spire of rock to the stomach. A quick blasting curse blew Jonathan down the hallway even as Hermione pressed her advantage. An advantage the auror countered with a quick step forward and a headbutt to Hermione's nose. As she stumbled back, tears in her eyes, the Auror healed her thigh and banished the girl down the hallway. Hermione flicked her wand, as her eyes snapped open, glowing faint pink.
Auror Brown parried her own curse as it roared back at her. Ever since she banished the girl back, her fighting style had shifted. Before it was a very precise and forceful use of curses and charms that she was well versed in fighting as it was standard Auror combat. Now, however, the girl deflected, reflected, or countered her curses and spells as she strode forward, using anchored shields that had to be layered to survive the curses Brown was using. She wasn't sure how many layers were possible, but she knew that twin layered shields were common with Aurors. She took another step forward, flicking her wand, forcing the rubble in the hallway to shift into giant lizards she saw once in a book. The girl blurred forward, and Brown's instincts screamed for her to duck. She did so, allowing the girl's arm to sweep where her face was a moment ago. A quick jab to the midsection forced the girl back half a step as Brown flicked her wand to order the lizards to attack. Lizards that were swiftly minced by the girl swinging her wand around her head, unleashing a gale of razor sharp wind. Wind that Brown was unaffected by since she was so close to the girl. Brown raised her wand to stun the girl when a knee slammed into her diaphragm, robbing her of breath for a moment. The girl flicked her wand, and a flash of blue made Brown see nothing more.
Hermione panted as the auror finally crumpled to the ground thanks to the sleeping charm Hermione hit her with. She hated using Sonja's magic like that, especially in combat. Sonja was a fully mature witch, and while she was highly compatible with Hermione's body, it still was not a perfect match. Thus, whenever it happened, it was always uncomfortable for the bushy haired girl. 'Good girl Hermione. Now continue your mission for our Lord.' Sonja's voice echoed in her mind before retreating back to its sanctuary deep in Hermione's consciousness.
The bushy haired girl strode forward, her wand up for any further altercations.
Auror Brutus swore as he felt his badge heat twice, signifying that his partner was down or dead. Tied directly to their mental states, the badge didn't distinguish between the two states. He quickly pulled his wand, and crouched behind his transfigured wall down the second wing corridor to the
He glanced back, knowing that Aurors Thomas and Plachard were rushing towards the Floo that was connected to the back wall of the main storage room. They of course had orders to destroy the fireplace should the enemy breach the room; the Floo only connected to Auror HQ and the Department of Magical Items. He took a deep breath, knowing his partner bought as much time as she could before… whatever happened.
He raised his wand as he saw movement in the dark corridor, he steadied his hand, and unleashed hell. Fire poured from his wand in an arc, like a muggle flamethrower. He had always had an affinity towards fire; and as it rushed down the corridor, it turned the stone of the corridor to magma, the air grew unbearably hot. The rush of the flames made their own wind as it roared down the corridor until it crashed against a shield. Brutus gave his wand a twist counterclockwise. Instantly, the flames which were red and orange, turned white hot with flickers of gold. He allowed the flames to push on for several moments, before he flicked his wand and ceased the spell.
The corridor was molten, baring a circle around a woman with dark hair, and two masked Death Eaters. Brutus blinked twice, before grinning savagely. A flick of his wand, and the masked Death Eater on the right fell with a sickle sized hole in his mask. Brutus flicked away a curse, an organ splitter, from what he assumed was Bellatrix Lestrange, before blasting forward six foxes mad of orange fire. Each rushed forward, running on the walls, ceiling and floor. A black curse rushed down the corridor, only to be met with a conjured plate. The plate rotted near instantly, but the distraction was enough for Bellatrix to launch a killing curse towards the Auror. She glanced to the side, hearing her last remaining Death Eater grunt as one FoxFire construct brushed against his arm before he dispelled it. Her left side tingled, and she dropped to the floor. A banishing hex of some kind slammed into the death eater's face, and Bellatrix heard the man's neck snap as it flipped him backwards.
Brutus responded to the killing curse with another foxfire construct. Foxfire was one of his favorite spells; he learned it from his first and only love who was a Japanese Hit Wizard. He was killed by death eaters while visiting him during the last war, but it was that battle that taught Brutus a special aspect of Fox Fire Constructs.
As the flash of green slammed into the construct, it erupted into a fire storm that stopped the killing curse, yet gave Brutus horrid burns. Flicking his wand, a banishing hex rushed down the corridor even as he fell to his knees, his breath rattling in his chest. He smiled as Bellatrix stood gracefully, even as her head cocked.
"An auror that plays with fire. I never thought I'd see the day." Her wand flashed up, and a flash of green erupted, even as Brutus tapped his own ruined chest with his wand. His body flashed green as the killing curse slammed into him, yet still he rested on his knees. His body slowly started to glow orange and Bellatrix cackled as she erupted into black mist and fled past the auror.
Auror Brutus' body flashed white, before erupting into white hot fire. Fire that vaporized the entirety of corridor and collapsed the entire west wing of the compound. Fire that erupted into the sky, shaped like a fox yipping in the wind.
Bellatrix regained her corporal form even as the building shook and the corridor she just came from collapsed into rubble. She walked swiftly down several rows of ingredients before finding what she desired. It was innocent looking, merely a jar full of pale purple liquid. She cradled it gently, before hearing spellfire from deeper in the storage room. Glancing back, she crept forward, carefully cradling the jar of venom. Her eyebrows rose in surprise as she watched two duels take place. An auror was dueling three people at once, his forehead glistening with sweat as he dueled with two wands. She watched mesmerized momentarily as the auror disarmed one, banished another, even as the third caught the wand that was in midair, and tossed it back to its owner. The duel continued, though Bellatrix knew the auror would end up winning.
The other duel however, made her blood boil. The mudblood from the Ministry of Magic battle was dueling another auror, a man with a long pony tail that Bellatrix recognized as Anthony Plachard, a Ravenclaw from her graduating class. She remembered Plachard as the last of his line, a pureblooded family that had produced several amazing potionteers and Charm Masters, and there is a mudblood attacking him.
Regardless of her position under her Lord, and the role she played for Him, she would not allow a mudblood to end the line of a pureblood family. Just from what she had seen of the duel, the mudblood would do so. She raised her wand, a killing curse on the tip of her tongue when in front of her simmered into existence another wizard.
His white hair was cropped shorter than she last saw, now only to his shoulders. His eyes still held the same madness that they held when he was chained to the wall in the bowels of the Ministry of Magic. His wand was held loosely in his hand tapping on his shoulder, flinging blue sparks with every tap. Bellatrix took a slight step back as she trained her wand on Adrian Frankenstein.
"Bellatrix Lestrange. Perfect. You will be useful for my plans…"
Bellatrix didn't respond, instead snapping her wand to the side and using a blasting curse on the shelves full of volatile ingredients. As the noxious fumes and small explosions erupted from the ingredients reacting to the air, each other, and the spell, she turned into black mist and rushed out of the storage room. She had her prize and fighting Frankenstein wouldn't benefit her Lord's plans.
Hermione ducked a spell, and countered with a layered shield charm that she slammed into the Auror's temple, making the man crumple. A swift stunner put the man out of the fight, and she turned towards the trio of her men fighting another auror. Raising her wand, she let loose another stunner, which was blocked by the auror, only for him to fall to a cutting curse from Blake.
"Apologies General." Blake's voice was gruff as he stunned the auror for good measure. Hermione opened her mouth, to berate Blake for using deadly force, when Adrian interrupted.
"Be silent. Come here. Reinforcements will be arriving shortly for the Aurors, and we must be prepared to enter their headquarters. Remember our objective is not the death of these men, but the auror response protocols for our primary objective."
"Lord Frankenstein is correct. Get into position." Hermione's voice was steady even as she sent a blood clotting spell at the auror.
Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeor had ordered twenty aurors through the floo, and stepped back. He turned to the wall, studying the map of Ministry assets. His eyes flicked towards Azkaban on the far left, and the many other assets in London, and the mainland. He heard the floo reactivate and he twisted, right into a flash of red.
Hermione flicked her fingers, ordering her men to search the room. Adrian took up position at the door, flicking his wand swiftly, layering dozens of illusions so that should anyone enter, they wouldn't see Grindlewald's men.
"Found the schedule for the rotation!" One man called from the left. From the right, a roster was located. Hermione searched the desk that was under the asset map. It was fortunate that she did, as she pulled a binder from the bottom drawer. Inside were all the protocols for all general actions for the auror department. With a quick tap, the binder was duplicated. Under the binder in the desk drawer, a folder was laid. Something made Hermione copy the folder as well as its contents. A quick glance of the folder, she immediately tucked it into her jacket and grabbed the duplicate binder. Flicking her wand, the desk went back to how it was before she searched it.
"Let's move! We have what we came for. Duplicate the information and clean the room." She pointed her wand at the asset map, setting it ablaze. Adrian flicked his wand at the floo, layering an illusion that would show anyone who entered the room from the fire would see death eaters rustling through the desks. A quick twist shifted the illusions on the door to show a similar scene just as the legion finished their work. Moving swiftly, each placed a finger on Adrian, who tapped the third button on his lab coat. In a flash of blue, the portkey activated, and they vanished.
Auror Plachard stumbled through the floo back to headquarters and immediately viewed chaos. His fellow aurors were dueling each other and blasting the desks with curses. On the ground, Head Auror Scrimgeour was laying unconscious, possibly Stunned. With a circular twist, Plachard did a room wide Finite, and all the aurors stopped attacking. A rennervate quickly awoke the head auror as Plachard stumbled towards the nearest chair.
"Merlin. Head Auror, Auror second class Anthony Plachard reporting in from conflict. Designation MIDIGATE." Rufus held his head as he listened to the report of secondary point for the Ministry Ingredient Storage Team. He listened as Plachard spoke about how two groups of intruders, Grindlewald's men and the Death Eaters. How Auror Brutus and Auror Brown had engaged the two groups, one per wing. How Auror Brown survived her encounter, but Auror Brutus did not. He took all but one of the bastards with him though. How they were about to destroy the Floo when they were attacked by Grindlewald's men. How they were defeated, but only after Bellatrix arrived with a jar of some sort of ingredient. Finally, Plachard finished his report.
"Auror Thomas fended off three of the attackers. I would recommend a promotion to Auror Second Class, not only for his skills but also for his mental abilities."
"We shall do a review and take your recommendation into consideration Auror Plachard. Good job in surviving." Rufus dismissed the auror before turning back to the aurors in the room. "Start cleaning. Figure out if anything is missing, I want this room scrubbed. You," Pointing to an auror trainee in the room, "Bring me a report on the condition of the Ingredient Storage. Auror Tonks, go with him. Figure out what Lestrange wanted, and make sure that one isn't useless." He hobbled to his desk and sat with a groan. It was going to be a long night.
Bellatrix had just prepared the ritual ingredients when there was a thud against the office door. Drawing her wand she turned towards the door, as it creaked open. Immediately she knelt, as her Lord walked into the room. She ignored the groaning recruit that was meant to be guarding the hallway to the office. Her Lord took his seat behind the desk, his eyes flicking over the ingredients.
"You have not completed the ritual yet Bellatrix?"
His voice made her quiver as she responded. "No my lord. There was an issue getting the venom, so we were forced to attack the Ministry Ingredient Storage. It was costly, losing us ten unmarked, but successful." Voldemort blinked in response, and Bellatrix noticed for the first time the ring of gold in his blood-red irises.
"Fine. Hold the ingredients in stasis. It has come to my attention that there is something buried in Azkaban I desire." Bellatrix tilted her head in a silent question.
"Tell me Bellatrix, have you heard of the Night Crown?"
Hermione and Adrian poured over the folder's contents. Contents that detailed the mission by a team of six Aurors to throw Adrian Frankenstein's masterpiece work into the depths of the nest of Dementors. Adrian seethed silently, as he thought of the small crown he created to enhance his healing and illusionary abilities. If he could get that, Voldemort would easily be handled and Perenelle would be rescued. He had searched the Artifacts room in the Department of Mysteries for his Night Crown, but could not locate it. Come to find out it was in Auror Evidence Storage after it was used by a thief was unacceptable. His escape prompting them to throw it into the darkest location they could think of, was even worse. He knew the Mythril crown would be fine even after exposure to a Nest of Dementors, but acquiring it would be hazardous.
"General, we will get my crown. That is our new secondary objective."