Chapter 3 : The First Disaster

The early summer sun started to rise over the horizon as some 6 am runners braved the streets. Today was Thursday, a pretty normal Thursday at that. No one stirred out of their dark houses due to everyone still in their warm beds. However, the runners were not the only people out this morning.

First came the sound of loud, big trucks, then came the smell of exhaust. Down the main streets, these trucks turned off into smaller neighbourhoods, searching and waiting. Some trucks stopped in front of a few houses and knocked on their doors. Once the doors opened, the soldiers stormed in and the sound of yelling parents and children came from the inside.

They were seen pulling a small child or a young teen out of the houses and throwing them in the back of the army trucks. Screams of terror and pain were heard from inside the truck as the sound of drilling made the screams intensify. Some kids were carried out of their houses unconscious, most likely from the struggle they put up while fighting the soldiers.

Onlookers from the neighbours watched as this took place, some taking pity while others blamed the parents for putting the child into 'magic school'. Some parents were brought out of their homes as well and thrown in the back of a truck with their kids. A soldier from each truck had a bag of sticks, or more likely known in the wizarding world, wands. They were taken by the protesting wizards and witches and placed in the bag with not one wand being the same.

Some came quietly and only started crying when the drilling started from inside the truck. Others, especially the parents, fought back with their wands only to be shot down by a soldier and deemed unconscious.

Thursday. Day one had begun. By order of the government, every wizard was deemed wanted.

Dumbledore arrived outside the ministry's hall and heard outraged voices coming from the inside. Walking toward the door, he heard the crowd talking amongst themselves. Opening the door he saw that the room was packed with many counsellors, teachers, and high families. Spotting Hagrid from across the room, Dumbledore made his way through the loud crowd.

"Headmaster." greeted Hagrid as he moved over so the older wizard could sit. "Quite a spectacle, isn't it?"

"Indeed, although I fear it will take a while for us to come to a conclusion to this problem." Dumbledore frowned as he eyed the benches holding the majority of the pureblood families.

"Do you know something I don't?" Hagrid bent down to hear the headmaster better.

"I have heard some troubling news regarding the students. I believe that the muggles are going after the children first." whispered Dumbledore as Hagrid's face turned grim.

Eric Griffiths then walked up into the speaker's box.

"At least we will hear some answers soon," said Hagrid.

The minister banged his hammer on the desk in front of him and called the meeting to order. The whole crowd went silent.

"People of the wizarding world. I have called this meeting to answer a threat that has been put against us by the muggles." Eric looked up at the crowd and took in the astounding faces before he continued, "Latest news this morning has confirmed that many of our kind have been put into custody under the muggle government."

The crowd gasped from the news they heard. Many of the pure-blood families looked down, only slightly saddened.

"Therefore, in response to this threat, we the ministry order to call for an army to be made for our towns and people's protection." Shaking of heads was seen in the crowd. "Also, I call for all wizards and witches to be moved to a magical town within the ministry's territory. Furthermore,..."

Eric was cut off by a voice in the crowd, "Will the muggles attack us inside the ministry's territory?" A few agreements were heard from the crowd.

"Well... I can't be certain, but this is why an army must be called just in case." Eric's brow furrowed as many hands were put up at once and he started to answer them one at a time.

"Who will the army consist of?"

"Any wizard of the age of 17 who is able to fight. Next."

"Could have this been avoided if the Department of Regulation had done its job?" A bunch of cheers came after this question.

"Many things could have been avoided but since we can't change that, I say we look forward to a solution instead of pointing fingers." Eric recovered quickly.

"What of our kind that is in captivity? Will we do something about that?" The room was even more silent then it was when no one was talking.

Eric looked around the room, "Our hearts go out towards the captured wizards and witches but we are in no position to be on the offensive at this time. We can't risk more of us to be caught."

Dumbledore stood up abruptly, causing everyone to look at him. He spoke normally but it sounded as if he was amplifying his voice.

"What of the children?" He looked at the minister with cold blue eyes. "The majority of these captures, what of them?"

Eric spoke, "I already answered that question, Mr. Dumbledore…"

"Do you realize what might be done to them!? And at so young an age!?" Dumbledore spoke up angrily.

"MR DUMBLEDORE, that would be enough!" Eric hammered the desk three times.

"These children are our future, Mr. Griffiths, and for the ministry to not even ATTEMPT to rescue them…"

"ENOUGH! This question has been answered. May we move on?" Eric stared daggers into Dumbledore as he returned the gesture. Sitting back down, the headmaster huffed as Hagrid gave him a pat on the shoulder The meeting continued with more information about the army being shared.

"At least you tried your best," whispered Hagrid.

Dumbledore only stared at nothing ahead of him. I guess we will have to do it ourselves. thought the old wizard. Nothing would be done otherwise.

Harry woke up to the sound of a truck pulling up to the Dursleys house at around 7 am. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley was in the kitchen getting some coffee when someone at the door gave a hard three knocks. Harry heard his uncle's heavy steps walk towards the front door with a tint of urgency.

"Hello?" Harry was out of bed as Mr. Dursley answered the door from downstairs. Taking his wand and letting Hedwig out of her cage, he quietly opened his unlocked door and made his way toward the bathroom.

"Is this the residence of Harry Potter and is he here?" asked a rough voice from what would seem to be behind a thick helmet.

"W-why? Did he d-do something.." Vernon was shaken by the way these officers were so heavily armed. Meanwhile, upstairs, Harry opened the bathroom window and let Hedwig fly away. Putting his wand in his back pocket, he climbed out the two-story window and hanged over a bush that lay on the side of the house. Dropping to the ground he fell in a heap in the bush below him. Harry then climbed out of the bush and headed for a nearby alleyway, putting his hood over him as he ran. The officers were still at the door.

"Over the recent ban, we must put Potter into custody for he could be a threat to the public. Is he here?" The soldier's words almost made Me. Dursley jump with joy. At long last, that freak will be taken off their hands.

"Of course, just upstairs. I'm sure the boy is still sleeping…" He was cut off as the officers ran into the house and up the stairs, pushing past Vernon. Mrs. Dursley came out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand and a shocked look on her face. Shouts were heard from upstairs.

"Stop resisting under the order of the British Government!" In return, a howl came from upstairs.

"Get out of my room! Daddy!" A sound of something being dragged along the hallway was heard. "MUM! Get them off MEEE!" It took the Dursleys a few seconds to realize that it was their son, Dundly that was being dragged along by the group of soldiers. Vernon ran upstairs.

"Stop! That's not the freak! That's my son Dundly!" Vernon watched in horror as one of the soldiers pulled out a weapon and shot it into Dundly's knee. The boy let out a howl in pain but continued to struggle as the soldiers watched him.

"What did you do to him!" shouted Vernon as he took hold of his son that was now sobbing furiously. The officer only looked at the very awake boy with disappointment.

"If that is not Potter, then where is he?" Ordered the head of the officers. Vernon looked into the bathroom and saw the screen taken off and the window wide open. That boy…

Mr. Dursley pointed to the window, "He must have got out once you got here. Do whatever to catch him just don't come near us again!"

The soldier nodded to his team and they all rushed out of the house leaving the floor with muddy footprints.

Meanwhile, Harry made it to a park and he sat down on a bench and dug into his pockets. Putting out a scrunched up letter he opened it to reveal perfect handwriting.

Dear Harry,

I hope you will find the time to write to us during this spring break. Here below, I have both Ron's and my address below.

The Burrow, Ottery, St. Mary (Catchpole)

238 Harner Street, Hampstead, London

I can't wait for next year!

Hermione

Harry looked at Hermione's address and decided that it was way closer then Ron's house so he would start to head there. He started walking towards the train station hoping that he wouldn't be too late.