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Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. The Ministry launches an attack on the Hogwarts wards, while Peter scurries around the castle, with a mission to complete.

Chapter 38

14th January

Amelia looked around at the witches and wizards in front of her with a critical eye. She gathered a team of over a hundred people to take on the Hogwarts wards. Her team consisted of senior Aurors, several healers from St Mungo's, curse breakers from Gringotts, and civilians known for their skill with a wand. They were standing on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, making their final preparations before embarking on the mission.

"This is a bad idea, Amelia!" Moody barked as he massaged his upper thigh, which was connected to his claw foot. "My leg hurts more than usual today, which usually means trouble is on the way."

"The decision was out of my hands," Amelia explained. "But I am not opposed to the mission."

"Susan will be fine," Moody said gruffly, recognising the direction of her thoughts. "I heard Charlus Potter is the defence professor. He's exactly the kind of wizard you'd want in a crisis. I have always suspected there was more to him than meets the eye, and it appears I was correct based on what you have shared about your adventures in the Chamber of Secrets."

"It went a lot smoother with him there," Amelia agreed.

"It is a shame he vanished during the First Wizarding War because his presence could have greatly influenced the outcome in our favour."

"Not with Dumbledore as the main resistance leader," Amelia reminded him.

Mood's scarred face contorted into a grimace. "I must admit that Dumbledore's actions surprised me. I should have practised what I preach."

"Constant Vigilance!" Amelia quoted with a smile. "His actions caught everyone off guard."

Moody nodded, scanning the crowd with his magical eye. "With over a hundred witches and wizards here, this group is bound to be chaotic."

"Which is why I called you out of retirement for this mission," Amelia replied. "I appreciate your willingness to come. I have to admit, I am a little nervous about this mission."

"Then you are being smart," Moody grunted. "I would be disappointed if you were ever completely certain that a mission would go smoothly."

"It is time to get this mission started," Amelia said, mentally running through a checklist to ensure she had everything covered.

"Aye," Moody agreed. He scowled as he noticed someone in the crowd who irritated him. Sirius was conversing with Remus and Lord Greengrass. "Why did you bring that mutt with you?"

"Are you still upset about him leaving the Aurors?" Amelia laughed. "I brought him because he is skilled with a wand. His godson is currently trapped in the castle, so there was no way he wasn't going to join in on the mission."

Moody grunted in acknowledgement.

Fawkes was also present, perched on Sirius' shoulder. He showed up unexpectedly this morning, and they didn't bother asking him to leave. The phoenix had complete freedom to come and go as he pleased, and there was no way to stop him. Amelia had tried questioning him regarding his unusual bond with Harry Potter. Why could he still feel Harry's presence but not be able to communicate with him? Fawkes simply shrugged his shoulders, either unable or unwilling to provide an answer. It was disappointing because if he could communicate with Harry, she would have a better understanding of what was going on at Hogwarts.

"Listen up," Amelia said, and the crowd fell silent, their gaze turning to her. "We will begin the mission shortly. You have already been briefed on your responsibilities in this mission, but does anyone have any questions or concerns?"

Nobody spoke up.

"All right, let's get going," Amelia said.

The group of witches and wizards made their way to the ward line that encircled the castle and its grounds. The ward was usually invisible, but it could still be felt because the air was saturated with magic. As one approached, it felt like a swarm of ants crawling along the skin.

The situation has since changed. When the wards were fully activated, a protective dome appeared, covering the entire Hogwarts grounds and rendering the interior invisible to outsiders. It was a security feature that ensured that anyone attempting to enter the grounds could not see inside, but it also meant that they couldn't verify the safety of any of the people inside.

"Are you certain, Mr Weasley, that this is the most vulnerable point to attack in order to breach the wards?" Amelia asked.

Bill Weasley fiddled with his earring as he considered her question. Normally, she was hesitant to place her trust in people who dressed so casually on the job. He dressed like a muggle rock star and wore a pair of dragonhide boots. However, given the nature of his job, she may overlook it. He usually lived in Egypt, where he ventured into dangerous tombs and unearthed treasures for Gringotts. As a result, wearing robes was impractical for him.

He was the leader of the curse-breakers who were taking part in this mission. Even though he wasn't the most experienced cursebreaker at Gringotts, no one else was available on such short notice. She was impressed by his professionalism and intelligence based on her interactions with him. He was a credit to his father, Arthur Weasley.

"This is the best spot we could find on short notice, Madam Bones," Bill Weasley replied. "Our approach to testing the wards is not as systematic as it should be. To save time, we are casting offensive spells at various locations along the wardline to see how it reacts, which is a risky endeavour. Understanding the complexities of the Hogwarts wards is a time-consuming endeavour that would necessitate months of dedicated effort, which we currently lack."

When a dangerous threat was identified, the Hogwarts wards had the ability to take offensive action. This is precisely why this mission was so dangerous, with the potential to harm or even kill the witches and wizards involved.

"I want you to stand by and observe the situation as we launch the offensive," Amelia ordered. "Notify me immediately if you notice anything out of the ordinary."

"Of course, ma'am," Bill replied solemnly. He frowned as he gazed at the dome. Amelia could understand his feelings because she had similar concerns. Four of his brothers were currently trapped inside, and he had no idea how they were doing.

Minister Fudge, Senior Undersecretary Umbridge, and several powerful Wizengamot members arrived just as she was about to start the mission. Reporters from all three newspapers were present alongside them. Lauren remained unconcerned despite the negative attention she was receiving from Ministry members. Amelia commended her bravery. The woman's newspaper had caused quite a stir in the community, and she fully supported it.

Amelia would have preferred to be without the onlookers, but Fudge insisted on making his presence known so the public could see that he was taking action. Despite the incident with the press conference at the ministry, it is worth noting that he has generally handled the current crisis admirably. She could put up with their presence as long as they stayed back and out of her way.

"All right, everyone, please move behind the barricades and wait for my signal," Amelia said. "I want the second team to step up and replace the first team as soon as they run low on magic."

Everyone rushed to obey her commands. They were quickly divided into three teams of thirty people each and formed neat rows behind the barricades. The purpose of the barricades was to protect them from potential counterattacks from the wards. They had small openings that allowed them to cast spells while remaining protected. Team Two and Three stood behind Team One, waiting for their turn to cast offensive spells against the wards. They had to maintain a continuous offence in order to breach the wards. This is why she structured the teams the way she did. Moody, Kingsley, and Scrimgeour were tasked with leading each team and ensuring that they remained coordinated.

"Team one, fire when I give the order," Amelia said. "Three...two...one, go!"

The first team launched a barrage of offensive spells, their vibrant colour beams creating a mesmerising spectacle as they collided with the protective dome. The wards did not immediately respond. Team One relentlessly attacked the dome for a full minute with no consequences. Amelia gave a satisfied nod. Mr Weasley appeared to have chosen a favourable location to target the wards. Although it wouldn't last long, it did help to make their job a little easier.

They could take advantage of the wards' variability because they were not consistent across their entire expanse. To conserve magic, it was only fully active in the most prominent areas, including the main entrance to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade, the lake, and the mountains behind the castle. The protective wards encompassed two-thirds of the Forbidden Forest. Only the most desperate would consider using it to invade the castle. It wasn't easy terrain to navigate due to the presence of numerous dangerous creatures inside its depths.

Finally, the wards went into action. Team One quickly sought refuge, taking cover as the spells they had cast were suddenly redirected towards them. They huddled behind the barricade as spells rained down on it. The reinforced barrier withstood the assault, allowing Team One to press on. There was no time to waste because the ward would regenerate unless it was constantly attacked.

When the wards reacted once more, Team One's magical reserves were nearly depleted. Hundreds of conjured animals burst forth from the protective dome. There were only four types of animals, representing the four houses: lions, badgers, snakes, and eagles. The eagles took flight, while the remaining animals raced across the grounds towards them.

"Dammit," Amelia cursed, caught off guard by the appearance of the new threat. "Team One, retreat! Team Two, take over for Team One! Team Three, engage the new threat and protect Team Two! Healers, replenish Team One with pepper-up potions to get them back into fighting shape."

"Get those ministry officials out of here," Scrimgeour yelled.

Amelia whirled around. "Minister Fudge, you and everyone else should leave immediately."

The majority of them listened to her words, but a few pulled out their wands and joined the fight. Lauren, Xenophilius, and several Wizengamot members were among this group.

The eagles were the first to arrive, diving-bombing the witches and wizards from above. The lions quickly followed, roaring and leaping over the barricades in search of prey. The wizards worked together to repel the animals, casting dozens of spells at them. The conjured animals vanished after sustaining enough damage. Several people were mauled, bitten, or scratched while the animals were being exterminated. Meanwhile, Team Two persisted in their assault on the wards.

Amelia breathed a sigh of relief as the last of the conjured animals vanished. However, her moment of respite was to be short-lived.

"Madam Bones, we have an anomaly!" Bill Weasley called out, pointing towards the dome.

Amelia followed his gaze and noticed a sudden emergence on the dome's surface. Dozens of rune arrays had appeared, shifting in an intricate and captivating pattern.

"Wait a minute," Amelia realised, "I have seen them before."

A swarm of tendrils appeared out of nowhere from the dome, expertly evading the barriers and attaching themselves to members of the second team.

"It's draining my magic," one of those affected cried out.

The two teams attempted to destroy the tendrils, but they proved elusive, contorting skillfully to avoid the spells cast on them. More tendrils appeared, effortlessly slipping past barriers to ensnare an even greater number of witches and wizards. Amelia realised the situation was getting out of hand. If the wards continued to drain their victims' magic, it could be fatal. They weren't prepared to confront this new threat.

"Amelia!" Moody roared.

"Retreat!" Amelia shouted. "Save those who are restrained and then get your asses out of there!"

They successfully cut away the tendrils and rescued the affected individuals after a great deal of effort, but it was a close call. The wards were extremely aggressive, extending dozens more tendrils out to seize them. They were only saved because the tendrils had a limited range of twenty feet.

After rescuing everyone, the healers immediately attended to the injured. Amelia observed them with a grim expression. The mission had turned into a complete disaster, but at least there were no fatalities.

She turned around to look at the dome, only to discover that the arrays had vanished. They were strikingly similar to the arrays on the Enchanted Wall. The question on her mind was how they had become entwined with the school's protective wards. Was this the reason the Hogwarts wards were fully operational? What the hell was going on?

"I hope you are safe, Susan," Amelia whispered.

"I hate to be the one to say I told you so," Moody grumbled as he massaged his thigh. "Damned leg."

30th January

Apart from a few incidents where students ended up in the hospital wing due to magical exhaustion, the next two weeks at the castle were uneventful. They were all questioned, but to their knowledge, no one had physically attacked them, nor were they casting spells excessively to deplete their magical reserves. They suddenly felt weak and collapsed onto the ground for no apparent reason.

Harry returned to the castle after yet another exhausting session with Master Footshredder and his grandfather. Technically, he should have waited until they escorted him back to the castle, but they were deep in conversation about something, and he didn't want to wait. After two weeks, he should have grown accustomed to the physical suffering he endured in order to improve his physique. The Karrast technique used by the goblin was no laughing matter, becoming increasingly difficult with each new set of exercises introduced.

He couldn't deny the results. He now had some definition in his abdominal and arm muscles, and he had grown an inch taller. Although he was not sure if he could attribute the latter to his workout or if he was going through a growth spurt. Daphne seemed to appreciate the changes as well, which encouraged him to keep going. Furthermore, he was no longer tired or out of breath from climbing the castle's numerous staircases. In fact, he felt more energetic overall.

Someone spoke up as Harry approached the steps leading up to the castle. "What are you doing with the goblin?"

In response to the voice, Harry looked up and found himself face-to-face with Tracy's love interest, Blaise Zabini. The dark-skinned boy was dressed warmly, clearly prepared to face the cold. Blaise must have been waiting for him. He couldn't think of another reason why Blaise was there at such an early hour.

"I am a glutton for punishment," Harry said as he climbed the stairs. "Your name is Blaise Zabini, right? May I help you with something?"

"The goblins do not usually show favouritism towards wizards," Blaise said, ignoring his question. "Even though you are known as the Boy-Who-Lived, that means nothing to them."

"All right," Harry said as he pushed the door open and entered the castle. "Since you clearly lack manners, I will leave you to your speculation."

"I apologise, Heir-Potter Black," Blaise said as he followed him into the castle. "I am Heir Zabini. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, and you may call me Harry," he replied. "I had no idea there was a House Zabini in Britain."

"Then call me Blaise," Blaise said, oblivious to the fact that Harry had already done so. "There isn't a House Zabini in Britain. The Most Ancient and Noble House of Zabini is located in Italy, my home country. There is a lot of internal conflict in the family right now, as different members vie for control of the house and its substantial wealth. My mother felt it was necessary to remove me from that environment for my safety."

"I can imagine," Harry said, nodding. "Is there a particular reason you are interested in my training with Master Footshredder?"

"It was only a superficial reason," Blaise shrugged. "I would like to get in better shape so that I can appeal to the fairer sex."

Blaise was extremely attractive, so Harry didn't see why he needed to get in shape to attract females. "You're right, that is a superficial reason."

"Says the guy with two girlfriends," Blaise snorted.

"I am motivated to keep my current girlfriend's content, not look for more."

"Yeah right. Are you aware of how envious other guys are of you? I heard your other girlfriend is a veela."

"You would be correct," Harry replied. They came to a halt as they reached the staircase. "There must be another reason for approaching me other than your superficial interest in my training."

"Tracy approached me on behalf of your club," Blaise explained. "She mentioned that your club is looking for a Slytherin to join. According to her, I am the least objectionable member of the house. I was so moved that I almost proposed to her on the spot."

"I am sure that would have gone over well," Harry said. Did the boy not realise Tracy had feelings for him? Blaise didn't strike him as being that obtuse. He was glad that Tracy had finally summoned the courage to speak to the boy, at least.

"I would have made her swoon," Blaise said arrogantly. "I'm not going to keep you any longer, but I will agree to meet with your club to see if it is of interest to me. I am curious why you feel the need to have a Slyrtherin in your club."

"Let's meet up later this afternoon in the Gryffindor common room."

"Are you trying to get me lynched by my own house?" Blaise wondered. "All right, I will give in to your demands. If something were to happen to me, it is worth noting that my mother has a rather ominous track record as a black widow, having sent several husbands to their graves."

Well, that was slightly terrifying. Hopefully, there was more to the story and she wasn't just a cold-blooded murderer.

"Right," Harry said, nodding, "don't upset your mother. Is she looking for another husband, by the way? I've heard that Snape is available and open to the idea of romance."

"That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen." Blaise shuddered. "My mother wouldn't last a week before murdering him. Besides, I like Professor Snape. I am still upset that Daphne got an apprenticeship and I didn't."

"Have you approached Snape yet? Daphne had to do the same, and she had a difficult time convincing him to take her on as an apprentice. Snape is not the type of person who would offer you an apprenticeship solely because he was impressed with your potion-making abilities."

"I hadn't thought of it like that," Blaise said with a thoughtful expression. "All I need is the right incentive to persuade him to take me on as an apprentice as well. Maybe I will tell him my mother is interested in him. That might scare him enough to do anything to avoid meeting her."

Blaise walked away with that parting statement, leaving Harry to reflect on their encounter. He had enjoyed their interaction, particularly Blaise's wicked sense of humour. Blaise would fit in perfectly with their club.

He did not expect Blaise's help with the Bloody Baron, though. It was merely a passing suggestion from Tracy to get Blaise into the club. Furthermore, Harry was not sure which of the two ghosts he had met could be trusted. He wondered if Helena Ravenclaw was genuinely trying to warn him about something and if the Bloody Baron was attempting to stop her. Because Harry had not seen either of them since then, determining the truth was difficult.

Perhaps he hadn't encountered Helena Ravenclaw's ghost again due to a lack of opportunity. Because of the ongoing situation, his movements within the castle were still restricted, and he usually moved around with other students. The mystery was getting to him, and he needed to do something to satisfy his curiosity. Despite knowing that his friends and family would be horrified, he seriously considered going for a nighttime stroll tonight in the hopes of running into Helena again.

At midnight, Harry cautiously exited his dorm room, glancing around to make sure he was not being watched. He went downstairs and approached the tower's entrance. The Fat Lady was the only thing that stood in his way. She had been instructed to notify the professors if any student attempted to leave the common room after curfew. It was, however, the same night of the week when she would get drunk with her friend Violet, resulting in impaired judgement. He was perplexed as to how a magical portrait could feel the effects of non-existent alcohol, but it turned out to be quite beneficial for him.

The Fat Lady snored peacefully in her portrait, while Violet slept with her head on her friend's shoulder.

"Open the door immediately," Harry said. "I must make my way to the Great Hall for breakfast."

He quickly transformed into his demiguise form and turned invisible as soon as he finished speaking.

"What?" The Fat Lady struggled to open her eyes. "Of course, my dear. It appears that I have overslept. I really need to cut back on the sherry."

Without waiting to confirm the presence of a student, she promptly swung the door open, allowing Harry to quickly slip through. Racing down the corridor, he could hear the Fat Lady's bewildered voice growing increasingly louder from behind him.

He shifted back after moving a safe distance away from the tower. While his demiguise form provided him with security while navigating Hogwarts at night, he still wished to be discovered by Helena Ravenclaw. He remained vigilant, fully aware of the danger he was putting himself in by venturing out alone in the middle of the night.

Harry moved slowly through the castle, hoping to bump into Helena. He didn't have a solid plan in mind because he had decided to go out on a whim. After reaching the ground floor, he retraced his steps all the way back up to the seventh floor. He made his way back downstairs, giving it another shot. He began to feel as if he was wasting his time after reaching the second floor for the third time. Helena appeared in front of him at that precise moment, making him jump.

"You scared me," Harry said. "Do you have anything you need to show me?"

Instead of responding, she motioned for him to follow her as she turned around and glided down the corridor. Harry hesitated briefly before deciding to follow her. He let out an audible groan when he saw her stopping in front of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Why did it have to be there of all places?

Helena phased through the door, and Harry followed her into the bathroom. She drew his attention to the snake carving on the tap before vanishing. Did she really want him to return to the Chamber of Secrets? Was there something important she wanted him to see down there?

Harry hesitated for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. Eventually, he gathered his courage and opened up the passage.

A pair of small, beady eyes furtively surveyed the corridor, ensuring there was no one in sight before quickly scurrying towards the intended destination. The manner in which it clung to the walls of the corridors, along with remaining in the shadows, displayed a level of intellect surpassing that of an ordinary rat. This was due to the fact that he was not a rat, but rather a wizard named Peter Pettigrew.

Despite his fear of coming across one of the student's cats roaming the castle, he needed to complete an important mission for his master. The cats posed a significant threat to him as a rat animagus, so he had to transform back into a human to avoid becoming their plaything. This, however, would increase the likelihood of being discovered.

Ever since the castle went into lockdown, everyone was on a state of high alert, and he found navigating the castle even more challenging. Furthermore, he no longer had the security of the Marauder's Map, as it had stopped working as soon as the lockdown started. He was uncertain about the magic used by James, Sirius, and Remus to create the map, but it was influenced by the lockdown. It now resembled a standard map of Hogwarts, with no indication of anyone's movements.

The Dark Lord had not been in a good mood ever since he failed to discover the Enchanted Wall's secrets for himself. One of the main issues arose from not having enough time to conduct proper research. This was due to his host, Professor Quirrel, needing to avoid arousing suspicion and fulfilling his teaching responsibilities. Although his master did not explain the reason behind his interest in the wall, Peter assumed it had something to do with restoring him to a physical form. Out of desperation, his master released the basilisk from the chambers in a desperate attempt to divert the professors' attention and buy himself more time to study the wall.

Everything fell apart when the Aurors found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Since it had been discovered, his master used the opportunity to try and get rid of Harry and Charlus Potter. After the failed attempt, he decided to take refuge in the forbidden forest, where he planned to lay low and wait patiently for another opportunity. Unfortunately, misfortune struck once more when the unicorns fled from the forest, leaving him without the blood necessary to sustain Quirrel's decaying body.

Peter had suffered a lot due to his master's displeasure. It was only after he stumbled across the fact that Snape had some unicorn blood and stole it from his quarters that he gained a reprieve. Despite all the hardship, he was still more loyal to him than he ever would be to Dumbledore.

When he was young and naive, the headmaster manipulated him and bound him with oaths. Although he had no choice but to follow Dumbledore's orders, that was only possible when he was able to receive them. He was free to do as he pleased, as long as Dumbledore remained unaware.

Dumbledore had recently given Peter orders to capture Harry Potter and take him away from the castle. He would have done so if he had been capable of fulfilling the request. With the lockdown preventing him from leaving the Hogwarts grounds, he saw no reason to even try. Furthermore, Charlus Potter terrified him just as much as his master did, and he did not want to anger him. The one and only time he had met the man, it was clear that he did not like him.

Peter could not bear the thought of what would happen if the Dark Lord discovered he was actually working for Dumbledore. But he was assured that the oaths would protect him from his master discovering the truth. Peter had no idea how that was possible, given that his master was a Level 5 Legilimens. But he had a feeling Dumblesore's oaths were different in some way, augmented by some unknown magic.

Peter stopped outside the quarters where his target was residing. He took a quick look around to make sure no one was nearby before reverting to his human form. He took an object from his robe and placed it at the base of the door. After pressing the button on top of the object, he took a step back and waited for it to activate.

The item in question was a ward-breaker, a highly illegal and expensive artifact that could break through strong defensive wards. Although it lacked the strength to penetrate something like the Hogwarts wards, it should be sufficient to infiltrate his target's quarters.

Peter had no idea where his master obtained the item, but when he returned to Hogwarts with his master, he was astounded to discover that he had a hidden lair within the Forbidden Forest. Before transforming into the Dark Lord, his master built a secret hideout where he kept supplies and a variety of interesting items.

The wards on the door flickered briefly before collapsing with a soft thud. Peter took up the now-inert object and used his wand to open the door. He entered the room quietly, squinting through the darkness and keeping his ears poised to hear any sounds. His Animagus form had a profound effect on his senses. His vision was poor in the dark, but his senses of smell and hearing were enhanced to compensate.

After determining that he hadn't been discovered, Peter made his way quietly through Master Karlsson's quarters to his bedroom. He cast a silencing charm on the door and cautiously opened it, peering inside. The gentle sound of soft breathing indicated that the man was sleeping. He approached the bed quietly and raised his wand to stun him.

His master wanted answers, and Master Karlsson would provide them.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry enters the Chamber of Secrets and finds something unexpected.

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