The End?
1 Year After Operation Unthinkable & The Great Retreat
There had been many threats that had been dealt with by Britain over the ages. Since its inception the ministry had reigned in errant pureblood families, crushed goblin rebellions, subverted Muggleborn activists, resisted Muggles, and maintained a stable society. Many would be dark lords and patricians from their privileged posts had sneered down at the ministry for being too bloated, inept, or otherwise useless.
For Gloria, such fools could be identified with their clear marker – they had never ruled. A lifetime of opposition hadn't taught them much about ruling, wheeling, and dealing. Dealing with council complaints, clueless civilians, and NIMBYs was a whole different arena than most Dark Lords were ever prepared to deal with. No Dark Lord on Earth had ever dealt with angry grandmas complaining too fast broomsticks, bored housewives ranting about the thinness of the mandrake root imports from America, juveniles pranking Aurors for confiscating their flying carpets, or magical creatures wondering why they were under arrest for openly existing in front of muggle journalists. After all, it was always easy to take potshots at the man atop rather than getting off your backside doing something.
I wonder if Grindelwald would face similar problems once everything had stabilized. Gloria couldn't help but wonder. It wouldn't be too long before they all found out.
Grindelwald with his new army had, for the second time, absolutely smashed apart the allied forces. In a matter of mere months his so-called "Immortals" had pushed Allied forces back to their borders. Worse, the portal network that Albus Dumbledore had sacrificed his life to destroy seemed to work again. The man appeared to teleport the entire army from eastern to western fronts, demolishing their armies.
This was one threat the ministry could never seem to come back from. Gloria tried to calculate how long would the ministry survive. She calculated that it would take the end of the year if he went for the Russians first. 3 months if it went for them first. He would probably save America for last due to the geographical distance involved. The pounding headache that had been plaguing her for a week came back with a furious roar. It was exacerbated by her loss of appetite and stress. Her hair had thinned, her hairline receded, and dark circles plagued her face.
Still, she was subjected to one tense meeting after another with dimwits who failed to do their jobs regardless of everything Gloria had done for them. Despite being given a blank cheque, these inept fools had failed the British people when it mattered the most. From superspies to lofty generals, all had failed her.
Several memos, owls, and magical reminding spells went by her, all clamoring to gain her attention. Yes, the meeting was chaotic. Everyone who was anything within the government's national security apparatus was present.
To her right, the commander of the British forces, General Greengrass, sat looking ashen-faced and about to collapse under the pressure. Battlefield commander Mortimer Lestrange rattled off the total casualties and the current situation of the war.
"The allied forces have been pushed back from all sectors of France," Lestrange reported. "The beachhead was lost despite our best attempts. On the eastern front, the Russian forces have been pushed beyond Poland, with some even retreating back to Russia itself."
"We are on the verge of losing all our remaining beachheads in France. The worst of the casualties were prevented during the great retreat. However, the casualty rate amongst the remaining forces present is expected to be 99%. It is the evaluation and recommendation of the high command that these forces be withdrawn immediately and used to secure the homeland." Mortimer said.
Mortimer kept rambling on with his statistics as various department heads shouted over each other to appear useful. Even when the end was at their doorsteps, they couldn't stop butting heads with each other over territorial disputes. She cast a glance towards Owl and Croaker, the two too looked lost for words. A rare sight for such a confident dynamic duo. When the noise got too high, and her headache worsened, Gloria balled her fist and slammed it on the desk. The room fell silent and stared at her.
"Don't tell me what's already happened, people. I know how to read memos." She dangerously whispered, "Tell me why it happened and what you intend to do about it!"
"General Greengrass," Gloria said, and he stiffened, "What is the plan now?"
Greengrass cleared his throat and took a sip of water. "Take your time, General," Bones said acidly. "It's not like we're in a war right now."
Greengrass stuttered a bit before composing himself. "All reports indicate that Grindelwald has unleashed a wonder weapon," he said. "The so-called 'Immortal Army' of albino monsters. Conventional spells are useless against them due to their very thick hide. It's like trying to fire stunners at a troll or a dragon."
He continued, "The army neither sleeps nor eats. They have zero need for logistics. They fight and chase their enemies continuously. This, coupled with Grindelwald's already formidable might, has made them cut through Allied forces like a hot knife through butter."
"No shit, Merlin." She spoke, making the lordlings cringe with her crassness but they were beyond such things now. "Any chance our generals intend to fight? Or will they force our soldiers to flee France for a second time with their incompetence?"
"Minister Bones, I must protest that. The military has fought valiantly across all fronts. If given one 2 more months, we would have been standing at the gates of Berlin." Greengrass said as he shifted his seat and threw a glance at Nicolas and Croaker. "It is just that our research and intelligence wings have persistently failed to inform us about Grindelwald's plans so we can adjust accordingly."
The two glared at Greengrass as he internally smirked at having successfully shifted the attention from himself to the other party. It worked too as a glowering Bones turned her sight to the two enigmatic gentlemen.
"Perhaps you are correct, General Greengrass. Our esteemed intelligence agencies have run rough shots over everyone and everything. Croaker? Owl? Anything to say for yourself?" Bones said and the two remained stoic.
"Perhaps I should pass another law that will allow you to kidnap children right from the fucking street? Or perhaps I should bring an end to this sham democracy altogether? Maybe that will be an adequate motivation for you to get up and do your bloody job?!" Bones screamed as she tossed her quill across the table in frustration. "Or perhaps if it was France rather than Britain you would actually do something?!"
A tense silence fell as the entire table stared at the duo. Nicolas remained silent; he truly had no solution for this but one. He regained his composure from whatever was ailing him internally and spoke.
"Minister Bones." Nicolas said, "With the highest respect due, Britain isn't the only one suffering. France has borne the worst of the fighting. The initial victories we had were due to the Bureau's success in completely neutralizing Grindelwald's obscurus weapons."
"That was in the past, Owl. Men and women are dying by the hundreds out there. They don't care what the Bureau did in the past. They care about what the bureau will do in the future to save them." She said and snapped her attention to the other man who sat up straighter under her glare.
"Croaker! The Unspeakables have been given carte blanche over Britain since most of this table were in their diapers. Over centuries of dark research, heinous deeds covered up by us for you, and black budgets – do you truly have nothing to offer us? When Britain is at her knees?" Bones said.
"Minister Bones, our agents are thoroughly examining the archives for any report on these creatures. We are already liaising with the military and the bureau for a solution to these immortals. Rest assured; we will do our best to work this through." He said and Bones snorted at that.
She threw the rest of her documents away in frustration and stood up. "Does anyone have any bright ideas here?"
None of the participants spoke up. In a last-ditch attempt, it was Croaker who spoke up.
"Minister Bones, if I May?" He said and Bones nodded.
"Regardless of how bad the situation appears right now, the actions of young Major Gaunt have spared us the worst of the tragedy. Most of our fighting forces have escaped a total slaughter. However, the most valuable commodity she has brought us is time." Croaker said. "Right now, we need time more than anything. Time to study these creatures. Figure out their weaknesses and plan a counterattack. Planning useless counterattacks would be akin to throwing the men into a meat grinder."
"It would be a meatgrinder regardless if Grindelwald chooses to strike Britain first, Croaker. Let us worry about the counterattacks and military tactics, eh?" General Greengrass mocked.
"Young man, it does not behoove the brother of Edward Greengrass to speak in such a way to his elders." A man said and Greengrass reddened in anger again.
"Croaker, what are you getting at?" Gloria asked.
"Minister, I would like to formally request your approval for enacting the fortress doctrine." He said and Nicolas tensed immediately.
"And what is this doctrine?" she asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Croaker…." Nicolas warned.
"Croaker, I order you to divulge this information." Gloria overrode him and Croaker bowed towards her.
"Sorry, Owl. She needs to know, besides your tactics haven't worked." Croaker said and turned to her. "Fortress Doctrine is a last resort created by us in cooperation with the finest of Hogwarts's professors and resources accumulated by the castle over a millennium."
"The contraption was initially a brainchild of now Headmistress Brightstar as an extracurricular project for the brightest minds in Hogwarts to work towards large military applications of magic. The program was inspired by the close linkage between muggle military research and development and their universities." He said. "Back then it was small but very well-funded by elements within the AIB. Elements of a chimeric nature."
A brief flicker of pain passed on Nicolas and Gloria's faces as they recognized the hidden reference to the now-deceased Harry Petrov. And Minister Gloria Bones motioned for him to continue.
"Essentially, what the contraption does is tap into the deep and ancestral magic of the isles- dating back all the way to the shamanic era. This massive store of energy would be used to create an artificial, perpetual storm on the borders of the isle that would stop all traffic to and fro from the isles. Magical or mundane, none would enter the isles. None would leave it. A few channels of enchanted mirror or portrait communication could theoretically be maintained but that's it." He said, "We then could use the time to rest, recuperate, and plan our next moves. We will be -"
"Condemning mainland Europe to Grindelwald, Croaker. That is the only thing this plan of yours will accomplish." Nicolas interrupted him. "That is the only thing it will accomplish. Make no mistake ladies and gentlemen. When Grindelwald is done with Europe, he will set his eyes on America, Latin America, India, China, and Southeast Asia."
Nicolas looked around to see if he had any takers and possibly guilt-trip someone.
"One day with his resources and power, he will figure out a way to break Britain's defenses. It is inevitable. And when you are all alone against him, none will come to your aid because you aided none. No British child will be able to leave Britain without a person abroad spitting in their faces." Nicolas said.
"The lives of the British citizenry are more important to this government than of foreigners. Lest you forget, Director Owl, it was the British citizens who struck the most grievous blows against Grindelwald." One of the cabinet ministers said, sensing the change in the political will.
"With due respect secretary, that was only possible because millions of Eastern European, Indian, Australian, and African troops sacrificed their lives to buy us that one moment of direction," Nicolas said. "I implore you Minister Bones, do not fall for this. Grindelwald appeared omnipotent with Obscurus bet right until he didn't. Then, in a matter of months, we stood kilometers away from Berlin itself."
"Owl, we have no defenses against these immortals. You yourself have tried it." Croaker said and Nicolas snorted at that. "The lives of our conscript soldiers are sacrosanct. Even if you somehow achieve victory, without youthful men and women, Britain will have no future."
"By Merlin, I can't believe we are considering hiding away while the entire world is fighting out there," Nicolas said. "As we talk right now Churchill and the other muggle leaders are planning to storm the French beaches similarly to us. Are we honestly conceding that the muggles are braver than us when confronting evil?"
"The muggles don't vote for the government. The mages do." One of the ministers droned.
A murmur of "Hear Hear" went around the table and Nicolas could feel the ground slipping away from him as Minister Bones looked more entranced by the plan as the seconds passed.
A sudden relief came from an unexpected source. The treasury minister spoke up,
"If I may, Madam Bones, a total cut-off from the wider world will be catastrophic for our markets and supply chain. Britain simply doesn't have enough resources on hand to sustain a long-term siege. I just consulted with our industrial reps; they too have frankly stated that we can't set up enough industries in time to offset the scarcity caused by a total block on imports." He said.
"We will have no one to trade with regardless once Russia falls. France, Poland, and the Baltics are gone. The Nordic countries have chosen to remain neutral. As per the AIB, they have many sympathizers who will revolt immediately and overthrow the ruling government at his signal." General Greengrass. "The military stands behind the decision to seal off Britain."
"Such a thing has never been tried!" Nicolas yelled. "Do you have any idea of the consequences of tapping into the ley lines? There is a reason we haven't done it for thousands of years. You have no idea what the end result of using such a weapon would be! It has even undergone field testing!"
"We have run simulations. The risks are acceptable in the grander scheme of things." Croaker said. The ground just slipped away from Nicolas by a few dozen kilometers more.
Nicolas looked at Croaker who defiantly stared back at him.
Keep this up and I resign from the circus. Nicolas sent.
No, you won't. Deep down you know this is the only place you can do some damage against Grindelwald. Out there he will find you at a moment's notice. Albus couldn't best him. You won't stand a chance. Croaker projected back.
"Croaker, how soon can the weapon be deployed?" Minister Bones asked.
"At once Madam," Croaker replied.
"Proceed. I will have the orders sent to you shortly." She said.
"No need, Madam," Croaker said and pulled out a folder from his pocket and levitated it to the Minister. "Everything is already present in here. It just requires your signature."
Anger roared through Nicholas at that. Croaker had already planned for this and was simply moving chess pieces.
You are a conniving little fool. Nicolas sent. You have doomed us all.
An Unexpected Visitor
As the heavy doors of the Ministry of Magic slammed shut behind him, he exhaled sharply, trying to dissipate the storm of emotions brewing within him. His eyes threatened to get wet, but Nicolas forcibly chased away the tears. This was not the time to get sentimental. He had promised not to be emotional. Not since the day she had been taken away from him.
The usual buzz of Ministry activity seemed muted to him, background noise to the chaos in his soul. He needed space, a moment to clear his thoughts, to find a solution to this immortal problem. However, even his own people had now chosen to deny him brief respite.
"Owl! Director Owl, sir!" the aide called out, his voice shaky.
Flamel pressed on, refusing to acknowledge him, but the aide was undeterred. Just as he was about to sweep past, the aide's hand latched onto his arm, a bold move that brought Nicolas to an abrupt halt. He turned slowly, ready to incinerate the fool alive for his stupidity.
The young aide blanched, visibly wilting under the intensity of Flamel's stare. "I-I'm sorry, sir," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But this is urgent. A letter for you."
Nicholas all but clawed away the letter from the young man, leaving scars in his wake. However, his fury immediately subsided as he read through the letter, replaced by a sinking feeling of dread and anxiety. The codename at the bottom especially gave him pause.
-Regards,
Noble
It was Charlus Potter reaching out to him. The heir apparent of Harry Petrov to lead the Pirahannas.
With a gentle pop, Nicholas reappeared in the depths of an unknown building away from the main ministry building. Charlus nodded at him as a yellowish hue of light glowed green, the charms checking for any forgeries or signs of the Polyjuice potion.
"Tell me everything," Charlus said as he entered the prison grounds and saw the man time from neck to toe in enchanted chains. The man toothily smiled as his preternatural hearing picked up another heartbeat joining the observation deck.
"We are out on the raid like you told us to." Charlus said, "Naturally we destroyed all the targets you told us to. When we were retreating, he just marched up to us and held his hands up. The twins panicked and lobbed three stunners in the chest before we realized he wasn't defending himself."
"He just surrendered?" Nicolas asked.
"Oh yes. Quite cooperative when we put the cuffs on him and everything." Charlus said, "Stripped him bare for any signs of a tracking charm or rune, but nothing. We even did random apparitions to get rid of any karmic elements. The man took it all in stride."
"Has he been subjected to mental evaluations?" Nicholas asked.
"The man's been pumped by liters of potions to make him talk. The leglimency division had been attacking his mind since the last hour. Whoever sent him, stored his memories under complex spells we can't recognize as of yet." Charlus said.
Nicolas glanced up to see a dozen wands at alert pointing down at the chained vampire below them. The vampire was now one of the 10 most wanted people in the entire magical world. Ranking number 6, a fair bit behind his boss, Julius Giovanni was now chained in their dungeons. Either Nicolas had truly lost it, or this was a horrible master plan that would see them all dead.
Still, nothing great was ever accomplished without a few risks.
"Good evening, Director Owl was it?" Julius said as he grinned. "The Giovanni family would like to convey their belated yet heartfelt wishes to you at this new juncture of life. It is not easy to make career transitions when you are his old, my Lord Flamel."
"Why are you here?" Nicholas asked, not in the mood for games.
"Straight to business, I admire it," Julius said nodding in reverence as if he cared. "Well then, I shall be straight as well. My mistress, Kendra Dumbledore would like to formally apply for Asylum in Great Britain. In exchange for political immunity, she is willing to offer her significant expertise on Grindelwald's modus operandi. She believes that the Black Hand's hunt of her has become…problematic."
Nicolas stared at Julius. Julius stared back at him, barely able to hold a grin.
"This is a joke to you, hmm?" Nicholas wondered aloud. "Well then Master Giovanni, two can play that game."
He leveled his wand at Julius's temple and whispered, "Crucio"
Julius laughed, then his laughter turned to pain-filled roars as he struggled against his bindings. The screams soon turned into tears, but Nicolas didn't relent. Instead, he doubled down and let his hatred bubble through.
Julius started throwing up blood and glared at Nicholas through teary eyes.
"I see you can still have human reactions, Nosferatu." Nicholas said, "The nerves not so deadened. The muscles are not too rotten to puke or cry. Interesting observation."
Julius didn't reply and Nicholas wondered aloud in the dark,
"Do make a note of that my dear agents. This shall be useful in the future."
He forced Julius to look at him again, "Now do you feel like being serious, little vampling?"
To his great surprise, Julius threw him a bloody smile, "I see your curses still pack a punch, Lord Flamel. Very well then."
He straightened in his restraints and looked at Owl directly in the eyes.
"My mistress would like to propose a trade for our mutual benefit." He said as Nicholas raised an expectant eyebrow. "She believes it critical to destroy Grindelwald."
"Who?" Nicholas asked.
"Morrigan Gaunt. My mistress wants Morrigan Gaunt delivered to her with a bow on top." He said. "And in return, we shall return her."
"Her?" Nicholas said.
A savage, demented look crossed Julius's face as he opened his mouth and a voice echoed through it.
"It's me, Nick." A woman's voice said, and Nicholas's blood ran cold. A voice he hadn't heard in two years. His eyes widened and his teeth gritted as he glared down at the abomination below him.
"Oh, my dear Nick. You didn't forget me, did you? I waited and waited in the cells, night after night. They hurt me, Nick. Oh, how they hurt me! Why didn't you come, Nick?!"
"She is dead. Long dead. I saw it with my eyes." Nicholas gritted out. "Don't you dare? Don't you bloody dare."
"Oh, Lord Flamel, I can assure you – she isn't dead. She is very much alive. She can be yours again for the price of a single inbred witch who isn't important in the grander scheme of things. Why deny yourself, my lord?" Julius said as he gazed around his cell. "Why sacrifice what little joy remains in your little life for these pathetic mongrels who have taken everything from you."
Nicholas remained silent but looked at him. Not a single emotion is visible anymore.
"My mistress Kendra wants life for life. The life of Morrigan Gaunt in exchange for the life of Perenelle Flamel" He said. Nicholas stared at him for a while but didn't respond. He simply put his wand against Julius's temple and whispered,
"Crucio"
Fin.
Author Notes: Please read and review. Thanks!
A very important question for y'all:
What do you think is the coolest,
) Wendigo
) Vampire
) Werewolf
Please please answer this with an explanation of why. Thanks!
