Chapter 1277: Fall of the Ministry of Magic
Chapter 1277: Fall of the Ministry of Magic
"According to the latest intelligence we received from Gawain Robards, the Head of the Auror Office, the current Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, recently accepted Kingsley Shacklebolt's proposal to secretly send most of the Aurors to the Weasley family's wedding, as there is a high likelihood that Harry Potter, who is closely associated with the Weasley family, will be in attendance..."
Just before the attack on the Ministry of Magic, Yaxley was giving a temporary pep talk to the remaining Death Eaters.
Today's action could be considered more of a surprise development.
If it weren't for the crucial information suddenly obtained from Pius Thicknesse, the captive Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Yaxley would never have attempted to convince the Dark Lord to change his original plan and take advantage of the Ministry's weakened defenses to launch a direct assault, kill Scrimgeour, and firmly seize control of the Ministry.
Compared to the so-called "Savior" Potter, it was Scrimgeour who was the true enemy of the Death Eaters. Looking at the fallen comrades around them, almost all of whom had been sentenced to death by that scoundrel, how could they not feel a mix of shock and rage?
Now, the time for settling scores with Scrimgeour had finally arrived.
To ensure the plan's success, Yaxley also dispatched a small number of Dark Wizards to create chaos. They successfully destroyed Big Ben, the iconic clock tower located on the Thames River in London, drawing out a significant portion of the Ministry's employees and Aurors.
After all, their goal was not to annihilate the Aurors and employees but to kill Scrimgeour, ultimately seizing control of the Ministry through a coup and dismantling any resistance within. By then, even those Aurors would be forced to submit.
The plan proceeded smoothly; they invaded at a time when the Ministry's defenses were at their weakest and encountered little resistance. At least, after a few idiots who didn't know any better had fallen, no one else dared to put up a fight.
Perhaps, as Yaxley had said, Scrimgeour never imagined that they would dare to openly attack the Ministry of Magic.
In fact, it wasn't just Scrimgeour; even the employees of the Ministry of Magic couldn't fathom how the Death Eaters dared to act so boldly, and they couldn't understand why the Aurors and the Crisis Response Team members seemed indifferent to the situation.
It was only when everyone saw Voldemort appear at the Ministry that they were plunged into utter despair.
Draco, dazed and confused, looked at the Ministry now under the control of the Dark Wizards, feeling the terrified gazes of the Ministry employees around him. He lowered his eyes and bit his lip, struggling to suppress the fear rising within him, trying his best not to look directly at the Dark Lord.
"Master, we have captured Scrimgeour," Yaxley reported respectfully. "He attempted to resist, but we have subdued him."
"Well done," Voldemort said, pleased with Yaxley's performance. "Tell me your next plan."
"I have just used the Imperius Curse on Gawain Robards, and he is on his way to the Weasley wedding," Yaxley replied, ecstatic with the Dark Lord's praise, as he walked and explained his next steps. "Robards will inform the Aurors about what has transpired at the Ministry, recalling them, and then we can take advantage of the chaos to attack the wedding and capture Harry Potter."
As for what to do with the returning Aurors? Yaxley wasn't concerned. He believed that as long as the Dark Lord himself guarded the Ministry, those fools wouldn't be able to cause any significant trouble.
"I believe that once the Master has firmly established control over the Ministry, it won't be difficult to capture those bugs hiding in their rat holes."
"Excellent!"
Voldemort stepped into the office of the Minister of Magic after Yaxley pushed the door open.
The famous Ironblood Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, was bound to his office chair by spells, his eyes vacant as he stared at the intruders who had suddenly burst in.
Upon seeing Scrimgeour, Voldemort frowned slightly, a sense of dissonance nagging at him.
"We just fed Scrimgeour a Vomiting Toffee, but he doesn't know where Harry Potter is."
Walton McNair bowed slightly to the Dark Lord, having also tortured Scrimgeour for revenge, but aside from some agonized screams, they had gained nothing.
"Who are you?"
Voldemort suddenly asked a question that left the surrounding Death Eaters bewildered.
"S..."
The man in the chair suddenly began to shake violently, as if he were having a grand mal seizure.
Voldemort's expression darkened, and he raised his wand to cast a spell on Scrimgeour.
In the next moment, Scrimgeour's face melted like wax, and soon, an entirely new face appeared before them.
This person was not Scrimgeour at all but a Dark Wizard who had once been captured by him.
At this moment, everyone realized they had been deceived, tricked by Scrimgeour. That cunning man had anticipated the Death Eaters' bold assault on the Ministry and planned to use a decoy to feign his death.
"This..."
Yaxley's eyes widened, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He knew he had messed up.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A flash of green light struck the hapless decoy minister, ending his life instantly.
The Minister's office fell into an eerie silence, and the Death Eaters, sensing the Dark Lord's anger, bowed their heads.
No one dared to incur Voldemort's wrath; it was not a risk worth taking.
"Scrimgeour must be on his way to the Weasley wedding," Yaxley said, a slight tremor in his voice. No one had expected Scrimgeour to use the entire Ministry as bait.
"That sly dog must have discovered our infiltration into the Ministry. This was a trap from the start, and things don't look good for our comrades at the Burrow!"
"Take control of the Ministry, and don't fail me again!"
Voldemort glanced at Yaxley and strode out with the other Death Eaters in tow. They had no other choice now.
Scrimgeour had to die!
Otherwise, similar incidents would occur, and they could not afford any more losses.
As the Dark Lord hurried away, Draco, who had just received the news, leaned lightly against the wall, frozen in place.
If this was a trap set by Scrimgeour, the Death Eaters sent to capture Harry at the Burrow would surely meet a grim fate.
That bloodthirsty man would show no mercy to his captives.
And his father...
No! Draco knew he had to warn his father, that it had been a trap from the beginning, but... his legs trembled uncontrollably.
No one paid attention to Draco, no one respected this weakling, and no Death Eater acknowledged Draco Malfoy as one of their own.
Even the Dark Lord, despite allowing the Malfoy father and son to participate in the Death Eater meetings, did not truly consider them part of the inner circle.
Draco finally overcame his fear.
Glancing at the figure rushing outside, Yaxley paid it no mind and proceeded with his task.
"Pierce, I need you to assume the position of Minister of Magic and announce that Scrimgeour died in the line of duty," Yaxley said, pausing briefly before continuing with the appointments. "Umbridge will resume her position as Senior Undersecretary, assisting Pierce in managing the Ministry. As for the position of Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I will take it temporarily..."
Yaxley heeded Umbridge's suggestion to avoid making drastic changes that might provoke resistance and cause the Ministry to descend into chaos.
With several decades of experience in the Ministry, Umbridge undoubtedly understood its inner workings better than most, and Yaxley chose to accept her plan.
(End of Chapter)
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