Chapter 1430: The Car Doors Are Welded Shut
Chapter 1430: The Car Doors Are Welded Shut
After Umbridge was taken away, the Aurors heaved a sigh of relief. Then, at Yaxley's urging, they ventured further into the courtroom to capture the intruders who had breached the Ministry. However, things didn't go as planned.
Facing a corridor shrouded in impenetrable darkness, the Aurors tried various methods to dispel the gloom, to no avail.
Finally, under the threats and enticements of the Death Eaters behind them, they had no choice but to charge forward. But they stepped on something slippery and lost their balance, tumbling to the ground.
This fall caused no end of trouble for the others.
Hearing the startled cries and screams from the darkness, the patiently waiting Death Eaters wore grim expressions.
They exchanged uncertain glances, none of them eager to rush into the darkness ahead.
No one there was foolish enough to knowingly walk into a trap.
The Aurors had no choice, but the Death Eaters certainly did, and they weren't about to volunteer for a suicide mission.
"What now?"
Macnair's face was grim. It was unsettling how easily the enemy had managed to stall them with such a simple trick.
"How about... we wait a little longer? They're not going anywhere, after all," suggested Thicknesse, well aware that no one was keen on taking unnecessary risks.
"No, that's obviously what they want—to buy time," Yaxley interjected. "Regardless of their intentions, we shouldn't let them get their way."
Though Yaxley didn't know what the intruders were up to, his experience told him it was never a good idea to let the enemy have their way.
In truth, it was a simple trap.
They had coated the corridor with a generous amount of lubricant and set up several steel plates. Then, they had thrown in some specially made smoke bombs.
In the eerie underground environment, it was all too easy to slip or crash into the steel plates. The clamor created was quite unnerving.
By the time the Death Eaters made their way through the dark zone using various means, they were astonished to find their carefully prepared prison empty. The wizards who had invaded the Ministry were nowhere to be seen. All that remained was a spinning Sneakoscope and a Umbridge figurine on it, repeatedly calling them "fools."
This was a blatant mockery.
"Damn it!"
Yaxley felt a dull ache in his chest and smashed the offending Sneakoscope and Umbridge figurine with his wand.
However, they never expected that to be a trap as well.
The next moment, fireworks erupted from all around, filling the spacious room with colorful explosions. Amid the deafening cracks and bangs, the fireworks formed a fiery dragon that lunged at them.
The dragon opened its maw, resembling a vicious beast, and rushed towards the group.
More intense explosions followed, and everyone found themselves covered in black soot.
No, it wasn't just soot. Those unfortunate enough to be caught in the blast of the fireworks soon developed skin problems and had to seek treatment at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for the angry red rashes that appeared.
Rumor had it that Yaxley himself was hospitalized not long after. His failure displeased Lord Voldemort, and he was subjected to the Cruciatus Curse when he reported back to the Dark Lord.
If it weren't for Yaxley's demonstrated organizational skills, Voldemort might have discarded him then and there.
Of course, it was also possible that Voldemort simply had no one else to turn to.
After all, he, more than anyone, was aware of the quality of his Death Eaters.
While they could easily overwhelm regular wizards with their fearsome reputation, they were no match for the well-trained accomplices of Albert, which was why things weren't going according to plan.
This prompted Voldemort to decide to retrain his Death Eaters, and it was also the reason he kept Yaxley around despite his repeated failures.
Though Albert was unsure of Voldemort's intentions, he had his suspicions, which were further confirmed by Snape's plan.
At that moment, they were taking refuge in the shelter, enjoying hot cocoa while tending to the lucky ones who had been rescued. However, not everyone was receptive to their aid, and some even got into heated arguments with their children, believing that they had brought this disaster upon themselves.
"Are you going to go out there?" Sanna asked, her eyes flicking towards the commotion outside. "Any regrets about saving them?"
"Not at all," Albert replied, glancing at the recently completed task. "I wouldn't regret something like this. They joined the association, risking their lives, and rescuing them is the least I could do as part of my commitment to the other members. What they choose to do after that is up to them."
"That doesn't sound like something you'd say."
Albert didn't answer that question, but he had his reasons.
After all, countless people had perished in the unmodified version of the Battle of Hogwarts, and he had no idea how brutal this modified version would be. Yet, these people were willing to fight for the so-called prophecy and peace in the wizarding world. Albert didn't mind offering some limited assistance, especially with the task rewards and other benefits it brought him.
Besides, he intended to continue living in the wizarding world, and having a group of allies would undoubtedly make things easier. The members of the Defense Association were unquestionably his people.
However, as he had expected, this exchange was not without its challenges, especially when dealing with family members who were already under the pressure of his aura. It didn't take long for Albert to encounter the first disheartened person who came to him for comfort.
"He's so stubborn, my father," Angelina grumbled.
"They're just worried about you," Albert consoled her. "After all, resisting the Death Eaters means risking your life, am I right, Mr. Johnson?"
Mr. Johnson, who had come to confront Albert, paused slightly, seemingly taken aback by Albert's powerful aura.
"Mr. Anderson, I hope..."
"Shut up, Dad," Angelina cut in, her eyes flashing with anger as she glared at her father. "You have no right to make decisions for me. And do you honestly think I should surrender to the Death Eaters? Can't you see it's too late for that?"
"Yes, it's too late," Albert agreed, nodding. "If we're caught, we'll likely be tortured into insanity." As he spoke, he handed Mr. Johnson a document. "Take a look at this. It might help you understand the current situation at the Ministry."
"This is..." Mr. Johnson trailed off as he glanced at the document.
"This is a war," Albert said gently but firmly. "If we give up, we leave ourselves at their mercy. So, it's best not to entertain unrealistic fantasies. If you don't want to be a part of the resistance, I can arrange for you to stay elsewhere until the war is over and it's safe to return to Britain."
"Angelina could also..." Mr. Johnson began.
"Help is never free," Albert interrupted, shattering the middle-aged man's illusions. "We don't have the resources to take care of everyone. We can only let them fend for themselves. If they bother to read the self-defense guide I wrote, their situation shouldn't be too dire."
"Forgive me for being blunt, but it seems you haven't fully grasped your situation," Albert said, addressing not just Mr. Johnson but also the other fathers eavesdropping outside the door. "You're all in this together now. There's no getting off this chariot. If you try to force your way out, you'll likely be dashed to your deaths."
This was why Albert had stayed—to help them understand the reality of their situation. To be honest, convincing people was a tedious task, and he didn't particularly enjoy it.
(End of Chapter)
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