Chapter 736: For London
Chapter 736: For London (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
"Today, I have gathered all of you here because I believe it is time to discuss our next course of action. After all, the current situation has improved significantly since the war broke out. We might even say that we have reached a crucial turning point", Headmaster Dumbledore began, settling into his chair and stating the purpose of today's meeting.
"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore", Madam Bones agreed. "According to the Ministry of Magic's statistics, there have been no reported cases of Muggles or Wizards being harmed in Britain in the past week. Additionally, the activity of Death Eaters and Ministry of Magic members has significantly decreased in areas outside of Greater London."
"That is indeed good news", Professor Dumbledore nodded, then his expression turned serious. "However, I do not believe Voldemort will simply surrender, even after suffering such heavy losses—"
At this point, Dumbledore glanced at Liam and Hermione before continuing, "Especially considering my calculations, which suggest that despite the significant losses in manpower and resources during our conflict, he still commands a force that is at least one-third of his peak strength. This indicates that Voldemort's current retreat is not due to a lack of power, but rather a part of a plan we are unaware of."
"Professor", Hermione raised her hand and, receiving Dumbledore's permission, she asked, "Why wouldn't this be an attempt by the Dark Lord to mount a full-scale defense in London? The entire Muggle population of London is his hostage. Given that we cannot use powerful magic to launch a large-scale offensive in the city, he could cause us significant damage."
"Moreover, I believe that after a series of recent failures and the harsh treatment of his subordinates, the number of people who remain loyal to him has dwindled. While it might be feasible to defend a location with a group of half-hearted followers, I find it highly unlikely that he could rally them for an offensive."
"You are correct, Miss Granger. If Voldemort were a normal person, he would indeed take that course of action", Dumbledore nodded after hearing Hermione's analysis. "However, he has never been one to follow the rules. From the moment I met Voldemort, he has always been willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goals. A defensive battle in London is not what he desires."
"I believe Voldemort's current plan is to use all the forces he still controls to launch a powerful surprise attack, one that will completely turn the tide of the war and potentially secure his victory", Professor Dumbledore concluded.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, do you have any evidence to support this?" Madam Bones stood up, looking visibly uneasy. This was because the Ministry of Magic's wizards were on the front lines, and if Dumbledore's theory was correct, they were in a very dangerous position.
"Amelia, there is no need to be so anxious", Dumbledore noticed Madam Bones' unease and gestured for her to sit down. "Given Voldemort's character, he is unlikely to directly attack the Aurors on the front lines. Attacking the Aurors would merely lift our siege on London, but London itself is not crucial to him. I do not believe Voldemort would waste his limited resources on such a move."
"But what is the Dark Lord doing now?" Madam Bones frowned. "If they have not broken our siege on London, what is the purpose of the forces he has gathered?"
"Unfortunately, I do not have a clear answer", Headmaster Dumbledore shook his head, looking somewhat helpless. "However, I am certain that the wealth and resources Voldemort obtained have not been transported to any known locations. Additionally, several of Voldemort's core Death Eaters, such as Bellatrix, have not been seen in public for a long time."
"You're right, Dumbledore", Mrs. Bones added. "Our intelligence agents at the British Ministry of Magic have also reported this. They say that recently, some of the Dark Lord's spies within the Ministry have been appearing less frequently. Even some key figures have been mysteriously absent for long periods."
Listening to Dumbledore and Madam Bones, Liam now confirmed that Voldemort must be gathering a large number of his most loyal followers and sufficient resources for some grand plan. However, he couldn't guess the specifics. The plot had changed too much, making it difficult to determine Voldemort's current intentions.
So, he instinctively looked at Professor Dumbledore, knowing that Snape, now under Dumbledore's orders, was infiltrating Voldemort's inner circle. As one of Voldemort's closest confidants, Snape should theoretically be able to provide some information.
Everyone in the room, not just Liam, also turned their attention to Headmaster Dumbledore. After all, Headmaster Dumbledore was Britain's greatest White Wizard, and he naturally became the source of everyone's hope in this situation.
However, Headmaster Dumbledore seemed to have no useful information either. Looking at the hopeful eyes of those around him, he said helplessly, "Voldemort's secrecy this time is exceptional. Anyone involved in his plan seems to be under strict control. Even someone as close to him as Bellatrix has not been seen recently."
"That's troubling", Madam Bones frowned. Voldemort was in a state of readiness, and no one knew his next move. This meant any location or person could become his next target.
"What should we do, Headmaster Dumbledore?" Lupin voiced the common concern. "Should we recall everyone and reinforce all our positions?"
"No, we can't do that", Liam immediately objected. "If we withdraw our people, we'll be abandoning all our previous efforts, giving the Dark Lord the opportunity to rest and regroup. This would make it much harder for us to regain our advantage."
"Liam is right", Hermione added. "As Headmaster Dumbledore mentioned, the Dark Lord often takes risks for significant gains. Creating Horcruxes and undergoing dangerous Transfigurations are examples of this. I believe his current plan is no different. He's gathering so many resources and people for a major gamble to turn the tide."
"Exactly, Miss Granger", Dumbledore nodded, scanning the room. "Passively waiting for Voldemort to strike will only deplete our resources and strength without any real benefit. It would also cause us to lose the initiative we've gained, allowing the hope of victory to slip away. This might be exactly what Voldemort wants us to do."
"So, I want you to mobilize all available forces to prepare for a full-scale attack on London. No matter what, removing Voldemort's last public stronghold is our most important goal. This is also the best way to prevent him from prolonging the war."
"Understood." "We'll do our best." "Don't worry, Headmaster—" The others in the office nodded in agreement with Headmaster Dumbledore, knowing that taking action was better than doing nothing.
In the following time, they discussed the deployment of forces. After a brief discussion, everyone decided to halt all non-essential activities to focus on defending their current strongholds while diverting some resources to reinforce the front lines in London. The aim was to retake the Ministry of Magic and other key locations as quickly as possible.
Once the discussion on the war strategy concluded, Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Today, besides discussing the battle, we also need to talk about post-war reconstruction."
(End of Chapter)
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