HP-A New Future

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter 27: The Ministry's Quandary

The golden light of early morning streamed into the high council chamber of the Ministry of Magic, illuminating the grim faces of its occupants. At the head of the table sat Minister Millicent Bagnold, her composed demeanor betraying none of the frustration simmering beneath the surface. Around her, department heads, senior Aurors, and key officials shuffled parchment and exchanged tense whispers.

Bagnold raised a hand, commanding silence. "Last night, an unidentified individual infiltrated this Ministry, breached one of our most secure offices, and killed seven people, including Augustus Rookwood, an Unspeakable. The investigation is ongoing, but preliminary findings have revealed disturbing truths."

Bartemius Crouch Sr., the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, stood as the Minister gestured to him. His usual stern expression was harsher than usual, his voice clipped and precise as he addressed the room.

"Rookwood was a Death Eater," Crouch stated bluntly, his eyes scanning the faces of the gathered officials. A ripple of shock passed through the room. "The Dark Mark was found on his arm, confirming his allegiance to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Gasps and murmurs broke out among the attendees, and Bagnold rapped her knuckles on the table. "Let him finish," she ordered sharply.

Crouch continued, "The six others found in Rookwood's office were not marked, but they were spies. Two of them were low-level Aurors, and the rest were officials from various departments. All of them were found to have been funneling sensitive information to Rookwood, which he then passed on to You-Know-Who's forces."

"How is it possible that spies were operating under our very noses?" demanded a senior official from the Department of Magical Transportation.

"Complacency," Crouch replied coldly. "We've underestimated the Dark Lord's reach within our ranks for too long. This incident proves we cannot afford to do so any longer."

Another voice, belonging to Thaddeus Greaves, a senior Auror, cut through the room. "And the infiltrator? How did this wizard know who to target? How did he walk into the Ministry unnoticed and leave without a trace?"

Crouch's expression darkened further. "That's the most troubling part. The intruder used advanced magic, including a Notice-Me-Not charm so subtle that while everyone could see him, they subconsciously ignored his presence. Only the Aurors who directly confronted him could provide a description: a young wizard, male, approximately twenty years old, with black hair and striking green eyes."

The murmurs returned, louder this time.

Bagnold raised a hand again. "And the connection to Diagon Alley?"

Crouch nodded grimly. "The description matches perfectly. The individual who intervened during the attack on Diagon Alley appears to be the same wizard who infiltrated the Ministry last night. His actions were surgical, targeted, and precise. He reflected spells back at his attackers, subdued over a dozen Aurors without causing permanent harm, and walked out as if our wards were nothing more than cobwebs."

Greaves leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "So, what does this mean? Is he an ally or a threat?"

"That remains to be seen," Crouch replied. "On the one hand, his actions have eliminated key assets of the Dark Lord. On the other hand, his methods undermine the authority of the Ministry. We cannot condone vigilantism, no matter how effective it may appear."

Another official spoke up, his voice wavering. "But if this wizard can bypass the Ministry's wards and operate with such impunity, how do we stop him? For all we know, he could walk in here right now and—"

"Enough," Bagnold interrupted, her tone sharp. "We will not give in to panic. Our focus must remain on identifying this individual and understanding his intentions. Bartemius, what measures are being taken?"

Crouch straightened. "We're strengthening the wards around sensitive areas of the Ministry and increasing patrols. I've also authorized a task force to investigate this wizard and track his movements. We will determine who he is and what he wants."

A tense silence followed his words, broken only by the faint scratching of a quill as one of the officials took notes.

Greaves frowned. "But what if he's already inside the Ministry? What if he's one of us?"

Crouch's jaw tightened. "That's a possibility we cannot ignore. I'm ordering a full review of all Ministry personnel, with special attention to anyone whose background or behavior raises suspicion. No one is above scrutiny."

Bagnold nodded in approval. "Good. We must act decisively. The public cannot know about this; it would only sow chaos and fear. For now, this remains classified."

As the meeting adjourned, the officials filed out, their faces pale and drawn. Crouch lingered, speaking quietly with Bagnold. Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, Alastor Moody remained seated, his magical eye spinning as he absorbed the scene.

He hadn't spoken during the meeting, but his mind was racing. The description of the mysterious wizard—the power, the precision, the refusal to harm innocents—all pointed to someone with a purpose.

And the fact that this individual had eliminated Rookwood, a Death Eater Moody had long suspected but could never prove, only deepened his suspicion.

Moody leaned back in his chair, muttering to himself. "Whoever this bloke is, he's not just some rogue vigilante. He's playing a bigger game, and I intend to find out what it is."

He stood, gripping his staff tightly as he prepared to leave. The Ministry might be scrambling to react, but Moody's gut told him they were dealing with someone far more dangerous—and far more intriguing—than they realized.