HP/LOTM: Visionary - 410

Chapter 410: End of the Ministry Infiltration (Duel Across the Void, Escape)

Grey mist surged from the sigil in Harry’s palm, and a far greater power flooded into his core.

One of his eyes turned gold, the other emerald green. He raised his wand without speaking a word, and a silver stag burst into being.

The stag’s forehooves settled over Harry’s wand hand, its sharp antlers angled along the line of his wand.

Whoosh.

It kicked off and shot forward, ramming into the swarm of Dementors bearing down on them.

With the blockage gone, the lift shuddered back to life, carrying more than twenty people upward toward safety.

Meanwhile, the battle on Level Eight raged on, the silver stag facing off against the twisted fusion of Dementors.

The world split cleanly along the line of their power. On one side, ominous violet smoke roiled. On the other, gentle silver light spread outward.

"I truly did not expect you to have escaped already," Harry’s Patronus said, speaking of its own accord, no longer under his control.

"You still have many blind spots, Harry Potter. He is one of Father’s feelers as well. Sever him, and Father’s freedom to move in reality will be further constrained," the Dementor amalgam said, its maw stretching into a grotesque grin.

"Then by all means, try. And do not underestimate that child," the stag replied, baring its teeth in a smile. It lowered its head once more and charged, antlers levelled at the monster in front of it.

The fused Dementors refused to back down. Their arms merged into one massive talon that scythed toward the silver stag.

Boom.

The two forces slammed together. Floor tiles and bricks around them crumbled into powder under the annihilating pressure.

Both sides poured in more strength. The lowest layer of the Deep Realm shook under their clash, violet smoke spreading until it nearly swallowed the entire sixth level.

In Avalon, the runes across the mountain-like grey-white Mind Dragon all flared at once, jolting Oliver off his drowsy perch atop its head.

"What in Merlin’s name are you doing?" he yelped, eyes snapping open.

"Less talking, more moving. Get to the Ministry. If those Dementors tainted by Distorted Order reach the surface, your Department of Mysteries will be a laughingstock by tomorrow," Aiden said.

Oliver drew his wand. Space rippled in front of him. An instant later, he stepped out into the Ministry’s underground corridors. Power surged, and a second Oliver, formed entirely of black substance, rose up behind him. He raised his hand and pointed at the Dementor fusion.

"Death."

The single cold word echoed through the Department of Mysteries. The shadow behind him exploded outward, swallowing the entire floor.

Every Dementor the black tide touched was drawn, under that strange aura, into inevitable death. All things keened beneath the breath of Death, yet were irresistibly tempted by that rich, sweet scent.

In the Wizengamot chamber, two stragglers smiled in bliss, struggling to their feet and stumbling toward the drifting black motes. Just as they were about to reach them, the motes snapped back.

"Phew. Close one. If I’d let them touch that, Merlin would have me on a lightning rod.”Oliver said, patting his chest in feigned terror, an old fox’s grin spreading over his face.

"Pick me up," he added, rapping his knuckles against the wall.

Grey mist welled out. Ripples spread across the stone, and Oliver stepped through. Space twisted, and he found himself once more standing on the Mind Dragon’s head.

......

"Leave me and run, Reg!" Mary cried to Ron, still wearing Reg Cattermole’s face, as they fled.

"Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t drag you this far just to dump you. Listen. Once you’re out, take the kids, get off the continent, and head for Africa. Understand?" Ron said, grabbing her by the shoulders and looking her in the eye.

In that moment, Mary felt that in more than ten years of marriage, she had never realised her husband could be this compelling. He had been the one to report her, but right now she forgave him completely.

Old warmth flared back to life in her chest. She caught Ron’s face in both hands and kissed him hard.

With a clunk, the lift doors opened into the Ministry Atrium. The real Reg Cattermole, just back from St Mungo’s, saw his wife in the lift, locked in a passionate kiss with a strange man… with himself.

"Mary? Who is that?" he shouted.

"Reg?" Mary stared between her two husbands in shock as the one in front of her began to shrink.

"Long story. Lovely to meet you," Ron blurted, then bolted out of the lift.

Sensing disaster, Harry—still in Albert Runcorn’s guise—turned to face the people behind him.

"All right. You’re all free. Get out of the country as fast as you can. That’s the new official decision. If you’ve got a wand, use it. If you don’t, stay close to your family," he called.

"Intruders!" As Harry had expected, the real Reg immediately began to yell.

Upon hearing him, the guards stationed there began sealing off the fireplaces. Harry leaned on Runcorn’s authority and snapped, "Stand down."

"Stop."

"What is it, Albert?" the bald wizard in charge of the Floos asked, frowning.

"We send them off before we shut anything. Their bloodlines are very noble. You know what I mean," Harry said, jerking his thumb at the crowd.

The bald wizard nodded. Behind him, people began filing into the fireplaces in an orderly line. Harry stepped up onto one of the hearths and jabbed his finger at Reg. "Grab that man. He started the riot!"

The guards hesitated, then lunged for Reg. The poor man barely had time to blink before seven or eight Stunners hit him at once, dropping him into a deep, lingering sleep.

But the world never cooperates for long. The real Albert Runcorn strode in wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. Two identical faces stared at each other.

"Son of—"
"Expelliarmus!"

The infamous mad dog Albert was no match for Harry, sharpened by Aiden’s training. At the same time, Harry felt his Patronus racing closer.

The bald wizard, seeing Harry’s move, tried to slam the Floos shut and grab him. A pair of antlers burst from the floor and hooked him into the air.

"That man’s helping Muggle-borns escape!" Harry shouted, throwing more fuel onto the chaos in the Atrium.

The elite Death Eaters who arrived did not even look up. A single flash of green struck the airborne wizard. Then they charged straight for Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Harry seized Ron and Hermione and dove into a fireplace, but a Death Eater lunged in time to clamp a hand around Hermione’s wrist.

The three of them spun through the Floo to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place—but they brought an uninvited passenger. Harry had just caught sight of the familiar front door when a scream and a flash of violet light cut across his vision.

With the Death Eater still on her, Hermione had no choice. Before the first Apparition had even finished settling, she grabbed both boys and forced a second jump.

They crashed down in an empty stretch of woodland. Ron screamed in pain, and Hermione rushed to haul him up.

Deep below the Ministry, a grey shadow slowly closed a book.

"Sorry, Ronny," it murmured.

With a soft sigh, the shadow faded away.