Chapter 84: Fall
It's the year 1997.
This year was a significant one for the wizarding world, and indeed the world.
The season is mid-August, in the middle of summer vacation for students.
They would be enjoying their summer vacation in their own way, playing Quidditch with friends, buying prank supplies at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley, or doing homework, albeit in small numbers.
But that's only if the world is peaceful.
The current magical world is not so full of fun events.
Even though the damage caused by the dark forces was increasing day by day, even Hogwarts, which was said to be the safest place in the magical world, was being attacked by them.
Only the minimum necessary movement for work, and interaction only with trusted people. This has become the norm in the current British magical world. The security situation has deteriorated to the point where it is difficult to shop in Diagon Alley.
The Ministry of Magic is also desperately trying to break the current situation.
Even today, in the middle of the hot summer, people are bustling around in the Ministry of Magic.
The staff's work is diverse.
The Magical Law Enforcement Department, centered on the Auror Office, is mainly at the center of the fight against the dark forces.
The Accidental Magic Reversal Squad is also short of hands to deal with various incidents and accidents in both the magical and Muggle worlds. As a result, the effects are gradually starting to show in the politics and economy of Muggle Britain.
The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is also in chaos. Every day, magical creatures are sighted and attacked in places and scales that are not normally possible, and most of them are flying around the UK to deal with them, rather than being in the Ministry of Magic. He also considered increasing the number of Animagi that could transform into small animals, but Peter alone managed to do it because of the time it took to get used to and learn as an animal.
The International Magical Cooperation Department is in a situation where it cannot fill the gap left by the competent department head, Barty Crouch, and diplomacy with other countries is not going well. As the dark forces gain power, other countries are beginning to distance themselves.
The Department of Magical Transportation is no exception to the busyness. Detecting unauthorized use of the Floo Network, detecting Portkeys, and other mundane tasks are being done daily to track enemy movements.
On the other hand, the Department of Magical Games and Sports is no longer functioning. In this emergency, there is no time to enjoy games, and the work has become almost meaningless.
And only the Department of Mysteries was still in a state where no one knew what they were doing, even though the floor where they were located had collapsed.
The person who oversees these diverse jobs is the Minister of Magic.
The current Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, is giving instructions to the subordinates who come in one after another in the Minister's office.
"Ah, go to London immediately. I'll contact the Auror Office. Amos, go to the Trent River for an investigation. Hasn't there been a reply from France and Germany? Hurry up and urge them by owl mail!"
He hasn't slept for two whole days. He's barely maintaining his physical strength with magic potions, but his face is starting to show fatigue.
"Damn it! I'll take a break for a while! You guys take a break too, it's a minister's order!"
He tells his subordinates and closes his eyes for a while on the chair.
(There are a lot of problems. I have to do something about it. The current situation is that Dumbledore and the others are on the defensive... What should I do...?)
At that moment, the entire Ministry of Magic shook.
If that was all, there was a possibility that something had happened in the Department of Mysteries.
But screams, shouts, and the sound of destruction. With all these combined, even the most incompetent would realize what had happened.
"It's, it's an enemy attack!"
One of the subordinates reports in a panic.
Scrimgeour, who is on guard, checks the situation.
"I know that! Report the details! The number of enemies, the presence of magical creatures, the damage situation!"
"A tremendous number of Death Eaters surged up from the lowest level all at once! It's close to 100! Erskine has already started fighting on the front line! The damage situation on our side is unknown!"
Explosions can be heard from this floor as well, probably because they were attacked from multiple directions at the same time. Considering the scale, they would be annihilated if they continued like this. Scrimgeour, who judged this intuitively, ordered the staff other than the Aurors to retreat. The staff members escaped from the Ministry of Magic one after another using invisibility or the chimney network. Scrimgeour intended to stay until the end as the top and the former head of the Auror Office. Then, a communication magic arrived from Erskine Taylor, who was supposed to be fighting on the front line.
"Hey, Scrimgeour! You're trying to stay, aren't you? Get out of there! Even I'm having a hard time with this number!"
"What are you talking about! Can the top escape so easily!"
"Fool! If you die, the Ministry of Magic will really be over!"
Erskine's point is true. If they lose the top here, the Ministry of Magic, which has lost its base and leadership, will truly collapse.
"But...!"
"Go! Destroy all the floors above and escape from the atrium. I'll hold down the enemies below, so everyone go! Don't worry, I don't intend to die."
The communication was cut off there. Believing in the strongest man among the Aurors, Scrimgeour decided to run away. But this is not a flight out of fear of death. He ran desperately, telling himself that it was an action to protect tomorrow, the future.
Several tens of minutes later. The lowest level. The fierce battle between the Death Eaters, who had dug further underground from the Ministry of Magic and advanced, and Erskine was still going on. The attack fired like a machine gun, the magic barrier that easily blocks any attack. With that, Erskine was fighting alone against a large crowd. However, the invaders from above appeared as reinforcements. In other words, there must be only enemies above now. Everyone else was either killed or brainwashed. Either way, the only one left in the Ministry of Magic would be Erskine.
"Hey, hey, how many of these guys are there... Well, I'm the last one. Alright!"
Erskine was fired up. If there are no allies, that means you don't have to worry about anything!
"Expelliarmus"
Erskine Taylor uttered a spell for the first time in over ten years. What is activated is a basic attack spell that even students can use. But what is fired is a huge red beam. If it's Erskine's extraordinary magical power, even a simple disarmament can transform into a vicious weapon. The Death Eaters are blown away and crushed one after another. Even the magical creatures introduced as combat forces are no exception.
However, no matter how vast the magical power is, it is not infinite. The incessant attack that never ends, the continuously decreasing physical and mental strength. It was inevitable that he would gradually be cornered. Still, Erskine, who had decided to keep fighting until the end, was strong.
"Back off."
A terrifying voice that chills the body echoed across the battlefield.
The attack of the Death Eaters stopped, and a wall of people split to make a path.
There stood the Dark Lord, Voldemort.
"Well, well... What an appearance of a disgusting bald head!"
"Erskine Taylor. I'll have you stay still. I don't want to kill you if I can help it. You will be a hostage to Leonard Taylor."
The moment he heard that, Erskine made up his mind. Even if he had to stab himself, he would kill this snake bastard.
"Expelliarmus"
"Protego Maxima!"
Erskine's full-powered magic is blocked by the Dark Lord's defensive spell.
Erskine certainly has an abnormal amount of magical power. But he is not necessarily skilled.
Voldemort's excellent skills and understanding of magic filled the gap in magical power.
There are other factors as well.
"Damn. It's hard as expected."
"Give up. You are strong, but you can't beat me. There's no way a mere human can beat this Dark Lord."
"Sure, it doesn't look like I can win in this situation... But that doesn't mean I'm going to give up."
If it was one-on-one, there was a chance of winning. But in the current situation, surrounded by a large number of people and exhausted, the probability of winning is zero.
(I guess this is no good... Ah, I wanted to see my grandson's face. I'll annoy him as much as I can for the last time!)
Erskine concentrates his magical power. Even Voldemort is cautious, but Erskine's aim is not Voldemort.
The emperor, who intuitively understood what he was trying to do by seeing Erskine smile,
"Stop him! Avada"
"Too late! Bombarda Maxima!!"
The Ministry of Magic was annihilated.
Erskine's full-powered explosive spell.
The Ministry of Magic was blown away from all floors to the ground. Many of the Death Eaters were also blown away, and the survivors were also seriously injured. Even Voldemort was not unscathed.
"You've done it, Erskine Taylor. But, well, it's okay. I've achieved the minimum goal."
The emperor gives instructions to the surviving servants. By that time, there was not a single wound on his body.
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
Erskine Taylor woke up in his own bed. He was supposed to be dead. He had tried to blow everything up with him, using an explosion spell without holding back. In that case, he should be dead too.
"Is the interior of heaven the same as my house?"
His body was completely healthy except for a lack of magical power. Heaven seems to be considerate. He was worried about his wife and son he left behind, but they would probably do well. Now he was tired, so he decided to take another nap. As he was about to do so, the door opened. There stood his beloved wife, Ferris Taylor. When she noticed that he was awake, she jumped at him like a bullet.
"Goa!?"
"Erskine! Oh, Erskine! Are you okay!? Are you hurt!? Oh, thank God! I thought you were dead!"
"Ga, goh! Calm down! By the way, am I alive?"
"Yes, you are."
"Why?"
"Leo had prepared to protect you in advance. Remember, he told you to wear the pendant."
"Ah... now that you mention it."
Then Leo and Hermione came in.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"Oh! It seems I'm alive! I really thought I was dead!"
"I'm glad the protective and transfer magic item worked properly."
The item that Leo had given to Erskine was a magic item for emergency escape. It was designed to escape reliably, bypassing any interference, in exchange for strict activation conditions. Normally, the magic item could malfunction due to Erskine's excessive magical power, so it was designed to activate when Erskine's life was in danger or when his magical power was significantly reduced. Erskine, who had suffered severe burns all over his body but was barely alive, was somehow saved by treatment. After that, they heard the situation from Erskine. Leo didn't care about the fall of the Ministry of Magic, but his mentality hadn't changed so much from being human that he could stay silent after his beloved family was hurt. He decided to annihilate the dark forces in earnest.
The Ministry of Magic had fallen. But that was nothing more than a prelude to the collapse of the dark forces.
---
The Ministry of Magic has fallen.
The purpose of the Voldemort was to take over the government, to take Erskine hostage, and one more thing...
Unlike the original story, Scrimgeour managed to escape. If it weren't for Erskine, he would have fought to the end.
Erskine's full power.
Many Death Eaters were defeated, but most of them were disposable ones who had been brainwashed and modified, so the damage to the dark forces was not so great.
Leo decided to annihilate them.
With this, the Voldemort is over. What happens next...
I've written the concept for the next work in the activity report.
Please look forward to the next time.
So, stay tuned for the next chapter.
When I read Harry Potter fan fiction by others, I really think it varies.
Harry's treatment also feels like a bad guy if it's a Slytherin original, and
It also feels like a good friend if it's a Gryffindor original.
There are also works that have been completed without Harry appearing at all.
The treatment of Harry in this work is probably in the miserable category where almost all the appearances are cut off.