Chapter 362: Ambush is Unleashed

Scrimgeour decided to stop holding back and began calling for reinforcements, and he had good reasons for doing so.

In his assessment, after the main forces had been captured, Voldemort had few living forces left at his disposal.

The Death Eaters, werewolves, and Dementors involved in the attack on Azkaban constituted the majority of Voldemort's remaining forces. 

If these forces were to be lost at Azkaban, Voldemort would truly be left with nothing.

After all, no matter how powerful Voldemort was, he needed followers to complete his domination of the wizarding world.

When considering the Death Eaters who had already been imprisoned in Azkaban and those currently attacking, this accounted for the majority of those Voldemort could recruit.

In other words, if Voldemort were a lord, the recruitment potential of all of Britain had been almost entirely exhausted.

So, if these forces were also annihilated, no matter how hard he tried, Voldemort would struggle to find any reliable followers.

Most wizards still longed for a peaceful life. 

Even those who agreed with Voldemort's ideas or sought refuge under him would need some level of talent to be effective in evil or villainous roles.

Under such circumstances, even if the Ministry's ambush was immediately revealed, Voldemort could not afford to abandon his Death Eaters and cut his losses. 

His only option would be to continuously send reinforcements, perhaps even personally intervening to ensure their survival.

In short, if Voldemort's forces were like chips in a poker game, he had already pushed nearly all of them onto the table.

Blinded by rage, even if Voldemort realized he had been outsmarted, he had no choice but to keep playing, raising the stakes, and perhaps even going all-in.

His pride wouldn't allow him to accept defeat, especially not before he had faced Dumbledore head-on. Losing to the Ministry of Magic, which he had long dismissed, was unthinkable.

Alaric's plan was based on this very logic.

This was an open conspiracy, one that exploited Voldemort's personality. Even if Voldemort sensed the trap, he had no choice but to step into it.

Now, according to Scrimgeour's judgment, the time had come. The plan was ready to move into its next phase.

He took a few steps back, and two Aurors quickly stepped forward to shield him, taking over his duties.

Scrimgeour then reached into his cloak and retrieved a locket.

He opened it and nodded at the image inside.

"Tell them the enemy is fully trapped. It's time to close the net."

The image inside the locket was of Theseus Scamander—though not the young man from the Fantastic Beasts movies, but an older version of him.

As a legendary Auror and former head of the Auror Office, Theseus had passed away many years ago. His image could only be found in portraits and photographs now.

Much like the portraits of past Hogwarts headmasters, Theseus could move between his various images, no matter how far apart they were.

Though there was an unspoken rule that the dead should not interfere with the living, Theseus, like the Hogwarts headmasters, still served the Ministry in this way.

After hearing Scrimgeour's words, Theseus nodded and disappeared from the portrait.

Soon after, in Azkaban, the office of the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and a hidden corner of Hogwarts, Theseus appeared in various portraits, delivering Scrimgeour's message.

In a hidden chamber within Azkaban, undetected even by the Dementors, a tall, bald, dark-skinned wizard put down a photograph and stood up, surveying the room around him.

This man was none other than Kingsley Shacklebolt, a senior Auror, key member of the Order of the Phoenix, and the future Minister for Magic in the original book.

Surrounding him were about forty or fifty Aurors, all watching him expectantly, waiting for his command.

These Aurors were the Ministry's hidden forces in Azkaban.

To avoid exposing themselves and the plan, they had spent a week in this relatively large hidden chamber. 

If not for the wonders of magic, the room would have been filled with waste and foul odors by now.

Nonetheless, this week had been a grueling test for them.

While their colleagues fought the Death Eaters outside, they were forced to remain in hiding, watching as their comrades were injured and killed.

Though it was a necessary order, the Aurors were growing restless.

They craved battle, eager to unleash their frustrations on the Death Eaters.

Seeing the eagerness in their eyes, Kingsley nodded and, in his deep, steady voice, said, "It seems like you all can't wait any longer. 

Our comrades are fighting the Death Eaters outside, drawing the fools' attention. Now, let's give those fools a surprise!"

The Aurors cheered in excitement. Kingsley then drew his wand, waved it at a wall, and recited a complex incantation.

The next moment, the wall began to transform, the bricks retracting inward to reveal a large opening, complete with a set of stairs.

Led by Kingsley, the Aurors eagerly rushed out of the hidden chamber.

...

In London, ever since receiving word of the invasion of Azkaban, Madam Bones had remained calmly seated in her office, continuing her usual work, seemingly unaffected by the invasion. 

Her secretary, meanwhile, was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof.

It was as if the invaded location were some obscure farm, and the invaders were merely a few Cornish Pixies.

Her calm demeanor, her ability to remain composed under pressure, greatly impressed her subordinates.

What they didn't realize was that while Madam Bones had strong nerves, her composure was largely due to another person.

Alaric's flawless, meticulously thought-out plan, and the way each step had unfolded as predicted, gave her the confidence to remain calm.

To her, this invasion had been anticipated.

Shortly after the news of the invasion arrived, Madam Bones noticed something unusual: the previously empty photograph of Theseus Scamander on her desk now showed his face.

She quickly stood up and instructed her secretary to gather all her subordinates.

Then, with calm determination, she issued a series of commands.

As the de facto leader of the Ministry of Magic, Madam Bones' orders were swiftly carried out.

The vast, intricate machine of the Ministry roared into action.

Aurors from across the country, Hit Wizards from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol, and even members of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office and the Department for Magical Accidents and Catastrophes all began converging on the Ministry.

Additionally, members of the Order of the Phoenix who weren't part of the Ministry were also brought in under the guidance of Ministry officials.

Before long, about a hundred people had gathered in the Ministry's atrium.

These were all the elite forces that Madam Bones could muster.

Just as Voldemort was going all-in, so too were Madam Bones and the entire Ministry.

...

Meanwhile, in the Ravenclaw common room at Hogwarts, Alaric's eyes brightened as he watched Theseus appear in the portrait.

He knew it was time to end this.

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