Fall of Hogwarts

Meanwhile, in the north of Scotland, black clouds were gathering by the hundreds as a sign that the good weather was over. Around Umbridge, the air was heavy, but it had nothing to do with the late summer weather. Surrounded by her personal guard made up of what was left of the Aurors, she advanced to the top of the cliff overlooking the valley where the Ministry had hastily assembled an army to defend Hogwarts. She swore, thinking that barely an hour earlier she had been speaking before the entire membership of the International Confederation. Merlin, she had been so close to achieving her goal, she swore as she looked down at the rest of her troops. She forced herself to occlude her fear and anger before casting a Sonorus on her throat.

Wizards and witches, as you all know, the Dark Lord is at our doorstep. At this very moment, he advances at the head of a gigantic army of inferi, dementors, werewolves, all kinds of dark creatures and repulsive hybrids to destroy everything we hold dear.

But I make this inviolable vow before you: We can win. Yes, we are fewer in number, but we possess a power greater than anything he could ever covet: we are not alone. Indeed, today you are not fighting just to defend your families sheltered within Hogwarts. Today, we are fighting to defend all of humanity. And the whole world will soon be aware of your sacrifice.

Our enemy is powerful, but it hides behind a veil of lies that will not long disguise its ignominy and cruelty. We are the last line of defense. The last thorn preventing it from transforming our glorious nation into a fortress from which it can launch its conquest of the world.

Umbridge paused to prepare herself to say the cursed name without trembling. She had to look strong.

Today Voldemort was afraid. An hour ago, thanks to the hard work of my administration, the truth was revealed within the international wizarding community, which for the first time in its history immediately agreed to form an army and come to help us. The latest actions of our enemy, as frightening as they may seem to you, are only the final convulsions of a power that knows it is doomed. A desperate attempt to regain control of a situation that is slipping away from him.

We are not numerous enough to defeat the army marching towards us. But we do not need to. We only need to hold out for a few days. Yes, in just a few days, the wizarding community will have put an end to the troubles that their attack caused on the highly impressionable minds of our Muggle friends, and a vengeful army will sweep in to liberate us.

Whatever happens, I know that you will resist, for you are the bearers of a flame that no power can ever extinguish. The flame of freedom. We will resist and WE WILL WIN!!!

She finished by shouting in an attempt to galvanize the crowds as Fudge was so skilled at doing during his meetings. But only an anguished silence answered her. Umbridge mentally thanked her long career that had taught her to suppress her emotions and theatrically turned her back to the crowd before discreetly signaling to the group of Unspeakables gathered next to her headquarters tent. Immediately, they began to chant and aImmense wall of flame a hundred meters high surrounded Hogwarts, finally provoking a thunder of cheers from the crowd.

Then she moved towards Percy Weasley (whom she had been forced to appoint as number two in her government and give him the power to keep the younger ones off the battlefield, to silence his criticisms about recruiting minors into their army) and the group of retired old aurors who would serve as her makeshift staff. They said nothing, but she saw their disapproval on their weathered faces. The battle plan they had spent days and nights developing initially planned for this wall of magical flame to be triggered only at the last moment to benefit from the element of surprise and to exhaust the incantors as little as possible. But with a single look, she made them understand that she would not tolerate them challenging her authority.

She did not have much experience in war, but she knew it was crucial for the men to remain motivated and confident in their chances of victory. Unless it was she who needed reassurance, whispered an annoying little voice with the tones of her father. She had no idea when the reinforcements would arrive, or even if they would receive any reinforcements. Communication with the confederation had been interrupted on a scene of chaos caused by the announcement of Potter's attack. But she was the only one who knew it, and she was determined to keep it that way. No matter. She would fight to the end to defend what she had dedicated her whole life to. And they were not entirely defenseless. Their opponent, as formidable as he might be, was just a brainless brute who simply destroyed everything in his path, thought Umbridge. Thanks to the bold initiative (though slightly immoral and hypocritical for the great opponent of using minors in war) of Percy Weasley to use those 3 young children to spy on their enemy, they knew what to expect and had prepared their defense accordingly.

In order to calm herself, she spent the next minute reviewing the domain maps and checking the location of each trap and fortification. They had strategically scattered the area with silver barbed wire that would channel the werewolves into a plain discreetly filled with wolfsbane, where a unit specialized in exterminating these beasts (which she had trained herself) would have no trouble getting rid of them. The wall of flames should be enough to repel the inferi, the dementors, and most of the dark creatures accompanying the dark lord. And the lead tongues were numerous enough to take turns for several weeks before being completely exhausted. She just hoped that none of her soldiers were knowledgeable enough in dark magic to understand the price they had to pay to use this spell. She was ready to do anything to defend the ministry, but she knew that was not the case for all her fellow citizens. She dismissed her thoughts and refocused on examining their last line of defense: the powerful protections of Hogwarts. In the event of an unforeseen event, their men could take refuge behind them to organize a counterattack. The plan was perfect, yet despite all this, without outside reinforcements, they were doomed to lose the siege. But You-Know-Who apparently had higher ambitions than the mere conquest of the United Kingdom. With this in mind, Umbridge knew they could not afford to lose too many men and time. She hoped that if they held out long enough, he would finally agree to negotiate.

After all, if all he wanted was the Muggle-borns, then there was no need to come to blows. She had nothing against them, but their losswould be negligible. Not to mention that for Umbridge, the purists were right to say that they could not integrate and refused to accept their tradition.

Then she stopped motionless in mid-movement. Something indescribable had just changed in the atmosphere and an inexplicable unease overwhelmed her. Then a clamor of terror was heard and the tent was blown away by a sudden gust of wind accompanied by thunderclaps. She then looked up at the sky and a dull terror seized her. In the sky, a gigantic storm cloud had taken the shape of Potter's face. In front of the crowd holding their breath, he began to blow and the fire barrier disappeared, revealing a hundred wizards wearing a modified version of Auror robes at the edge of the domain. Umbridge immediately saw that most of them were Death Eaters. She didn't have time to wonder how they had managed to get here several hours early without any of her lookouts alerting them when the clouds dispersed to reveal Potter floating in the sky without any support, a wicked smile ravaging his face. His voice, amplified, then resonated throughout the valley.

I have shown as much patience as I could with you, mad as I was to believe that I could persuade you to side with good. But this cowardly attack on our Muggle friends. This crime against the law of secrecy, which is the foundation of the wizarding community, I cannot forgive. I will not let the prejudices of one person ruin the sacrifices of so many others during the last war. Abandon Umbridge and her racist policies and I will spare you. Join me and together, we will build a stronger wizarding nation. Fight me and I will exterminate you!

He punctuated his sentence by releasing a wave of raw magic that took the breath away from everyone present, then he raised his wand which shone brighter than the sun and aimed at Hogwarts. A dreadful sound was then heard. It was like the death cry of a gigantic animal. It was both terrible and sad. Then a huge cracking noise was heard and cracks appeared in one of the castle's walls. And with a final gasp of agony, everything stopped. No one needed to check to know what had happened. The millennia-old protections of Hogwarts had just been destroyed.

Umbridge was the first to recover and she ordered the still-dazed Aurors from the destruction of their barrier:

Reform the defenses quickly!

Impossible, it would require re-sacrificing ... the leader of the leaden swaddling clothes replied to him.

Cast other protection spells. Anything. You cannot let... Umbridge tried to order. But she was cut off by one of the chanters:

Why are we still listening to this charlatan? We have no reason to fight against our savior.

We have no chance, we must surrender.

They are only a hundred and we are thousands. Tried to calm, in vain, Percy Weasley.

And that’s where the hell began. Under the satisfied gaze of the dark lord who continued to fly over them, spells had started to fly. Down in the valley, a terrible battle had broken out. All the more terrible because the Death Eaters had stayed back at the edge of the domain. His men were fighting among themselves in nameless chaos. Umbridge watched in horror as some men gathered to assassinate the members of her militia on whom she had relied to maintain order and discipline among the conscripts. She had not realized how unpopular her militiamen had become among the population ofThe enclave. Despite their caution, the dark lord had managed to infiltrate spies among his men to spread his venom there.

Then, finally bored with this spectacle, Potter ordered his troops to advance. Very quickly, everyone forgot who the enemy was and who they were fighting against. They all had only one goal in mind: to flee to survive. It was no longer a war, but a massacre, and high in the sky without intervening, Potter relished the spectacle.

Madam Minister, we must flee while there is still time. Fred Weasley shouted at her as he grabbed her shoulder to pull her away from the contemplation of this slaughter.

Flee! Where to?

We cannot give up. Against Percy

No. You are right. You have been an excellent assistant. The best I have ever had. She said with a sad look.

Madam Minister.

I will delay him. Save what can be saved. Priority to the archives of office C3.

No, Madam Minister. Percy groaned.

Percy is coming, we need to warn the refugees inside the castle. Said Fred, forcibly pulling him towards the castle. He took the opportunity to throw his too-large uniform of the minister's personal guard to the ground.

As he shed a few tears, Fred thought it was quite ironic. He who had been so angry with Percy for maneuvering to have him assigned to that elite guard that would be kept far from the battlefield. He who had insisted so much on being assigned where he could satisfy his thirst for revenge that had filled his heart since the death of his twin found himself being the first to leave the battle, letting his colleagues face Potter who was descending from the sky in their direction. Seeing the Dark Lord advancing, Percy abandoned his scruples and began to run with him. He repeated to himself that he was not a coward. Someone had to warn the occupants of the castle, and he was the only wizard in Umbridge's entourage who had not received Auror training.

In their mad dash, both pretended not to hear the screams that soon echoed behind them. No one asked a question that was nevertheless essential: where was the rest of Voldemort's army?

oOoOoOoOo

Meanwhile, in the Finch-Fletchey Parisian apartment (where Constance had left the four teenagers), Ginny, exasperated, turned off the TV that the other three teenagers had been watching continuously since Justin had managed, with great difficulty, to explain its operation to the two pure-bloods.

We have to leave. Said Ginny.

The last time someone said that, we all almost died three times. Blaise swore while trying to turn the television back on.

Such behavior is unworthy of a pureblood of such noble lineage, commented Nott with a look of disdain.

Well, that's the pot calling the kettle black. You were even more annoying than her at the cottage. I beg your pardon for my vulgarity, my lady. Blaise immediately corrected himself, remembering just in time that outside of Hogwarts, he indeed had a status to uphold. He had to remember that if he didn't want to worsen his situation with his mother.

We can't stay here doing nothing while You-Know-Who sets the world on fire and bloodshed, argued Ginny.

I won't do anything until I see my mother. Roared Blaise, who was fed up with adventures and felt he finally deserved a vacation.

Finally, given the content of the howlers he had received from his mother the moment he set foot in Switzerland, he should rather expect to spend 6 months in a jail cell and the following years studying in a monk's room until he came of age. Nevertheless, he was eager to see her again. It was thus with concern that he saw Justin shoot Theodore a look that boded ill. Finally, Justin lowered his eyes:

I agree with you, but what do you want us to do? We're just kids. And then we promised to wait until your brother comes to pick you up.

I'm fed up with my brothers telling me what to do. I'm big enough to decide on my own, 'my dear.' She ended sarcastically.

Justin blushed to the ears upon hearing the nickname his mother had given him in front of his friends, hugging him so tightly that he almost suffocated, when Constance had dropped them off on their doorstep. When his father joined him, they had to call for paramedics. However, his parents were much more circumspect about the new friend he brought home. They already knew Blaise and didn't mind hosting him in their spacious Parisian home. And little Ginny had quickly won their hearts. However, it was a different story with Theodore. His parents were grateful for his veiled warnings by letter, which had allowed their family to leave the country just in time. However, they couldn't help but shiver when they realized his presence. Despite the trust they had in their son, they couldn't forget the rest of the content of his letters. And his expressionless face and way of moving silently didn't help.

Nevertheless, they had done their utmost to hide it. Especially after their son enthusiastically recounted a tale of their adventure, which they suspected was slightly biased. Where Justin had believed he was recounting the many times Theodore had saved their lives and proved his loyalty, his parents saw it as proof that the teenager was particularly dangerous. They were determined to get rid of him as soon as possible. Unfortunately, all their inquiries about Theodore's family provoked an awkward silence followed by particularly embarrassing insinuations from Justin, which sent Theodore into a rage. These fits of anger brought the other teenagers to the brink of laughter, but terrified Justin's parents, who did not understand how they couldn't see the threat he posed.

Ooh! Poor little princess of light. It must be horrible to have a large and caring family that does everything to protect you. At least you have somewhere to go. Theodore mocked.

Théo, you are at home here. Justin intervened.

Your parents hate me.

He doesn't hate you. They just have a little trouble getting used to your presence.

Because he hates me. Insisted Theodore.

If you make an effort, I'm sure... Justin tried to be positive.

I am already making efforts. I'm trying to be as discreet as possible so as not to... Theodore cut him off angrily.

Wait, is that why you sneak up behind them every morning like a shadow ninja assassin? Blaise intervened.

I don't burst in, I say hello to them.

I thought you were playing a joke on them. Exclaimed Blaise.

Théo, I adore you as you are. But if you want to get along with my parents, you'll have to learn to behave less... more... Well, better.

I don't care about the opinion of vulgar bloods of bo... I don't care what people think of me. And I perfectly master all the rules of social etiquette. It's not my fault if Muggles are incapable of appreciating the subtleties of wizard etiquette. Which I respect in all circumstances. Unlike some. He finished, glancing at Blaise who had started picking his nose (and he had done much worse during the weeks they had spent stuck together).

How do you manage to stay there waiting without doing anything. Asked Ginny, exasperated by the change of subject.

A matter of habit, I suppose. And then, all the people we care about left England a long time ago. Blaise replied casually.

Speak for yourself. I have plenty of friends I haven't heard from anymore. Retorted Justin.

Yes, well, you are a Hufflepuff. Come on, don't make that face. I'm sure they've managed to find themselves a nice quiet spot to wait out the end of the war. We're the only ones crazy enough to openly challenge the Dark Lord and end up on his list, while we're barely old enough to drink butterbeer.

Shh!!! I never told my parents that on the wizarding side, I was allowed to buy alcohol. If they find out, I can say goodbye to my pocket money. Justin panicked.

An evil smile appeared on Blaise's face. He began to take a breath to shout something that would greatly displease Justin, but was interrupted by a gesture from Theodore who got up to hug the TV with an annoyed look (there was an extra wrinkle compared to his everyday face).

He's right, be quiet. Something is happening, said Theodore.

In the silence that followed, the others looked at each other in dismay.

Théo, everything is fine, you can put away your wand. You're going to worry my parents again. Justin tried to reassure him.

You don't feel it? Black magic is at work.

Once again, the vacuum robot is not a demon that will suck up your soul. Are you sure you weren't a cat in another life?

My reaction to this auditory torture device was perfectly justified. And this has nothing to do with it. Do you really not feel anything unusual? replied Theodore.

Without really believing it too much, they began to concentrate. And indeed, Justin had the impression that something was wrong. But he couldn't figure out what. Until Ginny asked:

How come we don't hear anything anymore?

Where have the sounds of vultures gone? Blaise asked.

Car. Justin corrected, but they were right, no more traffic noise reached them. Justin headed to the window overlooking the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to find out what was happening, but Theodore pinned him to the ground before he got there.

Everyone take cover until I figure out what's going on.

Don't you think you're overdoing it a bit? The war is over, Théo. Relax. Justin tried once again to calm him down.

Since they had arrived, not a day had passed without a similar panic attack from Théo. And that was during the day. There, Justin could still make fun of them to downplay them. He had a lottrouble doing the same at night. At first, he had greatly regretted insisting so much with his parents to share the same room. Then, when he confided in Blaise at breakfast, Blaise had told him that as long as he could remember, Théo had had restless nights. Except that in the Slytherin dormitory, he could hide it behind the heavy canopy curtains and a few silencing spells. However, no one was fooled in Slytherin, but apart from Blaise, no one had ever dared to confront him about his nocturnal anxieties. From that moment on, Justin made it his mission to conquer the Slytherin's anxieties. Three days later, Theodore finally cracked and answered Justin's incessant questions about what scared him so much at night (the perseverance of Hufflepuffs is not renowned for nothing). Subsequently, Theodore slept a little better, and Justin vowed to find a way to resurrect Théo's father to kill him a second time.

I didn't know peace had been signed. Theodore said ironically.

You know very well what I mean. Justin replied moodily.

It was a mistake to stay here. Even if we are no longer a priority for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, there is still a bounty on our heads. We should have kept a low profile and gone as far away as possible.

We can't always run away, Théo. Blaise declared.

Not always, but until our death. The weak have no other choice. Declared Theodore in response.

During the moment Justin spent mentally cursing Theo's father once more, Ginny addressed them:

Or we can fight. There's no point in running away. He will eventually catch up with you. Our only chance is to face him.

No, but have you looked at us? What do you think we can do against him? Blaise exclaimed indignantly.

So far, that hasn't stopped you much. She countered.

We were lucky and we didn't have a choice. Blaise replied as if he were speaking to an idiot.

Of course you had a choice. You and Blaise could have left two months ago. Théodore replied calmly.

We couldn't abandon you. Justin repeated for what seemed to him like the umpteenth time.

Now, I know. I couldn't abandon you either. Declared Théo, trying to look as detached as possible.

This confession stunned them and Ginny took the opportunity to add:

And we can't abandon Harry. Nor all the others.

Harry is dead. And he wouldn't have wanted anyone to die needlessly. As for the others, it's none of my business. I'm already having enough trouble keeping these two alive. Theo explained, glancing at Justin and Blaise.

Blaise and Justin prepared for a futile attempt to save the precious wooden furniture from the terrible battle that was about to unfold between the two temperamental wizards when a scream from the street interrupted them. They all drew their wands and froze. Gradually, the screams multiplied and then became the sounds of crowds.

Let no one approach this window. Ordered Theodore.

Ginny was tempted to go see what was happening just to annoy the Slytherin, when Justin's mother burst through the door. Come quickly, a helicopter is waiting for us on the roof!

A heli-what? Asked the three purebloods simultaneously.

What's happening, Mom? Justin asked, ignoring his companions' question.

Didn't you watch the news? Her mother asked in return while hastily stuffing jewelry and bills into her handbag.

There is Malcolm which is being broadcast at the same time. You know, it's that new series... Justin explained sheepishly.

I know what this nonsense is. Take only the essentials, we barely have 5 minutes before he leaves.

What's happening?

That Umbridge you helped. She thanked you by sending an army of zombies to invade France. Good God, I can't even believe I'm saying something so absurd. Replied his mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

What is a zombie? asked Blaise and Ginny, who were tired of not understanding what was going on.

The result of an African curse. Theodore replied, pointing his wand at Justin's mother in a threatening manner, before asking her:

How can a Muggle have such detailed knowledge of foreign magic? Who are you, really?

For Muggles, a zombie is a corpse that has come back to life. And put that wand down! Do you remember what we said about your behavior? Replied Justin in place of his terrified mother.

Sorry, Madam. Theodore apologized in a tone that sounded pitiful to his friends, but which his mother perceived as without emotion or true regret. Then he turned his wand towards the door and transformed it into a wall of flame.

While his mother let out small horrified cries, Justin banged his head against the wall.

Fire is the only way to repel the inferi. If they get here, this illusion will push them back. For pity's sake, tell me that one of you knows the Flame spell? Théodore explained then.

Why do you want us to master a fourth-year spell? replied Blaise anxiously.

Because it could save your life. As soon as we are in a quiet place, I will resume training you in defense, in the meantime stay close to me.

With a few gestures of his wand, Nott conjured a huge suitcase into which flew what Theo considered to be the essentials (some time later, he would painfully learn that women have other essentials). Then he shrunk it and cast a spell to lighten it as much as possible, before giving it to Justin's mother. In his mind, it was logical that the only one unable to use a wand should carry their luggage, but Justin did not appreciate him treating his mother like a servant. Under his guidance, they anxiously passed through the illusion that had replaced their door. But it was nothing compared to the difficulty of climbing the stairs that separated them from the roof. They soon found themselves engulfed by the panicked crowd of the building's residents. The information that the cable news channels were broadcasting in a loop and the illusion of fire created by Theodore had driven them out of their minds.

At the cost of a lot of jostling and patience, they managed to reach the private rooftop terrace of the Finch-Fletcheys without revealing their wizard nature. They then had a breathtaking view of the capital. To the north, the Eiffel Tower lay on the ground, toppled due to the appearance—in place of its foundations—of a gigantic crater resulting from an underground nuclear explosion from which emergedBy the dozen, sick goblins, yet determined to fight against the French soldiers who were trying to take control of the area. Further west, he saw a huge fire developing where Blaise and Théodore knew the wizarding district of Paris was located. And everywhere, people were screaming and crying as they ran, abandoning the cars that had become useless in the crowded streets in an attempt to flee the capital.

What is the French army doing? Asked Justin.

What do the French Aurors do? Blaise asked.

They are there. Théodore replied in place of Justin's mother, pointing to the Île de la Cité where a tank attempted to break through a barricade from which a myriad of spells was escaping. One of them was so powerful that the tank flew and crashed against the facade of a Haussmann-style building, revealing the contingent of soldiers hiding behind it. As good professionals, they quickly recovered and began to machine-gun their opponent while retreating.

But Justin's mother did not listen to them. Too busy, she was watching their desperately empty heliport.

oOoOoOo

Those who are able to stand should group in fours to levitate stretchers and place the other patients on them. Ordered Pomfrey.

We don't have time, we must flee now. Objected one of the surviving nurses from St. Mungo's, addressing Housser (much to Pomfrey's annoyance).

It is true that as a doctor and the highest-ranking representative of St. Mungo's still present, it was theoretically his task to administer the hospital that the Hogwarts infirmary had become and not that of a mere school nurse like her. However, she had hoped that even the most conservative of the former St. Mungo's healers would have accepted that in her domain, she was the sole decision-maker.

Oh, how cute. They are big enough to try to play dad against mom. So let me explain, my dear. If dad makes mom angry, tonight she will refuse to play Uno with him. As a result, he will have to go play with the neighbor, but that will make the neighbor angry. So, not to be difficult, I suggested we play as a threesome, but he punched me, calling me crazy, so I filed a complaint for assault, but the judge sided with him and mom asked for a divorce. All this to say that I had to go to a brothel and that's how I met your new mom... Why am I talking about this already? Oh yes: I will not leave without abandoning my patients and if you try to escape, I will shoot you myself! Greg shouted before leaving the infirmary.

The still dazed nurse took 5 minutes before saying:

Is it just me or did he just leave us to sort it out ourselves?

If you want us to leave faster, go ask these questions in the storeroom and stuff into this bag all the potions we might need. Ordered Pomfresh, throwing a St. Mungo's travel bag into his arms.

Meanwhile, Greg climbed the steps of the castle as quickly as the officials, who wandered from one end of the corridors of the castle to the other with their arms full of files like headless chickens, allowed him, until he reached the former office of Dumbledore, which Umbridge had redecorated to make it the office of the Minister of Magic. The portraits of the former headmasters had been replaced by maps of the country, organizational charts, hideous paintings of cats with pink bows, and an imposing portrait of Umbridge in aAuror uniform that sat in a central position behind the desk, which looked more like a throne than a work tool. However, at this moment, what caught Greg's attention was the chaos Percy was creating in the room under the worried gaze of his little brother.

Fred, stop having fun and immediately return to help us at the infirmary. Ordered Greg.

I no longer work at the infirmary, but in the personal guard of the minister.

What you are not ready to invent to avoid dealing with Madame Boulard's boils.

Do you think it's the right time? Fred protested.

Do you really think you're more useful here? Get out, that's an order or I'll put you on guard duty for the next 4 weeks.

Finally understanding where he was going with it, Fred left the room. Once he was sure Fred was out of earshot, Greg asked:

Percy, what are you doing? We need you downstairs.

While continuing to gather papers, Percy replied to him:

From me, for what? Do you want advice on how to mess up everything you undertake?

No, I need our minister to organize the evacuation. Damn, we don't even know where we're going.

I am not a minister and my role is just to save the register of international treaties on ….

Calmly, Greg set fire to the documents Percy was holding. He watched stoically as all traces of his work since joining the ministry went up in smoke. Then he said with a detached air:

I have no idea where we could go. You-Know-Who controls the entire country. Hogwarts was the last safe place. It's funny, I always dreamed of being a minister and only now do I realize that I'm not cut out for the job. Umbridge, Dumbledore, and even Fudge always had an idea. They were rarely good ideas, but at least they had some. Me, I'm just a paper-pusher good at executing orders. I'm incapable of giving them.

But enough with the whining, okay?! Do you think I always know how to cure my patients? Well actually, yes, I do always know how to cure my patients. But if I didn't know, I wouldn't go hide in my office to cry. I would find an intern and tell them they have 3 hours to figure it out, or they're fired.

It looks exactly like the kind of bad ideas Fudge would have had.

You see that it's not so complicated to be a good leader. So quickly find a scapegoat to pass the hot potato to and go down to pretend that everything is under control.

I believe he is the one. Percy replied, staring at Greg.

No! Greg exclaimed as he understood.

This is an order from the Minister of Magic. Oh, and you have a maximum of 15 minutes. After that, you'll have to explain to the survivor why we haven't left the castle yet.

Without another word, Percy left the office, leaving Greg completely stunned behind him.

oOoOoOo

After having to mourn the helicopter and with great difficulty explain to the three purebloods accompanying them why they couldn't use the cleaning lady's brooms to escape, Justin's mother was going back up.The avenue with nervousness, holding tightly the hand of her son and in the other that of young Ginny to avoid losing them in the wild avenue of the Champs Élysées. She tried her best to ignore the groups attempting to break down the armored doors of the luxury stores lining the street and to keep her eyes fixed on her goal: the Defense Tower where her husband worked, shining in the distance.

And she hoped that the teenagers would be content, like her, to lower their eyes and quicken their pace. Until now, she had been very proud that her rabbit had behaved like a hero. Today, she realized especially how much a hero could be a danger to himself and those around him. But it was not from Justin that the trouble came:

This man has problems, he needs help. Ginny shouted before abruptly letting go of her hand and running towards a group of hooded individuals who had surrounded a young man and were threatening him with a knife. She followed the young girl and caught her just in time to prevent her from throwing herself at them with a zipper brandished. But they were now close enough to hear the content of the conversation:

Since I tell you that I am not Harry Potter.

You look a lot like the photo in that wizard newspaper.

No, but yes. It's me in the photo, but I'm not Harry Potter. I'm terrible at magic. I'm almost a Squib.

A what? If you are not Harry Potter then why did his witches tell us that you were Harry Potter?

I was pretending so that she... Well, I was pretending, you know. That's how I've been making a living for years. My father disowned me and the theater wasn't going well, so when the real Harry Potter didn't show up at Hogwarts, my agent and I started this scam. And then the real Harry Potter allowed us to continue if we gave him 50% of all the profits. 50%, can you believe it? Even though we're the ones doing all the work.

Big B, who cares about his surname? He's a freak, we have to take him out before he takes us out. Said one of the men, pulling out a gun.

Promise if I get out of this, I will never pretend to be Harry Potter again. Shouted the young wizard suddenly panicking.

Idiot Potter, he's the only wizard who opposes Umbridge. If he dies, so do we.

If he's our only hope, then we're screwed. Might as well kill him right away and go get one last drink.

The teenagers had heard enough and, under the approving gaze of Justin's mother, used the little that Nott had been able to teach them during the few days they had spent together. The bullies fled quickly without asking for more, and the other witnesses continued on their way. Only the quickening of their walking pace and the distance they kept to avoid crossing paths with them showed that they had indeed observed the scene.

Ginny stepped forward to the young wizard in his twenties they had just saved. Justin's mother then noticed that he was extremely handsome. This did not seem to escape the young teenager who stammered:

Are you...?

Yesssss. He replied in a charming tone with a smile that would have made Lockhart blush with jealousy. Then he noticed the boys' gaze and corrected himself:

Finally, no. In fact, my name is Félix Lalo and I...

You are so much more handsome than the original. Ginny interrupted him, visibly restraining herself from jumping in excitement.

The impostor's jaw dropped so low that he swore he heard his jawbone crack. Ginny didn't know it, but she had just gained her biggest fan. After all this time being treated as a pale imitation, he had forgotten that he could shine on his own.

He took so long to recover that when he regained consciousness, his rescuers had disappeared. He searched the street and saw from afar his savior being forcibly dragged away.

He tried to join them, but was quickly separated from them by the crowd. But the most upset by this separation was Ginny, who had to endure the extremely hypocritical reprimands from Justin's mother about their recklessness for the rest of their journey.

oOoOoOo

A hundred pops of Apparition disturbed the calm of the English countryside and a crowd of wizards in varying states appeared, and a hubbub of voices was heard.

No Philippe!

He sacrificed himself so we could escape.

Where are we?

When do we eat?

All fell silent with their reproaches when Percy cut through the crowd with an angry air, letting his magic crackle around him. However, even though none dared to openly voice criticisms, all looked severely at the man so young and yet already so ruthless who had decided to abandon half of them when You-Know-Who had crossed the castle gates before they had finished preparing the evacuation.

Next to him stood Fred, whom Percy had temporarily reinstated in his bodyguard duties to ensure he wouldn't throw himself into a losing battle at the slightest opportunity. Needless to say, Fred hadn't missed a chance to let him know what he thought of this decision. As he climbed the path under hateful gazes, he wondered what he had done to deserve this. But he didn't care. Since the birth of the twins, he was used to being considered the tyrant blamed for being responsible and making difficult decisions. At first, it had hurt him, but he had managed to turn this pain into a burning ambition to show everyone what he was worth, which had led him to the top. Reaching the end of the path, he was struck by the immense fortress blocking their horizon:

He then heard the voice of Petunia Dursley exclaim:

The difference between dwelling and excess: an 's', that of survival.

In response to Percy's questioning look, who had just noticed her presence, she explained:

I read that in a magazine.

He was surprised to see the Dursleys by his side, but did not comment. In the confusion that had been their departure, he had barely noticed that Fred had momentarily left him to Apparate Potter's parents. He then thought that Fred had grown up well and that he might give him a second chance. Percy approached the couple standing in front of the closed portcullis that protected the entrance to the fort. He approached the man holding a child who must have been 10 years old in his arms and asked him irritably:

Doctor Housser, I thought I asked you to find us a refuge?

There is no better refuge than Fort Nott.

Excuse me, have you lost your mind? Unless you have finally decided to betray us in favor of the Death Eaters.

I have frequented the Notts enough to know that the protections would not allow anyone to stay there without the express permission of the Nott heir and they are far too powerful to be overcome. No chance that Death Eaters are there.

Unless You-Know-Who decides to break its protections to seize it. Do I need to remind you of what he did to those at Hogwarts?

Greg threw a stone into a space through the portcullis and everyone could see it turn to dust without a sound as it passed the gate.

I think he has better things to do than to seize a lost fortress in the middle of nowhere. The Scots are terrifying, but not to the point that he would want to put back into service what remains of the fortresses of Hadrian's Wall.

And how do you plan to get us in? In case you forgot, we sent the Nott heir to Switzerland and we can't wait in the open for him to come and let us in.

Let's see, I am Dr. Housser. I have made it my specialty to go where my patients do not want to see me.

Still holding the child that Percy now recognized as belonging to Greg's new partner (Percy sincerely pitied the woman who had been foolish enough to agree to marry him), Greg approached the fortification and came close to being exterminated by the protections. Then he began a litany and a series of wand movements that were quite impressive, but which Percy perceived for what they really were thanks to his NEWTs in runes and arithmancy: ridiculous showmanship. He was about to sharply scold Greg for leading them into a dead end when, with an impressive creak, the fortress doors opened and the survivors hurried to take refuge inside.

Percy then noticed that the child had a very unsightly nose.