The corridors of the Ministry felt colder than usual as Rufus Scrimgeour walked with purposeful strides toward the War Room. His mind was a whirlwind of strategies, contingency plans, and the potential fallout of the Chamber of Secrets debacle. The Ministry could not afford another catastrophe—not now, not with everything hanging in such delicate balance. As he pushed open the heavy wooden doors, his eyes immediately locked onto the large enchanted map of Hogwarts spread across the center of the table, detailing every secret passage and ward surrounding the castle.

A cluster of Aurors and senior officials stood around the table, each of them bent over the map, muttering hushed conversations as they plotted out their next steps. The atmosphere was tense, thick with unspoken worries and the weight of impending action.

Rufus entered without a word, his presence enough to silence the room. All eyes turned toward him. He took his position at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the gathered wizards. His most trusted Auror captains stood ready, alongside the magical law enforcement's sharpest minds.

“A full report,” Rufus ordered, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. He was in no mood for hesitation.

One of the Aurors, a tall witch with hawk-like features named Amelia Bones, stepped forward. She had been one of his most reliable lieutenants, her no-nonsense attitude and tactical mind proving invaluable time and again.

“Minister,” Amelia began, pointing her wand at the map. “We’ve placed an emergency ward around Hogwarts, including anti-Apparition jinxes and monitoring spells to track movement within the grounds. The Auror teams are stationed strategically across the perimeter to ensure that no one enters or leaves the castle without clearance.”

She hesitated, her stern expression cracking just slightly. “However, the school’s wards are ancient and complex. Some of the castle’s older magic resists even our best counter-spells. We’re working with the headmaster, but… we’re dealing with forces that go back centuries.”

Rufus frowned. He didn’t like the sound of that. “The school must remain secure, no matter what. I don’t care if it was built by the founders themselves. Strengthen the wards, rotate the Auror teams—ensure there are no weak points.”

“Yes, sir,” Amelia replied crisply.

The door creaked open again, and Clara entered with a solemn expression, holding a stack of fresh reports. She nodded briefly to Rufus, but he could sense the weight of the news she carried.

“Minister, the student who was petrified—Colin Creevey—remains in critical condition. The healers are doing what they can, but…” she trailed off, clearly troubled. “The nature of the curse used on him—it’s not something we’ve seen in decades. Dark, ancient magic.”

Rufus tightened his grip on the edge of the table. “And the headmaster’s response?”

Clara exhaled softly. “Dumbledore has been cooperative, but he’s… reluctant. He believes the Ministry’s presence might escalate tensions at the school. He hasn’t said it outright, but I suspect he worries about how far we’ll go to resolve this.”

Rufus’s eyes darkened at the mention of Dumbledore’s hesitancy. He had expected as much. The headmaster was always a complication, his idealism and independence constantly at odds with the Ministry’s more practical concerns.

“This isn’t a game,” Rufus muttered, half to himself. “Hogwarts is at risk. Dumbledore must understand that we cannot afford sentimentality.”

He turned back to the Aurors, his voice rising in authority. “We move forward. Clara, prepare a formal declaration of Ministry intervention at Hogwarts. We’ll keep the public calm, but they must know we are taking control.”

Clara nodded, scribbling furiously on her parchment, while Rufus shifted his gaze to the rest of the room.

“As for the creature,” he continued, “we cannot rely on old legends to guide us. We need facts. We need intelligence on what exactly is hiding in that Chamber. Aurors will conduct an investigation within Hogwarts, working alongside trusted members of the staff. We will find that creature—before it strikes again.”

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Amelia’s brow furrowed. “Minister, if this is the same beast that petrified the student… it could be something far worse than any of us expected.

“We take no chances,” Rufus said firmly, cutting off any further debate. “I want to know who or what opened the Chamber. Someone has to be pulling the strings, and I want that person found.”

One of his advisors, an Auror named Davis, spoke up with a hint of skepticism. “Minister, we believe this is a mere prank or a mischief gone wrong. We are confident that they can handle the situation.”

Rufus’s eyes narrowed. “A prank? This is no ordinary prank. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, and students have been petrified. This is a serious matter.”

Davis shrugged slightly, a dismissive gesture. “With all due respect, Minister, Hogwarts has faced many threats in its history, and Dumbledore has always managed to handle them. Our Aurors are concerned that your response might be overreacting.”

Rufus clenched his jaw, the lack of urgency from his team maddening. In the books and in reality, the Ministry’s absence during previous crises at Hogwarts had been a critical flaw. Fudge’s failure to act decisively was a mistake he would not repeat. “We need to ensure that we are not caught off guard,” he thought.

“Our incompetence could led to disaster,” Rufus said aloud, his voice laced with frustration. “I refuse to make such a mistake. We cannot afford to wait and see. The safety of Hogwarts and its students is paramount.”

Amelia, sensing the Minister’s rising frustration, nodded in agreement. “We’ll ensure that all possible measures are taken. No detail will be overlooked.”

Clara interrupted then, her voice softer, almost hesitant. “There’s something else, Minister. Rumors are spreading among the students. Some believe that… Harry Potter might be responsible.”

The room went silent at that name. The Boy Who Lived. Even now, the wizarding world’s obsession with the young boy remained potent. But this… this accusation was dangerous.

Rufus’s face remained unreadable as he processed the information. “Nonsense,” he muttered, though his mind raced with possibilities. “Harry Potter is a child, not a dark wizard. But we cannot ignore the influence of rumors. Keep an eye on him, but discreetly. We don’t want to fuel the flames of speculation.”

Amelia looked uneasy. “And if it turns out the rumors are true, Minister? What if Potter is involved in some way?”

Rufus’s gaze hardened, his eyes like stone. “If Potter is involved, we’ll deal with him as we would any other. The law applies to everyone. But for now, we focus on the Chamber.”

The War Room remained tense as they finalized their plans. Orders were given, Aurors dispatched, and preparations made for a long, dangerous night ahead.

As the room emptied, Clara lingered, her eyes scanning Rufus's face. She could tell that beneath his composed exterior, something deeper was brewing.

“Minister,” she ventured quietly, “are you sure we’re prepared for this? If this is as bad as we think it is…”

Rufus sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. “We have no choice, Clara. Hogwarts is on the brink, and if we don’t act now, everything could collapse. Dumbledore may not like it, but this is bigger than him. Bigger than Potter. The Chamber will be closed—one way or another.”

Clara nodded, though the worry never left her eyes. She quietly departed, leaving Rufus alone in the War Room, the flickering map of Hogwarts still glowing before him.

For a moment, Rufus stood in silence, his eyes tracing the lines of the castle, the grounds, and the Forbidden Forest beyond. The shadows were moving—both within the walls of Hogwarts and within the Ministry itself. He could feel them creeping closer, unseen but ever-present.

The Chamber of Secrets had been opened, and Rufus Scrimgeour would not rest until the darkness had been vanquished.