Harry arrived at the Ministry Archives with a pop, holding Ares' hand. He looked around with wariness, frowning at his surroundings. The Classified archives looked as if a hurricane vandalized the place... And to think his elves helped organize it. He reminded himself to get them some nice presents for Yule.
"Mister Harry!" Tubby exclaimed, appearing from behind a bookcase. "Hurry up sir, you have to see this."
Harry and Ares followed the anxious elf without saying a word. They felt a chill running through their spines when Tubby led them through a narrow space between bookcases that had no apparent exit. Then, Harry felt the rotten magic emanating from an antique silver bell that Marcus's elf levitated towards the wall, which had engraved the image of a witch and where the bell fitted perfectly on her hands.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ares asked, frowning at the narrow entrance that the wall turned into.
"Aye, it's a Horcrux," the anxious elf muttered, not even looking back as she led them through the passage, illuminating the corridor with a ball of light that emanated from her palm.
Harry wished she led them through the dark.
The walls of the passage were filled with crude engravings, some places had deep scratches, and others seemed to be splattered with a maroon substance that had long dried. The place stunk of death. Something cracked under Harry's shoe and he looked own. A bone. A small bone weakened with time.
He only clenched his jaw and tried to ignore his surroundings. "What is this place, Tubby?"
"The root of the Ministry. A month ago, we found an old journal we sent to Gringotts to be cleansed. Master Marcus retrieved it a few days ago and began reading it. Apparently, it belonged to Ursa Black, one of the founders of the Ministry. The journal detailed how it was built and how many sacrifices were made in order to secure this place. You won't believe it, sir, it has the whole Alley, Ministry, and Hospital detailed... It also has Horcruxes, one for each of the founders."
Harry could only grit his teeth at the information. Should he be surprised? Of course not. Should he be disappointed? Not in the slightest, but he still was because one of his ancestors was part of the founding families. Well, every family had a rotten apple somewhere.
"What else is in the place?" Harry asked, his gaze fixating on a maroon splatter that looked far too fresh for his comfort.
"The room is also used for rituals."
"And the only ones that can actually do rituals inside the Ministry are the unspeakables," he muttered, trying to push aside all the dark thoughts that were beginning to invade his mind.
Harry lifted his eyes when they stopped walking. A room that could only be described as plain was definitely not what he was expecting. However, one only had to pay attention to it to stop being plain. Three of the four walls were decorated with detailed blueprints, each wall dedicated to a different place. Floating in front of the blueprints were twenty-one different objects evenly distributed. Curious, considering there were only thirteen founding families. Yet, all of this paled compared to what was in the middle of the room.
The whole floor was coated with that maroon colour Harry began to hate. A complicated inscription surrounding a pentagram was engraved in the middle of the room, where a grotesque body in an advanced state of decomposition was placed its centre. Or at least what was left of it.
Ares snapped his fingers and frowned, then he neared the pentagram and Harry placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, stopping him from advancing.
"Don't get close. Do you see that inscription? It is in the Pravus Runic Alphabet," he told Ares, who paled at his words. "None of you will get near it until I say so. Tubby, go and ask Rome for the best camera he can find, we will need to take pictures of the blueprints. Ares, bring aunt Eleadora, tell her this is an emergency and she needs to bring all the necessary materials to break an Impuratus Circle."
Harry glared at the floor, trying to control his magic that was almost begging him to destroy the place. After taking a few deep breaths, he raised his wand and a small fire basilisk emerged from the tip, racing towards the levitating objects. He listened with a certain degree of satisfaction the wails that flooded the room when the fiendfyre consumed each one of the Horcruxes, but didn't allow that to distract him from his main objective.
Someone that worked inside the Ministry had access to the blasted place... No, that was not right. That person not only had access but actively feed the magic in the room through sacrifices. The question was who. His first option was an unspeakable, but that idea was promptly discarded. It had to be someone belonging to the administrative labour of the Ministry, someone who would not seem out of place while visiting the Archives, someone utterly deranged hiding under an unassuming facade.
There were far too many variables and even more possibilities. Fine by him, nothing was easy in his life and this would not be an exception.
Harry would make sure to involve Auror Moody without revealing himself. Simple enough, a push here, a twist there and a little bit of a whisper campaign regarding a spy in the administrative body and it was done. The hard part would actually involve his little twist... Well, at least it would be fun.
He polished his plans even after his fire basilisk finished consuming the Horcruxes and the room went silent.
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"Ah, young Harry, it has been a pleasure to have you here," the Emperor said, smiling at Harry, who returned the gesture.
"It's an honour to be in your presence."
"Bah, we both know that you only come for my books," the old man retorted, a smirk plastered on his wrinkled visage.
"I would never deny that. And we both know that you sacrifice me to your heir in order to enjoy your peace and quiet."
"I would never deny that!" the old man exclaimed jovially, laughing at the tired sigh that Harry let out.
"May I know why you called for me, Emperor Shi Huan?"
"Just call me Shi Huan, boy, I told you many times that formalities were forgotten the moment my granddaughter invited herself to your house. Besides, what makes you think that I had another reason than the pleasure of your company?"
"Because the communication mirrors exist for a reason," Harry deadpanned.
"Ah, you're right, I haven't thought of that. Anyways, I wanted to ask what you think about Hwasa. She will be assuming the throne in only three years and she needs someone strong to support her."
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"I'm sure she has enough supporters," Harry muttered, feeling a tad uncomfortable when the Emperor sighed heavily. Did he say something wrong?
"Yes, yes, of course she does. I meant she needs support outside of the family."
Harry cleared his throat with some tea. "She has many friends."
The Emperor sighed heavily once more and Harry felt as if he failed some kind of test. What did he do wrong? Considering the Emperor was pinching the bridge of his nose, he thought it was wiser to remain silent.
"Yes, yes. What I mean is that Hwasa needs a partner, preferably someone used to deal with politics and leeches. Perhaps someone with a title and from a good family. You know, just so he is used to this lifestyle."
"Ah, true." That was something he never considered, but it was logical. The politics inside the Royal House would eat alive anyone without the preparation to deal with it.
The Emperor sighed again. "I think my granddaughter deserves a talented mage, a young man who can deal with her and give her space."
Harry nodded at the old man, who massaged his temples.
"Perhaps a foreigner who doesn't see her as a princess and who can freely travel thanks to his elves..." Judging by the Emperor's expectant gaze, Harry considered maybe he should have visited another time.
"Is that... Are you asking me whether I want to court her?" Harry asked slowly, hoping to have arrived to the wrong conclusion.
"More formal than that. An engagement would suit both of you to give you time to know each other."
"I will decline the offer," was the only answer Harry could muster at the strange request. Why did things like this always happen to him?
"Ah, a shame. I was really hoping to have you as part of the family," the Emperor said, nonplussed, as if he offered him another cup of tea instead of the hand of his heir. "I guess I will have to wait another generation and hope to finally have some of Lily's kin in the family."
Right, the old man loved his mum. Harry decided to take another sip of his tea and enjoy the cool breeze of the evening. However, a look at the old man told Harry he would soon reveal the real reason why he called him and it had nothing to do with Hwasa.
"How is your mark going?" the old man asked out of the blue. Harry was not even surprised.
"I finished it, but I want to check it again, just in case."
"Good, young Harry. Don't take too long though... Dark days are coming for Europe and you will need every tool at your disposal. I heard rumours, you see, and they are quite worrying. Your dark lord has been actively recruiting in France and in the Slavic regions, especially the Northern Union. I sent my people to investigate, but they didn't get much information. Apparently, your dark lord began using his brain for once and has been keeping a low profile. However, there is something you should know. My people captured one of his recruiters. This person was searching for metamorphmagi."
"How reliable was this recruiter?" Harry asked, feeling the blood leaving his face at the implications.
"A member of the Czar's inner circle. That is right, Harry, your dark lord managed to get powerful followers so beware. One piece of advice, now that your mark is ready, assemble your own trusted circle. Soon enough, you will need it. Don't forget that outside of it, you cannot trust anyone else aside from your most loyal collaborators," the emperor said, his gaze fixed on the Yosei that were flying around in the gardens.
Harry only nodded at the man, not being able to speak. Only a few days ago he considered taking a break, but now he had many matters to take care of. Beginning and curiously ending with the same matter: Tom Riddle.
The book about the Hogwarts' founders had been published the same day of his meeting with Ragnok and it had created dissent between the British. Blood purists were declaring the whole book a lie, claiming for Rita's head in the process. Their efforts were not really working. The evidence that his reporter managed to compile, along with the Sorting Hat's testimony, were enough to convince most of the population. Still, there were divided opinions and much criticism against the book. The ones that were not offended by the origins of blood purity, felt affronted by the harsh truths about the four Hogwarts Houses.
Perhaps Rita could have concluded the book in a softer note, but then again, magicals tended to be denser than osmium. Only a harsh slap would be able to make them see the truth, and even then, they would try to close their eyes. It was ridiculous how reluctant magicals were to change their preconceptions, even knowing that they were wrong.
In any case, that was done. The book was the seed of doubt that needed to be planted. Harry would allow it to grow up for a few months and soon, the truth behind Voldemort would be revealed. No matter how many followers the man managed to get, the truth of his origins would be a fatal blow to his reputation and he would lose many people in his ranks. But there was still time for that to happen.
His main worry for the moment was related to the Ministry.
The room Tubby discovered in the Classified Archives was dealt with. Harry feigned an attack, destroying a part of the documents residing in the place. It was convenient, really. Besides, it was almost the perfect situation. The hospital was in a lockdown and Aurors were on high alert in the Alley, not the Ministry. It was quite unfortunate he wasn't the only one with that idea.
The Department of Mysteries was also attacked. Seven unspeakables were killed during the violent raid, other thirteen were sent to Saint Mungos. According to Marcus, Death Eaters stole a few cursed objects, but that was not their main goal. They tried to steal from the Hall of Prophecies but an unspeakable decided to destroy the room before they could take anything, in revenge, the man was taken. His body was left in the middle of the alley the next day, according to Auror Moody, the Lestranges were in charge of the man's demise.
Harry wondered what exactly was their main objective and faintly remembered the prophecy Luna mentioned a while ago, but it soon left his mind. With the attacks to the Ministry, the aurors were on high alert. The Wizengamot would have a meeting after New Year to decide whether Auror Moody would be given free reign to reorganize the whole DMLE and the security of the Ministry, something many people would actively oppose but it would happen nonetheless. He would make sure of it. However, Harry needed to do something before Auror Moody was granted carte blanche. His own raid to the Department of Mysteries.
Unlike the Death Eaters, his goal was not to take something, but to destroy everything in the blasted place. Luna had been right, its mere existence was an insult to Mother Magic. The whole department was dedicated to trying to decipher things humans were not supposed to fully understand. If that was not enough, the experiments conducted by some unspeakables made Bellatrix a saint in comparison. After the raid, Madam Bones would receive information about said experiments. Soon enough, the whole department would cease to exist.
At least the blue prints served its purpose. In less than a month, a donation would be made to build another hospital. Seriously, it was ridiculous and beyond dangerous to only have one hospital, no matter how large it was. Of course, the actual hospital would also be remodelled because far too many people were aware of its weaknesses.
Harry suppressed a sigh when his mind decided to follow that particular train of thoughts, which inevitably led to the attack at the hospital itself.
Jennifer Sagrav was killed the exact same way Dorcas Meadowes was. Two death eaters assumed the identity of a healer and a nurse, ready to take the woman off. The only reason they were found was because the Auror in charge of the woman's security was a werewolf. Their scents did not match their appearances and he managed to call for help before being dispatched. In the end, both death eaters were captured thanks to the lockout. Unfortunately, they were prepared for that situation and killed themselves before talking.
It was a mess.
The mind healer treating Sagrav was so close to unlocking the woman's memories, far too close, obviously. It was easy to conclude Voldemort had his spies in the hospital, or maybe he had other means. In any case, the whole hospital and its personnel were under the watchful gaze of the head of the DMLE, so at least Sagrav's death wasn't in vain. That didn't mean Harry was pleased. The information the woman had would have given some light to Maxime's murder, which could have helped find the real responsible for the whole mess.
Harry was still not sure whether he had to deal with yet another enemy or just Tom getting smarter. His brain told him to wait for more evidence before deciding, but his gut was screaming to take action before it was too late. Anyhow, there was nothing he could really help with until he had more information so he ignored his instincts. There were many things he needed to take care of before classes, he could worry about this later.
He took a sip of his already cold tea, not even bothered by the taste, his gaze was focused on the first stars of the night. He would enjoy the few hours of peace that he had left before he had to face his problems.