The Nightmare Man

Chapter 14

People from both the Order as well as the Ministry were worried. The Dementors had vanished without a trace one day, and they were growing concerned where those creatures had gone. The Ministry had no way of calling them back. The Dementors had simply abandoned Azkaban and disappeared.

However, Cornelius Fudge was quite certain of what had happened.

"He's called for them," Fudge said. "That monster called for the Dementors, now he has them on his side! We should have tried to eradicate them when we had the chance!"

"It doesn't matter if we had tried, Cornelius," Albus tried with. "There are no records of Dementors even getting physically injured."

"Surely they must die at some point, and of something. Why no one has tried to figure that out is beyond me, but if we can kill them in front of the Nightmare Lord? That would be a welcome relief, something to rattle some bones and upsetting him!"

Albus only met the Nightmare Lord briefly, but didn't strike him as a man who would let an enemy see him upset, but he didn't share his thought with Cornelius. The man was furious enough.

"There is nothing we can do about the Dementors at this moment," Albus said instead, watching Fudge as he paced the room.

They were in the Minister's office, a few Order members outside talking to Aurors.

"They have a duty to fulfil," Fudge interjected, turning to face Albus. "Their duty is to Azkaban! Since they aren't there, I have to send more Aurors there. Aurors that should be busy trying to find the Nightmare Lord!"

"He made Dementors, Cornelius, maybe they must answer to his call."

"Why didn't they do that before then? They would have broken him out centuries ago, yet nothing was done. Why was that?"

Albus was beginning to realize that asking question when it came to this mysterious lord didn't let to any answers, only more questions.

Lily was in and out of consciousness, unable to give them any answers at all. Using Legilimency on her was out of the question, per orders of the healers at St Mungo's, as well as Poppy herself. The mind was delicate, and the Nightmare Lord had been anything but careful when he broke into Lily's. Performing mind magic on her could set back her recovery, or render her completely broken.

But there was little evidence on her body of any physical injuries. Had the Nightmare Lord enjoyed breaking her mind more than her body? But the mind healed as well, and she hadn't been tortured like the Longbottoms. She would recover.

When was the question. Albus didn't like the uncertainty. Not knowing if she had information, and wouldn't be able to provide it in time.

Because it felt like they were running out of time. Christmas was upon them, and what did they have? Fear spreading throughout magical England and an almost fanatic Minister for Magic, tearing through every village and town for any sign of the Nightmare Lord. As if Voldemort had ceased to exist. As if their only enemy was an ancient man with a very violent and bloody past.

-o-

Harrison, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as worried as Fudge and Dumbledore were. Why would he be? He was the enemy, after all. All he really needed to worry about was any future raids and if he would move in on the Ministry. He did want to kill Cornelius personally, just because he could. Voldemort hadn't expressed a desire to take out Fudge, but he did want to kill Dumbledore.

Now, Harrison did want to kill him too, but figured it would be nice to let Voldemort take care of that. So he didn't worry much about Dumbledore's death just yet.