Riding a Nightmare

Towering Heights

Last Time:

Anger was pouring off the dark lord in waves and it made tremors ripple through the ground ...

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Arthur walked calmly into a certain room after returning to the ministry. Inside the room were dozens of agents, Aurors and one exhausted minister. The first thing he did was go up to the table where the minister, Mr. Fudge, and the director of SSU sat.

"I have some information-" Arthur was startled when the minister suddenly moved closer and gave a pleading look. The director, Debra, must be holding him accountable and he wanted an excuse to leave, but Arthur wasn't in the mood and actually ignored him. "We found that Hogwarts was compromised." He said and proceeded to explain what happened.

Debra frowned, "Grindelwald got his roots in deeper than we thought. We are almost half way through the one on one meetings with all Aurors. So far two spies in each branch have been found."

Fudge gulped, "It wasn't my fault-"

"Director, we need permission to bring a rune tent. Over." Arthur recognized the voice coming from a device as Pepper's.

The director, as well as the one unintentionally intimidating the minister, picked up the device and hit a button, "Permission granted, but only the parents and the child, Issac, are allowed in the home until everything is set." She said firmly and hit the button again. "Tom has already met the team at Nurmengard. It seems he let his temper get out of control and caused a mini earthquake. He looked every bit a pissed off parent. Is that part of the plan?"

Arthur nodded, "Like I mentioned, the one pretending is actually going to be Albus Dumbledore. Tom really is pissed. He just needs to hide the fact that Albus is working with us and make Grindelwald think Issac is safe."

The director scoffed, "We can hope so, but I'll have to know how to get in there eventually. I'm not a judge, but we do need to find all the spies and going straight to the source might be a wise idea."

"I don't know." Arthur thought about the possibility. "Considering everything so far I don't think it's worth the risk letting him out even for a second. He did so much damage while in prison. There's no telling what could happen if even one follower gets to him or he gets away."

"Point taken." The director commented thoughtfully. "My team will continue cutting off all his lines of communication and any other connections he has." She glanced at the agent, who was waiting patiently off to the side after entering just seconds ago. "Report."

The agent immediately handed over a file, "The robotic spy-der got inside. Tom is still ... um ... talking to Grindelwald, but we discovered that there's a hidden floo in the castle's basement, which must be how people get in and out. We also believe we found some living portraits."

Arthur frowned, "It was supposed to be a prison-"

"A lot of good that did." The director muttered, sounding firm. Most likely she was determined to continue cutting Grindelwald off from the outside world. "Arthur, be a dear. Tell everyone on your ends that we'll reconvene tomorrow. Loretta will know where to meet. You should go and help out." She commented politely, casting the minister a sharp glare, which made him whimper in fear.

"You're quite right. Thank you, director." Arthur said and quickly left to meet Bill at the Black manor.

It seemed like everything was going smoothly. However, that changed immediately after taking to steps out of the floo. Right after smiling at his sons and daughter a screen was heard from up the stairs.

Arthur, of course, started to worry and rushed up the steps, "What's going on-"

"Dad! It's alright!" Bill shouted, effectively catching Arthur's attention despite what seemed like an urgent situation. "That's just Hermione throwing a fit again. She's refusing to be examined by a man so the Death Eaters are watching her until someone else is free. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to rely on a Poly Juice potion." He explained, trying to be reassuring.