The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 23: The Rescue Mission

The air in the War Room was tense, a sense of purpose hanging thickly as Harry stood at the large table, the maps of London's hidden laboratory spread before him. Draco, leaning against the wall with his usual cool detachment, had gathered six others for the mission—Blaise, Pansy, Theo, Daphne, and two older Slytherins that Harry didn't know well, but Draco vouched for.

They weren't here for school anymore. They were here for war.

Harry addressed the group, his voice steady but intense. "We're infiltrating the lab tonight. This is where the Muggle forces are holding the Muggleborn parents and half-bloods they captured at the station. Draco and his team will handle disabling the security, getting any information the scientists have gathered on magic. My team will focus on getting the parents out."

He glanced at Draco. "Once we've got everyone, we destroy the place. No one leaves any trace of their research behind."

Draco's smirk was barely noticeable, but it was there. "I've got it covered."

Blaise, leaning over the map, pointed at a mark on the plan. "How heavily guarded do you think this place is?"

"Enough that we need to be careful," Harry replied, his jaw tightening. "The Muggles are using more than just soldiers—they've got technology we don't fully understand yet. But they won't see us coming."

Luna stood beside Harry, her wide, thoughtful eyes scanning the map. "The air feels heavy around this place, Harry. They've been doing something dark here, something unnatural."

Harry nodded. Luna's instincts were rarely wrong, and her words only confirmed what he had suspected for days now. The Muggles weren't just afraid—they were trying to control magic. And they were willing to cross every line to do it.

"Let's go," Harry said, his voice firm. "We leave in an hour."

Infiltration

The London lab loomed ahead of them, its cold, industrial walls hidden behind rows of barbed wire and security cameras. The night was still, but the tension was palpable as Harry, Draco, and the others moved in silence through the shadows, cloaked by Disillusionment Charms. Every step was calculated, their wands at the ready.

The facility was tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city, far from the bustling streets, and surrounded by an ominous quiet. Harry's heart pounded, but his mind was sharp, focused on the task at hand. Find the parents. Destroy the lab.

Draco's team moved quickly, slipping into the facility through a side entrance after disabling the cameras. Draco appeared beside Harry as they entered a long, dimly lit corridor.

"We've got the security systems down," Draco whispered. "They don't know we're here."

"Good," Harry replied. "Let's split up. My team will head to the holding area."

Draco nodded, motioning for Blaise and Pansy to follow him toward the research labs. "We'll get everything they've been working on. See you at the extraction point."

Harry watched them disappear down the hallway, then turned to Luna, Theo, and Daphne. "Let's move."

The Discovery

The hallway leading to the holding area was eerily quiet, the sterile white walls and flickering lights giving the place an unsettling feel. Harry could feel the tension mounting as they approached a large steel door, his wand gripped tightly in his hand.

He cast a quick unlocking charm, and the door creaked open, revealing rows of small cells on either side. Inside, he saw the Muggleborn parents and a few half-bloods—pale, frightened, and exhausted. Their eyes widened as they saw Harry step through the door.