Chapter 43 - Hallows Eve Ⅱ (1/2)
It was close to the witching hour and yet the Atrium is deadly silent except for the faint sound of the trickling of the waterfall from the Fountain of Magical Brethren. The usual night-watcher seem to be away as the peacock blue ceiling seems somewhat ominous this evening as the moving golden symbols offer little comfort.
Hiding beneath enchanted invisible cloaks, Alastor Moody clenches his wand at they lay in wait at the only entrance of the Department of Mystery, the stairway in the Atrium. A few feet away also in hiding are Fabian and Gideon Prewett including two trusted Auror's, and a secret member of the Department of Mystery, an unspeakable.
Despite the lack of information and the late hour none of the three questioned Alastor Moody's request. Auror Sara Vinovich narrows her owl-like eyes as her face shows a running scar from under her right all the way to her cheek. Her salt-peppered hair is kept short and cropped to her face as to not be used against her.
On the opposite side of the room is Auror Percius Clements, a round-faced man with dusty colored hair and lukewarm blue eyes. Despite his round like size, Percius is quick on his feet and even quicker with his hand. More than one dark wizard had miserably underestimated Percius to discover the deadly charms wielder he was.
Further back is a tired dark-haired man with dark eyeshadows and gaunt cheeks much resembling the older haunted Sirius Black of the future, the unspeakable, Alphard Black. Alphard and everyone suddenly ceases to breathe as they finally hear the long-awaited dreaded footsteps. For no one truly wanted to believe that there would be such traitors within the Ministry of Magic.
Augustus Rockwood is known to all within the Department of the Mystery as a good-natured man with humor-filled eyes and a jolly smile. The figures appear via the front door as the voice of Augustus Rockwood can softly be heard whispering the password for the night, Time, Love, and Death. Augustus Rockwood cautiously peers inside to see that as promised there is night water in the Atrium. The gilded fireplaces are silent as is the rest of the Atrium is empty.
Satisfied, Rockwood motions for six other hooded figures to enter inside.
A loud nasally Death Eater's voice can be heard snickering loudly. ”If I'd known it was this easy to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic, I would have done so ages ago,” the Death Eater sneered.
”Quiet,” another Death Eater hissed as he uneasily glanced around the Atrium unable to shake the feeling of impending doom.
”So, what exactly are we searching for?” A boorish looking Death Eater asked.
Rockwood strides forward and says, ”The Dark Lord is seeking for an object of power and it is our duty as his loyal followers to find that which he seeks.”
Suddenly Rockwood halts mid-step as his senses scream at him to move. Augustus rolls to the side and shouts too late, ”Attack!” As blue bright blue sparks crashed onto the floor.
The Five Auror's and one single unspeakable step out as their invisible cloaks fall to the floor. ”Petrificus Totalus!” ”Expelliarmus!” ”Impedimenta!” ”Expulso!” The four successful spells cause the first Death Eater to becomes petrified, while another loses his wand, while the third is suddenly slowed down, and the last is blasted through the air into the wall.
The other two remaining Death Eaters instantly release Hexes as Augustus Rockwood rushes for the Department of Mystery stairs. As long as he reached the first room, he would be able to attack and escape. However, suddenly the gaunt figure of Alphard Black appears before him.
Rockwood comes to a halt and says, ”Well, Black, out of all of our colleagues, you would have been the last I would have ever expected to be present tonight.”
”Likewise,” Alphard countered.
The two colleagues stare at each other for a moment, before pointing their wands at each other and crying out, ”Confringo!” ”Crucio!”
The red sparks from Rockwood smack into Alphard to cry out in pain as his body is wracked with excoriating pain. However, the dark opal colored sparks crush into Rockwood as a large gaping wound appears on Rockwood's chest.