Chapter 869 - Giant Attack on the Ministry of Magic Ⅱ (1/2)
As Battle Commander, Rufus Scrimgeour could not afford to lead the Auror's directly into battle rather the position was turned over to the Senior and Veteran Auror's instead. His duty as Battle Commander would be to coordinate and order attacks while relaying the message to the Senior Auror's on staff via the A.P.D. members who were avian's in their animagus form. As for the inner defense of the Ministry of Magic it was held by the A.P.D. officers, who were relaying messages as reinforcements continued to steadily arrive via the floo.
The fledging Auror's were holding the entrance to the inner foyer of the Ministry of Magic as the final point of retreat into the Ministry of Magic. The fledging Auror's were escorting fleeing civilians to the floo hearths for evacuation. Auror's Shacklebolt, Podmore, and Stein were holding the Auror Headquarters relaying messages as well as finalizing the last details for the international portkey to be used by the Lithuania ambassador.
Knowing that he would be forcefully grounded for the majority of the battle makes a risky decision, but Rufus refused to lose any more Auror's at his hands. He paused to glance at Gringotts in the distance and could only hope that the goblins would rally in time as conveyed by Nurnaff.
Bringing himself back to the present, Rufus raises his wand and casts a powerful dark charm of protection. ”Protego Diabolica,” he shouted as a ring of black blue fire spread and engulfed the front steps of the Ministry of Magic and further spreading into a semi-half circle. The powerful enchanted fire was capable of incinerating enemies of the caster who came into contact with the flames while leaving their allies unharmed.
It was an incredibly magically draining spell and rarely if ever used by Auror's considering, who the last known infamous wizard had been to use it, Gellert Grindelwald. The spell was a useful one, but one rarely used even by Auror's as it was considered dark magic, and Auror's were rarely ever standing still in one place. However, Rufus did not think in plain terms of dark or light magic, but rather if the spell could be useful or not. And if worst came to worst, well, the Minister of Magic had authorized the use of deadly force against dark wizards or in the protection of the citizens.
Rufus knew that the spell would not dissuade the giants, but it certainly could offer at least some measure of protection and cause painful burns to the giants. Turning towards the A.P.D. officers that remain on standby unlike the rest of their counterparts, he orders, ”Shield's Up!”
”Fianto Duri,” ”Protego Maxima,” ”Protego Toltalum!” The A.P.D. Officers shouted as they each had been ȧssigned to cast one of the three spells. Fianto Duri and Protego Maxima combined to form magical defenses capable of becoming harder and more durable. The shields would be capable of taking actual physical giant attacks or physical debris attacks. While Protego Totalum would stop and repel any intruder or spell for a protected amount of time except for the most powerful of curses. Unfortunately, the spells greatly drained the magic of the caster. The more they were attacked the faster the shields would become depleted. At best, they would have 15 minutes of protection and at worst only 5 minutes.
Dolohov nor Wurfbog are not ones to be intimated by mere protection bubbles. Wurfbog rapidly speeds up before nimbly leaping into the air, before swinging his club with his full weight forward. The earth shakes like a wave, and nearby shop windows break at the collision of the giant's club clashing with the shields. The A.P.D. officer's let out painful mȯȧns as their hands shake in pain from the backlash, but still, they maintain their magical shields despite the agonizing +strain.
”Attack,” Rufus shouted as he concentrated and forced the flames to hungrily swarm upward to consume and incinerate the giant's club. However, Wurfbog was far too nimble and easily leaped back in retreat. Wurfbog's shark-like grin grew at having successfully dodged the Auror's attack.
The Auror's begin attacking from long distances but the majority of their attacks failed and those that succeeded are far too weak to cause any real damage as dozens of giants steadily continue to approach the front steps of the Ministry of Magic. The giants emerge with their own weapons uprooted trees that were over ten to fifteen tall that had been easily carried on their backs. They all simultaneously begin to attack the shield held by the dozen of A.P.D. officers. Immediately the shield begins to crackle loudly under the ȧssault of a dozen giants.
Rufus can't burn more than a few giant clubs at a time, while still maintaining the spell. Feeling his magic being drained that much faster and the A.P.D. officers becoming weaker with each passing second, Rufus begins to send out different orders to his Auror's, when a chilling voice pierces through the air.
”Avada Kedavra!” Dolohov shouted as a green eerie light flashed from his wand and safely passed through the enchanted blue, black flames. The killing curse strikes an Auror, who simply falls limp to the ground.