Chapter 70
Chapter : Shadows in Motion
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Minister Fudge’s POV
The atmosphere in Minister Cornelius Fudge's office was tense. News of the Azkaban escape had reached every corner of the wizarding world, and it wasn't just the public who were uneasy. Fudge himself was pacing nervously, wringing his bowler hat as he considered his options.
Seated before him, calm and calculating as always, was Lucius Malfoy. His icy gray eyes gleamed as he watched the Minister struggle. "The situation is delicate, Minister," Lucius said smoothly. "The public needs reassurance. They must see that the Ministry is taking decisive action."
Fudge nodded. "Yes, yes, I quite agree. But with Bellatrix Lestrange and Pettigrew loose—"
"They are but two criminals," Lucius interrupted, his voice dripping with condescension. "What you need is a show of strength. You must control the narrative. Bellatrix and Pettigrew can be dealt with, but you must also show the people that Hogwarts is secure."
Fudge frowned. "But Dumbledore insists Hogwarts is perfectly safe."
Lucius gave a slight, disdainful shrug. "Dumbledore is always too lenient. He has a soft spot for that school, and his views are... antiquated. What the public needs to see is that you are taking matters into your own hands. Send Dementors to patrol the boundaries of Hogwarts. Show the world you will not allow another breach of security, and you are protecting their children."
Fudge hesitated. Dumbledore had warned him against the use of Dementors near the school. Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, had also advised against it, citing the Dementors' uncontrollable nature. But Lucius's words carried weight. The public feared these fugitives, and it was Fudge's duty to ease that fear.
"Very well," Fudge said finally. "I'll have a few Dementors sent to patrol Hogwarts' grounds. Just to keep an eye on things. Dumbledore doesn't understand the political game—he's always thinking about the greater good, while I have to think about public perception."
Lucius gave a cold, satisfied smile. "I knew you’d see reason, Minister."
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Amelia Bones’ POV
Amelia Bones had always prided herself on her professionalism, but as she read the latest memo from the Minister’s office, she slammed her fist down on the desk in frustration.
"Dementors! At Hogwarts!" she muttered angrily.
She had warned Fudge countless times about the dangers of deploying Dementors in places with children, but he wouldn’t listen. And now, he had gone over her head after a meeting with that snake, Lucius Malfoy.
She strode out of her office, her mind racing. Dementors were dangerous, unpredictable creatures, and having them so close to Hogwarts’ boundaries was asking for trouble. Worse, their presence would stir up fear among the students. The very last thing they needed was more fear, especially after the breakout from Azkaban.
Dumbledore had already voiced his disapproval, but Fudge had ignored him. Now, Amelia had to think carefully about her next steps. She couldn’t afford to be seen as opposing the Minister publicly, not with the current political climate. But she also had a duty to protect the wizarding world—and that meant protecting Hogwarts.
Amelia took a deep breath. If Fudge wouldn’t listen to reason, she would have to prepare for the inevitable consequences.
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Dumbledore’s POV
The delicate balance of the wizarding world was shifting, and Albus Dumbledore could feel it in every fiber of his being.
The Dementors.
It was a reckless move, one driven by fear and paranoia. But Dumbledore knew that Fudge was no longer acting independently. Lucius Malfoy’s influence had been growing steadily over the past few months, and this decision reeked of his manipulative counsel. Dementors near Hogwarts—what a disaster waiting to happen.
Dumbledore stood in his office, gazing out of the window at the snow-covered grounds of Hogwarts. His thoughts were troubled. Voldemort hadn’t returned yet, but the dark forces were gathering. Pettigrew and Bellatrix’s escape was just the beginning, and now, with the Ministry sending Dementors to Hogwarts, the situation was becoming even more precarious.
The students would feel the Dementors’ presence, even from a distance. Their fear would grow, and that was exactly what Voldemort’s supporters wanted. Fear fed the darkness, and the Ministry was playing right into their hands.
He had to find a way to mitigate the damage. But first, he would need to speak to Harry—the boy was at the center of this, whether he realized it or not. He would need his strength, as well as the growing group of allies around him.
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Alex's POV
In the dim light of my secret laboratory, I focused intensely on the task at hand. Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, was seated, bound to a chair in front of me. I had been working tirelessly to dismantle the layers of mind control Hydra had inflicted upon him, but it wasn’t easy. The brainwashing had been deeply ingrained, reinforced by trauma, pain, and manipulation.
I glanced at the intricate runes I had carved into the floor beneath Bucky. They were designed to focus the magic, allowing me to dive deeper into his subconscious mind without breaking him completely. I had potions on hand, ready to soothe his mind and body should the process become too intense.
I couldn’t help but wonder, was Charles Xavier out there somewhere in this world? Could he do a better job? The existence of mutants was confirmed—there had been whispers of them since the Cuban Missile Crisis, but I had yet to locate someone like Xavier. For now, it was on me to fix what Hydra had done.
With a deep breath, I activated the spell and began the delicate work of Legilimency, entering Bucky’s mind. His thoughts were fragmented, broken into disjointed pieces. Memories of war, pain, Hydra, and his missions as the Winter Soldier came flooding at me in waves.
I pushed deeper, past the walls Hydra had built, looking for the triggers—those commands they had used to control him. There. I could sense them, woven into his very consciousness, hidden deep within the folds of his memory. The code words.
It was time to unravel them.
The process was slow, methodical, and painful for both of us. I could feel Bucky’s anguish as I worked through each layer of conditioning, but I had to keep going. Hydra’s influence had to be wiped clean. If I was going to ensure the Starks’ safety and deal with the looming threat of Hydra, Bucky needed to be free.
After what felt like hours, I emerged from his mind, gasping for breath. Bucky was unconscious but stable. I had made significant progress, but there was still much more to do. The Winter Soldier program had left deep scars, and healing them would take time.
I looked around the lab. Howard and Maria Stark were still sedated in separate rooms, along with a few captured Hydra agents. They were all bound, kept under magical surveillance. I couldn’t risk their escape.
As I wiped the sweat from my brow, my mind turned back to my encounter with the Ancient One. She had said that the future that never happened could not be altered—but that didn’t mean I could sit idly by. The timeline was fragile, and every action I took rippled through it. I had changed things already, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing yet.
I just hoped that no temporal entities would come knocking on my door anytime soon.
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Daily Prophet Article
"Escaped Convicts! Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew at Large!" In a shocking turn of events, two of Azkaban's most dangerous prisoners, Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew, have escaped. Ministry officials assure the public that efforts to capture them are ongoing. In related news, the Ministry has stationed Dementors around Hogwarts to ensure the safety of its students. Minister Fudge, in a statement, said, "The safety of our children is paramount, and I will take any steps necessary to ensure that Hogwarts remains secure."
However, concerns have been raised by notable figures, including Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, regarding the use of Dementors so close to children.
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Alex's POV (cont.)
As I read the Daily Prophet, I couldn’t help but scoff. Dementors at Hogwarts. Fudge was a fool, dancing to Lucius Malfoy’s tune. The man was so short-sighted, it was painful. And now Hogwarts would have to deal with the fallout of his terrible decision. I just hoped they didn’t make the same mistake they had in the original timeline—bringing Dementors into such close proximity to Harry was risky.
The magical world needed to change, and fast. Voldemort might not be back yet, but the storm was coming. I could feel it. And if we weren’t ready, it would sweep us all away.