The Challenge

It's quite a sunny day and somewhere inside an exquisite dining room a lady with wild curly black hair and big dark stormy eyes is waiting for her husband. She has sharp features with high cheekbones, and the overall appearance of an aristocratic lady, and why the hell not, she is the daughter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. She is the eldest daughter of the brother of Lady Walburga Black née Black, Bellatrix Druella Riddle née Black. Wife of Tom Morvolo Riddle. 

Now you may ask, this man's name doesn't suggest any noble ancestry so how could Blacks-famous pureblood supremacists- allow their daughter- that too eldest- to marry him? Well, first you have to know that Tom Morvolo Riddle is not a common name in the magical United Kingdom. He is the youngest and most popular minister of magic, who was able to become minister at the age of 26. His popularity gained height after solving the conflict that had been going on between Ireland and Great Britain for the last several decades and managed to merge it into Great Britain. Now Ireland comes under Britain's (or is it UK now? Well what's in the name…) Ministry of Magic. He is also the minister who has managed to charm all factions of Wizengamot. It is also said he is exceptionally handsome and charming that several witches and wizards give him votes just by that smile of his. The nail in the coffin for old lord Arcturus Black was that Tom Morvolo Riddle is actually Tom Morvolo Riddle-Gaunt, the heir and only remaining (alive and fuctional?) member of the Gaunt family and by extension of which, Slytherin family (yupp Hogwarts founder Slytherin who left basilisk inside Hogwarts). So the old Arcturus found the deal a massive hit and agreed enthusiastically (as enthusiastically as a stoic person can show).

The said man entered the room and sat in the head chair after kissing his wife's forehead.

 “Good morning belle,” he said, serving himself some pancakes.

“Good morning, at what time would you come to Black Manor,” she asked with wide expected eyes.

“Black manor?” he asked, cutting his pancakes. 

“Yeah, I told you three days ago about the family get-together for Mother's birthday, you promised you'd come. Did you forget?” she said with little anger in her tone that she couldn't hide.

“Ohh yes, but Belle today can't be possible. The French embassy is facing some issues, I have to be there today and some important meetings are also lined up. And you know the annual ball is tomorrow. ” he replied, continuing to eat his breakfast as if he was unable to detect his wife's ire.

“But….”

“I'll send her a lovely gift and meet her later. You go and enjoy darling,” he said getting up. He then kissed her forehead and left before she could say anything else.

Bella watched her husband leaving with wide stormy eyes filled with sadness and disappointment. One day my love…….

Bella fell in love at first sight on the first day (night?) of Hogwarts. She was only eleven (can you believe it?) when her sight landed on those burgundy eyes, and the boy who was having it with dark brown wavy hair that fell on his pale forehead, jaws that were sharper than a sword, high cheekbones, and sharp nose, but what had made her unable look elsewhere was the power that was rolling around him. Such an intoxicating, menacing power was coiling around the occupants of the room as the owner of the magic gave a speech as Slytherin King. The youngest king he was, as she later got to know, able to achieve royalty in 4th year only. Shame he was a junior NEWT student and unapproachable for firsty like her. But being born into the Black family has its own benefits, they get what they want. 

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The minister of magic reached the ministry and went to the lift while nodding at the numerous people eagerly wishing him. The British (UK?) ministry is spread around 8 acres and has a total of eleven floors. It is secret to no one (maybe to muggles but who cares about them) that it is made underground at the heart of London. The ministerial atrium is on the sixth floor which contains a receiving area, cafeteria, a huge hall for ministerial celebrations, and also several lifts that go to the upper floors (and lower floor too or how do you think people will go down) where the Department of Mysteries has taken 2 top most floors having several chambers including time chamber, death chamber, brain chamber, love chamber and hall of prophecies. No one apart from unspeakable is allowed there but under excruciating circumstances, some aurors and Wizengamot lords are allowed to go. Below the DOM, the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Department of Magical Games and Sports, and Department of Magical Education occupies the 3rd, 4th and fifth floor.

 Below the atrium is the extravagant grand hall for Wizengamot lords and ladies where laws are made by long discussions (arguments/ Squabbles/Altercations/spats whatever you want to say) between highly esteemed lords and ladies. It takes work to make laws for such a prestigious country and they take it seriously (very seriously, sometimes more than needed). Wizengamot is headed by the chief warlock on paper and minister in reality. This floor also has the minister's office and his employees’ workspace.

Below it has two floors dedicated to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement which includes the department head cabins, lawyers' space, and workspace for employees and also contains several temporary holding cells for those who are guests there and soon going to their temporary/permanent home Azkaban and few who are lucky enough to go their own home. Department of Creature Regulations has the floor below DMLE, the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, and Obliviator Headquarters occupies the floor below that, and the Department of Magical Transportation on the second last floor. The last floor of the ministry remains usually closed as it contains a big trail hall where trails of those criminals who have committed heinous crimes.

Okay, after such an important knowledge of ministerial layout (you should know about departments as HP fans) proceed forward and meet someone.

As Tom entered the lift his eyes fell on the man whose head was lower on some paper (parchment damit!), half a head smaller than him (not a surprise as he is quite tall. Not that he's vain or anything. Nope. Not at all!) with the head covered with gravity-defying black messy locks which man has the audacity to call hair. 

“What a pleasant morning Head Auror Potter,” the darling minister drawled the man, which made the man look up from the paper (who cares what it is). The heart-shaped golden face has sharp jaws and nose, red juicy lips, and eyes that can make even the purest emerald dim. Shame it is covered with those golden rim glasses. Well, no one can say Harry Potter isn't the finest specimen (but less than Tom Riddle. But our resident minister is modest. Okay). Currently, those emerald eyes glared at the man in front of him.

“Minister, it was a few seconds ago” he snarked.

If anyone thinks that Hogwarts is the biggest gossip place, they might not be working in the British Ministry of Magic. A gossip that is as famous as its cafeteria's crisps is the animosity and hatred between Minister Tom Morvolo Riddle and Head Auror Harry James Potter. Some say it's because they are even matched to each other during dueling, some say auror Harry Potter had caught the minister taking bribes but couldn't arrest him due to lack of evidence. Few (very very few weird people like an employee of the Department of Creature Regulations Luna Lovegood) think they are madly in love and this is their way of showing. Who knows what is right, but people who joined the ministry with them or worked already can attest that they hated each other from the start. And though they started their ministerial career at the same time and are now quite successful in their respective careers nothing has changed between them. Some people even think that if DMLE came under the minister, he would have fired auror Potter a long time ago. But lucky for auror Potter, the only aspect Minister and Wizengamot could control about DOM and DMLE is their budget, apart from that they're quite independent bodies.

Ohh did I tell you about Head Auror Potter? No? Well, Auror Potter, or Harry James Potter is the only son of the deceased Lord James Fleamont Potter and the deceased Lady Lily Mary Potter née Evans. He is currently the Lord of Ancient and most Nobel house of Potter as well as head of the Auror department (promoted to a few months ago) and deputy head of DMLE. Deceased Lord Potter was too auror but both Lord and Lady were quite young when a psychopath so-called dark Lord Grindelwald had murdered both of them, orphaning baby Potter at the age of two. No one knows why he murdered them but before he could kill Baby Potter, Albus Dumbledore came with Aurors. All this mess led to the epic duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, which Grindelwald lost and got arrested in Nurmengard. Dumbledore then left Baby Potter to his muggle relative as Baby Potter's godfather got arrested for murdering 13 muggles and his best friend Peter Pettigrew.

So, inspired by his father (I guess) Harry Potter joined the auror force straight out of Hogwarts and he is one of the most diligent and brave (and reckless according to Hermione) auror DMLE has ever seen. If anyone can compete with Minister Riddle in making an appearance in the news, it would be Harry Potter, for some or other cases. Employees working in DMLE say he is quite a workaholic and moves heaven and earth to solve cases, especially if they involve children, and has put his life at risk several times for the people. Due to this, he was promoted quite frequently and now he is the youngest Head Auror who will become the youngest Head of DMLE when Amelia Bones retires.

“Will you come to tomorrow's ball auror Potter or will you hide like always to save yourself the embarrassment of your ostrich dance,” Tom asked in a concerned voice which sounded as fake as he wanted.

“You don't have to worry about my embarrassment minister,” Harry said gritting his teeth

“How can I not be auror Potter? It's my job to worry about our employees. And if the employee is as famous and hardworking as you, my worries elevate,” the Minister said in a mocking tone. Before Potter could reply, life stopped and the door opened “Have a nice day auror Potter,” Tom said smirking, and left, leaving Harry gritting his teeth.

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Harry entered the DMLE floor and went to where most of the auror might be with blank expressions and confident strides. 

“Junior Auror Thomas put this report in McCarty's file,” he ordered, seeing a dark-skinned guy which was fulfilled as expected. When he was talking a hand was placed on his shoulder.

“Senior Auror Weasley, did you finish your shift,” Harry asked without even looking at the person who had dared to put a hand on his shoulder.

“Of course Head Auror,” a masculine voice replied. Harry dismissed the junior auror and turned to look at the freckle-faced carrot top who was grinning at him, blue eyes lit with mischief so similar to his twin brothers. Harry sighed and raised his eyebrows in question.

“C'mon, Head Auror. You have put us in the misery of night shift now, at least deign to eat breakfast with us,” the redhead said. He starts moving without removing his hand from Harry's shoulder making him walk with him. “And you can also tell what the minister has said this time to you,”

“How do you know I met our esteemed minister this morning,” Harry asked astonished.

“oh please your irritation can be felt from a mile away,” Weasley said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“You won't believe the nerve of the man……” Harry started his ranting.

The red-headed man to which Harry is ranting is Ronald Bilius Weasley, the last son and second last child of Molly Charlotte Weasley née Prewett and Arthur Septimius Weasley. Ron, as he prefers to be called, joined the auror force with Harry and was in the same batch in Hogwarts too but Harry didn't notice him, well not a surprise as he used to rarely pay attention to those red-dressed hooligans. He was too busy with his mates and best friend (see sarcasm here). When they met he had never thought they'd become close as Ron too had issues with green-dressed arseholes. But they somehow instantly got hit and even became partners for their first case. Till now Ron Weasley is his favorite partner in the field. Ron is not a genius, he barely scraped enough NEWT grades to get into auror academy. But he is the best strategist Harry has ever seen. There's never been a situation in which Ron Weasley's strategy has failed. Harry is grateful to Lady Fate that he met Ron Weasley and now he is an unofficial member of the Weasley family.

They reached the atrium (with Harry continuously ranting) when someone called Harry. He told Ron to go ahead and focus on the man (he was Mr. Shah who is the wand checker, if you are curious). It took only 5 minutes to solve the problem, and then Harry went towards the cafeteria. Even before he entered he could hear some commotion going on there. When he entered he saw the most usual fight of the ministry (might be after Riddle and him) or Britain's. Between Malfoy and Weasley. Some decades (or maybe a century) ago the Weasley house had done something to the Malfoy house- which they might not even remember- due to which Malfoy house has declared a blood feud against them. The result of the stupidity is members of both the house always for each other's neck, they don't miss out on a chance to destroy each other. Like, some years ago only, Arthur Weasley who works in the muggle accident department managed to pass a bill with the help of Minister Fudge-Riddle's predecessor- which caused several raids in Family manors in search of dark artifacts. Not much has been achieved from that except for the wastage of Auror department time and maybe the loss of support to Fudge from the dark families. Nevertheless, Fudge was on his last string for the minister's post. 

Right now the spat was going on between Ron Weasley (the hot-tempered guy who for some reason is mostly the Weasley who gets into these arguments with Malfoy) and Draco Augustus Malfoy. Scion of the most Nobel House of Malfoy. Draco is the youngest son of Lord and Lady Malfoy and was allegedly a miracle baby. Apparently while giving birth to Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, the heir and the eldest son, the healer had told them that Lady Malfoy had lost her ability to carry a baby. But after a year and a half, she delivered a baby boy again who was a little fragile at the time of birth. Weird right? Well as he was fragile and the youngest Draco was spoiled rotten. It's surprising to no one that he is nothing like his elder brother, who was given those hard heir training since childhood and is quite ambitious, sneaky, and cunning and has the smartness and silver tongue to match it. No wonder he is one of the best lawyers in the ministry. Draco has not faced expectations of typical heirs and everything is quite good for him until he does something to taint the family's name. Not saying he is not smart, he is apparently the top student of his year and is currently the assistant of the beloved minister, but he is not as resourceful and a smooth-talker as his brother.

“What's going on here” Harry asked in his head auror tone (according to Ginny) and all the people listening to the vain wrangling dispersed. Draco turned to him (no doubt to sneer at the one who interrupted them) and shut his mouth upon seeing him. Told you he's smart and well he was Slytherin so he knows how efficient Harry is with his wand. Ron and he glared at each other for a few seconds and Draco left without saying anything.

Harry went to the buffet area to pick a full English breakfast and went to the table. A few minutes later Ron joined him with his mountain of food with a relatively calmer mood. They were chatting about some inane subject when a lady with a big bush of curly hair joined and sat next to Ron and kissed his cheeks.

“Good morning love,” Ron said with a mouth full, and Harry made a fake gagging sound seeing the soft dovey eyes the redhead was giving to his wife.

Hermione Granger-Weasley, a woman whom Harry can never imagine marrying someone like Ron Weasley. Hermione Granger, as he remembers, was a nerd and unsurprisingly a Ravenclaw in the same year as them. Now you may ask why Harry remembered her and not Ron, well it was because she used to come 2nd or 3rd in class rank and was literally the resident of Hogwarts library. Harry won't say she was a genius or something (he has met many to consider her a genius), she was more like a bookworm who eats and sleeps books. If Harry remembers correctly she always came after Riddle ( again unsurprising as Riddle wields magic like an extended arm and his brain is like a walking encyclopedia, not that Harry is ever gonna say it aloud) or 3rd in DADA. DADA was the class where Harry and Tom were nail-biters, Harry topped that subject almost half the time, and other times Tom got the top spot. Not saying that it's the only class Harry excelled in, he always came under the top five in his all classes, his companion had made sure that he never slacks, but he doesn't have the intuition for other subjects.

So, as I was saying, Hermione is quite a geek and Ron is well...Ron, so it's quite surprising that they got married a few years ago, but as they say The real world is quite different from school life, they started working together in DMLE and they became friends. Did I tell you that Hermione is a lawyer, well she's one of the best lawyers in ministry like Malfoy, and works especially for creatures' rights. Not as honey-tongued as Lucius Malfoy, but no lesser with her straightforward and firm style. So they started working and became best friends, Ron and she fell in love and dated for around 8 years then married 3 years ago. Hermione is someone who takes no shit from anyone and can even punch you if you irritate her enough.

“So what's new this morning,” she asked, taking a sandwich from his plate.

“Nothing, my senior made me work all night then I came across the ugly face of Malfoy,” Ron replied, eating simultaneously.

“Yeah, tomorrow is the ball, right?” she asked.

“Ah, don't remind me. I don't know why we have this shitty ball every year. Who wants to listen to those drone talk and Merlin forbid, dance,” Harry said (more like whining but he'd deny it vehemently).

“C'mon Harry it's not so bad. And you can't miss it now or left halfway through in an excuse of security,” she said as if telling a young child that medicine is good.

“And you are not that bad dancer mate, don't listen to Riddle,” Ron chimed, and Harry didn't like that smirk. At all.

“Riddle, where did that come from,” Hermione asked, frowning.

“Ohh, Harry got to meet Riddle in the morning and they had their spat,” Ron told her gleefully, taking all the pleasure in Harry's expanse by telling her everything.

“Seriously Ron, can't you keep a single thing from your wife,” Harry said pouting slightly (which also he will deny)

“No," Ron said grinning.

“I need to find a better best friend,” Harry said with a sigh.

“C'mon Harry it's not wise to alienate the minister," Hermione said, trying to make him understand the same thing for the last 11 years, but till now she had yet to make him even listen.

“But he didn't start it dear,” Ron said like a little guy defending his best friend to Mom. 

”Still Ronald…..,” 

And their own bickering started, forgetting the topic they were discussing like an old married couple. Seriously these two can fight over anything and everything. Harry didn't disturb them as he didn't want to be in between them.

He continued eating, smiling softly at the couple when an unfamiliar horned owl landed before him. Harry gave him a piece of bacon and relieved him from the weight of the letter. That got attention from the spating couple.

In the letter envelope, there was no name of the sender or anything else, just a very simple wax sealing. Harry opened and a frown crept into his face seeing a letter with very familiar dicta quill writing.

“Who is this from Harry,” Hermione asked. He didn't notice when they stopped bickering and looked at him expectedly. He placed the letter in the middle of the table so everyone could read it.

 Letter says;

Brave and Lovely head auror Potter,

My dear Auror, how thrilling it is to engage in this intellectual dance with you. I must admit, your deductive skills have intrigued me, and I find myself compelled to offer you a true test of your prowess.

People say you have “Beware, for complacency is your greatest enemy.“ Think not that I shall make this endeavor simple. The echoes of history, the stars above, and the depths below shall intertwine in ways that even your sharp mind might struggle to fathom.

Dare you to accept this challenge, Auror? The gauntlet has been thrown, and the game is afoot.

Yours Greatest Admirer

“What this is supposed to mean,” Ron asked.

“It has to be some prank. Don't worry Harry it might be someone's joke,” Hermione said but Harry had a bad feeling about this.

“If it is they may not have great ideas,” Ron said.

“I don’t know but I don't want any hiccups in today’s celebration so tell your and Johan's team to recheck everything. I am going to check wards again,” Harry said to Ron more like ordered him to which Ron knew that he could only groan but had to follow. Both bid farewell to Hermione and left.

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The annual Ball in the UK’s Ministry of Magic is a huge affaire. It's the only big event that occurs in the Ministry, and though sometimes departments do have their own celebrations, the Ball is the only event where all the ministry workers and wizengamot’s Lords and Ladies participate with their family members. Many high-profile individuals come to this ball, hence for politically inclined people, it’s a heaven to make connections. For many ministry workers, it's the only chance to flaunt their outfits as they usually come in their uniform and have exquisite food and drinks and of course dance, so undoubtedly a huge no. of people join this celebration. 

For the auror department, this celebration is a nightmare as they have to do all the security-related things along with their usual duties. But the end result is very satisfying so they do it without complaint. Plus they do get a bonus for it, what more can they ask for?

Head auror Potter came to the event quite early to check for any mishaps. He was wearing navy blue dress robes with embroidery of golden threads and blue sapphire as cufflinks and a middle button that was holding robes together. Those who have seen him can attest to his attractiveness. He was standing near the entrance door clearly waiting for someone, when he saw a beautiful couple enter the hall. The presenter announces the entry of Minister and Lord Thomas Gaunt-Riddle and his beautiful wife Lady Bellatrix Druella Gaunt-Riddle. A beautiful couple entered the hall and Harry found his eyes stuck on the man who was looking exquisite in emerald robes with golden embroidery ‘We would have looked good together’ Harry thought and banished the thought as soon as it came seeing the beautiful lady in a golden gown in the arms of the minister. Green eyes clashed with burgundy ones, and a smirk stretched on the minister’s face, causing Harry to want to punch the smirk away. He turned his face without noticing a pair of grey eyes was looking at his way. 

Harry went away from the minister- no one was expecting him to greet, as I mentioned earlier, animosity between them is as famous asCelestina Warbeck- to Mr Albert Crocker head of the DOM. 

He was talking when he saw the lady of his life, in a beautiful black dress, ginger hair style in intricate hairstyle walking towards him in high heels and a big smile on her bewitching face. 

“What’s up, Head auror Potter,” she said, coming near him smiling.

“Nothing, just waiting for my beautiful and very famous fiance. As usual, she is late,” Harry said in a faux casual tone

“Ohh Auror Potter you know nothing. If she is beautiful then she is gonna take time. Pretty people take time oh big brave auror,” She said in a sing-song way.

“Whatever Sweetheart, come have something,” Harry said, putting his hand on her waist. 

They roam around meeting people. The drawback of having a famous fiance is everyone wants to meet her. Especially if she is Ginerva Molly Weasley, Holyhead Harpies exceptional chaser. Several children came just to meet their favorite chaser.  They met several people, and chatted with almost all the heads of departments, all the time Harry felt someone had an eye on him. He had glanced furtively around the hall several times for anything fishy, he didn’t find anything, but his eyes contact with burgundy one 1 or 2 times. 

After an hour or something, Harry left Ginny at a corner and went to bring a drink for her. When he returned he saw Lady and Lord Slytherin standing with Ginny and he had no doubt that they were mocking her for whatever they thought Weasley were lacking.  

“At least I don’t have to depend on someone to pay my bills or be famous,” he heard his fiance saying which clearly agitated the lady of the minister and by looking at her she was about to lash out. He couldn't allow that so he went to them fast. 

“What’s going on love,” Harry asked smiling putting his free hand on Ginny's waist and giving her a drink. He turned to the people in front of them to see the minister’s eyes looking at his hand which he had put on Ginny’s waist. 

“Nothing, Minister and Lady Slytherin came to congratulate me on our latest win,” Ginny said, smiling that didn’t reach her eyes. It didn’t take much for Harry to understand that were not the things these lovely people were saying.

“Of course, Ms Weasley you are such a skilled player you deserve all wishes,” Lady Slytherin said with such a fake smile that even Crabbe could tell.   

“Congratulations again,” she said and went taking her husband. Harry noted that the minister didn’t say anything, and was just looking at his hand.

Before Harry could contemplate anything a loud sound of something heavy dropping was heard near the entrance. He turned to see a huge crowd covering whatever happened. He immediately ran there to see a body lying, most probably dead. An auror came forward and turned to see that it was a familiar face, he must be some ministry employee. His whole neck has turned black and the blackness is spreading to his face and body.

“He has very little heartbeat but he is alive,” Ms Narciss Black said. She is the fiance of Lucius Malfoy and is a healer.

“Closed the Main door,” Harry shouted coming to his head auror avatar.

The Aurors near the door come into action, knowing very well how he works and the consequences of not following his orders immediately.

“Take Minister to a safe place and check the whole ministry,” 

“ I can take care of myself Head Auror Potter,” Minister said and Harry glared at him, but didn’t press seeing the urgency.

 The person which later identified as  Max Jones, an employee of the Department of International Magical Cooperation was shifted to Saint Mungo's.  Aurors came after 45 minutes without any result. 

“Harry do you think this has something to do with that letter,” Ron said the exact same thing that Harry had been thinking for some time. 

“What letter,” the Head of DMLE, Amelia Bones, asked. She saw his face and then said “Head Auror Potter, come to my office,” she said and left.