Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

“Angry? Of course he is. He took the Ministry, broke through the protections around the Burrow, and still didn’t find us there,” said Evan quietly. He dropped back onto the sofa, hands clasped behind his head, staring up at the dim ceiling. “His Death Eaters have foiled his plan once again. If I were him, I’d be furious too. But this is good news for us. Maybe Sirius and the others have left too, and are on their way with Ron.”

“I don’t know … I don’t think that’s what set him off,” said Harry uncertainly. “Maybe I could—”

“You’ve got to close your mind!” said Hermione shrilly. “Harry, Dumbledore didn’t want you to use that connection, he wanted you to shut it down, that’s why you were supposed to use Occlumency! Otherwise Voldemort can plant false images in your mind, remember —”

“Yeah, I do remember, thanks,” said Harry through gritted teeth, but he didn’t take Hermione’s words in.

His connection to Voldemort made him feel bad, but it was still the most direct way they had of knowing what Voldemort was doing. Harry wanted to try again.

He closed his eyes, but this time he felt nothing.

The pain in his scar intensified, and Harry fought hard to suppress the nausea.

An atmosphere of inexplicable panic and unease permeated the silence, and time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Evan couldn’t help but wonder: ‘Sirius’s taking far too long, is there anything wrong?’

Just waiting here was a waste — they might be safe from Voldemort, but they were helpless, unable to act. Perhaps he could —

Suddenly, a sound came from downstairs: the loud clanking of metal, followed by the rattle of chains.

Someone had come in!

Evan leapt up from the sofa, Harry and Hermione quickly drew their wands, and Elaine staggered to her feet.

Tension gripped every nerve in the four of them as they heard heavy footsteps enter the hallway.

The visitor seemed to pause, looking around, then quickly started up the stairs.

“Who’s there?” Evan shouted, sending a ball of light from his wand into the shadowed stairwell. It burst and swept away the darkness.

He saw Sirius appear there, looking a little tired, but not injured.

“It’s me, Sirius!”

“Oh, thank goodness!” Hermione said weakly, lowering her wand.

But Harry didn’t lower his wand. He shouted, “Prove it!”

“I am Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather, known as Padfoot, one of the four authors of the Marauder’s Map. My Animagus form is a great black dog,” said Sirius, his body transforming into that of a large dog and then back again. “I think that should be proof enough.”

“Yes, it’s you, Sirius, you’ve finally come!” Harry rushed over and hugged him.

Sirius hugged Harry tightly, looking very happy.

“I’ve been worried that you’d be caught, so I came here as soon as I left the Burrow.”

“What’s the situation now?” Evan asked.

“It’s terrible, but you should be safe here. Don’t leave for the time being.”

“Sirius, what’s going on at the Ministry? Was it really taken that easily?” Hermione asked.

“I was there when it happened. You know Scrimgeour summoned all the Aurors last night. He seemed to have a premonition of something, but it was too late. The Dark Lord had too many people under his control, far more than we imagined. They even had Pius Thicknesse.”

“Pius Thicknesse?”

“One of the powerful figures in the Ministry. He has long served as Barty Crouch’s Undersecretary. After Amelia Bones was murdered, he was appointed Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Scrimgeour trusted him completely. No one ever suspected… Anyway, killing Scrimgeour was child’s play. He was finished, and the other Aurors barely resisted before surrendering!” Sirius said disdainfully. “You didn’t see it. When the Dark Lord appeared, no one resisted. Under the leadership of Pius Thicknesse and Dolores Umbridge, the entire Ministry surrendered!”

“Her again. I knew it,” said Harry in disgust.

“Not surprising, is it? Luckily we had some warning. Most of the wedding guests managed to Disapparate in time.”

“I saw many Aurors with the Death Eaters.”

“They’re basically the same thing now — those people couldn’t wait to throw themselves at their new master. There isn’t really a Ministry anymore, or rather, it’s the Ministry under the Dark Lord’s command,” Sirius went on. “They seized everyone at the wedding who didn’t manage to get away, and it looks like they mean to interrogate them. They’re also breaking into the homes of any witches and wizards tied to the Order, desperately searching for the two of you. But from what I can tell, they don’t yet know you were actually at the wedding, and the people they caught don’t know either. Scrimgeour didn’t betray us — even at the end. Still, while I was at the Ministry, I heard some rather troubling news.”

There was a moment of silence. Scrimgeour had protected Evan and Harry to the last. He had proved himself trustworthy, not an enemy.

“What happened to those people they captured? You said they’re still arresting more. Can they break through the protective enchantments?”

“That’s right. With the Ministry fallen, they can smash through all the protections we set up. They can use the Darkest curses without fear of being caught or punished,” said Sirius. “Moody and Remus are helping our people transfer. As for those who were captured — there’s no need to panic yet. The situation’s… interesting. I’ve heard the Dark Lord doesn’t want the public to know he’s taken the Ministry. So he probably won’t launch a bloodbath.”

Compared with a chaotic Wizarding world, one under actual control better served Voldemort’s interests.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much. They’ll be all right, and the Order will find a way to rescue them. For now, you stay here and wait for news. This house is protected by many old enchantments beyond the Ministry’s reach,” said Sirius. “If there’s any news, I’ll come and tell you at once. And if you’re planning anything, you tell me immediately — don’t act on your own. By the way, where’s Ron? I haven’t seen him at all.”

“Oh no — Ron didn’t come out with us. He wasn’t in the marquee at the time.”

“What?” said Sirius, taken aback. “He didn’t stay at the Burrow either. He Disapparated. We all thought Ron was with you.”

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