What?
Harry did this. But when. They have been observing the house and have never seen someone enter it.
This is a complete disaster.
The mere mention of Harry's involvement in the tragedy heightened the urgency of the situation. The ministry was still unsure if Harry really killed Cedric Diggory, but now, it was clear.
Both the Aurors exchanged a glance and nodded. Things just got out of hand.
As the two Aurors turned their attention toward the rest of the room, a faint sound caught their ears. It was a soft, deliberate footstep, barely audible amidst the painful cries of the Muggle boy.
Instinctively, one of the Aurors pivoted, wand raised, and launched the stunning spell.
STUPEFY.
Although the spell did not hit anyone, it caused a shockwave near the area where the spell hit the ground. In turn, the Auror felt something falling.
As the shockwave rippled through the room, Harry, who had been standing under the Invisibility Cloak, was momentarily knocked off balance.
He knew the discretion was gone. As such, he removed the Invisibility Cloak and let it fall, revealing himself to the stunned Aurors.
A brief silence hung in the air as Harry stood exposed, his wand still in hand. The Aurors could not really believe it.
It really was Harry Potter standing in front of them.
They tightened their grips on their wands. Harry's heart raced as he faced the Aurors. He knew that the situation had escalated beyond his control, that the consequences of his actions were now unfolding in a whirlwind of chaos.
"Harry Potter," one of the Aurors spoke, his voice steady despite the tension that permeated the room. "You are under arrest for the use of Unforgivable Curses and the unlawful killing of two individuals. Drop your wand and surrender peacefully."
Harry could not give up now without putting up a fight. Furthermore, there was still Dudley, who was alive.
To face this situation, Harry remembered Voldemort's lesson. A battle was not just about spells but also about tricks. One of them was stalling for time, searching for an opening.
"You're quick to come when I retaliate against Muggles, but where were you all these years when I suffered at their hands?" Harry's voice cut through the tension in the room. "Funny how the Ministry of Magic is so eager to protect Muggles, but never their own people... the wizards."
The Aurors, though maintaining their professional composure, exchanged uneasy glances. The reality of Harry's words struck a chord, revealing the systemic failures and biases ingrained in the wizarding world's governing body.
"Listen, we don't know the full story here," one of the Aurors admitted, his tone softer. "But we understand that you must have suffered. Taking the law into your own hands, though, is not the answer. We're here to bring justice."
Harry, still gripping his wand, met their gaze with a defiant intensity. "Justice? Is that what you call it? I've been at the mercy of these people for years, and your precious justice never showed up to help me. Now, suddenly, when I've had enough, you're here to enforce your rules."
The other Auror, however, adopted a more authoritative tone. "Enough of this. Drop your wand, Potter. We'll take you in, and the Ministry will decide your fate. Resisting will only make things worse for you."
Suddenly, Dudley cried and grabbed the leg of one of the Aurors.
An opening.
Harry immediately initiated the battle by targeting the closest Aurors.
The second put the shield charm around them, and Harry's spell did not have any effect.
After launching the first spell, Harry did not wait to see if the spell was going to hit or not, but instead followed with a second one. But this time, his target was not the Aurors directly, but a weakness he found on the ground. Harry aimed his wand at the carpet where Dudley lay writhing in pain. With a quick incantation, he cast a fire spell; the flames hit the shield and spread around them where the carpet was located.
Exactly as Harry wanted.
The sudden eruption of flames caught the Aurors off guard. The shield charm that had protected them from Harry's initial spell couldn't prevent the spread of the fire and reached the true target.
Dudley's agonized cries pierced the air as the fire consumed the carpet beneath him.
The Aurors, caught off guard by Harry's strategic diversion, reacted swiftly. One of them redirected his attention to the flaming carpet, his wand tracing a swift pattern in the air. A jet of water surged from his wand, landing on top of Dudley and the carpet, extinguishing the fire on the spot.
But the damage was already done. Dudley's skin burned, causing him unimaginable pain.
The Aurors, adapting quickly to the changing dynamics of the duel, shifted from a defensive stance to an offensive one. With synchronized precision, they launched a barrage of spells toward Harry, their wands dancing through the air.
Harry, anticipating the counterattack, raised his wand in a swift and practiced motion. The incantation for the Protego spell fell from his lips, and a shimmering shield materialized before him. The Aurors' spells collided with the protective barrier, creating a burst of magical energy that crackled and fizzled.
Dudley's cries of pain, amplified by the afterburn on his skin, reached a fevered pitch, grabbing the attention of the Aurors. Their momentary diversion created an opening, and Harry, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a wave of destructive magic.
With a forceful incantation, Harry shattered every glass object in the vicinity. The shards, now propelled by his magic, became deadly projectiles hurtling toward Dudley.
Amidst the chaos, Harry's voice cut through the battle. "I have no issue with you," he called out to the Aurors. "Let me deal with him, and I'll be on my way. You'll never hear from me again."
One of the Aurors, his expression resolute, responded to Harry's proposition. "Potter, we can't let you take the law into your own hands. Surrender peacefully, and we'll ensure a fair trial. Escalating this further won't benefit anyone."
"So be it," said Harry, and he pointed at the roof.
While the Aurors were protecting Dudley from the glass, Harry found it easy to launch another spell.
Bombarda Maxima.
The force of Harry's spell shook the entire room, and a deafening explosion echoed through the Dursley house. The sheer power of the magical blast shattered windows, splintered furniture, and sent shockwaves through the structure. The Aurors, caught off guard by the unexpected escalation, fought to maintain their footing amidst the chaos.
The blast was not directed at the Aurors themselves but at the ceiling. The upper floor of the house bore the brunt of the magical explosion. The ceiling crumbled, and debris rained down, creating a barrier between Harry and the Aurors.
With the Aurors momentarily disoriented by the explosion, Harry seized the opportunity to escape. In the blink of an eye, Harry had to make a decision. He sprinted toward the destroyed entrance door and left.