Hogwarts, without Umbridge's presence, improved dramatically. It practically returned to its previous state, although the aftermath of that woman's tenure would take time to fully recover from. Salazar only hoped that they had not acted too late to protect those children.
The training Salazar gave Ron was quite intensive and increasing. He understood the boy's mindset and, although he didn't agree with it, he was going to provide him with the necessary weapons. Both he and Godric had warned Ron about the dangers of revenge, but they could only give advice, not direct his life. One advantage was that this focus would at least keep Ron occupied, which could help him manage his anger and make wiser decisions in the future.
Snape's Defence Against the Dark Arts class was a huge change from previous years. He was a truly competent teacher who knew what he was talking about and didn't sugar-coat the situation for the students just because they were children. He was precisely the kind of teacher needed for that subject.
Potions class, taught by Professor Slughorn, was also a welcome change. That teacher knew how to convey a passion for potions and help people understand the basic principles. It was clear that, for students in fourth year and above, he was the teacher who could fill the gaps left by previous years and get them interested in the art.
A great improvement in all of this was the climate of freedom the castle now enjoyed. The students, in general, were calmer, which meant that Salazar and the rest could meet more easily and plot their next move regarding the prophecy. What they were really looking for was a way to lure Voldemort out of his lair. Salazar firmly believed that it was better to do nothing and let the Dark wizard become impatient while searching for the prophecy. The switch had been made months ago, so he would still be left with nothing. It was the best plan.
"So what do you want to focus on now?" Rowena asked.
"On the O.W.L.s," Salazar replied. "After all, Harry Potter is a fifth-year student who is now taking his first major exams."
"So we're just going to wait for him to get impatient and reveal himself," Godric muttered. "Does your girl know?"
"Yes. She will be prepared to sound the alarm for intruders."
"What a shame. And to think that I wanted to put on a badge that said 'I am Darth Vader'," Godric protested with a huff. "Well, we will have to study instead of preparing for a war."
"You will lay the hook and warn Gandalf so that it will appear that it is his business to reveal the fake prophecy. I'll let you know when the time comes to do so," Rowena murmured.
Little by little, the week of the O.W.L.s approached. The exams were spread over two weeks, but it was still referred to as "O.W.L. week." Salazar felt watched by Dumbledore, or perhaps it was his paranoia, given everything he suspected of the Headmaster. He felt that Dumbledore wanted to control his life, although he didn't understand why. He lacked that information and, at the moment, he didn't know how to get it. He would have to be patient and wait for the truth to be revealed. Salazar imagined it had to do with the prophecy, but so much control made him think that wasn't all.
"You're still thinking about getting rid of him," Godric observed.
"He has too much power. Too many positions. We should activate the old Hogwarts law that prevents a teacher from holding more than one position both inside and outside this institution. But Helga is right. Dumbledore is our best asset to prevent Voldemort from taking control of the castle and the wizarding community in general."
"I don't know if we can reactivate that old law. But we can do something."
Shortly after, Hermione and Ron joined them. So Salazar diverted the subject to the O.W.L.s and their future options. He knew that Hermione was nervous about the exams, but Godric would take care of relaxing her; that was what she was there for. Ron, on the other hand, had become more disciplined, all thanks to chess and learning how to plan his studies. The four of them had been studying together for a long time. They were also frequently joined by Draco, Theodore, and Blaise. Salazar had a small ambition regarding the O.W.L.s: to have their year be the best class that had ever sat the exams. That could work for many more students than they thought, but there were also a few who simply shouldn't have reached the fifth-year level, as was the case with Crabbe and Goyle. That would break that ambition, but it could be exploited by the time the N.E.W.T.s came around.
"Who are those?" Hermione asked, noticing the people entering the Great Hall.
"They're the examiners. My grandmother knows a couple of them. They're strict and not at all easily swayed," Godric replied.
"That's good," Salazar commented. "That will leave out those who shouldn't have passed the course."
"But... what happens if I fail?" Ron asked.
"You'll have to leave without being able to do any magic, or repeat the year," Hermione replied. "I asked Professor McGonagall."
"Why?" Ron asked. "You know everything. It's impossible for you to fail."
"It's true," both Godric and Salazar said at the same time.
It was the weekend, and the exams began on Monday. So it was logical that the examiners arrived with enough time to settle in. Salazar listened to Hermione mumble about everything that needed to be reviewed. He didn't consider it sensible at all. He thought it was better, much better, to relax that weekend and not think too much about the exams. He didn't think she would learn much more than she already knew in just one weekend. Continuing to study would only lead to further confusion. He looked up to see Draco approaching. He looked somewhat upset, holding a letter and a kind of dossier that looked like it had come from the Ministry of Magic.
"Weasley, Harry. I have to talk to you."
"I have nothing to talk to you about, Malfoy," Ron said contemptuously. "If I could, I'd rip your head off for what they did to my father."
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, scandalised.
"In half an hour at the lake," Draco said before leaving.
Ron was still angry. Draco's father was known to have been a Death Eater and to support that ideology. So Ron hated everything related to Death Eaters, and more. Salazar feared that Ron would get lost in his revenge and end up making the mistake of doing what he shouldn't. Maybe it was time to tell him something that could be proven anyway and was already on the lips of many, although no one knew why.
"In the third year, both Draco and Theodore began to plan how to get away from their respective parents, who wanted to force them to become the monsters that they are. I know you don't like him, but he decided to change. Now let's get this over with and see what Draco wants."
"Don't call him 'Draco,' for me he'll always be Malfoy. Don't expect me to become his little friend."
"He's dating your sister, did you know that?"
"Don't remind me," Ron growled. "Let's see what that blonde wants."
They headed toward the lake. As they approached, Salazar could clearly see that Draco had lost his composure. He was nervous and upset. His expression and behaviour were far from what he usually showed.
"I knew it could happen. I knew it. With the return of that lunatic... I knew it would happen. Maybe I was naïve to think that I could rescue her in time."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, frowning. Salazar was beginning to see where this was going.
"My father has sent me this letter. He blames me for my mother's death, for having had to hand my mother over as punishment for having given up on the path I had to travel."
"And what does that have to do with me?" Ron asked.
"Flint sent me this thinking I'd find it fun. But it's disgusting. It's what the Ministry has covered up about your father. Those injuries, that magic... I know where they came from." Draco's voice was filled with rage. "It's the magic of the Malfoy family, it was my father who killed yours. I recognise this magic, it was him. You want to avenge your father, and I want to avenge my mother. The man who begat me gave her to the Dark Lord."
"Why..."
"Magic greatly punishes those who attack their own blood relatives," Salazar said, looking at both boys. "Draco knows your purpose and is giving you something to focus on. At the same time, he gets his revenge if you succeed. But I don't think that's all, is it?"
"I want to see that Dark Lord fall."
The Ministry of Magic Incursion
It was late at the Ministry when she received the message. Fortunately, she was alone. A Patronus simply arrived, sent by Rowena, with the single message: "It's time." Helga left the office and approached the head of the department's office. Kingsley usually hung out with Amelia Bones. Months ago, the three of them had installed a kind of "alarm" at the entrance to the Department of Mysteries. It was a secret, concealed alarm.
"I guess the alarm just went off," she said as soon as she entered the office.
"Are you a seer?" Kingsley asked, his eyebrow raised, as Madame Bones pulled out the glass that was the alarm receptacle.
"Intuition."
"Let's get going," said Madame Bones. "How many are operational today?"
"Apart from us, Savage, Vance, and Dawlish," Helga replied.
"We'll have to make do. There's no time to call for more. Let's go."
They gathered the available Aurors and went down to the Department of Mysteries. It was difficult to navigate the department. It was a labyrinth designed to confuse people, which was quite normal considering this was where the Ministry hid many of its secrets and experiments. It was a dangerous place in itself, and the Unspeakables had not made it easy for her months ago. It was fortunate that there were none in the department now. If Aurors had a reputation for attacking first and asking questions later, the Unspeakables were not far behind. They burst into the department, advancing cautiously and surrounding the Death Eaters who seemed to be waiting for something. It seemed to Helga that Vance was sending a Patronus to someone, and she frowned, pretending nothing had happened. She had long suspected that she was one of Dumbledore's agents at the Ministry.
Helga noticed what the Death Eaters were doing. One of them stepped forward and picked up one of the spheres from the shelf, collapsing moments later. The false prophecy rolled on the floor until it was lost among the shelves. Apparently, it was the shelf that held the spells, not the orb itself. She didn't feel sorry that the magic of the department had melted the brain of that Death Eater.
"The Ministry of Magic is never so crowded or receives such unwelcome visitors," Kingsley said in his deep voice.
The Death Eaters reacted immediately. They began to cast spells at them. There were about eight, or nine with the one who had fallen. Seven of them attacked while the eighth searched for the orb. Helga considered going to stop the Death Eater for a few moments while she faced two of them. She let it be. It was an empty orb, after all. It wasn't worth it. It was better that they thought it was a small triumph for them. In fact, she imagined that Salazar would find it more amusing that way. She smiled just thinking about his antics. Her smile, from what she noticed, seemed to unsettle the Death Eaters she was fighting. She could use that to her advantage. She managed to gain the upper hand, disarm them, and then knock them out. After that, she conjured anti-Disapparition protections in the enclosure so that none of those captured could flee. Only one of them had fled.
"There's one who's run away with that orb," she informed the rest.
"Did they escape with the prophecy?" Madame Bones asked. "Let's raise the alarm, close the entire Ministry." Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley, follow me. The rest of you watch this scum."
Helga followed the other two into the Atrium, only to find a duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort. She had not seen the Dark wizard before, but Salazar's description was enough for her to know what he looked like. She frowned. When had he arrived there? She imagined Vance had called Dumbledore, but Voldemort... either he had simply appeared there because he was too impatient, or one of his Death Eaters had called him. The fact was that they were not the only spectators. The Minister and his entourage were also there. That made her think that Dawlish had warned his "owner." It seemed that the can of worms had been completely uncovered. She communicated with her eyes to Kingsley, and both began to protect the perimeter of the duel. There was no trace of the Death Eater who had escaped. Shortly after, Voldemort fled.
"Are you going to continue ignoring the obvious, Minister?" Dumbledore asked in a tone that Helga thought sounded like, "I was always right."
Helga remained silent. It was not her business, with her position in the Ministry, to speak at that time, with both Kingsley and Madame Bones present. She was going to stay in the background and observe. She was sure it would be a very long night and that she would have to write a report on what had happened. Of course, the Minister's position would influence the outcome of the reports. On the other hand, she was going to plot the next steps to follow together with her colleagues. For the time being, when a couple of days had passed, she would pay a visit to Dumbledore under the name of Sif and inform him about the false prophecy that Voldemort had taken. It was something they had agreed to do once Voldemort was revealed. In fact, she could write the summons about it as soon as she got home.
Voldemort's Rage and Dumbledore's Regrets
When he returned to the manor, Voldemort exploded in anger. The incursion into the Ministry had not gone as expected, and now he had been revealed ahead of time, before he had everything he needed to finally defeat Potter, before he could even regain all his strength. He didn't understand what had happened. He felt powerful, as before, but no more powerful; if anything, he felt weaker. The strengthening ritual he had recently done had helped. It was a pity to have had to drain the life of a pure-blood with high roots, but there was no other solution. The target could have been anyone, but at the same time, he had wanted it to be a warning to everyone. Whoever failed him would suffer the consequences. Seeing the effects of the strengthening ritual, he planned to do it with his greatest enemy when he had him at his mercy. But first, he needed the knowledge of the prophecy.
"Give me the prophecy," he demanded of the only one of his Death Eaters who had successfully made it out of the Department of Mysteries. He had been interrogating the man moments ago to find out what exactly had happened.
Surely that kind of trap had been planned by Dumbledore. There must have been a lot more people in that damned Order than his informants had told him. That alone could explain why the Aurors knew where to go and also Dumbledore's sudden appearance in the Ministry. They were going to pay for it. Completely. One by one. No one involved themselves in his plans and came out unscathed.
He enjoyed when the trembling Death Eater handed him the prophecy. He would finally know the truth. The one thing that made a helpless child destroy him. That prophecy was the key to destroying his rival, and at that moment he would learn how to do it. The only thing that was clear to him was that it had to be between the two of them, but he wanted to know the conditions of the prophecy to put them in his favour.
"Retreat," he said to his Death Eaters. He wasn't stupid enough to let them hear the prophecy. That was something that was up to him, and only him. Information was power, and he was not going to allow anyone to have power over him.
He held the prophecy firmly, contemplating it and delighting in it. He was savouring his triumph in advance. This was a guarantee that he would achieve victory. His patience during all his years of isolation in the Albanian jungle was finally being rewarded. He recognised that his initial mistake was not to seek the content of the prophecy before acting. Just hearing that his fall had been prophesied had been enough to make him lose control and reason on that occasion. He had not acted with his head, but now he would. Now he would be able to get rid of all his impediments. He just had to listen to the prophecy. He knew that to listen to it, it was only necessary to hold it firmly and wish for it to be activated. But if he didn't want anyone to know anything about it, he had to break the record. It was the second and safest method. In addition, he had an eidetic memory. He threw the record on the ground. Nothing came out of it. No voice, no words, no prophecy. He uttered a cry of rage. Damn Dumbledore. This must have been his doing, he was sure of that.
He knew that his Death Eaters had heard him, just as he also knew that they would not enter the room until he ordered them to do so, or they would pay dearly. But the first one who was going to pay for it was Dumbledore. That puppeteer who handled his pawns. As long as he was still alive, his plans would be thwarted again and again. In order to get to Potter, Dumbledore would have to be taken out of the way. The sooner, the better. He couldn't allow Dumbledore to groom him or allow Potter to develop as a wizard. The duel on the night of his return had been complicated. He didn't want Potter to become more powerful.
Now the question was how to get to Dumbledore. Who to choose for such an important task? Many would like to try themselves to earn an important position in his ranks, but he couldn't entrust it to just anyone. It had to be someone from within their ranks who was still in school and had the knowledge and subtlety to do things right. It was time to put the best of his inner circle through it and find the ideal candidate through them. It was time to make a move.
Albus Dumbledore was upset. These supposed allies of his did not bring benefits to his way of doing things. They were completely wrong in their actions. They had destroyed all the Horcruxes, or so they said, but he knew that was not the case. If they had destroyed them all, they would have had to get Harry Potter out of the way, and Harry Potter was still alive. So their statement was nothing more than a falsehood. Of course, if the rest of them were really destroyed, he had bought time to prepare the young Potter for his unfortunate fate.
He was still thinking about telling the boy parts of Tom Riddle's past so that he could get to know the Dark wizard better. But without Horcruxes, it would be difficult to guide him to what he finally had to do. A sacrifice, regrettable yes, but necessary in the end.
As for the prophecy... He remembered the recent meeting he had had with Sif. It had all been a trap. Somehow they had removed and destroyed it, something he thought unlikely given the Department of Mysteries' defences. The fact was that if it was true, Voldemort had taken a fake record, and if it was false, Voldemort already knew that he would have to wait or find a way to protect his interests. He had to think about that carefully and consider telling young Harry about the prophecy in his training or just keeping it to himself. He had been doing well until then, despite his slight rebelliousness for a few years, but that was normal for a healthy teenager. It was time to write a letter to the young man offering him those private lessons. Any young person would dream of something like that.