Fudge took the elevator to the second basement level of the Ministry of Magic, and after walking through the corridor, arrived at the Auror Office.
Kingsley wasn't in the interrogation room; he was chatting with Barty Crouch in front of the thick glass.
"Barty, Kingsley, how's the situation?"
Through the glass, Luke Wood could be clearly seen struggling with the effects of the Veritaserum, his face contorted in pain.
Even if he is a master of Occlumency and has a strong will, he cannot withstand it for long given his current physical condition.
Kingsley's gaze was sharp, radiating confidence. "We should be able to begin the formal interrogation before dawn."
Fudge's lips curled up slightly, unable to hide his inner joy. "Good! Kingsley, don't let any clues slip by. We must find all these Death Eaters remnants."
At the same time, the four people who came out of the red phone booth saw a figure standing in the alley from afar.
He had thick, long hair, and from a distance, he looked like a lion.
He seemed particularly down on his luck, completely lacking his usual decisive and efficient manner.
"Mr. Scrimgeour?" Hermione recognized the disheveled lion.
The man looked up, stuffed the Ministry of Magic badge he was playing with into his pocket, and forced a smile at the four of them.
Moody walked over, leaning on his cane, and placed a heavy hand on Scrimgeour's shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work, Rufus."
Scrimgeour smiled wryly, "Alastor, I still intend to resign."
He was one of the few hardliners in the department, showing zero tolerance for Death Eaters and even ordinary criminals.
Tonight, the Ministry of Magic disappointed him once again.
If he continues to compromise, he will only become one of those who disappoint him.
Moody gripped his shoulder tightly. "Rufus, I still remember the first mission we went on together. I never imagined that you, who were just a rookie back then, would later become the Head of the Auror Office."
Scrimgeour lowered his head. "You're more suitable than me, Alastor. If you had taken this position back then, perhaps the Ministry of Magic wouldn't be what it is today."
Moody chuckled. "Me? Forget it, I'd probably have been fired by now."
Scrimgeour's tough style stems from him, and since he is not good at political maneuvering, there is indeed a high probability that he will be dismissed under some pretext.
"Rufus— " Moody's smile vanished. "Running away isn't shameful; their actions are the most shameful."
Prioritizing the dignity and authority of the Ministry of Magic over the safety of the people is completely contrary to the Auror code.
Scrimgeour reached into his pocket and gripped the Ministry of Magic badge tightly. "Alastor, do you think I should stay?"
Moody remained silent for a long time. "Rufus, I have never misjudged anyone. That young man who doesn't know what giving up means hasn't changed in decades."
Scrimgeour slowly closed his eyes, as if recalling his younger self.
A series of soft, muffled thuds suddenly startled him awake, and a dense aura of Dark Magic emanated from the ground.
"This is..."
The group's expressions changed drastically, and they all picked up their wands and turned to look at the red telephone booth.
The Ministry of Magic is underground; this is Dark Magic attack!
"Damn it!" Scrimgeour's eyes were incredibly sharp. "The news about Luke Wood leaked so quickly, even though we blocked it immediately."
Moody's magic eye stared straight at the ground. "It's not necessarily a leak."
Scrimgeour's face was filled with horror. "Alastor, you mean..."
Moody did not answer, but only exchanged a quick glance with Dumbledore.
The staff quarters are under lockdown. If Luke Wood's information wasn't leaked from there, then it must have come from someone who was just in Bagman's room...
Scrimgeour gripped his wand tightly and slammed it into the ground.
Unseen magical fluctuations surged into the ground, activating the Anti-Apparition Jinx pre-set by the Ministry of Magic.
After confirming that the spell had taken effect, he activated the Ministry of Magic's dedicated Magical Communicator on his wrist.
The half-person-high projection screen was divided into small screens, two of which were completely black.
"Damn it! They really are after Luke Wood!"
Those two small shots are of the Auror Office on the second basement level. Although we can't see what's going on in the interrogation room, we can see from other shots that the staff are rushing over.
The attack by the Dark Magic was quite powerful, affecting even the Minister's Office on the first basement floor and the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes on the third floor.
Scrimgeour looked at Moody, and the two of them were both intently watching another scene on the second basement level.
The encrypted communication within the Auror was never established, although many high-level executives sent communication requests.
Scrimgeour ignored them, anxiously awaiting the connection of the encrypted communication.
The situation is urgent tonight. Apart from those who have sealed off the staff dormitories, the remaining Auror are all staying in the office on standby.
The fact that no one has made a call means the situation is more serious than imagined. Being suddenly attacked by Dark Magic at close range, perhaps only Dumbledore could escape unscathed.
One minute passed, then two minutes passed, and the tormented Scrimgeour couldn't help but rush toward the red telephone booth.
Activating the Ministry of Magic's Anti-Apparition Jinx will also block Floo Powder's teleportation. The only way to get in now is through the main entrance, or by relying on some special Magical Creatures.
"Rufus!" Dumbledore called to him. "Let's go together."
Scrimgeour felt a strange sense of relief as he looked at Vincent and Hermione, whose expressions were resolute.
Going together would be dangerous, and staying here would be equally dangerous.
He took a deep breath and strode over.
Fawkes emerged from the brilliant red flames, circled the five of them once, and took them to the less affected Department of Magical Law Enforcement on the second underground level.
The place was deserted, and the corridor leading to the Auror Office had collapsed. The Dark Magic aura that was almost solidifying meant that it was difficult to restore, and the only way to get there was to take a long detour.
Dumbledore came to the collapsed corridor and examined it carefully.
Damage caused by Dark Magic is difficult to repair, but not impossible to repair; it's nothing to a powerful wizard.
With a gentle wave of the Elder Wand, the collapsed corridor quickly returned to its original state.
Scrimgeour gave a grateful look and led the group quickly through the corridor.
At a glance, the Auror Office and the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes below had become a large, charred ruin. Strange blood-red marks clung to it like capillaries, and the remaining Dark Magic aura drifted in wispy strands without wind.
Faced with such a horrific scene, it no longer matters where the Death Eaters went.
Beneath the eerie ruins lie almost all the Auror of the British Wizarding World; the most important thing now is rescue.
The staff who came from afar are working hard to dig through the ruins, but the progress is very slow due to the remaining Dark Magic, and anything that touches it is quickly corroded.
Dumbledore's arrival delighted them, while Amelia Bones Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in charge of directing the rescue efforts, sat down wearily.
Moody, Vincent, and Hermione joined the rescue, and soon, one after another, the severely wounded Auror were carried out.
Scrimgeour sought out Bones for information, but she knew nothing about it either.
"The explosion happened so suddenly. We rushed over immediately, but the place was already like this."