Ch. 21Stealing a Portkey
Summary: "Stealing a Portkey"
1. Key Plot Points and Events
- Lester uses his blue Fiendfyre (Protego Diabolica) to kill a Dementor, discovering it can destroy soul-based beings that are normally only harmed by a Patronus Charm.
- The Dementor burns completely away, leaving no remains, and the system grants +1 proficiency for the kill.
- Lester tests whether killing a small bug also grants proficiency; it does not, confirming that only intelligent/soul-bearing creatures (like Dementors) count.
- His objective becomes clear: steal a Portkey from the Auror outpost on Azkaban's edge, which can transport him directly to the Ministry of Magic.
- He turns invisible and traverses the island to the Auror station—a white, Buckingham-Palace-like building roughly three stories tall.
- Observing the building, he finds only two Aurors on guard in the first-floor lobby; he then spots two more figures descending the stairs, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.
2. Character Developments
- Lester proves to be calculating, ruthless, and pragmatic: he burns a living creature to death without hesitation and expresses no remorse over the Dementor's suffering.
- He establishes a personal moral code: he will not harm innocent Muggles, but he is fully willing to target corrupt Ministry of Magic officials to gain power and freedom.
- He is methodical and patient, meticulously scouting the Auror outpost before acting.
3. Significant Themes
- Power through dark magic: Lester's Fiendfyre is uniquely lethal, capable of destroying even soul-based beings, setting him apart from ordinary wizards.
- Moral ambiguity: The chapter draws a distinction between "worthy" targets (corrupt officials, soul-eating monsters) and innocents, framing dark deeds as justified against evil.
- Imprisonment and escape: Lester's singular drive to escape Azkaban frames the narrative, with the Portkey as his key to freedom.
- Institutional corruption: The Ministry of Magic is portrayed as incompetent and corrupt, providing Lester both a rationale and a target list.
4. Character Interactions
- Lester vs. the Dementor: Hostile, violent, and one-sided; Lester overpowers it with Fiendfyre while the Dementor screams in agony and terror.
- Lester & the System: Transactional; the Dark Lord System tracks his kills, granting proficiency and serving as his primary source of power.
- Lester & the Aurors: No direct contact yet; only observation from a distance while invisible, building suspense for the upcoming Portkey theft.