NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: A House Divided
Dumbledore rushed up to Minister Fudge to argue the case. In the meantime, the Ministry Obliviator bound Harry and floated him toward a side room. With each step closer to that door, Harry was getting more and more scared. The Obliviator opened the door and put Harry inside. He was about to cast the spell to bind Harry's magic, but something strange happened - , a shield formed in front of Harry blocking the binding spell.
The Auror immediately collapsed as he was struck by a blurry white mist emanating from Harry's chest. It appeared to Harry that his magic sensed the danger he was in (and his rising anxiety) and reacted on its own. Harry stood there in woozy shock for a few seconds. Feeling betrayed by the wizarding world, he decided to leave it, but understood that for his safety he needed to make everybody believe his magic was bound and that he had been obliviated.
Harry took the Auror's wand and prepared to cast Obliviate (for the first time in his life) on the Auror. Remembering what he recently learned in the Black Library, he closed his eye, focused on remembering the theory of the spell and focusing on his anger at the wizarding world. He created a backstory to replace the Aurors memory about what just happened, then cast the spell with the strongest intent and purpose.
Harry impressed on the Auror the notion he had completed his task, including modifying Harry's appearance so he wouldn't have any trouble taking Harry to the apparition point; and then transporting Harry to the muggle world.
Harry then cast the disillusion charm (which he learned for the TriWiz) on himself and instructed the Auror to apparate to Hogsmead. As a bonus, Harry also cast a Confundus on the Auror so he thought he was snogged by Madam Umbridge as a reward for doing his duties. Harry then put the Aurors wand back in his limp hand and left the Ministry building.
Rising from the ashes
August 12, Grimmauld Place – The Headmaster and Mr. Weasley had decided it was better to floo first to the headmaster's office at Hogwarts and from there to Grimmauld Place – they were just too stunned to focus properly in order to apparate. They strode through the fireplace into a living room filled with angst. Sirius was walking back and forth anxiously across the room.
Remus was tucked into an armchair trying (and failing) to read a book – in fact, the book was upside down! Ron and Ginny were playing Gobstones, glancing several times towards the door. Hermione was in the library, trying to keep herself occupied and her fingernails out of reach from her teeth. Mrs. Weasley was, of course, cooking nervously in the kitchen.
"Headmaster!" shouted Sirius when he saw him stride out of the fireplace, "How did it go? Where is Harry?" he asked. This brought Mrs. Weasley out of the kitchen and Hermione down from the library. The headmaster looked down toward the ground and weakly responded with "we've lost him. Harry was found guilty, had his magic bound, was obliviated, and then dropped off somewhere in England by an Auror" he said sadly. Ron's head snapped up. "He had his magic bound? Obliviated?" he asked. Hermione gasped when she heard Ron's words, putting her hand over her mouth in shock. Her stomach clenched tightly and she felt nauseous.
Then she felt light headed, like she couldn't breathe. It was the worst nightmare she and Harry had thought might happen. Then … "Can I have his broom?", Ron asked. A smack was heard as Ginny slapped his face. Sirius's face was quickly turning red. Remus' face was turning pale, while Ron's was quickly turning purple! "What? He's not going to need it now?" Ron continued. "What do you mean 'found guilty', Headmaster?" (Sirius) "Well, if you are going to take the broom, I want his Quidditch jersey" Ginny said. "How?" asked Hermione. Mr. Weasley had rushed to his wife's side as she fainted dead away.
Everyone was stunned at the outcome of the ..... Dumbledore explained that while at the ...., he had been so busy trying to argue with Minister Fudge he had not noticed Harry had been taken to another chamber to be obliviated. By the time he realized it and followed. He saw a flash of spell light under the door. When he opened the door a mere minute later, Harry and the Obliviator were gone. By the end of these explanations, Hermione was crying near hysterically. Mrs. Weasley gave her a calming draught. Hermione then demanded to be taken home.
The headmaster in the meantime was considering what Ron had said before – maybe the headmaster should take Harry's cloak. It was a magical item of immense value and Harry wouldn't need it anymore. Unbeknownst to all but Hermione, Harry had put all his important belongings into the feather-light and bottomless bag he and Hermione had created, and which was hidden by the Abscondus spell, just in case.