The Death Eaters below watched Voldemort fly off. Out of faith in his overwhelming power, none dared to move. But Snape and Lucius exchanged a glance—and without hesitation, both Disapparated with a sharp crack that startled everyone around.
"Snape and Malfoy escaped?" Bellatrix shrieked. "I knew it! Those two are traitors! When the Dark Lord finishes off that filthy Mudblood, I'll kill them myself!"
Her tone was shrill and venomous, like a viper baring its fangs.
Their sudden disappearance stirred unrest among the Death Eaters. Some began to wonder whether they should flee as well. The battle raging in the skies was still undecided, but down here, the tide had clearly turned against them. If the Aurors pressed their assault, few would survive.
But Cornelius Fudge had no intention of letting them escape.
Wiping them all out here—that was his goal.
"Don't let them get away! Bring out the secret weapon!" he bellowed, popping out from who-knows-where.
The Aurors instantly understood. They each pulled another Poké Ball from their belts.
"Come out—Wobbuffet! Magnemite! Trapinch!"
Three kinds of Pokémon appeared—each still young, far too low-level for combat. But at once, an odd energy pulsed through Godric's Hollow, a strange field enveloping the entire valley.
A few Death Eaters tried to Apparate away—but their bodies twisted mid-motion, spinning like tossed cloaks before snapping back into place.
"Anti-Apparition Field?!"
"When did they—?"
"Anti-Apparition?" Fudge sneered. "Snape was right. The times have changed, Death Eaters! This is the combined power of Shadow Tag, Magnet Pull, and Arena Trap!"
These infant Pokémon had been specially prepared by Charles Gold and temporarily loaned to the Aurors for this mission—to prevent any escape. The Wobbuffet and Trapinch had only recently hatched and were still at their earliest stage, incapable of battle.
"Surrender peacefully! The law will show you mercy!" Fudge declared grandly.
But not a single Death Eater laid down their wand. It wasn't courage—merely blind faith that Voldemort would triumph. If they surrendered now, and he returned… that would mean death for sure.
If they could escape, they might at least hide and live out their days in exile.
"You worthless scum!" Bellatrix spat, then hurled a curse at Fudge.
A Xatu flared its wings and blocked the spell in an instant.
Its eyes glowed pink, and a psychic wave burst forth like a raging storm, sweeping through the remaining Death Eaters. The flood of psychic energy hit them like a collapsing landslide in a downpour, crushing what resistance remained.
"Well done!" Fudge cheered, waving his wand wildly as he tried to counterattack Bellatrix himself.
His hands shook too much. The spell missed entirely.
The Xatu shot him a look of pure disdain. In all its days, it had never met such a pathetic trainer. If it had known this would be its lot, it would have stayed in the Reserve. It decided then and there—once this was over, it would immediately file for return.
"Capture them!" Kingsley roared and charged forward.
Within moments, the remaining Death Eaters were disarmed and bound tightly with conjured ropes by the Aurors.
Fudge swaggered over proudly."Look at you mangy dogs. Your days are over!" he gloated, already envisioning the accolades he would receive. Surely he'd earn an Order of Merlin, First Class—maybe even a war hero's badge. He'd already composed his speech in his head:
"In honor of the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, for his unparalleled bravery during the Second Wizarding War…"
"You think you can send me back to Azkaban again?" Bellatrix snarled from where she lay bound, still defiant and wild-eyed. "When the Dark Lord kills that Mudblood, you'll all pay for this!"
"Interesting thought," Charles said, descending from the clouds. He appeared battle-worn, though in truth, he'd been safely hidden the entire time, having his Pokémon attack from the cover of thick storm clouds.
"But you're right about one thing—you won't be sent to Azkaban. You'll all be executed."
"That's impossible! The Dark Lord cannot lose!"
"Really?" Charles smiled faintly. "If he's so invincible, where exactly was he hiding for the past ten years?" Then he turned to Fudge. "Cornelius, hand these Death Eaters over to me."
He wanted them for magical experiments. Using Voldemort's own body wasn't ideal—its structure was far from normal, which might distort his data. Besides, he was ready for Voldemort to exit the stage. It was almost time for Team Rocket's turn to rise.
Fudge had no objections whatsoever."If you're willing to take them, by all means."
At that moment, Kingsley and Mad-Eye Moody approached.
"Gold, did the Dark Lord really escape?" Kingsley asked uncertainly.
The idea that the Dark Lord—the figure who'd terrified generations—had been defeated so easily and forced to flee was absurd. Ten years ago, no one would've believed it. It was as though the ancient terror had returned only to be made a fool of within months.
Kingsley marveled at Charles's power. Charles misunderstood the look.
"Yes, he got away," Charles said apologetically. "I'm afraid it was difficult to hold him down. But I doubt he'll dare show his face in Britain anytime soon. As for fleeing abroad—that's anyone's guess."
"No," Moody said, shaking his head. "This is more than we could've hoped for. Even Dumbledore never managed to do this. And those Pokémon you loaned the Aurors—they were a great help."
"You're mistaken, Mr. Moody. Those Pokémon weren't gifts. Technically, they remain under the authority of the Pokémon Protection and Management Office. Aurors require my approval to take them on missions."
"Eh, same difference," Moody grunted. "They did their job and saved lives. Still a pity Snape and Lucius slipped away!"
"Oh, those two?" Charles smiled faintly. "They're my spies." He produced a glass bottle, enlarged it with an Extension Charm, and stored the captured Death Eaters inside. "I'll be heading back now."
"Wait—wait!" Fudge hurried after him. "Since the war's over, I was thinking—we could hold a ceremony of commendation—"
"I'll pass." Charles had no interest in such farce. He turned and left.
"So the war has started?"
As the final chime of July 31st rang, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin stepped out of Number Four, Privet Drive, ignoring the glares of the Dursleys behind them.
A heavy slam echoed from the house, but none of them cared.
Harry was thrilled to have his godfather and his father's old friend with him for his birthday. He'd received letters from Ron and Hermione, making it one of the happiest birthdays he'd ever had—though not quite as joyful as the one when Hagrid had brought him a cake.
Maybe because back then, he'd had no expectations at all.
"The paper says so," Lupin said softly. "But we don't know the details."Sirius, louder and more restless, scowled. "Dumbledore didn't even join the fight this time—left it to the Ministry and Charles Gold. We thought about gathering intel, but then figured, what's the rush? The last war dragged on for years. We'll celebrate your birthday first, then take you over."
"Can I join the war?" Harry asked eagerly.
Sirius laughed heartily, while Lupin looked grave.
"That's James's son, all right! He'd say the exact same thing!"
"Sirius," Lupin warned sharply. "Harry, listen—you're still too young."
"But—I fought off Vol—mmph!"
"Don't say that name." Lupin quickly covered his mouth.
"That name carries magic, Harry. I know you're brave, unafraid of the Dark Lord—but he's placed a curse upon it. Say it aloud, and he and his followers can sense you instantly."
"Fine, fine—'the Dark Lord,'" Harry muttered. "Still, he's not that scary. I mean, he's strong, sure, but my Pokémon aren't weak either! I even gave him a scar on his head last time!"
"Harry," Lupin sighed, though his voice was kind. "We all believe you'll grow into a great force against him—but not yet."
The next morning's Daily Prophet made all three of them nearly drop their toast.
"The Dark Lord in Flight! All Death Eaters Eliminated!""Victory in One Day—Who Is Charles Gold?"
Sirius and Lupin blinked at each other, then stared down again."Did I subscribe to the wrong paper? This must be satire, right?"
"It clearly says Daily Prophet," Lupin murmured, stunned. Then he smiled. "Accept it—he defeated Voldemort in a single day. No matter how you look at it, it's good news. Still, we should remain cautious. Evil tends to return."
"Feels like I'm dreaming," Sirius muttered. "You think there's a chance Voldemort never came back at all—and I'm actually still in Azkaban?"
"If that's the case, when you wake up, you can turn into a dog and swim back to check," Lupin quipped, making both Harry and Sirius laugh.
"Still can't believe how strong Charles and his Pokémon are," Sirius said.
"Of course they are!" Harry grinned. "If I hadn't had to send mine to the Reserve before returning to the Dursleys, I'd show you their power right now!"
Charles had never forbidden wizards living in the Muggle world from keeping their Pokémon—Hermione had taken hers home, after all—but Harry, knowing the Dursleys, had chosen to leave his Pokémon in the Reserve for safety.
"It's all right. You'll have your chance," Sirius smiled. "Next term, Moony here will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I'll drop by from time to time—say, once a month."
"Really?" Harry's face lit up—then turned anxious. "But isn't that job cursed? No one ever lasts!"
"That was before," Lupin said with a smile. "Now that Dumbledore and your favorite professor have lifted the curse, I should be fine."
Meanwhile, in the Hogwarts Pokémon Reserve, the very man they were discussing was tossing a golden cup into roaring Fiendfyre.
[Horcrux detected: Hufflepuff's Cup destroyed. Current Horcrux destruction progress: 5.][Reward: Level +2. New Ability: Battle Switch. Ultra Wormhole coordinate detected—UB-05 Glutton, Guzzlord location locked!][New Move learned: King's Shield—when used, enter Shield Form. Physical and special defenses greatly increased.]
"Battle Switch!" Charles's eyes gleamed.
Of course he knew the true potential of Aegislash, master of that technique—its ability to freely shift between forms mid-battle had made it one of his favorites. And in a world without EV limits, Battle Switch would be even more formidable.
What surprised him more was that this time, the system hadn't given him data on another Legendary Pokémon—but the coordinates of one of the Ultra Beasts: UB-05, Guzzlord.
(End of Chapter)