Truth Revealed

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Corban Yaxley was in an even worse state—crossbow bolts had pierced both of his thighs.

This was the work of Ethan, who had orchestrated the response.

The moment Yaxley dared to resist, the team wasted no time.

Without hesitation, they drew their crossbows and fired, bringing him down instantly.

Thus, Corban Yaxley, a high-ranking Ministry of Magic official who had always flaunted his authority, was now being escorted to the Auror's office- limping and humiliated.

The shocking scene left many wizards unsettled. They gathered in hushed groups, whispering anxiously about what had just unfolded.

The abrupt lockdown of the Ministry, coupled with the arrest of its officials, sent a wave of unease through the crowd.

With no official statements forthcoming, tension hung heavy in the air.

But the arrests did not stop there.

In a swift and decisive operation that spanned a single day, many Death Eaters—those who had secretly conspired with Voldemort to restore his power—were captured.

However, some had fled early.

Alecto and Amycus Carrow, recognizing Sirius Black at the camp, wasted no time in escape. Knowing their cover had been blown, they didn't even dare return home.

By the time Aurors arrived at the Carrow estate, it was abandoned. A thorough search yielded nothing. Even the family's Gringotts vault had been completely emptied.

Others were not so lucky.

Avery, Nott Sr., Crabbe Sr., and Goyle Sr. were all arrested in their homes without so much as a fight.

At first, these pure-blooded aristocrats blustered and threatened, demanding to see Minister Fudge, convinced he would put the Aurors in their place.

But their bravado crumbled when they arrived at the Ministry of Magic and saw how many of their "peers" had already been gathered there.

Their faces paled as the realization set in—someone had uncovered their most dangerous secrets.

The Ministry had no patience for their usual airs. They were unceremoniously shoved into temporary holding cells prepared by the Aurors, who made no effort to show them courtesy.

Their wands were confiscated. Stuffed together in cramped cells, the captured Death Eaters shouted and cursed, demanding to see Fudge, insisting there had been a misunderstanding.

No one listened.

In truth, even the Aurors had no idea where Minister Fudge was hiding.

The Ministry of Magic now answered Ethan.

As tension mounted, desperate Ministry employees finally got the answers they sought.

Boxes of the expedited Prophet were delivered straight into the Ministry.

Wizards snatched up copies eagerly, for the newspaper had become their only link to the outside world.

And as they read, they were left in stunned silence.

In bold black letters, the front page declared the unthinkable: You-Know-Who lives.

Not only that—he had orchestrated the Quidditch World Cup riot.

Just as the weight of this revelation settled in, the second headline sent an even greater shockwave through them.

Upon learning that Voldemort was still alive and actively seeking to regain his strength, Mr. Lucius Malfoy made a bold decision—he went undercover within the Death Eater ranks.

Earning their trust took time, but he immediately contacted the Ministry of Magic once he had fully infiltrated their circle.

Without hesitation, he provided a comprehensive list of all Death Eaters involved in the Quidditch World Cup riots.

Thanks to his information, the majority of them were swiftly captured.

At the end of the Prophet, the names of the arrested Death Eaters were published in full. Wizards who saw familiar names on the list gasped, their eyes widening in shock.

These were colleagues, friends, and even respected figures—people they had known for years.

The realization that these acquaintances had secretly pledged loyalty to Voldemort sent a shiver down their spines.

Thankfully, soon after the newspaper's release, the lockdown on the Ministry of Magic was lifted.

Ministry employees were finally free to leave.

Yet, the weight of the revelation—that Voldemort still lived—hung heavy over them. Many remained dazed, struggling to process the news.

As soon as the announcement was made, wizards wasted no time.

They hurried toward the Floo Network, eager to return home and come to terms with the unsettling truth.

Within minutes, the once-crowded atrium of the Ministry fell eerily silent. The last remaining staff members vanished in bursts of green flames, leaving the vast hall deserted.

For many, this news reopened old wounds.

They still remembered the fear, the chaos, the suffocating dread of Voldemort's reign.

They had believed those dark days were gone forever.

But today, the newspapers had shattered that illusion.

Tonight, few in the wizarding world would find sleep.

Meanwhile, deep within the Ministry's holding cells, the imprisoned Death Eaters also received copies of the Prophet.

The moment they laid eyes on the article exposing Lucius Malfoy's betrayal, chaos erupted.

Fury consumed them.

They howled and cursed, their voices raw with rage.

Some slammed their fists against the iron bars, while others spat vile threats, swearing vengeance.

Lucius Malfoy, they vowed, would suffer a fate worse than death.

And when the Dark Lord returned, he would make certain of it.

Far away, in the safety of Hogwarts Castle, Lucius Malfoy sat in silence, his hands gripping the newspaper tightly. His expression was pale, his jaw clenched.

From the moment this paper was published, his fate had been sealed.

He had severed all ties with Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

From now on, he was their enemy.

And Voldemort did not forgive traitors.

If he ever fell into the Dark Lord's hands, Lucius knew—his fate would be far worse than death.

His grip on the newspaper tightened as he stole a glance at his wife and son, both watching him with fear in their eyes.

With a heavy sigh, he set the paper down.

There was no turning back now.

Following the mass arrests, another unexpected event took place.

Ethan, the man who had led the entire operation, stunned everyone by relinquishing all authority.

He had wielded immense power in the past day, yet instead of seizing control, he surrendered it willingly.

According to Ethan, his work was done: capture the Death Eaters.

The trials, he insisted, should be left to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Wizengamot.

His decision sent waves through the Ministry. Many had expected him to take advantage of the situation, to tighten his grip and eliminate his rivals.

Instead, he had walked away.

And in doing so, he had left everyone questioning their assumptions.