When Minister Bones arrived at the scene with a string of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes Department officials, Obliviators, and Aurors, accompanied by Dumbledore in their hurried rush—
What greeted them was a post-apocalyptic scene of devastation:
The laboratory, once protected by layers of defensive spells, had become a field of ruins still billowing black smoke, clearly beyond any hope of repair. The surrounding abandoned houses had also been caught in the destruction.
Worse still, above the wreckage, a Dark Mark representing the Death Eaters' visit hung brazenly in mid-air—that crawling serpent and terrifying green skull boldly displaying the dark forces' arrogant triumph!
Jane Yu and her researchers had clearly survived a fierce battle, sitting weakly on the open ground, gasping for breath.
Each was dressed in tattered, filthy robes, so blackened their original patterns and colors were unrecognizable. Their faces were streaked with soot and pale patches, marked with bloody scratches and wounds from the violent explosion—painful just to look at.
Around the ruins lay many unconscious Muggles sprawled in all directions, their cars still wailing.
Minister Bones felt her breathing had stopped. The surrounding smoke seemed to block her airways, the scattered bricks pressed like weights on her heart, freezing her blood in her veins.
Her expression grave, she slowly surveyed the ruins—
She saw the flattened, two-dimensional half-human, half-rat covered in burns and blast injuries...
And beside him, the wand that had fallen and snapped in two...
It was the long-wanted criminal Peter Pettigrew!
Almost instantly, she understood everything!
She knew it—there was a spy in her Ministry of Magic. Someone in the upper ranks had leaked the Ministry's secret project entrusted to Jane Yu!
This Ministry-funded factory, the production base for Spell-Shielding garments, had suffered a sudden, overwhelming Death Eater assault!
Seeing these researchers' ragged, exhausted state, she understood—
They must have fought desperately to defend their research, determined not to let their equipment fall into enemy hands!
What greatness, what self-sacrifice, what fighting spirit!
Even at the moment of life and death, they chose to detonate the laboratory and factory, willing to face death rather than let research secrets and enemies escape together!
To cast aside life and death—could there be any more noble spirit than this?
"We did our best." Jane spoke in a weak, heavy voice, covering her face as she wept. "Everything's destroyed... We still couldn't protect our research... I've failed everyone..."
Dumbledore carefully observed her expression, then glanced at Snape draped in tattered strips with his stern face, showing subtle complexity.
He stepped forward, picked up the broken wand, examined the 2D corpse repeatedly, his expression growing even more subtle.
But he said nothing, simply waiting silently for Minister Bones to speak.
But Minister Bones also remained silent.
Two hot tears flowed silently down her face, dripping onto her collar.
She slowly raised her right hand toward Jane and the researchers, saluting them with infinite respect!
Behind her, the Aurors and Obliviators also fell silent, raising their right hands in unison to salute them!
"Yu... everyone... you've worked so hard! On behalf of the Ministry of Magic, I offer you our highest respect!"
Minister Bones spoke with conviction, her expression full of reverence:
"You... you captured a wanted criminal for the Ministry and the wizarding community... You fought to the very end!"
"Nothing is truly destroyed—everything can begin again. As long as you're alive, wizards have a future!"
Jane took a deep breath, struggling to stand slowly, supporting her swaying body.
She also raised her right hand, saluting Minister Bones.
Both sides gazed into each other's eyes, seeing deep emotion reflected within!
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