Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

The moment the wizard stepped into the vault chamber, Cael knew things were going to spiral.

He barely had time to pocket the relic—the enchanted Door Key from the Department of Mysteries—before sharp footsteps echoed behind him. Turning swiftly, Cael's borrowed face—Julian Travers—confronted the approaching wizard, a sharp-featured man with dark, narrowed eyes.

The man's gaze swept the room, landing on Cael with suspicion. "You," he barked, voice edged with authority. "What are you doing back here? This section requires high-clearance authorization."

Cael exhaled slowly, his mind racing. His forged documents, flawless as they were, weren't designed for face-to-face interrogation. But bluffing was part of the game.

"I have clearance," Cael replied flatly, mimicking Travers' cautious tone as he pulled out the fake papers and identification badge.

The wizard snatched the documents, his eyes scanning every detail. His expression darkened.

"These are… fake," the man muttered, his voice rising. His hand moved toward his wand. "You're not supposed to—"

But Cael was already moving.

"Stupefy!" A bolt of red light erupted from his wand, striking the wizard square in the chest. The man stiffened, toppling backward, unconscious before he hit the ground.

Cael strode forward, kneeling beside the downed man. With practiced efficiency, he plucked a few strands of hair, pocketing them for later use. The Polyjuice Potion vials clinked softly in his cloak—still three remaining.

He released the disillusionment runes around him and reverted to his real face, just for a moment, before preparing the next disguise.

The Ministry wouldn't wait.

Quickly, Cael exited the Department of Mysteries, stepping back into the wide, bustling corridors. The dull hum of voices, footsteps, and magical memos filled the space as he approached the enchanted lifts.

He pressed the button. The golden gates clattered open, and he entered, descending floor by floor.

His heart pounded—not from fear, but anticipation. His Occlumency kept his thoughts focused, emotion buried deep beneath calculation. Escape was all that mattered now.

The lift chimed at the atrium level. Cael stepped out into the marble-floored entrance hall of the Ministry, the towering golden statues gleaming under enchanted lights.

Then it happened.

A shout echoed across the atrium. "There he is! That's the thief from the Department of Mysteries!"

The crowd froze—wizards and witches halting mid-step, heads turning in his direction. An Auror pointed directly at him, wand already drawn.

Damn.

Without hesitation, Cael pulled his wand. Spells erupted instantly.

"Protego!" A shimmering blue shield deflected the first barrage of red and blue light that shot toward him.

"Expelliarmus!" he countered, the Auror's wand flying from his hand as Cael dodged behind a marble pillar.

The atrium erupted into chaos. Memos exploded into confetti as spells ricocheted across the grand hall. More Aurors poured in, their dark uniforms unmistakable, wands glowing with deadly precision.

"Confringo!" Cael fired an explosive bolt, blasting apart a section of the floor as debris scattered, blocking two Aurors advancing from the right.

Another wand flashed. "Stupefy!" A red streak zipped toward him—he ducked, rolling behind a fountain.

Spells flew from every direction—Petrificus Totalus, Flipendo, Diffindo—the air crackled with raw magic.

Then came the voice that made Cael's blood run cold.

"Spread out! Box him in!"

Alastor Moody—Mad-Eye himself—emerged from the crowd, his magical eye whirling madly, his staff-like wand glowing with fierce power.

A curse shot toward Cael with blistering speed. "Reducto!"

The marble pillar shattered beside him, shards raining down. Cael ducked, firing back.

"Glacius!" A stream of ice encased the ground, tripping up one Auror, but Moody was unfazed.

"Protego Maxima!" Moody's shield flared to life, absorbing Cael's follow-up curse.

Cael's mind raced. Moody was stronger, faster, relentless. He couldn't win a direct duel.

He pushed back with a barrage of spells—"Depulso!" to shove opponents aside, "Incendio!" to ignite their robes—but Moody advanced, firing curses with brutal precision.

"Expelliarmus!" Cael's wand jolted as Moody's spell connected, nearly tearing it from his grip.

He couldn't stay here. He needed an exit.

Aurors flanked him from both sides, spells blasting chunks from the floor and walls. The atrium's grand ceiling trembled under the assault.

Cael sprinted toward the side corridors, ducking under a barrage of spells.

"Accio relic!" one Auror shouted, but Cael's grip tightened, his Occlumency locking down his panic as he fired back.

"Rictusempra!" The Auror doubled over, laughing uncontrollably, dropping his wand.

Cael bolted for the side exit, footsteps pounding behind him. Moody's voice bellowed, "Don't let him escape!"

Aurors pursued him relentlessly.

He ducked into a dimly lit maintenance corridor, pulling the remaining Polyjuice Potion and the stolen hair from his cloak. No time to waste.

He uncorked the vial, dropped in the hair, and gulped down the revolting brew. The transformation hit like a punch to the gut—bones shifting, muscles warping.

In seconds, he became the very wizard he'd stunned earlier in the Department of Mysteries.

Clutching his side, now disguised, he transfigured his robes to match the stunned man's attire. His breathing steadied as he adjusted his posture, mimicking the wizard's rigid, confident stride.

Aurors barreled around the corner.

"Oi! Have you seen a man—brown hair, Travers' face—ran this way!" one barked, eyes sharp, wand ready.

Cael pointed down the opposite corridor, voice calm. "He went that way. Took off like a blasted hippogriff."

The Aurors cursed, bolting in the direction he indicated.

Cael turned, slipping into the main atrium.

The chaos still raged—Aurors searching, witches ducking for cover, Moody shouting orders as his magical eye spun wildly.

Cael blended in, limping toward the grand Floo fireplaces along the far wall.

People shouted, "Who let him get away? Search every floor!"

Cael approached the fireplace, whispering, "The Leaky Cauldron."

Green flames erupted around him as the world blurred.

Moments later, he stumbled out of the Floo in the familiar, smoky confines of the Leaky Cauldron.

But the chase wasn't over.

Behind him, Aurors burst through the fireplace, spells ready, eyes scanning the pub.

Cael darted into the crowd, slipping through chairs and tables, weaving toward the exit.

"Stop him!" an Auror yelled, blasting a chair aside with Flipendo.

Cael slipped through the door, plunging into the winding streets of Diagon Alley, sprinting toward Knockturn Alley—the twisting, shadowed maze of dark shops and hidden alleys.

Aurors followed, spells lighting up the gloomy streets.

"Confringo!" A crate exploded beside him.

"Protego!" Cael deflected the shards, diving into a side alley.

Knockturn Alley was perfect—twisting passages, secret exits. He ducked into a shadowed corner, gulping another vial of Polyjuice—his own hair this time—and reverted to his true appearance: a wiry, dark-haired thirteen-year-old boy.

Transfiguring his clothes into simple student attire, he wiped dirt from his face and stepped out, looking small, lost, and harmless.

An Auror rounded the corner, eyes scanning.

"Oi, kid! You seen anyone suspicious? Black hair , tall?"

Cael widened his eyes, feigning fear. "Mister, I got lost! I just came to buy schoolbooks—please, I don't like it here…"

The Auror's stern face softened. "You shouldn't be in Knockturn Alley.this place is very Dangerous for kids "

The Auror gently guided him toward the exit, keeping a watchful eye on the shadows.

Cael smiled inwardly, thanking the man with wide, innocent eyes.

Minutes later, back in the bustling, sunlit Diagon Alley, the Auror left him with a warning. "Stay away from the dark alleys, lad. Next time, you might not be so lucky."

"Thank you, sir," Cael replied sweetly, hiding the relic deep in his pocket.

Slipping into the Leaky Cauldron unnoticed, Cael's heart steadied as he prepared to return home. He'd succeeded. Despite Aurors, Mad-Eye Moody, and the chaos of battle, the first piece of the ancient legacy was his.