Meanwhile, outside 4 Privet Drive, Harry's mind raced as he sprinted through the familiar streets of Little Whinging. Panic surged within him as he grappled with the reality of what he had just done. The weight of his actions bore down on him, and he knew that he had crossed a line from which there was no turning back.
He began to run relentlessly. Now was not the time to think about that.
He knew that the two Aurors were just temporarily out of the fight for just a few seconds. He had to get away and had to disappear before the Aurors arrived. But deep down, he knew that there was no escaping the consequences of his actions.
As he turned a corner, Harry's heart sank as he heard the distinctive popping sounds of Apparition and saw a group of Aurors approaching from the opposite direction. Their wands were drawn, and their expressions were grim. There was no way out.
Instinctively, Harry ducked into a nearby alleyway, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he tried to steady his racing heart. The sound of footsteps grew louder, drawing closer with each passing moment.
Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, led the group of Aurors converging on the narrow alleyway.
"Harry Potter!" Scrimgeour's voice was loud through the alley. "Surrender yourself peacefully. You are surrounded, and there's no way out."
With nowhere left to run, Harry knew that he had to face the inevitable. Closing his eyes, he braced himself for what was to come, knowing that his life would never be the same again.
"Harry, don't make this any harder than it has to be," one of the Aurors urged, his voice not as harsh as that of Scrimgeour.
Harry felt like the voice felt familiar, like he had previously heard it, but at this time, his brain could not match a face with the voice.
He clutched his wand tightly, his mind racing for a solution. His eyes darted around, desperately searching for an escape route, but with Aurors closing in from all sides, the odds were impossible.
Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation. Slowly, he stood up, revealing himself to the Aurors who had cornered him in the narrow alleyway. His eyes met the stern gaze of Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, and the others in the group.
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, and John Dawlish.
Recognition flickered in Harry's eyes as he took in the faces of the Aurors. He had seen them before and interacted with them in various capacities during his time at Hogwarts and in the wizarding world.
Kingsley Shacklebolt looked at Rufus, and after the latter gave a nod, Kingsley took a step forward, "Harry, we didn't expect to find you in a situation like this. Surrender peacefully, and we'll ensure a fair trial. The Ministry will hear your side of the story."
"So it was his." Harry thought, finally recognizing the previous voice that spoke to him. Harry knew certain things about him. Kingsley was in charge of the hunt for Sirius, and he had been feeding the Ministry false information that Sirius Black was in Tibet.
Harry's mind raced, contemplating the options before him. Should he decide to fight, would he be able to escape the skilled Aurors in front of him?
Just as he was weighing the possibilities, the narrow alleyway echoed with the sounds of hurried footsteps. The two Aurors who had been momentarily trapped inside the Dursley house came rushing outside, closing in on Harry from behind. The sudden appearance of reinforcements completed the encirclement, leaving Harry with no escape route.
Rufus Scrimgeour, his expression unyielding, repeated his command, "Harry Potter, surrender yourself peacefully. This is the last warning."
So many wands were pointed at him. Even with all types of tricks, he knew for sure there was no escape.
Harry took a deep breath and faced downward. The choice was no longer his to make.
With a resigned acceptance, Harry let go of his wand. It clattered to the ground, a symbol of surrender in the face of overwhelming odds.
Rufus Scrimgeour, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, and John Dawlish closed in on Harry, their wands still at the ready, cautious in case Harry tried to do something.
"Good choice, Potter," Scrimgeour said, his tone revealing neither satisfaction nor sympathy. The Head of the Auror Office motioned for Dawlish to approach and secure Harry's wand. As Dawlish picked it up, Scrimgeour continued, "You'll have your chance to explain yourself at the Ministry. But know this: the gravity of your actions won't be taken lightly."
Kingsley Shacklebolt was clearly troubled by the way Harry acted. "Harry, this isn't the way. We understand you might be going through a lot, but there are proper channels for justice. Let the Ministry handle this."
Harry's eyes, devoid of all emotion, locked onto Kingsley. In a calm but resolute manner, he spoke.
"Justice."
"Where was the Ministry's justice when I was tortured in my childhood?" The sudden voice caused the Aurors to be on guard.
"Now you come running when something bad happens to these Muggles," Harry continued. "Where was the justice when I needed protection from those same Muggles?"
He looked at each one of them. Then he returned his stare at Kingsley.
"I needed help. I needed someone to protect me from the abuses I suffered. But no one came. No one cared. Now, suddenly, justice matters when it's about a few Muggles."
The Aurors, taken aback by Harry's emotional words, found no immediate reply.
They did not know about this. How come the boy was abused and no one found out?
Still, their minds wandered.
If this were indeed true, then the Ministry has failed to protect one of its own. Kingsley and Tonks were the ones more affected by Harry's words, but there was nothing they could do.
Before any of them could respond, the Aurors were alerted by the distinctive crack of Apparition. Two wizards materialized, and the Aurors instinctively raised their wands, ready for any unforeseen developments.
The figures that appeared were none other than Albus Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy.