The Witch-king of Angmar halted his attack, turning his gaze towards Dumbledore. The power he sensed within the old wizard was formidable, almost rivaling that of Gandalf the Grey.
"Dumbledore! You're finally here!" Fudge exclaimed with relief, emerging from a pile of shattered ruins to join Dumbledore. "This fellow is here for that hobbit. He claims to be a servant of the Dark Lord Sauron!"
"Sauron's servant?" Dumbledore's expression darkened as he scrutinized the Witch-king. Though he couldn't see the figure's face, he could sense the malevolent and potent force emanating from him.
"You all should leave now... Leave this to me," Dumbledore instructed, his tone brooking no argument. There were things he needed to discuss that could not be heard by everyone; otherwise, the entire magical world might descend into chaos.
Moreover, the Ministry of Magic had urgent matters to attend to. The pillar of fire conjured by the Witch-king of Angmar had been seen by half of London, and the Ministry needed to pacify the Muggles and cover up the incident.
"Of course!" Fudge agreed eagerly. He had stayed put out of fear, knowing that if he fled, the outraged British wizarding community would demand his resignation. With Dumbledore's assurance, he was ready to leave.
"Umbridge, gather the Muggle Research Office and the Incident Management Team. We need to meet with the Muggle Prime Minister immediately..." Fudge commanded, urgency in his voice.
The British Ministry of Magic operated quite differently from the Magical Congress of the Pretty Country. While the Magical Congress and the official state of the Beautiful State were hostile towards each other, the Ministry of Magic maintained a cooperative relationship with the British government.
The Witch-king of Angmar swung his long sword, releasing purple-black flames from the nostrils of the demon horse beneath him. Despite his wariness of Dumbledore, the Witch-king had no intention of allowing these wizards to leave unscathed.
"Don't worry... Your Majesty the Witch-king Angmar, I think we can have a good chat," Dumbledore said, holding the Elder Wand in one hand and extending the other in a gesture of peace. "I can handle matters here... if you have any demands, you can ask me."
Dumbledore's calm words caught the attention of Fudge, who had been ready to flee. Umbridge noticed Fudge's hesitation but remained silent. Fudge glanced back at the demon horse's fiery breath and decided to leave quietly with some of the Ministry's ordinary staff.
By now, only the elite remained: Aurors, Unspeakables, and key figures like Amelia Bones. Arthur Weasley stood firmly behind Dumbledore, ready to defend.
"Wizards! I want the Hobbit, and news of the One Ring!" The Witch-king's voice echoed from beneath his armor. He calmed the restless demon horse and looked down at Dumbledore.
"The Hobbit can be handed over to you," Dumbledore responded slowly. "But as for the One Ring, I'm afraid I have no news of it."
Dumbledore's concession seemed to satisfy the Witch-king, but he continued, "It doesn't matter. You can swear allegiance to my lord and do your utmost to find news of the One Ring!"
Dumbledore remained silent. Swearing allegiance to Sauron was unthinkable, perhaps even more difficult than facing death.
Sensing Dumbledore's thoughts, the Witch-king sneered and declared proudly, "My lord is Sauron, the king of darkness! The shadow that covers the world! If you submit to my lord, you will gain all the power, authority, and wealth you desire!"
Dumbledore's expression remained unyielding, his eyes reflecting a resolute defiance against the Witch-king's demands.
"My lord can grant you eternal life! Infinite wealth! Supreme power and glory! Even the dead can be brought back to life!"
The Witch King of Angmar paused, noticing the strong reaction from Dumbledore when he said this.
"Sorcerer... My lord is omnipotent! Surrender to him, and you can have anything you desire!"
Dumbledore remained silent for a moment, then shook his head. After the incident with the Resurrection Stone, Dumbledore's obsession had eased. He understood that the so-called resurrection of the dead was a deception. If the legendary Deathly Hallows, supposedly made by Death himself, were useless, could Sauron truly achieve this?
But the thought of the One Ring created by Sauron, which could grant immortality, troubled him. There were beings like the Maiar who were immortal, and even higher entities called the Valar...
"What if it's true?" Dumbledore wondered, but his rational mind quickly quelled these doubts.
"Your Majesty the Witch King, I don't mean to offend, but I want to ask clearly... Sauron... Lord Sauron, where is he now?"
"My lord is naturally at the pinnacle of the Dark Tower of Mordor, overseeing all! We, the Nine Ringwraiths, protect him. Wizards... Those who oppose the Dark Lord Sauron will be obliterated!"
The Witch King of Angmar wasn't about to reveal that Sauron was in another world. He knew it would be disastrous if this information led to a siege.
Dumbledore fell silent again, a look of weariness flashing across his face. One crisis after another: Saruman was still an enigma, and now Sauron's influence was surfacing. It was exhausting.
"Your Majesty the Witch King, I think we can cooperate..."
"What are you? A mere mortal, unworthy of our cooperation!" the Witch King of Angmar laughed. Though Dumbledore was powerful, he was just a human, unlike Gandalf and Saruman, who were Maiar. To Sauron, all humans were nothing but slaves, except for the Nine.
"Hand over the Hobbit! Submit to my lord! I will spare your life!" The Witch King brandished the Morgul blade, pointing it at Dumbledore, issuing an ultimatum.
"Ah... I see we must fight," Dumbledore sighed. This was an opportunity to gauge the strength of the Witch King, a necessary step for future confrontations. Yet he knew Gollum, the Hobbit, could not be kept safe. If one Nazgûl could cause this much trouble, what would happen if two or three came next time? If all nine came, they could destroy all of London.
Dumbledore raised the Elder Wand, and the statues in the Ministry of Magic's hall sprang to life. A red glow shot from the wand, aimed straight at the Witch King of Angmar.
The Witch King laughed, slashing the red light with his sword. His demon horse roared, its hooves ablaze, charging at Dumbledore. The controlled Aurors also turned against the remaining Ministry elites.
The statues, animated by Transfiguration, were no match for the Witch King's weapons and were swiftly shattered. The Witch King advanced on Dumbledore, thrusting his sword.
A white shield appeared in front of Dumbledore, blocking the attack. The Elder Wand in his hand flared violently, igniting with a terrifying fiery flame. The Witch King swung his sword, clashing with the fiery barrier. The hall filled with the roar of magic and the clashing of weapons.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed with determination as he faced the Witch King, prepared for the intense battle ahead.