Bab 7: The Lead Up
Walking down the tiled corridor of Unspeakable Department, Croaker stopped in front of a door leading him to a large atrium, letting it swing open. Stepping inside, he stood beside Adrian watching as Harry ducked and weaved around numerous animated statues. It was a good training drill, numerous wooden combatants with spinning arms that built up momentum the more they were allowed to spin. As a result, it was in the best interest of those on the receiving end of this drill to parry the blows as soon as possible.
If they built up too much momentum then a few bruises would be the least of a persons worries.
However, the past three weeks had done wonders for Harry's physique, his once tall, lanky frame had filled it out, become toned with muscle. Sweat glistened off his skin as he parried the wooden arms of the statues. While at first, his body had grown thinner with the lack of proper sustenance, the only thing keeping him working was the various potions he drank on numerous occasions a day. They providing him with the bare minimum of energy that would allow him to get through the day.
This had made Harry struggle exponentially, his level of fatigue rising with each day due to lack of sleep and proper food, but after sometime, he started to get better. His mind and body adapting to the harsh training and restrictions placed on him. After he did, Croaker had known it was time to move onto the next phase.
Rituals.
The human body could only withstand a certain number of rituals before their body would begin to breakdown, it varied from person-to-person. They had only performed three and his body seemed to have held up very well, a Body Strengthening Ritual, Magical Potency Ritual and an Anti-Poison Ritual. Each were self-explanatory in what they did, the first helped strengthen the body to its maximum potential, the third helped someone become immune to most poisons.
The second increased the potency of ones magic, this in of itself is a very dangerous thing. Magical potency was never taught because for most Wizards and Witches, the only thing that they could really improve was their control and stores of magical power. Potency was something that could not be changed as it was something they were born with. Yet it was something the Researchers at the Unspeakable Department had worked tirelessly on trying to change.
They had made some success a few years ago and Harry was officially the first candidate to undergo this new ritual. But to be entirely honest, Croaker was unsure how effective it would be on Harry, especially considering his magical potency was the highest ever recorded in a Wizard.
He suspected that the mix of being exposed to a Horcrux, ancient magical protections, as well as the mixture of Basilisk Venom and Phoenix Tears in his blood had resulted in his magical potency going through the roof. And in a fight between Wizards, much like the one with more magic or better control, the one with higher levels of potency would be far more dangerous.
The reason it wasn't taught, was because potency was usually such a small and minuscule thing that it never factored into a battle. The difference in potency between two wizards and witches was so small that it had no effect on the flow of a battle. But with Harry's level of potency, it could very well be the deciding factor in a battle.
"How long has he lasted?" Croaker asked, Adrian lifting five fingers, then replacing it with three. "Fifteen minutes? He's improving." One of the main problems with rituals, especially with those like the Body-Strengthening one, it would take time for the body to adapt to the new changes. For Harry, to suddenly find himself moving faster and hitting harder had taken time for him to grow used to the changes.
Nevertheless, Harry was getting better at controlling the adaptions with his new and improved body.
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{Flashback Begin}
"The situation is worsening." Kingsley muttered, throwing down today's Daily Prophet showing the headline, 'Werewolf Pack Declare War!' Croaker picked up the newspaper, reading the first few lines before chuckling, placing it back down on the table. "This is not a time to be amused, Croaker. Fenrir has declared war on Europe and now, I'm facing pressure from the ICW to aid them."
"Those bastards!" Croaker chuckled once more. "They leave Britain to face Voldemort when we helped them deal with Grindelwald and now, they want us to help them deal with the Werewolves? What are you going to do exactly?"
"I can't do anything." Kinglsey muttered frustratedly. "I'll be facing riots in the streets if I agree to aid them. There's a lot of anger at being abandoned by Europe. And if I don't, I'll be facing international problems, they've already threatened to remove us from the ICW if we don't aid them and that could lead us to war with Europe."
Croaker didn't seem bothered by this news at all. "That's if they defeat Fenrir." The look on Croaker's face said that he didn't think that it would be likely they would. "Then it looks to me, like you need a certain problem here in Britain that requires you're immediate attention, more than the situation in Europe. Say perhaps, our own Werewolf problem."
Kinglsey perked up. "You have something?"
"I have more than something." Croaker smirked. "You see, the Werewolf pack is much larger than we first imagined. Unfortunately, I don't know the true size of their force, but I do know they are attacking four areas."
'Four?' Kingsley wondered internally, his eyes widening slightly in shock. Much like Croaker said, he didn't need to know the true size of their force to know that it was dangerously large. "What places?"
"Russia. Europe. Scandinavia and Britain." Croaker answered.
"What?! They're here?! And Scandinavia? Are they insane?" Kinglsey exclaimed in shock, the news that Britain was under a possible siege was more than enough of a shock, but the news that Scandinavia was a target for the Werewolves as well, now that was more than enough to question if Fenrir was insane. Scandinavia was not a country that anyone wanted to agitate. They still had roots to their Viking ancestors and was the only country in Europe not to join the ICW.
Croaker nodded his head. "Oh yes, Fenrir seems to have bitten off more than he can chew on that part. And yes, they're here and I'll provide you proof. I just need your permission and the Muggle Governments permission to operate freely without interference. In both the Magical and Muggle world."
This made Kingsley sigh, rubbing his brow tiredly. "That's going to be difficult, Croaker. Fudge had all but ruined our relations with the Muggle Government after the Sirius Black debacle. Pius Thicknesse while under the control of the Imperius Curse had only made things much worse. I have tried reaching out to them, to try and make amends, but things have been difficult and slow."
Which was bad news considering that without the help of British Government, rebuilding Magical Britain would be an extremely long and arduous task. Especially if the Werwolves were intending to attack Britain.
"I have a few contacts in the British Government, friends that owe me a few favors." Croaker explained. "Give me permission to move and operate under my own code, and I'll provide you with every scrap of evidence you need to prove yourself to the ICW."
"You want autonomy?"
"I do, yes." Croaker replied shortly, the frown of Kinglsey's face becoming more pronounced as he did. "Look at it this way, Kingsley. My loyalty is first and foremost to Britain, I will do whatever I can in order to secure the safety of it and its citizens. Give me autonomy to operate how I wish, and I'll ensure that Britain is safe from all threats."
Kingsley hesitated momentarily.
"Is he ready?" He asked, referring to one young man in question.
"Not in the slightest." Croaker's words did not do well in raising his spirits. "But we don't have a choice in the matter."
Kingsley frowned in thought before looking up to Croaker. "I'll give you autonomy, after you provide me with evidence. However, I want the British Government on board and I want a squad of Aurors collecting the evidence necessary with you. After that, the autonomy you request is yours."
Croaker nodded his head, almost looking pleased at Kingsley's firm answer. He never gave an answer, just getting to his feet and leaving. The Minister of Magic didn't know whether that was a good or a bad thing.
{Flashback End}
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"Mr. Potter, if you would be so kind as to stop." Croaker nodded his head to Adrian who stopped the magic keeping the statues animated, he turning and leaving. Meanwhile, Harry took deep breath, turning to look to Croaker with a raised brow. "You have a mission assignment."
"What's it entail?" Harry asked curiously, wiping his face down with towel.
"A simple reconnaissance mission. Get in, gather information and leave." Croaker informed. "Have a shower, clean yourself up, go see your Godson. Then come back tomorrow for a full mission debrief."
"Thank you." Harry said sincerely after a moments pause.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Carrots123
Carrots123 So, here we are, things are beginning to heat up and there are some serious international politics taking place causing problems. However, Croaker and Kingsley are coming to an arrangement and Harry has been given his first mission.
Status Power Mingguan
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Power 
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