Who: Everyone What: The Final Battle When: 25-26 July Where: Magical London Status: Open
The Battle of London
Early on July 25, forces from the Ministry officially marched on the Knockturn Slums. Waiting for them was a group of resistance fighters at the entrance. For weeks, the Slums had slowly prepared as much as they could with supplies, protection, and planning. Those in Knockturn would act as bait to buy the insurgent team enough time to effectively push into the Ministry before the alarm was sounded. The Ministry groups were made up of trained Hit Wizards and Aurors alongside the new people's units who were given basic instruction and a licence to kill. When they arrived at the entrance, a civilian fired at the Resistance members who were stood upon the wreckage of the Grace Clinic. The battle had started.
For the first day, the fighting was mostly secluded to the Slums as the trained officials aimed for structures to prevent higher ground and cover from the attack. The civilian units were used as bait and fodder against the Resistance. While the official troops had the ability to send in more forces, the Resistance was about to out maneuver them through the use of the tunnels and knowledge of the streets. Into the early night of the fighting, a secondary unit led by Benji Dunstan arrived in Diagon Alley with instructions to back up the initial invasion. This group, however, turned on itself and fought to prevent the troops from entering the Slums. Fighting broke out in the business district of Diagon Alley as the rogue hitwizards focused on keeping more assistance out and portecting the civilians in the residential districts. Families took shelter while those who were able to moved back and forth in the streets to get the injured and bring them safe.
By nightfall, many of the St. Mungo's healers and mediwitches broke from their orders to stay inside and only heal the Ministry side. They flooded both Diagon Alley and into the Slums to aid the minimal medical units of the Resistance. The injured were brought into the tunnel system or to the designated safe houses set up. The fighting continued as the new day began.
As the sun crested the towering building to shine through the smoke and haze, the Ministry team of the Resistance gained their entry into the building. Two groups led by Neville and Justin broke off to take the building from the inside. Here, Casey laid in wait to help break out those who had been willingly taken prisoner and those able to fight back. Together, they alongside Justin's group fought through the Ministry while Neville's group looked for Rodolphus and those hiding. Before the announcement of the invasion could hit the Beast Department, the wing was invaded by Laken and cleared before Lena was freed to aid in the push. By early evening, Justin sat at the Minister's desk with Roland in manacles.
Out in the streets, the sun fell into a sky filled with screams, crackling energy, and fire. The Slums burned. Shop fronts and small buildings in Diagon shook under the blasts suffered from the fighting. Those in New Diagon would hear and see the fighting from their homes, now, but unless they escaped the day before all they could do was watch in horror and wait for news. The journals were silent for almost 24 hours as Magical London fought itself.
In the late evening, Rodolphus' bunker was finally found. And while those with Neville took out the guards, it was he who confronted the Minister himself. It was a struggle that no man had preparation for, though it had been thought about and obsessed over for years. But when the stroke fell, it was Neville who would be victorious. With no magic used on his behalf, Rodolphus was killed far beneath London in the bunker that had cut off all the secret passages for months. In shock, Neville was silent as word was passed to Justin, who quickly found an apparition point in the Minister's office to head back to Essex, where his cottage and wireless program was set up. He called his brother then broadcast to the Magical World from his abandoned setup.
The Slums
Much of the fighting here is intense. The first day of the attack saw much of the old buildings brought to ruin or in flames. Resistance fighters and citizens who are able hide in shells of structures, hurling curses and taking cover where they can. There is no sleep for the night of the 25th, and the new day brings little comfort. The fights is largely a distraction, as the Resistance knows, for the main officials are not fighting out there. Little of the original structures will be standing that were not properly warded. The tunnels remain penetrated except for those who move the injured or bring out goods for the fighters. When the sun rises on July 27, the Slums are in ruins with bodies of the injured and dead littering it.
Diagon Alley
The fighting in Diagon was contained to the shopping and business districts thanks to both the residents who were able to fight and a unit of the hit wizards organized by the London Branch that turned on the attacked to limit access to the Slums. While some damage and injuries were caused toward the end of the fighting, it was quieter than the Slums. People who stayed in the residential area were mostly families or injured people being taken care of by those able to assist. Many of the St. Mungo's team broke their orders to help in Diagon Alley.
The Ministry
Much of the main members of the Ministry stayed to protect themselves. The Aurors and Hitwizards who stayed as prison guards were either taken out or turned on the Ministry to release the prisoners who had been taken, re-armed them for the fight and led a long-fought internal battle. After hours of fighting, the resistance were able to kill or capture most of the Ministry officials. By Midnight of July 27, the Ministry is taken fully.
New Diagon
The pure district of Diagon was shut down and warded when the battle started. Much of the area remained immune to actual damage from the war, however many of the buildings were able to see the battle from a distance. Some people were able to come in or leave, however it remained under guard by ministry official.
The Tunnels
While the fighting started up top, the tunnel group made their way through the push through the wards toward the Ministry. They moved slow to stay undetected and early in the morning, the Ministry group entered the Ministry. Those who did not go returned to help the main Tunnel group, who largely helped move supplies and people underground to the safer sections. Most of the Slum medical assistance is kept there for safety. People in the tunnels help supply fighters topside as well as bring the injured down to be taken care of. Some of the people in the tunnel are dedicated to keeping the children safe and calm.
27 July
At 0100, a radio message was heard over the wireless announcing that the Ministry had been taken by the Resistance and the minster was removed from office. In that message, the speaker explained that most of the officials were taken into customers or otherwise apprehended, however some were hiding or on the run. All fighters were told to stand down and not face trial for their actions. While they were getting together a group of knowledgeable minds who know government together, Justin worked with his family with whom he was in touch to get something. By 1000, Kevin received two plane tickets for Belfast and an itinerary for a cabin in County Down. By midday, the structure of the provisional government was formed and units were dispatched to help with the damage and fallen.
Later that day, communication with Hogwarts was re-established to find that Alecto had been killed by her brother once he realized she had released Aileas and was protecting the children from the Ministry. In response, the teachers who were aware of the ruse killed Amycus and continued the act until the war blew over. Some of the children brought back the DA mentality until Amycus was taken out.