Prologue, Part 4
Mansão Lestrange
At the formidable Lestrange Manor, carriages pulled by Thestrals or other magical creatures arrived in droves for the party hosted by Rodolphus and his wife, Bellatrix.
The party was a last-minute affair, hastily organized, yet important figures from the wizarding world across Great Britain kept arriving, eager for the festivities and the promise that it would be an unforgettable night.
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Somewhere in London
Molly served tea to the group of over six people gathered in the living room, discussing, while she worriedly watched her brother Fabian, who was strangely quiet.
"We can't wait. We should attack them before they do... I don't know, whatever it is they're planning," a one-eyed man, limping on one leg, vociferated as he stood from his armchair.
"Calm down, Moody," Gideon held him back. "We can't just storm the party at Lestrange Manor."
"Oh, and why not!? Most of them are Death Eaters or their supporters. We know that!"
"And we also know that many are connected to the Ministry of Magic, or worse, are members of the Ministry. Dammit, some might even be our colleagues, Moody," Emmeline Vance, an Auror, complained to her friend while sipping some tea.
"Forget the Aurors. They could be linked to the Wizengamot, or worse, linked to the Confederation," a man with dark brown hair, light eyes, and a full mustache spoke.
"Emmeline and Edgar are right, Moody," Arthur said as he joined his wife Molly. "We can't attack the Lestrange party without knowing what they're planning. It would be suicide."
"Not to mention it might be nothing. Just a party," Gideon added with a smile, though he himself didn't believe his own words.
"Damn it," Moody leaned back in his armchair and fell silent.
The other participants of the meeting also fell silent, unsure what to say, when the door suddenly opened and two people entered.
"Are we late? Sorry for the delay," a young man in his 20s entered with a smile on his face. He was a handsome young man, tall, slender but strong, with long, messy dark hair, gray eyes, and a rebellious smile on his face. The kind of person who exuded confidence and nonchalance wherever he went.
Behind him, another young man followed, but he was the complete opposite of the first. He was short, chubby, with a round face, small, bulging eyes, thin blonde hair, and a scared, submissive demeanor.
"Sirius, Peter. Come in." Molly smiled as she saw the two friends enter and served them some tea.
"Any news? Do you know what your cousin is planning?" Moody asked as Molly served tea to Sirius.
"No," he replied in a low voice as he sat next to Emmeline.
"What about Lupin?"
"It's a full moon night. He'll be out for at least a week," Sirius placed his teacup on the table and let out a heavy sigh he didn't even realize he was holding.
"So we have no idea what they're planning? Or which of us is the next target? Great. Just great," Moody again stood and began to pace back and forth angrily.
"What if... the target isn't us?" Peter said in a low voice, almost as if he didn't want to be heard, but when he spoke, the noise seemed to vanish as various gazes turned to him.
"What do you mean?" Moody asked, approaching the chubby young man.
"It's just, you know... we're not... the only ones facing the Death Eaters... right?" Each step Moody took towards him made Peter speak softer and softer, until his voice faded, leaving the room even quieter.
"He's right," Gideon said. "We're not the only thorns in the Death Eaters' side."
"Yeah, but we're definitely the most annoying ones," Sirius said with a smile that somewhat eased the growing tension in the room.
"If it's not us, who could it be?" Emmeline asked, leaning over the table.
"The Potters," Moody said. "The Death Eaters have been very persistent in finding them."
"Don't worry. James and Lily are well-hidden. Same for the Longbottoms," Arthur said.
"If it's not them, then who?" Emmeline asked.
"Aila." A tired but strong voice resonated in the room, and everyone looked at the man sitting in a chair at the end of the table, who had said or done nothing since the beginning.
"No one knows where you sent her, Fabian," Gideon squeezed his brother's shoulder as he spoke. "The Death Eaters haven't been able to find them."
Fabian frowned at his brother as he held the locket with Aila's picture. He knew his brother was right. No one could find Aila and the others unless she herself decided to leave her hiding place.
His family's ancestral mansion was protected by a range of powerful spells, and it would be almost impossible for anyone who wasn't the head of the family to enter the house without permission. The location and methods of access to the mansion were only learned by the family heir, and even the other members didn't know of its existence.
'She's safe,' Fabian told himself, but before he could sigh with relief, the fireplace flames briefly ignited, and a sheet of paper flew out.
Moody, quicker than anyone, waved his wand and snatched the paper. He read it for a brief moment before frowning.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"Traces of black smoke have been sighted, flying southwest."
Everyone exchanged glances, and before they could say anything, Fabian rose with astonishing speed and rushed for the exit.
"Shit." Gideon quickly followed his brother, noticing what was wrong.
"They're going after her," Molly said and immediately tried to follow her brothers, but was stopped by Arthur.
"Let go of me, Arthur." Molly tried to free herself, but before she could say anything else, Arthur waved his wand and put her to sleep.
When he looked up, Moody, Sirius, Edgar, and Emmeline had already rushed out, all summoning their brooms and leaving. Arthur then turned to the only person who remained, the timid Peter Pettigrew.
"Take care of her," he said before also leaving.
Peter nodded and remained silent as everyone departed. After five minutes, seeing that Molly was truly asleep and no one else was around, Peter walked to the fireplace, threw some Floo powder into the flames, and after saying an address, stuck his head into the flames.
"Master, the Order members are going to rescue Aila. Yes, not all of them, but some of their strongest members are going, including the Prewett brothers and Sirius. Plus Moody."
Peter remained silent, nodding slightly as someone seemed to give him orders, and after a few seconds, he removed his face from the flames. He then went to the table, served himself some tea and scones, and began to eat in silence, awaiting the triumphant return of his friends.