Karkaroff, standing to the side, was far less posed. His face twisted in anger as he snapped, "So that’s it? You never inteo go into exile with us, did you? You were pnning to stay here and keep living as your rich, entitled self while fooling us into running like cowards. You’re a traitor!" His outburst only solidified Karkaroff’s determination to switch sides.

  Meanwhile, Torquil felt his world colpsing. Just yesterday, he’d been the carefree nobleman of the Travers family, fident in his pns. If he could trick these Death Eaters into going abroad, he’d be a hero if the Dark Lord ever returned. If not, those Death Eaters would still expand the family’s power overseas, being pawns to secure his future wealth and influence.

  But now? With Alex uhing the family’s deepest secrets, he was ruined. If these revetions got out, he’d be brahe Travers family’s greatest failure. Alex didn’t care about Torquil’s iurmoil. His focus was on the key—and its potential value.

  Keeping the key for himself wasn’t an option. One key alone wouldn’t unlock the vault’s tents, and the secrets tied to it were worth far more. Holding onto them would only make him a target for powerful enemies. A Muggle-born wizard threatening pure-blood families and Ministry elites? That was a death sentence.

  Leaking the information ht wasn’t viable either. It would make too many enemies and aplish nothing except mutual destru. Alex hated trouble, and he certainly wasn’t about to go looking for it. That left one logical option: leverage.

  Giving the key and the information to someone like Dumbledore or Millit Bagnold could work. Millit, with her shrewd political mind, wouldn’t hesitate to reward him. Dumbledore might eve him with an Order of Merlin for "special tributions." But Alex scoffed at the thought. "What good are medals? You ’t eat them, and they’re worthless for research."

  Several ideas raced through his mind. Eae was carefully weighed, analyzed, and discarded until a grin spread across his face. ‘Perfect.’

  His gaze nded on Torquil, who sat slumped and broken, his will to fight extinguished. "Oh, this pn is very feasible," Alex mused, his grin turning sinister. "But it does require you, Torquil. sider it your sacrifice for the greater good."

  Alex pulled out his pocket watch, cheg the time. He o act quickly. Reag into his pocket, he retrieved another pill—simir to the one he’d given Karkaroff, though subtly different. Without hesitation, he pried Torquil’s mouth open and forced the pill down his throat.

  Satisfied, Alex turo Karkaroff. "You’ll o cooperate with me for what’s i. e here."

  Karkaroff hesitated but leaned in. Alex whispered his pn, his words measured and deliberate. Karkaroff’s face turned pale. "Master, if we do this, the Ministry will punish me too—"

  Alex’s expression darkened. "Why are you panig? Just follow my lead, and they’ll let you go. Or are you still ging to loyalty for those Death Eaters? Do you really care about them?"

  “No, no, no.” Karkaroff shook his head repeatedly, his voice trembling with denial. “I have no sympathy for them, but... is this really reliable? If they interrogate those Death Eaters, won’t it be—”

  “Rex,” Alex interrupted with a cold sneer. “Except for Torquil, whose brain is protected by a charm, I’ve already altered the short-term memories of the others. They won’t remember enough to cause trouble during an interrogation. As for Torquil…” Alex’s smirk deepened. “I’ve got leverage on his family. Do you think he’d dare to speak out? And even if he tried, who would believe him?”

  Alex didn’t bother addressing Karkaroff’s anxious expression any further. Instead, he calmly issued orders to pack up the test equipment and materials scattered around the room. His efficy was unshaken by the chaos around them.

  Karkaroff, although visibly relut, followed Alex’s and: to the sed floor thhly. After a long night of chaos, the hall was a disgusting mess of blood, sweat, and urihe stench was unbearable, but Karkaroff pleted the task without pint.

  Meanwhile, Alex atteo the wounds and mess left on the Death Eaters themselves. This time, instead of unleashing using more violehod like using the hammer, Alex opted for Vulnera Saur. He didn’t want to risk driving the prisoners i least not yet.

  After about ten minutes of work, the Death Eaters, including Karkaroff, were and presentable once more. Even the holes in their clothes—caused by the measuring instruments—were ly repaired. The timing erfect, g with Alex’s priement with Tailwind.

  Before they left, Alex summoned his silver so siphon off a signifit portion of the Death Eaters’ magic, leaving them weaker but alive. With a Disillusio Charm, he cealed himself and the group, leading them silently out through the window.

  Early M, In the Auror and office of the British Ministry of Magic, Astor Moody yawned as he adjusted his robes, preparing to start another day of work. His reputation as a relentless workaholic preceded him. Living in his office wasn’t just on—it was expected. Moody thrived on his work, using his siderable authority to deal with Death Eaters and dark wizards in ways others wouldn’t dare.

  After wolfing down a few bites of dry bread, he was about to visit the Department of Magical Acts and Catastrophes to check if any high-level magic activity had been missed ht. Before he could leave, a rge owl swooped into his office, dropping an envelope into his hands. ‘An owl? Moody frowned. Didn’t the Ministry switch to ented paper airpnes for correspondence?’

  Moody tore open the brown envelope and sed the letter. He only o read a few lines before his expression turned grave. Wasting no time, Moody grabbed his staff and stormed into the Department of Magical Acts and Catastrophes. He kicked the office door open, startling the staff inside.

  “What’s wrong, Mr. Moody?” one of the on-duty workers asked nervously. Everyone knew better than to get on Moody’s bad side—even his fellow Aurors feared him.

  “Check the records! Was there a high-energy magical event near Regent’s Park in Londoly?” Moody barked, his tone sharp and demanding.

  The staff scrambled to check, their hands trembling slightly. “Yes, sir,” one of them reported hesitantly. “There was a XXXX-level magic surge recorded not long ago…”

  “Why wasn’t this reported immediately?” Moody roared, smming his prosthetic foot against the floor. “Are you all sg off? I’ll make sure your boss hears about this!”

  The staff member tried to stammer out an excuse, but Moody was already issuing orders. “Alert all Aurors to return to duty at once! Send the Strike Team directly tent’s Park, and mobilize the Reversal Squad from Magical Acts and Catastrophes. I want everyohere immediately!”

  Within moments, dozens of ented paper airpnes zipped out of the office, carrying Moody’s orders across the Ministry. Moody left the Ministry in a hurry, Apparating directly tent’s Park. The park was eerily quiet in the early m, devoid of Muggle activity. However, the se that greeted Moody was far from serehe ground was littered with craters of varying sizes, and the trees were either scorched or toppled over. The destru was unmistakable—an intetle had taken pce here.

  Surveying the area, Moody could see traces of powerful spells everywhere: scorch marks from Indio, deep gouges from Cutting Curse, frozen debris from Freezing Charm, and a crater the unmistakable aftermath of a fringo.

  As he moved cautiously through the battlefield, Moody’s magical eye sed the area fns of life. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto something. “Alex?” he called out, his voice steady but firm.

  ___________

  Snow bs Hogsmeade, fairy lights twinkle, and Hlows with festive cheer. The Great Hall dazzles with ented trees, floating dles, and magical treats, while students exge charmed gifts and pn midnight snowball fights. Even the ghosts join in, with Sir Nichos caroling and Peeves causing pyful chaos.

  At The Burrow, the Weasley twins light up the sky with holiday fireworks as Mrs. Weasley knits warm jumpers by the fire. This seaso’s cherish love, ughter, and a touagic.

  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2025Thank you for being my reader and supp me—your kindness means the world! Story will ti 6 January 2025.