Meanwhile, Alex had already left the area, cloaked in disillusio. The moment Raven II triggered a at the outer wall, Alex acted swiftly, slipping into a firepd cealing himself. He directed Raven I to hover outside a window ohird floor, ensuring he left no traces of his presence.

  Through careful observation, Alex deduced that the house’s outer walls, windows, and doors were heavily protected by arm and defense spells, makiernal breaches nearly impossible. A looking gss hung on the sed floor, likely ented to monitor any unusual activity. The inner walls and firepce, however, seemed free of such protes. If he wao infiltrate without setting off arms, those were his best options.

  In his mind, Alex sketched a detailed, three-dimensional map of the house, analyzing every possible route. After evaluating the risks, he o himself. The pn was feasible, and the success rate looked promising. All that was left reparation. Alex quickly returo the Leaky Cauldron, seg a room for the night. Tom, the innkeeper, greeted him warmly and even waived the fee, pleased to have his pany.

  Not long after settling into his room, an owl ailwind arrived with a message. Augusta had received Alex’s earlier note, and the arrival of the owl firmed her aowledgment. Alex gave the owl a fond scrat the head. “You’ve done well,” he said softly. “Rest here for now. There’s still work ahead, so don’t let me down.”

  After feeding Tailwind some water and nuts, Alex cast a Disillusio Charm on himself and slipped out through the window. Outside, he unfurled a map of London, sing for his arget. Moments ter, his eyes lit up, a off toward a specific location. His destination: a small warehouse stocked with medical equipment and chemical supplies.

  Back at the Leaky Cauldron, Tailwind dozed peacefully. A few hours ter, as darkness bhe city, the sound of the room’s window creaking open startled the owl awake.

  With a chubby owl perched on his arm, Alex walked downstairs as though nothing unusual had happened. On the kit, he prepared an impressive spread of dishes, cooking enough to fill the table for himself, Tom, and Tailwind. The aroma of the food wafted through the bar, catg the attention of lingering ers, who kept gng over curiously.

  Tom, the bar's owner, joined Alex at the table, chatting with him while sav the delieal. Their versation and diretched leisurely into the evening, only ing up after nine o’clock. With a satisfied sigh, Alex stood up, bid Tom goodnight, and headed back to his room with his owl in tow.

  Onside, Alex got straight to work. He went to his desk, pulled out some part, and began writiers. After sealing the st one, he turo Tailwind, speaking in a serious toailwind, tonight's mission is critical. I’ll attach a messenger cw ring to you in a bit. Pay attention to the signals I send—just like we practiced in the Forbidden Forest. Got it?"

  Tailwind, who had never seen his master so solemn, stared at Alex with wide eyes before nodding firmly. "Good. These two letters are your top priority." Alex held up two white envelopes. "If you get a signal from me tonight, it means things have gone wrong, and I need backup. Deliver these immediately—oo Moody and the other to Dumbledore at the Ministry of Magiderstood?"

  Tailwind tilted his head, clearly processing the instrus, and gave another nod. Alex then picked up two brown envelopes. "Now, if you receive two signals, it means the operation is going smoothly. Deliver one of these to Moody at the Ministry by 6 a.m., and take the other to Rita Skeeter at the Daily Prophet by 10 a.m. Make sure she aowledges receiving it personally."

  Tailwind’s feathers ruffled slightly as he tilted his head again but nodded, showing his uanding. Finally, Alex id out the st tingency. "If you receive three signals, it means the operation ’t proceed, but the enemy hasn’t found me. In that case, you don’t o do anything tonight. Just take this final letter to Augusta tomorrow afternoon. After that, head straight to Longbottom’s house and wait for me there. No ing back early, uood?"

  Tailwind bobbed his head enthusiastically. Alex repeated the instrus a few more times, making sure his owl was clear on the mission. Oisfied, he sorted the letters ly on his desk and patted Tailwily on the head.

  After preparing everything, Alex cast a Disillusio Charm on himself, grabbed his equipment, and climbed out of the window, disappearing into the dark night.

  Diagon Alley was quiet uhe moonlight. The streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional wizard walking briskly through the alley. Most of the shops had long since closed their shutters, leaving the area eerily silent.

  H just a foot above the ground to avoid leaving tracks, Alex moved swiftly and silently toward the house where five Death Eaters were hiding. The building was dark and unassuming. Emmeline Vance, who had been monit the location earlier, was now o be seen.

  Not knowing if the Aurors had gone home or were still hiding nearby, Alex carefully scouted the area, cheg several possible surveilnce spots. Once he was certain no one was watg, he summoned a raven a it to the third-floor windowsill to observe.

  The raveed back through their shared vision: four of the five guest rooms had their curtains drawn and lights out. The fifth room, dimly lit, revealed Yaxley sitting at a desk uhe glow of an oil mp, folding a letter and sealing it in an envelope. After finishing, Yaxley stretched, removed his coat and shoes, and climbed into bed, wand in hand. Before lying down, he flicked his wand toward the window, drawing the curtains shut.

  "They’re sleeping fully armed—ready to bolt if something happens," Alex murmured, impressed by their preparedness. Keeping his Disillusio Charm active, he slipped into a narrow alley beside the house and waited.

  Half an hour ter, vihey were asleep, Alex floated silently up to the roof. Summoning another raven, he sent it down the ey to scout the third floor while the first raven remained on the windowsill, keeping watch.

  Raven No. 2 flitted through the shadows, noting that the looking gss from earlier had been moved to the third floor. However, it remained i, failing to react to the raven. After cirg the third floor and firming there were no traps, the raveuro Alex on the roof. "Good, their nighttime defenses haven’t ged. Time to get started," Alex muttered, exhaling slowly to steady himself.

  Alex worked swiftly. A bundle of pstic hoses in various shapes and sizes floated silently in the air under his trol. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he maniputed them carefully, keeping o an absolute minimum. First, he attached a thidustrial pstic hose to the gas der, seg it tightly. Oher end, he installed a diverter, eg it with meticulous precision before l a rubber hose slowly down the ey.