HP Starlight

Ever since Harry met Dumbledore, he has become preoccupied.Although he concealed it very well, his classmates and Sirius didn't find out.But mood swings can't fool Esther.

On the afternoon of the third day, Harry and his classmates recovered and were discharged from the hospital.Esther sneaked out when Madam Pomfrey wasn't looking.She asked Harry to relax outside the castle.

It was a rare fine weather, and Esther saw Mr. Octopus by the Black Lake again.Its tentacles still look so slippery.Esther reached out to touch it, but accidentally touched the wound, causing her to hiss.

"You shouldn't have come out, you're not well yet." Harry said with some concern.

"It's fine if you don't move your right arm. Besides, I think you have something on your mind, and I thought you wanted to talk to someone." Esther returned to her normal expression.

Harry grabbed the blade of grass in his hand and said in a muffled voice, "It's about the prophecy, I haven't figured out how to tell you yet."

"You and Voldemort can only live one?" Esther asked.

"You know the prophecy?"

"I don't know much, I only know that you and Voldemort can only live one."

"And one has to die at the other's hand, Esther, do you understand? It's none other than me, either by him or by him. I must—must—kill—"

Harry looked at himself in the water with disgust, as if there was something dirty there.

“Maybe turn him into a slug first if you have a mental block?” Esther joked.

"Maybe a good idea." Harry smiled faintly.

After a short silence, Harry went on, "I'm a bit silly for thinking that, aren't I? He killed my parents, he killed so many people, and I dare not kill him, like a coward."

"You didn't kill him because you were different from him," Esther said solemnly. "There will be a way, Harry, it will take a while. Maybe it's not what you think. And you have us. "

Esther sat quietly by the lake with Harry and stopped talking, but she could feel his mood improving little by little.

Near sunset, Esther was finally taken back to the school hospital by Madam Pomfrey.Facing the angry head nurse, Esther tucked herself into the quilt obediently, and drank a cup of thick dark green potion.Madam Pomfrey threatened that if Esther disappeared again for no reason, she would cast a binding spell on her and tie her to the bed with a quilt.Esther blinked her timid big eyes and kept nodding, promising that she would never get out of bed again.

The life in the school hospital is extremely boring.Snape never saw her again, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.She told herself that Snape would be busy grading papers, but she still wished he would find time to visit her.

After lying on the bed for two days honestly, Esther finally recovered.Before returning to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, she couldn't wait to go to Snape's office to meet him first.But the door of the office was closed, and no one inside responded.

When we arrived in London, the sky suddenly darkened.The lifeless fog covered the sky, making people feel depressed.Everyone was happy to see Esther back.After a brief welcome, Moody began to reassign tasks for everyone.After the Ministry of Magic showed up, Voldemort's actions finally stopped being secretive.Death Eaters launched attacks on opponents and Muggles.The fog outside is the product of active dementors, which intensifies people's panic.

The Ministry of Magic, the Muggle government, and Potter's aunt's house, as the primary targets of the Death Eaters, became the main places where Moody deployed secret sentries.Unlike before, Moody requires members of the Order of the Phoenix to perform tasks in pairs to ensure safety.

Esther and Emmeline Vance are in charge of dealing with abnormal situations in the neighborhood near the Muggle government.Emmeline is a dignified and elegant Ravenclaw, an old-timer who joined when the Order of the Phoenix was first formed.She usually seems to be reticent and not easy to get along with, and Esther is also a person who does not open her heart to others easily.Esther always felt a little uncomfortable when the two of them were together.

The days were getting rougher, Death Eaters destroyed the Brockdale Bridge, and a dozen Muggle cars sank into the river below.And Amelia Burns, Director of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic, is also missing.Although the Ministry of Magic has acknowledged Voldemort's return and Fudge has cooperated with Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix again, it is still a great loss for the Order of the Phoenix to lose Burns, who has been cooperating with him for several months.

At the same time, the Order of the Phoenix also received information that Voldemort was preparing to attack them.Moody has asked every member to pay extra attention to safety recently.Especially Sirius and Lupine, who are guarding near Harry's house, are the most likely targets.If someone was killed in front of the Savior's house, it would not only threaten the Order of the Phoenix, but also deter the entire wizarding world.

That night, Esther followed Emmeline to patrol the streets outside the prime minister's residence.The street was a bit too deserted, which made them feel that something was wrong.Suddenly there was a painful and short cry in the distance.Emmeline and Esther hurried to the place where the noise was made.Through the mist, a hooded Death Eater was torturing a Muggle for fun.Emmeline didn't hesitate to attack quickly.The Death Eater reacted quickly, dodged the spell that was attacking him, and disappeared into the night.

Emmeline ran over to observe the Muggle situation, and Esther stood behind her to keep vigilant.They knew the Muggle lying on the ground. It was Herbert Jollet, an assistant minister who often visited the Prime Minister's residence.Emmeline put away her wand and pretended to be a passer-by, helping Jolay to sit up with concern, and asked him if he needed to go to the hospital.Jolie looked at Emmeline in a daze, as if she hadn't woken up from the fear just now.

Suddenly the situation changed, and Jolie took out a dagger from his clothes and stabbed it straight into Emmeline's body.Emmeline exclaimed and pushed Jolai out, and she couldn't stand up and fell to the ground.

Esther didn't notice Jolie's actions until she heard Emmeline's voice.She quickly cast him a Stunning Charm to stop his second attack, and ran to see Emmeline's wounds.

"The situation is not right, get out of here quickly." Emmeline urged.

Esther helped her stand up and tried to apparate, but the air around her suddenly became solid.It was a trap, and Esther immediately realized it.She asked Ameline to sit down again, and decided to heal Ameline's injury first.

"Heal as before!" A light blue light covered the wound.But the wound didn't change, it was still bleeding.Esther checked it carefully, frowned and said, "It doesn't look like an ordinary dagger, the wound is poisonous, and an antidote is needed. Can you hold on?"

Emmeline nodded.With anti-Apparition spells around, they had to go outside.Esther put her arm around his shoulders and carried her forward.Emmeline clutched the injured area tightly, but still couldn't stop the blood from oozing out.

After walking a few steps, the surrounding air suddenly became icy cold, and a layer of hoarfrost climbed on the wall around him.Est shuddered. "It's a dementor." Emmeline said weakly.It seems that the poison has spread in her body, so hurry up.

However, Emmeline, who was bleeding, was getting weaker and weaker, almost completely pressing on Esther.Esther summoned the Patronus to hover beside her, carried Emmeline with difficulty and rushed out.

A few figures were faintly approaching in front of him, Este raised his wand and stopped in his tracks.

"Turn to the right, don't just stand here." Emmeline reminded Esther.

Esther hurriedly turned the corner and changed the other direction.

"Don't struggle, kitty. Come out. We've got you covered," said a Death Eater's cloyingly sweet voice.The other Death Eaters laughed.

Esther walked slower and slower, but she didn't want to give up.The Death Eaters behind her followed her unhurriedly, but they were not in a hurry to surround her.Like a cat catching a mouse, they ate up their prey first, and then devoured Esther when she was exhausted and desperate.

"Put me down, you go first." Emmeline said softly.

"No!" Esther said angrily.

"Let me go, Esther! I can't get out today, you have to accept this fact. I've been mentally prepared for a long time. Now turn around and you will turn into a bat and hide, and I will hold them back." Emmeline took out The tone of the elder ordered.

Seeing the figure of the Death Eaters getting closer.Esther gritted her teeth, turned the corner to put down Emmeline, and quickly threw an explosive spell at the Death Eaters.Then she folded her wand and turned into a bat and flew into the shadows behind.

"One ran!" growled the first Death Eater to run over.

"She can't go far, this can't Apparate. Scott, Morley, look over there!" said the leading Death Eater.He grabbed Emmeline by the collar and dragged her up, "Where's your little friend? Tell me, maybe I can give you a good time."

Emmeline didn't respond, just looked at the Death Eater opposite with a sneer.

"Crucio!" yelled the lead Death Eater angrily.The wand's light went straight into Emmeline's body, and she screamed hysterically.

The sound of chaotic footsteps came, and the sound just now alarmed the people nearby.The leading Death Eater cursed, ended Emmeline's life with a Killing Curse, then lifted the Anti-Apparition Curse, and disappeared into the darkness with the rest.

Esther hung stiffly in the corner, unable to move.From the flash of green light just now, she knew it was over.She watched her companion die before her eyes and did nothing.She watched as the police surrounded Emmeline and cordoned off.She watched Emmeline being carried away, leaving only a dark pool of blood on the clearing.She just stood there in a daze, as if the one whose soul was taken away was herself.

After the police left, a man lowered his hat and walked towards the corner where Est was hiding. "Come down, I'll take you back," Moody said.

Esther fell down in a trance and changed back into human form.Return to Grimmauld Place with Moody.

As soon as he entered the headquarters, Esther was overwhelmed by the sad atmosphere.She used Occlumency to keep herself calm and told those present what had happened.Tonks' hair had lost its pink luster and turned gray-brown, and he hung his head in silence.Heska Jones sobbed softly.Mr. Weasley patted Esther on the shoulder and sighed.

"Why are you so depressed? This is a war, and sacrifices are inevitable. Haven't we already prepared for it? Emmeline won't want to see us depressed for her. The war is not over yet, let's cheer up ’ said Moody loudly.

"Heska, Tonks, you are taking over Esther's duty temporarily." Moody arranged decisively.The two wiped the corners of their eyes, got up and walked out of the living room.

"Esther, you can rest later, Dumbledore will be here in a while, you can talk to him again," Moody said.

Esther nodded mechanically.She tried to keep herself calm and not feel the disgust.

At nearly two o'clock in the morning, Dumbledore finally returned to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.Esther suppressed the painful feeling in his heart, and once again told every detail of what happened that night.

"Using Muggle sneak attacks, Tom has improved this time." Dumbledore's tone was chilling. "Alastor, let all members of the Order of the Phoenix pay attention and keep a distance when rescuing."

"Esther, you did a good job. Emmeline's death was not your fault, don't blame yourself." Dumbledore turned to Esther and said, "You have tried your best."

"I should have held on a little longer - I shouldn't have given up on her - maybe a little while later when the Muggle police came and they went away - she took a Cruciatus Curse as she died to cover me - I don't know her that well yet, But I owe her my life—" Esther felt her face go cold, and realized that she was crying belatedly.

"I totally understand," said Dumbledore softly. "It's hard to feel helpless when your companion dies before your eyes. But think about it, you can't deal with so many people alone. If you don't hide, you will only One more corpse. Emmeline's decision is correct, and you are very rational. Being in pain is useless, as long as you continue to fight, Emmeline's sacrifice was not in vain."

Esther nodded numbly. She knew that Dumbledore was right, and indulging in grief would not help, but she just couldn't help thinking about it, and couldn't help blaming herself for not saying a few more words to her before.

Esther slept very restlessly that night.In the dream, she kept returning to that street, and the green light flashed over and over again, waking her up again and again.

Moody gave Esther a day off the next day on the grounds that her dark circles made her easy to spot in a crowd.

In the evening, at the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore informed everyone that Fudge had resigned from the Ministry of Magic and was succeeded by Rufus Scrimgeour.He is the former director of the Auror Office, and the future work of the Order of the Phoenix will be carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Magic.But Dumbledore also reminded everyone that Scrimgeour is a tough person, and there may be some unpleasantness in the cooperation, so everyone should focus on the overall situation and try to avoid friction.

Snape brought news that the werewolf leader Fenrir Greyback had joined Voldemort's Death Eaters.Lupine took the initiative to apply to be an undercover agent in the werewolves, and persuaded other werewolves to join the Order of the Phoenix to resist Greyback's brutal rule.

When Esther heard Lupine's words, he couldn't help but glanced at Tonks who was sitting next to him, and sure enough, he saw Tonks' eyes full of despair.Esther looked at Lupine reproachfully, but the latter ignored her and just stared blankly at the table in front of him.

The rest of the meeting was spent discussing security measures at the Weasley Burrow.Harry will spend the remainder of his vacation there.Sirius really wanted Harry to come and live with him.But the Ministry of Magic is also involved in protection, and living in the Order of the Phoenix will reveal the location of 12 Grimmauld Place.Molly enthusiastically invited Sirius to live with him, so that one more person would give him more strength.Sirius agreed without much hesitation. After all, he was willing to let him live by the road as long as it was not in Grimmauld Place.

After the meeting, Esther really wanted to have a word with Snape.They hadn't seen each other since the last time they met at the school hospital.Especially after watching Emmeline die before her eyes, she wanted to see Snape so much.But before she could speak, Snape's black robe disappeared into the hall.He was hiding from himself, she realized belatedly.But she really couldn't figure out why he would do this.

After holding a simple funeral for Emmeline, the Order of the Phoenix spent three and a half days strengthening the Burrow's protective magic, even every goblin hole was spared.Esther met Fleur Delacour, an acquaintance of the Triwizard Tournament, at the Burrow.She is also currently working at Gringotts, and is planning to marry the Weasley family's eldest son, Bill, next year.But the Weasleys, except for Ron, were not very satisfied with Fleur, the prospective family.Molly was always looking for opportunities to spend time with Tonks or Esther, trying to avoid being alone with Fleur.Esther could understand that no woman would be too relaxed in front of Furong's beauty.What's more, this woman will soon replace him as the son's closest person.

On the last night, Esther was helping Molly finish cooking.Tonks was still sluggish, the potatoes had been sliced ​​deep and shallow by her.Molly looked at her and the potatoes worriedly, not noticing that the onions had been crumbled under the automatic vegetable cutter.

"Tonks, I doubt if you'll have enough potatoes tonight if you peel them like this. Molly, I'm afraid you won't find a single onion for your onion soup." Esther said flatly.

Molly exclaimed, and quickly stopped the knife with a wave of her wand.

"Aren't these enough? Then I'll dig some more?" Tonks said confusedly.

"Enough, enough, just the few of us, enough to eat." Molly said quickly.

"Aren't Professor Harry and Dumbledore coming?" Esther asked strangely.

"They won't arrive until tomorrow. Dumbledore will take Harry to Slughorn first, and let him return to Hogwarts to teach."

"He used to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"

"No, he's the Potions professor. He probably went to Hogwarts with Dumbledore. Arthur and I were his students. He's always taught Potions."

"He teaches Potions? What about Professor Snape?" Esther asked in a panic.

"I don't know that. Maybe they both teach Potions. You care about Snape?" Molly was keenly aware of the strangeness.

"I'm just asking casually," Esther said vaguely.

Esther barely ate anything for dinner.She was eager to ask Snape if he had really accepted the cursed position.Finally, after everyone finished their dinner, Esther bid farewell to Molly in a hurry, and apparated to Spider's End.

Spinner's End seemed to get dark earlier than elsewhere.Esther became a little calmer after being blown by the cold wind in the alley.Snape was also a Death Eater after all, and it would be inappropriate for Snape not to catch her if she blatantly broke into his house as a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

But it's all here, and I'm a little unwilling to go back without seeing people.After thinking about it, Esther decided to take a look.She turned into a bat and flew in the direction of Snape's house.Through the small living room window she saw Snape in the armchair.There was a large book open on his lap, but he didn't seem to read it, but slowly groped the edge of the book.

The moment he saw Snape, Esther's heart became much more at ease.She watched for a while, trying to make a movement to draw Snape's attention, when she heard footsteps on the cobblestones.She carefully identified that it was two people.She flew up to the eaves vigilantly, hiding in the darkness.

Finally the footsteps stopped in front of Snape's house.The door was opened, and Snape's voice clearly entered Esther's ears, "Narcissa, what a surprise and joy!"

Esther didn't dare to move, since one of them was Narcissa, the other must also be a Death Eater.She waited quietly, and sure enough another familiar name came from behind the door. "Bellatrix." Snape's voice.