HP Midnight Light

- March 1979, 9 - Order of the Phoenix Headquarters in Godric's Hollow

"Here—" Emmeline picked up a pen and marked a clear red dot on the map, "This is the Dark Lord's lair."

"That place is impenetrable, and besides the Dark Lord, there are a large number of Death Eaters entrenched. We don't know the specific structure inside, but there is no doubt... It's easy to get in and hard to get out." Fenwick said as he picked up another gun. The pen draws a circle around the red dot with a dotted line, "The Dark Lord has protected the castle with all the defensive spells he knows. On one side of the castle is a cliff, and our experiments have shown that no magic can help man or animal to come by flight." Approach the castle from this side of the cliff. The other side of the castle is a dangerous and steep hillside covered with rubble, which seems relatively safe, but no one knows if the Dark Lord will plant some traps."

Edgar folded his arms and sneered: "He will."

Dumbledore stared silently at the map, which already had a lot of criss-cross lines besides the newly added marks.They already know enough about the Dark Lord and his staff, but the Order of the Phoenix has suffered repeated setbacks recently.Dumbledore questioned his decision a little bit - was it really a wise idea not to use the Unforgivable Curse?

"We're going to go ahead with our original idea, Dumbledore." Alice seemed to see through his struggle, "The name 'Unforgivable Curse' didn't come out of thin air. Although using it doesn't imply depravity, But—" She waved her hand, and Frank went on from his wife:

"But only the most insane of people enjoy the Unforgivable Curse."

Dumbledore smiled faintly, he calmed down the momentary shock just now, and since that day long ago, he swore never to touch these three spells: "What else do we know? "

"We haven't figured out where we can conquer the Dark Lord's stronghold." Fenwick said a little guilty.

"I don't know if you are interested in one thing." Emmeline hesitated, and pointed to another point not far from the red dot, "This is the manor where the Watson family lives."

"We have circumstantial intelligence that old Watson has some connection with the Dark Lord - although he is not a Death Eater." Diggle reminded, "On the other hand, the marriage of Watson Jr. Rupture. So it's rather puzzling that old Watson was still in regular contact with the Dark Lord after that. The most reliable explanation for this is that he couldn't get out."

"I've dealt with Francis a few times before," Edgar put in. "He's shrewd—isn't he?" He turned to Dumbledore for support, who nodded:

"Is this the only mystery about Francis?"

Obviously not.

Emmeline glanced at Edgar, who coughed uncomfortably, "Uh... I got a piece of news from my sister: A few days ago, Francis applied to the Department of Magical Transport, asking for a Portkey to France .”

"They already approved his application?"

"Under review." Edgar replied, "Francis's application is justified. He claims that his daughter is depressed and needs a long-distance trip to relax. But because he has not yet provided a certificate issued by St. Mungo, the Department of Transportation temporarily suppressed it." He has complied with his request and awaits further supporting materials."

"Interesting." Di Ge looked at his companions, "What does he want to do?"

"Of course I wanted to run away. If I lived not far from the Dark Lord, I'd be too scared to sleep every day." Fenwick sneered.

"It seems..." Dumbledore pondered for a moment, and he saw another meaning hidden under Francis' application, "The Dark Lord is far less popular than we thought. I mean, there have been serious problems among the Death Eaters." Disintegration and . . . perhaps mutiny."

"Francis is not a Death Eater."

"He must have noticed something, otherwise Francis would never have taken the risk of escaping from abroad." Dumbledore's brain was spinning rapidly, "The civil strife among the Death Eaters is not as simple as the suppression of Bulstrode, there must be more of us in it." something you don't know."

Emmeline took a light breath: "Dumbledore, we can't get further information. Unless...unless someone can bring effective information from within."

"Are we turning against a Death Eater?" Fenwick asked quickly.

"Their infighting doesn't mean they'll be willing to go undercover for us."

They all looked at Dumbledore, who shook his head, telling the truth.

- same moment - rozier manor

"...So, that's why I came to you."

"That doesn't sound very convincing, Wilkes," said Evan, "because you think the Lestranges are crazy?"

"Evan." Wilkes stroked his hands. "You know what I mean," he emphasized uneasily.If Evan had to play dumb to the end, the game would be unplayable.But Wilkes has his own considerations. He is sure that Evan will not refuse, at least not 100%.

However, after pondering for a few seconds, Evan said decisively: "Your idea is completely wrong, Wilkes. There shouldn't be such intrigue among Death Eaters. I can temporarily ignore what you said to me today. , but I hope you don't bring it up again. Otherwise, I will definitely report it to the Dark Lord."

Wilkes' expression changed drastically: "Evan!"

"I'm serious, Wilkes. You shouldn't waste your time on this." Evan said sternly, "Squad, camp, division, do you think these words are what you should say? Who allowed you to do this Criticizing or even slandering the Death Eaters? We are all loyal to one man - the Dark Lord - and that will suffice," he stated.

Cornelia glanced sideways at her father, and she smiled and explained softly: "You misunderstood, Wilkes. My father and I have always maintained a good relationship with Bella and the Lestrange brothers. I don’t know what caused you to make a wrong judgment, but maybe the purpose of your visit was wrong from the beginning.”

There was cold sweat on Wilkes' forehead. He had seen the true nature of Rozier and his daughter.Their rejection can almost be equated with death: "I...I..."

"What's more, you don't seem to have any sincerity." Cornelia threw the next blow, and Wilkes couldn't wait to explain as if grasping at a straw:

"No, no, no, Cornelia, Evan, of course I have sincerity, I can prove it!" He said impatiently, "I can do anything to prove my sincerity—"

Evan interrupted him: "Including the unbreakable oath?"

Wilkes's face was slowly turning purple as the words caught in his throat.

"Just kidding, Wilkes, don't be so nervous." Cornelia laughed, fear appeared on Wilkes' face, and she continued to laugh, "But we still need a little proof."

"What is it?"

Cornelia was playing with a pocket knife, and when she heard this, she threw it at Wilkes. The latter's hand dodged sharply, and the knife stabbed firmly within an inch of where his right hand should have been. The handle trembled slightly.

"Cut off a piece of your arm, Wilkes. Use this to prove to us that you are not just talking about it." Cornelia said calmly.

Wilkes' pupils dilated.He clearly read more information from Cornelia's words.After hesitating for a while, under the silent gaze of Rozier and his daughter, Wilkes gritted his teeth and drew out the knife, closed his eyes, and stabbed cruelly at his arm——

"Very good." Evan praised.

The fresh piece of meat fell on the coffee table, and seemed to be still twitching reflexively.With a pale face, Wilkes let go of the knife and let it fall to the coffee table, where a thin layer of blood had already accumulated.

"We will consider your request." Evan promised.Wilkes couldn't believe his ears—consider?Is it worth it to exchange a piece of meat for a consideration?

However, reality does not allow him to pick and choose, and Wilkes healed the wound with a magic wand: "Thank you, Evan."

After he left, Cornelia walked to the messy coffee table and wrapped a handkerchief around the lifeless flesh that once belonged to Wilkes.

"What do you want that for?" Evan said with some disgust.

"Here's a trophy, Father!" Cornelia wrapped it carefully, "and you'll soon know what I want it for."

She had the meat of the doorman again, and now only three materials were missing from her opal necklace.

Evan didn't pay much attention to her words: "I decided to promise Wilkes."

"Are you sure, father?"

"Wilkes is considered a quick-witted person. Since he decided to come to us, it means that Lestrange must have taken action." Evan stared at his fingers thoughtfully, "We have been too late recently. It's not surprising that Bellatrix is ​​upset after the scenery... But we have to prepare in advance, don't we?"

"Besides Wilkes, do you have any other favorites?"

"Leah, it's impossible for us to really recruit customers. The Dark Lord will definitely be annoyed by this." Evan looked at Wilkes' blood stains contemptuously, "We only need a pawn."

- April 9 - Greenwich, London

"Hurry up, board!"

There was a howl from downstairs.

"What are you dawdling on?"

A few seconds later came the second sound.

"What else do you two have to say now?"

Then came the third sound.

Sirius couldn't bear to open the window and put his head out: "You are so annoying, fork!" He quickly retracted and slammed the window, and a hot spell hit the place where his head was just now.

"He said I was annoying?" James held up his wand and turned to Remus, who was laughing and coughing, incredulously. "Listen, we must pour him at least three bottles of Fire Whiskey today, understand?"

"You want the groom to pass out in bed and miss the wedding?" Remus straightened up against the wall. "Hyases will cut you down with a knife."

"Woman..." James exclaimed exaggeratedly, while Lily glared at him:

"What's the matter? What's your opinion?"

James immediately showed a flattering smile: "No, no, my dear, I completely agree with everything you said."

"I'm going to throw up," Remus said.

Even Peter felt that James became more and more obedient to Lily after marriage, obediently like a fawn—oh, he was a deer—not at all like James before.

"Hey!" Lily yelled upstairs worryingly, "Do not open the door!"

Hyacinth was just about to open the bedroom door when Lily's words came, and Sirius grabbed the doorknob tightly: "No! No! No!"

"Why do you follow the rules, Sirius, this is not like you." Hyacinth tried to unscrew the door, "It's just an old and unreliable tradition."

"No!" Sirius burst into a scream, "If tradition exists, there is a reason for it—you don't turn the doorknob anymore!—We must follow every rule."

Reluctantly, Hyacinth let go of her hand and looked around her bedroom. She had been locked up here for a day.The only reason why Sirius didn't agree with her to open the door was the old rule of "you can't see the bride on the eve of the wedding", and they all talked through the door panel like fools during the day

"Don't be so anxious," Sirius taught her seriously, "We'll see each other in a few hours."

Look, now the anxious person has become her instead.

"Ten seconds ago I made a decision."

"What? You want another tie?"

"No—I decided to quit the Order of the Phoenix at the age of thirty-five."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Hyacinth smiled and shook her head, "You will fight the Death Eaters to the end."

"Of course I will! Ten years will definitely be enough for us to defeat the Dark Lord and send all those Death Eaters to Azkaban." Sirius said confidently, "Then the Order of the Phoenix will be disbanded logically. I could go and be an Auror-"

"Have you finally decided to end your vagrant life in middle age?"

"Oh... Hyacinth, can't you think of me in a better way." Sirius pretended to complain dejectedly, "Look, I want you and the children to live a more stable life, they Surely they'd be elated that their daddy was an Auror..."

"You're making me nervous, Sirius," Hyacinth emphasized. "I'm not, okay? I'm not ready to be a mother yet!"

"We can't lose to James and Lily, they have a week more than us."

"Then you have to work harder."

"Are you hinting at me?"

"I have more dirty words to save for later." Hyacinth described Sirius' appearance through the door panel, "I want to kiss you."

"So do I. But no!"

Hyacinth suggested slyly: "We can close our eyes, can't we? Then there will be no problem."

Sirius fell into a hesitant silence.

"Don't dawdle, Padfoot!"

The door snapped open, Hyacinth closed her eyes reflexively and took a step back, Sirius quickly pressed her back against the door.

"I miss you!"

"I can't go," Sirius gasped, "I can stay."

"Well……"

In the long silence, only the sound of Hyacinth's frantic heartbeat, the disordered breath of the two of them, and the slight rubbing of their lips could be heard.

"You didn't open your eyes, did you?"

"No."

Sirius pulled Hyacinth closer again: "I can definitely stay," he murmured.

"No... this is your last bachelor party, you must go."

Having said that, Hyacinth let her fingers run through Sirius' hair as she hooked her left hand more and more firmly around his neck.

"Trust me," he said, "a stag party with prongs breaks all the rules."

"That's true." Hyacinth replied panting.

"Maybe we need to stop." Sirius sighed and stopped kissing before things got out of hand.

"Oh—" Hyacinth made a sound between sigh and regret.

They hugged quietly and enjoyed the aftertaste of this long kiss.

At this moment, there was a sudden rattling sound from the windowpane.

"Merlin!" Sirius let go of Hyacinth and yelled angrily, "The three of them won't let me go! - Don't open your eyes!"

Hyacinth laughed, and she could picture the three remaining Marauders now huddling outside the window.

"If you don't get Padfoot out," James yelled at her, knocking on the window, "we're going to break in and rob people."

"I think we almost saw something invisible." Peter complained, "Ah—" Obviously, he lost his footing and fell.

"Go." Hyacinth pushed Sirius with a smile, "Have fun."

Sirius kissed her forehead: "Go to bed early, this is your big day." He nimbly slipped through the crack of the door, and Hyacinth opened her eyes and saw James lying on the glass with a smile:

"That's intense, girl! You almost tore his shirt off!"

"If you get him drunk, Prongs," threatened Hyacins viciously, "I'll cut off your antlers and hang them on the wall!"

James shivered, then disappeared with a chirp.

Lily knocked on her door: "Hyatings, he's gone."

She opened the door and walked out, both melancholy and excited: "I think it's too fast."

Lily found a bottle of champagne and poured her and Hyacinth each a glass: "Think you haven't had a good time yet?" She clinked glasses with her, "I bet you won't regret it, Sirius will pamper you." Become a princess. The only thing you have to do now is to go to sleep."

"Wake up, board." James kicked Sirius, and the four of them lay unsteadily on the living room carpet. It was obvious that James had just woken up too.Peter was whining and whining, and Remus yawned and sat up.

Sirius opened his eyes suddenly, and large swaths of sunlight pierced into his eyes.For a few seconds he was still in that warm dream—a soft, round-cheeked baby with rose-like lips, so beautiful and lovely with jet-black hair and smoky eyes.He struggled restlessly in his arms, desperately trying to climb into his mother's arms... Mother——

"Are they up?" Sirius asked, rubbing his hair.

"I don't know. I slept like a rock." James took a staggering step forward, "Do I smell like old wine?"

Sirius pushed his friend away and rushed into the bathroom, dousing himself in the sink to wash his face and mouth as fast as he could.Tens of seconds later, he brushed his long hair behind his ears energetically, and the person in the mirror looked radiant. Sirius gave a smirk, then went to the bedroom and knocked on the door.

no respond.

"Lily? Hyacinth?" James called after him. "You guys get up and get ready!"

Still no response.

"Are they going to stay in bed today?" Peter asked.

Sirius' heart was beating violently suddenly, and a mysterious premonition swept over his whole body: "No..." He let out a heavy sigh in his throat.

"Let me take a look—girls, I'm going to open the door." Remus stepped forward and twisted the doorknob, and he easily pushed the door open—

A champagne bottle chugged and rolled at his feet, and Remus looked up.Lily fell to the ground, her crimson hair spread out in the shape of a flower.

The windows are wide open.

The bride is gone.

The author has something to say:

Note:

1. Margaret's related plots are to fill in the blanks in "Night of Dawn", and to lay a dark thread for the following text.

2. ["Unless someone can bring effective information from within"]: This is not implying Snape, but someone else.

3. [Wilkes]: A small cannon fodder mentioned in the original book.

4. The reason why Wilkes was afraid of cutting himself was because he knew that Rozier and his daughter were ruthless to him, plus Evan's refusal before, so Wilkes mistakenly thought that the knife was poisonous.

5. It is said that if you see the bride on the eve of the wedding, it will bring bad luck (this saying seems to be both Chinese and Western).

6. In addition to the flag, there is a subtle easter egg in this chapter, which will be revealed after a long time, welcome to find it.

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