Slytherin Pt. 3

31st October 1993. Hogwarts. Gryffindor Dorms.

Harry was full of excitement. It was his first Hogsmeade weekend! The Durselys had refused to sign his permission form, but Lord Peverell had convinced the minister to sign it for him. He pulled Ron out of bed and poked his ginger friend until he stood up. They both took a shower and pulled on their clothes, eager to investigate the local village.

Hermione was waiting for them at breakfast, just as eager as them as she wanted to buy quills and paper.

Draco and his goons were just as keen but trying not to show it, going on about how they thought it was such a trivial thing.

Ares was already heading out, having paid Filch a few Galleons to be signed in early. He moved quickly, making his way towards the outskirts of Hogsmeade, where he met Lucius, who was waiting with a full-sized set of robes and a non-remarkable wand.

Ares aged himself up to his mid-thirties and changed clothes, giving Lucius the elder wand in exchange for the other. Then, telling Lucius to meet him back in four hours, he disappeared.

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31st October. The Lovegood Residence

Xenophilius Lovegood was having a relatively normal day, investigating and researching obscure animals and conspiracies.

Sitting in his office, he felt a tug on the wards. Someone had entered his garden.

Luna was at school, so it had to be someone else. He stood up and made his way downstairs, picking his wand up as he left the room. Half stumbling down the stairs due to his low blood pressure from sitting down for so long.

He composed himself and opened the door to meet his visitor.

A flash of green was the last thing Xenophilius Lovegood saw.

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31st October. Doge Manor.

Elphias Doge was a prominent member of the Wizarding world, and as such, he was expected to be on call every day, all day, in case of emergencies.

So when he received a message from Lucius Malfoy mentioning a meeting regarding an upcoming vote, he assumed it would be the usual 'vote for me because..' meeting.

Preparing for the meeting was simple; he had to ensure there were tea and biscuits. Naturally, he would find the encounter tedious and always vote for whatever Dumbledore wanted, so the result was a foregone conclusion. However, this did not stop other Lords and Ladies from petitioning him.

Feeling someone walking through the gates, he entered the sitting room. The door opened as the visitor walked in.

"Make yourself comfortable! Let's get on with it." Elphias said as he relaxed into his chair, not bothering to see who had come in.

"I thank you for your hospitality Lord Doge."

Elphias immediately opened his eyes in alarm. That was not Lucius Malfoy's voice.

"Lord Peverell! This is certainly an unexpected pleasure!" Elphias said, recognising the man from his speech in the Wizengamoat.

Sitting down opposite him, Ares smiled,

"I thank you for your kind words, sir; alas, we cannot talk long."

Elphias raised an eyebrow at that.

"Why ever not? Surely you have lots of time."

Ares shook his head at that,

"I have plenty of time. But, unfortunately, you've run out."

Before the old man could fully contemplate what Ares had told him, a flash of green light hit him, causing him to slump into his chair.

Standing up, Ares disapparated, smashing through the house's wards, which were dissolving with the last member of House Doge dead.

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31st October. Mad-Eye Moody Residence

The Moody residence was a testament to its owner's paranoia. The bins were warded to attack intruders, and the property was riddled with anti-muggle charms, warning spells, locking charms and traps.

When he arrived home, mad-Eye Moody had just returned from a shift surveying a location suspected of hiding dark wizards.

He had been relaxing as much as possible for a half-insane Auror when he heard his bins go off. Immediately he was alert and moved to the window, careful to avoid being seen.

Peaking carefully out, he saw a wizard garbed in black raising his wand and incanting something.

'Fiendfyre'

Mad-eye heard the incantation and went into action immediately, diving towards his fireplace, hand flinging floo powder simultaneously.

Fire engulfed the house thoroughly, burning everything it came in contact with.

Lucius Malfoy took off his mask and admired his handiwork. It had been a long time since he had indulged himself in a bit of arson.

"That should have killed the old bastard! Master will be happy." Lucius said, satisfied he had accomplished his orders.

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31st October 1993. Hogsmeade.

Ares appeared with a pop, quickly followed by Lucius. Ares turned himself back to fourteen, changed his clothes and swapped his wand.

After listening to Malfoy senior's report, he gave him further orders and quickly returned to Hogwarts for the evening feast.

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31st October 1993. Gryffindor Tower

Sirius Black felt hunger, immense hunger and fatigue. After the Fat Lady had refused to allow him access to the tower, he had been angered more than anything he had ever felt.

He had destroyed her painting and tried to force his way through, but he had been pushed back for fear of being caught before he could capture the rat.

Running away, he could not help but feel depressed at how his circumstances had turned out.

"Hello, Sirius, a friend of yours wants to talk."

A red flash, and he was out cold.

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1st November 1993. Headmasters Office.

Dumbledore was incredibly annoyed; Sirius Black had snuck into his school without him noticing.

Now he was having to organise a search with the dementors in the vain hope they could find the man.

Just as he thought the day couldn't get any worse, his longtime friend Mad-eye Moody came hurtling through his floo.

He was severely burned, and Albus had to get him to the med bay immediately for fear of his condition worsening.

This couldn't be a coincidence!

Turning to Severus and Minerva, he expressed his solution,

"Call the order together. We may be facing a threat far worse than just Sirius Black!"