A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

"Of course she's in her dorm now," Tonks took a bite of his pie, "I agreed with her that when she wants to work on her strategies alone, I'll temporarily use her identity, you know, as Magus. The others rely on Polyjuice Potion, Alastor, Frank, and Alice use regular people's hair. Anyway, the school's so big, no one can guarantee they know everyone... Emily has a relative at the school. Usually, it's just the two of us gathering information outside."

Harry nodded, Emily spun around and approached him, holding a bag in her hand, Ron and Hermione each holding a piece of chocolate cake, smiling sheepishly at him.

"Did a lot of homework tonight, a bit hungry," Ron said quietly.

"Eat a bit, I got some extra desserts from the house-elves in the kitchen," Emily Vance said amiably.

Harry hesitated but picked up a jam doughnut and quietly started eating.

"Why're you back so late?" Moody asked.

Emily Vance sighed, "There was a club having an event in the kitchen, bonding with house-elves, having fun. I finally caught one alone to ask for help... It's different now, we didn't have this back then."

"Um, can I ask a question?" Ron inquired.

Several glanced at him, Kingsley chuckled, "What do you want to ask? Anything confidential won't be revealed."

"You should ask what the mysterious ones plan to do; they're not acting on their own. Causing trouble, stealing things, gathering information... all possible, but causing trouble is less likely."

"Why do you say that?" Ron wiped cake crumbs off his mouth.

Several exchanged glances, Frank Longbottom carefully considered his response, "Because it's not worth it. We reckon—those two are likely rare undercover agents for the mysterious ones at the Ministry of Magic, especially as we have the upper hand now. Not many are willing to switch sides. Also, unlike the last war—with the Thief's Waterfall in place, using bewitchment like the Dementor's Kiss won't work. Professor Dumbledore confirmed this."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged meaningful glances while pretending to eat. They probably understood Voldemort's goal, the Horcruxes... It was just strange to Harry; if Professor Dumbledore had intact Horcruxes, why didn't he hurry to destroy them?

"Um, I also have a question, if I may?" Hermione asked.

"Alright, one question each. Then you lot better head back to sleep," Kingsley spoke in a tone akin to coaxing children.

"How long do you plan to stay?" Hermione said. Harry looked up excitedly, silently applauding Hermione in his mind.

"Not for too long," Tonks regretfully said, "Whatever they plan to do, it has to be within these few days. That's why we're here, to have more eyes watching... or the Ministry people will return."

"Alright, enough talk," Moody interrupted, looking at Harry, "One final question."

Harry stuffed the last bit of the doughnut into his mouth and, mischievously, asked, "Professor Moody, have you seen Professor Snape on the map? What's he doing? And Sirius?" He added nervously.

"Snape's name isn't on it; Felix mentioned that when he gave me the map. Erased his name," Moody said calmly, seemingly unaware of the undertone in Harry's question. "As for Sirius, he's a bit angry, thinks we didn't inform him promptly. Right now—" He lowered his head, focusing on the active map, "He's pacing in his office, probably pondering."

He clapped his hands, ending today's conversation.

"Kids, I appreciate your noble behavior today, but you better head back quickly because lights out will be soon. Remember to keep this quiet; you've learned quite a lot of insider information. Because we consider you as our own," he noticed Harry about to interject, waving his hand to continue, "Not as juniors, but as future comrades and allies. I heard about the club you've started, the Frontline Observation Post... that's good."

"Remember, Dark Wizards aren't a problem we can solve entirely now. You'll have plenty of time in the future to showcase your skills. But not now."

Harry said somewhat disappointedly, "So we don't have to do anything?"

This question made Moody hesitate. He looked at Ron and Hermione, both wearing expectant expressions, and said, "If there's turmoil in the school these days, you can help maintain order. But most likely, you won't even notice anything has happened."

"On the condition that it doesn't threaten your safety," Kingsley added.

"Alright," Harry said. The three of them left the broom closet.

Hundreds of kilometers away, Voldemort walked in a long, gloomy underground passage, green torches lighting the sides, with Bellatrix Lestrange by his side.

"Master, will they succeed?" Bellatrix asked softly.

"Whether they succeed or not is of little importance," Voldemort said coldly. Over time, he had become completely calm, but his desire for his Horcruxes only grew stronger with each passing day.

Especially after his failed attempt to create a new Horcrux.

After the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort realized that Dumbledore knew the secret of the Horcruxes. Although it startled him, he wasn't excessively fearful. After all, Dumbledore was cursed and would die in a few years anyway. By then, only Felix Hap could pose a threat, and Voldemort was confident that at least he wouldn't fail. In fact, when the time came, a life for a life wouldn't be too much to ask for, as he still had a Horcrux and could continue creating them.

But when he tried to make a new Horcrux after using the death of Headmaster Fontana, the intense soul quaking made him anxious, as if he would vanish in the next second.

Voldemort realized he might not be able to split his soul again.

Unable to split his soul meant unable to create new Horcruxes, which meant that every existing Horcrux was incredibly crucial.

They weren't just one life but countless.

The news Sirius brought was mixed—he didn't find remnants of the locket box in the Black residence, but the house-elf did survive, indicating his supposed loyal servant had indeed betrayed him, dealing him a fatal blow.

But combining this information with the news of Regulus Black's death, he could guess that Regulus hadn't managed to destroy the Horcrux but exchanged his life for the elf's.

He was confident in the magical traps he set.

"Such foolishness," he gritted his teeth.

"Master?" Bellatrix looked at him, confused.

Ignoring her, Voldemort continued deeper into the gloomy corridor, from where faint rustlings could be heard.

The house-elf indeed had some tricks up its sleeve, and he stumbled on this matter... However, the house-elf's power was too weak, incapable of destroying a Horcrux. If Regulus hadn't found the locket box in the old house, it probably fell into Dumbledore's hands.

Two Horcruxes missing... Voldemort clenched his fists, dangerous red glints in his eyes.

Just as Dumbledore understood Voldemort, Voldemort thought he understood

Dumbledore. He knew one thing: no matter if those two Horcruxes still existed, Dumbledore would destroy them before his death...

Voldemort took a deep breath. "Bellatrix," he said softly. Bellatrix looked up at him, respectfully waiting.

"Gather all our forces."

"But—"

Voldemort glanced coldly at her, and she fell silent immediately.

For Voldemort, even if all his servants died, he wouldn't mourn, provided they died valiantly. In his mind, if they could slightly impede a few opponents and buy some time for his plan, their deaths were worthwhile.

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