Harry Potter and the Silent Guardian

The onslaught closed in. Sirius braced himself, his wand raised for what felt like an impossible defense. But just as the spells were about to strike him, a gleaming figure leaped into their path.

Harry's clone, clad in shining armor, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, its movements fluid and precise. The magical construct threw itself directly into the line of fire, taking the full brunt of the destructive curses aimed at Sirius.

The clone's form crackled and shimmered under the force of the spells, holding just long enough to shield Sirius. Then, with a final surge of energy, it released a brilliant burst of light. The explosion of magic forced the Death Eaters to stumble back, shielding their eyes against the sudden glare. As the light faded, the clone dissipated into sparkling fragments that rained down like falling stars.

Far outside the Ministry, Mira, the loyal house-elf, trembled with effort. She sat cross-legged in the safety of an empty room nearby, her small frame shaking as she maintained the tenuous magical connection that allowed the clone to bypass the Ministry's ancient, formidable wards.

It had taken everything she had to guide the clone inside. The Ministry's protections were among the strongest in the wizarding world, designed to keep out even the most skilled intruders including house-elves. Mira had tried to enter the building herself, but the magical barriers had repelled her with such force that she had been left gasping for breath.

But Mira was not one to give up. With sheer determination and a deep well of loyalty to her master, she had found a way. From her position outside the Ministry, she had focused all her energy on controlling the clone. The process was agonizingly difficult, the Ministry's wards constantly threatening to sever her connection. Every movement of the clone required immense concentration, and even then, her control was limited.

When she had sensed Sirius's situation, Mira had made a split-second decision. The clone, weakened by the wards and unable to fight at full strength, would serve as a sacrificial shield. It was the only way to save Sirius, and Mira had acted without hesitation. She had guided the clone into the path of the curses, using it to absorb the brunt of the attack.

Now, as the clone's form dissolved into nothingness, Mira let out a shaky breath. Her body ached from the strain, and her magic felt drained, but a small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips. "Mira is glad Master Sirius is safe," she whispered to the empty room, her voice trembling with emotion. "Mira did her duty."

Back in the chamber, Sirius lowered his wand, his chest heaving. His eyes flicked to where the clone had stood moments before, and he murmured under his breath, "Thanks, Mira."

Before he could fully process what had happened, Amelia rushed to his side. Her face was pale, her relief evident despite the fury in her expression. "You reckless idiot!" she snapped, though the sharpness in her voice was softened by the tremor of emotion. "You almost got yourself killed!"

Sirius shrugged, his trademark grin returning to his face. "Almost doesn't count."

Amelia huffed, shaking her head, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her lips. The moment of reprieve was short-lived, though, as the sounds of the ongoing battle echoed through the room, pulling them back into the fray.

---

Despite the clone's heroic sacrifice, Magnus's Death Eaters pressed their advantage, their curses flying fast and lethal. Sirius and Amelia fought side by side, their wands moving in seamless coordination. Offensive and defensive spells wove together as if choreographed, a testament to their skill and experience. Yet, no matter how well they worked together, the Death Eaters' unrestrained use of deadly curses kept them dangerously close to overwhelming the pair.

Just as the situation seemed dire, a loud crack echoed through the chamber. James and Lily Potter, along with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix, burst into the room. Alastor Moody led the charge, his magical eye spinning wildly as he assessed the chaotic battlefield in an instant.

"You're late!" Amelia barked, not bothering to mask her frustration as she blocked a curse aimed at her back.

Moody grunted, his wand moving in a sharp arc to deflect another incoming spell. "Had to wait for Dumbledore's orders. But we're here now."

Amelia's eyes flashed with anger, her gaze promising a reckoning later. She had explicitly told Moody to reinforce her directly, and she wasn't about to forget his disobedience. But now wasn't the time to argue; the battle demanded their focus.

The arrival of the Order shifted the tide. Their combined strength bolstered the Aurors, and their presence threw the Death Eaters into disarray. James Potter darted into the fray, his wand slashing through the air as he fired off rapid, precise spells. Lily followed close behind, her movements fluid and deliberate, her shield charms deflecting curses aimed at her allies.

"Sirius!" James called, spotting his old friend amid the chaos. "You always did know how to throw a party!"

"Yeah, well, you're late to the fun as usual!" Sirius shot back, his grin returning despite the grim situation. He ducked a hex and retaliated with a blasting curse that sent two Death Eaters sprawling.

The Order's arrival was the turning point. Spells filled the air faster and more furiously than ever, the chamber a blur of light and sound. Slowly but surely, the combined forces of the Aurors and the Order began to gain the upper hand. Death Eaters fell one by one, either stunned, bound, or forced to retreat under the relentless assault.

Magnus, seeing his forces crumbling, knew the mission was lost. The prophecy was beyond their reach since they had the wrong boy. His numbers were dwindling, and retreat was the only option. But Magnus Blutreich was not the kind of man to leave without a parting gift.

His sharp eyes fell on Remus's unconscious form, lying near the edge of the room where Hermione and Ginny stood guard. The two girls had foolishly followed everyone into this room while guarding Remus. They did not want to retreat to safety while their friends fought. 

Magnus's lips twisted into a cruel smile as he raised his wand, the tip glowing with a sickly black light.

"If I can't have victory," he hissed, his voice filled with malice, "I'll take something just as precious."

Before anyone could stop him, the dark spell erupted from his wand, streaking across the room like a bolt of shadow. It struck Remus square in the chest. His body convulsed violently, then crumpled to the ground, his breathing shallow and strained.

"MOONY!" Charles's anguished scream cut through the chaos. 

Magnus, his moment of cruelty complete, turned on his heel and bolted toward the exit, a shadow disappearing into the chaos.

Charles's vision blurred with tears, but the grief quickly morphed into something darker. Rage surged through him, hot and uncontrollable. The voices of his parents and friends calling his name were distant echoes, drowned out by the pounding of his heart. All he saw was the man who had hurt his family.

"Charles, no!" Lily screamed, but her son was already gone, disappearing through the doorway in pursuit of the dark wizard.

James moved to follow, but another wave of spells from the remaining Death Eaters forced him back. They could only watch helplessly as Charles raced after Magnus, driven by grief and fury into what could only be a trap.

Meanwhile, Charles sprinted down the twisting corridors, his breath ragged, his grip on his wand tight enough to make his knuckles ache. He barely registered the eerie blue flames flickering in sconces as he ran, his mind consumed by one thought: He's not getting away.