The Battle Workshops had instilled a strict sense of remaining in line with the Standard Operating Procedures within Hogwarts students, in case any Ilvermorny-like misfortune were to fall upon them.

So, showing exemplary leadership, the Prefects had taken all the students to the dungeons, holding them behind the reinforced, magical walls.

If even the Prefects were like this, then less needed to be said about the teachers.

Professors like Flitwick, Snape, and McGonagall had instantly left the castle, coming out to the open grounds to begin working on a School-level Shield Charm.

However, before they could even begin the Spells, Hagrid had marched up to them, sharing... the heart-sinking news.

For the next few minutes, a great search was carried out across the Hogwarts grounds.

McGonagall found Harry and... the notorious criminal — Sirius Black — lying unconscious at the edge of the frozen lake. Snape collected Ron, Draco, and Werewolf Hermione from near the Whomping Willow. Meanwhile, Hagrid took Black and Daphne to the infirmary... along with Lupin’s body.

By the time Dumbledore returned Hogwarts, the Professors had barely come out to begin working on the Shield Charm again.

The moment they saw the Headmaster, though, their wands shook.

Just outside the Castle’s entrance that led to Hagrid’s Hut downhill, the Professors of Hogwarts watched as Dumbledore walked toward them, carrying a heavily injured Darcie in his arms.

McGonagall gasped and came elbowing out of the group.

"She’s alright, Minerva," Dumbledore said, staring at the dread on McGonagall’s face. "She does need to be looked after immediately, though. Please take her to the infirmary."

McGonagall looked up, aghast.

But then, she saw something that made her face even paler.

Dumbledore — Lord Black Phoenix — the Chairperson of the Order of Black Phoenix — was bleeding from the head, blood drenching his lush, black beard.

"It’s nothing," Dumbledore said, seeing more Professors coming toward him. He handed the girl to McGonagall and asked, "The rest of the children?"

"We have taken them to the infirmary, Headmaster," Snape said, lacking any tone for once. "Madam Pomfrey is treating their injuries right as we speak."

McGonagall was about to run toward the castle, casting a levitating charm on Darcie, when she paused. "Dumbledore..." she mumbled. "Lupin..."

"Later, Minerva," Lord Black Phoenix sighed. "Later..."

When McGonagall was gone, Snape said, "We have locked up Sirius Black, Headmaster. If you wish, I can..."

The only thing that kept Snape from smiling ear to ear while saying that sentence was the matter of Lupin’s death.

Before recruiting the Werewolf, he had warned Dumbledore that Lupin might try to help Sirius. Thus, it wouldn’t be a good idea to let him become a teacher at Hogwarts. However, never in his wildest imagination had Snape thought that even before the year’s end, Lupin would meet such a fate... under Sirius’ hands.

Snape hated Lupin as much as he hated anyone. Still, it had never become to the point of loathing he had for the likes of Sirius, James, and Harry. He couldn’t wrap his mind around the events that had led to Lupin’s death and all the students getting injured to such a degree.

Dumbledore knew Snape’s thoughts.

The Headmaster went to Hagrid first, though.

Hagrid was carrying a massive stone hammer in his hand, in preparation to fight during the plausible attack on Hogwarts. Now, he was crying out his heart, Flitwick patting his leg.

"It isn’t Sirius’ fault," Dumbledore said suddenly, shocking everyone. "Sirius... is innocent."

"You..." A fury danced on Snape’s face out of nowhere. "... can’t be serious."

"I am afraid I am," Dumbledore said, looking at all of them. "It was... Voldemort; to the very end."

Then, Lord Black Phoenix told them everything that he had learned from Darcie before she had passed out.

He told them how two Death Eaters had infiltrated Hogwarts — one using a Polyjuice Potion to act as Filch, stealing ingredients from Snape’s office, and the other being Peter Pettigrew — the long-dead wizard who was thought to have been murdered by Sirius Black, but who had been living as Scabbers, the Weasleys’ pet rat, all this while.

He told them about Lupin and Sirius working together to prove the latter’s innocence, without revealing the matter of Sirius being an Animagus, or how he had been living at Hogwarts as Uncle Black.

He told them about Voldemort using strange magical assistance from rogue wizards to kidnap everyone... along with the Shrieking Shack, and how the crash itself had caused most of the injuries to the students’ bodies.

And when Dumbledore continued to talk, telling them how the students must have put up a brave front against Voldemort, gasps of astonishment and dread kept echoing in the cold of the night.

By the time the Headmaster finished mentioning how Voldemort had used an ancient spell to regain his original powers, and to go much, much beyond, a deathly silence had fallen upon them.

"So..." Snape said, clenching his left hand’s fingers. "He’s indeed come back... stronger than ever..."

Dumbledore nodded. "Far stronger than I had anticipated," he admitted. "I had never considered myself invincible, but... for Voldemort to injure me..."

Lord Black Phoenix left the words unsaid.

"And the girl?" Snape asked. "She fought all the Death Eaters alone?"

For once, Dumbledore’s dark eyes shone with nothing but pure admiration and pride. "Ms. Darcie Malfoy has proven once again why she’s the single most unique and astonishingly powerful witch to ever exist in this world," he said, licking the blood at the corner of his mouth. "Not only did she defeat the Death Eaters, but... she also managed to distract Voldemort until I reached there, preventing him from coming straight to Hogwarts."

Shock boiled on all faces.

That had indeed been the question surfacing in their minds.

Why would Darcie stay behind after sending all the others to Hogwarts?

Dumbledore hadn’t told them about Lethifold, only mentioning that he had given Darcie a Portkey to be used in times of emergency.

Still, it didn’t change the fact that Darcie had outdone herself, standing up to her reputation and going beyond.

"How did that bastard get away?!" Hagrid thundered, carrying tears on his face. "How?!"

Dumbledore remembered the arrival of four people just when he and Darcie were about to get the upper hand against Voldemort, all in their transfigured forms. The strange group of people had not only helped Voldemort run away, but they had also taken away most of the Death Eaters.

"Madam Villanelle and Ministry’s Hit Wizards are chasing them," Dumbledore said, consoling Hagrid. "Don’t worry. They... will answer for this night."

The teachers couldn’t see the Headmaster’s face, but they did feel a burning sensation in their hearts.

"Now, if you don’t mind me," Dumbledore said, "I need to check on the students. Snape, bring Sirius to the infirmary as well."

Snape ground his teeth, but nodded anyway.

Meanwhile, Lord Black Phoenix looked at his left, silvery hand, sensing the connection he shared with Lord Yellow Warlock through the Unbreakable Vow.

It... wasn’t broken, suggesting that the Dark Alliance had no role in what happened tonight.

However, when Dumbledore’s eyes blurred, all he saw was a hideous grin, surrounded by yellowness.

Even if he couldn’t see it outright, the entire matter reeked of Yellow Warlock’s stench.

But he couldn’t prove it.

What he could prove was... Contestants’ hands in this matter.

And — one way or another — he would make them pay for it... for Lupin.

****************

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