He began reting the events outside.

  The battle outside Potter’s house had been fierce, but with Moody and the others ambushing from the shadows, the Death Eaters were caught off guard and forced into a retreat.

  "But then… the one who must not be named showed up," Moody said, pausing grimly.

  "Voldemort?" Augusta and Lily gasped, exging shocked gnces.

  Moody nodded. "Yes. Just as the Death Eaters started to retreat, Voldemort arrived to support them. His power is… uling. He summoned a massive fiery serpent with a curse that burhrough our defenses."

  "We scrambled to defend ourselves, but thankfully, Dumbledore arrived right after. We had arranged for him to keep watch, knowing Voldemort might appear. Dumbledore dispelled the fire serpent with a powerful ‘Finite Intatem,’ then engaged Voldemort himself. The spells they cast were fierce; we were forced to scatter to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Even the Death Eaters kept their distance, unwilling to be he fight."

  Moody gestured toward the unscious Death Eaters scattered across the room. "These ones here must have snu during the chaos. They likely used Disillusio Charms or Invisibility Cloaks. Everyone was so occupied with the battle that they slipped through."

  Alice’s face paled with worry. "What about Frank and the others? Are they alright?"

  Moody gave a reassuring nod. "They’re fine. Ohe Death Eaters saw they were losing ground, they retreated with Voldemort. Sirius aer took minor injuries, but nothing serious. The Aurors, led by Barty Crouch, are still out there handling things, including the Muggles’ memories. James and Frank stayed up there to keep an eye on Sirius aer. They asked me to e down a you know it’s over."

  Moody g the makeshift barricades and the scattered Death Eaters in the room. Shaking his head, he muttered, "And here I almost got hexed just walking in!"

  Augusta huffed, folding her arms. "Don’t expe apology! You’ve no idea what we just went through."

  Moody gave a small, relut grin. "Fine, fair enough." His usual gruffness softened slightly, and the tension in the room eased as everyone chuckled.

  But the relief was short-lived.

  One of the Death Eaters on the ground, still ging to sciousness, suddenly lurched up, his voice wild with fanaticism. "Long live the Dark Lord! Long live Voldemort! Avada Kedavra!"

  Before anyone could react, the Death Eater raised his wand, aiming it toward the group with deadly i.

  Alex, standing at the back with Moody, reacted first. With a swift flick of his wand, he summoned a gust of air, knog the Death Eater off bahe curse veered off, hitting the ceiling instead, sending a scattering of pster down.

  In that instant, Moody raised his own wand and bellowed, "Avada Kedavra!" The green light shot from his wand, hitting the Death Eater squarely. The man colpsed, his body still and lifeless.

  The others, who had begun to exit the room, rushed back, armed at the sudden outburst. Augusta hurried to Alex, her eyes wide. "Are you alright, Alex? That lunatiearly hit you and Harry!"

  "Looked like ‘Dragon’s Fury Elixir,’" Moody said as he ied the falleh Eater, his face twisted in disgust. "They’re insane enough to use this forbidden potion. Keeps them going even through pain or exhaustion."

  Alex shuddered. He realized that his mistake had been in not disarming the unscious Death Eaters earlier. Holding Harry close, he felt the weight of how close they had e to disaster.

  As if sensing the tension, Harry, still in Alex’s arms, let out a wail, his small face sg up in distress. Neville, too, began g in Augusta’s arms. They had been quiet through the whole ordeal, but now, as the threat faded, their cries filled the room.

  Alex, feeling awkward, handed Harry back to Lily. "I think he’ll calm down with you."

  Lily took Harry with a soft smile, her gaze filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Alex. You’ve looked after him so well. You even shielded him from that curse. I ’t thank you enough."

  Alex gave a modest shrug, stretg his arm, which was sore from holding Harry. "o thank me, Lily. We’re friends—this is just what we do for each other."

  Moody gave Alex a respectful nod. "Quick reflexes, kid. Not bad at all."

  Alex g Moody’s weathered face, which had twisted into what might have been a smile. 'Please, don’t smile. You look scarier than a Death Eater,' Alex thought, holding back a smirk of his own.

  "Alright, folks, the danger’s passed. Go up and see your loved ones. I’ll hahings here," Moody said, pig up the wands from the falleh Eaters to secure them.

  With that, Alex, Lily, Augusta, and Alice made their stairs, eager to reuh the others.

  "Let’s see who this lunatic is," Moody muttered, removing the mask of the Death Eater he had just killed. As the face came into view, Moody’s expression soured. "Evan Rosier. Figured it would be him. He and Wilkes, who got taken down upstairs, were old sates. Guess he was corrupted deep by the Dark Lord. If he’s resisting arrest, he’s earned his fate."

  As he ied Rosier’s face, Moody mumbled to himself, "That young wizard, Alex—was that silent casting? And there are more Death Eaters dowhan up top. Impressive bunch of fighters."

  Upstairs, Lily and Alice, each carrying their childreed with James and Frank. The home’s main hall bore clear signs of battle: walls filled with scorch marks and the mairance shattered in ruin. Aurors and Order members were busy repairing the house while athered nearby, where Sirius aer sat in the ter, both covered in bandages.

  "James! Frank!" Lily and Alice called, running up to embrace them.

  "Lily, thank Merlin you’re safe. We won, but it was close!" James pulled her close, relieved but unaware that Death Eaters had snuto the basement.

  The crowd around turo greet them, and Alex spotted some familiar faces from the Order.