Edgar Bones, Emmeline Vance, and Gideo stood nearby, along with his brother Fabian and another woman who carried a simir fident demeanor—Marlene Mon, Charles’s aunt.

  Sirius aer sat with a crowd around them, both looking a little worse for eter was animatedly reting his "heroic" roll to dodge a spell, which left a cut on his right hand. Sirius, obviously more injured, just chuckled, wing as he tried to wave at Alex with a bandaged arm.

  "Thanks for everything, Sirius, Peter—you two were heroes today," Lily said, giving them each a hug.

  Sirius ughed, then winced. "It’s nothing, really. Just a few scrapes. But we only mao catch three Death Eaters—the ot away, unfortunately."

  Augusta, standing nearby, grinned. "Not quite. There are four more lying unscious in the basement."

  "What?" Everyouro look, surprised to learn that more Death Eaters had broken into the house.

  James’s face went pale as he turo Lily. "Four Death Eaters? In the basement? Are you alright?"

  Augusta shook her head. "Of course we are! You don’t know how dangerous it was fighting those lunati the basement."

  Lily, sensing everyone’s worry, quickly expined. "Don’t worry, James. We’d prepared the safe house with protective spells, and thanks to Alex’s idea, we mao hold them off. We were able to ha."

  She dowhe fight, not wanting to arm anyone further, though she knew how close the enter had been. Augusta noticed but chose to stay quiet, only giving her son Frank a sharp look. He had been h protectively over Alice, fussing over every scratch, while she had been fighting alongside him the eime.

  Just then, Moody entered with the captured Death Eaters in tow. Three were still unscious and floating in a binding spell, while the fourth—Rosier—was lifeless, suspended by Moody’s charm.

  "Lily, you might reize this one," Moody said, motioning to Rosier. "An old cssmate of yours, Evan Rosier."

  "What?" The group was stunned.

  "He resisted," Moody expined. "When I got down there, he tried o desperate spell. If Alex hadn’t acted so quickly, the curse he threw would’ve hit Harry."

  James looked stri, gripping Lily’s shoulder. "Merlin… Alex, you saved Harry?"

  Alex nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the gratitude from everyone. "I just acted on instinct, holy." In that moment, his life had been on the line; if he hadn’t been the oargeted, Alex wasn’t sure he could have reacted that quickly.

  As he spoke, the door opened. Dumbledore entered, apanied by the Minister of Magic, Millison Barnold, and Barty Crouch, head of the Department of Magical Law Enfort. The room fell quiet as they entered.

  Moody nodded iing. "Dumbledore, Minister Barnold, Director Crouch."

  The Minister gave a gentle nod, his voice calm and warm. "Thank you all for your bravery. Tonight is a victory. Two Death Eaters killed, and one officially captured."

  Moody gave a chuckle. "Sir, it’s eveer than that. We got one more Death Eater down here who was taken out in defense and three more unscious."

  Barnold’s eyes widened as he saw the four Death Eaters lined up at Moody’s feet. "More? This is quite the haul."

  Barty Crouch stepped forward, frowning as he took a closer look at Rosier’s face. "This… Evan Rosier?"

  When Dumbledore took in the se, he gave the group an approving smile, noting the resilient looks on Lily and Augusta’s faces. "It seems some remarkable adventures unfolded down below. Mrs. Longbottom, would you mind telling us more?"

  Augusta g Lily, who gave her a nod of encement. With a hint of pride, Augusta reted the battle in the basement. "When we realized the safe house defenses were being attacked, Alex suggested we build an inner line of defense… and under his dire, we mao take down that madman who’d taken a dangerous potion."

  Minister Millison Barnold, listening ily, looked ed. "It’s disturbing that Death Eaters would sneak in tet women and children. But tell me, how did one of them end up dead?"

  "That would be my doing, Minister," Moody replied with his characteristic grit, reting how he’d stepped in just in time. "Rosier went mad, shouting his allegiao Voldemort and trying to hit Alex and Harry with a Killing Curse. If Alex hadn’t reacted quickly and thrown him off, he would have succeeded. I acted on instind cast the Killing Curse myself to stop him."

  Barnold nodded approvingly. "In a case like this, we ’t afford hesitation. I decre that the use of the ‘Unfivable Curse’ was wful enfort." He then turo Alex, him a nod of respect. "Mr. Alex Wilson, your as tonight were brave and well-calcuted. Proteg your friends and helping capture four Death Eaters at such a young age is admirable. You’ll receive a formal endation."

  Alex’s spirits lifted. He didn’t need fame, but the reition and a possible reward made him happy.

  "Thank you, sir, I was just doing what any friend would do."

  Satisfied, Barnold moved on to end Lily, Augusta, and the others for their ce.

  Meanwhile, Dumbledore, watg from the side, kept a thoughtful eye on Alex. From what he had heard, Alex’s strategies and calm spellcasting had been vital in their victory. Dumbledore mused that he should look further into Alex’s background and abilities—this young man held promise.

  As he sidered the evening’s events, Dumbledore couldn’t help but think about Voldemort’s iions. He suspected the Death Eaters had beeo specifically target Harry or Neville, likely based on the prophecy. If so, he’d o taape soon.

  Oher side of the room, James was embrag Lily, his face lined with remorse. "I’m so sorry, Lily. I should have been there with you."

  Lily squeezed his haly. "Don’t apologize, James. None of us expected this. And instead of apologies, why not thank Alex? He saved Harry tonight."

  James gnced over at Alex, who was chatting with Sirius. "I will."

  Alex, notig Sirius sitting nearby with his bandaged chest, walked over with a smile. "Looking a bit rough there, Sirius. you still move?"

  Sirius scoffed, though he winced. "It’s nothing. Just a minor lung wound. I could fight another battle if I o."