The gray-yellow buildings of Diagon Alley gradually receded into the distance amid the hypnotic rumbling of the Hogwarts Express. The sound of steel wheels on tracks created a steady thumping that should have been reassuring but instead felt ominous, like a countdown to something inevitable.
When the green expanse of the countryside finally came into view, the train had already emerged from beneath the oppressive canopy of dark clouds that had hung over Diagon Alley like a curse.
Of the ten carriages that made up this particular Hogwarts Express, nine had been stripped of their usual comfortable seats in advance to serve as improvised cargo holds. The empty spaces had been reinforced with additional support charms to handle the enormous weight of treasure.
Only one dining car had been converted into a temporary command center, its tables and booths were still intact to provide a workspace for the operation's leadership.
A paper airplane bearing an official Ministry stamp swooped gracefully through the open window into the accelerating train. Moody snatched it from the air quickly unfolding the enchanted parchment to read its contents.
"Message from Kingsley just came through—he says his convoy will arrive at King's Cross Station in about ten minutes! They've encountered no resistance!"
This was undeniably good news, the first genuinely positive development all morning. Once the first train reached London safely, Bryan himself would take direct control of the situation. And if the Death Eaters were planning any schemes or ambushes, they would have to think very carefully about challenging Bryan Watson on his chosen ground.
However, Remus serving as Alastor's deputy and voice of caution throughout this operation showed no relief in his expression. Instead, his face grew even more grave, more troubled, as though the good news itself was somehow suspicious.
"Don't you think something's off about this whole situation, Alastor?"
Remus said with concern creeping into his usually calm voice.
"The Ministry's decision to divide the seized wealth among three separate trains might have been intended to prevent too much from being stolen in the event of a single successful attack. But we both know Voldemort. We both know that he'll definitely make some kind of move today, and his only real reason for launching an attack would be to answer the Ministry's public provocation—to reassert his authority and power."
Remus paused. "It wouldn't be about actually reclaiming the wealth for his Death Eaters."
"You're thinking exactly what I'm thinking, Remus!"
Alastor's magical blue eye pierced through several solid carriages ahead of them with its supernatural vision, surveying the tracks stretching toward the horizon. Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Yet his hand still gripped his walking stick with intensity.
"In my view, Voldemort won't spare any of the three trains. That would fit his style perfectly—unless he has a completely different plan altogether that we haven't anticipated!"
Remus immediately grasped the dark implication behind Moody's words.
"You mean he might want to create a diversion? But the chances of success with that approach aren't particularly great, are they? The news that Dumbledore himself is personally guarding the Ministry building isn't exactly a well-kept secret. He must have heard about that arrangement through his spies."
A momentary silence fell over the converted dining car, broken only by the wind howling mournfully through the open windows of the high-speed train and the clatter of wheels on rails.
"For now, we'll just have to remain vigilant and—"
After a brief period of intense consideration that yielded no satisfying answers or solutions, Remus shook his head.
"Whatever schemes Voldemort is hatching, all we can do at this point is—"
BOOM!
A dull thunderclap suddenly erupted through the howling wind, cutting Remus off mid-sentence.
For less than a single second, both Remus and Moody stood completely stunned, frozen by the unexpected sound. Then their combat instincts snapped them to attention. They rushed simultaneously to the open window, pushing past each other to get a clear view.
"It's Diagon Alley! The explosion came from Diagon Alley!"
Diagon Alley was now just a blurred outline in the far distance behind them, the train having already covered significant ground. Remus couldn't see clearly at all with his normal human vision.
But thanks to his magical eye, Moody could dimly make out a thick, dark column of smoke rising above what should have been the secured, fortified area of Diagon Alley!
Moody's already fearsome face twisted into something even more terrible to observe.
"Those scum have made their move!" he roared.
"What do we do now, Alastor?"
The anxiety that had been building steadily all morning like pressure in a sealed container suddenly exploded in an instant. Remus looked to Moody.
"Do we go back to support the remaining forces, or do we—"
Several thoughts flashed through Moody's experienced mind in rapid series, each with its own merits and dangers. But before he could analyze the situation properly and reach any firm decision, a black figure suddenly shot out from a window several carriages away from their position.
The figure flew against the powerful wind resistance, heading directly back toward the recently departed and now clearly besieged Diagon Alley!
"Don't be rash, Sirius!"
Moody immediately stopped his thinking and shouted desperately at the retreating figure. But his hoarse roar was completely swallowed by the thunderous wind rushing past the speeding train, raising not even the smallest ripple of acknowledgment.
"Damn it! Damn that impulsive fool!"
Moody struck the wooden floor hard with his walking stick. Then he turned sharply to face Remus, whose expression had gone equally grim.
"Send urgent messages immediately to both Kingsley and Bryan, Remus. Tell them Diagon Alley is under attack. I'm going after that reckless fool before he gets himself killed!"
"Those bounty hunters we left behind probably won't be able to handle a full Death Eater assault, Alastor. Diagon Alley really does need reinforcements!"
Sirius's impulsive and utterly decisive action left Remus feeling both helpless and intensely irritated. Yet, turning the situation over carefully in his mind, he found himself somewhat agreeing with the essential correctness of Sirius's split-second decision.
Someone had to go back. The forces left behind were inadequate.
"Then Sirius and I will provide the emergency support, and you and everyone else remaining will continue escorting this train to its destination!"
Moody barked out the orders.
"Tell everyone still on this train—that unless there's a direct order from you or from Bryan himself, absolutely no one else is to abandon their assigned post!"
With that final command delivered, Alastor strode quickly across the swaying carriage to grab the racing broomstick that had been leaning against the bar.
He raised his wand and blasted violently through the remaining intact window with an explosive curse, sending glass shards flying out into the rushing wind.
Under Remus's tense, worried gaze, Moody kicked off hard and flew out into the vast wilderness.
Back at Diagon Alley, the long line of carriages loaded with heavy chests of seized gold galleons set off once more from the station platform. They rolled slowly but steadily along the street toward Hogsmeade Station, which was just barely visible at the far edge of sight in the distance.
According to the pre-arranged roster and rotation schedule, around a third of the Ministry Aurors who had been stationed in defensive positions in front of the various shops lining the street broke away from their posts. They fell into formation alongside the convoy as its escort, while the remaining two-thirds of the security forces quickly regrouped.
They gathered in a defensive cluster at the broad marble steps before Gringotts Bank, creating overlapping fields of fire and mutual support positions.
"You'd better explain yourself right now, Fawley! And your explanation had better be good!"
With all the skilled and experienced members of the Order of the Phoenix now departed on the second train—only relatively ordinary, unremarkable Ministry Aurors remained behind in Diagon Alley.
From the gathered crowd of bounty hunters, the figure of Thanatos made the first aggressive move. He roughly shoved aside several of his supposed "colleagues" with force and strode forward with hostility up to Kakus Fawley.
Without warning or courtesy, he grabbed the man by his collar.
"Why did the Ministry specifically make us escort Gringotts' galleons?! What's the real reason?!"
"I believe I already addressed that particular question just moments ago, Thanatos, when we first arrived—"
Dealing with these dangerous wizards who lived by their wands and operated outside normal society was nothing new to Kakus Fawley—being physically threatened was simply an occupational hazard, part of the job description when you brokered contracts for mercenaries.
Facing the ferocious, intimidating Thanatos looming over him, Kakus managed a bitter, slightly strained smile despite the uncomfortable grip on his collar.
"The wealth that needs to be transported safely to London—"
"Don't play word games with me, Fawley. Stop the double-talk. What's really going on here?!"
Thanatos demanded viciously, giving Fawley a rough shake.
"Why is the Ministry transporting gold out of Gringotts in the first place? Whose gold is this? And what the absolute hell happened in the outside world during these past days when we've been deliberately cut off from all news and information?!"
"Sir, I don't know who you are, but—"
Before Kakus could explain, one of the remaining Ministry Aurors stepped forward from the defensive line. He looked at Thanatos with an unfriendly expression.
"Mr. Fawley is the commanding officer in charge of escorting the third train. He represents Ministry authority here. I expect you to show him proper respect!"
"Back off right now, boy!"
Thanatos ordered without the slightest courtesy, not even bothering to look at the young Auror.
"Unless you want to become one of my collection pieces after you're dead and I've preserved your body! I have quite an impressive collection!"
"I can explain everything, gentlemen—"
Fawley turned his head toward the protective young Auror with a grateful smile despite his uncomfortable position. He waved his free hand in a calming gesture, signaling the Aurors not to escalate tensions unnecessarily.
Then he turned his attention back to Thanatos's hostile face.
"That gold you'll be escorting belongs to the Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban during the mass breakout—"
Whoosh—
A cold wind seemed to blow through the gathered bounty hunters at this revelation.
Thanatos unconsciously released his grip on Fawley's collar. All the bounty hunters present simply stared at Fawley with expressions that had gone completely blank, their faces were drained of color.
"During the days when you were all sealed off from outside contact, Mr. Watson made a public announcement to the entire wizarding world," Kakus continued, straightening his rumpled collar.
"He issued a formal ultimatum ordering all Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban to turn themselves in voluntarily to Ministry custody by a set deadline. If they refused to comply with this order, the Ministry would confiscate all the wealth held in their Gringotts vaults as penalty."
Kakus's expression remained composed. "And the commissioned task that you all accepted is to protect and escort that seized wealth during its transport back to Ministry custody."
'Escorting wealth that was confiscated from Death Eaters.'
All the bounty hunters fell into heavy, oppressive silence.
What this seemingly simple transport task truly meant was all too obvious now.
"I'm backing out immediately, Fawley!"
Thanatos was the first to recover his voice and his decision-making capacity. He stated flatly, bluntly, with absolute finality: "I'm not accepting this commission."
"Unfortunately for you, Thanatos—"
Kakus smiled with what might have been sympathy and replied quite 'considerately':
"I'm afraid that backing out is not possible at this point. You've already signed magically binding contracts with the Ministry. Those contracts are now in effect. You are obligated to ensure the wealth reaches Ministry custody safely. Gentlemen, you all know perfectly well the binding power and enforcement mechanisms of magical contracts. Breaking them would be... unpleasant."
"So, you really are trying to get yourself killed, Fawley!"
Tafir, the bounty hunter with the gold-striped mask who had earlier been thoroughly intimidated by Moody's presence, also snapped back to his senses. The look he gave Fawley was now filled with murderous intent.
"You tricked us into opposing the Dark Lord!! Well, your fate won't be much better than ours when he comes for revenge either!"
The unloading process at the station platform was proceeding with remarkable speed despite the rising tensions. The convoy of empty carriages returned once more to the entrance of Gringotts.
The goblins emerging from the bank remained oblivious to the escalating conflict and threats happening at the door. They continued conscientiously completing their assigned task, swiftly and professionally loading the third and final batch of treasure chests onto the waiting carriages.
Facing Tafir's naked threat and similar hostile looks from nearly every other bounty hunter present—Fawley didn't respond with his previous slightly weak, apologetic attitude. Instead, he looked at the mercenaries with surprising calm, almost confidence.
Each of these dangerous men had been carefully hand-picked by him personally. He knew their histories, their capabilities, their vulnerabilities.
"I only want to tell you all this one thing—"
Fawley said, his voice carrying a weight it hadn't possessed before.
"The compensation for this task isn't just the substantial payment specified in your signed contracts, generous as that payment is. There's something else on offer—something far more valuable than mere gold."
"What could possibly be more valuable? What is it?"
Thanatos asked, narrowing his eyes with deep suspicion.
"After the plan to utilize you all to escort the seized gold passed through the Ministry's high-level security meetings, Mr. Watson himself personally proposed an additional incentive," Kakus explained.
"If you can complete this task with dedication and professional effort, then all your past criminal records currently registered with the Ministry will be completely expunged.
Furthermore, if you individually agree and pass a basic screening process, the Ministry is willing to officially recruit you all into the Department as legitimate employees with full benefits."
'Enter the Ministry of Magic? Become legitimate Ministry employees operating in broad daylight?!'
"You should know full well, Fawley, that we're not the same kind of wizards as you people," Tafir challenged sharply, though anyone listening carefully could hear that he was genuinely shocked and tempted by this unexpected condition.
Kakus was about to respond when, at that very moment, everything changed!
A fierce, utterly unexpected tempest of hurricane-force wind suddenly descended from absolutely nowhere, catching the unprepared Aurors and bounty hunters completely off guard. The blast sent them tumbling head over heels like rag dolls with their bodies slamming into walls and cobblestones!
Before those sprawled on the ground could even begin to recover their senses and orientation, a tremendous roar accompanied by an even more violent gale followed immediately after the initial blast!
The sound was overwhelming, deafening, apocalyptic.
BOOM!
The entire convoy of carriages parked before the Gringotts entrance shattered instantaneously under impact. Wood exploded into thousands of splinters. The horses pulling the carts were transformed into literal showers of blood and pulverized meat in the devastating impact.
The carnage mixed horrifically with scattered carriage frames and thousands of gold Galleons raining down from the sky in a grotesque storm before plummeting back to earth!
Through the surreal curtain of gold coins and crimson blood rain, through the chaos and destruction, Thanatos—the first among the stunned survivors to leap back to his feet stared in absolute shock at the massive vehicle that had somehow appeared before the Gringotts entrance.
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