Chapter 38 - Mail Ⅲ (2/2)

Having passed through the inspection checkpoint at the Ministry of Magic Fabian and Gideon Prewett with great startle receive a bouquet of red prickly roses with a big black teddy bear with a simple sign that reads, ”Hallows Eve!” Fabian frowns and accusingly glares over at his brother as he says, ”Is this a practical joke, Gideon?”

”I would certainly think so except it wasn't me!” Gideon hastily protested his innocence. ”And there's nothing on the message except for a date.” The two of them stare at each other for in heavy silence, before quickly destroying the flowers and everything including the fluffy bear. Finished tossing everything into the trash bins and having thoroughly incinerated the message, they put on their cloaks.

”I'll be the decoy,” Gideon said as they each headed to the floo fireplaces on the main lobby floor. Gideon goes first, while Fabian goes next before emerging in an open chimney area. From there, Fabian apparated elsewhere in the city, before making his way to a small flat on foot. Fabian carefully knocks thrice and whispered to the door knocker, ”Acid Pops.”

A soft click is heard as the door unlocks itself for Fabian to swiftly steps inside. The sleeping figure of Alastor Moody is half-asleep in an armchair and despite being half asleep Alastor viscously points his wand at the intruder. ”It's me, Fabian!” Fabian shouted as he removed his hood and frantically held his hands up in the air.

”Oh, it's just you,” Alastor murmured as he sat back down in his chair. ”Why have you come? I thought we agreed to not meet unless it was urgent.”

”It is,” Fabian said as sat down across from Alastor. ”We received an anonymous message of prickly red roses with a black teddy bear with a single message that of a date, Hallows Eve.”

Alastor eyes widen in recognition of the teddy bear symbolism of a child and the red prickly roses as something ominous with the added factor of a date. ”So, that's the day the hit will be taken place,” Alastor worriedly said as he jumped to his feet.

”Hit?” Fabian asked.

Alastor points to the map on the wall and says, ”I've been watching them as they've been trying to watch the Ministry. There's been a sudden increase in their movements that just stopped a few days ago.”

”They're putting all their ducks all in a row,” Fabian smartly concluded as he took a step closer to the map. ”But where?”

Alastor points to the red circle mark on the map. ”They're going for a preventive first strike, the Ministry of Magic.”

”They wouldn't dare, would they?” Fabian said in disbelief.

”They can, and they will,” Alastor confidently stated.

”Then we must immediately inform the Minister of Magic!” Fabian hurriedly said.

”No, there is no need, they're not going for the head, but rather for the belly of the beast,” Alastor grumbled.

”If not the Minister of Magic, then who?” Fabian asked as he furrowed his brows.

”The Department of Mysteries,” Alastor growled.

Fabian shuts his mouth with a snap as Alastor says, ”Do you still remember the names on the list?”

Fabian mutely nods his head as Alastor gravely says, ”Then if need be prepared to destroy them in cold-blood. We cannot allow for the Department of Ministry to be taken.”

Fabian fists clench as he quietly, but staunchly replied, ”We shan't hesitate.”

”Good,” Alastor said as he put on his cloak.

”Wait, but where are you going?” Fabian asked as Alastor paused before the fireplace to travel.

”To gather reinforcements,” Alastor commented. ”I know one or two Auror's that can still be trusted.”

”Good luck,” Fabian called out as the flames turned green and Alastor passed through to only vanish. Fabian quickly puts up his own hood back and does the same as the fire quietly crackles in the empty house to die a few minutes later leaving nothing but ashes.