The moment the great blue dragon vanished beyond the clouds, Dumbledore rose from his seat. The Great Hall—still buzzing with confusion—fell silent as his voice echoed:
"Students, return to your classes immediately. Prefects, guide your Houses. No one is to leave the castle grounds."
The teachers knew something was very wrong. Within minutes, the Great Hall emptied, and the selected group headed straight toward the Headmaster's office.
Inside Dumbledore's Office
The door closed with a heavy thud behind them.
Present were:
Albus Dumbledore
Madam Maxime
Igor Karkaroff
Professors Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout
Darius Valvas & Clara Valvas
Barty Crouch Sr. (summoned instantly with urgency)
The tension was suffocating. Darius Valvas' aura still held traces of killing intent, sharp enough to make even Karkaroff flinch.
Dumbledore conjured privacy wards.
Dumbledore: "Darius… how grave is the situation?"
Darius placed the sealed copy of the letter on Dumbledore's desk.Clara stood beside him, arms crossed, face carved in cold determination.
Clara: "It is worse than any of you suspect."
Dumbledore read the letter fully—this time aloud for the present members.
When he reached the line about the kidnapping of the two royal princes, the atmosphere froze.
Even Snape's expression shifted.Maxime covered her mouth in shock.Karkaroff muttered a curse under his breath.
McGonagall: "A kidnapping… in the Muggle royal houses? That could spark—"
Darius (flatly): "War. A full-scale wizard–muggle conflict. The world is balanced by a thread."
Crouch Sr. looked pale.He knew exactly what it meant if the British Royal Family demanded answers.
The Bigger Threat
Clara stepped forward.
Clara: "Fenrir Greyback is not acting alone. This level of infiltration, these targets? Someone funded and guided him."
Snape: "The Dark Lord?"
Darius shook his head.
Darius: "If it were Voldemort, he would not wait. He would make a spectacle. This is someone else… someone who needs chaos. And they are using Greyback as their hound."
Madam Maxime bristled.
Maxime: "The prince of France… my country will demand answers. If Beauxbatons is deemed careless, the Ministry of Magic in France will abandon diplomatic ties."
Karkaroff: "And Durmstrang cannot appear weak either. This affects all three schools."
Dumbledore's Focus
Dumbledore leaned back, gaze on the window where the faint trail of Dvalin's flight still shimmered.
Dumbledore: "Roy acted decisively. Boldly."His eyes glimmered."As expected of the Valvas heir."
Snape stepped forward, cloak billowing.
Snape: "Headmaster… you're allowing a student to chase Fenrir? Even with his… abilities, he is only fifteen."
Darius slammed a hand on the desk, making Snape jump back.
Darius: "Roy is not a student. He is my grandson—the next Patriarch. If anyone can end this in three days, it is him. Our bloodline has never failed."
Clara nodded silently.
The Critical Clock
Dumbledore turned to Crouch Sr.
Dumbledore: "Barty… how long before the Muggle authorities, or the Ministries, realize this cannot be hidden?"
Crouch swallowed.
Crouch Sr.: "Three days… at most. As Darius predicted. The British Royal Security Division is already raising alarms."
Snape's eyes narrowed.
Snape: "Which means if Roy fails—"
Clara (calm and terrifying): "He won't."
Dumbledore's Final Decision
Dumbledore stood, robes glowing in candlelight.
Dumbledore:"Then we prepare.For war…or for peace—depending on Roy's success."
He looked toward the door where Roy had departed.
Dumbledore:"All we can do now is support him from afar… and prepare for whatever storm he brings back with him."