One Alive to Spread the Word

"Excuse me. It seems I have an announcement." The quiet words came from Albus Dumbledore, who had come to stand beside their table. "I need all the Aurors who are still present and aware of the aid we were given by Merlin, Nimue, Morgana, and so on to hear this, as it may be relevant to future Intel."

Gellert glanced around."Kereston isn't here so we will have to tell her later." Raising his voice, he called, "Valdez. Come here a moment, please! Lestrange, Winterhaven, Graven, Wulfric, come here please!"

Lyra and Cassius hurried over with Wulfric and Graven trailing. Gellert took in the Lestranges with Goriandor still to Bella's other side and Arthur with a satisfied nod.

"Everyone is here," he told Albus as Romeo and his wife T. Valdez approached, apparently uncertain as to which one of them Grindelwald wanted.

"Thank you," Albus said.

Just then, Loughness, Regulus, and Kreacher Apparated back in.

"Shhh, Dumbledore is telling us something," Bellatrix whispered before any of them could speak.

They nodded and sat down in a row on the other side of the table.

"I just received another communication from Morgana. She did something that she wished us to be aware of. She left one of Delphini's followers alive."

"But why," Romeo Valdez nearly whined.

"In part to spread the word," Albus explained. "Delphini had a widespread following, so we didn't kill them all. Morgana wanted this follower to live to spread the word. She wants anyone alive who followed Delphini to know what happened to those present today. She wants those still alive to know how utterly and completely their fellows were obliterated from all sides today."

"Damn right," Romeo said in a hard, satisfied tone. "We did that, and we'll do it again."

Albus nodded. "Precisely. She wants them to understand that so they will be properly, and thoroughly, terrified to associate themselves with the memory of Delphini or any of her causes. She apparently made the one she left alive aware of this in some way."

"I guess that's a good idea," Romeo said reluctantly. "I'm really down with Kereston's ideas of kill them before they regroup and come back to try killing us again, but as you said we didn't get all her former followers so if someone is left to put terror into their hearts, that is a good thing."

Albus glanced over at Arthur, giving a slight ironic smile.

"The person she left alive is also a Muggle, so it seems there is a balance. One for her, and one for us."

"She may have more Muggles elsewhere who still live, even right here in London," Rabastan said.

"Yes, but this particular Muggle was touched by Morgana, so in a way, is marked by magic just as Arthur is, simply for being himself."

"So is this other...Muggle Mordred or something," Arthur asked skeptically.

Albus shook his head. "I should think not. Morgana said the individual poses no threat, so I don't get the impression their power is significant."

"Well, that's a relief," Blaise said drily, shifting so that his shoulder brushed Gellert's. They both looked rumpled and a bit worn, as if they could do with a good night's sleep. Bella supposed they'd earned it.

"The final thing Morgana asked me to impart involves the particular way in which she marked the Muggle," Albus continued. "She wanted any follower of Delphini to recognize the Muggle as Delphini's so they shall be able to spread the word. I am unclear as to how that will work, but it's Morgana, so I am sure it will indeed work.

"Apparently this marking also allows us to know if the Muggle and any others rally together to continue in any way where she left off. Again, I am unclear as to how this will happen, but, again, it's Morgana so I trust that it will.

"I hope we never find out, and that Delphini's followers have folded as Morgana believes they shall when the news spreads of what happened today. If, for any reason, they do not, though, she marked this Muggle so that we will be made aware."

"Now, that I like," Romeo said enthusiastically. "Thank you for letting us know, Mr. Dumbledore."

Albus nodded, suddenly looking tired.

"I wish the manner in which we are to be made aware wasn't so vague," Gellert complained. "I have a feeling she may just contact you herself if there is a change. My guess is that she may have linked herself to the Muggle in question in order to trace its activities."

"That is likely," Albus said, giving Gellert a scandalized frown, likely at his use of pronoun for the Muggle. Bellatrix couldn't help grinning appreciatively and Arthur arched his brows.

"Its? You really dislike those without magic."

Gellert smirked. "I do not dislike you."

"I wanted to thank you again for getting us out of that building before it crashed down earlier, Albus," Regulus spoke up.

"Of course," Albus said, smiling warmly at Regulus and Kreacher. It was obvious to Bellatrix that the old man was quite fond of them both, and their children as well.

"And Bella, you crazy bitch!" Regulus reached across the table and dragged Bellatrix in for a tight hug. "You know absolutely nothing about Muggle cars! You could've gotten yourself killed, which would've been very inconsiderate to the rest of us. Loughness told me everything."

"Hey, I gave her all the basics in like...two seconds," Arthur interjected with a laugh. "She did great for what she was using it for. She didn't hit a single pole."

"That's Arthur, Dad," Loughness said excitedly.

"Hi! Apparently you're another of my guards," Arthur told Regulus, giving a happy smile as though he'd just won something big.

"One of," Regulus asked, confusion on his face.

"Oh, I think he should be the main one, being the closest thing to Merlin and all," Arthur said, nodding at Rod.

"He is?" Regulus blinked.

"I caught you up on everything, for the most part," Loughness said, stressing the last two words as he grinned at Regulus. "I mean, otherwise we'd have been talking at home all night, and you wanted to meet Arthur and check in with the fam so..."

Regulus nodded, reaching to give Loughness a hug. "Of course! That's fine, son. And I can't say enough how proud I am of the part you played in all of this!"

Loughness looked as if he wanted to be uncomfortable with the hug but relaxed into Regulus's chest instead before hugging back hard. Apparently parental approval meant a lot no matter how he acted most of the time.

Regulus was still holding on to Loughness as he turned to give Gellert a tremulous smile. "Thank you for keeping our children safe."

Gellert jerked a terse nod. "I told you I would, didn't I?"

"Alright, alright, I amm sorry. Is that what you want," Regulus asked, and Gellert grinned.

"Yep."

Regulus laughed. When he at last released Loughness, Kreacher took his turn embracing the young man. "Without Loughness's magic, she may not have been fully destroyed for all we know. Kreacher finds it fitting that he and Master Regulus created that which took any final trace of HIM out for good, after what he did to us."

"As do I," Loughness said gravely. "I'd always take care of the fam, but now I've made my first step on the path to greatness!"

Bellatrix gave a snicker that she tried to pretend was a cough and Loughness grinned over at her.

"So are we all done here for tonight, or is another catastrophe going to strike, do you think," Wulfric asked, glancing from his father to Gellert.

"I'm done in and good and ready for a hot tea with brandy and bed," Albus said.

Gellert nodded. "For my part, I have other bed plans, but the sentiment is there," he said, exchanging a suggestive look with Blaise.

"I'll lock up here once everyone's cleared out," Romeo said. "See everyone tomorrow, then. We should all meet here first to check the newspapers and get a hold on whatever is going on, I think."

"Sounds good." Gellert nodded to the Head Auror as he stood. "You all did good today."

"Because of you, for sure," Romeo insisted and moved to give Gellert an embarrassed one armed hug.

"Are you lot coming to Raven's Nest with us to fill Arthur in on all he needs to know," Bellatrix asked, turning to Regulus, Kreacher, and Loughness.

"That would be great," Regulus said, and Kreacher nodded.

"I may stop in later, but I want to wait here for Kereston," Loughness said.

Bellatrix grinned. "That's cute."

Loughness reached to poke her in the shoulder. "Don't make me regret getting you out of that car."

They both burst into laughter.

"I think they've both lost their minds," Hydra commented. She'd approached while Bellatrix and Loughness were laughing like loons. "I'll come along if that's alright."

"Of course it is," Bellatrix said. "You were the first to begin explaining things to Arthur, after all."

"That's our Ravenclaw," Regulus said, smiling proudly at Hydra.

The Blacks never minded a Ravenclaw in the family. Hufflepuff was dubious and Gryffindor was scandalous, but Ravenclaw was, in many ways, as respectable as Slytherin.