HP/LOTM: Visionary - 400

Chapter 400: Intelligence, Godfather and Godson

"How many of you know that Aiden is trapped in the hazy realm?" Arthursi did not answer Moody’s question directly, but instead posed one of her own.

"Trapped? No, with his abilities, how could he be trapped?" Moody could not believe it.

"No, perhaps that explains why Voldemort has been acting so aggressively while he has not appeared at all," Moody said after a moment, already making excuses for Aiden and giving Arthursi a sliver of trust.

"Thank you," Arthursi said with a slight nod.

"Another one!" Moody was startled, realising she had silently broken through his Occlumency. This unpleasant sensation was just like Prewett’s. She must be one of their own.

"He’s trapped!" The others relaxed, but Molly began to worry.

"Don’t worry. He’s safe in the hazy realm, just helping the Stone Slab keepers with their research," Arthursi said, taking Molly’s hand and quietly sending her a wave of comfort.

Then, turning back to the group, Arthursi said, "Anyway, your plan was leaked. I have a spy among the Death Eaters, and I learned about it in advance, so I went to get Harry first. With someone’s help, I also forced the Death Eaters to attack early, so my spies would not be suspected."

Arthursi gave a brief explanation. The Order members were still absorbing the news and did not carefully examine the details in her words.

Moody, however, thought for a moment. As an Auror, he caught the key points in Arthursi’s speech.

"But only the people in this room knew our plan..."

Moody’s words made the atmosphere tense. Many quietly reached for their wands.

"No!" Harry broke the silence loudly, startling everyone.

"I mean, you’re all my closest family and friends. No one would betray me!" Harry’s voice was much louder than usual. "I trust all of you, and we need to trust each other. I believe no one in this room would sell me to Voldemort!"

Golden light flickered in Harry’s eyes. The power of love drew their hearts closer.

In these turbulent times, suspicion and distrust would only quickly put the Order at a disadvantage.

For the entire Order, only Harry—the one person Dumbledore left behind as crucial—could unite everyone’s trust.

Harry felt the weight of their gazes. On his young shoulders, several heavy burdens seemed to settle.

Meanwhile, the Manipulator slipped silently into the blind spot of their consciousness.

"How is it going... my student...?"

A halting, radio-static-like voice echoed beside Arthursi, and she could sense a hint of pride in it.

"Not bad," Arthursi said, not wanting to dampen his mood, quietly listening to his words.

Soon, there was a knock at the door of the Burrow. The room fell silent.

Arthur drew his wand and cautiously approached the door, opening a crack to look outside.

A large black dog sat on the ground, panting.

"Sirius," Arthur said, quickly opening the door to let him in.

"!" Harry heard Arthur’s voice and immediately turned to the door.

He saw the dog transform into a man.

"Sirius!" Harry rushed forward, throwing himself into his arms.

Sirius opened his arms and caught his godson securely.

"Where have you been all this time?" Harry asked urgently.

"I got a message from Dumbledore. He sent me to Scandinavia to investigate the giants. But for some reason, they seem to have chosen a new leader and returned to neutrality," Sirius said, sharing his journey with the Order.

"Sirius, Dumbledore... " Harry’s expression darkened. "It’s my fault..."

"No, it’s not your fault. It’s that greasy git. I told Dumbledore he couldn’t be trusted!" Sirius said, stroking Harry’s head. His hand tightened on his wand, and he avoided Harry’s eyes, not wanting him to see the killing intent in his own.

After a while, the killing intent faded from Sirius’s eyes, and he focused on Harry. "So, what are your plans now?"

"I’ll carry out Dumbledore’s task," Harry said without hesitation.

"So you’re leaving Hogwarts! That’s not happening!" Sirius immediately refused.

"Why not? I’m of age, and if we don’t complete Dumbledore’s task, how can we fight Voldemort?" Harry argued.

"Listen, let us handle these things. You and your friends go back to Hogwarts and finish your studies. After you graduate, we’ll fight her together," Sirius said, trying to placate Harry. He wanted Harry to spend a year in the relatively safe Hogwarts, letting the Order defeat Voldemort before Harry turned eighteen.

From a godfather’s perspective, this was the best protection he could offer his godson.

But due to gaps in intelligence, he underestimated the difficulty and overestimated Hogwarts’ safety.

"No, if I don’t complete Dumbledore’s task, you can’t kill her!" Harry said, excitedly revealing part of the secret.

"Then tell us what the task is, and let us do it!" Sirius raised his voice.

Harry hesitated under Sirius’s questioning, but Dumbledore had told him this was his own task. He closed his eyes, remembering Dumbledore’s fall from the tower, and clenched his teeth.

"No..."

"Er, can I interrupt for a moment?" A gentle female voice broke into their argument.

"Who are you?" Sirius looked up at the girl who had intruded on their family matter, his expression showing a hint of displeasure.

"Arthursi. Arthursi Prewett. But that’s not important. What matters is, according to our intelligence, next year Hogwarts will be run by the Carrow siblings as governors. Are you sure you want to send your godson back to Hogwarts?"

Arthursi pulled a freshly delivered report from her memory, recited a prayer, and drew down a mass of grey mist from the Sea of Consciousness.

She guided the Order through the intelligence from Knockturn Alley. Sirius fell silent.

Harry, however, felt excited by the sudden news. If he did not return to Hogwarts, he could finally set out on his quest to destroy the Horcruxes.

"I agree you should carry out Dumbledore’s task, but I’m going with you!" Sirius demanded.

"… All right."

Harry hesitated for a moment, then decided to accept Sirius’s decision. After all, he was someone he could trust absolutely.

They decided to set out after Bill’s wedding, while the other Order members would continue their resistance against the Death Eaters.