𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 | 𝐡. 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝟗𝟏 - 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡

Harry wasn't expecting the entire Order to be in the kitchen, but nevertheless, they were there.

All crowded around the kitchen table with Dumbledore at the helm, Remus and Gwen were seated at the far end corner from where Dumbledore was -- holding one another desperately and silently. Harry thought he had seen Remus at his worst in third year after his transformation but the look in his eyes was simply indescribable as though the moment of his daughter's death was branded into his eyelids, whilst his wife's eyes were permanently wet with tears as she held what looked like a baby-grow close to her chest.

He felt someone take ahold of his hand, looking down he saw his mother smiling softly up at him as she pushed him into the seat in between his parents, James put his arm around his son wordlessly as he rubbed his son's shoulder comfortingly but it did little to outweigh the incredible denseness of his guilted grief.

"Is that everyone?" asked Kingsley looking around the room.

"All except Mundungus." said Sirius from in between Remus and Tonks who looked distant and forlorn, Hary could only guess they were feeling a similar amount of guilt over -- his eyes grew wet, he wiped them away.

"Typical." said Moody angrily, "Good for nothing piece of-"

"Ah... Harry, now that you're here.. we can begin with today's brief over the events that occurred yesterday evening." said Dumbledore, looking over at him over his half-moon spectacles -- "I would have rather had this conversation privately but your family insisted upon this being a meeting so, out of respect I inclined."

Harry said nothing.

"As we had previously anticipated, Voldemort had plans to capture the Prophecy which had been held in the Department of Mysteries -- and last night, he went to a great effort to convince Harry that he had captured Sirius Black and was holding him hostage within the bowels of the Ministry. We can confirm that at approximately around 4 pm there were two points of contact made to the Order, one by Harry himself by means of Floo Powder and the other by Ophelia who spoke with one of the portraits in the Headmaster's office. We now know that it was Kreacher who Harry spoke with, concurring that Sirius was not in the building when in fact all members present were taking care of Buckbeak in the attic -- and Phineas Black returned to the Headmaster's office to see what looked to be signs of a struggle, he was unable to inform Ophelia the truth that everyone was home safe."

Remus inhaled deeply through his nose, Harry didn't dare look at him.

"Under the impression that Sirius was indeed captured, they then informed Severus of this, who went to confirm Sirius was there -- Harry, Ophelia and five other peers made their way to London where they snuck into the Ministry, encountered the Death Eaters that were waiting for them  managed to escape but were lost in the bowels of the Ministry. Judging by the state of the rooms we can only concur that there were several battles occurring simultaneously as they attempted to make their way out of the Ministry. It was when the Order arrived, when they were safe to escape -- Ophelia made the mistake for going back into the frey to assist Nymphodora to safety-"

Tonks was crying silently, whispering heartbroken apologises under her breath as Sirius held her comfortingly.

"I'm so sorry -- I didn't mean for her to get hurt -- I tried to tell her -- I'm so sorry--" she mumbled as Sirius shushed her caringly, his hand rubbing her spine as Dumbledore continued on as though he hadn't heard her.

"Where she was then stabbed directly in the heart by means of a silver dagger by Bellatrix Lestrange, there was very little we could have done in that moment to aid her -- her pre-existing condition did little to help her in that moment and unfortunately, she passed not very long after--"