Shadows of Change

Chapter 7

Kingsley Shacklebolt, his face etched with worry lines, paced the dimly lit confines of his office at the Ministry of Magic. The mangled remains of the Inferi tether recovered from Malfoy Manor lay on his desk, a grim testament to the growing threat.

He clutched a report detailing the Order's latest mission – a disastrous raid on a suspected gathering of Death Eaters. The mission, led by a reckless young Auror named Vance, had resulted in several injuries and no arrests. Frustration gnawed at Kingsley. The Order, once a well-oiled machine, seemed to be losing its edge.

"We need a new strategy," Kingsley muttered, his voice heavy with concern. The whispers of Inferi sightings near Hogwarts were becoming more frequent, a chilling reminder of the danger looming on the horizon.

The door creaked open, and Remus Lupin entered, his face grim. "Any news from Hogwarts, Kingsley?" he asked, his voice laced with weariness.

Kingsley shook his head. "Nothing concrete. But with the wards weakening, it's only a matter of time before…" he trailed off, the unspoken fear hanging heavy in the air.

"We can't let Hogwarts fall, Kingsley," Tonks said, her voice resolute despite the dark circles under her eyes. She cradled a steaming mug in her hands, her usual vibrancy dimmed by the weight of recent events.

"We won't," Kingsley vowed, his jaw set in determination. "But we need to be smarter about this. Brute force isn't working."

A tense silence descended upon the room, broken only by the scratching of a quill across parchment. Kingsley studied the report on the Inferi tether, his mind racing. The mangled object, pulsating with a faint dark magic, seemed to hold a key, a clue to their creation.

"There has to be a way to disrupt the connection," Kingsley murmured, tracing the intricate markings on the tether. "A way to sever the link between Voldemort and his Inferi army."

Remus leaned closer, his brow furrowed in thought. "Perhaps there's a magical countermeasure, a reversal spell of some sort."

Tonks chimed in, her voice regaining some of its old spark. "We could raid the Department of Mysteries! They're bound to have something in those restricted archives."

Kingsley considered her suggestion, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "It's a risky move, but it might be our only option. We need all the help we can get. Remus, I'm putting you in charge of assembling a team for the raid."

Remus nodded grimly. "Consider it done, Kingsley."

The conversation shifted, strategies formulated and discarded. They discussed the possibility of contacting old allies, those who remained neutral in the conflict but might be swayed by the threat of Voldemort's return. The mood in the room, though tense, was one of renewed purpose. They wouldn't stand idly by while Voldemort amassed his forces.

Suddenly, the fireplace flared green, and a flustered Kingsley Shacklebolt junior emerged.  "Father! Urgent news from Hogwarts! There's been… an incident."

Kingsley's heart lurched. Hogwarts. Incident. The words sent a jolt of fear through him. All other thoughts vanished as he turned to his son, his voice tight with apprehension.

"What happened, Kingsley?"

Kingsley Shacklebolt junior, normally a picture of Auror composure, stammered under his father's withering gaze. "Well, sir, it's… it's Miss Granger and… Lovegood. They've been… experimenting with restricted artifacts."

Kingsley senior slammed his fist on the table, the report on the Inferi tether scattering across the floor. "Experimenting? Experimenting with what?!" His voice boomed through the room, sending shivers down the spines of Remus and Tonks.