The Veil of Shadows and blood

Chapter 16: Putting It All Together

Tonks and Kingsley stood in the dimly lit hallway of the Ministry, going over everything they had gathered so far. The pieces were scattered, but they all pointed to a bigger, more sinister plot.

"It's almost too clean, isn't it?" Tonks muttered, her brow furrowed in thought.

"You're right," Kingsley agreed, flipping through his notes. "Someone knew exactly how to make it look like Sirius was guilty. They took his wand, used it in the murders, and left just enough evidence to make the case ironclad. But there are cracks in the story."

Tonks nodded. "First, the break-in at Grimmauld Place and the missing wand. That's not a random thief. Whoever took it knew what they were looking for. And then there's the strange behavior of Aberforth. He hinted at something big, something hidden. It feels like a cover-up."

Kingsley sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We know Sirius didn't do it, but that still leaves us with the question: Who did? And why? What could possibly be the motive for killing Harry, Draco, and Soren in such gruesome ways and framing Sirius for it?"

Tonks frowned, thinking hard. "Maybe the motive isn't about the victims themselves. Maybe it's about what they knew."

Kingsley's eyes narrowed. "You think they discovered something?"

"It's possible," Tonks replied. "Think about it. These weren't just random killings. There was a pattern. Harry was raped and left in the Forbidden Forest, Draco was stabbed in his own room in a very deliberate manner, and Soren... well, Soren was tortured with those wires. Someone wanted to send a message. But what?"

The two Aurors stood in silence for a moment before Kingsley's expression shifted.

"What if they were getting too close to something? Something someone wanted buried," he said quietly.

Tonks' eyes widened as the realization hit her. "And the only person with the power and influence to orchestrate something like this... is Dumbledore."

Kingsley nodded grimly. "It makes sense. Aberforth's cryptic warnings, the way the evidence has been manipulated... Dumbledore's always had his secrets. And if Harry, Draco, and Soren stumbled onto something, something Dumbledore didn't want revealed..."

Tonks swallowed hard. "He would have had them killed."

The weight of the revelation settled over them, cold and suffocating. They were talking about Albus Dumbledore—the hero of the wizarding world, the man who had defeated Grindelwald, and the leader of the Order of the Phoenix. The idea that he could be behind the murders was almost unthinkable.

But the evidence was undeniable.

"He didn't do it himself," Kingsley said after a moment. "But he must have hired someone. Someone ruthless, someone who wouldn't hesitate to do whatever was necessary."

Tonks shuddered. "Who could be that cold?"

"We need to find out," Kingsley replied, his voice firm. "And we need to stop them before they strike again."

As they walked away from the Ministry, their minds raced with the chilling truth. Albus Dumbledore, the most revered figure in the wizarding world, was at the center of a deadly conspiracy. And if they didn't act fast, more lives would be lost.

They had to unravel the mystery before it was too late.

As the night wore on, Tonks and Kingsley convened in a quiet corner of the Leaky Cauldron, a safe haven where they could strategize without the prying eyes of the Ministry. The warm glow of the tavern felt foreign to them, given the dark weight of their discovery.

"Where do we even start?" Tonks asked, her voice low. "Dumbledore has his hands in so many pots. It's going to take time to unravel his network."

Kingsley leaned in, a determined glint in his eye. "We start with Aberforth. If he knew something, he could lead us to the truth."

Tonks nodded, but a hint of apprehension flickered across her features. "Aberforth's been living in Dumbledore's shadow his entire life. What if he's too afraid to speak out?"

"We'll have to convince him," Kingsley replied. "If he's as agitated as Sirius described, he may be more willing to talk than we think. We can't let fear stop us from pursuing the truth."

As they discussed their next steps, a sense of urgency hung in the air. They both knew that time was running out. Dumbledore was a master of manipulation, and with each passing moment, he could be orchestrating his next move.

Later that night, they made their way to Aberforth's pub, the Hog's Head. The establishment was dim and worn, much like its owner, who greeted them with a wary look.

"Aurors," he muttered, his voice gravelly. "What do you want?"

"Aberforth, we need your help," Tonks said, trying to keep her tone steady. "It's about Sirius and the murders."

Aberforth's expression darkened. "I don't want to get involved in any of this. I'm done with the games."

Kingsley stepped forward, his tone firm yet respectful. "You may be done, but Sirius is not. He's been framed, and we believe Dumbledore is behind it all. We need to know what you told him before Harry, Draco, and Soren died."

Aberforth's eyes narrowed, the weariness in them replaced by a flicker of anger. "You think you can just waltz in here and make demands? Dumbledore's got the whole wizarding world eating out of his hand. If he wanted to, he could make you disappear."

"Maybe that's why you're afraid," Tonks replied softly. "But you can't let fear silence you. Those boys deserve justice."

For a long moment, Aberforth studied them, the weight of their words hanging heavy in the air. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Fine. I'll tell you what I know. But you need to understand—this is dangerous territory."

As he began to recount his meeting with Dumbledore, Tonks and Kingsley listened intently, ready to uncover whatever secrets lay hidden beneath the surface. With every word, they felt the walls closing in on Dumbledore's carefully constructed facade.

The truth was waiting to be unveiled, and with it, the hope of saving Sirius and stopping the unseen threat before it claimed more victims.