𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 | f. w

6

The air still hummed with the aftermath of the battle. Mattie, Quinn, Fred, and George stood in the dimly lit hallway of Grimmauld Place, the remnants of the skirmish lingering like a bitter aftertaste. The floor was strewn with debris, a layer of dust settling on the walls where the spells had left scorch marks. The silence was suffocating, pressing in from all sides as if the house itself was trying to recover from the sudden invasion.

But there was no time for them to process what had just happened. Mattie could hear the muffled sounds of movement downstairs—sharp footsteps, hushed voices, the distinct crackling of defensive spells being layered over the house's entrances. The other members of the Order were still dealing with the threat, working swiftly to protect the house and everyone inside it.

Quinn's hand found Mattie's, their fingers gripping each other tightly, both of them still trembling from the adrenaline rush. Fred and George exchanged a silent glance, the normally lighthearted twins now solemn, their usual smiles wiped away by the gravity of the situation.

"We need to find the others," George said, his voice quieter than usual, his eyes scanning the hallway as if expecting another attack. "They're probably still downstairs, making sure the Death Eaters don't break through again."

Mattie nodded, her throat dry. "Right. We can't just stay up here."

Without another word, they moved together, descending the staircase carefully, their wands still drawn, just in case. The house creaked beneath their footsteps, the air thick with tension as they made their way back to the ground floor.

As they reached the entryway, the full scene of the fight began to unfold.

The main hall was a war zone. The front door had been blasted open, hanging off its hinges, revealing the blackened edges where the Death Eaters had forced their way inside. A faint glow of magic shimmered in the air as defensive wards repaired themselves, courtesy of the powerful protective spells that had been layered onto the house by the Order.

Sirius Black stood at the far end of the hall, his wand raised as he reinforced the wards, a deep scowl etched onto his face. His black hair was wild, framing his sharp features in a way that made him look more like the hunted man Mattie had first heard stories about. But his eyes, fierce and determined, betrayed none of the chaos swirling in his mind.

To his left, Remus Lupin moved quickly, his face pale but calm. He was checking the door for any sign of lingering dark magic, his movements precise and methodical. Tonks, her bright hair now dull brown as she focused on blending into her surroundings, stood nearby, her wand at the ready, her posture tense and coiled for action.

"Any more of them?" Tonks called out, her voice sharper than usual as she scanned the hallway.

"No," Sirius replied, his eyes flicking toward the broken door. "They retreated, but we don't know how many might still be out there."

Mattie, Fred, George, and Quinn approached cautiously, their presence drawing the attention of the older members of the Order.

"Are you all alright?" Remus asked, his voice steady but lined with concern. His eyes lingered on the twins for a moment, clearly relieved that they had made it through unscathed.

"We're fine," George answered, his voice tight as he glanced back toward the staircase. "We had a bit of a fight upstairs, but nothing we couldn't handle."

Fred, always the more vocal of the two, nodded. "Mattie and Quinn were with us. They held their own," he added, shooting Mattie a quick, approving look.

Tonks gave them a quick once-over, then nodded. "Good," she said, though her expression remained tense. "We've still got a situation here, though. That was a small group of Death Eaters, probably just testing our defenses. If they found this place, it won't be long before more come."