The Epilogue : Part I - The Shadow Army

CHAPTER THREE

Draco's Tale

Harry woke up very early on the following morning after having barely slept. Apart from the excitement of listening Draco's tale about his latest adventures, he felt like he would finally get some real progress on the case.

Exceptionally this morning, Harry was at the kitchen's table for breakfast.

"Good morning," he cheerfully said to his children when they came.

As soon as she saw him, Lily jumped on his knees and showed him her Hogwarts letter she always carried with her.

"Dad... what are you doing here," Albus asked coldly, but somehow strangely happy to see him.

"I won't go to office today," said Harry, with a radiant smile on his face. "I decided to take a day off."

James, Albus and Lily sat and happily had breakfast with their both parents, which incidentally was very rare, and the whole family had a very light–hearted time together.

"What do we do now?" James asked after breakfast.

"Well, I was thinking about maybe taking my old Firebolt out of cupboard," Harry hinted with a smile.

"Hold on, you mean... you'll play Quidditch with us?" asked Albus who couldn't believe his eyes.

"Yes, I will." Harry answered, enthusiastic.

Both Albus and James rushed out of the kitchen, but when they came back about a dozen of minutes later, broomstick on their shoulder, their hopes shattered as they saw their father's

grave face, holding an urgent letter that just arrived and which born the symbol of the Ministry of Magic.

"...What is it?" asked James who already who the answer.

"An urgent affair..." Harry confessed, and eyes down.

Albus instantly left the kitchen with Lily, without even listening to what he had to say.

"...What happened?" James asked.

"An attack happened in Wardour Street."

"And... you're going to go?"

"...I have to, yes..."

"Of course you do..."

James left the kitchen, a bitter smile on his face.

Saddened and helpless, Harry quickly dressed up, putted his shoes on, got out of his house and walked along Grimmauld Place, without noticing a cloaked figure that was watching at him, with her white wand.

The weather was rather fresh in the morning, and the light–tight sky was nuanced into hopeful blueish tones when he stepped in the street where the attack occurred.

The whole street was still sleeping and looked perfectly normal, apart from a group of Aurors dressed like muggles, banning the access to the crime scene.

"Identification," said Simons at the security cordon.

While taking out his badge and his wand, Harry noticed tiny spots of colours on her hands. Once the cordon passed he saw the building, that looked perfectly normal from outside of the barred area, was actually wrecked and smoking still.

"Hello Ron, what happened?" Harry asked as soon as he saw him.

"Apparently, a dozen of persons have been injured, some have been killed... including–"