Chapter 327: An Accident Happened
"Indeed, it's not safe here anymore. School begins in two days. Harry, Leah, Hermione, Luna, and the others should return to Hogwarts. The Council of Elders won't dare cross Dumbledore over the Black family's affairs. As for you, me, and Hope—we'll head to the manor Nicolas left for me. It's completely secure."
Sirius nodded solemnly.
"This is our best option. Until we uncover the Council's true motives, our priority must be protection. Meanwhile, we'll keep a close watch on the Council's movements and gather whatever clues we can."
Phineas took a deep breath, clapped his hands, and addressed the others.
"Alright, we need to leave immediately. Since the Black family's base was attacked, I don't doubt the Elders' law enforcement team will soon target this place. We don't yet know what's happened to the other three families, so evacuation is our safest move."
Given the urgency of the situation, there was no time to consider anyone's comfort.
Phineas, Sirius, and Hope swiftly escorted Harry, Leah, Hermione, and Luna away.
Shortly after their departure, the Black family's tent received uninvited guests—a group clad in black robes and white masks.
They were the Council of Elders' law enforcement team. Just as Phineas had predicted.
Their targets: Phineas, Sirius, and Hope. Harry and the others, not being members of the Black family, were outside the team's jurisdiction.
In truth, Phineas, Sirius, and Damon had reacted quickly.
The moment Damon learned of the attack on the Black family's base, he concealed himself and began investigating. Once he confirmed the danger to Phineas, he rushed to warn him.
Phineas and Sirius wasted no time in forming a response, managing to avoid the law enforcement team.
The Elders' actions, ironically, stemmed from a coincidence.
As Phineas and the others had privately discussed, Corvus had no real control over the Lestrange family.
Like the Selwyns, the Lestranges were ruled by their elders, though the Selwyns had maintained a nominal patriarch, weakening the elders' grip.
But the Lestranges' last patriarch had defected to Grindelwald fifty years ago, leaving the elders in full control since. Nothing escaped them.
That was what Phineas, Kuzan, Elrond, and Corvus had all overlooked.
When they returned to their families to make preparations for the godhood plan, the Lestrange elders overheard their discussions.
And unfortunately, some of those elders were members of the Council itself.
Their loyalty to family was minimal—especially with the promise of godhood dangling before them.
If Phineas and the others succeeded, the Elders risked losing their exclusive path to divinity.
The Elders reacted with fury, dispatching the law enforcement team to arrest the leaders and involved members of the four consul families.
They knew the consular structure couldn't be destroyed entirely—that would unravel their control over the magical world. So their goal was simple: capture those directly involved.
Importantly, captured members wouldn't be executed. Rather, they'd be confined under watch—well-treated, but hostages nonetheless.
They can also be used as hostages to control the consul's family.
Phineas and his companions acted fast. Kuzan and Elrond weren't far behind.
Because they could not confirm the completeness and accuracy of the news. The Council moved first against the Lestranges, judging them the most vulnerable.
When Corvus and his son were seized, the Selwyns—always vigilant—took notice.
Elrond, long weary of the elders' control, fled the family with his loyal kin.
Even now, hours later, the Selwyns and the law enforcement team had yet to locate Elrond's family.
Simultaneous attacks were launched on the three families—except the Richies.
The Black family, having only three direct members—Phineas, Sirius, and Hope—had nearly all its strongholds targeted.
Thanks to Damon's timely warning, Phineas and Sirius evaded capture.
The Richie family, however, remained the calmest.
Despite internal elders, the clan obeyed Kuzan absolutely—even to the point of risking annihilation.
When the law enforcement team arrived, the Richie family fought back as one. Thus, for now, Kuzan was safe.
But this security was only temporary. Those aware of the Elders' plans to monopolize godhood would not be allowed to remain free.
Now, back to Phineas and the others.
After leaving the Quidditch World Cup camp with the students, they headed straight for Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
Because of the manor's secret enchantments, Phineas couldn't simply disclose its location to others.
So, they used an unconventional route.
Phineas, Sirius, Hope, and the others entered the enchanted Black family suitcase—Phineas's private library.
Then Puff the house-elf carried the suitcase to France.
Because house-elves are overlooked by the magical world—including the Council of Elders—their magical traces go unnoticed.
Moreover, their unique abilities allow them to Apparate across far greater distances than wizards.
As Phineas expected, the Council had records of Grimmauld Place's location—records unaffected by the Fidelius Charm.
Soon after the group left, the law enforcement team arrived.
It all appeared uneventful now. But at the time, they had been in extreme danger—one minute's delay, and they might have been arrested and taken to the Council's headquarters.
Fortunately, Hogwarts term had begun.
Harry, Leah, Hermione, and Luna were now at school, protected by the magic of Dumbledore and the Founders—safe from the Council's law enforcement.
Phineas, Sirius, and Hope remained at Nicolas's manor.
Sirius, well-versed in evasion and subterfuge from his days with the Death Eaters, took charge of Black family affairs.
Hope devoted herself to studying the alchemical legacy left by Nicolas. After this ordeal, she planned to reopen the Black family's old shop in Hogsmeade—this time selling magical items and alchemical wares.
Phineas, however, had a different path.
After Leah and the others returned to Hogwarts, he quietly left the manor—bound for the Americas.
Although technically under the Council's control, their power there remained weak.
None—neither the Council nor the other consul families—knew that Phineas controlled vast power reserves in the Americas.
After Lisa's death, Damon had been relocated from America to Europe. His younger brother, Stefan, now ran operations there.
Phineas's plan was to hide in America until he reached the legendary level—then return to confront the law enforcement team on equal footing.
To avoid detection, he didn't enter through official channels.
Wizards entering the U.S. were required to submit their wands for inspection and magical tracing.
Any magical activity would instantly alert the Magical Congress—a surveillance system far superior to the European Ministry of Magic's.
Worse still, the Council had eyes there.
So Phineas opted for the old method: a portkey. This one was disguised as a rusty iron bucket.
These black market portkeys were sold by smugglers who also supplied location and activation times.
Phineas's entry point: Staten Island, New York.
It was large, sparsely populated, and—because of its strict census—an unlikely destination for smugglers.
The most dangerous place is often the safest.
Using magic, Phineas masked his presence from all Muggles on the island, avoiding detection by either the Muggle or magical communities.
But he didn't intend to stay.
Staten Island was isolated—not ideal for a fugitive from the Council.
His real destination was Manhattan.
With 1.5 million people packed into 24 square miles, it was the heart of American finance and one of the least likely places to be investigated by wizards.
Finding a place to stay was easy. Magic is useful like that.
Though he rarely used the Imperius Curse, Phineas was proficient enough.
He took control of an unmarried, wealthy Muggle in Manhattan and used the man's high-rise apartment as a safe house.
The apartment had two bedrooms, two studies, and an open kitchen and living room—perfect for his needs.
Over the next few months, Phineas secluded himself there, studying the mysteries of the soul.
To become a legend, one must understand the soul—its role in magic, and the emotional forces behind certain spells.
There are two main approaches:
Dumbledore's method: pure research, introspection, and analysis.
And Nicolas's method: collect souls and study them directly.
Both paths lead to the same destination. Unlike white or dark magic, neither path warps the user's mind or soul.
Each has its strengths.
Dumbledore's method offers a solid foundation, but Nicolas's is faster and more direct—though initially less stable.
Phineas, for now, chose the latter.