Antonio had departed from Hogwarts shortly after his conversation with Minerva. Although Charlus and Edmund were curious about what Professor McGonagall had wanted to discuss, they did not press him for details. Even so, Antonio had satisfied their curiosity and had given them a brief explanation, general and restrained, but enough for the two sharp men to piece together most of it.
Antonio and Edmund had originally planned to return to their own manors, but Charlus insisted they come back to Potter Manor instead. Though dusk had already fallen and it was not exactly the time for lunch, Charlus had warmly invited them to stay for a late meal. A meal which had been interrupted even before it had started.
When they arrived, an anxious Dorea Potter greeted them at the door. She had been worried about James. Charlus had already sent a Patronus assuring her that their son was safe but the lack of details had not really helped her. It was only after Charlus explained everything in detail that she finally relaxed.
Lunch was soon arranged, and Antonio had to admit it was a feast he would remember for years to come. The warmth and hospitality of the Potter family left a lasting impression on him.
No one brought up the earlier discussions of politics.It seemed there was an unspoken agreement to let the topic rest. Besides, Antonio and Edmund had already presented their plans to Charlus, and the Lord of House Potter would no doubt want some time to consider them.
"I am truly thankful, Lord Potter," Antonio said sincerely as he prepared to depart. "I have few words to express the admiration I feel for your hospitality."
"Haha!" Charlus laughed heartily. "A Potter is always glad to hear such praise! We are known for our hospitality."
"Lord Olario," Dorea said warmly, "you must visit us again soon and this time, plan a proper visit. This one can hardly be called complete, given everything that happened."
"I will, Lady Potter," Antonio replied with a polite smile and a small bow. Then, with a faint shimmer of magic, he vanished from his spot.
"He's truly an impressive young man, Lord Bones," Charlus said, turning to Edmund, who was still standing nearby.
"He is more impressive than you think, Lord Potter," Edmund replied with a faint, knowing smile as he remembered the flashes of that night when Antonio had single handedly cut down the Death Eaters who attacked his manor.
"Oh?" Charlus raised an eyebrow, catching the implication. He could tell Edmund knew something he was not sharing.
"Yes," Edmund nodded, his smile lingering. "See you, Lady Potter."
With that parting, he too vanished, leaving Charlus and Dorea standing together at the edge of their wards, the evening wind softly brushing past them.
Antonio arrived back at his Olario residence. This was the last night he would be staying here. The next morning he would move to his new manor. The Olario Manor.
Even as Antonio lay in bed trying to sleep, his mind kept wandering about how he should investigate the attack on Lily. His thoughts kept returning to all the names Lily had complained about people who had been punished by Minerva McGongall.
To be honest, Antonio suspected more than one person could have pulled such a move. The Lestranges, Rabastan Lestrange, was a frontrunner. But the real doubt in Antonio's mind was whether Rodolphus or Rabastan, if the younger brother too had been recruited as Death Eaters, would really carry out this so soon after their father had died in a similar raid. It had not been even a week since the death of Reinhart Lestrange.
If the target had been Edward Bones at Hogsmeade, he would have been more willing to consider their names. That would have been an act of revenge. But after what had happened, would Lily have mattered that much to them? Targeting Edward would have been a better option. They would have had their revenge and hurt Edmund Bones badly. But then again maybe an attack on Edward would have made it too obvious and hence they avoided it. He could not be certain. He needed some proof.
Antonio woke up early the next morning. He had hardly slept the previous night, his mind constantly occupied with thoughts of the investigation. Though he hadn't yet mapped out a clear course of action, several ideas had begun to take shape. And with those ideas, the scope of his investigation had widened considerably.
What had begun as an inquiry into the attack on Lily was slowly broadening—expanding into something much larger, something that would soon involve the Death Eaters themselves. He was about to take on work that should have rightfully fallen to the Aurors.
Antonio had just finished his breakfast when a loud, impatient banging echoed from his front door. He did not need more than a few seconds to guess who it was. Bellatrix. She had not shown her face for several days, not since the day he had helped her learn the Water Golem spell.
He opened the door and greeted her calmly. "Miss Black."
"Olario," Bellatrix grinned, her tone playful. "Or perhaps I should call you by your new title, esteemed Wizengamot member, Lord Olario."
"Haha!" Antonio laughed as he stepped aside, letting her in. Bellatrix followed him into the room.
"You have not come by in the past few days," he remarked. "I thought you would not stop pestering me until you had mastered the Water Golem spell."
At that, Bellatrix's mind wandered briefly to what had been happening at Grimmauld Place over the past few days, particularly to the suggestions her grandfather had made. And despite her usual shamelessness, her face turned slightly red at the memory.
"I had been busy with some things," she muttered.
Antonio raised an eyebrow at her uncharacteristic tone but did not press further.
"Have you heard about the attack on Hogsmeade?" she asked abruptly.
"Yes," Antonio replied evenly. "In fact, I visited Hogwarts yesterday."
"Why?" Bellatrix asked, her curiosity piqued.
Antonio recounted the events briefly.
"Oh!" Bellatrix exclaimed when he finished. "The Death Eaters are getting bolder by the day."
"I thought that after Lord Bones killed eight of them and after all those articles in Lord Potter's newspaper urging Wizarding Britain to stand up to them the Death Eaters would have been pushed onto the back foot," she said.
"It should have happened that way," Antonio agreed, shaking his head. "But fear is much easier to spread than courage. If the Death Eaters had suffered some losses yesterday, perhaps it would have inspired bravery. But the attack was almost flawless. They did not suffer any casualty."
"Anyway," Antonio changed the topic, "how is your practice with the Water Golem spell coming along?"
"Good," she replied quickly. "But I still need more guidance from you."
"Sure," he said with a faint smile. "But first, I am shifting to my new manor today."
"Great!" Bellatrix beamed. "I will come with you."
And just like that, Bellatrix invited herself along. Antonio could only shake his head, half amused, half resigned.
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