Federal Alchemist at Hogwarts (Rewrite)
Prologue Part 2
Somewhere in England
In a house at an undisclosed location, a man sat silently by a fireplace. He was a young man, no more than thirty, perhaps even younger, with red hair and light brown eyes that reflected the flames. In his hands, he held a small locket containing a miniature portrait of a beautiful, smiling woman—Aila.
The man did not speak. He remained silent, staring at the fire, lost in thought. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door of the room where he sat.
"Fabian..."
"I'm not hungry, Gideon. You can eat without me," Fabian replied, remaining motionless, still staring into the flames. Gideon looked at his brother in that state and said nothing. He didn't know what words of comfort to offer, as they would hurt more than silence.
"All right. I'll bring something for you later," Gideon said, then left the room.
Fabian listened as his brother's footsteps faded, while he continued to gaze at the fireplace.
'Aila...'
<><><><><>
In another room, around a large table, a couple enjoyed preparing a simple meal with their six children. The eldest was nine, and the youngest only a few months old.
The man was young, with red hair and blue eyes. He seemed like an ordinary person, smiling at the woman as he helped set the table.
The woman, also red-haired but with light brown eyes, waved her wand, making the food float in the air as she prepared various dishes. She had a fragile appearance and an air of maternal warmth that lightened the atmosphere.
Both smiled and exchanged small comments while placing the food on the table, stopping only when they heard footsteps approaching.
When they saw Gideon return without Fabian, the man stopped laughing and glanced at the woman beside him, who looked visibly distraught.
"He's not hungry," Gideon said as he sat down and began serving himself.
"I'll call him. Maybe..."
"Molly," Gideon interrupted his older sister. "Please, give him some more time."
"But..."
"Molly, Gideon is right."
"Arthur..." Molly looked at her husband and sighed deeply.
She knew her brother was thinking about his beloved and the child who might not have even survived birth.
Nearly three weeks ago, an attack by Death Eaters on one of the Order of the Phoenix's hideouts had forced Fabian to send Aila—who had just gone into labor—to a distant, secret location known only to him.
Along with her, Fabian had sent his older brother William and their friend Crista.
But Molly doubted their capabilities. Although William came from a good wizarding family, his talent was at best mediocre. Crista, on the other hand, was weak in dueling and not particularly useful in combat.
As for Aila, she was strong and highly skilled in dueling and curses.
None of the three were officially members of the Order of the Phoenix, at least not openly like Molly and her husband. They acted more as intermediaries, providing sensitive information, each stationed at a specific post.
William, for instance, although weak in combat, was excellent at bureaucratic work and held a favorable position within the Ministry. He used this to supply Fabian and the others with internal Ministry information about who supported the Death Eaters or remained neutral.
Crista was an active member of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She was responsible for monitoring the movement of magical beings in Britain and reporting their activities.
Aila's situation was more complicated. In truth, Aila was almost a double agent—not a Death Eater, but very close to them, particularly given her friendships with Narcissa Black (now Narcissa Malfoy) and Bellatrix Black (now Bellatrix Lestrange).
At Hogwarts, Aila had been close to them, even more "cruel" than they were, believing that strength ruled the world. However, after Voldemort's rise, they had grown apart, though the friendship remained.
Aila had become one of the Order's primary sources of information. To outsiders, she appeared neutral, fighting off both Death Eaters trying to recruit her and Aurors opposing her due to her ties to Bellatrix Lestrange.
This neutrality allowed Narcissa and Bellatrix to never suspect her, keeping the three women as friends who occasionally met.
Her information, while limited, proved valuable and helped preserve many Order members. But once she discovered her pregnancy, she withdrew from the front lines.
Reflecting on the last attack, Molly realized there was a traitor among them.
The Death Eaters had somehow learned Aila was an informant. Bellatrix and Narcissa, feeling betrayed, swore to bring Aila's body to Voldemort as proof of their loyalty. They had led the assault on the Order during the last attack.
It wasn't just an attack on the Order; it was a direct strike against Aila—a move meant to weaken them by removing a key figure from their cause.
"Molly," Arthur called, pulling his wife from her thoughts. "Come. Let's eat."
Molly looked at Arthur and smiled. She sat at the table with her brother, husband, and children. Seeing the children smile during dinner, oblivious to the chaos around them, brought a smile to the adults.
It was for those smiles that they fought so hard.
The three remained silent and chose to set aside their worries for the moment. They were safe here. This house, more than just a hideout, was one of the Prewett family's secure homes. Only Molly and her brothers knew how to reach it.
For now, all they could do was wait. Once they were off the Death Eaters' radar, they could retrieve Aila, wherever she was.
<><><><><>
After dinner, while Molly, Arthur, and Gideon slept in their rooms, none of them noticed a small rat moving quickly and stealthily through the walls of the house.
The rat was small and plump but moved with remarkable agility, eventually reaching an office in the house.
The rat paused, observing the room, and focused on Fabian, who sat by the fireplace. He still held the locket with Aila's picture, his other hand resting on his wand.
Fabian's eyes were closed, his breathing steady, indicating he was asleep.
The rat observed him for a moment before exploring the office, carefully examining every corner for useful information. It was a lengthy process due to its size, but the rat was persistent.
Eventually, it found something—a framed photo, an old portrait of a young couple holding a small baby. They were seated in front of an old house surrounded by trees in what appeared to be an isolated location.
The rat studied the picture, then read a small inscription on the frame:
"Prewett Ancestral Home – Gwydir Forest."
A faint gleam appeared in the rat's eyes before it scurried away.
Fabian remained unaware of the rat's presence, still asleep.
In his dreams, they had defeated Voldemort, vanquished the Death Eaters, and brought peace to the wizarding world. He had finally reunited with Aila and their child, and they lived a happy life together.
It was a good dream.