N/A: Yes, I know I said I would finish this arc quickly to get to Harry and Percy at Hogwarts, but let me wrap up the arc properly. I need to give it a good ending.
....
The Broken Blade
Sally watched as the wizards were led away in shackles. Some tried to escape, but they were quickly knocked unconscious. All of them were taken to the outskirts of the village, where more military vehicles of the same kind were approaching; likely more members of the Order that she didn't yet know.
Lucius Malfoy kept his head high, his expression defiant and proud, as if his arrest were nothing more than a meaningless formality.
Meanwhile, Sally noticed a beautiful woman with blonde hair and an imperious gaze. She was holding her small son close, the boy hiding behind her legs, his wide eyes filled with fear and worry for his father. The mother's posture remained firm, but her gestures revealed the tension of someone ready to protect what truly mattered to her.
Dorien approached with a serious expression, stopping in front of her.
"We don't want to make things difficult for a mother and her son, so I'll be direct. If you had anything to do with what your husband supposedly did, it would be better to tell us now. We can note that you knew nothing and avoid separating you from your child. If you cooperate, we'll leave you alone; we already have enough evidence to arrest your husband, and I doubt you want to go with him," Dorien said in a firm voice, his gaze leaving no room for deceit.
The woman stared at him silently for a few seconds, then looked down at her son and sighed, as if the decision weighed heavier than she wanted to admit.
"I have no idea what he did, but… in Lucius's office, you might find what you're looking for," she finally said, her tone resigned. It was clear that abandoning her husband wasn't even an option; protecting her child was all that mattered. "Dobby," she ordered firmly.
With a sharp snap, a house-elf appeared before them. He had enormous ears, bulging eyes, and a thin, frail body dressed in dirty, tattered rags.
"Take them to Lucius's office," the woman commanded with seriousness, never stepping even a pace away from her son while the knights were present.
Dorien studied the creature with interest; it was the first time he had seen anything like it. Adrien, meanwhile, observed it with a more analytical curiosity before glancing toward Sally. She looked at the little elf with a mix of pity and compassion; he was so different from Lia, the elf in her home, who seemed a willing servant rather than a slave.
Adrien noticed that unspoken comparison. He realized then that the invisible presence they had once sensed faintly in Sally's house belonged to the same species. What caught his attention most, however, was that the anti-apparition barrier around the area was still active—yet this creature had crossed it effortlessly. That was no trivial feat.
Dorien and a few knights followed the trembling house-elf toward the mansion, while Sally stayed behind, watching the child hiding behind his mother. He looked about the same age as her own sons. The woman, on the other hand, never let go of him for even a moment, completely disregarding the man she had once defended.
Sally thought that she would have done exactly the same without hesitation. She felt compassion for the mother and child—but not for the man foolish enough to endanger his family's safety.
After some time, Dorien returned, holding a broken sword in his hand. His expression was grim as he handed it to Adrien.
Sally's eyes widened slightly at the sight of it; the sword looked disturbingly familiar. It took only a few seconds for her to realize why—it resembled the one Percy wore around his neck, the weapon he still struggled to control.
Mark, who was standing beside her, noticed her reaction and leaned closer.
"You know, you really should learn to control your emotions… or rather, your expressions. You're an open book. You don't even need Legilimency to know what's going through your head. Maybe you should study a little Occlumency—especially around those two monsters," he said, nodding toward Adrien and Dorien.
Sally looked at him in surprise. Only then did she understand that everyone could sense her emotions so easily, and her startled reaction gave her away even more.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Mark muttered with exasperation, shaking his head. "You have powerful magic books, incredible talent, and yet you still act like a novice," he added with a weary sigh.
His tone had changed; the usual narcissistic arrogance was giving way to something else—a faint competitiveness. He looked at her with mild irritation before turning away, though his words left her quietly thoughtful.
…
The group returned to the Veil's Sanctuary. The hero's broken sword was placed inside a glass display, just another relic among their vast collection. Sally, following Adrien and the others, entered what seemed to be a museum filled with all kinds of artifacts.
Through the glass walls, she could see dozens of objects, but now that she was so close, she noticed details she hadn't before.
A lantern containing a small golden flame that burned softly. It wasn't an ordinary flame—it emitted a subtle warmth, almost comforting, even from a distance.
A sword engraved with Greek glyphs along the blade.
The tanned hide of a lion, displayed like a trophy.
And a large pithos, its surface covered with illustrations telling a story; the figures wore unmistakably Greek attire.
But beyond the visual, Sally sensed something deeper. The power of the Mist flowed through each of these objects, and interwoven with it was another essence—something that wasn't magic. It was… divine.
She recalled Mark's words and forced her face to remain neutral. Yet the truth was undeniable to her. These objects that neither wizards nor knights could identify were, in fact, divine relics—artifacts of Greek origin… and not only Greek.
As she continued walking through the room, she noticed pieces that were clearly of Norse and Egyptian origin as well. The realization made her head spin slightly. The mix of energies was so dense it seemed to vibrate in the air itself.
"Are you alright?" Gema asked from beside her, noticing her sudden unease.
"Ah, yes… just a little tired. I'd like to go home soon," Sally replied, forcing her voice and expression to remain steady.
"We're done here. I'll tell someone to take you home," said Gema with a nod.
"That's alright; I'll take her. There are a few things I want to ask," Adrien interjected calmly, watching Sally closely. Although she tried to hide her emotions, Adrien could read her with ease. Dorien could as well. The brothers exchanged a brief glance before Adrien gave a small nod, silently conveying a message.
Sally didn't notice their exchange and simply followed Adrien toward the exit.
After all, Mor had appeared a while earlier, slightly drunk and acting strangely, so Sally needed to return soon. Luckily, Lia was home taking care of the children, and the only other place they might go later was Dred's house.
…
As Adrien drove, Sally gazed out the window in silence. Her mind was filled with scattered thoughts that drifted aimlessly. The scenery passed by slowly, lit only by the faint glow of the streetlights, and the silence inside the car grew almost unbearable—until Adrien decided to break it.
"We've already arranged a contract to protect you and your family, as well as your home," he said in a firm tone. "But we also expect you to do your part—to avoid putting ordinary people in danger and to help us however you can."
His gaze stayed on the road, serious and calculating. "I still don't know who that woman really is… but when the seal was broken, all the records of the event were destroyed. No one knows by whom. The only thing left written was that she was considered a danger to the world."
Sally quickly turned her head toward him. "No. Mor isn't dangerous. She's… serving a punishment. In fact, she might be helping more than you realize," she said firmly, almost desperately.
Adrien sighed. "Yes, you mentioned that. But if you can't explain it, obviously we won't feel safe."
His voice softened slightly. "Even so, for now, I'll trust you. I truly hope this turns out to be the right choice."
"I'll make sure not to break that trust," Sally replied seriously.
Adrien looked at her for a moment before turning back to the road. Silence returned—tense, but not uncomfortable.
"One more thing," he said suddenly, his tone calm. "You seem to know much more than we do about the objects that have been kept in the Veil's Sanctuary for centuries. I won't ask anything unless it's necessary, but I want you to know that we won't pressure you. Maybe you just need time to trust us, and that's fine. I'm telling you this so you don't exhaust yourself trying to hide it."
Sally's eyes widened as she finally understood what Mark had meant when he called Adrien and Dorien "monsters." They had probably known what she was thinking all along—just by observing her gestures.
Adrien gave a faint smile. "I can tell it has something to do with what you're protecting… your children, right?"
Sally lowered her gaze to her hands, debating whether to respond. At last, she spoke softly.
"Yes. But at the same time, it's dangerous to know. For now, unless it's absolutely necessary, I won't say more. Because I don't fully understand it myself. Even Mor refuses to tell me too much, to keep me safe."
"You seem to trust her a lot," Adrien remarked—not as criticism, but as simple observation.
Sally smiled faintly. "She's my children's godmother."
Adrien's eyes widened in surprise. This woman, so fiercely protective of her children, had made a being like that—the same one who could have wiped out every knight and wizard present if she'd wanted to—their godmother. He had felt it when Mor appeared; her power was overwhelming.
To be honest, although he still wasn't entirely comfortable with such a being living in a non-magical neighborhood, he could understand why Sally had entrusted her with something so important.
"I see," he finally said, his tone calmer.
The rest of the trip passed in silence until the car stopped in front of Sally's house. Adrien got out with her, insisting on accompanying her to the door even though she said it wasn't necessary.
Sally opened the door and froze for a moment. On the carpeted floor of the hallway lay Mor, asleep, with the two boys resting peacefully in her arms. Harry and Percy were sound asleep, their faces calm and serene, as if nothing in the world could disturb them. Beside them, Lia gently covered them with a blanket.
Sally smiled softly at the sight. Then she turned to Adrien, who was also watching the scene in silence. The knight's expression softened; for the first time, his eyes looked less severe.
Sally smiled at him with a look that clearly said, "See? I told you so."
Adrien held her gaze for a few seconds before bowing his head slightly.
"See you tomorrow," he said politely, placing a hand over his chest in a courteous gesture.
"Tomorrow? I thought I had the day off," Sally replied, a bit confused.
…
Meanwhile, in one of the highest offices of the most famous castle in England—known as Hogwarts, the supposedly safest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world—a man walked briskly down the corridors.
Sirius Black moved with a wide, unshakable grin. He had entered through the castle's main gate and was now hurrying toward the tallest tower. His pace was so fast that he nearly broke into a run, though he restrained himself; he knew that if he did, some grumpy professor might appear out of nowhere just to deduct points out of habit.
His expression, however, remained radiant.
"Lemon sherbet," he said before the stone gargoyle.
The statue spun aside, revealing a spiral staircase that led up to the headmaster's office.
Sirius climbed the steps two at a time and didn't even bother to knock before pushing the door open.
Inside sat the man who ran the school—one of the most powerful wizards in the world. Across from him stood a woman of firm bearing and serious expression, who turned sharply at the sound of the door.
"Mr. Black, it seems you've forgotten your manners," said Professor McGonagall, her voice a mixture of sternness and warmth. "You should knock before entering the headmaster's office."
Sirius grinned broadly. "Professor McGonagall, it's good to see you after all this time. And since I'm no longer your student, I'll call you Minerva."
"No," she replied firmly, turning toward Dumbledore. "It seems you have important matters to discuss with Mr. Black, Albus. I'll come back later."
As she passed by Sirius, she paused for a moment.
"Straighten your clothes, Mr. Black… and I'm glad to see you free and in good health."
Sirius smiled with genuine warmth as he watched her leave. Then he turned toward the old man, who was leisurely popping a chocolate cockroach into his mouth, clearly expecting him.
"They've been caught. Not just them, but many of those bastards," said Sirius, his voice a mix of pride and restrained fury. "You were right, Dumbledore. The wizarding world will be a much safer place for Harry now. Those cowards are hiding like rats."
"To tell you the truth, I didn't expect so much to happen… but I'm glad it was of help," Dumbledore said calmly, leaning back slightly in his chair.
His gaze shifted to one of the portraits on the wall—Phineas Nigellus Black was glaring at Sirius with a scowl of deep disdain, his painted expression filled with irritation. Sirius ignored him completely, his composure unshaken.
"It's good that old bastard was useful for something," Sirius remarked with a sly grin, refusing even to glance at the portrait. "Now, when can I go see Harry?" he asked quickly, his eyes shining with eager, almost childlike excitement.
"Mmm… truthfully, after they captured the culprit, I thought the others would go into hiding for a while. But it all happened faster and more powerfully than I expected. Perhaps you could even go as early as tomorrow," Dumbledore replied thoughtfully, his tone serene. "I'll inform Mrs. Figg to be ready."
He knew well that after the arrest of so many Death Eaters, any remaining groups wouldn't dare act soon. Trying to go after Sirius—or after Dumbledore himself—to reach Harry would be sheer foolishness. Those who had survived the operation were surely in hiding, terrified, and would remain so for a long time.
And when the danger subsided, Harry could gradually return to the magical world, getting used to a place that was still completely foreign to him.
"Perfect," exclaimed Sirius with genuine joy. The mere thought of seeing his godson—the son of James and Lily—filled him with excitement. He was already imagining himself teaching the boy all sorts of tricks and charms, finally fulfilling his role as a godfather just as he had always dreamed.
…
Meanwhile, in the Veil's Sanctuary, Gema entered the old man's office. He was speaking with his grandsons, Adrien and Dorien, while Mark lounged in a corner. His posture was relaxed, though anyone could tell he was only paying attention to the parts of the conversation that mentioned Sally.
"So, she's more valuable than we thought," said the old man, his voice deep and his gaze unreadable. "For years we never knew where those dangerous and powerful artifacts came from, but now it seems we finally have a lead. If that woman is there, her presence increases her importance. If she's truly protecting us from something we can't see, we must remain vigilant."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, marking the rhythm of his thoughts.
"If we discover it's true, our support for her must be absolute."
Then he lifted his gaze and noticed Gema standing by the door.
"Oh, you're here," he said casually, as if he had only just seen her, though it was obvious his previous focus had been complete.
"I've finished what you asked for," Gema reported in a firm tone. "And I've chosen a few squires."
"Good. Then carry it out tomorrow," the old man replied with a slight nod, before turning to Mark. "And what about you?"
Mark stretched lazily, glancing at the others with a half-smile.
"Mmm… if there's room, count me in. I can connect a Floo Network line and bring these idiots along in case of an emergency," he said, gesturing with his thumb toward the three knights who were watching him with quiet resignation.
"Excellent," said the old man with a smile that mixed approval and amusement.
The atmosphere eased a little, though everyone knew the calm was only temporary. What they had uncovered in those days was merely the surface of something far greater—and each of them could feel it, even if they couldn't yet name it.