Raising the tip of her wand to the door, Rowan traces a rune on the door and says, "Ventaor," meaning Hunter. The door of the worn flat creaks open loud enough for her to wince at, but not before noticing the pair of footprints left on the dust-covered floor, before stepping inside.
Several wands are pointed at her without hesitation, but the most noticeable one is the pair of trench boots on one of the hooded figures. "Moody," Rowan nodded to the Scottish Auror.
"I would ask what gave me away," Alastor Moody gruffly said, "but I have a feeling, it was the trench boots."
Two identical snorts can be heard from the Prewett brothers. They pull down their hoods to reveal their redheads. They looked similar enough except that Gideon was more striking and Fabian had a rather long nose.
"Lumos." Bright light is emitted from the end of Moody's wand as he pushes back the cowl of his hood to reveal the lined face of Alastor Moody.
The middle-aged Auror of medium height with wavy brown hair that had been roughly cut to his collar. There was a deep jagged scar on the side of his cheek that ran faintly all the way up his eyelid and ends just above his brow. There is a faint scarred scratch across the bridge of his nose where a curse attempted to remove his face. Another thin scar started at the edge of his lip and ended just under his chin stretching towards his neck, where a criminal tried to slice open his jugular and failed. The swiveling of the magical round blue eye in its socket is rather disturbing.
However, the fourth member of the Ring of Shadows does not lower their wand. "Who is Crow?" A grey-haired wizard with a neatly trimmed beard and hair firmly asked. Hanging on Aberforth Dumbledore's long nose is a pair of spectacles from which piercing brilliant blue eyes gaze at Rowan Prince.
"I'm afraid only you know the answer to that Capricorn," Rowan responded telling no lie. She knew who Crow was, but she couldn't exactly go about revealing the identity of their spy.
Satisfied by the answer, Aberforth lowers his wand as an old, worn, wax candle placed on the mantle burst into flames offering a dim light in the cold flat. The floor creaks as they make their way across the dusty, rickety floor. A cleaning charm is cast over a velvet armchair and an old floral couch.
Gideon and Fabian take the couch while Alastor sits on the edge of the velvet armchair. The only two remaining standing are Rowan and Aberforth, who leaned against the wall. The chamber is silent as notes of dust trickle through the air.
"Capricorn, what does Crow have to report?" Rowan asked the question they were all dying to hear.
"Crow's reports have been few and far in between," Aberforth grumbled. "Riddle has retreated to an advantageous stronghold. It would be suicide to attack on foot."
The three Aurors nod their heads thoughtfully in understanding. "A stone stronghold, I would hazard to guess that Riddle learned from the attack on Belby," Alastor thoughtfully murmured. "Likely a high vantage point with clear surroundings to prevent an attack."
"Somewhere unnoticed," Gideon added, "the countryside."
"Or seaside," Fabian interjected.
"Regardless, Riddle's stronghold is much more improved and poses a dangerous threat," Alastor Moody concluded. "Anything else?"
"The Acolytes," Aberforth's lips curled in a barely veiled sneer. "Their plans continue."
"Will they pose a problem?" Rowan alertly asked.
"Possibly," Aberforth reluctantly admitted.
"The International Confederation of Wizards is set to meet at Hogwarts," Fabian carefully said, "Is there a possibility of an attack?"
"The Acolytes are otherwise occupied with another goal in mind," Aberforth firmly responded rejecting the possibility.
"Let me guess, Numengard," Gideon flatly murmured under his breath causing the expression on Aberforth's face to darken.
"Still, that doesn't diminish the potential possibility," Rowan drily argued. "Riddle has not moved as expected. He shouldn't be underestimated."
"There is that," Alastor agreed in a thick Scottish brough. "The Minister of Magic was nearly informed too late of the unauthorized removal of Dementors from Azkaban to be used as guards by the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Needless to say, the Minister of Magic is far from being pleased and immediately stopped the unauthorized move. Heads are rolling figuratively as we speak."
Rowan raised a brow in surprise. It was either the work of Riddle or Hydra. Whatever the reason, Dementors are deadly creatures that a swarm could without question pose as a danger to even the strongest of witches and wizards.
"I'll have to pull some strings, but I'm certain that I will be able to easily convince Elphinstone and Minister Jenkins to allow a small Auror team at Hogwarts to provide additional security beyond the Hogwarts staff," Alastor
"That would be for best," Rowan said nodding in gratitude to Moody.
"Although, if we are talking about dim possibilities," Gideon rubbed his chin, "wouldn't it be a good move for Riddle's allies to move in his stead?"
"The giants are dead," Fabian reputed his brother's suggestion.
"The vampires are not," Gideon arched his brow defiantly at his brother.
"Still Gideon's question does have some merit," Alastor concluded. "We shouldn't lose sight of the vampires."
Gideon proudly puffs out his chest at his brother, Fabian, who merely rolls his eyes in response.
"What of Sanderson?" Rowan abruptly changed the subject.
The Aurors all share expressions with Alastor grimly saying, "Sanderson is clean. Trust me, I've tried. However, not even the slightest whiff of a crime has been detected. He may actually be retried from the business."
Aberforth and the three Aurors in the room show expressions of skepticism. They didn't trust Sanderson further than they could throw a kneazle.
"Have you seen anything, farseer?" Aberforth rumbled.
"Nothing conclusive," Rowan shook her head. Things had changed, both good and bad. Her knowledge would grow relatively useless as more time passed.
The five of them continue to discuss plans in further detail until Aberforth says, "It is late, and the child must return." Seeing that no one has anything further to add, he says, "Be on your way, child."
"Yes, Capricorn," Rowan obediently responded before slipping out of her childhood home.
The four wizards remain inside the old, worn flat. Certain that the child is gone, Aberforth's piercing blue eyes turn to the three Aurors. "I did not wish to alarm her, but Crow warned of a growing interest that Riddle has in her person."
All three Aurors show alarm on their faces. "What do you mean by growing interest?" Fabian warily asked, fearing the worst.
"They are both parselmouths," Aberforth grunted.
Taking the hint, Gideon visibly shudders, "He wants an heir, an heir who is a parselmouth."
Moody's face darkens in anger causing his swiveling enchanted blue eye to turn madly in its socket. Composing himself, he says, "The old Prince will see the child protected. However, we cannot discount the likelihood of the child becoming a target of Riddle. We'll need to keep our eyes and our ears peeled open."
With the mood of the remaining members of the Ring of Shadows low and downcast, Capricorn is the first to leave. The remaining three Aurors are silent as Alastor rises to his feet, his knees popping loudly. "We have tarried enough, and my wife is expecting me."
Fabian nods in understanding while Gideon merely rolls his eyes at the two. Pulling on their cowls, they peer out into the muggle village, before separating. They would apperate home and rest for the remainder of the night as best as they could.