In front of James was his father-in-law Marcellus, or rather future father-in-law, since he is not yet married to Gwen.
Marcellus is a middle-aged man, with short straight black hair, and no beard, and he wears an elegant black robe.
He watched James sitting across from him with a calm look on his face as he sipped an expensive tea. It was the third tea he had drunk that day.
Marcellus was very happy with his daughter's choice. Her future husband could not have been a better candidate than James. The boy in front of him had countless accomplishments not only in study or magical prowess but also in actual combat and real-world politics. Unheard of to see.
He managed to get a significant part of House Black to support the ministry, to get him and his Shafiq family back on the side of good, to get the Princes reborn with a promising new heir, and also to support the ministry's side.
Besides, as a wizard with experience in political matters, he knew that James was hiding more than he was showing.
"What is the reason for your call, Lord Shafiq?" asked James, in a cordial tone.
"You can tell me, Marcellus. We will be family," Marcellus said, and James nodded.
He had already observed that Marcellus and Lysandra had joined the Death Eaters because they had no other choice. If they knock on your door and you refuse you are in great danger. A mortal danger, and in their house was their daughter. They didn't want to risk putting her in danger.
Besides, James thanks to his Legilimency confirmed that they were on their side and did not share the extreme ideals of the Death Eaters. They were supremacists, but they were content with the current status quo. They didn't want a slaughter of Muggleborn and half-bloods. They thought it was too extreme.
James' Legilimency improved by leaps and bounds thanks to the mind-enhancing potion created by Dai Ryusaki. He is now able to perform the said art non-verbally and without a wand. Few people know this information that would turn the world upside down.
His mind is also connected to his telekinesis and was always powerful, so James believes he already had a predilection for the art of legitimacy. He can detect if people are lying and delve into their thoughts, emotions, and memories. It is much easier to perform Legilimency if the eyes of the target and the practitioners meet.
The Mental Potency Potion lived up to its name. It was super powerful allowing James to advance as never before in Legilimency adding to his talent, he was able to achieve a level of advancement in only two and a half years if you count the time when he found the potion and took it. It didn't take him long to take the first dose when Peter died.
"I need your help," Marcellus replied, interlocking the fingers of his hands.
"What could the patriarch of the Shafiq family possibly need from a teenager?" asked James.
"A not at all normal teenager, Lord Potter. Despite your age, your title is not just for show. The Potter family is booming both economically and politically thanks to you," said Marcellus with a slight smile.
"Mm. What help do you need? As my girlfriend's father, I will do what I can to help you," James said without feeling complimented.
"I want to move out. As soon as possible," Marcellus replied.
"Move? Where to?" asked James with a raised eyebrow.
"To your mansion," Marcellus replied.
"I suppose you fear reprisals from Voldemort and his Death Eaters for turning in two of his important followers," James said, and Marcellus blanched at the name Voldemort.
"Yes... You must understand that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named always operates in the utmost secrecy. We never knew the names of each of our companions. Only He knew exactly who we all were. I was able to give you two names because I was a close friend of the patriarch Nott and Bulstrode. Otherwise, I would never have information to blame them for their crimes," Marcellus said with a shadowed expression.
"I know. That's why it's so hard to catch him and his followers," James said with a slight grimace. His enemy acted from the shadows, attacking at night and wearing masks. Even the Death Eaters didn't know the identities of their companions.
"The problem is that my alibi of having been caught by the ministry will fall sooner or later, and He will not stand still when He knows that I betrayed Him and because of me the Nott and Bulstrode have fallen," Marcellus said. With his wife, they were in hiding, but the world thought they were criminals locked up. The ministry acted this way so as not to tell Voldemort that the Shafiqs were traitors and thus put them in danger.
"How are you so sure he will know you are a traitor? This house is very well hidden and to the public you were imprisoned," James said.
"His ears reach far and wide. I'm sure many of his loyal followers hold important positions in British magical society. It is a matter of time before he learns the truth and my whereabouts," Marcellus replied.
"Good. I will arrange things today so that Eugene will know about this, and you can move in as soon as possible. At Potter Manor, there is an abandoned house that we previously used as a secondary home. It's just a few yards from the main manor, so it has the protections," James said.
Anyway, in a few days, the criminals caught as Death Eaters or dark wizards who aided the rebellion will be stripped of their magic and sent to Muggle prisons. Everyone will know that, as it will be made public.
The Shafiqs would be absent as they are not criminals, and at that point, Voldemort would realize the treachery, so they should move now.
Marcellus was very happy about the news. He will be able to sleep in peace, without the fear of the Dark Lord visiting him with his infamous followers that he betrayed. He will be able to sleep in the safest mansion in the British community today.
Before James' words with Sirius could be fulfilled, great news hit the whole British community. All the newspapers published it.
Several Azkaban prisoners were transferred to Muggle prisons. The minister held a conference where she explained the reason for these actions, leaving the entire magical community shocked. The wizards in Azkaban were stripped of their magical gifts and turned into squibs.
Such an action required several approvals in the Wizengamot, but with the power of the Minister and the support of her supporters, it was possible. Even Albus Dumbledore himself was in favor of turning criminals into squibs. They were criminals who deserved the Dementor's kiss, they had no salvation. Dumbledore believed they might even find redemption by living among Muggles and understanding their culture.
James was the executioner who turned the prisoners into Squibs. It was easy, as they were in vulnerable conditions having been in Azkaban for a long time. Among them was Anastasia's father: Andrew Nott. A Death Eater who possessed a great position. Unfortunately, they were unable to get information from his mouth despite the Aurors' interrogations.
The Nott family which included Anastasia, her mother, and her grandfather (the writer of the Sacred Twenty-Eight), were under heavy surveillance. They had no crimes to their credit, but that did not make them guilt-free.
Eustace was also one of the wizards sent to Muggle prisons. James after destroying their magical veins erased the memory with the help of the Aurors of the criminals of that specific time.
They know that Muggle prisons will be attacked to rescue these criminals, it will be much easier to attack these prisons for the Death Eaters, but once they see that the Ministry's words are real, it is certain that they will abandon their fellow squibs. Voldemort will do the same, as he will consider them useless, worse than cannon fodder.
Two days after that shocking news, James got the information he had hoped for. It was about Regulus Black. The youngest son of the Blacks, although he would now be considered the next heir since Sirius had been eliminated from the family tree.
Since Peter's murder at the hands of supremacists, Sirius couldn't stand another second of being with his parents, who said that what Voldemort was doing was right. He had a big fight and left home. Going to live with James at Potter Manor.
Regulus is the perfect heir. His ideals are optimal for his family and for the Death Eaters, who were quick to contact the next heir to the ancient and noble house.
James started with the plan to set Regulus up as a spy, he had already begun with the preparations shortly before Peter is killed in the final vault.
He had secretly trained Regulus in Occlumency, among other magics that would be very useful for a spy. Luckily, Regulus had made a strong bond with the group, and his relationship with his older brother was also good. He had changed his extremist mentality, even if he would never have gone as far as the crazies who murdered left and right.
On the other hand, James presented Regulus with the ring of Mneme. This ring gave Regulus the ability to protect his mind, and with his Occlumency, he was more protected, and it would be very difficult for him to be discovered as a spy, as well as his identity.
That was not the only function of the ring, it also allowed the wearer to project thoughts. A kind of telepathy. The method of communication that James needed so badly. With the ring's telepathy, Regulus could relay information to James without running the risk of being caught. However, thought projection had a range.
While Regulus infiltrated the supremacist student groups that worshipped Death Eaters, James studied the ancient runes just like the one on the ring that Ryusaki created. Focusing on thought projection. His goal was to create a greater range to send messages, but for that, he needed to have a receiver so to speak.
The recipient he created was another ring. After more than a year of trial and error, he succeeded with the help of Snape and Gwen who were also interested in ancient runes.
They created a ring with the function of projecting thoughts and being a receiver. Like a long-distance call, but between rings. In this way, James and Regulus can communicate through their minds being at great distances. Achieving a perfect method of communication, although the distances could still be further improved.
The creation of the second ring was thanks to the union of three genius brains (James, Snape, and Gwen) and Dai's books that explained everything very well.
After infiltrating as another supremacist and with his noble surname, Regulus got the Dark Mark. He could not arouse suspicion and finally got important information that he sent to James.
The Bones family will be attacked. The Bones is a family of wizards with both magical and Muggle heritage. They are a prominent family with strong connections to the Ministry of Magic. From what Regulus told him that was brief, the Death Eaters would make a major attack, as the Bones refused to join their cause.
This made James hesitate. The order's first mission couldn't be to take on too many Death Eaters, it would be too dangerous. The fate of an important family was at stake.
He knew it was a great opportunity where they could catch many important Death Eaters. He needed Moody's help and a few more reliable Aurors, perhaps members of the Order of the Phoenix, but not to be conspicuous and raise suspicions of the Death Eaters. He had to plan his moves well. This attack could tip the balance in his favor.
The decision to place Regulus as a spy years ago was the best decision he could have made.