(Arthur's POV)
The world dissolved into a dizzying blur, the familiar nausea of Apparition pulling him away from… from the nightmare. He'd seen the flash of light, the deafening roar, a spray of… something… against the wall. And then, blackness.
He landed hard, his shoulder hitting the floor, a gasp escaping his lips. His vision swam, his senses overloaded. The ropes that had bound him were gone, and someone in black was kneeling beside him, their face obscured by a mask, a snarling hound. He caught a glimpse of a dark metal weapon, longer than any wand.
"Where… where am I?" he asked, his voice a raspy whisper.
The figure didn't respond. They stared at him for a moment, their eyes dark and unreadable behind the mask, and then vanished. Disappeared into thin air.
Arthur pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaky, his heart pounding. The room was dimly lit, the walls painted a dark gray. He could hear muffled sounds – a thudding, a rhythmic hum, a metallic clink that sent a shiver down his spine. Where the hell was he?
Then, the door opened, and his father strode in. Relief washed over him, a wave of warmth chasing away the fear.
"Arthur!" His father pulled him into a tight hug, his grip strong, reassuring. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
He stepped back, his gaze scanning Arthur's face, blue eyes filled with a mix of concern and something…cold… that Arthur couldn't quite place.
"Tell me what happened. Every detail," his father said, his voice a low, controlled rumble.
Arthur told him about the alleyway, about seeing Potter and Black, about the attack, the blinding light, the gunshot that still echoed in his ears. He'd seen Black fall, a crumpled heap against the wall. And Potter… he'd been screaming, his hand…
His voice trembled, the memories blurring into a confusing jumble of fear and adrenaline.
His father listened intently, his expression unreadable. When Arthur finished, his father's gaze hardened.
"Arthur," he said, his voice serious, "I need you to make me a promise. An Unbreakable Vow."
Arthur stared at him, a wave of confusion washing over him. A Vow? But… why?
"It's for your safety, son," his father said, his voice softening. "What I'm about to tell you… it's… complicated. And it needs to stay between us."
Arthur's stomach twisted with a growing unease. "Okay," he whispered.
They clasped hands, the familiar warmth of the Vow's magic binding them together. His father looked into his eyes, his gaze intense.
"Promise me, Arthur," he said, his voice low, "that you won't repeat what I'm about to tell you. Not to anyone. Not ever. Unless I give you permission."
Arthur nodded, his apprehension growing. What was his father hiding?
"We're at the headquarters of an organization called Cerberus," his father said. "It's… a group of wizards… working to… reshape… the world."
His father explained about Cerberus, their influence, their goals. Arthur listened, his mind reeling. The Shadow Angels. The manipulation of the Ministry. The orchestrated fall of the Statute of Secrecy. His own father, the architect of this new world order.
It was too much. He had to ask: "And… Potter and Black? What happened to them?"
His father hesitated, his expression hardening again. "They're gone, Arthur. I dealt with them."
Arthur stared at him, his heart pounding. He knew, without needing to ask, what "dealt with" meant. He'd seen the blood, the lifeless eyes.
"They thought I killed Dumbledore," his father continued, his voice a low growl. "They came for you, to use you as leverage. To stop me. But…" He shook his head, his gaze distant. "They made a mistake. A fatal mistake."
Arthur felt a shiver run down his spine. His father had killed them. His father, the Chancellor, the man who'd shaken hands with world leaders, who'd orchestrated a global revolution… was a killer.
Just then, the door swung open, and his mother rushed in.
"Arthur!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a hug, her relief palpable. "You're safe."
She looked at Vincent, her blue eyes blazing with fury. "Those bastards… they'll pay for this. I'll make sure…"
"It's done, Daphne," Vincent said, his voice firm. "They won't be bothering us again."
His words held a chilling finality.
Arthur watched as his parents exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. He was home. He was safe.