Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 26: Marauder
Pop!
"Blergh!" Dudley vomited.
The first experience of Side-Along Apparition was really uncomfortable. Moreover, Sirius Black hadn't used magic in many years, having been in Azkaban. He had only just gotten his wand back today, and though he knew how to Apparate, it wasn't smooth. Luckily, he managed to Apparate without losing any fingers.
Pop!
"Blergh!" This time it was Harry's turn. Looking at his cousin, he knew it wasn't Harry's fault, it was Sirius rough Apparition.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Sirius asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Harry replied, trying to stand, but his stomach churned again, and he vomited once more.
"Sirius, don't side-Apparate us again," Dudley warned.
Sirius laughed heartily. "Hahaha! That bad, huh?"
Harry, finally steady, nodded. "Yeah, I think you should reconsider."
Before Sirius could reply, another Pop! echoed.
Amelia and Susan had side-Apparated together.
"Is this the right place, Sirius?" Amelia asked.
"Yeah, this is it," he said, pointing forward.
"I can't see anything special," Harry remarked.
"That's because it's protected by the Fidelius Charm," Sirius explained.
"So, what now?" Susan asked.
"It's time for a Marauder prank," Sirius joked, grinning.
"We just need to hold hands and walk in," Dudley added. "Sirius, you should ask Kreacher to help. We need to split up so it's easier to enter."
"Kreacher!" Sirius called.
Pop!
"What does the bastard master want now?" Kreacher grumbled. His eyes widened when he saw Harry, Dudley, Susan, and Amelia standing in front of the Black house.
"Master, don't tell me you plan to bring filthy half-bloods and Mudbloods inside the house!" Kreacher spat angrily. "Mistress will be furious!"
"Shut up, Kreacher," Sirius commanded sternly.
Kreacher fell silent, bound by magic.
"Now, I order you to take Susan and Amelia by the hand and bring them inside," Sirius ordered.
"Harry, Dudley, hold onto me," Sirius instructed and they grasped his hand.
As they moved forward, Harry panicked. "Sirius, there's no road ahead!"
"There's a door here, Harry. Just keep walking," Sirius reassured him.
With growing anxiety, Harry, Susan, and Amelia continued, but Dudley had an idea. "I think we should close our eyes. There aren't any stairs, right?"
"Good idea, Dudley. No stairs," Sirius confirmed.
They all closed their eyes.
A few moments later, Sirius and Kreacher stopped.
"Open your eyes," Sirius said.
When they did, they found themselves inside the house.
"We did it!" Dudley exclaimed. He had successfully broken through the ancient magic of the Fidelius Charm.
Dudley, Harry, and Susan were celebrating their triumph as curse-breakers.
Coincidentally, Dumbledore, Tonks, Kingsley, and Bill were inside the house. Hearing the commotion, they rushed over, stunned.
"Harry Potter?" Dumbledore said, shocked. He was the Secret Keeper—how had they managed to find their way in without his permission?
Dumbledore POV
Albus Dumbledore had a really rough year. First of all, Cornelius Fudge decided to paint him as a villain and a liar. He was removed from his position as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and fired as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards.
Fudge and Voldemort's supporters portrayed him as a senile old man and a liar. Although many believed him, the majority of wizards still denied his claim about Voldemort's return. One of the reason for this denial was that they didn't want to live in constant fear.
Since delivering Harry Potter to the Dursleys, Dumbledore knew Voldemort wasn't dead, as Severus Snape's Dark Mark was still present. In 1991, Voldemort returned as a wraith, and since then, Dumbledore had been preparing to defeat him.
He asked every professor at Hogwarts whether Harry showed any extraordinary abilities, but found nothing unique that Voldemort wouldn't already know. Thus, he concluded that the power Voldemort lacked, and couldn't understand, was love—specifically, the love that had previously protected Harry from Voldemort's attacks.
But then he received a news that Harry was attacked by Dementors. Dumbledore, panicked, rushed to Privet Drive to check on him, only to be surprised by the presence of Madam Bones.
This morning he once again being surprised by the news of Sirius Black. Dumbledore learned that Sirius Black had been cleared of all charges, so he hurried to Grimmauld Place. However, another surprise awaited him—unexpected guests.
As they sat to discuss the future, Amelia Bones questioned Dumbledore. "So, Professor Dumbledore, is this your group of vigilantes?" she asked coldly, with a hint of malice.
Dudley could only shake his head, confused about why Amelia seemed so angry with Dumbledore.
"He has returned, Amelia," replied Dumbledore solemnly.
Amelia's voice rose. "We believe in you, Dumbledore but when my family was attacked, where were you?"
"Amelia..." Dumbledore began, but she cut him off.
"Madam Bones," she corrected, coldly. "Show respect, Professor Dumbledore. I am the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"I am truly sorry about your brother and parents," Dumbledore replied gently, acknowledging her pain.
"The McKinnon family, my parents they all believed in you. But when they needed you most, you weren't there!" Her voice chilled the room. Even Susan was visibly uncomfortable, witnessing her aunt's fury directed at Dumbledore.
Amelia continued, her voice piercing the silence. "While my parents fought, you only gave orders. When Voldemort attacked, you formed a vigilante group instead of joining the fight yourself. Why didn't you stand with us?"
Dumbledore, his tone heavy with regret, answered, "I did join the fight, Amelia. But they attacked when I wasn't present."
It was true, Dumbledore was often too busy during the raids. Though he could have Apparated to join battles, he frequently held back—except in high-profile locations, like the Ministry of Magic, where he would intervene. In his heart, he doubted his own abilities and haunted by the fear of his sister's death by the killing curse.
Amelia's accusation was not baseless. Dumbledore rarely joined the front lines. It was his small, brave group of vigilantes—Order members—who faced the Death Eaters in battle. One of the reasons for his hesitation was fear, if he lost in a duel, Voldemort could effectively win the war because he is the backbone of the Muggle born wizards. Voldemort, too, feared Dumbledore, the only wizard he dreaded facing directly.
Dumbledore knew he had aged, while Voldemort's body was young and full of vitality. It wasn't impossible for him to lose in a duel. And beyond that, he was wary of facing multiple enemies at once. This is why he often chose to fight only when backed by allies, where his intervention would deal a blow to enemy.
Author Notes- There 18 advance chapter on my patreon
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