Sirius stood up and began pacing the room, thinking over Alex's words.
"You're right. We can't take any chances. But if the Death Eaters do show up and find out we were expecting them, they'll investigate the leak. That might put you in danger."
Alex shrugged. "I doubt they'll trace it back to me. I was subtle about how I got the information. Besides, I'm not exactly defenseless. You remember who saved you last time, don't you?"
Sirius narrowed his eyes playfully. "Let's get something straight—I didn't need saving. If you hadn't gotten in the way, I'd have taken those Death Eaters down myself."
Alex grinned but didn't argue further. Sirius walked over to the fireplace and pulled out his wand. With a flick, he summoned the fire to life, casting a glowing charm onto the flames. Within moments, the face of an elderly man appeared in the flames—it was Dumbledore.
"Sirius," Dumbledore said, his voice calm but curious. "It's rare to hear from you directly like this. What's going on?"
Sirius relayed everything Alex had told him about the potential attack by the Death Eaters, along with his own speculations.
Dumbledore listened carefully before speaking. "This is indeed important news. I hadn't expected Alex to have such an ear for critical information at Hogwarts." His eyes softened as he looked at Alex.
"I remember you well from my conversations with Lily. You've certainly grown."
Alex gave a respectful nod, but his expression remained focused."I'll call a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix tomorrow," Dumbledore continued. "Sirius, would you be so kind as to bring Alex along? There are matters we'll need to discuss in person."
Sirius nodded, and Alex leaned forward. "I'll be there."
Sirius glanced over at Alex and broke into a grin. "Looks like you're in for a busy Christmas after all."
Alex, who had been curious to see the Order of the Phoenix in action, shrugged and nodded.
"No problem."
Dumbledore smiled warmly from the flames. "Excellent, young man. This way, we can confirm the authenticity of the news. Thank you, Alex."
Alex, staying humble, replied, "You're welcome, Professor. I'm just trying to protect myself. After all, I'm a Muggle-born wizard."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Humble as well. Very well, I will send word tomorrow, and the meeting location will remain the same."
With that, Dumbledore's image vanished, leaving only the crackling of the fire behind.
Sirius turned to Alex with a grin. "Alright, then! Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the meeting."
"Yeah," Alex replied, but his mind wasn't entirely focused on the meeting itself. Instead, he was intrigued by the communication magic Sirius had used with the fireplace.
'It seemed incredibly convenient. I wonder if there are limitations or if I could learn it myself.' He mentally noted to ask Sirius about it later.
That night, Sirius didn't sleep well. He had grown so used to the cleanliness of the living room after Alex's thorough cleaning that when he returned to his messy bedroom, it felt unbearable. The contrast made it clear just how disorganized and dirty his room had been all along. Eventually, he drifted off, but not without feeling slightly annoyed by the mess.
The next morning, Sirius dragged himself downstairs with a stiff neck. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he was greeted by the aroma of a hearty breakfast spread across the table. However, Alex was nowhere to be seen.
Curious, Sirius stepped outside to the small backyard and found Alex practicing some form of martial art, his movements swift and precise, with the sound of his fists cutting through the air.
Sirius watched, wide-eyed, as Alex moved fluidly through what looked like an intense routine. "I've never seen anyone move like that before," Sirius muttered to himself, fascinated.
When Alex finished, he noticed Sirius watching him, yawning sleepily. "You're up late. Are you hungry? Breakfast is ready."
Sirius grinned. "I usually skip breakfast, but now that you're making it, I wouldn't dream of missing out. By the way, what was that? Some kind of dance? It looked pretty cool."
Alex smirked. "Just some exercise. Now, do you want to eat or not?"
"Eat, definitely eat!" Sirius replied quickly. "I usually skip because no one cooks around here."
Alex just rolled his eyes, thinking how lazy Sirius could be.
As the morning passed, the time for the meeting with the Order of the Phoenix approached. Around noon, Dumbledore sent a signal through the fireplace. Alex, now changed and ready, saw Sirius prepare to take him. Without wasting any time, Sirius grabbed Alex's arm, and with a sharp crack, they Disapparated.
The two reappeared in a narrow, rundown alleyway. Sirius scanned the area, making sure no one was watching. He then led Alex to a battered wooden door at the end of the alley. With his wand, Sirius muttered something under his breath, and a phoenix emblem flashed briefly on the door before it creaked open.
Sirius led Alex through a small backyard and into a modest room. They descended a narrow staircase into a basement.
Alex took in his surroundings—a worn space with wooden beams, brick walls, and a large table surrounded by old wooden chairs. It looked more like a storage room than a secret headquarters.
Already gathered at the table were a few familiar faces: Dumbledore, who stood at the center, and next to him, the grizzled Auror, Mad-Eye Moody.
There was also a younger witch, elegant and composed, whom Alex didn't recognize. On the opposite side sat two more wizards—one with a thick beard and dignified presence, and the other a kind-looking man with short reddish-brown hair.
Dumbledore greeted them warmly as they entered. "Good afternoon, Sirius. Alex. Now that everyone is here, let's sit down and begin."
Alex had expected a larger group, but it seemed that the Order of the Phoenix operated with only a small number of dedicated members. He sat next to Sirius, observing the others curiously.
Sirius introduced Alex to the group. "You already know Moody. This here is Emmeline Vance," he gestured to the elegant witch, "and over there is Edgar Bones," indicating the man with the thick beard, "and next to him, Gideon Prewett. Everyone, this is Alex."
Alex nodded in greeting, and the others nodded back with mild interest.
Mad-Eye Moody, with his signature rough tone, broke the silence with a chuckle. "So, the boy who helped Sirius with that little Death Eater spat, huh? I didn't expect you to get tangled up in Death Eater business so quickly, kid. Are young wizards these days that scared of death?"
Alex couldn't help but smile at Moody's bluntness. "Well, it's because I'm scared of death that I don't want to run blindly. In these dangerous times, running only makes you a target. If you keep your head in the sand, it's easy to become a victim. You have to face things head-on if you want to survive."
The members of the Order exchanged approving glances. Dumbledore gave a small nod of approval. "Well said, Alex. Sometimes wisdom doesn't come with age alone."
Moody's grin faded as he got serious. "Alright, let's get down to business. Tell us what you've learned."
Alex proceeded to explain what he had overheard from Wilkes at Hogwarts, detailing the rumors of a potential Death Eater attack during the Christmas holidays. The Order members listened in silence, their expressions growing more thoughtful as Alex spoke.
When Alex finished, Dumbledore leaned back slightly and asked, "And what do you think of this situation, Alex?"