The shops in Diagon Alley were quieter than usual.


    "It''s only natural when your shopfront is stered with rows of Death Eater photos," Mrs. Mogin remarked, eyeing the measurements on Felix''s robe.


    Felix received warm service at the robe shop.


    ncing at the wanted posters and various purple notices in the disy window, he agreed with her reasoning. Pedestrians hurried along the street, purposeful and focused, heading straight to their destinations. After their purchases, no one lingered, swiftly departing via the public fireces.


    Emerging from the store, he strolled into the Leaky Cauldron with a vani ice cream from Florean Fortescue''s, spending the entire day there.


    "The principles behind the Anti-Thief Cascade are intricate. It hinges on a mix of seventeen alchemical materials and various magic incantations. Some obscure aspects might involve unique fairy magic. I checked; the emergence of the Anti-Thief Cascade technique coincided with the honeymoon period between wizards and fairies?"


    "Absolutely right, Mr. Haipu," a Ministry employee dispatched there said. "Those fairies were deplorable, sneaking things in during their interactions!" the short, stout wizard grumbled indignantly.


    "But you all never noticed," Fred remarked quietly to George amid the crowd.


    Next, everyone worked coboratively, each fulfilling their role. Clementine was right; the research wizards at the Future Worldpany were incredibly efficient. Several Ministry staff present marveled; they found their knowledge of the Anti-Thief Cascade swiftly understood and digested, as though they weren''t dealing with individual minds but rather a creature with dozens of heads.By quitting time, the researchers at Future World had caught up to the Ministry''s previous progress, sessfully reconstructing the ratios of three alchemical materials.


    "Tonight, I''ll be staying at the old manor," Felix told Fred and George. They were currently in a room at the topmost level of the Leaky Cauldron. The interior was in, much like an unused office, but its firece was connected to the ck Manor.


    If Tonks and Sirius ck connected the Ministry and the Order of the Phoenix, what Reims Lupin connected was the ''Future World''pany, led by Felix, and the Order of the Phoenix. In some way, Fred, George, and Penelope yed simr roles.


    It took Percy a while, arriving half an hourter than anticipated.


    "Miss Bones has been working you too hard," Penelope grumbled.


    "The department is severely understaffed," Percy said cheerfully, "it''s my time to shine!" He hastily rolled up a few documents and stuffed them into the pockets of his robes before swiftly passing through the firece, just in time for a pot of piping hot food.


    Mrs. Weasley warmly weed Penelope.


    "We got back toote yesterday. Harry''s birthday feast had to be canceled, and I haven''t had much of a chance to talk to you," Mrs. Weasley said.


    "Mom, there''ll be plenty of time for that," Percy muttered.


    "But those initial few times were the most important," Mrs. Weasley said sternly.


    At the dinner table, Bill was discussing his new job.


    "It took some adjusting initially, sitting in an office, much less exciting than what I used to do. The advantage is having a lot more time to help out at the Order of the Phoenix… I''m paired with a group of elderly men whose pace of life is frighteningly slow." He mimicked his colleague, passing a bottle of ketchup to Harry at a snail''s pace, ten times slower.


    Everyone at the table burst intoughter. Harry unintentionally met Ginny''s eyes; her wide grin quickly vanished, and her handling of the cutlery became more refined. "Exactly, Ginny''s imitation is spot on," Bill praised loudly.


    Hermione chuckled.


    "What''s wrong?" Ron asked her, puzzled.


    "Nothing," Hermione quickly said, then turned to Harry, whose face suddenly felt extremely hot for reasons unknown.


    Dinner consisted of stew, syrupy fruit pies, and vegetable soup. Felix, having set down his utensils just before Mrs. Weasley served soup, drew her attention towards Penelope.


    "Doesn''t the food suit your taste, dear?"


    "Oh, no," Penelope said, only to find her soup bowl instantly refilled.


    Sirius arrivedte, finding everyone almost finished with their meals, deeply engrossed in their conversations. He took a seat at the empty spot and voraciously ate the remaining food.


    "The interrogation is only a third done—" he finished the soup in one gulp, "thanks, Molly, a bit more—Everyone''s iming they were Imperiused, but Amelia isn''t nning on letting them off easily, especially Yaxley and Mair; they both have a history."


    Felix knew well: the former was seen as the mastermind behind the Quidditch World Cup disturbance, while thetter was a convicted Death Eater who had just escaped Azkaban a few days ago. Amelia Bones wasn''t keen on leniency.


    Sirius wolfed down a filled pastry roll in three bites, let out a satisfied sigh, slowing down his pace.


    Ron stared at him, eyes wide, as if watching an intriguing TV show.


    "Oh, Sirius," Felix inquired, "I heard a Mute was injured?"


    "Really?" Sirius looked up from his bowl.


    "Named Bode," Felix reminded.


    "Bode," Sirius pondered, speaking slowly, "rings a bell… seemed to have stumbled upon something unexpected and was sent to St. Mungo''s. I was too busy yesterday to pay attention to these trivialities. What happened?" He asked sensitively.


    "We''ll discuss it at the meeting," Felix replied sinctly.


    Sirius pondered, having spent a month beside Amelia Bones. His sense of smell had sharpened; he immediately sensed this might not be a coincidence. Harry, Ron, and Hermione showed interest in the matter.


    "That name sounds familiar," Ron muttered.


    "We met him at the Quidditch World Cup camp," Hermione whispered, "he works in the Department of Mysteries?"


    Harry remembered. Suddenly, it clicked in his mind, linking it to Voldemort. He looked at Mr. Weasley, "You told us, the Department of Mysteries'' work is highly confidential."


    "Well—" Mr. Weasley''s expression was shocked, but Harry was struggling to piece together his thoughts.


    "This means… Voldemort wants something from there! Or some information! And Bode is either a Death Eater undercover or cursed!"


    "Children—" Mr. Weasley hesitated.


    "It''s alright, Arthur," Sirius said, "let them analyze it. I can take this to Amelia—what I mean is, even if we stop them, they''ll discuss it privately. Better to listen; they mighte up with useful insights."


    Harry nced gratefully at his godfather. "Uh," he suddenly faltered.


    "What exactly is Bode''s job?" Hermione inquired. Sirius frowned, "I''m not sure—"


    "Which hall? The Time Hall, Prophecy Hall, Brain Hall, Space Hall, or the room with the stone archway?" Hermione asked again, almost catching Sirius off guard.


    "How do you know!?" Sirius nearly bit his tongue.


    "You…uh… I guessed, from some book?" Hermione nced sneakily at Felix. "I—um—guessed from some book?"


    "


    Brilliant guess," Sirius muttered under his breath. "He''s researching something… about the future?"


    "Future!" Harry''s eyes widened. "The prophecy!"


    "Exactly," Hermione said excitedly.


    "The prophecy about me and Voldemort?"


    "Yes, Harry," Hermione confirmed.


    "But that''s at the Ministry," Ron pointed out.


    "The real one might be there," Hermione said softly.


    Mr. Weasley looked grim, "That''s why Voldemort is obsessed with the Ministry. There must be something we''re unaware of." Sirius nodded solemnly, indicating he''d discuss this with Amelia.


    Felix took note of their intense discussion, feeling they''d stumbled upon a substantial clue. He could sense the gravity of the situation. The prophecy held tremendous importance, and Voldemort seeking it was an ominous sign.


    As the evening progressed, Felix excused himself, bidding the others good night. He stepped into the firece, disappearing in a sh, heading to the ck Manor to oversee preparations for tomorrow''s meeting.


    >


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