"Lord Bones… Lord Olario," Charlus sighed as he approached Edmund and Antonio.
"What happened, Lord Potter? You seem too tense," Antonio questioned. "I heard James is fine."
"He is fine. Nothing more than bruises he sustained while running away in the streets," Charlus replied, nodding slightly. "But many of the students are not."
Antonio raised an eyebrow and waited for Charlus to elaborate.
"Around forty to fifty students have been injured," Charlus said gravely. "Out of them, fifteen are in serious condition."
"And casualties?" Antonio asked quietly.
"Two students both from Hufflepuff House, as of now," Charlus replied. "A few others are in critical condition, and their chances of survival seem low."
He exhaled deeply before continuing, "It seems the Death Eaters were not truly trying to kill the students. Their goal was different. They probably had only wanted to injure, to terrorize the people. It was more like sending a message, saying there is far worse they could have done, but chose not to."
Antonio nodded slowly. The reasoning made sense. So many injuries, yet few deaths. It was the kind of cruelty meant to instill fear rather than end lives.
Charlus went on, his tone darkening. "Around a dozen residents of Hogsmeade have been injured and eight have been killed. It appears that when it came to those who were not students, the Death Eaters did not hold back."
"This attack was a message, Lord Potter," Edmund said grimly. "A message for the killing of eight of their Death Eaters."
"It was," Antonio agreed with a nod. "But more than that, it was also a desperate move. A bid to regain their lost ground."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone sharpening.
"The public opinion had been shifting too fast. People had begun to hope, to defy. They were starting to believe that the Death Eaters were not invincible. That they could be confronted, even defeated. Their fear was fading."
He paused briefly, before continuing, "And now, with this single strike, they have begun to take that fear back. Their terror will grow again, just as quickly as it had started to fade. The common witch and wizard will once more tremble at the mention of their name."
"It has undone almost everything we had accomplished in the past few days."
"And the location," Antonio continued, his voice, "was just as symbolic. Hogsmeade, an extension of Hogwarts. Hogwarts is seen as the safest place in all of Wizarding Britain, probably safer even than the Ministry itself."
"But now, they have breached that safety. An attack under the nose of Dumbledore. This is not something small. It is a massive statement."
"This plan might have backfired," Antonio added. "Just like the plan of attack at Bones Manor did. But now that they have succeeded in it, this is going to be big."
Charlus and Edmund both nodded, their expressions dark. Each knew what the other was thinking. How would Albus Dumbledore respond?
This attack had taken place within his domain, a place which was under his protection, and the world would soon be waiting for his reply.
"Any casualties among the Death Eaters?" Antonio asked after a moment of silence.
"None," Charlus replied. "From what I heard, the moment they faced even the slightest resistance or when it seemed a Hogwarts professor was about to intervene they fled. A couple of them might have been injured but no one died. At least, no dead body of a death eater was found in Hogsmeade."
"The planning this time was impeccable," he continued. "They were not willing to risk their lives."
"Then a perfect attack," Antonio sighed. His voice carried both frustration and reluctant acknowledgment. With no losses on the side of the Death Eaters, it truly was a perfect strike. It had been devastating, yet calculated.
He was about to say something more when he noticed a blonde-haired girl sprinting into the infirmary hall from the inner corridors of Hogwarts. Before she could take another step forward, however, Minerva intercepted her, blocking her from going inside.
The girl was trembling, her face pale, her eyes brimming with tears. She was Pandora.
Seeing her in such a state, and seeing her alone, something immediately struck Antonio. A name he had not thought of yet flashed in his mind.
With sharp, purposeful steps, he approached Pandora and Minerva. Pandora was pleading, her words quick and broken, but Minerva's expression remained firm, though the pain behind her eyes was clear.
"Miss Quiver," Antonio said, drawing Pandora's attention. "What happened?"
Pandora turned abruptly, her eyes widening in recognition.
"Lord Olario…" she stammered. "Lily… Lily's injured."
Antonio's gaze immediately shifted to Minerva.
"What happened to Miss Evans?" he asked, his tone tight.
He half expected Minerva to refuse an answer, just as she had been unwilling to let him past the wards. But this time, she did not hesitate.
"She has been injured," Minerva said quietly. "A deep gash across her shoulder blade."
The severity of Minerva's tone coupled with the despair on Pandora's face told him everything. Lily was badly hurt.
"How bad is it?" Antonio pressed.
"We cannot say for certain yet," Minerva sighed. "Madam Pomfrey is doing everything she can to bring her back from danger."
"But…" she paused, her voice faltering slightly, "she has lost too much blood."
Antonio's fists clenched. Every part of him wanted to go inside to do something, anything but there was nothing he could do.
"Lord Olario. Miss Quiver," Minerva said softly but firmly. "I understand your emotions. But your presence will only disrupt the healing process. Please, understand."
Antonio exhaled heavily and nodded, though reluctance was written all over his face.
If only he had studied healing magic, he thought bitterly. With his aptitude, he could have mastered it easily. But now, that regret felt heavier than ever.
"And Miss Quiver," Minerva added, her tone weary but unyielding. "Please return to your dormitory. Do not force me to be forceful with you."
Pandora opened her mouth as if to protest, but Minerva cut her off gently.
"If there is any change in Lily's condition," she said, "I will inform you at once."
Pandora swallowed hard, casting one last, desperate glance toward the infirmary doors before nodding. Slowly, she turned and walked away, her steps unsteady and heavy with dread.
Antonio stood there waiting and was shortly joined by Charlus and Edmund.
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