Bad Romance

Chapter 127

Chapter 127: One Alive to Spread the Word

"Excuse me. It seems I have an announcement." The quiet words came from Albus Dumbledore, who had come to stand beside their table. "I need all the Aurors who are still present and aware of the aid we were given by Merlin, Nimue, Morgana, and so on to hear this, as it may be relevant to future Intel."

Gellert glanced around."Kereston isn't here so we will have to tell her later." Raising his voice, he called, "Valdez. Come here a moment, please! Lestrange, Winterhaven, Graven, Wulfric, come here please!"

Lyra and Cassius hurried over with Wulfric and Graven trailing. Gellert took in the Lestranges with Goriandor still to Bella's other side and Arthur with a satisfied nod.

"Everyone is here," he told Albus as Romeo and his wife T. Valdez approached, apparently uncertain as to which one of them Grindelwald wanted.

"Thank you," Albus said.

Just then, Loughness, Regulus, and Kreacher Apparated back in.

"Shhh, Dumbledore is telling us something," Bellatrix whispered before any of them could speak.

They nodded and sat down in a row on the other side of the table.

"I just received another communication from Morgana. She did something that she wished us to be aware of. She left one of Delphini's followers alive."

"But why," Romeo Valdez nearly whined.

"In part to spread the word," Albus explained. "Delphini had a widespread following, so we didn't kill them all. Morgana wanted this follower to live to spread the word. She wants anyone alive who followed Delphini to know what happened to those present today. She wants those still alive to know how utterly and completely their fellows were obliterated from all sides today."

"Damn right," Romeo said in a hard, satisfied tone. "We did that, and we'll do it again."

Albus nodded. "Precisely. She wants them to understand that so they will be properly, and thoroughly, terrified to associate themselves with the memory of Delphini or any of her causes. She apparently made the one she left alive aware of this in some way."

"I guess that's a good idea," Romeo said reluctantly. "I'm really down with Kereston's ideas of kill them before they regroup and come back to try killing us again, but as you said we didn't get all her former followers so if someone is left to put terror into their hearts, that is a good thing."

Albus glanced over at Arthur, giving a slight ironic smile.

"The person she left alive is also a Muggle, so it seems there is a balance. One for her, and one for us."

"She may have more Muggles elsewhere who still live, even right here in London," Rabastan said.

"Yes, but this particular Muggle was touched by Morgana, so in a way, is marked by magic just as Arthur is, simply for being himself."

"So is this other...Muggle Mordred or something," Arthur asked skeptically.

Albus shook his head. "I should think not. Morgana said the individual poses no threat, so I don't get the impression their power is significant."

"Well, that's a relief," Blaise said drily, shifting so that his shoulder brushed Gellert's. They both looked rumpled and a bit worn, as if they could do with a good night's sleep. Bella supposed they'd earned it.

"The final thing Morgana asked me to impart involves the particular way in which she marked the Muggle," Albus continued. "She wanted any follower of Delphini to recognize the Muggle as Delphini's so they shall be able to spread the word. I am unclear as to how that will work, but it's Morgana, so I am sure it will indeed work.