Lupin slumped to the ground, utterly drained after a grueling day. "Don't overthink it. Even if they dig into this, it won't help Grindelwald one bit."
"Why would he lift a finger for us?" Sirius grumbled.
"Don't forget, he's a Slytherin. He wouldn't budge unless there's something in it for him."
"Not necessarily," Sirius shot back. In the days since his escape, he'd picked up bits about the acolytes—and he had a favorable view of the group, which seemed to champion the interests of everyday British wizards.
Lupin brushed it off as stubbornness and waved him quiet. "The Black family vault still holds plenty," Sirius murmured. "If... if I offered up some of my prized heirlooms..."
Lupin bolted upright, eyes locked on him. "Are you serious?"
"I've weighed it. Catching Peter on our own is impossible." Sirius was impulsive, but no fool. A fugitive and a werewolf? They owed their freedom to Merlin's quick Disillusionment Charm, letting them slip through Diagon Alley unnoticed. Storming Hogwarts was out of the question.
Foreign aid was their only shot, but options were slim. The Weasleys? Barely acquaintances, and they'd raise alarms. The Order of the Phoenix? Out of touch for years. Dumbledore? Unreachable.
Others? Untrustworthy.
There was one who could track Peter for Sirius, but Lupin and he wouldn't risk it. Snape had roughed them up at St. Mungo's not long ago—walking into his lair now? Suicide.
After endless deliberation, this shadowy acolyte group they'd never met felt like the safest bet. Their influence was ironclad, their reputation spotless.
"But we've got no ties to the acolytes," Lupin fretted. "And reaching Grindelwald? Good luck."
Sirius yanked at his hair. "I should've reached out at Hogwarts. It was simpler then!"
"Rest up. In a few days, we'll sneak you in to see Harry—just a glimpse." Exhaustion hit Lupin hard; no more scheming tonight.
Sirius opened his mouth, then closed it with a heavy sigh. If only Grimmauld Place weren't crawling with Ministry watchdogs. They could've grabbed what they needed and avoided this mess.
...
Three days later, at Acolytes Manor.
Argus sprawled on the lawn, drenched in sweat but grinning. "Finally, Patronus Charm at level five."
"Never figured my Patronus would take this form..."
"No one's Patronus in the books ever looked like that."
"With the Patronus Charm mastered, Hogwarts' Dementors won't be an issue next term."
His Patronus Charm had lingered at level four for ages—boosted by maxed-out talent and lottery draws from lower-level casts. Today, it broke through, summoning his full guardian spirit.
"If memory serves, Hogwarts' staff shakes up big next year."
"Hagrid takes Magical Creatures, Lupin grabs Defense Against the Dark Arts..."
"Maybe I can recruit Lupin into the acolytes early.
Argus had been tracking Lupin since first hearing of him. The man admired the acolytes and toyed with joining.
What if Argus beat Dumbledore to the punch? Could an insider snag that Defense spot?
He sat up. The acolytes already boasted thousands across Britain—adding one more barely registered. But swapping a low-level staffer for a Hogwarts professorship? Pure gold.
Decision made.
As Argus rose, Vinda approached with her usual poise. "Argus, Lucius sent a house-elf: the pure-blood families are mobilizing."
"You're quick—almost like you anticipated it. I told you to watch the Crouch estate closely. Any leads?"
"It's subtle; you'd miss it without staring." Vinda nodded. "I've got teams rotating surveillance. A Ministry bigwig like Barty Crouch should have house-elves shadowing him constantly."
"But he leaves without them. Records show it started after his wife's death."
So he was hiding his son at home.
Argus pieced it together, then pondered deeper. Vinda's theory rang true, but without proof, Crouch would deny everything. Worse, it'd spook him into retaliation—like what he did to Bertha Jorkins, the Ministry drone who stumbled on his secret...
Bertha Jorkins.
The name sparked a scheme in Argus's mind. She could crack Crouch's defenses wide open.
"One more thing, Argus." Vinda drew an invitation from her robes. "From Horace Slughorn—a tea party invite."
"Tomorrow afternoon. Going?"
"Of course. Prep a gift, Aunt Vinda—something lavish."
Argus welcomed these socials. Slughorn's guest list was a who's-who of influencers; early connections would fuel the acolytes' growth.
Plus, Slughorn had aided him at Hogwarts—a premier Potions Master with untapped value. Ditching him just because he wasn't teaching? Ungrateful. And he'd reclaim Slytherin Headship soon enough.
"Right away." Vinda turned to go.
"Wait, Aunt Vinda—one last bit."
"There's a Ministry woman, Bertha Jorkins—ex-subordinate of Crouch's. Have someone reach out."
---
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