"Alright, it's time for you both to return to bed."
Professor McGonagall cut in firmly, interrupting whatever Fred or George had been about to say.
As had been the case for weeks, she felt helpless. Ever since Phineas disappeared, Dumbledore had immediately instructed the professors to begin searching for any trace of him.
But before they could make any progress, news arrived: the Ministry of Magic was attempting to intervene in Hogwarts affairs. Dumbledore was forced to return to the school to prove that Hogwarts remained secure.
This disruption only worsened an already difficult situation. Tracking down Phineas had become all but impossible.
Many of the professors—especially those who had taught Phineas—were deeply unsettled by the situation. The attackers captured on the Quidditch pitch had confessed under Veritaserum. They were members of the vampire rebellion.
Being respected figures in the wizarding world, the professors were well aware of the internal strife among vampires. They knew that the rebel faction's headquarters was protected by the Fidelius Charm. And since the Secret-Keeper remained alive, even if captured and interrogated, they would never be able to disclose the location.
As a result, the professors had resorted to searching Knockturn Alley and other shadowy corners of the wizarding underworld for any scraps of information.
Despite Dumbledore's absence, they had managed to destroy several vampire strongholds during their investigations. Still, it wasn't enough.
So now, faced with George and Fred's anxious questions, Professor McGonagall had no answer but the one she hated giving: they simply had to wait.
After the twins left, Professor McGonagall did not head to her chambers. Instead, she made her way to Dumbledore's office.
It was already crowded. Most of the people gathered were members of the Order of the Phoenix.
The Order, founded by Dumbledore during Voldemort's rise to power, was created to oppose the Death Eaters. Its members came from every corner of magical society—wizards, Squibs, Aurors, bartenders, and thieves. Dumbledore's philosophy, in direct contrast to Voldemort's pure-blood ideals, welcomed all who wished to fight against the darkness.
Though many members had perished in the last war, Dumbledore had never disbanded the Order. Instead, it had gone underground, serving as a secret network for information and resistance.
Now, with the vampire rebellion gaining strength, Dumbledore had summoned key members of the Order to Hogwarts. He knew that if the rebellion succeeded, then once Voldemort returned—as Dumbledore believed he would—the vampires, classified as dark creatures, would surely side with him.
The vampire faction led by Jonathan had always remained neutral. They did not assist Dumbledore, but neither had they joined Voldemort. That delicate balance was now in jeopardy.
Phineas's kidnapping had tipped the scales. Under Veritaserum, the captured attackers had revealed that Jonathan had entrusted something very important to the boy.
"Dumbledore, I still don't understand why Jonathan would trust a child from the Black family," growled Alastor Moody, his magical eye spinning restlessly in its socket. "You know full well, if it weren't for Sirius, the Potters might still be alive…"
As a veteran Auror, Moody had endured the betrayals of the First Wizarding War. He trusted very few people—and Phineas Black, the younger brother of a convicted traitor, was not one of them.
Dumbledore looked at him calmly.
"Alastor… he is just a child. There is no reason to suspect him."
Moody sneered.
"The Dark Lord attended his birthday party, Albus. Who knows? Maybe he's one of his minions already."
McGonagall, entering just in time to hear this, shot Moody a glare.
"Alastor, that's enough. Phineas is an excellent student and a good-hearted child. When the Dark Lord fell, he was barely two years old."
Moody didn't reply. Instead, Dedalus Diggle—a forgettable wizard who occasionally worked at the Leaky Cauldron—spoke up, his tone skeptical.
"Minerva, that same child stabilized the entire Black family's estate in two years, reported numerous Death Eaters, and managed to shake many pure-blood families. That's not something an ordinary child could do."
Arthur Weasley chimed in, his voice firm.
"If it hadn't been for him, my boys might've died. Just because Sirius betrayed us doesn't mean Phineas is the same."
Diggle looked at Arthur incredulously.
"You're still as naïve as ever. A child who can navigate politics between the pure-blood families and the Ministry at such a young age? I'd say Moody's suspicions are valid. We need to determine whether he's a servant of the Dark Lord."
Mundungus Fletcher, the shifty thief and black-market dealer, finally spoke.
"The Dark Lord's gone. Least for now. That's what matters."
For Mundungus, business was everything. As long as Voldemort stayed gone, the market thrived. If Dumbledore told him the Dark Lord had returned, he'd believe it—and double his illegal dealings overnight.
Dumbledore raised a hand, silencing the escalating quarrel.
"Regardless of what young Mr. Phineas Black may or may not be, he is a student at Hogwarts. And we must find him."
Kingsley Shacklebolt, calm and composed as always, added his voice.
"Yes. His disappearance has given the Ministry all the reason it needs to scrutinize your leadership. Millicent Bagnold is about to retire. She no longer cares for the Ministry's direction. Barty Crouch Sr. was the leading candidate to succeed her—but his son's exposed involvement with Death Eaters ruined his reputation."
Kingsley's voice grew more serious.
"Many now hope you'll step in, Dumbledore. But this situation has become political leverage. Phineas's abduction has become a tool for your opponents—an excuse to argue that Hogwarts is no longer safe, and that you are no longer fit to lead."
As one of the Ministry's top Aurors and the wizard assigned to protect the Muggle Prime Minister, Kingsley understood both politics and perception.
The room fell silent as his words sank in.
It didn't matter whose side Phineas was on. It didn't even matter whether they trusted him. What mattered was finding him—soon.
Only then could they prove that Dumbledore was still capable. That Hogwarts was still the safest place in the wizarding world.
Even if Dumbledore himself no longer believed it.