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The Death Eater peered closely behind Sirius, searching for whoever might be hiding in the shadows.
"I advise you to tread carefully," Sirius said firmly, his body shielding Harry, Hermione, and Ron as he issued a warning to the wizard and witch standing before him.
"Black, for the sake of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, step aside now!"
"You miserable cowards! I never thought you'd sink so low as to follow Voldemort!" Sirius spat, his voice brimming with disgust.
The Death Eaters in question were Amycus and Alecto Carrow, siblings from the Sacred Twenty-Eight, like the Black family. During Voldemort's first rise, the Carrows had pledged their loyalty to him. After his fall, however, they had evaded justice through the influence and power of their family.
What Sirius hadn't anticipated was that the Carrows, despite Voldemort's past defeat, had chosen to align with him once more.
"As long as we bring Harry Potter to the Dark Lord, he'll forgive us!" Alecto Carrow exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
She raised her wand again and hissed through gritted teeth,
"Do you really want to stand in our way, Black?"
"If you want them, you'll have to go through me first!" Sirius replied resolutely, his stance unwavering.
With negotiations clearly at an impasse, the fight began.
The three duelists were seasoned in combat, casting Shield Charms the moment the first spells were exchanged. Despite their skill, the duel dragged on, with neither side gaining a clear advantage.
However, Sirius was outnumbered. Facing two Death Eaters alone, the pressure mounted. The Carrows, both hurling deadly spells, made it increasingly difficult for Sirius to defend himself.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione clutched their wands, desperate to intervene. But Sirius, determined to protect them, kept them firmly behind him and forbade them to act.
As the duel wore on, the Carrows grew bolder, sensing their impending victory. Sirius, on the other hand, began to falter.
Then, suddenly, a spell shot out from the woods.
A stunning bolt struck Amycus Carrow's shield, forcing her back. Though her Shield Charm absorbed the brunt of the attack, both siblings were visibly shaken.
The unseen ally in the woods didn't let up. Spell after spell rained down on the Carrows, forcing them to retreat under the relentless barrage. Seizing the opportunity, Sirius launched his own counterattack, working in tandem with his mysterious helper.
Overwhelmed, the Carrows exchanged a wary glance. Fearing that the commotion would attract Aurors, they abandoned the fight. In an instant, they Disapparated, vanishing into thin air.
Sirius, wand still raised, waited a moment to ensure the danger had passed. Only when he was certain did he lower it, exhaling deeply as relief washed over him.
The group turned their curious gazes toward the dense forest, eager to see who had come to their aid.
The rustling of leaves grew louder, and soon, the figures that emerged left everyone stunned.
It was Lucius Malfoy. Behind him, Narcissa Malfoy and Draco Malfoy followed closely.
Everyone froze, their mouths agape in disbelief. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Sirius had always seen Lucius—and by extension, the entire Malfoy family—as enemies.
The idea that Lucius Malfoy would save them was unthinkable.
Lucius himself hadn't planned for this turn of events. His original intention was merely to find a safe place for his wife and son to lay low. However, the confrontation between Sirius and the Carrows had unfolded right before their eyes.
Ordinarily, Lucius Malfoy would have welcomed the sight of Harry Potter meeting his end. But things were different now.
Ethan's influence had swayed Lucius, making him rethink his alliances. He understood the critical role Harry played in the fight against Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic.
Allowing the Carrow siblings to capture Harry—and potentially use them to resurrect Voldemort—would spell disaster, not only for the wizarding world but for Lucius himself.
Voldemort's return would bring harsh consequences for anyone who hadn't shown unwavering loyalty, and Lucius knew his family would be among the first to suffer.
Moreover, Lucius couldn't ignore the wrath he would face from Dumbledore—or worse, Ethan—if Harry were lost under his watch.
He imagined himself dragged into Ethan's interrogation room, a scenario he was keen to avoid at all costs.
Reluctantly, Lucius had decided to intervene, though the stares from Sirius and the others now made him deeply uncomfortable.
"Stop gawking! This place isn't safe!" Lucius snapped, his voice cutting through their shock.
His words jolted the group out of their stupor.
"Lucius," Sirius began, still grappling with disbelief.
"I… I can't believe you actually…"
"If you've finished gawking, we should move," Lucius interrupted impatiently.
"There's no time for explanations."
Suspicion lingered in Sirius's expression. If Narcissa and Draco hadn't been standing behind Lucius, Sirius might have suspected someone was impersonating him with Polyjuice Potion.
Ignoring the stares, Lucius reached into his cloak and produced an ornate jug, its surface etched with intricate patterns. After a moment's hesitation, he addressed the group.
"We're using this Portkey to get to Hogsmeade. If you'd rather not stay here waiting for the Carrows to return, you're welcome to join us."
Even Narcissa and Draco shot Lucius surprised looks, clearly bewildered by his sudden altruism.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron exchanged uncertain glances. They couldn't fathom why Lucius Malfoy, of all people, would offer them help.
But Lucius had weighed his decision carefully. For the sake of his family's future, his personal grudges against Harry Potter were trivial.
Assisting Harry now could earn him favor with Dumbledore—and Ethan—a crucial step in securing protection for Narcissa and Draco.
Sirius hesitated but finally nodded. "Well… thank you, Lucius. I suppose."
His tone was wary, his gratitude tinged with disbelief.
Draco looked as though he wanted to protest but thought better of it under his father's stern glare.
At Lucius's instruction, everyone gathered in a circle around the Portkey. Tentatively, they placed their fingers on the jug's surface.
In a flash, the group landed on the ground, their knees buckling slightly from the abrupt journey. They had arrived in Hogsmeade.
The village was silent, the only sound of the soft hum of cicadas at night. The tranquility was a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped, and for a moment, everyone exhaled in relief.
No one lingered to enjoy the peaceful night. The group quickly set off toward Hogwarts Castle in the distance, their minds focused on the safety it promised.