Chapter 321: The Veteran’s Warning and The Final Countdown

Orion remained perfectly still, his body an immovable shield between the Auror and Luna. His Universal Sense hummed at a low, steady frequency—there was no active hostile intent in the air, merely the sharp, aggressive vigilance of a tired sentry doing his rounds.

He did not draw his wand, but his fingers rested a millimeter from the dragon-hide leather of his holster.

The Auror marched through the snow, the light from his wand tip illuminating the craggy, weathered lines of a veteran wizard in his late forties. He took in the sight of the two students, his posture relaxing only a fraction, though his wand remained angled toward the ground.

"Lower the wand, please, Auror," Orion said smoothly, his voice carrying the calm, effortless authority of someone accustomed to commanding rooms. "There are no dark wizards hiding in the pumpkin patch tonight."

The Auror stopped five paces away, his sharp eyes narrowing as he swept his gaze over Orion’s immaculately tailored coat, then to Luna’s bright plum jacket.

"What in Merlin’s name are you two doing out here past curfew?" the man barked, clouds of white steam puffing from his mouth. "The entire country is on high alert, Death Eaters are unaccounted for, and you two are taking a moonlight stroll through the snow? You should be in your common rooms."

"We were not taking a stroll," Orion replied, not stepping aside. "We were assisting Professor Hagrid with the evening feeding of the Mooncalves. We are returning directly from his cabin, and we possess an official faculty permission slip."

The Auror let out a rough, dismissive snort. "Hagrid’s slips don’t work, kid. The man’s a groundskeeper with a penchant for monsters. He doesn’t have the authority to bypass castle curfews."

"I am sure that was the case in previous years," Orion countered coolly, his tone polite but razor-sharp. "However, as of this September, Rubeus Hagrid was officially instated as the Professor of Care of Magical Creatures. He is recognized by the Board of Governors and the Ministry as a full member of the Hogwarts faculty. Therefore, by the very letter of educational statute... this is an official Professor’s permission slip, Auror."

The guard stared at him, blinking against the icy wind. He grunted, clearly irritated that a teenager had quoted regulatory protocol to his face, but he didn’t dispute the law.

"Still," the Auror grumbled, adjusting his heavy cloak. "That man may have a bleeding heart the size of a pumpkin, but he’s as dense as a granite block the rest of the time. You shouldn’t be following his advice, especially when it comes to wandering near the Forest after dark. The man has zero sense of danger."

"We will take your professional advice into consideration," Orion said, inclining his head slightly.

"Come on, then," the Auror sighed, turning his wand light toward the castle. "Back to the doors. Both of you. I will escort you personally. And give me your names and years—I have to log your presence with your respective Heads of House regardless of your little paper."

"Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw second-year," Luna supplied cheerfully from behind Orion’s shoulder, entirely unfazed by the interrogation.

"And Orion Malfoy," Orion added smoothly. "Slytherin third-year."

The Auror stopped mid-stride. He turned slowly, his sharp eyes widening slightly as he looked Orion up and down, taking in the dark hair, the sharp aristocratic features, and the complete lack of childish fear.

"Orion Malfoy?" the Auror repeated, his tone shifting into something significantly more complex. "The kid with the Order of Merlin?"

"The very same."

"Well," the veteran murmured, letting out a low whistle. "I suppose that explains why you’re walking around out here looking like you own the place, even with the country burning down around our ears."

He leaned in slightly, his weathered face turning dead serious.

"Don’t let a few early victories go to your head, kid. Slaying a snake and finding a hiding rat is impressive work for a schoolboy, I’ll give you that. But the world out there... the world of real dark wizards and blood... it is a damn brutal place. It doesn’t care about shiny gold medals."

"I am entirely certain you speak from extensive experience, Auror," Orion replied, his indigo eyes meeting the man’s gaze with absolute, unyielding parity. "And I respect that reality immensely."

The Auror studied him for three seconds, seemingly searching for the arrogant, sneering entitlement common to pureblood heirs. Finding only cold, adult composure, he shook his head in mild bewilderment.

"You’re damn different from your father, though," the Auror muttered as they resumed walking toward the Entrance Hall. "I’ve seen Lucius Malfoy strutting through the Ministry corridors for ten years. Never seen a piece of work more vile, slippery, and arrogant than that man."

Orion didn’t bristle. He didn’t raise his voice. He simply adjusted his cuffs as they reached the stone steps.

"Father has his own specific way of thinking, and his own methodologies," Orion stated calmly. "We do not always see eye-to-eye on matters of policy or decorum. But... he is my father. And he does care for me."

The Auror scoffed softly, but he didn’t push the subject any further. A child defending his family, even a corrupt one, was something a veteran could at least understand.

They reached the massive oak doors of the castle. The warmth of the Entrance Hall washed over them, a welcome relief from the freezing wind.

"Right," the Auror said, pointing toward the marble staircase leading down to the dungeons. "Get to your common room, Malfoy. I will escort Miss Lovegood up to the Ravenclaw tower myself to ensure she doesn’t get waylaid by any other patrols."

Orion turned to Luna, offering a warm, genuine smile. "Goodnight, Luna. Thank you for helping with the puzzle."

"Goodnight, Orion," Luna beamed, her radish earrings swaying. "I hope the umbrella works well for your storm!"

The Auror looked confused, but ushered her toward the Grand Staircase.

Orion walked down the first flight of dungeon stairs, but he did not immediately head to his dormitory.

He ducked into a shadowed alcove behind a suit of armor, slipping the blank parchment of the Marauder’s Map from his inventory.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Orion whispered, tapping it with his wand.

The ink blossomed. He ignored the Slytherin common room and immediately zoomed in on the seventh floor. He tracked the two ink dots labeled Luna Lovegood and Auror Williamson as they ascended the moving stairs. He watched patiently for five minutes, refusing to leave his post until he visually confirmed that Luna’s dot had safely crossed the threshold of the Ravenclaw tower.

Safe.

"Mischief managed," Orion murmured, clearing the parchment and stowing it away. He trusted the Auror’s duty, but he never gambled on an assumption when it came to the safety of those he chose to protect.

He walked down the remaining corridors, murmured the password, and slipped through the common room into his empty dormitory.

He walked over to the tall, reinforced glass window that peered straight out into the murky, green-tinted depths of the Black Lake. A giant tentacle drifted lazily past the glass in the distance.

Orion rested his forehead against the cool stone frame.

The final obstacle was dead. The Thief’s Downfall was solved.

A rigid, non-magical, aerodynamic canopy held over the cart. The enchanted water would slide off the mundane material like rain off a tin roof. The Polyjuice would hold. The disguise would survive.

He had the key to his final lock and now the blueprint was flawless.

"Tomorrow onwards," Orion whispered into the quiet dark, a razor-sharp, terrifying smirk spreading across his face, "we start the physical preparations."

He pushed off the wall, walking toward his four-poster bed.

"Next week. January 31st."

His indigo eyes flashed with brilliant, chaotic fire.

"We go for the Cup. The last day of January is going out with a bang."

He climbed into bed, pulling the velvet curtains shut. It was time to sleep. Next week, he was going to rob the most secure bank in the world.