Harry Potter and the Silent Guardian

Harry didn't have to wait long before the call came. Only three days after their meeting at Black Castle, before the intelligence network had even been fully established, Sirius's voice echoed from the enchanted mirror in his pocket:

"Harry, it looks like our services will be needed tonight."

Within minutes, Harry stood in Black Castle's main hall. Arcturus was already waiting, his expression as sharp and grim as ever. Sirius leaned against the wall, arms crossed, but his usual air of levity was absent. The tension in the room was palpable.

Arcturus wasted no time. "An old friend of mine, Ivan Karanov, has sent a message for help. He's a Bulgarian wizard—a dark one, yes, but not aligned with Voldemort. He's refused to join the alliance, and Voldemort's forces have been pressuring him for weeks. Now they've escalated. Ivan has learned that they plan to attack his family tonight."

Harry's jaw tightened. "An example," he said flatly. "They're going to use his family as a warning to others."

"Exactly." Arcturus's tone was bitter. "Ivan's usual allies have abandoned him, afraid to oppose Voldemort's alliance. He reached out to me as a last resort."

"How many defenders does he have?" Harry asked.

"None," Arcturus replied, his voice edged with frustration. "He's alone."

Harry nodded, his mind already racing. "Then it's just us."

He turned to Sirius, a glint of determination in his eyes. "Ready for your first night of vigilante work, Padfoot?"

Sirius grinned, though there was a steely edge to it. "Always. Let's show them what happens when they mess with the wrong people."

Before they departed for the mission, Sirius insisted on seeing Mira in action. "Just to know what I'm dealing with," he said. "I don't want any surprises mid-battle."

Harry and Mira were more than happy to oblige. In the castle's expansive training room, Harry unveiled his secret weapon: the life-sized clone, controlled entirely by Mira.

Arcturus raised an eyebrow as he observed the setup. "Practicing the magic I taught you, I see. But the clone should be weak, shouldn't it?"

Harry smirked. "Not this one. I modified the spell—improved it. It's more than strong enough for what we need."

Sirius crossed his arms, skeptical. "So Mira controls your clone from afar. It sounds impressive, but let's see if it's as good as you claim. I have my doubts."

Harry grinned. "Feel free to test it out for yourself. Have a friendly duel with Mira and the clone."

Sirius rolled his eyes but stepped forward, rolling his shoulders in preparation. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you if this thing crumbles under pressure."

The battle, however, was over almost as soon as it started. Mira demonstrated her skill with the clone, controlling it with precision that had clearly improved since Harry's last fight with the vampires. The clone moved with blinding speed, spells deflecting harmlessly off its surface as it closed the gap between itself and Sirius in seconds.

Before Sirius could react, the clone's sword was pointed at his throat.

"Bloody hell," Sirius muttered, staring at the blade hovering an inch from his skin. "No wonder you trust Mira more than me for backup."

Harry chuckled, though he couldn't entirely suppress his concern for Sirius. "The clone will have your back out there. Just… try not to do anything reckless, alright?"

Sirius exhaled deeply, raising his hands in mock surrender. "No way. I love my life. I'll behave."

Mira beamed with pride, the clone lowering its sword and stepping back. Harry gave her an approving nod. With the demonstration complete, the group left the training room, ready to face the night's mission with renewed confidence.

As twilight descended over the Bulgarian countryside, three masked figures approached Karanov Manor. The ancient building loomed against the backdrop of darkening mountains, its wards humming with faint, ancient power. Arcturus had arranged the Portkey, ensuring their journey was smooth. Harry wore his customary disguise—a mask concealing his face to hide his identity—while Sirius and the clone flanked him, also masked.

Bringing Mira and the clone was risky. If anyone connected them to the Knight who had decimated the vampire covenant, it could complicate matters. But Harry decided the added risk was worth ensuring Sirius's safety. Mira, as usual, controlled the clone from a hidden location nearby.

Karanov himself waited at the gates, a proud but visibly tense man with steel-gray hair. Several male members of his family stood behind him, their faces reflecting worry and resolve.

Sirius spoke, his voice magically disguised. "Stay inside your wards. No need for you or your family to fight. Let us handle this."

Karanov nodded curtly, trusting the reputation of his old friend Arcturus. With a firm gesture, he ushered his family back inside the manor.

Harry and Sirius took their positions outside the gates. Mira had already slipped into her vantage point in the surrounding forest, the clone at the ready under her control.

They didn't have to wait long.

With a series of sharp cracks, ten figures Apparated at the edge of the property. Their dark robes billowed ominously in the wind, and their confident stance suggested they were seasoned fighters—not fresh recruits. Harry recognized their standard Death Eater attack formation, a clear display of their experience.

"Spread out," their leader barked, his wand raised. "Break the wards and—" He stopped abruptly, spotting the three masked figures standing between him and the manor. His eyes narrowed. "Who dares interfere?"

Harry stepped forward, his voice cold and altered by the enchantments in his mask. "Leave. This family is under our protection."

Harsh laughter rippled through the Death Eaters. "Under your protection? Why would anyone bother defending these fools? Do you even know who you're up against?"

Harry's tone remained steady, ice-laced. "I know. I'm fighting a dark lord too afraid to reveal himself to the world. Scared that the moment his return is known, he'll fall apart."

The leader stiffened, then snarled. "You dare mock the Dark Lord? You know nothing of his brilliance or strength. Also such confidence going three against ten? You're either very brave or very foolish."

Harry tilted his head slightly. "Three is more than enough."

The leader sneered, raising his wand. "We'll see about that."

The Death Eaters attacked in unison, their curses lighting up the night like a deadly storm. Harry moved with fluid precision, his shield charm expanding to protect all three of them. The clone surged forward, its sword glinting ominously, while Sirius unleashed a flurry of spells with the practiced skill of a seasoned Auror.

This fight was unlike Harry's usual battles. He couldn't rely on stealth or speed, not with Sirius at his side and the need to ensure his safety. Smoke and mist were out of the question; stray spells had to be accounted for. But his power, even when restrained, was more than enough.

The battle unfolded like a deadly dance of magic and skill.

The clone tore through their ranks, its blade slipping past shields and counterspells with surgical precision. Spells that struck it fizzled harmlessly, deflected by the magical construct's resilience. Sirius demonstrated why he was one of Britain's top Aurors, his spellwork sharp and devastating.

And Harry… Harry was a force of nature.

He held back his most destructive spells—there was no need to reveal his full strength—but his restrained arsenal still commanded awe. Bolts of lightning chained through the enemy ranks, stunning them in waves. The ground beneath their feet erupted, throwing them off balance. Gale-force winds howled at his command, scattering their formation like leaves.

Two Death Eaters fell to the clone's blade, lifeless before they hit the ground. Sirius, however, struggled with Harry's earlier directive to prioritize lethality over subdual. He managed to bind three Death Eaters in creative, intricate traps—alive, but completely incapacitated.

"Padfoot," Harry said sharply as he deflected a curse with a lazy flick of his wand. "This is war, not a sparring session."

Sirius hesitated but nodded grimly, launching himself back into the fray.

The remaining five Death Eaters faced Harry directly, desperation etched into their faces.

"What are you?" one of them stammered as his shield shattered under Harry's assault.

Harry didn't answer. Instead, he sent the man flying with a silent spell. Another tried to Apparate away but slammed into the anti-transportation wards Harry had cast earlier.

The leader, braver or more reckless than the rest, launched a Killing Curse at Harry. The clone intercepted it, the deadly green light dissipating harmlessly against its enchanted form. Before the Death Eater could process this impossibility, Harry's spell slammed into his chest, ending the fight.

In less than five minutes, it was over. Ten Death Eaters lay either dead or incapacitated.

Harry signaled to Mira, who emerged to direct the clone. The construct efficiently rounded up the survivors, dragging them off. They wouldn't see the light of day again. Sirius shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. He understood the necessity—letting them live risked facing them again, an endless cycle of conflict.

"We should leave," Harry said, his tone calm but firm. "The Dark Alliance won't realize what's happened until morning. By then, the message will have spread."

Sirius hesitated, his expression conflicted, but followed without protest. Once they were safely back at Black Castle, he finally spoke, pulling off his mask. His face was flushed, a mixture of exhilaration and unease.

"That was… intense," he admitted. "But effective. Though I couldn't help noticing—you were holding back, pup."

Harry removed his own mask, glancing at Mira as she rejoined them with the clone. "No point in showing all our cards yet. Tonight wasn't about destruction—it was about sending a message: joining Voldemort isn't as safe as they think."

Sirius grinned, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Message received, I'd say. And that clone of yours… Merlin, it's something else. Mira, you're absolutely brilliant with it."

Mira's wide grin lit up the room. "Mira is happy to help Master Harry and Master Sirius!"

Harry smiled faintly, though his mind was already turning to the next steps. Tonight was only the beginning. Let Voldemort wonder who dared challenge him. Let him waste time and resources hunting shadows. Piece by piece, Harry would dismantle their plans before they could ever take root.