In truth, Sirius had taken a nasty hit from a ‘Severing Charm’ during the fight, which had grazed his chest and made it painful for him to breathe.

  Dumbledore approached, looking ed. "Sirius, you o head to St. Mungo’s for proper treatment. You’ll need a few days in the hospital."

  Sirius started to protest, but Alex, seeing through his bravado, nudged his shoulder lightly, causing Sirius to cough. "Fine, fine!" Sirius sputtered, shooting a pyful gre at Alex. "You’re a menace."

  Trying to catch his breath, Sirius looked at James. "Just make sure Alex isn’t on his own while I’m gone."

  James smiled. "Don’t worry. He’ll stay with us for now. I’ll help him gather his things tomorrow."

  Seeing he had no choice, Sirius nodded relutly, then said to Alex, "Be careful with all this heroics business. You don’t want too much attention."

  Alex smirked. "ing from you? Look at the state you’re in after all your heroics."

  Turning to Dumbledore, he asked, "Professor, could I ask a favor?"

  Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly and replied, "Please, Mr. Wilson, speak freely. I find it difficult to refuse a hero of today’s events."

  Hearing Dumbledore call him a hero, Alex grinned awkwardly. "Well, Headmaster, I overheard Minister Barnold mentioning a endation for me. I’d prefer if it wasn’t publicized too widely. You know… too much attention bring unnecessary trouble."

  Dumbledore nodded, immediately uanding Alex’s . "Very wise, Alex. I’ll speak to Minister Barnold about keeping this discreet. In fact, I’ll suggest he exge the public aowledgment for a tangible reward instead. How does that sound?"

  Alex’s face lit up. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."

  Dumbledore smiled warmly, then turo Sirius aer. Before Sirius left for St. Mungo’s with Dumbledore, he reminded James to take care of his prized motorcycle. Alex, seeing Sirius’s attat to the bike even in his iate, could only roll his eyes with a smirk.

  Shortly after, the Aurors fiheir work, rest the damaged parts of Godric’s Hollow and erasing any traces from nearby Muggles. With the help of some powerful repair spells, Lily’s home was soouro its inal state. One by ohe Longbottoms and members of the Order of the Phoenix said their goodbyes, Augusta even inviting Alex to visit sometime, which he gdly accepted.

  Soon, only the Potters, Harry, and Alex remained.

  "Alex," James said with a smile, "thank you for everything today. You’ve more than earned a peaceful night’s rest. Let me show you to the guest room."

  Alex, now standing in the cozy, quiet house, nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, James. I’d be honored."

  "Don’t say that. After tonight, you’re not only our friend but also our rade and protector." James cpped Alex on the shoulder. Lily, holding Harry, nodded with a grateful smile.

  Meanwhile, after dropping Sirius off at St. Mungo’s Hospital fical Madies and Injuries, Dumbledore didn’t return to Hogwarts. Instead, he made his way to a secluded hill deep within the Forbidden Forest, waiting for someone.

  It wasn’t long before a figure appeared in front of him with a sharp crack of Apparition. A Death Eater stood there, pulling off his mask to reveal the somber face of Severus Snape.

  "It seems Tom took the prophecy to heart," Dumbledore said icily. "Tonight’s atta the Order was merely a cover. Several Death Eaters broke into the Potter home and almost killed Lily and her son. Tell me, is that what you wanted, Severus?"

  Snape’s face twisted painfully, his usual stoic expression crag uhe weight of Dumbledore’s words. "The Dark Lord told no one of this pn—not even me! If I’d known, I would have stopped it, somehow…"

  Dumbledore’s gaze hardened, his voice cold. "How? Do you still have the ce to stand against Voldemort? The moment you told him the prophecy, Severus, this was set in motion. His target is Lily and her child. You’ve seen it yourself."

  Snape’s shoulders slumped, his head bowed as though the weight of his guilt was too much to bear. "But… it could also be the Longbottom boy. I’ll persuade him that it’s Frank and Alice’s son who’s the child of prophecy…"

  "Severus!" Dumbledore’s tone was sharp, his blue eyes fshing with anger.

  A wave of powerful magic surged from him, making Snape recoil in shock.

  Gathering himself, Dumbledore tinued, "Do you know what your old cssmate, Evan Rosier, tried to do tonight? He drank a dangerous blood potion that risked his sanity to break into the Potter home and kill Lily and her child. He nearly succeeded. Alex Wilson’s quick as saved Harry. Rosier’s fanaticism is proof enough—Voldemort has chosen his target."

  Srembling, fell to his knees, c his face as tears escaped his eyes. He had followed Voldemort’s orders without hesitation for years. But now, as he faced the brutal reality that the Dark Lord was targeting the one persoruly loved, his heart crumbled.

  "I knew—somewhere in my heart, I knew," Snape whispered, his voice broken. "But I kept lying to myself."

  "The prophecy wasn’t about a woman, Severus. It was about a boy born at the end of July. But Voldemort won’t hesitate to kill his mother as well," Dumbledore said, his toern but edged with sympathy.

  Snape’s face torted with despair as he admitted, "The Dark Lord… he’s been looking for them for weeks. I only learned retly that tonight’s pn wasn’t aimed at the Order at all but at the Potters. I lied to myself, but deep down, I always knew…" His voice trailed off, lost in grief and guilt.

  Dumbledore looked down at Snape, a hint of passion in his stern gaze. "Then you must choose, Severus. If you wish to make amends, if you truly want to protect Lily, there’s a path. But you must it to it fully."

  Snape nodded slowly, a flicker of determination breaking through his despair. "The Death Eaters have a spy within the Order of the Phoenix? Do you know who it is?" Dumbledore asked, his voice calm but sharp as he looked closely at Snape.

  Snape shook his head. "No, I don’t know. It could be ahe Dark Lord… he won’t reveal them too easily. He’s patient, biding his time. He’ll keep trying until he succeeds—I’m certain of it." His voice trembled slightly, betraying his worry as he shared what he knew with Dumbledore.