Chapter 155 – Brawl (End of Book IV)
The moment the door opened to the old Black residence, the trio in the kitchen shot to their feet, holding their wands and aiming toward the kitchen's entrance. Krum made the first move, placing a finger before his lips, signaling to them to stay quiet while he took a step forward, heading toward the door.
Before he could reach for the doorknob, they saw it already turning and opening, making the ex-Durmstrang student cast expelliarmus, sending the flash of red lightning through the thinnest of opening, causing a yell echo from the other side. It was followed by the door being almost kicked in and another spell flying toward the group, but Hermione had already erected a bubble-shaped shield charm around them, deflecting it; at the same time, Neville was using the knockback jinx to counter their enemy, sending it flying forward, blasting the door into dozens of pieces.
"Stop, you bastards!" shouted a voice that Neville recognized, making him raise a hand to halt Krum, who was about to levitate their enemies to immobilize them.
"Sirius?" He asked, and soon enough, the scruffy-looking, alcohol-smelling figure of Sirius Black appeared in the kitchen door, picking up his wand from the ground.
"Who else? Damn!" He groaned, holding himself back from spitting. "You good, kid?"
"Yeah..." Answered the second voice, which belonged to Ron Weasley, the one who managed to dodge the dozens of splinters flying towards him by jumping away at the last moment. "I'm fine."
"What are you doing here?" Neville questioned, still holding his wand. Although he wasn't pointing it at them, he wasn't going to lower his guard just because it was Sirius and Ron. Especially because it was them...
"That is our question! Who are these?" Ron sneered, looking at Hermione and Krum, especially at the latter.
"Why should I answer?" Neville countered, making the red-haired boy's face turn into the same shade as the top of his head, but Sirius held him back with a wave of a hand.
"Because I am your appointed guardian."
"Were. Right now, I am already counted as a fully-fledged member of the Order. I am on my own mission, authorized by the leadership. Go ask them if you are doubting my word."