"You are remarkably perceptive," Dumbledore smiled. "You picked up on my intention instantly. Yes, I do have a request. I was wondering if you would be willing to join me, and a few other like-minded individuals, in our mission to eliminate the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters?"
Antonio fell silent in response to this sudden proposal from Dumbledore. He had a strong inkling of what this was all about.
If he had guessed correctly, and if his actions had not diverged the canon entirely, then Dumbledore was likely referring to the Order of the Phoenix. And he had just now asked Antonio to join the Order.
However, this version of the Order would surely be different from the one he remembered from the canon.
The 'canon' Order of the Phoenix had been a passive and mostly reactive organization. It merely reacted whenever the Death Eaters took action, trying to defend the innocent and the common folk. It never initiated attacks against the Death Eaters or sought to target them proactively. In fact, it was one the major reasons for a lot of differences among the members of the Order. A lot of members had wanted to be more proactive and more aggressive in contrast to the other members.
But given how Dumbledore had framed his proposal and his recent actions of killing Death Eaters and going against Voldemort, Antonio was almost certain that this time, the Order was not going to follow that same path. This time, it was going to be an aggressive organization, one that would actively hunt Death Eaters and, most likely, the Dark Lord himself.
"I do not entirely follow you, Headmaster Dumbledore," Antonio reacted, testing the waters. "If I am guessing correctly, you are asking me to join you and a few others like minded individuals in some kind of organization."
"And what would we do?" Antonio continued with a rhetorical question which he answered himself. "We would seek out and hunt Death Eaters."
"And if I am correct once again," Antonio added, his voice dropping slightly. "Whatever we would be doing would be outside the jurisdiction of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Ministry of Magic."
"It would be illegal, in a way. After all, no law allows us to kill people, even if they are Death Eaters, unless, of course, we are able to secure some kind of exemption or a special mandate from the Wizengamot itself."
"You are absolutely correct, Lord Olario," Dumbledore said with a small, knowing smile. "In fact, you have hit the nail on the head."
"As for whether our actions are legal, illegal, or outside the Ministry's jurisdiction," he continued, an amused and mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I think we both know that neither of us truly cares for such formalities. And with all the incompetence that the ministry has put on display in the past few days, I doubt even the wider population at large care about them."
"As for obtaining a special mandate from the Wizengamot to legalize our actions, I do not believe it would be necessary. In fact, I believe the more secretly we act, the more effective we shall be."
Antonio nodded, a contemplative look crossing his face.
Dumbledore had genuinely trapped him in a dilemma. This was a proposal he had not prepared for, and for the moment, he was torn. He could see clear advantages and dangerous disadvantages in either choice.
"I think I will need some time to consider my decision," Antonio finally replied.
"Take your time, Lord Olario," Dumbledore smiled. "Take your time."
"But there is one thing you should know," Dumbledore added, his smile never faltering. Antonio felt a dark premonition rise in his chest. "Edgar Bones has already decided to become a part of my organization."
"What?" Antonio almost snapped.
His voice had barely risen from his normal tone, but the expression on his face made it obvious that he was livid. He was angry.
"He is a mere child!" Antonio almost growled. "He has not even graduated from Hogwarts yet. How could you allow a child of his age to join such an organisation?"
"He is indeed a child," Dumbledore responded in that same maddeningly calm manner. "He is, Lord Olario. But he is a child whose father was murdered by the Death Eaters."
"And," he added. "Before you blame me for his decision, know that it was Edgar himself who volunteered to join. I played no part in that. I merely offered him a helping hand, a guiding hand. That is all."
Antonio clenched his fist, but he forced himself to remain silent. He understood perfectly that Edgar volunteering was nothing more than the result of Dumbledore's subtle political machinations. He should have expected that. Even in the canon, freshly graduated from Hogwarts students were part of the Order of the Phoenix. And in all likelihood, they were part of the organisation even before they had graduated from Hogwarts. James Potter, Sirius Black, Lily Evans and even Edgar too had been part of the organisation. And Edgar, though never confirmed, had died most likely during one of the organisation's missions.
And now if Edgar joined the organization, Amelia would undoubtedly follow to protect her brother.
His eyes shifted toward the platform, where Edgar and Amelia were busy receiving condolences from the visitors. Both siblings wore strained, grieving smiles. Antonio used his Occlumency to school his expression as he let out a long, slow breath.
"Lord Olario," Dumbledore's voice snapped Antonio's attention back to the old coot.
Antonio did not respond. He merely stared at Dumbledore with a hardened gaze.
"You need not worry," Dumbledore continued, unbothered by Antonio's lack of verbal response. "I have not lowered my character so much that I would place a child in the mouth of danger."
"Even though he is a part of my organization," he said, "I assure you that he will not be sent to the front lines to battle Death Eaters."
"You can view Mr. Bones' association with me as primarily ideological. He is merely trying to carry his father's legacy forward and I am giving him the chance."
Though Antonio hardly trusted Dumbledore's words, he felt a flicker of relief. At the very least, he could hope that Edgar was not in immediate, physical danger.
"Ah!" Dumbledore remarked suddenly, his gaze shifting. "It looks as though someone else is quite eager to meet you. I shall not take any more of your time."
Antonio followed Dumbledore's eyes and saw Aurora Sinistra standing a short distance away. She was clearly waiting for Antonio to be alone before approaching.
"Consider my proposal, Lord Olario," Dumbledore said with his characteristic smile, patting Antonio lightly on his arm. "I hope to hear a positive response."
With those final departing words, Dumbledore walked away, leaving Antonio alone, though only for a moment, as Aurora immediately approached him.
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