"Without evidence, it is best not to cast suspicion on our own. We must focus on how to handle the coming days," Professor Dumbledore said, his eyes narrowing as he fell into deep thought.
Emmeline Vance listened to the theories before asking, "What are your thoughts, Professor? Our people are spread too thin, and the Ministry of Magic will be operating on a skeleton crew."
Dumbledore seemed to have reached a conclusion. He looked at Gideon Prewett and said, "I will persuade the Longbottoms to spend the holiday with the Potters. I shall also speak with Marlene; perhaps celebrating together at the Burrow would be the wisest course of action."
Gideon Prewett smiled warmly. "I'm sure Molly would welcome them with open arms."
"That simplifies things. It narrows the defensive perimeter to two locations," Mad-Eye Moody noted with a rough chuckle. "We can set a proper ambush. They had better show up; if I spend my Christmas standing in the freezing cold for nothing, they'll pay for the wasted time."
"It's a sound plan. However, we should keep the true reason for these arrangements quiet for now," Edgar Bones agreed, nodding. "This might be our best chance to cripple their ranks and perhaps flush out our traitor."
Dumbledore saw the consensus and stood. "Then it is settled. Moody, Emmeline, I'll trouble you to watch over the Potters and the Longbottoms. Edgar, the Weasleys are in your hands. I shall coordinate from the center, ready to move should the Dark Lord himself make an appearance."
The group nodded and began to disperse. Dumbledore remained behind, staring into the flickering shadows. He whispered to the empty room, "Tom, can you truly bring yourself to harm a child? To what terrifying depths has your heart fallen?"
The Professor was certain an attack was coming, but the exact target remained a mystery. He sighed, the weight of the prophecy heavy on his shoulders. "Which one will it be? The Potters or the Longbottoms? Snape, I hope you don't disappoint me when the moment comes."
Meanwhile, back at the villa, Sirius was slumped on the sofa with his hands behind his head. His feet twitched restlessly, a clear sign that the threat of the Death Eaters was gnawing at him. Alan, however, was far more composed. He had immense faith in Dumbledore's foresight; with the Order on high alert, he felt the situation was well under control.
"Sirius, I'm going out," Alan announced.
Sirius bolted upright. "Where? At a time like this, you should be staying inside. It's too dangerous for you to be wandering the streets."
Alan rolled his eyes at the man's sudden protectiveness. "I need to buy Christmas presents. I'm not a member of the Order, Sirius. Don't be so jumpy. If the Death Eaters are planning a holiday strike, logic dictates the days leading up to it are perfectly safe."
"You're just a kid and you're worried about shopping? Dumbledore might cancel the party altogether; you shouldn't be making extra work for me," Sirius grumbled.
"Maybe if the Death Eaters see us going about our Christmas business, they'll think we're unprepared. Besides, I'm not going to Diagon Alley. I'm staying in the Muggle districts, so there's no need to worry."
Seeing that Alan wouldn't be swayed, Sirius grabbed his coat. "Fine. But I'm coming with you. Don't think you're running off on your own."
So, despite Alan's preference for solitude, Sirius tagged along as his shadow.
Alan's decision to shop in the Muggle world was purely tactical. He had plenty of Muggle currency, and he preferred to save his limited supply of Galleons for magical essentials.
First, he led Sirius to London's Chinatown. He needed a fresh stock of spices; Hagrid's appetite was legendary, and a standard box of seasoning usually lasted less than a few months. He also purchased a large copper pot, specifically the type used for traditional hot pot. It felt like a waste of winter not to have at least one proper hot pot meal.
Next, they hit a large department store. Following Vivian's earlier suggestions, Alan picked out several beautifully illustrated children's books and an intricate music box that played a soft, haunting lullaby. He also selected a lion-engraved brooch for Professor McGonagall and a delicate mechanical clock for Professor Flitwick. For Professor Slughorn, he chose a bottle of high-end, aged whiskey, knowing the man's penchant for the finer things.
For Hagrid, Alan found a massive copper tankard etched with various mythical beasts. It was intended as a decorative piece, but Alan knew Hagrid would likely use it for his daily tea. For Charles and Vivian, he bought two new sets of Mahjong tiles to stop the constant bickering over who got to keep the travel set he had lent them.
Finally, for Sirius, he bought a high-quality gramophone and a stack of vinyl records. He didn't even bother with wrapping paper, planning to set it up the moment they got home. He figured Sirius's volatile temper could use the soothing influence of some good music.
He rounded out his haul with greeting cards, wrapping paper, and a new suit for the party, intending to package some of his own Euphoria Potion as additional gifts for the other guests. Having Sirius along proved useful after all; the man acted as a very effective pack mule, grumbling the entire way back to the car with a massive box of gifts.
For the next few days, Alan stayed within the villa. Sirius spent his time either disappearing on Order business or sprawled on the floor, obsessively tinkering with the new gramophone.
During a quiet evening, Alan finally asked about the fireplace communication. It turned out to be a derivative of Floo magic. The fireplace in Sirius's home was part of a secure, private network specifically for the Order. While it didn't allow for physical travel, it provided a direct, real-time link between members—a crucial tool for the days to come.