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Several minutes later Alastor reappeared with a pair of healers in tow. He stood back to give them room to work as they flanked Dorcas and Luka before one split off to check on the medic. Blood was covering the floor, dotted with the buttons from Alastor’s shirt. The large pole in Dorcas’ stomach scraped the ground with a nauseating screech anytime someone moved her, but Moody could tell the witch was no longer moving on her own. He stepped closer and asked the healers what he could do to help, thankfully feeling an odd sensation under foot before pressing all of his weight down. He looked down and saw Dorcas’ wand under his shoe, and bent down to pick it up.

His focus was fully on stopping the bleeding but even Moody couldn’t miss the sickening thud of the healer’s head slamming into the floor. “Go get another healer or get in here and stop the bleeding. Make yourself useful.”

Alastor ignored Luka’s nonsense that Dorcas was dead, and slid to the ground beside them as the reception witch rang for the healer. He swore at the sight of the pole through her middle but knew better than to pull it out. Instead, he focused on putting pressure onto her mangled arm in an attempt to slow the bleeding. His large hands weren’t enough and without thinking, he pulled off his shirt, buttons popping off in every direction, and pressed the fabric against her wounds. A pop signaled the arrival of the medic, but Moody refused to move until instructed to.

Moody was busy listening to all the nitty gritty gossip about the couple on their way to the courts. The wife had attempted to remove her husband’s yellow armband in a spell that had gone awry. She was being charged with a few comparatively minor infractions such as Destruction of Government Property whereas her husband was facing 10 years in Azkaban for the part he played, though Moody didn’t get to hear the possible charges as they were interrupted by a loud knob who though being his father’s seed meant he could get away with anything he wanted. Sadly, it basically did, but Moody wasn’t one to cower to trumped up nitwits. “It is lucky, ‘cause if your father was here, he’d probably have a question or two for you and your little friend.” Moody nodded his head in the direction of one of the offices where Luka had emerged from and now a disheveled blonde witch was trying to step out casually despite wearing her skirt on inside out. Moody turned to the reception witch, “thanks for the chat. Have a good evening.” With the information he’d gleaned from his short conversation, he had enough to bring to Dumbledore and, if they were quick, they could potentially do some good amid all the evil.

Clarice returned just in time to usher Alastor behind the sofa, saving him from having to make the decision himself. Clar was good for that, and he gave her a chaste peck on the lips as the ducked to keep the surprise alive just a little bit longer. Alastor was pleased for the opportunity to jump up and shout "surprise" along with the other guests, if only to save his knees from squatting longer, and definitely to get away from the smell that had been circulating the area. Moody's eyes were trained on Dorian's face, mildly amused at the clear shock and civilized annoyance on the uptight man's expression. Yes, that was definitely worth making the trip out.

Alastor put his hand around his wife's waist as they chatted with another couple and when her champagne glass was emptied, Alastor agreed to go fetch her another one. He was happy to let her be the one to get a little tipsy tonight. She was nearly always the responsible one, having to care for Alice while he was out working and rarely getting to socialize herself. He fully believed in the saying 'happy wife, happy life' and was already expecting to help a wobbling Clarice to bed at the same time as Alice would need to be going down. His wife was a light weight. "I'll see what food I can find you as well," he added before heading off toward one of the posh trays full of appetizers and alcohol.

"Are we talking presents?" Moody interjected, having heard hushed tones and naturally needed to ear hustle. Dorian and his newly found brother had just broken off from their group and now the idea was being floated that Dorian not open his gifts in plain view of all the curious onlookers who would surely make him feel even more discomfort than the party itself had already caused. Alastor enjoyed Dorian's company, but he'd come for the schadenfreude as much as anything else. "Come on then, Humbert. Let's all see what you've got there."

The opportunity to handle Agent Hymbert came quicker than expected. Dorcas went quiet and Alastor turned his head to see Dorian approaching them at a steady pace. The man’s tone was not quite accusatory but Al knew him better than to suspect his statement was as innocuous as it may have seemed. “Good thing you were here, too, Agent Meadowes. That kid is terribly lucky you have such good timing.” Alastor gave his head a nod in the direction of where the boy was still being looked over a few yards away. “Dorian,” the hulking Auror stepped toward the trimmer man, crossing in front of Dorcas as he aimed to move the conversation away from any suspicions toward her, “this is going to be a massive investigation. Meadowes was just filling me in on the body count inside.” Alastor didn’t need the numbers, he knew who had been in there; he’d put them there. Like sheep to the slaughter. Their deaths were on his hands. “We’ll need experience heading the case.”

Removing the Dark Mark that hung over the burning building was an easy enough task, though the magic took some time to dissipate, it was not a complicated task. Just a lengthy one. Thankfully, if there were anything at all to be thankful for in this situation, the attack on the safe house had occurred during the day so the glittering skull and snake hanging in the sky did not draw they eye in the same manner as the green glow that it created at night. Of course there were more muggles awake at the moment to notice the mark, so Alastor got to work immediately working to take down the tell-tale sign of a Death Eater attack.

With his first task completed, Alastor directed a few of the Obliviators to muggles he’d seen passing by that had managed to duck into a nearby home without wizard detection, then he joined the team extinguishing the fires around the outside of the building. When Dorcas and Dorian emerged they were ushered to the Healers and with the house merely more than a smolder, Alastor took advantage. “What of the families?” he asked Dorcas, positioning himself with his back to Dorian. This wasn’t Moody the Auror talking, it was Moody the Order member and the man who had been working diligently to smuggle the muggle-born families to safety. He had failed and he was furious.