Alastor Moody grumbled as he fished his flask out of his pocket. He needed a swig of fire whiskey…but after a day like he'd just experienced, who wouldn't? Before he could grasp it, however, he was greeted by a sudden crack to his left. As if someone lit a fuse to his backside, he sprang into action and flung his wand out of his pocket…then pointed it at a figure who had caused the crack. "Mad-eye, it's only me!" A deep but youthful voice clamored as the young black man who'd appeared raised his hands in surrender.
Moody scoffed. He'd only had this magical eye for three weeks and that nickname had already stuck. "You ought to be more stealthy, Shacklebolt!" Moody turned away and shoved his wand back into his front pocket. "I could've killed you." Kingsley Shacklebolt had only worked with The Ministry for a week and felt incredibly ashamed when he found he had done something wrong. "But, Mad-eye…they've found him."
Mad-eye's new magical eye swiveled to this new Auror.
"You're sure?" "Absolutely." Shacklebolt stated firmly. "His whole family."
Moody turned his entire body to face Kingsley but before he could open his mouth, he was interrupted by the nervous rookie.
"The Minister himself commanded me to find you. His wife…" He trailed off. The information he was about to share stung…not only to Shacklebolt, but it would to Moody as well…to the entire Order of The Phoenix. "Ilyana. She was murdered. He murdered her right in front of their daughters. They're in hysterics and were overheard screaming by Muggles."
"Muggles found them?" Moody shouted, enraged.
"They witnessed it all…the murder…the capture. Their memories have been cleared." Moody kept his face still. The Ministry had captured one of the most dangerous and loyal followers of Lord Voldemort five years after Voldemort's downfall…all while Moody stood lookout in the wrong place entirely. "Mad-Eye…" Shacklebolt caught Moody's attention. "They have the girls, too. All four of them. We need to find somewhere to protect them." As the two Aurors made Apparated back to the Ministry, four young girls sat in an empty office where they were supposed to be kept safe. The oldest was only seven and the youngest was not yet four. All of them were crying confused tears. They had witnessed their father, Validus Berry when he had discovered their mother had been a member of The Order of The Phoenix. The family had been in hiding for five years…ever since the fall of The Dark Lord, their father's master. Casey Berry, the oldest daughter gripped the shoulder of her fraternal twin sister Alex who looked up at her with watery eyes. "It will be okay." She tried to assure her, but before she could finish the statement a shout met their ears.
"He's gone!"
The three girls froze. Their father had escaped from the Ministry. Casey knew where he was headed too. He was going back to get the talking snake from their home. He was going to go back and get Mr. Riddle. Though the Ministry failed to keep the most deadly-and arguably most powerful-wizard known to be alive, They managed to keep his four daughters safe. A young squib who was a family friend of the current Minister took in girls because her husband died and she couldn't have children of her own. She moved them to San Diego, California and raised them like Muggles, but always told them the truth about their past.