It took many hours before the flames burnt themselves out. Once they were out, though, the heat from them dissipated instantly, letting Tamblin walk through the ashes of his home. There were only a few walls still left and those were half eaten away. The only part of the mansion not damaged were the walls and door to the study, which remained impervious to the fire due to the magic that moved the room through space. The hearth wasn't completely destroyed although the bas relief figures were significantly melted and shapeless now. Sifting through the ashes Tamblin found the Amphisbaen. The figurine had cracked under the heat stress, or maybe the Death Eaters had broken it before setting the fire. One head flicked a tongue out at him weakly but that was all.
It was sunset when Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived, Apparating on the front lawn. Dumbledore had long since departed when it became clear that Karkaroff was either dead or long since spirited away. Tamblin had insisted that he didn't need anything. He just wanted time alone.
"Tamblin…" Shacklebolt said when he found him ankle-deep in ashes in the south end of the house. He didn't seem to know what to say.
"This was the library. Hundreds of books. Many dozens of them irreplaceable family histories and genealogies. Utterly irreplaceable," Tamblin said as he opened his hands and a cloud of blackened powder fell from them.
"You should go back to Hogwarts. You need some sleep, and a chance to grieve."
Tamblin looked at the tall black Auror.
"I told my house elf to hide when the Death Eaters came. She couldn't leave the mansion and disobey me. The Death Eaters took Karkaroff whom I had promised asylum. They destroyed countless family treasures and a wealth of history that was beyond any price. Grieving will wait. However if you wanted to be of help you could take me back to the school. I do have a lot to do."
Tamblin walked on the ashen remains of his life that was.