Isabelle's voice trembled with sorrow as she managed to muster the strength to ask, "How... and when did it happen?"

Minister Fudge remained silent for a moment, his gaze shifting to the man with messy black hair and empathetic hazel eyes who stepped forward. With a reassuring smile, the man introduced himself, "My name is James Potter, and I am the Head of the Auror Department."

Isabelle turned her attention to James, her eyes filled with a mixture of grief and curiosity. "Please, tell me what happened to my brother."

James took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "Your brother was found buried in Kirroughtree Forest several months ago. He showed clear signs of torture."

Isabelle's heart sank, as she felt her anger flare, "Why are you telling me this now? Why wasn't I informed earlier?"

James sighed, understanding her frustration. "We received an anonymous note that indicated your brother's death and provided information on where to find him. Until then, we had no knowledge of Mr. Rosier having a sister. It was only when we discovered a photograph of you and your brother together as children that we learned you were his sister."

Tears welled up in Isabelle's eyes as the weight of the news settled upon , maintaining his calm demeanor, pulled a notebook from his trench coat while Sirius, his curiosity getting the better of him, asked Isabelle for permission to explore the house.

Isabelle gave a nod, her expression a mixture of grief and resignation. "Go ahead, feel free to look around."

James, ever the considerate investigator, turned his attention back to Isabelle. He acknowledged her with a nod before proceeding with caution. "Isabelle, if you don't mind, I have a few questions to ask. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please know that you don't have to answer."

Isabelle took a deep breath, her eyes still glistening with tears, but she resolved to cooperate. "I'll try my best to answer, James."

James began with the grim details. "As I mentioned earlier, your brother was found in Kirroughtree Forest. Do you have any idea why he might have been there?"

Isabelle shook her head, her anger mounting at the implication in James's question. "I don't know anything about it."

James, sensing her frustration, hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Isabelle, did your brother have any enemies, anyone who might have wanted to harm him? I should also mention that your brother was a Death Eater."

Isabelle's eyes blazed with indignation, and she retorted, "I'm well aware of the kind of person my brother was and the ideals he supported."

Enzo, equally incensed by the insinuation, spoke up. "If you've come here to blame her brother for being part of her family, right in front of her, you can all leave. Even though I'm not a wizard, I'm aware of the prejudice against her family."

James quickly apologized, his intentions misunderstood. "I didn't mean to accuse anyone. I'm here for information."

Isabelle, though still upset, decided to clarify her situation. "I haven't spoken to my brother since he left for Hogwarts."

James, surprised by this revelation, inquired further. "You didn't attend Hogwarts with him?"

Isabelle explained, "No, after my parents' separation, my mother disagreed with my father's and brother's supremacist ideals and took me out of London. I attended Durmstrang."

James nodded, jotting down notes. He asked one last question, "Did your brother ever try to contact you?"

Isabelle gazed into the distance for a moment, recalling that night when Evan had shown up with Mia. "As I mentioned before, Evan and I haven't spoken since he went to Hogwarts."

James wrapped up the questioning, acknowledging the dead end. "If you think of anyone else who might have information about your brother, please don't hesitate to contact me."

As James went to join Sirius, the minister informed Isabelle of a Gringotts representative who had come to handle the paperwork. Isabelle was now the head of the Rosier family and had her seat on the Wizengamot.

Enzo expressed gratitude and accepted the papers, placing them on the table. Meanwhile, Sirius examined the photos above the fireplace with great interest. In many of them, two boys and a girl were prominently featured. A tall, pale boy with black hair and violet eyes stood on one side, a blonde boy with hazel eyes on the other, and in the middle, a girl with dark hair and blue eyes.

Sirius, observing the photos, turned to Isabelle and commented, "You have a rather charming family."

Isabelle smiled as she joined Sirius to look at the picture. "Those are my daughter and her two best friends."

Sirius, ever the mischief-maker, couldn't help but notice the closeness between the boys. "Seems like those boys are pretty close."

Isabelle chuckled, knowing all too well the trouble they got into. "They're never far from each other, always looking for trouble."

Sirius laughed and playfully draped an arm around James's shoulders. He turned to Isabelle with a mischievous grin. "This one knows what it's like to have boys looking for trouble, don't you?"

Isabelle turned her attention to James. "Do you have children, James?"

James nodded somberly. "Yes, I have a son and a daughter. Unfortunately, my daughter is no longer with us."

As James looked at the photo that featured Isabelle's daughter and her friends, he couldn't help but offer a heartfelt observation. "Your daughter bears a striking resemblance to you."

Isabelle smiled, touched by the compliment, and replied, "Thank you. They grow up so quickly, don't they?"

James chuckled in agreement. "You're absolutely right. It feels like they were just babies not too long ago. How old is your daughter?"

Isabelle reflected for a moment before answering, "She's 13, soon to be 14."

James smiled warmly. "Well, my daughter would be around that age too."

Isabelle, her empathy shining through, reached out and touched James's shoulder gently. "I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose a child."

The minister, sensing that the conversation was winding down, approached Isabelle and bid her farewell once more, offering his condolences.

James and Sirius followed suit, bidding Isabelle farewell as well. Before they left, James reminded her, "If you remember anything or have any information that could help, please don't hesitate to contact me."

As James and Sirius stepped outside. Sirius couldn't contain his curiosity and concern. He grabbed James's arm and asked in a hushed tone, "Do you think Isabelle was being honest in there?"

James considered their encounter carefully before responding. "It didn't seem like she was lying. She's going through a lot right now."

Turning to face Sirius, James inquired, "Did you see anything interesting?"

Sirius nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, that black-haired friend of Isabelle's daughter caught my eye."

James raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why's that?"

Sirius explained, "The color of his eyes, mate. They were unmistakable. That shade of violet belongs to the Shafiq family."

James frowned, puzzled. "But there's no one left from that family, right?"

Sirius nodded but continued, "True, but there's something else. That boy seems awfully familiar to me, and I can't quite place it."

James scratched his head, deep in thought. "Well, maybe we should ask Regulus, Lucius, or Narcissa. They're more familiar with pureblood families. They might know something about him."

The day of Evan Rosier's funeral was dreary and gray, with rain falling steadily from the somber sky. It was a reflection of the bleak turnout; not many people had come to pay their respects. Evan seemed to have made few, if any, friends, and those he might have had were likely Death Eaters, now imprisoned or on the run.

Isabelle stood by her brother's graveside, the raindrops mingling with the tears on her cheeks as she said her silent goodbyes. Her thoughts were interrupted when a woman with platinum hair and dreamy blue eyes approached her, offering her condolences.

The mournful atmosphere made Isabelle appreciate the unexpected kindness. She looked at the woman and asked, "What's your name? Did you know my brother?"

The blonde woman extended a comforting hand and introduced herself. "My name is Pandora Lovegood. Evan and I were at Hogwarts together."

Isabelle's curiosity was piqued, and she leaned in a little closer. "Tell me, what was my brother like during his time at Hogwarts?"

Pandora smiled, her gaze distant as she reminisced. "Your brother, Evan, talked a lot about you, you know."

Isabelle's eyes widened in surprise, and Pandora let out a soft laugh.

Isabelle couldn't help but ask, "Did Evan have friends back at Hogwarts?"

Pandora nodded, her expression turning wistful. "Yes, he did. Evan, Barty, Regulus, and I were quite close. Unfortunately, we all went our separate ways during the wizarding war."

Isabelle's heart ached as she considered the bond her brother had shared with these friends. She asked with a hopeful tone, "Did Barty and Regulus come to the funeral?"

Pandora's gaze shifted to a spot under a tree nearby, where a young man with black hair and gray eyes stood solemnly. She pointed toward him and said, "Barty isn't here, but Regulus is. He's over there."

As Isabelle and Pandora continued their conversation, Mia, Evan's niece, wandered through the somber gathering. Her eyes caught sight of a young black-haired man with gray eyes who seemed to be observing the funeral from a distance. Curiosity piqued, she approached him.

Mia, her youthful innocence shining through, asked the young man, "Have you met my uncle Evan?"

Startled by the unexpected inquiry, the young man turned to face Mia, his gray eyes meeting her curious gaze. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he noted the resemblance between the girl and her uncle. "You look quite a bit like your uncle," he remarked.

Mia returned the smile and responded, "Many people say I look like my mom. By the way, my name is Mia."

The young man, still smiling, extended his hand toward her and introduced himself. "I'm Regulus."

Mia, still smiling, responded, "Nice to meet you, Regulus."

Their conversation continued as Mia watched her mother talking to Pandora nearby. She turned her attention back to Regulus and began to share a peculiar detail. "You know, sometimes I dream that Uncle Evan is holding me and he's running away as if he's escaping from something."

Regulus furrowed his brow, intrigued by Mia's dream. "That's quite an unusual dream. Do you know what it means?"

Mia shrugged, not dwelling on it too much. "I don't think too much about it."

Isabelle approached Mia and Regulus, realizing that she wanted to have a private conversation with the young man. She gently suggested, "Mia, why don't you go play with Theo and Jace for a while? I'd like to talk to Regulus."

Mia nodded and ran off to join her friends. Regulus couldn't help but notice one of Mia's friends, a black-haired boy who bore a striking resemblance to an old Hogwarts classmate.

Interrupting his thoughts, Isabelle turned to Regulus and addressed him. "Pandora mentioned that you and my brother were friends."

Regulus offered his condolences sincerely, his gray eyes reflecting genuine sympathy. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, Isabelle."

Isabelle's grief weighed heavily on her as she turned her attention to Regulus. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Regulus, do you know how Evan died?"

Regulus nodded somberly. "Yes, my brother and his best friend are investigating the case."

Isabelle's eyes widened with realization, and she couldn't help but ask, "Was your brother Sirius?"

Regulus was taken aback by the question, his expression showing surprise. "How do you know Sirius?"

Isabelle explained, "Sirius and you, you see, you're remarkably similar, just like Evan and me. They came some weeks ago to ask some questions about Evan"

Regulus couldn't help but smile at the parallel. "Evan used to talk about you a lot and how much he missed you."

Isabelle's smile was tinged with sadness as she listened to Regulus's fond memories of her brother. Her questions persisted, "Regulus, do you have any idea who could have killed my brother?"

Regulus's expression turned grave, and he shook his head. "After graduating from Hogwarts, Evan and I didn't keep in touch much. I'm afraid I don't know who could have done it."

Isabelle reached out and touched Regulus's arm in gratitude. "Thank you for coming to the funeral and for sharing your memories of Evan with means a lot"

Regulus nodded, his own sorrow evident. "I wish I could have done more. If you ever need anything or have more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out."

As the funeral for Evan came to a close, people began to say their final goodbyes to Isabelle and departed, leaving the rain-soaked graveyard behind. Unbeknownst to everyone, a mysterious figure had been watching the proceedings from a distance, hidden in the shadows.

Once the last mourner had left and the cemetery was deserted, the figure could hold back their emotions no longer. They approached Evan's grave, sobbing inconsolably, and then threw themselves upon it. With tears streaming down their face, they whispered to the cold earth, "I'm Barty, Evan. I'm so sorry. It should have been me, not you."

Barty drew his wand, revealing a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. Pouring the amber liquid into the glasses, he placed one of them on the grave and took a long, heavy sip from the other.

Speaking through his tears, Barty confessed his guilt to the gravestone. "Evan, you were always the better one of us. I'm sorry for that night we fought. I should have stopped the injuries, but I couldn't. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I told you to kill the girl. She wasn't to blame for anything, and I thank you for not taking her life, even though it cost you yours. It's my fault you're gone."

Barty's voice quivered as he continued, "Dora and Reggie were at the funeral too."

Despite the alcohol coursing through his veins, Barty made a solemn promise to his departed friend. Conjuring a black rose, he gently placed it on Evan's grave and declared, "I'll avenge your death, Evan, even if it means ending up in Azkaban. Your sins have been paid for. Now, it's my turn, and I'm ready."

Just as Barty was preparing to leave, a sudden voice rang out, "Hey, you, stop!". Fear surged through him as he disappeared in an instant, believing that someone had recognized him.

Unbeknownst to Barty, Regulus had been observing the figure from a distance, trying to place their familiarity. He couldn't hear the words spoken but saw the black rose being placed on the grave. In a rush of realization, he sprinted toward the figure, shouting for them to stop. But before he could reach them, the individual disappeared into thin air.

Regulus cursed loudly, frustrated and anxious. "Shit," he muttered, realizing that something had slipped through his fingers once again. He had to talk to his brother and James as soon as possible.

James, Sirius, Lucius, and Narcissa were engaged in a heated argument when Regulus suddenly appeared in their midst. His presence immediately caught Sirius's attention, and he turned to his brother, concerned in his eyes.

"Regulus, how did your friend's funeral go?" Sirius inquired, his voice tinged with worry.

Regulus sighed and replied, "Well, there weren't many people there, but something strange happened. Someone left a black rose on Evan's grave."

James, who had been deep in thought, suddenly snapped his eyes open at Regulus's words. He urged Regulus to repeat what he had just said, a note of urgency in his voice.

Regulus reiterated, "Someone left a black rose on Evan's grave."

James pressed further, "Do you have any idea who it might have been?"

Regulus shook his head, frustration evident in his expression. "I couldn't see who it was, but they seemed familiar. I also met Isabelle's daughter and her friends."

Sirius, his curiosity piqued, inquired, "Did anything about the boys catch your attention?"

Regulus pondered for a moment before responding, "There was a black-haired boy who bore a striking resemblance to Thaddeus Nott."

Sirius's eyes widened with recognition. "That's it! That's why he seemed familiar! The Notts are purebloods, black-haired, with blue eyes. Thaddeus was one of Voldemort's followers."

Lucius, ever the voice of reason, chimed in. "As much as I'd like to believe it, Sirius, Thaddeus is my age, which makes him five years older than Regulus. Besides, Thaddeus was imprisoned after the first wizarding war."

"Thaddeus had a little brother named Thoros," Regulus suddenly interjected, breaking the contemplative silence. "Thoros was in Slytherin at Hogwarts. He's an exact copy of Thaddeus, and he fits the description. He's nearly the same age as me."

James nodded decisively. "We'll send a statement to the Nott residence, requesting Thoros to come in for questioning at the Auror department. I'll personally handle the interrogation."

Lucius, however, urged caution. "James be careful, we can't afford to be accused of prejudice against pureblood families with dark pasts based solely on the name they carry. Not when our sons are best friends. Not when your daughter is Reggie and Cissa's goddaughter"

Sirius, surprising the group, chimed in. "James, don't get too obsessed with Thoros if he turns out not to be the person we're looking for. Matching a couple of facts doesn't make someone guilty, especially because I know firsthand what it's like to be judged solely by the last name you bear."

Narcissa's question hung in the air, casting a momentary shadow of doubt over the discussion. "Is there a possibility that the dark-haired boy Sirius and Regulus saw was the son of Thoros and not Thaddeus?"

"I never spoke to Thoros, but I'm certain he didn't become a Death Eater like his brother." Regulus offered.

Narcissa pressed on. "Then, who could be the boy's mother?"

James recalled Sirius's observation about the violet eyes, and he shared, "Sirius mentioned that the mother would have to be from the Shafiq family because of the boy's violet eyes."

Narcissa's eyes widened in realization. "This boy then must be the son of Selene and Thoros, Theodore."

Lucius turned to his wife, puzzled, and inquired, "How do you know that?"

Narcissa explained, "Selene's death was shrouded in strange circumstances, or at least that's what the social circles have whispered."

Before the discussion could delve further into the details, James interjected firmly, bringing the focus back to the matter at hand. "So, do we all agree that I should call Thoros Nott to testify?"

Narcissa, her maternal instincts taking over, voiced her concern. "James, please be careful with the questions you ask Thoros. The walls of the Ministry have ears, and they could take custody of their his son away. Thoros has already lost his wife, and Theodore has lost his mother. Let's not be the reason they lose the only person they have left."