"Go back? Right now?"
Inside the tent protected by layers of Protective Magic, Harry looked up from the atlas in his hands and stared at the slightly breathless Sirius in confusion, unable to understand why he wanted them to return to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters immediately.
"Did something happen?"
Hermione was far more perceptive than Harry and Ron, and quicker-witted as well. The moment Sirius reminded them to return to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, she had guessed that something might have happened.
However, the news Sirius brought was a huge blow to the three of them, who had been thriving outside these past few days.
None of them had expected things to end so abruptly like this. The operation they had long anticipated to strike at Dark wizards had not even caught sight of a single target.
"Harry, our enemies aren't those Dark wizards."
"But..." Harry hesitated.
"No buts."
After they had packed up the tent, Sirius directly Apparated the three of them back to the Order of the Phoenix. Only after confirming that the area was safe did he explain why he had brought them back to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters.
"We suspect those Dark wizards are bait Lord Voldemort threw out to lure us in."
"Bait?"
The three exchanged glances.
"We can't help every wizard." Sirius turned around, placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, and continued, "What everyone needs most isn't a savior, but courage. Only they can save themselves. All we can do is deter those Dark wizards, make them rein themselves in a little, buy everyone some time, and help awaken the courage they need to stand up and resist the enemy."
"That really sounds like something Albert would say," Harry muttered.
Sirius paused at that, then shook his head