Guess

Anduin, seeing Dumbledore toss the question to him, pondered for a moment before replying, "First, the most likely scenario is that this news is false. After all, the information came from a student, and I can't be sure if what he said is true. Even if it is true, his elders might just be bragging to him."

"Oh?" Dumbledore couldn't help but look at him a couple more times and continued, "Then why did you still pass the message to us?"

"It's better to believe it's true than to believe it's false. Even if the news is untrue, it won't have any impact. But if it's true, and my friends are put in danger because of it, I would be consumed by endless self-reproach," Anduin quickly replied.

"Hmm, cautious and resourceful. Anduin, you handled this very well." Dumbledore nodded, then said to the others, "Actually, I received similar news from other channels, which is why I called this meeting for discussion."

So that's how it is. Anduin thought, no wonder Dumbledore took it so seriously right after he gave Sirius the news without even confirming it. It seems the headmaster is quite capable. I wonder what his channels are. Does he have divination magic? Or is there a spy among the Death Eaters?

The people beside him also had expressions of sudden realization.

"Then it seems the Death Eaters might indeed launch an attack around Christmas. We just don't know who the target is, whether they're planning a large-scale attack or ambushing individuals," Edgar Bones said, stroking his thick beard.

"The chances of ambushing individuals are slim. With the holidays approaching, everyone is almost always with their families preparing for Christmas and doesn't have much time to go out," Gideon Prewett pondered for a moment and said.

"We still need to remind them to be careful with their personal safety during the holidays!" Moody said sternly.

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

"If they are planning a large-scale attack, it's most likely to happen when people are gathered. Do you have plans to gather around Christmas?" Emmeline Vance asked in a gentle voice.

"Yes, Fabian and I are planning to go to the Burrow before Christmas to spend it with my sister Molly and brother-in-law Arthur," Gideon Prewett said in a cheerful tone.

At this moment, Sirius also said, "Remus, Peter, and Anduin will be attending the Potters' dinner party."

Dumbledore said solemnly at this time, "There are also the Longbottoms and the McKinnon family. They are all large families, so the number of people gathered won't be small."

Moody, hearing that they all seemed to have happy and fulfilling families, said speechlessly, "Ha, I'll be spending Christmas alone at the Ministry of Magic. Looks like I'm quite safe."

Anduin, seeing that Moody actually had a sense of humor, found it absurd. He lowered his head, covered his mouth, and laughed silently.

"What are you laughing at, kid? Living alone is much easier than these guys with families," Moody said, deliberately putting on a fierce expression when he saw Anduin daring to laugh at him.

"I actually agree with that. After all, I've been living alone for a long time. Life alone isn't as bad as people imagine," Anduin said, controlling his facial expression and agreeing with Moody.

Hearing Anduin say this, Moody felt embarrassed to be fierce with him anymore. He could only smack his lips awkwardly and looked back at Dumbledore, saying, "Most people at the Ministry of Magic will be on holiday during Christmas, including the Aurors. Even the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes might not have anyone on duty. If no one is monitoring the magical fluctuations in London, and if the Death Eaters really attack, it will be difficult for us to mobilize quickly."

Dumbledore thought about it and considered this troublesome issue. Christmas was indeed a special time. While people were joyfully celebrating Christmas, a sudden attack could catch them completely off guard. The Ministry of Magic's Aurors would be greatly reduced due to the holiday, and if the response was not timely, there might be a situation where reinforcements couldn't arrive in time.

"This is troublesome. Are we just going to defend passively? It's better if we make the first move and go trouble those guys," Sirius said impatiently, hearing everyone's discussion.

Dumbledore could only appease him, "Don't rush, Sirius. We will find a way. Initiating conflict first will only push the situation towards the Dark Lord's side, making us more passive. Besides, I don't have a 100% certainty of defeating that person right now."

Anduin was startled upon hearing this. Even Dumbledore wasn't confident he could defeat Voldemort? He wondered how strong Voldemort was at the moment.

Dumbledore thought for a moment longer and then said to everyone, "I will find a way to deal with this. Sirius, you take Anduin back and prepare for a wonderful holiday. Fortunately, we are already prepared and can be vigilant at all times. After all, not everything bad is bound to happen, is it?"

Seeing Dumbledore say this, Sirius could only scratch his head irritably and led Anduin out of the basement.

The remaining five people continued to discuss countermeasures in the basement.

"Dumbledore, do you have any suspicions?" Edgar Bones, as one of the founders of the Order of the Phoenix, knew Dumbledore very well and asked.

Seeing Bones ask, Dumbledore smiled and replied, "Yes, I received more information from another channel. I am now almost certain that the Death Eaters will definitely launch an attack on Christmas, but I still have some concerns."

"You mean?"

Mad-Eye Moody glanced thoughtfully at Sirius, who had just left, as if he had thought of something.

Dumbledore looked at Moody and said, "Do you know why I only called a few of you here today? I suspect someone within the Order of the Phoenix might be leaking information to the Death Eaters. You know, most of our members' names and addresses are confidential, but the Death Eaters seem completely unconcerned about not being able to find our people."

Gideon Prewett asked in confusion, "You mean there's a traitor in our Order of the Phoenix?"

"So you sent Sirius away in advance too?" Edgar Bones seemed to have thought of something and asked.

"Could it be?"

Just as a guess surfaced in everyone's minds, Dumbledore interrupted them.

"I don't doubt Sirius's loyalty, but his personality is not suited for keeping secrets," Dumbledore said slowly.

"Do you have a suspect? I'm pretty sure it's that Mundungus Fletcher fellow. He's idle all day and only knows how to smuggle and make money," Mad-Eye Moody said angrily, as if he had thought of something.