Unfortunately, the shared vision of the birds didn't allow Alan to see as if he were physically present. The resolution was insufficient to identify the specific runes of the enchantments from a distance, and since the summoned ravens couldn't cast spells, he had no way to dismantle the alarms from the inside.
*Infiltration seems impossible. Will I really have to force a breach, or can I lure them out? Wait... what's this?*
His attention was suddenly drawn to a detail. He maneuvered Raven Number Two to the base of a bedroom door, staring intently at the threshold. The door was a standard size, but the gap at the bottom was unusually wide—at least 1.5 centimeters.
A plan instantly flashed in his mind. *That's the opening I need.*
"One last test for defensive magic on the walls," Alan thought.
Raven Number Two padded over to an interior wall and pecked it lightly. Nothing happened. She continued pecking along the perimeter until she reached the outer wall near a window. This time, there was a reaction.
Through the eyes of Raven Number One, still stationed on the second floor, Alan saw the group in the living room stiffen. Their expressions shifted instantly to alarm. Torquil Travers, who had been leading the conversation, barked an order and drew his wand. The others followed suit, falling into defensive positions.
"The third-floor alarm was triggered," Torquil said, glancing at a man with a thick, unkempt beard. "Karkaroff, go up and check it. The rest of you, stay alert."
"Me again?" Igor Karkaroff grumbled, looking displeased, but he knew his place. As a fugitive, he was entirely dependent on Travers for sanctuary. Clutching his wand, he began to ascend the stairs, moving with practiced caution.
Downstairs, Torquil looked grimly at the remaining men. "Yaxley, Goyle, Crabbe—get the Floo powder ready. If this is a raid, we fall back to Travers Manor immediately."
The three nodded, each moving to the hearth to grab a handful of silver powder, poised to vanish at a moment's notice.
Upstairs, Karkaroff peered into the small living area. Finding it empty, he meticulously swept the floor, checking inside every bedroom. Just as he was beginning to relax, a sharp rapping sound came from the window. He felt the ripple of the alarm magic again. He whirled, pointing his wand at the source, only to see a small raven foolishly pecking at the glass.
"Phew," Karkaroff exhaled, his shoulders dropping. "Just a bird scaring us half to death."
He walked to the window, muttered a counter-charm to temporarily suppress the alarm, and shoved the sash open. He waved his hand to shoo the raven away, sticking his head out to scan Diagon Alley. After confirming the street looked normal, he closed the window, recast the alarm, and headed back down to the second floor.
Torquil looked up as Karkaroff returned. "Well?"
"A stupid raven crashed into the glass. It must have triggered the ward. I chased it off and checked the perimeter; the seals are intact," Karkaroff said, letting out a short laugh as he collapsed back onto the sofa.
The tension in the room broke. The others put down their Floo powder and resumed their seats. Karkaroff, watching them settle back in, felt a sudden surge of resentment. "So, in your eyes, I'm just the expendable one you send into the line of fire, eh?" He pouted, though he didn't push the issue further.
Torquil ignored the comment, his focus returning to the matter at hand. "We stay here for now. My brother is under immense pressure at the Ministry. Millicent Bagnold is aggressively courting the neutral families. If the political tide turns, you'll all have to flee abroad and wait for the Dark Lord's summons."
"I'm still not sure about this," the stout Crabbe whispered. "My son just turned three..."
"Exactly," the burly Goyle added. "Why can't your brother talk to some of the other families? Malfoy and the others are walking around Diagon Alley like nothing happened. Why are we the ones living in a hole?"
"Enough!" Torquil roared, silencing him. "Bagnold is a fanatic. She's determined to carry out a purge, and she has Dumbledore's full support. Do you think my life is easy? One wrong move and the McKinnons will have me in a cell. They've been hounding my family relentlessly."
He took a jagged breath, trying to calm himself. "I know it's hard, but the situation is volatile. I've spoken with Julia; she's persuaded Lucius Malfoy to keep an eye on your families. When the Dark Lord returns, we'll reclaim everything."
"But... people are saying he's dead," Karkaroff said timidly. "Maybe if we went to the Ministry—claimed we were under the Imperius Curse, that we were forced—maybe we could..."
Torquil surged to his feet, grabbing Karkaroff by the collar and shoving him against the back of the sofa. His eyes were wild. "The Dark Lord is immortal! Are you talking about betrayal?"
"No! No, I meant we should pretend!" Karkaroff stammered, terrified. "Just a ruse to clear our names!"
"Hmph. Do you think they're idiots? You're a wanted man. Even I, with all my brother's influence, have to stay out of the light. They'd never clear you." Torquil shoved him away and turned to Yaxley. "And you? You haven't said a word. What's on your mind?"
"Me?" Yaxley blinked, startled out of his thoughts. "Nothing. It's just... when Karkaroff mentioned that raven, it reminded me of someone. A damned brat at school."
"That Alan Wilson?" Torquil asked. He clearly knew the name.