Terry scrubbed a hand over his face, and thought about what Stephen was saying. It made much more sense, but it didn't make him feel any better. The thought that the Lestranges might have decided to come after Ernie again frightened him to his core. He wouldn't let the Lestranges get Ernie again. Not if he could help it.
"You're right, it could very well be connected to Ernie. They've attacked him before." He took a breath. "But Ernie's got blood wards now. And I didn't detect any cracks in them, any weaknesses. It just doesn't make sense." He took a breath, and made himself clam down.
"Ernie's still sleeping, he went out to fight the fire himself last night, and that's when he found Tilson." His voice cracked when he thought of the sweet little elf. "She must have gone out to defend us, she was so loyal to Ernie. Would do anything for him." He squared his shoulders.
"Right, I should contact the Aurors, let them know. And I need to figure out how they could have gotten past the wards. Can you help me put new protections up? There must have been something wrong with the warding, but that makes as much sense as anything. Which is to say not at all."