Chapter 28 (~10k words):
– Harry –
Ancient Runes class had always been rather enjoyable for me, especially since it was one of the few classes I shared with my beautiful aunt Sona. Professor Babbling's soft voice calmly echoed throughout the room as she gently moved around the classroom, her hand tracing carefully over various rune diagrams that she projected onto the wall behind her. Today we were covering patterns that could allow rooms that weren't physically next to one another to be connected.
So that's how Scooby Doo did it… Those rooms were magic after all!!
Beside me, Sona's pen moved furiously across the neatly-lined parchment on her desk. She looked especially lovely today, her glossy black hair was perfect as usual, her glasses were resting gently upon the bridge of her nose, framing eyes sharp with concentration. She was completely absorbed in note-taking, pausing only occasionally to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Her interest in Ancient Runes had intensified greatly over the past few weeks, especially after discovering that she could instantly produce complex runes by sculpting them directly from ice magic.
Even so, Sona's ability to multitask was impressive. Despite being focused on the professor's instructions, she managed to nod and give me amused, faintly teasing smiles as I quietly recounted my weekend back in the Underworld. I described how exhausting and slightly embarrassing it had been to spend two whole days filming with my mother on her Magical Girl Levia-tan set, trying to fulfill the losing bet I'd made against Sona herself.
Sona lifted her gaze briefly from her notes and smirked faintly at me, a glint of amusement appearing behind her glasses. Her voice was a soft whisper, meant only for me to hear. "I warned you, didn't I, Harry? I don't make a habit out of losing bets!"
I rolled my eyes playfully and leaned slightly closer to her, my voice just as quiet. "Yes—well, we'll see how that goes next time, won't we?"
She smiled slightly, shaking her head and continuing to write. ""I admit, I am looking forward to seeing your episodes. It should be very entertaining," her smile turned into a smirk.
I sighed in mock defeat, rubbing the back of my neck. "Please, go easy on me when you finally watch it. Your sister—my mother—went completely overboard. Honestly, it was pretty embarrassing."
Sona gave another quiet, gentle laugh, carefully covering her mouth with one hand as she scribbled more runes down onto her parchment. "We'll see…"
I lowered my voice slightly more, ensuring no other classmates overheard. "Well, after the filming, things took a pretty unexpected turn. On Sunday, there was an emergency call about goblins attacking Phenex territory."
Her pen paused for a moment as she absorbed that new information, but quickly continued writing. "Goblins? In Phenex territory? Weren't they just allowed back in the underworld? Why would they be so foolish as to—?"
"I have no idea," I interrupted softly, "but the entire village had already been overrun by the time we arrived. It was an absolute massacre. Most of the women and children got away, but a lot of men died fighting. They were just low class devils living there, most of them had never had to fight in their entire lives…"
Her pink eyes widening with concern behind her glasses. Her whisper turned urgent. "What? Were you attacked as well when you got there?"
"Not initially, but—" I hesitated, not wanting to worry her further, yet knowing I couldn't leave out this detail. "Eventually, yes. Behemoth and Mum went ahead to handle some goblins they'd tracked to another location. That left me alone to search the destroyed village with… well, with Riser Phenex of all people."
I saw her slender fingers tighten around the pen, her expression shifting instantly from concern to displeasure at the mention of Riser's name. Still, she urged quietly, "Continue."
I took a breath, carefully recounting the fight while keeping my voice low. "We didn't realize it was an ambush until the goblins suddenly surrounded us. They were armed with silver weapons enchanted to inflict holy damage—"
The snapping sound of Sona's pen startled me into silence. The entire classroom fell quiet as Sona abruptly rose to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the stone floor behind her. All eyes, including Professor Babbling's, turned toward us in astonishment.
"What the fuck happened, Harry?" Sona demanded loudly, her voice thick with worry. "Are you okay? Why didn't you send a message to me yesterday!?"
Professor Babbling blinked, clearly startled by Sona's sudden outburst. Adjusting her glasses nervously, the professor attempted to gently regain control of the disrupted class. "Miss Sitri, is something wrong?"
The rest of the students began whispering and murmuring to each other, glancing curiously between me and Sona, clearly anticipating another scandalous event involving Harry Sitri. I sighed inwardly at their predictability.
I straightened slightly in my seat, giving Professor Babbling an apologetic look before addressing her respectfully. "I'm sorry, Professor. This is actually my fault. I was telling Sona about something important that happened to me over the weekend, and it startled her."
Professor Babbling frowned gently, obviously concerned yet somewhat unsure how to proceed. "And what exactly happened, Mr. Sitri?"
I shook my head slightly, giving her my most reassuring expression. "It's alright, Professor," I began carefully, deliberately choosing my words to reveal as little as possible about the Underworld or my true nature. "What happened sounds a lot worse than it actually was. There were some goblins who caused trouble near where I was staying, and yes, they did try to ambush me, but I promise I'm perfectly fine. They underestimated me—I fought them off without too much trouble."
I saw Professor Babbling's mouth open in astonishment, clearly struggling to process my casual statement. Her voice came out slightly shaky when she finally responded, "Goblins…? Ambushing students now? Merlin, Mr. Sitri—that sounds absolutely horrifying! How can you speak so casually about something like that? Are you certain you're completely unharmed?"
"I'm fine, Professor. Really," I replied calmly, forcing myself to maintain a composed façade. "I wasn't injured." Not anymore, thanks to Riser's Phenex tears, but she didn't need to know that part. "Honestly, it's nothing compared to what I've already been through this year."
A low murmur rippled across the classroom, whispers rapidly spreading through the gathered students. The excitement and intrigue were palpable, their hushed conversations becoming louder and less restrained by the second.
I overheard one particularly loud comment from across the room. A tall Hufflepuff student leaned over his desk, whispering loudly enough for half the class to hear. "I've always been pretty damn jealous of the Boy-Who-Lived. The guy literally walks around the castle surrounded by some of the hottest witches I've ever seen. Every day I see him strolling along with those gorgeous French Veela sisters hanging off him, or his sexy maid girls—hell, even Professor Black practically worships him now? But, I'll be honest… hearing about people trying to kill him every other week? That kind of takes away from the fantasy."
There were several soft chuckles and murmurs of agreement around him. I turned my head slightly, meeting his eyes with a faintly amused look, and he quickly looked away sheepishly.
But then Cormac McLaggen sitting just a few seats over from him, elbowed his friend roughly in the ribs and spoke up even louder, openly leering at several of the girls nearby. "Oh, please," McLaggen scoffed arrogantly. "I'd happily trade places with him—even with all the assassination attempts—if it meant getting even half the amazing pussy he seems to attract constantly. Goblins and dark wizards be damned, that's a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make!"
The room instantly fell into a stunned silence, every pair of eyes—including Professor Babbling's—turning sharply toward McLaggen with various expressions ranging from shock, embarrassment, to outright disgust.
Professor Babbling's pale face immediately reddened in clear embarrassment and anger, and she let out a heavy sigh as she glared pointedly at the young wizard. "Detention, Mr. McLaggen," she stated flatly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Report to my office immediately after class."
Cormac simply rolled his eyes dismissively but wisely chose not to push his luck any further, slumping back in his seat with a faint scowl.
The rest of the students quickly averted their gazes as Professor Babbling tried once more to continue her lecture, clearly hoping to regain some semblance of normalcy in the room.
Sona sat quietly back down next to me, her expression tense and unhappy. She slid closer beneath the desk, discreetly slipping her soft hand into mine. Her gentle fingers stroked the top of my knuckles lightly in quiet reassurance, and she leaned toward me to whisper softly again, eyes filled with quiet warmth.
"I'm glad you're okay, Harry," she said gently, her voice quiet and deeply concerned. "But we're definitely going to talk more about this later. You shouldn't have kept something this important from me."
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return, offering her an apologetic look. "I know," I whispered softly, giving her a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, Sona. I promise we'll talk properly as soon as class ends, okay?"
She nodded slightly in acceptance, returning my faint smile before finally turning her attention reluctantly back toward Professor Babbling, who had managed to once again regain control of the lesson.
Just as I was beginning to relax again, a prickling sensation crept suddenly along the back of my neck, causing me to shift uneasily. My instincts were telling me I was being closely watched, and a moment later, I realized exactly whose piercing eyes were focused so intensely on me.
Hermione—my first girlfriend, my trusted bishop, and someone who I definitely should have told about the goblin ambush last night—sat directly behind me, and when I turned slowly to meet her stare.
Her normally soft brown eyes were cold and narrowed, her pretty mouth pressed tightly into a thin, displeased line.
Uh oh.
Yeah, I think I forgot to tell my peerage about what happened after I left with mum during dinner.
…My ear was still stinging painfully from where Hermione had pinched it. Honestly, I hadn't seen her look that furious with me in quite some time. Her sharp scolding still echoed clearly in my head—she had insisted, in no uncertain terms, that if anything remotely similar happened again, I'd better tell her straight away—even if I didn't want to wake her up because she was already asleep.
As I walked briskly down the Hogwarts corridors, my mind drifted toward Tonks. She wasn't waiting for me outside the classroom.
Where had she gone off to? Wasn't she supposed to be my official guard? Thinking about it, I realized she hadn't been there when I woke up this morning in the Underworld either. The rest of my peerage had been fast asleep in my bed, but Tonks had already been gone by then.
Had something urgent come up for her?
I approached Narcissa's Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The heavy wooden door opened suddenly, and a noisy rush of third-year students began spilling out into the hallway, chattering excitedly about whatever lesson they'd just completed.
I stepped aside, waiting patiently for them to clear out of the doorway.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, a flash of vivid red immediately caught my attention. I turned my head slightly, and my breath briefly caught in my throat. A stunningly beautiful Slytherin girl I'd never noticed before was making her way toward me. Her long red hair fell down her back, framing a face that could only be described as flawless. Her eyes were striking emerald green, and her lips full and inviting. Her body was undeniably captivating, curvaceous with generous breasts that strained noticeably against the fabric of her Hogwarts robes.
As if sensing my gaze, she looked directly at me. For a moment our eyes met, holding steadily. She seemed almost as surprised as I was, her eyes widening slightly in interest before a slow, confident smile began spreading over her beautiful lips. Her expression was openly curious, boldly assessing, and without a single trace of embarrassment at catching me staring at her so openly.
Heat rose quickly in my cheeks as I forced myself to break our eye contact, turning my gaze away from her face.
Who was that? I'd never seen her around Hogwarts before, yet her robes clearly bore the colors of Slytherin House. Perhaps Daphne or Tracy might know more. I made a mental note to ask them later.
My heartbeat quickened slightly at the thought of finding out more about this mysterious girl. There was just something about her that—
I shook my head!
Gathering my composure again, I entered Narcissa's now mostly empty classroom. Narcissa and Tonks stood near the center of the room, their wands flicking back and forth (even though they didn't need them) as they magically vanished the messy remains of several thoroughly destroyed training dummies.
Narcissa looked as elegant as ever, her long platinum hair perfectly styled and pulled back from her face. She looked very pleased with herself, I knew she liked being the official professor now.
Tonks, by contrast, wore a slightly sheepish, hesitant look on her lovely face. She was frowning lightly, seemingly deep in thought as she swept away the debris with less practiced motions than her aunt.
"Harry," Narcissa greeted me warmly, a pleasant smile curving her lips. "I'm glad you could stop by. We were just finishing up."
I smiled back at her affectionately. "It certainly looks like it was a productive class. Though it does make me wonder—were the students practicing defensive spells, or were you two taking out some stress on the poor training dummies yourselves?"
Narcissa gave a soft, elegant laugh, clearly amused at my observation. "A bit of both, I suppose. Today's lesson focused on explosive hexes and defensive shielding. The students took to it quite enthusiastically."
Turning my attention fully to Tonks, I raised an eyebrow, finally asking the question that had been nagging at me all morning. "Speaking of enthusiastic destruction—where have you been today, Tonks? I didn't see you at all when I woke up this morning back at the manor. Isn't my lovely guard supposed to stick around me at all times?"
Tonks shifted awkwardly on her feet, cheeks turning a faint shade of pink as she glanced down at the wand in her hand, clearly embarrassed and uncertain how to phrase whatever she wanted to say.
"I, um, had a bit of business to take care of, Harry," she admitted softly, meeting my gaze reluctantly. "I left pretty early. Sorry I wasn't around when you woke up."
"Business?" I repeated curiously, folding my arms across my chest. "What kind of business?"
Tonks took a deep breath and finally met my gaze squarely. "I went to the Ministry this morning and officially resigned from my position as an Auror."
My eyes widened in surprise, and my mouth fell open slightly as I processed that unexpected revelation. This was always inevitable, but I hadn't expected her to quit her job so soon after joining my peerage. "You—quit your job? Already? Tonks, you didn't have to rush into it. We could have figured things out gradually."
She gave me a small, embarrassed smile, clearly sensing my concern. "I know, Harry. I thought about doing exactly that—slowly distancing myself, gradually moving away from Ministry work. But after talking it over with Aunt Narcissa last night, I realized that dragging it out would only make it more complicated. It's better this way—clean break, no questions of split loyalty. My place is here now, with you and the rest of our peerage."
Narcissa smoothly stepped closer, nodding her head in clear approval at Tonks's words. "Precisely. We had a lengthy discussion while you were away with your mother last night, Harry. Given Nymphadora's skills and experience, we both agreed that her talents would be put to better use assisting me here at Hogwarts."
I blinked, glancing between the two lovely witches in mild confusion. "Assisting you? You mean—here, at Hogwarts? So she's taking your old job?"
Narcissa's smile widened slightly, becoming openly proud. "Exactly right. I'm very pleased to announce that, starting immediately, Nymphadora Tonks will be serving as my official teaching assistant. I already cleared it with Headmaster Dumbledore first thing this morning, and he gave his enthusiastic approval."
Tonks gave me an uncertain smile, clearly hoping for my approval. "What do you think, Harry? It's not exactly the flashy life of an Auror, but I figured at least this way I can always be close to you and the others, helping protect you all and contributing meaningfully at the same time."
My initial surprise faded rapidly, replaced by genuine warmth and happiness. I reached out and gently grasped Tonks's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Tonks, I couldn't be happier. Honestly, I was wondering how we'd manage to keep you at Hogwarts without drawing attention. This solution is absolutely perfect. Not to mention—" I smiled warmly, glancing between Narcissa and Tonks "—you two clearly make a fantastic team."
Tonks's eyes lit up brightly, her expression shifting instantly from uncertain anxiety to joy. "You really think so, Harry? I was worried you'd think I'd rushed this or made a bad choice."
I chuckled softly, stepping even closer and affectionately cupping her cheek. "Never. I trust you completely. I'm just glad you're staying here with us permanently now."
Narcissa stepped smoothly up beside Tonks, gently placing a hand on her niece's shoulder, smiling at both of us affectionately. "I think we've finally managed to make the perfect arrangement. Having Nymphadora here will make everything far simpler and far more enjoyable. In more ways than one," Narcissa said with a teasing grin as her hand went lower down Tonk's back.
Tonks suddenly let out a yelp! "Don't go pinching my arse out of nowhere like that, Aunty!" she pulled away with a pout as her hair shifted multiple colors. Narcissa and I both laughed at her reaction.
I still found it funny and ironic that the beautiful punk looking member of my peerage was actually the most innocent one.
…I left them alone so they could plan out the rest of their lessons for today while I headed down the castle for lunch, and to talk to my fiance.
I made my way over to the Hufflepuff table, noting how crowded the Great Hall was today. The warm noise of students chatting, cutlery clinking, and food being passed around filled my ears as I stepped carefully around the table. Rias was already seated with her peerage—Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, and even little Gasper were all gathered around her. When Akeno noticed me approaching, a sly smirk instantly crossed her face, and she shifted sideways deliberately, opening a small gap between herself and Rias, just wide enough for me.
"Sit right here, Harry-sama," she purred softly, gently patting the empty seat with one hand, her violet eyes sparkling mischievously. "We saved you a special spot between us."
"Right," I said dryly, though a small smile touched my lips anyway. I took the offered seat and settled down, but the moment I was seated, Akeno promptly leaned toward me, practically pushing her body flush against mine. I was suddenly very aware of how her voluptuous curves were pressing warmly into my side, her generous chest brushing snugly against my arm. I cleared my throat awkwardly, trying not to dwell too much on how nice it felt. "You're sitting a bit close, Akeno."
"Ara ara, is that so?" Akeno murmured teasingly, tilting her head slightly and fluttering her eyelashes at me. She shifted just a little more, deliberately increasing the already intimate contact between us. "Because from my perspective, this feels just perfect, Harry-sama."
I gave her a flat, unamused stare, though my face warmed slightly. Akeno simply giggled softly at my reaction, clearly delighted at having successfully embarrassed me again.
Deciding to ignore her playful antics for now, I turned my attention toward Rias. She was seated on my other side, quietly enjoying her meal and ignoring Akeno's mischief. She took another delicate bite of food..
"Hey, Rias," I began casually. "Do you happen to have a little sister or another close relative at Hogwarts that I don't know about yet?"
The reaction was immediate and dramatic. Rias's blue eyes widened abruptly in surprise and panic, and the bite of food she had been calmly chewing lodged suddenly in her throat. She coughed and choked loudly, her face turning briefly red as she hastily grabbed for a nearby glass of pumpkin juice. After a few quick sips, she finally regained control and immediately turned toward me, alarm clearly written all over her pretty face.
"Did you see HER!?Here? At Hogwarts?" she demanded urgently, her voice rising anxiously with each question. "Is she shorter than me, Harry? Does she have a ridiculously large chest for her size, bright pink eyes, and a tiny little crown on her head?"
Rias rapidly glanced around the Great Hall as though expecting this mysterious girl to jump out from behind a nearby pillar or bench at any second. Her entire peerage—including the usually stoic Koneko, the shy Gasper, and even Kiba—looked thoroughly amused at their master's startled outburst, struggling not to laugh openly at her sudden panic.
I cleared my throat awkwardly, feeling somewhat guilty for accidentally causing such distress. "Um, no, Rias," I quickly reassured her, giving her an apologetic look. "I didn't see anyone matching that particular description. Definitely not with pink eyes or a crown. You can relax."
"Oh, thank Maou," Rias breathed, slumping visibly in relief and placing a hand lightly over her heart as her tense posture relaxed considerably. She shot her chuckling peerage members a brief, annoyed glare before turning her worried eyes back toward me again. "Then who exactly did you see, Harry? And why did you think she was related to me?"
"Earlier today, after Narcissa's class ended, I spotted a girl I haven't seen before. She was a Slytherin, wearing the usual Hogwarts robes, but I noticed immediately how strongly she resembled you, Rias. Long red hair, incredibly beautiful face, flawless skin. The biggest difference between you two was her eyes—they were bright emerald green, rather than blue."
Akeno, clearly intrigued, leaned forward again, temporarily forgetting to tease me further. "Ara ara, another mysterious redhead? How very interesting," she purred thoughtfully, resting her chin gently in one hand.
"Her features were so perfectly sculpted that she seemed more like a supernatural being."
Kiba, who had been listening quietly with clear interest, finally spoke up with an amused smile. "Harry, I think you might be forgetting that Hogwarts is a school full of witches and wizards. By definition, everyone here is supernatural."
I chuckled lightly, acknowledging his point. "You're absolutely right, Kiba. Still, even knowing that fact, there was just something different about this particular girl. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but for some reason I still can't get her out of my head and all I got was a brief glance at her…"
Rias and Akeno both shrugged at each other. Neither of them knew who I was talking about.
"It's possible we got a new transfer student and just didn't notice them til now," Kiba pointed out again.
I guess I would have to ask a Slytherin then. I turned back to my fiance Rias and grinned at her. Her reaction earlier was just too cute! "Who exactly did you think I meant earlier? Who's the girl with the crown?"
Before Rias could reply, Akeno leaned slightly forward again, cutting in smoothly with an easy smile. "Buchou was worried you'd seen Runeas Gremory. But don't worry, Harry-sama. She's definitely not Rias's sister. You shouldn't worry yourself over her…Yet."
"Runeas?" I repeated slowly, carefully memorizing the name for later. "Why would she make Rias panic like that?"
Rias sighed deeply again, shaking her head gently. "It's… complicated, Harry. Trust me, it's better if you never meet her. Runeas is trouble—an absolute headache."
"I'll take your word for it then…" I chuckled.
Rias cleared her throat softly, and decided to change the topic. "It seems that you had a rather dangerous encounter yesterday evening—something involving goblins attacking the Phenex territory in the underworld? I got a message from Sona about that," she explained to me.
I nodded at her and explained what I'd already told Sona earlier.
Rias's expression darkened slightly after I explained how Riser and I were forced to team up together.
"Riser was as arrogant and insufferable as you can imagine. Throughout the whole situation, he never missed a single chance to make crude comments—particularly about you, Rias. It was honestly difficult not to lose my temper completely with him. But despite all of that, I can't deny that when the goblins ambushed us, he kept fighting right alongside me. We ended up back-to-back, surrounded by dozens of the bastards, and Riser never faltered. So, as much as I hate admitting it, he earned at least a bit of grudging respect from me."
Rias's delicate features twisted into a displeased grimace as she listened, and she shook her head lightly, sighing with evident displeasure. "Honestly, Harry, as much as I dislike hearing anything even remotely positive about Riser Phenex, I'm forced to acknowledge the facts of the situation. He may be an insufferable, arrogant idiot—but he's also the son of a prominent Devil family, and now he's fought alongside my fiancé in combat against a common enemy. Unfortunately, this means protocol demands an official response from me and my family." I watched as she turned reluctantly toward Akeno, who had been sitting quietly and listening to our conversation with obvious amusement. Rias exhaled another long sigh, her expression clearly pained as she issued instructions to her Queen. "Akeno, would you please draft a letter of gratitude and formal acknowledgment on behalf of the Gremory clan to Riser Phenex for his assistance in battle yesterday? It must be polite and respectful—despite how distasteful writing it might be."
Akeno's usually cheerful expression dropped immediately into one of mild horror. Her purple eyes widened dramatically, and she glanced from Rias to me, as if silently begging for mercy. "Ara ara, Buchou!" she whined loudly, sounding genuinely distressed. "You're really making me write a respectful thank-you letter to that arrogant fool? Of all the things I've had to do, this might just be the most difficult. Couldn't we pretend to forget this ever happened?"
Rias shook her head firmly, though her lips twitched slightly with a small smile. "I'm afraid not, Akeno. Believe me, I wish we could just ignore the whole situation, but the devil noble houses take these sorts of interactions seriously. It's unavoidable, no matter how distasteful."
I felt a pang of genuine sympathy for Rias, knowing exactly how much she despised any positive interaction with her ex-fiancé. Without really thinking about it, I leaned closer to her, gently cupping her chin with one hand, and placed a tender kiss upon her soft cheek. "Thank you, Rias. I understand exactly how uncomfortable this makes you, and how much you dislike it. I'll find a way to make it up to you later—I promise."
Her blue eyes softened considerably at my gesture, and a gentle, affectionate smile curved her lips as she briefly placed her smaller hand atop mine where it rested against her cheek. "You'd better, Harry," she replied playfully, though her voice was warm.
"Ara ara, you two are completely ignoring the true victim here—me. While you're over there making promises and exchanging romantic gestures, I'm stuck with the impossible task of writing something polite and respectful to Riser Phenex of all people! I deserve compensation as well!" Akeno pouted at the two of us.
…After lunch, Hermione and I left the Great Hall together. She had been studying diligently at the Gryffindor table throughout the break, her nose buried in thick textbooks and detailed notes. As we descended toward the dungeons for Potions class, Hermione seemed deep in thought, her forehead slightly creased with lingering concentration, but her earlier irritation with me was now mostly gone.
The dungeons were cold, their stone walls always slightly damp and coated in a thin sheen of moisture. As we entered the classroom, students were already finding their seats around the room, placing heavy textbooks, potion kits, and notebooks onto their desks with dull thuds. Sona and Tsubaki were seated on the far side, and when Sona met my eyes, she gave me a small, quick nod of acknowledgement.
Hermione and I moved to take our usual places, sitting side by side at our workstation in the second row from the front.
Just as we started unpacking our own supplies, Professor Snape entered the room, his dark robes swirling around him. His greasy hair hung in curtains beside his pale face, and his expression was even more dour than usual today. He didn't waste time with pleasantries or greetings, immediately pointing toward the blackboard where he'd already written detailed instructions.
"Today," Snape announced in his drawling voice, "you will be brewing a Flogworm Removal Potion. It is a relatively simple and stable concoction, yet still likely beyond some of your meager capabilities. Follow the directions exactly, and perhaps we shall avoid another repeat of last week's catastrophic attempts."
Hermione had already started scribbling down the ingredients and procedures into her notes. But before either of us could stand to gather ingredients, Snape's black eyes suddenly landed directly on me.
"Mr. Sitri, Miss Sitri," he said slowly, turning his gaze toward Sona as well, "I require your assistance immediately. Leave your belongings behind, and come with me at once to my office."
Sona and I exchanged surprised glances. Professor Snape rarely asked students for assistance outside of class, especially not openly in front of others. Still, we both simply shrugged slightly in unison.
I turned toward Hermione, noticing that Tsubaki had already started moving closer to pair up with her while Sona and I were gone. Hermione shot me a look of curiosity but simply nodded, focusing back on the blackboard's instructions. I quickly squeezed her hand in reassurance before rising to my feet.
Together, Sona and I quietly made our way through the rows of desks and followed Snape out the classroom door.
"Professor, are you really sure it's wise to leave the entire class completely unsupervised? Aren't you worried they'll cause some kind of disaster?"
Snape gave an irritated huff, not turning to look at me. "The Flogworm Removal Potion is unusually forgiving. Even if they inevitably prove themselves incompetent, there is little chance for it to violently explode or melt through their cauldrons today. I believe they can manage at least that much without supervision."
He led us swiftly through a short corridor and opened the door to his private office, ushering us quickly inside. It was a dimly lit space, lined floor-to-ceiling with shelves stacked full of glass jars containing strange preserved ingredients, books bound in cracked leather, and various potion supplies arranged meticulously.
In the center of the room stood two empty cauldrons, already set upon tables and surrounded by neatly arranged ingredients laid out carefully on wooden trays. Sona looked at me quizzically, clearly wondering exactly why Snape had brought us here rather than simply instructing the entire class.
"Professor," Sona began softly, examining the cauldrons curiously, "may I ask what exactly you need us to do here?"
Snape hesitated for a long moment, looking oddly uncomfortable, his normally impassive expression briefly betraying genuine discomfort and perhaps even a hint of longing before it quickly disappeared again. "As you may or may not be aware," he finally said slowly, choosing his words with obvious care, "Slytherin House recently received a… new student over the weekend. A sudden and unexpected transfer who arrived without warning or explanation."
His voice became strained, almost pained, as if each word were difficult for him to speak. Sona and I exchanged another quick glance, surprised at the odd tone in our usually emotionless professor's voice.
"This new student," he continued with clear hesitation, "is a girl of exceptional beauty. As a result, she caused quite a stir amongst some of our older male students. Several seventh-years became… overly enthralled with her appearance. When she rejected their advances quite bluntly, tensions escalated. Last night, there was a rather unfortunate altercation in the Slytherin common room."
Sona's delicate eyebrows rose sharply in surprise, clearly not expecting that explanation.
I shifted slightly, uneasily remembering the beautiful redhead I'd glimpsed briefly earlier today.
Snape sighed quietly, clearly exasperated, his thin lips pursed tightly. "Several students were injured—some quite severely—in the ensuing conflict. Due to the aftermath, my house currently has a new… Queen of sorts."
Sona spoke again, her voice cautious and neutral. "I see. But forgive me, Professor—why do you require Harry's and my assistance specifically?"
He grimaced slightly, looking incredibly reluctant to explain himself further. Eventually, Snape exhaled heavily. "Simply put, the injured students require extensive treatment with Essence of Dittany. The infirmary is currently short on supply due to other recent… incidents around the castle. The brewing process is difficult and typically time-consuming. However, you two possess an… annoying talent for instantly producing potions of perfect quality. I have begrudgingly come to accept the convenience of your peculiar skills."
Heh, our Sitri bloodline gave us bullshit cheats when it came to potions. Snape still hadn't figured out how neither of us ever failed to produce less than perfect potions, but now it seemed like he wanted to take advantage of it.
Snape waved impatiently toward the waiting cauldrons. "I require your assistance in brewing sufficient Dittany to immediately treat all injured Slytherin students. Can you both manage that?" he bluntly asked.
"Yes, Professor," I replied simply. "We can handle it easily." My mind, however, kept returning to the mysterious new student Snape had described. Unable to resist, I spoke again, carefully voicing my suspicion. "Professor, this new transfer student… Does she happen to be a beautiful girl with long red hair and unusually bright emerald-green eyes?"
Snape's reaction was immediate and visible. He turned sharply toward me, black eyes narrowing suspiciously and glaring as if I'd touched a nerve. He bit down hard upon his lower lip, appearing visibly conflicted. After another brief silence, he grudgingly answered. "Yes. That would be her," he said stiffly. Then, in a voice tight with irritation and oddly possessive, he continued. "And I caution you, Mr. Sitri, do not entertain any foolish notions about involving yourself with that girl!"
His intense reaction puzzled me. Snape usually showed little interest in students beyond their competence in his subject, yet he seemed particularly fixated upon this girl.
I felt compelled to ask carefully, "Professor, what's her name?"
Snape hesitated, visibly torn for a brief instant before sighing deeply again, his voice lowering to a near whisper, carrying an unmistakable note of fondness as he spoke the unfamiliar name. "Her name… is Lilja Nornas. Lilja is norse for—NEVERMIND, just get started…" he cut himself off!
Without another word, Snape sharply turned away, his back straightening stiffly again as he busied himself organizing ingredients, effectively ending the conversation.
Sona met my gaze, raising an eyebrow silently. I merely shrugged back slightly.
…By the time Professor Snape had finally managed to finish brewing three small vials of Essence of Dittany, Sona and I had each completed well over ten bottles apiece, neatly lined up on the table before us.
Snape stood frozen for a long moment, dark eyes narrowing sharply at the neat row of flawlessly brewed potions we'd produced. The muscles in his jaw tightened visibly, and he let out a long, irritated breath through his nose before straightening up stiffly. "Very well," he muttered tightly, obviously annoyed at having been so thoroughly outperformed. "You've both done… exceptionally well today. Take an Outstanding grade for your efforts and leave my sight. Immediately."
I glanced at Sona, and she returned my amused look with a faint, knowing smile. Together, we quickly gathered our bags in the classroom and left.
We walked side-by-side for several steps, neither of us speaking, the only sound was the gentle echo of our footsteps upon the cold stone floors.
I glanced around the deserted dungeon hallway, carefully ensuring we were truly alone. After everything I'd gone through since yesterday, my patience and self-restraint had reached their limits. Last night's disappointment from whatever was going to happen with Mother getting interrupted only added to my growing sense of frustration.
I abruptly reached out, grabbing hold of Sona's wrist and pulling her swiftly off balance, smoothly guiding her backward until her back pressed firmly against the cold stone wall behind her. She let out a startled, adorable squeak at the sudden movement, eyes widening dramatically behind her glasses. Her delicate face immediately flushed bright crimson, and her breath hitched audibly in surprise.
"Harry?" she whispered softly, clearly startled yet unmistakably excited. Her eyes searched mine, already darkening slightly in anticipation. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but we're still in the dungeons. Anyone could walk by…"
"I checked carefully. We're completely alone," I assured her quietly, already leaning in close. "After everything that happened yesterday, I just really need this right now."
Without another word, I pressed my lips against hers, capturing her mouth in a deep, messy kiss. My fingers swiftly traced down her sides, sliding beneath her open school robe and firmly cupping her moderate, perfectly-shaped breasts through her tight blouse. My thumb slowly circled the small peak of her nipple, already growing noticeably firm beneath my palm.
Sona moaned softly into our kiss, her eyes fluttering closed as she eagerly returned my affection, her hands slipping upward to clutch at the front of my robes. Her slender fingers tightened desperately in the material, holding me close while we kissed passionately. Her hips shifted slightly, arching toward mine as she pressed herself more firmly into my caressing hand.
After a few long, wonderfully heated moments, I reluctantly broke our kiss, gently pulling my head back just far enough to look down into her lovely, flushed face. Her breathing had grown shallow, her pink lips parted slightly as she gazed back up at me through half-lidded, desire-filled eyes.
"So, Miss Sitri," I murmured playfully, my lips brushing teasingly against hers as I spoke. "Since we've already finished Snape's class early, how about you and I spend the rest of the afternoon together? Maybe we could head down to our usual spot in the Forbidden Forest to practice some new magic… or perhaps practice something else entirely." I gave her a suggestive grin, making my intentions perfectly clear.
Sona's breathing hitched sharply again, and she bit down gently upon her lower lip. She shifted restlessly against the wall, clearly affected by my offer. Her thighs pressed together slightly, betraying her own growing desire, but she quickly shook her head apologetically. "I'm really sorry, Harry," she whispered softly, looking genuinely disappointed. "As wonderful as that sounds—and believe me, it does—I already have plans for later today. I'm supposed to leave Hogwarts shortly and meet up with my older sister, Serafall."
I pulled back slightly, giving her a questioning look. "Mum? Why exactly are you meeting her privately today? And how come I haven't heard anything about this until now?"
Sona's cheeks flushed even deeper, her eyes darting briefly away from mine, clearly uncertain how to respond. "It's… a personal matter, Harry. It's nothing dangerous or anything you need to worry about. Just a secret between sisters." She glanced hesitantly back up at me, looking slightly guilty. "Please don't be upset. I promise I'd tell you if it was something truly important."
I rolled my eyes slightly, but still offered her a reassuring smile. "You know, the beautiful women in my life are incredibly demanding when it comes to not keeping secrets. Yet somehow, none of you seem to have any problem whatsoever doing exactly that yourselves whenever it suits you."
Sona sighed gently, smiling sheepishly back at me. "That's… a fair point. Sorry, Harry. But please, trust me—this really isn't something you should concern yourself over. If it ever becomes relevant or important to you, I promise you'll be the very first person I confide in."
I gently released her from the wall, stepping back slightly and allowing her to fix her slightly wrinkled robe and blouse. Her glasses had slipped slightly down the bridge of her nose during our kiss, and she pushed them back into place with an adorable embarrassed smile.
"Fine," I conceded with a soft sigh, nodding gently. "If you're sure, then I won't pry. But just be careful, alright?"
"Thank you, Harry. I appreciate your understanding."
…I decided to go out into the Forbidden Forest by myself to practice some magic. I'd always found the peaceful isolation of the forest helpful for focusing on new magical techniques. Especially now, after awakening my Sacred Gear, I felt like I was finally close to officially achieving high-class devil status.
The thought of taking devil contracts like the other high-class devils briefly crossed my mind as well. Perhaps it was time for me to start contributing more actively to our clan and earning my place.
I shook my head, pushing the thought aside for now. I had something else I wanted to work on first.
Inspired by my recent performance on my mother's Magical Girl Levia-tan show, I was attempting to recreate Cassium's signature move: a sword made entirely from condensed, high-pressure water.
I closed my eyes, concentrating intensely on shaping my demonic energy into the proper form. When I opened my eyes again, a slender column of water was hovering just in front of me, shimmering steadily with subtle blue magical energy. Slowly, I extended my hand, carefully gripping the handle that had formed naturally within the condensed liquid.
The moment I touched it, the watery sword grew firmer and denser, until it truly felt solid in my grip. I swung it experimentally, feeling the subtle weight in my hand and hearing the quiet rush of flowing water as it moved through the air. Theoretically, this blade could cut through nearly any physical material.
With enough pressure and speed, water could slice stone or metal cleanly.
But as I took a second, more experimental swing, I nearly clipped my own leg.
I paused immediately, breathing out slowly. A sword this sharp required actual swordsmanship and discipline—something I severely lacked at the moment. Perhaps I should ask Kiba for lessons? I thought wryly to myself.
Still, I refused to be discouraged, raising the blade carefully once more and adjusting my stance. It was crucial to maintain concentration—not just for the spell's stability, but also because I knew better than to let my guard down, especially with the centaurs living in this forest, and the mysterious 'heir of Slytherin' still at large somewhere in Hogwarts.
As if on cue, a sharp snap of a twig breaking suddenly echoed through the silent woods just behind me!
I spun around sharply, instantly tightening my grip on the watery blade.
But instead of a centaur, I found myself staring at a beautiful girl calmly stepping toward me.
The tension slowly drained from my body as recognition set in.
It was her again—the strikingly gorgeous red-haired Slytherin girl I'd glimpsed briefly earlier today.
Lilja Nornas, the new transfer student whose presence had already caused chaos in her own House. Now that she was closer, I could clearly make out the intense emerald hue of her eyes. Her hair was long and vibrant, falling in graceful waves around her shoulders. Her skin was perfectly smooth, pale yet touched with just a hint of color around her cheeks and lips.
Lilja's approach slowed as she saw me facing her with the water blade still gripped tightly in my hand. She offered a small, hesitant smile. She almost looked nervous, and I didn't think it was because of the magic I had on display. She wasn't looking like a fangirl either.
"Hello" she said softly, her voice gentle yet strangely cautious. "I honestly didn't expect anyone else to be out here. Usually students tend to avoid the Forbidden Forest altogether—at least, that's what I was told," she quickly added.
Realizing I was still brandishing my watery sword, I immediately relaxed my grip, allowing the magic to disperse. The blade dissolved rapidly, spilling harmlessly onto the forest floor and soaking into the dirt below.
I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, suddenly feeling awkward for acting so aggressively at her arrival. "Sorry about that," I said apologetically, meeting her gaze. "I didn't mean to threaten you. I just didn't expect company out here either, and with everything going on around Hogwarts lately, I couldn't exactly let my guard down."
She took a careful step closer, curiosity shining brightly within those beautiful green eyes of hers. "I suppose that makes sense. Still, that's quite an impressive technique you were just performing," she said quietly, glancing down thoughtfully at the dampened earth where the sword had vanished. "I didn't expect to see magic like that at Hogwarts."
"Well," I admitted with slight embarrassment, "I can't exactly take credit for the idea. It was actually inspired by a character I portrayed in a TV show… A magical girl TV show…" I added with a small chuckle.
"A magical girl show character inspired you?" She laughed softly, a pleasant sound ringing gently in the silence between us.
Unable to help myself, my eyes were once again drawn to her beautiful face. Her emerald eyes seemed mesmerizing in a way I couldn't quite understand, making it difficult to look away. It felt almost as though they were pulling at me, calling out silently in some way that I couldn't ignore.
She must have noticed my focused attention, because she giggled softly again, the sound playful this time as she watched my reaction. "Do you see something you like?" she asked lightly, though there was something a bit more vulnerable beneath her teasing tone.
Shaking myself free of whatever strange influence had momentarily gripped me, I offered her a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry about that," I admitted honestly. "I didn't mean to stare. I just got a bit… lost in your eyes there for a moment."
Lilja's lips parted slightly in surprise, and her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink. She quickly recovered herself, the playful smile returning, though now accompanied by a subtle, genuine warmth.
She slowly moved closer again, stopping just a few steps in front of me. "Oh, you really are dangerous, aren't you, Harry… Sitri?" She paused noticeably before saying my surname, almost like it surprised her or felt unfamiliar. Her eyes studied me thoughtfully, a mixture of intrigue and hesitation flickering briefly across her face before she spoke again. "You know, I actually received several warnings about you," Lilja confessed lightly, a gentle laugh spilling softly from her lips. "The girls here at Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang—they all cautioned me to be careful around you. Apparently, you have quite a reputation for attracting women to you and adding them to your growing harem."
I sighed, rubbing my forehead with a small, embarrassed laugh. "Honestly, it wasn't like it started out that way. I just genuinely grew to care for all of them…"
Lilja's eyes softened. She took a slow breath, then smiled again, the tension between us easing noticeably with her words. "Still," she continued teasingly, "I doubt any of the girls that warned me would heed their own warnings if they ever had a genuine chance to be with you. Some girls can be hypocrites after all!"
"Oh? Do you plan on heeding their warnings, Lilja, or ignoring them completely…?" I asked her.
She stepped closer, lifting her chin defiantly as she held my gaze, her eyes challenging and playful at once. "I haven't quite decided yet," Lilja murmured softly.
I think we both knew she was lying.
I reached out and gently took hold of Lilja's soft, delicate hand in my own. She looked startled by my boldness, her eyes widening slightly as her lips parted in surprise. But she didn't resist.
With deliberate slowness, I brought her hand up toward my lips, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to the smooth skin across the back of it.
Lilja squirmed slightly, clearly flustered by the intimacy of the gesture. She stared at our joined hands as if momentarily stunned, her breath hitching audibly as she remained speechless.
I couldn't help but smirk at her adorable reaction. Her momentary discomfort only encouraged me further. "Your reputation precedes you, Lilja Nornas," I finally said in a low, playful voice, my eyes locked firmly onto hers as I kept her hand comfortably within mine. "Welcome officially to Hogwarts. I heard all about what you did in Slytherin, and I have to say—I'm already quite a fan of anyone who can put those arrogant pureblood guys back into their rightful place."
Lilja slowly smiled in response to my words. As I straightened back up, I realized her hand still lingered within my own. Clearly, she wasn't quite ready to break the contact between us yet.
She finally seemed to gather herself enough to speak again. Her voice sounded genuinely startled, as though she hadn't expected me—or anyone outside of Slytherin House—to know what had happened. "Wait, you really heard about all that?" she asked quietly, leaning slightly closer with intrigue clear in her voice. "Professor Snape made a huge speech afterward, specifically instructing every Slytherin student never to talk about the… incidents that occurred last night. He threatened anyone who mentioned it with immediate expulsion. 'What happens in Slytherin stays strictly within Slytherin,' he said to us. So, how exactly did you find out?"
"Snape asked me and my aunt Sona to brew a large batch of Essence of Dittany for him—apparently, there were a lot of injuries in Slytherin last night, and Madam Pomfrey was running very low on potion stocks. He seemed quite irritated to have to involve us, but he admitted something about a certain beautiful, redheaded transfer student single-handedly turning his entire common room upside down."
Lilja's lips twitched slightly. "Well, I'm glad someone outside Slytherin has heard about my efforts!"
I laughed openly at that. "Aside from leaving a trail of battered Slytherins in your wake, how have you been liking Hogwarts so far?"
She paused thoughtfully, her eyes softening as she glanced slowly around at the dense trees surrounding us. "Honestly, it's strange to explain," she admitted quietly, smiling faintly to herself as if recalling a secret only she understood. "I've only been here a few short days, and yet Hogwarts feels incredibly familiar. Being here feels… comfortable. Almost like coming home after being away for a very long time." Her smile deepened subtly, a gentle laugh spilling softly from her lips. "Sorry. That must sound strange."
I shook my head reassuringly, offering her an understanding smile. "Actually, I think I know exactly what you mean. Hogwarts does have that effect on people. There's something very special about this place."
Lilja glanced back up at me, clearly pleased by my response. Then her emerald eyes glinted playfully again. "Speaking of observing Hogwarts students, I watched you a few minutes ago, flailing that interesting water blade around. Are swords not exactly your area of expertise?"
I groaned quietly. "You noticed that embarrassing performance, did you? I'll admit it—I've never properly wielded a sword before. Don't get me wrong, swords always seemed very cool, and as a guy, I've always been somewhat interested. But I've never actually found the time or opportunity to learn."
Lilja's eyes lit up in genuine excitement at my admission, she let go of my hand but stepped closer to me. "Well, lucky for you, Harry, I'm actually quite skilled with a blade myself," she said. "If you'd like, I could teach you some of the basics, maybe even a few more advanced moves if you impress me enough. I'm pretty talented with swordsmanship and magic alike," she added with a sly grin.
I raised an amused eyebrow, glancing pointedly toward her. "Well, considering all those injuries Snape needed Dittany for, I have absolutely no doubt that you know exactly how to handle yourself in a fight. Were sword wounds involved?"
She laughed softly again, nodding slightly. "Perhaps," she replied coyly. "Let's just say a few of them learned some painful lessons about not underestimating a girl who not only said NO, but who's also clearly stronger and smarter than they are."
"Fair enough," I chuckled appreciatively.
Lilja tilted her head slightly, looking around again before returning her gaze pointedly toward me. "Tell me, Harry—are you waiting out here for someone else? Or is it just the two of us?"
"No, it's just you and me right now," I admitted easily. "I came out here alone specifically to practice magic undisturbed."
"Excellent!" she responded cheerfully, stepping even closer to me. So close our bodies were almost touching now. "Then I'd be very happy to teach you a few proper sword moves."
Before I could think twice, my mouth acted ahead of my brain, and I heard myself instinctively blurt out, "Maybe afterward, I could teach you a few moves of my own as well."
I immediately felt embarrassed!
Had I really just said that out loud? Judging by the amused and slightly shocked look now rapidly spreading across Lilja's lovely face, I absolutely had.
After a startled pause, Lilja punched my shoulder lightly, though her eyes shone brightly with clear amusement as she blushed again. "You know, perhaps all those girls warning me to be cautious around you were right after all, Harry Sitri!"
"Honestly," I admitted sheepishly, laughing softly despite myself, "Snape himself actually warned me specifically to stay far away from you, too."
She sighed deeply at that, rolling her eyes gently toward the sky above. "Oh yes, Professor Snape," Lilja murmured quietly. "When he first met me, he initially thought I was… someone else he once knew. But I'm obviously not her." She paused thoughtfully, her smile returning a bit more softly. "Still, he's acted oddly protective of me these past few days. Not that I really mind—he seems like a genuinely good teacher, even if a little stiff. But either way, he isn't here now, and he's certainly in no position to dictate who I decide to spend my time with." She flashed me another playful grin. "So, Harry, why don't you whip out that magical sword of yours again, and I'll gladly demonstrate exactly how you're supposed to hold it!"
She had to know exactly how that sounded right…?
– Sona –
Sona teleported herself from the protective wards of Hogwarts directly into the hidden apparition point in Diagon Alley. The abrupt shift from the cozy familiarity of the castle into the cold, tense atmosphere of the deserted alleyway made her straighten instinctively.
Serafall awaited her a few meters away, standing silently in a shadowed alcove beside an empty storefront.
The usual bright, cheerful aura that normally surrounded the Satan Leviathan was notably absent. Instead, Serafall stood tall and composed, her body clad in formal Sitri clan armor. The gleaming material was deep black and rich royal blue, crafted from magically reinforced steel. This armor was ceremonial, yes, but also thoroughly practical, designed explicitly for combat.
"Serafall…" Sona spoke quietly, stepping forward. She took a moment to carefully inspect her sister from head to toe. "You're wearing armor rather than your usual Magical Girl outfit?"
Serafall's normally playful eyes were focused, cold, and serious. She gave a small, decisive nod, stepping forward until she stood mere inches from Sona. "That's right, my sweet little sister. I've just returned from interrogating the goblin survivors that Harry and Riser left alive. They finally confessed after significant encouragement from Behemoth. The goblin king and his council deliberately orchestrated the attack on Phenex territory. It wasn't just some rogue band of fools acting alone—they had full authority and backing from their royal family. Although, I'm sure the king will openly deny all of this!"
Sona inhaled slowly, absorbing this troubling news. She narrowed her eyes, feeling a sharp, cold anger settle in her chest. "The goblins dared to openly attack our race, fully aware of the consequences? Do they truly believe they can escape retribution?"
"Apparently so. Like I said, they'll definitely do what the humans do whenever they're caught doing something naughty like this between nations. The CIA is famous for stuff like this. They'll say those goblins went rogue and try to disavow all their actions." Serafall replied grimly. Her blue eyes hardened with clear displeasure, lips twisting into a rare expression of genuine anger. "But they made a foolish mistake! We are NOT humans! By attacking our race, they've insulted us directly and they've challenged MY OWN AUTHORITY as a Maou by attacking right after I let them return to the underworld. We cannot allow this insult to pass unanswered!"
"I understand," Sona said calmly, meeting her sister's determined gaze with equal resolve. "I'm ready to do what must be done."
Serafall stared deeply into her eyes for a moment, and then—without warning—reached out and firmly grasped Sona's backside. The sudden contact startled Sona slightly, making her breath catch audibly in her throat. But before she could protest, Serafall's other hand rose, gripping the back of her sister's neck and pulling her swiftly forward into an intense, passionate kiss.
Sona's eyes widened briefly in surprise before slowly closing, allowing herself to fully savor the warm, insistent pressure of Serafall's lips against hers. Their tongues met heatedly, twining together as Sona returned the kiss eagerly. A quiet, muffled moan escaped her throat despite herself, muffled against her sister's mouth. She instinctively pressed her own body firmly against Serafall's armored curves, savoring their closeness in the tense moment.
When Serafall finally broke their kiss, her expression remained stern, yet she gently brushed the tip of her thumb along Sona's lower lip, eyes briefly softening. "Are you truly ready, Sona? I promise you this interrogation—and the message we'll deliver afterward—won't be pretty. It won't be merciful or gentle. We're going to remind them exactly why devils—pureblood devils like us—are feared and respected across all realms."
Sona felt her pulse quicken slightly at the intensity and certainty in her older sister's words. Yet she held Serafall's gaze firmly, nodding without hesitation. "I'm fully prepared, Serafall. This needs to happen. For our family, for our honor—and especially for Harry."
At the mention of Harry's name, Serafall gave a loving nod, releasing her sister and turning smoothly toward the looming steps of Gringotts Bank. Sona immediately moved beside her, matching her sister's pace and determination step-for-step.
Sona's mind lingered briefly upon Harry—her precious nephew and future lover. She adored Harry more intensely than she'd ever thought possible. He was incredible, talented and kind, clever and courageous. Yet despite his many remarkable qualities, Harry was only half-devil by birth. He still lacked certain crucial instincts innate to those of pure devil blood. Instincts about power, domination, and retribution—the instincts that allowed pureblood devils to swiftly and mercilessly punish any challenge against them.
In time, as Harry aged into his immortality, these instincts would no doubt develop more fully. But right now, this kind of brutal, calculated retribution was something only she and Serafall could deliver properly. Her sister could technically do this alone, but Sona had asked to come along for this…
The two sisters marched steadily up toward Gringotts' grand entrance.
XXX
A couple hours later…
Random passerby: Hey, how come Gringotts bank changed its name? It's called the Sitri Bank now…?
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