By the time they reached the bottom, the elf was already inspecting the mysterious arch.
"Frieren-sama, have you discovered anything yet?" asked Fern, quickly approaching her master, who was crouched and staring intently at the arch.
Breaking eye contact with the arch, the little elf gave her a smile.
"Fern, come closer—what do you think it is?" she asked in the same tone she used to teach her magic during childhood.
Fern sharpened her magical sense to scan the arch, trying to unravel its secrets.
"Is it a trap meant to kill whoever passes through it?" she answered somewhat unsure.
"You say that because of the death magic? Well, you're not exactly wrong. As you said, passing through the door would activate the spatial magic that would send almost anyone who triggers it to certain death. However, if that were its only purpose, they wouldn't have placed it here, nor would there be a need to keep complicating the spell. What else do you see?"
Captivated by the impromptu lesson, Fern continued to delve into the spell integrated into the arch. "It's… expanding. It seems to be leading somewhere, but I can't see where," she finally admitted, embarrassed.
"Hm hm Just what I'd expect from my disciple," said Frieren, beaming with pride. "Don't be ashamed of it, Fern. This artifact is almost entirely drained of mana. Although the spells are still present, they're very weakened, and the scale of distance It's something even I hadn't witnessed before… it's possible we've come across an teleportation artifact from the mythic era."
"This thing is older than her?" murmured Stark while the two girls studied the artifact.
"I don't understand it, Miss Frieren. Why would they add death magic then? Is it some kind of filter or defense system? And what's the time magic for?"
Patting Fern's head, Frieren nodded with satisfaction.
"That's a good question, Fern." Ignoring the blush and puffed cheeks of her disciple, she stepped forward and placed a hand on the stone.
"I believe both the death and time magic are side effects of the teleportation method. Unlike the method I usually use to do it, this one doesn't fold space—it pierces through it, entering a different kind of reality overflowing with death magic. This spatial rupture is also leaking chaotic time magic."
"Wait a second…" murmured Stark, paler than ever, having listened to the impromptu lecture.
"Does that mean… that door leads to hell?"
Frieren gave the young man, who looked ready to bolt at any moment, a small smile.
"Maybe. We know heaven exists, so why not? I wonder if that corrupt priest is—"
bonk
"Frieren-sama, please don't insult Heiter-sama's memory."
"Ouch, mm, I was joking. Heiter really worked hard to earn his place in heaven. There's no way he ended up here… unless he started drinking again after he died…"
bonk
"Mmmm Fern, just another joke! Stop hitting meee…" she pleaded, cradling her head.
"Hmph. If Frieren-sama doesn't behave, she must be disciplined."
"Terrifying," murmured Stark.
Recovering from the fatal blow dealt by her disciple, the elf addressed the group.
"We should prepare to spend some time here. Even for me, it'll take a bit to refill the artifact with mana."
"Why do we have to refill it?? Can't we just leave? Am I the only one who wants to? Come on… it's the Hell…" said a defeated Stark, having lost hope of finding common sense in his group.
"Don't worry, as a warrior, we'll only need you if monsters or aberrations start emerging from the portal. Besides, it might not be hell… it could be a worse place," said Frieren with a small smile, patting his back.
"That doesn't help… at all," replied Stark pitifully, approaching Fern, who was already unpacking the bag.
"How long do you think 'a bit' is for her?"
"The last time Frieren-sama said that, we stayed in a city for several months…" Fern reminded him patiently.
"Noooooooo"
"..."
.
.
"Fern! Fern!" The room now housing the group had its silence interrupted when the mage awoke her student, who had gone to bed earlier alongside Stark.
"Mmhg??" murmured the young girl, recovering from sleep.
"Do you hear it?? Do you hear those voices? I think I've finished filling the arch."
The structure in question now had a sort of necrotic magical veil in constant motion, and the whispering of incomprehensible voices emerged from it.
"Hurry, Fern—wake Stark up; let's test it," she said excitedly, turning back toward the arch.
"...Alright."
With the whole group now awake and gathered around the excited elf, Fern asked about the elephant in the room.
"Frieren-sama, how exactly did you say you'd test the artifact?" still incredulous at her master's plan.
"I'll go in," she said again with a confident smile, worrying the duo.
"Isn't that incredibly dangerous?" Stark questioned.
"Mhm, exactly. That's why only I'll go in," Frieren replied easily.
"Frieren-sama, I think this is far too reckless. We should contact someone from the Continental Magic Association for this..."
"I'm not being reckless in choosing this. It is precisely because it's me that I am the most suitable one to test it. It would take a long time to develop a spell allowing a mage without an enormous amount of mana to cross this portal... Besides, we don't know what effect the temporal distortion will have. One minute here could be ten years on the other side, or vice versa, I know I don't say this as often as I ought to, but I am proud of you, Fern. You are the reason I can depart without worry... in the worst-case scenario... you've become a great mage, Fern. I know that even without me around, you'll achieve great things."
"Master Frieren...
that is..." The teenager knew a lost fight when she saw one.
"Fine…."
"Stark-sama and I will stay here. But if you take more than a week to come back, I'll call the Association and Serie-sama to bring you back," Fern replied, both happy and angry at her master's words.
Knowing her student's concern, the small elf approached her to give a few comforting pats on the head.
"Alright," she said, approaching the stone arch. "Let's hope it's see you soon." And with those final words and a smile on her face, she took the final step toward the arch, disappearing suddenly.
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts
"This is worrisome, Minerva…" Albus reflected as he read the documents before
"It is what it is, Albus… for two consecutive years, Hogwarts' security has been repeatedly compromised… and although there have been no deaths, the rate of parents who distrust sending their children to Hogwarts has skyrocketed," Minerva replied.
Deep down, both professors knew it was a situation practically out of their hands. There wasn't much they could do to reassure the parents since, unfortunately, their children had been in danger, and they couldn't even say it had been thanks to the teaching staff or the school personnel that the problems had been resolved.
Albus really didn't want to imagine what would happen if it were revealed to the public that, in fact, several of those professors themselves had tried to harm the students.
In both cases, these being the professors of…
Defense Against the Dark Arts… since the curse had taken root in the castle, it had prevented professors from lasting more than a year, whether they simply had to leave for various reasons or met more permanent fates. Few knew of the existence of this Curse, fewer still that it would not disappear completely unless Voldemort vanished absolutely and entirely from this world.
That was precisely why he had rejected Snape's constant requests for the position, he was too important to put in danger or take away from the school.
From the beginning, Defense Against the Dark Arts was a difficult position to fill. To be competent in it, one needed to be versed in both spells and creatures and other dark elements—a branch of magic that could corrupt the practicing wizard if not handled correctly.
Quirrell's betrayal had been unexpected the man had spent years teaching Muggle Studies; they had eaten and celebrated together…The less said about Lockhart, the better. Albus had suspected that he wasn't as competent as his books claimed, yet he bet on him, partly because if he had been half as competent as his stories claimed, he might have resisted the curse, and partly because, in the worst-case scenario, he would serve as a temporary placeholder while he searched for someone more suitable… that he was a complete fraud went beyond his expectations.
"Was it too much to ask for him to explain the theoretical part of the book? Now the students will have to catch up on all the delayed material," murmured the old headmaster more to himself.
This year was once again backing him into a corner. He knew he himself would be able to resist the curse but hesitated to tie himself with more responsibilities. In this moment, he couldn't afford to dedicate so much time to teaching and preventing the curse from playing with the threads of his fate, not with so many things needing his personal attention and care.
Doubts and more doubts; he never would have thought that being a school headmaster could be so stressful… always in a race against time to find a professor, with his options increasingly limited.
"Albus! Are you listening to me?" Minerva woke him from his musings.
"Eh, ah, yes, yes, sorry, I was daydreaming. What were you saying?"
She looked at him with a frown before slowly softening her features.
"Albus… you're risking a lot with this. Are you sure Remus is the best option?"
A tired sigh escaped Albus's lips. "I don't know, Minerva, I really don't know."
It was a difficult decision. Remus was a great wizard, knowledgeable and experienced in both the arts of light and darkness, and there were few people with as much experience as he had with the dark creatures found in nature, and that's where the problem lay.
"You know what could happen. It's no longer even about exposing him to the curse, Albus. What will happen when a curious parent decides to see the records of their child's new professor? Can you keep it a secret? What about Lucius? What will you do if he finds out?" Minerva's words were harsh but no less true for it.
Remus was a registered werewolf. He could abuse his authority to hide or divert attention and keep it secret, but he wasn't the only one with authority, and it wasn't precisely the time to give more weapons to his enemies.
"The decision is already made… there's no rule that prohibits someone with lycanthropy from being a professor. Remus has been without a place to stay for a while; a bit of stability in his life would help him. We can arrange for it to be just for a year, avoiding the danger. Besides, I'd like young Harry to have someone else to tell him about his parents and…"
"There's no need to try to convince me, Albus. I respect your decisions; it's just… I'm concerned," Minerva interrupted his diatribe. "Parents won't like it, no matter how much you guarantee the lack of danger with Remus, and you know how intolerant some wizards can be."
He knew it, he knew it very well. Minerva probably desired the well-being of Lupin and Harry as much as he did, but many depended on him, and that meant he had to measure his steps carefully.
"Don't worry; I'm considering things carefully before…"
What he was going to say was interrupted by a small vibration in his pocket, from which he took out a small phoenix feather that quickly floated in the air to write its message in fire.
An ancient artifact used during his time with the Order of the Phoenix to transmit urgent messages requiring his immediate help.
"Alastor…" murmured Albus, reading the message as he prepared to activate an apparition.
"Go…" was the last thing he heard from Minerva before disappearing, leaving the message still in the air.
Albus, your help is urgently required. The Ministry has been attacked. –Alastor Moody
.
.
British Ministry of Magic
As soon as he entered the detention area, Albus could feel the nervousness and tension in the air, normally, there weren't so many people in this section of the Ministry.
Passing by at least a dozen Aurors, he noticed a face that lit up as well upon seeing him.
"Amos what brings you here? How are young Cedric's holidays going?" Albus greeted the familiar and possible future head of the Department for Magical Creatures.
"Albus! Finally, come on, there is no time. We have been waiting for you. This is big—we have never seen anything like it. Madam Bones has been busy with the matter for a couple of hours now. She should be finishing soon. Having you with us is reassuring," the man said, as excited as a child getting his first wand.
"Is this about the attack? I came as soon as I was informed. Has the area been secured? How is Alastor? He was the one who sent me the alert," Albus said calmly, trying to get a better sense of the situation. From the relative calm of the Ministry, he had already assumed that either it had not been something major, or they had managed to contain it quickly.
"Attack? Ugh, Alastor must have just woken up then... do not worry, Albus. It is a misunderstanding, but we had better get there before he does—you know how paranoid he can be," explained Amos as they passed through doors and hallways toward one of the interrogation rooms.
What could have required the personal attention of the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and a member of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures like Susan Bones and Amos had him genuinely intrigued.
To heighten his interest, they had not even turned the final corner when they could already hear the shouting of Alastor Moody.
"If Legilimency does not work, then bring Veritaserum! She is too dangerous; she could attack at any moment!"
"Please, sir, there are regulations and directives we must follow—we cannot simply—"
"Alastor," Albus interrupted before the man could continue scaring the poor young Auror.
"I received your message. It seems there has... been a misunderstanding?" he said with a cheerful smile. Internally, he was truly relieved—days when an emergency signal turned out to be harmless were good and rare.
"No, there has been no misunderstanding! The intruder clearly invaded the Ministry and disabled a squad of Aurors. Having her here is a great danger—It's only a matter of time before she attacks and…"
"Alastor... if you stopped for a second to read the reports and calm down before jumping to your wand, you would realize that this misunderstanding has already been clarified, and it has been determined that it was, indeed, a misunderstanding. In fact, you were the one who initiated hostilities," explained Amos, exasperated.
"WHAT?! How dare you—my instincts warned me of danger, and clearly, she cast the first spell!"
Before the argument could escalate further, Amelia Susan Bones emerged from the room in front of which they were standing.
"Albus Dumbledore," she acknowledged with respect in her eyes.
"Amelia Bones," Albus replied in kind
"Gentlemen, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has already taken a statement from our special guest. Due to the lack of protocol for a similar event and the legal loopholes surrounding it, a meeting will be held in six hours to discuss how we will handle her appearance and its implications. She has already agreed to remain under our supervision temporarily and apologizes for the incident surrounding her arrival," she said the last part while glancing at Alastor and turning toward Amos.
"Amos, due to the peculiarity of our guest, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would appreciate the opinion and expertise of the Beings Division (The division in charge of monitoring other intelligent races in the magical world.) in your department."
Finally, she turned her gaze to Albus. "Dumbledore, due to the apparent high magical capacity of our guest as well as her strong resistance to Legilimency and conventional restraining magic, Minister Fudge has deemed your counsel and opinion appropriate in this matter. We did not expect your arrival so soon, but feel free to interact with our guest. Stop by my department for a more detailed report. Everyone participating in the meeting will receive one."
"It will be a pleasure, Miss Bones. You can bet all this has me very intrigued," he responded, recognizing the close of the conversation.
"Very well, if that is all, I shall take my leave. Until later, gentlemen," Amelia said, surely already thinking about the many other things she had to handle.
The three men watched as she walked away, turned the corner, and disappeared from sight.
"Well… is there anything I should know before meeting this mysterious person?"
Frieren
Arriving in a completely different world had not been entirely unexpected, but it hadn't ranked very high on her list of possibilities, Frieren reflected as she looked at the walls of the modest room she now found herself in. There was little decoration apart from two comfortable chairs and a large table of fine oak, probably designed for prisoners of high status.
To an unobservant person, it might have seemed as if she were merely wasting time staring into nothingness, but to someone attentive and knowledgeable, it would be clear what she was doing—studying the magical structures around her.
And what an incredible thing it was—it was not that they possessed unimaginable power or particularly exotic effects; they were simply different.
A completely different magical system.
Even Serie would tremble with envy once she had told her.
The moment she arrived on the other side of the portal, she found herself in a room nearly identical to the one she had left, and just as she had feared, the portal had deactivated, leaving her trapped with only her staff and her clothes. As if that were not enough, her arrival had triggered what she was fairly sure was a kind of alarm. The only positive was that time seemed to flow faster here compared to her world—though by how much, she could not tell.
Expecting traps or monsters, she had been slightly surprised when suddenly surrounded by several wizards appearing in bursts of light. If she had not known she had traveled an unimaginable distance—Or she would have understood the language they were shouting—She might have thought they were Imperials due to their use of similar magical foci.
Frieren had seen their wands in action, and although she still preferred staffs, she would admit That their smaller size made them more maneuverable.
Maybe I was just too eager to finally use the translation spell..., Frieren thought, a bit embarrassed. She was always glad when one of her many stored spells proved useful, but this time she had rushed it.
Everyone on the continent spoke the same common language, so this had been her first time using it—Unfortunately for her, the only wizard who also carried a staff like her had interpreted it as an attack.
After that, everything had escalated to the point where Frieren had been forced to disarm and even knock out some of the more enthusiastic wizards.
Well… things could have gone worse, she reflected as she sank deeper into the chair, annoyed at how things had unfolded. Amelia Bones was truly intense she reminded her of Fern when she scolded her.
Her ears twitched slightly when she heard the sound of the door opening. I was wondering when he would enter, she thought, raising her gaze to see the most powerful wizard in the building.
She had sensed it upon arriving and had been tracking it ever since. Until now, everyone around her had been a mage, and although the overall amount of mana was rather low on average, some were not bad at all—for humans.
And he was, by far, the one with the most mana
This sparked a small feeling of intrigue and curiosity in her. She was very aware of her master's dream, and the possibility of seeing it realized in this world fascinated her.
A world where everyone can appreciate and use magic—that's what I want, Frieren remembered, casting away the warm memory of her master to focus on the present.
"Hello," she greeted her new visitor—an elderly man, tall and slender, with a long white beard and hair, both well-groomed and reaching his waist. His eyes, a deep blue, watched her from behind a pair of half-moon glasses. From the moment he walked through the door, he had been analyzing her. All of that, combined with his long black robes and grandfatherly smile, marked him clearly as an old wizard from a mile away.
"Greetings, young lady. Forgive the curiosity of this old man, but I must say you have truly caused quite a stir."
Another thing she would have to get used to—apparently, there were no elves here. She was not too surprised; even in her own world, her species was on the brink of extinction.
A world without elves… the era of humanity. I wonder if I will see here the world my master dreamed of.
"Mhm, I might have been a bit impulsive in finally testing my translation spell. But allow me to introduce myself, young man—I am Frieren, last great mage, demon-slayer, and an elf over a thousand years old," she finished with a slight smile and reaching out her hand, in what turned out to be an interplanetary greeting.
The elderly man seemed to falter for a second before coughing and clearing his throat. "Ah—well, pardon my lack of respect. I had not been informed of that part. I am used to being the oldest person in the room." he accepted her outstretched hand.
"Don't worry about it, you couldn't have known," she downplayed. "Elves do not really age, so it is difficult to tell at a glance if you are unfamiliar with us," she explained kindly, showing the maturity of a truly experienced woman.
"Fascinating... Only phoenixes and vampires might live so long without external methods of prolonging life…" he murmured to himself.
"Pleased to meet you, Frieren. I am Albus Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—One of the most exquisite places of learning in the magical world. I must say, the reason for your arrival in this world has me quite intrigued. What could have brought you here?"
Frieren gave her best smile. "Nothing more than the curiosity to discover new magic... I was studying a magical arc with my student and another teammate... It was too dangerous for them to accompany me, and I was curious to see where such an artifact might take me. An unexplored land with unknown magics has exceeded my expectations..."
"I see… certainly a good reason to travel." She was not sure whether he believed her, but the older man seemed more focused on another matter. "What about your student? Is she not in danger without you?" he asked suddenly. As headmaster of a school, it made sense that his mind would go straight to Fern.
"Danger…" The word made her reflect. Danger was something that everyone—even she and Serie—lived with in her world, and yet…
"Despite the great number of dangers in my world, I do not doubt that Fern will know how to take care of herself. She is no longer the little girl who needed to be led by the hand…" Frieren shared, teacher to teacher.
"I have seen her grow. Even if I never return, I know she will succeed and surpass expectations. Fern will become the greatest mage of her era," she said without hesitation. And to think it had been so many years since she nearly refused to teach her out of fear that she would die on their travels…
"Besides... she is well accompanied," she added at the last moment, thinking of young Stark. That was how confident and proud she was of her student.
The old headmaster seemed relieved by her answer. He pulled out the chair on the other side of the table and sank into it. "It seems you place great trust in her... Tell me, would you like a lemon drop?"
Albus Dumbledore
Albus took a seat in the central part of the tiered stands that occupied most of the hall. His position, located to the right of the Minister, represented both his power and status within the Wizengamot and a show of confidence from the Minister.
Naturally, the last to sit was Cornelius Fudge in the large central chair. Albus's opinion of him was mixed.
On one hand, his government had been peaceful. As a seasoned politician, he had managed to balance the political factions—no easy task given the influence of the the parties.—even going so far as to request Albus's counsel on several occasions. On the other hand, this year Lucius had temporarily managed to get his way with the school board, and that could only mean one thing: Cornelius had chosen the easy path by turning a blind eye.
A day would come when Cornelius would have to choose between doing what was right and what was easy. Albus could only hope that the weight of the lives would tip the scales toward the former.
Pam! Pam!
"Witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, as you have already been informed, we gather here today to discuss several matters of importance, among which are the breach of the Ministry, the discovery of a new intelligent species, and the possible invasion of unknown forces from a different world. I now give the floor to Madam Bones, who will give us a detailed report on the situation."
The woman in question stood up quickly, ignoring the nervous murmurs. "Today at 3:27 PM, an individual from a species nonexistent in our world crossed the 'Veil of Death'—an artifact whose true purpose had until now been unknown, located in the Department of Mysteries—effectively invading the Ministry."
Albus could only sigh as he watched people begin to murmur and create a fuss, even though they should have already read that in the report.
Without allowing the rabble-rousers to gain strength, the woman continued her report in a military tone. "Immediately after, the individual, a powerful sorceress of the 'elf' race named Frieren, incapacitated an entire squad of Aurors, who had initiated hostilities upon witnessing what we now understand was a translation spell manifested with the intent to establish communication. Once hostilities ceased, she surrendered voluntarily and without resistance to the authorities, where she was questioned about her intentions and her world."
If before there had been unrest, it now erupted into complete chaos, with everyone voicing their own questions, concerns, and interests.
"Has she been imprisoned already?"
"Are we going to suffer an invasion?!"
"Why has this witch come here?! Is she a spy?"
"How powerful is she?!"
"What are her intentions?!"
"We should use Veritaserum to extract her secrets!!"
Dozens of shouts and demands exploded in the hall, mostly fueled by dark thoughts and genuine concern.
"Order! Order!!!" shouted Cornelius, silencing the elite of wizards who now resembled a group of unruly teenagers.
"Questions will be asked in the usual established order. Respect your turn or leave this hall!"
"Thank you, Minister," said one of the wizards sitting at the far left of the room. The stitching on his robe revealed his alignment with the gray faction—those who did not fully align with either the dark faction led by the Malfoys and their pure-blood supremacy, or the white faction advocating for complete equality, led by Albus.
Most were families of wizards who had mingled their bloodlines with half-bloods and Muggles but were not willing to lose the privileges they currently held. They wouldn't be destroyed if either of the other two sides gained control, but they benefited more from the status quo.
To Dumbledore, they were a group that alrought he disliked yet knew would never cease to exist. After all, few things were more common among humans than greed or selfishness.
"I believe the first question, and the one that should concern us all the most, is... what can we expect the future to hold? Are we going to be invaded by forces from the other world?" he asked with no small amount of concern, looking directly at Amelia.
Unperturbed, the head of the department addressed the room again. "Unfortunately, we have very little verified information at the moment. What we do know is that the 'Veil of Death' is designed for individual use, which greatly limits its potential military or commercial application. " She paused to let them absorb the information before continuing.
"Furthermore, the reactivation of the artifact in the near future is minimal to nonexistent, as according to reports from the Department of Mysteries, it appears to have lost almost all of its magical charge and will take years or even decades to recharge."
What went unspoken but Albus knew very well was that in the magical world, certain individuals could be more dangerous than entire armies. And based on what Frieren had shared with him about her world, not only the British Ministry but the entire International Confederation of Wizards would be in danger if the wrong individual crossed through the portal.
To tell the truth, he wasn't even sure he could face Frieren himself. Throughout his long life, he had developed the rare ability—or sixth sense—to feel the magical potential in others. Not many wizards had that talent, even fewer trained it. And the sensation he had gotten from her…
Albus had met many powerful wizards, thanks to his own power, titles, and position in society.
Few could rival him.
Grindelwald…
And fewer still could surpass him.
Tom…Nicolas
Nicolas Flamel was the only wizard who had ever truly completely outclassed him in terms of raw magical power. Unfortunately, his decrepit body, barely sustained by the now-destroyed Philosopher's Stone, could no longer keep up, preventing him from using that vast magical capacity effectively. Body and soul—two key factors in magic use. In youth, the body is strong, but the soul is small, lacking the experience and wisdom that come with age. In old age, the soul is grand, but the body is weak, incapable of keeping pace. More than six hundred years had given Nicolas more power than dozens of wizards combined, and even so... Albus suppressed an instinctive shiver as he recalled the way the hairs on his body had stood on end when approaching the small elf.
Refocusing on the room and Amelia, he caught the end of her response:
"...the wizards in the Department of Mysteries are already working on countermeasures and blocks to avoid future surprises or unwanted guests. Next question?"
As if those words had summoned the devil himself, Albus heard a deliberately annoying cough that silenced the murmurs.
"Ahem, ahem. I believe I speak on behalf of everyone when I ask: how are we going to punish the intruder who violated our laws and illegally entered the Ministry? Such an act cannot go unpunished. I propose a stay in Azkaban," said Dolores Umbridge with a false smile.
Instantly, the room erupted again in arguments. Dolores Umbridge was well known to Albus for her constant proposals and attempts to pass increasingly restrictive and abusive laws against non-humans. But she was far from the only one with such thoughts. The truth was that humans had tense or outright hostile relationships with most other intelligent beings—goblins, giants, vampires, merfolk, and more.
"You want our first interaction with another world to be condemning one of their own? Are you mad?!" said a member of the gray faction.
"We should take her magical focus like we do with goblins, so she's no longer a threat!" responded another from the human supremacist faction.
"She doesn't know our laws, she didn't even initiate the conflict. She has rights. Give her a second chance—or at least the opportunity to defend herself!" intervened an ally from Albus's faction.
Lucius Malfoy stood up, his face full of scorn and irritation. "Rights? What rights? She's just another variant of a filthy house elf. She should serve humans like the rest of her damned kin!"
He seems to be taking this personally... You really got under his skin freeing Dobby, Harry. Thought Albus with amusement.
"SILENCE!!" Cornelius roared, quieting the room for what he hoped would be the last time.
"Madam Bones, please present the known facts and the results of your interrogation. After that, we'll vote accordingly."
"As I've mentioned before, the mage Frieren arrived in this world completely unaware of what she might encounter and with no intention of causing harm. The conflict was the result of a misunderstanding that has since been resolved. And while ignorance of the law does not exempt her from following it, I believe in this case we should be more lenient. According to her own words, she is one of the greatest mages of her world and a respected heroine. I propose that she be designated as a provisional ambassador of her world and assigned several caretakers to monitor her."
"Very well, all those in favor of Madam Bones's proposal, raise your wands." Slowly, hands began to rise—Albus's among them.
It wouldn't be enough; they wouldn't let her go so easily.
Just as Albus predicted, only 17 of the 50 hands were raised. As unpleasant as it was to think this way, Frieren was a new piece on the board, and they would not release her without some form of control.
He couldn't blame them—not when he was planning to use her himself for his own benefit. Once again, this world pushed him to set aside his morality to achieve his goals, further withering his already weary and aged heart.
Life had been harsh with Albus; much time had passed since that Qilin had recognized his soul as pure and he had long ago decided that if condemning his soul would prevent his mistakes from harming the innocent, he would do it.
He would not lie to himself. No matter how noble his final objectives, he wanted Frieren on his side when the dark times arrived, putting her in danger and involving her in a war that had nothing to do with her. And for that, when the time came, he would pay for his actions.
Focusing on the present, Albus had to be careful now. He had as many friends who would support him as he had enemies who would oppose him without even listening to his proposal, merely for being who he was—like the Malfoys or the Averys, who had escaped punishment for their ties to Voldemort by using the Imperius Curse as an excuse. For the moment, the best course was to keep a secondary role.
A quick exchange of glances with Victor Greengrass, the de facto leader of the gray faction, calmed Albus's worst concerns. He had contacted him shortly before the meeting to call in one of the many favors he had accumulated over his life.
"If I may, Minister," Victor said as he slowly stood. "I would like to offer a small variation to the procedure."
For a moment, Cornelius looked at him doubtfully, as if not expecting his direct participation. More than one tried to guess what his angle might be. "Go ahead."
"Thanks... I do not doubt Madam Bones's judgment regarding our guest and that she is devoid of malice. However, she is undeniably an unknown and potentially dangerous asset. I believe we would all sleep better if a juvenile magic tracker spell were placed on her."
The atmosphere in the room began to shift again, moving away from the indignation and rejection of Amelia's proposal. Placing a tracking spell on an adult as if they were a minor was a great humiliation and an invasion of privacy. Not even those wizards barely exonerated from complicity with the Dark Lord had been required to carry it for more than a few years.
Placing Frieren under the effects of the spell would allow the Ministry to locate her at all times and know when she used magic. It also didn't go unnoticed that no specific time period was mentioned for its removal.
Sorry, Frieren. It's the best option…
Reading the room, Cornelius didn't waste any more time. "Very well, those in favor, raise your hands again."
Much faster and in greater numbers than before, the hands began to rise—this time with many members of the gray faction and even some from the dark faction.
"33 votes in favor. I hereby declare the procedure regarding the witch Frieren approved. A tracking spell will be placed on her and a guardian assigned to watch over and supervise her."
Once the main topic was settled, the meeting moved on to less pressing matters, such as the little they knew about this foreign world. Everything seemed to indicate it was a technologically underdeveloped feudal world. Yet surprisingly, its inhabitants had managed to make wizards and witches live alongside Muggles as equals—something fascinating to Albus due to his past and something he would be delighted to learn more about when the opportunity arose.
Ultimately, just as Albus predicted, most concerns and fears, as well as interest in the world connected by the portal, were arrogantly dismissed and diminished by the other witches and wizards once they learned of its "underdeveloped" state. He had no doubt that global supremacist sentiment would become an unpleasantly common view among those aware of the other world.
A mistake so deeply rooted in their society that even Albus had been unable to erase it over the years. People would always find a way to feel superior to others—by race, origin, and now, by world.
Soon after, the meeting began to lose cohesion. Some, like Cornelius Fudge and Amelia Bones, left the room to attend to other matters, while others stayed and formed cliques with their respective factions to chat.
Albus didn't take long to leave the room after greeting and chatting with his acquaintances. He headed toward the ministerial office. He had to make his move quickly before someone else beat him to it and ruined his plans.
Knock, knock.
"Come in," came Cornelius's voice from within the room.
Entering the office, Albus could see Cornelius already buried in paperwork—one of the many reasons he himself wasn't interested in being Minister. His time was already too limited; not even all the magical quills in the world could change that. He couldn't waste more time on useless bureaucracy or trying to keep everyone happy.
The office was cozy, personalized, and decorated with living portraits of previous ministers as well as what he assumed were family members. A pity that the main ministerial office was underground and didn't allow for windows overlooking the city above like the secondary one—a point in favor of his office at Hogwarts.
"Cornelius, I see there's no rest for the wicked—or the politicians," Albus said in a friendly tone, closer than he truly felt toward the man.
"Ho ho ho, surely you're not having it easy either, Albus. I've heard things have been difficult. Let me apologize again for this year—Lucius pressured the board to suspend you. I really couldn't do anything. My hands were tied," he said, as if he truly regretted it.
A half-truth, of course. While he had no opinion on the school board matter, there were many ways he could have delayed Lucius or warned Albus in advance—and they both knew it.
Fear? Bribery? Or something else…
For now, it didn't matter. What did matter was that Cornelius would be far more receptive to a request if it meant compensating and keeping the peace with him. Albus Dumbledore's opinion carried great weight, especially among ordinary magical citizens. Cornelius couldn't afford to have him as an enemy if he wanted to win his next election.
"Tell me, what can I do for you?"
There it was—the peace offering.
"Ah, it's a small thing… I just came to offer my humble help. You see, this matter of Ambassador Frieren has caught the attention of these old bones, and since someone needs to supervise her, who better than someone with my capabilities and resources… don't you agree? Surely, you don't know a wizard more capable of supervising her, right?" Behind his grandfatherly smile, Albus could see Cornelius's calculating eyes briefly weighing the pros and cons of refusing him.
"N-no, certainly, I don't know a more capable wizard for the task… but may I ask, why your interest in her?"
"As you know, I am an old man. Few things matter more to this weary soul than curiosity, and I believe I have found a kindred spirit in Miss Frieren."
"Mmm… I can hardly fault you for that. There is no record of anything like this ever happening before. Many researchers are already salivating over the event, and I do not doubt the International Confederation of Wizards will also take an interest... Very well—I shall allow it. I trust you will reach out to them as well, and see to it that our guest is properly cared for."
"Of course."
"Well, enough of serious talk— a drink?" he asked, pulling a small bottle of liquor from the drawer along with two glasses, making a move to open it.
Standing slowly, Albus shook his head. "Thank you, but I'll pass. This body is not what it once was, and you're not the only one with tasks awaiting."
"Ho Ho Ho, right, right. Merlin knows I should stop postponing mine. See you, Albus."
Having turned already, Albus exited the room only to almost bump into someone unexpected.
"Malfoy," he nodded.
"Dumbledore," he could almost hear the venom in Lucius's tone. "If you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to with the Minister."
You're late, Malfoy…
"Go ahead, I was just leaving…"
Frieren
1 day since Frieren arrived on Earth, British Ministry of Magic, 10/8/1993
"Welcome," she greeted the old Headmaster who had come to visit her once again.
One of the young wizards assigned to guard her had woken her at midday to inform her that she would soon receive news of what the Ministry had decided to do with her. She had not expected another visit from him; by his own words, being Headmaster was a busy position.
"Miss Frieren, I hope I haven't interrupted your analysis of the defensive spells," he smiled with a touch of mischief.
"Don't worry, I can't really decipher it without understanding the magical system it's based on," she replied, returning the gesture.
He looked at her as if he didn't entirely believe what she was saying, only to dismiss the thought and nod lightly.
"I'm not concerned. I know that if you wanted to leave, you could have. I appreciate that you are cooperating to avoid panic and make things easier."
Oh? Perceptive…
"I usually follow the laws of the places I visit out of respect—and because it's a hassle to avoid a place until everyone looking for you has either forgotten or died of old age."
She thought of that magical thread demon servant of Aura, how it had almost accidentally implicated her in killing the guard, or all those nobles who tried to use the law to take advantage of her group during her journey with Himel. Sometimes running away saved a great deal of trouble.
Unaware of her thoughts, Albus sat in the chair opposite, in good spirits, just like last time.
"I suppose you've already been informed, but the Ministry has made a decision regarding you."
"So I've heard. I didn't expect you to be the one to inform me."
"I wanted to do it myself—it'll make things easier. First, allow me the honor of being the first to congratulate you: the Ministry has decided to name you as the provisional ambassador of your world, so you can expect many people to come and ask you about it, both out of curiosity and for research..."
Something must have shown on her face, as the old Headmaster let out a soft chuckle before continuing:
"...Though I suppose we can find a way to limit and organize those meetings. However, not all the news is good. Unfortunately, as an unknown foreign witch of great power, the Ministry fears leaving you unsupervised. For that reason, they have decided to assign someone to watch over you, and apply a tracking spell on you to monitor your movements."
He watched her, likely analyzing her reaction—which was minimal. Honestly, she had expected worse. Nobles in general tended to be much more delicate about such matters, especially when you invaded their property and disabled their guards.
That didn't mean it wasn't a nuisance. There was a whole world out there to explore—not to mention the thousands of spells waiting to be recovered under her tender care.
"And you are the person assigned to watch over me." There was no accusation in her voice, only acceptance and gentle contemplation, awaiting the old Headmaster's game.
"That is the case... When I spoke with you the other day about magic and your student, I felt a familiarity and curiosity that are rare these days. That is why I would like to invite you to stay at my school.... I have no intention of forcing you to remain, and I would understand if you're against the idea. I'd gladly help you find a compromise that satisfies both you and the Ministry if that's the case. You mentioned your nomadic lifestyle and curiosity about this new world; however, I truly believe it would be wise to stay in Hogwarts at least for a while—if only long enough to learn how to travel peacefully through this world."
She was listening Frieren still didn't know much about this world and hadn't considered that perhaps things might function very differently here compared to her own.
A sigh escaped the old man. "Even if you left right now, you wouldn't be able to enjoy this world with the tranquility and calm that surely accompany an infinite lifespan: documents, permits, local currency... learning a bit about the culture and modern society while you wait to obtain those things won't hurt you."
Frieren felt her bones soften. She already missed Fern, who would have helped her navigate the complexities of an unfamiliar society.
"Mmm... I don't really mind waiting a few months or years. For now, I'm trapped in this world, and if there's one thing I have in abundance, it's time... but what do you want in exchange? You weren't lying when you spoke of familiarity and curiosity, but I think there's something more." The room seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature when she fixed her gaze on the old man.
For a few seconds, Albus Dumbledore stood still like a child caught red-handed, Just so that acceptance would show in her eyes — there, behind that calculating gaze, Frieren could see the weight of someone on whose shoulders many lives depended. For a moment, it reminded her of the Hero of the South.
"Unfortunately, pure altruism is not what drives my actions... dark times are coming. A Dark Lord is returning. That, I know for certain. And I could never forgive myself if I didn't do everything in my power to shift the odds in our favor."
The mood had darkened a little. Technically, this wasn't Frieren's business—this wasn't her world; she hadn't even been here a week—and fighting someone strong was always a hassle. She just wanted to enjoy herself and collect spells until the portal reactivated… however
"You've told me your story, and my own instincts confirm it. I know your mere presence on our side will save many lives. But I have no right to ask you to stay and fight—not so soon after meeting, not when this isn't even your world. That is why I would like to offer you a different kind of deal. I couldn't stop thinking about the part of your story where the brightest wizards of your world came together to decipher magic that had once been unstoppable and lethal."
"Zoltraak" Frieren added. "The magic that once meant instant death, now reduced to the most basic of battle spells."
Nodding, Albus continued, "I want to do the same, and I'd like to count on your help to achieve it. In this world, there are three Unforgivable Curses, banned by the International Confederation of Wizards due to their cruelty and malice, but most of all, because of how difficult they are to block: the Imperius Curse, which allows you to control your opponent like a puppet; the Cruciatus Curse, which causes suffering so brutal it can drive the victim mad or even kill them; and finally, the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, which causes instant death."
This wasn't her problem…
And yet she knew what He would have done. And how he would probably scold and punish her once they met up in Aureole if she simply ignored everything.
"I've already told you… I don't know your magic system; I wouldn't be of any use on this project…"
"I am aware of that," he replied, "and I am also aware that if you are truly the mage your titles and deeds suggest, it will not take you long to adapt."
Frieren stayed there under the director's gaze; in truth, she had already made her decision.
"I don't work for free," Frieren said with a smile—a half-truth.
"I would never ask you to," the old man replied. "If you accept, not only will I grant you unrestricted access to my personal library and the school's facilities, but I will also use my connections to expedite the processing of your documentation. I will also keep you informed about the portal and any progress regarding its reactivation. And though I may no longer be what I once was, a good word from me will open doors to incredible places in this world that I am sure you will want to visit, whatever spell you want to learn, tell me and I'll get it for you," replied the old man, stroking his beard smugly
"Who knows…" he said as he leaned his arms on the table, "perhaps some of my professors will even teach you their fields if you lend them a hand in their classes."
Frieren and Albus exchanged glances—it was a good offer. One she would not mind accepting for a few years, and to be honest, she likely would have accepted anyway, regardless of payment. Frieren had already decided to help with this mysterious dark lord. Only one thing remained to be clarified…
"Whatever spell I want, hmm… Tell me, what spells do you teach your first-year students at your school?" she asked, wearing the most serious expression she'd shown during their entire conversation.
Whatever the old wizard had been expecting, it wasn't that. Her answer seemed to trigger a coughing fit mixed with a laugh that echoed through the room. "You want… to learn the magic we teach the students?" he asked, a blend of incredulity and delight.
Striking her most haughty pose, chin tilted up and exuding the arrogance of an adult speaking to a foolish child, Frieren imparted a bit of her peerless millennial wisdom: "The most enjoyable part of learning magic is the process of pursuing it. You want me to attend your school, don't you? Then it's only natural that I'd want to learn what you teach." Anything else would have felt wrong.
"The process of pursuing it…
"..."
"...mhm, I can still remember the joy you're talking about." His voice sounded nostalgic, as if recalling fond memories.
Frieren nodded, pleased that someone else appreciated her wisdom. 'Now then… what kind of legendary spells are taught within your school's walls?"
Joy flashed again in the headmaster's eyes, and a shrewd, conspiratorial look settled on his face. "Legendary magics, you say… I suppose you mean the mighty transformation spell capable of turning a rat into a goblet? Or perhaps the mythical spell to slowly lift things near you?"
Time seemed to freeze for a second before Frieren reacted.
'What are we waiting for? Let's go to that school of yours—quickly!' she replied, getting up from the tableready to head out toward the mentioned magical school.
"Ho ho ho," the old director chuckled warmly. "First, I must ask you… do you have any method of concealing your features from the Muggles?"
"Muggles? What is that?" she asked, coming to a sudden halt.
"Muggles are…well, let's say they are humans without the gift of magic... You see, unlike in your world, centuries ago the survival of magical beings here was put in jeopardy when Muggle governments began hunting down anyone who showed even the slightest signs of magical ability. Children, elders, adults—none were spared from the persecution. That is why the witches and wizards of the time made the difficult decision to hide from common people's view, masking our society behind a veil and altering the memories of anyone who discovered the secret, all to protect ourselves..."
Frieren was left speechless.
And so came the first great revelation—the first cultural shock.
This world had never accepted magic.
This world had never seen her master's dream come true.
This world… never had the legendary mage Flamme to unite both societies.Last edited: 28/8/2025 Award Quote ReplyReport651Evil cazuela28/8/2025Reader modeNewAdd bookmark Threadmarks skychanCatgirl Sith Lord28/8/2025NewAdd bookmark#7Well this seems like fun. I look forward to the trip. Award Quote ReplyReport19Evil cazuela28/8/2025NewAdd bookmark#8I hope I've managed to capture the essence of the characters. Frieren may seem simple, but she can shift from a naïve, irresponsible girl unable to take care of herself to a perceptive mage—truly wise, a thousand years old, who has fought in wars and witnessed death in amounts most could never even imagine.
As for Albus, I see him as someone shrewd and manipulative, but deep down an old man who has been through a lot and truly seeks what's best for others. So this won't be one of those fanfics where he's portrayed as an extremely manipulative and controlling villain.