Chapter 21 - Chapter 21

Chapter 21 (~14k words):

– Harry –

I had a small, amused smile on my lips as I listened to Fleur and Tonks bickering next to me at the Gryffindor table. Tonks stood her ground firmly, arguing, "Look, Fleur, it's literally my job to sit next to him. I have to keep Harry safe."

Fleur flipped her silky blonde hair over her shoulder with a delicate scoff, her lovely French accent becoming sharper with irritation. "Oui, but you can do zat perfectly fine from ze other side of ze table. Only Harry's lovers should have ze privilege of sitting right beside 'im, non? Unless that is what you are aiming for!?" Fleur accused.

Tonks's cheeks turned an adorable shade of red at Fleur's bold statement, her hair flashing through several vivid colors in embarrassment. She sputtered defensively, clearly caught off guard. "I—I never said anything about—that's not what this is about!"

Fleur crossed her arms defensively, her blue eyes flashing with determination. "Harry is the perfect man," she declared confidently, her accent thickening slightly with her rising emotion. "Why wouldn't you want to be with him, Tonks?"

Tonks's cheeks flared with color, matching the rapid shifts in her hair from pink to purple. She stammered, looking utterly flustered. "That's—that's not what this is about at all! This is my job!" She hesitated briefly, her embarrassment evident before she finally admitted, lowering her voice shyly, "Though yes, Harry is very good looking."

A chorus of grumbling erupted further down the Gryffindor table, catching my attention. Dean, Seamus, and a few other boys were clustered together, their expressions ranging from amused to genuinely frustrated. Dean threw his arms in the air dramatically, exaggerating his despair. "How is it fair? Harry's harem just keeps expanding, and we're left sitting here like complete idiots."

Seamus nodded vigorously, stabbing a sausage with his fork. "Exactly! It's not like we're trolls or something. We're decent-looking lads, aren't we?"

Neville chuckled good-naturedly, attempting to console them. "Come on, guys. Harry doesn't mean anything by it. It just sort of happens around him, you know?"

"That's the whole point!" Dean exclaimed in mock outrage. "He doesn't even have to try! Girls literally fight over sitting next to him. Meanwhile, I can't even get one of them to glance my way!"

I bit back a chuckle, taking the opportunity provided by their distraction. I quietly stood up from the table, leaving the two women arguing behind me, and swiftly scooted a short distance down the long Gryffindor bench. I slid comfortably onto the seat right next to Ginny, who was currently chatting animatedly with Lavender, Jasmine, and Parvati.

Ginny noticed me first, turning her head with surprise before her eyes lit up happily. Lavender, meanwhile, looked at me with raised eyebrows and a playful but slightly jealous smirk. "Really, Harry?" she teased, leaning closer with mock indignation. "You've got yet another girl fighting over you already? You're becoming quite the playboy."

I laughed softly, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "Believe me, I didn't start that argument," I said honestly. "I'm just an innocent bystander."

Lavender rolled her eyes dramatically while Ginny giggled softly, her cheeks flushed as she leaned against me slightly.

"Sure, Harry," Lavender said dryly, but her smile was warm and playful. "Totally innocent. We all believe you..."

I glanced further down the table and spotted Hermione sitting by herself, tucked away toward the edge, her nose buried in a thick book. She looked completely absorbed, lips moving silently as she read. I wasn't bothered by it—sometimes Hermione just wanted to be alone, and I respected that. It was her way of unwinding and keeping ahead in her classes.

My gaze wandered to the Ravenclaw table, where Gabrielle was laughing softly with Sona and Tsubaki. The three of them looked like old friends, Gabrielle's silvery hair catching the light as she leaned in, smiling warmly at my aunt. It was strange but comforting, seeing my younger veela lover and Sona getting along so well. There was a calmness to their conversation, a quiet understanding that made the whole Great Hall feel less chaotic for a moment.

I turned my attention back to Ginny, who had just nudged me and was watching the older, pink-haired girl—Tonks—arguing with Fleur near the front of our table. "What's up with them?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who's the pink haired girl supposed to be?"

"That's Tonks—well, technically Nymphadora Tonks, but she'll hex you if you use her first name. She's an Auror, like a magical cop. The Ministry assigned her to keep an eye on me after all the assassination attempts."

Ginny's eyes widened a bit, clearly impressed. "She doesn't look like a cop," she said, sneaking another glance at Tonks's vibrant hair. "She looks more like she'd be fun at a party."

"Lavender was the first to speak up, her voice bright. "Honestly, I'm just glad the Ministry is finally taking Hogwarts security seriously for once," she said, tossing her hair back. Parvati nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's kind of reminding me of our first year all over again."

I frowned, curiosity piqued. "Wait—what happened your first year? I didn't start until fourth, remember?"

Lavender grinned at me, clearly enjoying the chance to tell the story. "It was absolutely mental. We were sixteen and had no clue what we were doing. It all started on Halloween. A troll got loose in the castle while we were all at dinner—"

Parvati interrupted. "—and then one of our professors turned out to be completely evil! He tried to steal some magical stone. For some reason, the three of us thought it was a good idea to play heroes and stop him. We had to go on a whole quest at first to find clues and everything. And then we had to get through a maze of death traps."

Lavender rolled her eyes and smirked. "Yeah, we tried. Parvati and I got knocked out after that evil giant chess set. Jasmine was the only one still standing, so she faced him alone. His name was Quirrell. And she totes killed him, even though she won't openly admit it. He was never seen again after she confronted him. Our girl here is a badass," Lavender said while wrapping her arms around Jasmine's shoulder, making the glasses-wearing brunette blush for a moment before she looked sad.

I turned to Jasmine, raising an eyebrow, and she shrunk down in her seat. "I… I don't really want to talk about it," she muttered, fiddling nervously with her sleeve.

That story managed to tell me a whole lot about these girls and absolutely nothing at the same time.

"Also, that was the last time we got mixed up in anything that dangerous! We learned our lesson." Lavender finished explaining.

"We sure did," Parvati added, shaking her head. "My nerdy Ravenclaw sister told our parents and they almost pulled me out of Hogwarts. They only let me stay if I promised I wouldn't get involved in any more trouble. I had to swear I'd be a 'good girl.'"

That made me grin, unable to resist teasing her. I leaned in with a flirtatious smirk. "Oh, and are you a good girl now, Parvati?"

Parvati's dark skin flushed, and she squirmed in her seat, trying not to smile. "Shut up, Harry," she muttered playfully...

"It really sucks that Ron was born a year before me," Ginny cut in suddenly. She sighed softly, pushing a strand of fiery red hair behind her ear. "I always felt left out, you know? You lot—" she gestured to Lavender, Jasmine, and Parvati, "—always seemed so close. And apart from Luna, who's off in Ravenclaw anyway, there's not exactly a lot of girls my age to talk to."

Lavender leaned forward a little, giving Ginny an apologetic look. "Oh, Ginny, we're sorry. Honestly, we'd have loved hanging out with you more. It's just, you know...your brother Ron always kind of creeped us out."

Jasmine and Parvati both nodded immediately, looking guilty.

Parvati winced slightly. "Yeah. We never meant to ignore you or anything, Gin. But Ron was always so...awkward and weird around us. We ended up just avoiding you by association, I guess."

Jasmine's voice softened sympathetically. "But now we all feel pretty bad, considering what we found out about Ron. I mean, no one knew he'd been mind-controlled for four whole years."

Ginny quickly waved off their apologies, shaking her head firmly. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, none of my brothers noticed either—and my parents were totally clueless. No one's blaming any of you."

She paused for a second, glancing down at the table, before brightening just a little. "Anyway, Ron's getting better at St. Mungo's. They say he might even come back to Hogwarts in a week or two. So that's...good, I guess."

Lavender, Jasmine, and Parvati exchanged uneasy looks, then glanced toward me with uncertainty clear in their eyes.

I shrugged lightly, meeting Ginny's hopeful gaze. Truth be told, I didn't particularly care about Ron one way or the other. We'd never gotten along, and knowing his attitude wasn't fully his fault didn't suddenly make us best friends.

Still, Ginny clearly wanted some reassurance, and I wasn't about to disappoint her. Putting on a sympathetic expression, I reached out and lightly squeezed her hand. "That's good news, Ginny. I'm glad your family's finally getting some answers. I'm sure he'll be back to normal before long."

She visibly relaxed, smiling gratefully and squeezing my hand back. "Thanks, Harry. I really appreciate that."

Lavender leaned closer, giving Ginny a warm smile. "We'll make up for lost time, okay? Hang out with us anytime."

Ginny's eyes brightened happily. "I'd love that."

I suddenly snapped my head toward the large doors at the front of the Great Hall. My entire body instinctively tensed as I sensed multiple devils approaching. Ones whose magical signatures I didn't recognize. 

Seconds later, the grand doors swung open with a heavy creak. Hagrid stepped inside, smiling proudly as he led a group of unfamiliar devils into the Great Hall. All around me, students turned in curiosity, a murmur of voices breaking out at the newcomers' dramatic arrival.

My attention immediately fixed on the two breathtaking women at the front of the group. My eyes widened involuntarily as I took them in.

The first girl who stepped into the hall was absolutely gorgeous, a tall beauty with cascading crimson-red hair that fell in silky waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were a vivid, striking blue that seemed to glow slightly, even from this distance. My gaze drifted lower, landing helplessly on her incredible figure. Her curves were mind-blowingly voluptuous, her bust so large and round beneath her tight clothing that I felt a rush of heat straight down to my groin just looking at her.

Hell, I'd thought Amelia Bones had massive tits this morning, but this girl might actually have her beat. She walked with a confident grace, her hips swaying hypnotically with every step she took.

Beside her was a second girl, easily just as captivating as the first, but with an entirely different allure. She was tall, strikingly beautiful, obviously of Japanese heritage, with sleek, midnight-black hair that flowed straight down her back like polished silk. Her eyes were a deep, enchanting purple, and her features held a seductive maturity. Like the redhead, this woman also had a body that was outrageously voluptuous. Her breasts were just as large and round, stretching the fabric of her clothes almost obscenely.

Just seeing these two beauties walking together caused a heated stirring beneath my robes, and I had to shift slightly in my seat, suddenly aware of just how aroused I was becoming.

Judging by their immense magical auras and the authoritative confidence they radiated, I knew instantly that they had to be the king and queen of this new devil peerage. It was clear by the way they carried themselves, stepping into the Great Hall as though they owned the place.

Behind them walked three more devils, two shorter girls and a handsome blonde guy who scanned the hall curiously. Their magic wasn't as powerful as the two stunning women in front, but it was still considerable.

All around me, students were whispering excitedly about these new arrivals, but I hardly paid attention to any of it. My focus was entirely captured by the two devastatingly sexy devils leading the way.

The red-haired girl lifted her eyes briefly, and for a moment, our gazes locked from across the hall.

Lavender leaned across the table, giving Ginny a teasing smirk. "Looks like you're not the sexiest redhead at Hogwarts anymore, Ginny. You've got some serious competition now."

Ginny shot Lavender an annoyed glare and quickly swung her foot under the table, delivering a sharp kick to Lavender's shin.

Lavender let out a surprised yelp, quickly jerking her leg back. "Ouch! Bloody hell, Ginny!"

Her friends Jasmine and Parvati both dissolved into fits of giggles, doing nothing to hide their amusement at Lavender's discomfort.

Ginny just folded her arms across her chest with an exaggerated pout. "She might have big boobs, but I'm still in perfect shape from all the exercise I get…" she muttered.

Ginny looked a little upset, her jaw clenched and lips pressed tight, so I slipped my arm low around her waist and pulled her close. My hand slid down to caress the soft curve of her thigh under the table, my palm pressing gently over the warm, bare skin just beneath her skirt. She shivered a little at my touch, glancing at me with those brown eyes that always seemed to flicker with challenge and affection at the same time. She turned her head and gave me a fond, almost possessive look before letting out a soft, shaky breath.

Lavender, noticing the way Ginny practically melted into me, pouted and crossed her arms.

Ginny stuck her tongue out at her, then shifted in closer, the muscles in her slender body tense but eager as she pressed herself against my side.

Dumbledore rose from his chair at the head table. Immediately, the room quieted down, students all turning their attention toward him. The Headmaster smiled gently, his eyes twinkling as he spoke. "Students, tonight Hogwarts is fortunate enough to welcome yet more transfer students into our halls. As per our proud tradition, these students shall be sorted into their houses."

Professor McGonagall stepped forward briskly, carrying the familiar stool and the raggedy old Sorting Hat in her hands. She placed the stool firmly in front of the staff table, then set the hat carefully atop it. McGonagall looked down at a piece of parchment in her hand. "Gremory, Rias," she announced clearly, her voice ringing through the hall.

My eyes widened immediately at the name. What the hell was Rias Gremory doing here at Hogwarts? She was the younger sister of Sirzechs Lucifer himself—one of the four Maous of the Underworld. Same as my mother. 

Rias was supposed to be busy managing her own territory back in Japan. So why the hell was she suddenly transferring to Hogwarts?

Confused, I quickly glanced across the hall, catching Sona's eye at the Ravenclaw table. My aunt gave me a slightly sheepish, apologetic look, a faint blush on her cheeks. She obviously knew something about this and hadn't bothered telling me beforehand. 

Great. More surprises.

Rias calmly stepped forward, confidently walking over to McGonagall. She moved with natural grace, drawing the attention of every student in the hall. 

Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Rias's head. 

"Hufflepuff!" it shouted almost instantly.

Rias shrugged as she gently removed the hat and handed it back to McGonagall. She turned and walked gracefully toward the applauding Hufflepuff table, giving them a polite nod. The house was obviously thrilled to have her, eagerly making space for their gorgeous new addition.

"Wow, she got sorted really quickly," Parvati remarked.

Rias Gremory. Her family was famously known in the Underworld for their loyalty to family and friends above all else. Placing her into Hufflepuff was actually pretty fitting, although I was still confused.

Rias Gremory transferring to Hogwarts so suddenly was no coincidence. I knew there had to be some deeper reason behind it—and I was fairly sure that reason involved me.

...

After dinner.

One of the perks of being a teacher—or even just an assistant teacher—at Hogwarts was getting a private suite. Narcissa Black certainly seemed pleased with her spacious quarters. They were also great for us being able to meet like this in relative secret.

I was laying down comfortably with my head resting on her warm, plush lap.

I sighed contentedly, savoring the feeling of her soft, bare thighs against the back of my head and neck. My eyes closed briefly as Narcissa's delicate fingers gently massaged my scalp, sending warm tingles all the way down my spine.

I opened my eyes again and glanced up at her, enjoying the captivating view of her beautiful face and voluptuous curves above me. "So," I began thoughtfully, "what do you think of this whole situation with Rias Gremory suddenly showing up here? Her entire peerage, too."

Narcissa smiled slightly as she continued to run her fingers affectionately through my dark black hair. Her soft, smooth thighs shifted slightly beneath my head, her silky skin brushing gently against me and causing another pleasant shiver to run through my body.

"Well," she began calmly, her voice smooth and thoughtful, "it's certainly not a coincidence, Harry. Someone as politically significant as Rias Gremory doesn't make a move like this without good reason. She is the younger sister of one of the four great Maous, after all."

"Exactly," I said quietly, my eyes tracing over Narcissa's generous curves, which were barely contained by the thin, silky robe she wore. I couldn't help myself, reaching out and gently resting a hand on her bare thigh, tracing idle circles on her soft skin. "That's why I wanted your opinion. You're one of the most politically-minded people I know."

Narcissa let out a gentle, pleased sigh at my touch, her eyes darkening slightly with desire as she gazed down at me. "Flattery will get you everywhere, my king," she teased softly. Her fingertips brushed over my cheek affectionately. "But if I had to guess, she's likely here because of you. Either as an ally...or something more."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Something more?"

"Indeed," Narcissa said calmly. "The Gremory family wouldn't send her here for no reason. She might be looking for a closer relationship—politically or otherwise."

Narcissa was making a lot of sense. And clearly Sona had known something as well. I wondered if Lyra and Lyna did too. I'd have to ask them when I made it back to the Gryffindor common room after spending my daily hour with Narcissa. 

If nothing else, this was already shaping up to be a very pleasant experience. Narcissa's soft, delicate fingertips continued to gently massage my scalp, causing a satisfied sigh to escape my lips. Warm tingles spread from the crown of my head, traveling deliciously down my spine. Every stroke of her fingers was relaxing yet arousing at the same time.

Feeling more daring, I turned my head slightly, pressing another slow kiss onto her pale, silky thigh. Narcissa's smooth skin was warm and supple against my lips, causing me to hum softly in appreciation. She didn't pull away or protest—in fact, a soft sigh escaped her mouth, and her fingers gently tightened in my hair, clearly encouraging me. Her gorgeous blue eyes darkened visibly with lust, making my pulse quicken.

Yet, neither of us took things further just yet.

For now, we simply enjoyed the intimacy of the moment, our bodies close and comfortable. I continued to savor the feeling of her bare thighs beneath my lips and fingertips as we talked quietly.

"So," I murmured against her smooth skin, my voice slightly teasing, "other than the class I attended earlier, how did your first day teaching go?"

Narcissa smiled softly down at me, a mischievous glint entering her eyes as she brushed her fingertips slowly along my cheekbone. "It actually went surprisingly well," she admitted calmly, a satisfied smirk on her full lips. "I must confess, I had quite a bit of fun completely stealing that fool Lockhart's class from him and taking charge."

"Heh, I bet he loved that," I said with a laugh.

She leaned forward slightly, her beautiful breasts shifting enticingly beneath the thin, silky fabric of her robe, drawing my eyes instinctively. Narcissa caught me staring, her lips curling into a knowing, seductive smile. "Tell me something, Harry," she purred sensually, her voice dropping lower. "Do you like it when a strong, older woman takes charge?"

My breath hitched slightly. Narcissa chuckled softly at my reaction, her blue eyes glittering knowingly. She shifted slightly, pressing those large, round breasts enticingly closer to my face.

"I think you already know the answer to that," I replied with a slow grin, turning my head so I could press another heated kiss onto her inner thigh, making her draw a sharp breath. "But yes, Narcissa, I absolutely do."

Narcissa chuckled again, softly running her fingers down my chest, gently stroking and teasing as she met my heated gaze with an expression filled with lust, affection, and promise. "Mmm, I thought so," she whispered playfully, her eyes hooded with desire. "Good to know, my king..."

Before we could go any further, a sharp chime from the timer beside Narcissa's bed startled us both. I glanced at it with a small groan of frustration, realizing our hour together today had already passed.

Narcissa let out an irritated tutting sound, clearly just as disappointed. Her delicate fingers paused their gentle stroking through my hair, and she sighed softly.

"I suppose we'll have to pick this up next time," I said, reluctantly lifting my head off her soft, inviting thighs. Her smooth skin felt so good beneath my fingertips, I was genuinely annoyed that I had to leave now.

She nodded slowly, a teasing smirk playing at her full lips. Her pale blue eyes glittered with gentle amusement. "Yes, I suppose we should," she agreed softly, though she clearly wasn't happy about it either. She playfully ran her finger down my chest. "After all, it wouldn't be fair of me to keep you from your other girls all night."

Chuckling softly, I rose from the bed, stretching out briefly. I quickly smoothed my slightly tousled hair back into place, then turned to face Narcissa again. She was lounging back against her pillows now, her robe only loosely covering her ample curves. I couldn't resist stepping forward again, reaching out to gently cup her face in my hands.

She leaned eagerly into my touch, and our lips met in a slow, passionate kiss. Narcissa's lips were incredibly soft and warm, parting easily beneath mine as our tongues tangled together sensually. She let out a quiet moan into my mouth, her arms wrapping around my neck to pull me closer for just a few seconds longer, as if she didn't want me to leave at all.

I finally broke away with a regretful sigh, feeling the lingering heat and lust between us. "I'll see you tomorrow," I whispered softly, brushing my thumb affectionately across her cheek.

Narcissa gave me a satisfied, loving smile. "I'm already looking forward to it," she replied smoothly.

With one last lingering glance at her beautiful figure lounging temptingly on the bed, I turned and walked out of her apartment, shutting the door quietly behind me.

Standing out in the corridor, I immediately spotted Tonks waiting nearby, arms crossed, leaning against the stone wall with a puzzled expression. She pushed herself upright the moment she saw me, her eyes narrowing curiously.

"Mind explaining why exactly you're serving detention with my aunt in her private quarters, instead of a normal classroom?" she asked skeptically.

I flashed her a smug, knowing smirk. "Reasons," I replied cryptically.

Tonks blinked a couple of times, looking suspicious. Then her eyes suddenly widened, her expression rapidly shifting from confusion to shock. "Hold on—are you fucking my aunt?" she sputtered loudly, cheeks flushing bright red. "Is that why she's suddenly getting a divorce?"

I chuckled softly, amused at her blunt question. I leaned forward, speaking quietly into her ear as she flushed even redder. "Not yet," I whispered teasingly. "And sort of."

Tonks stood there gaping, flustered and even more confused. Her hair rapidly cycled through several bright colors in her embarrassment. She quickly hurried after me, stumbling slightly on the stairs as I started back towards the nearby Gryffindor tower entrance.

"What the hell do you mean 'sort of'?" Tonks demanded behind me, her voice breathless with confusion and curiosity. "Harry! Explain yourself!"

I laughed softly again, glancing back over my shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Tonks," I said playfully. "Just come along and guard me like you're supposed to."

She huffed indignantly but dutifully followed after me anyway.

– Rias –

Rias Gremory woke up early the next morning just as the first golden rays of sunlight began filtering through the curtains of her new quarters. She lay still for a few moments, staring at the ceiling of the bedroom assigned to her.

Scotland was certainly colder than she expected, especially this early in the morning, and the fact that the castle's lower floors were chilly didn't exactly help matters.

She was grateful, at least, that Akeno had agreed to sleep with her the previous night. Rias smiled softly, feeling her queen's smooth, warm body pressed comfortably against her own under the thick blankets. Convincing Akeno to sleep naked with her had required only a little persuasion, despite the fact that the beautiful raven-haired devil could be surprisingly shy behind closed doors.

Gently pulling back the warm sheets, Rias sat up slowly and stretched her arms above her head, the movement causing her large, perfect breasts to rise enticingly. Her flawless, porcelain skin shivered slightly from the cool dungeon air that quickly brushed over her nude figure, making her pink nipples tighten visibly from the sudden chill.

Beside her, Akeno stirred slightly, letting out a small, sleepy noise as her eyelids fluttered open slowly. Her queen smiled warmly, eyes half-lidded as she gazed appreciatively at Rias's naked form in the morning sunlight.

"Good morning, Rias," Akeno murmured softly, voice slightly husky from sleep. "Mmm, are you ready to meet your new betrothed today?"

Rias felt a flutter of nervous anticipation deep within her belly. She bit her lower lip, her cheeks faintly flushing at the thought of finally meeting Harry Sitri, the young half-devil she was now engaged to. A young man she'd never even met before, yet she was already committed to spending eternity by his side—assuming things went well.

"I think so," Rias replied softly, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she rose fully from the bed. "At least, I hope so. I'm actually quite nervous."

Akeno chuckled gently, sitting up herself and exposing her own large, flawless breasts. She stretched out slowly, her slender, graceful body arching beautifully as her long black hair cascaded around her.

Rias couldn't help herself—her eyes were drawn straight to Akeno's full, heavy breasts as they jiggled slightly with every movement. She bit her lip, feeling heat blossom in her cheeks and a pulse of arousal between her thighs. There was never any hiding it. Rias was hopelessly, unashamedly bisexual, and she'd always had a weakness for Akeno's body—especially those tits. Every devil girl was a little bi at heart, and the two of them had definitely had their share of late-night practice sessions over the years.

Akeno leaned in closer to stretch. Rias almost reached out on instinct, but held herself back, settling for a bold, lingering stare.

Akeno's lips curled in a sly, knowing smile as she pressed a teasing kiss to Rias's cheek. "You have nothing to worry about," Akeno teased gently. Obviously talking about Harry.

"Thanks Akeno," Rias smiled faintly as she headed towards the adjoining bathroom to take a hot shower. She paused in the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder with a playful look. "You certainly sound confident," she teased gently, eyes glancing once again over Akeno's curvaceous naked body. "Maybe I should have you meet him first to soften him up for me."

Akeno laughed softly, her eyes dancing with mischief as she gracefully rose from the bed, following Rias towards the bathroom. "Ara ara, careful what you wish for, Rias," she purred playfully. "You never know what kind of trouble I might get us into..."

...Rias was quietly pleased that her entire peerage had been sorted into Hufflepuff. It felt reassuring that they'd all remain together through this new chapter. She stepped out of her and Akeno's shared dormitory, running her fingers through her soft crimson hair as she entered the cozy Hufflepuff common room.

As expected, a small commotion had already formed around two of her peerage members. Several students were fussing warmly over Koneko and Gasper. Rias sighed fondly, already anticipating what had happened.

Sure enough, Gasper sat nervously on one of the couches, squirming shyly beneath the friendly attention. His face flushed bright red beneath his messy blonde hair, his eyes nervously darting around. It was obvious he desperately wished to hide. Next to him, a pretty red-haired girl with a generous chest smiled sweetly, her hand extended warmly toward Gasper.

"I'm Susan Bones," she introduced herself kindly. Beside her, a cute blonde with bright eyes nodded eagerly.

"And I'm Hannah Abbott!" the girl chimed in. "We'd love to be friends with you both—there's no reason at all to feel shy. After all, we're all fellow girls!"

Gasper opened his mouth, obviously too flustered to form a coherent reply. Nearby, Koneko watched the scene blankly while nibbling quietly on a piece of chocolate she'd gotten from one of the tables.

Without even looking up, Koneko spoke in a perfectly dry tone. "Gasper is a boy."

A stunned silence immediately descended upon the entire common room. Susan's eyes widened in shock, her cheeks rapidly turning bright pink as she covered her mouth. Hannah let out a tiny squeak, her jaw dropping comically as she stared at Gasper, who looked ready to sink straight into the cushions and disappear.

Then the room erupted into chaos.

"He's what?!"

"You're joking, right?"

"But—he's even cuter than most girls here!"

"I guess that's why I saw her—I mean him—walking out of the boy's dorms this morning..."

"I-I didn't mean to embarrass you!" Susan stammered out quickly, looking mortified as Gasper buried his crimson face in his trembling hands.

Rias chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement. She moved closer, gently placing a comforting hand on Gasper's shoulder. "Gasper has always had this effect on people," Rias explained lightly, trying to ease everyone's embarrassment. "It's completely understandable. Also he likes to dress like a girl, but he does still identify as a boy."

A low, excited whisper swept through the Hufflepuff common room as Rias watched, amused. Students started murmuring to each other, some looking skeptical, others utterly fascinated. More than one boy stole another glance at Gasper, clearly struggling with how cute he still looked even after the reveal. A couple of them looked mortified by their own reactions, while others just looked even more interested now that the 'legend of traps' had been confirmed real right in front of them.

"A nervous-looking Hufflepuff boy finally blurted out, "Wait—so Gasper, you're really a boy? But you're… honestly, you're cuter than half the girls in this whole castle!"

Gasper managed a tiny, embarrassed laugh, still half-hiding behind his hands. "Um… sorry. I just… I like dressing this way."

Susan let out a shaky breath, still visibly blushing. "I'm really sorry, Gasper," she apologized sincerely. "I honestly didn't know!"

"It's... it's okay," Gasper squeaked softly from behind his hands, still looking terribly shy and embarrassed.

Hannah tried to change the subject quickly, turning her attention toward Rias instead. "Um, you're Rias, right? Welcome to Hufflepuff!" she said with a bright smile.

Rias smiled warmly, appreciating their efforts to move past the awkwardness. "Thank you both," she said softly. "I'm sure we'll all become good friends."

Koneko simply continued eating her chocolate, unaffected and unbothered by the entire scene. "He'll get over it," she muttered quietly. "Eventually..."

Rias smiled warmly as she turned her attention toward Koneko, who was quietly nibbling away at another chocolate bar.

"So Koneko, how are you liking Hogwarts so far?" Rias asked gently.

Koneko paused to carefully swallow her mouthful of chocolate before turning her emotionless golden eyes towards Rias. Her usually blank expression briefly showed genuine excitement.

"We have three huge meals a day," Koneko stated seriously, holding up a second chocolate bar as if it were irrefutable evidence. "All-you-can-eat food and unlimited snacks whenever I want. This is literally the greatest school ever!"

Well, at least she was easy to please.

Rias laughed softly, pleased that Koneko was finding her own source of happiness here. She glanced over at Gasper, who was still awkwardly trapped between the overly eager Susan and Hannah. Despite the earlier embarrassment, the two girls were stubbornly determined to befriend him.

"And how about you, Gasper?" Rias asked gently, trying to rescue her poor bishop from further awkwardness. "How do you feel about Hogwarts so far?"

Gasper looked up nervously, his face still flushed bright red from Susan and Hannah's well-meaning attention. "I—um, it's... okay, I guess?" he mumbled shyly, shifting in his seat and avoiding everyone's eyes. "But there's no electricity or Wi-Fi here! How am I supposed to game without any electricity?"

Susan and Hannah both blinked innocently at Gasper, sharing a confused glance. "What's gaming?" Susan asked curiously.

"Is that like a sport?" Hannah added innocently.

Oh wow, these girls were sheltered, weren't they? Poor Gasper.

Gasper let out a quiet whimper, looking like he was moments away from bursting into tears. His face fell completely, staring hopelessly down at the floor.

Rias couldn't help but burst into laughter at Gasper's tragic expression. She gently patted him on the shoulder, smiling reassuringly. "Maybe a break from electricity will actually be good for you, Gasper," she teased lightly.

Gasper gave her a pitiful look but didn't argue, simply slumping further into the cushions.

Rias sighed fondly. Despite his moping, she noticed something positive already. The natural ambient magic within Hogwarts castle seemed to be doing wonders for Gasper's Sacred Gear. Back at Kuoh Academy, it would occasionally activate accidentally and cause him to freeze time or panic uncontrollably. But ever since they arrived here, his gear had stayed completely dormant.

It was time.

Rias felt her heart beat faster as she walked across the cool, dewy grass, the fresh Scottish morning air gently brushing against her face. Beside her, Akeno moved gracefully, wearing the same new black-and-yellow Hufflepuff robes as her.

"It's going to be strange adjusting from regular Japanese classes to magical lessons, isn't it?" Rias whispered softly to Akeno.

Akeno gave her a teasing smile, brushing her long black hair behind one ear. "Ara ara, I think it's quite exciting. Who knows what interesting things we'll learn today?"

Their first lesson was Care of Magical Creatures with the gentle giant Hagrid they'd met the previous night. Elective classes included students from every house, so she knew she'd be meeting Harry first thing.

As they approached Hagrid's wooden hut, Rias spotted a decent-sized gathering of fourth-year students already waiting outside.

Suddenly, she felt a gentle jolt in her chest as she saw Sona standing next to a tall, dark-haired young man—Harry Sitri. As if sensing her presence, Harry stiffened slightly and turned to face her, their eyes immediately meeting just like they had the night before.

Rias felt warmth rise in her cheeks as Harry's piercing gaze traveled slowly over her body, clearly taking in her beauty and then appreciatively shifting to Akeno beside her. Rias didn't mind. She'd always been confident in her attractiveness, and it felt strangely pleasant to know Harry found her so appealing.

He was so unlike her previous fiancé, Riser Phenex—that spoiled, arrogant playboy.

Akeno gently nudged her with an elbow, clearly noticing Rias's stare. "You seem to have caught your fiancé's eye already," she teased playfully, a wicked smile gracing her lips. "Not that I blame him. You're quite breathtaking this morning."

Rias chuckled softly, unable to suppress a faint smile. "You're one to talk. He seems equally interested in you."

Hagrid finally appeared from his hut, breaking the spell of the moment, his booming voice calling for the students to gather closer.

"Alrigh', everyone, gather 'round!" the gentle giant announced warmly. "Got somethin' special planned today!"

Hagrid enthusiastically unveiled his Blast-Ended Skrewts to the class, his eyes sparkling with pride. Rias watched in fascinated horror as the creature scuttled awkwardly across the grass, its hard, shell-covered body glistening grotesquely in the morning sun. She exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Akeno, who looked equally baffled and disturbed.

"Have you ever seen something like this, Akeno?" Rias whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Akeno shook her head slowly, eyes never leaving the bizarre creature. "Not even close. The Underworld might have plenty of terrifying beasts, but this...this is something else entirely."

The Skrewt scuttled forward again, abruptly stopping as a loud, fiery blast erupted from one of its ends, making several students jump back with startled yelps. Hagrid laughed heartily, clearly delighted by their reactions.

"See tha'? Marvelous creatures, ain't they?" he boomed cheerfully. "Bit fiery, though. Might wanna keep yer distance 'til they get used to ye."

"Did that creature just—fart fire?" Rias muttered incredulously, eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Apparently," Akeno murmured back, visibly trying to suppress laughter despite her bewilderment.

A pretty blonde girl from Slytherin raised her hand hesitantly, wrinkling her nose as she stared at the bizarre creature scuttling around. "Professor Hagrid, what exactly is today's lesson supposed to be?"

Hagrid beamed enthusiastically, proudly puffing out his massive chest. "Glad yeh asked! Yeh see, I bred an' created these beautiful creatures myself!" He waved his enormous hands toward the Blast-Ended Skrewts, his voice thick with obvious pride. "Today we're gonna be experimentin' to see what these lovely beasts prefer eatin'."

Rias's eyes widened in disbelief, her jaw practically hitting the ground. She shared a quick, bewildered look with Akeno, both silently mouthing their confusion.

Akeno leaned closer, fighting back laughter as she whispered, "Rias, am I missing something? How exactly do we feed a creature that literally has two backsides and no mouth?"

Rias shook her head slowly, trying to hold back her own laughter as the absurdity of the situation hit her fully. "I have no idea," she whispered back incredulously, her voice shaking with suppressed amusement. "This might just be the strangest thing we've ever seen—and that's saying something."

The other students looked equally baffled and disgusted, exchanging glances and quietly murmuring their confusion and unease.

Akeno finally lost the battle, covering her mouth with her hand and bending over slightly, shoulders shaking with barely-contained laughter.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Rias noticed movement. She stiffened instinctively, her laughter dying down instantly as she saw Harry and Sona moving toward them.

"Hello, Rias," Sona greeted her with a weary sigh, adjusting her glasses as if already exhausted by the situation. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

Rias offered a polite but slightly stiff smile in return. "Hi, Sona," she replied, aware of how awkward this moment was bound to be.

After all, Rias was explicitly here for Harry—and from the way Sona stood protectively near him, shoulders almost touching and their hands brushing lightly together, it was glaringly obvious how much Sona cared for him herself.

Feeling the gentle nudge of encouragement from Akeno beside her, Rias straightened her shoulders slightly, stepping forward and offering her hand formally to Harry. "It's good to finally meet you properly, Harry."

He reached out to gently take her offered hand. He bowed slightly and brushed a soft, lingering kiss to the back of her hand, the warm touch of his lips sending a pleasant jolt straight through her. He then repeated the gesture to Akeno, whose cheeks flushed a charming shade of pink at the unexpected attention.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, both of you," Harry said warmly, his gaze lingering briefly on Rias before glancing back to Akeno. "I hope your first day hasn't been too overwhelming yet."

Rias felt herself blushing a little despite herself, clearing her throat quietly to regain composure. "I suppose you already know why we're here now," she began cautiously, studying Harry closely for his reaction.

To her genuine surprise, Harry tilted his head slightly in confusion. "Actually, I have no idea," he admitted bluntly. "Should I?"

Rias shot an incredulous glance at Sona. "You didn't tell him?"

"It wasn't my place to tell," she responded coolly, her eyes glinting with a hint of playful vindictiveness behind her glasses as she glanced briefly at Harry.

"Is this the girl, Harry?" A confident, feminine voice interrupted their conversation, making Rias turn to see a striking blonde girl from Slytherin approaching them. It was immediately obvious to Rias that she was from noble human lineage. "The girl that has already become enemies with half of the female student body..."

'WAIT WHAT? What did I do?!' Rias thought to herself.

Beside the blonde, another girl—a playful brunette with a mischievous smile—clung to her arm affectionately. The two moved in easy harmony, their closeness reminding Rias strongly of her relationship with Akeno.

Harry's posture changed slightly, becoming more guarded as the two Slytherin girls drew closer. Rias noticed it immediately, wondering what could cause him to be wary of the two apparently friendly newcomers. It couldn't be because they were magically dangerous.

"Hello, Daphne," Harry replied dryly, shifting his stance as if bracing for whatever the Slytherin girl had to say. "And what exactly are you talking about...?"

Daphne tilted her head slightly, her piercing blue eyes narrowing thoughtfully at him. "I'm asking if this lovely new arrival is your fiancée," she clarified bluntly, her tone cool but clearly amused by his confusion. "Because if she is, you've already broken the hearts of half the female student body overnight. Sona's been quite the gossip lately—she was chatting openly yesterday about it with your two veela mistresses."

She'd expected Harry to know at least something about their engagement already. Instead, his eyes widened with shock, his jaw literally dropping open in stunned disbelief.

The raw surprise and confusion on his handsome face made her heart twist with sudden guilt and embarrassment.

"Sona?" Harry turned sharply to face the girl beside him, his voice carrying a note of betrayal that even Rias felt uncomfortable hearing. "You knew about this and didn't tell me?"

Sona visibly winced beneath his piercing gaze. She adjusted her glasses nervously, dropping her eyes to avoid his accusing stare. "It... wasn't my place to tell you, Harry," she finally murmured quietly, looking uncharacteristically unsure. "I didn't want to overstep..."

Harry shook his head, disbelief evident on his face, before glancing back toward Rias, still clearly taken aback.

Rias offered him an apologetic, hesitant smile, unsure what else she could possibly say to ease the awkwardness.

"Well, things just got interesting around here," Daphne remarked with a calculated glint in her eye.

"Harry visibly stiffened, he was obviously upset. He drew in a sharp breath, shaking his head slightly as if trying to clear the shock and confusion from his mind. "I need some air," he muttered, his voice tight and strained. Without another glance at anyone, he abruptly turned, ditching the class and heading swiftly back toward the castle.

Rias watched him go. She reached out instinctively, as if she could pull him back or somehow explain herself better, but her hand dropped uselessly back to her side.

Shit... That did not go well...

Beside her, Akeno gently squeezed her shoulder, offering silent comfort, while Sona stared down at the grass, her jaw set in a tense, frustrated line.

Daphne turned back toward Rias, Sona, and Akeno, her voice dripping with mockery. "You know," she drawled, placing one slender hand casually on her hip, "keeping secrets like that is a fantastic way to destroy a relationship before it even begins."

Tracey giggled beside her as Daphne flashed a satisfied smirk at the trio. Then, without waiting for a reply, Daphne turned gracefully on her heel, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders as she strutted confidently after Harry, Tracey practically skipping at her side.

Rias clenched her fists tightly, fingernails biting into her palms, her anger flaring at the blatant taunt.

Every fiber of her being screamed at her to chase after the smug pair, to stop them from taking advantage of Harry's confusion.

But before she could move, Sona's hand shot out swiftly, catching Rias's wrist in a firm, restraining grip.

"Don't," Sona murmured quietly but insistently, her expression tense and regretful. "We need to give Harry some space right now. He needs to process this on his own."

Rias glared for a moment, her gaze locking sharply onto Sona's, frustration evident in her eyes. But seeing the genuine remorse etched onto the other girl's usually composed face made her hesitation waver. Sona's grip slowly relaxed, her fingers falling away with an almost defeated slump of her shoulders.

"I really fucked up," Sona admitted softly.

Rias glanced at Sona sympathetically. "It's not entirely your fault, Sona. Why didn't his mother—Serafall—tell him herself?"

Sona let out an exasperated sigh. "Honestly, trying to understand why my big sister does anything these days is beyond me," she grumbled, a touch of annoyance evident in her voice. She hesitated briefly, biting her lower lip thoughtfully before continuing more quietly. "Although, knowing Serafall, she probably didn't tell him because she cares about Harry too deeply. She likely didn't want to be the one delivering such big news and hoped I would do the dirty work instead." Sona stomped her foot lightly in frustration, her expression forming into an adorable pout that briefly eased Rias's own anxiety. "It's not fair!" Sona huffed. "Now I'm the one who looks bad."

"And who are those two mistresses that Greengrass bitch was talking about? Were you really openly gossiping about me with them yesterday? In public? Why didn't either of them say anything to him?" Rias asked.

"I wouldn't call it gossip. I just wanted to get to know them better since odds are they will be in his peerage." Sona's cheeks flushed a faint pink, and she quickly looked away, crossing her arms defensively. "But, that's a good point," she admitted reluctantly. "At least I'm not the only one to blame here..."

Rias sighed, running a frustrated hand through her silky red hair as she glanced toward the castle where Harry had disappeared. "What do we even do now?" she wondered out loud.

Sona adjusted her glasses with a tired sigh, glancing toward Hagrid and the ridiculous ugly creatures scuttling awkwardly around his feet. "For now, I suggest we finish our first class and at least pretend to be productive," she advised quietly. "Maybe figuring out what to feed these… things… will give us some time to let Harry cool down."

Akeno let out a gentle, melodic giggle, placing a comforting hand lightly on Rias's shoulder. "Ara ara, don't look so glum, Rias. Harry is a very healthy-looking young man, and the three of us are incredibly beautiful, sexy devils," she purred with a wicked little grin. "There's simply no way he can stay mad at us for long."

Rias felt her cheeks grow warm at Akeno's confidently sensual declaration, even as she rolled her eyes at her queen's boldness.

Before she could retort, Akeno's smile grew even more teasing, a knowing glint in her purple eyes. "Besides," she continued lightly, "he wasn't even mad at me in the first place."

Rias huffed in exaggerated annoyance, puffing out her cheeks adorably as she crossed her arms beneath her ample chest. "That's hardly helpful, Akeno," she protested halfheartedly, but couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips at Akeno's playful teasing.

"It's helpful to me!" Akeno just laughed softly.

– Harry –

I was halfway back to the castle when I heard rapid footsteps behind me. Tonks caught up quickly, breathing heavily from running. I glanced sideways at her, noticing her modest chest rising and falling beneath her tight shirt as she tried to catch her breath. A stray strand of her vibrant pink hair fell across her flushed face, and she impatiently pushed it behind her ear.

"Try not to make it a habit of running off and leaving your protection behind," she said teasingly, her voice still breathless. She gently elbowed my side, giving me a playful, mock-scolding look. "You completely forgot about me back there, Harry."

I sighed deeply, rubbing the back of my neck as guilt and frustration gnawed at me. "Sorry, Tonks. All that stuff back there—it completely threw me for a loop. I didn't mean to ditch you like that."

She waved off my apology with a casual gesture, falling into stride beside me. "Eh, no real harm done. But you looked pretty pissed off. Wanna talk about it?"

I hesitated briefly, then decided there was no point hiding it from her. "Narcissa and I were literally just talking last night about why Rias Gremory came here. Hell, we were theorizing about all sorts of political angles—but even she didn't outright mention the fact that Rias might be here because she's my fiancée." My voice sharpened slightly, irritation slipping through as I continued. "Or maybe she hinted at it, and I just wasn't paying close enough attention."

My head was laying on those amazing thighs after all.

I continued. "Honestly, I'm annoyed nobody thought to fucking warn me. I'm mad at Mum, at Sona, and even at Fleur and Gabrielle. It's like they all knew something, but none of them bothered saying a word about it to me."

Tonks's expression softened a bit, and she placed a comforting hand lightly on my shoulder as we kept walking. Her voice was quieter, gentler. "Look, Harry, I get it. Believe me. My own mum ran away from the Noble House of Black precisely because she hated all this arranged marriage shite. I'm not exactly the best person to offer an unbiased opinion about fiancés and family politics." She shrugged, clearly trying to lighten the mood a bit. "So don't expect me to judge you for being angry about it."

I chuckled softly despite myself, feeling some of my tension fade under her casual reassurance. "Thanks, Tonks. I appreciate that."

She nodded, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze before dropping her hand back to her side. A few seconds of comfortable silence passed between us before I heard her mutter something under her breath. "Still," she grumbled quietly to herself, just barely audible, "doesn't mean some random, stunning redhead should just get to appear out of nowhere and try snatching up such a handsome guy…"

My steps faltered, warmth immediately creeping up into my cheeks. I cleared my throat awkwardly, trying to cover the fact that I'd overheard.

Tonks's hair shifted rapidly through several shades of pink and purple, her embarrassment evident as she realized I'd caught her whispered remark. She coughed nervously, avoiding my gaze. "Anyway, let's just… get back inside before I embarrass myself any further," she said quickly.

I grinned slightly, feeling a little better despite everything. "Sure thing, Tonks," I said gently, pretending not to have heard her clearly.

We continued walking side by side toward the castle entrance, the earlier awkwardness slowly fading into comfortable silence between us.

That silence was soon interrupted though as we heard more heavy footsteps behind us.

If Tonks had looked pink from running after me, these two girls were outright crimson-faced, doubled over with their hands braced against their knees, gasping for air.

Daphne's blonde hair had come partially loose from its elegant braid, stray strands sticking to her flushed cheeks. Tracy looked even worse off, her dark hair tangled messily around her sweaty face, her chest rising and falling heavily as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Oh my god," Tracy groaned dramatically, pressing one hand to her stomach with a queasy grimace. "I seriously feel like I'm gonna puke."

"I hate—" Daphne paused to suck in a deep breath, her voice sharp with irritation, "—having to run like some bloody muggle woman." Her elegant features twisted in distaste as she straightened slowly, wiping a hand delicately across her forehead.

It was obvious they'd been chasing after me, though for the life of me I couldn't figure out why these two particular Slytherins cared enough to do so. They stood there panting for another moment before glancing upward. Both of them visibly stiffened, clearly embarrassed now that they'd caught up and realized Tonks and I had witnessed their less-than-dignified arrival.

Tracy straightened first, plastering an overly casual grin onto her flushed face. She waved weakly, still panting slightly. "Oh, hey there, Sitri!" she called out with forced cheerfulness. "Fancy… uh… fancy seeing you here!"

Daphne shot her an annoyed glare, nudging Tracy sharply with her elbow. "Yes," Daphne drawled dryly, giving her friend another sharp, reprimanding glance. "What a complete and utter coincidence..."

I felt Tonks shift protectively next to me, stepping forward a little so she partially blocked me from their view. Her bright pink hair flashed with streaks of darker purple, signaling her suspicion as she eyed the two girls warily. "Alright, what do you two Slytherins want with my charge?"

Daphne straightened further, regaining a measure of her usual poise and dignity, though her cheeks remained flushed. Her pale blue eyes narrowed slightly, meeting Tonks's stern gaze evenly. "We only wanted to make sure our Gryffindor friend here was okay," she replied coolly, voice smooth despite the lingering breathlessness. Her eyes flicked pointedly to me as she added, "Given recent… revelations, we thought he might need some support."

We were friends? I thought we were more like acquaintances at best. Although, it hadn't been for lack of trying from either of these two girls since I'd come to Hogwarts.

"Support, Daphne?" I questioned bluntly, not bothering to hide my doubts.

Daphne's face hardened, something raw flickering briefly across her usually guarded expression. When she spoke again, her voice held a sharp bitterness, surprising me with its intensity. "Yes, support," she snapped irritably, blue eyes flashing dangerously. "Because I know a thing or two about parents deciding to marry you off without bothering to even tell you about it first."

The venom in her words took me aback. For just a second, I caught a glimpse of something vulnerable beneath Daphne's cold, confident mask. Beside her, Tracy's playful smile faded into something softer, more sympathetic, as she reached out gently to squeeze her friend's hand.

An awkward silence stretched between the four of us, broken finally when Tonks let out a resigned sigh, stepping slightly aside to give me space. "Fine," she muttered, giving me a pointed look. "You two can walk and talk with him. But I'm still staying close. It's my job."

...We slowed down noticeably, taking a much more leisurely pace toward the castle. It wasn't entirely for comfort, though—it was mostly so Daphne and Tracy could recover from their sprint. Daphne, in particular, looked thoroughly irritated, repeatedly brushing loose blonde strands of hair back behind her ears and tugging at her disheveled robes.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Daphne cleared her throat delicately, glancing sideways at me. "So," she began hesitantly, voice carrying an edge of embarrassment, "have you finally gotten over your prejudice against us poor, misunderstood Slytherins yet, Sitri?"

I raised an eyebrow at her, unable to stop the amused smirk spreading across my lips. "My prejudice?" I repeated skeptically.

She huffed slightly, her pale cheeks darkening a bit. "No doubt you've been thoroughly corrupted by Ginny Weasley by now," she muttered sourly, eyes flicking downward as if suddenly finding the grass under her shoes very interesting.

I chuckled softly, shoving my hands into my robe pockets. "Well, you're not entirely wrong about that," I admitted easily. "Ginny has certainly influenced me—but if we're being honest, my prejudice against Slytherins in general probably has more to do with Malfoy than anything else. Hell, I'm not even sure it's prejudice against your whole house. It might just be pure dislike of Draco himself and the idiots around him who tried messing with Sona."

Daphne's lips twitched upward, fighting off an amused smile. "To be fair," she murmured dryly, "even most Slytherins can't stand Draco Malfoy. Believe me, none of us shed a tear when he got what he deserved."

Tracy let out an amused snort, nudging Daphne playfully with her elbow. "That's putting it lightly," she teased, eyes glittering mischievously. "If anything, half our house wanted to send Sona a thank-you card for neutering the arrogant little prick!"

I chuckled again, feeling myself relax despite the awkwardness that had led me out here. After another brief silence, Daphne spoke up again quietly, a faint tremor of bitterness creeping back into her voice.

"You know, I wasn't lying earlier," she said carefully, her elegant features hardening slightly as we walked side-by-side. "About understanding what it feels like to be engaged without consent. My bastard of a father has been trying to sell me off for years. Like I'm nothing more than some bloody trophy for his allies to claim, rather than the heiress of our house." She glanced away sharply, fists clenching tightly by her sides.

Tracy must've noticed too, because she quickly slid her arm through Daphne's, squeezing gently as if to comfort her friend.

Then, with a teasing grin, Tracy tried to lighten the mood. "Of course, unlike you, Harry, poor Daphne isn't lucky enough to be engaged to a super-hot, stacked, red-headed bombshell like Rias Gremory."

I blinked, heat rising to my cheeks even as Daphne rolled her eyes dramatically at Tracy's blunt words. Still, the joke made me smile slightly, grateful for the break in tension.

Curiosity got the better of me then, and I glanced sideways at Daphne, genuinely intrigued. "Who were you supposed to marry, anyway?"

She grimaced instantly, looking utterly disgusted. "It WAS supposed to be Draco Malfoy," she spat, practically shuddering at the thought. "Father thought that would secure us more power. But even worse—Malfoy wasn't planning to stop at just one wife. I was set to be his second—or even his third—wife, as if I were some kind of disposable accessory." Her blue eyes flashed furiously, clearly outraged at the indignity of it all. Then her anger shifted into a dark sort of satisfaction as she added, "But, of course, now that Sona made him a eunuch, he's no longer considered an option. Now my dear father is scrambling to find other suitors." She paused, a shadow falling over her face as she stared bleakly down at the grass. Her voice softened, a bitter edge creeping in. "And every last one of them is some wrinkled old wizard three times my age!"

The disgust in her voice was palpable, and I felt a strange surge of empathy for the proud Slytherin girl.

When she put it that way, my engagement with Rias wasn't that bad at all.

From everything I'd heard about Rias from Sona, Rias wasn't actually a bad option. And she was very beautiful. I was more upset with my mother and Sona for keeping this a secret from me. 

"That's awful," Tonks said quietly, shaking her head sympathetically at Daphne. "No girl deserves that."

Daphne just shrugged stiffly, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden sympathy. "Well, now you know why I chased after you, Sitri," she muttered quietly, refusing to meet my eyes. "Not just to mock your predicament—but because I actually do understand exactly how infuriating it feels," Daphne then paused and looked Tonks up and down. "I remember you from our first year. You were a seventh year student. Aren't you a bastard child of the Black family?"

Tonks' hair turned red at that question? "My parents are happily married thank you very much! Why would you think that!?" she glared at Daphne who shrank backwards.

Daphne apologized. "I'm sorry, I had no idea. It was just something I heard."

"A lot of purebloods don't consider any marriages between purebloods and muggleborns to be sanctified," Tracy explained. "Daphne probably heard the gossip and never knew any different," Tracy tried to calm Tonks down.

I put my hand on Tonks' arm as well, telling her that Daphne did look sorry.

"Fine, I forgive you," Tonks said. "What do you want to know about the Black family anyway?"

Daphne hesitated, eyeing Tonks carefully. "Um... Auror Tonks," she began cautiously, choosing her words carefully this time, clearly wanting to avoid causing any more offense. "Do the Black family women have some kind of secret magic? Something they use to break out of binding marriage contracts or engagements?"

Tonks raised an eyebrow, curiosity replacing her earlier annoyance. "What makes you ask something like that?"

Daphne sighed, folding her arms tightly under her chest as she looked off to the side. "Well, yesterday I overheard some gossip about Narcissa Black divorcing Lucius Malfoy. Apparently, it was supposed to be impossible—at least, that's what her contract was known to be. Rumor is, it's going to be all over the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow. So how exactly did Narcissa pull that off?"

Tonks stared at Daphne blankly for a second before shaking her head, a smirk slowly tugging at her lips. She glanced over at me with amusement dancing in her eyes before replying to Daphne. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Greengrass, but there's no ancient family magic involved. If anything, you should be asking the Boy-Who-Lived himself—Mr. Harry Sitri here." Tonks paused dramatically, shooting me a mischievous look. "After all," she continued casually, clearly enjoying the shocked expressions spreading across Daphne's and Tracy's faces, "he's the one currently fucking my aunt."

My jaw dropped open slightly in shock, my face heating up instantly as embarrassment surged through me. "Tonks!" I hissed, scandalized despite myself, glancing around nervously as if worried someone might overhear. "I already told you that hasn't happened yet!"

She shrugged lightly, clearly unrepentant, grinning broadly at my embarrassment. "You literally just said the word "yet" at the end there, Harry."

Tracy's jaw practically hit the floor, her eyes wide with gleeful surprise. "No way!" she squeaked excitedly, grabbing Daphne's arm and shaking it eagerly. "Did you hear that, Daphne? He's shagging Narcissa Black!"

Daphne's expression hovered somewhere between mortification and genuine fascination. "Tell me more, Harry," she practically begged, lightly touching my arm in her eagerness. She hesitated for just a split-second, and then added quickly, "Not about the sex part, obviously—"

"I definitely wanna hear about the sex part," Tracy teased immediately, leaning forward with a cheeky grin and playful wink. "Come on, Harry, details! Is she as cold and dominating in bed as she seems everywhere else?"

I felt my face heat up even more at her bluntness, coughing awkwardly as I glanced between the two girls.

Tonks snickered quietly beside me, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

I shot her a quick glare before looking back to Daphne and Tracy, trying to regain some dignity. "I'm not telling either of you any of that," I said firmly, shaking my head. "It's not appropriate."

Tracy let out a disappointed groan, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Spoilsport," she muttered, pouting exaggeratedly.

Daphne elbowed Tracy sharply, giving her friend a quick glare of disapproval before looking back to me more seriously. "I really wasn't trying to pry about...that," Daphne insisted sincerely. She tucked a loose strand of blonde hair nervously behind her ear, her voice softening into something vulnerable. "I'm more interested in how Narcissa managed to break free from the marriage contract. The sex jokes aside, Harry, I—I really could use some actual advice here."

I sighed, feeling sympathy stirring inside me despite my earlier irritation. Daphne was clearly distressed.

Still, I hesitated, glancing at Tonks for a moment. My mother and Behemoth had warned me repeatedly about taking random women into my peerage just because of a sob story. I'd been incredibly lucky with Narcissa. That she had been genuine. But that was pure luck, not the norm.

And yet, Daphne looked so desperate. Her blue eyes were practically pleading with me, and I found myself struggling to reject her outright.

Instead, I spoke carefully, choosing my words cautiously. "Daphne, the truth is—Narcissa broke the marriage contract because she made a very serious commitment to me first. It's... complicated."

Tracy raised an eyebrow, grinning suggestively. "Serious commitment? Sounds pretty steamy."

I shook my head firmly, trying to suppress another blush. "It's not like that. At least, not entirely," I muttered quickly, running my hand through my hair with frustration. "Look, I genuinely wish I could help you more, Daphne, but it's not something I can explain easily or quickly."

Daphne nodded slowly, disappointment flickering briefly in her eyes before she quickly hid it again. "I understand," she said quietly, voice carefully neutral as she glanced away, visibly composing herself. "Thank you anyway, Harry. Is there any way I can change your mind in the future? It's not just me, but my little sister Astoria will soon be engaged as well..."

I paused for a moment and then ran my head through my hair. This was quite the situation here. I was pissed off about my own sudden engagement and now here I was comforting a girl I barely knew about her own. "I guess..." I paused for a second. "If we became friends... I could eventually tell you how we broke her contract."

Daphne's blue eyes lit up. Tracy giggled as well. "Yes, we knew you couldn't resist our sexy snake charms forever!"

Daphne's expression dropped again as she pouted at her friend. "I wouldn't have phrased it like that... But I would like to get to know you better, Harry Sitri," she said with an obvious blush.

Tonks then shook her head playfully and asked me a question. "Harry? Are you a big fan of anime or something?"

"Not really...?" I said and scratched my cheek. I wondered where she was going with this. "I've never really watched a lot of TV in general."

"Really!? because you have the luck that harem protagonists would kill for!" Tracy pointed out. "I'm a half-blood, and I watch a lot of anime..." 

"I was just going to say that myself!" Tonks added, giving Tracy a nod of respect.

Daphne and I shared an equally bewildered glance at Tonks and Tracy, who were now giggling quietly together like old friends.

Trying to ignore their antics, Daphne cleared her throat softly and turned back toward me. "So, Harry, did you actually have a destination in mind when you stormed out of class? Or were you just dramatically wandering off?"

I chuckled dryly, running my fingers through my messy black hair. "Not really," I admitted sheepishly. "Honestly, I wasn't thinking clearly at all. I just knew I needed to get away."

Daphne nodded slowly in understanding, folding her arms as we walked side by side. "Well, maybe we should find someplace useful to be then. Got any ideas?"

I shrugged. "I suppose I could've gone to the library," I offered halfheartedly. "Hermione's probably there right now. She's been self-studying a lot recently—already finished her OWLs for Care of Magical Creatures, actually. Turns out she's not exactly a huge fan of Hagrid's teaching methods."

Daphne snorted, lips curving into a faint smirk. "Smart girl," she muttered dryly. "Hagrid might be kind-hearted, but his creatures are borderline horrifying. And I'm pretty sure those ones today were a literal crime..."

Tonks overheard that and chuckled softly from behind us, nodding in agreement. "Yeah they were. I won't report him if you all don't."

"Or," Daphne suddenly said as she glanced slyly toward Tracy. "We could go somewhere a little more interesting. Tracy and I recently found a secret room up on the seventh floor. It's pretty much perfect for practicing dueling spells—or just blowing stuff up if you're feeling destructive."

Tracy leaned in eagerly, eyes sparkling mischievously as she giggled. "We're probably going to get detention anyway, Harry. Might as well enjoy our freedom while we still have it."

That sounded fine to me. Firing magic at targets was always a good way to blow off steam. I didn't really want to bother Hermione anyway and Narcissa was busy teaching. Lyra and Lyna would have just used sex to make me forget about my problems.

Fuck, maybe I should go look for them after all...

But I shook my head, it was too late since I already said yes and we were halfway up the stairs to the second floor. About to start the trek to the top of the castle when all of a sudden we were all walking through puddles covering the stone floors. Water was everywhere. 

I stopped abruptly, my body tensing as chilling whispers echoed eerily through the corridor, seemingly emanating from within the very stones of Hogwarts itself. The whispers were faint at first, then quickly grew louder and more frantic. Almost deranged.

"Rip... tear... kill... kill them all! Kill the one who hurt Master! Kill all the unworthy!"

My eyes darted anxiously around the hallway, but there was nothing—just the shadows cast by flickering torches on damp stone walls and puddles that splashed beneath our feet. Tonks, Daphne, and Tracy halted as well, turning to me with identical expressions of confusion and concern.

"Harry? What's the matter?" Tonks asked urgently, stepping closer and placing a protective hand on my arm. Her eyes scanned the corridor suspiciously, clearly sensing my sudden tension.

"You don't hear that?" I asked, voice taut with unease. My gaze continued to sweep the surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the sinister voice. "Something's whispering—saying it wants to kill, to rip and tear."

Daphne and Tracy exchanged nervous glances.

"Whispering? I don't hear anything, Harry," Tracy murmured cautiously, stepping closer to Daphne for comfort.

"It sounds like it's coming from inside the walls," I explained quickly, pressing my fingertips against the cold, damp stones, feeling faint pulses of magic radiating through the ancient structure. My brow furrowed, my magic instinctively flaring outward in an attempt to detect the threat. But whatever it was remained elusive, invisible, yet disturbingly close.

Tonks drew her wand swiftly, her playful demeanor replaced by a hardened professionalism. "Stay alert," she instructed sharply, positioning herself protectively in front of us. "If Harry says something's here, we trust his instincts."

And then I suddenly felt something large coming closer to us from around the corner. It felt like a magical creature of some kind, but my instincts were screaming it was hostile.

"Daphne, Tracy—turn around and run!" I shouted urgently, stepping protectively in front of them.

Thankfully, the two girls didn't argue. Daphne's eyes widened in alarm as she quickly grabbed Tracy's wrist, yanking her away from danger. Both girls spun around splashing through puddles in their frantic retreat.

Tonks was immediately at my side, snapping her wand out of its holster with practiced efficiency. Her previously playful demeanor disappeared entirely, replaced by the sharp, focused readiness of a trained Auror.

The cold, echoing whispering intensified until it was a cacophony of hateful hissing voices. Then, suddenly, a creature appeared, slithering ominously around the corner.

"Oh fuck me," Tonks gasped sharply, her wand trembling slightly in shock.

It was enormous—a monstrous serpent easily fifty feet in length. Its massive triangular head rose slowly as it fixed its piercing, bright-yellow eyes upon us.

Before I could react, my gaze met the serpent's glowing yellow eyes directly—and searing pain exploded through my skull!

"Agh!" I groaned, clutching my head desperately as an agonizing migraine ripped through my brain. The world spun nauseatingly around me, waves of dizziness and pain threatening to knock me off my feet.

Through the blinding pain, I dimly heard a sickening thud beside me.

My vision cleared just enough to see Tonks collapse limply to the wet stone floor, her wand clattering out of her hand and rolling uselessly away from her unmoving fingers.

"T-Tonks?" My voice was weak, choked by sudden disbelief. Her vibrant pink hair sprawled messily across the damp stone, her expressive face frozen in shock, eyes wide open but utterly lifeless.

She wasn't breathing. She didn't even twitch.

She was dead. Just like that.

In a heartbeat, this monster had taken her life.

Rage surged through my body, white-hot and overwhelming. I felt the familiar surge of demonic energy explode outward, manifesting in front of me as the glowing blue Sitri spell circle.

"You fucker!" I snarled furiously, grief and anger roaring through me, focusing every ounce of my power and hatred into one deadly blast.

Water erupted from the spell circle in a devastating high-pressure torrent, a deadly geyser aimed straight at the monster snake. It hit with a violent impact, ripping scales away from its thick hide, leaving raw wounds exposed.

The snake let out an ear-splitting hiss of agony, its massive body thrashing and slamming violently against the stone walls, cracking them from the sheer force.

But despite my attack's devastating strength, the creature wasn't dead.

The massive serpent lunged toward me again, jaws stretched wide, its massive fangs dripping with venom that looked lethal. But all my training lately wasn't for nothing! It was easily enough to dodge at the last second. The monster's jaws snapped shut mere inches from my head.

"Fuck off!" I roared furiously, summoning another blue Sitri spell circle right in front of me. A jet of razor-sharp water shot forward, slamming into the snake's face. It carved a vicious gash right across its left eye, blood erupting from the wound in a vivid red spray.

The beast shrieked horribly, its head thrashing wildly from side to side, blood and venom splattering the corridor walls.

"Die, you fucking piece-of-shit monster!" I shouted again, my voice raw with hatred. I fired another blast of high-pressure water, aiming at its writhing, coiling body this time. The magic slammed into its thick scales, peeling them apart and cutting deep into its muscular flesh.

The snake howled again, convulsing violently with agony.

I barely had time to duck as the snake lashed out furiously with its enormous tail. The massive appendage swung right above my head, smashing into the stone wall beside me, shattering it into rubble and scattering dust and debris everywhere.

I felt stone fragments shower over me, stinging sharply against my face and shoulders.

"Harry Sitri!" someone shouted urgently from behind me. 

My eyes widened as a blur of movement raced past me. It was the blond knight from Rias's peerage—Yuuto Kiba, if I remembered correctly. He had a magical black sword in his hands. Kiba dashed in, moving with a speed I could barely follow. He must be a knight. In a flash, he struck the snake across its other eye with a single ruthless slash.

The serpent reared back, howling in agony as blood poured from both ruined eyes. It was completely blind now, thrashing madly around the corridor.

"Need a hand?" Kiba shot me a small grin. "Looks like you got yourself in some trouble, Sitri!"

Before I could respond, a loud battle cry echoed from the opposite direction. "Ei!" a girl's voice shouted fiercely. From the other end of the corridor charged the small, white-haired rook from Rias's peerage—Koneko. She seized the snake's thick tail in her tiny hands beneath her robes. "Stupid snake," she muttered flatly, as if annoyed rather than afraid. "You're making trouble!"

She lifted the massive beast clear off the ground, swinging its body through the air with startling ease. The serpent's shriek filled the hallway as it flailed helplessly, unable to see or escape her grip.

Kiba dashed forward again, slashing his black blade along the snake's exposed underbelly, opening deep crimson wounds in quick succession. "Hold it steady, Koneko!" he called sharply.

"Easy for you to say," she grumbled, tightening her grip and continuing to swing the serpent in circles like an oversized rope.

I summoned every ounce of my magic and rage, focusing on my enemy. "Move aside!" I shouted, conjuring the biggest spell circle I could muster. "I'm ending this fucker now!"

Koneko gave me a flat, unreadable look, then swiftly hurled the monster away from her, leaving it open and vulnerable in midair.

"Do it now, Harry!" Kiba yelled sharply, jumping back clear.

My magic exploded outward, a blinding torrent of pressurized water firing with brutal force. It slammed into the serpent midair, ripping away scales and flesh and cutting straight through muscle and bone of its head.

The beast let out one final, gurgling screech before crashing limply to the floor in a twisted, bloodied heap.

Panting hard, chest heaving with exertion and fury, I stared at the motionless corpse of the snake, unable to shake the burning rage that still pulsed hotly beneath my skin. Behind me lay Tonks's lifeless body.

Slowly, I turned toward Kiba and Koneko. Both devils stood alert, Kiba's sword lowered but still in hand, and Koneko's fists clenched tightly at her sides. They were breathing heavily as they calmed down.

"Thanks," I said roughly, still trying to calm myself, my voice shaking a bit from leftover rage and grief. "Both of you..."

Kiba wiped sweat from his forehead, offering me a faint, slightly strained smile. "No problem, Harry Sitri. Couldn't exactly let our king's fiancé get himself killed on our first day, could we?"

Koneko simply nodded once, her golden eyes silently watching me with subtle concern. "Are you okay?" she asked bluntly.

I glanced briefly toward Tonks, my throat tight with emotion. "Not really," I said honestly.

"Can you guys... Take care of the body...?" I asked.

"Of course, Harry," Kiba said with a small nod.

"I'll drag it somewhere until Rias can destroy it with her Power of Destruction." Koneko added and wrapped her slender arms around its thick body again.

It was kind of a shitty thing to do, but I didn't speak to them after that. My emotions were all over the place. I just picked up Tonks' body and started heading towards Narcissa's apartment. Daphne and Tracy had gotten away just fine, but I wasn't letting Tonks stay dead. 

It was only after I calmed down I realized the snake was a basilisk. A creature Hermione had told me was extinct in the wizarding world. A wizard killer, with an instant death curse for any mortals that look in its eyes...

Obviously it was fucking not extinct. Once again, this was another assassination attempt, and this time someone died for it.

– Tonks –

Tonks opened her eyes slowly, blinking against the soft light filtering through unfamiliar curtains. She lay still for a moment, taking a deep, experimental breath. To her surprise, she felt good—better than good, actually. Her body felt strong, almost unnaturally energized. A faint, steady pulse of power hummed beneath her skin, strange yet oddly comforting.

With a quiet grunt, she pushed herself upright into a sitting position. She glanced around the room, brow furrowing in confusion. The bed beneath her was far too luxurious and soft to be her own, and the ornate furniture was distinctly unfamiliar.

"Where the hell am I?" she murmured softly, rubbing the back of her head.

Before she could stand up, a sudden movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention. Tonks looked sharply toward a pair of chairs across the room. Harry, her charge, sat leaning forward, his eyes were fixed on her with an unreadable expression.

Beside him sat Narcissa, Tonks' estranged aunt, whom she still wasn't entirely sure how to feel about.

But what really shocked Tonks was Narcissa's appearance. Her usually flawless face bore clear signs of recent tears—her cheeks streaked and slightly flushed, her eyes rimmed red from crying. The instant their eyes met, Narcissa's expression melted into sheer relief and joy.

Before Tonks could react, Narcissa surged out of her chair and practically flew across the room, blonde hair trailing behind her. She wrapped Tonks tightly in an enthusiastic hug, pulling the younger woman right into her generous chest.

Tonks let out a muffled squeak of surprise, her face squished awkwardly between her aunt's ample breasts.

"I'm so glad you're alright, Nymphadora!" Narcissa exclaimed tearfully, holding her even tighter. "I finally got my real family back, and I don't know what I would've done if we'd lost you for good!"

Tonks squirmed desperately in her aunt's overly enthusiastic embrace, cheeks burning scarlet as she struggled to breathe. "Bloody hell—Aunt Narcissa!" she protested in a muffled voice, finally managing to pry herself free from the older woman's embrace with a deep gasp of air. "At least let me breathe first!"

Narcissa released her reluctantly, her own cheeks lightly flushed with embarrassment as she brushed away lingering tears, looking slightly sheepish. "Sorry, dear—I just got carried away. I was truly worried about you. About what happened... You've been asleep for hours now."

Tonks blushed deeper, uncomfortably touched by the genuine warmth in Narcissa's voice. She quickly cleared her throat, determinedly avoiding her aunt's affectionate gaze and turning to Harry instead. "Harry, could you please explain what the hell is going on?" she asked bluntly, forcing her voice to steady as she combed her fingers nervously through her bright pink hair. "Last thing I remember clearly was—well, not much, actually."

"What's the very last thing you remember clearly, Tonks?" he asked softly.

Tonks furrowed her brow, pressing a palm to her forehead as she concentrated. "We were heading back toward the castle. You, me, Daphne, Tracy—we were joking around about… about something stupid," she muttered. "Then you stopped suddenly, looking alarmed. The girls ran off at your order. I pulled out my wand and—and—" She shuddered involuntarily. "There was a giant fucking monster. A huge snake with massive yellow eyes. It looked right at me, and then—then nothing." Tonks shivered slightly, wrapping her arms tightly around herself as if the chill of that memory had physically settled into her bones. "What happened to me, Harry?"

Harry's expression softened sympathetically. "The reason you don't remember anything after that is because you died, Tonks," he said gently, but without hesitation. "The creature killed you instantly."

Tonks sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening as horror settled over her. "I—I died?" she repeated numbly, barely able to process his words. "Then… how am I—?"

"You're alive now because I brought you back," Harry explained carefully, watching her reactions closely. "But you're not exactly human anymore."

Before Tonks could demand clarification, she heard a strange, rustling sound—a sudden fwish—coming from behind Harry. Her jaw dropped open slightly as a pair of glossy, midnight-black bat-like wings unfurled gracefully from Harry's back. The dark wings stretched outward.

"Holy fuck," Tonks muttered weakly, staring at Harry in astonishment.

She barely had time to react before another identical set of wings sprouted from Narcissa's back. Narcissa smiled softly, almost apologetically, as Tonks stared incredulously between her aunt and her charge, feeling distinctly out of her depth.

Before she could form a coherent thought, a third distinct fwish echoed softly behind her. Tonks felt a bizarre, foreign sensation on her own back.

Tonks twisted her head around frantically, nearly falling over from shock when she saw the unmistakable shape of black bat wings emerging smoothly from her own back. They stretched reflexively, strong and incredibly sensitive, sending new sensory feedback to her brain, nearly overwhelming her.

"Oh, bugger me sideways," she whispered faintly, eyes wide and stunned. "This is…this is actually happening?"

Harry gave her a gentle, reassuring smile. "Yeah," he said quietly. "You're a devil now, Tonks. Like me. Like Narcissa."

"Bloody hell..." she muttered weakly.

XXX