(A/N):
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Voldemort's lips twisted into something between a sneer and a smile.
Enough of this charade.
Watching his daughter bask in the warmth of others made bile rise in his throat.
He turned away from the beach, his robes swirling like a storm.
He had seen enough to know one thing—
His destiny was still secure.
The weapon the Muggles revealed to him was the key.
With that power, he would burn every obstacle in his path.
Dumbledore, Grindelwald, even that cursed Morningstar—
None of them would matter.
He would rise as the only ruler the wizarding world had ever known.
His wand flicked, and with a sharp crack he Disapparated.
The hooded followers glanced at each other, their eyes wide beneath their shadows.
The thought of lingering even a second longer—
Within reach of him—
Was unbearable.
If the Morningstar caught wind of their spying,
Death would be a mercy compared to whatever horrors he would conjure.
One by one,
They vanished into the night,
The air filled with the faint echo of panicked Apparitions.
The beach returned to silence, save for the sound of laughter and cheers from the game—
Unaware that in the shadows, destiny had just taken another step toward war.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, streaking the sky in deep crimson and violet,
Leo and the others finally returned to the quiet sanctuary of the mansion.
The air outside hummed faintly with the residue of magic,
The day had ended.
Next Day...
Diagon Alley...
As the golden light of dawn spilled across the cobblestones,
Diagon Alley was already alive with activity.
Witches and wizards bustled from shop to shop, arms full of books, potion ingredients, and enchanted trinkets.
The chatter of hagglers mixed with the hoots of owls overhead,
And somewhere in the distance,
A group of children marveled at a broom display that hovered in place.
Leo walked at an easy pace beside Eileen, his hands tucked into his coat pockets.
Unlike the grandeur of Hogwarts,
The energy of Diagon Alley was raw and electric—
Always shifting, always loud.
But this was his second home.
Cauldron and Charm Apothecary...
The sign of Cauldron and Charm Apothecary creaked slightly in the breeze as they approached.
The first floor smelled faintly of hay and feathers from the pet shop above, while the ground floor—
The heart of the business—
Was buzzing even before Leo unlocked the door.
A few early customers were already waiting, clutching parchment lists of herbs and brews.
Eileen glanced at the crowd and smirked.
Smirk~
"Looks like your reputation precedes you. People must've been waiting for you to get back from Hogwarts."
Leo chuckled, fishing out the keys.
Chuckle~
"Well, it's not every day you can get a cure for dragon-scale rash and an owl with perfect delivery instincts in one place."
When he pushed the door open,
The familiar scent of dried herbs, bubbling elixirs, and freshly polished wood greeted them.
The shelves gleamed, stocked to the brim with rare ingredients—
Moonflower petals, powdered basilisk fang, phoenix ash.
Behind the counter, a lazy Kneazle lifted its head, gave Leo a bored look, and promptly went back to sleep.
Unlike most days, robes did not dominate the view.
Instead, scores of visitors were dressed in Muggle clothing—
Jackets, trousers, bright cotton shirts—
Marking them as families who had crossed the divide into this hidden world.
Sons, daughters, cousins, or parents with ties to Hogwarts clutched shopping bags and owl cages,
Their faces lit with excitement.
The air carried a festive hum.
Strings of floating lanterns hovered over storefronts, flickering gold, while a group of street performers juggled enchanted fireworks that burst into harmless shapes of dragons and phoenixes.
Laughter mingled with the chatter of shoppers spilling out of Flourish and Blotts and the Leaky Cauldron.
A good portion of the crowd clustered near Gringotts, where a long, glittering line formed.
Goblin wardens managed the flow, their eyes sharp as they guided families toward the newest service: Boot Key Portals.
For the New Year Festival at Dartmoor,
Gringotts had made the magical transport available in bulk, and Muggle-born students along with their parents were eager to try it.
Families clutched their passes, waiting to be whisked away in a blink to the rolling fields where the celebrations were set to begin.
To Leo, the scene was a curious one.
Wizards and Muggles—
Worlds apart—
were now shoulder to shoulder, laughing, trading coins, and preparing for the festival together.
Yet beneath the merriment, he could feel faint currents of unease, as though the crowd itself sensed how fragile this harmony was.
Leo's gaze drifted toward the edge of the crowd, where Mr. Mime—
In all its odd, cheerful glory—
Was performing for a small girl.
The child's eyes sparkled as the creature mimicked her every gesture, its oversized hands exaggerating every move with comical precision.
Giggle~
She giggled uncontrollably,
And even her cautious parents,
Clearly unfamiliar with magical creatures,
They don't know Mr.Mime is a pokemon.
Softened when Mr. Mime extended a polite hand.
"____"
"____"
They exchanged a hesitant glance,
Then shook it—
Surprised at the creature's warmth.
If Voldemort or his Death Eaters had seen such a sight,
Leo thought with a chuckle, they'd probably faint on the spot.
Chuckle~
His amusement was suddenly cut short by a high, excited voice.
"This is him! This is the guy whose picture kept moving in my sister's room!"
Leo blinked, turning toward the source.
A little girl—
Nancy, if he'd heard correctly—
Was pointing straight at him, her small face lit with innocent delight.
A hush of curiosity rippled through those nearby,
Several heads swiveling toward the DADA professor of hogwarts but now sitting in the counter of his shop.
Before Leo could respond,
Nancy's mouth was promptly covered by an older girl,
Clearly mortified.
The elder wore Hogwarts robes and had that unmistakable air of a student caught between pride and panic.
Since students family were invited students were made to stay at the dorms.
And even Leo was curious why she was wearing school robe here at Diagon alley.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she tried to drag her younger sister away,
Muttering apologies under her breath.
Leo couldn't help but notice the way she avoided his eyes—
A little too deliberately.
It didn't take much to piece it together.
Her sister's outburst had just exposed something she had no intention of admitting out loud:
The girl harbored a quiet crush on her professor.
Pfft~
Leo stifled a laugh, watching as Mr. Mime gave the flustered student a dramatic bow, only deepening her embarrassment.
After some time, the girls returned.
This time, the elder one greeted him properly.
"Professor Morningstar,"
She said politely.
Leo smiled and nodded in recognition.
Nod~
Her name was Ana, a Ravenclaw seventh-year.
Leo greeted them warmly, his tone light and friendly, and couldn't resist teasing both sisters a little.
"Ana, isn't it? Seventh year, Ravenclaw."
Her cheeks warmed at being remembered so easily, but before she could reply,
Nancy tugged at her sleeve, eyes shining.
He slipped each of them a small treat—
A Jelly Ball,
The little sweets shimmered like glass marbles.
One of the newest creations stocked at Cauldron and Charm Apothecary.
The Jelly Ball was unlike ordinary sweets.
Its color shifted with the climate, and its flavor revealed itself only after a bite.
Today, under the blazing sun, the candies shimmered a bright golden yellow, though the taste remained a mystery until eaten.
Ana's younger sister held it with awe, rolling it between her fingers like it was treasure.
"What is it?"
Nancy asked, holding it up to the light.
"Something new,"
Leo explained.
"The flavor changes depending on the time and climate. You won't know until you try."
Nancy's face lit up like Christmas morning.
She popped the candy into her mouth, and after a moment her eyes widened.
"It tastes like… like lemonade! And honey! And… something fizzy!"
Ana laughed softly at her sister's reaction, but her own gaze lingered on Leo.
Giggle~
"They're wonderful,"
she said, her voice softer than she meant.
Ana admitted with a smile.
Leo chuckled.
Chuckle~
"A little project Severus, Sirius, and Lupin cooked up. They came to me asking permission to open a branch for their inventions. I told them we'd dedicate part of the ground floor—next to the potions section—for their creations. Once they're popular enough, we can think about expanding."
Though Severus's true passion lay in potions,
He had supported the idea wholeheartedly for his friends' sake.
And together, the trio's creativity had started giving birth to surprises like the Jelly Ball—
Candies that could brighten any child's day.
Nancy, still savoring her treat, piped up between happy hums.
"Best candy ever."
As the siblings were about to leave the shop,
Nancy suddenly froze.
"____"
Her wide eyes caught sight of a fluffy creature stretching lazily on the steps before climbing higher.
Its tail swished with feline grace,
But its tufted ears twitched sharply,
And its golden eyes gleamed with an intelligence far beyond that of any ordinary pet.
"Is that a cat?"
Nancy gasped, pointing with sparkling eyes.
Ana chuckled softly, shaking her head.
Chuckle~
"Not exactly. That's a Kneazle—a magical creature. They're cleverer than cats, and they can sense if someone's trustworthy or not."
At the word magical creatures, Nancy's excitement doubled.
She spun to her sister, practically bouncing.
"Can we see more? Please, Ana? Pleeease?"
Ana couldn't resist her younger sister's pleading face.
"____"
With a fond sigh, she nodded.
Sigh~
"All right, but only for a short while. Come on."
Hand in hand, the sisters made their way upstairs to the top floor.
The space had transformed into a cozy,
Enchanted menagerie—
Shelves lined with enchanted cages, softly glowing habitats, and magical play areas that shimmered with protective wards.
It smelled faintly of herbs, feathers, and hay.
This floor was usually managed by Andromeda and Hagoromo Gitsune.
But since Hagoromo had recently returned to her world of Nurarihyon no Mago to meet her yokai clan,
Andromeda was the only one present, carefully tending to the shop.
She looked up from a perch where a pair of baby owlets chirped for attention, her warm smile greeting the newcomers.
"Welcome, dears,"
Andromeda said, brushing a bit of fluff from her robes.
"Looking for something special today?"
Nancy's eyes were already darting everywhere, dazzled by the flutter of wings and the shimmer of scales in enchanted glass tanks.
She clutched Ana's arm tightly, whispering with awe,
"It's like a whole zoo of magic…"
There she saw a small snake in a glass chamber looking at her.
Nancy's giggles rang through the shop as the little snake mirrored her every movement—
Giggle~
Its head tilting, lifting, and turning exactly the way she did.
The girl leaned close to the glass, eyes shining,
While Ana smiled fondly at her sister's delight.
At that very moment, the shop's atmosphere shifted.
The faint jingle of bells at the door never came, yet a coldness swept across the floor.
A ghost drifted in—
A tall, gaunt elderly man with hollow eyes and translucent skin.
His presence made the Kneazle's fur bristle, and several creatures stirred uneasily in their cages.
Leo, standing by the counter, glanced once at the figure and immediately understood.
His instincts told him this wasn't some wandering spirit but one of Valac's messengers.
The ghost's sunken gaze lingered on Leo.
With surprising dignity, he bowed low before floating closer.
His lips moved soundlessly, yet his whisper carried directly into Leo's ear—
So soft that no one else could hear.
"Master Valac has visited an abandoned crutch… one now crawling again with witch hunters. Their base is stirring to life. Soon… good news will follow."
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly at the words.
He said nothing, only giving the faintest nod of acknowledgment.
"____"
Nod~
The ghost lingered for a heartbeat, then drifted back toward the shadows.
His form wavered, unraveling like smoke in the air.
The children never noticed, too distracted by the snake and the pet shop's wonders.
But Leo knew exactly who that specter had once been.
The ghost was the former lord of the French castle that now served as a Continental hotel—
A vile man in life, who had terrorized women and branded them witches to force his power upon them.
His sins had chained him beyond death… until Valac claimed him.
And now, he served as one of Valac's many unwilling eyes and ears.
Leo folded his arms, his expression thoughtful, with his calm smile.
After the ghost faded into nothingness,
Leo turned back to the others with a composed smile.
"I'll be out for some time,"
He said calmly, brushing off the moment as though nothing unusual had just transpired.
With a subtle twist of his wand, he apparated from the shop in a shimmer of displaced air.
He reappeared at the heart of the festival grounds,
Where preparations for the wizarding New Year were already underway.
Colorful banners fluttered above the cobblestone square, and the scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced cider hung heavy in the air.
Families and students moved about cheerfully,
Though a contingent of Aurors kept watch along the edges—
Keen eyes scanning for trouble.
Among them,
Leo's gaze fell on a young Alastor Moody.
The boy had only recently suffered the terrible loss of his eye,
But he stood tall nonetheless, barking sharp orders to fellow trainees.
"Keep your eyes open! Complacency gets you killed!"
Moody growled, his voice carrying over the festive chatter.
Leo approached, his steps measured.
"Moody,"
He called.
The young Auror snapped his head toward him, his one good eye gleaming with vigilance.
"Lord Morningstar,"
Moody said, straightening instinctively.
"I'll keep this brief,"
Leo began, lowering his voice just enough for Moody's ears alone.
"My sources tell me the Muggles are rallying again. Witch hunters—an old fire stirring back to life. They'll look for excuses, for places where they can strike. Stay sharp. And make sure your men do the same."
Moody's jaw tightened, and he gave a firm nod.
"____"
Nod~
"Understood. We'll be ready."
Satisfied, Leo clasped his shoulder once, then moved on.
The minister's tent loomed at the far end of the square, layered in protective enchantments that shimmered faintly in the morning light.
Leo stepped through the wards, the spells parting at his presence, and entered.
Inside, Minister Jenkins sat at a small table, enjoying a simple breakfast.
A stack of parchment reports waited at her elbow, but her posture was relaxed—
Until she saw the look on Leo's face.
"Leo?"
She asked, setting her teacup down.
He wasted no time.
"The witch hunters are gathering again. Muggles… organized, dangerous, and emboldened."
The minister's eyes hardened.
The weight of his words chased away the last trace of morning calm.
"Then we'll dispatch squads at once,"
She said quickly, already reaching for the papers at her side.
"We can't risk them gaining ground. I'll assign strike teams to dismantle their nests—"
Leo raised a hand, his voice quiet but firm.
"No. That won't be necessary."
Her eyes flicked to him in surprise.
"Not necessary?"
He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying the assurance of someone who knew more than he said.
"Valac will handle it. Better to let the darkness clean its own. Wizards showing force would only ignite old fears. But if they vanish in silence…"
He let the implication hang in the air.
Jenkins studied him for a long moment, then slowly leaned back in her chair.
Though her frown remained, she trusted him enough to set aside her instinct for direct action.
"____"
"Very well,"
She said softly.
"But I expect results, Leo. If these hunters resurface, they won't just threaten Muggles… they'll come for us."
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
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And power stone!!!
It will Motivate Me.