Lucifer was hungry too, so the two of them simply treated the conference room as a dining hall and ate there, "How's the Wizarding Tournament coming along?" he asked.
"Besides the original five schools, I've been contacting Koldovstoretz, Uagadou, and the Mahoutokoro Institute. So far, only Koldovstoretz has clearly refused. The other two are still considering it, but there shouldn't be much trouble..."
"Refused?" The boy raised an eyebrow. "Why? Don't tell me those Russians got scared."
Koldovstoretz was a magical school located within territory of the Bears, and most of its students were Slavs, along with some from Central Asia.
"They have internal issues. A major incident from a couple of years ago still hasn't fully settled. People who were once from the same country have split apart, and new grudges and hatred have formed.... The turmoil outside has spilled into the school. There were even reports of bloodshed."
Lucifer nodded in understanding. Russian infighting was notoriously brutal. It wasn't hard to imagine.
After returning to the school, and with the professors' approval, he installed a Lumine-Lens in each house common room. Every professor also received a smaller product they could hang in their office or living quarters.
Professor McGonagall was easily the happiest of them all. She was a die-hard Quidditch fan, but school responsibilities meant she rarely had chance to watch matches in person.
At first, she refused to take it. Accepting gifts from students always made her uncomfortable. But when she heard that she could watch next weekend's match, and that it was her favorite team, the Kenmare Kestrels, playing against the Puddlemere United, she finally accepted it with a great deal of reluctant persuasion.
Only after leaving McGonagall's office did the smile on Lucifer's face truly bloom. He understood the real power structure in this school perfectly.
Dumbledore agreeing meant nothing. Only if McGonagall approved would Lumine-Lens be allowed to stay in the common rooms.
Hmm?
Thinking about who really called the shots, he suddenly realized he still hadn't given Dumbledore one. He immediately changed direction and headed upstairs.
The appearance of the Lumine-Lens filled the younger wizards with curiosity. They had already read in the newspapers about how the previous Quidditch match and Dueling tournament finals had been broadcast, watched by tens of thousands of wizards around the world. They themselves had been part of that spectacle.
Now they were switching roles, from being watched to being the audience. And this time, it was Quidditch.
Many of them could barely wait for weekend to arrive and experience the magic of Lumine-Lens for themselves.
That anticipation affected the atmosphere of the castle. Students grew restless and unfocused, zoning out in class. With the school year nearly over and students still so lax, the Professors finally snapped and came down hard.
The sudden surge in homework left the young wizards miserable. But more exhausted they were, the faster time seemed to pass.
xxxxxx
Finally, all Lumine-Lenses in Hogwarts lit up, and the students perked up instantly.
It wasn't just for Livestreaming. With a few tweaks and a control array, it could record and broadcast as well, all without needing any understanding of Vox Corporis.
After a round of advertisements, the first match began-Kenmare Kestrels vs Puddlemere United.
The young wizards eagerly contributed their snacks, and some even had their house-elves bring back drinks from 'the Three Broomsticks,' turning Common rooms into a full-blown bar.
Even people who weren't that into Quidditch found themselves caught up in the mood, emotions rising and falling with the flow of the match. Supporters from both sides started arguing, which made Lucifer nod in quiet approval, especially when Hermione cheered loudly at the Goal made by McGonagall's favourite team.
In a magical world starved for entertainment, you barely needed to put on a show to keep wizards satisfied. He didn't make content, but platforms and devices. As for how far he'd need to push things to complete his private entertainment goals, even he wasn't sure.
The match ended when Puddlemere United Seeker caught the Golden Snitch.
In the Gryffindor common room, Wood went wild, jumping and hooting like a chimpanzee. He'd already received an offer from Puddlemere United, and after graduating this year, he'd be joining them.
"I wonder how much a Lumine-Lens costs," Harry said as he snapped out of the excitement, "If we could get one at Longbottom's, watching matches with Neville would be amazing.. "
"Gran actually wants you to stay over for the entire summer Harry, if you could..."
Ron however squinted and didn't answer between the two. Of course he wanted one, but the Weasley family's finances made it painfully clear that it just wasn't going to happen.
"The next match is the Chudley Cannons, my favourite team," Ron said excitedly. "I've dreamed of seeing one of their games in person."
"You'd better not, Ronnie."
Fred, who'd overheard him, laughed.
"They've only won two games this season. Watching them lose in person would just make you feel worse."
"Are they really my brothers?" Ron asked Harry in disbelief.
Harry in response only gave an awkward smile, "Uh... watch the game, watch the game."
Fred didn't press it further and went back to whispering with George, plotting how they could convince Lucifer to give them an advertising slot. If they could run ads during a match like this, products would sell like crazy.
After that, Lucifer didn't bother watching the second game. He'd just wanted to soak in the atmosphere. Quidditch itself wasn't that entertaining. He'd rather watch Muggle sports.
xxxxx
May flew by in the blink of an eye. Before anyone really noticed, Lucifer's third year was already coming to an end.
As usual, the third-year Slytherins and Gryffindors filed into the 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' classroom. Many of them looked exhausted. The mountain of homework and revision had left students miserable.
The pressure they were under was far worse than in past exams. Better comms had its downsides.
Professors and parents could now talk far more easily and often. Skip homework today, and a Howler from home might arrive tomorrow.
If their grades suffered because they hadn't revised hard enough, what awaited them would be a whole summer of misery. Some especially filial students had already started envying Lucifer and Harry Potter.
Orphans... yeah. Being an orphan had its perks.
Before the class bell rang, Lupin walked into the classroom, as usual carrying his battered little suitcase. He didn't look great, but the students were used to that by now.
This professor was good in every way except that he was poor and physically frail. Still, unlike Lockhart last term, he counted as competent. Compared to Quirrell and the string of teachers before him, he was downright excellent.
Lupin gave everyone a gentle smile, he seemed to be in a pretty good mood today, "This is the last 'Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson of the school year," he said.
"Today, we'll be covering... werewolves."
"Professor, Professor Snape already taught that when you were on second leave!" Lavender Brown called out with a long voice, "And he even docked us ten points!"
Not minding at all, he kept smiling.
"On this topic, I do have a few insights of my own that Severus lacks. Thank you for the reminder, Miss Brown. Ten points to Gryffindor."
Lavender shut up at once, beaming.
Taking out a scroll from his case and hung it on the blackboard. It showed a werewolf after transformation, standing upright on two legs.
"A werewolf is a disease, a curse." His voice dropped, turning bleak, "On the night of the full moon, they transform into creatures that lose all reason. Werewolves are both perpetrators and victims."
"It's very difficult to tell whether a wizard is a werewolf, but if you pay close attention, there are always signs..."
"For instance, they tend to have thicker body hair than average, large palms with unusually thin fingers, and fingernails that are far paler than normal." As he spoke, Lupin lifted his own hand, inviting the class to look closely, "They fear the moon. Not just the real one. Even a moon created by a Boggart or other magical transformations can affect them."
"Although the Wolfsbane Potion exists and can help a werewolf retain their mind after transforming, it's extremely expensive and must be taken for seven consecutive days.
Each day leaves the drinker weaker than the last... So, if you ever notice someone who takes leave on a very regular schedule, you should be cautious..."
This near self-exposé left Hermione staring in shock. She'd already gotten confirmation from Lucifer and had worried about it before, but his reassurance and Dumbledore's trust had led her to believe in Lupin anyway.
Not far away, Harry looked just as stunned.
He knew Lupin's true identity too, but he couldn't understand what Lupin was doing. Had Dumbledore paid him too little? Was he quitting on purpose?
As Lupin continued his almost exhaustive analysis of werewolves, some of the sharper students began recalling his regular pattern of absences over the past year. Their expressions changed completely.
Of course, that didn't include Ron or Neville. Those two were still hunched over their notes, heads down, convinced this was prime exam material.
It wasn't until class ended and Lupin left the room that Malfoy's cold laugh snapped them back to reality.
"Dumbledore really is something," he sneered. "Letting a werewolf stay in the castle for a whole year."
Before long, the news that Lupin was a werewolf spread through the school. Some reacted with fear, others with calm. Clever students like Hermione had already figured it out long ago.
Hogwarts already had more than enough oddballs. A werewolf didn't seem like a big deal, so an unspoken agreement had kept it quiet.
But once everyone knew, Lupin had already submitted his resignation and disappeared from castle. Dumbledore tried to persuade him to stay, but he had made up his mind.
"Professor, Mr. Burke has been urging me for a while now," Lupin said with a smile in the Headmaster's office before leaving, "He needs a steady partner for his missions. And it's not fair to make the other professors cover for me every month when they're already so busy. Now that my identity is public, even if the students could accept it, their parents wouldn't..."
Dumbledore let out a soft sigh. "If you've decided, then all I can do is wish you good luck, Remus."
"Thank you. I hope you find an even better 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' professor. If you really can't find anyone, I recommend Severus to take over my position."
With that, Lupin departed lightly, to actually go meet his best friend, Sirius Black, who was innocent, and recuperating at Lucifer's home, under the efforts of Fantasy Draught.
Dumbledore could only smile wryly. He'd heard something very similar last year too. That time, it had been Lucifer making the recommendation, hadn't it? One by one, they all seemed determined to make Snape miserable.
xxxxxxx
Everyone's moods had been basically stomped on and ground into Castle floors with the Exams being so close.
Even Fred and George were seen studying more than cracking jokes or pulling pranks, and that was probably because it was their O.W.L year, which stood for Ordinary Wizarding Level.
Percy was studying for N.E.W.T classes, which stood for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests.
Harry and Ron were still trying to question Hermione and Lucifer on how they were managing to do it all.
They were even more dumbstruck when their timetable for exams showed up. The first column of Hermione's timetable read:
♡Lucifer♡
Monday
9 o'clock Arithmancy ♡Lucifer♡
9'o clock Transfiguration ♡Lucifer♡
Lunch
1'o clock Charms ♡Lucifer♡
1'o clock Ancient Runes ♡Lucifer♡
♡Lucifer♡
"Hermione?" Ron started, awkwardly "Er... are you sure you've copied down these times right?"
"What?" Hermione snapped. She was liable to go off at anyone who interrupted her when she was working, well, everybody except Lucifer of course, "Yes, of course I did! And don't you have someone else to bother?!"
"Is there any point asking how you two are going to sit two exams at once?" Harry asked with a confused face.
Lucifer replied for her,"It's all been sorted with Professor McGonagall, Potter," as Hermione was hurriedly writing her notes.
They were thankful when Harry and Ron both had stopped trying to ask further about their messed up time table after that. The teachers were aware, or at least McGonagall was, that they shared a Time Turner.
xxxxxx
Snape was practically glowing with good spirits these days, he had finally forced Lupin out, just as he'd wanted. There was no way Dumbledore could find another qualified 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' professor on such short notice.
Confident of that, Snape had once again placed his transfer request on the Headmaster's desk.
Lucifer was immediately annoyed.
He was petty like that. Even though he knew full well next term's Defense post was cursed and Snape's joy was probably for nothing, he still didn't want to see Snape smug about it.
Before the first exam, he caught Snape in the corridor, "Professor," the boy said casually, "you seem pretty confident about your position next term...."
"What are you getting at, Morningstar?" Snape's smile vanished, he immediately had a bad feeling in the gut.
"Nothing much," Lucifer shook his head, trying to hold back the large grin threatening to form, "Just thought I'd pass along a little rumor. Professor Dumbledore has already lined up someone else."
"Lupin's only been gone a few days. He found a replacement that fast?"
Snape's face darkened to a pulp.
While Lucifer seized the chance to smear Dumbledore a bit more. "You know the Headmaster, finding scapegoats is kind of his specialty."
"Who did Dumbledore 'find?" Snape pressed hard, intending to identify the target and then apply a bit of pressure until the person resigned voluntarily. This wasn't a threat. It was for their own good. 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' was a deep, dangerous swamp. Who but him could handle it properly?
"Alastor Moody," Lucifer said cheerfully, tossing out the name, "Apparently a retired Auror. Crippled leg, one eye gone. Someone like that thinks he can compete with you for the job? I don't buy it from Twins."
The Professor's expression became... complicated. Moody? That old bastard? In all of Britain, there were only a handful of wizards Snape treated with real caution. If it weren't for Dumbledore shielding him, Lupin would have been run into the ground long ago.
Unfortunately for him, Alastor Moody was one of those people you simply did not mess with. Among Death Eaters, just hearing the name was enough to make spines shiver.
"Morningstar, exams are about to start and you still have the mood to joke around?" Snape snapped, this brat only brought misery every time he came, "If you're not top of the year this time, don't expect any special treatment from me next term."
After dropping that threat, Snape turned and left in a hurry. The retreating figure somehow managed to look a little flustered.
Lucifer's smile widened.
Ah, that felt good.
xxxxxx
When exams finally hit, an unnatural hush had fallen all over the Castle. Everyone was taking them seriously like they usually did, but this year seemed worse somehow.
Over the next few days, Lucifer attended his exams as usual.
In the practical Transfiguration exam, Professor McGonagall's task for most students was to turn a squirrel into a candlestick. Correct shape and function earned a Pass. Add decorative 'flair' or patterns, and it was an Outstanding.
That was everyone else's assignment.
When it came to Lucifer, Professor McGonagall instinctively raised the difficulty.
Transform a Kneazle into a rabbit.
Transfiguring one living creature into another was already an advanced application of the subject. Doing so with a magical creature like a Kneazle, which possessed innate magic, bumped the 'difficulty' up several more levels. If Hermione had to do this, her internal cat would break McGonagall's wand.
"Professor, that's discrimination."
McGonagall then smiled and offered a tempting deal, "Morningstar, if you can complete it, I won't assign you any homework this summer."
Lucifer's eyes lit up, and he accepted on the spot. Even if Hermione was still doing his homework for now, letting the young witch work a little less sounded nice.
He raised his wand and lightly tapped the kneazle. After a brief distortion, it turned into a small white rabbit, hopping over to Lucifer and rubbing against his trouser leg.
Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction and wrote a bold O on his grade sheet right in front of him. She applauded him accordingly, telling he did better than "last year."
....After their exam, Hermione began complaining about how her Tortoise looked more like a Turtle after she turned it from a Teapot, and that she could've done better.
On the bright side, they both felt great about Arithmancy.
Then after Lunch came Charms' written exam, which taught the students a harsh life lesson.
Professor Flitwick, usually humorous and endlessly forgiving, decided to get creative. He split the paper into two parts. Fifty percent covered material he had explicitly emphasized before. The other fifty percent included not only this year's content, but also spells from the previous two as well.
Even Hermione was scratching her head, looking so distressed she was on the verge of tears.
Two desks away, Lucifer was having the time of his life. He secretly gave Flitwick a thumbs-up. The Ravenclaw headmaster put on a stern face, but the smile in his eyes gave him away.
No need to guess where that wicked idea came from, he had suggested it himself, 'firmly' believed in building his happiness on others' suffering, a lesson he had taken from his own girlfriend who proposed the idea of more written exams.
Watching pain on everyone's faces, Lucifer wore a pain-filled expression too. Because holding back laughter was genuinely-----
For Lucifer, it was---Calling it an exam was generous. In practice, it turned into a discussion about Charm theory. Lately, Flitwick had been researching large-scale applications of the 'Summoning Charm' and had run into problems controlling the speed of flying objects.
They talked and talked, completely losing track of time. It took a full half hour before Flitwick realized they were still in the middle of an exam and hurried Lucifer out to call in the next student.
Rushing to keep things on schedule, they 'finally' wrapped up the afternoon testing just before 3'o clock.
Ancient Runes, Hermione didn't feel the greatest about; not perfect, but almost. She was sure Lucifer did perfectly. After dinner, he asked her to stay behind.
"There's something I need your help with."
"What can I do?" She brightened instantly when heard he needed her. All this time, Lucifer had been helping her in every possible way, while she'd never really been able to do anything for him. Even though their relationship was special, her strong willed nature still left her feeling like she owed him.
"Don't rush. This is right in your wheelhouse," Lucifer said, gently ruffling her hair, "It's a cursed dark object or a name starting with something like 'Ho', 'E', or 'J'. It hardly even counts as a clue, my friend was in pain when he said the letters. Once exams are over, try digging into it. You might stumble onto something unexpected."
Even though exams weren't officially 'finished' yet, Hermione had already started thinking about it on the way back to the dorm. Hopper? Eobard? Joker? Constantine? Was it spelled with a H or a K?
It wasn't until late that night, when she remembered there were still exams the next day, that she hurriedly grabbed a vial of "Energy Potion" from her desk and went back to revising.
The next day was their Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, and Astronomy exams, and they had an easy for Hagrid's class. He was so preoccupied with Hippogriffs diet, that he gave them Flobberworms to keep alive to end of the exam to pass.
No one really complained, but it was horribly boring. Potions was that afternoon and Lucifer, as expected, made the perfect Confusing Concoction. If Snape gave him anything less than a perfect score just to mess, he was going to have serious words with Dumbledore.
Astronomy was easy enough, being at Midnight made it all the more enjoyable. 'History of Magic', Lucifer and Hermione did with ease, as even though it was the most boring class in the world, it wasn't by any means hard, just hard to stay awake.
Herbology was on Wednesday morning and Hermione came the closest she had been all year to outright torching the Tentacula, but Sprout managed to calm it down, putting some sort of "Calming Charm" on the plant.
Unfortunately, being under the sun in early June wasn't a good thing for them, as the back of their necks had gotten sunburned, but Dean had some Aloe that his mother had sent to him mid-May, and gave a little bit each to his Gryffindor friends.
The day after that was Thursday and their last Exam day.
Defense was in the morning and Lucifer was the most prepared for it because he had the highest Defense score in the class. Harry had also proved to do well and received full marks on his exam.
Hermione went before Lucifer and had almost received a perfect score, but with the stress of exams looming over her, her Boggart had changed to McGonagall who was yelling that she'd failed everything and shamed the Gryffindor name.
She ran screaming out of the exam course Flitwick set up for them in Remus's absence, he asked Lucifer to calm her down before he went into the Course.
After he calmed her down with a little bit of snogging, Lucifer went last and when he got to his Boggart, it was Hermione pleading to be spared by her attacker, he aimed his wand and yelled "Expecto Patronum!"
And the silvery shield came from his wand and blocked the Dementor, not making it a 'Corporeal Patronus, cause there were others in line for exam, Lucifer simply forced the Boggart back into the Trunk, he exited course with a triumphant smirk and had also received full marks.
xxxxxxx
She then changed gears quickly, "How do you think you did in Potions?"
"If I don't see a perfect score, I'm going to Dumbledore. Snape can be biased all he wants, but I made that Potion perfect," Lucifer said with confidence.
Hermione smiled at him, admiringly, 'I know you did. Overall, you did better than me in most of the Exams... you make me feel proud to be your girlfriend.'
xxxxx
When exam week finally ended, everyone else cheered and ran out of the castle to enjoy the most relaxed stretch before holidays. Hermione, on the other hand, dove straight into library without a second thought.
Her small frame was soon buried under towering stacks of heavy history books and 'famous' biographies.
Lucifer wasn't exploiting child labor, nor was he squeezing Hermione dry and stealing her vacation. Among the girls around him, she was both the most mature and "childish." She understood many things, had read countless books, yet still couldn't make sense of her own situation.
He never needed her to give anything back, all he needed was to feel that sincerity. Everything else could wait, way later.
But Hermione's tendency to overthink meant she couldn't grasp that at all. Her insistence on 'fairness' only made her more and more anxious. It was precisely because Lucifer saw that anxiety that he gave her this task today.
If she found something, great. If not, at least she'd poured her heart into it, and feel a lot better about herself.
Besides, even if he stopped her from reading history books, she'd just pick up some other random pile of texts anyway. It made no real difference.
xxxxxx
Durmstrang
In an empty room, Barty Crouch Jr. lay on the floor like a dead dog, his wand shattered beside him. Grindelwald sat there calmly, sipping tea, giving him time to recover.
He was indeed skilled at manipulating hearts, but for his words to be heard and remembered, there was always one prerequisite: strength.
Only by displaying power that inspired despair and fear would people become listeners, carefully weighing and analyzing every word you said.
So, after tormenting Barty Crouch Jr. for a while, Grindelwald granted him a measure of freedom and returned his wand, allowing him to vent his rage and hatred as much as he liked.
After a few rounds of abuse, he decided it was enough.
"Barty," he asked softly, lowering his head slightly, "how does it feel? Did your former master ever guide your spells as patiently as I do?"
Barty struggled to lift his head, his eyes bloodshot as he snarled, "Grindelwald, you'll never compare to the true Dark Lord. Even if I die, I'll die loyal to him."
"Loyalty?" Grindelwald smiled faintly, meaning unclear, "Are you truly loyal to him? No... my child. What you felt from Voldemort was simply the feeling of being needed. You treated him as a father figure, didn't you?"
Barty's pupils shrank. He lowered his head, falling into strained silence.
"Look up. If you hate me so much, why don't you have the guts to even look me in the eyes?" His voice was lazy, almost bored, but Barty's head was yanked up by force until their eyes met.
Grindelwald nodded, satisfied. There was something in the boy's gaze he liked. Wild, like a wolf.
If he could tame him, he'd make for a sharp and pliant blade. Any dirty or exhausting job could be handed over to him without a second thought.
"My child, let's talk about your father first."
Barty let out a sharp laugh. "I don't have a father. That hypocrite threw me in Azkaban with his own hands. He only got me out because of my mother's dying wish. Then he chained me up like a dog to rot in a bedroom and then..." His smile twisted into something more mocking. "Wait... he never used the 'Imperius Curse' on a dog. Hahaha-"
"Then go die," Grindelwald replied, playing idly with his fingers. "Hurry up and end your pathetic life. What are you waiting for? I'm sure you'll find the opportunity."
"No. I can't die. My master is still waiting for me."
"Heh." Raising his brows, Gellert's eyes were carrying a flicker of pity. "Child, you can't fool me. In all these years, have you really spent your time thinking about... your master? Maybe a little. But that's not why you cling to life. The real reason is... that your life was bought with your mother's."
Barty, who had stood up at some point, instinctively shuffled back two steps. Panic flickered across his face.
Grindelwald had stripped him bare. No disguise could stop that piercing gaze that cut straight into the deepest, most guarded place in his heart.
He could easily discard his father. From the moment he was born, he'd felt no love from Crouch. But his mother... was different.
That woman had given him everything. She cried herself sick when he was thrown into Azkaban, fell gravely ill, and even with death looming, still fought to grant him what little freedom she could.
In Barty's heart, even Voldemort couldn't compete with his mother.
Seeing that reaction, Grindelwald's smile grew wider, "That is why I appreciate you. Why I want to pull you out of that cesspit Voldemort crawls in. Because there is love in you."
"L-Love?"
Barty quickly regained his composure, like he'd heard the most ridiculous joke imaginable. "A Dark Lord talking to a Death Eater about love?"
"So shallow," Grindelwald sighed, disappointed in his ignorance. "Dark Wizard, Dark Lord, those labels are what others use to describe methods we employ on the way to our goals. My ideal is simple. I want to abolish the 'Statute of Secrecy,' let wizards live in the open, allow those with ability to take the place they deserve. No more being shackled... by the Ministry or the International Confederation. The strong should rule the world."
"That is love. Only overwhelming emotion can forge truly great wizards. Your father, Crouch? He lacks that. Which is why he is a failure, both as a man and in his career."
Barty didn't know where to even begin arguing back. These past days with Grindelwald, he'd met many of the so-called Acolytes. The feeling they gave off... was nothing like Death Eaters. Half the time he couldn't even tell they were Dark wizards. Some were half-bloods, even Muggle-born.
"You just want to win me over so the old man will devote himself to serving you," Talking stiffly, Barty knew about the deal between Grindelwald and his father. Submission gained through lies doesn't last long. Once the mask cracks, the backlash only grows.
So, from the start, Grindelwald never hid his intentions. This time was no exception, "That's right." he admitted it openly. "Your father is a failure, but right now he's more useful than you. That's a fact.... This is a game of pieces on a board, and I favor those with capability. As long as you work for me, one day your status will surpass his."
Barty laughed coldly. "Work for you? I already said I serve only my master."
"No. You have only ever served yourself." Grindelwald placed a hand on his shoulder. His voice was quiet, yet heavy with temptation. "And I am offering you a chance. Follow me, unleash the violence you've buried for years, and watch how I make your so-called master dance like a dog in my hands."
Barty opened his mouth to object, but Grindelwald cut him off with a raised hand.
"Don't be so quick to refuse. You've lived like a rat for so long you probably don't even know what you truly think anymore. Go see the world. Britain is too small, and the boy you once were was just as small. You didn't understand what real fatherly devotion... looks like, and you had no idea how laughable Voldemort really is, how shallow your worldview was. I'm giving you a task."
He grasped Barty's wrist. When he released it, a silver bracelet was locked around it, and a slip of paper was pressed into his palm.
"There are some restless individuals plotting against me. Here are three targets, not many. I'm sure you can handle them..." Barty lifted the bracelet and gave it a mocking shake. "This to keep me on a leash?"
"Of course. Until you've fully matured, I need to keep an eye on you."
In the end, he couldn't refuse the temptation of moving freely again, so accepted the mission that felt suspiciously like a test. Grindelwald summoned two Acolytes to escort him away for medical care.
From the pocket space, Lucifer had watched entire exchange from start to finish and couldn't help admiring him, "Gellert, that mouth of yours could talk the dead back to life. That kid... already took the bait. Don't tell me all your subordinates were tricked into joining like that..."
Barty hadn't promised anything on the surface and even walked away with his freedom. Looked like he'd gotten the better end of the deal.
But he'd already stepped into Grindelwald's trap. He'd begun thinking along the man's lines and even agreed to eliminate rivals.
The bridge of communication was built. It wouldn't take long before Grindelwald slowly rewired his worldview.
With someone as unhinged as Barty, once he snapped to the other side, he'd go from Voldemort fanatic to Grindelwald without a second thought.
"What do you mean tricked?" Grindelwald scoffed, irritated by his teasing. "I'm helping the poor boy. Hmph! Barty's problem is simple. He lacks love, and longs for a proper father figure, Voldemort just happened to fill that void. He was the one tricking Barty Jr."
"Oh! So you plan to be his dad?"
"You...!"
xxxxxx
By Monday morning, something new had caught the entire school's attention.
The 'front' page of that day's Daily Prophet showed several horrifying photos, wizards writhing in pain, silently screaming, their teeth lengthening into sharp fangs.
The headline was even worse: {A New Kind of Lycanthropy? Wizards, Stay Alert!}
Lucifer frowned and kept reading.
Apparently, chaos had broken out in the Wizarding world. At first, several wizards had been attacked by vampires. Normally, that wouldn't have caused much concern, Vampires attacking people wasn't exactly news. But this time, something was different. Those bitten had begun showing strange symptoms, like it was contagious.
Anyone bitten by these vampires developed vampiric traits, an uncontrollable thirst for blood, bursts of madness, and physical mutations. So far, more than fifteen victims had been hospitalized at St. Mungo's. The Ministry of Magic issued an official warning: {If you encounter such an incident, flee immediately and report it at once.}
Some of the younger Muggle-born students were puzzled, and couldn't get it, like Hermione Granger, "Aren't vampires always like that? Why's everyone acting surprised?"
"Don't be fooled by Muggle movies," Lucifer replied to her puffer fish like frowning cheeks, stopping the crave to deflate her balloons, and lectures his girlfriend, "In here, you know, Lycanthropy is contagious one. Get scratched or bitten by a werewolf, and you become one. Vampires don't pass it on. They're just dark creatures that can use a few weak spells. They can't even use wands properly, about as civilized as goblins or centaurs..."
"Oh... that 'makes sense," Hermione let out a mutter of enlightenment, she should probably stop getting inspiration from her DVD's collection, and working it on the real Magical world.
"Severus."
Dumbledore entered the Great Hall and called Snape out, his expression was grave, "You've seen this morning's paper, I assume? St. Mungo's has requested your help. We need an antidote developed as soon as possible."
"I understand." Snape's face was unreadable as he nodded and strode quickly out of the castle.
Lucifer now had finished reading the article, puzzled, taking a note, and stopped dwelling. If one of those mutated vampires crossed his path, he wouldn't mind studying it a bit.
xxxxxx
"Professor, why such a temper?" Lucifer said with mock helplessness, "You're acting more like hot-headed brainless Gryffindor than Slytherin's respected House Head."
"I'll make sure Granger hears that compliment," Snape said coldly, his body composure returning after being teased roughly that he was colluding with Vampires.
"No need," he waved it off, "She's already agreed with me before. But, I do have a surprise for you."
"What kind of 'gift'?" Snape asked suspiciously.
"Come with me. Let's talk in Dumbledore's office. Saves me from having to explain everything twice."
Without waiting for permission, Lucifer turned and walked out. Snape's curiosity got the better of him, whatever this boy was planning, it had to be good, otherwise, he wouldn't publicly call him a blood sucking vampire, who never aged, and enjoyed living in Dungeons.
The two of them climbed the stairs together, Snape following just behind. On the way, a few unlucky students who happened to be wandering the corridors became collateral damage. He was still seething, and unleashed a barrage of point deductions. By the time they reached seventh floor, every house had lost at least a few dozen points.
Lucifer slowed a little to match his pace, walking at the range of shoulders, "By the way, Professor, you were gone most of the day, no classes. Did you enjoy at St. Mungo's?"
Snape's tone was flat. "Yes."
"Trying to find a cure for the victims infected by the mutated vampires?"
Snape gave a curt nod.
"Any progress?"
"I'm a potioneer, not a miracle worker, you can't expect results overnight."
He snapped, irritation leaked through. That was part of his foul mood, he had worked half a day with no real progress and would have to keep going back.
Lucifer nodded knowingly. That, at least, explained Snape's behaviour. The stone gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office stepped aside as he raised a hand. While passing, it muttered quietly, "Morningstar, send that gloomy one away later. I need a word with you."
Snape's expression darkened. Even the statues were against him now?
Lucifer just smiled and stepped onto the moving staircase. Inside, Dumbledore was poring over tomes, frustration etched across his face. There were no records anywhere of vampiric infections like these.
It wasn't just about the patients in the Hospital, real danger was the source. Where was the vampire that started it all? And were there more out there?
As the gargoyle opened the way, Dumbledore looked up, puzzled, and waved his hand. The oak door swung open just as Snape and Lucifer arrived to knock.
"Headmaster," he greeted cheerfully, with an easy smile.
"How rare to see you two together," Dumbledore said with a wry smile of how own, motioning for them to sit, "Every time I see Lucifer in this office, a great matter follows, for the sake of my old heart, I hope it's joyful."
"It's good news," Lucifer said, pulling out a glass jar. Both Snape and Dumbledore leaned forward as he tipped it over, letting a plump gray rat tumble onto the table.
"This is...?" He tapped it with his wand. In an instant, Scabbers, the rat morphed into a short, balding man, Peter Pettigrew.
Snape shot to his feet, eyes wide. Dumbledore leaned forward sharply.
"Peter?"
"Morningstar," Snape demanded, whipping his gaze back at the boy, "What's going on here?"
Lucifer recounted everything, Pettigrew's sob story he had tried on his several decades ago, his excuses, claim that Sirius Black had framed him. When he finished, Snape and Dumbledore exchanged a long look. Both of them saw the same dense mirrored in the other's eyes, no, the Slytherin's Head noticed a subtle twitch, a sign of recognition, he knew!
Dumbledore asked quietly, "Lucifer, you don't believe him, do you?"
"Not really. I've heard Hagrid, and Madam Bones mention, uh... certain history between Professor Snape and the Marauders."
Snape's jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists, and a dangerous spark flickered in his eyes. That was not a pleasant chapter of his life.
Grinning, Lucifer went on, "So, whether Pettigrew's telling the truth or not, I figured I'd leave that to you. Although, he's quite well behaved now, and won't lie. Consider this my peace offering, Professor. We're even now, right?"
Snape ignored the jab, voice low and cold, "Dumbledore, none of this is normal, I won't trust a word he would say, so I'll need to employ unconventional methods."
Hesitating for a moment, he looked at Pettigrew's body which was trembling non-stop, as if he'd been rattled for quite a while, then nodded, "Use Veritaserum, and maybe a pepper-up potion then. You have some, don't you, Severus?"
"I always carry it," Snape's eyes never left Pettigrew, "Morningstar, wake him up."
Lucifer pointed his wand lazily. A glowing orb drifted from the tip, landing on Pettigrew's forehead. Dumbledore's eyelid twitched. That wasn't a simple Rennervate, that was a modified 'Legilimency' pulse, the kind that could rip at a person's consciousness.
Overkill, to say the least.
"Perhaps... a 'lighter' touch next time,"
Dumbledore coughed diplomatically, to cover a ripple of disbelief, "Three drops of Veritaserum should be enough. Then we'll-" He didn't get to finish. Pettigrew's eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused.
Before he could say another word, Snape strode forward, grabbed Pettigrew by the jaw, and poured the entire vial down his throat, then came the turn of Pepper-up.
Lucifer cocked his head toward Dumbledore in question, "You said... three drops? Didn't I say I made him an honest rat?" Sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
A bottle of Veritaserum, worth quite a lot of money, he winced at Snape's extravagance. What a waste. Just the leftovers could've loosened a dozen tongues if he'd been the one using it.
Still, a full bottle had its perks. After Peter Pettigrew swallowed it all, he looked ready to burst. The potion worked fast. His once-dazed eyes went glassy, and an unnatural flush spread over his greasy, rat-like face.
Dumbledore rose from his chair and approached him, waving a hand in front of Pettigrew's eyes, "Peter, it's been a long time. Do you know who I am?"
Jerking his head up, Peter was emotionally unstable after being ripped open, burning in molten lava caudron, sever torture from inside, he had even forgotten what else happened to him, was he dreaming this whole time, "D-D-Dumbledore."
"Good. And who is he?" Dumbledore asked, pointing at the Potions Master.
"Snape..."
He was just testing whether the 'Veritaserum' had taken effect, but Lucifer couldn't help gave an applause to Neuronist. Dumbledore's reputation wasn't exactly pristine, and now even under truth serum, Peter's voice carried a pure, instinctive 'fear' when he spoke the man's name, whereas earlier he was shrieking the Headmaster with a tone of his savior, she had rewired her prisoner entirely.
"You must answer all my questions truthfully and in detail," Dumbledore said sternly.
Peter nodded stiffly, and when he saw that demon with Snape, his brain went blank, and he couldn't think of anything at all.
"What happened back then between you and Sirius Black? Why did you survive when everyone thought you were dead? And why did you hide as a rat in the Weasley household?"
"....I am alive." Pettigrew muttered nonsense, just when Snape ought to give him a slap, he answered obediently, voice flat and mechanical, "Sirius didn't kill me. I faked my death. I used a spell the Dark Lord taught me, sacrificed a finger bone, blew up half the street, and turned into a rat in the chaos to escape."
"I was afraid the Dark Lord's enemies would hunt me down after his fall. But I didn't want to leave the wizarding world completely. So, I chose the Weasleys."
"Why did you run?" Snape's voice trembled. Hearing that the Dark Lord had taught Peter personally made his chest seize like it was caught in an invisible fist, "Did you have anything to do with the Potters' deaths?"
"It was me... it was me..." A flash of guilt crossed Peter's face, but it vanished quickly, "The Secret Keeper for the 'Fidelius Charm' wasn't Sirius," he said, disturbingly calm. "It was me. Sirius thought no one would ever suspect if it was me. After all 'Who would believe the pathetic useless Peter is the Secret Keeper?' And he and James were right. No one ever did."
"And then you told the Dark Lord," Snape said through clenched teeth, face twisted in fury while tears spilled from his eyes, he looked like a demon pulled out of Hell, "You betrayed them---you were their friend!"
"Friend?" Peter laughed bitterly, shaking his head, "No. I was their tagalong. Just like Lupin, only difference is, he didn't care. He was happy just to be included. But me? I was sick of it. Then one day, the Dark Lord caught me..." His face contorted in terror, body shaking like a leaf, "He said if I didn't give up James and Lily, he'd kill me. I didn't want to die... I wanted to live. I wanted power. Respect..."
When he finished, Peter slumped over, limp and silent. Dumbledore said nothing. Snape was gasping, shaking with rage. Lucifer leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs as he watched the three of them, each a study in human drama.
What was he supposed to feel? Honestly... nothing at all. Finally, Snape snapped, he drew his wand.
"'Avada---"
"Severus!!" Dumbledore's robes whipped through the air as he flicked his arm, and a shockwave blasted Snape across the room. He slammed into a bookshelf, dozens of heavy tomes crashed down on his head.
The portraits of former Headmasters, who had been pretending to sleep, let out startled gasps.
"What do you think you're doing, Severus?!" Dumbledore strode over and dragged the dazed man out of the pile of books, eyes blazing. "Casting a 'Killing Curse' so casually -before a student, no less? Calm yourself!"
"How can I?!" Snape roared, shoving Dumbledore away and raising his wand again, "He killed Lily! Why stop me? Move aside! I'll kill him-I'll avenge her!"
But before he could act, books behind him transformed into ropes lashing out and bound him fast. Dumbledore snatched the man's wand from his hand in a single motion. Meeting the old man's sharp furious gaze, Snape cooled instantly, what had he done?
"Lucifer is still here," Dumbledore said quietly, pressing a firm hand onto Snape's greasy hair. "I won't let you do this in front of a student. You can't kill Peter, he still has his uses. Yes, he's one of Lily's killers--but..." His eyes hardened, "So are you."
The words hit Snape like a blade through the chest. The light in his eyes went out completely.
Dumbledore didn't look back at him. He exhaled slowly, then turned to Lucifer who was watching with a fascinated grin, "You've certainly brought me quite the problem. But also very good news. You also have Sirius correct? The true criminal will face justice, and the innocent will finally be cleared."
"No need to thank me, Headmaster." Lucifer shrugged, pushing his bangs away which came at the front, "Go ahead, talk all you want. Pretend I'm not here."
Dumbledore sighed inwardly. 'This boy is impossible to deal with....'
"Severus is in no state to continue," he said at last, "You should go back for now, Lucifer. Come by tomorrow, I want to hear more details about how you found Peter Pettigrew, and made him so well behaved..."
"Alright," he said, reluctantly standing. But instead of leaving, Lucifer rubbed his hands together with a hopeful grin, "Professor, I did do a good thing, didn't I? About that reward..."
Dumbledore looked thoroughly puzzled, "Reward? Slytherin already has the House Cup in the bag. What difference would a few more points make?"
"Of course it matters!" Lucifer shot back, voice rising enough to startle even the broken Snape, "Points are a reward for my performance. Proof of my effort. Even if Slytherin already has the House Cup in the bag, you don't get to erase what I've done."
Rubbing his forehead, Dumbledore had a headache. All this over a few academic points? He really couldn't understand how someone like Lucifer who had already achieved things far beyond any student, could care this much about something so childish.
"Slytherin. Plus 'five' hundred points. On my account." Snape spoke suddenly. Whether Lucifer knew or not, the boy had delivered his enemy straight to them.
Dumbledore stared at him in silence.
Five hundred points? Your ego must be huge. Still, Slytherin was already so far ahead it hardly mattered. And if humoring Snape helped keep him stable as Potions Master, he would tolerate it, "Very well," he said finally. "Once everything is concluded, I'll add your points officially."
Only then did Lucifer leave, fully satisfied. 'Five' hundred house points, he wanted to show this achievement in the face of first year Granger, and Percy Weasley right now.
He reached the gargoyle at entrance of the Headmaster's office feeling absurdly cheerful. Even the ugly stone perched there looked kind of endearing, and gave its stone head a friendly pat. "Didn't you say you wanted to tell me something?"
"Morningstar," The gargoyle muttered quietly, "The Headmaster will be busy this summer, you remember what you also promised me, right? I want to go with you."
".....?"
"Buddy, I'm not some street thug forming a gang. I'm a respectable person."
"Come on, you're the Headmaster's statue. If you're going to 'go with' anyone, shouldn't it be the Dumbledore, wait for Christmas or something? Why me?"
"No, no." The gargoyle shook its head, "Very busy, he is. I only serve as Dumbledore's gatekeeper while school's in session. When summer comes, I'm free, I have it all sorted with him. Before last year, I didn't know, the world's so big, maybe go to Paris again, I even saw my own kind guarding there..."
"Dumbledore approved your summers off? No scratch that, did you find a 'female' gargoyle?"
"Of course." The gargoyle puffed up proudly, "I had lots of Charm' given by RavenClaw herself. Only summer break, though. Christmas holidays are too short, and students are still around, so no time off then. He even pays me 'fifty' Galleons a year. I'll give it all to you if you take me with you."
Lucifer didn't answer at first, he was seriously considering it, did have a few inconvenient secrets. Connections with Dark Wizards, for example. If that ever got out, he'd have to defect from Hogwarts on the spot.
Decision made, he nodded readily.
"No problem, bro. I'll take you traveling. You'll live the good life, eat all kinds of food."
"Boy, I can't eat," the gargoyle reminded him flatly.
"I was talking about myself, you can just watch."
xxxxxxx
Inside the Headmaster's office,
Snape and Dumbledore sat facing each other, he had regained his composure, though face looked even colder than before.
"Severus, I apologize for what I said," Dumbledore said quietly.
"No need." Snape let out a low, bitter laugh and clutched his head in both hands, "Why apologize? Because you spoke the truth? I killed Lily. What makes me any different from Pettigrew? We both deserve death."
"But the one who truly deserves death still lives," Dumbledore replied, voice calm but firm, "I know you're not clinging to this world for comfort. You want to finish it, to end him for real. In that, our goals are the same. That is the foundation of our trust. You know in you, exceeds even Minerva. Especially when it comes to Voldemort, her nature doesn't suit the dark truths that must be known..."
"I still need your help, Severus."
Snape was silent. He pressed thumb and finger into his brow, forcing the fury and grief back down into the depths. His eyes went cold again, "Say it. What do you want me to do this time?"
"Peter Pettigrew must not die, Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban without ever defending himself, believing... he killed James and Lily. Don't you see the escape had a connection to it?"
"Isn't that the truth?" Snape said, voice dripping with scorn, "Swapping the Secret Keeper out of arrogance, what right did that rat-eyed coward have to hold anyone's life? He is also a murderer, prison is what he deserves, you should both over to Fudge."
Dumbledore shook his head, disagreeing completely, "If James didn't agree, Sirius could have said nothing. Fate rarely favors the kind. Tomorrow, I'll summon Fudge. I need you to brew more Veritaserum, he must see the truth with his own eyes."
Snorting, he didn't refuse, but added one condition, "Fine. But tonight, Petter's mine to mess with."
Dumbledore frowned and slightly refused, "Have you forgotten your role?" he said slowly, "You and he are... 'colleagues. We both know Voldemort will return one day. If you torment Pettigrew too much and he learns of it, you will be in danger."
"There won't be any problem." Snape stood up. Dumbledore noticed his fists clenching tight enough that knuckles went white.
Walking over to the unconscious Pettigrew. With every ounce of strength Snape had, he smashed his fist across Pettigrew's miserable face. Blood splattered, some of his, some Peter's, "Did you forget how the Marauders treated me?"
Snape's voice was painfully soft, but pure hatred bled through every word, "They used my own spell to hang me from the Whomping Willow's branches... 'Humiliated me.' This isn't revenge for Lily, this is repayment for the past."
"Go, just don't destroy his already fragile mind, he's not well, you know what I mean..." Dumbledore exhaled slowly, he couldn't believe Lucifer was this much of an executioner, Peter was barely presentable.
Ignoring his words, and dragging Pettigrew like a dead dog, Snape hauled him out of the office.
xxxxxx
Snape and Peter Pettigrew had themselves quite an eventful evening.
Whether he enjoyed it, Snape couldn't care less. All that mattered was he had a great time, every punishment he'd fantasized about unleashing on idiotic students over the years, he used them on Pettigrew. Tenfold.
The next morning, when students saw him, several genuinely thought they were hallucinating, because the corners of Snape's mouth were ever so slightly... raised.
Was that... a smile?
Even Slytherins exchanged looks. Other than when stripping points from other Houses, none of them had ever seen Snape look so pleased.
"Yo, Professor. You're up early." Lucifer who had arrived for breakfast with Hermione, ran into him at the Great Hall, anr casually greeted him.
"Good manners. Taking the initiative to greet a professor," Snape nodded slightly, "Slytherin, plus ten points."
"...." Hermione stared at the two wrongly, her brain overthinking to produce a good enough excuse? What on earth happened to them last night?
"Professor, about those materials..." Lucifer then tugged at Snape's sleeve, dropping a subtle hint. The old bat had dodged the topic all of last night, he wasn't about to let him pretend it never happened, needed a clear answer. Either forgive him for taking them or demand compensation.
"What materials? Don't waste my time," Snape muttered quietly, "Dumbledore's handing Pettigrew over to Fudge soon. I need to seize the moment."
You need energy before work. Snape was here to replenish his. As for the materials Lucifer had "borrowed," he'd just chalk it up as a Head of House supporting an outstanding student.
The only thing he regretted was that if Lucifer had handed Pettigrew over to him personally, Snape would've created a new 69 Potion just for him, much better than any blue pill in existence.
Watching Snape hurry into the Great Hall, he opened his mouth in huge surprise. So, Pettigrew ended up in those greasy hands? Lucifer could already imagine how joyful Peter's night must've been.
"Lucifer, you still.. like 'girls, right?"
xxxxxx
Meanwhile, in Gryffindor common room, Ron and Harry had blocked Ginny's way with outrage, Scabbers mysteriously died last night, and when he saw the pile of dirt, he cried lots, then suddenly his best mate had an epiphany of remembering eating Ginny's sweets, and taking his pet.
He didn't mention Lucifer trying to do something with their heads, out of respect for the help he had received, and decided to question privately.
"Ginny, pranks have limits," Ron snapped, he was downright furious, "If Neville hadn't dragged us back, we would've spent that night on the floor!And give Scabbers back!" he scowled, "He's my pet, not your toy! There was only ruddy dirt of sand!"
Harry looked just as annoyed. The Ginny he'd met at Burrow over the summer, and last two years was a shy, timid girl. Forget her talent of Dueling, when did she start pulling stunts like this? This kind of move had "Lucifer" written all over it, he even did weird stuff to his forehead.
But he hadn't even done anything to Lucifer recently! If he wanted to mess with someone, fine, go after Ron. Why drag him into it?
Suddenly, Ron sneezed violently. Ginny deftly sidestepped, face full of disgust, "You just sprayed snot on the wall. Gross."
Ron's face flushed but gritted his teeth, arguing stubbornly, "Ginny, give Scabbers back or I'm telling Mum. She's already mad as it is."
At that, Ginny's face darkened. These idiotic brothers of hers had actually tattled to their mum, and she'd gotten a scolding for it. Finding a boyfriend wasn't the issue, even dating a Slytherin get-along wasn't the issue. But at her age, and with a Slytherin/Gryffindor boy who had a messy love life? Involved with several other girls? Now that was apparently catastrophic, didn't matter if he saved her life or not the previous year!
The moment she saw her mum's letter, those harsh, furious words, Ginny panicked. She read it once, then set it on fire and burned it to ash. No letter, no problem, the girl had never seen it existed.
"Scabbers isn't coming back." Ginny gave Ron a sympathetic look. Poor guy was still blissfully ignorant. Ron was truly doomed this time. Last night Lucifer had already given her the rundown, completely satisfying her craving for drama, and shocking her just as much.
Sirius Black, the one everyone believed to be a murderer, was actually innocent. And the one awarded the 'First Class Order of Merlin'... was the real traitor.
Did the Ministry not bother investigating anything before throwing people into Azkaban? And Black, what was he thinking? That this would count as atonement? Pettigrew wasn't even dead. And even if he was, letting the traitor go free, turning him into a hero, and leaving Harry to grow up an orphan?
Atonement? More like making things worse, then twelve years later he escaped Azkaban after seeing the entire Weasely's 'family' photo in the Daily Prophet, with Pettigrew on her idiot brother's shoulder...?
As far as Ginny was concerned, Sirius Black had something wrong with his brain. After rotting in Azkaban for over a decade, he probably didn't have a brain anymore.
"What do you mean? What did you do to Scabbers?!" Ron jumped, panic rising. That rat had been his only companion for years!
"Forget it. I'll just take you to Lucifer," Ginny did not waste her breath. Explaining it herself was too much trouble, and to Ron's pea-sized brain was even worse. Let him handle it.
Proof of human nature: always pass the problem to someone else, Ginny dumped the issue on Lucifer.
"...." He was literally confused out of his mind, brought Harry and Ron straight to the Headmaster's office. Luckily, Dumbledore looked in good spirits and greeted them warmly.
"Harry, Ron. I didn't expect him to bring you as well, though perhaps it's for the best. As those involved, you have a right to know."
"Involved?!" Ron's legs started shaking, "Professor, I just want my rat back... I didn't do anything bad."
"I'm sorry..." Dumbledore sighed softly, "Your pet, Scabbers, is gone. You'll be able to see him... one last time. This is what happened."
Patiently, he recounted the truth: Scabbers' real identity, Pettigrew's betrayal, and his connection to Harry, skipping only the prophecy. When he finished, both Harry and Ron felt as if their minds had shattered, total silence, but their reactions were entirely different.
"My rat... is a grown man?"
"My parents... died because Pettigrew sold them out, not Black?"
"No way!" Ron shouted even louder, panick struck across his features, "Scabbers is just an old rat! How could he be an Animagus? He's been in my house for twelve years!"
"He's with Professor Snape," Dumbledore said calmly, unbothered by Ron's breakdown, "Professor Snape will bring him shortly." That was his way of gently reassuring the boy, however he was already dreading.
"Speaking of which... Lucifer," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with interest, "How did you discover Scabbers was an Animagus?" He'd wanted to ask yesterday, but Snape had been in no mood for a decent conversation, so he had sent the boy away first.
"Because of this map."
Lucifer set the Marauder's Map he had borrowed from Harry yesterday on the desk, flicked it open without hesitation, and zoomed in on the Potions Office.
Snape's name and Peter Pettigrew's were very close together.
"Madam Bones had told me a lot about Harry's father... and Hagrid slipped up, he mentioned quite a few tales. With the map, my curiosity just took over," Lucifer said, sounding reasonable and certain. Hagrid's reputation for loose lips made the explanation especially believable. If he was the source, even Dumbledore would accept it. There was only one "weak point" in the story.
Harry's face instantly paled, he actually never thought Lucifer would be asking to give his Map to the Headmaster Dumbledore, a sense of tiny betrayal came over, but faded when understood, he had no reason to be mad.
"I finally see why James and his lot were never caught," Dumbledore murmured, head bowed over the map, admiring the inked lines, "It's clearly their handiwork. The Black family's name-magic, Potter's tracking spells. Brilliant, remarkable work for schoolboys..."
Halfway through, his face clouded with a brief sadness. He sighed and changed tack, "Lucifer, you haven't had this map long, have you?"
"No, Ginny gave it to me. Fred and George had it before that, when I was done I returned, she went to the twins, who after knowing right owner, delivered to Harry here..."
"Fred and George, never told me, if not for Harry, I wouldn't even have found they had something like that!"
"Ron, you're looking at this the wrong way. The real question isn't why Fred and George had the 'Marauder's Map.' You should be wondering how they never noticed anything odd about Scabbers..."
Ron went blank at his best friend's words. Then his face crumpled. So Fred and George never used the map to check on him?
Lucifer glanced at Harry, half suspecting the 'Boy Who Lived' was enjoying stabbing at Ron's feelings on purpose. No wonder the Sorting Hat had nearly put him in Slytherin, he had a knack for being cruel without trying, so he didn't tell whether it was possibly charmed for only Maruaders to see each other, but it messed up cause of his doing.
For a moment, Ron was sunking, he didn't know whether to be more shocked that his rat had been a man or more hurt that his brothers had treated him like he didn't exist.
The room fell into an awkward silence. Seeing that, Snape had already brought Peter, Lucifer turned back to Dumbledore. "Professor, I've got a girlfriend, so I'll take my leave."
He hadn't handed Peter over for justice's sake. He'd handed him to Snape so he could be shown who his true enemy was and settle old accounts. After that, he didn't intend to be involved. Not long after Lucifer left, Snape brought Peter into the Headmaster's office.
Seeing Harry and Ron, whatever faint smile had been left on Snape's face vanished. In front of them he forced Peter to shift back into human form.
Hatred burned in Potter's eyes.
Ron nearly collapsed on the spot. So, this grotesque, cowardly, bloated creature had slept with his parents? With him? For years?
Peter's gaze was vacant. His clothes, already ragged, hung like strips of cloth. Through the fabric Harry and Ron could see whip marks and dried blood, Dumbledore's eyelid twitched.
Handing "Peter Pettigrew" to Fudge like this, someone unfamiliar might think Hogwarts had turned into an interrogation center. But seeing Snape so composed, Dumbledore held his tongue. It wasn't long before Fudge arrived, sweating and flanked by a squad of Aurors.
He'd received Dumbledore's letter early that morning and at first thought it was a joke, but the message's gravity forced him to take it seriously. Noticing immediately that Minister hadn't brought that particular so-called assistant with him, he inwardly felt relieved, his eyes became less strained.
"Albus..." Fudge stammered, staring at Peter, panic rising in his voice, "What on earth is this?"
"Listen to it from the start." Dumbledore sent Snape a brief look. Pettigrew was given another helping of Veritaserum. Fudge and his ten Aurors heard the whole story, clear and unambiguous.
Harry could no longer contain the rage in his good heart, lunging forward and beat Peter with fists and kicks, nobody stopped him. Fudge was mouthly gaped. The Aurors were as stunned as everyone else.
After all, the 'Black family' had ties to many old families; in their day they had been powerful and widely allied. If Sirius was innocent and the man the Ministry had celebrated as a hero was the real murderer, what kind of mess they been doing before sending people to Azkaban?
His first instinct was not to set things right or to clear Sirius's name. It was to suppress it. This was a grave scandal that could shatter the Ministry's credibility and most crucially, damage Fudge's approval ratings. Like any politician, his popularity was everything. Lose it, and his position collapsed.
"Albus... this is... incredible." Fudge wiped his brow, babbling the same frantic questions, "Is Peter Pettigrew really the criminal? Could Veritaserum be faulty? Severus, testimony from potion-induced confession can't be used as legal proof. We need further investigation."
Snape, for his part, did not object. He did not want the Ministry to reverse itself and set Sirius a 'free' man. He preferred the arsehole to be captured and get condemned, however Black was nowhere on Hogwarts grounds, held under the mercy of Lucifer.
Dumbledore's eyes were heavy. He had expected Fudge's reaction and already thought of a way to handle it. Inclined his head, to do flattering, not using the force of just being a head figure, "Cornelius, the Ministry is fortunate to have such a cautious Minister like you."
"You agree with me?" Fudge said in delight, brightened. He'd expected Dumbledore to argue.
"Of course. You 'are' Minister. Only... Had the trial of Sirius been handled more cautiously, perhaps this tragedy would not have occurred. I'm old, my memory of who presided then is fading..."
"Wasn't it Crouch..." Fudge started, then froze. A couple of seconds later his eyes lit up, and he had to swallow back an impulse to laugh out loud at the thought of mentioning it in public. His face reddened, "Albus! We cannot delay this!" he threw up his hands dramatically, "We must not let guilty walk free, I will not tolerate evil. I stand against it with every breath!"
Cornelius Fudge could've won an award for his talent at changing faces. In the entire British wizarding world, there were only two people he truly feared. First, was Dumbledore. The man's reputation was so high that if he ever said he wanted to be 'Minister of Magic', no one else would even dare to run.
Thankfully, over years Dumbledore had been content to stay in his own little corner of Hogwarts, showing Fudge enough respect to let him sleep at night. The other was Lucifer, who held Bartemius Crouch Sr, under his wing right now.
Old Barty had once been the head of the 'Department of Magical Law Enforcement' before Amelia Bones, and he'd been a top contender for Minister himself. Strong, capable, incorruptible, man had half Ministry behind him.
But then his son turned out to be a Death Eater one who was involved being one of the 'four' who tortured the Longbottoms into madness. From that day, Crouch's reputation fell off a cliff.
When Fudge became Minister, the first thing he did was shuffle Crouch off to the 'Department of International Magical Co-operation' a quiet little backwater compared to the power he once wielded.
Even so, Fudge had never dared to truly relax. He still remembered that steely-eyed, iron-fisted Crouch who'd run his department like he was already the Minister.
Dumbledore's casual reminder earlier suddenly made everything click for him. Eleven years ago, Fudge had been just a minor department head, the guy who cleaned up after other people's messes in the 'Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.'
Nobody ever blamed him for anything. It was Crouch, back then, who pushed for the hardline stance against Death Eaters "no mercy" sentencing that sent dozens straight to Azkaban without so much as a proper trial. Now, Fudge realized, that was the perfect weapon to use against.
He turned his attention back to the present Harry Potter who was still pummeling Pettigrew so hard that blood was splattering. Fudge quickly waved two Aurors over, "Stop him! Don't let him break the witness!"
Once Pettigrew was pulled away, Fudge plastered on a warm smile and grabbed Dumbledore's hand, "Albus, I've thought it through," he declared with righteous conviction. "No matter how hard it is, the people deserve fairness and the truth. You have my word, I'll reopen investigation immediately, and everyone involved back then will be held accountable!"
The speech sounded noble enough to bring a tear to the eye. Even Harry found himself warming up to the Minister, thinking he wasn't such a bad guy after all. But Dumbledore and Snape both heard the subtext loud and clear.
This wasn't about clearing Sirius Black's name; this was about taking down a political rival. Snape sneered silently, saying nothing.
Dumbledore simply gave his usual mild nod, "Cornelius, you're the Minister. Do what you think is right."
His calm approval made Fudge feel even better, and he grew downright chummy in his tone. As they chatted, he learned that it was Lucifer who'd discovered Pettigrew, and his eyebrows shot up.
"Well, well! Mr. Morningstar's been a great help to the Ministry!"
Then, a thought struck him and he beamed, "Even better! I've been needing to revoke one medal and award another. This keeps the 'Order of Merlin' prestigious!"
"Oh?" Dumbledore asked, intrigued. "You've already decided?"
Fudge nodded proudly, "As of last night, more than seventy percent of the council agreed due to his actions at saving Diagon Alley. Preparations for the ceremony can begin soon."
"That's excellent news," Though there was a touch of wistfulness in his eyes, Dumbledore said, smiling, "A thirteen-year-old recipient of the 'First Class Order of Merlin'... unprecedented."
"Isn't it?" Fudge sighed enviously, "I had to work half my life to earn mine, and that boy's getting it before he's even grown a full beard."
Harry, who still barely understood Wizarding honors, didn't think much of it, but Ron's jaw nearly hit the floor. Lucifer was really getting a 'First Class Order of Merlin?' The Daily Prophet came through?! Was this still the Wizarding world he knew about?
Finally, before leaving, Fudge made sure to put on one last show, patting the 'Boy Who Lived' kindly on the shoulder and promising that his godfather would be cleared and healthy soon, after all Dumbledore conveyed he had captured Black.
Then, under Snape's reluctant gaze, he departed with Pettigrew in tow.
Meanwhile, Lucifer received word from Evelyn Greengrass: his 'First Class Order of Merlin' had been officially approved. Given the Ministry's love of paperwork, though, ceremony would probably take a week to organize.
Even so, he finally let out a long breath, Pettigrew's arrest didn't cause much of a stir. Fudge wasn't ready to go public yet he wanted more dirt on Crouch first. Dumbledore knew perfectly well that he'd just thrown Crouch under the bus. The man's days in the Ministry would be rough from here on out, but that was all.
Bartemius Crouch still had some allies, and given harsh sentences against Death Eaters had been popular opinion at the time, no one would send him to Azkaban over it.
Sirius's freedom, on other hand, meant Dumbledore would gain both a trustworthy ally and a steadier influence of guide in Harry's life. Every move, decision would come down to balancing interests.
xxxxxx
Daphne's birthday was coming up, and that meant preparations. Even Vampire situation had been pushed aside. The reason was simple: that infected origin had escaped. 'Spain was dealing with it now!'
That Saturday, Lucifer was up early.
He started by having house-elves prepare a feast and a cake. Then, headed into the Forbidden Forest, setting up in Unicorns' glade. A few puffskeins were caught, charmed, and turned into floating, color-shifting decorations.
By noon, the party was ready. Lucifer had gathered all the guests: Astoria, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Tracey, Abbott---and, to Daphne's complete shock, Susan Bones. Her cheerful expression froze the moment she saw who was following behind him.
"Happy birthday, Greengrass," Susan said evenly. She didn't seem bothered by Daphne's reaction and handed over a beautifully wrapped box, a set of elegant hair clips.
Daphne couldn't exactly reject a gift like that, especially one clearly chosen with care. So she smiled politely, thanked her, and waited until Susan was distracted by the unicorns before tugging Lucifer aside, pouting.
"Why'd you bring her?"
He chuckled, gently pinching her cheek, "Birthday girls aren't allowed to frown." Smoothening out her furrowed brow, Lucifer added, "She overheard me mention your birthday to Hannah and went out of her way to get you a gift. What was I supposed to do, say no?"
"I just, ugh, every time I see her I think of how arrogant she is," Daphne muttered in a whimper, somehow unhappy.
"That's mostly Heiress upbringing, you should know well, Susan's not actually a bad person, just a bit of her fat hormonal issue, okay? And hey, more... guests make it livelier." Lucifer had said all this, resting his hands on Daphne's shoulders, "You should be thinking about what I'm giving you later."
That worked like a charm, Daphne's mood instantly lifted. She tried to wheedle the answer out of him right away, but he only grinned and refused, saying she'd have to wait until after dinner.
So Daphne went off to round everyone up, Hermione, Luna, and others were busy playing with unicorns and floating puffskeins, she called them back for the meal.
Hannah had helped cook and brought out her signature roast lamb, which got unanimous praise. In fact, when it came to cooking, she was a prodigy. Lucifer often found "Daddy" excuses to drop by her table during meals.
After the feast, Daphne blew out her candles, made her wish, and immediately turned to Lucifer, eyes sparkling, "Gift. Now."
Everyone leaned in, eager to see what he could possibly have come up with. Looking around with a teasing grin, he then whistled. Up above, Usagi spun into the air, and the sky darkened just enough to give the scene a little drama.
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Author's Note
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1 Extra Chapter - 125 Power Stone's! 🎉