In the end, the Granger couple agreed to Kai Adler's proposal.
Mrs. Granger was a homemaker, so relocating didn't affect her work. As for Mr. Granger, despite being a dentist, he was swayed after Sebastian promised—before taking his leave—that he would introduce Mr. Granger to several high-society clients.
After all, the wealthy had teeth too.
Kai was delighted. Not only had he fulfilled Hermione's quiet wish to live in a manor, but the couple's acceptance also signified something far more important:
They truly saw Kai as one of their own.
And by extension… it meant they tacitly approved of his relationship with Hermione.
Another parental hurdle cleared.
Kai glanced sideways at Hermione, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
Hermione tilted her head, confused. She didn't seem to understand what he was so pleased about.
Kai could only shake his head in helpless amusement. It's alright if she doesn't realize it yet. After all, we've already signed the Soul Oath. Even if she wanted to run now, she couldn't.
Just as the cheerful atmosphere filled the manor's grand hall, the air suddenly crackled, shimmering with magical energy.
All eyes turned as Albus Dumbledore, in his purple robes, materialized gracefully before them.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione called, surprised but pleased.
The elderly Headmaster offered her a warm smile in return.
The Granger couple had long since grown used to Dumbledore's eccentric entrances. After a brief jolt of surprise, they greeted him politely as well.
Dumbledore greeted each of them in turn before his eyes settled firmly on Kai. The teen sighed and pouted.
"Hermione, Uncle, Aunt—go have a look around the manor," Kai said, already anticipating what was to come. "Old Deng—Professor Dumbledore—and I need to talk."
Hermione hesitated, concern flickering in her eyes. She clearly suspected that the Headmaster's sudden visit had something to do with yesterday's events.
Kai nudged her forward with a smile. "Don't worry. Do I look like someone who can't handle Old Deng?"
Once everyone had dispersed, Kai led Dumbledore into a side room—a reception lounge. He plopped casually into one of the armchairs and pulled a small tea set from his enchanted pocket, setting it neatly on the table.
"Black tea?" he offered.
Dumbledore sighed and nodded, his eyes drifting across the manor interior.
"This manor… was a gift from Count Vandenhyme?"
Kai nodded. "What, are you here to lecture me on that too?"
The old wizard chuckled. "No, no. You burned down one manor and received another in return. I'd say that's fair."
"Equivalent exchange," Kai said smoothly, handing him a cup. "Now, what's the issue this time?"
Dumbledore took the tea, studying Kai with a complicated expression.
He had thought everything had been handled cleanly. He'd seen Kai cast Obliviate on everyone at the Ivo estate. Even if the Ministry investigated, it would remain just another cold case—of which the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had more than enough already.
In the worst-case scenario, Dumbledore had planned to take responsibility himself. After all, it was a justifiable act—removing a longstanding threat. Fudge wouldn't dare oppose him directly.
But then that morning… the Ministry came knocking.
They had indeed discovered the entire Ivo Family had been wiped out, and that nearly every surviving witness had had their memory erased.
Except for one.
Jiecke Ivo, the family patriarch, had not only lost his memory—he had also gone mad.
The Aurors hadn't expected much when they began their routine questioning. But when they asked him who had attacked the family, he'd answered with blank eyes and a single, clear name:
Harry Potter.
At first, the Aurors thought it absurd.
Sure, Harry Potter was famous—The Boy Who Lived. But he was also a twelve-year-old second-year student. The idea that he had single-handedly destroyed an entire family of Black Wizards was laughable.
Still, procedure demanded they check his trace records. As expected, Harry had spent the entire day at Hogwarts, mostly wandering aimlessly with Ron Weasley.
Nevertheless, the Ministry had notified the Headmaster—just in case.
And the moment Dumbledore heard the report, he knew exactly who was responsible.
After Dumbledore finished explaining, Kai raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine, fine, I admit it. I'm the one who drove the old man mad."
Dumbledore lowered his head slightly, his eyes peering over the rims of his spectacles.
"Then why frame Harry?"
Kai blinked, playing innocent. "Don't pin that on me. He mistook me for Harry. I didn't do anything."
Dumbledore looked him over slowly, arching an eyebrow.
"You don't exactly resemble him. Handsome features, no lightning scar—how could he mistake you?"
Kai shrugged. "I suppose it's the legend. Everyone says only Harry Potter can resist the Killing Curse."
Dumbledore's eyes gleamed behind the lenses. "You resisted the Avada Kedavra?"
Kai didn't hide it. He explained how it had happened, how his Obscurus had shielded him from the Killing Curse.
There was no need to conceal it—it wasn't something others could imitate.
Not unless another transmigrator-turned-Obscurial happened to appear out of thin air.
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully after hearing the explanation. "Unreplicable… but impressive. You used your gifts wisely. Well done."
Kai grinned—only for Dumbledore to immediately add, "That still doesn't excuse the fact that you deliberately didn't erase Jiecke Ivo's memory."
Kai sipped his tea and shrugged. "Yup. I left it untouched on purpose."
There was a long pause between them.
Then Dumbledore sighed again, heavier this time.
"You're still angry I mentioned Gellert in front of Harry and Ron, aren't you?"
He smiled ruefully. "I didn't expect your revenge to come in the form of a prank."
And that's exactly what it was.
A prank.
Kai knew no one would take the rantings of a madman seriously. No one would believe a twelve-year-old boy had slaughtered an entire Black Wizard family.
The only real consequence would be some rumors. A few headaches for Dumbledore.
But to the old man, that was more reassuring than concerning.
At least he vents it, Dumbledore thought. At least he lets it out.
The last person who had kept their anger buried behind polite smiles… had nearly been destroyed by a baby.
Kai was no Tom Riddle.
Dumbledore's expression softened, the wrinkles around his eyes smoothing. He raised his teacup in a small toast.
"We're okay now, aren't we?"
Kai raised his own cup with a smirk. "Of course."
They drank—
And a second later, Dumbledore gagged, nearly spitting his tea back into the cup.
His face twisted as if he'd bitten into a lemon soaked in vinegar. "What is this?"
Kai burst into laughter, completely losing composure. "Coptis! I added Coptis C!"
The old man wheezed, coughing into his sleeve.
Kai wiped away tears of laughter. "Old man , even you get your turn!"
Dumbledore glared at him over the rim of his cup, eyes watering from the bitterness.
Kai grinned wider. "Now we're even~"