When Antonio and Bellatrix reappeared, they were standing outside his house.
"You should have taught them a lesson," Bellatrix snorted.
She had kept silent at the inn, not wanting to publicly go against his stance but that did not mean she liked what had happened. Slight to one respect was not something she could take lightly.
"It is fine," Antonio sighed. "Besides, with Minerva present, it would not have been wise to do anything."
Bellatrix scoffed but said nothing more.
"I think news of you roaming around Hogsmeade with me is going to cause quite a stir," Antonio remarked as he walked toward his door.
"What does it matter?" Bellatrix replied. "Me inviting you to the gathering and what you did to Rodolphus afterward has already stirred the pot enough. It is not going to make any big difference."
"The real hornet nest will be stirred when the Lord of the House Black, Arcturus Black will vote for you."
"True enough," Antonio smiled.
"Want to have lunch?" he asked.
Bellatrix nodded and raised an eyebrow. "You cook your own food?"
"Yes."
"Great," she grinned. "Let us see what magic your hands can do in the kitchen."
.
.
.
While Antonio and Bellatrix were busy letting their romance simmer further, a different scene was unfolding in Hogwarts. In the office of Headmaster.
Minerva McGonagall had just finished giving her report to Albus Dumbledore about what had transpired in Hogsmeade.
A thoughtful expression sat on Dumbledore's face as he rested his chin on his interlocked hands, eyes half closed in contemplation.
"Antonio Olario with Bellatrix Black in Hogsmeade," he murmured.
"Yes," Minerva confirmed. "And I ca not think of a reason for them to come. Was it purposeful and planned to meet Lily?"
"Not likely," she replied herself. "According to Miss Evans, it was a purely coincidental encounter."
She had already informed him of the Slytherin students repeatedly challenging Lily, and the Antonio's praise of her at the gathering for the likely cause behind it.
Dumbledore made no comment, but the wheels in his mind were turning. Arcturus Black may have kept his operations discreet, but Dumbledore was not called the greatest wizard of his age without reason. He had a fair idea of the private room Arcturus maintained in Hogsmeade for his clandestine meetings.
And Bellatrix's constant proximity to Antonio only reinforced what Dumbledore suspected. That Arcturus Black was working to forge closer ties with Lord Olario. People might not understand Arcturus thinking but Dumbledore knew that the Black Lord would likely want to take advantage of this situation.
"It does not matter," Dumbledore finally declared. "Treat this as a one off incident. If Lord Olario makes another appearance in Hogsmeade, or approaches any of our students again, I will deal with it personally."
He added as an afterthought, "Perhaps I will speak to him at the Wizengamot hearing itself, if the chance presents itself."
Maybe he would be sent to Azkaban directly from Wizengamot. And it seemed quite a possible scenario. Odds were really not in his favour, as per Dumbledore.
Minerva hesitated before speaking. "Headmaster… I believe Miss. Evans intends to formally file a complaint against the Slytherin students for harassing and challenging her repeatedly."
"Not a serious issue, Minerva," Dumbledore replied with a warm smile and the familiar twinkle in his eyes. "Explain to her that these are childish things. She must keep a big heart and let them go."
Minerva clenched her fists. It was exactly as Antonio had said. Talk of a big heart, kindness, empathy and all the other nonsense.
"And if things really escalate," Dumbledore added, unaware of the quiet storm building inside his deputy, "I will speak to Slughorn. He will make sure the Slytherins do not trouble Miss Evans further."
"Headmaster," Minerva said firmly, "this will not only be about preventing future incidents. She will likely ask for justice, punishment, for what she has already endured these past few days."
"What are you talking about, Minerva?" Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. "Why would she want to make a mountain out of a molehill?"
"Speak to her. Ask her to forgive them and let the matter rest. There is no sense in creating unnecessary nuisance over something so trivial. She will only suffer because of it. Her studies will be disturbed, and this is the time for her to focus purely on magic, spell work, and magical theory."
Minerva opened her mouth to argue, but stopped herself. She wanted to say something more, maybe to persuade him to take action, even if it was only as a symbolic gesture just to send out a message.
But she knew it would be pointless. Dumbledore had made up his mind. And there was no changing it.
For now, she would wait. Only after Lily officially filed her complaint would Minerva raise the issue again. At the moment, even she was not sure how far Lily was willing to go.
When Minerva returned, she found someone waiting outside her office. Lily Evans.
"Miss Evans," Minerva murmured. She had a fair idea of what Lily might be here for.
"Professor," Lily greeted politely.
Minerva gave a brief nod as she unlocked the door and stepped inside, Lily following closely behind. Taking her seat behind the large wooden desk, Minerva gestured for Lily to sit in the chair opposite her.
"Well then," Minerva asked, folding her hands on the table, "may I know what brings you here, Miss Evans?"
Lily nodded silently. Without a word, she pulled a folded piece of parchment from within her robes and handed it to the Transfiguration Mistress.
Minerva squinted slightly as she read through the contents of the parchment. As expected, it was a formal complaint against a group of Slytherin students. Specifically, it named seven students as the primary accused, with five others listed as accomplices.
The letter detailed how those students had harassed and created repeated problems for Lily over the past three days. It described how she had been forced into duels and when she had refused, she had been ambushed and spells had been fired at her from behind.
As one would expect from Lily Evans, the complaint was meticulously written. The entire sequence of events had been outlined in precise detail, and she had also offered to provide her memories as evidence to support her claims.
"I see," Minerva murmured, her voice composed. "I will see what can be done about it."
Lily did not say anything more. She knew her professor would need some time before she could press for actual action.
Then, without a word, she reached into her robes and pulled out another folded parchment.
Minerva raised an eyebrow, surprised. "And what is this one about?" she asked.
"Another complaint," Lily replied calmly. "Against a different group of boys."
Minerva took the second parchment, but the moment her eyes fell on the names written at the top, her expression changed. Her eyes widened in shock.
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