Harry remained at the edge of the Longbottom estate grounds exactly where Cassandra had told him to stay. From that distance he could observe the battle without becoming part of it, which suited both of them.
Aurors were still arriving in flashes of Apparition light, their robes snapping in the cold air as they joined the defensive perimeter. The fight had not yet completely ended, but the attackers were already losing ground, pushed back steadily by trained Ministry fighters working in disciplined formations. Harry could feel the intensity of the magic saturating the air — residual sparks of spells, shattered wards, lingering echoes of protective enchantments struggling to reform.
Instinctively, Harry activated his Observe ability. A translucent shimmer crossed his vision, revealing magical structures invisible to normal sight. What he saw made him frown immediately. The manor wards, which should have been layered and resilient during an attack, were entirely down. Anyone could enter or leave freely, and that realization unsettled him more than the battle itself.
"That shouldn't happen," he murmured quietly.
Cassandra arrived briefly to check on him. "What is it?"
"The wards. They're completely gone. Whoever attacked either disabled them deliberately or they collapsed during the fighting. Either way, there's no barrier left."
Her expression tightened slightly, the professional Auror in her instantly alert. "That explains how reinforcements came so easily… and possibly how the attackers managed their positioning."
Harry didn't answer, but a faint unease began settling in his chest. Something about the situation felt incomplete, as if the visible conflict had only been part of a larger plan.
By the time the last aggressive spellfire faded, explanations began circulating among the Aurors. Harry listened quietly while healers moved among the wounded and estate residents cautiously emerged from protected rooms. It soon became clear that the attackers had not come simply to cause chaos. Their true objective had been Neville Longbottom. A group of wizards had attempted to kidnap him, likely hoping to gain leverage or symbolic power by capturing the boy many in the wizarding world still regarded as extraordinarily important.
Fortunately, their plan had unraveled quickly. The Longbottom house-elf had spotted suspicious movement near the estate perimeter early enough to alert Frank and Alice Longbottom. Despite their semi-retired status, both had reacted with veteran precision. Neville had been secured immediately, defensive positions established, and emergency contact sent to the Ministry.
The attackers, realizing surprise was lost, escalated into open combat, while additional hostile wizards stationed outside the estate attempted to delay incoming Aurors. That secondary force explained why the battle had seemed unusually prolonged when Harry and Cassandra first arrived.
Once calm finally returned, relief spread visibly through the Longbottom family. Neville, flushed with excitement and adrenaline, proudly recounted how he had managed to stun two attackers himself. His wand hand still trembled slightly, but his grin was unmistakable. Frank listened with obvious pride, Alice looked equal parts relieved and emotional, and even Moody offered a rare approving nod. Dumbledore, who had arrived late spoke gently to Neville about courage and composure under pressure. The boy seemed to grow an inch taller under the praise.
Harry watched the scene silently from a short distance. Seeing Neville safe felt reassuring, yet something nagged persistently at his thoughts. His eyes scanned the gathered family again, searching instinctively for a familiar face.
Frank.
Alice.
Neville.
But not Lily.
The absence struck him suddenly enough that he felt a chill. The little girl he had met in Diagon Alley — anxious, kind, worried about her lack of accidental magic — should have been there with her family. Instead, she was nowhere in sight.
Without hesitation, Harry approached them.
"Mr. Longbottom," he asked carefully, "where's Lily?"
The reaction was immediate and deeply unsettling. Frank's expression froze mid-conversation, Alice's face drained of color so quickly it frightened Harry, and Neville looked confused before dawning horror replaced the confusion. For a brief moment, no one spoke, as if the question itself had not fully registered.
Then Alice screamed her daughter's name.
The shift in atmosphere was instantaneous. Relief evaporated and urgency took its place. Aurors who had begun relaxing snapped back into action, Moody began issuing rapid search orders, and Frank Longbottom's voice regained the commanding tone of his Auror days as he organized systematic sweeps of the estate and surrounding grounds.
Search teams combed the manor interior first. Others moved across the gardens, the outer forest edge, and nearby access points where Apparition might have occurred. House-elves were questioned repeatedly, wards examined for residual signatures, and detection charms cast in overlapping patterns.
Harry assisted briefly, but even he could tell within minutes that something was wrong. There were no signs of struggle and no accidental magic flare from a frightened child. It was as though Lily had simply vanished without leaving a trace.
That was when Harry saw the familiar translucent notification appear in his vision.
QUEST CREATED
Rescue Lily Longbottom
Objective: Locate and safely return Lily Longbottom.
Difficulty: High
Rewards:
1,000 EXP
Reputation Increase — Longbottom Family
Reputation Increase — Auror Department
Hidden Bonus
Harry stared at the notification longer than usual. The reward was modest compared to some of his previous quests, yet this one felt heavier. This was not about treasure, influence, or even experience points. This was about a frightened girl who had trusted him instinctively the day they met. That memory alone hardened his resolve.
Cassandra approached him quietly after nearly an hour of fruitless searching.
"There's no trace," she said softly. "Not even Apparition residue. Whoever took her knew exactly how to avoid detection."
Harry nodded slowly. "Which means the official investigation will take time. Procedures, reports, jurisdiction issues."
"And you don't want to wait."
"No," he replied simply. "I can't."
She didn't argue. Cassandra understood him well enough to recognize when his decision was final.
Soon after, Harry and Cassandra departed the Longbottom estate without drawing attention. The Aurors would continue their official investigation, but Harry had access to networks far quicker and less constrained than Ministry bureaucracy.
As they traveled, his thoughts were already organizing possibilities: Serpent Court intelligence channels, Knockturn Alley contacts, Gothic Alley informants, Grandpa Theo's network, and even aerial scouting through magical creatures if necessary.
This time, the motivation was simple and deeply personal. Lily Longbottom was missing, frightened somewhere unknown, and Harry Potter did not intend to fail someone who had placed even the smallest trust in him.
By the time Cassandra returned from the Ministry, the entire Serpent Court had already gathered inside the main chamber of Slytherin Castle. Normally their meetings carried excitement, ambition, or at least curiosity about new ventures, but tonight there was only tension. Lily's disappearance had shaken everyone more than they initially expected. Perhaps it was because she was a child, perhaps because she was someone Harry personally knew, or perhaps because the abduction had happened under Auror protection — something that made the wizarding world feel far less safe than it should.
Harry stood near the long table, arms folded, expression unreadable. Outwardly calm, inwardly restless. The quest notification still hovered faintly in the corner of his awareness like an unfinished sentence demanding completion.
Jason broke the silence first. "Whoever did this covered their trail well."
Cassia nodded grimly. "Too well. It doesn't look like an amateur job. More like someone who knew exactly how investigations work."
That was when Cassandra finally entered. Her robes still carried the faint smell of Ministry corridors, parchment, and ward magic. She closed the door behind her before speaking, which immediately told everyone the information wasn't public.
"They interrogated some of the kidnappers," she said quietly.
Everyone straightened.
"And?"
"And it's worse than we thought."
Harry didn't interrupt.
Cassandra rested both hands on the table. "They weren't ideological. Not Death Eaters, not sympathizers, not political radicals. They were hired."
A murmur ran through the room.
"Hired by whom?" David asked.
"That's the problem," Cassandra replied. "They don't know."
Silence fell again, heavier than before.
"They were foreign wizards," she continued. "Most of them itinerant duelists, freelance mercenaries, or magical security contractors. Apparently they were recruited individually through intermediaries. Half their payment was given upfront — a huge amount — with the other half promised once Neville Longbottom was delivered alive to a specified secret location."
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "And the recruiter?"
"No face. Hooded. Glamour charm masking all visible features. Voice altered with distortion magic. Even magical signature suppression was used. Whoever negotiated knew exactly how to remain untraceable."
Jason exhaled slowly. "Professional."
"Extremely," Cassandra confirmed.
Cassia leaned forward. "Amount?"
Cassandra named the figure quietly.
Even the most experienced members of the Serpent Court reacted visibly. It was an absurd sum, especially just for the initial payment.
"That's pureblood money," Charles muttered.
"No doubt," Cassandra agreed. "You don't casually assemble fifty experienced foreign wizards with that kind of pay unless you have deep vaults backing you."
Harry didn't comment immediately. He had already reached the same conclusion, but voicing it too quickly often made others uneasy. Instead, he spoke carefully.
"We don't chase the mastermind right now."
Several heads turned toward him.
"Our objective is Lily." he continued calmly. "Politics, Ministry arrests — all secondary. Lily doesn't have time for legal procedures."
No one disagreed.
Jason gave a slow nod. "Which means information gathering outside official channels."
"Exactly."
At the mention of unofficial channels, several members exchanged knowing looks. Everyone in that room understood what that implied: Knockturn Alley, Gothic Alley, underground brokers, black-market diviners, magical trackers, and people who asked fewer questions than the Ministry ever would.
David spoke next. "Gothic Alley has spy masters who are excellent in their field. Expensive, but effective. And some blood-magic trackers operate there too. Illegal, obviously."
"Illegal doesn't matter," Harry replied quietly. "Result does."
Cassandra hesitated briefly before adding, "The Ministry won't officially sanction those methods. If we're caught using them, there could be consequences."
Harry met her gaze calmly. "Noted."
That was when another voice entered the discussion — one that always seemed to carry an unsettling calmness.
Grandpa Theo had arrived without most of them noticing, as he often did. The necromancer leaned casually against a nearby pillar, his expression thoughtful.
"If you have something that belonged to the girl," he said, "a personal item, hair strand, blood trace, even something she handled frequently, I might track her."
The room went still.
"Blood magic?" Cassia asked cautiously.
Theo shrugged lightly. "Tracking ritual, technically. Classified illegal in Britain and in most of the countries. It doesn't harm anyone unless done maliciously."
Harry considered the option carefully. Normally he avoided unnecessary dark magic, especially involving children, but this situation was different. Lily was already in danger.
"Would it work?" Harry asked.
"If she's alive," Theo replied calmly, "and if the kidnappers haven't shielded her with advanced anti-divination wards, then yes, there's a good chance."
Jason immediately turned to Harry. "We can get something from the Longbottom Manor."
Cassandra nodded. "Frank and Alice will cooperate. They're desperate enough."
Harry made his decision then.
"Do it."
Everyone moved almost instantly. That was the strength of the Serpent Court — once a direction was given, execution followed smoothly.
As the meeting dispersed, Harry remained standing near the table, watching the quiet bustle of preparation. His face stayed calm, but inside him a steady determination had settled.
Lily was somewhere out there, frightened, possibly alone, and depending on people who might not reach her fast enough.
He intended to change that.
The Astral Gate closed silently above them, its swirling violet light fading into nothing as if it had never existed. One moment Harry and Cassandra stood between worlds, the next they were just outside Longbottom Manor, surrounded by the aftermath of yesterday's chaos.
Harry wore the Lord Blackfire persona again — the short, dark-cloaked wizard whose presence always seemed larger than his physical frame. Even without announcing himself, people instinctively stepped aside when he moved. It was a strange contradiction: barely taller than a ten-year-old boy, yet carrying the weight of someone far older, far more powerful.
The manor grounds were crowded. Aurors, ward-crafters, house-elves, and hired magical contractors bustled everywhere, repairing shattered barriers, re-anchoring ward stones, clearing debris from scorched lawns, and stabilizing damaged protective enchantments. The air still smelled faintly of burnt magic.
Alice Longbottom stood among them, trying desperately to look occupied. She was directing workers, checking progress, speaking to Aurors — anything to avoid the stillness that might force her to think too much. The strain showed plainly in her eyes.
Neville was nowhere in sight. Neither was Frank.
Alice spotted Cassandra first.
Relief flashed across her face. "Auror Cassandra… do you have news?"
Then her gaze shifted to Harry.
Recognition followed quickly. Not personal recognition — reputation recognition. The whispers surrounding Lord Blackfire had traveled far beyond Knockturn Alley by now.
Despite the difference in height, she instinctively straightened as he approached.
Harry inclined his head politely. His voice, when he spoke, carried calm authority.
"Mrs. Longbottom. How do you do?"
Alice swallowed, visibly steadying herself. "I… I am managing. Thank you for coming."
Cassandra spoke plainly. "Lord Blackfire has offered assistance in locating Lily."
Alice's eyes widened slightly. Hope and fear mixed in equal measure.
"Lord Longbottom?" Harry asked gently.
"He left with the Aurors," she replied. "They're already searching. They said every second counts."
Harry nodded slowly. "That is true. Which is why I must speak frankly."
Alice listened carefully now, sensing the shift in tone.
"There are legal investigative methods," Harry continued, "but they are slow. Jurisdictional limitations, Ministry approvals… procedures that often prioritize rules over urgency."
Her hands tightened together.
"If we follow only those channels," he went on quietly, "there is a chance your daughter will not be found in time."
Silence stretched.
Alice understood what he was implying before he said it outright.
"I intend to use blood-based tracking magic," Harry said calmly. "Nothing harmful. Nothing invasive beyond what is willingly given. But it is classified as illegal."
Cassandra did not interrupt. She simply watched Alice's reaction.
Harry continued, his voice steady. "I will only proceed with your explicit permission. Without it, I step back. But if I proceed, I will do everything in my power to bring Lily home quickly."
Alice didn't hesitate.
"Whatever it takes," she whispered.
Then, louder: "You have my permission."
Cassandra gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll need something personal belonging to Lily."
Alice nodded quickly and disappeared into the manor.
When she returned, she carried several strands of Lily's hair, carefully wrapped in enchanted parchment. But she didn't stop there. With visible determination, she pricked her finger with a small silver pin and allowed several drops of her own blood to fall into a prepared vial.
"Seven drops," she said quietly. "For stronger maternal resonance. If it helps even a little…"
Harry accepted both offerings respectfully.
"Willingly given blood strengthens tracking rituals significantly," he said. "You did the right thing."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Harry looked directly at her. Not as Lord Blackfire the businessman. Not as a strategist. Just as someone who understood neglect better than most.
"There is one more thing, Mrs. Longbottom."
Alice looked up, surprised.
"You love Neville deeply. That much is obvious. He has carried a heavy legacy since infancy."
She nodded, eyes moist.
"But Lily…" Harry continued gently, "she deserves equal light. I've heard whispers that she might be a squib. That she receives less attention. Less patience."
Alice's composure cracked slightly.
"She isn't nothing," Harry said softly. "And she isn't a squib either. Sometimes magic blooms late. Sometimes it simply needs encouragement instead of comparison."
Tears slid freely down Alice's face now.
"I failed her," she whispered.
Harry shook his head. "You worried. But going forward, promise me something."
She met his gaze fully.
"When Lily returns — and she will — treat her exactly as you treat Neville. No less love. No less belief."
Alice didn't hesitate this time either.
"I promise," she said firmly, voice breaking but resolute. "I swear it."
Harry inclined his head once more.
"Then I will bring her back."
Cassandra gave Alice a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before stepping back beside Harry.
The Astral Gate opened again above them, swirling quietly, ready to carry them away.
As they stepped toward it, Alice called softly:
"Thank you… both of you."
Harry paused briefly.
"You don't need to thank us yet," he replied. "Save that for when she walks back through those doors."
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