The Time-Turner clicked twice, pulling Harry and Hermione backward through time. When it released them, Hogwarts spread before them in soft evening light, the castle as familiar as memory yet tinged with the weight of the events to come.
"Stay close," Harry whispered. "We need everything to happen as it did… until after Buckbeak is saved."
Hermione's brow furrowed. "I still don't understand why you're going off alone near the Whomping Willow."
"Sometimes," Harry said quietly, "a head needs clearing."
He walked through the grass, past the lake shimmering with evening light, and there he found Lavender, just returned from a swim.
"Harry? What's wrong?" she asked softly.
Harry hesitated, then told her everything: Sirius's innocence, his mother's scream at the Dementors, the dreams of Voldemort that haunted him. Lavender listened, eyes full of understanding and care.
"You're not alone anymore," she said. "You can lean on me."
Together, they walked toward the base of the Whomping Willow. Harry whispered the Obliviate charm he had learned after the Lockhart incident. Lavender's confusion faded — she remembered only that she was unwell and needed rest. Subtle threads of loyalty, devotion, and love toward him were planted, along with a quiet disillusionment toward authority… and a secret irritation toward Ron.
Behind the Willow, past versions of Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Sirius emerged, none aware of the changes already set in motion.
The woods opened to the lake. Across the water, Dementors swarmed Sirius and past Harry. Lavender noticed Harry's hesitation.
"Why are you waiting?" she asked.
He told her of the Patronus he had glimpsed, thinking it was his father. Her hands found his back. "He is gone, Harry. If you don't act, you and Sirius—both of you—die."
She hugged him from behind, hands pressing reassuringly. "You can do it, Harry. I believe in you. Do this, and I will reward you tonight, privately."
The Patronus emerged — first a stag, then transforming into a Hebridean Black dragon, signaling the strength of Harry's resolve and the shift in his core beliefs. Dementors screamed at its approach, and one even transformed into a girl before vanishing.
Snape arrived too late to intervene. Harry and the girl were whisked to the Hospital Wing, Sirius to the tower. Harry and Lavender mounted Buckbeak and flew across Hogwarts grounds.
At the Astronomy Tower, their eyes met. Lavender tilted her head, mischievous. "Do you know a private spot for the reward?"
"I do," Harry replied. "The Chamber of Secrets. There's more there than anyone knows."
On the seventh floor, they collided with Daphne Greengrass. An accidental kiss sparked tension — outwardly frost and reprimand, inwardly a flush of forbidden feelings. Daphne stormed off, heading to an empty classroom, beginning subtle magical transformations.
Meanwhile, Harry collided with Susan Bones on the second floor. She fell backward, and Harry caught her — bare back briefly pressing to his hands. The moment sparked courage.
"I, Susan Amelia Bones, do hereby swear on my life, my magic, my happiness, and my future, to be eternally loyal to you, to love you without bounds, to be forever at your side, to assist you when needed, and to become what you need me to be. May my magic guide my mind and body to fulfill this oath, and may you accept my oath and love."
Harry blinked. "You didn't need to do that."
"I know," she said softly. "But I wanted to."
Lavender watched, whispering, "Oh, Harry… why not? I love you too, since I can remember. And like Susan… I don't have to, but I want to."
Her own oath rang out:
"I, Lavender Aiden Brown, do hereby swear on my life, my magic, my happiness, and my future, to be eternally loyal to you, to love you without bounds, to be forever at your side, to assist you when needed, and to become what you need me to be. May my magic guide my mind and body to fulfill this oath, and may you accept my oath and love."
Softly, she added, unheard: "As the first and most loyal of your wives."
Harry exhaled. "This is not what I expected today… but I, Harry James Potter, do hereby accept your oaths. May they be unbroken in life and in death, and may my magic guide me to support you as best I can."
Golden light enveloped them. Rings appeared: Harry's silver band engraved with the three entwined hearts and the Deathly Hallows symbol; Lavender's sapphire-and-diamond band; Susan's topaz-and-diamond band.
Harry felt sudden clarity: foreign magic left his system. Horcrux bindings dissolved. Innate abilities surged: animagus mastery, legilimency, beast speech, wandless magic. Weak but steady, he was supported by Susan and Lavender.
"Let's go somewhere private," he whispered, guiding them to Myrtle's Bathroom. Stairs appeared at his hiss, leading them safely to the Chamber of Secrets. Pipes cleared, the three emerged before the dead Basilisk.
They were awed and concerned as Harry recounted his trials. The girls' anger was for Dumbledore, not Harry, and their concern turned to admiration and care.
A reflective light caught Harry's eye — a door blended into the wall. As he touched it, a needle prick startled him, then the door creaked open. Together, they stepped through.
Susan whispered, "I wish Aunt could feel this love, like I have…"
Lavender added softly, "I also wish my mother could experience this love."
A flash of light radiated from them. The old coven magic, tied to the marriage bonds, triggered transformations far beyond Hogwarts:
Amelia Bones, returning from the Ministry, felt her body and aura shift. A wedding band of topaz and diamonds appeared.
Anna Brown, in London, was transformed, adopting nurturing traits of a housewife, empowered and radiant.
Petunia Evans became Isabella Evans, a stunning witch with fiery red hair like living fire and eyes green as the northern lights. Her features were soft, graceful, and perfected, radiating vitality. Isabella embodied strength, love, and protective instincts, a combination of Lily and the old-way housewife traits.
Back in the Chamber, Harry looked at Susan and Lavender. Their eyes and hair shimmered with vitality, reflecting passion, strength, and the nurturing magic of old covens.
From the shadows, Norah Dhark emerged in crimson, commanding and ethereal. "Welcome, Master," she said. "Your wishes are real, and the magic they trigger is profound. Choose carefully."
Harry exhaled, considering his first wishes, now ready to make more:
The Hogwarts Ledger and Handbook — to edit rules and history.
That all women bonded to him be present — now Amelia, Anna, Isabella, Susan, Lavender, and Daphne were magically teleported to the Chamber.
Protection from negative timeline effects — no changes could harm Harry or his loved ones.
Further personal wishes — he paused, thinking, before adding: "I wish that all my women are empowered, safe, and connected by our coven magic."
The Chamber hummed with energy. The women looked at each other in awe, realizing the strength, magic, and bonds surrounding them.
Harry's journey of loyalty, protection, and powerful magic had only just begun.