Audrey was enthusiastically recounting her extraordinary experiences to Hermione and the others, doing her best to describe those magical adventures in a way they could all understand. Her lively storytelling made them feel as though they were witnessing everything firsthand.
Just then, a massive shadow suddenly fell over the group.
They all froze for a moment and instinctively looked up—only to see a boy nearly two meters tall standing before them. He wore the uniform of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, his towering figure almost blocking out the light above them.
"Oh, so you must be the famous Saviour, Harry Potter?"
The giant boy looked at Harry with undisguised excitement. As he spoke, he reached out as though to lift the hair on Harry's forehead.
"I heard you were struck by Voldemort—oh right, you all call him 'You-Know-Who'—hit by the Killing Curse, yet all you got was a lightning-shaped scar."
The near-invasive gesture made Harry instinctively retreat, trying to dodge the incoming hand. But the big boy seemed prepared; his other hand shot forward, clamping down on Harry's shoulder and rendering him immobile. Then, as casually as petting a dog, he brushed aside Harry's fringe.
"Ha! You really do have a lightning scar!"
Hermione immediately stepped forward like an angry mother hen, shouting, "Hey! You! Didn't your school ever teach you anything about basic manners?"
The big boy looked genuinely surprised.
"I'm only trying to express my respect for the Saviour!"
He dismissed Hermione's outrage entirely and turned his gaze toward Audrey instead. His face instantly contorted into an exaggerated expression of amazement.
"Oh my! I swear, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Even Veela would pale in comparison to you. I can't believe I failed to notice you these past weeks—I must have been completely blind."
He extended his hand toward her. "May I introduce myself? I'm Doyle Hanson from Ilvermorny in the United States. Our school is the true successor of Salazar Slytherin's magical lineage. Perhaps you'd be interested in transferring?"
Several nearby Slytherin students overheard this and immediately shouted in outrage:
"Hey! What the bloody hell are you saying?!"
Doyle merely gave them a dismissive glance, his tone dripping with scorn. "Sorry, I wasn't talking to you."
Audrey responded calmly, her expression cool yet polite. "Sorry, I'm not interested."
"Oh, don't be like that. Didn't your Professor Dumbledore say he hopes the four schools will get along during this exchange, make friends, and all that?"
As he spoke, he actually leaned forward and reached for Audrey's hand, attempting to force a handshake.
Lilith, who had been spacing out a moment before, instantly narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing within them—she was seconds away from teaching the rude oaf a painful lesson.
But before she could act, two redheaded figures shot out from either side of Doyle. Each grabbed one of his arms, grinning ear to ear.
"Hey there, big guy! If you're looking to make friends, you should come to us."
"That's right! Everyone knows the Weasley twins are Hogwarts' most sociable students."
"And we've just invented some delightful new toys. We'd be happy to share them with you."
"We promise—you won't be able to say no."
The smile on Doyle's face vanished instantly. He shook off the twins' hands with irritation.
"Get away from me."
"Alright," the Weasley twins said simultaneously, stepping back several meters—but their grins remained bright and untroubled.
"We hope you enjoy our gift."
"…What?"
Doyle blinked. A second later, an unbearable itch erupted across his entire body. He instantly clawed at himself, laughing uncontrollably as the itching intensified. His laughter grew louder and more exaggerated with every passing moment.
Before long, half the Great Hall had turned to stare at him—this enormous boy rolling around on the floor, howling with laughter, tearing off parts of his clothing as he scratched himself like mad.
At the staff table, the Ilvermorny headmaster saw what was happening and his expression darkened instantly. He stood up at once, but Dumbledore merely chuckled softly.
"Let the children settle matters among themselves. I'm confident they'll handle it."
Albus's calmness only enraged the man further.
"Albus, your students have gone too far!"
Snape sneered. "I don't find this any more excessive than a man harassing a young lady."
"…"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Doyle continued laughing uncontrollably. As time dragged on, his breathing grew ragged, but he couldn't stop himself—still scratching, still cackling, tears streaming down his face.
Not far away, Ilvermorny's students finally noticed the commotion. After exchanging looks with their professors, they charged forward in fury.
The Slytherins, seeing this, immediately stood up to confront them—no way would they back down.
Within moments, the ever-watchful Gryffindors rose to join the fray, followed by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
Just as the hot-blooded students were on the verge of breaking into an all-out brawl, Professor McGonagall came striding over at a furious pace.
"Back to your seats! All of you! Immediately—at once!"
Swish!
The Hogwarts students shot Ilvermorny a final glare before obediently returning to their seats. The Ilvermorny students hesitated, but when their headmaster barked, "Get back to your places—now!" they reluctantly dragged the now-cured giant boy back to their table.
And thus, what could have become an explosive "war" was neatly defused.
Hermione pressed a hand to her chest, still shaken. "That scared me to death—I… I really thought they were going to start fighting!"
Ron, though his legs were trembling, still forced a triumphant grin. "Ha! In moments like this, you can always count on the Weasleys! Right, Harry—?"
His words stopped abruptly. His eyes widened in shock.
"Harry…what are you holding?"
Harry Potter hurriedly pushed back the half-drawn handgun he had been about to pull out, shook his head, and replied almost too quickly, "What? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
His utterly shameless lie left Ron so stunned he couldn't form words.
Audrey raised her juice in a small toast of thanks. After a round of laughter, she sat back down and whispered, "That big guy just now seemed like he was deliberately sent to provoke us."
Lilith nodded.
"Mm. It was that blond one over there pulling the strings."
"But…why?" Audrey frowned. "I've never even met the Ilvermorny students before."
Lilith gave a soft snort. "You'll find out soon enough."
———
Two hours later, dinner ended and everyone returned to their dormitories.
Audrey had just stepped out of the Great Hall when she was stopped by Snape. He gestured for her to follow and led her to a quiet corner.
"Where is Edward?" Snape asked, urgency flickering in his eyes. "He didn't return with you?"
Audrey shook her head. "He returned, but he had to leave again for something important. Professor, did you need him for something?"
Snape's voice returned to its usual coldness. "My Corpse Collector potion has fully digested. I require the next Sequence's potion. When will he be back?"
"Um…it should be soon." There was a hint of uncertainty in her tone.
"Good."
Snape pulled out a small leather pouch. "This contains herbs and prepared reagents worth about two thousand Galleons. Payment for the Sequence 8 potion."
Audrey immediately stepped back.
"Ah—better give that to Edward when he returns…"
Snape shoved the pouch into her hands anyway. "It makes no difference."
Then, with a dramatic sweep of his cloak, he strode off like a giant bat.
Audrey looked down at the pouch, helpless.
The Evernight Goddess spoke with mild surprise. "So Snape chose the Death pathway? I thought he would favour the Moon pathway."
Lilith curled her lip.
"That's because once he reaches Sequence 5, he wants to find Harry's mother's soul, and then…"
The Goddess paused. "That is…certainly an unusual aspiration."
"Hey, Amanises," Lilith said, frowning, "why hasn't Edward come back yet?"
"Why would you assume I know?" the Goddess replied lightly. "You are the natives of this world, are you not? I am merely a traveller, here to observe."
Lilith snorted. "As if anyone would believe that!"
The Goddess smiled faintly.
"You're so worried about him—why didn't you go with him?"
Lilith puffed up her cheeks indignantly. "Obviously, because someone had to stay behind and keep an eye on you! Who knows what chaos you'd cause if we left you unattended?!"
"Heh." The Goddess chuckled softly and did not argue.
Tap, tap, tap—
Suddenly, urgent footsteps echoed toward them.
Snape—who had left only moments ago—came running back, clutching his wrist, his expression dark and grim.
"Come. You're coming with me to see Dumbledore!"
Audrey asked in shock, "Professor—what's wrong?"
Snape yanked up his sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark glowing faintly on his skin. He gritted his teeth.
"Voldemort is back!!"
The words had barely left his mouth when a furious voice split the air.
"Snape! You betrayed me long ago! You betrayed me long, long ago!!"
A mass of black smoke shot toward them like lightning, swirling into a translucent silhouette of Voldemort mid-air. In his hand was a bizarre wand, and he roared, "Avada Kedavra!!"
A bolt of emerald light streaked forward like a lethal arrow. Snape dodged at once and fired counter-curses again and again as he shouted,
"I'll hold him off—go find Dumbledore!"
"Don't even think about running!" Voldemort bellowed. "Tell me—what did Slytherin leave inside the locket?!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
Snape flicked his wand backwards, launching a Killing Curse. The spell struck Voldemort directly.
Voldemort only swayed slightly before bursting into manic laughter.
"Excellent, excellent, Snape—so you dare use the Killing Curse on your great master! Unfortunately for you, after visiting the dwelling of the gods, I am no longer the same. Magic can no longer harm me!!!"
The Evernight Goddess observed coolly, "He has become an evil spirit…the same kind as Medici."
Audrey's eyes instantly turned golden. Accompanied by a faint yet resonant dragon's roar, the gloating Voldemort suddenly descended into utter frenzy, thrashing about wildly like a rabid dog, darting across the ground in chaotic madness.
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.