The morning light brightened the library of Selwyn Manor. Shelves of books lined the walls, a long table sat in the center with chairs around it, and a fireplace stood at one end. Zain waited near the table, dressed in a simple tunic and trousers, his mind focused on the day ahead.
Tiberius had allowed the girls to visit, approving of Zain's effort to make friends. The enchanted storybooks were kept in a locked cabinet, their magic preserved by charms. Zain remembered seeing them once before, the tales coming to life with moving pictures and voices.
A soft pop came from the fireplace as the Floo Network activated. Daphne Greengrass stepped through, brushing ash from her dress, her expression calm. Hannah Abbott followed, stumbling slightly, her round face showing nervousness. Pansy Parkinson came next, her dark braid neat, her gaze sharp. Ginny Weasley arrived last, her step lively, her eyes bright with excitement.
Zain smiled, his tone warm.
"Good morning, ladies. I'm glad you could come. Welcome to Selwyn Manor."
Daphne gave a small smile, her voice soft.
"Thank you for inviting us, Zain. I've been looking forward to seeing the books."
Hannah nodded, her voice shy.
"It's nice to be here."
Pansy crossed her arms, her tone skeptical.
"Let's hope these books are as interesting as you say."
Ginny grinned, her enthusiasm clear.
"This is going to be brilliant! I can't wait to see the stories!"
Zain gestured to the cabinet, his voice eager.
"The enchanted storybooks are in there. They're a family treasure—when you open them, the pictures move and the characters speak. Let's get started."
He unlocked the cabinet with a key from Tiberius. Inside were books with covers showing dragons, fairies, and knights. Zain picked one with a mermaid on the cover, titled The Song of the Sea. He opened it on the table, the pages glowing as the magic activated.
A mermaid appeared on the page, swimming in a painted ocean, her voice rising in a haunting melody. Bubbles floated up, popping in the air, and a faint saltwater scent drifted around. The girls leaned forward, their eyes wide.
Daphne whispered, her tone awestruck.
"That's amazing. She looks so real."
Hannah clasped her hands, her nervousness fading.
"It's like she's really singing to us."
Pansy's skepticism softened, her voice quieter.
"I've never seen anything like this."
Ginny laughed, her excitement bubbling.
"It's like being in the story! Can we see another one?"
Zain nodded, closing the book, the mermaid's song fading. He chose another book, The Quest for the Silver Crown, with a knight on the cover. A knight in armor appeared on the page, facing a snarling dragon. The dragon roared, tiny sparks flying from its mouth, and the knight charged, his battle cry echoing as steel clashed.
The girls watched closely. Ginny clapped as the knight dodged the dragon's tail, while Daphne leaned in, focused. Hannah flinched at the roar but smiled as the knight fought back. Pansy followed every move, a faint smile on her lips.
Zain noted their reactions, seeing an opportunity to build their trust. He needed to keep them engaged, to strengthen their connection to him.
He picked a third book, The Fairy's Riddle, with a fairy on the cover. But when he opened it, the magic went wrong. The fairy flew off the page, darting around the library, her voice shrill as she shouted riddles in an unknown language. Books fell from the shelves, pages fluttering, and the chandelier above swayed.
Hannah gasped, her voice shaky.
"What's happening? Is she supposed to do that?"
Pansy stepped back, her tone sharp.
"Zain, fix this! She's going to wreck the library!"
Daphne stayed calm, her voice steady.
"There must be a way to stop her. Maybe we need to answer her riddle?"
Ginny grabbed a fallen book, her voice determined.
"Come on, let's catch her! We can't let her ruin everything!"
Zain's mind raced, his demonic instincts taking over. He couldn't let this ruin his plans. He listened to the fairy's riddles, searching for a pattern despite the gibberish. Her tone shifted with each question, as if testing them.
He spoke, his voice firm but calm.
"Everyone, stay calm. I'll handle this."
He addressed the fairy directly, his tone steady.
"If you want us to answer, speak clearly. We can't solve your riddle if we don't understand you."
The fairy paused, hovering in the air. Her tiny face scrunched, then she spoke in English, her voice quick.
"I am light as a feather, yet the strongest man cannot hold me for long. What am I?"
Zain thought fast, recalling a riddle from the Abyss. The answer had to fit the fairy's magical nature.
He answered, his voice confident.
"The answer is breath. It's light as a feather, but even the strongest can't hold it for long before needing to exhale."
The fairy squealed, her voice delighted.
"Correct! You're clever, boy!"
She returned to the book, the pages glowing as she settled back in. The fallen books returned to the shelves, the chandelier stilled, and the library became quiet again. The girls sighed in relief, looking at Zain with gratitude.
Daphne's voice was soft, her tone impressed.
"That was quick thinking, Zain. Well done."
Hannah smiled, her nervousness gone.
"You saved the library! That was amazing."
Pansy nodded, her tone grudging but sincere.
"Not bad. I thought we were in real trouble."
Ginny clapped Zain on the shoulder, her grin wide.
"That was brilliant! You're good at riddles, Zain!"
Zain smiled, his tone modest.
"I'm glad I could help. Let's take a break—I think we've had enough excitement for now."
He closed the book, placing it back in the cabinet and locking it. The girls sat at the table, talking about the stories. Zain joined them, listening to their favorite moments, his charm drawing them closer. He asked Daphne about her interest in magical creatures, prompting her to share her dream of studying them. He teased Ginny about the knight's battle, making her laugh as she mentioned her brothers' mock duels. He asked Hannah about her family, helping her open up, and got Pansy to admit she liked the mermaid's song, despite her earlier doubts.
The girls' laughter filled the library, their bonds with Zain growing stronger. Zain felt satisfied with his progress. He focused inward, addressing the system.
"Show me my relationship levels with the girls."
The system responded, its interface appearing in his mind.
System: Relationship with Hannah Abbott increased to 25%.
System: Relationship with Hannah Abbott has crossed the 20% threshold. Reward—Slight Magic Power Increase.
System: Relationship with Ginny Weasley increased to 20%.
System: Relationship with Ginny Weasley has reached the 20% threshold. Reward—Slight Magic Power Increase.
System: Relationship with Daphne Greengrass increased to 25%.
System: Relationship with Daphne Greengrass has crossed the 20% threshold. Reward—Slight Magic Power Increase.
System: Relationship with Pansy Parkinson increased to 30%.
Zain felt three surges of warmth in his core, each a Slight Magic Power Increase from Hannah, Ginny, and Daphne reaching or crossing the 20% threshold. His magical power grew, now matching that of a fourth-year Hogwarts student. He sensed the increased strength, his magical reserves deeper than before. This leap from a first-year level brought him closer to mastering this world's magic. Pansy's rise to 30% didn't trigger a reward, as she hadn't reached the 40% threshold, but her progress was a good sign.
The library doors opened, and Eleanor entered, her presence warm. She smiled at the group, her voice gentle.
"I see you've all been enjoying the storybooks. Zain, your grandfather has prepared a small lunch in the dining hall. Will your friends be joining us?"
Zain turned to the girls, his tone inviting.
"Would you like to stay for lunch? It'd be nice to spend more time together."
Daphne nodded, her voice polite.
"I'd like that. Thank you, Mrs. Selwyn."
Hannah smiled, her shyness returning.
"That sounds nice. I'll stay."
Pansy shrugged, her tone casual.
"I suppose I can stay a bit longer."
Ginny's voice was eager.
"Lunch sounds great! I'm starving after all that excitement!"
Eleanor led them to the dining hall, where a long table was set with sandwiches, fruit, and pumpkin juice. Tiberius sat at the head, greeting the girls warmly, while Thaddeus offered a rare smile, his stern demeanor softened.
Lunch was lively, the girls talking about the storybooks while Tiberius shared a story of a mischievous house elf from his childhood. Eleanor asked the girls about their families, drawing out details. Zain listened, noting useful information—Daphne's father worked at the Ministry, Hannah's mother was a healer, Pansy's family valued tradition, and Ginny's brothers were a handful. Each piece could help him build his influence.
As lunch ended, the girls' parents arrived via Floo to pick them up. Daphne's father thanked Tiberius, his tone formal. Hannah's mother hugged her, whispering something that made Hannah blush. Pansy's mother gave Zain a sharp look before nodding in approval. Arthur Weasley arrived last, smiling as he ruffled Ginny's hair, thanking Zain.
The girls said goodbye, their voices bright. Ginny waved, promising to tell her brothers about the storybooks. Pansy gave a rare smile, her tone almost friendly. Hannah waved shyly, more confident now. Daphne's farewell was polite, her eyes warm.
Zain stood with his family in the dining hall after the guests left, the manor quiet. Tiberius turned to him, his voice a low rumble.
"You did well today, Zain. Those girls seem fond of you."
Eleanor smiled, her tone teasing.
"You've made quite an impression, Zain. They'll be talking about those books for weeks."
Thaddeus nodded, his smirk returning.
"A fine host. You've got a knack for this."
Zain inclined his head, his voice steady.
"Thank you. I'm glad they enjoyed it."
He excused himself, returning to his room to think. The visit had been a success, with his relationship levels rising and his magical power now at a fourth-year Hogwarts level. Each bond brought him closer to mastering this world's magic, to becoming its ruler.