Severus Snape nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll help you."
Erwin offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Godfather. They won't dare make a move just yet, though I expect some probing. Actually, there is something I need from you."
"What is it?" Snape asked.
"I need you to travel to America over the holiday," Erwin said. "I've established contacts there. I want you to eliminate several families."
Snape didn't hesitate. "Done. How thorough should I be?"
A cold glint flashed in Erwin's eyes. "Leave no survivors. The Cavendish contacts in the region will support you—they'll follow your orders."
"I can leave immediately if time is of the essence," Snape offered.
Erwin shook his head. "No need. Wait for the vacation. I still need to finalize some arrangements."
"Understood," Snape replied. He hesitated for a moment. "And Harry? Don't hold it against him. The boy didn't mean to curse me—he just wanted to stop the fight."
"I know, Godfather," Erwin assured him. "Rest easy. For your sake, I won't harm Harry. He'll have his time at Hogwarts. When this is all over, you'll have him and Lily back. You can live peaceful lives."
Snape's eyes softened with longing at the thought.
Erwin stood up. "I'll take my leave and rest for a bit."
Snape nodded. Erwin vanished instantly, reappearing in his private chambers.
The room was spotless, fresh sheets already prepared. Charlotte stood by the bed, waiting quietly. She bowed low as he appeared.
"My lord," she said. "Welcome back."
Erwin nodded, studying her. "Impressive. You've learned much over the break."
A subtle, dangerous aura radiated from Charlotte now. It was clear Vinda's tutelage had been effective.
"Ms. Vinda taught me a great deal," Charlotte said. "She refuses to let me call her 'teacher,' but in my heart, she is one."
"Good," Erwin said. "The holiday is almost over. Once it ends, you're off to Germany. Your final year at Hogwarts approaches—it's time to prepare."
Charlotte's breath hitched slightly. "Yes, sir. I understand."
Erwin stretched, and Charlotte moved instantly to massage his shoulders. Dappled sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in gold.
Inside the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore had just seen Harry off. He unfolded the letter Erwin had given him and read it carefully. After a moment of thought, he sat down to write three replies.
He moved to the window, tapping the sill. Three owls swooped in. Dumbledore handed them the letters, and they flew off into the evening.
He turned to Fawkes, who perched nearby. "It's time, old friend," Dumbledore murmured. "We have business to attend to. Perhaps we should visit an old acquaintance?"
Fawkes chirped softly.
"Yes," Dumbledore sighed. "I haven't dared see him in years. But I'm getting old. I can't keep everything to myself anymore. I need someone to listen to an old man's concerns."
Fawkes spread his wings. Dumbledore grasped the phoenix, and in a flash of fire, they vanished. The office fell silent. The portraits of past Headmasters were curiously absent, leaving only the covered portrait in the corner to let out a barely audible sigh.
Night fell over the Forbidden Forest.
A plume of purple smoke drifted from the castle and solidified into Erwin. He stood before the shattered remains of the Ravenclaw statue. With a flick of his wand, the stone crumbled and reassembled.
But the figure that formed was not Rowena Ravenclaw.
Once the statue was whole, Erwin spoke. "Lady Hufflepuff, won't you show yourself?"
Silence answered him. Erwin waited patiently.
Finally, a sigh drifted through the air. A phantom figure materialized atop the statue.
"Why bother?" the spirit asked. "You already command half of Hogwarts's authority. Mine would be redundant. Besides, my legacy is ill-suited to you. It is not worth the risk."
"It is not the same," Erwin countered. "Holding only a quarter of the authority is unstable. Dumbledore holds another quarter. Together, you two hold half."
"He cannot find me," Hufflepuff replied.
Erwin smiled faintly. "True. Had I not studied your hidden texts thoroughly, I never would have guessed you had woven your soul into Ravenclaw's own magic. Nor would I have realized you've avoided interaction with her for centuries."
"You found me anyway," Hufflepuff said. "I've observed your actions. Tell me, when did you first suspect a soul resided within that book?"
"You already suspect the answer," Erwin said. "If not for the surge of power in the Bermuda Triangle, I wouldn't have sensed that fragment of divine essence within the pages. Your concealment was masterful. But the shock of my divine power forced you to reveal yourself."
Hufflepuff fell silent for a moment before asking, "Ravenclaw... is she still preserved?"
"You misunderstand me, Lady Hufflepuff," Erwin replied calmly. "I am not a monster. Lady Ravenclaw has aided me—I will not destroy her. But there are things she is better off not knowing. You and I both understand that because she remains ignorant, her soul is safe. If she learned the truth, she would have to be eliminated. That is my mercy."