TRIGGER WARNING: Death, sacrifice, betrayals ahead.

Read my notes at the end too! And pardon me if I missed any grammatical errors in this chapter.

Chapter 4: Nox II

October 31, 1981 Potter Cottage, Godric's Hallows
10:55 p.m

James took several deep breaths to calm himself before facing the most feared Dark Lord. He knew this would end his life but in all honesty, he couldn't care less anymore. Not after accepting his fate for ending this once and for all.

He quickly dashed downstairs to give Lily and Harry enough time to escape. It's really a shame that the trap they planned for Voldemort's demise wasn't done yet. The final piece for their trap was a potion that's still sitting in a cauldron, waiting for it to be potent; it won't be ready yet, until next new moon.

Now, since their plan drastically failed, all they had to do was fight this madman, and survive. If they could…

James flicked his wrist and conjured his Patronus: an Eagle. He named his guardian Richmond meaning: "powerful protector" in German.

"Tell Sirius, that Voldemort's here. And—" James paused overwhelmed by the sudden emotions he's feeling. Swallowing hard he continued, "And if I don't make it, you know what to do."

The Eagle opened its wings and bowed at him, his message clearly heard. When the Eagle flew and faded away from his sight, the whole house began to shake as Voldemort bombarded through their front door. With one final look upstairs where Harry's room is located, James began the fight for his life.

October 31, 1981 Anmer Hall
11:30 p.m.

"You said you saw a woman with platinum hair and purple eyes appeared?"

Stephen Strange watched his niece nod her head solemnly, her eyes big and wavering as she replays her dream inside her head. "Lily, the boy's mother, did something for the Lady to materialize. I don't know what she did but uncle, she was bleeding when the Lady appeared. I thought she's going to help them."

"Bleeding?!" Charles whispered harshly beside Madelaine. The woman just gave her husband a side glance and looked at her mother-in-law. Rosalinda pinched Charles on the side as a warning. "We'll talk after this, let your uncle figure what's going on." The Queen whispered to him.

"Can you draw me the symbols you saw, sweetheart? The ones Lily wrote on the little boy's bed. Can you still clearly visualize them?" Hermione nodded her head enthusiastically glad to transfer her attention from the image of bleeding Lily. She immediately grabbed the proffered notebook and pencil from Julien.

As they watch her draw, the small child continued talking, "I'm not very sure about what she was chanting but I do know that the symbols held significance on the whole scenario," Hermione tore the page where the symbols were written and gave it to Stephen. "I don't know what they all mean uncle. I hope I'm helping. I'm very concerned with— Uncle are you okay?" Hermione's eyes wavered a bit when she observed her uncle's face turn white upon looking at her drawing.

"Did I do something wrong, uncle?" Hermione bit her lower lip as she asked hesitantly.

Stephen was still staring at the paper in his hand until he was shaken by the clearing of a throat behind him. The other adults noticed that the symbols Hermione wrote must have been bad for it to acquire such a reaction from Stephen. Rosalinda regarded him with concern as Stephen tried to bring himself back to reality. He gave Hermione a comforting smile which the little girl took as a good indication that her Uncle Stephen recognizes her drawing. "Do you know what it is then, uncle?" she asked the man in front of her, gesturing to the paper he's currently folding neatly. "Did I draw them correctly? Have I precisely written the correct sequence?"

Stephen smiled when he noticed a drop of concern from her tone, "Of course little star. I certainly do recognize the symbols, and the arrangement is also on point," he patted her small hand that sat on her lap, "However young lady, these symbols weren't for you to know. Whatever you saw in your dream must not be for you to delve in at your current age." Stephen stared at her intently, sending her a message that she should wisely follow his words. His tone is gentle but firm.

Hermione began opening her mouth to protest but closed it instantly, her teeth making a sound. Hermione nodded in understanding. She does know that her thirst for knowledge sometimes went out of control even her parents and other adult figure gets intimidated by how mature she is for her age. It was enough for a lot of people to see her as something peculiar and unique case despite her background and appearance.

"Well, now that I've got something for me to investigate, I think I should go now." Stephen began to rise from his kneeling position beside Hermione's bed when the little girl shot her hand out to grip his arm. "Please save them, uncle. Can you help him?" Hermione's eyes began to water again, and in all honesty, whatever the little boy's going through right now, all she could do is hope and pray that he'll be okay.

The adults certainly know who she's talking about. They couldn't ignore the unsettling emotions that started surfacing around them when Hermione began her tale about the vision she saw. It worried them tremendously and for Hermione to actually see it? Now that they're exposed to the existence of magic, they couldn't help but be worried for Hermione and the Potters. Whoever they are, it clearly meant something for their Princess.

Stephen nodded his head and gave her a small kiss on her forehead, "I'll do my best, little star. Don't worry yourself too much." He looked down at her mesmerizing pastel pink eyes and smiled. Hermione nodded again, grateful that someone would help the Potter Family.

She finally let out a big yawn, and rubbed her eyes, feeling the sleep overtaking her whole system.

The male occupants immediately moved out of the way when Madelaine and Rosalinda began fixing Hermione's bed for her to sleep comfortably. While the ladies tuck the princess for a peaceful sleep, Charles immediately rounded upon his uncle before he takes his leave. "We have to talk uncle."

"We should take this to your study, Charles. Bring the boys too," Dominique quickly jumped in, recognizing his son's tensed shoulders. Stephen noticed this too, and is more than willing to keep his mouth shut for a few more moments. He does have a lot of things in his mind now that the bastard is gone. Yet one thing kept on bugging him deeply, and its Lily's sacrifice.

October 31, 1981 Potter Cottage, Godric's Hallows
10:58 p.m.

"Where's the boy." The snake faced Dark Lord asked him with a low voice. James suppressed the shiver that's coming. "You need to fight me first, Voldy." James taunted.

"How dare you make fun of my precious name, blood traitor?" He hissed. "You dare to fight the most feared and superior to all?"

Despite the fear and anxiety, he feels inside, James remained standing on his ground as he encourages the Dark Lord to talk to him, hoping that it's enough to give Lily some time to leave this place.

"Why not Voldy?" Voldemort most certainly not happy with that nickname. Because of this, he fired his first spell towards the man.

James was fast enough to cast a protego around him. "Stupefy!" The Dark Lord cackled with malice and easily deflected his stunner. Sidestepping another one when James fired another stunner.

"This is not a game Potter," James continued his assault towards him, but immediately turned defensive, as Voldemort began offending them with dark spells. "Fight all you can, but you'll die eventually. I'll give you mercy if you surrender the boy to me."

James ducked from the unknown burning red spell Voldemort sent him. He quickly dropped and rolled over behind the couch when he noticed another spell coming towards him. "Enough of this Potter! Now bring me the boy!"

"NO!" James' stood up from his hiding place and fired the most lethal spell he knows. Some of it he found from the Potter grimoire and from the time where he began secretly reading certain Dark Texts from the Restricted Section. This was a good change of tactics because Voldemort suddenly paused for a moment, surprised with the change of spells which James took as an opening and cast an overpowered: "Bombarda maxima!"

Voldemort quickly cast a shield but wasn't strong enough to block the exploding charm. This only resulted for the whole house to shake from its foundations and for Voldemort's back to slam hard on the wall behind him. James went down to his knees and tried blocking himself with a spell to keep him from being hit by falling debris.

When it was quiet again, James maintained his hold on his spell. He heard someone groaning out of pain and smirked when he realized it was Voldemort. 'I didn't know that using the Explosion charm at him would render him to this.' he thought smugly. Something moved in James's peripheral view but he didn't have enough chance to check on it when Voldemort began throwing him curses from the dust-filled living room of their cottage.

The Dark Lord cackled again, "Is that all you can do?" He continued firing spells at him as if he wasn't hurt at all by the way he slammed hard on the wall behind him. He cast a silent Ventus, to remove the dust around them but not breaking his onslaught of offense towards James. Same as James, he didn't stop interchanging his attack from non-lethal to lethal spells.

"Clausis oculis!" James instantly parried the Conjunctivitis Curse sent on his way, sidestepping another non-verbal attack from the Dark Lord, only to be hit by a cutting curse that sliced deeply on his left upper arm. 'I won't be able to keep up with him any longer.' he thought as he swallowed hard the pain he's feeling.

Feeling restless and worried, James glanced at the stairs hoping that Lily and Harry has left already.

Murmuring a basic numbing charm on the cut (since casting a healing charm would take a lot of time), he returned his attention back to Voldemort.

Despite the prevailing circumstances, what James gained from this fight, however, was the fact that Voldemort really is an invincible opponent. His knowledge of the dark magic was not to be taken easily. He only recognizes some of the spells, which made it harder for James to block or defend himself.

And even though it's a struggle to be able to hit him, it didn't hinder James from smirking: feeling proud of himself for remaining alive despite the cuts, bruises, broken bones he's slowly gaining.

The strenuous fight went like this for twenty minutes when they began feeling the change of magic around them. Both realized it didn't come from their heated duel.

They both dropped their wand arms at the same time and looked around in confusion. Voldemort however raised his wand again, pointing it towards James, "What are you doing Potter? What magic is this?!" He asked, his tone wavering a little, his red eyes shining with a hint of fear.

James's eyes widened at the wand pointed at him and began shaking his head, "I don't know," he paused feeling lightheaded from the Magic vibrating around him. "I don't understand?" James slowly fell down to the floor, his eyes looking towards the stairs where Lily and Harry has supposedly left.

'Lily, what have you done?' were his last thoughts as the exhaustion and the overwhelming light magic engulfed him.

Voldemort watched aghast, as James drop down on the floor. The Dark Lord sharply turned his attention to the stairs, uncertain about what'll greet him there.

He began marching towards it and went up, following the intense magic. Even though this kind of magic kept on conjuring red flags inside his head, he still risked following it. Besides, let's not forget he still has a task to finish. Find the Potter boy and kill him.

When he reached the very last door at the end of the hallway, Without hesitations and second-guessing, he cast the bombarda charm towards the door making it explode from its hinges. At the same time, the magic he was feeling from the hallway, intensified when he saw the source of the magic.

"Give me the boy, you silly girl!"

Lily Potter, her fading body began glowing with pulsing light as she soaks up all of the power given to her by the Supremenss from the runes she carved on the stone. She slowly went in front of Harry, hiding him from Voldemort's line of sight.

"You'll have to face me first Voldemort." She said simply. Her tone relaxed without a hint of fear, which made Voldemort's heart beat erratically, and for his magic to react in a negative way.

Again, failing to survey first what's in front of him and without knowing what's going to happen (and because he's truly scared of this unknown magic)...

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

When the Dark Lord's spell went straight at Lily's chest, the pulsing light instantly turned blood red and in a blink, launched towards him like strands of hair. Voldemort cried out in severe pain as the obscure magic commenced with their task. He can feel the magic devouring everything in him and was alarmed that his magic was telling him he's going to die.

His skin was slowly torn up and a scream of horror broke out from him. He could feel the magic trying to make his soul break free from his body, from this plane. Oh no, they won't. Voldemort immediately looked for something to latch on and what he found wasn't what he was expecting. Harry Potter.

He didn't have any choice but to send a part of his soul towards the boy not caring if it'll leave a mark or not.

Peter Pettigrew who was just beside James's prone form, heard the scream. He knew what that means. Maintaining his rat form, he quickly ran upstairs only to stop at the scene before him. Voldemort's ashes floating in the air, "I'll be back boy, I'll make sure you'll die." The Dark Lord grunted and with one last breath, his body disappeared with a huge explosion. Creating a massive magical wave, around the room, causing the roof and one-third of the wall to explode, exposing Harry's room outside.

He's gone, leaving only his wand and robes. The Dark Lord's gone.

Peter transformed from his rat form and slowly walked through the silent hallway. Careful not to create any sound. Once entering the room fully, he first noticed Lily's soulless body, her face smiling as she looks somewhere behind Peter, unseeing. Pettigrew's heart broke when he realized the damage he's done. He thought back of James downstairs lying prone but alive. His guilt slowly eating him as he searched the sole purpose of his Master's visit here— Harry Potter, looking alive and well. Except for the angry red scar on his forehead. Upon closer inspection, the scar's shaped like a lightning bolt.

"Wormy?" Harry called him, his tone confused about what happened. Yet the man in question remained on his spot as he watches the boy from his bassinet. His tears slowly leaking from the corners of his eyes. "I'm sorry, Harry."

The boy only stared at him in confusion, then looked down at the prone body of his mother. "Mama?" His green eyes again went back at him.

Peter flinched at the look Harry gave him which specifically only fueled the guilt he's feeling right now, and because of that, he immediately left the room after picking up the Dark Lord's wand.

When he reached downstairs, he immediately went straight to the nursery room adjacent to the living room.

He has to leave as soon as possible before someone finds out about him. About what he did to the Potters. His betrayal.

However, upon entering the room, he heard a pop behind him, and because of the fear of finding out, Peter immediately turned around to cast the first spell he thought of,

"Avada Kedavra!"

What Peter didn't know was he's also struck by a certain spell that'll make him unconscious for two days.

Before falling down on the floor, he recognized the elf of the Potters lying down on her back. Dead.

October 31, 1981 Anmer Hall
11:58 p.m.

Once the men settled in the study, Dominique gestured for Angeline to grab them strong drinks, except the young Prince. "A cold water would do fine for us Angeline, thank you," Julien said when he recognized Hermione's nanny looking at them both.

The study was quiet for a moment before it was broken by the sound of the door opening. Angeline began distributing the drinks to the men as fast as possible before leaving again.

"Should we start calling her great-aunt?" Julien asked his grandfather, trying to dispel the tension inside the study by throwing light-hearted questions.

"Of course. She'll definitely allow you to call her such. Angeline might even prefer you calling her by her name instead of 'aunt' or 'nanny.'" Dominique replied, before taking a sip on his drink, "Even though she's three years older than you both, and is younger than your father here, calling her aunt, however, might make her feel older."

"Where was she all this time father?" Charles asked, still mulling about his plans for Hermione.

"Angeline was an orphan when I met her. Her father was my first cousin- which makes her my second cousin." Dominique replied as he languidly watches the light reflecting the amber liquid in his glass. "Dan's magical, so as his wife. He's a muggleborn— born to non-magical parents," he added when Julien was about to ask what it means, "I never got to meet his wife personally, but I do know her through a photo he sent to me.

"The woman is beautiful, and she's also a muggleborn. They met in France where Dan's taking his Mastery— I don't know what specialization he's taking Juls, inquire about it to Angeline, she'll be more likely willing to tell her story," Julien looked at him apologetically properly chastened.

"Anyway, fast forward two weeks after their wedding— which I failed to attend— Dan sent me a photo of him together with his wife, and a newborn child. He told me in his letter that her name's Angeline, and I was her god-father.

"Obviously I was too emotional when I received that wonderful news. I immediately contacted him if we could meet so that I could finally introduce myself to my god-daughter."

"But why does she call you brother?" Julien blurted out before covering his mouth with his left hand, mentally berating himself.

"It's because she'd always wanted a brother to look up to. She doesn't want me to take Dan's role as her father, and she most certainly doesn't want to call me uncle or cousin," Dominique sighed, remembering the reason why the fourteen-year-old Angeline personally requested that:

"I've always wanted the relationship my father has with you. And, you're the last connection I have of him. Since we both miss him terribly, why not preserve the bond we had with him, brother?"

He had shed so many tears during their little reunion. Years of only knowing the child through mailed photos, he's finally able to see why this is Dan's angel. Angeline cares a lot for those who she really cares about. Just like her parents, who died fighting death eaters who ambushed Place Cachée (a wizarding street similar to Diagon Alley) located in Montmartre (it's a wizarding district located in Paris, France), she'll also willingly sacrifice herself in order to save other people.

"Dan and his wife fought thinking about Angeline's future and the Wizarding world as a whole. They fought in a war where children are in danger and people have to constantly look out for themselves and to watch out who to trust. I can't even imagine what their lives must have looked like," Dominique paused, sighing heavily after emptying his glass, "Dan was very vague about what's going on with his life, his letters were all about his family. Solely his family. Never mentioning about his world; how he's currently doing; what his work is... It's quite concerning, but I never troubled him by asking such things knowing that he's probably had his own reasons."

Dominique searched every orphanage house in Europe to look for Angeline when hadn't heard anything from Dan for almost a month. However, there are no records of Angeline Granger exist in any of the orphanage houses he's visited, until he realized he was looking at the wrong side of the world.

Dominique smirked when he recalled looking dumbfounded in front of Stephen when he found out the man is a wizard, "Stephen was the one who helped me locate her. It only took a strand of my hair and a bit of his own magic to carry out the searching. It immediately determined which country she was in and what orphanage."

"We found Angeline in the magical side of Marseille," Stephen stepped in, picking up the thread of the narration, "teaching children how to read and practice wand-waving skills using sticks."

"Not wands?" Nathan asked, puzzled, "Why not use a wand to practice magic?"

Julien rolled his eyes, "It's obvious Nathan, children can't handle a wand yet. They're too young to even own one. They probably have rules for it, unless there's an adult monitoring over their activities. And the fact that she's only fourteen when Stephen and grandfather found her says it all."

"Right... You're right," Nathan agreed after processing what Jules told him. "Speaking of children, how can we help Hermione, Uncle?" Nathan threw the very question in everyone's mind.

There was a moment of silence before Stephen replied to Nathan's question.

"To be honest? I don't know." sighing, Stephen took a sip on his glass, relishing the burning sensation as the whiskey travels down on his throat. "I'm still absorbing all the information Hermione has told me."

"Can you tell us what Hermione drew on the paper she gave you?" Nathan asked, his head leaning at the back of the couch while his left-hand holds the cold glass of water. "It looked like those ancient letters," his brows furrowing looking for the exact term of it.

"Hieroglyphs," Julien offered.

"Yeah, those." Nathan agreed, shooting Jules a grateful glance.

"Yes, something like that. But this one's different this isn't only letters where messages are expressed, this is what we call runes. Each rune is an ideographic or pictographic symbol of some cosmological principle or power, and to write a rune is to invoke and direct the force for which it stood." Julien leaned forward listening intently at his Uncle as he explains the intricacy of such magic. "So the runes required Lily's blood? Isn't it? For it to invoke such power— whatever it is, the runic alphabet probably required such sacrifices." He wondered, his face showing signs of discomfort at the concept of sacrifices.

"Yes, you're correct Jules," Stephen confirmed, nodding his head. "The runes required Lily's blood for it to activate and gain power. But upon closer inspection of the runes, it didn't only require her blood, it also asked for her magic and life."

The silence once again descended upon the occupants in the study as the situation finally sunk into them. Charles took a swig of his whiskey and brought it back down on his table creating an audible thud. "So Hermione, saw her die. In her dream?" He looked up to Stephen his eyes burning with confusion and fear for his daughter, "How did she even see such clear dream anyway? Do you know who the boy is? What connection do they have anyw— "

Charles stopped talking when a certain image of a glowing ball and banner drifted in his thoughts. "Bugger."

"What is it, father?" Nathan, who looked ready to jump whatever it takes to help his beloved sister.

Waving his hand, "Nothing. I just remembered something of importance." Charles grabbed his pen and promptly written his agenda in his journal.

Dominique, who was quiet the whole time, hummed as he thought of something. Something's not quite right with Hermione's dream, "Did she ever mentioned the boy's name? She only mentioned this Lily, the mother of the boy. Do you know the family, Stephen?"

"Yes, I am familiar with the Potters, but I wasn't aware that they have an heir." Now that he thinks about it, Hermione certainly didn't mention the boy's name. "I'll have to look closer to it."

By this time the ladies announced themselves in the study with Angeline trailing behind them carrying two more glasses and a bottle of brandy. When Angeline attempted on leaving the room again, Rosalinda signaled her not to leave and let her take a sit on the couch Stephen provided for her. "You take it, Angeline. I'm too anxious to sit." Rosalinda began pacing in front of Charles's fireplace, only pausing when Angeline offered her a glass of brandy.

Madelaine sat between her twins a glass of brandy already in hand. Jules couldn't blame their mother for worrying too much. From the birth of her only daughter to these unknown mystical events. It's already enough that her daughter's physical uniqueness makes her special, but this? Magic? It's out of this world. It's like a fiction story but it's happening in real life. She couldn't even process it. Because of these thoughts he offered his mother a kiss on the side of her head. An action she always does to them when comforting them.

Nathan on the other hand reached for his mother's free hand and gave it a comforting squeeze, understanding her current anxiety. He couldn't bear what's probably happening inside their mother's head but he's hoping that their presence was enough to make her calm down. "We'll be here for Hermione too, mother. Don't worry too much." He whispered to her softly.

Madelaine smiled at them both genuinely, blessed that she bore two amazing men who care a lot.

"We should train her soon, Stephen." Rosalinda began, as she stared intently at the fireplace, "Whatever this is, there's something ominous about these events. I know it. It'll even probably affect not them but the whole world.

"I don't know, I'm probably just hallucinating or something, but I do know it's something big."

She turned around to face the other occupants inside the study, "Charles, we'll have to check it again tomorrow." Charles gestured to his journal in confirmation about his plan tomorrow, "I've already re-scheduled everything in my journal."

Rosalinda nodded her head and turned to Stephen, "You know what you'll do?"

"Of course, my Queen. I'll certainly take everything in my hand and will be back to you by next week. I have a lot to look into and certain people to have tea with."

"Right, please do prioritize the Potters first? Hermione wishes to know about them as soon as possible, and that boy she keeps on mentioning." Rosalinda paused, tapping the glass with tips of her fingernails, thinking about something. "Did Hermione ever mentioned the boy's name?"

Madelaine shook her head after drinking from her glass, "No I didn't hear her mention it from her recounting a while ago." She turned to look around the room and saw that everyone was also the same. Even Stephen.

"Angeline will remain with Hermione from now on. Try introducing her to the magical world slowly— if possible, you know that child, her curiosity is outstanding you might have to answer a lot of her questions, but seriously just t— "

Ehem. "Mother."

"Right. Sorry." Dominique stood up from his seat and went beside Rosalinda, knowing that his wife's overwrought when she starts rambling non-sense.

"Angeline, keep Hermione— " Rosalinda started but was cut off by Angeline's voice.

"— taken care of and safe. I know Rosa, I'll watch over your darling. Don't worry, she's my niece, I won't let anything happen to her. I swear that on my magic."

A bright light shot from Angeline's wand in a matter of seconds, before anyone could process what happened.

Stephen sighed, "Angeline, you do know that you just bound yourself into protecting Hermione no matter what happens right?"

"I know what I'm entering into Stephen, you don't have to sound like you're my father."

The twins grinned when Stephen shot her a look of disdain. "I'm not old if that's what you're hinting at."

"Yes you are," Angeline shot back, smirk faintly forming. "Anyways," she said cutting off whatever retort Stephen was about to blurt out, "For those who don't understand, I've just created a verbal magical vow, which I created willingly and must keep my oath or promise. If I break my oath or promise, I'll lose my magic."

November 1, 1981 Somewhere in Germany
9:26 a.m.

Lyra Greengrass née Malfoy sat regally at her breakfast table while alternating between fixing a tea and reading the newspaper owl delivered that morning. The front page of the Daily Prophet screams in front of her as she opens them with a flick of her wand.

REJOICE! THE DARK LORD HAS FALLEN, BUT WHERE ARE THE POTTERS?
Written by: Brenda Miller

'Well, this is going to be an interesting read indeed,' she thought as she delicately spread the newspaper on the table.

Lyra was just about to begin her reading when her floo rang, an indicator that a visitor has decided to grace her home.

She immediately recognized his magical signature when he entered the breakfast room, "Does your visit correlates to what the newspaper is saying, Stephen?"

Stephen gave her a look of confusion before striding towards the table where she's at, hovering behind her as he takes a look at the newspaper spread out in front of her. Upon reading the headlines, Stephen sighed and plopped himself on a seat accross Lyra.

"A lot has happened these past few days Lyra," he began while he promptly served himself a tea without Lyra's invitation, "It's better not to read that rubbish first."

Lyra glared at him, her lips pursing, "What, if I may ask, is more worthy of gaining my interest at this time of day, Stephen? You know me, I'm not easy to be entertained."

Stephen smirked at her, which reminds her of her origins. Malfoy's are known for their smirks. And behind every smirk means they bear something of significance, or they've planned something exceptional or they figured out something to take down an enemy.

Speaking of enemies, their current Head of House has aligned himself on the wrong side of the war which degraded the sense of nobility of her precious House. Even though the majority of her relatives are of pure-blood, it's still a disgrace and a dishonor to be easily seduced by a monster who uses empty promises. A fact not lost at all by those who stayed neutral during the war.

The Houses who stayed neutral were wise enough to recognize the manipulative words of the Dark Lord back when he was still growing his people. He tried recruiting almost all of the prominent houses from the Sacred twenty-eight, and those who declined his offer of 'A New World' (where purebloods are superior, and muggles and muggleborns alike are removed from existence) were disgusted by his agenda, and are extremely doubtful of its success.

But to use them as his financial backer in this venture? Is just ridiculous. Those who are logical could see through to that.

Now that the war has ended, she mentally sighed at her Head of House, aware that the once-proud Noble House of Malfoy, with outstanding reputation and status, has now crumbled to its foundations.

Unless there's still hope. A certain little boy entered her mind as she began thinking of plans to help rebuild her ancestor's House.

"Are you done with your planning?" Stephen asked her while checking his nails.

"Of course Stephen," she smiled sweetly at him before calling for her personal house-elf, "Bring me my journal and pen, please, Chi," with a snap of Chi's fingers her journal and pen appeared in front of her. "Thank you again, Chi. You may go now." The elf simply bowed and left the breakfast room with a pop.

"So what's the reason for your visit to my humble home Stephen?" She asked, her tone suggesting him to go straight to the point.

Stephen reached inside his robes and presented her the piece of paper Hermione had given him.

Slowly unfolding it, Lyra carefully took in the symbols written on a muggle paper. "How—" unable to form any sentences, Lyra sharply turned her head in his direction, her eyes wide and blood draining from her face.

Suddenly, chills ran through her spine as she slowly connected all the dots.

"Lily Potter—" she stuttered, looking back to the paper in her hands then to the newspaper then back to Stephen. "How'd you know?" she finally asked him.

"My great-niece, Hermione, had a dream of the attack last night in the Potter household. I don't know where the events occurred but clearly, Dumbledore knows and it's probably plastered all over the papers now.

"I'm more worried about the symbols being exposed, Lyra. Do you think these symbols stayed behind wherever Lily Potter did her ritual?"

"No. Once the deed is gone, any trace of magic used with this ritual is forever erased from its existence. Her Supremeness makes sure of it. I..." she exhaled heavily, "Unbelievable. Truly remarkable. I couldn't even fathom how much sacrifice she gave here."

"I know. It's an extraordinary feat of magic, and to be able to meet the expectations of Her Supremeness, is phenomenal." Stephen remarked, his voice held respect to the recently departed Lily Potter, mother of Harry Potter, and wife of James Charlus Potter. Now that he knows the name of their son, the one whom the Dark Lord was after, which he still doesn't understand why he wants to kill an innocent child.

"Feminei Sexus Magia," Lyra is now writing so fast in her journal. She wouldn't let this knowledge pass her. A woman succeeded in using Her Supremeness' magic to end a war and save her son's life. They are basically indebted to Lily Potter's sacrifice, and if they don't associate themselves with them, not only will it be a lost opportunity, but also a shame to Her Supremeness' magic.

Lyra was shaken from her small bubble when Stephen began talking again, "I need your help with something too, Lyra. That's not the only thing I've brought," Lyra watched him as he presses something on his wristwatch, revealing tiny storage where shrunk objects are stored for safekeeping.

"That's very ingenious and portable, did you make that?" she asked him, later realizing her mistake.

"Hah. Isn't it obvious? Of course dear Lyra. I made this," Stephen claimed while enlarging the suitcase he carries in his wristwatch. "It's just a simple magic."

Lyra rolled her eyes at his egoistic side but kept her mouth. She reached the proffered open book and pulled it towards her. Stephen stood from his seat and went around the table to stand behind her, he pointed at the very end of the page where Hermione's name was written and an empty banner beside hers.

"Remember to give me the runic sequence of that wristwatch of yours Steve," She informed him while studying the Novis Family Tree in front of her until she felt her brows furrowing at the last part where Stephen was pointing.

"Of course, I shall send it to you as a gift for the coming Yule then."

Lyra grabbed his hand quite quickly before looking up at him, "This Hermione, tell me about her now."

"Is it what I'm thinking Lyra?" His voice dripping with concern, in all honesty, he's still quite shaken from the events surrounding his little star, and adding this in the mix?

"Soul-bond. The connection, Steve! That's why you know about this," gesturing to the symbols Hermione had written, "and the death of Lily Potter! Their son Harry Potter is her bond mate..." Lyra said, her voice rising as she slowly digests what Stephen has brought to her. "This is—"

"I know..." Stephen said, his shoulders slumping feeling all different kinds of emotions. Anxiety and worry to name a few of them, but the most dominant is exhaustion.

Lyra sympathises with her best friend, understanding his current situation. As a current Head of his House, the safety of his heir is his number one priority, adding the burden that he also has to maintain his role as the Sorcerer Supreme... Who won't feel drained from those responsibilities?

"I'll help you out, Steve," she offered him a supporting smile. "I always do."

Hi!

How was it? Sorry for not updating sooner, I've been struggling lately with a lot of projects, and finding more about myself. I'm on my healing journey, and as you can see, because of this I've taken a short absence from updating this story.

As I've said before, I won't abandon this story. I can assure you that.

Thank you for patiently waiting for me, I'm seriously and genuinely grateful for you giving time reading my work. I hope you're doing okay!

Love lots~ Don't forget to leave a review, I would very much love to hear from you, any feedback is appreciated. May it be to improve my grammar or context or concept, anything.