I have some bad news. After writing more of this fic out...I'm just not feeling it. It feels too rushed, Fawkes/Serapsis is hogging the limelight at the expense of the bond between Harry and Nahida...while I do intend to pair Harry with at least one Genshin Impact waifu (Lisa, Dehya and Candace being at the top of the list), the focus of the story is meant to be on Harry and Nahida being siblings, with all the feels that come from that.

That being said, I refuse to let the idea lie fallow, and one day, I hope to write a story along similar lines. Let's face it, there are only two Potterverse crossovers as of writing, and neither are particularly great. We need more in this crossover out there.

In any case, here's the second chapter...

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER,

BUT DREAMS ARE SUPREME

CHAPTER 2:

THE RESCUE

Hermione Granger was trying to hold back her excitement. After all, here she was, on another world. Had it not been for the circumstances leading to her being here, she would have been even more excited, unable to contain it.

Unfortunately, said circumstances were bad, to say the least.

Firstly, her best friend had been framed for being Voldemort's next advent, and those damned sheeple of Magical Britain, along with her parents, lapped it up. True, she believed that part of the problem with her parents was the fact that she had erased their memories and sent them into hiding…but she wanted to fight, she wanted to protect them, and they wanted neither. Hermione had a long and bitter argument with them afterwards, where she realised, they never wanted a daughter…just a trophy to trot out and brag about. That was the second bad circumstance.

And even just two of them were more than enough to be the straws that broke the camel's back.

She wished Snape was still alive, instead of dead, having sent a letter to the Prophet posthumously. There were plenty of people who wanted to have a piece of him, and Hermione had some interesting applications of spells to test out. After six years of him demeaning her and Harry's intelligence (despite them both being in Ravenclaw), capped off by a year of treachery, she felt he deserved it. For all that Dumbledore thought Snape was on their side because of Lily, Snape showed himself to be on nobody's side but his own, with his sacrifice done out of spite rather than love.

It was a shame the Weasleys didn't want to come. Then again, Percy had shown his true colours and helped Harry get sent to Azkaban, and Arthur, of all people, believed Snape's letter, as had Ginny. That had caused a schism in the Weasley family, and those who had supported Harry had decided to head to Romania, instead of accepting Fawkes' offer of heading to Teyvat. Neville was no use either, having been lauded as the true hero of the Battle of Hogwarts.

In the end, Hermione was glad for the second chance, and heading to another world was a new start, a fresh start. Somewhere where she could actually make a difference. And if any idiots got the bright idea to pursue them…well, leaving aside the difficulties of cross-dimensional travel, there were gods here that banned that sort of thing. Hopefully, they didn't notice Fawkes bringing them across.

Then again, those were the gods of Celestia. The Archons, or at least the Dendro Archon, were apparently not so bad. Then again, Fawkes didn't have a high opinion of the other Archons, having known them in life. He dubbed Barbatos, the Wind or 'Anemo' Archon, a drunken and irresponsible vagabond, and Morax, the Geo Archon, a mooch and a manipulator with bloodstained hands worse than Dumbledore's, obsessed with contracts. And Baal, the Electro Archon, was apparently a pair of twins, one an idealistic dreamer, the other a ruthless warrior, both aided and abetted by a cold-hearted kitsune. Fawkes' views on them sounded somewhat prejudiced, so Hermione wanted to discern the truth for herself. Though it sounded disturbing how they seemed to have names out of the Ars Goetia.

Since he was a young child, Harry had somehow gained a link to the Dendro Archon, known as Lesser Lord Kusanali, Buer, or, to Harry, Nahida. Fawkes theorised that his tears, having been enhanced by Nahida's prior incarnation as Greater Lord Rukkhadaveta, had somehow forged a link between them. Given that Harry spent a decade with a cupboard underneath stairs as his bedroom, any possible friends chased away by the Dursleys, especially Dudley, he latched onto this friend.

Then again, Harry didn't identify Nahida as a friend. He identified her as family, as a sister. Hermione had to admit, she hadn't quite believed Harry when he waxed lyrical about her, and the world she was on, Teyvat. But she couldn't argue with the results: Nahida awoke Harry's desire for learning, his curiosity. It was thanks to that that Harry and Hermione had a good first meeting on the Hogwarts Express, and what guided them to Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor. Because as full of intellectual elitists as Ravenclaw was, she wasn't sure, in the end, that she would have fitted into Gryffindor. True, Harry wasn't quite as diligent as she was in learning, but he asked the right questions…or the wrong ones, depending on the teacher, or the person he was asking.

He was her best friend. They'd tried making it a closer relationship, and Hermione thought it might work out, but things happened, and they had put any stronger relationship on hold for now. And while she wasn't going with them to free Nahida, she hoped they would succeed. If only because she wanted to believe Nahida was real, that their coming to Teyvat would be worth it.

In any case, with Fawkes and Harry heading to Sumeru City to save Nahida, Remus, Tonks, Teddy and Andromeda settling in, and Luna being…well, Luna, it fell to Hermione to explain their situation a bit more to Tighnari and Collei. Fawkes seemed to think that Tighnari, at least, was trustworthy, so she demonstrated magic, with Tighnari noting her lack of a Vision. She then explained something of their tale, while Tighnari examined the Phoenix tears Fawkes had left using a variety of instruments.

After the end of that, Collei mused, "It sounds like one of the light novels I've read from Inazuma."

"True," Tighnari said, his features pensive. "In other words, somewhat unbelievable, especially Harry having this link to Le…I mean, Kusanali. But Rukkhadaveta's domain was said to be dreams, so it's not entirely out of the question. And Kusanali being imprisoned sounds like something the Sages would have done, not merely to protect her, but out of disdain. I mean, what do you know of the Akasha System?"

Hermione frowned. "It sounded a bit like the internet, especially Wikipedia back home, only powered by magic. Between what Fawkes said, and what Harry said Kusanali said, you have information that can be downloaded into your mind, which sounds appallingly dangerous."

Tighnari actually laughed at that. "True enough. I use it sparingly myself, as I find using it too much does tend to get in the way of critical thinking. In addition, the Sages, in their infinite wisdom, tend to restrict the information going to certain people. The Eremites in particular, they view those desert-dwellers as savages, but visitors to Sumeru, entertainers, really, anyone outside the Akademiya, they are at the lower rungs of Akasha access. They only maintain a library to preserve certain physical texts as well as to hold physical books from other countries. A pretty big library, and quite comprehensive to be sure, but it's also considered the relic of a bygone age. Plus, preserving paper in a humid climate can be a bit trying."

"Fair enough," Hermione said. "I'd still like to see it one day, but…well, saving Kusanali…Nahida, is more important, especially to Harry and Fawkes."

Tighnari nodded. "Well, if they're telling the truth, this ought to set the cat among the pigeons with the Sages. Anyway, I've finished as much of an analysis as I can with Fawkes' tears, given the small sample. It seems to be exactly what it is, a potent restorative. Hopefully, it will be of use for Collei. Now, Collei, I will apply some of it topically. You notify me the moment it starts feeling painful or strange."

The green-haired, purple-eyed girl nodded, and removed her gloves, revealing scale-like growths on her arms. "…So this is what Fawkes meant by Eleazar," Hermione mused. "The way he described it, it sounded not unlike leprosy, at least in your world's culture. It's not contagious?"

"As far as I know, it isn't," Tighnari said. "And even if it were, I'd still be helping her. I'd just take precautions."

"…How long has she had this?"

"From a young age. She was shunned by many, save by her parents…and they were deceived by someone claiming to be a guru," Tighnari said. "Someone who claimed to know of a cure for it."

"…But it was a trick," Collei said, even as the scale-like growths began to recede from the application of Fawkes' tears. "That man sold me on to the Fatui."

"The Fatui?"

Tighnari scoffed. "Diplomats and soldiers from Snezhnaya, their elites are known as the Harbingers. Though in truth, they love to throw their weight around. Rumour has it that they're closer to spies and terrorists, undermining other countries. I certainly believe them. Not long ago, there was an incident in Liyue Harbour that was said to be the work of one of the Harbingers. And about a week ago, the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma executed one of the Harbingers, La Signora, for playing a role in provoking a civil war in Inazuma."

"Good," Collei said, with a surprising amount of venom in her voice. "A shame it couldn't have been Il Dottore."

"Il Dottore…that sounds like Italian for 'the Doctor'," Hermione mused.

"He does call himself the Doctor," Tighnari said. "But Il Dottore is his…official title, so to speak."

"The Doctor experimented on me and other kids," Collei said quietly. "I was the only one to escape and survive. I don't like talking about the details."

"…And to think I love a TV show about a character called the Doctor," Hermione remarked. On their curious looks, she said, "Never mind, I don't know whether you have television."

Tighnari shrugged. "If you say so, though I'd be curious to find out. But do you think Harry will be okay? Fawkes looks like someone who can handle himself, but Harry…well, he is going to break into the Sanctuary of Surasthana, after all."

Hermione gave a sardonic chuckle. "Well, we broke into the most secure bank in Magical Britain, albeit to retrieve one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. He should be fine…"

Harry was not fine. Then again, he'd only spent a fairly short while recovering from his stint in Azkaban, nearly a year's worth, before Fawkes finally showed up and rescued him. He'd barely started putting himself back together before the emigration to Teyvat. Only his self-appointed mission kept him remotely sane for now.

Said mission was to save his sister, Nahida.

She was not his sister by blood. Given that she was 500 years old, a deity, and living on another world, it was no mundane kinship. But from an early age, in that cupboard underneath the stairs, he met her in his dreams. They talked, they played, and for the longest time, she was his only friend, even if he thought her an imaginary one. She gave him comfort, she awoke his curiosity and desire to learn, she helped prepare him, albeit inadvertently, for when he learned of the reality of his life.

The first time he began to realise that she was real was when he and Dumbledore discussed the Mirror of Erised. He had seen Nahida there, and Dumbledore had revealed something interesting: Teyvat was real. Once upon a time, he had met a traveller from that world, Alice, and she certainly knew of the Archons. And for all the old man's many mistakes and secrets, Harry had to give Dumbledore this much: he tried to help Harry, and in that much if nothing else, he had succeeded.

Of course, Dumbledore's faith in Snape was utterly misplaced. Snape may have helped them prevail over Voldemort, but he intended to take Harry down with them all as well. Harry hoped that, if Hell existed, Snape was burning in it for what he did to Harry and his parents, over and over again. Thanks to Snape, Harry had to endure Azkaban for the past year, with only Nahida appearing to him in his dreams helping him keep his psyche together. Such was the gratitude Magical Britain showed for the one who stopped Voldemort.

At least his friends protested, his genuine friends. They'd protested that the Horcrux in Harry's scar had been destroyed. In fact, the means it had been was relatively simple: when Dumbledore finally admitted to the existence of the Horcruxes after the fiasco of his fifth year, Harry, after a period of panic and despair, tried a simple solution: surgically removing the part of his skull with the scar, and having a plate there instead. And it worked.

Snape knew about that, and yet, out of sheer spite and venom, claimed otherwise. Snape had no interest in redemption, just taking down every last one of his enemies, even if it meant his own end, like Ahab clinging to the harpoon stabbed into Moby Dick's hide. And Harry was his enemy by default, by dint of being James Potter's son. Lily's genetics didn't come into it. And when Harry tried to be a good student, all Snape saw was an arrogant know-it-all, not a damaged child trying to prove himself.

Fawkes was accompanying him on this mission, but that was because Fawkes had more familiarity with Sumeru City than he did. Of course, five centuries had passed since Fawkes, then known as Serapsis, had been banished from Teyvat out of the cruel spite of a deity called Asmoday, the so-called 'Sustainer of Heavenly Principles'. The city had changed and expanded since then, being built in and around a massive tree.

But the location of the Sanctuary of Surasthana hadn't changed. Once, it had been the retreat of Nahida's predecessor, Rukkhadaveta, where she could seclude herself from the world and meditate to recover. But the Sages, in their infinitesimal wisdom, had turned the retreat into a gaol. And here he was, about to break into it.

Fawkes, thankfully, had learned a number of spells during his time as the resident Phoenix of Hogwarts. Back when he was Serapsis, the Left Hand of King Deshret, he knew much magic, though he tended to use fire magic. But he had learned many spells at Hogwarts, including Disillusionment and Notice Me Not Charms. And he had overpowered them when using them on himself. Harry had the Invisibility Cloak.

Fawkes had teleported them both to the outskirts of Sumeru City, thankfully where no people were around. Then, Fawkes had transformed into his Phoenix form and flown Harry up the tree, until they were in front of the door of the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Harry had to admit, the architecture of Sumeru City was beautiful, looking vaguely Indian with some other influences, and had he not been on a serious mission, he would love to examine it in greater detail.

But he was here on a serious mission.

They thankfully arrived just as someone was exiting the Sanctuary, so they slipped in, nobody being any the wiser. Fawkes knew roughly where some of the controls were, so he would be disabling the prison, while Harry would be retrieving Nahida. They would then get the hell out of there the moment they had secured Nahida.

Harry paused to take in the Sanctuary of Surasthana. He had to admit, it was beautiful, the inside, more of a work of art than a prison. Then again, Rukkhadaveta had created it as a sanctuary for herself, not as a gaol. And in the middle, suspended in a verdant bubble of energy…

…It was her. It was really her.

He approached the bubble, hoping Fawkes would hurry up and deactivate it already as he gazed upon his sister for the first time in reality. She looked to be a young girl, her apparent age not even in the double digits. Clad in a short white dress with green elements, she had silvery hair and, oddly enough, pointed ears, like those of an elf. Leaf-like accessories adorned her hair.

Even if she wasn't a goddess, to lock away a girl like her was an act of cruelty. Harry felt his fist clenching at the thought of the Sages and their contempt towards their deity. A reckoning would come for them, but not yet. He needed to ensure his sister was safe and sound.

It took too long for the bubble to finally dissipate. Nahida, who seemed to be either asleep or in a trance, seemed startled by its absence, floating gently to the ground. Her eyes were looking around, those verdant eyes with pupils that looked like crosses, like a weird cursor on a computer screen.

Harry hissed, "Nahida!"

She whipped around, and looked in his general direction. Harry carefully lifted up part of the Invisibility Cloak, enough for her to see his face (but, if there were surveillance cameras in this place, he hoped they wouldn't see much, if anything at all), and placed a finger to his lips. Her eyes widened in delight, and she hurried over to him. He took her hand…and then Apparated…

…And appeared just outside Tighnari's home. Nahida swayed on her feet. "Ooh, that's Apparition, is it? Rather uncomfortable," she commented.

Harry removed the Invisibility Cloak, even as Hermione, Tighnari, and Collei emerged from the house. "Yes, it is." He then knelt in front of Nahida. Not as a sign of submission to the Dendro Archon, but simply so that he could meet her gaze without looking down at her. He found his sight being blurred by tears.

She was real. The girl who had been in his dreams for as long as he could remember, his sister in everything but blood, she was real. There were so many things he wanted to say, that he needed to say, but he couldn't think of what to say first.

But Nahida, Kusanali, Buer, the Dendro Archon and Goddess of Wisdom, immature though she was (relatively speaking), knew exactly what to do. She approached him with a teary smile of her own, and gently hugged him. And then, she whispered into his ear, "Thank you, Harry."

After a moment, he returned the embrace, weeping quietly. And there, they both remained for some time, caring little for the onlookers. Nothing needed to be said, not for now. Just the gratitude of a lonely goddess, and the relief of a damaged wizard…

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Nahida has been rescued…but that doesn't mean the Sages' plans or those of Il Dottore have been ruined. Far from it…

No numbered annotations this time.