I own nothing. All respective characters and settings belong to their respective franchises.

Could it have gone any other way?

Perhaps.

Dumbledore was waiting patiently in his office, sitting behind his desk as he sipped up what was left of his tea. He would need to procure more from Cornelius provided they would still be on friendly terms after this. The man seemed to genuinely enjoy their tea sessions, when he wasn't busy keeping a close eye on him. On the day he made a claim to Minerva, he remembered how miffed the old boy was, but still managed to laugh through it.

That Cornelius thought he could install a spy into Hogwarts without him suspecting. Granted, Minerva had proven herself to be rather exceptional, and coldly professional in her earlier days. It was what made her an asset, of which he came to covet. It had become something of a game between them, of who would accede first. Minerva would play at gaining his trust, as would he, but they always held back, never playing their entire hand, or into each other's.

It would not be when she had experienced a lapse in her armor after the deaths of James and Lily; of whom she had formed an unlikely fondness for, that he saw his chance, with Severus having recently come to his sway for his own protection. It was like the stars had aligned by way of the Potions Master's affections for Lily. Perhaps not even a fool would pass up such an opportunity.

Now, it would seem, through a very roundabout twist of events, his victory over her would experience a turnaround of sorts.

Not that he didn't expect it. Barely anything surprised him these days, what with fate enacting a spot of mischief with the involvement of the young sorceress. Through his contacts in Japan, he came to know only enough to inform him that the girl had dropped out of Tokyo Tech one day and left the country. He did not believe for a moment it was for anything but leisure, or to even distance herself from Jujutsu Headquarters, for he could see a quality in the young woman that reminded him heavily of…

Sighing to steady himself, he barely paid attention to the door being slammed open by a very peeved Minerva McGonagall, with a more placid Yuki Tsukumo trailing behind her, and Harry nowhere in sight.

Severus…

Albus Dumbledore directed his attention towards the woman and greeted her with a gentle smile. "Good afternoon, Minerva. To what-" He was interrupted by a loud bang, a shelf of his most prized books behind him destroyed by a controlled Confringo, for had Minerva been willing, she would have set the entire library ablaze. Yuki couldn't help but be awed by the assortment of books that were strewn across vast shelves, alongside a few artifacts and knickknacks. It was enough to rival her own family's collection. What soon caught her eye, however, were the portraits overlooking where Albus was seated, with the contents of said portraits…moving, shouting, and panicking, with some actually…scurrying out of frame.

She would have attributed the phenomenon to a curse, but it could very well be magic at work.

"Another word," Minerva snarled through gritted teeth, her accent the thickest it had been in a long time, nostrils flaring as she now had her wand aimed directly at the man, "and it will be your head."

Albus gently placed his teacup down, never losing his smile as he spoke, even with the warning. "Do forgive me then, Minerva, but am I correct to assume that you are here to grill me on certain topics?"

"I have a very general idea on most, if not all of it, believe me," Minerva sniped. "And I have little interest in listening to your motives, your justifications. That's for Cornelius and the rest of the Ministry to sort out. Now, I'll be needing you to surrender quietly."

Dumbledore averted his eyes, seemingly pondering on the matter, and clicking his tongue when he asked, "On what charge?"

"Unauthorized modification of memories? The Imperius? Those alone would keep us busy all day, and we'll move on from there," Minerva stipulated, motioning for him to rise with her wand trained directly at him.

Instead of complying, Albus reclined further back in his seat. "Minerva, I implore you to hear me out."

"If it has anything to do with Harry, I'll gladly add kidnapping and potential grooming to the list," Minerva seethed. Then paused when she remembered her own involvement. Granted, she was still technically working undercover, so perhaps she could sort it all out once she was back at Headquarters. "Just tell me one thing. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why the Dursleys?" Minerva asked, her jaw clenching. "They were innocent people whose lives were upended because of you. On that very note, we can add the residents of Privet Drive as well. A massacre the likes of which we haven't seen since the First Wizarding War."

Yuki cocked a brow in curiosity. A secret war? Perhaps when things have calmed down, the lot of them being still in one piece, she might spare some time studying Wizarding history. A veritable untapped goldmine of knowledge, and it might contribute greatly to her research. From that thought, she ran another cursory scan of the library, when something from the corner of her right caught her eye.

"Believe me, Minerva, I greatly lament their deaths as well, but I am afraid your suspicions are misplaced," Albus explained. "You know as well as I-"

"The devil himself would envy your silver tongue," Minerva interrupted, her scowl deepening. "I happen to know that the events of that day can be traced back to you alone."

"And, why would that be, pray tell?" Albus spoke in a modest tone, which belied the tension.

Minerva tilted her head in Yuki's direction slightly, only to take another look at where the girl should be standing, tracing where she could have shuffled off to and finding her by the corner where a birdcage was propped atop a large drawer, confining a rather elderly-looking bird covered in red feathers. The poor thing threatened to bite the young sorceress' finger off from poking the appendage inside. With a loud clearing of her throat, Minerva drew the blonde's attention back to the situation, and as if realizing the eyes on her, Yuki pulled back from the cage, flashing both elders a timid smile, and clearing her own throat as well.

"I think I can answer that," Yuki stated.

"Your timing cannot be any more impeccable, Miss Tsukumo," Minerva deadpanned, glancing to the side.

The cutting remark caused the blonde to grimace. "Right," Yuki began, clearing her throat once more and facing the Headmaster. "Old man, were you ever aware that Harry…isn't a wizard?"

Minerva's mind harkened back to when they were still in the middle of the hallway, and her memories having been fully restored to their proper order by Severus.

Earlier…

Minerva heaved a tired sigh, one she would normally reserve for the aftermath of a busy day teaching, undoing some of the common and uncommon mistakes her students would make, and spending the rest sorting through papers and notes with the hope that she wouldn't stumble upon any graffiti. She bent her head down, as if checking to see if she was truly back to her old self, her gaze then coming up to her wand critically, thankful that it was her actual wand and not a duplicate that Albus rigged.

Taking a deep breath, she then locked eyes with Snape and asked, "Well?"

Snape raised his hand and summoned a small vial filled with bluish liquid. The silence hung over the air as the two teachers seemed to be silently deliberating an unspoken pact. "I explained to you as much last night. That this," he flashed the vial for all to see, "is the safest way to confirm our suspicions."

Minerva sniffed. "Better than placing the boy in danger, for what it's worth."

"Granny?" Yuki could tell that there was a change in the woman, as did Harry. By how much, well, it was a question she didn't feel like asking.

Minerva turned to the blonde, eyeing her up and down as if seeing her for the first time. "Do not be alarmed, Miss Tsukumo. I am still myself. Mostly."

"A false personality?" Yuki hazarded.

Snape was the one to answer, "In a manner of speaking. Many of Minerva's more primitive traits and memories had to be suppressed and altered in order to create a persona. This being a trusted ally, a long-time friend of Albus. She was ever anything but. In truth, she is a spy. Part of a clandestine department within the Ministry that is officially non-existent."

"Oh?" Yuki ventured with a coy quirk of her mouth. "Well, would any of you be so kind as to explain to me exactly why there would even be a need to spy on a Headmaster of a school?"

Good question.

"We will, Miss Tsukumo, but we cannot stay here," Minerva motioned, grabbing hold of Harry's shoulder with her free hand. She looked down at the boy and smiled in reassurance. "Hold on tight, Harry." Harry, not knowing what was about to happen but trusting the kindly old woman, gave a silent nod, and they disappeared from sight soon after.

Upon witnessing this, Yuki whipped her head towards Snape, who already had a hand on her shoulder, the girl mildly perturbed over how she barely perceived him sidling next to her, and realizing what was about to happen too late, she groused, "Oh cra-"

The Dungeons…

It wouldn't be a few seconds after landing back on solid ground that Yuki had to plough through the haze, thrashing her arms about as she floundered forward. She couldn't tell which way was which, if down was up, or if she was the one upside down, her perception yet to properly equalize as her vision continued to swim. The feeling of vertigo was particularly vexing as her body worked itself to adjust and readjust, with even breathing proving a challenge due to the tightness in her chest.

Out of all the spells she shrugged off, why did Apparition still affect her? There was that one spell that Poppy used that did wind her, but she figured it was because of the kinetic force it carried rather than the inherent magical energy. At least, that was her working theory on it.

Exhaling after a few dry heaves, Yuki wheeled around and fell back on something hard, which she soon recognized was a wooden bench, inclining back so that she was leaning against what was soon clear to her was the table that she had caught herself with. She opened her eyes, blinking rapidly to help adjust to the darkness, the air filtering into her nostrils musty and stale, only to soon be hit by a whirlwind of other smells that made her nose wrinkle, the sequence of odors instilling some momentary confusion when her gaze fell and rested on an opposing table, flanked by others in a row that caused her to perk up on where she even was. From around the corner, she could make out Minerva and Harry, the former setting the boy down on a seat closest to a wide chalkboard, with some diagrams and text scribbled on it that she couldn't make heads or tails out of.

Severus came into view not long after, his back facing her. The man made an offhand gesture, and the room immediately brightened, with Yuki almost blinded by the initial sheen coming off of an adjacent shelf that was filled nearly to the brim with glass vials and bottles. Most were of different shapes, some uniform, but all containing some manner of liquid, the colors forming a mesmerizing rainbow effect that left her breathless at how perfectly aligned and organized they were. Sweeping her gaze over the rest of the room yielded other shelves, all mirroring the first from every other corner that barely even allowed a peek of the wall behind.

A laboratory? No, a classroom. Likely both. With the man named Severus carrying the title of Potions Master, this could only belong to him, with one table at the very center elevated under a spotlight, bedecked upon by instruments, glass containers, layer upon layer of parchment, and a few books splayed open.

"Where…are we?" Yuki asked, rubbing one eye.

"The dungeons of Hogwarts," Minerva provided as she was gingerly making sure that Harry was comfortable, the young boy as well gaping in awe at the contents of the room. "This is where Severus teaches."

"...Your classroom…is a literal dungeon," Yuki surmised as she kept one eye on said teacher, who rolled his eyes inwardly for the inevitable flippant remark. "That's…actually kind of cool."

Both teachers froze and levied their gazes at the teenager. "Isn't this place awesome, Harry?" Yuki intoned with genuine sounding interest.

Severus turned to Harry on time to see the boy lightly nod, head craned upward as his gaze wandered, the smile on his lips unmistakable as he too seemed to be enamored by his surroundings, the light making the assortment of vials sparkle like precious gems. "Yeah, awesome."

The man in dark stared at Harry with an unreadable expression, which greatly contrasted the boy's beaming visage, emerald green eyes glimmering with wonder. Severus no sooner collected himself, coughing before addressing Minerva, all the while ignoring the smug grin she was passing him, "I've spread protective and reinforcement charms throughout the dungeon. Even the dorms. Albus would need to expend a considerable amount of mana just to go through the entrance alone."

"Wouldn't he just teleport straight in here?" Yuki wondered, earning a scoff from the wizard.

"Provided he isn't obstructed by the anti-apparition charms, the severing of my Floo Network, or the absence of any Portkey? It would prove quite the herculean task," Snape established. "I reactivated said charms immediately after apparating here, with each and every one locked specifically to my mana signature. He won't be able to dispel them so easily."

"Will they hold?" Minerva ventured.

"Albus happens to be privy to the formulas I use in constructing my protective charms," Severus revealed to Minerva's worry. "Not all, of course. It is unwise to reveal one's own hand entirely, after all. They will hold for as long as he is forced to try and find a way around them."

Yuki let out a whistle. "I have no idea what even half of those mean, but it sounds like we're locked in tight here. Mind if I contribute? I happen to know a few barrier spells, and if I had the proper tools, I could whip up some amulets to place on key areas."

"I'm afraid I must decline, Miss Tsukumo," Severus said to the blonde. "Mixing Cursed Energy into the mana structure could have unpredictable consequences. Perhaps even canceling the charms entirely."

Yuki relented with a nod. "Right. But, why do all this? Who exactly is this Albus Dumbledore guy? I mean, is he really that big of a deal?"

Witch and wizard traded long, perplexing looks before facing the sorceress, with Minerva having the floor. "Albus Dumbledore is the greatest wizard to have, or ever will, live," she declared near reverently. "And no, Miss Tsukumo, those are not my words. You can solely attribute such glowing praise to his supporters, of which there are many."

"Does he even have genuine political power?" Yuki ventured mindfully.

"Other than being Headmaster to Hogwarts, he is Chief Warlock within the Ministry, the one that presides over parliament and court affairs, and he would prefer to keep it that way, which belies the truly broad extent of his influence," Minerva elaborated. "Not just over Wizarding Britain, but for Magical Society as a whole."

"That's… I'm sorry, but that's a bit of a stretch, even for me," Yuki posed. "If he is as influential as you're implying, why is he also a Headmaster? What, is this the only magical school around?"

"No," Minerva sniffed. "There's Beauxbaton in Paris, and Durmstrang in Northern Europe. There are others, of course. But I don't recall there ever being one in Japan."

"Does this place happen to have its own sovereignty?"

There was a very long pause, and rather than be thrown off by the odd question or chide the girl, Minerva answered in the flattest tone possible, "No."

"Well, what? Don't tell me the government actually gets advice from the guy."

"Not always, no," Minerva clarified. "But he and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, are rather close. Professionally, of course. They socialize every now and then. More to keep an eye on one another while exchanging pleasantries over tea when they have the time. And only up to that point without stepping on each other's toes."

"So, with you here, that must mean they needed something to break the stalemate," Yuki figured.

"Even before that, actually," Minerva amended. "But the Ministry needed something a little less overt. Something that could slip through his defenses. For that, I…'left' the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to pursue teaching."

"You were a cop?" Yuki inquired with a quirk of her eyebrow.

"The proper term would be Auror in our lexicon, and yes," Minerva nodded. "My departure was rendered official as a form of corroboration. From there, the rest would fall unto me on how to get close to Albus."

"But, why exactly?" Yuki repeated her earlier question with a shrug. "You mentioned influence. Just how prevalent are we talking?"

From the look Minerva suddenly gave her, anyone would have got the distinct impression that she had asked the witch something foolish. "If he were to ever decide to run for Minister, even as a passing gesture, it would be an overwhelming landslide. And, no, that is not an exaggeration by even the tiniest margin."

Yuki reeled. That was every self-respecting politician's dream scenario. "So, what is it that makes him so special? How exactly does he stand out? I'm sure that not just anyone can fall under the government's watchful eye like that, even when he is technically under their employ."

"His unpredictability, being one," Minerva answered. "To better understand the Ministry's fixation on him, Miss Tsukumo, the man we know to be Albus Dumbledore came from a rather humble background, born to a family with no notable renown. Yet, he began to exhibit signs of remarkable talent not long into his First Year here in Hogwarts. In fact, he was so gifted, from his Fifth Year onward, teachers would delegate their classes to him."

Yuki blinked. The man was that much of a genius? Well, she supposed it wasn't exactly something unheard of as far as prodigies go. "Please," she began skeptically, "he couldn't have been that good."

Minerva adjusted her spectacles, imperiously asserting, "Not just any rudimentary subjects, mind you. By that very time period, he had shown the highest potential for NEWT-level spellwork, and before you ask, they are the most advanced in our curriculum that is required for a student to graduate. And Albus just so happened to excel in every single one that the school had little choice but to have him skip. In all of Hogwarts' venerated history, there has never been a wizard with such a natural; or perhaps unnatural, flair towards the arcane arts as Albus Dumbledore."

"And with such highly prodigious talent, some people began to see him as either an asset or a threat," Yuki realized.

Minerva could only nod. "In the following period after graduating, he was noted to have traveled for a time, after acquiring permission from the Ministry. He was to strictly abide by the Statute of Secrecy, be under strict surveillance, and most of all, refrain from bringing back any Muggle artifacts. In the intervening year leading up to his return, he managed to not only violate such heavy restrictions, evade surveillance as well as the retinue charged with finding him, but had the audacity to appear before the Ministry building itself driving an old combustion engine. That was when they knew he needed to be kept a closer eye on."

"Wait," Yuki interjected. "A combustion engine?" Minerva nodded. "Okay, I'll bite. How old is he?"

"Well past a hundred," Minerva revealed to Yuki's great surprise. "Yes, we have significantly longer life spans than average."

Yuki couldn't suppress a chuckle. "Haha, you got us beat there, I guess."

Minerva exchanged a glance with Snape, the man by the elevated table leafing through several rolls of parchment. "Sorcerers…?"

"Yeah," Yuki confirmed with a sigh. "We're really not as blessed as you guys are. Hell, I'll be lucky enough to make it to my thirties. Forties if I'm really lucky."

"That short?" Minerva gaped.

Yuki pursed her lips. "No, we still live on the same average as regular humans. It's just…in our line of work in dealing with Curses, life expectancy tends to take a downward turn. Not unless they…"

Minerva stared at the blonde, who had remained taciturn even as she spoke, her curiosity stirred. "Miss Tsukumo, am I to understand that you haven't properly graduated from your school? Is there even a school?"

Yuki nodded. "There are two of them. Back in my home country of Japan. Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, which is where I attended, and Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High School. Both train students in anything and everything Jujutsu in order to become fully fledged Sorcerers."

"Is…the Japanese public aware of you?" Minerva put forward, almost fearing what the answer was.

"The government at large is," Yuki answered. "The general public are more content to place us under the same banner as paranormal investigators or crackpots. I'm sure the same can be said about how magic is viewed."

"And you would be correct," Minerva agreed with an incline of her head. "Magic is more or less confined to the realm of fantasy, and we prefer it that way as a means to protect not only ourselves, but the non-magical. I don't believe I even need to delve into the reasons why."

"I suppose you don't," Yuki conceded, coming to her own logical conclusions. "The world has enough problems already. I should know."

"Are…sorcerers even included in the Statute of Secrecy?" Minerva wondered aloud, stealing another quick glance from a more preoccupied Severus, having had no genuine interaction with Sorcerers in the past after sifting through her newly restored memories.

"I'm afraid not," Yuki admitted. "This is the first I've ever heard of such a law, and if that weren't the case, I would have known about it. Though we do have an equivalent. The Jujutsu Regulations. And if I were to guess, they're more or less similar in function. Though, it certainly doesn't go so far as isolating ourselves. We still live alongside and regularly interact with Non-Curse Users. We actually have to as a large part of how we earn a living. We are exorcists, shamans, whatever label fits. We have clients who call in to request for our services. Mostly in schools and hospitals, but also general communities that experience even the slightest uptick in Curse-related phenomena."

Minerva was amazed. The Statute of Secrecy heavily restricted the fraternization between the magical and the non-magical, even in most areas of business, unless careful measures were taken, and even then, any infraction was met with swift punishment. For a society that still consorted with the non-magical populace, well, such a thing in the current day and age was simply unheard of. Not since before the dawn of the Fifteenth Century, when the witch hunts were on the rise, was magic more commonly known.

And for these Sorcerers to even profit off of their abilities. It was a wonder that the International Confederation of Wizards, the supreme power over magical society, hadn't cracked down on them sooner, though she suspected it wasn't for the simplest of reasons. She had a feeling after seeing what the sorceress was capable of that there was more to it than just an unspoken agreement, which Albus previously alluded to. She bristled slightly at being reminded of the Headmaster, causing her to continue in her narration.

"Getting back on topic, Albus would cultivate a reputation of being quite eccentric, yet none could deny that he was clever, astute, and brazen when it was required. Despite his oddities, there was a natural charisma to him that would garner him friends, associates…contacts. And…" the witch paused as her gaze became lost for a moment, "the attention of one man who would serve as one of the prime turning points in his life. Gellert Grindelwald."

Yuki listened, being drawn into the tale.

"Both Albus and Gellert, still young men at the time, met at Godric's Hollow, a quaint little village that was purported to be the birthplace of one of Hogwarts' great founders, Godric Gryffindor. It was also Albus' place of residence, where he lived with his two younger siblings, both of whom were under his care," Minerva related.

"His parents?" Yuki asked, to which Minerva broke eye contact.

"His father, Percival…passed away while incarcerated in Azkaban," Minerva disclosed softly.

Yuki's eyes widened in surprise, and when she said nothing, Minerva added, "His mother, Kendra, was killed by accident after his sister lost control of her magic."

Yuki's eyes fell down to the floor. "I see."

"...I wouldn't extend any sympathy for their situation quite yet, Miss Tsukumo," Minerva said with a shift in her tone, becoming harder when it was solemn just a sentence ago. "At least not for Albus, who was rather bitter about the arrangement after being made the sole breadwinner, because his brother had not yet finished school, and Ariana…dear Ariana was not well."

"I can imagine," Yuki remarked impassively.

"Albus worked as a clerk at the local post office for a while. He did it both to make ends meet and to help prepare himself for a career at the Ministry. At this point in his life, however, he had ambition, a hunger to test his potential for more. Much more."

"So, this is where Gellert must have come in, yeah?"

Minerva nodded. "They became fast friends, their interests and aspirations intertwining so seamlessly, it was hard to find a more fitting pair. During that time, the two would vie for positions at government, working tirelessly to realize their dreams. At least, that was what they had planned on the surface."

Minerva would go on to explain the rest of their cagey history. Albus and Gellert's actual goals, Ariana's tragic death and the ensuing fallout, all culminating in Yuki having a clearer picture of who this enigmatic wizard was, but she felt pieces were still missing.

"Sounded like one hell of a time," Yuki commented with a light shake of her head. "So, in the end, Albus had to bring down his best friend in order to keep him from blowing the whole thing wide open. And just before WWII. Don't tell me he had a change of heart in the end."

"What happened to Ariana no doubt had a profound effect on Albus. Not that it did anything to curb his more manipulative tendencies," Minerva huffed. "To my knowledge, his single remaining sibling, Aberforth, had severed all ties with him. After defeating Gellert, he could have only been in the most enviable position to gain a place in the Ministry, and they were only too happy to welcome him with open arms. They had to. With Gellert having struck a blow to their credibility, they couldn't afford to pass up the hero who had done a great service to his community."

"Good 'ol PR," Yuki quipped calmly.

Minerva closed her eyes. "To the Ministry's credit, they also did it with the intent of keeping close tabs on Albus. They could not possibly forget his prior involvement with Gellert, with the fear that he still held just some of his old sentiments."

Yuki nodded. "So, it's safe to assume from this point onward, that he worked his way up, became a judge, and somehow found the time to be the Headmaster of a school. Quite the glowing resume. Yet, I feel like you haven't gotten to the heart of this whole drama yet. There has to be more."

"Well-"

"It is done." A voice broke through their conversation, with Snape coming down the two-step platform from where his main desk was elevated. "Bring me the sample, Minerva."

Minerva stood up from her seat, with Yuki tagging along as they came upon Harry, who looked up from his position at their approach. "Harry," Minerva began gently, "would it be all right if you gave us a lock of your hair?"

Harry's features furrowed. "Why?"

Minerva pressed her lips thin. "Well, we, er…there is a need to see…

"We haven't the patience for this, Minerva," Snape chided flatly.

The witch was quick to shoot the man a look, before readdressing the boy…when a sly grin suddenly appeared across her face. Clearing her throat she continued, "Erm, Harry, Doctor Snape here," Severus' brow twitched, "would like to have a lock of your hair."

Harry tilted his head. "Hair?"

Minerva nodded. "Would it be alright with you? To give him a sample of your hair?"

"Why?"

"Because," Minerva began, her smile becoming equal parts genuine and equal parts Machiavellian. "Doctor Snape here," Severus' brow twitched again, with Yuki looking away and pressing an enclosed hand to her mouth, "simply wishes to make sure that you are healthy, ever the compassionate fellow."

Harry, still looking unsure, turned to Yuki, who decided to follow Minerva's lead and said, "It's true, Harry. We're here in Doctor Snape's clinic," Severus blew out an exhale through his nostrils, "and he's just the nicest man I know," the esteemed Potion's Master was sorely tempted to leave, "so you can trust him. This is just a simple checkup, really."

Harry stared at the three, before dipping his head low so that his face was obscured, with Minerva having taken his hat previously. The trio watched as the boy seemed to shrink away, withdrawing further into his seat.

"Harry? Harry, what's wrong?" Minerva asked with concern.

The boy didn't answer immediately, and simply continued to keep his head down. "Harry?" Yuki called. "Are you okay?" At this, he gave a demure nod, though still refusing to look up.

Snape, observing this, ventured on a hunch. "The checkup is over, Mister Potter."

At this, Harry finally lifted his head to catch all three pairs of eyes staring at him, but it took the span of a moment before Minerva bent down so that they were both eye level. She lifted a hand to caress his cheek gently, smiling kindly as always, but inside, more of her previous anger was brewing.

Snape closed his eyes, making a gesture with his hand and a tiny strand of hair appeared in the middle of his palm. He deftly uncorked the vial in his other hand and shoved it inside, resealing the cork and giving it a good shake. Minutes later, he brought the vial up close, watching as its color; a deep purple, gradually became clear and translucent as water.

Snape, with a sigh, said, "As I thought."

"What?" Yuki asked, craning her neck to espie the vial.

"It would seem that Mister Potter…has no mana," Snape bluntly declared.

Minerva closed her eyes, righting herself and turning to the man. "Are you certain? It could be a false positive."

"It is not," Snape rebutted. "My potion is flawless in detecting even the slightest traces of magical energy, which Harry has none. Curiously enough, had he been a squib, the potion would have turned red instead, indicating the intrusion of Cursed Energy. For it to be clear, it can only mean one other thing, for I have tested this on a Sorcerer before."

"You've…" Minerva's mouth went dry, before she relented with a sagging of her shoulders, knowing better than to question the man's integrity at this point. She turned to the blonde sorceress and found her continuing to eye the vial in fascination. "I'm sure you knew."

Yuki was beyond the notion of denying it. "Sensed it the day I was there."

Minerva shook her head. "This should be impossible."

"Oh? Who says?" Yuki asked challengingly, flickering a glance at the woman.

"As far as I am aware, there has never been such a case. On record, at least," Minerva conceded. "Though it's possible that the Ministry has kept it under wraps."

"For all we know, granny, we can't exactly dismiss the possibility that there have been Sorcerers with magical parentage," Yuki hypothesized. "Even Non-Curse Users can produce a Sorcerer."

"As there are those born from Muggles," Minerva echoed resignedly. "You have a point, Miss Tsukumo, though for what this could mean for the Wizarding world-"

"Harry's just a kid," Yuki interrupted dismally. "He isn't some savior or messiah that the old man gets to groom as his personal attack dog. I don't really know or care why, but I can definitely say for certain that he would have ended up much worse had we not been there that day. Maybe if things had gone smoothly and he continued to endure such a life, well…"

Minerva took a deep breath.

"Not only that," Yuki continued. "It's possible that the old man got it in his head that Harry needed to be in an environment that could foster only negative emotions."

"To what? To turn Harry into a weapon?" Minerva spat with contempt. "And for him to…to swoop in at the right opportunity as a shoulder to cry on? Sorcerers are resilient to magical energy, Miss Tsukumo. Someone like that under Albus' thrall could mean nothing good depending on where he takes things going forward. And the Ministry can be quite paranoid, make no mistake. This is just the sort of move they've been waiting for Albus to pull."

"So, you're gonna throw the book at him?" Yuki asked.

"What?" Minerva asked with a crinkling of her brows.

"She means, are you finally going to arrest Dumbledore?" Snape dryly provided, with Minerva stiffening in embarrassment at her own confusion about the idiom.

"Considering the substantial evidence I've gathered; myself included, yes," Minerva nodded.

"Then, what are we waiting for?" Yuki jerked her thumb to the exit. "We gonna nail his ass, or what?"

"This is now official Ministry business," Minerva declared. "So, yes, Miss Tsukumo, to paraphrase you in a less vulgar fashion-"

Present…

"Albus Dumbledore, I place you under arrest."

With Yuki's explanations over, Dumbledore drummed his fingers on his desk as he fixed his gaze on the two females. With a sigh, he leaned forward, steepled his hands together, put on his best smile and said in a calm voice, "Would you like some tea first, Minerva?"

"That was not a request, Albus," Minerva warned sternly. "I expect you to cooperate."

"And I expect you…to understand things from my perspective," Albus argued. "I at least deserve an opportunity to explain myself."

"One you will have all the time in court for," Minerva fired back.

"I am afraid not," Albus said. "I've already spoken with Cornelius, and I am fully prepared to plead for leniency. Or, perhaps not. You and I know that if this ever reaches the public sphere, not only will his career take a dive, but yours as well."

"I care not for that if it means having you to face justice. And Cornelius will need only to survive until the end of his term," Minerva seethed, glaring daggers at the man. "Anything, if it means having to keep you from Harry."

"Oh, on the contrary," Albus shrugged. "Harry is already my ward. Legally speaking, all of James and Lily's assets have been entrusted to me, which will be bequeathed to him when he reaches sixteen. You're free to seek counsel with an attorney, if you wish."

"Not after I report back to the Ministry," Minerva threatened.

Albus leaned back against his seat. "Report what? With what evidence? Forgive me, Minerva, but has it ever occurred to you that your mission has long been overdue? That Cornelius has simply turned his back on you? The Ministry has no real reason to detain me."

"With Harry by your side?"

"Harry is Harry," Albus declared knowingly. "With him by my side, he will be nothing but an ally at worst. He is not to be the Ministry's enemy unless they are foolish enough to see him that way. What happened to the Dursleys and the rest of Privet Drive was tragic, but the blame for that cannot be assigned to just anyone."

"I'm not so sure about that," Yuki chimed in from her corner. "There is the matter of exactly why those Cursed Spirits started cropping up in that place to begin with."

"Miss Tsukumo was more than gracious enough to explain it to me after exchanging information," Minerva spat with disgust. "A Horcrux. Harry was a Horcrux all along, and you knew, but you-you-"

"You can place the blame on Tom for that, Minerva," Albus continued for the seething woman. "Harry was made into a Horcrux completely by accident that fateful night, a piece of his soul having transferred into the boy after his murder of Lily."

"Shoddily made, if you ask me," Yuki scoffed, as Cursed Objects tended to not be exorcized so easily unless they happened to be that weak. "And don't think you can just play dumb here."

"Pardon?" .

"Yeah, your little master plan's hit a bit of a snag, old man," Yuki said. "I figured it out after granny managed to fit in an abridged version of Lord Moldybutt or whatever his name was before we got here."

"...So, you must have an idea of why I am doing this."

"Yeah, yeah, to defeat Wizard Hitler and his colorful gang of misfits," Yuki drawled. "Cut the crap. The guy's dead."

"Oh, but he will return," Albus said assuredly. "He-"

"Listen, Dumberdore, or whatever the fuck your name is, I know that there's some shitty ass prophecy!" The Headmaster's smile fell at that. "You must really think the people around you are that stupid."

Dumbledore did not respond or react immediately, only allowing a small quirk of his lips. "Well, you definitely can't pin the blame on me for that." He spoke with all honesty this time. "I admit it can get frustrating at times." The twinkle in his eye then darkened, all levity emptying from his features as he rested his chin on the back of his hand. "That's what happens when a people have been corralled into a box, isolating themselves from a world that is more than happy to leave them behind."

Minerva froze, having never heard Albus speak so…vehemently before.

"You know not the future that awaits Harry, Miss Tsukumo," Dumbledore went on. "The destiny that-"

"Don't talk to me about destiny!" Yuki coldly snapped, her red eyes blistering with anger. "You have no idea how full of crap that is. People deserve to be able to live for themselves."

"Oh? And I suppose Harry will be able to if he's with you? Within the Jujutsu Society?" Dumbledore said with a humor-laden tone. "From one web to another. Our two factions are hardly any different. Why, I wager you Sorcerers to be worse in that regard. Simply leading lambs to slaughter."

Yuki did not rise to the bait, for it was true.

At the very end of the day, whether one admits it or not, likes it or not, hates it or not, Sorcerers were duty bound to fight a never-ending crusade against curses. They were little more than soldiers, tools.

Cogs. In a machine that will run eternally so long as a single human carries negativity within their heart.

"Is that not why you departed from home?"

Minerva gave the blonde sorceress a sidelong glance as Yuki cryptically stared at the elderly wizard.

"Jujutsu Kaisen."

Minerva blinked, while there was a knowing curl in Albus' eye. "It is an expression among us Sorcerers," Yuki began. "Jujutsu is already obvious enough. When translated literally, it means Cursed Techniques, but in certain contexts, it could also be interpreted as Sorcery. Kaisen doesn't mean much on its own, and is more of a wordplay. But when you break it down by characters, kai means to turn, revolve, a cycle. An eternal cycle. Sen means fight, conflict, or even battle.

"'The Eternal Battle of Sorcery'," Yuki concluded. "So yes, old man, you're right. We are far worse, which is the reason why I left. To escape from such an oppressive system. How our so-called leaders have absolutely no qualms with sending us off to fight an endless war against curses, with no guarantee that we might even come back. If one dies, which is often, then one will simply take their place, feeding into the slog of treating the symptoms of a disease rather than the disease itself. Non-Sorcerers leak Cursed Energy because they are unable to control it, thus providing the means for Cursed Spirits to be born. So long as a solution for such a conundrum has not been discovered, the battle can only go on and on, perhaps even until the end of time."

Minerva paled. As a Sorcerer himself, could that be the life that was awaiting Harry?

"Hence, why I needed to-"

"You are also correct in your other assumption," Yuki continued, her emotions tensing up as she began to glare daggers at the man, wisps of Cursed Energy wafting off of her. "You are no different from the idiots who are content to just sit back while we work ourselves to the grave. I don't give two shits just how great you are. Hundreds of people are dead because of you. Harry doesn't deserve that on his conscience, so I'm going to make you pay."

Dumbledore looked genuinely surprised by the girl's declaration. "Are…you threatening me, Miss Tsukumo?"

Albus said it so calmly that Minerva thought she could only be in a fever dream, feeling a sweat coming on as the tension within the room was rising for every passing second, with her having cut a glance up at the portraits to see that none of the occupants were there, having fled for their safety. Fawkes was thrashing and squawking within his cage erratically, as if desperately wishing to fly as far away from the inevitable clash.

"Yes. I am," Yuki answered emphatically as she set her Cursed Energy free.