Here it's the next update! Sorry for taking a while but here we are starting the next schedule!
Also, I will wrap the first year in two more chapters! The next one it's going to be lit!
On another topic, if you want to advise about my new work about Game of Thrones and Overlord crossover, please check my poll review in "Overlord: The Demon Empress in Westeros!"

So, the schedule to come it's as follow
Wizarding World Overlord
Harry Potter and the Demon Empress.

See you guys in a few days!

Chapter 9

Shackles around her, an undying feeling of loneliness covered in a mist of remembrance and welcoming. There she felt divided, yet completed. There, enveloped in darkness, Harriet looked around, trying to understand what was going on. Then, with no notification, her entire being appeared in the middle of a vast and luxurious place. Harriet saw a throne made of a black stone. Shinning with gold and more. She looked around and saw flags hiding from the wall, and it was at that moment she knew where she was. The throne room of Nazarick. A gasping sound came out of her. Not believing what she was seeing, a dream perhaps, or a hallucination.

Harriet wanted to cry. It was her first home. The place where she took refuge for so many years and found her first family. The flags of all her friends were hanging proudly all the way to the entrance. Harriet wanted to touch the throne. To feel it on her fingertips, yet she couldn't touch it. In fact, Harriet couldn't move from her spot. It locked her in that place. Harriet listened to whispers, and soon she turned back only to face something she has never seen before. Well, in a while now.

Harriet stared at herself. At her character, Galadriel Melkor standing in the middle of the throne room, looking directly at her. Unmoving, just standing there like a statue. The entire experience felt wrong and terrifying to Harriet didn't know how to react, to see herself. Her character there. It is me? It's Galadriel someone else? I don't understand!

"What's going on?" Harriet asked.

Harriet saw Galadriel moving her mouth too, but no word came out.

"I don't understand what is going on. Did I lose my mind?"

Again, Galadriel moves her mouth, but she could hear no sound. Harriet brought her hand up as if she was trying to test something, and she saw how her character did the same as her. Like a puppet reflecting her movement. Maybe it would have amused her before, but now the only thing she could feel was consternation and anguish. What was happening? Why am I seeing myself… Her? What could this mean? She thought.

A mid of all of that confusion of why she was here. Harriet then senses as if Galadriel walked in her direction. It shocked her core to see her character move on her own. The Demon Empress had a stoic face, showing nothing but emptiness. Harriet wanted to move, but couldn't. She wanted to breathe, but it was not possible. Galadriel, or herself, Harriet does not know what to think, but the white-haired demon empress knelt before her. A sudden feeling of peace ran through her body. Harriet felt Galadriel hand over her shoulder, and in a sudden change of perspective she was not looking down at herself. She was now Galadriel Melkor, looking down at Harriet Potter.

The girl with green eyes smiled at her.

"Don't forget."

The girl said. Galadriel stared at her other self in wonderment. "Don't forget what?"

"Don't forget."

She did not know what was going on, but then everything faded away. The girl kept on repeating the same thing. Don't forget. Don't forget.

"I don't understand! Forget what?!"

"Us, them."

The throne room disappeared from her sight. The walls and flags, all of it. She tried to scream but to no avail; she wanted to run but her legs did not answer her pleads. Slowly, the consciousness faded too, and Galadriel could only see Harriet slowly disappearing, too, as she kept on saying the same words. But for one second, just a small fraction of time, she could see shadows around her other-self. What are they? They looked familiar, too familiar to her taste. Like she knows silhouettes moved from one side to the next. As if they were in panic.

The last thing she saw was the throne and how a shape of a woman with wings on her hips fell on her knees, hugging the throne and letting a loud cry of anguish. Galadriel suddenly recognized the shadow. That's Albedo… Albedo! She wailed too, as darkness took her.

Nothing took place in her mind but thoughts, visions, or memories of what took place in the Throne Room of Nazarick. Could it mean she saw the memories of herself disappearing? The moment she was reborn? The moment she left Nazarick and entered a new life? Because after all, what is time? But a fragment of someone's else life.

She heard a sudden yelling from within the loneliness of her mindscape. Faraway, but then, like if something or someone wanted to wake her up. She felt hands over her.

"Harriet!? James! James!"

A gasp escapes her mouth as she woke up sweating and breathing hard as green eyes stared at her with tears on them.

"Mom?" Harriet asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, my dear!" Lily said, hugging her child.

Lily was trembling. She came in the early hours of the morning to check on her daughter in the Hospital Wing. It was her turn to patrol and to look out for her. Sirius and Remus were patrolling all night long, but it was time they rest. Lily wanted to stay with Harriet all night if possible, but she knew there was something she had to do. Lily wrote a letter to a few of her contacts in the Department of Mysteries. To lookout for any information about what could cause a splint in someone's core. It made no sense that someone as powerful as Voldemort could have such a fragile magic core that splintered the moment he died.

When a witch or wizard dies, their core just turns off. Like a dying battery of sorts. Even if their bodies exploded, their auras and essences did not. They vanished. A magical core was not something tangible. It was all around them, with their auras. Their self being.

The magical core, aura, and soul. It was all connected. One part cannot exist without the other.

So, if a part of Voldemort's essence, of his soul, could live without a body. That's means, he did something to his core. To his aura and magic. It means Voldemort could split parts of him. The idea of it brought nausea to Lily. Who would do something like that? To tear his own soul. Mutilate what makes him human.

Because of that, Lily spent the entire night reading in the restricted section of Hogwarts library, in the search of something. That's why she hasn't slept at all. She couldn't, not with the life of Harriet on the line. But when she arrived, she saw Harriet moving violently on her bed. Then she screamed. What was she dreaming? Who is Albedo? Lily wondered as she kept Harriet close to her.

"Mom, I can't breathe," Harriet said.

"Thanks god… Are you alright? Does something hurts?"

Lily said as she caressed Harriet's head.

Harriet stared at her small hands. She was not on her character body. She felt disoriented, strangely.

"I'm fine, mom. Just a… weird dream that's all."

Harriet said, trying to calm her beloved mother, of course arriving at the hospital wing. Her father came out with a wand in hand, ready to fight to the death.

"Lily?! Harriet?! What happened?"

James entered the room, and behind him, Alice and Dorcas followed him. They were all going to check on Harriet until they hear someone screaming. James approached his wife and daughter, looking concerned. Harriet just sighed, remembering what took place yesterday. Did I pass out? I think I did. Shit, not a good start to the year. She thought grimly.

"She was screaming, I don't know… Harriet… Your eye…" Lily and the rest could only stare at Harriet's right eye.

"What?" Harriet asked, not knowing that her right eye was golden.

James and Lily weren't sure of what was happening, but they knew it was not normal. Then, slowly, it changed to the normal green color.

"What? Do I have something in my eye?" Harriet asked as she rubbed her eye. Lily and James looked at each other, wondering if they were imagining things, but they knew it was not the case. James inspected his daughter, and so did Lily. Looking at if an insect bites her, or if she had a fever.

"Ah, mom, dad. Eh, I don't know what it's going on. But I feel fine," Harriet said, puzzled by her parents inspecting her.

James sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. He looked tired and exhausted. Lily did the same, but she was next to Harriet.

"You had us worry, you know?" James said.

"And this is only the beginning of the year…" He muttered.

"I'm sorry," Harriet whispered.

"Harriet, if you were feeling sick. Listen to Madam Pomfrey. She is the healer here, and the expert. You shouldn't have gone to classes in that state. You should have stayed here and waited for us. In the presence of an adult."

Harriet flinched at the voice of her mother, not liking the angry look of her red-haired mother.

"I didn't want to lose my first day of school…"

"It could have been the last. You hit your head on the cold stone floor. That was dangerous, and irresponsible young lady. And adding the Legilimency attacks and what could happen, if the perpetrator discovered you in that unconscious state. It was highly thoughtless of you, Harriet. You understand that, don't you?" James said in a steel voice. Not at all, a voice Harriet was used to hearing.

Lily and James looked at how Harriet avoid staring at both of them. She looked so small, and she was muttering some words.

"I… sorry," she said in a small voice.

Harriet felt dumb. She should have known better than to risk herself. Ironically, she thought that by going on with her day and being around other students and people. Nothing bad would take place. She was wrong. Very wrong. I made a horrible mistake. I should have known better. Shit, it could end terribly for me. They are right, I should have known better and stay safe while waiting for them. She thought.

Lily sighed as she took Harriet's hand. "Harriet, we worry for you. The moment you sent us that letter… We… You do not know how concerned we were."

"Adding now the fact, we have someone responsible for doing it," James said.

Harriet understood the implications of what could take place now. "What will happen next, dad?"

"We are going to investigate all the teachers… This is serious, Harriet. You know how the law operates, and how the noble houses would react if there is a teacher poking holes in the mind of their children."

"That would not be good…" Harriet said.

"Not at all… We will start the investigation today. Harriet…"

"James, please, before anything. Allow Dorcas and Alice to inspect her mind, to see if everything is alright," said Lily.

"The interrogation can wait, James," Alice said.

"You must wait for, Frank and Amelia, you know they had to be here," Dorcas said.

James sighed, as even though he was an auror captain. He had to wait for the rest of the DMLE to arrive so he could start the investigation. Although he must admit, Harriet's health was more important. James would find the one responsible for attacking his daughter. He swears it.

"You're a right… It can wait."

"Now, Harriet, you remember, our friend Dorca Meadowes? She is the head of St Mungo's Hospital," James said, smiling at the blushing face of Harriet as she stared at the wonderful, tall, and muscular dark-skinned woman before her. How could I forget about such a person? She is bloody gorgeous! Harriet thought.

"Y-yes! I remember her… She took care of me when I blow up the house… hello," Harriet said, blushing.

James snickers at the sight of his daughter stammering and blushing. "It seems our daughter has a crush on you, Dorcas. Should I warn, Remus?"

"Dad!" Harriet yelled.

Lily and Alice snorted as Harriet's embarrassment grew. Dorcas only smiled gently at the young girl. She would not lie. Seeing how those cute cheeks of Harriet were blushing deeply brought joy to her. Harriet Potter was just a beauty of a girl. Now I can understand why Lily always parades around showing everyone pictures of her daughter. Look at those round cute cheeks! Dorcas thought.

"Hello, heiress Potter. It's nice to see you again. As you know, Alice and I are going to check if everything is alright with your Occlumency shields, and if there is any damage in your mind."

Harriet shuddered at the idea of someone entering her mind. Again. But she understood the necessity of knowing that everything was fine inside of her. She had to know if there was damage still there. Or if someone tried to do something while she was out.

"Don't worry, dear, we are going to stay with you."

Lily said, caressing Harriet's hand, a feeling the girl loved. "Thank you, mom."

Harriet sat down in a chair, as she saw Neville's mother and the gorgeous woman with silver hair and dark skin get ready to inspect her. She was not sure of how they would do so. But she trusted them. A bit.

"Alright, Harriet, just look directly at me. I'm only going to see your mental walls, and the surrounding nerves and brain tissue. It's only an outside view, nothing more," Alice said in a serious tone, seeing the anxiety of the girl.

"Alright, I trust you, aunt Alice," Alice smiled at the girl.

"You're going to feel a cold sensation in your head. Your forehead, to be more precisely. If you feel any discomfort, pain, panic or anything like that, please tell me. And I will stop immediately."

"How does it work? It's the same as Legilimency? I read it's the same." Harriet said.

"It is the same, but there is a difference. Legilimency while using it in a Mind Healing aspect. It's the ability to see the outside of your brain. For me, it's like having a photo of your brain in my mind. Mm, think of it as a MRI or a CT scan that the Muggle use. But I can see it in more detail than in those pictures."

"And you use magic to heal people while… watching their brains?"

"Exactly."

Ah, aunt Alice, it's actually pretty smart. She is like a magical version of a neurosurgeon. I wonder why didn't I asked about her job sooner. Harriet thought.

"Now, take a deep breath and relax yourself. It won't take long."

Harriet nodded, and with a sigh she prepared herself. Both of them stared at each other, and Harriet felt a cold sensation running through her forehead. It wasn't unpleasant, not really, but it made her feel vulnerable. And she hated it, yet she held on. Harriet had to be strong and act like an adult. But having someone inside her head truly was one thing she hated the most. Well, among the top three. The whole thing that someone could enter places in her mind where she has sealed and hide her worst memories. Brought a sensation of nakedness and vulnerability that Harriet hated.

Alice felt the anxiousness emanating from Harriet. She is afraid. Terrified of this. I must hurry. Alice held Harriet's hand as she wanted to make her feel more relaxed.

"You have powerful Occlumency walls… Ah, I see now."

"What is it, Alice?" Dorcas asked.

"There is a slight scar on her walls. Some tried to penetrate her Occlumency shields. A vicious attack no doubt."

"Alice, it's there any damage around the area? Any inflammation in the Frontal Lobe? Tissue? Anything that could harm her in the long run?"

"None, Harriet's walls held on perfectly. But the attack came from someone with the intentions of hurting her."

"What about the scar? Did it cause any problems?" Dorcas asked, as she could see Lily and James's worried expression.

"The scar… did cero damage to Harriet's brain. That's remarkable… But well, we know little about the scar and how dangerous it is. Yet, I believe the reason, Harriet felt so sick yesterday during the entire day, was because of the initial Legilimency attack on her mind. They were rather vicious."

"What do you mean?" James asked.

"Mm, the first few Legilimency attacks, opened Harriet's magic scar somehow. And leaked the dark essence that brought the sickness and headache to Harriet. The scarring of Occlumency walls is painful, but it never leads to that type of pain, or reaction. As you all understand."

"The dark essence brought all the sickness to her, but now that we have close the magic scar. It shouldn't be a problem, for now, that is."

"I understand now. It makes sense. So, there is not problem inside her brain?"

"No, all things consider. Still, I will recommend a few potions for headache and for any soreness it could arise. As well, for Harriet to repair her Occlumency walls. But besides that, she is fine and healthy," Alice said.

Lily and James sighed in relief, and so did Harriet.

"Thank you, Alice," Lily said.

"It's nothing, Lily."

Harriet thought about what they say about her scar. The dark essence and all of that. From what I know from hearing them. My scar has something, a bad thing, hiding inside of it. An essence of sorts. Mm, that's not good. Not at all. Harriet thought as she rubbed her head.

"What is the dark essence you all are talking about?" Harriet asked.

The adults looked at each other, wondering what could they say to her. James had known for years that, hoping his daughter to have a normal life, would be like asking for water in the desert. Harriet's life would never be fully normal, not with Voldemort and Dumbledore trying to do something, Harriet, at every turn. It brought a sense of sadness to him. Harriet should go on with life enjoying her time with friends, and god forbid, finding someone to love. James just wanted Harriet to be happy. Nothing else. But that would never happen. James glances at Lily and saw that she was thinking just the same. With just one look, both of them knew that telling Harriet the truth would be the best. She needed to know what was at stake.

"Harriet… What we are going to tell you, it's what we believe it is. We are still investigating about it, so please don't panic," Lily whispered.

Harriet nodded slowly.

"We believe that… Somehow, a part of Voldemort latched itself in… You. His essence it's living in your scar."

Harriet only stared at them, with no expression on her face. Nothing. For a long period, James and Lily wondered what was happening inside their child's mind. What was she thinking? Was she afraid or something? They weren't sure until they saw her sighed.

"Well… that's bad."

None said anything for a long time, as they could only stare at Harriet.

"So… for the looks you all are giving me… it's not possible to remove it, right?" Harriet said.

"Not without it killing you. The… essence, the part of Voldemort it's so latched into your own magic core. That removing it could destroy the core itself," Alice said, seeing that neither Lily and James could speak.

"Like a malignant tumor of sorts… I understand."

Alice couldn't hide her surprise, watching how calm Harriet was. Well, as serene as someone could after hearing such a thing. She is truly someone amazing. So young yet so mature.

It stressed Harriet out and brought discomfort to her. Yet there was hope. She believes that there was a way for her to live and remove that tumor out of her being. Also, a part of her deep inside removed any fear of such malignant essence inside her scar. A weird sensation of annoyance rather than worry. Harriet wondered what could it be, yet she considered it a good thing. She was still in control, she only needed time and patience.

"Harriet, we are going to get that thing out. Never doubt it!" Lily said, holding Harriet's hand tightly.

Harriet only smiled at her mother. "I know, that's why I don't worry."

Harriet let a sigh of relief as she rested in her bed. It was already nightfall, and she was still in the Hospital Wing. They wanted to be sure she rested for another day. She tried to argue about it. Losing another day of school was not something she wanted to do, but with one look at her mother and knowing full well it could become another day. If she argued back, so Harriet remained silent. She hated not doing anything, not like she hated sleeping, but staying still. Not moving or doing anything was something she detested.

Not only that, Frank Longbottom and Amelia Bones came midday, intending to interrogate every single teacher and some students.

That's when things got strange for her. Harriet was the first one, and before they could ask questions. The Great Albus Dumbledore arrived and tried to constrain them to not ask many delicate questions. What does he mean with delicate questions? Who knows? But he seemed rather alarmed. Harriet felt as if he was actually doing something more. Dumbledore tried to get Harriet to consider what she was going to say to the Aurors. Of course, Harriet like many weren't noticing Dumbledore sneaking hand trying to control Harriet's thoughts or actions. But soon, he realized his spells did not work on Harriet.

None of the charms he put on her last night worked. That brought panic to the old wizard. But he still thought that Harriet won't remember anything about the Legilimency attacks from Severus. And he was right, somewhat since Harriet at the moment she told them about the first day at school. The welcoming ceremony, and what she felt. Harriet looked confused and out of place.

Truth be told, Dumbledore Obliviate spell only worked on Harriet because of her state of mind and her unconscious state. But only a small part of her memory suffered at the hands of the old wizard. It didn't erase it but confounded it. Harriet remembered how by looking at the table where the professors were sitting, they attacked her Occlumency shields. When Frank asked her about who she was watching directly. Harriet's vision of the memory blurred. Like static in her vision, but she could distinguish both professors. Quirrell and Snape, but who was it. Harriet couldn't say.

It did not entirely satisfy Dumbledore that his spell didn't work on the young girl. But he could, at least, point the blame to Quirrell instead of Severus. He now knows that Obliviate and charms to control Harriet were useless. Why? Dumbledore was not sure, but it could be because of those strange auras surrounding Harriet. They seemed to protect her, even when she was unconscious. He would think about it. Perhaps there was a way to use it to his advantage.

Harriet then told them how during Defence Against the Dark Arts she felt as if something was hissing at her. When she passed out, she listened to a voice, low and far away. Adding the fact that it was during that class that she truly felt sick and smelled that awful stench. Many were suspecting Quirrell of something.

Dumbledore, however, didn't like where things were going. All his plans to test young Harriet seemed to fade away. But he must look at the bigger picture now. Losing Severus was not an option. That's why he added to the investigation how different Quirrell magic was. Dumbledore told them it perhaps linked him to the Dark Lord. Maybe even working for him. A gamble. The old wizard knew Amelia and Frank would ask him about how he knows it. They would ask him about how he could allow a Voldemort servant to work in Hogwarts. And many other things.

He would think about it later, that's for sure, but not now.

Among all of that, Harriet knew there was something more going on with Dumbledore. She felt it. That's why she has been thinking of bringing [Elise the Spider Queen] to Hogwarts so she could establish a spy network in the school. But it would leave her home open and she did not want that.

So there she was, thinking on the bed. Wondering what could she do. The last few days have taught her how foolish she was and how much she has to learn. A painful experience, to be sure. But Harriet would never allow herself to be caught like that ever again.

"I need to learn how to use my Yggdrasil magic without repercussions. There has to be a way…"

Harriet pulled out from her inventory a book of sorts. She has written many things there. Her stats, how many items she could use, which items she should prioritize in case of emergency. And more. But there was something else.

Harriet, now that she has her wand, could try to experiment with Yggdrasil spells.

"If I could cast Yggdrasil spell with my wand, maybe I could control the power of it. But how different it would be? Would it work only casting it with my wand, like any other charm? Mm, perhaps… I need to test it out. But not here. I need to find a place where I could experiment without interference. I wonder if there is a place like that here. A secret room, of sorts."

Harriet whispered as she wondered about the possibilities of magic. She then touched her scar and cursed. To have a piece of that disgusting fellow living inside her scar brought fury to her.

"Just you wait… you filthy snake. I will crush you."

Harriet said, as both of her eyes looked golden.

"Just you wait."

On the other side of the Castle, Dumbledore stared at the potion master with pride and sorrow. Today, Amelia and Frank took their time to interrogate some students and few teachers. But tomorrow, he knew Severus and Quirrell would be the next. What would happen that day? He dreaded to answer.

"Are you sure about it, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes… I am."

"But why?"

"I can't lie to Lily, it's not possible for me to look at her eyes and lie. Tomorrow, I will confess that I use Legilimency on Harriet."

Dumbledore sighed as he looked at Severus. For the first time in years, he has a confident look on his face. The old wizard felt proud of how much Severus has changed. He was a different man now. For Dumbledore, this was an obvious example of how second chances were the way to go. Here was a man ready to confess and take responsibilities. Willing to do good. But Dumbledore couldn't allow it. The future depended on having Severus as a spy.

"I'm proud of you, Severus. But you know that is a least a decade in Azkaban for attacking an heiress of a Noble house. Don't you?"

"I know. There are a lot of things I regret… A lot I feel guilty about. But for once in my life. I want to do what is right. I owned to Lily… to her family."

"Even if I plead for you, there is no chance I could save you from it."

"I know, and it's fine. I left you with a list of potential candidates to replace me. But you know… I thought you will be against it," Severus said slowly. He looked at the old wizard with suspicion.

Dumbledore only stared at him for a long minute until he exhaled.

"And you're right… That's why I'm asking for your forgiveness for what I'm about to do."

Severus knew Dumbledore would try something, that's why he had his wand at the ready and a Portkey ready to flee. But, Dumbledore was not the greatest wizard of modern time for nothing. Even at his age, his hands were faster than Severus. And with the Elder Wand on his possession, no one could beat him. Severus calculated his actions wrong. Dumbledore bounded him to a chair. He had Severus' wand in his hand and a strange dial on his other.

"Are you mad?!" Severus yelled.

"I know, you are a master in Occlumency and Legilimency. Using a memory charm will not work since you will find out about it. But you know that there are other ways to change someone's memory. I didn't want to use this… potion. But you left me no choice. I need you, Voldemort it's waiting somewhere, and you had to be ready for it."

"I see your true colors now. For all you claim to be, you're not better than Voldemort!"

Severus said with fury in his eyes as he stared at the old wizard. Dumbledore only sighed. "Perhaps you're right. But I'm doing this for the good of all of us. When time comes for me to pay for what I have done… I will accept my fate. However, I will not rest until Voldemort is defeated, and the Light leads this world."

"This potion it's something I created a while ago. A perfect way to change someone's memory traces. Shifting and creating new scenes in someone's head. It's more powerful than a memory charm, and less suspicious. I thought I would never use this… Well, only until today. It's my only vial so far, and I have never tested it before. If it works on you, then… I could use it in someone else."

Severus couldn't believe what he was hearing. The old man was ready to go that far. But what worries him more was the thought of who would the next victim be. Then it came back to him. Harriet! I need to tell Lily! They need to be warned! He thought in panic.

Dumbledore approached Severus and with a melancholy look on his face, he forced Severus to drink the strange green vial.

"Please forgive me, Severus."

The morning came, and Hogwarts students went on with their lives. However, they knew about the Aurors roaming around. They all knew by now what happened. The word spread fast, and even more so when they heard about the Legilimency attack to no other than Harriet Potter. Surely, the letters would fly soon, and the Wizarding World would soon learn more about it. Yet, for the girl in question, the day was only starting.

Harriet entered the Hall feeling more relaxed than before, knowing she would finally be away from the hospital wing. Her mother and dear father were at the teacher's table. Both of them seemed to talk with Professor McGonagall and professor Strout. Harriet also noticed Sirius and Remus with Frank and Amelia talking on the corner of the hall. She frowned, wondering what was going on. They all looked serious. Harriet could see Sirius muttering something, and pointing his finger to the table, where professor Snape was sitting. He didn't look suspicious at all. But with a terrible headache. Maybe he is sick? He also looks tired. Harriet thought.

Harriet would observe him today.

"It's going to be a long day," Harriet thought.

Harriet saw the Hufflepuff table and smiled, for an odd reason. Everyone was sitting there. Daphne, Tracey, and Blaise were there, all talking about something. It was fairly early, and besides, when it was breakfast, everyone could sit where they wanted. She saw Dora standing, turning her back to her. She was talking to Neville about something. And seeing no one was noticing, she made herself known by smoothly coming behind Dora and attack her with a hug.

The third-year Hufflepuff shrieked loud enough for the students there, peered at her with an amused face.

"Yiiiiiiiihhhhg!"

Harriet's group of friends all beamed at her, relieved to see her.

"Harriet! You scare me!" Dora exclaimed as Harriet kept on hugging her from behind. She latched on Dora's back as the pink-haired girl tried to move.

"Oh, my beloved Nymphadora, I have missed you greatly. Every night I would ask where is my dear pink-haired onion. But to no avail. You weren't there. Did you cheat on me? I bet you did."

Dora only stared at the girl with a baffled expression, but she couldn't shake the feeling of happiness to see the young girl healthy and safe.

"Something happened to your head, no doubt," Dora muttered.

"Now that's mean."

Harriet smiled as she sat in the middle of Hannah and Susan. It thrilled both girls to see her too, and she showed the same level of affection by crushing her in a hug.

"We missed you!" Susan said, sobbing dramatically.

"Did you feel better? What did you eat? They didn't allow us to visit you all day! Are you feeling well enough to take classes?" Hannah said.

"I'm fine, don't worry both of you," Harriet said, smiling.

"Are you sure?" Daphne said in a very uncertain tone. A voice they did not know her for, very soft and fragile. Her expression seemed worried. Harriet smiled at her.

"I'm Daphne, don't worry about it."

The golden-haired girl said nothing, but only nodded, still uncertain. "I don't want to see you like that again."

"Sorry…" Harriet muttered.

"You scared us a great deal back then. The way you hit your head on the floor… the sound. It was awful," Tracey whispered, not trying to remember the sound of Harriet's head hitting the cold stone floor.

"I'm going to spend the entire day apologizing, right?"

Everyone looked at Harriet with an obvious look on their faces. She flinched, but only sighed. "Can you all forgive me for worrying you? Look at will even put on my cute face."

"That won't work this time, Harriet," Neville said.

"Besides, you're not that cute," Blaise teased.

Harriet gasped as she looked around her, using her best face to get someone to defend her. They all looked amused by it, and it was hard not to fall for Harriet's perfectly cute face. Yet they held on.

"Bloody hell, you guys aren't falling for it," Harriet said.

"Not this time," Susan said, smiling.

"Now, let's eat breakfast before classes start."

The morning went by, and it relaxed the group of friends enough to chat about mundane topics. But there was still something going on around them. They could see it and sense it.

"Neville, has your dad told about what is going on? Why are so many Aurors here?" Harriet asked.

"Nothing. I heard mom and dad talk about tracking a dark essence or something about it. But nothing more, I don't know what they are looking for."

Harriet felt guilty about not telling them what took place yesterday. But her parents advised her to not tell anyone about Voldemort's lingering mark on her. She knew that something like that would get them to kill if it goes out. Even her parents were worried about what could happen if something like that goes out to the public. Harriet Potter, the new Dark Lord? The effects of Voldemort essence on the Girl-Who-Lived! That's would be the headlines in the Daily Prophet, she knows it. Besides, they weren't sure of what exactly was on her scar. Yet, so for now, that information would remain behind a closed door.

For now, until they get better and stronger.

"What about you, Susan?" Harriet asked.

"Aunt Amelia has been very secretive today. She was very… Out of it? Like tense or something. Also, don't you think it's strange that Dumbledore it's not here? Also, professor Quirrell is missing," Susan said.

"Yeah, it's weird. He acted very weird yesterday, too. Like creepy," Tracey said.

"You noticed it too? Like his stuttering disappeared, and he looked thrilled about Harriet's state. I didn't like that," Daphne added.

"He is surely a creeper," Blaise said.

"Harriet, don't you think Sirius is rather… eh, tense? I haven't seen him like that… since forever," Dora said.

"Tense?" Harriet turned around and saw Sirius looking murderous. Remus and Amelia were now talking to her parents. And the rest of the professors were oddly quiet. As if they were all waiting for something. Or someone.

"That's quite the look," Blaise commented.

"He looks like he is ready to kill someone," Hannah whispered.

"Mm, Neville, where is your dad?" Susan asked.

"He was here, right?"

"Yeah… I don't know where he went," Neville said, trying to look around.

"Look it's professor Quirrell," Hannah said.

Everyone looked at the professor, who seemed to walk slowly and with the same nervous attitude as always. But Harriet didn't buy it. There was something off about him. More than before.

"I don't like this..." Neville said.

"Yeah, all feels so tense," Susan muttered.

"Hopefully, nothing will happen today," Tracey said.

Harriet only stared at Quirrell, knowing that something would definitely happen today. She felt it in her bones.

Mm, they are all behaving strangely. I wonder what they discovered in such a small time. It must be something big, otherwise, they won't be all so tense.

Harriet thought as she grabbed her wand. Caressing it. Whatever it was, she would be ready for it.

"Just you wait."

Harriet whispered, as she saw Quirrell walking to the teacher table.

"Just you wait."