Hello, everyone. Here is the next chapter! I do hope all of you are enjoying it! And are you all ready for Lukas Muller's shenanigans?! Because Harriet sure is not! Also, surprisingly, this is one of my most popular fanfiction works! The White Lion of the Red Keep is second—just a curious note.
Now, the next set of updates is as follows!
-My original work (Two chapters update!)
-Boku No Overlord (Finally! I am reading the manga, and now, I have enough info to use, so thank all of you for waiting!)
-Overlord Geass
I may add another work, like the Oneshot from my new original Harry Potter x Overlord work. Also, I am still taking ideas of what you would like to see! So please let me know in the comments! It doesn't need to be a Harry Potter x Overlord crossover, necessarily. Just give me your crazy ideas, and maybe we can work something out.
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Chapter 37
The first day of school was fairly ordinary, perhaps even a bit dull, but it provided a welcome distraction to Harriet from her concerns. The last thing she wanted was to dwell on her current fragile emotional state. She was aware that she was acting differently, as she could see it reflected in the eyes of those around her. It was hard not to notice. Nevertheless, Harriet was determined to stop moping and simply unwind, maybe even playfully nibble on someone; that's all she desired for now. To simply have a good set of weeks, perhaps even a normal year. As long as she was away from those Dementors, she would be alright.
As Harriet started to pick up her books, the thought of the Fallen King, her current and only defence summons, crossed her mind. Could he kill a Dementor? She wondered with mild curiosity. Maybe he could, but then again, he didn't stop that Dementor back on the train. So, perhaps there was something wrong with the Fallen King or the Dementors, which was clearly a problem in itself, or that's what she thought. Regardless, Harriet would just simply stay away from those vile things. It was better that way.
"Harriet, is your mom really going to be the next potion teacher?" Hermione asked with clear excitement in her voice as Harriet nodded at the bushy girl, who almost jumped with joy. "That's brilliant!" Hermione squealed loudly.
"What's got you so thrilled? It's just my mom teaching, that's all," Harriet couldn't help but ask, a hint of amusement in her voice as both began to walk towards Daphne, Hannah, Susan and Tracey, who appeared to be talking among themselves about something before Hannah coughed loudly. Harriet tilted her head at them but shrugged as she continued to hear Hermione's ramblings.
"Well, your mom is among the most famous witches of the last decades! She is among the most brilliant witches in all of Europe and also part of the International Witches' Committee of Cooperation! She is a legend!" Hermione stated with joy, her eyes shining brightly. However, Harriet could only snort. Harriet does recall her mother's ramblings about the Witches' Committee of Cooperation, which mostly involved bickering between witches over wine about whose government was better. Of course, she wasn't going to say anything to Hermione.
"Of course," Harriet chuckled before they walked towards the other classroom. "Where are the rest? Where is Neville, Blaise and Pansy?"
"They had to do something fast. They'll catch up with us in the potion classroom," Hannah replied quickly.
"Alright," Harriet replied, a bit confused. "Hopefully, they aren't doing something illegal."
Harriet was oblivious to the nervous glances from the girls standing behind her, who seemed anxious at first sight. Without delay, they stepped into the potion classroom, only to find it peculiar that Snape was not there, wearing his customary scowl and silently berating them, as many students believed he often did. Thus, it was quite astonishing to witness a stunning woman adorned with vibrant red hair, captivating green eyes, and a lovely, kind smile. Lily Potter was truly a sight to behold, and it showed how some of the boys gasped, some even falling in love.
"Welcome!" Lily exclaimed happily. "Please have a seat! I apologise for not having had the chance to prepare for the classroom. I did not have the time. As a result, we'll be doing more reading than actually making potions."
The students nodded, and before Harriet could even set her book aside, Lily let out a delighted squeal upon seeing her daughter. "Hello, my dear! Look! I'm a teacher now! Your teacher!" Lily exclaimed with joy, showering her daughter with hugs and kisses on the cheek. Normally, Harriet cherished her mother's displays of affection, but in that moment, with everyone watching, it was undeniably embarrassing if she were to be completely honest.
"Mom, there are people watching," Harriet grumbled, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment.
"Oh! Yes, I should not show favouritism!" Lily replied quickly, but her serious face melted as she saw her daughter in her cute Hufflepuff uniform. "But how could I not show favouritism?! I love you so much! My sweet Snuggle bunny! My sugar bug! My lovely Grumpapotamus! My lovely Muffin! My honey bunny!"
Fortunately, Harriet was grateful that no one could witness her expression, hidden as it was amidst Lily's generous bosom. The sheer embarrassment of her mother loudly proclaiming all of Harriet's embarrassing nicknames in public was overwhelming. Eventually, Lily ceased bombarding Harriet with love, enabling her to break free from her mother's grasp and join Hermione. Much to Harriet's chagrin, the entire classroom, including Hermione, couldn't help but snicker at the situation. Harriet's hair was always a mess, almost like Hermione's, but now it was worse. Harriet adjusted her glasses, and she knew that her cheeks and forehead were covered with kisses thanks to her mother's red lipstick.
"Grumpapotamus?" Hermione teased at her.
"Shut up!" Harriet whispered back, almost wanting to bury her face in the earth.
"She is a lovely Muffin. There is no doubt about that," Daphne whispered behind them.
"Please…! Stop it!" Harriet grumbled, and thankfully, the rest of Harriet's circle arrived just in time.
"Mister Zabini, welcome," Lily called as she saw Neville, Pansy, and him entering the classroom.
"We apologise, Lady Potter. We were… busy with something," Blaise replied quickly.
"Alright, please sit!" Lily stated happily. "We are going to start soon!"
As the day progressed, Harriet's embarrassment ended when she wholeheartedly embraced her mother's love. Thankfully, she was grateful to put everything else behind her. Harriet gradually returned to her usual self, which meant she desired to be pampered by those around her, and everyone did just that.
Nymphadora was currently giving Harriet a piggyback ride as the girl was feeling too lazy to walk on her own. Hannah and Susan were happily carrying her books and couldn't help but giggle at how adorable Harriet looked. On the other hand, Hermione was accustomed to seeing Harriet spoiled by everyone. Surprisingly, she found herself carrying Harriet's bag.
"I can't believe it, Harriet. You're turning into a total slob," Hermione exclaimed while Harriet scoffed and leaned against Nymphadora's back, causing Nymphadora to chuckle.
"I am cute. Your job is to love me and to take care of me," Harriet replied. "Hannah, Susan, can you make me something to eat when we arrive at the cabin?"
"Of course!" Both girls replied happily as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Slob," Hermione mumbled as Harriet stuck her tongue out.
Before long, the girls reached the exclusive cabin specifically built for Harriet. The rest of her group had already arrived and were busy cleaning and discussing renovation plans. Nymphadora took Harriet and pretty much brought the pampered princess down onto a comfortable couch just for her; just like a lazy fat cat, Harriet didn't even react. She simply stretched herself and let out a soft moan. Daphne wasted no time in approaching her and began to massage Harriet's feet, which made the girl very happy.
Shortly after, Tracey decided to bring some additional cushions to ensure that Harriet would be able to relax in ultimate comfort. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Hannah and Susan had already started preparing a delicious meal for her. Fleur was already discussing something about the second floor of the cabin while Neville and Blaise were wondering if they could do a basement. Hermione shook her head; it just never ceased to amuse her.
Hermione even saw Ginny and Luna helping clean around. It appeared everything was fitting perfectly now.
"Well, I should help too," Hermione said before watching another girl sitting in the corner, looking nervously around. It was a girl who was a copy of Daphne. "Oh, are you Astoria?" Hermione asked and saw the cute blond girl look at her with a confused face before nodding.
"Yes," Astoria replied. "Who are you?"
"Hermione Granger," she said, and Astoria frowned deeply as she stared at the bushy girl.
"Why are you here? You're different from us. You shouldn't be here," Astoria stated, and for a brief moment, she herself appeared rather puzzled by her own statement. Astoria was going to say something more, but soon, Daphne appeared, looking quite alarmed before hushing her little sister.
"Astoria! Silence!" Daphne hissed as Astoria flinched at the sound of her sister's voice.
"It's alright, Daphne!" Hermione quickly replied as she noticed the little first-year-old girl looking nervously at Daphne.
"Apologise, Astoria," Daphne ordered, and Astoria looked down at her feet before mumbling something. "Louder."
"I am sorry," Astoria replied loudly.
"Good, now, why don't you help Hannah and Susan?" Astoria sighed deeply as she stood up from her chair before going to the small kitchen. Daphne sighed before turning towards Hermione. "I apologise for my sister. She is not good at interacting with people."
"Don't worry; I get it," Hermione said, chuckling nervously. She then looked at Daphne, who was looking at her sister in the kitchen, awkwardly moving around. "Uh, what does she mean with not like… us?"
Daphne glanced at Hermione before diverting her gaze. "You don't need to worry about it. It's not something important… for you, at least," Daphne assured as she walked away, leaving Hermione feeling utterly bewildered.
"What was that?" Hermione mumbled, utterly confused.
Before long, Harriet started savouring her mouthwatering medium-rare steak, surrounded by a meticulously prepared setting. Suddenly, Rolf burst into the room, clearly short of breath. "I apologise! We were busy with something!" Poor Rolf gasped while everyone nonchalantly waved at him.
"It's alright. Where are Tina and Pansy?" Blaise asked, but before Rolf could answer, loud voices were heard, becoming louder.
"You took such a long time!" Pansy yelled angrily as she stormed inside the cabin.
"I had things to do! Unlike you, I am a busy person! I am a big girl!" Tina exclaimed back, huffing her chest.
"You're younger than me! And flatter, too!" Pansy seemed to aim for a low blow, attempting to hurt Tina. However, Tina was unfazed by Pansy's comments about her lack of breasts. In fact, Tina found it rather amusing as she casually observed Pansy's flat chest and smug expression.
"You don't have anything," Tina replied with a scoff. "Rolf had more chest than you."
"W-what did you say?!" Pansy squealed back.
"Enough, I'm eating," Harriet mumbled, pausing between bites. Her words were enough to silence both girls, who sat down with a huff. Harriet wasn't really paying attention to Pansy and Tina's conversation, but something she saw that morning piqued her curiosity. "Hey, Blaise, what went down in the Slytherin common room? I noticed a few Slytherins in the hospital wing when I went to grab a headache potion."
"A few duels occurred yesterday, with some individuals attempting to establish themselves as the dominant figure, so to speak," although Blaise didn't explicitly lie. The truth was more tricky. Last night, Blaise and the rest made sure to let their displace known towards some of the individuals who threw food towards Harriet, hitting her head with chicken bones. They couldn't ignore the disrespectful behaviour they exhibited towards their cherished lady last night. Consequently, they felt compelled to administer punishment and ensure that any form of insult or disrespect towards Harriet would be promptly addressed by any means necessary.
And it did, swiftly and painfully.
"Duels? I think I've heard of that. Are you all okay? Did they harm any of you?" Harriet inquired, setting her fork aside and wearing a serious expression. It was evident that if those older students had caused any harm, Harriet was prepared to retaliate. Fortunately, it turned out to be unnecessary.
"It's alright, Harriet," Daphne added quickly. "None of them is truly a threat."
"It's true. Their attempt to defy us was rather pathetic. Honestly, it wasn't even entertaining," Pansy stated, glancing at her nails with a sigh of boredom. "Not even to kill my boredom."
"Bunch of cunts," Tracey mumbled with a scoff.
Harriet leaned on her couch and hummed. "Slytherin's rules are so weird," she mumbled as she decided to finish her meal. "Well, as long as everyone is safe."
Fleur made the decision to steer the conversation towards a different topic, one that appeared to be more important to her than anything else. Still, she was trying to think of a way to bring it up without making Harriet feel uncomfortable. "Harriet, what did Dumbledore want with you?" Fleur asked with a gentle tone. Harriet hummed as she finished her meal. She put the fork down and sighed.
"Well, it had nothing to do with Dumbledore, really. It's more that I'm going to... start seeing a therapist soon," Harriet mumbled, feeling a bit anxious. As she thought about it, the idea of seeing a therapist made her quite nervous, even scared. However, she had made up her mind not to run away from it. There was no point in doing so. Still, she couldn't ignore the fact that she had never been in such a position before. Harriet simply had no clue how she should react or what the therapist would think of her, or her friends, for that matter.
"Therapist? A psychiatrist?" Hermione's eyes winded in surprise. "A muggle one?"
"No, it's a wizard, a German one. I think Lukas Muller is his name; supposedly, he is quite famous," Harriet mumbled, suddenly losing his appetite. She wasn't sure if she wanted her dessert anymore.
"What's a psychiatrist?" Ginny asked.
"It's a…" Hermione stopped mid-sentence, trying to find a way to explain it.
"It's like a mind healer, but without using magic," Luna said as she put a cute sticker on Ginny's cheek.
"I guess that's a good way to do describe it," Hermione said. "But who is this Lukas Muller?"
"That's a good question," Fleur whispered, her eyes glaring at Blaise. It seemed imperative to gather information about him without delay.
"Well, supposedly, he is going to come to Hogwarts; my parents wished to speak with him first before anything. Also, I want to speak with him too. I am still unsure of this," Harriet's words linger in the air.
"Do you want to take these sessions?" Neville asked, his gentle tone making Harriet smile, albeit anxiously.
"I'm still nervous, but yeah, I definitely need it. Maybe it won't be as terrible as I think. Who knows?" Harriet told them, hoping that all her worries would turn out to be unfounded. Moreover, she found herself quite intrigued by this person. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of wizard he was.
Lily was seated in her chair, enjoying a sip of tea. The pleasant surprise of teaching had not escaped her. Today had been exceptionally delightful, surpassing her expectations. It made her ponder the possibility of becoming a teacher in her retirement. However, that was a decision for another time. As for the present Lily, she still has a lot on her plate, both in her personal life and in her family's.
"You're quite absent-minded, Lily," Snape said, taking sips of his own cup of tea. "Here I thought, you'll be overjoyed teaching these kids the arts of potion-making."
Lily couldn't help but chuckle at him. "I really did enjoy it, you know? Quite a lot, actually. But seriously, why is this classroom so gloomy? I had to keep the windows open all day long, Sev!"
"This is the perfect location for potion making. You, as a potion master, should know that," Snape stated with an arrogant smug.
"Sure, sure! But you should have, at the very least, tidied up!" Lily huffed, causing Snape to appear offended, though he remained silent. However, both of them soon erupted into laughter, their mirth resounding throughout the room.
"So, who is this Lukas Muller?" Snape asked, and Lily could only take a gigantic sigh before leaning on her chair.
"We don't know much about him. He is a wizard who has made significant advancements in the field of psychology and therapy in the Wizarding World; he even had a few books already published in German, of course. But besides that, we don't know much about him."
Snape hummed, a sense of familiarity lingering in his mind. It seemed as if he had encountered that name before, yet it eluded his grasp. "I believe I've come across that name previously. It was during my yearly visit to the Magister of Potion Masters a couple of years ago. I recall hearing his name mentioned a few times, but at that time, nobody seemed to regard him with much seriousness."
Lily understood the reason behind the lack of awareness about mental health issues in the Wizarding World. Even in the Muggle world, such problems were not always given the attention they deserved, but the situation there was still much better compared to the Wizarding World. Which, at the very least, made her feel a bit better overall.
"I am not surprised to hear that. We've relied on magic for everything. I cannot help but wonder if that is a bad thing," Lily sighed deeply, wondering if she, as a muggle-born, had a different outlook on things.
"I often think the same," Severus replied, knowing all well what Lily was thinking. "When I look at the muggle world, I cannot fathom how it would look in a few decades."
"Me neither. Hopefully, we'll live to see it," Lily said, and that tone of voice made Severus wonder why she was suddenly so depressed.
"Harriet has been acting strangely," Snape told Lily, and the red-haired woman already knew it. "Those Dementors have done quite a lot of damage."
"And Fudge is not pulling them away," Lily sneered angrily.
"He is losing popularity, and he knows this. This is his last attempt to keep control, but it won't last long. Especially with the whole debacle of Lucius slipping away," Snape added with a scoff. "No doubt Amelia is pushing his removal."
"Hopefully, it won't need something bad to happen at the school to achieve that," Lily muttered anxiously.
"We can only hope," Snape replied, sharing her concerns.
"Right now, James and I can only hope that this Lukas Muller can help Harriet with… whatever trauma she has. We have yet to figure out just how much the Horcrux is damaging her."
"Have your colleagues at the High Table helped you with anything?" Snap asked, watching Lily's expression change into one of irritation and anger.
"Right now? No, not at all. They have been showing a lot of curiosity about my daughter, but I can't bring myself to trust them anymore, especially after they found out about what happened to her. The way her eyes, hair, and very essence changed... It's like they see her as some kind of test subject for their twisted experiments," Lily replied, her voice hissing with tension and worry.
"Lily, you know the High Table has its own agenda," Snape said, and Lily looked frustrated at that.
"I know!" Lily replied with a tired hiss. "That's the worst part of it."
Lily hasn't simply been waiting around for something to happen. She's actually been actively reading, investigating, and trying to uncover any information about how Horcruxes work or how to assist her daughter's magical core. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much to be found. Everything she has discovered so far was information she already knew, which has been quite frustrating for her.
"Lily, I understand your desire to assist your daughter. However, it's crucial to remember that your presence in her life is equally significant," Snape's voice and words resonated with Lily as she acknowledged his truth.
"You're right," Lily replied with a smile. "Harriet needs me, all of us. I just hope I could do more for her."
"You're doing more than you could ever know," Snape replied with a smile.
Lily let out a chuckle, prompting a grin from Snape in response. "Sev, you really have a knack for words," she said appreciatively.
"Of course," Snape replied with a smug.
"No wonder Aurora is quite smitten with you," Lily said, her smile slowly turning into a smug. Snape could only groan loudly.
"How did you know?" Snape grumbled, annoyed.
"I couldn't help but notice the way you both look at each other, with her smirk and all that blushing!" Lily playfully teased him. "So, naturally, I asked her about it after her class ended. I had no idea that you two had already moved in together."
"Merlin's beard," Snape sighed, feeling both annoyed and resigned. He came to realise that keeping their relationship a secret would never have worked, not really. The truth was, he was genuinely nervous about it. His past and current mission as a double agent was undeniably perilous, not just for himself but also for her. That's why he was so hesitant about starting a relationship with her, or anyone, for that matter.
But somehow, Aurora simply lightens his heart in ways he never expected it.
"I'm really happy for you, Sev. Aurora is such a beautiful woman! She's incredibly kind and wonderful. I do remember her from school, even though she's three years younger than us. I recall seeing her around campus, and she was even shyer back then, even more so than she is now."
Snape shook his head as a smile crept onto his face. "She is very shy. And you're right. She is a beautiful person."
"So, spill the tea!" Lily squealed as she got closer to her best friend. "How did you two start dating?!"
"You won't let me leave until I tell you everything, don't you?" Snape grumbled, and Lily nodded enthusiastically.
"Nop!" Lily smiled, and Snape realised that he had a long night ahead of him.
In a luxurious department in Berlin, a peculiar man sat at his desk, humming a rather loud song. Despite his enjoyment of the morning sun, he was clearly waiting for something. His patience was soon rewarded when an owl gracefully entered through the window and landed on his desk.
"Seven in the morning, just in time!" The man loudly proclaimed as he gave the owl a treat before taking the letter. He didn't have to read it, to know what it was or whom it came from.
"Mm, it's time to go to Hogwarts! It's been a long time!" The man said before chuckling at his own inner joke. "Almost a few months since I was there teaching!"
One could not help but wonder whom he was talking to, considering no one was in his vicinity. Nevertheless, this man swiftly grabbed his suitcase and jacket. He looked at himself in the mirror before smiling brightly.
"Gorgeous! Ich sehe geil aus!" He said before walking towards the chimney. "It's time to meet you again, my lady. This time, I will help you. This time, I am going to make sure to be there for you."
The man said before the fire engulfed him.
