The Hikawa shrine had grown eerily quiet since Kaori's death. The air felt heavier, the familiar scent of incense now tinged with an undercurrent of grief. The three sisters remained in the room where Kaori had passed, their grandmother's altar still flickering faintly with candlelight. The once sacred space now felt hollow.

Mana knelt before the altar, her face hard with determination as she lit a smudge stick. Her voice broke as she whispered, "Grandmother, I call your spirit to me… one final time."

Reiko and Kuri stood behind her, their faces pale and drawn. Mana's words hung heavy in the air, the weight of their loss pressing down on all of them.

"I want you to know I came to see you," Mana continued, her voice growing steadier. "I found you. I want to bring you peace. I will absolve your soul. Your murderer will be brought to justice. I give you my Oath as a Miko."

Mana pressed her fist to her chest, tears glistening in her eyes as she drew strength from the ritual.

"Blood of my blood," she declared. "I release you to the afterlife. Blessed Be."

A soft flash of silver light filled the room, wrapping them all in a warm glow. It lingered for a moment, as if Kaori's love had stayed to embrace them one last time. Then, just as gently, it faded, leaving behind an aching silence.

Kaori Hikawa's spirit had passed on.

XXX

The silence broke as Mana stood abruptly, turning on her sisters with sharp, accusing eyes.

"How could you say that in front of Kuri? Apologize to her!" Reiko snapped, her voice thick with anger as she stepped forward.

"This is her fault!" Mana shot back, her tone cutting like a blade. "She's weak! Always has been! And now Grams is gone!"

"Mana's right," Kuri whispered, her gaze fixed on the floor. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides as if trying to contain her trembling. "If I had meditated more, trained harder… maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe—maybe my soul isn't as pure as she thought it was. Maybe I'm tainted."

"Stop it!" Reiko growled, her voice breaking with emotion as she stepped between them. "Stop it, both of you! Grams wouldn't have wanted this! She wanted—she wanted…"

Reiko's voice cracked, tears spilling over her cheeks as she struggled to continue.

"No one knows what she wanted because she's dead," Mana spat, her voice rising in anger. She turned sharply to face Kuri, her eyes narrowing with dark resolve. "But I do know one thing—she was right. You can't control what's inside you, Kuri. You never could. That's why she was going to strip your power."

Reiko froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Mana, don't—"

"She was going to take it away, and now I will," Mana said, her voice eerily calm. She pulled the vial of the power-stripping potion from her robes and held it up, its contents gleaming faintly in the candlelight.

"No," Reiko said sharply, stepping forward. "You can't do this. This isn't what Grams would have wanted."

"This is exactly what she wanted!" Mana snapped. "You saw the potion—she made it for Kuri, for all of us. She thought we'd be better off as Muggles. And maybe she was right."

XXX

"Enough."

The single word rang out, calm yet commanding, freezing everyone in place.

All three sisters turned toward the doorway, where Minerva McGonagall stood tall and composed. Her tartan robes flowed around her like armor, and her sharp eyes were colder than they had been before.

"Mana Hikawa, put that vial down," Minerva said, her voice firm and unyielding.

Mana hesitated, her grip tightening on the vial. "This doesn't concern you," she said through gritted teeth.

"It concerns me greatly," Minerva replied, stepping further into the room. "Your grandmother entrusted me with your safety, and I will not stand by while you destroy everything she tried to protect."

"She wanted this!" Mana argued, her voice breaking. "She was going to strip our powers because she thought we were dangerous. She thought we were better off powerless!"

Minerva's expression softened, though her voice remained steady. "Your grandmother acted out of fear, not hatred. She loved you, Mana. But love can drive people to make desperate decisions, especially when they feel powerless to protect those they care about."

"Then why didn't she trust us?" Mana demanded, tears streaming down her face. "Why didn't she believe we could control it?"

Minerva stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. "Because she underestimated your strength. Just as you are underestimating Kuri's."

Mana faltered, her grip on the vial loosening slightly. "You don't know what it's like. You don't know what Kuri is capable of… what Sadako is capable of."

"You're right," Minerva said softly. "I don't know what it's like to carry such a burden. But I do know that stripping someone of their power—of their identity—will not save them. It will only destroy them."

Kuri stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Mana… if you really think I'm better off without my magic, then do it. I won't stop you."

"No!" Reiko shouted, grabbing Kuri's arm. "You don't get to decide that! None of us do!"

Minerva raised a hand, her calm presence silencing the room. "Mana, look at your sister. Look at what this will do to her—not just to her magic, but to her spirit. Can you live with that?"

Mana's hand shook as she looked at Kuri, who stood with her head bowed, silent tears running down her face. The vial in her hand seemed heavier now, almost unbearable.

Finally, with a choked sob, Mana dropped the vial. It shattered on the floor, its contents seeping into the cracks of the wooden boards.

"I'm sorry," Mana whispered, sinking to her knees. "I'm so sorry."

Minerva moved to her side, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. "You've made the right choice," she said gently. "But you must learn to trust each other if you are to move forward. Your grandmother believed in you, even if she struggled to show it."

XXX

As the sisters gathered their belongings later that evening, the weight of their loss hung heavily in the air. Minerva stood by the door, watching them quietly.

Reiko's sharp eyes gazed at her spectacles, the one feature she carried to feline form.

"What the—" Reiko's voice faltered as recognition dawned. "You're that cat I saw with Kit!"

Minerva McGonagall inclined her head. "Yes, your familiar is a very intelligent creature. She came to me and alerted me to your unguarded status. I've come to take you to safety."

"Safety?" Mana crossed her arms. "Where exactly are you taking us?"

"First to Diagon Alley," Minerva said briskly. "Then to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Mana's eyes narrowed. "No. Absolutely not. We are not exposing ourselves to practitioners!"

"That's enough," Minerva said, her voice sharp and commanding. She reached into her robes and pulled out a photograph, holding it out for Mana to see. "If you need proof that I am following your grandmother's wishes, look at this."

Mana snatched the photo, her frown deepening. In it, a much younger Minerva stood beside Kaori Hikawa, smiling warmly. Surrounding them were other women: Sybill Trelawney, Euphemia Potter, Gail Altman, Helen Troy, and Amanda Hodgekiss.

"This proves nothing," Mana said stubbornly. "If you're like us, show us your active power."

Minerva placed her wand delicately on the table and extended her hand. With a small flourish, an apple appeared, hovering in her palm.

"Conjuring," Minerva explained. "Sybill is a Seer. Euphemia had telekinesis. Gail, Helen, and Amanda were Glamourers—though they often used their gifts for vanity more than purpose."

Reiko's expression softened, her gaze flicking between Minerva and the photograph. "So that's why Grams was always talking about Harry Potter," she murmured.

"Yes," Minerva said. "Euphemia was his grandmother. Harry is her legacy, just as you are Kaori's. And your grandmother entrusted me with ensuring your safety."

"So why keep all this a secret?" Mana demanded, though her tone had softened.

Minerva sighed, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "Active Power witches make practitioners feel threatened. The Ministry of Magic passed laws banning us from openly using our abilities. Some were even forced to strip their powers entirely. Metamorphmagi, Maledicti, Obscurials—anyone whose powers are viewed as 'too dangerous'—were targeted."

"That's barbaric!" Mana exclaimed.

"Yes, it is," Minerva said quietly. "But change takes time. Dumbledore has arranged for you to be trained in your active powers at Hogwarts. You'll be protected there."

Kuri's voice broke the silence. "But… will we belong there?"

Minerva turned to her, her expression softening. She knelt down so they were eye level. "Kuri," she said gently, "you carry your grandmother's strength, even if you don't see it yet. Hogwarts is a place where you'll learn not just magic, but who you are. You belong there just as much as any other witch or wizard."

Kuri nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Let's go, then," Mana said, her voice quieter now.

Minerva straightened, her gaze sweeping over the three girls. "Good. Gather your things. A new chapter of your lives begins now.".