Hello everyone, here it is the next chapter, and the next chapter is going to end the third year of Hogwarts! We are ready for the fourth! Let's go!

Now, let me also add, that Harriet here, has never been a demon, so she is quite afraid of being one, that's why she was so freak out about this sudden surge of power and malice she felt. I just want to clear it out and make sure people understand why she is so afraid of becoming a full demom. But I won't say more, that spoil things!

Here it is, the next set of updates!

-Overlord: The Demon-Who-Lived? (Two chapters of smut fanfiction, it's almost over. I want to get done with it, so it will open an opportunity for other work!)

-Dragon Age: The Demonic Age (I am inspired!)

-Harry Potter x Overlord (1 One Shot!)

Check my Tumblr for news and future updates! And how can you support me directly! All of your donations help me continue writting!

( paulythide . tumblr . com )

Chapter 42

The sound of shouting reverberated throughout the entire school, causing powerful echoes that seemed to resonate within the walls. The paintings of previous headmasters and other onlookers could only watch in dismay as they observed the scene unfolding before them. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for magic, found himself under siege from all directions, bombarded with a relentless onslaught of demands, questions, and furious glares from Harriet's parents. Cornelius was not even able to reply, and he was cut off immediately every time he tried to speak.

"I will not tolerate this any longer, Cornelius!" Amelia exclaimed, slamming her hands down on Dumbledore's desk. "The presence of dementors must be removed out of Hogwarts! Countless children have been endangered because of these creatures! Have you ever considered the consequences once the parents find out?!"

Cornelius paled at the thought, determined not to let this news spread so easily. "What on earth are you saying?! This is absolute madness! Do you have any idea how this would be perceived by the public? We would become a laughingstock on the international committee!"

"Committee?" Amelia muttered, stunned at what Cornelius was saying.

"You're not truly saying that you care more about your image than the lives of our children, right, Cornelius?" Dumbledore said, his blue eyes glaring at the Minister, and the grandfatherly smile was long gone. Everyone could sense the tension in the room, especially Cornelius, who was trying his hardest not to look intimidated by the old wizard but failing miserably.

However, by his side stood his loyal secretary, the pink toad, who smiled sweetly at everyone, doing her best to calm his anger. She did not take the Minister's disrespect lightly, and she was determined to put an end to it.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, it's crucial for you to grasp that this issue extends beyond Minister Fudge's reputation. The entire cabinet and the perception of school security are at stake. Informing the parents of our students would result in a global tarnishing of Hogwarts' reputation. We simply cannot allow that to occur," Umbridge's sweet and high-pitched voice was heard by everyone there. And it brought only sneers by Lily and Narcissa, who already knew who that woman was.

"Exactly!" exclaimed Cornelius, expressing gratitude for Umbridge's intervention. "We must not allow anyone to question the safety of Hogwarts or the integrity of the government!"

"Are we really going to hide what's happening here?" Amelia sneered at him. "If we resort to hiding and censoring any wrongdoing by the government, then we're essentially admitting that we lack integrity from the start!"

"I agree with Lady Bones," James added. "Our daughter was attacked, but she wasn't the only child who suffered at the hands of the dementors. The parents must be informed about what happened here."

"That's not for you to dictate, Lord Potter," Cornelius snapped back. "You're, but an Auror captain and I am your boss!"

James retorted, pointing directly at Amelia, who was shooting a venomous glare at the Minister, "Minister, she is my boss, not you."

"Exactly," Amelia said as a group of people swiftly entered Dumbledore's office through the fireplace. Among them were Sirius, Frank, and Mad-Eye, accompanied by a few other Aurors.

"What's the meaning of this?" Cornelius questioned loudly.

"I am doing my job, Minister. I am going to remove the Dementor's out of Hogwarts immediately," Amelia stated without much caring about anything else.

"You cannot do it!" Cornelius exclaimed loudly as Amelia walked towards the door.

"Yes, I can, and I am going to do it. Are you coming with us, James?" Amelia asked, and James only nodded, as he had his wand out already.

"Of course," James replied.

"You're fired, Amelia!" Cornelius snapped at the red-haired woman. She turned around and glared at him, causing Sirius to giggle to himself. He recognised that stare all too well; it was the same one that he often tried to avoid because it meant Amelia was angry.

"You can't dismiss me, Minister. Actually, you can't dismiss any auror. That's my responsibility, after all. And the only way to remove me is through a majority vote in the Wizengamot. Isn't that correct, Professor Dumbledore?" Amelia asked with a sweet tone, while Dumbledore chuckled and nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, Madam Bones," Dumbledore replied with a smirk.

Before long, another person walked into the room. It was McGonagall who let out a deep sigh when she saw Sirius and James together. "Merlin's beard, these two," she muttered. "I don't know what's worse, them or the dementors."

"Now, that's insulting, Minnie," Sirius replied with a cheek.

"Ah, Minerva, it is done then?" Dumbledore asked with a knowing smile.

"Of course, professor. The letters have been sent."

Cornelius's eyes widened upon hearing those words, finding it hard to believe what had just been said. He glanced at Dumbledore, who returned his gaze with a smile that lacked any genuine emotion but instead carried a sense of amusement. It seemed like a joke to Dumbledore, although it was not. The truth was that Dumbledore was fully aware of Cornelius's actions and had no intention of letting him sweep it under the rug, like many other things.

"What did you do?!" Cornelius demanded loudly.

"I did what I had to do and informed the parents about the incident. It's part of my responsibilities as the headmaster of Hogwarts," replied Dumbledore, now adopting a more serious tone of voice.

"It wasn't your decision to make!" Cornelius yelled, slamming his hands on the desk. However, it lacked the same impact as when Amelia did it.

"It was Cornelius, after all, I am Supreme Mugwump, and I abide by the law, since I have wrote a few of them myself." Dumbledore replied.

"Do you have any idea what you've done? The entire government will look like fools!" exclaimed Cornelius. On the other hand, Sirius muttered, "But they are fools," earning a glare from Umbridge.

"It's the right thing to do," Dumbledore said calmly.

Cornelius's face became stiff, and soon enough, an expression of anger came forward. It was as if the Minister of magic was experiencing an aneurysm or a stroke.

"You had no right, Dumbledore! Do you even realise the consequences of your actions?!" he exclaimed, while Dumbledore simply stared back at him, his face displaying an unwavering serenity.

"You cannot evade your Ministerial responsibilities, Cornelius," Dumbledore pointed out, causing Cornelius to feel as though he had been slapped, evident from the further contortion of his face. "Remember, the presence of Dementors at Hogwarts was your own suggestion."

"Are you blaming me, Dumbledore?! Are you actually blaming me for this?!" Cornelius yelled, his voice filled with frustration and anger. He growled at the old wizard, attempting to intimidate him, but his efforts proved to be in vain.

"Of course not," Dumbledore replied, but it was cleaar that he was actually blaming him without saying it out loud.

Cornelius had an overwhelming desire to tear out his hair, let out a loud scream towards the sky, and unleash a string of curses directed at Dumbledore. The situation was already unpleasant enough, having to confront Dumbledore, who sat there calmly, wearing a smug expression as if anticipating Cornelius to say something to him.

"This—this!" He muttered angrily. "This is not over, Dumbledore!"

Cornelius hissed and briskly made his way towards the fireplace, a sense of urgency filling him. There was much to be done, and he had to do it swiftly. He needed to act quickly before the Daily Prophet got wind of it. But he vowed to himself that he would not forget this. Cornelius would remember, and he would ultimately have the final laugh.

Umbridge glared at the group and huffed before she followed the Minister of Magic.

"Well, that went well," Sirius muttered.

"Amelia, please go ahead with your task," Dumbledore said with a sigh.

"We will, but Fudge is going to be a problem soon," Amelia pointed out, as everyone could already see it.

"Indeed, we should consider removing him soon. However, this process may take some time. Fudge has allies and would undoubtedly make the procedure as difficult as he can," Dumbledore replied.

"Yes, in anycase, let's go. We have things to do," Amelia stated as the group followed her.

Dumbledore sighed deeply, foreseeing that the Minister would inevitably create significant issues for them. However, he hoped that they would be able to remove him sooner rather than later.

It didn't take long for the events to be reported in the Daily Prophet. It was evident that Fudge was determined to portray it as a mere accident or a minor error, downplaying the true nature of what had occurred. Undoubtedly, Fudge was leveraging his connections with the Daily Prophet to present himself as the one who had given the order to remove the dementors.

Those who were aware of the truth could easily detect the pervasive corruption. However, the problems manifested in the form of letters, which were not only directed to the Minister of Magic but also to the Headmaster of Hogwarts. This whole affair had caused Dumbledore numerous sleepless nights. Nevertheless, the old wizard, unlike Fudge, took responsibility for his actions and acknowledged his faults. After all, Dumbledore could have pushed Fudge away in order to avoid dementors at Hogwarts.

Afterwards, things surprisingly managed to settle down at Hogwarts. Strangely, Harriet remained troubled by the recent events and her unexpected loss of composure. It continued to weigh on her mind despite Hermione's forgiveness for her outburst. Harriet couldn't shake off her concern, as it still troubled her deeply.

Harriet could sense it. There was something off within her, a feeling of unease. Could it possibly be the demon inside her, distorting her in ways she had never imagined? It was difficult to ascertain, as Harriet had never encountered the feelings of being a demon before. Although she had always possessed a tendency towards meanness, this sense of power, malice, and dominance was entirely foreign to her.

As Harriet sat in class, her mind wandered. She pondered the idea of what it would be like to be a demon. Reflecting on her thoughts, she mused that if she had known beforehand about the reality of being a demon, she might have considered becoming a slime or a cat girl instead.

"It doesn't matter anymore," Harriet muttered, earning the sudden stare of Professor Snape, who glanced at her.

"Miss Potter, do you wish to contribute to the class?" Snape asked as Harriet coughed nervously as she noticed how everyone in the room was watching her.

"Uh, it's nothing, sir, I was thinking out loud," Harriet mumbled quickly. "Sorry."

Snape rolled his eyes, carrying on with the class, while Harriet let out a deep sigh. She longed to mention her excruciating headache, but she realised it would be futile. It wasn't because Snape wouldn't believe her, but rather because there was nothing that could alleviate the pain. Well, not until she had taken her medicine.

"Harriet, are you alright?" Hermione asked gently, as Harriet only nodded at her.

"Yes, I am, don't worry," Harriet reassured before both of them shifted their attention back to the class, or at least attempted to. As Harriet contemplated the concept of Soul Magic, she realised that she hadn't given it much thought thus far. However, she believed that understanding it would be beneficial for her future. Nevertheless, this realisation highlighted the fact that there was still much for her to learn.

Who am I going to be?

Recently, Harriet had been grappling with a growing concern. She found herself contemplating not only her future but also her past, and a persistent question plagued her thoughts: How can I safeguard my soul? Harriet couldn't help but wonder, if Voldemort could attain immortality and do that to his soul, what prevented her from protecting her own essence? She didn't want to be immortal. Not at all. But she wanted to be able to safe the most important part of her. The part that defines her as Harriet. Was there a risk of losing herself as she delved deeper into darkness of becoming a demon? Would embracing that demon inside her kill Harriet? Would she no longer be the same person anymore? Harriet has been this way for years. Thinking about her past life was almost bizarre, alien to her even. And losing what makes her "Harriet" frightened her immensely, truly sending shivers down her spine.

But the only thing she could do, for now, was to hope to be able to save just a small part of herself.

"So, Mom, how are my siblings doing?" Harriet inquired, sitting beside her mother at the breakfast table in their chambers, located at the rear of the potion classroom. Lily chuckled as she stared at her daughter with an amused look on her face.

"Please, Harriet, it's too soon to say. Your sibling is the size of a peanut right now," Lily replied with a smile.

"Siblings, my bet is in siblings," Harriet stated with a very determined look on her face.

"Oh, really? Well, if that's true, we'll find out soon," Lily said, starting to eat her food. However, it wasn't long before she made a disgusted face, clearly not enjoying her breakfast. She could not help but spit it out and made quite an expression.

"Mom?" Harriet asked as Lily took a sip of water. "It's your favourite, pancakes with strawberry."

Lily released a profound sigh. "Well, my dear, this is what happens when you're pregnant. The things you once enjoyed no longer have the same flavour, while the things you once disliked have become your cravings."

"That seems problematic," Harriet pointed out, causing Lily to chuckle.

"Yes, I know. Believe me," Lily said.

"How is Aunt Narcissa doing?" Harriet asked as Lily hummed deeply.

"She is resting while Andromeda is visiting her. They are clearing something out, with the Black family and all of that," Lily replied as she began to pour some cheese on toasted bread.

"It is truly necessary to note the next member of the Black family on the tree of names and do all of those other stuff, like looking at the skies and search for a star name? I mean, isn't it too soon? And quite old fashioned?" Harriet asked, a bit amused.

"It's tradition, and Cissy is quite a traditional woman," Lily said with a sigh. "She wants her child to be raised in this world's customs. Of course, she doesn't want to be as strict as she was brought up, and she doesn't want her child to go through the same pureblood education she had to endure. She has changed, but she is still a very... conservative women in some aspects."

"Mm, I guess that's alright. I trust that all of you would excel at taking care of these babies. You're three in total, after all. They say there's strength in numbers, don't they?" Harriet pointed, causing Lily to shake her head in amusement.

"Indeed, that's why I wanted to let you know that we will be quite busy with the babies once they are born," Lily said, now attempting to address the topic she wanted to discuss. Raising newborns requires a significant amount of work, time, and energy. Lily was concerned because Harriet had been raised as an only child, and James and Narcissa didn't want there to be any divisions among the children. Or think they were ignoring her for the new children. However, Harriet could see what Lily was trying to say.

"Mom, I understand. I realise that Dad, Aunt Narcissa, and you would be busy taking care of the babies. You don't need to worry about me, besides, I want to help too, they are my family," Harriet said with a gentle smile while Lily took a deep breath. Lily was grateful that her daughter was mature enough to have open conversations about such matters.

"We just want to let you know that we love you, and that will never change," Lily said, making Harriet smile at her.

"Mom, I truly mean it when I say that I am incredibly excited to become a big sister," Harriet replied, causing Lily to smile with delight.

"You've been saying that for a while now," Lily giggled.

"Of course! How could I not?! I am going to be a big sister!" Harriet said again, with a smug on her face. "The best sister!"

"Harriet, I do hope you become a good sister, and don't let the Potter side of you win," Lily said as she was now looking into Harriet's eyes.

"What makes you say that? The Potter side of me?"

"Yeah—don't try to teach them bad things."

"Me?! Never!"

Harriet's breath quickened as she stood before a familiar cabinet, one whose contents she knew all too well. Deep down, she understood that she couldn't truly progress in life if she continued to be haunted by the events of her past. And there were just a great deal of memories she would never be able to get rid of. Still, being afraid of them would serve no purpose to her since it would only hurt her more in the long run.

And that's why Harriet was there with her wand ready in her hand.

"Miss Potter, are you ready?" Lukas asked, addressing her as they found themselves alone in the room, with only the cabinet in front of them. Harriet looked at him briefly, giving a nod of affirmation. Taking a deep breath, she positioned herself a couple of feet away from the cabinet, her nerves evident.

"Y-yes, I am," Harriet muttered back. "I have to do this—I need to do this!"

"You don't need to rush things," Lukas said gently as Harriet shook her head a few times. "Facing your inner fears is not an easy task. Many older and more experienced individuals have attempted it before, only to be met with failure."

"But they're not me, and I…" Harriet mumbled, lost in her thoughts. There was no time to waste. Being a big sister held greater significance for her than most people understood. It was not merely a quirk she enjoyed mentioning but rather an integral part of her identity. Harriet aspired to become stronger in order to safeguard her family.

There were enemies waiting for her, and her future siblings would be the aim of those who wished her harm. And Harriet would not allow anyone to hurt them.

"If you're certain, I'll be right here by your side. And please keep in mind, the strength of haunting memories from the past is only as potent as you allow them to be."

Harriet nodded in agreement, preparing herself for what was to come. It wasn't long before Lukas opened the cabinet, freeing the Boggart from its confines. Almost instantly, Harriet could feel the chill of fear creeping up her skin. The voices whispered hauntingly, ones she wished she had never heard before. And there, before her, stood the shape-shifting figure of a man who had inflicted so much pain upon her in the past.

"I want you!" The figure of the man hissed.

Harriet's head shook in disbelief. She was acutely aware that it was nothing more than a fabrication, a figment of her imagination designed to torment her. Determined not to succumb this time, she resolutely refused to let it triumph. Perhaps in a previous existence, she might have yielded, but not in this present one. She had too much at stake, too much to look forward to, and therefore, no justification to surrender to the ghosts of her past.

Harriet raised her wand, directing it towards the creature. Her eyes locked onto the shadow in front of her, observing the repulsive smile that she was unfortunately familiar with.

"No anymore," Harriet muttered to herself. "Expecto Patronus!"

Before long, a brilliant light emerged, and once more, a group of familiar figures materialised. Lukas could easily identify them, having seen them before. Touch-Me's figure swiftly pushed the Boggart aside while Peroroncino's figure unleashed a barrage of arrows at the menacing creatures, compelling them to retreat back into the cabinet. It was truly a sight to behold.

"Congratulations, Miss Potter. That was beautiful," Lukas said as Harriet took a deep breath and smiled at him.

"Thank you, sir. It—makes me feel happy," Harriet replied.

"What were those figures, if I may ask? I don't recognise them," Lukas asked, faking ignorance and saw a troubled expression on Harriet's face before a smile appeared.

"They are—friends, I think," Harriet stated, and beautiful memories appeared in her mind. The same ones that powered her spell.

"Good to know," Lukas smiled.

"I want to do it again," Harriet said with a confident smile, prompting Lukas to chuckle at the young girl's determination. Nevertheless, it was a positive indication that she was gradually overcoming the burden of her past.