The Feathered Serpent: Chapter 13 (Patreon)

It went without saying that Harry had the best night of sleep ever.

After what happened the night before, it was impossible for him to not have some very pleasant dreams. Those dreams centered around only one thing – him and Daphne. He had thought of being with her before, but earlier, it had only been his imagination. Now, he knew how it was, and that improved the experience beyond anything. Even now, he could imagine how it felt when she had her lips wrapped around his manhood, her tongue swirling around his length as she looked up at him with her enchanting sapphire eyes that had captivated him the moment he saw her.

Harry's eyes suddenly shot open at that thought and the moment he woke up, his eyes immediately fell on the lump under the duvet, right where his manhood was. He quickly pulled it off him and his eyes widened at the sight.

Daphne looked up when the duvet was suddenly yanked off her and her eyes met the surprised emeralds of the man she loved. Mirthfully, she winked and kept sucking.

Harry stared at the sight of Daphne with her soft, pouty pink lips wrapped around the base of his prick as she plunged her mouth over his slick, glistening shaft. Her eyes were hungry and full of lust.

“Daph…” he groaned. She gazed mirthfully back at him and continued to pull her mouth back, tongue slithering over the veiny shaft as she coated it in her saliva before she pushed back down. She had more than half his length inside her wanton mouth, and Harry could do nothing but lay there as he watched.

She pulled back once again until only the head remained inside her mouth and he hissed when she began sucking it hard, tongue swirling around the crown of his shaft. With an audible pop, she pulled away.

“Remember what you said last night?” She asked with a grin, stroking his saliva-laden prick gently as she looked at him. “That you wanted it to be about me? Well, you made me leave my task in the middle. I’m here to complete the job I started.”

Harry groaned when she kept stroking and watched as she went back to sucking him off.

“Fucking hell Daph… I love you so much,” he groaned.

“I love you too,” she grinned, taking her mouth off his cock and planting a soft kiss on the head before taking it inside once again. Her mouth bobbed back and forth on his cock, and he saw her hair bouncing around her. Leaning down, Harry collected her luscious blonde locks in one hand and held them out of the way, earning himself a grateful look from her.

“I’m sorry if I’m slightly clumsy of doing something wrong,” she said softly as she pulled his cock out of her mouth. “I’m just doing what I’ve read.”

Harry let out a disbelieving chuckle.

“You, my love, are a prodigy,” he said mirthfully as he stared at her. She was still jerking him off with her mouth right over his cock, looking at him. “No wonder you’re such a remarkable witch. You’ve this brilliant ability to perfectly apply anything you read.”

Daphne preened under his praise.

“You’re enjoying it then?” She asked, a little hesitant.

“I’m fuckin’ lovin’ it, Daph. Honestly,” he replied quickly.

“I’m glad then,” she smiled before the smile turned into a smirk. “I’m going to try something I read now, okay?”

Harry nodded and watched as she lowered her head. His eyes widened when instead of taking his cock in her mouth, she descended further and teased his balls with her tongue.

“Oh damn,” he groaned when she puckered her lips, taking one of his balls inside her mouth as her hand kept stroking his shaft. He could feel her tongue rolling the testicle around as she sucked before she went for the other.

In no time, she developed a pattern. Both his balls received equal attention from her lips and tongue as she wrapped both her hands around his length, stroking them. Her thumb occasionally teased the tip of his cock, wiping the precum off before she would lean forward and lick it right off her fingers.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said when she finally pulled off his balls after giving them a nice playful squeeze.

“There’s more to come, my love,” she grinned and took him back in her mouth. Harry groaned as the familiar warmth of her wanton mouth enveloped his cock. He lay there, breathing harshly as he watched her go about her trade. He had no idea what a proper blowjob looked like, but going by the absolute pleasure he was feeling from everything that she was doing, he would confidently say that she was more than perfect.

And she was all his.

He gently placed his hand on the back of her head, slowly guiding her over his shaft. His hips bucked on their own, and Daphne looked up at him, moaning with her lips almost at the base of his cock. Harry could feel himself inside her throat, and he groaned at the feeling of being squeezed. Meanwhile, Daphne gagged slightly, breathing harshly through her nose as she looked up at him, a bit bleary-eyed.

“You okay?” He managed to get out, earning a nod from the blonde before he saw her plunge her mouth even more. He groaned at the sensation of being entirely inside her mouth. Her throat fit around his girth like a perfect sleeve, and he hissed when she reached down and began fondling his balls.

Harry groaned out loud when her throat spasmed around him and his fingers gently massaged her scalp. The hand holding her blonde hair in a fist pulled slightly, making her grunt around his cock. The vibration sent another jolt of pleasure through him.

“I want to be inside you,” he managed out. Daphne looked up at him and nodded as she pulled back, and Harry watched the string of thick saliva that connected her mouth to his cock. She reached down and swiped it away, rubbing her hand over her tits and coating them with it.

Smiling, she crawled up his body slowly on her hands and knees, and Harry’s eyes alternated between her lustful eyes and her dangling tits. In the brightness of the morning, they looked like mounds made of cream. She kissed up his body, taking ample time to play with his nipples the way he had done the previous night before she reached his face. Straddling him so that his cock was trapped between the slick folds of her pussy, she placed her arms on either side of his head and kissed him passionately.

As they kissed, Harry’s hands reached behind her. One hand cupped her round, juicy butt while the other gently stroked her spine, making her arch her back and push her lovely mounds directly into his chest. The feeling of her large, perky tits and those pebbled nipples pressing against his naked chest sent goosebumps across his skin and his cock lurched.

Meanwhile, Daphne began rolling her hips over his length, making it slide between her lower lips and rubbing her juices all over it.

Harry’s hands slowly reached upward and grabbed her perky, teardrop-shaped globes and his fingers once again played with her swollen, sensitive pink nipples, pressing on them and rolling them around before pinching them softly. Daphne moaned into his mouth and the rolling of her hips intensified.

“Ready?” Harry whispered against her lips. Instead of responding verbally, Daphne reached behind her and grabbed his cock by the base. Lining the head up with her wet entrance, she pushed the head inside and dropped with one firm slam. The couple groaned out loud as his slick length pushed through into her incredibly warm, tight quim, sinking deep into her hot depths. Her inner walls hugged his length eagerly.

“Harry…” she whispered against his lips as she raised herself, planting her palms on his chest as she sat on his cock. Her legs rested on either side of him and she pushed back, making him slide even deeper inside her. Staring down at him with a flushed face, his lovely Daphne began raising and lowering herself right on his cock. Her fingers caressed his nipples, teasing them as she looked on with a wicked smile. His eyes were however fixated on the way her large, perfect tits bounced around with her movements.

Daphne’s body trembled as his prick stretched her inner walls as only it had done the night before. The only difference was that he was even deeper inside her this time. She kept bouncing on his length, pushing him further inside her with each slam. Her tits continued to roll around on her chest and Harry stared, hypnotized with their alluring movements. His eyes trailed up to her face, flushed with arousal as she bit her lip in pleasure. The expression on her face was one of sheer ecstasy.

“Daph… I’m close,” he groaned, and Daphne intensified her movements. She began jumping up and down wildly and Harry had to grab her ass to keep her steady. Her tits flopped around as she wailed and moaned, sheer euphoria coursing through her as she fucked herself raw on his cock. Her climax was also mounting, and she wanted to ensure they reached their respective peaks together.

She brought her hand down and started to furiously stroke her clit, moaning incoherently as Harry began bucking his hips upward, thrusting inside her in tandem with her bounces.

Suddenly, Harry groaned and Daphne felt his hot, thick seed shoot deep inside her. That brought her over the edge. Her body dropped forward, tits mashing against his chest as she cried out in bliss. Her body trembled as Harry started to thrust fast, shooting his entire load into her pussy. His hand grabbed her hair and he turned her face toward his, mashing his lips against hers in a needy kiss.

The couple continued to furiously kiss each other as they rode out their climaxes, and Harry wrapped his arms around her naked back, pulling her firmly against himself.

Minutes passed and they continued to kiss each other before Daphne slowly pulled away, looking down at him breathlessly. Her blonde hair formed a curtain around their heads and Harry reached upward to caress her cheek lovingly.

“What I won’t give to wake up like this every morning…”

Daphne giggled and kissed him again.

XXXXX

Tracey knew something was different about them the moment she saw them come together for breakfast, and so did their other three friends.

Hannah quickly leaned over and whispered something to Susan, whose eyes widened as she looked toward Harry and Daphne who were in the middle of fixing their plates. The girls watched as they prepared their plates together, taking the items they wanted before adding some to the other’s plate and vice versa.

“So… anything new you’d like to tell us?” Hannah asked with a grin as she looked at the couple who looked up in surprise.

“No, I don’t think there is,” Harry replied with a small smile. Beside him, Daphne nodded.

“Yeah, pull another one,” Susan snorted. “This lady here has that look about her.”

“What look?” Daphne asked curiously.

“You know,” Susan smirked. “The look of a girl shagged rotten.”

Daphne immediately flushed furiously as Tracey and Megan coughed their juices out, staring at the redhead incredulously.

“What? She does,” Susan said unapologetically before turning to grin at Harry. “So Harry, judging by your reactions, I hope it’s true?”

Harry stared at her, at a loss of words as Daphne pointedly looked at her plate, eating fast. Meanwhile, the other three stared at them with widening eyes.

“Fucking hell, I thought you two kissed or something!” Hannah gasped out loud, and it was only their fortune that the Great Hall was almost vacant this late in the morning that no one was in the vicinity. Still, Harry raised a privacy ward around them in good measure.

“Yeah, why don’t you shout it out for the entire school to hear?” Susan snarked, slapping her best friend on the back of her head, making the blonde wince.

“Merlin, you two truly shagged!” Megan whispered. The girls looked at them pointedly, and Harry glanced at Daphne out of the corner of his eye.

“Yeah, we did. Got any problem with that?” Daphne asked sternly, daring them to say anything as she stared them down. The girls looked at her and quickly shook their heads.

“Absolutely not!” Susan frantically waved her hands. “Why should we have any problems with whatever you two lovebirds get up to? Congratulations.”

“Yeah, what she said,” Hannah said weakly. Daphne stared at Tracey and Megan who both nodded quickly.

“Good. You four better not blab about it. If I hear someone talking about it…”

“Our lips are sealed,” Hannah said, zipping her mouth. The other girls nodded quickly. Daphne looked meaningfully at Tracey who nodded again in understanding. There would be no rumor about it.

They continued to eat in silence and the couple ignored the way their friends kept glancing at them before giggling to themselves. They were almost done when Hannah asked with a teasing look on her face, “Sooo… who made the first move?”

“And that’s my cue,” Harry said suddenly, putting his fork on his empty plate and standing up. The girls looked up at him in surprise. Turning toward Daphne, Harry gave her a pleading look.

“I’m sure you all can talk freely without me being here,” Harry said with a smile, pointedly looking away from the accusing look on Daphne’s face. He knew she was going to kill him now, but there was no way he was staying behind while they talked about stuff like that. “See you all in the classes.”

Without any further delay, Harry turned around and rushed out of the Great Hall, leaving a shocked blonde staring at his retreating back in betrayal.

“Sooo… Daphne?” Hannah asked her again with a grin on her face and Daphne saw the rest of the girls looking at her expectantly. All she could do was sigh in exasperation. She had no doubt that these girls would remain persistent if she didn’t give in.

It seemed she had no choice but to be a part of an embarrassing conversation.

XXXXX

For the first time since Hermione had left Hogwarts, Harry walked through the entrance of the library. It was a Sunday morning, and predictably the library was almost empty apart from a few students from his house which was also not very surprising. Harry noted that they all were students either in the OWL or NEWT year.

A few looked over and Harry nodded at them as he walked over to the table they sometimes shared when Hermione was here. Her absence was still felt, but they had moved on from that episode.

The last they had heard from the girl, she was slowly getting better. Daphne’s cousin also wrote to her, describing how the girl’s nightly episodes had reduced over the past few weeks – something that made them feel much relieved about their friend.

Harry was currently in the library to research something that had been bugging him ever since he discovered he could now talk to snakes. Taking a seat on the table, he pulled the enchanted board toward him and wrote the word ‘Parseltongue’ on it in a neat script.

Barely a second later, four books appeared in front of him, and he looked at their titles.

Hogwarts – A History

The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts

Purity and Greatness – A Biography of Salazar Slytherin

The Forgotten Lore of Magic – A Compendium of Arts and Practices Lost To The Annals of History

The title of the third book intrigued him the most, but Harry set it aside for now. He had already read the first one, like almost every student there was, and he knew there were mentions of Salazar Slytherin being a Parselmouth. There was nothing more of note in that book, so he set it aside. The second book was also familiar, and he had read it as well. The book did not elaborate on Parseltongue, merely mentioning that Voldemort was also one. He set it aside as well.

Picking up the third book, Harry opened the first page that was glowing, and started reading.

And perhaps the most mysterious power of them all was the founder’s ability to communicate with snakes. The Tongue of the Serpent, as it was called in the days of old, now has a different name – Parseltongue.

Clicking his tongue, Harry turned the page over once again and read.

And when asked how he could utilize so many elements at once, the founder had only a small smirk dancing on his lips as he replied, “It is the blessing of the Tongue of the Serpent, my friend.”

The man was baffled. He had never heard of something like that. And to be honest, so am I. I never imagined there was an entirely different branch of magic that was exclusive to only those who could speak Parseltongue. It’s a pity that not many people are born with the ability.

That was surprising. Turned out Parseltongue allowed people access to a different variety of magic, and by the looks of it, it included manipulation of the elements. He knew his fair share of elemental spells, but he had to admit that the prospect of knowing even more of them enticed him.

The remaining mentions of Parseltongue in Slytherin’s biography were nothing of note, and Harry set the book aside as well.

Finally, he reached for the fourth book and saw the glowing pages. There was only one, and he opened the book.

Magicae de Sanguine is a sacred concept, one which is held close to the chest in every wizarding family.

As the name suggests, it is the magic that belongs to a bloodline, impossible to be utilized by another, at least to the same degree of proficiency.

There is nothing complicated about it. Often, as generations of magical families immerse themselves in a particular art, it slowly gets intertwined with their blood, and the trait gets passed down to their descendants. This creates an affinity for a particular branch of magic to take root, something that belongs to that bloodline.

Over the past centuries, wizarding families have come to safeguard these affinities, with several often considering themselves superior to others for having such an ability. It is proposed that therein lies the crux of some wizarding families’ notion of considering the muggleborns as beings inferior to them.

In their opinion, their blood makes them superior.

It is a flawed notion. Their blood does indeed provide them with an ability that has been passed on to them, but it in no way makes them superior to anyone. One could nullify any ability one might possess with adequate capabilities.

This leads credence to another theory that has been followed by living beings throughout the annals of history. There is power and only power that makes them feel superior to anyone. The strong either feast on the weak, or the strong protect the weak so the weak can become strong and continue the cycle.

Magicae de Sanguine, or Magic of the Bloodline manifests in various forms. Several examples have been observed over the years.

The most famous of them all is perhaps the ability of the Slytherin bloodline to speak to snakes. Parseltongue, or the Tongue of the Serpent as it was originally called, is an affinity that has been observed in only those who have the blood of Salazar in their veins. It is believed that Salazar, with the help of a ritual, bound the ability so that only those who share his blood would be able to speak Parseltongue.

There are several others, including but not limited to the proficiency of the Blacks in dark curses, or the ability of the Potters to be masters in Transfiguration. The Bones line has produced remarkable Charms masters and mistresses over the centuries, and the Longbottoms have always had their green thumb.

In the days of old, families practiced their arts freely. There was no fear of other families stealing the affinity of another. However, as time passed, families slowly grew more and more paranoid. Fearful of their powers being stolen, they began to safeguard their magic to prevent it from getting out of their families.

One such safeguard is enforced at the time of a witch’s wedding to ensure the magic does not pass on to her offspring, and consequently, in the hands of the family she is marrying into, or when a squib is banished from the family to ensure none of the offspring is born with the traits.

Another safeguard was to ensure the true purity of blood. This was a glorified way of saying the word ‘incest’. Marriages like Cousin-Cousin, Uncle-Niece, and Aunt-Nephew became commonplace in several families and they are practiced to this day. Some families took this a step further, arranging marriages between siblings or even twins to ensure blood purity. Documented evidence shows the Blacks, the Lestranges, the Carrows, the Crabbes, the Goyles, the Weasleys, and several more members of the Sacred Twenty-eight have chosen this path in the past.

Many theorists believe this is nothing but paranoia at work, while some assure it is necessary. There has never been a consensus between the two parties on the subject. However, what everyone agrees on is the fact that marrying direct blood relatives or those who have at least three generations in common is not advisable. It has been observed that the aforementioned families have had the most number of squibs born into them in the past five centuries.

Alas, this seems to have given rise to more hatred toward first-generation witches and wizards. Wizarding families that can trace their bloodlines to centuries and that have developed the magic connected to their bloodline have been growing increasingly fearful of having their abilities stolen. There has been a significant increase in the number of first-generation witches and wizards in recent years, and the numbers are expected to only grow. Many of the staunch supporters of the rhetoric of blood purity have thus begun growing increasingly paranoid of their affinities being stolen, just like how they believe their magic already has been.

It is truly a shame that Magicae de Sanguine has now been reduced to nothing but a treasure that is to be safeguarded, instead of the marvel of magic that it should be treated as.

Harry shut the book with wide eyes, staring at the binding.

Parseltongue was a bloodline ability. At least according to this book. And given the unbiased nature of the information the book contained, he was more and more inclined to believe it was true.

That meant he shared blood with none other than Salazar Slytherin. There was no possible explanation. Something must have happened that triggered this ability in him. He couldn’t speak to snakes previously, then suddenly he could.

The information contained in the book was very educational, and it gave him a perspective into where the blood purists were coming from. He recalled how the Potters always were brilliant at Transfiguration, and he could attest to that. Transfiguration did come easily to him. But then, all spells came easily to him.

He couldn’t help but wonder whether Daphne’s bloodline had any such trait, and he tried to think what it could be. Daphne was a very capable witch as well, and she was easily his equal. But his healing magic was nothing compared to hers. If he had to guess, that was what her bloodline affinity must be.

Thinking back to his connection with Slytherin, as his ability to speak Parseltongue proved, Harry wondered just how he was related to Slytherin. Quickly, he asked for a book on family lineages and opened the pages that detailed the Potter family.

Curiously, he trailed up the family tree, past his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and centuries of his ancestors. There were links to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and even Ravenclaw, but there was no connection to the Slytherin line. Sighing, Harry shut the book close and decided to get it checked out. He would need to do meticulous research on those who had married into the Potter family and could have been blood descendants of Slytherin.

However, something told him there was no trace of the blood of Slytherin in the Potter family. There was this instinctive feeling he got while looking at his family tree. But then his mother was a muggleborn, so she couldn't have the blood of Slytherin in her veins, which meant his instinct was wrong.

Sighing, Harry returned the first three books and checked out the final two. He walked out of the library and made his way back to Ravenclaw Tower. He had his research to look forward to, and he believed it would take him the entire day.

He wondered where Daphne was. Her help would be invaluable.

Hopefully, she won’t be too mad at him for leaving her to fend off those she-vultures all alone.

XXXXX

An old wizard with his beard reaching his belly emerged from the fireplace clad in an elaborate gray robe with a faint purple hat on his head. He looked around the familiar house and smiled when he saw her.

“Perenelle,” Albus Dumbledore greeted respectfully with a bow of his head.

“Albus,” Perenelle Flamel smiled. “You are right on time, dear boy. Come.”

Despite his age, Albus still felt like a young boy in front of his former master and his wife. He nodded and followed behind her to where he knew their office was.

“Nick is waiting for you in the office,” Perenelle said as she pushed the door open and entered. Albus followed.

He looked around as he entered, and the office was the same as it had been the last time he had visited. Unlike the family manors, Nicholas Flamel’s office was situated on the ground floor of his manor, far away from the private chambers. There was a large ornate desk made of dark wood and a large chair, similar to the one he had in his office, was behind the desk on which the man was sitting. There was a large closet to the side which was shut closed and a fireplace. The walls were colored in a shade of light cream and were decorated with tapestries and paintings depicting various historical events from the wars to revolutions that had taken place during the ancient alchemist’s lifetime.

“Come, Albus. Have a seat,” Nicholas Flamel greeted his former student and gestured toward a chair in front of the desk. Dumbledore nodded and walked over.

“I apologize for disturbing you so soon after your arrival,” Dumbledore began as he took a seat. Perenelle sat on the chair in the middle.

“I am aware you won’t have done it without any reason, boy,” Nicholas chuckled. “Now out with it already.”

Dumbledore sighed.

“I’m sure you know Harry Potter?”

“Who doesn’t?” Nicholas chuckled. “Even we, in our centuries of lifetime, had never heard of someone surviving the Killing Curse until that child. What about him?”

“When young Harry was hit with the Killing Curse, nothing happened to him. All that remained was a scar on his forehead.”

“Sowilo, if I remember correctly,” Perenelle interjected, earning a nod from the headmaster of Hogwarts.

“The boy’s mother must have cast that rune on him. It is nothing to write home about though. Plenty of mothers do it to their children at that age. Why, I remember Martha Lacroix, our neighbor when I was a child, doing that to her daughter until she was eleven, if you can believe it. Some people do like to go overboard, don’t they?”

“Nick,” Perenelle sighed. Nicholas looked at her and nodded.

“Ah right, you were saying Albus?”

“Harry has that scar on his forehead. The complication is that he’s been feeling the scar react ever since he came to Hogwarts. According to him, it’s been a throbbing sensation,” Dumbledore said.

“Easily explained,” Nicholas interjected once again. “The boy has suddenly found himself in a place brimming with magic. Hogwarts is one of the most magically saturated places in the world. Obviously it would have some effect.”

“That was my theory as well, but something else happened a few weeks ago,” Dumbledore sighed. “Harry was in the Defense classroom when he suddenly felt unbearable pain in his scar. According to him, it was the worst pain he had ever felt, and this is coming from a boy who tore his knee ligament as a child.”

“Merlin, that bad?” Perenelle asked with a frown. She knew how painful that injury could be.

“Didn’t that happen to you once as well?” Nicholas asked his wife, who nodded.

“I had examined Harry’s scar when I first saw it,” Dumbledore continued. “And it contained dark magic residue. My theory was that the Killing Curse left that residue, but I am having second thoughts now.”

“You believe it is something much more serious,” Nicholas stated, earning a nod.

“That is why you have approached us,” Perenelle said with a frown.

“I was hoping you could check that scar. I believe you could discover something I might have missed or would know what the problem is. Currently, the pain is under control but he has said that there are episodes when there is a surge.”

“Any pattern you have observed?” Nicholas asked keenly. “When this surge happens?”

“According to him, it has never happened near his common room or his room. He has experienced it only when he is outside the common room, either in the corridors, on the grounds, in the Great Hall or in the classrooms,” Dumbledore replied.

“There is a trigger then,” Nicholas stated with absolute confidence. “Although some of the classrooms, particularly Defense, are more concentrated with magic which might trigger the dark magic residue in the scar, the latent magic is evenly distributed throughout the castle. There is no way he would not experience the reaction inside the common room or his room. I am certain something is triggering this reaction, and it is not in his house.”

“I can see you have your suspicions, Albus,” Perenelle said strictly. “Out with it, boy. We can’t do anything if you keep things away from us.”

Dumbledore looked at the woman and sighed.

“Voldemort is still alive,” he admitted, earning surprised looks from the couple.

“Didn’t he die in Godric’s Hollow?” Perenelle asked with a frown.

“His body was not found, only his wand and his robes,” Dumbledore replied. “I wouldn’t have believed him alive if not for the curse on the Defense position that he put when I rejected him from becoming the professor. The curse is still in place.”

“And it cannot end as long as the one who put it is alive,” Nicholas completed for his former student, who nodded.

“Even if he is still alive, what are you getting at, Albus?” Perenelle asked curiously. “That Voldemort did it?”

“ I believe he triggered it somehow,” Dumbledore said softly. “There was a reason why I asked you to create a replica of your stone. I’ve hidden it in plain sight in Hogwarts.”

“Surely not…” Perenelle trailed off, horrified.

“Have you gone senile, Albus!?” Nicholas hissed in anger. “You’re planning to lure the most dangerous dark wizard since Grindelwald into a school full of young students? All in a bid to do what? Expose that he’s alive?”

Dumbledore sighed.

“I’ve told you many times to refrain from manipulating events that could cost lives, you foolish boy,” Perenelle sighed as she rubbed her forehead to stave off any potential headache. “And yet you go ahead and do something like this.”

“Who will be responsible if some tragedy befalls the children?” Nicholas asked firmly. “I can’t believe I need to scold a man who is over a hundred like a child.”

“Keeping him close is the only way to prevent him from doing anything more heinous,” Dumbledore replied. The old couple sighed.

“Listen to me, Albus,” Nicholas said sternly. “You better ensure this Voldemort is kept far away from Hogwarts. I don’t care about this little plan of yours. The students have been put in enough potential danger already. Ensure that dark wizard doesn’t do anything.”

Dumbledore nodded with a sigh.

“What about Harry?”

“Send him here when the Yule holidays start,” Perenelle replied. “We will take a look and deal with it as we deem fit.”

Dumbledore gave the woman a grateful nod.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely.

“Thank us by making sure the children are safe,” Nicholas grunted.

Fifteen minutes later, Albus Dumbledore emerged from the fireplace of his office.

“It seems you’ll get your wish, Severus,” Dumbledore remarked softly as he summoned his Potions professor. They had a certain Defense professor to take care of.

XXXXX

To be continued…