Hogsmeade...
Bellatrix arrived at Hogsmeade.
The crisp evening air carried the scent of butterbeer and fresh parchment, a stark contrast to the tension she had left behind in Diagon Alley.
Adjusting her dark blue cloak, she took a deep breath and began her walk toward Hogwarts, her mind set on one thing—meeting Leo.
As she made her way through the cobbled streets, the familiar sight of the Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes brought a fleeting sense of nostalgia.
But before she could reminisce any further, a massive figure stepped into her path.
"Oy! Who goes there?"
came a deep, friendly voice.
Bellatrix looked up to see a towering half-giant with wild, bushy hair and a thick beard—Hagrid.
His beetle-black eyes scanned her for a moment before recognition dawned on his face.
"Blimey! Bellatrix Black, ain't it? Been a long time since yeh were 'round these parts!"
She gave him a small smile, a rare but genuine one.
"It's Bellatrix, yes. I'm here to see Leo."
Hagrid scratched his beard.
Scratch~
"Leo, eh? Yeh mean Professor Morningstar? Didn't know yeh two knew each other that well!"
Bellatrix chuckled.
"We've been acquainted for a while. I have some important matters to discuss with him."
Hagrid nodded, then gestured for her to follow.
"Well then, lemme walk yeh up to the castle. Wouldn't want any of the students thinkin' yeh were some lost witch wanderin' 'bout."
As they approached the Hogwarts gates, the towering silhouette of the castle loomed ahead, bathed in the warm glow of lanterns.
The path leading up to the entrance was as familiar as ever, yet Bellatrix couldn't shake the feeling that something was different this time.
Just before they reached the castle doors, a short, lively figure approached them—
Professor Filius Flitwick.
The Charms professor beamed upon seeing her.
"Miss Black! My, my, what a surprise! It's been quite some time!"
Flitwick said, his voice filled with excitement.
"What brings you back to Hogwarts?"
Bellatrix returned the greeting with a respectful nod.
"I need to speak with Leo—Professor Morningstar. It's important."
Flitwick's eyes twinkled with curiosity but didn't press further.
"Ah, of course! Well, Hagrid, you've done your part. I'll take Miss Black from here."
Hagrid gave a parting wave before heading toward his hut.
Flitwick led Bellatrix through the familiar corridors, students occasionally glancing her way in curiosity.
"So, what have you been up to these days?"
Flitwick asked as they climbed the staircase.
Bellatrix smirked.
Smirk~
"Just making sure certain people don't get themselves killed."
Flitwick chuckled.
"Sounds like a rather important job!"
Finally, they arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts office.
Flitwick knocked twice before opening the door.
As Filius knocked on the door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, he expected a prompt response.
Instead, silence greeted him.
Knock~ Knock~
"____"
Frowning, he knocked again.
"Professor Morningstar, I've brought a guest. I'm coming in."
Before he could reach for the handle, Minerva's flustered voice called from inside.
"Wait! Just—just a few minutes!"
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow, glancing at Filius, who merely chuckled in amusement.
Chuckle~
The two waited patiently until, after a few moments, the door finally creaked open.
Minerva stood in the doorway, her expression composed, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
She stepped aside, allowing them in.
Bellatrix's eyes immediately landed on Leo, who was soundly sleeping on the bed.
She had expected to see him awake, ready to greet them with his usual sharp wit, but instead, he looked completely at ease, his breathing even and face relaxed.
She turned to Minerva, arms crossed.
"Why is he sleeping in the middle of the day?"
Minerva stiffened slightly before clearing her throat, trying to maintain her composure.
"Professor Morningstar is resting on Madam Pomfrey's advice. He overexerted himself after breaking the Defense Against the Dark Arts curse and even countering it."
Frown~
Bellatrix frowned.
"Breaking a curse is one thing, but countering it? What does that even mean?"
Filius answered with admiration in his tone,
"Not only did he remove the existing curse on the position, but he also cast a counter-curse on the caster. A truly impressive feat."
Bellatrix's expression softened slightly.
"Still, it's rare to see him in such a vulnerable state."
Minerva glanced at Leo briefly, her blush deepening for a second before she composed herself again.
"That's why I was here—to ensure he's alright."
Filius chuckled lightly at that but didn't comment. Instead, he turned to Bellatrix.
"So, what brings you here?"
"I'm here to officially become Professor Morningstar's bodyguard,"
she stated without hesitation.
"____"
"____"
Minerva blinked in surprise.
"His bodyguard?"
Bellatrix nodded.
"He's done a lot for me—more than I can ever repay. And with his tendency to attract trouble, someone needs to be by his side to keep him safe."
Filius hummed in amusement.
"Well, he does have a way of making both powerful allies and powerful enemies."
Minerva still seemed to be processing Bellatrix's declaration when—
Whoosh!
A burst of golden flames erupted in the middle of the room, and from within, Albus Dumbledore and his phoenix, Fawkes, appeared.
Dumbledore's usual twinkle was gone, replaced by a grave expression.
His blue eyes scanned the room before settling on Leo's sleeping figure.
Minerva straightened.
"Headmaster?"
Dumbledore looked at the three awake individuals before saying,
"We need to talk."
"There has been an incident in Diagon Alley,"
he said gravely.
Minerva's grip on the armrest of her chair tightened.
"What happened?"
Dumbledore let out a quiet sigh.
Sigh~
"Voldemort and his followers attempted to attack the Cauldron & Charm Apothecary."
Filius gasped.
"What?!"
Bellatrix, who had been listening with an air of intrigue, suddenly stiffened as realization struck her.
"Andromeda…"
she muttered, her eyes widening.
Filius and Minerva turned to her in confusion, but Bellatrix had already grabbed Dumbledore's arm before he could leave.
"I left Andromeda at the shop!"
she exclaimed, her usual composed demeanor breaking for the first time.
"I— I thought it was safe! She's there working!"
Dumbledore placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Be at ease, Miss Black. The battle has already ended. No harm came to the shop's occupants."
Bellatrix still looked tense, but she exhaled sharply, regaining control of her emotions.
"I should have stayed. If anything had happened to her—"
Dumbledore's gaze turned unreadable.
"They were… subdued."
Minerva, noticing the hesitation in his voice, frowned.
"By whom?"
Dumbledore's lips pressed into a thin line before he answered,
"Mr. Mime."
There was a pause.
"…Excuse me?"
Bellatrix tilted her head as if she had misheard.
Filius was equally stunned.
"Mr. Mime?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"It seems Mr. Mime a servant creature took matters into its own hands. Voldemort was rendered unconscious, and his followers were… dealt with."
Minerva furrowed her brows.
Frown~
"What do you mean by 'dealt with'?"
Dumbledore exhaled slowly.
"They were stripped of their masks and robes, exposing their true identities to the public. And then, they were displayed in a manner that left no room for doubt about their defeat."
Bellatrix, sharp as ever, caught on immediately.
"A warning."
Dumbledore gave a solemn nod.
"Indeed. The sight of pure-blood heirs and established figures impaled and exposed like that has sent shockwaves throughout the wizarding world."
Minerva looked troubled.
"Do we know why Mr. Mime did this?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"Not yet. But the implications are severe. The general public is enraged, and the humiliation of the pure-blood families involved is absolute."
Filius rubbed his temple.
"This… this will not sit well with them."
"No,"
Dumbledore agreed.
"While they would not dare to attack Professor Morningstar directly—his status as a Morningstar shields him from such overt retaliation—they will not let this matter rest so easily. The political ramifications of this event will be immense."
Minerva's expression hardened.
"Do you think they will try to strike back through the Ministry?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"It is highly likely. Which is why I must leave immediately. The political landscape has been upended in a way no one could have anticipated, and if we do not stabilize the situation quickly, we may find ourselves on the precipice of something far worse than mere political strife."
Minerva straightened.
"Then I shall go with you—"
"No."
Dumbledore's voice was firm but gentle.
"I need you here, Minerva. Until I return, you are in charge of Hogwarts."
Minerva blinked.
"You're entrusting me with the school?"
Dumbledore's expression softened.
"You are the most capable for this task. Hogwarts must remain stable amidst the growing chaos. I trust you."
Minerva, though momentarily taken aback, quickly gathered herself and nodded.
"Understood, Headmaster."
Dumbledore turned to Filius.
"Assist her in any way you can."
"Of course, Headmaster,"
Filius agreed, though his mind was clearly still racing from the news.
Bellatrix crossed her arms.
Dumbledore gave one last glance at Leo, still sleeping soundly, before vanishing in a burst of golden flames, leaving behind an office filled with uncertainty.
Next Day...
Leo groggily opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of the familiar ceiling of his office.
His head throbbed slightly, and he instinctively reached up to massage his temples.
'Bloody hell… what did that woman do to me?'
he thought, his brows furrowing.
Madam Pomfrey.
That terrifying healer had practically drugged him into submission to make sure he got proper rest.
He made a mental note to be wary of anything she handed him from now on.
But as he lay there, a sudden rush of memories from the previous night flooded his mind.
'Wait… I… I pulled Minerva into a hug?'
His body stiffened.
'And I— I said I wanted to marry her?!'
Leo sat up abruptly, his face paling as the embarrassment crashed over him like a tidal wave.
'Merlin's beard! What the hell was I thinking?!'
He clutched his head, groaning.
How could he have been so reckless? He had even teased Minerva, poking her cheeks and mumbling nonsense before passing out!
Before he could sink further into despair, another memory surfaced—one that made his breath hitch.
'The system… it gave me an urgent warning about the shop… Voldemort!'
Without wasting another second, he called out in his mind,
'System, report!'
At once, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
[Urgent Quest: Defend Cauldron & Charm Apothecary – Completed]
[Objective: Prevent Voldemort and his followers from causing destruction
Task Status – Success][Enemies defeated: Voldemort and 25 Death Eaters]
[Rewards: Faith +0.1, Agility +1, Summoning Card (Nun – Conjuring Series)]
Leo blinked.
'...Completed?'
His eyes darted over the quest details, confusion filling his mind.
'Wait. If I was drugged, then who—'
And then, it hit him.
A sudden image of Mr. Mime grinning maniacally while bashing Death Eaters with pure glee flashed through his head.
'...Oh no.'
A long silence followed as he processed what must have happened.
Then, rubbing his face, he muttered,
'Please tell me that lunatic clown didn't go overboard…'
"____"
The system, of course, remained silent.
As Leo was still processing the absurdity of the situation, his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden creak of his office door opening.
"Good morning, Leo."
Leo's head snapped toward the entrance, only to find Bellatrix Black stepping in with a smirk.
He blinked in surprise.
"Bella?"
he asked, caught off guard.
"What are you doing here?"
She crossed her arms and leaned casually against the doorframe.
"I'm here for my job."
Leo's confusion deepened.
"Job?"
"You promised to hire me as your bodyguard, remember?"
she said, raising an eyebrow.
"____"
Leo's eye twitched.
'When did I promise her?'
Before he could come up with an excuse, Bellatrix continued, her expression softening slightly.
"Besides, I need this job. Andromeda and I are done with the Black family. We left. And this morning, we made Narcissa swear a vow to break all ties with the family, too."
Leo observed her for a moment.
There was no hesitation in her voice—she had truly walked away from the twisted ideals of the Black family.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Alright, fine. You're hired. But if you start hexing students for fun, I'm firing you."
Bellatrix grinned.
Grin~
"No promises."
The Great Hall...
After freshening up, Leo made his way to the Great Hall with Bellatrix walking beside him.
The moment they entered, a strange tension filled the air.
"____"
It took him less than a second to notice that every single student was staring at him—eyes wide, mouths slightly agape, and holding The Daily Prophet in their hands.
Leo frowned.
'What now?'
He casually walked over to a nearby Gryffindor student who was practically vibrating with excitement and held out his hand.
Cough~
"Lend me that for a second."
The student—eyes shining as he had just met Merlin himself—eagerly handed over the newspaper.
Leo unfolded it and started reading it.
"THE RISE AND IMMEDIATE FALL OF THE 'SECOND DARK LORD'—A TRAGEDY IN ONE ACT!"
"The so-called Dark Lord, who grandly declared himself the next ruler of the magical world, was humbled yesterday—not by a great Auror, nor by the Ministry, nor even by a powerful wizard... but by a mere servant of the Morningstar family!"
Accompanying the title was a hilariously exaggerated moving image.
It depicted a smug-looking Mr. Mime standing over a dramatically unconscious Voldemort, occasionally spinning his cane and twirling his nonexistent mustache like a cartoon villain. { It was not a real pic... It was created by the publication house to hype even more.}
Leo's jaw nearly dropped. He slowly looked up, only to find every student glancing between him and the newspaper, their expressions ranging from awe to sheer disbelief.
A small smirk crept onto his lips.
'My fame is skyrocketing… with zero effort.'
Bellatrix, peering over his shoulder, burst into laughter.
"Oh, this is priceless! You've officially humiliated him beyond repair."
Leo exhaled sharply and shook his head.
"I didn't even do anything."
The Gryffindor student, still looking at Leo like he was a living legend, grinned.
"That's the best part, Professor Morningstar!"
Leo casually flipped to the next page, expecting more ridiculous headlines, but what greeted him instead was a detailed report on the aftermath in Diagon Alley. The moving pictures showed the brutal display of Voldemort and his followers, stripped of their dignity—literally—impaled on wooden stakes like some medieval warning sign.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
And as the memories came rushing back, realization dawned on him.
'Ah… right. I did tell the system to do something…'
Leo let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples. He had been very drunk, but there was no denying it—this was his doing.
Or rather, Mr. Mime had executed his orders very literally.
Shaking his head, he leaned back, letting a small smirk play on his lips.
'Well… it's not my fault they picked a fight with me. And I did get rewarded for it, so… no complaints.'
With that, he turned the page, humming to himself, utterly unfazed.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N): I hope you guys enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review and power stone!!! It will Motivate Me.