Harry had a fantastic time playing video games with Ron and the twins that afternoon at Scarlet’s house, after their trip to the orphanage. Black also seemed to enjoy catching up with Lupin.

Scarlet assumed they wouldn’t be in touch again until was time to return to school, but to her surprise, she received a call from Harry after dinner the same day.

“I’ve got a present from my dad!”

“Huh?” Both Scarlet and Ron, who were listening in on the phone call, were confused.

“I didn’t get to open all my Christmas presents this morning because we were in such a rush to find the orphanage,” Harry explained. “I figured the rest were from you guys – oh, and I was shocked Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon actually sent me something too, though it was just a coin. But there was one from a secret giver - my dad’s old invisibility cloak! He’d kept it for years!”

“Blimey! That’s amazing!” Ron exclaimed, “You’ve inherited one of your dad’s things!”

“Congratulations!” Scarlet added.

Harry couldn’t contain his excitement and went on about it for a few more minutes before asking, “Scarlet, can I come over to the Red House and test out the cloak? I promise not to scare your staff!”

“Sure,” Scarlet replied, laughing. “Just call before you head over, and we’ll be ready.”

The next morning, Harry and his godfather arrived so early that they even had breakfast with Scarlet. Harry, in his Weasley sweater gifted by Mrs. Weasley as Christmas present, ran straight to Ron’s room, jumping on his bed to wake him. Their laughter and giggling echoed through the house, all the way to the dining room.

Black greeted Scarlet with a warm handshake before pulling Lupin into a teasing hug, exchanging sarcastic jokes that only close friends would understand.

Scarlet, however, didn’t pay much attention at their banter. She was focused on the stack of international news William had collected for her. Still no sign of the internet rising...I miss Wikipedia, she mused, furrowing her brows.

She briefly exchanged thoughts with Kyle, discussing the latest updates in the family business and considering if she could offer any insights for future investments. Just then, Black approached, interrupting with a quick nod.

“Excuse me, Scarlet. Could I have a word?”

“Of course,” Scarlet said, glancing at Kyle, who signalled her to go ahead. “Is there something I can help with?”

“I know you’re working on something for Remus,” Black began, sounding a bit awkward but determined. “For his...condition. I get he needs to be part of the ritual, but I’d like to be there, too. I’ll keep out of the way, just...want to make sure he’s alright.”

Scarlet thought for a moment. “Well...sure, as long as you don’t mind it being a bit crowded.”

“Crowded?” Black raised an eyebrow. “I thought this was some secret ritual.”

“It is, but...” Scarlet ticked off names on her fingers. “Ron and his brothers are here. My dad, William, Meiko, Mr. Hawk, and some other staff will be present too. For certain reasons, I’ve invited Neville and Mrs. Longbottom, so they’ll be there. Plus, one or two people delivering materials might stick around as well. And I’m assuming you’ll bring Harry?”

Black blinked in surprise. “Merlin’s beard - that’s a crowd. And you’re letting your servants in? Aren’t they Muggles?”

“Not quite,” Scarlet said, raised an eyebrow, “To be precise, they’re not muggles, but they aren’t exactly wizards either.”

“What?” Black’s eyebrows shot up.

“Some of them are Jutsushi, others are Shamans, and a few...well, I’m not entirely sure, but they’ve got talents,” Scarlet explained. “Most of them only know a few tricks, nothing particular powerful, but it’s enough for them to understand my situation and handle what comes with it.” She shrugged. “It took my family a great deal of effort to hire them, and they all signed magical NDA with me. If not for that, I wouldn’t have invited Ron and his brothers over for Christmas.”

Black let that sink in for a moment. “You really do keep interesting company.”

Scarlet shrugged, just as Meiko approached with drinks. “So, as soon as the materials arrive, we can plan the ritual.”

Meiko nodded in confirmation. “The sand will arrive tonight, and the rest of the materials will be here by tomorrow morning.”

“No delay?” Scarlet asked.

“Everything is on schedule, Milady.” Meiko responded firmly.

“So, it’s safe to plan the ritual for tomorrow. I’ll send Neville a letter,” Scarlet said. She reached for her notebook, intending to tear out a page and scribble a note. But then she remembered Mrs. Longbottom was from a pureblood family, and decided against it. “Meiko, could you fetch my letter set, please?”

“Yes, Milady.” Meiko replied, disappearing to retrieve it.

The “Milady” caught Black off guard, and he smirked. “Milady? Well, well, Scarlet. Didn’t peg you for royalty.”

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Scarlet quickly waved him off. “Oh, stop. I didn’t ask for it.”

Black chuckled, eyes gleaming with amusement. “I should’ve brought Kreacher along - he could learn a thing or two about proper manners.”

“A house-elf?” Scarlet asked.

“Of course!” Black replied, wiping away a stray tear from laughing. “You should consider getting one yourself, Milady. Life would be much easier.”

Scarlet shook her head with a soft smile. “My life has never been better.”

When Meiko returned, she placed a large, elegant case in front of Scarlet. Inside were delicate, scented papers and matching envelopes - a gift from her grandmother, who still lived a life of refinement as the Lady of Tachibana clan. There was also a custom-made wax seal set, designed and crafted by an expert her grandparents had hired specially for her.

Scarlet often used this letter set to send her grandparents notes, just to brighten their day. This, however, was the first time she’d use it to send a letter to anyone else. Well, no one really uses this kind of thing nowadays, she mused, though it felt fitting for the occasion.

Under the surprised gazes of Black and Lupin, she wrote a formal letter in elegant cursive on a piece of sandalwood-scented paper. She then and sealed it with light maple-coloured wax after placing it in a dark maple-coloured envelope. Meanwhile, Kyle opened the French window that led to the porch and gave a low hoot, calling Faye her small perch house.

Faye, the household owl, eagerly hopped onto Kyle’s shoulder, happily nibbling on the jerky he pulled from his pocket. Despite Scarlet’s warnings that Faye was growing too fat and forbidding extra snacks, it seemed Kyle had become her main source of treats.

“Dad!” Scarlet scolded, crossing her arms. “You promised!”

“But it’s just a little bit,” Kyle replied with a wry smile, holding his fingers apart to show a tiny gap representing that “little bit”.

“She’s a cat-headed eagle (that’s how Chinese referred to an owl), not a cat. She needs to fly, not gain weight!”

“But it’s winter! She needs fat to keep warm!” Kyle protested.

Faye hooted in agreement, as if defending herself.

“You heard what the vet said,” Scarlet sighed. “Fine. In that case, I’ll have Faye take on more deliveries after I’m back at school. Come here, Faye, send this to Neville.”

Faye gave an indignant hoot but obediently snatched the letter and flew off to complete her task.

Black and Lupin, who had been watching quietly, exchanged a glance and leaned toward each other, and speaking in low tones.

Lupin murmured, “It’s strange, isn’t it? All these years, and here we are again. Like it was yesterday.”

Black gave a faint smile, his tone more guarded. “Thought the closest I’d get to this would be in Azkaban. Didn’t think I’d see anything like Hogwarts again,” he said, then paused, his gaze shifting darkly. “But the Dark Mark...it’s been spotted. Means he’s alive.”

Lupin raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral to avoid alerting Scarlet. “Maybe, but last we heard, he couldn’t return.”

“Maybe not yet,” Black replied, his voice barely a whisper. “But his followers? They’ll be lurking somewhere, I’d bet on it. One of them might even try something with Harry’ - revenge, or worse.” He glanced at Lupin. “I’d put nothing past them.”

“Harry’s safe at Hogwarts, but after he leaves during the holidays...”

“That’s why Dumbledore wants Harry at his aunt’s, for the blood wards. That’s Lily’s last gift to him,” Black muttered, his voice heavy.

Lupin nodded subtly, “But I heard they’re - well, not exactly the best guardians.”

Black’s eyes hardened. “No, no ideal. However, it’s not as bad as what we heard from those kids yesterday. Dumbledore swears it’s what’s safest for him. Still... if I’d had my head on straight, I’d have been here for him. Instead, I let the guilt and Azkaban consume me.” He rubbed his face with a hint of frustration, his tone almost bitter. “It was supposed to be me looking out for him.”

Lupin placed a steadying hand on his friend’s shoulder, voice soft but firm. “None of us can change the past, Sirius. But Harry knows you’re here for him now.”

Black managed a thin smile, though his eyes betrayed a lingering regret. In the distance, the sounds of laughter and shouts from Harry and the Weasley brothers filled the air, along with Percy’s indignant cries at being woken up.

Scarlet waved goodbye to Faye as the owl flow off, then returned to the table, just as Black and Lupin fell silent, watching her with mild amusement.

She turned to Kyle. “I’m going out tonight. Alone.”

“Why?” Kyle brow furrowed.

“I need to hunt down the offerings,” she said casually, but the weight of her words was evident through Kyle’s expression.

Kyle’s gaze hardened. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise,” Scarlet replied, her gaze steady.

Kyle sighed, giving in. “Very well. Got all your gear?”

“You know I’m always prepared,” Scarlet said with a small smile.

Lupin, watching her with a hint of concern, spoke up gently. “Are you sure you don’t want company? Nights can be dangerous.”

“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing,” Scarlet reassured them.

Later that night, after Harry and Black had left, the boys were fast asleep, and Scarlet was preparing to slip out. Just then, an owl arrived, carrying a letter addressed to her.

Scarlet opened the letter and read it in silence. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought.

Kyle, who had been sitting in the living room waiting for her to head out, watched her closely. He had told William and Meiko to go to bed, but they refused.

“I must be ready, in case milady needs me,” Meiko said, feeling as though she had adopted the role of a shinobi or samurai, serving an upper-class family in ancient Japan. Though she was technically a bodyguard, Scarlet rarely needed her help, making her feeling useless sometimes.

“Milady might need me to manage things when she returns,” William added, somehow casting himself as a dutiful butler, like Alfred to Batman, refusing to stand aside in any matter related to her.

Kyle stifled a smirk at their devoted “role-play”, but chose to remain silent out of respect. Instead, he turned to Lupin. “Why don’t you get some sleep, Remus? Tomorrow’s likely to be rough.”

Lupin shook his head, concern in his gaze. “I can’t rest while Scarlet’s out there, especially if it’s something connected to me,” he said, his eyes following Scarlet as she instructed Meiko to put the letter in her room. “She seemed...troubled. Did the letter say something?”

“I don’t ask,” Kyle shrugged. “She’ll tell me if it’s something I need to know. I’m a Muggle, remember? Maybe it’s safer if I don’t know.”

Before Lupin could respond, Scarlet’s voice rang out from the porch. “It’s nothing. Just a professor informing me my application to enter the Forbidden Forest was rejected. I’ll apply again.”

With a casual wave, she slipped into her battle suit. “I’ll be back soon!”

She bent her knees and, with a powerful leap, vanished into the night, a gust of wind accompanying her departure.

As she sped through the dark, her mind raced over the contents of the letter from Professor Snape.

She thought to herself, Quirrell tried to break into the forbidden third floor again, but his spell backfired because of my enchantments on the trapdoor guarded by the three-headed hound. He wasn’t hurt, but he failed. It triggered Professor Snape and Mr. Filch instead. I didn’t sense anything from the trapdoor enchantment - probably because of the distance - but none of the unicorn protections were triggered, meaning he didn’t manage to hunt down any unicorn...

Next, he’ll either target the hospital wing or Professor Snape’s office to heal his wound. Scarlet mused with a faint smile, But it won’t matter – I'll cut off his escape routes and corner him...He’s running out of moves.