Page 470

Vera's heart skipped a beat. She looked up into those tender, crimson eyes, and a smile unconsciously curved her lips: "I know."

As soon as they finished speaking, the noisy sounds of students returning to school came from the end of the corridor. The two tacitly let go of each other's hands and resumed their usual distance.

Sera nodded slightly to her, then turned and left, her back view appearing calm and reassuring.

Vera watched the figure disappear around the corner before turning around and pushing open the door to the common room.

Harry and Hermione were already sitting by the fireplace. When they saw her come in, they immediately stood up excitedly and went to her: "Vera! You're finally back! How was your holiday?"

Vera sat down beside them, the warmth of the fireplace enveloping her, finally easing the soreness she had been feeling for days.

"It's fine," she replied with a smile, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the window, as if she could still see the sea and sunshine of Athens.

"That's good." Harley leaned closer, her bright green eyes sparkling as she looked at her. "Was Athens fun? Did you bring us any gifts?"

"Of course I brought them." Vera took two small boxes out of her pocket and handed them to them. "They're not anything valuable, just some local trinkets."

Harley opened the box, inside was an exquisite silver owl brooch, its wings inlaid with tiny rubies that gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

"So beautiful!" She immediately tucked it into the collar of her school uniform and looked down at it with delight.

Hermione's box contained a delicate bracelet with several small aquamarine pendants dangling from its silver chain, giving it an exceptionally gentle appearance.

"Thank you," she said softly, a faint smile curving her lips, but she didn't put it on immediately; instead, she carefully tucked it into her pocket.

Vera was about to speak when Hermione leaned closer to her, almost whispering in her ear, "But I'd still prefer you to put it on me yourself when we travel together."

She was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, Hermione had already pushed her away slightly, her brown eyes gleaming with a meaningful light, lingering for a moment on her neck.

Vera froze, raised her hand to touch her neck, her fingertips brushing against a small patch of cool skin—there was nothing there, but Hermione was clearly seeing more than what was on the surface.

“The mosquitoes in Athens,” Hermione raised an eyebrow, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper to herself, “are quite venomous.”

Vera coughed awkwardly and subconsciously pulled her collar up a little.

Fortunately, Harley didn't notice the subtle glances and conversation between them. She held the brooch in her hand, admiring it for a while, before finally remembering something, she picked up a letter from the coffee table and handed it to them:

"This was given to me by Sirius during his vacation. He said he would give it to you when you come back from your trip!"

Vera took the letter, opened it, glanced at it, and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"What did he say?" Harley leaned over for a peek, her eyes lighting up immediately. "He's coming to Hogwarts next week? And how is he connected to Hagrid?"

“It’s about a case from fifty-three years ago. He needs to talk to Hagrid.” Vera looked at the brief handwriting on the document and smiled.

Since Sirius Black had been working on old cases since taking office, Vera took the time to bring up this locked-room mystery that had been unsolved for fifty-three years.

It seems he has almost finished his current work and is now planning to investigate this case.

That's fine. Vera has always been somewhat resentful that she changed the plot and couldn't clear Hagrid's name. Now that Sirius is here to investigate, with his abilities and a little guidance from her, they're sure to be able to clear Hagrid's name.

However, before that, she had to transfer the basilisk and Nagini from the secret chamber into the scroll.

Hmm... leaving behind a lot of traces of the basilisk's existence, such as shed snake skin, should be enough to prove that the basilisk really exists, right?

All she wanted was to clear Hagrid's name. At worst, she could create the illusion that the basilisk had died of old age and let Lockhart spread the word, making the false seem true.

Vera folded the letter and put it in her pocket, already silently planning her next steps.

Hermione, noticing her thoughtful expression, asked, "It seems you've already discussed this beforehand. Would you be willing to talk to us?"

"I'll tell you all about it slowly after things settle down in a few days." Vera snapped out of her reverie and smiled, temporarily putting the topic aside. "Let's not think about these things now. We've finally reunited after our long holiday, so why don't we have a good chat about what you've been up to these past few days?"

Harry's eyes lit up immediately, and she eagerly came over, starting to chatter on about the fun she had with Sirius and Lupin during her vacation.

Hermione listened quietly, occasionally adding a few words, glancing at Vera from time to time, and then quietly taking her hand.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, its warm light enveloping the three figures, filling the air with a long-lost sense of ease and tranquility.

Then, a line of text flashed before her eyes, which made Vera pause for a moment, and then she understood.

Becoming the headmaster of Hogwarts is the only way to unlock the final 1% of progress? That makes sense.

It seems that I'll probably be tied to the castle for the rest of my life.

It seems... not such a bad thing after all.

As she thought about it, her smile deepened.

……

After resting for a few days, Vera finally regained her energy.

Before that, she had already transferred the basilisk and Nagini into the scroll.

The natives in the scroll weren't exactly hostile to the two new members. She and Sera found a cool, damp cave near the lake for the basilisks, enough for them to live together.

With everything settled, and only a few days left before Sirius arrives at Hogwarts, she needed to quickly resolve the matter that had been weighing on her mind.

So, after the day's classes ended, Vera called out to Harley, who was about to ask Professor McGonagall to open the Quidditch pitch to practice using the sticks.

Because she became the team captain, Harley clearly devoted a lot of her energy to the team that year.

Of course, Vera and Hermione were also happy to see her dedicate her energy and time to what she loved.

"Harley, wait a minute."

Vera's voice wasn't loud, but it made the girl, who was about to go to Professor McGonagall for her autograph, suddenly stop.

Hermione, who had just finished tidying up her books, stopped what she was doing and turned around, keenly noticing an unusual seriousness in her expression.

The students in the corridor gradually dispersed, and the setting sun slanted in through the arched window, casting long shadows of the three people.

Harley blinked her green eyes, vaguely realizing that she was about to say something important. She glanced back at Professor McGonagall passing by in the corridor, thought for a moment, and then obediently walked up to Vera.

"Let's rest for a bit today. I have something very important to discuss with you," Vera said, taking her hand and looking intently into her eyes.

Although Harley was a little confused, she still sensed the seriousness in her tone and immediately nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Hermione immediately followed, casually putting away the practice application for her: "I'll join too!"

Vera did not refuse and led them all the way to the eighth floor. They stopped in front of the House of Response and extended their hands directly.

Soon, the wall in front of them slowly opened, revealing a hidden room—

The room was clean and tidy, bathed in warm yellow light, with a soft carpet on the floor and even a small round table and three chairs in the corner.

Vera led the two inside and sat down. Looking into Harley's clear yet somewhat questioning green eyes, she sighed inwardly.

What's coming will come, but at least this time, she's made ample preparations.

“Actually, for the past few years, I’ve been secretly investigating what happened on the night Voldemort killed your parents,” Vera said, carefully choosing her words to make them sound more acceptable. “Until recently, I finally confirmed all of this.”

Harley's fingers tightened around the cup, her eyes widened instantly, and her breathing became tense.

Hermione sat up straight, her eyes filled with tension, but she didn't interrupt, simply waiting quietly for her to continue.

"It all started with a prophecy that said... the person with the power to conquer the Dark Lord would be born at the end of the seventh month, and Voldemort, based on this information, targeted you, who were half-bloods."

Vera paused, her gaze falling on Harley's tense little face. She gently took Harley's hand, but Harley suddenly gripped it tightly.

She pursed her lips before continuing, "Back then, Peter Pettigrew leaked the secret, and Voldemort chased you to Godric's Hollow, where he placed a death curse on you and your parents."

That killing curse should have taken your life directly, but... it was your mother who left you an ancient and powerful protective magic with her life, which deflected the curse.

In the instant the spell rebounded, Voldemort himself was torn apart. His main soul escaped, but one of the most unstable fragments, in its out-of-control state, unexpectedly attached itself to the only living being at the time.

As she spoke, Vera looked up and her gaze fell on the lightning bolt-shaped scar on Harley's forehead.

"...Is that the only living being?"

Harley reacted almost instantly. Her green eyes first showed confusion, then shock, and finally, she asked in a trembling voice, her voice slightly unsteady, as if confirming a fact she herself could hardly believe.

There was actually a piece of Voldemort's soul inside her body, which had coexisted with her for more than ten years.

“That’s right.” Vera didn’t shy away from the question and nodded gently.

Harley raised her other hand, her fingertips hovering over her forehead, but she hesitated to bring it down, as if the old scar had suddenly become burning hot, too hot for her to touch.

Hermione's face turned pale. She quickly reached out and covered Harley's hand, which was hanging in mid-air, and held it in her palm.

"But didn't we destroy Voldemort's soul when we were in first grade?" Hermione pressed anxiously. "Then what about this part inside Harley's body—"

“With Voldemort dead, it’s like a rootless plant, hardly posing any danger,” Vera calmly pressed their hands down. “But keeping it still carries some risk, so I found a way to remove the fragment.”

Harley stared at her blankly, her green eyes churning with a multitude of emotions. Her lips moved slightly, but she said nothing.

Hermione gripped her hand tightly, her knuckles turning white, her brown eyes fixed on Vera: "What method? Is it dangerous?"

“With the help of Hogwarts, and my ancient magic,” Vera said without hiding anything, slowly recounting the guidance she had received at the Parthenon. “The combination of these two powers can strip away the impurities attached to the soul without harming its very essence.”

As she spoke, she reached out and gently placed her hand on Harley's hand, solemnly promising, "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

Harley lowered her eyes, looking at the hand that was covering the back of her hand. After a long while, she squeezed Vera's hand tightly in return: "Will this process be dangerous? If you help me, will it hurt you?"

She should be the one most afraid, but instead she's worrying about others first.

Vera felt a warmth in her heart; her Harley had indeed grown up.

“Nothing will happen,” she said, reaching out to stroke Harley’s face with utmost tenderness, “but I need your cooperation. Can you do that?”

Harley stared intently into her eyes, and after a moment, the various emotions in her green eyes gradually faded, leaving only unwavering trust in the person before her.

“I can do it,” she said, her voice so steady that it didn’t sound like that of a sixteen-year-old girl who had just learned that a Dark Lord’s soul resided within her. “Vera, just do it. I believe in you.”

Seeing Harley's unwavering gaze, Vera nodded, then suppressed her smile and began to make the arrangements seriously.

She raised her wand and waved it, and a pale gold magic circle that had been set up beforehand slowly rose in the center of the room. Its intricate patterns were like blood vessels, and it resonated faintly with the will of Hogwarts.

This is the knowledge she gained from the temple's owl, its purpose being to connect minds, not only linking them to Hogwarts, but also allowing her to connect with Harley.

"Hermione, you stay outside the lines."

“Okay.” Hermione nodded immediately, walked to the edge of the magic circle, stood there, gripped her wand tightly, and looked serious.

Harley took a deep breath and, following Vera's instructions, sat quietly in the center of the magic circle. The warm yellow light fell on her face, and the lightning scar felt slightly hot, but not painful.

Vera stood before her, her magic circuits, now firmly established at a level beyond her own, fully activated!

The immense magical power guided the magic circle to slowly rotate, and pale golden patterns spread along the ground like living things, intertwining with the faint light emanating from her body.

A gentle yet profound power gradually filled the air; it was the protective will of Hogwarts, flowing continuously through the magic circle to safeguard this soul-stripping process.

At this very moment, Harley in the formation had her eyes tightly closed, with only her fingertips slightly clenched, revealing the barely perceptible tension in her heart.

Whether it was her imagination or not, she always felt a warm current flowing from the scar on her forehead, as if something that had been dormant for a long time was being slowly awakened.

The feeling wasn't unpleasant, just a little strange—like another heartbeat gently throbbing at the edge of her consciousness.

Vera placed her palm on her forehead, her fingertips resting precisely on the lightning bolt-shaped scar.

"Relax." Her voice was soft and reassuring. "I'm going to enter your consciousness now, and we'll face it together."

Harley responded softly, her eyelashes fluttering, and her breathing gradually calmed down.

Hermione stood at the edge of the magic circle, her hand holding the wand already slightly sweaty, her brown eyes fixed on the figures of the two people in the circle gradually coming closer together.

Vera slowly bent down, her forehead gently touching the lightning scar on Harley's forehead. The light from the surrounding magic circle suddenly softened, like a thin veil gently wrapping around the two touching figures.

Vera closed her eyes, her mind following the guidance of the magic circle, and steadily sank into the depths of Harley's consciousness.

Unlike the pure white train station Harry saw in the movie, the place she and Harley arrived at was Grimmauld Place, shrouded in a thin mist.

Unlike the oppressive and gloomy Place Grimmauld in the real world, this place doesn't have that suffocating gloom. Instead, it's like the twilight before dawn, gently enveloping the house at the edge of the field of vision.

Harley stood beside her, her green eyes filled with a hint of confusion, and she unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.

"Is this... my consciousness?" she asked softly, her voice sounding particularly weak in the empty square. "But why am I here?"

Vera tilted her head and looked at her with interest: "Since it's subconscious, it means this is your favorite or most longed-for place."

Why does Harley Quinn like Grimmauld Place? It's so hard to guess!

Harley's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't deny it; instead, the fingers gripping her clothes tightened even more.

Vera was about to laugh when she sensed something and looked up at the place where the fog was thickest.

There lurked a twisted, viscous black shadow, constantly emitting faint, hoarse hisses, like a dying beast or broken whispers.

That was the last remnant of Voldemort's soul left in her.

It is composed entirely of pure malice, greed, and an instinctive craving for destruction.

It clung to the deepest part of Harley's consciousness, like a persistent thorn in her side, yet it was firmly bound by the protective magic left behind by Lily, unable to devour its host or easily break free.

Harley followed her gaze, her body trembled slightly, but she did not back down; instead, she moved closer to Vera.

"Don't be afraid." Vera took her hand in return, feeling a reassuring warmth at her fingertips. "It's just a broken piece, without power or reason, only a lingering malice."