Dumbledore took his position at the podium when the desserts had been cleared, and the old wizard spread his arms invitingly, beaming at the students.
"Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts," the headmaster greeted them, his eyes twinkling. "A few start-of-the-term announcements before we retire for the night. Firstly, I would like to inform the new students that the Forbidden Forest is as the name suggests, forbidden, and even a few older students ought to remember that fact," Dumbledore stated, looking meaningfully at where a group of fifth-year Gryffindors was sitting. The boys smiled back mirthfully.
"Moving on, our caretaker Mr. Filch would like me to remind you for what he had told me is the two hundred and forty seventh time that any magic is prohibited in the corridors outside classes. Additionally, a list of forbidden items can be found affixed to Mr. Filch's office for your perusal."
"Yeah, right. As if that's ever stopped us," Sirius muttered, coaxing a smug grin out of the other three Marauders while Harry shot him an amused look.
"There is only one change in staff. Professor Webb has chosen to accept a position with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. As such, his position shall be assumed by Professor Tobias Hopkins."
A dark-haired middle-aged man with a thick beard and a wiry frame stood up and bowed amidst polite applause from the student body.
Harry did not recognize the man, and couldn't remember ever hearing of him.
"Hey Prongs, doesn't he look a little stuck-up?" Sirius asked in a whisper. James chuckled.
"He does, doesn't he? Think we should get him loosen up a little?"
"We could spike his food tomorrow night at dinner?" Peter piped up, grinning. James and Sirius looked at Remus, who shrugged before chuckling. "Would be funny."
"That leaves one more," Sirius replied, and as one, the boys turned to look at Harry, who pursed his lips before shrugging ruefully. "At least have a class with him before deciding."
"Eh," Sirius waved his hand dismissively.
The headmaster shortly dismissed them, and the students rose as one and started to make their way out of the Great Hall. Harry caught Narcissa's eyes once more while leaving, and the girl simply gave him a small smile as she walked away with Bellatrix in tow.
Together, they entered the Gryffindor Common Room and Harry looked around. It looked the same as it did in his original timeline, and he could not help but look over at the spot where he usually sat with his friends. Shaking his head, he followed behind the other Marauders and took a seat on the couch.
"Hey Frank, how's it going?"
Harry looked up and saw the boy who could only be Frank Longbottom chuckle from his seat on the couch.
"Nothing much. Just relaxed for once. OWLs really sucked."
"Oh come on, don't you go scaring us with that crap," James retorted with a groan. Frank chuckled before his gaze fell on him.
"You must be the transferee McGonagall told me about. I'm Frank Longbottom, the sixth-year prefect."
"Harry Peverell," Harry greeted, shaking the proffered hand with a smile. He could easily see the similarities between the man and Neville, who he now realized resembled his father a lot. The boy had gotten his brown hair from his mother, otherwise, he was a replica of his father, albeit a chubbier one.
"So you're gonna be a sixth-year as well, huh? Which subjects?"
"Transfiguration, DADA, Charms, Potions, Runes, Arithmancy, Creatures and Herbology," Harry replied. Frank whistled.
"Merlin, that's a lot. I'm personally taking only the first five. For you to take so many is indeed impressive."
"That's not the only thing impressive about this shithouse," Sirius grinned. "Frank Longbottom, sixth-year prefect of the House of Lions, allow me to introduce you to the newest seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Harry Peverell!"
"You found one?" An unfamiliar voice sounded out, and Harry saw two redheaded boys come over with familiar smirks on their faces.
Sirius grinned at the pair, who slapped the younger boy on the back in greeting before shaking hands with the others.
"So you're our new Seeker, hmm? Hope you're good enough. Don't worry, we'll keep the bludgers away from ya. Names Fabian. This one's my ugly twin Gideon," the boy grinned as he held his hand forward.
Realization dawned on Harry and he stood up to shake the boy's hand before doing the same with his twin.
"Harry Peverell, nice to meet you two."
A few students overheard what Sirius said and whispers soon followed.
"The fuck was that, Black? Who are you to decide that without even holding the tryouts!?" A blonde wizard stormed forward, glaring at the Black heir who stared unimpressed at him.
"Vice-captain, shitstain," Sirius replied with a smirk. "And the captain scouted him."
James waved from his spot with a grin as the wizard seethed before looking at Harry. He audibly gulped, obviously seeing Harry's build and the way his eyes seemed to be glowing in the light.
"Yep, Harry is the seeker," James replied. "I have seen the prospects we have, and none of you can compare to him. Still, if anyone feels like taking him on, we can hold a tryout. I'd hate for you all to call my cousin undeserving. This Sunday evening, 5 o'clock. Don't be late or your place would be forfeit."
Harry shrugged when James and Sirius turned to look at him, and the former smirked as he looked at the entire house at large.
"I hope that's enough? Good."
Sighing, he took his seat back and made himself comfortable.
"Well, you better defend your place after that vouching, Peverell," Gideon teased.
Off to the other side near the fireplace, a small group of girls stood staring at the spectacle.
"That Potter… always wants to show arrogant he is," Lily muttered as she stared at the smirking visage of James Potter who leaned back on the couch.
"Still, at least he proposed to hold a tryout. That's got to count for something," Alice replied with a small smile. Lily snorted.
"Should've held a trial in the first place. I bet he wanted to create a scene. Needs all the attention, doesn't he?"
"Now Lily, that's overreaching," Marlene chuckled. "I mean, the captain does have the right to choose a player, and don't tell me you think anyone else has been impressive so far. We've all been to the tryouts."
"Still, he should've known acting like this would look like favoritism. I can't believe Professor McGonagall made someone like him a captain. A braggart who doesn't even know how to behave. How can someone like that be the captain?"
The other girls shrugged, choosing not to bother with the topic of the Marauders, and James Potter in particular.
"Come on, let's go. I'm tired," Lily said and got up. The other two girls followed behind her, exchanging a smirk as they looked at James Potter and back to their friend.
-Break-
His first morning back at Hogwarts dawned and Harry woke up at 5. Looking around his dormitory, he saw Frank and the Prewett twins still asleep. Sighing, he walked over to the bathroom.
Thirty minutes later, he was standing in front of the door to the fifth-year boys' dormitory and leaning against the wall. He did not have to wait for long as the door opened and James stepped out with Sirius in tow.
"Let's go then," he said and whipped out the Invisibility Cloak. James and Sirius nodded before they cast the Disillusionment Charm. It was a poor substitute for the cloak but nothing to scoff at.
Harry led them out of the Common Room and to the opposite end of the seventh floor. It was time to let them know of one of Hogwarts' biggest secrets.
"My dad told me about this room. One of the Peverells helped Rowena build it and passed the knowledge on to his descendants," Harry lied expertly as he stopped in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls how to dance. "The coast is clear, right?"
Sirius, who had the Marauders' Map in his hand, nodded.
"What are you doing?" James asked with a confused frown as Harry got out from under the cloak and started to walk back and forth in front of a giant stretch of a wall. Harry continued walking and smiled when the door started to materialize.
He quickly pulled it open and gestured for the other two to get in. Once they had, he walked inside and the door vanished.
"Merlin's tits, what the fuck is this!?" Sirius exclaimed as he threw the cloak off him and looked around.
"How did you get your training room here?" James asked, equally shocked. Harry, for his part, chuckled in amusement.
"Welcome boys, to the Room of Requirement. As the name suggests, this room can turn into anything you want. It still obeys the laws of magic, so you cannot do anything magic deems impossible. Otherwise, everything is fair game."
"Holy fucking shit," James whispered, looking around in wonder. He ran his hand over the training dummy he and Sirius had started to practice on in Harry's manor, and even the textures were copied to the last, minute detail. "This is awesome!"
Harry grinned. "This will be our sanctuary every morning from five-thirty till eight. We will be practicing all we want in this room before breakfast and classes."
James and Sirius nodded.
"Hey Prongs, imagine what Moony or Wormy would say when they see this shit!" Sirius exclaimed excitedly.
"Wormy might faint, Padfoot, and knowing Moony, he'd want to read up all about it," James grinned. Harry frowned.
"Sorry, but we're not telling them," he interjected firmly. The two whirled around to stare at him in shock. "At least not yet."
"What do you mean? Why?" James asked, frowning.
"They are part of the Marauders. They too deserve to know," Sirius replied hotly.
"Do you tell those two about family secrets?" Harry asked, unfazed. The boys' eyes widened.
"Have you told them everything about the Houses of Potter and Black? You keep no secrets from them, or from each other? Tell me yes and I'll immediately go and fetch them."
James and Sirius frowned as they looked at each other.
"What? Yes or No?" Harry probed further. The boys remained silent.
"Look, I'm not their enemy. But this is something I consider a family secret, and I trust you like family. We are cousins, James. And you are like family to me as well, Sirius. That is why I told you about this room. When we tell them, or even if we tell them – it's up to me. This is my secret to share, and I have the right to choose whom I trust with this."
"Kinda hypocritical, don't you think?" Sirius retorted. "You had no problem when we told you about Moony's furry little problem. That was also his secret to share, but we trusted you with it."
Harry nodded. "Exactly. You should not have told me. That was, in my opinion, a severe breach of faith. You should've at least asked Remus before you revealed it to me."
James and Sirius looked at him in surprise. Harry sighed.
"Look. I know you four have been the best of friends, and you trust each other with everything. But we are going to be in a war. You have no idea what this monster is like. He could destroy everything you hold dear without you even knowing about it until it's already happened. You trust each other, right? Tell me then, James. If you had to choose between Peter and Lily or Aunt Dorea, who would you choose to save?"
James recoiled under Harry's intense stare, looking down.
"What? You have an answer, right? It's written all over your face. And you, Sirius," Harry turned to look at the Black heir, who looked at him in shock. "We all know you have no one else you care about so much, but let me throw this one anyway. If you had to choose between Remus and James here, who would you save?"
A long moment of tense silence prevailed as Harry stared at the two boys in silence.
"Now reverse the situation. Who do you think those two will choose when forced to between you and someone they love more than you? I don't need to tell you. You know the answer."
Harry walked over and took a seat on the couch the room conjured. Looking at the two shell-shocked boys, he sighed.
"I'm not trying to break you guys apart or anything. I'm just giving you perspective on what could possibly happen in this horrible future that is sure to come. War brings out the worst in us, and I don't want you guys to be unprepared.
"I will tell them, when I believe I trust them as much as I trust you two. The same holds for any other secret I have. Right now, we will train and get as strong as we can, and you are free to teach them whatever you might learn. However, they, and anyone else, can know or join us only when I trust them enough. I hope you understand where I'm coming from."
"We do," James replied firmly as he looked him in the eye. "However, we also expect you to understand that we can't keep things from them and then do it anyway. Sorry Harry, but Padfoot and I will now practice on our own. Thank you for trusting us with this secret, and we promise we won't tell anyone about this room."
Sirius nodded. "We won't be able to keep practicing advanced spells while keeping it from Moony and Wormy. Sorry, but it's the final day of our training with you. When you trust them enough, we'll join with them. But until then, no."
Harry sighed and gave a resigned nod. "I understand, and I respect the loyalty you two have for them. I just hope this loyalty doesn't come to bite you in the ass one day."
-Break-
Their training session that morning was a somber affair, and they got ready in the room before heading over to the Great Hall before 8 o'clock. Students had started arriving for breakfast, and Harry sat down with the other two.
"Good morning, Miss Evans, Miss McKinnon," he greeted the girls cordially. They looked at him in surprise and nodded.
"Good morning," they greeted back before Lily glared at James who was sitting beside Harry. However, her glare was soon replaced by a confused look when the boy didn't even look at her. Instead, he was silently fixing his breakfast and ignoring everything around him. Beside her, Marlene frowned when she saw Sirius doing the same.
"What? None of your usual obnoxiousness, Potter?" Lily snarked. James looked at her with a frown, before ignoring what she said and started on his breakfast. Lily looked at the boy in surprise. Harry sighed.
His eyes roamed over the Great Hall as he tried to find anyone he recognized. He smiled at Narcissa who was looking at him from the Slytherin table before returning Bellatrix's wink with one of his own. Looking over to the side, he spied Malfoy sitting with the Lestrange brothers and a few other students who Harry identified as other prospective members of Voldemort's inner circle. It seemed the circle already existed before Voldemort recruited them.
Lucius Malfoy looked over and smirked at him as he raised his glass in greeting. Harry nodded and continued to look around. A frown grew on his face before his eyes widened in recognition when he gazed at the familiar blonde witch sitting at the Ravenclaw table.
Rita Skeeter was much younger than she had been when he had last seen her, but there was no mistaking that curly blonde hair and those brown, catlike glasses of hers.
The last he knew, she had been fired from the Prophet and had started to work for the Quibbler. A fitting fall from grace for her in his opinion.
He tried to put names to different faces but always came up short until his eyes fell on the pair who entered the Great Hall one after the other.
Snape's greasy hair and hooked nose were easy enough to identify, and he was taken aback at how pasty he looked even at this young age. If he remembered correctly, Snape had insulted his mother after the incident in their fifth year when she tried to save him from his father's bullying. Harry resolved not to let the matter escalate to that extent. James had already undergone significant changes, and he hoped he could curb his tendencies even further over the upcoming year.
The other boy made him seethe. Bartemius 'Barty' Crouch Junior was one of Voldemort's prominent Death Eaters and probably the most fanatical. Harry would put him on the same pedestal as Bellatrix. However, right now, he was nothing more than a student at Hogwarts, and if Bellatrix could be so different, there might have been some hope for the boy as well.
It would be challenging, but he would need to ensure he managed to prevent a select few from joining Voldemort.
A minute later, Remus entered the Great Hall alongside Peter and quickly spotted them. Frowning, the boy walked over and took a seat beside them, with Peter sitting to his right.
"When did you guys get up?" Remus asked with a furrowed brow. James and Sirius grimaced and continued to eat.
"Quite early," Harry replied with a small smile. "We've been getting up early throughout the summer. Seems like it's become a habit."
Remus nodded. "Where were you all then?"
"On the seventh floor. Practicing a few spells in some room," Harry replied, chuckling. "Gotta keep up with the practice, you know. And these two got scolded real nice by Aunt Dorea this summer, so I'm not surprised to see them tagging along."
Remus chuckled at James and Sirius. "Serves you two right."
"It won't be a regular thing. I'd had enough of getting up early. We can practice spells after classes," Sirius said, looking at Remus, who shrugged.
"Suit yourself," Harry chuckled and looked over at McGonagall who arrived with their schedules.
"Mr. Peverell, here you are. And I hope you heed my words and not let this lot influence you too much," Harry accepted the parchment with a chuckle and looked it over. The professor handed out the fifth-year students theirs.
"You wound my heart, Professor," Sirius exclaimed exaggeratedly as he clutched the right side of his chest.
"Your heart is on the left, idiot," Marlene corrected from the opposite side with a sigh. Sirius immediately froze before clutching the left side. McGonagall stared at the boy with an exasperated look. However, Harry could see the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. She handed their schedules over and walked away.
"Well, looks like you'll be on your own from now on," James remarked with a chuckle. Harry nodded.
"And with the Slytherins too. Lucky," Sirius teased further. Harry chuckled. It was good that they were slowly coming back to their usual selves. He knew his words must be engraved in their minds and they would be thinking about what he said, but he didn't want them to stay upset over it.
"I'm sure it won't be too bad," Harry replied, chuckling.
-Break-
Harry was walking towards the Charms class. As he turned the corner, someone else rounded as well and he had to catch himself as he almost knocked the person over. His hand immediately grabbed the person's upper arm as he steadied both of them.
"I'm sorry I…"
"We seem to run into each other quite often, Lord Peverell," Narcissa Black said with a smile as she steadied herself. Harry looked at her in surprise before he chuckled.
"That we do. It's purely accidental, I assure you."
"Oh?" She raised an amused eyebrow. "And here I thought you'd been looking for opportunities to run into me."
Harry raised his eyebrow and drawled, "Really? And pray tell, Miss Black, why would I do that?"
Narcissa simply raised an amused eyebrow. Harry grinned.
"If only I were that scheming," he said, chuckling softly.
Narcissa smirked, and it was probably the sexiest thing he had ever seen.
"Well, you'll find that a few schemes are sometimes quite good. With unpredictable results. Who knows? You might like them more than you thought."
"Is that so?" He asked, his voice dropping a bit as he stared intently at the young woman, who looked up at him with that smirk of hers. This close, he could smell her flowery scent and found that he liked it very much.
"Mm-hmm. Now, if you could release your possessive hold on my arm? I'd like to get to Charms," Narcissa replied, looking at where he was still holding her close. Harry smirked and let go.
"I'm going to Charms as well. I believe it won't be a trouble if you have some company?"
Narcissa quirked her lips and started walking, leaving him to catch up. Harry chuckled and walked up beside her toward the Charms classroom.
Several paces behind them near the staircase, a certain blonde wizard stared narrow-eyed at their retreating backs, seething.
-Break-
They were among the first students to arrive, and Harry smiled at the girl as he walked over to sit beside one of the few Gryffindors he had previously talked to. Frank and the Prewett twins smirked at him as he slid in beside the former.
"Narcissa Black, hmm? You sure set your sights quite high," the boy remarked. Harry chuckled and looked over at her. She was sitting in the first seat on the left column of the classroom where he assumed the Slytherins must sit together.
"Look out for the Slytherins though," Gideon commented, his voice much more serious. "They won't take too kindly if you two get too close."
Harry scoffed. "Like I need to bother myself with a few schoolchildren."
The redhead chuckled, "My job was to warn you, that's all."
"Much appreciated," Harry replied with a roll of his eyes as the rest of the students slowly started filling the classroom. He kept his eyes on the group of Slytherin sixth-years that filed in together.
Lucius Malfoy. Rudolphus Lestrange. Corban Yaxley. Augustus Rookwood. Thomas Avery.
All were sixth-year Slytherins, and all would one day become members of Voldemort's inner circle. The Sorting Hat's warning was fresh in his mind. However, as Harry gazed at them and the disdainful looks they seemed to cast at those he knew they considered beneath them, he couldn't imagine getting any of them to change.
"Settle down, everyone," Professor Flitwick's voice rang out across the classroom. Harry looked over at the diminutive man who stood on the stack of books and didn't miss the look of disgust that crossed the aforementioned Slytherin students' faces as they gazed at him. Bigoted, and rotten to the core. He had half a mind to take care of them as soon as possible.
"First of all, let me congratulate you all on successfully passing your Charms OWLs. We shall soon begin the NEWT curriculum. During the sixth year, we will cover nonverbal casting and several combat spells like the Reductor and different Shield charms before slowly transitioning over to certain darker aspects of magic which I would let you discover when the time comes. A few utility spells will also be covered. The level of classes will be much higher than before, so I would advise you all to be prepared."
Harry nodded to himself, having already mastered everything he could possibly learn at Hogwarts. He didn't miss how the wannabe Death Eaters seemed to lean forward when Flitwick mentioned the darker aspects of magic. However, he noted with a frown that even Bellatrix seemed to show an interest.
The girl had seemed like a regular person so far with none of the tendencies that had thrown her down a terrible path. However, it seemed he had missed something. He chided himself for forming lasting impressions solely based on how the people had come across so far.
He hadn't even talked to her once, having only interacted with her at a distance. Thus, he had not had even a single opportunity to get a credible idea about her true self. There was more to this girl than he had thought initially, and he resolved to keep on the lookout. There was no way he would bother with her if she seemed to turn out as she had before.
The class progressed normally, with Flitwick asking them to try and cast all the charms they had learned up to the OWL level nonverbally. Harry had no problem, and he easily blitzed past all the OWL-level spells he recalled. Beside him, Frank gave him an appraising look.
"You sure are a prodigy, aren't you?"
Harry chuckled. "Jealous?"
"Nah," Frank laughed as he cast a silent freezing charm on his desk before silently reversing it. Harry saw and nodded.
"Not bad either."
Frank smirked. "I might not be a genius like you but I think I'm good enough."
Frank was indeed very good, and Harry understood fully well where Neville got his abilities from. He had always known that the boy was a capable wizard, and he had demonstrated it perfectly during that battle before… Harry cut off that line of thought and looked at Flitwick who was now standing in front of his desk with a small smile.
"Your OWL scores are very impressive, Mr. Peverell. However, that is no reason why you shouldn't be practicing."
"I'm already done, professor."
"Oh?" Flitwick raised an eyebrow. "Then I'm sure you won't mind demonstrating a few nonverbal spells for the class?"
Harry looked around and saw almost everyone looking at him. He noted, with furrowed brows, the malicious smirk on Malfoy and his thugs' faces. The boy had not indicated that he had any issues with him. Instead, he had expected the Malfoy heir to do his father's bidding and try to forge an alliance with him. For him to openly act like this did surprise him slightly. However, Harry didn't let it bother him. He was never going to be on cordial terms with those people. It was good that the charade had come down so soon.
Smirking back at the group, something that took them by surprise, he glanced at Narcissa who seemed to be looking at him with a look that he interpreted as equal parts challenging and expectant. Well, he would happily indulge her.
Harry flicked his wrist. His wand shot into his hand and he gave a small swish.
The majestic specter of a glowing stag emerged from his wand. Amidst the widened eyes of every person, his Patronus ran around in the air. Eyes followed the guardian like hawks, and it seemed to relish the attention as it pranced around, head raised in obvious pride.
Harry smirked in satisfaction as he took in the looks of awe and wonder directed at him, and winked at the stupefied look on Narcissa's face. The girl continued to stare at him in surprise.
However, it was the expression on the face of the girl sitting to her right that he found peculiar.
Bellatrix was staring back at him with a look that he failed to decipher the meaning of. It was not malicious or the usual mischievous one she seemed to direct at him, so that was a relief. However, it did make him feel apprehensive.
"W-well, it seems you are much further ahead than even I had expected. Do take thirty points for that brilliant spellwork, Mr. Peverell," Flitwick squeaked before composing himself. Harry thanked the man and winked at Frank and the twins, who could only shake their heads.
-Break-
"You sure you want to mess with him, Lucius?" Corban Yaxley whispered as he and the other Slytherins walked toward the Defense classroom.
"That asshole has his eyes on Narcissa Black," Lucius gritted out. "That girl is to be mine. I don't give a shit about how powerful he is."
"As much as it pains me to say it, I don't think any of us could pose a challenge to someone like that," Rookwood muttered.
"The fuck you on about!?" Avery hissed. "He's a sixth-year. Just like us. So what if he cast that Patronus? Doesn't mean shit when we all corner him."
"I don't think it'd be wise to directly confront Peverell," Rookwood added, frowning. "There is something… different about him."
"Go play that mysterious Unspeakable somewhere else, Rookwood," Lestrange snorted. "Different or no different, that Peverell has to go down."
"What did he do to get your knickers in a twist?"
Rudolphus snarled. "Don't tell me you didn't see how Bellatrix reacted to him."
"What? You think Peverell's after both? C'mon, that's outrageous."
"I don't give a shit," Lucius hissed as they rounded the corner and walked down the stairs, glaring at the figure walking in the distance with Longbottom and the Prewett twins. "The bloke needs to learn how to keep his eyes away from owned property."
"Not owned yet," Yaxley muttered quietly. Rudolphus and Lucius immediately rounded on him with glares.
"Only a matter of time," the latter hissed. "The proposals have already been sent. It won't be long until Arcturus Black agrees. It's an improvement for the daughters of a cadet branch of the Blacks to marry into one of our houses. After the disgrace that their mudblood loving daughter brought upon them, it's more than they deserve."
"Careful, Lucius," Yaxley warned, unperturbed. "The Blacks are not to be trifled with. Their alliance is still the strongest in the Wizengamot. And if things are the way they look, it seems Peverell will be joining them as well. Don't tell me you didn't see how close he seemed with Potter."
"Take my advice," Rookwood interjected. "I'd suggest you don't take any hasty steps. There are… rumors surrounding his family. I won't mess with him if I were you."
"Always knew you were a coward, Rookwood," Rudolphus snarked quietly as they sat down. "A bit of advice in return, alright? Don't believe tall tales so easily. Your dream job deals with facts. You'd suck at it if you keep this up."
"Even embellished tales have an inkling of truth to them," Rookwood replied swiftly.
"We'd talk later," Lucius interjected firmly as they arrived amongst the throng of students. His eyes bore into a certain dark-haired wizard, narrowing dangerously when he saw him once again exchange a hidden smile with the girl he had set his sights on.
There was no way he was letting anyone else lay claim to Narcissa Black, let alone this upjumped newcomer. His father had asked him to try allying the House of Malfoy with the House of Peverell. However, that was secondary. Securing the alliance with the Blacks was of utmost priority, and that meant getting Narcissa Black firmly within his grasp.
They entered the Defense classroom and took their seats to the left of the classroom. Lucius turned toward the blonde and once again looked her up and down discreetly, his eyes lingering at a few spots longer than usual. The alliance was indeed of utmost priority.
TBC.
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