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Chapter 36 - Morning Headlines and Unwanted Fame

The morning at Devil May Cry was quiet, the calm after the storm of recent battles. Sunlight crept through the blinds, casting a lazy glow across the room. Dante reclined in his chair, sipping coffee with his usual smirk, while Hadrian absently flipped through a magazine, still waking up. It was a rare, peaceful moment, something neither man experienced too often.

The silence was shattered as the door swung open with a loud bang. Morrison strode in, an expression of disbelief and amusement on his face, holding a newspaper like it was a bomb about to go off.

"Dante! Harry!" Morrison announced, waving the paper in front of him. "You're not going to believe this."

Dante raised an eyebrow, a wry smile forming on his lips. "What's got you so worked up, Morrison? A new demon? Another job?"

Morrison dropped the paper on the desk between them with a grin that spoke volumes. "Nope. It's something much, much better. You two have officially made the front page in the wizarding world."

Hadrian groaned, leaning forward to get a look at the headline.

 The Daily Prophet

Front Page Headline: "The Boy Who Lived…Returns! Scandal, Demons, and Secrets Unveiled Amidst Chaos in Muggle City!"

By: Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent for the Daily Prophet

Dante's smirk widened as he read the headline. "Well, well, Harry, looks like you're quite the celebrity now."

Hadrian muttered under his breath, "Well, shit." He took the paper, his brows furrowing as he began reading aloud, his voice thick with irritation.

London—

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the wizarding world, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, long thought lost or perhaps even dead, has been found alive and very much in action!

The incident unfolded in the heart of a Muggle city, where a destructive, otherworldly battle took place, reportedly involving an invasion of demons straight from the depths of Hell itself. The Ministry of Magic, alerted by a surge in magical activity, dispatched a team of Aurors and Obliviators in an urgent effort to contain the chaos and preserve the fragile Statute of Secrecy. Yet even the Ministry's finest were unprepared for what they found: Hadrian Redgrave, known to many by his birth name—Harry Potter.

But our dear Hadrian was not alone. Accompanying him was the enigmatic Dante Redgrave, a demon hunter of some notoriety and a figure whose name has only whispered rumors among magical circles. Together, they formed an unconventional duo, replete with strange weapons and powerful allies, including two intimidating familiars: Hedwig, a fiery phoenix with a regal bearing, and Oryou, a serpentine dragon that apparently answers to Potter himself, and whose presence alone sent waves of unease through the assembled crowd.

What transpired next was nothing short of a public spectacle. I, Rita Skeeter, had the privilege of witnessing the drama unfold from a mere twenty paces away. The scene was ripe with tension, as Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, confronted Potter and his companion with stern disapproval for their reckless display of power. Her words, however, appeared to have little effect on the Redgraves, who responded with cheeky defiance rather than remorse.

Our very own Amelia Bones—normally calm, collected, and no-nonsense—appeared visibly frustrated, even threatening the pair with an arrest. Yet, in a bold display, Potter's serpent familiar, Oryou, expanded to a menacing size of fifty feet, its black scales tipped in red gleaming ominously as it let out a hiss that resonated through the clearing. And, readers, brace yourselves—the boy spoke to it in Parseltongue!

You can imagine the collective gasp from the crowd. Parseltongue, as many of you know, is a trait commonly associated with dark wizards and was famously shared by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. To witness it in use was chilling, a reminder of Potter's complex and perhaps dangerous legacy. A ripple of whispers ran through the crowd, many murmuring suspicions about dark affiliations and hidden motives.

Potter, undeterred by the growing disapproval, summoned a peculiar and monstrous weapon—a whirring blade dubbed Cavaliere, which hummed ominously as he declared, "If anyone here thinks they can test me, go ahead. But I don't recommend it." His words, laced with chilling confidence, left more than a few wands poised for action.

The tension grew unbearable, and even I, your trusted correspondent, felt the weight of impending disaster. However, in a shrewd move to de-escalate, Madam Bones ordered the Aurors to stand down, albeit reluctantly. Though she released Potter and his associates, she made it clear that they were not above the law, a statement that I, for one, believe will spark debates within the Ministry for days to come.

But let us not ignore another tantalizing morsel: the Boy Who Lived was, in fact, raised by Sirius Black, his godfather, and the well-known former Auror. Black has apparently been training Potter—or Hadrian Redgrave as he now calls himself—in a rather unorthodox manner, leading him down a path of secrecy and, dare I say, vigilante justice.

With the situation diffused (for now), Potter and his companions departed the scene. But rest assured, dear readers, the ripples from this event will be felt far and wide.

Who is Harry Potter now? The question has bewitched the minds of wizards and witches everywhere. This is no longer the innocent boy with a lightning-shaped scar but a formidable young man wielding dark powers, a devil-may-care attitude, and a mysterious agenda. While Potter's actions may have saved lives in this instance, one must wonder: at what cost does he embrace these dangerous powers, and how long before he attracts an enemy far greater than any he has faced?

And what of Amelia Bones, who, in the coming days, will likely face immense scrutiny for her decision to release the Boy Who Lived and his equally unpredictable entourage without so much as a formal investigation? Tensions are already high, and one has to wonder if the Ministry can truly control an individual of Potter's power and unpredictability.

One thing is certain—Harry Potter is back, and his re-emergence into the magical world is bound to leave a trail of spellbinding intrigue, danger, and conflict.

Stay tuned for more exclusive coverage, only in the Daily Prophet.

Photos:

Hadrian Redgrave, formerly Harry Potter, wielding his menacing weapon, Cavaliere, while daring the Aurors to "test him."

Oryou, the fearsome serpent familiar, captured mid-hiss with a look that could freeze an Inferius in its tracks.

Sirius Black and Amelia Bones are in a heated exchange, as the crowd watches in tense anticipation.

Rita Skeeter

Hadrian lowered the newspaper, his face unreadable for a moment before he let out a resigned sigh. "Well, looks like I'm a villain now," he muttered, a sarcastic smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Dante burst out laughing, slapping Hadrian on the back. "I gotta hand it to you, Harry. You're really living up to your reputation as a menace to wizarding society."

"Yeah, just what I needed—public enemy number one." Hadrian's tone was laced with irony, but he couldn't help the amused glint in his eye. "So much for staying under the radar."

Morrison chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not every day the Daily Prophet paints you as the next Dark Lord. Makes you wonder if they'd even recognize the good guys anymore."

Dante leaned back, still grinning. "Hey, every great story needs a villain. Might as well play the part they're giving you."

Hadrian rolled his eyes, folding the paper and tossing it aside. "Fantastic. Just what I needed—a public relations nightmare."

Hedwig, perched on a nearby shelf, fluffed her feathers, watching the exchange with something close to amusement. "Well, you can't deny you have a flair for the dramatic, Master."

Oryou snorted, her dark scales glinting. "I agree. You certainly know how to leave an impression." She shifted on his shoulder, her red-tipped scales catching the light.

Dante crossed his arms, smirking at Hadrian. "Congrats, kid. You've officially made it. Fame, notoriety, and a whole lot of enemies. Welcome to the club."

Hadrian just shook his head, chuckling along with them. "Well, I guess things are only going to get more interesting from here."

As laughter filled the room, the air grew lighter, the weight of the headlines fading under the camaraderie they shared.