The Devil

Chapter 9. The Devil

Lily shut her notebook and slumped back in her chair at the desk.

Since they didn't have much extra space, the desk was pushed up against the corner in the sole bedroom of their flat, making the room look extra cramped. Her room back in the castle, on the other hand, was extensive enough to house half a dozen desks and still look spacious.

She already missed those luxuries.

It hadn't even been a week since they left Hogwarts; that should show what a downgrade their home was after experiencing the hospitality of the big, homey castle.

Honestly, she had the power to become filthy rich in a single day. She should use it to cheat through life. All it would take was exploitation of helpless muggles through Magiscape. People would happily hand out their wealth to her, thinking they were doing it out of their own free will rather than some foreign influence.

But however much she disliked it, she still had her morals and that annoying inner voice. Just because she didn't want to be some selfless hero didn't mean she wanted to become a manipulative thief either.

Though sometimes the temptation was hard to ignore. But she was aware that with great power came the risk of irrevocable corruption.

It was for this very reason that she lived in this one-bedroom flat instead of some opulent manor stolen from a stranger. Better to live modestly through hard work than risk becoming an evil psychopath.

Thankfully, her salary from Hogwarts had been a massive improvement over the times when she worked in the bookstore. So now the urges to exploit her powers were few and far in between. And they were easily manageable when they did.

Still, the salary was not massive enough to afford a manor. Maybe she should—

'It's fine. This flat is big enough for two people. Better save the money for the future.'

Looking down at her notebook, she frowned, returning to the problem at hand.

The future didn't look so good for her, if she was being honest.

The year had its ups and downs. She and Harry got the rare opportunity to get back to their home. She even had the pleasure of reuniting with her best friend. And seeing Harry make good friends and forget about that vulgar Jonnie was also nice. She knew it was his muggle friend who had spoiled his language. And now that they weren't together, Harry wasn't being too crass. Which she liked. That was one of the many upsides of going to Hogwarts.

But there were downsides too, of course. She almost received the Killing Curse as a gift on her first visit to Diagon Alley. Thankfully, the drunken geezer was caught and thrown into Azkaban for his daring attempt to avenge his dead family. As if it was her fault that they had gone to Hogsmeade at the wrong time.

Then there was the brawl involving Harry at the castle too, which made her want to kill schoolchildren. Which was saying a lot when the only one she had ever killed was a heartless dark lord. Even while fighting Death Eaters, she had never used deadly force, prevented by her weak resolve and the concrete rules laid out by Dumbledore.

So yes, the thought of murdering four schoolchildren was strange and yet understandable. She wasn't a young fool anymore, and her resolve to keep Harry safe was anything but weak.

She liked to believe she'd be able to kill anyone now if they became a threat to him. Not that she was eager to test that theory anytime soon. She'd be immensely glad if the day to test her resolve never came. With the way the wizarding world had calmed down after her reappearance, there was a good chance she wouldn't need to.

But one thing did sour the happy image of her return to Hogwarts.

That was her failure to find a cure for her condition.

She had scoured through the entire library and even had enlightening discussions with Dumbledore.

From all that, she came to a single conclusion.

Her magic wouldn't return. She'd never be able to cast spells, either with or without a wand. Because there was no taking back her sacrifice. What was done was done.

Although… sacrificing others to negate her sacrifice and regain her magic might be an option. The outcome would most probably be a failure, but there was a minor chance of miraculous success.

She wouldn't even humour these dangerous thoughts if not for her biggest fear. Which was, becoming entirely powerless. And it wasn't baseless paranoia; there were valid reasons for this fear.

First, her proficiency in magic was reduced, but she had been able to cast magic.

Then she lost the ability to use wandless magic out of the blue.

If only it had stopped there.

But no, over the years, even her ability to use magic through wand was taken, leaving her unable to push the magic out of her body in a traditional sense.

Now, she only had Magiscape separating her from squibs.

But there was a chance that even the ability to use Magiscape might be taken away someday. She knew it was pessimistic of her. But it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. And after observing the pattern, it was clear that her access to Magiscape was in peril. This was the reason she was getting so desperate to cure herself of the consequences of that failed sacrifice.

What no one knew was that she was supposed to die on that Halloween night, but something unexpected must have happened to leave her with dwindling magic and half her life essence instead of totally killing her.

Sometimes, she even feared that the summoning of Belphegor was actually her own doing.

She shook her head.

'I'm not responsible for the massacre at Hogsmeade. My spell was sacrificial in nature and had no components of a summoning ritual.' The words repeated inside her head.

For the most part, she believed it.

Yet a niggle of doubt remained.

"You can use the bathroom now."

Harry's voice pulled her away from her gloomy thoughts.

He stepped out of the small, narrow door set in the other corner of the bedroom, where the only bathroom in this flat was located. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, and his hair was still wet.

"That was a fifty-five-minute-long shower. A new record, if I'm correct," Lily chuckled, glancing at the wall clock above her. "What do you even do in the bathroom?"

He made a face at the stupid question and picked up his undies from the bed before going back into the bathroom to change.

"Oh really? You can't change in front of me now? I've changed your diapers before you could—"

"Muuuum!" He whined as he came out again and rummaged through the wardrobe.

"I always tell you to get your clothes before jumping into the shower. When will you listen?" She said from her perch at the desk.

"Stop bothering me. Don't you have other things to do?" He muttered, grabbing the first pair of jeans and t-shirt he saw.

Lily stood up and started for the bathroom door. "Fine, I'll get out of your hair. Did you put your dirty clothes in the laundry basket?"

Her eyes twitched when he threw those at her. "Thanks, mum, love you."

She huffed and took them to the bathroom. Dumping them into the basket, she peeled off her baggy t-shirt and loose shorts. Then she took off her knickers and stashed them in the basket too. Raising her arms over her head, she stretched and grunted as her spine popped.

"Close the door, mum." She heard his exasperated yell as she stepped under the showerhead, her back facing the door.

As always, she ignored his request and allowed the water to wash through her hair.

"I already miss my privacy." Harry sighed and shut the door for her, as usual.

She hid a smile and closed her eyes, pushing her finger through the tangles in her hair.

She had missed this.

The routine that the two had lived with before Hogwarts. And the familiarity of this routine made up for all the downgrades in their small flat. She'd happily give up a large manor for this nostalgic morning banter.

~xXxXx~

In the middle of July, Harry decided to give his friend a visit. He'd have done it sooner if the orphanage wasn't so far away. The Happy Days Orphanage was some six miles away from his home, not exactly walking distance. And his mum wasn't going to allow him to roam London on his own. That meant she was going to accompany him on this trip.

"I can do this alone," he said for the hundredth time that day, hoping to convince her to stay home.

"Get in the taxi." She patted the seat beside her.

His shoulders slumped, and he slipped in beside her. Damn it, he wanted to roleplay as a brave adventurer going on a quest to find his lost friend. But clutching his mum's skirt while she led him around didn't sound that brave, did it?

As the taxi moved through the busy city, he looked at her and asked, "When will I be allowed to travel alone?"

She raised her eyebrows and shrugged shamelessly. "Never."

"Mum."

"Fine. Once you're fourteen, you can travel through the city on your own. Until then, keep mum and cheer up."

He blinked, and his face broke into a grin. That was way better than he had feared.

Bumping his shoulder against hers, he shot her a grateful look.

She mussed his hair fondly and settled into her seat, thinking about a hundred different things. Like, if she would even have magic left to protect him then? Or if she would have the guts to try darker paths to cure herself of this condition?

Harry was too busy gawking at the pedestrians and passing vehicles through the window to catch her worried frown.

~xXxXx~

"It's big." Those were the first words out of his mouth once he reached the orphanage.

It was a white mansion with neat lawns around it. The mansion itself was three-storeys tall and had various wings, making the entire structure span at least three acres. But the most prominent and eye-catching sight was the giant fountain between the gate and the mansion.

It was a statue of crucified Jesus.

"I'll wait for you here. Go bring your friend and be quick." His mum said, taking a seat on the wooden bench outside the orphanage.

Giving her a nod, he stepped through the open gate. The path was paved with white-red stone, leading straight to the double doors of the mansion with the fountain sitting in the middle. Even the distance between the gate and the house was big—some fifty metres or so.

On either side of him was a beautiful lawn with hedges around the perimeter. There were dozens of children out; some were playing with a football, while others were simply sprawled in the grass, appreciating the rare sunny day.

Harry tried to find Tracey among them, but she wasn't there.

Now that he thought about it, she had never talked about her home, always changing the topic when he got curious. Which was strange considering how big and comfy this orphanage appeared. He had come here thinking it would be some grim, crumbling structure where children were morose and unhappy.

But his assumptions were grossly incorrect. He wondered why she hadn't ever bragged about this grand mansion.

Reaching the giant double doors, he approached the woman in a nun outfit seated in a chair before them.

"Hello, Sister. I'm looking for a friend." He asked, feeling awkward. He had never interacted with nuns, so it was understandable that he wasn't sure how to talk to her. Was he supposed to be extra polite? Or was he meant to talk to her normally? Wait, was he even allowed to talk to her in the first place?

"And I'll gladly become your friend, child. Though I must say that this is the first time I've seen someone so straightforward about it." The nun smiled gently, though the twitching of her lips hinted at her amusement.

Harry was surprised, both by her humour and her age. He had thought she would be some old woman, but now that he was standing near her, she seemed no older than his mum.

"Erm, thank you. But I was looking for someone in particular. Her name is Tracey Davis."

She was taken aback by the name and stood up. "Tracey? Are you from her special school?"

He nodded. "Yep. I'm Harry. Harry Evans."

She stared at him for half a minute, as if trying to find something.

"I'll show you to her room. She rarely goes out or talks with other kids anymore, so I'm surprised that she has made a friend." Her smile dimmed as she opened the double door and led him in.

That was weird. At school, Tracey was friendly with everyone. The Slytherins were excluded, of course. And Greengrass was excluded from that exclusion. He had yet to find a reason why Tracey got along with that two-faced bitc—girl.

The inside of the mansion was just as magnificent as the outside. The first thing that greeted him was a huge church. Everything was white and bright. There were rows of benches spanning on either side with an aisle separating them, and at the farther end was a pedestal with a podium on it.

She took him through the left hallway near the entrance, which stretched into a residential wing where all the girls lived. Climbing up the stairs, he found another corridor with doors at fixed intervals, probably the rooms of the orphan girls.

The Sister took him to the room farthest from the stairs. It was a bit of a walk, but the easy conversation prevented any uncomfortable silence.

He learnt that the Sister's name was Maria and that she had been working here for the last five years. He also spared her a watered-down version of what they did at the special school. And Sister Maria seemed happy that Tracey was flourishing at the new place.

He didn't even have to lie about that since Tracey actually ranked fourth in their entire year. And no, he himself wasn't able to appear in the ranks of the top ten students. Because while his practicals were unparalleled, his lack of interest and effort in the theory and assignments had pushed him down. He was fine with it; he wasn't going to work too hard when it had no actual significance. Not that he had much time anyways since his dedication to mastering Magiscape took the front seat.

"Tracey, someone's here to visit you." Sister Maria knocked on the door.

A second later, the door opened, and they were greeted by Tracey. "Sister Maria... Harry?"

He couldn't suppress his wide smile.

She gaped at him, and he didn't give her time to digest before hugging her.

Tracey hugged him back but pulled away after a moment, staring at his face intensely, confirming it was really him and not some imposter. "What're you doing here?"

"Just wanted to see you. Come on, my mum is waiting outside. We can talk once we get out of here," he said, taking her hand and dragging her after him.

"Wait, wait, where are we going? I can't go out without the matron's permission."

Even Sister Maria stepped before them. "Your mother must sign some papers before taking Tracey away."

Harry frowned and looked between them. "Alright. But that would be a huge waste of time and energy. We're going to the cinema, and then we also have to buy our school supplies. Can't you look the other way this time?"

Sister Maria winced and shook her head. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Please, just this one time?" He requested, his green eyes wide and earnest.

She opened her mouth to repeat her words but ended up sighing, wearing a resigned smile. "Fine, I'll allow this once. But next time, bring your mother too."

"Thank you, Sister. I know my way out. I'll bring Tracey back in the evening."

Tracey looked dubiously between them as Harry squeezed her hand and led her away from Sister Maria's warm gaze.

Something had happened—something fishy.

While Sister Maria was one of the kindest nuns here, she was just as stickler for safety rules as everyone else. And allowing a stranger to whisk her away from the orphanage without any paperwork was just too absurd. It was too out of character to be natural.

"Harry, did you do something to the Sister?" she asked as they climbed down the staircase.

He shot her a confused look. "No. Why would you think so?"

She pressed her lips together and decided against questioning further. Harry truly looked innocent and unaware of Sister Maria's strange behaviour. "Nothing. Forget about it. And thank you for this surprise visit. I was getting dangerously bored."

He gave her hand another squeeze and tugged her towards the hallway leading to the main chamber, where the church was. "Dangerously bored? Do I even want to know what you'd have done if I hadn't rescued you?"

"No, you do not," she said in a faux-edgy tone before breaking into giggles.

Harry laughed along with her, not knowing why.

They left through the main entrance and were on their way to the gate.

"Oi, lookie here, the demon spawn got herself a boyfriend!"

Harry stopped short in his tracks and looked over to his left, where some boys were congregating around a football, staring at them with contempt.

Before he could test if he could take them all in a fistfight—which he was sure he could—Tracey pulled him forward. "It's alright, let's go."

But it wasn't alright. The smile on her face was no more. And her eyes were darting around in fear, like she was trying to find a place to hide.

As he allowed himself to be pulled away, the boys decided to try their hand at the sacred art of insulting.

"Tracifer got her Lucifer!"

…

That was the dumbest thing he had ever heard in his life.

Even Tracey wasn't sure if she should laugh or feel offended. Harry would have marched up to them and kicked them in the balls for uttering such hilarious insults. But an alternate idea took root in his mind.

He smiled at the simpletons and raised his right arm to the sky.

Then he snapped his fingers.

For a second, nothing happened, but then the boys' eyes widened, and they hurried towards the mansion. They didn't simply run. They sprinted for their lives, screaming and throwing terrified glances over their shoulders.

Harry cackled and jogged ahead. "Better get away before they bring the grown-ups."

"What did you do?" Tracey asked urgently, hoping she wasn't going to get kicked out of her home for this.

"Nothing. That's the official answer." He grinned as they neared the gate.

"And the unofficial answer?"

"Not allowed to say."

"Harry."

But they were already out at that point, and Lily was waiting for them.

Tracey snapped her mouth shut, catching the look in his eyes.

'Don't tell my mum' was written all over his face.

"Tracey, Professor Black has given me your list and asked me to guide you through Diagon Alley. Apparently, she is busy or something. You don't have any problem with accompanying Harry to a movie before that, do you?" Lily asked formally.

"No, Professor Evans."

"Good. Let's be off then."

"Hehe. Professor Evans. I think you dropped your chalk. Let me pick it up for you, or you might break your back." Harry snickered, still not having gotten used to that title.

Lily rolled her eyes at the giggling children and stopped a taxi.

How low she had fallen, getting bullied by small children.

~xXxXx~

"The sky is split open!"

"The demons are spilling through in hundreds of thousands!"

"Lucifer himself is here! He is Tracifer's boyfriend!"

"Please, Sister, save us!"

Sister Maria made a sign of cross as the children so carelessly uttered the name of Satan.

Giving them a disapproving look, she touched her finger to her lips.

They immediately quietened.

"No! Don't leave the church! You'll die!"

She glowered at them, and they became silent once again. Closing the distance between her and the double doors, she shoved them open, wincing at their sudden, obnoxious screams.

…

The sky was blue.

There were no demons flying around.

Children were sprawled in the grass, gossiping or reading.

There was no Lucifer.

As expected.

"I have had enough. How many times do I have to tell you that Tracey isn't cursed? How many times do I have to tell you off for bullying her? Do you think this is the correct path? Do you think tormenting that girl will lead you to salvation? Come, the matron needs to know that your behaviour hasn't improved."

There was no kindness in her gaze this time, just pure disappointment as she led them away.

Still, Sister Maria was aware that this wasn't entirely the kids' fault. No, most of the blame fell on Father Patrick, the previous caretaker of this establishment. He hadn't been discreet in his contempt for the girl. And his cruel attempts to 'cure' the witch of her witchiness were known to everyone.

People like him gave the Church a bad name. She couldn't understand how they could use God's name to commit such inhumane atrocities. Couldn't they see their own hypocrisy?

Thankfully, he was excommunicated and imprisoned.

But the damage was done. The fear and suspicion were deeply rooted in the minds of the children. And Tracey was brimming with terror and hatred. It was a miracle that nothing horrible had happened yet.

She could only hope Tracey would let go of her 'hidden' rage now that she had a true friend.

~xXxXx~

"That's not how it's done," Harry said condescendingly as he snatched Julian's Game Boy.

The two brothers were cooped up in Julian's room at Potter Manor. It was the day after Harry's twelfth birthday, and Lena had requested that he at least come to stay for a day before going back to Hogwarts.

Here he was. And it was already night; it was time to return home. Strangely enough, he wanted to stay some more.

His mum had been uncooperative, as expected, not wanting to send him here, but one dose of his puppy eyes had melted her heart and allowed him to visit. Not to say he was here just to show goodwill to his kind stepmother, because he genuinely wanted to see Susan and his younger brother.

He hated his father and was wary of Lena's kindness, but the same couldn't be said about the other two.

He had come here in the late morning, after his father went to work. Lena had made special dishes for both lunch and dinner, treating him like a VIP. Which had been flattering, to be honest. He almost felt like he was roleplaying as a king.

The afternoon was spent catching up with his sister while Julian tried to understand what they were blathering about since he didn't have any context. Then the evening went by in Julian's room as they played games on the Game Boy and the newly released SNES.

The lucky bastard. Reaping benefits for being the Minister's son.

Wait a minute, he was the Minister's son too. Where was his SNES?

Julian glared at him and muttered, "Oh, show me then, big brother!"

"Alright, I'll show you." Harry grinned confidently, flopping onto his stomach.

…

A few minutes later, Julian was gaping at him. "How did you do that?"

Harry decided against his signature cackling since Susan was sleeping beside them. Apparently, playing games bored her into sleep. And yes, she was obviously given the title of dumbo by the two boys. Like, who would be dumb enough to sleep when there was a quest to slay a dragon?

Before Harry could reveal how he passed through that tricky level, there came a loud knock on the door. "May I come in, Julian?"

Harry mouthed 'Julie' and got an elbow in the stomach.

"Sure, mum."

Lena opened the door and stepped in with a warm smile, glad that the three were getting along. Though her eyes twitched when she saw 'artistic' colourful circles drawn over Susan's face and arms.

She gave the boys a long, hard look while they simply pointed at each other.

Shaking her head, she decided to get to the point. "It's time, Harry. You better get back or Lily will come marching here to 'rescue' you."

Harry chuckled sheepishly, knowing she wasn't even exaggerating. "Thanks for inviting me, Lena. I had fun."

"It's your home. You can visit whenever you want with the help of the permanent portkey." She smiled, taking him in her arms.

She felt him freeze momentarily, but his hands wound around her waist, and he hugged her back, making her smile wider.

"Julian," she said suggestively after stepping away from Harry.

He groaned but gave a quick, embarrassed hug to his older brother.

"Good night." Harry smiled and patted his head before activating the portkey.

"Is dad home yet?" Julian asked idly, jumping back on the bed beside his older sister.

He snickered silently, tracing the red circle around her nose. This circle was Harry's. His own was around her mouth and left eye. She'd kill him if she knew he doodled on her face.

"No," Lena muttered, having hoped that the entire family would dine together in a show of unity. But both Lily and James were absent. Lily, because she didn't like that thought, and James, because he was too busy working in the ministry.

She looked at the clock.

11:32 pm.

It seemed this was one of those days where he'd come home after midnight.

Leaning down, she shook her daughter's shoulders. "Susan, come on, go to your own room."

"Do I have to? Julie won't mind." She grumbled drowsily, snuggling deeper into the pillow.

"It's Julian! And I do mind." He pushed her from the side.

Susan muttered something offensive before sliding off the bed. "Where's Harry?"

"He went home."

"He didn't stay for the night?" She asked with a pout.

Lena smiled. "You know how Lily is."

Susan nodded reluctantly. She knew that Harry's mum didn't hate them, but there was a strong dislike and mistrust. She was surprised at how Harry didn't hold any negative feelings for them. He was cute like that, she thought with a fond smile.

"Wash your face before sleeping." Her mum said amusedly after bidding Julian good night and herding her away to her room.

"Why?"

"You'll know when you look in the mirror."

~xXxXx~

The portkey deposited him in his living room.

The ring was cool, he decided. It was like his personal teleportation device. It was given to him by his father on his birthday last night. And he was sure it would see more use before he returned to Hogwarts.

He wanted to complete that game on SNES after all.

"Harry!" His mum wore a relieved smile and swept him into her arms, embracing him tightly.

"You really thought they'd kidnap me or something?" He laughed, squeezing her as she held onto him.

"You never know with people. Even your best friends might betray you if given good enough 'rewards'. And these were your stepfamily." She told him sagely, pulling him towards the sofa and plopping beside him.

"So, you're saying you don't trust even Alice, your best friend?" He asked with furrowed eyebrows, leaning against her and allowing her to drag his head against her pillowy chest.

Hmm, she smelt like rosemary tonight. Was it her hair or her skin? He couldn't be sure.

She let out a scoff. "When I say you can't trust anyone, I mean it. Everyone has their own goals and interests. And no matter how dear the friendship between two people, self-interest always wins in the end."

Harry's frown deepened. "That's bonkers."

"Of course it is. Just be careful around everyone. It's just you and me." She agreed, cradling his head.

For the first time, Harry thought his mum might be wrong. Because if what she said was true, then that meant everyone, including Tracey, Susan, and Julian, were untrustworthy and not dependable.

He couldn't decide what was worse—her being wrong or her being right.

"Sleeping or training?" She asked, pulling him away from his confusing thoughts.

"Sleeping. I'm tired today."

"Alright. You get a day off." She smiled, pecking on his lips, being extra affectionate after the 'long' separation.

Knowing her, she must've been waiting since the moment he left the house.

"Thanks."

~xXxXx~

The Minister's Office

James was tiredly slogging through the paperwork when his assistant interrupted him.

"You have a visitor, Minister."

She stood opposite his table, looking exhausted, with dishevelled blonde hair and deep, dark circles under her blue eyes.

He glanced at the table clock and winced. "Let them in. And please go home, Brenda. You're way past your shift."

The blonde shook her head. "I want to work just as hard as you."

James chuckled wryly, getting up and popping his spine.

Crack!

"You're too young to be married to your work. Go home now before you take my position by sheer will and dedication."

"Never, sir! You're the only Minister this country needs."

"That was a joke, love."

She blushed and stammered before quickly retreating, muttering that she'd wait outside until he went home.

Ah, passionate youngsters with morals and a wide streak of patriotism. Why did that sound familiar?

Though he hoped she wouldn't have to go through what he did.

A failed marriage. An estranged son who thought he could hide his hatred from him. An ex who wouldn't shed a tear if he ended up dead. A second wife who was becoming more disappointed with him. A daughter who didn't feel like she belonged in the family. And a son who rarely saw him.

No, he dearly prayed that Brenda wouldn't end up like him. A pure soul like her deserved a better world. And a happy marriage. And a peaceful life without any conflicts.

"You lost in your head again, Potter?" Amelia smirked, walking in confidently and taking the seat before him.

Slumping back into his comfy seat, he looked at his good friend. Their deep friendship wasn't really a surprise when they shared so many things. A sense of justice and a workaholic lifestyle, to name a few.

"Any particular reason for the visit?" He said, rolling his neck. It was so damn stiff.

He missed being an auror. At least then he had opportunities to ditch the desk and go out on field jobs.

"The Inquisition. They have found a boy trying to stir trouble," she said, getting right to the point. "Nothing major yet. Just drunken speech about good ole days when the purebloods weren't at the bottom of the pecking order. This sudden nostalgia is a consequence of not finding a good enough job."

James sighed and leant back in his chair. "When will the purebloods understand that in an equal society they can't just expect high positions because they possess the 'old' blood? They have to start at the bottom, just like everyone else. They have to compete with everyone, half-bloods and muggleborns included. What's his name?"

"William Morris. He was the head boy at Hogwarts this year," she answered.

"Will he be a problem?"

"Most probably. He is clever and charismatic enough, even when drunk. If he decides to remain sober and come up with plans, he might gain popularity. He has already gained dozens of lackeys. Fellow frustrated purebloods," Amelia said, leaning forward on her elbows and shooting him an expectant look.

James pinched the bridge of his nose and gave a resigned nod. "Tell the Inquisition to create evidence against him. Murder, rape—anything strong enough to throw him into Azkaban for a couple of years. Better nip it in the bud."

Amelia got up, nodding back at him with a small triumphant smile on her face. "Consider it done. William Morris will be in Azkaban by the end of the week."

"For the good of all." She parted with those words.

"For the good of all." He repeated, knowing that it really meant 'the good of most'.

Because in this world, you can't save everyone.

But you can save most of them.