"What deal?" Harry cautiously looked at Lady Grindelwald.
"You..." Lady Grindelwald curled her lips, "Hand over your little girlfriend to me, and I will use the power of magic to protect Swedding and Malfoy, and even your parents... How about it? Just as long as you hand over the other me."
"Sounds like a good suggestion."
Harry nodded, but he smiled broadly.
"But I refuse."
Lady Grindelwald raised an eyebrow, looking at Harry.
"I know you well, Lady Grindelwald." Harry seemed to reminisce, "Remember, in our fifth grade's second semester, we went to eliminate the Fire Ash Snake Faction together, and back then you said the same thing to their leader. Of course... he complied, and you..."
"And I reneged, right?" Lady Grindelwald squinted her eyes.
"Maybe that's your flaw, ma'am." Harry shrugged.
Vivi is a competent hunter, but she has a noticeable flaw, which is that she seems to enjoy toying with her prey.
This wasn't the first time such a thing had happened, both at the Fire Ash Snake Faction's camp and at the Poacher's lair; such incidents occurred.
At the time, Harry only felt that Vivi's behavior was due to suppressed feelings and didn't say much.
After all, he wasn't Vivi's mother to warn her not to 'play with food.'
Lady Grindelwald's expression turned grim.
"See?" Lady Grindelwald looked at Vivi, mockingly said in standard German-accented English, "This is how Potter sees you... to think, in his eyes, this is your image... truly pathetic."
"Pathetic?" Vivi chuckled softly, "I don't think so."
"This doesn't mean I don't love her, Lady Grindelwald." Harry raised his magic wand once again, "No matter what kind of person Vivi is, I will keep my love for her unwavering, so... I will protect her, until one of us prevails!"
Vivi was startled.
She hadn't expected that, at this critical moment, Harry could reveal his heart to her... and the other her.
Pabi and Cassandra were also shocked; the former's jaw was agape, nearly hitting his chest, while the latter sneered, the sourness almost spilling over the entire Alchemy Room.
"Well done, son!"
James raised his hand high, clapping encouragingly like a gorilla for his fine son.
"You didn't embarrass your father!" He said again.
"Exactly, very spirited!" Little Sirius echoed.
James was now increasingly satisfied with this son, both in terms of magical accomplishments and character; he thought this son was simply amazing.
No wonder three girls were smitten, were crazy about him, and head over heels...
"I understand."
A flicker of shrewdness flashed in Lady Grindelwald's eyes, barely perceptible.
Right at this moment, Mr. Leme finally pressed the switch on the wall.
The room suddenly became bright as daylight, and on the ceiling and the floor where Lady Grindelwald stood, appeared crimson talismans.
The talismans seemed immensely mysterious, seemingly containing endless magic energy.
Emerald green vines also gradually crawled up on the chair, soon binding Lady Grindelwald.
Lady Grindelwald raised her head, then looked at the ground.
"Treating an old friend like this is not hospitality, Mr. Leme."
"I had to do this, I hope you can understand." When Mr. Leme said this, there wasn't even a hint of apology.
"Do you think, with just this one magic circle, you can trap me?" Lady Grindelwald spoke calmly and unhurriedly.
"Though I can't trap you, at least I've limited your magic ability." Mr. Leme said with a beaming smile.
Lady Grindelwald took a deep look at Mr. Leme, then turned to Harry.
Her figure gradually faded, like mist dispersing into the air.
"I hope the next time we meet, you will still hold onto such perseverance... Of course, Albus, my offer always stands, if you would turn back, I will allow you to reunite with Little Anna and your sibling."
Once Lady Grindelwald vanished from the spot, Harry finally let out a sigh of relief.
It was just that the pressure that person gave him was truly overwhelming.
Never had Harry desired to become stronger as much as he did today.
It wasn't for himself, but for the hope to protect Vivi.
If someday in the future, this Lady Grindelwald came again, Harry didn't want to feel as powerless as today, having to hope that the opponent would retreat voluntarily.
"With such a magic circle, why didn't you use it earlier?" Little Sirius asked, panting heavily, clearly startled just now.
He even glanced at Vivi apprehensively, thinking that this daughter-in-law didn't have such an oppressive vibe...
"Because earlier, she wasn't sitting here." Mr. Leme, also a bit sweaty, was still clutching his aging heart.
Little Sirius: ...
You make a good point; I have nothing to say.
"Thank you, Harry."
Vivi sighed softly beside Harry.
Harry looked up, glanced at Vivi, and reached out to clasp her soft little hand.
"It's what I must do." He said with a smile, "Because I am a man."
At this moment, Lily came over carrying plates and bowls with the house-elves.
"What happened just now?" Lily asked curiously, "Why couldn't I leave the kitchen just now? Gosh, I thought something was wrong, but luckily I was able to come out..."
"Nothing." Vivi quickly said; she didn't want her mother-in-law to hear terrifying rumors about the other her.
James was about to share what just happened.
But he wasn't a low-emotional intelligence person; seeing the daughter-in-law obviously didn't want to, he held his tongue.
"Try it, Little Sirius." Lily placed the plate in front of Little Sirius, "It's what you used to love... Sorry, it was quite rushed, couldn't prepare a lot."
"I couldn't ask for more." Little Sirius said cheerfully as he took the plate.
Dinner was warm, except for Dumbledore, who had a 'something on his mind' expression, and Snape, who had a sour expression; everyone was chatting eagerly, including Cassandra.
Lily obviously took care of the feelings of this cold-faced girl (or possibly great aunt), often exchanging a few words with her, not leaving her out.
Indeed, Lily, always the understanding one, managed to win over Cassandra during this meal.
"Could you not leave?"
After dinner, it was unexpectedly Cassandra who first spoke and her being the first to ask them to stay was even more unexpected.
"We still have our destinies to fulfill." Lily said with a gentle smile, tucking Cassandra's hair behind her ear, "Perhaps, we'll meet again, Cassandra."
"Mm..." Cassandra's eyes reddened, looking at Lily with reluctance.
"Well then..."
Little Sirius's voice trembled as he placed the Desire Gem on the table.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
The two nodded, holding each other's hands.
Harry closed his eyes, took the gem, and smashed it hard on the ground.
At that moment, the figures of Lily and James slowly faded away.
Little Sirius sank to the floor as if all his strength had left him.
...
1981.
"Ring... Ring..."
The telephone rang, waking a still-sleeping Potter couple.
"Hello?"
James answered the phone.
It was Sirius calling.
"Yes," James responded, "Uh-huh... I know, right, Bigfoot."
He turned his head, and Lily was nodding to him.
"I just had a dream..." he said.
)
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