Edward was slightly surprised.
"Did Mr. Grindelwald tell you?"
"No."
Dumbledore shook his head. "I merely had a faint suspicion and sought to confirm it. Afterwards, I asked Gellert, and he told me that you had met Ariana—that you knew everything."
In the old man's eyes burned an almost desperate longing.
"Could…could you tell me about her?"
Edward spoke gently.
"In fact, that was one of the things I meant to do before leaving this time."
As he spoke, he reached out and pulled at the air. A girl in her early twenties—dressed in a white robe, her skin pale as paper—was yanked out from the empty space.
Dumbledore's pupils trembled violently.
Even after more than a hundred years, he recognised her at a glance.
His sister—Ariana Dumbledore.
Compared to the moment of her death, she only looked a little more mature. She had not aged alongside him and Aberforth, who were now both elderly men.
Ariana, on the other hand, was utterly confused.
She had been in Luna's company, quietly eating breakfast, when she suddenly felt a strange force drag her away. After a brief moment of disorientation, she found herself in this unfamiliar place—unable to resist at all.
Shock filled her mind, and she instinctively prepared to fight—until her gaze landed on Dumbledore's tear-filled eyes, staring at her with overwhelming emotion.
Though Ariana had lost parts of her memory long ago, she still recognised Dumbledore. She remembered he was her brother.
She also remembered—
She had died because of him.
She turned away angrily, only to see Edward's familiar face. "It was you who brought me here?!"
Edward nodded softly.
"Yes. You siblings have been separated for too long. It's time you were reunited."
Ariana's eyes instantly turned cold. "Did I not tell you that all I have left for the Dumbledore brothers is hatred? I've worked hard to control myself, to stay away, not to cause them trouble, and you—"
Before she could finish, Edward tapped her lightly on the forehead.
Ariana froze.
Then, flickering like waves, countless memories sealed away for a century surged rapidly through her mind.
Scenes from the peaceful days in Godric's Hollow—Her family, her brothers caring for her day and night because she had become an Obscurial, unable to live independently…Then Grindelwald entered their lives, and a single accident shattered everything.
It felt like she had dreamed a dream spanning a hundred years.
In the dream, she had lost her memories, wandered through time, lived long after her death.
But now, as everything returned to her at once—
The young brother she once knew, Albus Dumbledore, was now a white-bearded old man over a century old.
"A-Albus…"
Her expression twisted with countless emotions—grief, guilt, sorrow, yearning. Words crowded her chest, but she did not know where to begin.
Dumbledore rubbed at the dampness in his eyes, a relieved smile trembling on his lips as he spoke incoherently:
"It's wonderful, Ariana…truly wonderful."
Edward reached out again.
Two translucent figures were drawn out of Ariana's body—one male, one female.
They were the souls Ariana had sheltered within the underworld created inside her, on the "Creator's" behalf.
Edward conjured two physical bodies and placed the souls into them.
After a half-minute of adjustment, both individuals slowly opened their eyes, bewilderment written across their faces.
———
Inside Snape's Office
Harry's voice shook with nerves.
"I—I really forgot, professor. After the feast last night, I just went back to the dormitory with everyone. I swear, I didn't mean to!"
"Hmph! Your excuses are exactly as pathetic as your father's."
Harry drooped his head, not daring to breathe too loudly, let alone argue.
Snape's voice grew even colder.
"Add another week of cleaning toilets! And if you dare skip again, I will add another month. Is that clear?!"
"I—I understand, professor."
"Out!"
Harry bolted from the room as though granted a royal pardon.
Snape returned to his desk and picked up a potions book, flipping it open with practiced indifference. At that moment—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
An ill-timed knocking sounded at the door.
His brows immediately creased into a sharp "川," annoyance rising.
"Who?"
But the knocking continued in a perfectly steady rhythm.
No answer.
Snape had already been in a foul mood.
So the moment the knocking continued, he shot to his feet, stormed toward the door, and yanked it open with force.
"If I find out someone is playing pranks again, I swear I—!"
His words lodged in his throat.
Standing at the doorway was a girl with long red hair and bright green eyes, her face glowing with gentle warmth.
She smiled softly.
"Long time no see, Severus."
Snape instinctively staggered back two steps, his mind thrown into complete chaos. His lips parted, but no sound emerged. His rationality told him this was probably an illusion—some trick, some spell.
But deep in his heart, a tiny, fragile spark of hope flickered alive.
At that moment, another figure stepped out from behind the girl—a man with messy black hair and warm hazel eyes. He grinned mischievously.
"Oi, Snivellus. You were just saying…if someone was really pranking, what would you do?"
In an instant, Snape's expression iced over again. His face twisted, and a roar ripped from his chest—
"POTTER!!!"
———
Meanwhile,
Edward and the others had already returned to the world of Lord of the Mysteries.
Audrey still hadn't recovered from what had just happened. She stared at Edward in astonishment.
"Edward, you…you actually revived Harry's parents just like that?! Is—is that one of your new abilities after advancing to Sequence 1? It's…incredible!"
Edward smiled helplessly.
"I told you, that wasn't resurrection."
He would never do something he knew must not be done.
As for the two things he had done before leaving:
Ariana being alive and becoming a Sequence 4 Beyonder—that was the "Creator's" handiwork. Edward only restored her lost memories.
As for Harry's parents, they had always existed as souls inside the underworld within Ariana. Edward merely released them and shaped bodies for them. In essence, they were still spirits.
They had not truly come back to life.
"But that's still amazing!" Audrey exclaimed.
To her, regardless of the principles behind it, Harry's parents had been dead—yet now they stood alive before him. That alone was enough to be a miracle.
Beside her, Priscilla, who had been full of hope, suddenly dimmed a little. She had been wishing she could revive her mother someday.
After buzzing with excitement for a while, Audrey suddenly gasped.
"Oh no—I forgot to buy supplies and food over there!"
Edward chuckled, pulling a suitcase from his spatial pouch and handing it to her.
"These are what I gathered yesterday. They should last you for quite a while. With any luck, everything will be over by then."
Audrey took the suitcase, thought for a moment, and saidm "Let's give all this to Mr. Moon."
Lilith blinked curiously.
"Eh? Why? I thought you'd prioritise distributing it to Backlund."
Audrey pressed her lips together and spoke seriously:
"Actually…I know that Backlund isn't lacking food. Maybe not everyone can eat their fill, but there's enough for most people to survive—it's just that a small group hoards it all."
"That's true," Lilith admitted.
"So if we could take out the grain those people hoarded—even if we only sell it at a lower price—it would be enough to keep Backlund going for a long time."
"But those hoarders will never agree, right?"
Audrey's eyes sharpened, voice firm, "Then we just take it."
Tightly clenching her fists, she continued, "Mr. Fool killed the Emperor of Loen. What's wrong with taking a bit of food from nobles and wealthy families? And isn't Mr. Moon doing the same thing in the Southern Continent?"
"Since we're both members of the Tarot Club—if he can do it, so can I!"
She turned to Edward.
"It's just…I still don't have the strength to do it alone. That's why I need your help!"
Edward and Lilith exchanged a glance and smiled.
"Alright!"
He continued after a brief pause.
"But we shouldn't start with robbery. Let the Hall family take the lead and sell food at low prices. If others follow and lower their prices, great. If someone tries to cause trouble or play dirty tricks…then we can act."
Audrey nodded vigorously.
"Okay! I'll go talk to Father right now!"
She Apparated away, returning to the Hall estate.
A few seconds later, Susie emerged from a corner, looking utterly lost.
"Did Audrey forget about me…? I didn't even get on board!"
A crackling sound rang out—Audrey reappeared, crouched in front of Susie with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Susie. I rushed."
She waved at Edward and Lilith, and this time Apparated away with Susie in tow.
Priscilla, who had been listening intently the whole time, spoke up:
"Big Brother Edward, Lilith, I want to go home too!"
"Alright," Edward said. "We'll take you. And we can greet Mr. Azik while we're at it."
They sent Priscilla home. Mr. Azik did not appear surprised in the slightest—it was obvious he already knew about Evernight Goddess "kidnapping" Priscilla.
"Everything went smoothly, I hope?" he asked calmly.
He didn't fully understand what had happened, but if even the Evernight Goddess had acted personally, then it must have been extraordinary.
Edward nodded.
"Mm."
After a brief exchange, Edward and Lilith took their leave.
Priscilla waved cheerfully. "Then see you tomorrow at the Tarot Club, Big Brother Edward!"
"Alright!"
When the two returned to the small villa, only Edward and Lilith remained. They sat quietly on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling in silence for a long while.
Eventually, at the same moment, they turned toward each other—eyes meeting.
Edward pinched her nose lightly.
"So…what exactly have you been teaching Audrey these days? My Audrey was never this rebellious."
Lilith giggled.
"Just gave her a few books. This is only the beginning~"
"Edward," she suddenly said, leaning forward with eager curiosity, "can you finally tell me what happened after you met that person yesterday? I held it in all night!"
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.