"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." — André Gide
Harriet settled comfortably into the chair across from Yuna in a relatively secluded corner of the café. The faint hum of conversation and the clatter of cups surrounded them, but it felt distant, almost irrelevant. They each ordered something to eat and drink, letting the waiter scuttle away before turning their attention to each other.
Yuna's gaze swept over Harriet with that familiar mix of sarcasm and warmth—like she was amused, but in a way that suggested genuine approval. "You look… well-fed and healthy," she remarked, a teasing edge in her tone. "I thought you'd be more… undernourished." She looked Harriet up and down once, a faint nod following her inspection. "Good. I was worried about you."
Harriet blinked, slightly caught off guard by the comment, but chose not to let it fluster her. Instead, she offered a small smile. "Let's just say I've had the chance to take better care of myself lately…" She tilted her head, letting a smug little grin creep onto her face. "Oh, so you care enough to jump at the chance to see that the good old me is still doing fine. You're so sweet."
"Shut up," Yuna replied flatly, though her lips twitched in the corner of a smile. "If you're fine, you're fine."
Harriet laughed softly, the tension of their first real-life meeting easing slightly. "But it's actually kind of incredible to see you in person. You're… more than I expected. And weirdly, you look about as young as I do."
Yuna shrugged, her expression casual but somehow unguarded. "Same here. You've been almost the only constant in my life until now, even with all those mysterious months of absence you claimed were spent at some isolated school."
Harriet's lips quirked upward. "Ah yes, my enigmatic schooling. Keeps life interesting, doesn't it?"
They laughed together, the easy rhythm of their online banter translating surprisingly well into the real world. For the next half hour, they talked—sometimes in fits of teasing sarcasm, sometimes in quiet, genuine curiosity—learning to rediscover one another outside the sterile glow of a computer screen.
Harriet found herself studying Yuna in detail: the way her fingers moved almost obsessively over the edge of her cup, the subtle expressions that betrayed her thoughts before she even spoke. And Yuna, in turn, observed Harriet with that analytical yet oddly affectionate look, as if calculating the smallest changes and approving them.
After a while, they ordered another round of food as noon approached—Harriet with a Coca-Cola, Yuna with a glass of wine. They ate quietly, talking about lighter things, still exploring one another, confirming with every gesture and sentence that the person sitting across from them was indeed the same one they had spent so many hours with online.
Finally, Yuna leaned forward slightly, her expression sharpening. "Alright, now tell me—and answer honestly—what kind of school are you going to?"
Harriet didn't hesitate, speaking without concealment. "Magical."
Yuna studied her for a solid five seconds, then nodded almost casually. "I suspected as much."
Harriet blinked, genuinely shocked. "What!? How—how could you know?"
Yuna shrugged, her tone calm, analytical. "What's so surprising? Did you expect me to be shocked? You subtly teased me about it when we were arranging to meet. And honestly, I suspected it already. The trading world I make my money in is a microcosm of society. If you look closely at the patterns, the fluctuations, the anomalies—you can read the larger system. Macro trends, market bubbles, supply and demand imbalances… and of course, anyone talented enough can see inconsistencies that shouldn't exist unless something extraordinary is happening. Call it a miracle, call it magic. I've never ruled out the supernatural. So now, give me an overview of your situation."
Harriet met her gaze, a mix of surprise and "as expected from you." She exhaled softly, letting a small smile slip. "Well… you're right. It goes far beyond what you might have imagined. I'm a witch, attending—arguably—the best school in the world here in England. It's called Hogwarts. Usually, anyone with magical ability receives a letter on their eleventh birthday, inviting them to learn to master their powers. Sounds incredible, I know… but it's far from all glamor. Picture old England, strict traditions, nobles looking down on those from non-magical families. You get the picture."
Harriet continued, speaking briefly about the overall atmosphere of the magical world and her own situation, enough to give Yuna a sense of what life there was like and how she fit into it. There was a hint of vulnerability in her words, subtle but real—a side she rarely showed, reserved only for someone who truly cared.
Yuna's eyes softened slightly, and she nodded. "I see. That makes sense. And you? You're navigating it as well as anyone could expect."
Harriet allowed herself a little more relaxation, feeling the rare comfort of someone who didn't dismiss her world as nonsense. Talking to Yuna… it felt like finally being understood.
Harriet continued, her tone calm but carrying a hint of frustration. "So yeah… I'm kind of like the savior of the British wizarding world for something I didn't even do. And believe me, it doesn't make life any easier. The ignorant expect something from me that they'll never get, and those smart enough to realize I'm just a marketing product don't take me seriously either. Not to mention my 'mortal enemy,' the Dark Lord—a complete psychopath—and the old Gandalf figure acting as the so-called lord of light, who's always right and admired by many, yet is really a sociopath. If this sounds like some kind of kids' cartoon with a good guy and a bad guy, black and white… well, yeah, it's just as ridiculous as that."
Yuna analyzed her, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That's manipulation and politics I see. All conflicts work like that. Add magic into the mix, and maybe people aren't refining the details enough, making it easier to spot. That's just the world we live in, Harriet. Not a unique case, unfortunately."
Harriet met her gaze steadily. "I suspected as much. Don't worry, I'm not egotistical enough to see myself as the only victim here. And at least I have a hand to play—which is more than many people in my situation will ever have."
Yuna's expression softened, a hint of reassurance showing. "Good! At least you realize that. But then… why would you need my help managing finances? You could just take the money, live your life without investing a thing. If, as you say, you're gaining power and will probably surpass those two obstacles, no one's stopping you from taking the gold, converting it, and escaping to some paradise far from all trouble. And if I help you… what's in it for me? I like you, but risking myself for nothing? I don't have magic to defend myself—apart from my brain, I've got nothing."
Harriet regarded her with approval. "True. And I took that into account. Don't worry, I have artifacts that could protect you. You don't necessarily need magic in this world—there are other ways humans can fight against stronger forces. That's also why I want to invest: to get information. And I know you can manage money in a way that expands your network of intelligence to get answers that both you and I will find valuable. Yuna, I know you want freedom too—not necessarily doing whatever you want, but at least not being forced into what you don't want.
"The world is far more dangerous than that. You, who've earned so much and are so smart, have been lucky not to be noticed. But if someone from the magical world—no, not just spellcasters with wands like me, I mean a supernatural world even more terrifying, with devils, demons, angels, gods, monsters capable of annihilating the British wizarding world or an entire army in an instant… especially now that I have you in front of me, I'm more certain than ever."
A shiver ran through Yuna, and she listened more seriously than ever. "More certain about what?"
Harriet leaned closer, her gaze intense, locking onto something deep inside her. "An artifact… you have an artifact, or something like it, attached to you. I can't see it, but I can feel it if I concentrate hard enough. I don't know what it is, but trust me on this…"
Yuna's voice wavered slightly. "Trust you… isn't this just a way to take advantage of me?"
Harriet met her eyes squarely. "I'm not lying. I would never manipulate you like that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have even mentioned it. And I know that even without it, you'd still be curious about all this."
Yuna exhaled, finally regaining some composure. "You're right… sorry for doubting you. You'll have to show me your magic sometime—I believe you, but I still want to see it. Any idea how to activate this artifact that's… dormant inside me?"
Harriet shook her head slightly. "No. I have no idea how to activate it."
She paused for a moment, then reached up and pulled out the necklace resting against her collar. A small grimoire hung from it, intricate and faintly pulsating with something… not quite visible, yet undeniably present.
"I have one too," she added, holding it just enough for Yuna to see. "Though I'm not sure it's the same kind—or even from the same origin."
She briefly explained how it functioned, keeping it simple, only outlining the basics without going into unnecessary detail.
"But that doesn't mean we can't figure it out," Harriet continued, letting the necklace fall back into place. "The information I'm looking for is about that larger world. I'm trying to step into it. Honestly, in my own community, there isn't much reliable information about pantheons or biblical creatures… but that doesn't mean they don't exist."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"That's why I want to entrust my fortune to you. So you can invest—not just in England, and not just in the magical world. The wider our network grows, the more we'll inevitably start stepping on the toes of… those kinds of beings."
A faint smirk appeared.
"Because I have no doubt that if the Devil exists… he's probably an excellent businessman."
Yuna didn't react immediately, but her attention didn't waver.
"I already have a contact," Harriet went on, her tone lowering slightly, "a rather unique half-devil. But I'm not planning to reach out just yet. I will… once I have solid information, and once I've properly gauged the climate of that wider world. It's always useful to know where you can step—and where you absolutely shouldn't."
She leaned back slightly, but her eyes remained locked onto Yuna's.
"So I'll ask you again, Yuna."
Her voice was calm, but carried a rare sincerity.
"This is a unique offer. I'm making it because I know you—and because I trust you. I have complete faith in you. I know that even without power, with just your mind, you'd find a way to survive. And you won't even be alone in that. I'll be behind you if anything happens."
A brief pause.
"That's a promise."
Then, more softly:
"Will you take this step with me?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I can give you time to think, if you want."
Yuna remained silent for a long moment.
Her gaze drifted once more toward the grimoire Harriet had shown her—toward the undeniable proof that the world she had just heard about was real.
Magic existed.
And if Harriet could sense the presence of an artifact within her… then others might be able to do the same.
Which meant one thing.
She was already part of it—whether she liked it or not.
A treasure she couldn't understand, a power she couldn't control and no way to defend it.
In her world, that was the worst kind of sin.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the table.
A slow breath left her lips.
Yuna didn't hesitate for long.
"Alright. No need to give me more time," she said calmly. "I accept."
Then, after a brief pause, her lips curved into a genuine smile.
"If I'm going to dive into the abyss… I might as well do it with you, partner."
There was something light in her tone, but also something firm—decided. For all the uncertainty ahead, she wasn't stepping into it alone. And that, in itself, was enough.
Harriet blinked, caught slightly off guard by the smile.
Then, a second later, she smiled back.
A bit late.
"But I'll stay in England for a while," Yuna continued, leaning back slightly in her chair. "At least long enough to build something real."
Her gaze sharpened again.
"That said… how exactly do you plan to introduce me into the magical world?"
Harriet scratched her cheek lightly, thinking.
"Don't worry, I've got a solution," she replied. "My godfather can act as a bridge. He's a Black—so technically 'nobility' in that world."
She made air quotes, clearly unimpressed by the concept.
"As for where you'll stay, you can use one of my houses—or manors. I've got several, including some in the non-magical world, so you've got options."
Yuna raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I'll also write you an official letter," Harriet added, "naming you as the manager of my inheritance. That should make things… smoother."
Then she paused, her expression shifting just a little.
"But there's something you should know."
Yuna watched her closely.
"Sirius—my godfather—he's on our side. Completely. If he's helping me, he won't betray you either."
A small pause.
"…But you might want to be a bit careful with him."
Yuna tilted her head.
"Oh?"
"He spent years in a magical prison," Harriet said. "The guards there… they feed on happiness. Literally."
Yuna's expression changed slightly.
"That sounds… horrifying."
"Yeah," Harriet replied dryly. "It is."
She hesitated for a fraction of a second.
"And sometimes he gets… episodes. He occasionally mistakes me for my father."
Yuna processed that in silence for a moment.
Then:
"So my main contact is an ex-prisoner?"
Harriet averted her gaze slightly.
"…Technically."
A beat.
"He didn't exactly serve his sentence," she admitted. "He broke out. So he's… kind of a wanted man. In both the magical and non-magical worlds."
Yuna stared at her.
Then slowly rolled her eyes.
"Fantastic. You really know how to reassure people."
Harriet gave a small, apologetic shrug.
"Yeah… not ideal conditions, I know."
"Also, if you ever need more help, go to the Potter Manor. Dorea Potter will help you," Harriet said.
Yuna blinked. "Another surprise with this person?"
Harriet looked a little smug. "You'll see. You can trust her as well."
Then her tone sharpened slightly, more confident.
"But I can guarantee you one thing."
She met Yuna's eyes directly.
"If we play our cards right, we've got a winning hand."
A brief silence settled between them.
Then Harriet reached for her glass of cola, lifting it slightly.
Yuna followed, raising her glass of wine.
"A toast?" Yuna said.
Harriet smirked.
"To our cooperation."
They clinked their glasses together.