章節 12: chapter 12

Chapter 12:

There I was, floating on my back in the Hellsing mansion's pool, my bright red bikini clinging perfectly to every curve. I loved how it looked on me, showing off just enough to be a little scandalous. Hey, if you've got it, why not flaunt it, right? And let's be honest, I was totally rocking it.

It was one of those freakishly hot days in London, the kind that made you question reality. And, of course, the mansion's AC decided to go tits-up, leaving us to roast in the heat.

I glanced over at Integra, lounging like a queen in her shaded chair by the pool, sipping her cold drink while Walter dutifully stood by with a pitcher, ready to refill at a moment's notice.

"Ugh... it's so hot," Rose muttered as she drifted by, sprawled on her inflatable pool float, looking way too cute in her black one-piece.

Tonks was busy swimming laps with this annoying energy that made the rest of us look like lazy slobs. Being a metamorphmagus and all, she didn't really need the exercise, but there she was, doing her best Olympic impression anyway.

Seras was sitting on the edge of the pool in her black bikini, legs dangling in the water. She was stacked, and that bikini was doing her all kinds of favors. I shamelessly checked her out, and I knew she was sneaking glances at me too, just doing it in that shy way of hers. It was almost adorable.

Alucard was stretched out on a lounge chair across from Integra, looking like he owned the damn place. Bellatrix hovered over him, practically tripping over herself to hand him his goblet of blood, complete with a long straw so he could sip it like it was a freaking smoothie.

"Hey, Seras," I called, tilting my head and swimming over to the edge where she sat. "What's the hold-up? Are you coming in the water?"

She gave a nervous little smile, biting her lip. "I dunno, Valerie… something about it just feels… weird for some reason..." She looked down at the water in the pool and frowned.

"Hmm." I tilted my head. "Maybe it's a vampire thing? There are these legends about full vamps not being able to cross running water. Could be some weird instinct kicking in."

"You think so?" Seras asked. "I've never been afraid of water before."

I shrugged. "I mean, I'm only a half-blood, so I wouldn't know. Guess I'd have to ask him." I nodded over at Alucard, who was now watching us with an amused smirk, sipping his blood through that ridiculous straw. It looked like he got the thing out of a happy meal…

Ignoring him, I turned back to Seras, who was still sitting there with her legs dangling in the water. A devious idea popped into my head, and before I could think twice, I reached out, grabbed both of her legs, and yanked.

Seras let out an adorable yelp before she flopped straight into the pool. She didn't fall gracefully though, and ended up dragging me underwater with her. Chlorine water flooded my mouth, and I came up coughing, spitting it out, and grimacing. It tasted awful as a Dhampir, way worse than it had in my last life. But I was still laughing like a maniac as Seras finally surfaced, spluttering and looking at me with a mix of shock and indignation.

"See? The water's fine," I said, grinning. I don't know why she was upset, I helped her get over her fear of water just now! She wiped some water from her face before giving me a look that screamed payback.

"Oh, I'll show you fine," Seras smirked. Before I could react, she lunged at me, hands on my shoulders, trying to dunk my head back under.

I fought back, thrashing and laughing, and then out of nowhere, Rose leapt off her floatie with an excited squeal, paddling over to us. "Get her!" she shouted, joining Seras's side.

"Oh, you traitor!" I laughed, twisting to dodge Rose's grab. But Seras and Rose were relentless. Rose hooked her arm around mine, holding on tight, while Seras grinned and pushed my shoulders down, dunking me under the water again.

I kicked back up, gasping, laughing so hard I could barely catch my breath. "You guys are so dead!" I lunged at Seras, grabbing her by the waist and trying to pull her under. She shrieked, splashing around, while Rose clung to my arm, laughing and trying to get me off Seras.

"You started it, Val!" Rose taunted, still holding onto me as if she could actually control this chaos.

"Oh, so you're all brave now, huh?" I shot back, splashing her straight in the face. She squealed, splashing me right back, and for a second, we were all just a tangle of limbs, laughter, and water flying everywhere.

"Just be careful not to hurt each other, you three," Integra called from her lounge chair, pausing for a second before shaking her head. "Eh, never mind..." She'd probably remembered that two of us could heal from almost anything, and I had my Healing Grail just in case.

I laughed, diving under to splash Seras and Rose with as much water as possible. It was chaos, pure and simple, and for once, I wasn't thinking about anything stressful. Just as I grabbed Seras to dunk her under, though, I heard my phone ringing from the poolside table.

"One sec, girls!" I called, swimming to the edge and hopping out, dripping water everywhere as I grabbed my towel to dry off my hand. The caller ID flashed Kuisha, and I frowned. Not that I wasn't happy to hear from her, but I wasn't expecting a call from the Devil bombshell anytime soon.

"Hey there, Kuisha," I said, pressing the phone to my ear with a smile. "What's going on?"

"Hello, Valerie," There was a slight edge in her tone.

I raised an eyebrow, my smile fading a bit. "What's up? This isn't just a friendly call, is it?"

"Unfortunately, no," Kuisha said with a sigh. "I wanted to give you a heads-up about something… important."

I shot a look over my shoulder, where Seras had climbed out of the pool, towel in hand, watching me with a curious look. She mouthed, "What's wrong?"

I held up a finger, mouthing back, "One second." Turning my attention back to the call, I lowered my voice. "Alright, Kuisha. Spill."

"A mission was recently posted in the Underworld," Kuisha began. "...and it has to do with… you."

"Wait, what??"

Kuisha started to explain. "Devil society is highly competitive, especially for younger Devils trying to prove themselves. You know, considering the older generation practically never dies of old age… They're always out to show they're worthy, whether it's by hunting down stray Devils or going on dangerous missions set up by the New Satan Government."

"Alright, I think I'm following," I said.

"Good," she said. "Now, here's the bad part. A mission was posted… at the request of Marius Tepes. He's offering a 10 million Lilium bounty for any Devil that can capture you specifically, Valerie. I know you told me you've got no connection to the Tepes clan, but…"

Marius Tepes… My piece of shit half brother. I don't know how much a Lilium is, but 10 Million sounds like a lot. How is he not broke after the Tepes Castle was burned to the ground? Vampire's didn't exactly trust banks, they tended to outlive the banks after all.

"Shit," I cursed out loud, earning a concerned look from Seras. "You're telling me I've got an army of Devils gunning for me now?"

"Not an army, no," Kuisha explained. "Fortunately, we managed to register you as one of Sairaorg's contractors at the last minute. Most Devils wouldn't dare cross him even for that kind of money."

I let out a breath, only a little relieved. "Well, that's… something I guess. But I take it from your tone, someone is still coming after me?"

"Yeah." Her voice softened, almost apologetic. "There's one Clan that doesn't care about upsetting Sairaorg or the Bael Clan. They're trying to climb up the ranks in the Underworld and see this as a chance to do so by getting in with the vampires. Fortunately, they're only sending a branch member and his peerage after you. The young Devil's name is Regis Phenex. He's registered as a High Class Devil since he's low nobility, but in terms of power he's Middle Class at best." Kuisha reassured me.

I hung up, thanking Kuisha for the heads-up. As soon as I did, I felt Integra's eyes on me from where she lounged by the pool.

"So," she said, "care to explain?"

I sighed, running a hand through my wet hair. "Apparently, I've got some Devils hunting me. Marius Tepes, my piece of shit former half-brother, put a bounty out, and one particularly ambitious clan has sent someone named Regis Phenex and his peerage to collect."

Integra's eyebrow twitched, and she muttered, "You're as troublesome as Alucard, you know that?"

"I'd take that as a compliment if you didn't sound like you're on the verge of kicking me out of the house." I smirked, glancing at Alucard, who looked vaguely amused from across the pool.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

"What should I do, though?" I asked, dropping the joking tone. "I mean, I don't want Devils popping up right outside the mansion, potentially injuring or killing our soldiers." They were here specifically for me after all.

Integra's face hardened. "Neither do I."

"I'll help you, Valerie!" Rose piped up from the water.

Integra shut her down with a single, stern look. "No. You're still in training, Rose Potter," she said. Rose pouted, sinking back into the water with a grumpy little huff.

Instead, Integra turned to me. "Seras and Nymphadora will be sticking with you until this is dealt with. Both of them are former police—they know how to track down targets and handle themselves in a fight."

I glanced at Tonks, who was stretching her arms by the edge of the pool, her hair shifting from pink to electric blue like it had a mind of its own. She gave me a determined grin and an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Seras smiled at me protectively as well. I could even see her bright blue eyes flickering a little bit red at the fact that I was being threatened.

Integra's eyes narrowed. "If you can get them to back off without violence, fine. But if not…" She looked me dead in the eye. "Search and destroy."

I swallowed. "Got it."

I looked down at myself, I was still dripping wet in my bikini. I glanced longingly at the pool. This had been such a perfect, carefree moment, just goofing off with Rose and Seras, everyone jumping and rubbing all over me in the water. I'd barely had a chance to relax like this… and now some over-eager Devils had to show up and ruin the fun…

"Guess I should go get dressed," I muttered reluctantly, wringing out my hair.

Tonks laughed, already climbing out of the pool. "Aww, don't look so down. We'll go kick some Devil ass, and you'll be back in the bikini so that Rose can be groping you again in the water before you know it."

"Tonks!" Rose whined with pink cheeks.

I headed back to my room to get changed and found Narcissa inside, fussing with my sheets and sorting my laundry. She looked up when I walked in, her face softening with a small smile.

"Hey, how come you weren't out at the pool?" I asked, kicking my wet flip-flops off by the door.

She shrugged. "I'm still a bit… unnerved by Bellatrix." She paused, wrinkling her nose. "Seeing her mostly sane and… fawning over Alucard."

"Well, I'd have liked to see you out there in a swimsuit."

She let out a soft laugh, her smile widening. "Aren't you sweet," she said, watching as I started peeling off my wet bikini right in the middle of the room.

"Oh?" She tilted her head, her eyes roaming over me. She licked her lips. "Are you taking me up on my offer?"

I felt a rush of heat on my face, actually blushing. I'd gotten used to stripping in front of Seras, who always got flustered in this adorable way, but I had to remember that Narcissa was… different. Older, more confident. Witches didn't age like muggles did, and Narcissa barely looked a day over thirty.

Trying to keep my cool, I pulled on a pair of black pants and a black shirt, tugging my signature red jacket on over it. "Rain check, Narcissa," I told her with a grin. "I've got a Devil to hunt down before he hunts me down first."

Narcissa sighed, shaking her head. "Your life is certainly… interesting, Mistress."

I paused, catching her eye. "Do you hate it?" I asked. "Hate being a servant now?"

She shook her head, surprising me with a soft smile. "Surprisingly, I don't." She folded her arms, thinking. "After marrying Lucius and having Draco, I spent years just… sitting around the mansion, being waited on by house-elves, hosting tea parties with other noble ladies in the exact same situation. It all felt so… empty."

"Sounds lonely," I said as I finished getting dressed, slipping my blood bracelet on my left wrist and holstering my revolver under my jacket.

Narcissa nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was… lonely."

I looked at her, blunt as ever. "Do you want a hug?"

Narcissa let out this cute little yelp when I hopped forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. It took her a second, but she finally hugged me back, murmuring a soft, "Thank you, Valerie. You're so sweet."

"You smell really nice," I said without thinking, then immediately regretted it when I realized I'd actually said it out loud.

She let go, chuckling, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Thank you, Valerie. Women in the Black family go through numerous beauty rituals. We always look and smell fantastic—there's a reason we were the most desirable women in the wizarding world." She fluttered her eyelashes at me, giving me this playful look.

"Er—good to know," I mumbled, coughing. Damn, I'd been really horny lately. Focus, Valerie, I told myself, snapping back to the mission.

"I'll see you later, Narcissa," I said, forcing myself to turn toward the door.

"Goodbye, Mistress." She smirked, eyes glinting. "My offer's always open if you want someone to teach you how to please a woman. Wouldn't want to disappoint that blonde vampire, would you?"

My cheeks went red as I muttered, "I'll… think about it." Then I left, feeling my face heat up as I walked down the hall. Great, just what I needed—more fuel for my already crowded head.

Half an hour later, I met up with Seras and Tonks in front of the mansion. We piled into a Hellsing limo, and as we settled in, the driver started up, heading into London.

We walked through the crowded London streets, blending in as best as three supernatural women could. The city was massive, and even though I loved London, right now, it felt more like a maze I had to solve.

"Okay, so how the hell are we going to track down this Regis Phenex and his gang?" I asked, glancing over at Seras and Tonks.

Seras tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "I still have a few contacts in the police force. I could check in and see if they've had any reports of, I don't know, strange sightings or disturbances."

Having an in with the local police was going to be helpful. Seras knew from experience that the police tended not to call Hellsing in until things usually completely spiraled out of control.

"I've got a few connections left in the magical government. You know, people who owe me favors or just can't keep their mouths shut. I might be able to squeeze some info out of them, like if any odd magical signatures have been detected," Tonks explained.

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Look at you two, all resourceful. Alright, let's put those contacts to work. Seras, you hit up your police buddies, and Tonks, see what you can dig up from the Ministry."

The driver pulled the limo over at a park, giving Tonks and Seras a place to make their calls. As they walked off, chatting quietly on their phones, I stayed by the limo, wondering what else I could do to track down these Devils. With everyone throwing out ideas, I wanted to try something of my own.

I pressed a hand to my chest, calling upon the Resurrection Grail. I stared into the silvery waters in the cup. The only person I'd ever called with it was Rowena, but maybe someone else could help. I focused, and the water in the Grail shimmered and brightened for a moment. Slowly, the face of a man I'd never seen before appeared in the water. He had long black hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and eyes as dark as night.

He looked intense, like he was sizing me up. "Well now, this is certainly unusual," he said, his voice smooth and deep, a chuckle rumbling through it. "I never thought my eternal damnation would be interrupted by a beautiful vampire, of all things. You're a sight for sore eyes, lovely."

I blinked, surprised at his boldness. "Who are you?" I asked, trying to sound as unfazed as possible.

The man just smirked, giving me a look like he was sizing me up. "Now that would be telling, wouldn't it?" he replied, clearly enjoying himself. "I don't know how you managed to call on me, but you should be careful, beautiful. Lady Death doesn't take kindly to those who meddle with the balance."

I tilted my head, taken aback. "Lady Death? Death is a woman?"

The man's gaze grew a bit more serious. "An incredibly beautiful and terrifying woman," he said, his eyes intense. "She is not to be trifled with, believe me…"

I felt a chill, but I nodded. This guy mentioned eternal damnation, and that didn't sound like a place I wanted to explore any time soon. There were a million questions I could ask, but for now, I focused on why I'd summoned him in the first place. The Grail felt like it was burning through its magic faster than it did when I called Rowena. That couldn't be good.

"I called on you because I'm being hunted by a Devil, and I want to hunt them down first. I have no idea how to track them, though."

The man's eyes lit up, a glint of interest sparking in them. "Ah, then you've called upon just the man." He gave a small, theatrical bow. "My name is Solomon, beautiful vampire. Might I have your lovely name?"

I laughed a little, finding his dramatics kind of charming. "I'm Valerie Tepes, the owner of the Holy Grail that called you. And I'm a Dhampir, not a full vampire." I paused, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Are you really Solomon? The one who bound the 72 pillar clans of Hell to his command?"

He grinned, clearly pleased by my question. "So my legend still persists in the world? Excellent!" he declared proudly. "I am indeed that Solomon. Although, to be precise, it wasn't the clans I bound, but rather a single Devil from each clan."

I still thought that was pretty impressive. Just the thought of him binding powerful Devils to his will made me feel a bit more hopeful that he could help.

"So… what Devil is after you?" he asked.

"His name's Regis Phenex," I replied. "Him and his peerage, apparently."

He nodded, understanding. "Ah, the Phenex clan. They were always the most hot-headed. Be careful with them, or you'll get burned. But as for how to track him…" He paused, eyes gleaming with a hint of excitement. "I do have a ritual that's not too difficult to perform. You may be interested in it…"

…

Seras and Tonks returned to the limo, both looking pretty let down. I knew right away that whatever they'd dug up, it wasn't going to help.

Tonks crossed her arms, frowning. "My contact had nothing. They haven't detected any unusual magic in the city."

Seras shook her head, adding, "Same with mine in the police force. No strange reports, no sightings… nada."

I gave them both a reassuring smile. "It's fine. I've got a method that'll work. Only thing I need is some phoenix ashes."

Tonks raised an eyebrow. "Phoenix ashes? Valerie, those are… incredibly rare. The only phoenix I ever even heard about was Dumbledore's, but he's dead."

"Right," I said, nodding. "But if he had one, maybe there's some ashes left behind."

Tonks thought about it, then gave a slow nod. "He did keep Fawkes in his office for years… There's a good chance there might still be some phoenix ashes there."

My eyes lit up. "So there's probably some sitting right there in his office!"

"Maybe," Tonks replied. "Professor McGonagall might let us check, especially since term hasn't started yet. The castle should be pretty empty."

Seras raised a hand, looking skeptical. "How far away is Hogwarts?"

Tonks grimaced, scratching her head. "Er—it's in Scotland."

Both Seras and I frowned at that.

"That's going to be a really long drive," Seras pointed out, crossing her arms.

Tonks grinned. "No worries. I can apparate us to Hogsmeade. I've got enough magic to take two people at once."

I felt a spark of excitement. "I've always wanted to learn how to apparate." Rowena didn't know about apparition, since it hadn't been invented when she was still around.

We hopped out of the limo and headed back into the park, looking around for a good spot where no one would see us disappear. As we walked, Tonks glanced at me, a smirk forming on her face.

"So, uh… sorry if Rose's forwardness caught you off guard. I heard she confessed to you. Kind of suddenly, from what I gather. She said you didn't turn her down completely though."

I laughed at that. "I'm not quite ready for a committed relationship. I just want to have some fun for a while," I said, my eyes flickering to Seras.

Seras cleared her throat. "Is now really the time to talk about Valerie's love life?" I caught a tiny hint of jealousy in her voice, which made me smirk. Without thinking, I reached out and took her hand, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I don't see why not," Tonks said with a laugh, leading the way. She shot me a teasing grin. "I mean, I'm rooming with the 'Girl Who Lived,' who also happens to be completely smitten with you, Valerie. You should take her out sometime soon, you know." She chuckled, giving me this mischievous look. "You're being kinda cruel, playing with the hearts of two maidens at once."

Seras sputtered, her cheeks turning red, and she glared at Tonks, squeezing my hand tighter. "It's not like that…"

Technically, it was three hearts—if you counted Narcissa. Although, she wasn't exactly a maiden… Still, I chose to keep that to myself. I knew Tonks had issues with both of her aunts, considering how they treated her mom. Better to avoid stirring that pot.

We reached the large tree, and Tonks turned, grabbing both me and Seras by the hand. "Alright, hold on tight," she warned, grinning. I barely had time to grip her hand before I felt a wrenching, twisting sensation like I was being shoved through a narrow tube at full speed.

It was not pleasant.

When we finally landed, I stumbled, feeling like I was about to throw up. The world spun for a second before I caught my breath. "Ugh… that was awful," I muttered, letting go of Tonks's hand and trying to steady myself.

Seras was clinging to my arm, looking just as queasy. "How do people do that regularly?" she asked, her voice weak.

Tonks laughed, looking far too pleased with herself. "You get used to it, believe it or not." She winked at us. "Welcome to Hogsmeade, ladies."

Unlike Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade wasn't a complete shit hole. Quaint stone buildings lined the streets, and the whole place felt like something out of an old storybook. I found myself wondering why I hadn't just come here for my introduction to the magical world. Wizards and witches walked around, looking a little on edge, probably because of the Dark Lord hanging over their heads like a storm cloud.

Tonks turned to us, hands on her hips. "So, straight to the castle or grab a drink first?"

Seras looked confused. "Why didn't you just apparate us to Hogwarts?"

Tonks rolled her eyes, smirking. "The castle's warded against that. No apparating straight in. Gotta walk from here."

I groaned, wiping a bit of sweat off my forehead. "If it's gonna be a long walk, let's get some drinks first. Scotland's just as hot as London, and cooling charms last, what, a minute tops?"

Tonks grinned, leading us down the street. "Alright, let's hit up the Three Broomsticks. But Valerie, try not to steal Madam Rosmerta's heart too, alright? She's the heart of this town."

I rolled my eyes, giving her a playful shove. "Oh, please. I'm not that bad."

Tonks laughed, nudging me back. "Sure, tell that to Rose and Seras here."

Seras just looked away, her cheeks turning pink, pretending not to hear us. We reached the Three Broomsticks and pushed open the door, stepping into the cooler, dimly lit pub. It was quieter than I expected, but then again, it was the middle of the day.

I finally understood why Tonks warned me about Rosmerta. The woman was a total capital M MILF—blonde, busty, and with a cleavage line so deep it was practically an invitation. I figured she must rake in serious tips. Tonks ordered three drinks called Butterbeer, whatever those were supposed to be.

As we waited, Seras leaned over, curiosity written all over her face. "So… what exactly do you need the phoenix ash for?"

"It's for a ritual. It'll summon the nearest member of the Phenex clan to a location I pick. Saves us the trouble of hunting the bastard down," I explained.

Tonks grinned, giving me a nod of approval. "Nice one. We can ambush him before he even knows what hit him."

Rosmerta returned, placing three huge mugs on the table. The Butterbeer was sweet and thick, almost like drinking caramel. It wasn't bad, though it was no replacement for a nice, warm cup of blood—which I doubted Rosmerta would have on tap.

Just as I was settling in and actually enjoying the drink, the doors to the bar swung open, and in stormed what looked like an entire clan of people with bright red hair and freckles. There were at least half a dozen of them, all practically tumbling over each other to get inside, led by a woman who had "Mom" written all over her. Most of the "kids" were probably young adults, but she herded them like cats, herding them with a fierce look that warned them not to mess around.

I chuckled, trying to ignore them, figuring this scene had nothing to do with us. I was about to turn back to my drink when the woman suddenly spotted us and called out, loud enough for the whole bar to hear.

"NYMPHADORA!"

Tonks closed her eyes and muttered, "Shit… It's the Weasleys. Ugh, I really don't want to deal with them right now..."

I glanced at Seras, and she looked just as confused as me as the woman stormed over towards us.

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章節 13: chapter 13

Chapter 13:

– Valerie –

Seras and I watched with raised eyebrows as the red-haired matriarch stomped up to Tonks, not giving a single damn that the entire bar was now staring at her. "Nymphadora!" she yelled.

I saw Tonks flinch before she shouted back. "Don't call me Nymphadora!" Her hair shifted to a bright, annoyed pink, practically glowing under the pub lights.

The woman ignored Tonks's outburst and leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Where is Rose?" Then, she caught sight of me and Seras, her eyes widening with suspicion. "Vampires. Two of them! In Hogsmeade of all places? Did you bring them here, Tonks?" Her voice was loaded with disappointment, as if Tonks had singlehandedly brought shame to the entire wizarding world.

I exchanged a look with Seras, both of us trying not to roll our eyes at this witch's audacity. Who the hell did she think she was, talking to Tonks like that? I didn't think they were related, and even if they were, Tonks was a grown woman.

"Rose is perfectly fine and safe," I said, keeping my tone even. The last thing I needed was to escalate this scene.

The woman's eyes narrowed further, and she jabbed a stubby finger in my face. "Perfectly fine and safe!? As if I'd believe anything a monster says. How dare you wander around Hogsmeade like you own the place? If Dumbledore were still alive, none of this would stand!"

I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest. Of course, she was another one of those prejudiced witches. Why was I even surprised at this point? "Listen here, bitch," I said, my patience snapping. "Seras and I have every right to be here. We're paying customers, and we weren't causing any problems until you decided to storm in and start shouting like a banshee."

Before I could say anything else, a younger red-haired boy marched over, anger all over his freckled face. His hand was clamped around a wand that looked like it had seen better days, covered in nicks and scratches. Clearly, this kid had no idea how to take care of the most important tool a wizard could have. I always made sure my blood bracelet was spotless, and that wasn't even half as crucial as a wand since it was easily replaceable.

"Hey, don't talk to my mother like that!" he snapped, stepping up like he was some big hero.

Seras moved in front of me without a second thought, her eyes hard. My face heated up. She was protecting me, and I didn't know whether to be annoyed or flattered.

"And who are you supposed to be?" Seras asked, her tone sharp.

"I'm Ron Weasley!" he said, as if that explained everything. I glanced at Seras, who looked just as confused as I felt. We both turned to Tonks, who sighed like she was already tired of the drama.

"Ron is one of Rose's best friends," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

"Not only that," Ron declared, puffing out his chest and putting a hand over it like he was about to give a speech. "I'm also Rose's fiancé now! It's all been decided and everything." He sounded very proud when he declared that. The fuck was he even talking about though?

"What…?" I asked, the confusion clear in my voice.

"The hell are you talking about, Weasley?" Tonks snapped, crossing her arms. "Rose is a witch's witch, everyone knows that…"

I glanced over at the rest of the red-headed crew, wondering if they were going to pile into this weird altercation as well. But they all looked thoroughly embarrassed, like they wanted to sink through the floor. The only ones who seemed remotely amused were a pair of twins who were barely holding back laughter. Their eyes sparkled with the kind of mischief that made me think they'd be fun at a party.

Before I could make a snarky comment, the only daughter in the group stormed over, her glare not aimed at me or Seras, but at her mom and brother. "Mom, Ron! We've already been over this. Rose is not going to marry into our family. I've told you a hundred times, everyone in Gryffindor knows Rose only likes women. It's not going to happen." She threw her hands up, exasperated. "Everyone knows she has a type, and it's sexy blondes with big boobs." She pointed straight at me, narrowing her eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised if this sexy vampire here was exactly Rose's type!"

I couldn't help but smirk, flicking my hair back for dramatic effect. "I am her type. She actually confessed to me recently!"

The girl crossed her arms, looking vindicated as Ron's face turned as red as his hair and their mother's jaw tightened.

Molly Weasley's voice shook as she pointed at me. "Did you seduce the Girl Who Lived!? Are you the reason she's not responding to any of our messages?"

Tonks snorted so hard she nearly choked on her Butterbeer. "For Merlin's sake, it's the other way around. Rose has been trying to seduce Valerie, not the other way around."

The twins couldn't hold back any longer, bursting into loud, unapologetic laughter. One clapped the other on the back. "Oh, this is gold," one of them said between gasps.

I rolled my eyes. "As pleasant as this situation has been," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "I think it's time we head to the castle now, Tonks."

Tonks looked at me, her eyes twinkling with barely concealed amusement. "Right, before we get dragged into whatever drama this is." She stepped forward, pulling Seras and me with her. "Sorry, Molly, but we've got urgent business to attend to."

With that said, the three of us pushed our way past Molly and Ron and left the Three Broomsticks. I was half expecting Ron to try and hex one of us in the back, but it never came. I don't know why Rose was friends with a guy like that, but in case she really was, I didn't want to have to rough him up too badly.

"Wait up!" The red-haired girl caught up with us just as we left the pub, jogging to our side.

"Hey, Ginny," Tonks said, a smirk playing on her lips. "I see Molly is as pleasant as ever."

Ginny snorted, rolling her eyes. "My mom is a controlling bitch, no need to sugarcoat it."

"Condolences," I told her honestly. I meant it. I would have given anything for a loving mother myself, but not if she was… whatever that whirlwind in the pub was.

"What was the deal with your brother saying he's going to marry Rose?" Seras asked, narrowing her eyes. "I was literally there when Rose confessed to Valerie. She definitely doesn't like guys."

Ginny made a face, half amused, half exasperated. "Oh, believe me, I know. Rose and I actually practiced kissing a bit last year in the common room when I was curious. But I decided I mostly liked men better."

A pleasant shudder ran down my body at the mental image of Ginny and Rose making out, and I had to take a few deep breaths to steady myself.

Seras turned to me, whispering under her breath, "What's that sudden smell?"

I blushed furiously, realizing her vampire senses had picked up on my arousal. "It's nothing," I muttered. I was thankful she still wasn't fully used to her heightened senses.

"So, what are you guys doing in Hogsmeade?" Ginny asked, crossing her arms and looking between us.

Tonks sighed, her playful demeanor slipping a bit. "We need some phoenix ashes to perform a ritual."

"Ritual magic? Isn't that forbidden by the Ministry?" Ginny's eyes widened in shock.

"What Ministry?" I scoffed. "There's only, what, four Aurors left now that Tonks quit?"

Ginny's jaw dropped. She turned to Tonks for confirmation, and Tonks nodded grimly. "Holy shit! Is it that bad out here now? Mom hasn't let any of us leave the Burrow all summer!"

Tonks nodded again, this time with a smirk. "I think the only reason the magical government hasn't already crumbled is because not even the Dark Lord knows how weak the Ministry really is right now. He's going to be real surprised when he tries to take over. But trust me, it won't last long after that." She shot me and Seras a wink. We both smirked back, knowing exactly what she meant.

"Why's that?" Ginny asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes.

I took a breath and gave her the short version. "I work for an organization called Hellsing. We used to specialize in hunting vampires, but lately, we've expanded to handle any supernatural threats that pop up across Britain. The Death Eaters are our newest targets, along with all the vampires, werewolves, and other nasties Voldemort's been bringing in to boost his forces."

Ginny's eyes went wide, and she looked at me like I'd just told her dragons were flying over London. "Woah! That's freaking crazy. I didn't know Muggles had advanced that far."

Ginny walked with us to the castle gates. On the way, she explained that Ron had always been in love with Rose and also Hermione. "Since he is a pureblood, he always fantasized about taking the two of them as his wives or something…" Ginny explained with a roll of her eyes. Considering he's failed most of his classes and sucks at Quidditch, she had no idea how he thought he was going to support two different wives. Unless he was planning on mooching off of the two of them. Which Ginny pointed out was a large possibility. "Rose and Hermione don't know any of this, mind you," Ginny continued. "This has only come out this summer and my mother is completely behind the plan because she wants a lot of grandchildren and she thinks the rest of us are lost causes because we all want to focus on our careers first." Having grown up poor, Ginny and the majority of her brothers all decided that's not how they would live as adults.

I gave her a nod of respect as a working woman myself… Although my job mostly involved murdering evil monsters. Meh, work was work.

"I don't know Rose very well, but I don't think she's going to be too happy to hear any of that…" Seras pointed out.

Ginny giggled. "I know right! Fred and George have a secondhand camera, and we want to be there to film it when Ron confesses his love to both girls and they start hexing his bits off!"

Ginny chatted with us the rest of the way to the gates. She was a cute fiery little thing whose company I didn't mind at all. She didn't follow us further though, and said she had to get back to her family.

…

"Can we just walk inside?" I asked when we arrived outside its gates. I let out a whistle of appreciation. Hogwarts was absolutely breathtaking and Rowena would be surprised that it was still standing to this day.

"I think we might have to wait for one of the remaining staff to come let us in," Tonks started to say before the gates swung open by themselves. "Oh, never mind then…"

"Welcome, successor of Rowena."

A voice whispered quietly in my mind. I almost didn't hear it. Successor of Rowena? Was Hogwarts sentient, and it could somehow tell that Rowena herself was my teacher? Magic was continuously full of strange surprises. With a shrug, I strode up the castle grounds with Tonks and Seras jogging to catch up to me. Every single door automatically swung open for us when we made it inside the castle itself. Tonks kept commenting on how weird that was, but neither she nor Seras could hear the faint voice of the castle welcoming me. Tonks knew the directions to the Headmaster's office. Apparently, she had been sent there more than a few times as a student for getting in schoolyard fights.

Tonks scoffed. "Because I can technically take any form I want, a lot of boys kept asking me to turn into naked versions of their favorite witch celebrities…"

I let out a chuckle followed by an exaggerated sigh of disappointment. "So you won't take any of my requests then…?" I let out a yelp as Tonks smacked me on the arm.

The gargoyle statue shifted out of the way, revealing a spiral staircase that led us up to the headmaster's office. As soon as we entered, I got a sense of the chaos. The place was a mess—papers, books, and strange trinkets were scattered all over the place. It looked like someone had torn through it in a hurry, like they were desperate to find something valuable.

Tonks cursed under her breath as she took in the scene. "Bunch of vultures, the lot of them," she muttered, sounding disgusted. "The rest of the Order couldn't wait to get their hands on Dumbledore's stuff once he was gone."

I raised an eyebrow at her, not surprised but definitely annoyed on the old man's behalf. Not that I knew him, but still—it was his stuff.

"Let's hope they didn't take what we're looking for," Seras said, her voice cautious.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Nothing to do but start looking."

So we got to work, digging through the mess. It felt like ages, but really, it was only about ten minutes. Still, I felt like I'd gone through a dozen dusty shelves, random cabinets, and stacks of parchment. Every so often, I'd stop to carefully examine some odd trinket, but I didn't dare touch anything that looked too magical. You never know what kind of paranoid enchantments wizards throw on their stuff.

"I think I found something!" Seras called out, standing next to a shelf filled with what looked like potion ingredients. She was holding a jar filled with ashes—golden ashes. As I got closer, I could practically feel the energy rolling off the jar. My vampire senses practically buzzed just being near it. This was it.

"Are those the phoenix ashes, Tonks?" I asked, my eyes glued to the jar in Seras's hands.

Tonks moved in for a closer look, her brow furrowing as she inspected it. "I've never actually seen them before," she admitted, "but nothing else in this office even comes close to that." She gave me a nod. "Looks like this is our best bet."

I smirked, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Alright. That's that, then. Time to get this ritual going."

"What the hell is going on here!?" an older woman stormed into the office behind us. Her sharp eyes locked onto us like she was ready to toss us out herself. "Nymphadora! Are you stealing from the Headmaster too?"

Tonks let out a groan that practically echoed in the cluttered room, and I couldn't help but snicker. Every older woman we'd encountered seemed to insist on calling her by that name.

"I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall," Tonks said, sounding like a kid caught stealing cookies. "We really needed some phoenix ashes for a ritual to help my friend Valerie here," she explained, nodding towards me. I was standing there with the jar clutched in my hands like it was made of gold—which, to be fair, it basically was.

McGonagall's eyes shifted to me, her stare hard and unblinking. "Ritual magic has been forbidden in Britain by the Ministry," she said, echoing what Ginny had already pointed out earlier. "Furthermore, it's incredibly dangerous. One mistake can lead to disastrous consequences."

"You don't have to worry about that," I said, trying to sound reassuring. "The ritual we're performing is simple. All we're doing is summoning a Devil." The second the words left my mouth, I knew I'd messed up. McGonagall's eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open in shock.

"Summoning a Devil!? In Hogwarts of all places. Have you lost your mind, Nymphadora?" McGonagall's voice reached a pitch that had me wincing on Tonks's behalf.

Seras and I exchanged amused looks while Tonks shot us a death glare, her face flushed. "It wasn't my idea, Professor! This is all Valerie's doing."

"I wasn't planning on performing the ritual in Hogwarts," I said quickly, trying to steer things back on track. "But even if I did, it wouldn't make a difference. We're going to kill the Devil right after we interrogate it."

McGonagall's expression darkened, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What in Merlin's name is going on here?" she demanded, looking more exasperated than angry now. "Explain everything to me. Now."

So we did…

"I don't like any of this," she said after a long pause, glancing between us. "But I'd rather not have spawns of the underworld running around London unchecked either." She sighed, her eyes softening a bit. "Hogwarts has old ritual rooms from back when such practices were still legal and common. You may use one, but you must promise to be careful. And no more trouble for this castle." She frowned. "We're in a very precarious position without Dumbledore and without Professor Snape, who turned traitor. In terms of defense, we're down to myself and Professor Flitwick." I couldn't help but think that if Rowena Ravenclaw were watching, she'd be rolling over in her grave.

As I'd said earlier, the ritual I planned was straightforward. Tonks and Seras stood off to the side, ready for anything. Tonks had her wand clenched in her hand, eyes narrowed and focused. Seras held my revolver, her finger resting lightly on the trigger. McGonagall waited outside, having sealed the door with some heavy-duty spells, muttering that she'd rather the lot of us die in here than let a Devil loose in Hogwarts. The old Scottish witch definitely didn't hold back.

I carefully drew the summoning circle onto the stone floor with some chalk. It didn't need to be perfect, just good enough to indicate that I was calling forth someone from the Phenex Clan. With the circle ready, I took the jar of phoenix ashes and scattered them along the borders, watching the golden dust glimmer under the dim light.

"Here goes nothing," I whispered. I took a few steps back and began the chant, my voice steady. "Come forth, scion of the Phenex Clan, come forth and answer the call on the ashes of your ancestors!" I repeated the chant over and over, each time feeling the energy in the room shift. The circle started glowing red, lines of power crisscrossing over the stone.

"Here we go," Tonks muttered, her grip tightening on her wand. Seras's finger inched closer to the trigger.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light, almost blinding. I squinted and tried to steady myself as a figure appeared in the middle of the circle.

"EEEEeeep!" A small, blonde girl landed in the middle of the summoning circle with a thud, falling right on her ass. Her hair was long, golden, and done up in frilly curls. She wore an extravagant white dress that looked fit for a fancy ball, not a fight. "What the hell was that?" she muttered, standing up and dusting herself off. She glanced around, her bright blue eyes wide and curious. They locked onto us, and her expression shifted from confusion to panic as she took in Tonks with her wand pointed right at her and Seras holding the revolver steady. "Oh, shit," the girl muttered, eyes darting around like a cornered animal. She was definitely a Devil, that much was clear. And judging by her appearance, she had to be from the Phenex Clan. But she wasn't the one I'd been trying to summon…

Seras blinked, taking a moment to process. "Uh, Val? That isn't Regis."

"No shit," I replied.

XXX

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