Above the night sky of Hogwarts, the silver glow of the two Patronuses gradually faded into the stars. The girl stood for a moment longer on the high tower, her wand still raised, eyes lingering on the Headmaster's office window.
Then, slowly, she lowered it.
Hermione smiled—softly, knowingly.
She didn't know what was unfolding inside the room. But she knew—knew—that her Patronus had reached him.
And that was enough.
This was the unspoken understanding between a girl and a boy. One not forged in words, but in silence, glances, and moments shared beneath moonlight.
Her task complete, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the night.
—
Inside the Headmaster's office, the sea of white mist had vanished.
Silence reigned.
But the atmosphere had shifted entirely.
Dumbledore sat quietly in his chair, composed as always. Kai Adler, meanwhile, lounged like a noble lord, sipping tea with casual elegance. Across from them, Lucius Malfoy sat motionless—ashen, drenched in cold sweat.
Three words echoed endlessly in Lucius's mind:
This isn't possible.
He had felt that boy's magic. Back in Diagon Alley—it was dark, suffocating, tainted with an unmistakable sense of menace.
Pure Dark Magic. He would stake his name on it.
He had been certain.
He had counted on it.
The moment Kai touched the ancient Magic Stone, his lie would be laid bare.
And yet…
Lucius had watched—watched in stunned horror—as the boy summoned a Patronus.
A true Patronus. Not a flicker, not a wisp, but a whale that sang to the heavens and filled the entire room with white light.
That wasn't just powerful—it was impossible.
Dark Wizards couldn't summon Patronuses. Their magic rejected it. The light would burn them from the inside.
And yet Kai Adler had summoned one of the most powerful Patronuses he had ever seen.
Lucius glanced at the young man now, seated comfortably across from him, eyes mocking, posture relaxed.
Something cold began to curl around Lucius's spine.
What… was this boy?
Kai smiled thinly.
"Mr. Malfoy, I imagine you're quite confused right now."
He tapped a slender finger to his temple, his tone thoughtful, innocent.
"'He's clearly a Dark Wizard… how can he summon a Patronus?'"
He tilted his head, expression teasing.
"Quite the conundrum, isn't it?"
From the corner of his eye, Kai noticed Dumbledore's slight, almost imperceptible smirk. The Headmaster leaned back, eyelids falling shut in a silent gesture: do as you wish.
Kai's grin deepened.
He rose slowly and walked toward Lucius, each step deliberate. The sound of his shoes on the floor echoed unnervingly in the suddenly too-quiet room.
And Lucius—Lucius Malfoy, patriarch of a noble house—leaned back, shoulders pressed into the chair like a hunted animal.
"You—" he stammered. "What are you going to do?"
Kai looked genuinely confused. "Do?"
He raised a hand and waggled a finger lazily in front of Lucius's face.
Lucius flinched.
"Oh come now," Kai chided. "You're a Malfoy. A pure-blood aristocrat. Don't look so pathetic."
With a flick of his finger, the small Magic Stone—left behind by Fudge—leapt into his palm.
"You were very insistent on testing me, Mr. Malfoy."
Lucius's voice was strained. "You've already… clearly proven… you're not—"
"Tsk," Kai interrupted with mock disappointment. "Giving up so soon? Come, don't you want to see?"
He held up the Magic Stone.
And before Lucius's widening eyes, the pure white stone turned black.
Veins of darkness spread like ink through water, tendrils of smoky mist curling from its surface.
Lucius felt his heart plunge into a frozen abyss.
He had been right.
He had been right.
But… why wasn't that a victory?
Why wasn't this a relief?
Instead, dread soaked every inch of him.
Kai was showing him. Openly. As if to say: Yes, I'm exactly what you feared. And I don't care.
Lucius looked to Dumbledore in desperation—but the Headmaster sat still, eyes closed, expression serene.
He would not intervene.
This boy had free rein.
"Don't look so afraid," Kai said cheerfully. "Have another look."
And just as suddenly, the blackness vanished. Like a tide retreating, the darkness fled the stone, leaving it white once more.
Then… brighter.
The stone glowed with soft white light, mist curling gently around Kai's fingers.
Lucius barely had time to process it when a sharp crack rang through the room.
A fracture appeared on the stone's surface.
Then another.
In seconds, the Magic Stone—an ancient artifact of the Department of Mysteries—shattered into dust in Kai's hand.
Lucius stared, horrified, as the dust drifted in the air… and landed on his face.
He didn't even raise a hand to wipe it off.
"Now then," Kai said softly. "What do you think, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Am I a White Wizard?"
He tilted his head.
"…Or a Dark one?"
Lucius couldn't answer.
Couldn't think.
His mind, like the Magic Stone, had cracked.
The foundations of everything he believed about magic, light and dark, had turned to powder in a teenager's hand.
Kai made a sound of disapproval and turned away, disinterested.
This had been far too easy.
He settled back into his chair.
"Mr. Malfoy," he said without looking, "I'm not interested in your little games with the Ministry. I'm not interested in your history with Voldemort. All I want is to be left alone."
He paused, his voice sharpening.
"But let me make something very, very clear."
He turned and looked Lucius in the eyes.
"Don't provoke me."
"I'm not the forgiving type."
Black mist danced lightly across his fingertips, coiling with unnatural grace.
"Your son," Kai added, voice almost casual, "I see him every day."
That did it.
Lucius snapped out of his daze, leaping to his feet.
"This has nothing to do with Draco!" he barked, eyes wild.
Kai raised a brow. Ah… so he does care about his son.
"Then remember what I said," he replied. "And you won't lose him."
He picked up his teacup again, sipping peacefully.
Lucius stood frozen.
Then turned, trembling.
"Mr. Malfoy," Kai added smoothly, "don't bother trying to transfer Draco to another school."
Lucius stopped in his tracks.
"Hogwarts is a fine institution," Kai said with a thin smile. "And I quite enjoy having him here. I wouldn't want to lose such a rare… friend."
Lucius's entire body shook. Whether from rage or terror, he didn't know.
He didn't look back.
He simply left—hurriedly, gracelessly.
Like a man fleeing a nightmare.
The heavy door closed behind him.
Silence returned.
Only then did Dumbledore open his eyes.
He watched Kai quietly for a moment, something deep and thoughtful in his gaze.
"You remind me very much of him," he said softly.
Kai wrinkled his nose, picking through the sweets on the table.
The jumping cockroach clusters made him frown.
"I sincerely hope not," he muttered, poking one disdainfully with his wand.
He finally lost patience, flicked his hand, and levitated them all into his palm—wiggling legs and all—and popped them into his mouth with a grimace.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
Kai chewed irritably. "Don't judge me. I hate wasting food."
He wiped his fingers on a napkin and looked at the Headmaster.
"You didn't really think I'd do anything to him, did you?"
His tone was light. Almost innocent.
"I just scared him a little."
He shrugged. "Didn't even touch him. Even though I really, really wanted to."
There was a flicker of sharpness in his eyes.
"I considered the Cruciatus Curse."
Dumbledore didn't scold him.
He merely nodded.
"And that… is the difference between you and him."
"You know where the line is. And you stop yourself from crossing it."
He smiled faintly. "So long as that remains true, you will never walk in his shadow."
He looked toward the window—the same one the Patronuses had passed through.
"You also have something he never had. Friends who care for you. Who will stand beside you without being asked."
But Kai's smile faded.
He looked at Dumbledore, eyes darkening slightly.
"…You're being inconsistent, Headmaster."
"Oh?"
Kai leaned back in his chair.
"You just said I shouldn't live in his shadow. That I have friends."
He tilted his head, voice quieter now.
"Then why did you say his name in front of my friends?"
Dumbledore was silent.
His eyes, clear and wise, met Kai's.
But he gave no immediate answer.
Only the sound of the wind outside the window whispered between them.