Evil Slave Riding Master

Since Cassandra was so cooperative, Harry didn't force her to dance any further. He led Cassandra to their original seats, and Cassandra only breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief after she was seated.

I just couldn't stand up straight anymore. Is this little rascal really going to "dance"?

Veratia's voice came from Harry's left, and Harry then noticed that Veratia and Pabbie had somehow gotten to the table behind them.

When did you arrive?

Harry stared in astonishment at the two girls, both dressed in elaborate costumes in the style of a hundred years ago.

Compared to Cassandra, Veratia's dress was less Slytherin- esque and more distinctly Austro-Hungarian Empire. She even wore an Austro-Hungarian Empire Princess crown, which was silvery-white and Winky.

"We arrived a while ago, right when you entered the dance floor," Pabbie said with a smile. "We saw everything that just happened."

Harry, you're not being honest!

"I'm not being honest?"

Harry laughed in exasperation. "Am I not obedient enough?"

If I were really dishonest, I would have already taken all three of you by now, and you wouldn't be here babbling on and on.

"Yes, we all saw it." Veratia smiled faintly and reached into Cassandra's arms. "Look at what you've done to Cass! How could you treat a lady like that in public? Doesn't your conscience hurt?"

"He has no conscience!" Cassandra said angrily. "He just made me call him master."

"Oh, you two, Master of the Slavery?" Veratia bent down, her chin resting on Cassandra's shoulder. "I didn't expect you two to be so witty—you call me Master now, but what will you call me later? Brother? Or—"

"Call him Daddy," Pabbie chimed in, "Someone as twisted as Harry would definitely love that title—"

"Why don't you just say I call Veratia 'Mom'?" Harry rolled his eyes. "You know, my mom's a Veratia student..."

Veratia didn't say anything, but simply reached out and grabbed Harry's face, pulling it to both sides.

After being lectured, Harry became obedient.

"Let's dance, Veratia." He stood up, rubbing his flushed face as he invited Veratia to dance.

Veratia stood up gracefully and put her hand on Harry's arm.

"Then I'll borrow your Potter for now," Veratia said to Cassandra with a smile, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

She exaggeratedly covered her lips. "Oh, sorry, I forgot, he's not your Potter anymore, he's your master—"

"Are you trying to kill me, Grindelwald!" Cassandra cursed angrily, grabbing whatever was at hand and throwing it at Veratia. Instead, Veratia used Ancient Magic to pull the fluffy doll away and hit Cassandra on the head, sending her sprawling backward. If Pabbie hadn't caught her, she would have fallen flat on her back to the ground.

Harry stared in astonishment at Veratia, who had somehow managed to unleash Ancient Magic during their playful fight.

Should I say you're amazing, or what should I say about you?

"Come on," Veratia said, taking Harry's hand and leading him to the center of the dance floor. "Let's dance. Remember the waltz we danced back then? It was in Nurmengard Castle, when Gale was still around—"

When Gale was mentioned, Dumbledore's dance partner suddenly shuddered.

The two were completely oblivious to this, and continued dancing and chatting about funny things from back then.

"That was a long time ago," Harry replied with a smile. "We have to look forward. Veratia— we have plenty of time to dance together."

At this point, he leaned close to Veratia's ear and said, "You should know that I absorbed the energy of the Philosopher's Stone, so theoretically I have a very long lifespan left—and I can also transfer my life energy to you."

"Live like the Flamel couple?" Veratia curled her lips into a smile. "I'd rather die in the vibrant summer of life than linger in the withered winter."

"Oh, not quite," Harry said softly. "Life Force, as the name suggests—" can also make you ageless...

Veratia seemed to understand Harry's unspoken meaning. She looked at him with a half-smile and asked, "So I understand what you mean, and from now on I can only rely on you, right?"

"Look at what you're saying." Harry pinched Veratia's waist and whispered in her ear, "What's mine is yours, isn't it? Whenever you need me, I definitely won't hide it from you, right, Veratia?"

"Hmph." Veratia gave a satisfied hum and said softly, "Did you get Cassandra's Christmas present?"

"Not yet," Harry replied, "But she said she's preparing it and will make it up to me sooner or later."

Veratia didn't say anything; she knew exactly what Cassandra's Christmas present meant.

If she hadn't returned to Hogwarts, then this Christmas present plan would definitely have succeeded.

It seems I came back at the worst possible time.

Despite her thoughts, Veratia didn't feel at all that her return was ill-timed.

"Look at Dumbledore's dance partner," Harry whispered to Veratia. "I must say, this is the first time I've ever seen one like this—a dance partner who looks so old and can't even dance?"

Cross-dressing Gellert, suddenly shuddered as she nestled in Dumbledore's arms.

No, you fucking idiot?

Can't you please focus your attention on the beautiful young woman in front of you? What the hell is the point of staring at an old woman like me?

Is it that my sister isn't appealing anymore, or is there something wrong with you?

Veratia turned her head and glanced at Gellert.

Upon closer inspection, Veratia suddenly felt that this person was very familiar.

She searched her memory, but she didn't seem to know many women of that age, and the one in front of her was clearly not one of them. So who could it be?

Or is it just an illusion?

But Harry's restless hands drew her attention back.

"Still your hands are wandering around?" Veratia asked with a light smile. "Looks like you weren't quite satisfied this afternoon, were you?"

"I'm used to it," Harry said gruffly. "By the way—what are your plans for tonight? Are you going back to Austria after the ball? Or are you staying at Hogwarts a little longer?"

"The original plan was to go back after the ball, but it seems Cassandra isn't planning to give you the Christmas present after the ball," Veratia said with a smile. "So, I've decided to wait a few days before leaving. Anyway, I can finish my work at the Ministry of Magic here, and as for those trivial matters— Phally will take care of them for me."

"Phally?" Harry racked his brains before remembering who Veratia was talking about. "Are you talking about Gemma Phally, the former Slytherin Prefect?"

"It seems you still remember her." Veratia said leisurely. "That's true, after all, you two dueled in the first year, so it's normal for you to remember her. Yes, it is her. I should say that as expected of a Slytherin Prefect, I still value her abilities."

"Besides Miss Farley?" Harry asked again, "How many other people did you take with you from Hogwarts?"

"Four, I guess," Veratia said with a smile. "You know the characteristics of Slytherin. They are ambitious and well-suited to develop within the Ministry of Magic, especially in an environment like Old Europe, which suits their personality perfectly."

Although he didn't quite agree with using the House system to categorize traits, Harry had to admit that there was some truth to it.

The Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony goes like this: first, hats are put on, then the students are assigned to classes.

After the dance ended, Veratia released Harry.

"Go ask Pabbie to dance too," Veratia said. "She's been waiting for this for a long time."

Veratia's tone was complicated when she said this, but Harry didn't understand the implied meaning.

"Okay." Harry helped Veratia back to the two girls, then said to Pabbie, "Pabbie, Pabbie?"

Pabbie suddenly raised her head, revealing a cute little bubble on her nose.

"Oh, I'm asleep!" Pabbie proudly. "Huh, I'm a little sleepy, just now—"

"Want to dance?" Harry held out his hand.

"Okay!" Pabbie stood up and placed her hand in Harry's hand.

Harry noticed that when Veratia sat back down, she seemed to be talking to Cassandra, her eyes fixed on the dance floor.

Harry was relieved that the gaze wasn't directed at him. Although Veratia was the 1.0 version of the European vinegar king, he had been allowed to dance with Pabbie Veratia. Veratia wasn't the kind of person to go back on her word, so she wouldn't get angry about it.

He noticed that Veratia's gaze was directed at Dumbledore beside her.

"Have you noticed?" Harry whispered to Pabbie, "that Veratia's gaze was a little unfriendly?"

"Huh?" Pabbie suddenly felt the tuft of hair on her head stand up. "No way? Could it be that she's angry because we danced? Oh no, please don't!"

"No," Harry said softly, "It's not because of that. She approved our dancing. I don't think she was looking at us, she was looking at Dumbledore."

"Huh?" Pabbie breathed a sigh of relief. "Dumbledore? What's she looking at Dumbledore? Didn't she already let bygones be bygones? Or is there something I don't know?"

As she spoke, Pabbie's face was full of gossip.

Gossip is human nature, and even Hufflepuff like Pabbie are not immune to it.

"We just realized that Dumbledore's dance partner looks familiar," Harry whispered to Pabbie. "Don't you feel the same way—someone who looks so familiar, but you can't quite place them?"

Pabbie her foot, over Harry's shoulder, and adorably peeked out with half her little head.

"Huh!" Pabbie patted Harry on the shoulder and said excitedly, "She does look familiar, but I can't remember who she is. Could it be that she's been hit with Confundus Charm?"

"Not necessarily," Harry said, shaking his head. "If that's the case, we might not see her at all."

"What's going on?" Pabbie thought for a moment, then said again, "Let's both move over there, I'll sniff around and see who it is."

Smell it! Who is it?

No, are you a dog?

Seemingly sensing Harry's question, Pabbie said sheepishly, "Unicorn have an extremely keen sense for magic. Since regaining my human form, I can use Unicorn abilities in human form too—"

Oh, I see.

Harry then led Pabbie over.

As Harry approached, he greeted Dumbledore.

"Merry Christmas, Professor Dumbledore."

"You're happy too, Harry," Dumbledore replied with a smile.

Pabbie politely stepped forward and said, "Hello, Professor Dumbledore, Merry Christmas."

After Dumbledore returned the greeting, Pabbie led Harry aside.

"How is it?" Harry asked, seeing Pabbie's expression of having discovered something big, he knew she seemed to have caught wind of something.

"Guess who it is?" Pabbie exclaimed excitedly. "It's Assistant Gale —oh no, it's Gellert, Gellert Grindelwald! Their magic smells exactly the same, I'm absolutely certain it's Gellert Grindelwald— "

Harry:?

"..."

He fell silent.

Even if you beat him to death, he would never have imagined it.

That old woman was actually Gellert Grindelwald?

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Harry deep in thought, Pabbie tentatively asked.

"Quiet!" Harry rubbed his eyes. "I'm thinking—."

Oh, thinking about it is definitely worthwhile; Pabbie also feels it's a bit mind-blowing.

No, this old man is actually willing to dress up as a woman and attend the Christmas Ball at Hogwarts for his lover.

Is this a distortion of human nature or a decline in morality?

"I think we need to talk to Veratia about this," Pabbie said seriously. "At least Veratia should know, don't you think, Harry?"

"Why does Veratia need to know—oh!"

Harry was halfway through his sentence when he noticed the gleam in Pabbie's eyes that seemed to say, "I'm always looking for trouble."

Yes, Veratia needs to know about this!

Her brother, Gellert Grindelwald, actually did this at Hogwarts!

This is absolutely disgraceful!

The impact is extremely negative!

"Walk!"

The two stopped dancing, their eyes burning with a fierce thirst for gossip.

Seeing the two of them walk off the dance floor, Cassandra asked curiously, "Why did you stop dancing? The music has only just started, hasn't it?"

"We've discovered something big!" Harry said seriously, glancing around before asking, "Where's Veratia?"

"Oh, Veratia just went out to take a call," Cassandra said, then asked curiously, "What big thing did you discover?"

Pabbie quickly moved closer and pressed his arm against Cassandra's right arm, then waved to Harry.

"Harry, quick, tell her!"

Harry, sitting to Cassandra's left, cleared his throat and said, "Now take a look at Professor Dumbledore, and then at his dance partner."

Cassandra glanced at it, nodded, and said, "Yes, I saw it."

"Guess who it is?" Harry asked mysteriously.

"Who?" Cassandra picked up the Pumpkin Juice on the table and took a sip.

"Gellert," Harry whispered, "Gellert Grindelwald."

"Pfft—"

Cassandra couldn't hold back and sprayed Pumpkin Juice all over Harry's face.