One Man's Demon

Caesar brought the story back to the present. "In your eyes, the law against stealing is moral, but to Donn, it's immoral.

"To you, House-elf contracts are immoral, but to some people, they're moral."

"Caesar, what would you do?"

After a long pause, Hermione turned to Caesar for help. He was the person she loved and trusted most, and she believed he wouldn't let her down.

"I'd break the rules for the sake of my own morals." Caesar answered without hesitation. He spoke so quickly that even Hermione was a little surprised.

Taking Hermione's hand, Caesar started toward the bustling street, a playful smile on his face.

"If one day you're hungry, and I have no choice but to steal some Butterbeer, would you arrest me?"

"Of course not." Hermione shook her head vigorously.

"Hermione."

Caesar's expression suddenly turned serious. As if stating a simple truth, he said, "If that day really comes and you have to arrest me, I won't resist."

In the original story, Hermione had extraordinary intelligence, courage, and loyalty, but she also had some distinct and all-too-human flaws, such as stubbornness, perfectionism, and pride.

Those flaws gradually faded into the background, though, thanks to her underlying kindness and her time spent with Harry and Ron.

Caesar admired the original Hermione, a girl with such a vivid personality. If she weren't a little lacking in power, she could have grown into another Dumbledore.

But in this simulation, if she grew up to be as righteous as she was in the original story, that would actually be bad for Caesar.

Given their relationship now, if Caesar ever decided to do something big, the way Grindelwald had, Hermione would probably be the first to try and stop him.

Just like Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

Perhaps Hermione would be heartbroken for a while after capturing him, but the power of time could wash away any feeling, even love.

Caesar didn't want to end up locked away for life like Grindelwald.

A tragic ending didn't suit him.

It was like an old story from the early days of the internet, about an angel and a demon:

An angel would sacrifice you for everyone, while a demon would sacrifice everyone for you!

The original Hermione was wonderful, an angel to everyone.

Back then, Caesar had been one of everyone.

But now his place in the world had changed. He wanted Hermione to be his demon alone, forever on his side, using her extraordinary intelligence to help him plan.

Falling into darkness without reservation, until the end of time!

"Pfft!"

Hermione's face, which had been tense, broke into a radiant smile, like a flower in a spring breeze. Warmth filled her heart as she said, "Caesar, don't worry. I won't arrest you. I'll help you steal it."

"See? It's actually easy to figure out."

Caesar's tone returned to its usual calm as he continued, "Remember the railway strike the other day?

"Out in the wider world, the British government can no longer afford to maintain its old welfare policies. It changes the rules to suit its own interests, hurting the workers. But at the same time, the workers' strike hurts the passengers who paid for their tickets.

"Everyone breaks the rules according to their own beliefs. You don't have to overthink it. Just do what you want.

"If you'd lost your temper and attacked them just now, I would've helped you fight them. I don't like the Malfoy family much either. But you didn't."

"Then... why don't we go back and teach them a lesson now?!"

Hermione looked straight at Caesar, her gaze both gentle and resolute. Her tenderness was for Caesar; her resolve came from remembering the white-haired boy's face.

Caesar ruffled Hermione's light brown hair. "There's no need to rush. Draco will soon be your classmate. You'll have plenty of time to decide what you want to do."

"That's wonderful!" Hermione beamed. She had never been one to back down from trouble.

Thinking of the way Draco had treated her, she knew that, having been spoiled by her family all her life, she wouldn't just sit back and take it like Harry: "I'll teach him a proper lesson when the time comes."

She hadn't wanted to cause Caesar trouble when she'd first arrived at Hogwarts. But it sounded like she had powerful backing, so she didn't need to hold back anymore.

She, Hermione Granger, had never been the kind of girl who just took things lying down!

Caesar nodded. "No problem. I've got a wand for you that'll help you make all your dreams come true. Come on, I'll show you."

They left the quiet corner, and the bustle and bright sunshine of Diagon Alley washed over them.

Caesar led Hermione straight toward the small, shabby wand shop.

Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

The little bell over the door gave a tired, tinkling ring as they entered, while dust that seemed unchanged for a thousand years drifted lazily in shafts of light from the window.

Hermione was curiously examining the countless wand boxes stacked almost to the ceiling when a gentle voice called down from the top of a tall ladder:

"Good afternoon... Oh!"

Before he could finish, Mr. Ollivander, with his shock of unruly white hair, froze on the ladder.

His large, pale eyes, like moons, widened as he stared at Caesar.

The long measuring tape slipped from his hand and landed with a snap on the dusty floor, but he didn't even notice.

"You?!" Ollivander's voice had lost its usual airy mystery. It trembled with genuine, almost unmistakable shock.

He scrambled down the ladder, moving with an urgency that seemed at odds with his age. He nearly tripped over the hem of his robes.

He hurried over to Caesar and looked up at him, as if inspecting a priceless treasure that had been lost and found—or making sure that the figure before him wasn't a phantom.

"Mr. Caesar! It really is you!"

Ollivander's voice brimmed with disbelieving delight. He even reached out instinctively, as if to touch Caesar's arm and make sure he was real.

But he stopped halfway, then rubbed his hands together in the excitement of a craftsman meeting the provider of legendary materials.

"It's been so long! Merlin's beard, you've finally come!"

Caesar gave him a big hug. "Mr. Ollivander, judging by that look on your face, the wand you made for me turned out well?"

Last year, at the World's Peak, he had obtained materials from a One-Winged Bird. He'd used some to make two necklaces.

He'd given the rest to Ollivander to make into a wand, and they'd agreed he'd come back for it a year later.

"Of course!"

With that, the old Mr. Ollivander carefully brought out two long boxes, side by side, that looked particularly ancient.

His gaze passed over Hermione and settled on Caesar.

"Mr. Caesar," Ollivander said, his voice ethereal, like someone reciting an epic poem.

"The extraordinary pair of materials you gave me last year finally found their destined forms after a long process of waiting and adjustment. They've been waiting for this day."

He opened the two boxes. Dark purple velvet lined each one, and two wands lay quietly on top.

The one on the left was made of dark brown wood, its strong, forceful grain seeming to hold the power of a storm. Faint natural spirals ran along the wand, like currents of air whirling upward.

The one on the right was more slender and elegant. Its wood was a little lighter in color, with a soft sheen, and its grain was as gentle as rippling water.