And worst of all, Tom now understood exactly who-and what-Harry Sitri truly was.
He finally recognized that name clearly, thanks to the memories of his older self. Harry Sitri, the boy Tom's older self had foolishly tried and spectacularly failed to kill, was no mere wizard. No, far from it. Harry was a DEVIL! No wonder his main body had failed!
More terrifyingly still, Harry's devil mother was a literal Demon Lord-one of the Four Satans who ruled over all other devils in the Underworld.
"Merlin's balls," Tom cursed harshly. "I've been sitting blindly within this castle, utterly unaware that one of Hell's Demon Lords herself has repeatedly come and gone so close to me!" Tom shuddered involuntarily, fear worming its way deeper into his soul. It was astonishing luck that Satan hadn't yet discovered and obliterated his diary Horcrux.
He knew with absolute certainty that, in his current weakened state, trapped within a failing, brain-dead mortal body, he stood no chance whatsoever against Harry Sitri-let alone the boy's terrifying mother.
Tom needed a solution, something he could grasp quickly and decisively. He needed a new plan.
Thankfully, the knowledge he'd inherited wasn't entirely worthless. His older, broken self had meticulously researched supernatural beings-their strengths, their weaknesses, their ancient rivalries and blood feuds. Tom now possessed insight into devil society, their internal politics, and the bitter enemies they held.
A slow, sinister smile stretched across his borrowed lips as a sudden, brilliant thought entered his mind. "The enemy of my enemy," he murmured softly, voice filled with dark intent, "is my potential ally."
He knew the Sitri clan had dangerous and deadly enemies in the supernatural world. If Tom could make contact, and establish some form of alliance, he might actually have a chance to fight back and eliminate Harry Sitri-and potentially even Satan Leviathan herself!
Yes... This could work!
Tom quickly turned toward the farthest reaches of the Room of Hidden Things. Among the vast array of dusty, forgotten artifacts and clutter was hidden a secret exit. A narrow stone passageway led directly from the castle, beneath Hogwarts' outer wall, and into the dense, shadowy depths of the Forbidden Forest.
He needed to move quickly-time was not on his side. Especially if this student's brain death had been picked up by the wards. Which Tom figured it had. The castle was annoyingly nosy like that at the worst of times!
...Tom's borrowed hand was dripping with blood as he stared down at the summoning circle he had carved in the dirt.
— Katerea Leviathan —
It had been a very long time since Katerea Leviathan had last been summoned by a mortal human. Decades, perhaps-long enough that she'd almost forgotten the sensation entirely. The feeling of being pulled forcefully across dimensions, her body disassembled and reformed in an instant, was always slightly uncomfortable, and thoroughly irritating.
Still, there were occasional benefits to accepting summons from humans-provided, of course, the summoner had adequate offerings. A refined, superior devil like Katerea greatly enjoyed feasting upon the fresh, innocent souls of young children. Their pure essence was the sweetest delicacy, capable of sating her hunger in a deeply satisfying manner.
Thus, as she materialized from the summoning circle in a dramatic burst of crimson light, she allowed herself a moment of anticipation.
But as her gaze swept through the gloomy, moonlit surroundings, her pleasure quickly faded into irritation. There were no sacrificial offerings here-no terrified, helpless children, no bound innocents pleading for their pitiful lives.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, glowing slightly behind her sophisticated glasses. The absence of proper tribute meant whoever summoned her would become the sacrifice themselves. She glanced downward disdainfully, finally noticing the figure who had summoned her-a human teenager, of all things.
The mortal boy knelt unsteadily in the dirt, trembling visibly, his pale face streaked with sweat. He wore long. Such archaic clothing confirmed he belonged to one of those backward, isolated magical communities of wizards that Katerea always found so laughably pathetic. Modern humans at least wore somewhat tolerable attire, but these wizard-types clung foolishly to medieval fashions.
Yet, there was something unusual about this particular human vessel. Her senses quickly picked up an anomaly-the soul inhabiting the body didn't match the form itself. In fact, the young wizard's original soul seemed completely absent, replaced instead by a corrupted, fragmented entity that pulsated with unnatural darkness.
Katerea raised an eyebrow slightly, mildly intrigued by this unexpected development. Not that it mattered. No matter how intriguing, he would soon become her meal. She usually preferred feasting on innocent pure souls, but blackened souls had their own spicy kick as well. And she liked to think she had a refined palate.
Before she could move forward to drain his corrupted soul, the mortal shakily raised their head.
"Mighty Satan Katerea Leviathan," the teenager spoke clearly, "it is an honor to meet you in person. Please forgive my abruptness in summoning you without proper preparation or sacrifices!"
She paused, her interest reluctantly piqued by his acknowledgment of her rightful title and status. At least the mortal knew to whom he spoke. It was the barest hint of respect from such inferior vermin-but it was still respect nonetheless.
"Why have you called me here, mortal?" Katerea demanded coldly, her tone dripping with superiority. "I see no offerings for me. Do you truly believe yourself important enough to summon a Satan without tribute?"
"As you have undoubtedly noticed, this body I currently inhabit is failing rapidly. It is not my own-it belonged to a foolish, pathetic wizard whose soul I devoured. Now this mortal shell is dying, and without your assistance, my ambitions will perish alongside it."
Katerea rolled her eyes impatiently, folding her slender arms beneath her ample chest as she sneered, "And tell me, little parasite-why exactly should I care about your pitiful problems? Why should I lift even a single finger to help worthless scum like yourself?"
"Because, Katerea Leviathan, you and I share a common enemy. A hated rival who has caused us both great humiliation and suffering."
She raised an eyebrow skeptically, growing slightly curious despite her impatience. "A common enemy? And who, precisely, could you and I possibly both desire to destroy?"
"Harry Sitri," he replied firmly, his voice carrying raw, vicious hatred as he spat the name. "The son of your hated enemy Serafall Leviathan. My greatest desire-above all else-is to kill him, slowly and painfully. To see his death, and the ruin it brings his whore of a mother."
Katerea's eyes widened sharply, a slow, wicked smile spreading across her face at his unexpected words.
Now this was certainly interesting!
To hear this mortal utter such open hatred toward the beloved offspring of that wretched Serafall Leviathan was undeniably satisfying, even thrilling. Serafall had thwarted Katerea's attempts to assassinate her younger sister Sona repeatedly. That self-righteous, overly cheerful bitch was infuriatingly competent at protecting those she loved.
But if, somehow, Serafall's precious son could be destroyed through this mortal's ambition...
Her pulse quickened with cruel excitement at the very thought of Serafall's agonized screams of grief and despair, watching her beloved offspring perish.
Katerea's gaze lingered thoughtfully upon the mortal, finally making her decision. "Very well, little wizard," she said smoothly, her voice silky and darkly seductive. "I have decided to grant your request. And fortunately for you, I know precisely the solution you require right now!"
With a swift, graceful motion of her delicate hand, Katerea summoned forth an Evil Piece from her private dimensional storage-a small, glowing chess piece pulsing with sinister crimson energy. It was not one of her own precious Evil Pieces, of course-she would never degrade her peerage by allowing such inferior filth to join.
No, this particular piece had belonged to a noble devil she'd slain years ago and had been deliberately saved for occasions exactly like this.
Without bothering to ask for permission, Katerea stepped forward and ruthlessly slammed the glowing crimson chess piece directly into the teenager's chest, piercing the flesh effortlessly with magic-enhanced strength.
The boy's eyes widened in shocked agony, his scream ringing out into the empty night air as he collapsed onto the forest floor, writhing and convulsing violently. Dark, chaotic energy crackled and surged wildly across his form as the Evil Piece forcibly corrupted the mortal vessel, rapidly transforming him into a stray devil.
Katerea watched coldly, enjoying his pathetic screams of pain, considering briefly whether to stay and savor his transformation further. But just then, her heightened senses suddenly exploded with alarm, picking up a terrifyingly familiar magical aura rapidly approaching from somewhere far too near.
Her blood instantly ran cold with fury-and perhaps a tiny thread of genuine fear-as she recognized precisely whose aura it was, that accursed Serafall Leviathan herself!
"Damn it!" Katerea hissed, her voice filled with seething hatred and frustration. There was no time to linger-no time to risk a direct confrontation with Serafall now, not without sufficient preparation. She shot one final glance down at the writhing, spasming figure on the forest floor, already beginning his metamorphosis into a twisted, uncontrollable abomination.
"Congratulations, wizard," she spat bitterly, her voice barely audible over his screams of agony. "You've got your wish-and your new form. Use it well, and do not disappoint me."
With one last venomous glare, Katerea Leviathan swiftly invoked her teleportation magic, disappearing instantly in a brilliant flash of crimson light back into the relative safety of the Underworld, leaving the newly created stray devil alone in the darkness to finish his horrific transformation in solitude.
— Harry —
I slowly drifted awake, feeling more comfortable and warm than I usually did. Blinking lazily, I realized immediately that I wasn't alone in bed-though that certainly wasn't unusual for me. Still, the softness pressing intimately against each side of my bare torso was distinct enough to make me pause in sleepy surprise.
On my right, I felt a pair of large, impossibly soft breasts firmly pressed against my chest and ribs. Their comforting weight was familiar enough that my body recognized her instantly.
Serafall, my gorgeous and incredibly affectionate mother.
On my left side, however, the sensation was subtly different-a pair of smaller, more delicate but incredibly perky breasts pressed firmly against my skin. That gentle curve and shape was new, unexpected-though certainly not unwelcome.
My heart skipped slightly as I realized exactly who was lying there, completely nude at my side.
On my opposite side, Sona stirred slightly, clearly just beginning to awaken. She shifted a bit closer against me, unintentionally pressing her petite but beautifully shaped breasts more firmly into my bare chest. I could clearly feel her hardened nipples grazing lightly against my skin.
A blush immediately colored Sona's delicate features as her eyes fluttered open. She glanced downward in embarrassment, clearly realizing exactly where she was and how intimately we were pressed together. Yet, despite her visible embarrassment, she made no immediate move to pull away or cover herself.
Serafall slowly awoke beside me as well, stretching her lithe body. She yawned cutely, then smiled sleepily up at me and her younger sister.
Unlike Sona, she showed absolutely no sign of embarrassment or modesty whatsoever-indeed, she seemed delighted at waking up in such an intimate manner.
"Good morning, my darling Harry-kun," Serafall purred softly, her voice husky from sleep but filled with genuine warmth. She leaned upward, pressing a gentle yet lingering kiss directly upon my lips. Her breasts pressed even tighter against my chest as she did so, making my pulse quicken noticeably. "And good morning to you as well, my cute little So-tan!" She then leaned across me and kissed Sona on the lips next.
Sona flushed deeper at her sister's affectionate greeting. "Good morning, nee-san," she mumbled softly, glancing briefly at me and then quickly averting her eyes, as if uncertain how to behave in this new and intimate situation between us.
"Good morning, you two," I finally spoke gently, giving Sona a reassuring smile to help ease her embarrassment.
I glanced over at Sona, noticing the faint shadows beneath her beautiful pink eyes. I gently reached out, my fingers grazing along the curve of her cheek, brushing softly against her silky dark hair.
"You were gone all night last night, Sona," I said carefully, studying her expression for any hint of discomfort. She blinked back at me. "Something happened here in the castle while you and Serafall were away."
Sona immediately straightened, shifting against the sheets as her expression grew serious. "Something?" she echoed softly, tilting her head in question. "What exactly happened?"
I hesitated briefly, my eyes darting to Serafall beside me. My mother was reclining lazily against the pillows, a soft and amused smile playing on her lips. Serafall clearly wasn't worried, but I felt a duty to share the troubling news.
"Professor Dumbledore felt it," I began seriously, my voice lowered in concern. "A student here at Hogwarts died last night. We still don't know exactly who or why. My peerage members are working with Dumbledore to find out exactly what happened."
Sona's eyes widened sharply, her delicate mouth falling open slightly. "A student was killed?" she repeated, clearly disturbed by the news. "That's deeply concerning, Harry. And you're certain you don't yet know who or how it occurred?"
I shook my head solemnly. "Not yet. We're working as quickly as possible to uncover the details."
Sona nodded slowly, a thoughtful frown forming across her pretty features. "That's extremely troubling news," she admitted quietly. "Nee-san and I were dealing with something important elsewhere, so we didn't sense anything amiss at Hogwarts."
Beside me, Serafall shifted onto her side with a playful smile, apparently deciding it was time to share their own surprising news. "That's right, Harry-kun!" she declared proudly, her voice filled with excitement. "So-tan and I did something yesterday!"
