"Wait-" I interrupted dryly, already confused. "I got what now?"
"Isekai'd," she repeated patiently, clearly fighting back another sigh. "It's a popular trope. Basically, you were suddenly summoned or transported from your original world into a different one. Anyway, after finally making it back home after a decade, you and Levia-tan were about to reunite romantically, when suddenly you got summoned again-to a completely different world this time!"
"Wait, wait," I repeated flatly, giving Mary an incredulous look. "I got isekai'd... twice?"
WHY!?
"Don't blame me," Mary responded dryly. "I didn't write it. The writers just use whatever's popular nowadays. Apparently double-isekai is all the rage. But yes, you've been summoned a second time. Unfortunately, this second world is ruled by an evil human church that hates devils. You're enslaved by the church, brainwashed and forcibly turned into an 'evil hero' who must fight devils-your own people-in their wars against the Underworld."
I stared blankly. "That's... bizarrely convoluted."
"Oh, it gets better," Mary continued with sarcastic cheerfulness. "Levia-tan decides to rescue you, traveling to this second world and fighting against the evil church. But you've been so thoroughly brainwashed, you're forced to fight her repeatedly throughout these three episodes. It's a whole emotional saga of tragic reunions, painful betrayals, and heartbreaking battles between you and your childhood friend, your true love-Levia-tan herself."
She paused, taking a much-needed breath after rattling off all that insanity. "Got all that, Harry?" Mary asked dryly, holding up an alarmingly thick stack of pages, easily over 300 in total. "Because this-" she shook the heavy script for emphasis "-is your script."
I swallowed visibly, my gaze nervously following the intimidatingly thick stack of paper in her hands. "That... looks like a lot," I muttered weakly.
Mary gave me a sympathetic, resigned smile. "You'd better start reading quickly, Harry. Filming starts soon, and Boss Lady Leviathan is determined to make this the most epic and memorable trilogy of Magical Girl Levia-tan episodes ever filmed. And unfortunately-" she paused dramatically, placing a soft hand gently on my shoulder, "-you're the star."
I groaned softly beneath my breath, already feeling a headache forming. Why on earth had I ever made that stupid bet with Sona Sitri?
Mary patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Welcome to show business, Harry-kun. I'm sure you'll survive... probably."
— Lilja —
"...Welcome to Hogwarts, Lilja Nornas," Dumbledore greeted her warmly, his eyes sparkling with their customary warmth and kindness as he stood behind his large, cluttered desk. Yet, as he regarded her carefully, Lilja noticed an odd flicker of surprise cross the old wizard's expression. He blinked several times, as though trying to clear a mist from his vision, before giving her a gentle yet oddly solemn smile.
"Is something wrong, Professor Dumbledore?" she asked politely, keeping her tone calm and measured.
He gave her a quiet, thoughtful look, stroking his silvery beard slowly. "Forgive me, Miss Nornas," he said gently, "it's just that you bear a remarkable resemblance to an old and dearly remembered student of mine."
For a brief, unguarded moment, Lilja felt an impulse to confess-to explain exactly why she resembled Lily Evans so closely. She wanted desperately to reveal that, in a sense, she was Lily Evans, reborn eighteen years earlier as Lilja Nornas, a proud Valkyrie now under Odin's service and sent to Hogwarts on a special mission. But the words died quickly upon her tongue. She was no longer merely Lily Evans, and this wasn't the right moment.
Lilja had her own responsibilities now-she was here specifically to investigate the devils who had embedded themselves within the school-her past would have to wait.
Perhaps someday soon she could speak openly with Dumbledore about her true identity, but definitely not now.
Still, it brought Lilja a surprising rush of genuine warmth to see the old headmaster again. Albus Dumbledore had always been kind and supportive in her past life, and to find him alive and unchanged-even after she'd died and been reborn as a Valkyrie-felt both comforting and strangely surreal. Severus Snape and Remus Lupin, two close friends from her previous life, were also currently teaching at Hogwarts. The thought filled her chest with anticipation, she couldn't wait to see her old friends again, even if they didn't yet know who she really was.
Perhaps later, Lilja thought privately. After I've completed my mission, I'll tell them the truth. But for now, it's safer to remain quiet.
She'd deliberately arrived on a quiet weekend to give herself time to adjust to Hogwarts once again. Classes weren't in session, which would allow her to spend a couple of days acclimating herself to the familiar corridors and staircases-and, more importantly, observing discreetly the devils she'd been tasked to investigate.
"Since you're a rather special transfer student," Dumbledore was saying kindly, interrupting her thoughts, "I'll leave it up to you whether you'd prefer to be sorted in the Great Hall before your fellow students, or privately, here in my office."
Lilja considered briefly, glancing around the cozy familiarity of the headmaster's chambers, before giving him a grateful nod. "Here will be fine, Professor," she answered politely.
Dumbledore reached behind his desk and retrieved the old, battered Sorting Hat from its shelf. A rush of nostalgia filled Lilja as she stared at the worn folds of the magical hat, memories of her previous sorting flooding vividly back into her mind. Dumbledore placed it carefully upon her head, stepping back with a curious expression.
Instantly, she felt the familiar probing of the Hat's consciousness inside her mind.
"Well now," the Hat's voice rumbled with amusement. "Isn't this fascinating? It's exceedingly rare that I ever have the pleasure of sorting the same student twice..."
Lilja stiffened slightly in surprise. "Rarely?" she asked mentally.
"Quite rarely indeed," the Hat confirmed casually. "But you're not the first reincarnated student I've encountered, my dear. Merlin himself tends to pop up every few hundred years or so..."
Lilja nearly choked in shock at this incredible revelation, her mouth falling open slightly despite her best efforts at composure. Before she could recover her wits enough to question the Hat further, it abruptly shouted aloud with a confident, ringing cry that echoed dramatically around Dumbledore's office.
"SLYTHERIN!"
She sat frozen in stunned silence, the Hat still perched jauntily upon her head, a bewildered sense of shock washing through her body. Lilja had once proudly called Gryffindor her home-had once defined herself by the bravery and camaraderie she'd felt there.
But now, the Hat had seen fit to place her into Slytherin house instead?
Had she truly changed that drastically in her new life as a Valkyrie?
"Congratulations, Miss Nornas," Dumbledore remarked cheerfully, stepping forward to remove the Sorting Hat gently from her head. He offered her another warm, reassuring smile as he nodded toward her robes, now magically shifting their colors from neutral to the green and silver of Slytherin. "The Hat always knows best."
Lilja rose carefully to her feet. Perhaps this was simply reflective of her mission-of her need to be cunning, ambitious, and subtle as she investigated the devils hidden at Hogwarts.
"You're free to explore the castle," Dumbledore continued gently, seemingly unaware of her internal struggle. "Feel free to reacquaint yourself with the layout-though I'm sure you'll remember more than you expect. After dinner this evening, I'll have some prefects show you to the Slytherin common room."
Lilja inclined her head politely in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she said quietly.
He smiled gently in return, eyes twinkling kindly behind his half-moon spectacles.
Since she already had the entire castle memorized from the memories of her last life, Lilja saw no point in aimlessly wandering the corridors to reacquaint herself. She could recall every staircase, every hidden passageway, and every tucked-away classroom as clearly as if she'd just walked through them yesterday.
Instead, she decided it would be a much better use of her time to seek out students and begin quietly gathering information. There were three schools currently in the castle, and she figured she could get better gossip from foreigners since Hogwarts students might not trust a sudden transfer like her. Especially since she was a Slytherin...
She was particularly curious about Harry.
Despite herself, the memory of seeing him passionately kiss those two devil princesses still burned vividly in her mind. Lilja felt a confused rush of conflicting emotions every time she pictured it-a strange, inappropriate lust that sent her heart racing, mingled deeply with guilt and embarrassment. But she knew almost nothing concrete about him yet, other than he was clearly tied closely to some of the most powerful devil families in existence.
She walked leisurely along the corridor toward the castle's courtyard. Her green eyes moved carefully over every group of students she passed, searching for a likely gathering where she could casually slip into the conversation without arousing suspicion.
It wasn't long before she spotted a group of students from the French school gathered together just outside beneath a stone archway. Several beautiful young women, all dressed impeccably in their pale blue uniforms, stood huddled closely, gossiping animatedly in rapid-fire French. Judging by the hushed giggles and conspiratorial smiles, Lilja guessed their current topic of conversation was something juicy and scandalous.
Perfect.
Straightening her posture, she moved confidently toward the girls, adopting an easy, friendly smile as she approached. She'd always been quite skilled socially-even more so now in her current incarnation as a proud Valkyrie-and smoothly insinuating herself into existing conversations had never been difficult for her.
"Bonjour!" Lilja greeted them warmly, her voice polite and inviting. She smiled gently, careful to project just enough vulnerability that they wouldn't immediately feel threatened or suspicious of her sudden approach. "I'm Lilja! Mind if I join you?"
The French girls paused, regarding her curiously at first. But her friendly manner quickly put them at ease, and soon enough they smiled back welcomingly.
"Of course, Lilja!" replied one girl-a petite brunette with large, expressive eyes. "We were just gossiping. You picked a good time."
The others giggled, giving Lilja appreciative glances. "Yes, come join us," another girl added eagerly, adjusting her pale blonde hair. "We love new friends!"
Lilja stepped easily into their circle, immediately blending in with practiced social skill. She allowed the gossip to flow naturally around her for a minute, making a few friendly, harmless comments as they discussed trivial school drama and minor scandals back home. She laughed lightly at all the right times, subtly ingratiating herself further.
Then, seizing her opening, Lilja gently steered the conversation toward the ongoing Triwizard Tournament.
"I'm so sorry to change the subject," Lilja said lightly, adopting a tone of casual curiosity, "but I'm really quite interested in this tournament I've heard so much about. What do you girls think of the participants?"
They exchanged eager looks, clearly thrilled to gossip openly about the competitors. Lilja waited patiently, allowing them to chatter excitedly for a moment about all the champions, Lilja gently interjected again, steering the conversation toward her true target.
"And what about Harry Potter?" she asked softly, maintaining her carefully neutral, politely curious expression. "I heard he's competing too. What do you think of him?"
The French girls all exchanged puzzled glances, frowning uncertainly as though Lilja had said something baffling.
"I'm sorry," the brunette finally spoke up hesitantly, giving Lilja an awkward look, "but what exactly do you mean by Harry Potter? Nobody calls him that anymore, obviously."
Lilja's heart abruptly froze mid-beat. "What... do you mean?" Lilja asked very quietly, carefully modulating her voice to sound politely puzzled rather than panicked. "Isn't Potter his last name?"
One of the blondes laughed softly, shaking her head incredulously. "Non, non! Everyone already knows that wasn't his real last name. That's been common knowledge in the wizarding world for weeks now!"
Lilja's mind stalled, a cold wave of absolute horror flooding her. Common knowledge!? Everyone...knew!?
A hot rush of shame and embarrassment surged violently through her, leaving Lilja momentarily dizzy. They knew she had cheated on James Potter!? But-how? Why!? How was it even possible that such a shameful, intimate secret had somehow become public knowledge?
But the French girls didn't seem to notice her internal panic, their expressions brightening again as they eagerly resumed gossiping about Harry, unaware of Lilja's inner turmoil.
"Oh, but speaking of Harry Sitri," one of the girls purred eagerly, her eyes sparkling brightly with open admiration, "have you seen him up close yet, Lilja? Merlin, he is simply incroyable-"
Another girl giggled, nodding vigorously. "Oui, oui! Handsome, brave, powerful... Honestly, we're all so jealous of those veela sluts who've already sunk their claws into him."
Her friends laughed knowingly, nodding in enthusiastic agreement. Lilja remained frozen, too overwhelmed by shock and confusion to even fully process their words.
"I wish the Boy-Who-Lived would kiss me half as passionately as he kisses those lucky French whores," the brunette sighed wistfully, staring dreamily off into the distance.
Lilja finally snapped sharply back into awareness, her heart nearly stopping again at the girl's casual comment. "The... Boy-Who-Lived?" she repeated numbly, forcing her voice steady despite the bewilderment churning violently inside her chest. "And-his last name is Sitri?"
The French students gave her another odd, curious look, clearly baffled by Lilja's seemingly clueless questions. "Oui, of course," one of them answered slowly, frowning faintly. "Harry Sitri. Everyone knows he's the son of the deceased Lily Evans, but he apparently has a living mother named Serafall Sitri. We all saw her when she was a guest during the first task. She is a bit short, but very beautiful. It's clear where Harry gets his good looks from!" she said, her friends all giggled with her.
