Harry Potter: The Legend of Nero Ravenclaw-Chapter 95: Parting and Promises

With a whoosh of green flames, the fireplace in Nero's Ravenclaw manor roared to life.

A blur shot out from the emerald blaze, stumbling forward with all the grace of a drunk pixie.

"BLOODY FLOO NETWORK!" Ember cursed as she barely caught herself before face planting into the marble floor.

She steadied herself against the nearest armchair, huffing in irritation. "One day, I swear, I'm going to hex this infernal thing out of existence!"

Before she could collect herself, the fireplace flared again, spitting out Lilith and Alaric almost simultaneously.

Unlike Ember, both of them landed smoothly, stepping onto the carpet as if they had merely walked through a door.

Lilith arched a delicate brow. "Still struggling with Floo Powder, Ember?"

"It's a death trap!" Ember fumed, brushing soot off her tunic.

Alaric snorted. "It's just you."

Ember turned, looking like she was seriously considering throwing her dagger at him.

Before she could, however, the three of them noticed Nero standing there, watching them with a calm expression.

"Hey," Lilith said first, studying him carefully. "How are you holding up?"

Nero tilted his head, as if considering the question.

He looked at each of them in turn, and then, slowly, he smiled.

A real smile.

His friends, who had been expecting to see the weight of recent events still lingering in his eyes, were caught off guard.

For the first time in a while, he looked... better.

Lilith's lips curved into a small, relieved smirk.

Alaric exhaled slightly, tension he hadn't even realized he was carrying easing.

Ember, meanwhile, folded her arms and nodded in approval. "Good. I was prepared to drag you out of whatever brooding cave you crawled into if necessary."

"Good to know," Nero said dryly, motioning for them to follow him.

They walked into the cozy sitting room where plush, high-backed sofas surrounded a polished wooden table. The scent of freshly baked pastries and warm tea filled the air.

"Witty," Nero called out.

With a soft pop, Witty, his loyal Ravenclaw house-elf, appeared, balancing a silver tray laden with mini cakes, fruit tarts, and steaming cups of tea.

"Here are the master's refreshments!" Witty chirped, his large eyes gleaming with pride.

Ember's eyes lit up. "Witty, you wonderful little creature!" She wasted no time grabbing a lemon tart.

Lilith gave a more refined nod. "Thank you, Witty."

Alaric simply muttered his thanks while helping himself to a cup of tea.

As his friends settled in, Nero slowly leaned forward, resting his elbows on the armchairs.

He took his hands together in a deliberately dramatic fashion, fingertips touching, and rested his chin upon them. His piercing blue eyes gleamed with an unreadable expression.

"Guys," he said smoothly, his voice calm yet ominous, "I asked you here today because I have something important to tell you."

Silence.

Lilith set down her teacup. Alaric's expression sharpened.

Ember, mid-bite into her tart, froze.

"I've made a very important decision," Nero continued gravely. "After everything that's happened recently, I've come to a realization."

His friends leaned in slightly, bracing themselves.

Then, Nero leaned back against his chair and exhaled.

"I've decided... to stop practicing magic."

Silence.

"WHAT?!"

The room exploded in outrage.

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Lilith's teacup shattered in her grip.

Alaric gasped audibly, something he never did.

Ember outright choked on her lemon tart.

"Are you out of your bloody mind?!" Lilith demanded, her sharp green eyes blazing.

Alaric, normally composed, looked pale. "You can't be serious."

Ember, still coughing, managed to croak, "Nero, if you say that again, I swear to Merlin's beard, I will throw you out of your own house!"

"No, actually, forget that," Lilith interjected, eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'll Obliviate that ridiculous thought from your mind myself!"

"Or stab it out of him," Ember muttered.

"Or both," Alaric added.

For a moment, it seemed they might actually physically restrain him from following through with this madness.

Then, suddenly, Nero burst out laughing.

His friends froze.

"Oh, oh, Merlin," he wheezed between laughs. "You should have seen your faces."

Silence.

WHUMP.

All at once, cushions flew at him from all directions.

"YOU ABSOLUTE ARSE!" Ember yelled, launching another pillow at his head.

"You deserved that," Lilith huffed, arms crossed.

Alaric simply sighed, rubbing his temples. "Unbelievable."

After the pillow assault died down, Nero wiped a tear of laughter from his eye and raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist."

His friends glared at him but, little by little, their frustration melted into relief.

They hadn't seen him this lighthearted in a long time.

Once things settled, Nero's tone shifted. More serious.

"I really did call you here for something important," he admitted.

"I had a long talk with Dumbledore."

His friends immediately straightened.

Nero recounted the main parts.

The truth about his forced awakening of the Void Principle.

The terrifying realization that it could consume him if left unchecked.

And most importantly, the only hope to stabilize it.

"...Dumbledore arranged a mentor for me," Nero finished. "A man named Muzen."

Lilith's eyes widened.

Alaric's expression darkened in thought.

Ember blinked. "Wait. Muzen? As in the Muzen?"

Nero nodded.

"The only Legend-ranked wizard in Japan."

A stunned silence settled over the room.

"That's..." Lilith whispered, struggling to find the right words.

"Insane," Alaric supplied.

"...Awesome," Ember added.

"But there's more," Nero said. "I'll have to study abroad at Mahoutokoro."

That, more than anything, hit them hard.

A foreign school. A different continent.

Months, possibly years apart.

They all knew what this meant.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Finally, Ember exhaled. "Well, damn."

Lilith folded her hands together. "You have to do this."

Alaric nodded firmly. "You don't have a choice."

Nero looked at them, grateful that they understood.

But then, he smirked.

"I may be leaving," he said, "but don't forget our pact."

His friends looked up.

"Our goal," Nero reminded them, "is to reach the pinnacle of magic."

Lilith's lips curled. "Indeed."

Alaric straightened. "We will not fall behind."

Ember grinned. "You better come back stronger, Nero. Otherwise, we'll leave you in the dust."

They each extended their hands.

And one by one, they clasped their fists together.

"By the time we meet again," Nero said, "we'll all be far stronger than we are now."

A solemn promise.

A vow between friends.

A new Chapter was beginning.

And none of them would let the other be left behind.

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