December 27th - a date Remus Lupin knew would stay with him forever.

  The sand, collected at noon from the hottest desert, had arrived the previous night, just before Scarlet set out for her hunt. She was gone for only an hour, returning with a cage taining something misty. Acc to her, they were fragments of unscious dead souls, nearly ghost-like in nature.

  Just as dawn was breaking, three figures appeared at the entrance of the Red House: a man, a teenage girl, and a teenage boy, each dressed in straire. They arrived on flying swords, h beh their feet, aheir fists together in front of them paying respect to Scarlet, who returhe gesture in kind.

  The man spoke in tonese, while the teenagers behind him stammered in heavily ated, somewhat broken English.

  Lupin, caught between shod curiosity, watched silently. Meiko leaned in and whispered an expnation. “They are Taoist priests fron Tiger Mountain’s Hidden Realm in a. The man in front, acc to Hogwarts of addressing, is Professor g Yun, who teaches the Art of Deity Summoning. The students with him are Ms. Tang and Mr. Song, both in their fifth year.”

  Lupin’s eyes widened, “How is it I’ve never heard of this wizarding school?”

  Flying on swords! How could British wizards not know about them?

  Meiko gave a small smile. “They’re not a wizarding school. As I said, they’re Taoist priests - they study Fa Shu, not magic.”

  Both of them g Scarlet, who now greeted the priests and carefully aowledge the birdcage that the teenage boy was holding with care.

  Not long after, Harry and his godfather, Neville and Mrs. Longbottom, arrived.

  After brief greetings and breakfast, they all headed to a field. Snow y thick across the ft, untouched ground. Scarlet motioned for everyoo stay where they were, then waved her hand, summoning a gust of wind that sent the box of desert sand toward a furnace, which had bee up days before in a small hut built to protect it.

  She then took out twes: oo draw blood from Lupin, and another from the mystical beast that had been brought by the sword practitioners.

  Meiko expio Lupin in a whispering tohe honourable creature in the cage is a desdant of the three-legged Sun Crow. It’s born with the ability to breathe the sun’s fme, which banish all evil.”

  The cage itself was intricately decorated, lined with warm, cozy accessories. The crow, as rge as an eagle, gently stretched out its leg, allowing Scarlet to take its blood. Then, as she politely requested, it plucked three of its owhers and offered them to her.

  To everyone’s amazement, the crow spoke.

  The wizards, taken aback, had never expected a magical beast to talk. They didn’t uand a word the crow said, but from the respect Scarlet showed, it was clear this was no ordinary beast.

  “What did it say?” Harry whispered, trying not to interrupt the ritual’s mysterious atmosphere.

  Kyle, who had been quietly , expined, “He said, ‘Wishing you a smooth journey in crafting the item he needs’. It’s a blessing from a mystical beast. I suppose it gives Scarlet some luck.”

  And then, the ritual began.

  Scarlet gestured for Lupin to stand behind her. She stepped forward into the snow, ged into her battle gear, and k with her head bowed, holding the Gáe Scáil horizontally in both palms.

  In a solemn voice, she began to t, though no one uood what she was reg. Her voice, reverberating with an almost musical ce. It was the a Celtiguage, passed down to her through the knowledge in the runic rock from the Queen.

  A warm breeze stirred, brushing over everyone present. Then, as if an unseen artist was w swiftly, a plex magic circle - about the size of a car – began to form on the snow-covered field. The lines were drawn with such speed and precision that it took everyone by surprise. Each lied a whimsical glow, an indescribable colour that shifted and shimmered. Before anyone could fully prehend what was happening, the magic circle was plete, and the atmosphere around them grew deh energy as Scarlet’s t came to an end.

  Everybody on se felt it – an unseey watg them. It wasn’t threatening, but the presence was heavy. Meiko and another servant from Japan immediately k, while others paid their respects in their own ways. The trio from a bowed, holding their fits together before them in reverence. While the younger wizards looked on in fusion, unsure of how to react, Bck, wand at the ready, muttered to Lupin, “Quite the spectacle. But does she need all this for a colr?”

  “It’s more than that,” Lupin replied, his voice quiet. “I suspect this...being, or Queen as she calls it, demands a worthy ritual. It’s how she maintains bance.”

  The furnace fred to life, hot fme r to burn the air around it. A pieetal appeared out of thin air, and was thrown into the fire by an unseen force, followed by the sand. Scarlet quickly pced the cage of misty soul into the magic circle, and the tents vanished instantly – an accepted by the deity.

  Scarlet rose to her feet and motioned for Lupin to step forward. “Walk into the circle, Mr. Lupin. Don’t worry, the Queen just wishes to see you.”

  Keeping his wand at hand, Lupin approached the circle. As soon as he stepped ihe circle, his footprints disappeared into the snow. He felt an intense gaze settle on him – silent, watchful, and sidering. A sudden, burning hiss interrupted the stillness.

  Lupin turned quickly to see the heated lump of metal and sand, glowing bright red, floating out of the fur drifted toward Scarlet, who poured the blood from both syringes and the feathers from the mystical crow onto the molten lump.

  Scarlet began another t, this time in the form of a lulby, singing in a Celtic as if coaxing the magic to life. The red-hot lump hovered before her, guided by her left hand as she maniputed the wind around it. Her spear, pnted firmly in the ground, radiated magic that flowed into her as she shaped the burnial with an invisible hammer.

  The melodic t didn’t st long. Slowly but surely, the lump of metal began to take form. Finally, a cooling breath from the deity, the metal solidified in to an object – an intricately fed clowing faintly in the dying light of the furnace.

  The magic circle gradually faded, and a soft chuckle echoed through the air, heard by everyone present. Then, something seemed to lift from their shoulders - the pressure, along with the magic circle, was gone. So too, it seemed, was the deity.

  Scarlet stepped forward and presehe colr, resting in her palm, to Remus Lupin, the werewolf.

  “In order to suppress the madness of the werewolf inside you, the item o be able to restrain you instantly,” Scarlet expined. “I sidered f a , inspired by the legend of the Monkey King from Jouro the West in a. His master used a to teach him manners, tightening it with a t whenever necessary. So, a that could tighten and subdue you seemed like a good idea. However, it would be too obvious. That’s why I ged it into a colr – or, more accurately, a choker – that you wear around your ned hide it with a ie or scarf. When you lose trol in your werewolf form, the choker will activate, tightening and immobilising you. It even knock you out by restrig your air supply, all while emitting magic to call forth your sciousness.”

  Lupin’s gaze fell upon the bck choker, its surface glittering with flecks like a night sky filled with stars. His face both serious and hopeful. He uood the depth of Scarlet’s iions.

  “The Queen of the Shadowy Land leased to see a ceous man,” Scarlet tinued. “She gifted a metal from her treasury for f the item. She foresees a path for you - that you will reach yoal if you accept the choker and stay steadfast ohorny road ahead.” Scarlet raised her hand, the choker. “The choice is yours. This will aid you, but to truly trol the beast, you’ll then your soul. Will you accept this choker?”

  Lupin slowly lowered his wand and took the choker, g it around his neck. “I will.”

  As he faste, the choker shone briefly. Immediately, he felt a ge - a sense of warmth, relief, and security. The beast inside him seemed distant, as though it was no longer on the surface. But Lupi was still there, lurking, waiting for another ce to take trol should he falter.

  “I’ll teach you the meditation teique tthen your soul,” Scarlet met his eyes and said quietly, “I expect to see some progress by the Easter holiday.”

  Lupin nodded, a hint of smile softening his resolve. “Thank you, Scarlet. I won’t disappoint you.” He responded just as quietly, turning to meet Bck’s gaze with a broad grin.

  As the ritual cluded, all the servants withdrew. Kyle, notig that scarlet wished to speak privately with Neville and Mrs. Longbottom, quickly gathered the Weasley boys, Bck, Harry, and Lupin to head back to the house. This left Scarlet to approach the pair at her own pace.

  “Ms. Hong, I pce my trust in you,” Mrs. Longbottom said, Scarlet a deep bow. “Please, I beg for your help with my son and his wife!”

  Seeing his grandmother bow so low, Neville nervously followed suit. Scarlet hurried fently holding both of their arms to stop them.

  With a sigh and a soft smile, Scarlet reassured them. “Don’t worry. I will help you, as I’ve already informed - this is my responsibility.”

  “Ms. Hong, my son and his wife’s tragedy has nothing to do with you...”

  “Ever since I began studying the a magic Queen Scáthach bestowed upo has bey duty to guide the dead to the Shadowy Land,” Scarlet said softly. “I ’t allow souls destined for that realm to reach it fractured. I would have restored their souls, even if you hadn’t asked.”

  As they walked slowly toward the house, Scarlet handed Mrs. Longbottom a list. “These are the materials we’ll need for the ritual. It’s a more delicate process than what we did today and will take loo prepare, unless you purchase some of the items.”

  Neville g the list and saw that many different crystals and waters were required. “Moonshine crystals and water, rainwater collected during a rainbow, uni tears given willingly, personal belongings once used by the victims – could we use my parents’ wands for that part?”

  “Yes, that would be ideal,” Scarlet firmed, nodding. “I’ll start by using the healing power of the moon. Oheir souls are more stable, I’ll guide them with power of the sun...”

  With the renewed hope, Neville and Mrs. Longbottom left soon after, their footsteps lighter as they eagerly began preparing to gather the materials.

  , the trio fron Tiger Mountain prepared to leave as well.

  “Why not let us show you around London? It would be a shame for you to leave so soon,” Scarlet urged as the Taoist priest lined up in front of the Red House.

  Professor g Yun shook his head, replying in tonese, “We gained much from the ritual you performed, and we’re eager to spar with you iure. The spear you’ve bonded with is a rare and magnifit on. To show our utmost respect, by the time we receive the duel invitation, our student will wield ons equal in power to your spear.”

  “I look forward to that day,” Scarlet said after a moment of thought, “But not within the wo years. I must fulfil my duties as the Queen’s priestess first.”

  “If you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to ask. We’d be more than happy to help,” Professor g Yun said. He formed a sword hand sign, and at his gesture, the sword at his back flew to his feet. His students mirrored his movements, their swords following suit.

  “I will.” Scarlet smile, nodding.

  Before they mouheir swords, the male student who had been carrying the birdcage boresehe cage. The door swung opened, and the three-legged crow poked its head out, fixing its gaze on Scarlet.

  “Five the interruption, but I have a word for you, young priestess,” the crow said, its beady eyes gleaming.

  Scarlet bowed deeply in respect. “I’m listening full heartedly.”

  “Another fn star will soon approach you. Befriend the star, and your path through the darkness will be safe,” the crow said, its eyes bright with prophecy. “Do not ask more, for I will say no further. You’re a clever girl – you'll uand wheime es.”

  A prophecy! Scarlet bowed once again, her voice reverent. “Your kindness will be forever engraved in my heart. Please, let me know how I repay yrace.”

  “We look forward to the day when you spar with our students,” the crow responded. “Amuse us old folks, won’t you?”

  “In the name of Queen Scáthach, I swear to offer the most spectacur dispy I provide,” Scarlet promised.

  “Good girl.” The crow nodded before retreating into its cage. “We’ll be off now.”

  “Yes, your honour,” Professor g Yun said with a smile, as the student lifted the birdcage back to shoulder height. “Until we meet again, young priestess.”

  “Farewell,” Scarlet replied, stepping back a few paces and watg as they mouheir swords and flew off into the sky.

  Qiya