Harry Potter: The art of divination

*Morpheus pov* 

Making it back to the carriage house and quickly departed, the demoness was on a similar carriage so it was easy to follow her. 

She took a fist full of floo powder then disappeared into one of the many floo systems, "Good, she didn't notice the powder." I spoke turning to Cassiopeia 

She smiled, "What next?" her question had some bite to it letting me know she was ever so eager to fight a demon 

I laughed, "Next you will experience new heights of boredom as I scry her position and you wait." she groaned as I stepped away and went over to the same floo the demoness just used 

"I thought you were already tracking her." she pointed out as I took the holding pot of floo powder and poured some into an empty bag making sure I didn't touch any of it 

I shook my head, "No that was just to make sure we didn't lose her. You see when attending these types of events the venue is only available through a certain number of carriage businesses. Another method of control, I needed to make sure we didn't lose her in the shuffle so I could do this." I replied gesturing to the floo 

"Are you sure we aren't about to be surrounded? I don't think the ownder would like you messing with their floos." she snarked joining my side 

I shook my head, "We aren't staying." taking out a glass bottle I handed Cassiopeia the pouch of floo powder 

Opening the glass bottle I stretched my free hand toward the flames grabbing at them. In one swift motion I grabbed a ball of flames and stuffed it into the bottle. 

"Merlin how did you do that?" Cassiopeia asked in bewilderment 

"A little trick." I replied with a smirk as I grabbed her shoulder

With a crack we disappeared. 

***

We reappeared in a quiet, shadowed room, the air heavy with the scent of old wood and parchment. The safehouse. Cassiopeia stumbled slightly as we landed, her hand instinctively going to the pouch of floo powder I had handed her moments before. She still looked a bit stunned by my little trick with the flames, her eyes wide with curiosity and, perhaps, a touch of frustration at the delay.

"You're full of surprises," she muttered, brushing a lock of dark hair out of her face. "But I suppose we're back to waiting now, aren't we?"

I smirked, setting the glass bottle with the captured floo flames onto the nearest table. "Patience, Cassiopeia. The demoness won't hide forever. But this part is necessary."

She sighed, clearly itching for a fight. "You know, all this sneaking around and being mysterious is usually my families thing."

I chuckled softly, flicking my wand to clear away the dust from an old stone basin sitting in the corner. It was a simple scrying bowl, enchanted for one purpose—to track movements through the floo network. I turned to her briefly as I pulled out the bag of floo powder. "Well I have been doing it better than you lot years before the first black was born."

Her eyes brightened at that amused,  but she remained silent, watching as I sprinkled some of the floo powder into the bowl. The remaining powder from the demoness was crucial now; with it, I could trace her steps across the network.

The green flames from the bottle flickered as I held my wand over the bowl. I murmured the incantation, focusing all of my intent on locating the demoness. The flames responded, swirling faster and faster until an image began to form in the bowl's surface.

There she was.

The demoness, her form still graceful and calm, sitting in yet another dark room. Her back was to us, but I could hear the faint sound of voices, muffled, yet clear enough to suggest that her associates had gathered once again.

"Got her," I said, my voice low but satisfied. "She's not far. A few blocks, maybe. A bakery is their hideout of all things"

Cassiopeia leaned over my shoulder, her eyes gleaming with that familiar hunger for action. "Then what are we waiting for?"

I straightened up, tucking my wand back into my cloak. "Now, we move."

She smiled, that dangerous, eager grin crossing her face. "Finally."

With a glance toward the image in the scrying bowl, I reached for the door, my pulse steady.  

*Narrator pov* 

Morpheus moved swiftly, his cloak billowing behind him as he pushed open the door, Cassiopeia right at his side. The air outside the safehouse was cold, and the faint sounds of the city at night echoed around them. The two of them moved silently, keeping to the shadows as they made their way toward the bakery.

The streets were nearly empty, the occasional carriage rumbling by, but Morpheus paid no attention to any of it. His focus was on the image he'd seen in the scrying bowl—the demoness, seated and plotting with her associates, oblivious to the fact that she was being watched.

Cassiopeia walked beside him, her hand resting on the hilt of her wand, her eyes scanning every dark corner and alley. She thrived on the tension, the anticipation of the coming fight. The eager smile from earlier still lingered on her lips, but her body was coiled like a spring, ready to strike.

"Think she'll notice us before we get there?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, though laced with excitement.

"She's smart, but no," Morpheus replied, his tone steady. "Not with the precautions I took. We have the advantage for now."

They rounded the corner, and the bakery came into view. It was a small, unassuming place, its windows dimly lit, but Morpheus could feel the magic thrumming around it. This was no ordinary meeting spot—it was warded, protected by layers of enchantments.

Cassiopeia's eyes narrowed as she looked at the building. "This is it?"

Morpheus nodded, his eyes scanning the wards. "Don't let the appearance fool you. The real danger is inside."

He looked around then back at her, "Remember what I said, Transfiguration or conjuration works best. Some of your black family curses will probably be effective as well." 

With that, Morpheus stepped forward, his hand brushing over his wand, ready to dismantle the protections around the bakery. He could feel the faint resistance of the wards as he whispered a counter-charm, the magic peeling away layer by layer.

Cassiopeia was tense beside him, her fingers twitching in anticipation. "Ive never seen magic like this before, usually it takes ward stones to dismantle them like this." 

Morpheus chuckled softly under his breath. "This is my personal brand of magic, I'm not destroying them but displacing the wards. She or whoever is keyed in shouldn't feel them leave for at least five minutes. After that they will probably feel the wards weakening."

With the final ward down, the two of them exchanged a glance. "Target her allies, I sense a weaker demon probably a servant, and two humans. 

Standing in front of the bakery Morpheus held out his hand and looked at Cassiopeia, "Three, two." 

"One!" he swung back then forward quickly and the glass windows shattered into deadly shards as they rushed forward toward his targets 

The sound of glass shattering filled the air as they charged in. The bakery's warm, inviting glow was a thin disguise for the violence inside. Morpheus spotted the demoness immediately, her head snapping up as the glass shards shot toward her. Her associates two humans and a lesser demon barely had time to react.

Cassiopeia was on them in an instant. With a flick of her wand, one of the humans screamed as his legs twisted into grotesque roots, tangling him to the floor. The lesser demon lunged at her, claws extended, but she was faster. A slicing curse severed its arm, and it howled in pain.

She then transfigured a piece of glass into a spear and stabbed through the lesser demons heart. 

My focus, though, was on the demoness.

She stood, her calm composure shattering like the glass that had just been flung across the room. With a hiss, she threw her hand forward, sending a wave of black fire toward me. Morpheus raised his wand, summoning a shield just in time. The impact rattled through him, but he held steady.

"You really thought you could hide," Morpheus said, stepping closer as her black fire hissed against his shield.

She sneered, her crimson eyes glowing in the dim light. "Hide? No, I was waiting. You're too late, Everglade. My work is already in motion."

He smirked, twisting his wand. The shield shifted, morphing into a spear of green fire. With a flick, he hurled it at her. She dodged, but it grazed her side, tearing through the fabric of her cloak and drawing a scream from her lips.

"Not late," Morpheus replied, his voice steady. "Just on time."

The demoness hissed in rage, summoning a cloud of dark smoke that enveloped her, trying to disappear into the shadows. But he was ready for this. With a sweeping gesture, Morpheus unleashed the flames he had captured earlier. They roared to life, the green fire illuminating every corner of the room, forcing her back into view.

Her form was now twisted, her true demonic nature showing—wings unfurled, her skin an ashen gray. She growled and charged at me, claws outstretched. He stepped back, but her speed was incredible. Her claws raked across his arm, leaving deep cuts.

Morpheus gritted his teeth, not in pain but in anger. With a sharp incantation, he transfigured the broken glass on the floor into jagged, metallic shards. They rose into the air like daggers and shot toward her.

The demoness screamed as the shards pierced her wings, pinning her to the wall. Blood—dark and thick—dripped onto the floor. Her associates were either dead or incapacitated by now, courtesy of Cassiopeia's abilities. 

The demoness snarled, her eyes burning with hate, but there was fear there too now. He stepped forward, cold, "You were lucky to scratch me, I didn't think you would be that fast." he chuckled, "The Atrosis clan I presume?" 

She snarled, "You are weak!" she bit out, "My master would have killed you easily!" 

Morpheus shook his head, "He would have done more damage but I hardly think someone that trained you could kill me. As I said you were lucky, I was focused on making sure my associate was okay."

He extended his hand, "See all okay now!" his arm previously scratched was in perfect health

"How?" the demoness sounded weak and hollow now 

"All thanks to you." Morpheus replied before plunging his wand into her heart, "interitus." the demoness groaned as her body began to shrivel her magic draining from her body as Morpheus felt the rest of his injuries heal 

She slowly turned to dust. 

"That was easy." Cassiopeia said in disbelief 

Morpheus snorted, "I took care of the actual threat, and you didn't even take proper care of yours." 

She frowned, "what? I killed mine way before you." 

Morpheus looked over shaking his head, "Look again." she frowned and turned to her enemies 

The lesser demon was shaking as he attempted to pull the spear from his 'heart'. 

"A demon's heart is wherever he or she wishes. If you don't have practice finding it the easier solution is simply destroying the whole body." Morpheus explained like a patient teacher 

She nodded, "I see. Which spell works best?" she asked curiously while stepping closer to the struggling demon 

"Right now if I were you I would use fiend fire. I can teach you others later." I replied 

She nodded and immediately lit the demon on fire, "Okay what next?"

"Well school of course, the next term is starting soon.