Under New Management...

Kali makes her way to her various 'businesses' to have them all start working towards the new goal. After doing that, she finds herself back in Italy to see how things were progressing.

Her investigation into who she and Harry had ended up releasing hadn't revealed much, only that the man had a skewed view of demonic magic. The botched rituals surrounded by the corpses of pregnant women and children made it rather obvious what he was attempting.

Summoning the Anti-Christ... This was definitely bad news. While the Anti-Christ might not even exist to her knowledge, if it did she was sure it was some incredibly powerful demon that would bring ruin to this realm. She might not personally care about it, but this was her master's home, his domain.

The cultist hadn't had any success so far, but it was only a matter of time before he either got killed or succeeded in summoning something. He'd already cast his soul to some demonic god from what she could tell, bringing him perilously close to some dangerous prospects.

Regardless, her investigations would be on pause until he showed up. She was currently focused on establishing her chain of brothels in Italy. She'd just started taking control of 'Lussuria' when something interesting occurred...

A group of incredibly beautiful, almost identical-looking women had arrived. They had luxurious clothing that was marred with age, dirt, and even blood, and their ages ranged from what looked to be fifty all the way down to fourteen.

Of course, it was somewhat difficult to tell how old they are given their magical longevity and beauty. Wrinkles didn't really exist for them, and Kali could only tell by judging the maturity of their magic, which most had in abundance.

Lustrous white skin, gold-blond hair, and eyes ranging from whiteish-blue to amber... Most importantly, they had auras not completely foreign to that of Kali's own, even if they were significantly weaker.

Veela, the 'firebird' folk that lived in large covens that'd occasionally invite males of different species to continue their female-only race.

Funnily enough, they were attempting to take control of the strip club and use their innate auras to profit massively... Kali couldn't allow this, as this place was now hers...

"Excuse me," she steps forwards, swaying her hips as she approaches the strongest Veela. "It seems you're under a misconception. This place is already claimed."

The Elder Veela tilts her head in confusion, "Who are you? And what coven do you hail from?"

"Coven? I am from no coven." Kali sneers, dropping her disguise and revealing her full form, also thrusting her full aura at them, causing all of them to shiver under the intensity of it... The elders even needed to stop the younger girls from launching themselves at Kali's feet...

"W-what are you?"

She smiles, "One might say, your progenitor." she wasn't wrong either. She suspected these Veela were part of some experiment to meld creatures to witches, likely weaker variants of succubi and phoenixes. "Come with me, we have much to discuss." she turns and begins walking to the backrooms.

"Yes... W-what's your name, Ancestor?" the Elder asks.

"You may call me Kali. And you?"

"I am Madeleine Michaux, Elder of this Coven. May I ask what you seek to do with us?"

"For now, I'll have you work here under my protection. But first, why are you all here?"

Madeleine looks down at her tattered dress, "We were forced from our lands... The wizards said they were hunting some cultist, but opportunists started moving against us, kidnapping my people to use as slaves for their sick pleasure. The twenty of us are all that's left..." she sorrowfully admits.

"I see... Then worry not, you will all be safe here. I will ensure it." Kali states. Her plans to make this place a brothel would have to be altered. Housing Veela while committing illegal activities would make it far too conspicuous, not to mention the fact she had other plans for them.

After all, she'd been needing creatures such as them for a while now. There were some rituals and traditions that required other Succubi to be followed, and she was wary of bringing any of her smart or more powerful kin due to her mother potentially finding out about the realm.

Harry was on the cusp of acquiring immortality and since her pact with him lasted until his death. Her mother would likely move against him to release her, something she'd rather not happen for obvious reasons. Thus, the Veela... She just hoped her Master would meet all her expectations.

----------------

Days following the Hufflepuff-Gryffindor Quidditch match were unusually tense in House Slytherin. The return of Malfoy, Crabb, and Goyle from the hospital only worsened it, as since most people in the House were Pure-Blood they knew well what cruciatus exposure looked like. The incessant trembling and shivering of the trio had almost everyone make distance from them.

Even Pansy Parkinson who'd hoped to join the Malfoy family took a step back. Leaving them in a sort of limbo of social isolation. Old family connections or not, the heirs of three noble houses essentially being crippled wasn't something to ignore.

Of course, suspicion of who did it immediately fell on Harry... Malfoy's rather public schemes and dislike of him made him the most likely culprit.

Rather than continue to ignore him as they had, some Slytherins started to try and include him in discussions, groups, activities, etc. As if they'd completely forgotten about his blood status and actions against their family's 'Dark Lord'.

Many did put further distance from him too, but most of them were either completely neutral to him, or those who'd already slighted him.

His roommate Nick was almost bouncing off of the walls when he'd heard the rumours of what'd happened of course. Only making him more fervent in his loyalty to Harry.

He just hoped the rest of the school wouldn't start demanding that he be lynched. Regardless of how they feared him, they hated Malfoy almost as much.