Harry Potter: The Golden Viper

The mention of the name "Cliodna" sent a visible shockwave through the group of wizards and witches gathered around the table.

"Sister Cli-Cliodna?" Hermione's expression visibly stiffened, her eyes widening with a mix of horror and disbelief. She wasn't alone in her reaction; Sirius, Remus, Harry, and even Ron, though a beat slower, all reflected her look of horrified expressions after realizing it.

"Yeah!" Little Hammer, still immersed in his own disappointment, failed to notice the sudden shift in the expressions of those before him. His tone was laced with a deep sense of regret as he continued, "Sister Cliodna is the kindest and gentlest girl we've ever met. She's an absolute angel, always going out of her way to help us, even solving the tricky problem of school admissions for some of us here. And—Oh! Big brother Bryan even dated her! We were all so certain they would make it as a couple, you know?"

The children surrounding them nodded in unison, their faces mirroring Little Hammer's disappointment at the apparent lack of a fairy tale ending.

Hermione stammered, her voice trembling slightly as she attempted to clarify, "S-sorry... Just to be sure, are you referring to Cliodna Coffey?"

Sirius and Remus, who had been listening to the unfolding conversation with alert attention, now sat up straighter, their expressions already becoming solemn and serious.

Little Hammer blinked, his eyebrows furrowing in puzzlement. "Cliodna Coffey? No, no, I'm talking about Cliodna Victoria Hill."

Could it be that Cliodna Coffey and Cliodna Victoria Hill were one and the same person, or were they dealing with two separate persons who shared same first name?

Sirius subconsciously leaned forward, his eyes boring into Little Hammer as he asked, his voice low and urgent, "Can you describe Miss Hill's appearance for us?"

Another little boy, his patience wearing thin, jumped in eagerly. "Oh, she's the most beautiful girl we've ever seen! Sister Cliodna has this incredible emerald green hair that's just mesmerizing. She-"

"I think," a voice cut through the chatter sounding calm yet commanding, "that it might be best if we let this particular topic rest for now."

Bryan had appeared behind the crowd, seemingly out of nowhere. He fixed Sirius and the others with a 'smile' that didn't quite look like a smile.

Under the heaviness of Professor Watson's chilling gaze, Hermione, Harry, and Ron found themselves breaking out in a cold sweat. Little Hammer, however, seemed unfazed by the subtle warning. He pouted, his tone sulky as he protested, "Come on, brother Bryan, don't be so shy about it. We're just talking about something that's already happened, right?"

Bryan's face darkened, his voice taking on a stern edge as he looked at the boy directly. "Little Hammer, if you don't mind, I think it would be wise for you to focus on your holiday homework. If I find that your error rate is too high, you can expect to spend the rest of your break confined to your room. Is that clear?"

The threat had an immediate effect.

Whoosh-

The children afraid of being implicated scattered like leaves in the wind, putting as much distance between themselves and the wizarding group as possible. Little Hammer, not one to be intimidated so easily, made a face at the stern-faced Bryan before snatching up his plate and darting off to find a new spot to finish his meal.

Bryan, who had been so preoccupied with tending to the children's needs, finally had a moment to sit down and enjoy the fruits of his own cooking labors. He claimed the seat next to Sirius, attacking his plate of now-cold pie with gusto, gulping large mouthfuls as if he hadn't eaten in days.

The orphanage children, perhaps taking their sign from Remus's earlier comment about the group's visit being related to important business secrets, gave the wizarding folks a wide space.

Little Hammer, now sitting some distance away, playfully covered his ears giving a clear signal that he had no intention of eavesdropping on their conversation.

Bryan ignored the boy's antics. With the children sufficiently occupied, he finally had the opportunity to talk about the matter at hand - the reason behind his unexpected visitors' sudden appearance.

He turned his attention to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were squeezed together across the table. Under his scrutinizing gaze, the three sat up straighter, their posture were stiff and alert.

"you three, I guess," Bryan began, his eyebrows raised in a silent question, "that your holiday homework is progressing well enough to afford you the time to wander around, yes?"

The expressions of Harry and Ron immediately tightened. In fact, they hadn't even started dealing with that annoying holiday homework yet. On the other hand, Hermione looked slightly more at ease. She had finished her homework before the ball.

Sirius, sensing the rising tension, tried to diffuse the situation with a light-hearted remark. "Oh, don't be angry, Bryan. I'm the one who suggested this little outing. But, aren't you curious about how we managed to find this place?"

If he was really very angry, Bryan wouldn't have let them in at all. He snorted softly with a knowing glint in his eyes, "Well, considering that only Severus and Dumbledore know about this place, I highly doubt they would have revealed such information to you. Which leads me to believe that you must have stumbled upon it while checking the registered information at the Ministry of Magic."

Though asking as a question, Bryan's words carried the tone of certainty. Sirius scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he accepted, "Nothing escapes your keen observation, does it, Bryan?"

"Bryan-" The heaviness between Remus's brows had not dissipated. He knew that Bryan most likely didn't want to discuss this issue. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stopped it just now. However, it was really very curious, and moreover, it was also a major issue.

"about Cliodna Coffey and Cliodna Hill... " Remus said softly, "They're the same person, aren't they? Emerald green hair is a rather unique trait, one that likely comes due to some ancient magic. What exactly is going on here?"

It was no secret that Bryan Watson had a history with the notorious dark witch known as Cliodna. Many had borne witness to their brief exchange during the confrontation on the night of the Quidditch final. As the story spread, it transformed and twisted, giving rise to a plethora of dramatic speculations.

Some even went so far as to suggest that the reason why Cliodna was able to escape that night with the help of that scary-looking dark wizard was because Bryan Watson showed mercy towards his supposed "ex-lover."

The official explanation, as provided by Bryan himself and the Ministry of Magic, painted a different picture. They continued to say that Bryan had been in pursuit of Cliodna and her group of dark wizards for a long time, but through sheer luck, she had managed to slip through their grasp.

A convincing piece of evidence that seemingly refuted the more scandalous rumors was the fact that, not long after the events at the Quidditch stadium, Cliodna had been caught and imprisoned in Azkaban, thanks to the combined efforts of Bryan and the Ministry.

The Daily Prophet's coverage of this encouraging development had effectively quelled the wild speculation that had run rampant in the aftermath of that night.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had always placed their firm trust in Professor Watson's version of the situation. They believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that Cliodna was nothing more than a dark witch who had been the target of Professor Watson's pursuit. However, the innocent words uttered by Little Hammer had completely overturned their long-held assumptions.

The revelation that Cliodna had not only visited the orphanage but had also been romantically involved with Bryan was a shock to their system.

"Cliodna appeared at this orphanage before... They even dated?!"

Hermione, her wide brown eyes fixed on Professor Watson, could only conjure up one plausible explanation for this startling turn of events.

Cliodna had appeared alongside Voldemort in one of Harry's dreams, and her presence at the Quidditch stadium that night had been also an attempt to kidnap Harry. Perhaps, Hermione pondered, the woman had once disguised herself as a kind-hearted Muggle, to approach these orphanage children and using them to get closer to Professor Watson. And when her true intentions were uncovered by Professor, she had probably fled in a panic to escape his wrath.

Bryan, his expression not showing anything, gave a cryptic response to their unspoken questions. "When the time is right," he said, his voice leisurely and smooth, "I'll share the details of this matter with you."

But even as the words left his lips, the group knew that this was likely nothing more than a polite deflection. Bryan had no real intention of revealing the secrets that lay buried in his past, at least not to them, not now.

As night fell upon suburban London, the city's vibrant nightlife seemed a world away. The desolate howling of the wind outside the orphanage windows stirred a sense of familiarity for Harry, similar to that of the nights spent in his dormitory at Hogwarts.

Though the orphanage had an impressive six-story building, the sheer number of children and staff residing within it left little room for the visiting wizarding folks. The five of them found themselves crammed into a large dormitory, furnished with three bunk beds.

However, Hermione's presence added a layer of complexity to the sleeping arrangements, but given the shortness of their stay, just putting up with it for one night was not a big inconvenience.

Away from the eyes of the Muggles, the use of magic was no longer a taboo. Remus used his skills to expand the dormitory's space, giving them a bit more breathing room. He then conjured a curtain to create a private alcove for Hermione's bunk, a gesture that undoubtedly left her more at ease.

After changing into her pajamas under the cover of her blankets, the rustling of fabric the only sound in the otherwise quiet room, Hermione pulled back the curtain and made her way towards the others, who were deep in discussion.

Wearing a pair of sky blue pajamas, her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, Hermione exuded the air of a typical Muggle high school student. In a room full of men, her fresh, youthful presence stood out. Ron, unable to keep his eyes from darting in her direction, resorted to twitching his nostrils in an attempt to maintain his composure.

"What's the topic of conversation?" Hermione asked, her voice cutting through the chatter as she sat near the edge of Ron's bed. Despite Ron's best efforts to avoid her gaze, Hermione seemed perfectly at ease, her attention was focused on his side profile as she awaited an answer.

Remus, his brow furrowed with concern, took it upon himself to fill her in. "We were just discussing the safety of these Muggle children, given their connection to Bryan and this orphanage. If Voldemort were to return, would they still be properly protected and safe?"

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