Fated Adventure.

Night had fallen by the time we returned home, the weight of a full day of shopping settling into our bones. The townhouse, though still largely unorganized, already had a comfortable feel to it. Yue perched herself in my lap as I fiddled with the new wizarding radio, adjusting the dials until soft music played in the background. The flickering candlelight mixed with the warm glow of enchanted lamps, casting long shadows across the room.

Yue's golden eyes were slightly droopy, her exhaustion evident. It made sense—this had been her first real day of freedom in what must have felt like an eternity. The rush of new experiences, from the sights and sounds of Diagon Alley to the sheer thrill of buying whatever she wanted, had drained her energy. But beneath her exhaustion, I could see hesitation, a flicker of unease in the way she gripped my sleeve.

"What if I fall asleep and wake up back in the dungeon?" Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, as if speaking the thought aloud would make it a reality.

I gently brushed a hand through her hair. "That won't happen," I reassured her. "You can feel the connection from the peerage piece, right? You're bound to me now. Even if something impossible did happen, and you were somehow taken back, I'd just come get you. There's no place in any world that could keep me from you."

Her fingers tightened around my sleeve for a moment before she exhaled softly, the tension in her shoulders melting away. She was still hesitant, but the exhaustion won out. Nestled against me, she closed her eyes, and within moments, her breathing evened out.

I adjusted my position slightly, careful not to disturb her, and reached for the stack of Hogwarts books beside me. If I was going to attend Hogwarts, I wanted to be prepared.

The curriculum was fairly straightforward. Hogwarts had three primary wand-based classes—Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts—while the other four core subjects didn't require wands: Potions, Herbology, History of Magic, and Astronomy. Electives were introduced in the third year, but I wasn't worried about those just yet.

I started with Magical Theory, a book explaining the fundamental concepts behind spellcasting. Intent, emotion, visualization—magic wasn't just about waving a stick and muttering Latin phrases. It required an understanding of how magic interacted with the world, how a wizard shaped the energy flowing through them. I had read enough fanfiction to expect grand, esoteric secrets about magic, but honestly, this was all fairly basic so far.

With my enhanced mind, I absorbed the information with ease. My perfect memory allowed me to recall every page I read, word for word, but memorizing and truly understanding were two different things. Knowing how magic worked in theory wouldn't mean much if I didn't practice.

Still, I could at least get ahead on the non-practical subjects.

History of Magic was essentially a long collection of stories about famous witches and wizards, magical wars, and goblin rebellions. I didn't mind; I had always liked history. Even if Professor Binns was rumored to be a boring, droning ghost, the content itself was fascinating.

Astronomy, on the other hand, felt more like a mix of astrology and real-world celestial navigation. Understanding the moon's cycles, planetary alignments, and how they supposedly influenced magic was interesting, even if I wasn't entirely convinced of its practicality.

Potions would be tricky. I needed ingredients and a proper lab setup before I could do any real brewing, but I still committed the recipes to memory. Understanding ingredient interactions and brewing theory now would save me time later. Herbology was similar—I didn't have access to magical plants yet, but I could at least learn about them.

The more practical subjects, like Transfiguration and Charms, would have to wait until I had the right materials. Sure, I could practice levitating objects or changing the color of random things around the room, but I wanted to approach this properly. I'd rather get a firm grasp of the fundamentals before rushing into spellcasting.

As I read, time slipped away. The soft crackle of the radio mixed with the steady rhythm of Yue's breathing, creating a peaceful atmosphere. For the first time in a long while, I felt genuinely excited. The thought of learning magic, of experiencing Hogwarts firsthand, filled me with anticipation.

I wasn't just reading about another world—I was living it.

---

Morning came slowly, sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. Yue shifted against me, her small frame curled comfortably in my lap. I felt her stir before she fully woke, her delicate nose twitching slightly as the scent of fruit filled the air.

Her eyes fluttered open, still hazy with sleep, before she nestled her face against my neck.

"So it wasn't a dream?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Nope, all real," I replied, resting a hand on her back.

A soft smile tugged at her lips before she placed a gentle kiss against my neck. The unexpected sensation sent a shiver down my spine. Yue might have been small, but she had a way of getting reactions out of me with minimal effort.

"Good," she whispered before her warm tongue traced over my skin.

I sucked in a breath as she tilted her head slightly. "Can I?" she asked, her voice laced with hunger.

"Go ahead," I answered, knowing full well what was coming.

A soft pinch followed, her fangs sinking into my skin as a quiet moan slipped past her lips. The euphoric effects of my blood kicked in almost instantly, her body tensing before she instinctively pressed herself against me, grinding slightly as waves of pleasure overtook her senses.

I clenched my jaw, trying to maintain my composure. My body might have been eleven, but puberty was still a thing. The sensation of a warm, squirming girl moaning in my lap was... distracting, to say the least.

A particularly loud moan filled the room as Yue shuddered violently. A moment later, I felt an unmistakable wet warmth against my leg.

I exhaled sharply. "Alright, I'm going to take a shower now."

Carefully, I scooped the dazed vampire off my lap, setting her down on the couch. Her face was flushed, her red eyes hazy with post-blood-drinking bliss. Sure enough, there was a visible wet patch on my pants—and it wasn't from me.

Trying to maintain my dignity, I grabbed a fresh set of clothes and made my way toward the bathroom. The moment I turned on the shower, however, the door creaked open.

Standing in the doorway, completely bare, was Yue.

Her crimson eyes raked over my body, a sultry gleam in her gaze. "Let's bathe together," she purred, stepping forward without hesitation.

I sighed, already knowing that resistance was pointless. Yue wasn't asking—she had decided.

Well, at least I didn't have to wash her hair separately.