The next morning, Kathey and I woke before sunrise again. The castle was still wrapped in silence as we slipped out of our dormitory and headed toward the corridors leading to the dorm rooms of our friends.We waited outside until Victor and Elara emerged.
Elara looked perfectly awake, as though she had been ready for hours. Victor, on the other hand, looked like he had been dragged out of a dream halfway through it. He adjusted his rectangular frameless spectacles while suppressing a yawn.
"Morning," he muttered groggily.
Kathey smirked. "You'll get used to it."
Together we walked down the stone corridors and out of the castle grounds toward the dark waters of the Black Lake.The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and pine from the nearby Forbidden Forest. I showed them the little training area I had built.
Victor blinked at the equipment.
"You built all this… yesterday?"
"Mostly," I said casually.
They began their exercises with my guidance. Elara adapted quickly, moving with controlled precision. Victor struggled a bit at first, but once he found a rhythm, he managed well enough.After finishing our workout, we headed into the lake.
The water was cold but refreshing.
As soon as I submerged, I quietly cast a cloaking charm over myself, hiding the temporary gills and webbing that my adaptive ability produced underwater. No need for unnecessary questions this early in the school year.
We swam for a while before climbing back onto the shore and drying ourselves with quick spells. Soon we returned to the castle, changed into our robes, and prepared for another day of classes.
Classes went much like the day before. Kathey and I continued to excel in most subjects, though Victor and Elara were steadily improving as well. Today we finally received our first proper homework assignments—from Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions.
Many students groaned.Most believed homework existed purely to keep us busy.
But that wasn't true. Writing about a subject forced you to think about it, analyse it, and understand it more deeply. It was how knowledge truly settled in your mind. Of course, Kathey and I already knew much of the material. So we simply used self-writing quills, dictating our thoughts while the parchment filled itself neatly.
Students usually finished homework in the late evenings—either before or after Astronomy, or during the rare class they found boring.
During lunch breaks, Snape sometimes called me aside. Instead of just discussing potions, he began speaking about politics within the wizarding world, subtle alliances, and how power truly moved behind the scenes.
I knew he and
Albus Dumbledore would ensure that. Voldemort would never realize my presence until it was far too late. In addition, Snape began giving me advanced modifications for potion brewing refinements to the improvements I had already developed. Kathey, meanwhile, spent increasing amounts of time with Pomona in the greenhouses.
Her natural affinity for plants had clearly caught the professor's attention. She had even been called for Quidditch practice the following day.
That night, after everyone else had gone to sleep, I quietly pulled Kathey toward a corner of the common room.
"Remember this spot," I said.
She nodded.
"We always start here when we use the Time-Turner."
"You ready?" I asked.
"Always."
She grabbed my arm as I opened the small watch and turned it several times. The world spun. Time rewound. We traveled seven to eight hours back, creating extra time for ourselves, it was empty during that time.
"Alright," I said. "You head to the Room of Requirement."
"Seventh floor, opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy," she replied confidently.
"Good. I'll join you shortly."
She tilted her head. "Where are you going?"
I simply smiled and showed her a partially drawn parchment map. Understanding dawned in her eyes.
We separated, both casting
Disillusionment Charm
Muffliato
Notice-Me-Not
I slipped quietly into the office of Argus Filch.
A quick Confundus spell took care of him and his cat. Inside a battered desk drawer, I found exactly what I expected.
The Marauder's Map.
I spent hours analysing it. Finally, the realization struck. "Of course… Appare Vestigium tracking movement patterns but if combined with a Protean network…"
I grinned.
"Oh god. I'm a genius."
After memorizing its structure, I carefully returned it to the drawer and left. When I reached the corridor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, I walked past the wall. three times.
A door appeared.
Inside, the Room of Requirement had transformed into a vast magical workshop.
Kathey was already brewing potions.
Before I could ask anything, she said without looking up, "Yes, the room provides whatever materials we need. And yes, I already asked for a rune workshop."
I walked over and hugged her.
"Now I remember why I married you in my last life, bestie." She laughed.
I spent several hours constructing an improved version of the Marauder's Map.
Mine could scan and map any location, not just Hogwarts.
It could even detect hidden spaces like the Chamber of Secrets.
I made one for Kathey as well.
After that, we returned to our projects.
She worked on magical enhancements for her shoes.
I focused on developing that magical communication device. The Room provided every material we needed. Weeks turned into months as our routine continued.
Classes.
Training.
Secret work in the Room of Requirement.
And sometimes Dueling.
The Room shifted around us, forming a wide circular arena of smooth stone. Torches burned along the walls, their light flickering across the floor.
Kathey stood opposite me with her wand raised, her purple eyes bright with excitement. She told me not to hold back.
I raised my wand and reminded her that the same rule as always applied.
We both bowed.
Without hesitation Kathey cast Expelliarmus, sending a red beam flying toward me. I reacted instantly, raising my wand and casting Protego, and the spell ricocheted off my shield and struck the wall behind me.
Kathey moved quickly and cast Glacius, sending ice bursting across the floor and freezing the ground beneath my feet. I leapt sideways just in time as the frost spread across the stone.
I counterattacked with Incendio, launching flames toward her. Kathey calmly responded with Aguamenti, and a surge of water rushed forward, hissing as it extinguished the fire. Steam quickly filled the arena.
Taking advantage of the cover, I cast a Disillusionment Charm and vanished from sight.
Kathey briefly closed her eyes and remarked that it was a nice try. With a sharp flick of her wand she cast Ventus, and a powerful burst of wind blasted through the mist, revealing my silhouette.
I laughed and told her that was impressive.
From there the duel intensified. We exchanged spells rapidly—stunning spells, binding charms, and cutting curses slicing through the air. Kathey flipped backward onto a conjured pillar and began firing a barrage of spells from above. I deflected them while circling her position.
Finally I cast Expulso. The blast struck the pillar and shattered it, sending Kathey dropping toward the floor.
But she twisted gracefully in the air, landed lightly, and fired one last spell—Stupefy.
The red beam struck my shield and shattered it, forcing me several steps backward.
Silence filled the arena.
After a moment we both lowered our wands, breathing heavily.
Kathey suggested that it was a draw.
I agreed.
And then we both burst out laughing.
We both exited the room, with the incomplete projects still in one hand, and the other arms entwined with each other, buddies in crime as we head to our rooms.
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