It was around the end of August; we had just three days before school started again. Kathey had come over to my house along with her sister to spend time together, as my house was usually empty because of Arcturus' work. She had turned twelve in June, and if canon had followed the path it once did, Pandora would have been no more by now. But because of her involvement, both her parents were probably going to live long enough to see many more years ahead.
Now if you ask how Kathey can see Thestrals, so well, she is a seer. She has seen many visions regarding the deaths of her loved ones. There are always drawbacks to being strong. Even if she knows who all are going to die in the canon moving forward, experiencing those moments in her visions and predictions still affects her mentally and emotionally. So yes, I suppose that is where the Gods' words, "She's going to face troubles too" , truly come into place.
I was up early as usual and by the lake, cleaning Blackwing. The water splashed over his wings as I brushed along the glossy feathers, and every now and then he neighed loudly and splashed back at me with a strong flick of his wing. The cold water soaked me again, but I couldn't help laughing. It was quite amusing.
Anubis was also nearby, drinking from the lake after he had dried himself from his bath. His fur still looked slightly damp in the morning light as he shook his body once more before padding closer.
I stepped out of the water beside Blackwing and removed my wet vest. My body showed every inch of muscle that had developed over the years, defined particularly around my shoulders, arms and torso. It was the kind of build that was clearly athletic, but carried a little extra bulk meant for strength rather than just appearance. I grabbed my shirt and pulled it on just as Kathey approached us from the path.
Seems she's up now. She walked toward the lake with a calm pace, the morning breeze moving through her graceful pale blonde hair, as her purple eyes shine under the sunrays . Her build had grown athletic too, her posture steady and confident. It looked like she had been practicing archery again because she carried her own bow with her.
"Oooh, steaming eh?" she remarked, glancing at the mist rising from the water around me.
"Yep, been a while since Blackwing hadn't been cleaned, so Arcturus told me to tend to him, and so Anubis came along too."
As if understanding the cue, the little guy jumped lightly and perched himself on my shoulders again.
During breakfast I texted Snape on the board while I ate. A short message first ,just to test the connection again and after a talk if he got the goods containing boards for the staff members, I informed him that I would contact him later. After receiving a reply, I folded and kept the board aside in my pocket and headed to the greenhouse near the house.
As I plucked some herbs for my potion making spree, I quietly recollected the updates that had happened until now.
All the farms and buildings were now set up with their respective members. We had given priority to Magitex and Lovegood Inventions and the items they were going to produce.
The forests and production houses were functioning, and the first batches had already reached the market. They were gaining attention quickly. In a few months, I could already tell the businesses were going to boom, in which, both the boards and Kathey's enchanted shoes and clothing.
S.P.I.R.E. was progressing well too. The warehouse in Godric's Hollow had been renovated into something closer to a hidden mansion. Around thirty members now worked under Mackie, all bound by strict contracts after a series of tests and background reports. He had already sent me the list of recruits, which I had officially approved. Everyone including Mackie were now living in the lodging buildings I had purchased. Paperwork had already begun, and some interns would soon begin placements across different Ministries to slowly establish services and influence.
Morlous had done the same for his division, although he needed fewer people due to the magical creatures assisting them. Fourteen members in total , seven apprentices specializing in potion brewing and seven managing the forests, farms and creatures. Though the Mooncalves were a bit dramatic when it came to cleaning, it was going pretty well.
His samples had already been approved by the markets, and he and his team had begun work on the first batches of potions and herbs. Kathey's herb-growing spells had proven incredibly useful there.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, had moved swiftly with my permission. With five goblins assisting her, she had opened four vaults under the Anonymous name Leon Winters in Gringotts, excluding my two personal ones the Peverell Vault and my private vault.
The four vaults were divided carefully:
The first was for funding homeless witches and wizards, especially Muggle-borns who had been rejected or neglected by the Ministry.
The second handled funds related to our products, which were herbs, potions, Magitex items and Lovegood Inventions.
The third vault was dedicated entirely to S.P.I.R.E., covering operational costs, contracts, equipment and land purchases for future bases.
The fourth was reserved for salaries, bonuses, recreation funds, renovations and improvements across the organization.
I had officially named the entire structure operating under Leon Winters:
W.I.N.T.E.R.S Consortium.
Wizarding Infrastructure for Networked Trade, Enforcement & Resources.
Under it would operate Verdant, the herbal and potion division under Morlous, a name suggested by Kathey.
The other two divisions were already obvious.
I had explained this to the three main members the following day when we met in a private room at Gringotts. Kathey accompanied me this time. She wanted to meet them personally, and it was necessary for them to understand how she would assist the system.
Her role would be simple but powerful.
She would provide magical back-support to Verdant and also offer early predictive intelligence to Elizabeth. Through her visions and chats with her mother who's working at the Department of Mysteries, she could sometimes detect political movements before they became public, allowing Elizabeth to prepare responses.
Mackie would receive the same advantage before launching official intelligence missions, and also some information of owenerships of magical arsenal of the opponents.
Later that week we visited Diagon Alley for our school supplies. Pandora accompanied us as she had work at the Leaky Cauldron.
As usual, we bought fresh copies of our textbooks and stopped by the same stores where we had purchased our equipment previously to get some items serviced.
Before leaving, we also picked up some treats from the Magical Menagerie for our pets.
When I returned home through the Floo, Arcturus had already sent me a message on the board.
He said he had a surprise for me and that I should enter the house with a blindfold on.
I did as instructed.
Arcturus and Jack guided me carefully through the hallway and toward my room. When the blindfold finally came off, I stood still for a moment.
My room had been expanded.
An entire office was now attached to it.
Arcturus explained that I was now officially cleared to access documents related to political matters, house finances and various confidential records concerning other families. It was his way of acknowledging the maturity and responsibility I had shown over the years.
After they left me alone, I immediately began adjusting the space.
I generated an automated rune system connected to a bottomless pouch hidden beneath the shelves where the documents would be stored. The pouch itself linked directly to my trunk, allowing me to retrieve files whenever I needed them without physically moving them around and the connection to my trunk for when I'm back at Hogwarts.
By the end of the day I had already accessed several property records owned by our house and sent formal letters to the Ministry reclaiming certain locations that had been temporarily under their control. They would be useful later.
All of that had been completed within a single day. By the evening I finally allowed myself to rest, slowly organizing my trunk and packing everything necessary for the upcoming school year.
Meanwhile, far away at Hogwarts…
Inside the staff chamber near the Hogwarts Castle, the professors had gathered for their annual start-of-term meeting.
At the head of the table sat Albus Dumbledore, calm as ever, his fingers steepled thoughtfully. Around him were several familiar faces: Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Filius Flitwick, and the other professors who would soon welcome the students back.
The discussion moved through the usual topics, curriculum adjustments,the O.W.L. s and N.E.W.Ts exams, safety wards, Quidditch supervision and examination preparations.
But one subject gained particular attention.
A small wooden communication board rested on the table infront of each staff member.
Professor Flitwick tapped it lightly, obsessed with it in the short while he got it.
"Remarkable craftsmanship,by our Young Taylen " he said, his voice filled with curiosity. "Instant written messages and a multi-way mirror system… quite efficient."
McGonagall nodded slightly. "The staff coordination has been much easier since these were introduced."
Snape observed the board silently for a moment before speaking in his usual low tone.
"Magitex products appear to be gaining traction throughout the wizarding world. Even if they're not quite famous , different countries have had their eyes on these when they hit the market."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled faintly behind his glasses.
"Indeed," he said gently. "Innovation often arrives from the most unexpected corners of our society."
The meeting continued, plans for the year slowly taking shape as the castle prepared to welcome another generation of students.
None of them yet realized just how many threads, business, magic, and influence were quietly beginning to weave themselves together beyond the school's ancient walls.
Dumbledore with Legillimency looked at Snape 'You sure he isn't going to the dark side Severus?'
'No Proffesor He wont'
The sun rose with new light behind at a window as rhe rays filled the room.
Taylen POV
I kept my axe down as Kathey was on my back, as I looked towards the sun rising after our workout and head towards the mansion, to get ready for another year at Hogwarts....
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