The rest of the days passed smoothly, though "smooth" in my life still meant a constant stream of work, planning, and quiet progress behind the scenes. Between managing the growing businesses, overseeing the affairs of the Peverell family, and coordinating with the different teams that now worked under the W.I.N.T.E.R.S Consortium, there was hardly a moment where my mind truly rested.
Messages occasionally arrived through the enchanted boards from the Centaurs and the Merpeople. They were still fascinated by the communication devices. The Centaurs wrote long, philosophical messages about how strange it was that a human child had created something that allowed distant beings to communicate instantly. The Merpeople were more direct, though no less amazed. They asked questions about how the boards worked, whether they could be adapted for underwater use, and even whether their own scholars could study the enchantments someday.
Meanwhile the island reserve project continued progressing steadily. Construction teams were expanding the terrain magically, shaping forests, valleys, and aquatic chambers suited to different magical creatures. Verdant had already begun preparing specialized herb farms for creature diets and medicinal use. By the end of the holidays I had also secured the official documentation for dragons. That alone had required a small mountain of paperwork, favors, and discreet negotiations, but it was done.
One morning I found myself sitting at the breakfast table at the home of the Lovegood Family. I had stayed the night there along with Victor and Elara. Kathey and Luna were already seated while Pandora moved around the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Victor and I were helping Pandora carry trays and plates, occasionally sneaking an extra sweet pastry toward Luna when Pandora wasn't looking too closely.
Luna accepted them happily.
Just as we settled down, four owls suddenly burst through the open windows, each carrying a sealed envelope marked with the crest of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
For a moment we all froze.
Then Victor and I immediately dropped what we were doing in the kitchen.
Kathey and Elara stood up from their chairs almost at the exact same time like soldiers responding to a command.
We rushed to grab the letters.
"CAREFUL, KIDS!" Pandora called out loudly from the kitchen as we bolted outside.
We barely slowed down until we reached the yard.
Victor tore open his envelope first. Elara followed quickly. Kathey and I opened ours a second later.
The elective selection letters.
We sat down on the grass and immediately began discussing our choices.
Victor scratched his head thoughtfully. "Alright… two subjects. I can handle two."
Elara nodded calmly. "Same here."
Elara chose Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, explaining that those subjects would strengthen her technical magical understanding.
Victor chose Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures.
"I mean," he said with a shrug, "if we're already training with Merpeople and Centaurs, might as well make it official."
I selected Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Ancient Runes.
Kathey looked over the list for a moment before making her own adjustments. She removed Care of Magical Creatures and added Divination instead.
"That fits you," I said with a small grin.
She simply shrugged.
"Seer advantages."
Once everything was decided, we sent the letters off.
Later that evening we visited Diagon Alley to purchase our books and supplies. We first stopped by several shops to maintain and repair the equipment we had already bought in previous years. After that we began shopping properly.
Rune carving tools.
Practice boards.
Arithmancy charts.
Stacks of books.
We also purchased several enchanted quills, including self writing models, modified calculation quills, and custom enchanted ones.
Victor stared at the pile in disbelief.
"YOU HAD ACCESS TO THESE ALL THIS TIME?" he shouted.
I smiled innocently.
"You never asked."
His reaction echoed through half the alley.
The following weeks passed peacefully. Training continued, planning continued, and preparations for the coming year steadily advanced.
Then, one week before returning to Hogwarts, I arranged a private meeting with the key members of the W.I.N.T.E.R.S Consortium.
The gathering took place in a secluded bungalow located in a hilly region under the ownership name Leon Winters. Arcturus was away on an official trip to Bulgaria, which made the timing perfect.
Around thirty people attended.
Elizabeth arrived with her small goblin team.
Mackie came with the nine heads of the S.P.I.R.E operations network.
Morlous arrived with several of his most trusted members from Verdant.
Dinner had been prepared for everyone, and the atmosphere was relaxed as they ate and spoke among themselves.
Then the door opened.
I entered wearing a perfect disguise modeled after Leon S. Kennedy, appearing as a confident adult man rather than a thirteen year old boy. I wore the outfit same as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts. Heh. Stylish.
The room fell silent.
Every pair of eyes turned toward me.
These were the people who had trusted an unseen leader. The people who had taken risks and worked tirelessly to build something extraordinary.
I stepped forward.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight."
My voice carried calmly through the room.
"Each of you here was chosen because you believed in something before it existed. Before there were profits. Before there were reputations. Before the name W.I.N.T.E.R.S meant anything in the wizarding world."
Several people nodded quietly.
"When this began, it was just an idea. A vision of a network that could change the way magical society functions. Not through control, but through infrastructure, knowledge, protection, and opportunity."
I paused, letting the room absorb the words.
"Today, Verdant potions are improving lives across multiple countries, herbs are famous in various too. S.P.I.R.E has established intelligence and security services within several ministries. Our financial networks continue expanding through Elizabeth's leadership. And every person in this room played a part in building that."
Elizabeth gave a respectful nod.
Mackie leaned back in his chair with a faint smile.
Morlous looked genuinely proud.
"But this is only the foundation," I continued.
"Our goal is not simply success. Our goal is stability. A structure strong enough that no corrupt official, dark faction, or failing system can easily shake it."
I looked across the room.
"You all have families. Lives. Futures. The system we are building will protect those things. Not just for us, but for countless others who will never even know our names."
A quiet determination spread through the room.
"So tonight I thank you. For your work. Your loyalty. And your belief."
I raised my glass.
"To the future of W.I.N.T.E.R.S."
Glasses rose across the room.
After the meeting concluded and most members departed, I called Elizabeth, Mackie, and Morlous aside for a final discussion.
"We've done well," I told them quietly. "But the next few years are critical. Voldemort is Alive."
They listened carefully. They were shocked at first , but then they paid attention.
"By the end of my third year, Verdant must dominate the potion and herb supply chains across Britain and at least three additional ministries."
Morlous nodded.
"S.P.I.R.E will expand deeper into intelligence networks. Quietly. We want information before anyone else knows that an Intel agency exists. Select corrupt members of the Ministry and establish an assasin and spy training regime, followed by training for noble wizards to represt ministry posts."
Mackie grinned slightly.
"That's already in motion."
"Elizabeth," I continued, "our financial systems must be untouchable. Multiple vaults, diversified investments, and reserve funds large enough to withstand political disruption. Hell we could even build a Ministry from Scratch, make it possible ."
The goblin behind her scribbled notes instantly.
"If we succeed," I finished, "the foundations of W.I.N.T.E.R.S will be too strong for anyone to dismantle. And by the time my third year ends, our influence will stretch across the wizarding world."
"This time if that Bastard Returns, we will make sure he won't come back again, good night folks."
They all understood exactly what that meant.
Soon afterward I left the bungalow and returned home using a portkey.
Before long the day finally arrived when it was time to leave for Hogwarts again.
As I climbed onto the train at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, I turned back for a moment and looked at our guardians waiting on the platform.
Arcturus stood among them, watching quietly.
I smiled.
Something deep in my heart whispered that this year would be different.
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