We first reached an apartment that was alive with sound, the kind that didn't quiet down but instead flowed continuously from one space to another. Voices overlapped in conversation, boots moved across the wooden floor with purpose, and somewhere deeper inside, something metallic clanged before someone cursed under their breath. It wasn't disorder though. There was a rhythm to it. Discipline. The kind of place where everyone knew their role and moved accordingly.
Kathey's arm rested comfortably in mine as we approached the door, her gaze sweeping across the structure with quiet observation. "So this is where he lives?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"With his men," I replied, knocking twice. "I told him he could get a house."
"And he said no, didn't he?"
I smirked faintly. "Said he feels better like this."
The door opened almost instantly. A bald, bearded man stood there, his eyes sharp and assessing for a fraction of a second before recognition settled in.
"Mr. Winters, sir!" he straightened immediately, stepping aside. "Please, come in."
Kathey glanced at me briefly.
Yeah.
That name carried weight.
We walked through the apartment, and it was exactly what it sounded like from outside. Men moving with purpose, some going through documents, others maintaining equipment, a few quietly discussing strategies. A couple of them looked up as we passed, recognition flickering in their eyes before they returned to their work without a word.
Respect didn't need to be spoken here.
It just existed.
We finally reached Mackie's room. The moment the door closed, both Kathey and I dropped our disguises, the shift immediate and relieving. Mackie turned to face us. For a second, he simply stared.
Then he let out a low scoff. "Took you long enough."
He looked the same. White hair, a full beard, and that scar across his left cheek that added a permanent edge to his expression. But more than that, he was still maintaining himself. His shoulders were broad, posture firm, the kind of build that didn't fade easily even with age.
"Still training?" I asked, glancing at him.
"Hah," he grunted. "Unlike you kids, I don't get the luxury of slacking."
Kathey leaned slightly against the table, arms crossed. "You look like you've been punching walls again."
"Walls are better than dealing with the Ministry," he shot back instantly.
And just like that, he started.
"The Ministry," he said, pacing now, voice tightening, "sits on problems until they rot. By the time they act, it's already too late. They don't see what's coming, and even when they do, they pretend they don't."
"They've always been like that," Kathey said calmly.
"Doesn't mean they should stay that way."
"No," I added quietly, "it doesn't."
He stopped, exhaled, then waved it off.
"Enough of that. You didn't come here to hear me complain."
"We came to see what you've built," I said.
That got a faint grin out of him.
We put our disguises back on and made our way to the S.P.I.R.E headquarters.
The moment we arrived, I paused.
"...Damn."
Kathey let out a slow breath beside me. "You weren't exaggerating."
What had once been a simple warehouse in Godric's Hollow had transformed into something far beyond that. Massive walls surrounded the structure, layered with enchantments so dense you could feel them pressing lightly against your senses. The building itself had expanded, reinforced both physically and magically into something that resembled a fortress more than anything else.
"This isn't a headquarters," I said slowly. "This is a stronghold."
Mackie glanced back. "Good. That's what it's meant to be."
Inside, the ground floor stretched wide and functional. Offices, working sectors, waiting halls, complaint divisions, which, all laid out with precision. People moved efficiently, no confusion, no wasted motion.
Kathey leaned slightly closer to me. "Organized."
"Very," I murmured.
We moved up.
The second floor opened into a massive conference hall, large enough to hold high-level meetings without feeling crowded.
"Hosted officials from different Ministries here," Mackie said casually. I glanced around slowly.
The top floor housed Mackie's office along with the offices of the nine heads. Clean, structured, and quiet compared to the rest of the building.
"Not bad," Kathey said.
"You've said that twice now," I added.
"Because it keeps getting better."
"Come," Mackie said, leading us down again. "You haven't seen the important parts."
The first basement was expansive, filled with training areas, preparation zones, and a well-stocked library. "Intel officers train here. Protection units too," he explained.
"And the second?" I asked.
He opened the door, and the shift in atmosphere was immediate.
"Protection chambers," he said. "For requested individuals." He then paused "And holding cells."
Kathey's gaze lingered across the space before she nodded once. "Good."
We met the nine heads soon after. Formal introductions, measured respect, a few exchanged words. They invited us for dinner, but we declined politely.
"Schedule's tight," I said.
"Another time then," one of them replied.
"Definitely."
As we stepped out, I stopped.
"Mackie."
He turned.
I handed him a small envelope.
"For your birthday."
He frowned slightly. "You didn't have to—"
"Open it."
He did.
And for a moment, he just stared.
"…Italian Quidditch match?" he said quietly.
"Front seats." Then a low chuckle escaped him. "Most of these fools forgot."
I shrugged. "I didn't."
We apparated again and to Verdant.
The moment we crossed into the region, the difference was immediate. Layers of wards, barriers, and protective enchantments surrounded the entire area, woven together so seamlessly that it felt natural rather than forced.
Kathey glanced around. "This place is heavily guarded."
"It has to be," I replied.
We stepped through, and the office appeared deep within the woods. Large, structured, with lodging areas and a massive dining hall that clearly served as a central point for the people working there.
We met the eighteen original members first, then moved through the extended buildings Morlous had constructed for the rest of the workers.
"This isn't just a workplace," Kathey said.
"No," I replied, looking around. "It's a colony."
Workers operated across different regions during the day, then returned here by evening. Efficient. Sustainable. Thought out.
"Come," Morlous said, appearing with a wide grin. "Let me show you the real part." We followed him through a dense forest, darker and thicker than the rest.
"This area is for specific herbs and creatures," he explained. "And the others?" Kathey asked.
He smiled.
"Watch."
We crossed a barrier and everything changed.
Light opened up across a vast landmass filled with green fields, colorful trees, and rows of greenhouses. Creatures moved freely, with Mooncalves grazing peacefully, Bowtruckles resting on branches, Diricawls wandering, and Nifflers darting around with restless curiosity. A waterfall flowed into a clear lake nearby, reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
Kathey exhaled softly. "This is beautiful."
"Yeah," I said quietly. "It really is."
House-elves moved alongside workers, integrated naturally into the system. Everything felt so...alive. I walked alongside Morlous for a while as he kept thanking me.
"You gave me another chance at life," he said.
"I gave you an opportunity," I replied. "You made it into something."
He laughed. "I might name my kid after you."
I glanced at him. "Let's not go that far."
Eventually, I sat under the shade of a tree.
And saw her. Kathey stood a little distance away near a Dittany farm, surrounded by Mooncalves. She had dropped her disguise, her pale blonde hair flowing naturally with the wind as she tucked a few strands behind her ear. The sunlight caught her sharp purple eyes as she raised her hand slightly to shield them.
For a moment, I just watched.
Damn.
Yeah.
I was falling.
She looked at me, smirked, gave a slight nod sideways, then returned to what she was doing.
"Heh… young love," Morlous said as he sat beside me. "Had my time at Durmstrang too."
"Didn't work out?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Not everyone gets lucky."
I stood up. "I'd like to hear that someday."
A pause.
"But we need to leave."
We hugged him goodbye when Kathey returned and then we apparated back in our disguises.
The Island project came next.
It was nearly complete. Dragons had already been brought in and were being taken care of properly.
"Charlie Weasley," I muttered, watching him from a distance.
"He's good," Kathey said.
"He's perfect."
The aquatic zones were progressing smoothly, while the volcanic regions were still unstable.
"We'll figure it out," I said, and removing our disguises we apparated.
By late evening, we reached Elizabeth's home.
Warmth greeted us instantly.
"Come in!" she said, smiling brightly.
Her husband greeted us as well.
"You work at St. Mungo's? Elizabeth told me via message. " I asked.
He nodded. "Yes. Healer."
Dinner was calm, filled with small conversations.
Kathey handed the kids enchanted toys, and their excitement was immediate.
Worth it.
Before leaving, I turned to him.
"I have a proposal. Work with S.P.I.R.E. Help set up a healing facility."
He didn't hesitate. "I'd be honored."
We left and spent some time walking through the Muggle world before heading back. No magic. Just normal life.
It felt… refreshing.
The next few weeks were filled with work and training. Kathey left with Professor Pomona for the camp, while I worked on improving the messaging boards.
Then took it further.
"Broadcasting." I muttered while working on them once. With funding in the Prophet and Xenophilius's help, I added a Quibbler panel. Clean news. No unnecessary gossip.
Before school started, we had a week-long sleepover. So on the third day, I made a decision.
"You sure?" Victor asked.
"Yep."
"If he can walk through fire and survive, this is nothing," Kathey said casually, firing an arrow mid-air while riding her broom.
She had changed physically. Her body now carried the build of a peak athlete, lean muscle defined across her frame. Not overly bulky, but strong, fast, controlled.
Elara was developing similarly, though she still carried slightly more mass.
Victor was a beast. Broad, thick, built like his Animagus form.
And me, well, had both. Victor's strength. A warrior's definition. But I wanted more.
The rock stood ahead. Massive. Unmovable.
Even for Victor in bear form.
I stepped forward, removed my grey t-shirt, and placed my hands against it.
I pushed.
Nothing.
My muscles strained, veins tightening, breath growing heavier.
This was why they warned me.
It happened, and my Adaptation kicked in.
My muscles felt denser. Stronger. Like something had shifted internally.
I exhaled and lifted.
"WHAT THE HELL—"
"THAT'S MY BROTHER!" Victor roared.
I didn't stop.
I threw it.
Like a softball.
Straight into the lake.
Silence.
"…Damn," Elara muttered.
I stood there, breathing steadily.
Damn.
Wasn't this…
Too much?
The taunts came immediately after.
"Show-off."
"Idiot."
"Do it again."
Later, I told them to hit me. "Jinxes. Hexes. Everything." They hesitated but then did it obviously.
Knockback jinx. Jelly-Legs. More.
And I walked through it.
Step by step.
Toward them.
Their faces were Priceless.
That night, we sat at the table as Arcturus told his usual stories, laughter filling the room as we ate. Everything felt… right. Tomorrow was a shopping spree.
And for now—
That was enough.
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SUPPPORT PLEASE