As we returned back home, still night wrapped around everything, I alongside my studies sent gifts to my dear ones.
First, Kathey.
I had given her a locket made out of obsidian, molded along with gemstones with the help of thunder, giving it a shine comprising the entire visible range. It shimmered in a way that felt almost alive.When she opened it, she looked at me, eyes soft.
"You made this?"
"Yeah," I said simply. "It's not just a locket."
It was a connection and a portkey to me too. In case she's in danger, she would be teleported straight to me.
"It's also transformable," I added. "Into a knife. Basically unbreakable." She held it close, fingers tracing its surface.
"Of course it is," she murmured, smiling.
And well to Mr and Mrs Lovegood, I sent some nice writing tools and some great enchanted baking items respectively. Practical, but thoughtful.
Victor's gift was a bit… different. I gave him a guide that Curse Breakers use at Gringotts, along with some famous autobiographies of infamous wizard billionaires.
When he had opened it, he sent me a message
"Planning to make me rich or dangerous?"
"Both," I smirked.
Inside the book, along with a bookmark, was a key. "A vault?" he texted me next.
"Your first one," I replied. "AtGringotts."
"…You're mad."
"Yeah."
Since his birthday gift was incomplete too.
I sent Elara some tickets to an entire trip across Europe and Asia, so that she could, with her parents, visit those places, after the term ends. The places were of major historical importance to the Magical World.
"That's… a lot," she texted when she saw them.
"Yeah," I sent back . "Go see the world."
For Arcturus, I gifted him enchanted spectacles for reading, with features of zooming in and out. It could also see through weak disguises and hidden places.
He adjusted them once, then twice.
"…Useful," he said, which was basically high praise coming from him. To Professor Snape, I sent him a book on Dark Arts of the Egyptians along with some exotic tea packets.
I also sent some specified small gifts to the Professors because I did so every year.
To Dumbledore, I sent a can of differently flavoured fruit candies.
He called me via MagiTex later.
"My boy," he said, eyes twinkling, "these are quite extraordinary."
"I'm glad you like them, Professor."
"Like them?" he smiled. "I might hide them from myself."
Now, moving to the trio.
First, Hermione.
I sent her some books that are hard to get, but they basically explained every single subject she's going to take. Tips and tricks, advanced insights. A handbook of sorts. She basically was screaming when she called me.
To Harry, for which I was preparing for a while, I sent him a book on Occlumency and Legilimency along with a retractable staff, which I had forged myself. I had obviously sent him a journal of martial arts, so that he can start training as much as he can, before I work on fixing that frail body of his.
To Ron, I gave the kid a wand, for that, I had to ask Ollivander to see which one suited him best. Along with it, I sent him a letter which gave information about the student funds of the W.I.N.T.E.R.S Consortium.
Yep, I had also sent my three heads at W.I.N.T.E.R.S gifts too.
Break was amazing and I coul see that we were growing up and the responsibilities were getting high and piling up. We need to up our game and move on.
I guess, the time is nearing for us to prepare for what is about to come.
I need to get Elara and Victor into the buisness and their goals too, since they are showing amazing skills for their age Term continued again, and I was yet again back at Hogwarts and my routine returned.
Mine and Kathey's projects were almost complete.
Situation was already tense in Hogwarts, due to the troll incident that had occurred during Halloween, well you might ask why didn't interfere at that time, because I knew, it was necessary.
For reality to hit the trio and their growth.
For now, everything went smooth. I had got some good words from Dumbledore about the candies, as he had called me once to his office to talk about how Harry is doing.
"He's improving?" Dumbledore said calmly.
"He will," I replied.
I figured that by now the Philosopher's Stone was probably protected by the castle and the obstacles. I had put some charms on the map to alert me, when the trio enter the floor.
The club was going smooth where Snape was warming up to Harry which was barely noticeable but it was there. He asked me about Occlumency at times and he practiced Legillimency with me. For a kid he has a good foundation, which is probably because of the fragment of Voldy baldy's soul near his core. Yep I saw that while practicing. I nudged the core to a separate corner so that it doesn't feed from Harry's core and exhaust him. The connection was still there between him and Voldy, I need to sever it but also along with that he needs the good things from them too, like the Parseltongue, strong Occlumeny. I'll figure it out, but not now, he's a kid.
Ron was doing good, he trained with Kathey at times in the Quidditch Field, when Harry trained with Oliver. Ron is gonna make a really good keeper.
And Hermione, well, she found every single opportunity to find me in the common room and ask doubts like crazy whenever she could.
"Taylen, wait—just one more thing," she said, rushing toward me like a small packet of explosive doubts with a book in hand.
"You said that ten minutes ago," I replied.
"This one's different."
"Of course it is."
I had started up another side plan. One weekend afternoon, I had told the Merking in his chambers while he was enjoying his retirement. I told him about my W.I.N.T.E.R.S Consortium which he knew about because of the fame the company was getting and then I broke it to him that I was its founder.
Yep, he was the first common person to know this.
"I trust you," I said simply.
The Merking studied me for a long moment.
Then nodded. "I will keep your secret safe," he said. "And I will help."
I wanted him to assist with my intel services.
I had ordered Mackie to make a port at our headquarters, where Merpeople could contact and meet us for intel and emergency messages, which was why I had told the Merking. He assured me he would associate with other Merkings and help with my intel network at S.P.I.R.E. Everything was falling into place.
Finally, as the term was nearing exam sessions.
I knew.
Time for the first year climax was about to begin.
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