Figgy Pudding

by RoseWhispers6

After the first wizarding war, Arabella Figg's life changes forever when her memories fuse with those of a future Self Insert, creating a new, complex persona with knowledge beyond the Potter-Verse. With spycraft skills she's picked up, Arabella navigates the intricacies of the Goblin Nation, the Mer, and explores diverse magical cultures as she tries to save Harry and the world.

23. It's All Fun and Games

It's All Fun and Games

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04 March 1985

"Alright," Avira said, standing in the doorway with her arms folded and an expression I couldn't quite read, "What are we thinking about all these changes?"

"They're amazing!" Harry said before I could reply, his voice full of enthusiasm. He was sitting on the floor, petting Tufty, who had draped himself across the boy's legs like he owned the place. I nodded in amused agreement.

"You haven't sent me any complaints," she said with a soft smirk, "so I assume the place hasn't fallen apart yet."

"Not yet," I said dryly, though I couldn't quite keep the corners of my mouth from twitching upwards.

Avira glanced around the hallway, her dark eyes sharp. "It's holding up, then? Nothing's gone awry?"

"It's fine," I assured her. "More than fine, actually. You've done a wonderful job. Harry's been over the moon about the cellar."

"The Gymnasium's the best part! It's like a whole park down there, Gran! Tufty and Snowy love it, and there's even a pool!"

"We have really enjoyed the pool, it's just what we needed in order to kickstart our physical fitness."

"Tufty's already got a favorite hiding spot near the pool. I can show you!"

"Maybe later, Harry," she said, "right now we are going to be off to the other houses that I've been working on with the Goblin Nation team."

"Alright, grab your coat. It's too cold out. We haven't tried to go through yet," I said to Avira as Harry put his woolen coat on, "I thought it best to wait until you walked us through for the other Houses. We did go over to the house on Privet though. We have been slowly getting comfortable in both homes."

"What did you think? Was it too much?"

"It's a lot to take in," I said quickly, not wanting to offend her. "I'm just not used to it, that's all. But you've done a lovely job."

"Wonderful," she said with a small nod. "Though I'll admit, I was tempted to throw in a few more dramatic touches. Thought better of it in the end. Didn't want to scare you off."

"More dramatic?" I said, my eyebrows raising past my hairline. "I worry about what you must think is more dramatic than what is already over there. It's a work of art, to be sure, but it is soaked in the dramatic."

"Bella," she said with a small laugh, "there is always a way to be more dramatic."

Avira and I put on our coats and joined Harry in front of the linen cupboard door. My space expanded cupboard had seemed enormous to me when I had been using it for storage, but Avira had gone far beyond that. On one side of the cupboard there was now a staircase leading down to the cellar, which had never existed.

In the cellar was a physical fitness center, complete with a park filled with living plants, a gym with muggle gym equipment, and a large pool that seemed to go on forever. On the other side of the cupboard was a staircase that now led up to a new rooftop potions garden and brewing room. This whole new floor was completely invisible on the outside and had a delicate glass ceiling to allow for as much natural light as possible.

Between the staircases were two cabinets.

One cabinet linked us directly to the magical living space that Avira and the Goblin Nation team had built into the Dursley's home, with their signed and authorized permission. Not that they knew that.

The other Vanishing Cabinet led to a safe house in Le Touquet, France. Well, not to a house. It actually led to a yacht currently moored there and stocked with significant supplies. It was, for all intents and purposes, the escape for if things became intensely bad and we needed to disappear forever. Le Touquet is just slightly further than the recommended limit, which means if our enemies look based on that radius they will not find us. Between the yacht and the Princely Carriage, we will be able to escape to any of the Houses that Lily left behind.

This journey, however, would take us through Privet Drive, then on to London, Sleaford, Dunkirk, and finally Paris. A short tour of a few safe houses Lily had left behind.

I had initially braced for Harry's reaction to the Dursleys' house, but my concerns had quickly faded after Avira showed us her changes almost a week ago — when we returned from our travels. The attic was astoundingly grand, saturated in a dramatic flair that made it feel like an entirely new world. From the bedrooms to the kitchen, nothing here could be associated with those horrid Dursleys.

I carefully helped Harry through the cabinet, his thick woolen coat hampering his movements a bit, before stepping through myself. A few simple steps allowed us to avoid a very public walk and to, essentially, break into the Dursley's home completely undetected. I turned back around to see Avira closing the door on the Vanishing Cabinet and opening the door of the one right next to it.

Just as the house on Wisteria had two Vanishing Cabinets, so did the house on Privet. One cabinet connected back to the linen cupboard on Wisteria, that we had just come through. The other led to a flat in London, one of Lily's safe houses now put to work. Though Harry and I had moved between Wisteria and Privet, it was this network of Vanishing Cabinets we had not ventured into.

It was expertly designed to confound anyone who might attempt to follow. Initially, I'd envisioned a linear chain of connections: London to Dunkirk, then on to Brussels, Luxembourg, Heidelberg, and Augsburg. Bavaria, home to the largest dwarven population, offered unique protections. From there, the route would extend to Liechtenstein and Zurich, strongholds of the gnomes and their formidable wards. A logical progression, I'd thought.

Avira had instead pushed forward the idea of intricate webs, making it even harder for any pursuer to follow us as it would never be a true straight line to our destination. Each safe house connected to multiple locations, with no clear pattern to trace. Nearly every property boasted at least four exits: three Vanishing Cabinets leading in different directions and the Princely Carriage for long distance overland travel that would allow us to hop to the next web. These webs allowed us to traverse entire hemispheres undetected, crossing borders and waters in hours, slipping invisibly from one haven to the next.

"The London flat," Avira announced as we stepped out of the cabinet. She slid the cooker back into place with a quiet hum of satisfaction, once more hiding the Vanishing Cabinet we had come through. "Two bedrooms and a modest living, dining, and kitchen. Minimal magic, muggle friendly appearance, but solid protections underneath. And to keep prying ears away, Harry is technically renting this property — as well as all the others."

I raised an eyebrow as we moved into the sitting room. The space was cozy but deliberately unremarkable, a bland but inviting contrast to the drama of the other homes. "It's absurd that we have to go through such legal gymnastics," I muttered. "Though perhaps it's more absurd that it works."

Avira gave a wry smile. "Absurd, yes, but it does work. And that's what matters." She gestured towards the far side of the flat, continuing her tour. "With the private parking here, you can exit and take the Princely Carriage without technically stepping outdoors. A convenient and secure feature, and not one that many of the properties have, though the protections always extend out to property lines."

Her tone was practical, but there was a glint of pride in her eyes as she added, "Now, let me show you where the real magic is hiding. This panel here is false. Push right here."

I pressed where she indicated, and the panel popped open, revealing three Vanishing Cabinets nestled within. They were identical and unlabeled, designed to mislead anyone who might stumble across them.

"These are our trap connections," Avira explained. "Decoys. They go to heavily protected properties with alerts to the Goblin Nation."

With a direct connection to Little Whinging, this location had the most false trails and a muggle design that was meant to throw off anyone who would follow. Harry and I would not even tour them, they were simply there to cause greater confusion.

"And if you just reach your hand around here," Avira said as she stretched her arm around the frame. "Oh, maybe you should do it, Harry. Come here and see if you can find the switch."

Still bundled up in his thick coat, Harry shuffled over, his small hands reaching out to feel around the edge. He leaned in, twisting his small body to get a better angle, and then grinned. "I see it!" He pressed a hidden button, and the three decoy cabinets slid aside, revealing a single Vanishing Cabinet behind them.

"Well done, Harry!" I said, beaming. Avira nodded in approval.

"This is the real connection, hidden through muggle means to make it more difficult — especially for magical pursuers," she said, holding the mechanism open. "Bella, I know you wanted to try a drill. I'll just go through the Cabinet now and leave you to it."

I nodded and Avira walked through the Vanishing Cabinet. Harry and I moved back toward the kitchen. The decoy cabinets slid back into place, the wooden panel closing with a soft click. The mechanism that revealed the real cabinet reset itself automatically, the false trail once again creating its camouflage.

"Now before we start, let's take out the practice Thingummy," I said, "it's the one with the blue on the bottom."

I retrieved my practice Thingummy from my pocket as Harry held his up to show me the blue that indicated it was the practice one and not the real one. Each small piece of dark wood was engraved with intricate runes and infused with enough magic to destroy a Vanishing Cabinet if stamped against it.

The real Thingummies were a final safeguard, designed to sever connections in an emergency. Destroying both cabinets in a pair. I had asked for a couple of inert ones to be crafted so Harry and I could practice running through the cabinets and hitting them as though we were actually in peril. Today, though, we'd use these harmless replicas in our Racing Drill. A sort of just-in-case drill.

"Here's the plan, Harry," I said, crouching to his level. "We'll practice running from the kitchen to the cabinet. I'll handle opening things and the stamping. Your job is to keep your Thingummy ready in case you need to step in. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded, his face serious. "Just like Clinkscale says — 'One should always be prepared to use their blade, even if there's no cause to unsheath it.'"

I stifled a sigh. Harry's goblin studies, while bolstering his confidence, weren't always best suited to a small human boy. Still, his determination was inspiring.

We set ourselves in front of the cooker, as though ready for a game of chase.

"Ready. Steady. Go!"

We bolted through the kitchen, racing around the hall. I pressed the wall panel and reached for the hidden button, sliding aside the false cabinets to reveal the real one. Swinging the door open, I motioned for Harry, who dove inside without hesitation. I followed, the door clicking shut behind me as the false cabinets slid back into place, concealing our escape.

On the other side, Avira was already congratulating Harry. I emerged from the cabinet and slammed the practice Thingummy against its surface, completing the drill.

"Yes!" Harry shouted, his grin wide as he celebrated with whoops and laughter, as I walked through the larder and into a kitchen.

"That was very well done," Avira remarked. Harry bounced around the room like a Kneazle on catnip. Flushed with excitement, he was practically vibrating with energy, his delight lighting up the room.

Avira turned her attention to the cabinet, hiding it away behind the back wall of the larder with a click, her voice as casual as though we were discussing tea rather than complex layers of magical and muggle security. "The London flat is one of the most protected locations. We put a lot of work into the visuals and using more mundane tricks and illusions to hide behind the big magic. Even if someone tracks the magic to the cabinets, they won't think to look for the muggle tricks or the new cabinet beyond them. Magic gets all the attention, but sometimes it's the unremarkable bits that do the heavy lifting."

Avira showed us through to the cozy rooms of the ground floor, away from the kitchen and its hidden Vanishing Cabinet.

"Welcome to Sleaford," Avira said with a warm smile as Harry's wide eyes darted around, taking in the homely details. "This little village is peaceful and unassuming, just the sort of place no one looks at twice. The house is tucked away from the village itself and thrives on its seclusion. Anonymity is its greatest asset."

The sitting room featured a warm hearth, while the compact kitchen was well stocked with jars of preserves and dried herbs hanging from the beams. The dining room, with its large window, offered a view of the garden, its bare trees stark against the grey sky.

As we walked through the house, Avira's voice was steady but filled with enthusiasm. "Sleaford connects to four others: Norwich, Cardiff, Sunderland, and Dunkirk," she explained, her grin brightening her expression. "Each house is part of a carefully designed web, with many such webs scattered all over the world. The connections within each web are deliberate. Norwich leads to Bath, Birmingham, and Amsterdam. Cardiff branches off to Dublin, Liverpool, and Sheffield. Sunderland links up north to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester. And Dunkirk?" She flicked on a light as we passed into another room, her tone softening as if unveiling a secret. "That one takes you directly across the Channel leading out to Paris, Luxembourg, and Düsseldorf. Closer towards safety with the gnomes and dwarves. It's right on the edge of the range, but it works beautifully."

Harry's eyes widened as he took it all in, his young mind clearly spinning with possibilities. "So… we can go anywhere?"

Avira crouched down slightly, resting her hands on her knees. "Anywhere? Not quite, Harry. But most places worth going. And if you're clever about it, no one will ever follow."

I couldn't help but marvel at the intricacy of it all. Every connection felt deliberate, each link serving a specific purpose. No house stood alone, yet the network avoided relying on a single central thread. "And the overlap?" I asked, glancing at her.

"The overlap allows for additional confusion," she said, straightening. "Take the Birmingham house, for instance. It links to Liverpool, Manchester, and Oxford. Liverpool connects back to Bath, Cardiff, and Birmingham. Cardiff links to Dublin, which connects to Glasgow, Derry, and Cork. It's a web, interconnected but without a singular path tying it all together."

"Like a proper spider's web," I muttered, half to myself, "where no thread runs through the whole."

"That's the idea," Avira nodded. "If someone finds one cabinet, they'll only see a few options. Even if they figure out the network, they'll run in circles, while we move freely between webs. And if we need to cut them off..." She motioned to Harry's Thingummy, still clutched in his hand from our drill.

I traced the lines of the different webs in my mind, imagining how the connections overlapped and doubled back. Each house had its own network, but there were points where they intersected. The trick was knowing how to navigate them — and how to use them to our advantage.

"Some of these houses will be for education," I murmured, half to myself. "We'll need houses that are easy to reach but secure enough to avoid attention. The rest —" I glanced over at Avira as we walked through the last bedroom. "The rest will be for emergencies."

"Exactly," she said, her voice low but approving.

"Are we going through another one, Gran?" Harry asked quietly.

"Yes, Harry, we are going through a couple more together today and then I will go through the rest before we start doing our Racing Drills to make sure we can get through the maze Avira has made for us. The next one is Dunkirk."

Avira nodded as Harry asked, "Why that one?"

"That one's special," Avira said, her tone softening slightly as she smiled at Harry. "It's the one that crosses the fastest. It's close to the edge of the cabinet's range, but it works. From there, we have access to the webs on the continent. The games you will play with Bella will teach you how to race through to Sleaford and then to Dunkirk first because that one is the fastest route to the safest areas away from Britain — with the exception of the yacht."

While Avira took us back down through the little House towards the cellar, I kept my eyes open for any possible problems. I let my mind thread together the geography, reminding myself of all the information she had sent me through our many letters. I would be using several of the Houses for educational purposes. Clinkscale already had multiple tutors approved to help with various subjects that would be under the strictest of Gringotts contracts. We would also be using false identities and charms to disguise our appearance. We hadn't yet decided which of the houses to use for these purposes yet, however, so I was doing my best to analyze each one to find the best suited Houses.

"I think it's all worked out rather well," I said, nodding in satisfaction as we made our way down to an ordinary looking cellar. It was lined with polished glass jars and shelves of pickled this and that.

"The real brilliance," Avira said proudly, as she straightened a jar of pickled onions on a nearby shelf, "of my design is in the disconnection of each web. The use of a series of contained webs allows the two of you to use the Princely Carriage to get to the next web. I know that you were worried, Bella, about using the Carriage and being vulnerable outside. But each of these properties is extremely protected, the Carriage itself boasts protections, and the disconnect adds to it all a measure of confusion for anyone who would follow you. Popping out into the Carriage and going to the next web, leaves your pursuers to go round and round in a single web. Stuck either here or in any of the other regions around the world. That is, if you don't break all the cabinets with the Thingummy."

Jumping between these individual webs we could make our way through all of Europe and Asia before a clever jump into the Americas. Safehouses were dotted with Vanishing Cabinets through the southern hemisphere as well, giving us access to Africa and Australia.

"Here it is, the Sleaford network," Avira said, her voice echoing faintly in the tight space, as she pulled a discreet lever. The wall shifted aside to reveal a hidden hall, narrow and lit with glowing orbs, with four gleaming Vanishing Cabinets standing sentinel.

None of them were labeled, for the sake of safety, but I knew where each cabinet led from Avira's letters as she set things up over the past month. Unlike most other safehouses, the Sleaford House had four Vanishing Cabinets. This gave us an abundance of options and would cause our potential pursuers an abundance of doubt.

"Have you tested the Dunkirk cabinet?"

"We have tested every cabinet multiple times and with a variety of individuals under different conditions. We didn't leave anything to chance, Bella."

I returned her soft smile as I opened the correct cabinet, "Just double checking. This is one of the ones that really pushes how far the cabinets can go. But you can't beat being able to go over water like this."

Avira nodded and stepped through the cabinet, Harry following her with a smile. I shut the door as I climbed through the cabinet myself, letting the cool veil of magic sweep over me.

The Dunkirk house was smaller than Sleaford, but it had an undeniable charm. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and from where I stood, I could see the sea stretching out to meet the horizon. The air carried the faint scent of saltwater and the gulls outside made their presence known with raucous cries.

Harry dashed to the window, his nose practically pressed against the glass. "Look at that!" he exclaimed. "You can see the boats!"

I joined him, the sight of his enthusiasm taking me by surprise. The house was perched just close enough to the water to offer a view, yet far enough to feel secluded. It was modestly furnished, a kitchen that gleamed with recent use, a sitting room with a matching sofa, and a snug armchair. A small dining table was set up near the window, perfectly positioned to take in the view.

"Well, this is lovely," I said, turning to Avira. "How about lunch?"

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The courtyard was serene, almost deceptively so, its charm understated by design. The climbing roses, stripped bare for winter, curled up the trellis walls, while the dormant fountain stood at the center like a forgotten relic. Harry had run himself ragged exploring every corner of the Paris House since we had arrived from Dunkirk, and now he sat on the edge of the fountain, swinging his legs as he caught his breath.

"It's clever," I said, tucking my hands into my pockets as I watched him. "But you've outdone yourself, really. Mostly muggle in appearance, with those subtle touches of magic that even I can use. It's seamless work. And the webs…" I shook my head. "They are extensive."

"Extensive," Avira echoed, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "That's one word for it."

"The Mer system you're working on integrating with the Vanishing Cabinets might make all of this redundant," I added, tilting my head toward her.

"True." Avira shrugged, her expression light. "But something like that takes time. We've only just started using those glimmers to communicate with the Mer Team. Clinkscale's thrilled about it, of course — keeps going on like it's another feather in his cap. Or sword in his collection. However he would put it."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "The goblin obsession with swords is certainly significant. I told you how he's been writing to Harry about weaponry? All the different types and their uses?"

Avira nodded, her amusement evident. "You mentioned it. Sounds as though he is taking his role as Harry's pen friend quite seriously."

We laughed together for a moment before Avira's tone shifted back to business. "Here in Paris, as well as in Luxembourg and Düsseldorf are what we have named End Points. They're the edges of one of the webs. Each only has one true Vanishing Cabinet connecting them to Dunkirk. The rest are decoys, leading back to those extra-secure houses. Same setup as the London flat. If anyone goes through them, the alerts go straight to the Goblin Nation."

"And this courtyard is the actual escape?" I asked, glancing at Harry, who had begun tracing patterns along the frost-tipped stone. "Your letters made it sound like you'd done something elaborate here, but it looks completely ordinary."

"Good," Avira said, her smile bright. "That's exactly how it should look — completely unassuming. If anyone should know how to hide in plain sight, Bella, it's you." She touched my arm with a playful grin, and I smirked, rolling my eyes.

She gestured back towards the courtyard. "Every stone out there is covered in runic arrays, hidden from cursory inspection of course. Mixing two magics is always tricky, but this space has just enough leeway for both to function together. The Princely Carriage works here, though it should always be a last resort."

I nodded, watching as Harry ran his fingers along the fountain's edge. "Shall we go through now? Looks like he's tired himself out a bit," I said, my voice softening. "We can give it a try. Take a ride to the yacht, then back to Little Whinging. I'd like to see it. Your letters, and Clinkscale's, didn't do justice to the Houses we've seen today. I can't imagine how different the yacht must be."

"That sounds perfect. After you." Avira stepped aside, motioning toward the courtyard.

I went through, pulling the familiar box from my pocket as we stepped out into the crisp air. I hesitated for a moment, the weight of its significance lingering. Though the Houses served more than just emergency escape routes, I couldn't shake the feeling that every use carried the urgency of a life-or-death situation.

Once the Mer Ring System was integrated with the Vanishing Cabinets, things would be easier. One cabinet could lead to any other, with only a trusted few holding the keys. For now, though, I had to agree with Avira: the added layers of confusion and subterfuge were worth the inconvenience.

Harry looked up at me with his bright, tired eyes. "Do we get to see our boat now?"

"Yes," I said, kneeling to his level and holding out the box. "We'll use the Carriage to go from here to the yacht. Would you like to activate it, Harry? It's good practice. Remember, if you ever need to run, you get through a cabinet or into the Carriage as fast as you can. That's the most important thing."

Harry's small hands reached for the black lacquered box and he gave us a soft smile. He glanced at me, waiting for my nod, before carefully recalling the Carriage as we had practiced over the course of our holiday.

The air shimmered faintly, the runes in the courtyard lighting up in sequence as the Princely Carriage unfolded before us. Its sleek, almost regal design standing out against the muted courtyard. Harry clambered in eagerly. Avira and I followed close behind, settling into the plush interior.

The small wall in front of us shifted wide enough for the Carriage to roll through, its wheels gliding silently over the cobblestones. Once we cleared the house and its boundaries, the Carriage picked up speed, zipping through the streets like the Knight Bus — swift and sure.

"In a muggle vehicle," I mused, the scenery beginning to blur, "it would take nearly three hours to get from Paris to Le Touquet. This thing can cut it down to just under an hour, no problem. Its speed and ability to move in, around, and sometimes straight through muggles and their own transportation methods, has been a complete game changer."

I glanced towards Harry, who was gazing out the window on his side, his energy finally calming. "It'll take a bit to get there," I said, "why don't you open one of the compartments and lie down for a bit? Avira and I will chat about boring grown-up things — like errands."

Harry only blinked sleepily at us, prompting us to open one of the compartments and guide him to lie down. The door clicked shut, leaving us in the quiet of the Carriage.

"Such a sweet child," Avira said softly once we had closed the door, though he would not be able to hear us from within the magical compartment with the door closed.

"Absolutely," I agreed, my tone hardening. "I can't fathom anyone treating a child like the Dursleys treated him. I've written to you about what is going to happen there –"

"Oh, yes," she interrupted, a sly grin forming. "I'm quite looking forward to it. Though I wish there was a way for you to take pictures or video throughout their — let's call it torture."

I gave a quiet laugh, though there was little amusement in it. "The Snap Scheme — though, I suppose in this case, it should be more 'conspiracy' than 'scheme'. Can you even have a conspiracy within a scheme?" I chuckled at myself, but Avira just shook her head, a wry smile spreading across her face.

"Why not?" Avira laughed. "It's structured, it's organized. It is certainly for the betterment of some people – just not them."

"At any rate," I continued dryly, the edge of the smirk I sent her way turning sharp, "the Snap Scheme is to help set them up for their move. I want them gone. Not just from the house, but the entire country. And I want it to absolutely destroy them."

Avira's lips curled into a playful grin. "Really earning that nickname, aren't you, Hells Bells?"

I bumped my shoulder lightly against hers, our bodies so close I could feel the warmth of her even through the fabric of our thick coats. "It's more than that," I replied softly, my tone deliberate. "Ever heard of the term 'death knell'?"

She raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with a curious mix of challenge and amusement. "Yes, I've heard of it," she said, her voice a little teasing.

I paused, grimacing sheepishly before continuing, "It comes from the second bell — the one they ring at the death of an individual. At least one person I had trained and worked with thought they were being very clever when they said that I was the death knell of the Death Eaters."

I sighed, glancing over at her with a wry smile. "It's amazing the ridiculous things intelligent people can say. Anyway, the conversation turned into the differences in the bells – the passing bell, death knell, lych bell. And since all these Death Eaters should be firmly assured a place in Hell, it was somehow decided that I should be 'Hells Bells' — the last tolling for the Death Eaters."

Avira bit her lip, clearly trying to suppress the chuckles threatening to spill out. "Funny how names like that come about," she said softly, her eyes twinkling.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Isn't it just? And it's even more absurd because it's probably my own fault. If I hadn't gone and told others about it, thinking it was so ridiculous, it likely would have come to nothing. Instead, a surprisingly large number of sneaky people now call me something... obnoxious."

"I don't find it obnoxious," Avira said, tilting her head as she looked at me, her voice low and steady. There was a softness to it, though, a gentleness that made me look at her again. "I think it suits you. You give them a proper lesson, and they end up exactly where they belong. A fitting name, don't you think?"

I turned my head back towards the window. "Maybe you're right," I murmured, a faint smile tugging at my lips. Her words carried a weight I wasn't sure I wanted to unpack just then, so I simply nodded at the scenery, letting the hum of the Carriage fill the space between us for several heavy moments. The complexity of the world, the monumental tasks I had set myself, sinking into the silence.

"Penny for them?" she asked, nudging her knee against my own.

"There's just so much to do," I said after another moment of silence, trying to gather my thoughts into organized words. "I find it difficult not to get caught in the tangle and attempt to over analyze everything. Harry has so many needs right now. What if I mess things up? What if I'm just as bad as people who are so certain they are right? And there are so many other plots that I have going on… It's just a lot."

Her expression softened, and she reached out to squeeze my hand. "Bella, you are giving him something no one else could. A chance to heal. To be himself. That's more than enough."

I nodded, though the knot in my chest remained. "I hope you're right."

The conversation ebbed and flowed, touching on lighter things — wry commentary on the absurdities of life, stories of misadventures, and the occasional bout of laughter. By the time the Carriage began to slow again, signaling the end of our journey, the heaviness in my chest had lifted, replaced by a renewed strength of conviction.

Through the Carriage windows, the expanse of the marina came into view, the water glinting like liquid steel beneath the late winter sun. And there, towering above the other vessels like a sleek leviathan, was a yacht.

Harry stirred as the Carriage came to a stop, rubbing his eyes as he got out of the compartment. His tired expression vanished the moment he caught sight of the yacht. "Is that it?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe climbing out into the cold.

"Yes, that's ours," I said, stepping out and recalling the Carriage. The cold air bit at my cheeks, but the sight of the yacht was enough to keep me warm. "What do you think, Harry?"

"It's massive!" He craned his neck, his eyes wide as he took in the gleaming white hull and the sleek, modern design. "Does it really move on the water?"

"Massive?" Avira said in confusion, her brow furrowing. We look towards each other and then out across to the yacht.

"Perhaps it is rather large to you Harry, since you are – well, rather small," I said kindly.

"What? No, it's extra big," he said with even greater enthusiasm. "It's the biggest ship here."

As Avira and I followed his pointing finger to the massive yacht that was moored just beyond our own we had to stifle our laughter.

"Oh, no, Harry. Not that one. The other one," I came closer to him and gently repositioned his hand towards the more modest yacht docked beside the leviathan. "You see? It's that one with the blue stripe."

"But," he said in forlorn confusion, "it's so tiny."

Avira and I exchanged an amused smile. Next to the floating palace nearby, our yacht was rather tiny. A pleasure cruiser no more than 22 meters long, with three decks and a flybridge. Its clean lines and unassuming exterior couldn't compete with the grandeur of its neighbor.

"Our suitcase is also very small, though," I said as I took his hand and we began to walk over. "We fit a whole cottage in there complete with both a vegetable patch and flower garden. Not to mention our little pond."

"Right," Harry said, sounding more certain. "Can you do that on a boat too?"

"I can do something like that just about anywhere, Harry," Avira replied, a bit of smugness seeping into her tone. It was nice to hear her being proud of her work. It felt like the rest of the world was letting down this magnificent artist at every step.

When we walked on the deck, it did not change. It was a simple, if elegant space made of teak and cleverly laid out. But had not a hint of magic to it. When we opened the first door, however, everything changed. There was a whole world inside this small vessel.

Harry bolted back outside, looked around the exterior deck and then came right back in again. "It's smaller on the outside!" he shouted with a laugh, his voice filled with wonder.

I pulled Harry to me and helped him out of his coat, putting the three coats away in a convenient and overly large cloak room beside the door, while we both took a good look around.

The interior was a marvel of magical engineering. The entrance was spacious and bright, its walls lined with enchanted windows that displayed calming views of the sea, regardless of the yacht's actual location. Polished oak beams stretched overhead, their warm tones offset by the plush navy furnishings. A softly glowing chandelier hung from the ceiling, its light as warm as the summer sun.

"Does it really move on the water like a proper boat?"

"Like a dream," Avira said, reaching a hand out to him so she could lead him on the tour. "Every detail has been considered. It's self-sufficient, with enough resources to sustain you indefinitely if need be. And, of course, it's secure. No one's finding you unless you give the okay."

"And there's a farm here as well? Just like the homes in Little Whinging?" I asked as we moved through to the grand salon.

The grand salon was a sight to behold. Dark walnut parquet floors gleamed underfoot, softened by Persian rugs in muted jewel tones. The walls, lined with lacquered mahogany, featured delicate inlays of mother-of-pearl that gave a faint magical glow in the soft light.

Overstuffed leather sofas in cream and sapphire were arranged in cozy clusters, flanked by side tables inlaid with lapis lazuli. Floor-to-ceiling windows, far too large for the actual proportions of the boat, were framed by silk navy drapes that offered breathtaking, enchanted views of a calm ocean just before sunset, even though the yacht was still docked. In one corner, a grand piano in glossy black stood next to a fully stocked bar, where crystal decanters of rare spirits sparkled like jewels.

Harry's attention was immediately drawn to the sweeping staircase that spiraled gracefully through the heart of the room. Its gold banister and crystal balustrade gleamed, and above it, a domed skylight etched with enchanted celestial patterns depicted a moving night sky. Stars twinkled, constellations shifted, and a comet occasionally streaked across the glass.

"The farm," Avira continued as she led us past the salon, "produces all the food you'll ever need, completely on auto spell. At the moment, it's generating more than it's using, so anything extra is being preserved. Various jams, syrups, cheeses, yogurts, you name it. You have quite the stockpile of it already starting. Even the livestock feed is taken care of on auto. You'll only need to intervene for births, deaths, or special requests. For instance, if you'd prefer strawberries to go into jam rather than yogurt, you can adjust that easily."

Harry was slowly spinning under the enchanted dome, watching as the stars and constellations moved across a night sky, but tore his gaze away, his interest piqued. "I like growing our food. There's so much at the house already though, that I'm not sure we'll even need food from the suitcase."

"Well," I said, smiling, "those are special varieties. Perhaps they'll be saved for special occasions." I glanced at Avira. "I did try the butcher box in Little Whinging. Just simple things so far, but it seems straightforward enough."

"There is an integrated butcher here. You can set it to any cut you would like and then the meats can be put in the cabinets under preservation charms."

We continued the tour, Avira leading us to the far end of the salon, where a pair of arched double doors awaited. As she pushed them open, Harry gasped.

The library was something out of a dream. Vaulted ceilings stretched impossibly high, their wooden beams carved with intricate patterns of ivy and roses. Shelves climbed all the way to the top, accessed by ladders that slid smoothly along brass rails. At the center of the room, a massive globe floated serenely, its surface enchanted to display not only the geography of the world but also weather patterns, ocean currents, and even the constellations.

"It's huge!" Harry said, craning his neck to take it all in.

"It's enchanted to expand as needed," Avira explained, running her fingers along the spine of a particularly ancient looking book. "Every subject you could want is here — history, magical theory, natural sciences. The books even rearrange themselves to suggest new topics once you've finished reading."

"This will do quite nicely," I said taking it all in. "Harry is going to need access to extensive materials after he is bathed in starlight by the goblins, they predict that he will quickly absorb new information. Your team was able to gather quite a lot for the yacht."

"We had a lot to work with," Avira said. "You wanted everything from the most basic to the most advanced levels in such a wide variety of subjects, that there was really no limit."

"True. Though I think I might like the library back in Little Whinging more, with its simple catalog the books are always where they should be."

"These books are always where they should be too, Bella," she said with a sigh and a smirk. "It will help with the intensive learning. Harry will need to have the next subject or next level arrange itself in front for him to browse."

"When do I get to go to the stars?" Harry asked as he poked at the ocean currents on the magical globe. "Is it soon?"

"That depends," I said with a soft smile. "Master Erlast wants to do an examination of you before making a final decision. But the Masters who have been hard at work trying to determine the very best time for you, would like to do it on the Vernal Equinox. That's just in a few weeks."

"It will all work out just fine Harry," Avira comforted, "They have it all in hand and Master Clinkscale will be with you the whole time. Come on," she said as she held out her hand to him, "I bet you want to see the farmland." Harry's eyes widened and we followed Avira out of the library and towards the farms.

As she led us into the first of the rooms, Harry was practically vibrating but he slowed and calmed as soon as he stepped through. The air here was warm and humid, carrying the faint, earthy scent of damp soil and blooming flowers. Narrow stone pathways snaking between lush beds of exotic plants — orchids with petals like spun glass, ferns that shimmered faintly in the light, and just beyond was a small citrus grove where oranges and lemons grew in abundance.

"It's like a proper greenhouse," I murmured, running my hand along a trellis laden with trailing jasmine.

"It is a greenhouse," Avira corrected. "Every plant here has been carefully chosen for its magical or culinary properties. And just like in Little Whinging, they will harvest and pack themselves up." She pointed a bit away from the trees, "They'll drop into that basket there as soon as they're ripe. Then it's off to the various store rooms or to production. Juices, jellies, and marmalades, mostly."

Harry crouched beside a bed of tiny, glowing mushrooms. "Do these grow by themselves too?"

"They do," Avira said, kneeling down beside him in the soft earth. "And if you touch them just so—" She brushed a finger against one of the caps, and it lit up like a fairy, a soft golden glow spilling across the soil. Harry smiled happily.

"A gift from your goblin kin," she looked back at me with a smile, "Clinkscale has ensured we have several types of goblin foods available to grow here on the yacht. I know you and I are going to start our studies on indoor growing for the magical plants, but the goblins have been growing these without access to real sun or star light forever."

"That's a wonderful gift," I said slightly surprised. "Though I thought the hardest part of growing here would be —"

"— the movement of the ship," Avira and I finished together and then laughed.

We carried on, and Avira led us deeper into the greenhouse, past rows of plants glowing faintly in the filtered light. Harry darted between the citrus trees and flower beds, stopping now and then to inspect an unfamiliar fruit or trace the veins of a particularly large leaf. It was idyllic, warm and inviting, the air tinged with the sweet, sharp scent of blooming herbs and ripening fruit.

As we rounded a corner, I noticed something was peculiar about this section of the greenhouse. The air grew noticeably cooler, and a faint mist clung to the floor, curling lazily around our feet like a low lying fog on an autumn morning.

"This part feels cold," Harry observed, hugging his arms around himself, perhaps wishing he still had the warm woolen coat we had left behind.

"It is," Avira confirmed, gesturing towards the beds that lined the frosty section. "Some plants require cold periods to thrive. Apples, cherries, plums — they all need a good chill to properly set their fruit. It's called vernalisation, the way certain crops respond to cold to trigger their growth and reproduction cycles. This section is recreating that process; each section will go through it at some point. It's as though the seasons will move through the farmland."

I stepped closer, peering at the trees and plants arranged in neat rows. The apple trees were compact yet heavy with fruit, their branches adorned with scarlet orbs that practically begged to be plucked. There were rows of neatly pruned blackcurrant bushes and clusters of raspberry canes, their thorns glinting faintly in the pale light.

"How does it stay cold in here?" Harry asked, his breath fogging up as he spoke.

Avira smiled, running her hand along the bark of one of the trees. "There's an enchantment woven into the walls, floor, ceiling, and into the soil itself. It creates a self-contained microclimate, mimicking the winter frost, allowing the plants to go dormant when needed. It follows the natural cycles, and once the 'winter' phase is over, the enchantment eases right into spring."

She plucked a cluster of red currants from a nearby bush and handed it to Harry. "Here, try these. They're perfectly ripe because the plant's already had its cold period."

Harry hesitated, then popped a berry into his mouth. His eyes widened immediately. "It's so sweet! And tart!" he exclaimed. "I thought fruit from cold places would taste boring."

Avira chuckled. "The cold actually improves the flavor of some fruits. Apples, for instance, grow sweeter after a frost. It's nature's way of balancing things out."

I studied the cold section with a mix of curiosity and admiration. The attention to detail was astonishing. Even the air smelled different here — crisp and clean, with a faint hint of snow. The mist that curled along the ground wasn't just for effect. It helped maintain the humidity levels needed for the trees and bushes to thrive.

"There's even a section for forcing rhubarb," Avira added, pointing to a row of tall, darkened clay pots tucked against the far wall. "The roots are chilled during their dormant phase, and then they're encouraged to grow quickly in the dark. The stalks end up a brilliant pink and much sweeter than usual."

Harry leaned closer to one of the clay pots, his eyes wide with fascination. "It's like magic," he said, before breaking into a cheeky grin. "Well, I suppose it is magic, isn't it?"

Avira laughed softly. "It's a blend of magic and nature. The pots allow us greater control without having to add another layer of magic, but the magic provides the right temperature for it to all happen. And even with all the spells, the plants still need time to grow and do what they do best. The enchantments just give them a bit of a nudge."

I walked over to a small wooden bench near the apple trees, where several wicker baskets sat brimming with freshly harvested fruit — waiting to be moved to various areas of the ship for processing after their harvest. "So, you've created multiple seasons in this farmland all at once," I said, marvelling at the ingenuity. "A warm section and a cool section right next to each other — that seems more advanced than what we have in Little Whinging. Is it much more complex?"

"Absolutely," Avira replied, her tone brimming with pride. "The enchantments are interwoven, and adjust themselves based on the plants' needs. Far beyond just the basic level we put in the suitcase and for Little Whinging. This, well it's just as self-sustaining, but if you ever want to tweak things — say, extend the winter to get a better cherry yield — it's as simple as a few twists on the controls."

Harry wandered off to examine the blackcurrants, popping a few into his mouth as he went. "I like it here," he said between bites. "It feels alive."

I couldn't help but agree. The greenhouse was nothing short of miraculous — a living, breathing tapestry of nature, nurtured and sustained by magic. It was a reminder of the beauty that could be found in balance, even when everything else in the world felt out of sync.

From the garden, we continued to the entertainment deck. The first thing I noticed was the sound — a soft hum of music that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. It was subtle, always in the background, adjusting its tone and tempo to suit the mood of the room.

The main attraction was a grand cinema, its tiered seating upholstered in velvet and arranged before a massive, curved screen. A panel beside the door offered an endless selection of films from all over the world.

Harry clambered onto one of the seats, his face lighting up as the screen flickered to life, displaying a moving menu. "Can we watch something now?"

"Later," I said with a chuckle, ruffling his hair.

Adjacent to the cinema was a games room, complete with a pool table, dartboard, and shelves filled with board games and enchanted puzzles. A cabinet in the corner held what appeared to be muggle arcade machines, though Avira explained they were enchanted to work without electricity.

Eventually, we reached the uppermost deck, the flybridge, a spacious open-air area cleverly enclosed by an invisible charm that kept the biting winter breeze at bay. The teak flooring gleamed faintly in the soft, ambient glow of fairy lights overhead, suspended as though by an unseen hand. The air here felt fresher, lighter.

Harry leaned over the polished teak handrail, his small frame dwarfed by the expanse of the marina below. His wide eyes reflected the twinkling lights of the moored yachts and the shimmering surface of the water. "It's like a whole world in here," he said softly, his voice laced with wonder.

"It's peaceful, isn't it?" I said, coming to stand beside him. His gaze remained fixed on the scene below, his expression contemplative, as if he was soaking in every detail.

Avira gestured for me to join her near the helm. "Come on, Bella," she said, her voice light. "Let me show you how it works."

I hesitated, but curiosity got the better of me. She gestured to the wheel, her fingers brushing over the polished surface. "This part's straightforward enough," she began. "No need to wrestle with the wheel, it's charmed to respond to intent rather than brute force — a light touch will do. The compass? Fully enchanted. It points you exactly where you need to go, even if it's not on any map. And this," she said, tapping a discreet brass button that looked like part of the trim, "activates the climate shield, so you'll be snug whatever the weather's like outside."

I reached out to the wheel, its wood smooth and warm beneath my fingers. "And the dials?" I asked, nodding to the array of gauges that ringed the helm.

"Some are muggle, so that you can steer and power the boat under non magical means," Avira said with a smirk, "but most are magical. This one," she pointed to a small dial that seemed to shimmer faintly, "measures magical propulsion levels. The runes beneath the hull do most of the heavy lifting—no fuel needed, just a steady supply of ambient magic. Since you are on the open water, you will have access to plenty of that. Many thanks to the Mer."

I nodded and stepped closer to her, examining the seemingly ordinary controls. "It all looks so muggle," I said, surprised.

"Of course it does," Avira replied with a chuckle. "The best magic is the sort that blends seamlessly with the mundane. These types of controls are used all over Asia. Once we got past sail boats, the runes masters there caught on very quickly. And with just a few modifications these controls can actually double for the controls of those airships you flew on during your holiday."

Harry turned back from the railing, his curiosity now fixed on us. "Can I steer it?" he asked, his face lighting up at the thought.

Avira raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Not just yet, young man. But someday, perhaps."

Satisfied with her explanation, I leaned back, letting Avira take the lead once more. She continued to walk me through the intricacies of the helm, explaining how to balance the yacht's magical systems with its physical movements, how to adjust the climate barrier to ensure comfort in any weather, and even how to recalibrate the spells for different types of water—freshwater lakes versus the open sea.

"And finally," Avira said with a flourish, "this one is just for fun." She turned a small dial and the deck shimmered, and a sunken hot tub emerged smoothly from the woodwork, the water crystal clear and gently rippling as if it had always been there. Steam was curling into the air and disappearing against the invisible weather barrier. Around it, cushioned seating in muted tones of navy and cream circled low wooden tables, invitingly placed for lazy evenings with a drink in hand. A brass tray on one of the tables held a selection of glasses and an unopened bottle of elderflower cordial.

We laughed in delight.

"It all stays hidden until needed. No point having it in the way, is there?" Avira said with a grin.

"Can we use it now?" he asked, leaning closer to peer into the inviting water.

"Not just yet," I said, laughing. "It's a bit late for a dip, don't you think? But how about a little drink before we head home through the cabinet here for tea. It's gotten late rather quickly."

We settled into the cushioned seats, Avira pouring out glasses of fizzy water with a generous splash of cordial. The soft strains of a wireless drifted through the air, playing an old tune that felt as timeless as the sea around us. Harry sipped his drink, his legs dangling off the edge of his seat as he looked out at the water, his face serene in the golden glow of the fairy lights.

The marina below shimmered as the sun dipped lower, the water reflecting the last blush of twilight like scattered jewels. For the first time since stepping aboard, a quiet calm settled over me. I glanced at Harry, his gaze fixed on the horizon, and felt a flicker of hope. This was going to work.

፠

05 March 1985

"... and that's where we are with the Americans. I think you will agree that we have everything well in hand."

"It certainly sounds like it, Master Clinkscale," I replied, glancing over at Harry. He nodded along, his brow furrowed in concentration.

I had debated bringing him to this meeting. But it was his money and resources we were leveraging, and he deserved to be fully informed. More than that, Harry needed to understand the stakes—the ends we were pursuing, the rotten people we were up against, and the lengths we were going to protect him. After Tom's fall, too many bad people with power and influence had slipped through the cracks, hiding behind lies about the Imperius Curse. They had poisoned our society for far too long. Doing nothing wasn't an option.

"Which leads us to this," Clinkscale said, a sly note in his voice. He pulled out a wooden box the size of an average book. The polished wood had a rich, warm tone and there was an intricate brass design across the sides that glinted in the light of the office. In the center of the lid was a large splat of color and as we watched, it shimmered to a different color in slow rhythmic splashes.

"Between the Mer, an existing patent in America, and the American toy maker, we have finalized the product. We are still working on marketing and product packaging, but this is for you." He handed the box to Harry, who opened the lid cautiously.

Inside were three small toy wands. Harry leaned closer to inspect the instructions printed on the inside of the lid as Clinkscale continued, "Right now we are using the name PrismPainter Foci. It is a small Foci. Just like the toy wands that occasionally become available on the market here, the Americans have had something similar. A few years ago it was all the rage to have a game of chase and throw stinging hexes for American children. It's fallen out of favor now, just the cycle of fads, but the patent was available and a producer over there was willing to adjust things to work with the Mer Spah Loo. I must say that I am quite interested in this game you have configured Madam Figg."

I had wanted a nerf gun. I hadn't realized they weren't even invented yet.

Then I had thought about paintball. They didn't exist yet either.

It seemed that there was so much that I took for granted as just existing in the background. The technology parts were not so shocking, but no paintball? Really?

What existed was some sort of "paint gun" for marking things like trees. It wasn't really something that would transfer the way that I would like, far too industrial to be useful. It was the Spah Loo that Harry had run afoul of that made me think of the game in the first place. When I sent the idea to Clinkscale, I wasn't sure that it would work out. There were letters back and forth about what was available and could be adapted to the idea. Finding out that the Americans had a game where they hit each other with low grade stinging hexes was not a surprise.

"There is, of course, a potion to take off the paint. It's hidden under the compartment with the wands," Clinkscale said, gesturing back towards the box. "But we have also implemented your idea of a timed dissolve. The paint has been thoroughly tested and will dissolve from any surface, including skin, within half an hour."

"I think that's good for our purposes," I said with a nod. "If this catches on, like I hope it will, then we can create a secondary product line for 'long lasting' paints or even one with specialty colors. It's a good addition to the ArchAngel portfolio."

"Indeed," Clinkscale agreed, his tone approving. "Opening the portfolio beyond half bloods and muggleborns will only lead to the gold moving more swiftly. Which brings us to the next item on that list."

He reached into his desk and pulled out yet another wooden box. This one was smaller, just slightly larger than a deck of cards. It was made of a much darker wood, its high polish gleamed under the light and an inlay of opal on the lid looked like a soft shimmering cloud.

I took the box as he handed it to me and opened it with a sigh of relief. Inside lay something I had been desiring since waking in this new life.

"I was eager to acquire this patent for you," he said as I took out a pair of silver cardigan clips from the box. "We have diligently tested their capabilities. Short of something truly catastrophic, the air within the Clear Air Collar range will remain breathable and free from undesirable fumes."

I clipped the silver set to my collar and sighed in relief. Taking out one of the other pairs from the box, this set stylized with a little sword on one clip and a shield on the other, I attached them to Harry's clothing.

The other thing the 1980s didn't have was good air quality. The office deep below Gringotts was a sanctuary free from the toxins, pollution, and various smoke that everyone in the world above simply breathed in at all times. It would be a whole new millennium before people really started moving on that, and by then they would be far too late to save some things for future generations.

"I was surprised that the patent was for sale for such a useful invention," I commented once Harry's clips were secure. "These were in high demand back in the twenties. Potioneers used them all of the time as an additional safety measure."

Clinkscale shrugged. "I was told it had to do with advancements in environmental controls being integrated into runic arrays. Regardless, it's fortunate for us."

Harry perked up, a smile edging the corner of his mouth, already expecting yet another surprise from his goblin kin as Clinkscale reached back into his desk. With a rumbling huff of laughter at Harry's expectations, he pulled out another box. This one was painted a deep blue and had silver vines delicately decorating it.

"These," Clinkscale said with a small flourish, "are the spectacles that we have been working towards. They have just finished the final testing."

We each took a pair from the box and tried them on. Harry grinned as he slipped his on, tilting his head to see how they adjusted. "Whoa," he murmured, his fingers brushing the edges of the frames as his eyes darted around the room, eager to check every detail.

The lenses automatically adjusted, giving me the clearest possible vision. They compensated for my poor eyesight and brightened the room, revealing even the intricate details carved along Master Clinkscale's Falchtuck, where the sword glimmered on the wall.

"Fick and Ayola have made significant progress in a very short time. All the very basic enchantments are included—always clean, waterproof, and so on—but they have enhanced the baseline significantly. Allowing you to see in the dark as though it were light out. As well as shielding the eyes from excessive sunlight so that you are not dealing with glare. The lenses will also make up for any deficiencies in sight without requiring any additional magical adjustment. On the defensive side they have created an Occlumency like barrier that we have been unable to break through. As long as you are wearing these spectacles, not even a master of Legilimens would be able to read your thoughts."

I took a deep breath. "This will make my meeting with Lord Black at least slightly less intimidating."

"There is not much more we can do to help you there, Madam Figg. All goblin contact has been repeatedly refused. You will be going in alone, but you will not be unprepared."

"We will have more set up and ready before I make that trip anyway. By then we will have a great deal in place."

"I could go with you," Harry said, leaning forward eagerly, his eyes wide with sincerity.

"No, Harry. Not this time," I said with a soft smile. "Though we will go on many adventures together and you will have to attend to your schooling. Don't worry. Between the rest of us, we can handle anything."

Harry nodded and put the box of eyewear into the expanding bag he had already placed the boxes for PrismPainter Foci and the Clear Air Collar.

"The Spectacle shop is just one of the many that are part of the ArchAngel portfolio that will be serving a dual purpose. To help protect you and to help develop businesses that are not wholly based in muggle or pureblood realms. Though if Ms. Ayola's accent were much heavier we might have to get a translator."

"Is she Italian?" Harry asked excitedly, "We know how to speak that! And Gran says we'll learn even more languages."

"No, Mr Potter. She is not Italian," Clinkscale said solemnly, "I'm afraid she's Welsh."

I let out a soft chuckle. "Have you been dealing with them directly, Master Clinkscale?"

"On many occasions," he said with a stoney stare. "Her yappy little dog, Iris, is more easily understood. During one memorable instance both Mr Fick and Ms Ayola became so intent on their own discussion that they may have slipped into an entirely new language. Mr Fick's husband, Alan, and I simply walked away for a cup of tea. Interesting fellow, works administration for the Nimbus company."

Harry and I softly laughed and shook our heads.

"At any rate, they will be continuing their path towards spectacles that have an even greater number of uses and might venture into the offensive at some point. Though, that will be quite some time from now."

"That's fine," I said agreeably, "It's good that they will make their way towards that. I would also like you to have them look into making a pair that would cause the wearer to be invisible on muggle recording devices. The technology is becoming more and more concerning. We will need to figure out how to avoid breaking the Statute as their technology progresses."

"I will add that to my notes," Clinkscale remarked as he scratched something out on the parchment on his desk. "I hope the tour of the properties went well? I understand that you will be touring others before making your final decision on which ones shall be used for Mr Potter's education."

"The boat was the best part, but Gran says it doesn't have a name."

I sighed. Harry had spent much of the time before bed attempting to create a perfect name for the yacht that would be our escape.

"Well, technically speaking," Clinkscale said, "the yacht flies under the flag and name that someone looking for it would expect it to be instead of there being a single name. It's a bit of clever magic that allows it to be basically invisible on a bureaucratic level."

Harry just stared at him in that way only small children are capable. His look seemed to say that the adult simply did not grasp the gravity of the situation—and might even be hopelessly clueless. Clinkscale quickly backtracked, "But of course, you could call it whatever you would like unofficially speaking."

With a smile Harry nodded and sat back in his chair. "I'll think of a really good one."

Relieved, Clinkscale exhaled quietly and straightened in his chair, his gaze meeting my amused eyes as a smirk played around the edges of my mouth.

"Yes," he said clearing his throat, "right. Very good. At any rate, I must express my gratitude Madam Figg for your taking Master Shatterpic and Master Copper Claw in hand. It was rather like being hunted, they were intent and insistent."

"Not to worry," I said, softening as I folded my hands thoughtfully, "I can understand that they want to get things going for the Black accounts as soon as possible, but we need to time everything just so or it will not work as well. I understand that they helped you find the property?"

"Yes," Clinkscale said, inclining his head. "Once they were finally pulled back, we were able to work together. Though, technically speaking they did not assist as the goblins working on the Black accounts. Until Lord Black appoints someone as representative, he is the only person that can make account decisions."

"Right," I said, nodding slightly, understanding that we needed to be legally clear on that point. "Even though Harry is heir presumptive they cannot make any real movement. I understand and appreciate their assistance which is technically outside their purview."

Clinkscale's lips quirked in what might have been amusement at my phrasing. With that bit of legal sleight of hand addressed, we could continue our discussion.

"The property is ready," he said smoothly, "and very creatively includes a history of lagging on the auction block for quite a time."

"I'm sure that it will be perfect," I replied with a smile. "Speaking of creative histories, I have these for you." Reaching into my own expanded bag, I pulled out a carefully wrapped bundle. "I found them in Shali Adrár. I thought they might help find those other objects we discussed. I'm fairly certain that I've overheard conversations Albus had that included things like this. I have a few ideas for starting points that might be helpful as we hunt for them. I'll put together a list once I have a bit of time to think on it."

"That would be very useful," Clinkscale said, his tone pleased as he accepted the bundle. He set the books aside on his desk with practiced care before continuing. "We are able to get a general area, but it is always better to have more intel. Speaking of the Headmaster, we have already begun making small whispers of his capability. Nothing anyone would find unusual or outrageous, but something to build on as we work our way through your plots for him."

"I'm sure he will try to shrug those whispers off," I said, allowing a sharp smile to curl at the edges of my lips. "But eventually, that pride and arrogance will be his downfall."

Clinkscale's expression mirrored my own, sharp smiles shared between us.

"I'm glad that everything is working out for the best," I said, exhaling softly. "Hopefully, things will continue to progress how they should. Harry and I have a few errands to run before returning home. But we will see you again on Friday."

"Of course, I am looking forward to it," Clinkscale said, standing and walking us to the door as Harry and I turned on our charms to disguise ourselves. "I am certain that you will find your weekend here in the Halls most enjoyable, Harry."

Harry glanced up at him with a small, polite smile and gave a quick wave as we exited. His enthusiasm for the meeting had waned after nearly two hours of updates. Though, Clinkscale's distribution of magical gadgetry had lifted him back up, the long meeting had left him a little worn down. As we stepped out, I gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.

"Come on," I said with a soft chuckle. "I think it's time for some tea and a sweet."

Harry perked up at that, his steps growing lighter as we headed off to recharge.

፠

08 March 1985

We were in a bright wide open area. I thought that its openness should make me more calm, easier to detect the enemy, but the reality was that my heart was pounding. The grass moved and the trees swayed as the air shifted in a new direction.

Shadows cast by the tall trees made dark skeletons dance across the green.

My head cocked as I heard a sound to the left and behind me.

Quickly I had to decide if it was a trap or if I could take out my target before I was taken out myself.

As I turned to my left, though, I felt a sharp piercing pain in my right side.

I dropped to my knee, my weapon in my left hand as my right side was compromised. My right hand was pressed against where I had felt the pain, encountering the tell tale wetness of my enemy's success. But I was not beaten yet, they couldn't take down Arabella Figg even if my lungs filled with blood!

I shot off two rounds in quick succession, one slightly lower than the other, in the direction from which my assailant had fired. The enemy was quick and had already dashed away from the hiding spot.

"Oh," I gasped as the next one hit me when I tried to turn and follow their progress. I fell to the ground, looking up into the light. My breaths came in little panting gasps as I cried out at the unfairness of it all. So much more left to do.

I reached a trembling hand out to the light glowing above me before, with three great gasps for air, it fell and my eyes closed.

The giggles were a bit much, honestly, but it was acceptable given my award winning performance.

"Gran, do you want to play again?" said the giggling enemy as he leaned over my colorful corpse.

While Wisteria had to maintain a large amount of muggle only areas in order to fit in with my cover, Avira and her team had installed a new floor on what was once my roof as well as a new cellar.

The cellar had earned the name the Gymnasium, and it certainly was just that. After walking down some stairs from the expanded linen cupboard, there was a hall lined with doors. One for the park, another for the pool, a third for the farm that was growing all of our food. The door to the park opened directly into a large wooden gazebo that looked out over a large grassy terrain.

Around the length of the park was a track for running or walking, with the central area being full of natural obstacles like boulders or sloping hills. There was dottings of trees all around to give it an even more outdoor feel. Harry and I used this area to get into better shape and for us to practice our defense skills.

"I don't think I can go another round dear," I told Harry. "Why don't we go into the pool for a bit and you can practice your kicks."

"Okay," he said as he ran off towards the shed and put away both of our PrismPainters. When he met me at the gazebo he was all rosy cheeked and smiling. It was still a wonder to me sometimes to see him so happy.

Neither of us could really use more active magic, but the PrismPainters allowed us to shoot off stings of magical paint at each other. It encouraged both of us to get better at understanding our surroundings. I was hopeful that it would also improve Harry's wand accuracy when he was older.

I had allowed myself to be talked into taking a commission since it was my idea to create the toy, but I didn't enjoy feeling like I was scamming Harry Potter. Funds were tight, though. We had needed to purchase a large number of things in a small period of time and it would be awhile longer before I was making any money from potions.

I really didn't want to do what Albus had done.

What we thought he had done at any rate.

There were grey and hazy lines there though. If Albus had removed only that exact amount of money from the vault in order to purchase a house for me to keep watch over Harry, was it actually against Harry's best interests? Or did it only fall afoul of the moral and ethical lines when he did not listen to me when I told him things were bad in the Dursley house?

The long and short of it was that I didn't want to even really be near the line that Albus might have crossed. I decided that anything that was solely for Harry, and would never be used by me, would be paid for by the trust and that I would take care of the rest. Things like his education would be covered by the trust, but something like that Princely Carriage was definitely coming from my vault. And it set me back a great enough deal that we would need to be even more frugal as things went on.

As we exited through the door in the gazebo, we reached the hall with a selection of doors for us to choose from. I opened the door to the Olympic size swimming pool, the bright blues and pinks of intricate stone work brightening the room. There was a hot tub off to the side of the pool and more doors that led to showers and changing areas as well as the sauna.

I had decided early on that a pool would probably be the best place for me to start increasing my own exercise habits as it would be more gentle. I had also hoped to increase Harry's swimming abilities and then to ensure he had a large, safe place to practice underwater spellwork. We spent time in the big pool lazying around as he practiced kicking and holding his breath, and then a game of water tag.

After months taking better care of myself, it was finally starting to show. The potions and enchanted objects meant that every little bit that I put into making myself healthier and stronger was multiplied by ten. Even after our play time on the obstacle course I was still able to keep up with Harry in the pool and that was huge. Seeing him kick around the pool, hale and hearty, excited about how much of a splash he could make was lovely to me.

It had taken a little while to get over the "walking on eggshells" part of our new arrangement, for both of us. Neither of us wanted to upset the other and it was difficult to gauge reactions with so many unknowns. After our time away, we were at this cozy stage and exploring wonderful things together in new and exciting places. I knew that eventually there should be a "testing boundaries" stage. I wasn't an expert in psychology or anything, it was simply obvious common knowledge. That common knowledge didn't include how to handle such a stage, so I would have to play it by ear.

It was time for lunch after we finished up at the pool, both of us hungry after all of our activities. As I went into the kitchen to see what I could make I reflected on the changes to the non magical parts of the house. When creating the changes for Wisteria Walk I needed to continue to keep up appearances with a wide range of people. As such while my kitchen had been renovated there were no runic arrays or a magical cold box. The food from the farmland was sent over to the magical kitchen on Privet, where we took most of our meals.

My dining room, once home to the many kneazles I had been raising, was restyled as a lovely library and office. The few well trained kneazles I had kept on were content being able to access the new expanded areas. The only magical area connected to the rest of the house was the linen cupboard, an area that any magical visitor may have already known was magical in the first place.

All of the magical additions had been contained by special insulation materials fashioned out of potion soaked stones with a large number of runes on them. It wasn't necessary for the continued use of muggle electronics to insulate like this, though many a pureblood would attempt to argue. Instead it was to help keep the amount of magic in use more invisible to those who could sense such a thing. And if ever there was a person with that ability it would be Albus Dumbledore.

I took a moment to wonder if the exploding of electronics was just something that the Fandom made up and then forgot that they made up. Like the time telling spell, Tempus. I remembered reading someone's rant about how the spell was retroactively made canon by the tv series The Marauders. Part of the rant had included the bit from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire where Harry breaks his watch by swimming with it in the second task. Because our favorite lad thought going into the lake with his wristwatch was a brilliant move. And you know that it's a wristwatch because he takes it off his wrist when Hagrid brings out the nifflers later on. Since it was extremely unlikely for a muggle raised child in the 1990s to have a wind up watch, it was probably battery powered. Ta-da! Electronics work, even at Hogwarts.

Though even in this reality some of that rumor persists. Given that Diagon Alley and the Ministry are huge magical areas in or under busy parts of muggle London, obviously it isn't that magic makes technology explode. It's more likely that people with magic make things explode. It would be surprising if Arthur Weasley, with his invisible magical flying, space expanded car, hadn't blown a few things up just because he poked it with magic without even a basic understanding of electricity.

I looked at my own wristwatch as I pulled things out of cupboards in the kitchen. There were no messages. No alerts. No games reminding me to play. Not even an ad. There never would be. Such things simply did not exist. Not in the muggle world. Not in the magical world. It would be ages before such things even really gained traction. But throughout our trip I had tapped at my wrist to bring up my display. A display that wasn't there. For a gadget that didn't exist. To speak to people who hadn't even been born yet.

When we had stopped in the Alley earlier this week, after our update meeting with Clinkscale, Harry and I had passed this little shop. It was the display in the window that had caught my attention. Special bespoke watches, blared the signage. One of which would calculate the age of the wearer and anyone near them. A group of children passed the display and it calculated their ages, spouting random trivia such as how long it would be before they could expect their Hogwarts acceptance letters. When Harry and I passed in front of it, it showed a child roughly the age of four and a half.

And another child the age of three months.

We were in the door of Tick-Tock Trinkets so fast that it wasn't even a conscious decision. On first impression the shop was loud, ticking away in a layered harmony, it smelled of old leather and polished brass, and had far too many shining trinkets precariously leaning in piles.

The elderly looking wizard at the counter, his half-moon spectacles glinting as he used magic to charm the floating gears beside him into place, had not even looked up at us when we entered. When he was finished he wiped his brow and was confounded by my requests. I explained it away as having been in an accident, exactly that amount of time ago. That the healers didn't even know all the stray spells that had hit me. I distracted him by asking for a specific look and finish to the watch. It was a pricey piece, but worth it. As I left, my new watch upon my wrist, I couldn't help but feel something as important as destiny was pressing down on me.

Harry went upstairs to his little room to grab a book to read while I put together something light to eat. His room was the only area that had really been touched on that floor as all my bedroom needed was a new coat of paint and a good scrub. The guest room was now a bedroom for little Harry, it was perhaps about the same size as the smallest bedroom at the Dursley's house. A small twin bed with navy and white sheets was tucked into one wall opposite a wardrobe and a small desk with a seat. There were toys and books around the room and a plant, a gift from Avira, on the desk.

Underneath the window was a small white chest that locked with a cushioned top that could be used as an additional seat. Harry was the only person with a key to the chest and inside it was the rolling suitcase that Avira had made. He could take it out any time he wanted and use it as long as we didn't have any guests and his door was closed. He kept as much food in there as he wanted. As the kitchen had preservation runes throughout it, there was never any worry about something spoiling. The only worry was perhaps an unexpected guest, hence the precautions.

After lunch Harry wanted to read through his newest adventure novel, I suggested that if the two of us were going to read for a while that we should move to the big library next door. We always said "next door" to mean the other house, it just seemed to fit better. With his agreement we were off through the Vanishing Cabinet to Privet Drive.

I straightened a picture of myself as a young woman with the woman who would go on to be my wife on our way over. While the living areas were not magical, simply updated, the little things were more important. Nearly everything that had been hidden in storage was now out in the semi open. The main areas might be muggle, but everywhere we could there were little bits of my past decorating the home. Pictures and baubles displayed with pride. Photos that had only been in albums now were framed and hanging. I had lost a great deal in the fire, but there was still some left of my time with her and now I was going to bring it out. To me, this change was as huge as the changes made for Harry.

We settled into the library and worked our way through our books. The rooms of the attic had been spared no expense in the hopes that they would give a greater sense of comfort and magic. My favorite part was the unseen things at Privet Drive. The various wards and enchantments. True, the runes to make sure every room was a perfect temperature were nice. But I much preferred the ones that made sure the Dursleys never suspected there was anything magical going on at all.

The attic access was removed from elsewhere in the house and placed within the smallest bedroom, which had completely disappeared. Runes around their old frames made the Dursleys believe that there had never been any access to the attic in the first place, or that there had ever been another room at all. In addition there were runic arrays and wards that insulated the whole magical area. Not just the potion soaked stones found on Wisteria, no these were much more considerable and completely cut off all sound and magic from both sides. No noise or magic in and no noise or magic out.

It was one of our first days back when I convinced Harry that we should have a party in his bedroom. We turned on music as loud as possible. Jumped on the bed and danced around. We even got out pots and banged them together. One of his toys was a small snare drum and he played a good march all through the attic and down into the smallest bedroom too. No one outside heard us.

That was honest fun, but the more wicked fun had only just started to hit its stride.

The Little Troubles had begun for the Dursleys with a short cooling period. Perhaps it was just the adults, rather than the family as a whole though. As the things that were happening would only drive Petunia and Vernon mad. But for now, they would settle back into Little Whinging and bore the entire neighborhood with their holiday.

My spies had informed me that they were already beginning to grate on people.

They had sent in the photos and video taken in Disney World to the Intrepid Travel Agency. Unfortunately, the agency had since folded and been bought out. Who knows what could happen to all those pictures of the Dursleys when not under a contract to use them for holiday advertising?

Harry and I enjoyed our quiet reading time so much that I nearly forgot to send him off to get ready for his weekend away. As he ran off to get his suitcase from Wisteria, because he felt he absolutely needed it, I rubbed my eyes and stretched beginning to straighten things up throughout the attic space.

This would be the first time that Harry would really be spending away from me. I believed that he was ready and capable of it and that Clinkscale was perfectly able to help Harry if things became overwhelming for him. Having Harry getting to know him better was very important for our plan to remove the soul leech in his scar. He would have to be deep under Gringotts and I did not want him to be alone when they flooded him with wild magic. Clinkscale had promised he would recount a story or two about the Potter ancestors as well as some of the more historical moments of the Goblin Nation. Given how well Harry handled the meeting a few days ago, I was optimistic that things would go well. Though, things were rarely simple or straightforward when it came to Harry.

Oh boy.

I let out a sigh as I straightened the last of the craft paper and closed the play room door. I had only wanted a simple family tree with lovely designs animated around it to look like a male and female deer in glowing silver like a patronus. But no, fate just bends itself around Harry Potter and laughs. A talent he seems to have gotten from Lily.

Poor Harry probably thought that we were going to make him stay stuck to that bloodstone forever.

Clinkscale and I had discussed ad nauseam in our letters how to handle the family tree. We decided that a full and complete family tapestry should be constructed to ensure there were no mistakes and to give us some more specific information. Such a significant project required quite a lot more blood and magic to be poured into the stone, however, and Harry was grimacing a bit towards the end. Then the poor dear sat through all those updates. He did quite well, all things considered.

I turned off the lights with a flick of a switch, bless Avira and her designs. It was getting late and I had promised to bring Harry to Gringotts early enough that he could eat with Clinkscale.