Chapter 45

The Potion of Dreamless Sleep was an excellent way to rest, especially after consuming three souls and studying their lives for information. Let's just say neither Carrow nor Yaxley were good people. During the Dark Lord's reign, they reveled in killing, torturing, raping, and burning. In short, they brought nothing but destruction and doom. They managed to avoid punishment by hiding behind masks and somehow convincing the Ministry that they had been under the Imperius Curse.

Of course, after absorbing their memories, I can tell you that was a lie. They weren't under any mind-control spell—they enjoyed every moment of it. It gave them some kind of perverse pleasure. Essentially, I waded through filth.

As for their knowledge, it wasn't of much use to me. Just a few interesting spells and combat tactics, that's all. Everything else, I already knew, and in much greater depth.

After composing myself, I Apparated back to the Malfoys for a more private discussion regarding my skills in wandless magic and the possibility of teaching it to others. I hadn't yet decided on a price, but I figured I'd throw out an astronomical number and see how they reacted.

The morning around the Malfoy estate was foggy, which I didn't particularly like. The mist seemed to seep into my bones. Without ceremony, I pulled out my wand and cast a spell into the sky. Within minutes, the clear morning sun broke through, chasing away the cold and damp.

Lucius and Narcissa were already waiting for me. After a brief conversation, we started breakfast. Draco had returned to Hogwarts, so he wouldn't be joining us.

"How are you doing?" Narcissa asked, with a hint of curiosity about what might have happened after I left her son's birthday.

"Not bad," I replied. "Yesterday was a bit tense."

"Oh? What happened?" Lucius inquired.

"A lot of work, mostly paperwork," I said nonchalantly.

"Oh, can I help with something?" Lucius offered.

"It's nothing, I've already taken care of it," I waved it off. "But thank you for the offer."

"By the way, Timothy," Narcissa addressed me by name, "are you going to participate in the lottery?"

"What lottery?" I asked, surprised.

"Lucius, tell him," she said.

Lucius sighed but didn't argue with his wife.

"The Ministry has decided to hold a lottery with a few prizes," Lucius explained. "A family trip to Egypt, some money, and some sort of artifact."

"I've already been to Egypt," I replied calmly. "So, I don't think I'll participate."

"As you wish," Lucius nodded.

"And how did you like the land of the pharaohs?" Narcissa asked with mild interest. "Did you see the pyramids? Meet the local wizards?"

"I did," I answered. "The pyramids are magnificent—definitely worth visiting again in the future. They're full of mystery and hum with ancient magic. Have you been?"

"Not yet," she said, casting a judgmental look at Lucius.

He only shrugged and returned to his tea, clearly unbothered. Maybe he just doesn't like traveling. I'd take her to see the pyramids... Heh.

"Mr. Jody," Lucius began, "I noticed during the celebration that you can perform magic without a wand. May I ask you to demonstrate again, just to be certain of what I saw?"

"Of course," I nodded. "Shall we step outside?"

We went outside, where I could cast without worrying about breaking anything. With a wave of my hand, a magical orb of light—Lumos—flew from my palm, illuminating the area with cold, white light. If it weren't for the sun, the effect would have been more pronounced. Another flick of my hand, and the orb disappeared.

Lucius watched with wide eyes, as if hoping to catch my secret… but this isn't the kind of skill you can easily learn. Without my Archive, it would have been much harder.

Not stopping at just Lumos, I decided to demonstrate wandless Transfiguration. This was more difficult, but as a master, no challenge in this art stands before me. Within seconds, a complex figure of a lion appeared and began pacing around. I had used a behavioral matrix based on a real lion.

"Wow," Narcissa exclaimed. "Incredible. And all without a wand."

Lucius pulled out his wand and approached the lion, prodding it carefully. He quickly confirmed that the creature seemed real. When I dispelled the magic, he simply nodded, though I could tell he was deeply impressed.

"Mr. Malfoy," I said, "how about a sparring match?"

"A duel?" Lucius asked. "Me with a wand, and you without?"

"Exactly."

"I don't mind," he said, twirling his wand more elegantly and confidently this time.

Lucius stood across from me, raising his wand in a formal duelist's salute. I nodded in return, though without a wand, I couldn't respond properly.

"Attack, Mr. Malfoy."

There was no need to ask him twice; he attacked immediately. It was a weak spell, something a first- or second-year at Hogwarts might cast. I deflected it with a simple Protego and countered with an equally basic spell, which Lucius absorbed with his shield.

This wasn't a true duel, just an exchange of spells where I demonstrated what I was capable of—and what Lucius would be purchasing if he intended to buy. After about ten minutes, we stopped.

"As I understand, with a wand, you're much stronger," Lucius said thoughtfully.

I remained silent. He didn't need an answer—he was only just beginning to grasp the difference in magical power between us. I was certain he wouldn't pose much of a threat to me personally, but his subordinates or allies… That could be a different story if we ever found ourselves in serious disagreement.

We returned to the house, where the house-elves immediately served fresh hot tea and the latest newspaper. The front page featured a picture of the Minister of Magic and an announcement about the lottery. Lucius didn't bother reading it; he simply set it aside.

"After what I've seen, I'm very interested in acquiring the knowledge of wandless magic," Lucius said. "How much would it cost?"

"First, you must understand that to master this skill, a certain level of magical power is required," I said calmly. "I won't hide the fact that it demands far more power than mastering most other forms of magic."

"I know that," Lucius nodded. "But it's not for me. It's an investment in the future of my family. Name your price."

"Twenty million Galleons," I said calmly, naming an absurd sum.

Narcissa, who had been sipping her tea at that moment, nearly choked. She began coughing and patting her chest.

"Excuse me," she said once she recovered.

"I must have misheard…" Lucius said slowly.

"Twenty million Galleons," I repeated.

"That's a lot of money," Lucius remarked. "Why so much?"

"As you probably know, it's a general rule that nowhere except at Eagle's Nest can one learn wandless magic," I said. "Or you could pay a similar amount elsewhere without any guarantee of results. I, however, guarantee you proven practices that many wizards have successfully used, including Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, Nicholas Flamel, and many other powerful figures. Of course, I'll require a vow of secrecy."

I fell silent, letting Lucius consider my offer. He began tapping his fingers on the table, deep in thought. Not wanting to interrupt his calculations, I glanced at Narcissa and winked. She only smiled, though I could tell her mind was also racing.

"Very well," Lucius said. "Can I make it a group purchase?"

"Yes," I nodded after some thought. "The price remains the same. Twenty million Galleons."

"I see," Lucius exhaled. "Then I have a few more questions. Will the price change?"

"We'll sign a contract," I said. "I'll sign one with each member of the group, stating that for twenty million Galleons, I'll provide all the necessary materials for mastering wandless magic. Once each of you has studied them, the materials will vanish, and you'll swear an oath that the knowledge will not leave your family lines."

Leading the conversation, I gave Lucius no room to bargain for a lower price. I was certain he'd try to find a way to cut costs, but I had no intention of letting that happen.

"That sounds like a good deal," Lucius said after some further consideration. "I'll need to gather my associates and present them with the offer. Twenty million… yes?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "We'll meet next time to sign the contract."

"Agreed."

With a preliminary verbal agreement in place, we parted ways. Lucius went off to handle his affairs, Narcissa to hers, and I to mine.

My next plan was to register Hermione as my personal apprentice with the Guild of Teachers. Not being a member of this guild might make the task seem difficult—and it is for wizards below the rank of master. But for me, as a master of two disciplines, it didn't take more than an hour.

Hermione signed the standard apprenticeship contract without hesitation, granting me almost complete authority over her. The only restrictions were that she had to remain alive and physically unharmed. Beyond that, there were no limitations.

"I don't mind signing it," Hermione said after I explained the contract in full detail, from A to Z.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "You'll lose all freedom."

"I'm sure," she said after a few seconds of thought. "If it weren't for your care, teacher, I would already be dead. So yes, I'm certain."

After signing the contract, I returned Hermione home with instructions to continue studying the material, and I went to Diagon Alley to replenish my Archive with some books for analysis. Even with new lands and properties that included magical houses, I still wanted to study magical architecture to build my own home. Of course, any wizard can build a house without much trouble. It takes a few spells and half an hour. But what I want to build is a complete, complex house-artifact.

***

Lucius Malfoy gathered his closest friends and former allies. In the letters he sent out, there were subtle hints about why he was calling them together. To outsiders, it would appear to be a typical gentlemen's club meeting, but in reality, it was anything but.

This meeting was also necessary to discuss other important and intriguing matters—such as the disappearance of Yaxley and his wife, as well as Carrow, and how one man had managed to claim all of their wealth.

"Lucius," a tall man addressed him. It was Tobias Greengrass, the nominal head of the Greengrass family, though most of the real power lay in the hands of his wife. He was what one might call the "front" of the Greengrass family. But that didn't mean Malfoy didn't respect or consider him a comrade. On the contrary, Tobias was an excellent potioneer and herbalist, which brought his family significant profit. "It's been a while since we've seen each other."

"And to you, greetings, Tobias," Malfoy nodded. "Yes, it has... Work for you, work for me... No free time."

"Hah," Tobias chuckled. "Who else is coming?"

"All of our friends and comrades," Lucius replied vaguely, but Tobias understood.

Next came Crabbe and Goyle. They silently took their places and waited. They knew they could only speak when directly addressed. As vassals of the Malfoys, they understood their duties well but also saw the advantages in politics and business. Their subordinate position was worth it, and there was also gratitude—Malfoy had gotten them out of trouble with the law after the Dark Lord's downfall.

Following them, Edward Nott, John Avery, Marcus Flint Sr., Thorvin Travers, Alexander Selwyn, Thorfinn Rowle, Felix Rosier, and Micky Bulstrode arrived. They all took their seats, understanding that the conversation ahead could be very beneficial.

Only Yaxley, Carrow, Lestrange, Barty Crouch Jr., and a few other wizards were missing. The inner circle of the Dark Lord was nearly complete. Severus Snape was absent, but Lucius had decided not to include him in the plans, suspecting that Snape would likely report to Dumbledore.

"Greetings, friends," Lucius began. "We've all gathered here to discuss some important and interesting matters. It's been a long time since we've come together like this, not since the Dark Lord's death."

Many shuddered at the memories, having personally endured the Dark Lord's Cruciatus Curse and witnessed his madness. They also understood why Lucius could speak so openly—he had provided many of them with a way to avoid prison, for which they owed him greatly.

"I think before we discuss the main issue, we should address some secondary matters," Lucius continued. "Has everyone noticed that Yaxley and Carrow are missing?"

Nods and soft whispers spread through the room. Many were surprised that this trio of the Dark Lord's butchers had vanished. Some had begun watching their shadows more carefully, while others glanced at their Dark Marks, worried that they had become active again. No one wanted that.

"They're dead," Lucius announced, dropping the shocking news.

"All three of them?" Nott asked in disbelief. "Was it some sort of experiment? Or what?"

"No," Lucius shook his head. "It's tied directly to our main discussion, but indirectly as well. Timothy Jody, the new rising star of the magical world, erased them from existence."

"So, the boy isn't a boy but a wolf," Avery drawled. "How did that happen?"

"My people's investigation revealed that Carrow tried to plant a bug on him because, well, they lost their heads," Lucius said with uncharacteristic bluntness. He was allowed such liberties, especially in this company. "And they did this at Draco's birthday party."

"Mhm," Nott muttered. "That was foolish."

Everyone understood why. Lucius could have faced bigger problems, as the safety of his guests was his responsibility. If the trio of butchers had attacked one of his guests, he would have been forced to intervene, which could have led to external consequences, possibly even investigations. He had only just managed to clear his name after the investigations instigated by Arthur Weasley.

"So, who gets what?" Travers asked immediately, his interest focused on Yaxley's business—he had been eyeing certain parts of it for a long time.

"Don't rush, friends," Lucius said. "All of their businesses were transferred to Timothy Jody. No, I misspoke. All the assets of the Yaxley and Carrow families were transferred to him."

"How did he pull that off?" Tobias asked, clearly concerned. He didn't want his own family to fall victim to such schemes.

The other wizards were equally curious.

"Torture," Lucius replied. "Let's just say… the boy isn't to be mistaken for a lamb. He likes to play the part, both outwardly and inwardly, but he's a Mordred dragon, ready to devour anyone."

"A Dumbledore student," Felix Rosier said with a shrug. Everyone knew that Timothy had connections with the headmaster of Hogwarts.

"I don't understand how that man produces such monsters," Avery grumbled. "The Dark Lord came through his school, so did Moody, and now this Jody."

"Talent," Flint Sr. smirked.

"So, best not to look in that direction," Travers muttered. "But I haven't seen any other signs so far. Does that mean we can try to pressure him in the business sphere?"

"I've seen no signs against it," Malfoy answered. This was a message for everyone, allowing them to decide whether they wanted to engage with Dumbledore's upstart or if the game wasn't worth the risk.

The wizards needed time to consider this. Lucius was sure many of them would meet in smaller groups to figure out how to move forward. He had already decided to do nothing. With a player like Timothy, it was wiser to wait and cultivate friendship.

"Clearly, this isn't the main topic of our conversation," Greengrass said. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"I'm sure you've already heard rumors that Timothy Jody possesses wandless magic," Lucius said, watching their faces. Many already knew, while others were visibly shocked. He took note of those who hadn't heard, recognizing that such carelessness in his allies could cause problems for the Malfoy family—something he wanted to avoid. "And he's willing to sell us the methods for mastering this art."

The silence that followed was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Selling such knowledge was unheard of in the magical world. Even the less astute among them realized that the price would be steep.

"Are you certain?" Tobias asked. He was the only one who could question Lucius like this, as the Greengrass family's power was nearly equal to the Malfoys'.

"We had a duel," Lucius said. "I used a wand, and he didn't. It was a simple sparring match. I give you my word… he knows this magic."

"And how skilled is he in dueling?" Rowle asked.

"He trained in Malta," Lucius revealed, dropping another key piece of information. It had cost him a great deal to uncover, but it was an important part of the puzzle.

"That explains how he defeated the butchers," Avery muttered. "He could easily take most of us here and leave us wondering what hit us."

Everyone understood that, though not all were eager to admit it. The idea that a Muggle-born wizard could best many of them in a duel was painful and unpleasant. But refusing to acknowledge that truth would be a dangerous mistake, one that could cost them their lives and their families' futures. No one wanted to meet the same fate as Yaxley and Carrow.

"So, he's selling that knowledge," Tobias said, his voice calm, though his heart was racing. And he wasn't the only one. Everyone in the room could sense the opportunity, but no one wanted to be the first to leap, waiting to hear the price. "What's the cost?"

The wizards stared at Lucius. He paused for dramatic effect.

"Twenty million Galleons," Malfoy announced.

And again, silence. This time longer, as the wizards processed just how enormous that sum was.

"Mhm," Greengrass murmured. "Now it makes sense why we're here."

The others nodded. They now understood as well, contemplating how to gather such a fortune. No one had that kind of money—not even in Gringotts. At best, they might have a few million there.

"Do you have a plan?" Nott asked. Like the others, he wanted to acquire this knowledge. No one was foolish enough to think they could simply attack Jody. One-on-one, no one present could defeat him in a duel to the death.

"Everything new is just well-forgotten old," Lucius said, a cryptic phrase that no one understood. "Do you remember Abraxas' plan?"

"The one blessed by the True Seer?" Tobias asked. He immediately grasped what Lucius was referring to.

"Yes," Malfoy nodded.

"The plan that was supposed to be activated after the death of the Child of Prophecy?" Nott asked, recalling something similar.

"That's the one."

This sparked a chain of memories among the other wizards, as they had all been involved in the planning and execution of that operation.

"Back then, our goal was to seize power," Tobias said. "What's the goal now?"

"Goblin banks," Lucius said coldly.

"So that's how we'll get the twenty million," Tobias murmured.

The other wizards considered the implications. Each understood the risks involved in such an operation, but the potential reward… It shone so brightly that, having glimpsed it, they couldn't look away. Beyond the enormous sum, there were countless other benefits to be gained from such a daring endeavor.

"How can we be sure Timothy will uphold his end of the deal?" Flint asked.

"We'll sign a contract between our group and him," Malfoy said calmly. "Jody himself suggested it."

"Hm," Tobias mused. "I'll need to think about it."

Lucius mentally added, "And discuss it with his wife." He knew that many of them would need time to reflect. But he was confident that former Death Eaters were too greedy to pass up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They would agree—some sooner, some later—but it would happen.

"I understand," Lucius nodded. "But we need to act quickly. If we don't make the first moves this summer, everything will have to be delayed until next year. While you're thinking, my men will start the reconnaissance. Crabbe and Goyle are already working on it."

The two silent brutes nodded in agreement. They were indeed already on the job, re-establishing contacts with mercenaries. It was easy for them, as the plan was already in place. Even though it was happening ten years later than expected, that didn't mean it had lost its relevance. In many countries, even the Ministers hadn't changed in all that time. So, the chances of success were still high.

***

The letter from Headmaster Dumbledore, which arrived with a phoenix, had a rather demanding tone. The Headmaster of Hogwarts was inviting me to meet with him to discuss a few important and mutually interesting matters.

It seems that the conversation will touch upon my newly acquired wealth. Naturally, the Headmaster had found out about it. What he wants to discuss, I don't know yet, but I suspect the topics will be interesting from various angles. I still haven't fully dealt with all the affairs tied to my new properties, and many problems had to be solved on the fly. Most of the old contracts were restored, and people continued working.

But there is still much to figure out. I wouldn't want to lose such a profitable operation. Yaxley had a well-established potion-making business, which is now mine. Carrow, on the other hand, commanded five teams of hunters independent of the Hunter's Guild and was involved in black market dealings. The latter part of the business quickly fell apart, because I am not Carrow—not Alecto, not Amycus. The illegal side of the business was built on them. As for the legal side, it continued to run as it should. Relatively...

Apparating to the entrance of Hogwarts, I waited. Hagrid opened the door for me, clearly happy to see me.

"Timothy!" he exclaimed, extending his enormous hand for a handshake. "It's been a while since I've seen yeh!"

"And greetings to you, Hagrid," I nodded and shook his hand. His half-giant hand was so huge that one could easily get lost in it. "How are things?"

"Oh," he sighed. "The Headmaster offered me a professor's position."

"Wow," I said with respect. "In which subject?"

"Care of Magical Creatures," he replied, with a touch of pride.

"Congratulations," I nodded. "I'm sure you'll do well."

"Thanks," Hagrid said, smiling. It was clear he was glad to hear words of support from someone else. He hadn't received an official mastery and didn't go through classical training, but his personal experience with magical creatures was immense. The students would certainly benefit from learning from him.

After navigating past a few students rushing about on their own errands, I made my way to the Headmaster's tower. I didn't have to wait long, as Dumbledore was already expecting me. The gargoyle shifted aside, allowing me inside.

"Good day, Headmaster," I said as I entered the office.

"Hello, Timothy," he replied. "I didn't expect you to respond so quickly to my request. But I'm glad you did."

"Oh, Headmaster," I smiled. "If there are matters or questions that need discussing, it's always better to do so sooner rather than later."

"I quite agree," Dumbledore nodded.

Sitting in a chair, I waited for him to begin the conversation. He was finishing up some paperwork. After signing the document with a flourish, he put it away in his desk and turned his attention to me.

"Would you care for some tea?" he asked.

"I'd prefer something cold," I said.

"Then I have a lovely iced mint tea," Dumbledore said. "I've been meaning to try it for a while, but I never seem to find the time."

"Let's give it a try," I chuckled.

Dumbledore clapped his hands, summoning the house-elves, while he continued sorting through some papers. A quick glance told me they weren't related to me. The documents seemed to concern the inventory of Hogwarts' assets. I should probably do something similar for my own properties.

With a soft pop, two tall glasses frosted over with ice appeared before us. Dumbledore set aside his papers and examined the drink with great interest. I couldn't resist taking a closer look either. Iced mint was an ingredient I knew well. It grew in many places, sometimes mingling with ordinary mint. Why this drink hadn't become as popular as regular mint tea, I wasn't sure.

Dumbledore took the first sip and exhaled a cloud of mist.

"Phew," he said. "Oh my."

He rubbed his nose, showing that this wasn't just a cold drink—it was icy to the point of being scorching.

I took a sip as well, keeping pace with the Headmaster. I can confirm, it was cold enough to send a tingling sensation through my head. Shaking it off, I took another sip. After the second try, it wasn't so bad.

"Quite good," Dumbledore said. Then, with a more serious tone, he continued, "I wanted to discuss a few matters with you."

"Of course, Headmaster," I nodded, relaxing a bit in my chair. For a Master of Transfiguration skilled in wandless magic, there are no uncomfortable chairs.

"First of all, I want to congratulate you on mastering wandless magic," Dumbledore said, nodding toward the chair I was sitting in. "I didn't expect to see another such talent in England so soon."

"Are there many in the country who know this skill?" I asked.

"Just me, the Head of the Department of Mysteries, and now you," Dumbledore listed. "There was also the Dark Lord, but he brought about his own demise."

Indeed, few wizards possessed this skill. This placed me, power-wise, at least in third place. Dumbledore is still stronger than me, that much I know. I don't know the Head of the Department of Mysteries, so I'll assume he's stronger too. And the way Dumbledore named us in order seemed to be a subtle hint.

"I see," I nodded.

"But that's not the main issue for today," Dumbledore continued. "Rumors have reached me that Yaxley and Carrow 'gifted' you all of their property and that of their families."

He lingered slightly on the word gifted. Well, well... yes, it was a voluntary sacrifice for the sake of justice, and also a birthday present for every year of my life. Heh.

"That's correct," I nodded. "It was a voluntary gift."

"Is that so," Dumbledore replied with a knowing smile. "How generous… And they've gone missing, haven't they?"

"They've gone to a monastery," I said, coming up with the response before I could fully think it through.

"A monastery, I see," the Headmaster nodded. "I won't ask which one… I'd like to introduce you to a few charitable foundations. There's the Order of the Phoenix Fund, which collects money to help victims of the Dark Lord. Its biggest donors are the Malfoys and the Greengrasses. There's also the Dumbledore Fund, which supports my research endeavors. Then there's the Boy Who Lived Foundation, which raises money to help children orphaned by the last wizarding war. And finally, there's a school fund for underprivileged students."

The Headmaster listed off a large number of various foundations. Honestly, I had some suspicions about these foundations. I wasn't sure whether to question the Headmaster about them or let it go.

"What kinds of contributions do people usually make?" I asked him.

"There are two options: a one-time donation or a yearly subscription," the Headmaster replied. "The most popular option is the latter. The smallest donation I've seen was one hundred Galleons."

"Is that so," I murmured. It seemed like Dumbledore was offering me a few options for how I could 'grease the wheels' with him... Something tells me that the ultimate beneficiary of all these foundations is one single person. "Then, I think I'll support the school fund."

"Excellent," the Headmaster nodded. "A wonderful choice."

"Where can I make the donation?" I asked.

"You can do it right here," Dumbledore said. "I'll make the deposit myself."

I wrote out a check for five hundred Galleons and handed it to the Headmaster. Without looking, he tucked it into his pocket, showing that he had plenty of experience with such things. I never would have thought he'd be involved in this sort of thing. But as long as he's not causing too much trouble, I won't complain.

"Your contribution will go toward helping the students," Dumbledore nodded. "I've also heard rumors that you've taken on an official apprentice? It seems Miss Granger is quite talented."

"You're right, Headmaster," I agreed. "Hermione is showing excellent results."

"She'll be returning to Hogwarts for her studies?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied after a brief pause. "She will. I want her to gain a wide range of experiences before diving deeper into magic."

"In which area do you think she has the greatest talent?"

I considered the question. Hermione was showing exceptional skill in all areas, but if there was one area that came to her most naturally, I believe it would be…

"Charms," I said.

"Very well," Dumbledore nodded. "I'll speak with Professor Flitwick to ensure he gives her extra attention. We can't let her talents go to waste. Do you have any further plans for her?"

"Yes," I said calmly, but I didn't elaborate. No need for him to know everything; let him speculate.

"Understood," the Headmaster nodded. "Then that's all from me. Do you have anything you'd like to discuss?"

"Perhaps," I mused, thinking for a few seconds. "When is the next meeting of the Guild of Transfiguration?"

"August 5th," Dumbledore replied. "You'll receive an invitation in the mail, no need to worry."

"Do we know what topics will be discussed?"

"Not yet."

We continued talking about some less important matters, and then we parted ways. The Headmaster had his own business to attend to, and so did I, if I'm being honest.

Hermione is still working through several magical topics I assigned her for study.

"How are things going?" I asked her.

"Not bad, teacher," she replied. "I just don't understand one thing in this section."

I spent an hour explaining a rather complicated Transfiguration concept related to solid objects. She understood it, but not entirely—I could tell by the look in her eyes. I think I'll need to spend a few more hours with her to make sure she fully grasps it.

Planning for a Superanalysis is quite a complex matter. Before, when I didn't have the responsibility of running businesses or a student to look after, I could start anytime, simply retreating to the woods. Now, though, I needed to make sure everything would run like clockwork in my absence and that Hermione would have enough material to study.

To ensure the businesses ran smoothly, I hired a manager. I had two candidates: the first was a young man who had completed only five years at Hogwarts before graduating from the Bristol Institute of Management. The second was a young woman who had also completed five years at Hogwarts, but afterward graduated from the Oxford School of Business. Neither of them had enough magical power to reach the top of the wizarding world, but their knowledge put them in a better position than many others.

Naturally, I hired the woman. Her name is Kiara Daly, a Muggle-born witch who immediately set to work analyzing the businesses. After handing her the managerial responsibilities, I decided to embark on a brief exile for my Superanalysis.

Everyone was warned that I would be gone for an entire month.