Within minutes, the entire floor had a crisp, clean smell. Feeling satisfied, Alex repeated the same process for the second and third floors, being particularly thorough in the areas where the Death Eaters had stayed. He made sure to remove every stain and unpleasant trace they had left behind.
The third floor required extra attention. Alex recalled noticing during his last visit that the rooms there were oddly configured, with mismatched walls and doors. "These walls don't seem original," he noted as he examined the structure.
Using a shrinking charm, Alex packed up the old furniture and bedding left in the guest rooms. Most of it was of poor quality, clearly intended for temporary use. He decided to discard it all—there was no way he wanted to keep anything that had been used by Death Eaters. Once the furniture was cleared, he began inspecting the walls more closely. Sure enough, the partitions between the rooms were made of earth bricks rather than stone. "So, these were added later," Alex realized. Without hesitation, he started dismantling the makeshift walls, using magic to efficiently break them down and remove the debris.
When the demolition was complete, the original layout of the third floor was revealed. It consisted of only two rooms: one large master bedroom with an attached bathroom and a smaller secondary bedroom. The remaining space served as a modest living area. "The layout is simple but spacious," Alex said, nodding in approval. "Once it's redecorated, it'll be perfect for someone to live here."
The rest of the day was spent shopping for new furniture and decorations. Alex visited several shops in Diagon Alley as well as some Muggle stores. Thanks to magic, transporting everything was a breeze. He focused his efforts on the master bedroom, carefully arranging a new bed, soft carpets, elegant curtains, and comfortable chairs. By the time he was done, the room felt warm and inviting, with a much-needed sense of homeliness. To ensure security, Alex replaced all the door locks throughout the building, giving him peace of mind.
Standing back to admire his work, Alex allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. "Not bad," he said to himself, a small smile forming on his lips. The house was finally starting to feel like it belonged to him.
However, his work wasn't over. Sitting down at his desk, Alex pulled out a piece of parchment and began writing and sketching. He needed to plan out a new set of protective measures for his residence. The spells used by the Death Eaters before were sloppy, and Alex had no intention of relying on their shoddy work. "For vigilance, the progress I've made on the looking glass project is promising," Alex muttered to himself as he wrote. "Once I fully master the 'Perception' rune, it'll be a perfect addition."
He continued listing precautions. "Standard alarm spells are essential, of course. Anti-reconnaissance protections are a must—chimneys, sewers, everything needs to be covered. The 'Anti-Alohomora Charm' should go on every door and window, and I'll need a one-way 'Confusion Charm' and 'Muffling Charm' for the upper floors so no one can spy inside through the windows."
Alex scribbled quickly, his thoughts flowing onto the parchment. "A reversal spell should be in place indoors, along with a delayed 'Detection Charm' and a 'Tracking Charm' for the floors. If anyone breaks in, I'll know immediately. The walls also need an 'Anti-Intrusion Charm' with a knockback effect.
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"Basic 'Total Protection' and 'Safeguarding' spells will cover the whole house, but some physical traps wouldn't hurt. Maybe something like tripwire-triggered defense mechanisms—simple but effective. And I can hang a few enchanted mirrors for surveillance. The double-sided ones from Cairo would be perfect, though they're hard to come by in the UK."
By the time Alex finished, the parchment was crammed with plans for his residential defenses. Satisfied, he rolled it up and tucked it away, planning to start implementation once he received payment from Yulia.
Later that evening, Alex returned to Longbottom's house via the fireplace from No. 277 Diagon Alley, just in time for dinner. A day passed uneventfully before Alex finally received the long-awaited news from Yulia. "Everything is ready," the letter read, signed by Travers. "Not bad, their efficiency is decent," Alex mused, folding the letter.
Before setting out for the Travers family manor, Alex made meticulous preparations. He checked his tactical equipment, adjusting their positions for quick access in case things turned hostile. "Unlikely, but you never know," he muttered, double-checking everything.
Next came his storage gear. The amount of materials he was about to collect was no joke. He emptied the linen space bag he usually carried and the dragonhide space bag he had taken from Torquil, ensuring enough space for everything. Fortunately, extra supplies were stashed in the basement of No. 277 Diagon Alley. "This linen bag's nearing its limit," Alex noted, holding it up. "It's lasted almost three years, but I'll need a new one soon."
Fully equipped, Alex set off for Travers Manor. Yulia had suggested he use their Floo network to arrive directly, but Alex rejected the idea outright. "I'm not appearing in someone else's stronghold unannounced. What if it's a trap?"
Instead, he approached from the outside, following the address he'd been given. Once at the gate, Alex carefully investigated the area, using the Echo Charm and Crow Charm to ensure there were no surprises. Only after confirming it was safe did he proceed. Yulia greeted him at the door, her expression as dark as ever. "You're here. Follow me—I'll hand over everything now," she said curtly, not meeting his eyes.
She led Alex into the manor. Strangely, the place seemed deserted, as though everyone had vacated for the occasion. Inside, Yulia brought Alex to a room where various materials were piled high. It was clear she hadn't allowed him access to their actual treasury; instead, everything had been brought here in advance.
The first thing Alex noticed was the central table, heaped with a glittering mound of gold coins—Galleons mixed with silver Sickles and copper Knuts. "They must've sold a lot of antiques to scrape this together," Alex thought, smirking.
Nearby were piles of metal ingots and objects: goblin-made silverware, bracelets, earrings, and candlesticks—even utensils and half a large mithril candlestick, awkwardly chopped into pieces. "Guess they didn't want me taking advantage of any enchantments," Alex muttered, noting how every item had been stripped of its runes.
Three wooden boxes sat to the side, one large and two smaller ones. Alex opened the largest first and found chunks of Ulim steel. Inside were a dagger, a pair of bracelets, a ring, and part of a belt buckle—all clearly former alchemical tools, their inscriptions now erased.
Opening one of the smaller boxes, Alex's guess was confirmed. Inside, he found three ounces of mithril. Unlike other metal materials Alex had encountered, this mithril wasn't fashioned into tools or ornaments. Instead, it was left in its raw, unprocessed state.
The piece of mithril rested flat in the box, shaped like an irregular, round cake. Its surface shimmered faintly, with tiny halos the size of grains of rice flickering across it like a living, breathing material. The sight was mesmerizing. Alex didn't even need to focus to connect his perception to it. No wonder this was considered the pinnacle of magical guidance materials—it truly lived up to its reputation.
For Alex, however, this was just another step on his journey—a journey he would walk with quiet determination, no matter how many eyes were watching.