Once the trial concluded, Alex bid farewell to the others and returned to Longbottom House with Augusta. For the next few days, the wizarding world buzzed with news from the celebration banquet, and headlines dominated the airwaves and newspapers:
"Minister Bagnold Pledges to Fight Death Eaters to the End!"
"Shocking Revelation: Barty Barty Jr. Exposed as a Death Eater!"
"Director Barty Barty Resigns Amid Scandal, Replaced by Amelia Bones!"
"Exclusive: The Untold Story of Alex Wilson, as Told by His Close Friend Vivian!"
Alex paused briefly on that last headline, his brow furrowing. 'Vivian? What is she talking about?' But he had little time to dwell on it. During his stay at the Longbottoms', Alex visited several neighboring families, including the Weasleys, Diggorys, and Lovegoods. He shared old stories, strengthened connections, and handed out protective amulets he had crafted as gifts. Each family was deeply grateful for his thoughtful gesture.
He also sat for an exclusive interview with Rita Skeeter. Of course, "exclusive" was a stretch—it was more of Alex handing her a carefully written press release and posing for a few photos. Skeeter, eager to maintain her reputation as the first to secure an interview with the "Ministry's Hero," was more than satisfied. With Alex holding her Animagus secret as leverage, she wasn't about to push for more. Once these obligations were handled, Alex said his goodbyes to Augusta and moved into his property in Diagon Alley. His next priority was securing his new home and digesting the gains of his recent exploits.
The first task on Alex's list was establishing a solid security system. While the Ministry of Magic's recent successes had kept Death Eaters in check, Alex wasn't one to take chances. 'Foolproof or nothing,' he thought. He began by designing an intricate protective magic circle for the entire property.
Using his wand, Alex meticulously etched the spell array directly onto the walls. Each line was drawn with precision, forming a seamless network. Once the etching was complete, he melted the Goblin Silver into fine threads and embedded them into the grooves of the array, ensuring a perfect connection. The process was painstaking, akin to crafting stained glass artwork. Every line had to be accurate down to millimeter, every connection flawless.
Over the course of five days, Alex worked tirelessly, covering the walls, floors, and even less obvious areas like the fireplace and sewer entrances with protective arrays. The purpose of the magic circle was twofold: first, to serve as a conduit for channeling magic power, and second, to support the coordination spell Alex had recently mastered. The centerpiece of the circle was meticulously set up in his basement bedroom.
This foundation allowed multiple layers of spells to be overlaid, ensuring a stable flow of magic power to sustain their operation. This design meant Alex wouldn't need to constantly recast the spells, unlike the methods favored by the Death Eaters. However, maintaining the magic circle required a steady source of magic power. To address this, Alex decided to enchant the house with an improved version of the "Energy-Absorbing Charm" he had developed. This charm, when placed both inside and outside the house, would absorb free-floating magic from the surrounding environment.
Additionally, Alex's own experiments and spellcasting within the house would produce magic power that could be recycled back into the system. Any excess magic would be diverted to the storage charms he had inscribed, creating a seamless cycle of energy management. With the energy problem solved, Alex had crafted a self-sufficient and durable magic circle. The next step was to fortify the house's defenses. Using the defense blueprint he had drawn earlier, Alex began inscribing various protective and detection spells into the rune arrays.
Over the next three days, Alex meticulously completed the setup, fortifying the basement entrance with an array of protective spells. The house was enveloped in a Total Protection Charm, blocking external magic from influencing its boundaries. A Safeguarding Charm ensured that weaker curses were automatically dispelled, while an Anti-Alohomora Charm prevented unauthorized unlocking of doors or containers. To further secure the space, Alex added an Anti-Apparition Spell, barring any teleportation in or out, and an Anti-Invasion Curse to repel forced entries.
For detection, Alex employed subtle yet effective measures. A Human-Tracking Charm monitored nearby activity, while a Tracking Curse would latch onto any intruders who managed to bypass the defenses. To confuse potential infiltrators, he wove in a Confundus Charm and used Muffliato to ensure conversations and noises remained private. Finally, a Malicious Intent Detection Spell was set to trigger an alarm if anyone approached with ill intentions, completing a formidable web of security.
These protections effectively turned the house into a miniature fortress. From the outside, no one could see or hear what was happening within. Anyone harboring malicious intent would trigger alarms, and unauthorized entry via Apparition or unlocking charms was impossible. The only way in would be through a brute-force attack—and even that would be no small feat. "In the future, I'll add more active and passive defenses," Alex mused, thinking about mines, traps, and other defensive mechanisms. "For now, this will do."
Just as he finished his final inspection, the house's warning charms activated. Someone was outside. The alarm indicated no malicious intent, but Alex remained cautious as a knock echoed through the house. He walked to the door and opened it. Standing there was Karkaroff, cloaked and glancing nervously around. "You actually came. I thought you'd run away," Alex said with a smirk.
"Master, I wouldn't dare. My loyalty is yours," Karkaroff replied hurriedly. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The Ministry doesn't trust me, and the Death Eaters see me as a traitor. I've had no choice but to stay hidden."
Alex stepped aside, motioning him in. "Come in. Enough excuses."
Karkaroff followed Alex to the living room on the second floor, where Alex gestured for him to sit. "I've done as you asked," Karkaroff said hesitantly. "The list has been sent to the Ministry of Magic. You should be satisfied with that, right?"
His voice wavered as he glanced at Alex's expression. Karkaroff's mind lingered on the memory of Tokiel—and the metal capsule Alex had forced him to swallow. Tokiel had died a swift, agonizing death in front of everyone, and Karkaroff knew he carried the same ticking time bomb in his stomach. It kept him obedient and terrified. Alex's smirk returned. "Relax. As long as you stay honest, that capsule will sit there for decades without issue. I'm not one to kill without reason."
Karkaroff forced a weak smile, but his thoughts betrayed him. 'Tell that to Tokiel. You didn't hesitate with him.'
Alex's sharp gaze narrowed. "You seem to have an opinion?"
Karkaroff shook his head quickly. "No, master. None at all."
"Good," Alex said, leaning back. "What's your plan? You're not exactly someone I can shelter openly. The Ministry distrusts you, and the Death Eaters want you dead. Staying in Britain isn't an option for long."