It’s been a few days since Adam returned to the Morgan estate. The sprawling mansion feels more like a gilded cage now as he is not young enough to visit outside daily, but at least this time, his mother’s demeanor has softened. She merely asks if he’s doing okay—a stark contrast to her earlier, more insistent demands that he leave Hogwarts altogether. The change surprises him, though he recognizes it as her way of compromising. Her concern for his safety hasn’t diminished; she’s just learned to voice it with a lighter touch. Adam appreciates this newfound restraint—it’s less suffocating and allows him the mental space he desperately needs—but he still senses the weight of her unspoken worries hanging in the air.
With his school assignments already completed, Adam finds himself with an unusual amount of free time. This morning, the estate is abuzz with activity as Elara prepares to leave for the family business in America. He watches her from a distance, standing near the marble fountain in the courtyard, her luggage meticulously arranged beside her. For a fleeting moment, the thought crosses his mind: What if he joined her? The idea of exploring America—a land brimming with magical landmarks, sprawling wizarding communities, and uncharted regions—stirs something restless in him. He imagines himself walking through hidden magical districts, perhaps dragging Harry along for an adventure. The thought lingers just long enough to tempt him, but he knows it’s not the time yet. He has responsibilities here, matters that demand his attention.
When the time comes, Adam bids Elara farewell. She smiles at him, her usual confidence tinged with a rare softness, as though she too feels the weight of their parting. She steps into the sleek, luxurious family car waiting by the estate’s grand entrance. The vehicle purrs to life, and within moments, it glides down the long, tree-lined driveway toward the private airport. Adam remains there, watching until the car disappears from sight, leaving only the faint crunch of gravel in its wake. With a sigh, he turns back toward the house. His days now follow a regimented routine, one that his mother has subtly orchestrated—a careful balance of freedom and obligation designed to keep him out of trouble.
He spends hours in the expansive family library, a sanctuary of knowledge buried within the ancient stone walls of the Morgan estate. The air inside is heavy with the scent of old parchment and ink like always, and the shelves are crammed with tomes that seem older than the castle itself. Adam loses himself in these texts, poring over spells, magical histories, and obscure runes, his mind wandering through the centuries as he reads. It’s a quiet escape from the boring things he had to do. Yet, no matter how many books he devours, he feels a pull toward the unknown corners of the estate, as if the building itself beckons him to explore its mysteries.
While roaming the sprawling corridors, Adam occasionally stumbles upon passages he’s never seen before, each one steeped in its own sense of secrecy. Today, he discovers a heavy wooden door, its iron handle worn smooth from age. It’s slightly ajar, revealing a shadowy room beyond. His curiosity sparks immediately. Pushing the door open further, he steps inside. The room is empty now, a hollow, echoing space, but the faint scent of dust and parchment suggests it might have been a storeroom in the past. He runs his fingers over the grooves in the wooden shelves, trying to piece together its history.
The Morgan estate is vast, almost endlessly so. Adam estimates he’s only explored about ten percent of its halls and chambers, a fraction of its secrets. By contrast, in just two years, he’s already mapped out over sixty percent of Hogwarts’ labyrinthine corridors. The comparison makes him smile—Hogwarts, for all its trickery and hidden rooms, feels almost familiar now, like a second home. The estate, on the other hand, remains an enigma, filled with locked doors and mysteries he isn’t sure he’s ready to unravel.
Adam decides against asking any family member about the locked rooms or their contents. The castle’s doors are riddled with enchantments—charms that mislead, illusions that conceal, and hexes that guard against intrusion. Each door feels like a riddle, daring him to solve it, yet warning him of potential consequences. The sheer density of magic woven into the estate gives it an impenetrable, fortress-like quality, leaving Adam to wonder whether it’s truly a home or a bastion built to protect—and conceal—its secrets.
Later in the day, Adam ventures into the garden, drawn to his magical companions. Ember, his glowing fire crab, thrives in a specially charmed enclosure among her fiery kin, her shell shimmering with an ethereal glow. Twiggle, his Bowtruckle companion, now presides as a sort of king over the garden’s other Bowtruckles. The little creature, once so needy and attached to Adam, now carries himself with a regal air, as though his responsibilities to his kind have outweighed his bond with Adam. Eclipse, his mother’s elusive Hippogriff, remains unseen, likely prowling somewhere on the estate grounds, either hunting or indulging in her preference for solitude.
The garden’s Niffler colony, led by Glimmer, has flourished in recent months. Her brood scampers about the garden, their tiny paws constantly seeking out shiny treasures. Adam chuckles as he watches them, their antics bringing a sense of life to the otherwise tranquil grounds. From his pouch, he pulls out a handful of coins, offering them to Glimmer and her boldest offspring, Hoarder. While most of Glimmer’s brood focuses on scouring the garden for trinkets, Hoarder has developed an unusual attachment to Adam, often following him back into the castle. The little Niffler’s determination to expand his glittering collection has made him a constant, if mischievous, presence in Adam’s daily life.
This new passion of Hoarder amuses Adam, though it comes with its own set of challenges. Seraphina, his proud and temperamental owl, is particularly vocal in her disapproval. She screeches indignantly whenever Hoarder ventures into Adam’s room, disrupting her naps and scattering her carefully arranged perch. To maintain peace, Adam has crafted a small burrow for Hoarder in the large tree just outside his window. The makeshift home, lined with scraps of cloth and discarded shiny trinkets, allows Hoarder to stockpile his treasures without provoking Seraphina’s wrath.
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Adam can’t help but laugh whenever he catches the two bickering—Seraphina with her sharp, reproachful hoots and Hoarder responding with a series of indignant squeaks. Though he doesn’t understand their exchange, he imagines their conversations must be as fierce as they are amusing.
Today holds special significance for Adam. He’s visiting a hidden sanctuary managed by the Morgan family again, a secluded haven for magical creatures that few beyond the family even know exists. The sanctuary serves as both a refuge and a research center, offering protection to creatures displaced or endangered by human activity. Among its most notable inhabitants are unicorns from the Forbidden Forest, creatures of unparalleled grace and purity, now roaming freely in safety. Alongside them are other rare and fascinating beasts, each with its own story of survival and care. Adam has been eager for this visit, having already written to Mr. Halloway, the sanctuary’s caretaker, to ensure his arrival would not disrupt daily operations. Today, he would be traveling with Cassandra, his elder sister, as Lucian was tied up with other matters. Adam was happy with her company and knew that most of his family now understood what he had accomplished at school in the past year.
In the portkey room of the estate, Adam stands with Cassandra, the ever-efficient butler friend Wimble, and a few family wizards tasked with overseeing the journey. The air is thick with the hum of magical energy as the portkey—a simple but enchanted dragon statue—activates. Adam feels the familiar tug at his navel, a sudden rush as the magic whisks them away. Moments later, they land at the sanctuary’s entrance, the crisp, earthy scent of fresh air mingling with the distinct, magical aura of the place. Adam’s senses are immediately overwhelmed. Vivid sights and sounds wash over him—creatures chittering and chirping, the rustle of enchanted foliage, and the shimmering hues of magical barriers designed to protect both the creatures and their habitat.
Workers and caretakers, dressed in simple yet practical robes, greet the group warmly. Adam offers polite nods, his focus already darting to the activity around him. His first stop is Mr. Halloway’s quarters, a modest stone building nestled within the sanctuary’s sprawling grounds. As he walks, Adam catches glimpses of the sanctuary’s incredible inhabitants. Mooncalves, their luminous eyes reflecting the dappled sunlight, graze peacefully under a grove of enchanted trees. Nearby, a group of erumpents wades through a distant marsh, their massive forms moving with surprising grace as water glistens off their armored hides. On a rocky outcrop, a majestic griffin preens its golden feathers, its sharp eyes surveying the sanctuary with an air of pride and authority. Adam slows his pace, captivated by the harmony of the sanctuary, where creatures so different from one another coexist in carefully maintained balance.
Cassandra exchanges pleasantries with Mr. Halloway, as she is directly his boss. This sanctuary, along with others, has been managed solely by her since their grandmother’s retirement from family affairs. After a brief discussion, Halloway leads them to one of the sanctuary’s most restricted areas, a section concealed by ancient spells and layered enchantments. Only a select few are permitted access to this part of the grounds. Adam feels a subtle shift in the air as they approach, the magic woven into the barriers humming faintly against his skin.
Here, the environment is kept darker, cooler, and perfectly attuned to its most formidable inhabitant: a basilisk. The colossal serpent lies coiled near a shimmering pool of enchanted water, its dark, iridescent scales gleaming faintly in the muted light. The sheer size of the creature takes Adam’s breath away—its head alone is larger than a carriage, with fangs that gleam like polished ivory. Its eyes are closed, protected by an enchantment to prevent accidental harm, but even in slumber, its presence exudes power and danger.
The enclosure itself is a marvel of expansion magic, designed to mimic the basilisk’s natural habitat. Towering stone formations cast deep shadows across the area, while the pool provides a constant source of coolness and hydration. Adam takes a cautious step closer to the observation barrier, his eyes scanning the area with measured intent, marveling at the intricate balance of magic and nature that sustains the creature. “It’s beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the basilisk’s rest. Cassandra glances at him, her expression unreadable, but Halloway smiles faintly, clearly proud of the sanctuary’s work.
Halloway explains with measured pride that subduing the basilisk was no small feat. It took a full week of meticulous planning, a team of skilled magizoologists, and an array of enchantments to safely immobilize the creature. The relocation process, however, spanned months, requiring the construction of an environment capable of supporting the basilisk’s immense needs while neutralizing the threat its gaze posed. Protective barriers imbued with ancient magic separate the basilisk from its observers, ensuring safety without confining the creature too harshly. Adam listens intently, his thoughts lingering on the magnitude of such an undertaking.
For a fleeting moment, an idea crosses his mind: could he use memory charms to influence the basilisk, to shape its actions or mitigate its danger? The notion is tempting, but even as the thought forms, it feels excessive, perhaps even wrong. The basilisk, as awe-inspiring and deadly as it is, deserves its autonomy. Adam shakes the thought away, focusing instead on the practicalities of coexisting with such a creature. Cassandra, who oversaw the basilisk’s relocation, interjects with a pointed remark about patience. “Mastering a creature like this isn’t about control,” she says, her tone firm yet instructive. “It’s about understanding. Learn its behavior, its needs, and you’ll find common ground.” Adam nods, absorbing her words. He has no intention of rushing the process; time and trust are the keys to unlocking any meaningful connection, even with a creature as dangerous as a basilisk.
After lingering a while longer in front of the protective barrier, Adam eventually turns away. The basilisk remains motionless, its colossal form coiled in serene stillness near the shimmering pool. Despite its inactivity, the sheer presence of the creature leaves an indelible impression on Adam. He plans to spend the next few days at the sanctuary, exploring the grounds and observing its many other inhabitants, while Cassandra attends to her official duties. Yet, he knows his thoughts will continue to circle back to the basilisk.
For now, though, the sanctuary beckons with its other mysteries. Adam’s curiosity surges as he imagines what discoveries await him around each corner. He now has more time, having missed seeing everything on his last visit. In this haven of magical wonders, every step promises a new revelation, and Adam is eager to immerse himself in all the sanctuary has to offer.