With a familiar pop, the sensation of Apparition disappeared, and the three of them found themselves standing outside the wrought-iron gates of Salvius Manor. The estate stretched beyond the entrance, partially concealed behind rows of ancient trees whose branches swayed gently in the afternoon breeze. Although the manor itself was visible in the distance, its appearance remained blurred ever so slightly by the protective enchantments surrounding the property.
Blake glanced toward the gates before looking back at Alastair.
"I thought we'd appear closer."
"We normally would," Alastair replied as he walked toward the entrance. "The wards are already active. I requested several additional layers of protection while the manor was being renovated, including anti-Apparition enchantments powerful enough to stop even house-elves from bypassing them. Until someone is registered with the ward stone, the safest place they can Apparate is outside the estate."
Liri stepped forward, placing a hand against one of the silver runes engraved upon the gate. The enchantments shimmered briefly before the heavy iron doors silently swung inward.
"It also means no uninvited guest will simply appear inside the manor."
The three of them walked through the gates together.
The first thing that caught Blake's attention wasn't the manor itself but the beautifully maintained gardens stretching across both sides of the stone pathway. Carefully arranged flower beds bloomed with dozens of magical and mundane plants whose colors blended together naturally without appearing overly extravagant. Ancient oak trees provided welcome shade while neatly trimmed hedges divided the grounds into smaller sections, each possessing its own unique arrangement of flowers and decorative shrubs.
"It doesn't feel like a traditional pureblood manor," Blake observed quietly.
Alastair smiled.
"I sure hope so. I want this place to feel like home."
He had never been particularly fond of estates that relied solely upon grandeur to impress visitors. Wealth displayed too openly often felt less like elegance and more like vanity. He had instructed the designers to create something welcoming rather than intimidating, allowing the gardens to become a place where one could actually enjoy spending an afternoon instead of merely admiring expensive landscaping.
At the center of the courtyard stood a large circular fountain crafted from pale marble.
Rising proudly from its center was the statue of an Occamy with wings partially spread, its elegant body coiled gracefully around the pedestal while crystal-clear water flowed from its open beak into the basin below.
Blake slowed her pace.
"That's beautiful."
"It seemed appropriate."
Alastair lifted his left arm.
"Chromis."
The silver bracelet wrapped around his wrist shimmered softly.
"Come out."
The bracelet slowly unraveled, its metallic surface flowing like liquid before a tiny silver serpent emerged from it. Chromis raised her little head, blinking curiously as she surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings. Her golden eyes darted between the gardens, the fountain, and the towering manor before finally settling upon Alastair with obvious confusion.
He chuckled softly.
"This will be our home from now on."
Chromis tilted her head.
"Would you like to explore?"
Almost immediately she nodded.
Her tiny body slipped free from his arm before floating gently through the air. As she moved farther away, her body gradually expanded until she measured nearly a meter in length, the silver scales reflecting the afternoon sunlight beautifully.
Rather than rushing off, she cautiously approached the fountain first.
The little Occamy circled the marble statue several times, seemingly convinced she had discovered another member of her species. She even stretched her neck forward as though expecting some form of greeting.
The stone statue, unsurprisingly, remained completely motionless.
After waiting several seconds without receiving any response, Chromis let out what sounded suspiciously like a disappointed chirp before losing interest and gliding away to investigate the surrounding gardens instead.
Blake couldn't suppress a laugh.
"I think she expected it to answer."
"So did I."
Watching Chromis happily weave between flower beds, occasionally stopping to inspect particularly shiny objects, Alastair felt oddly satisfied.
Even magical creatures deserved a proper home.
"Come on," he said, turning toward the manor. "We should explore as well."
Liri hurried ahead and pushed open the enormous front doors.
The entrance hall immediately revealed just how much thought had gone into the renovation.
Rather than resembling the gloomy interiors common among many old pureblood estates, the manor felt remarkably inviting. Rich green dominated the overall design, complemented by elegant silver and black accents that highlighted the architecture without overwhelming it. Large windows allowed natural sunlight to flood the interior, preventing the colors from becoming oppressive. Instead of reminding Blake of the dimly lit Slytherin common room beneath the lake, the manor felt warm, open, and alive.
"The colors are similar," Blake observed as she slowly turned in place, admiring the spacious entrance hall, "but somehow it feels completely different."
Alastair nodded.
"I wanted the manor to reflect Slytherin's elegance without inheriting its gloom."
The modern furnishings blended almost seamlessly with centuries-old architectural details. Ornately carved pillars stood beside subtly enchanted lighting fixtures, while polished wooden floors connected rooms filled with both antique furniture and contemporary comforts. Nothing appeared out of place despite belonging to entirely different eras.
Liri's expression brightened noticeably as she began leading them through the house.
"This is Master's bedroom."
She proudly opened the first large room.
The spacious chamber overlooked the gardens through tall windows, while bookshelves, comfortable seating, and a fireplace occupied the remaining walls. Everything had been arranged with practicality rather than extravagance in mind.
Without waiting for a response, Liri hurried toward the next room.
"This is the library."
Her voice carried unmistakable pride.
"Liri hasn't found every book Master requested yet, but Liri found most of them. More books will arrive next month. Liri also dusts every shelf every day."
Blake stepped inside, her eyes widening almost immediately.
Towering bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, connected by elegant ladders enchanted to move silently along polished rails. Hundreds upon hundreds of volumes already occupied the shelves, covering subjects ranging from magical theory and ancient runes to history, enchanting, potion-making, magical creatures, politics, economics, and several disciplines rarely taught at Hogwarts.
"This is..."
She slowly turned in a circle.
"...larger than some public libraries."
Alastair smiled.
"It still isn't complete."
Liri nodded enthusiastically.
"Many books are still coming."
The tour continued.
"This is the kitchen," Liri announced proudly. "Liri will cook delicious food for Master every day."
The kitchen itself had been designed with magical efficiency in mind. Multiple enchanted workstations allowed meals to be prepared simultaneously, while the pantries had been expanded far beyond their apparent size through spatial enchantments.
Finally, Liri opened another set of doors.
"This is the study."
Unlike the library, the study emphasized productivity.
A large desk occupied the center of the room, surrounded by filing cabinets, reference shelves, enchanted maps, and comfortable seating for meetings. Every writing instrument imaginable had already been neatly arranged across the polished wooden surface.
"Liri stocked every writing material Master requested," she reported proudly. "Ink, parchment, quills, enchanted parchment, sealing wax..."
"Liri."
Alastair smiled.
"You've done an excellent job."
The house-elf's ears immediately perked up.
"Liri is happy Master likes it."
Instead of sitting down, Alastair walked directly toward one of the bookshelves standing behind the desk.
"It should be here somewhere."
His fingers lightly tapped several books in a precise sequence.
One.
Three.
Two.
Five.
A quiet click echoed through the room.
The entire bookshelf slid silently aside, revealing a concealed stone staircase descending beneath the manor.
Blake looked at him with surprise.
"You hid the ward room?"
"Of course."
He smiled.
"Anyone capable of reaching the ward stone could potentially destroy the manor's defenses. Better to ensure very few people even know it exists."
The chamber below was surprisingly simple.
At its center rested a large crystalline stone surrounded by intricate runic circles carved directly into the floor. Countless magical threads shimmered faintly within the crystal, each representing one aspect of the estate's protective enchantments.
"This," Alastair explained, "is the heart of every protection surrounding the manor."
He stepped forward, placing one hand upon the ward stone before beginning the authorization ritual.
"I need to register all three of us."
The process itself required only a few minutes.
One by one, He, Blake and Liri each touched the ward stone while ancient runes briefly glowed beneath their feet. The crystal pulsed softly every time another authorization was successfully recorded before eventually returning to its tranquil state.
"There."
Alastair stepped back.
"You can now Apparate directly inside the manor without triggering any alarms."
"And without being rejected by the wards," Liri added happily.
By the time they returned upstairs, the sun had already begun sinking toward the horizon.
Liri insisted upon preparing dinner immediately, refusing every attempt to help.
The meal itself proved surprisingly elaborate considering how quickly it had been prepared, and the three of them spent the evening discussing final preparations for the projector shop while occasionally watching Chromis slither curiously across various pieces of furniture, inspecting every unfamiliar object she encountered.
After dinner, a comfortable silence settled over the room.
Alastair leaned back slightly before looking toward Blake.
"I've decided I'll be living here from now on."
His tone remained gentle.
"You understand the feeling, right?"
Blake hesitated.
Not because she objected.
Rather, the realization that Grimmauld Place would once again become quieter tugged faintly at her heart.
After several moments she smiled and nodded.
"Of course not."
Then, pointing a finger toward him, she added firmly,
"But you're still coming to Grimmauld Place regularly."
He laughed.
"I was planning to."
"Good."
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"Then I have no complaints."
"Actually..."
Alastair glanced toward the clock.
"Would you like to stay here tonight? We need to visit Ted tomorrow morning anyway, so it'll save us another trip."
Blake considered it briefly before nodding.
"That makes sense."
She rose from her chair.
"I'll just let Kreacher know."
Drawing a breath, she called out,
"Kreacher!"
Air rippled for a moment but went back to calmness.
Blake frowned.
"Kreacher?"
Again, nothing happened.
She looked toward Alastair in confusion.
A moment later realization dawned upon him.
He smiled sheepishly.
"He is not registered in the wards."
He gestured toward the walls surrounding them.
"The anti-house-elf Apparition enchantments are doing exactly what I designed them to do."
Understanding immediately crossed Blake's face.
"Oh, right."
Alastair turned toward Liri.
"Liri."
"Yes, Master?"
"Would you go find Kreacher? He should have appeared somewhere outside the ward perimeter."
Liri bowed immediately.
"At once, Master."
With a quiet pop, she disappeared beyond the manor's wards.