Days blended into weeks of rigorous training. Arthur's progress with the mystic arts had become steadier—each morning bringing new insights, each evening ending with measurable improvement. The endless repetition of forms and meditation had begun to reshape not just his abilities, but his thinking.
Mid-August arrived with an unexpected interruption.
Arthur had just completed his morning meditation when a distinctive crack echoed across the garden, startling nearby students. A small figure materialized beside a flowering plum tree, drawing curious stares from those unaccustomed to magical transportation.
Winky stood proudly, clutching several official-looking envelopes, seemingly unbothered by the altitude or the journey.
"Master Hayes!" she exclaimed, eyes bright with excitement. "Your examination results have arrived!"
Several students whispered among themselves, eyeing the strange creature with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
Arthur calmly approached her. "Thank you, Winky."
There was nothing blocking house-elves from coming to Kamar-Taj, and Arthur ensured he made the most of it. He could leave anytime with Winky if he needed to do something in London, though such trips were rare. More importantly, she brought him daily news about both the muggle and wizarding worlds.
He had heard about the dementor attack on Harry Potter and the hate campaign against him in the Daily Prophet. Everything was proceeding according to his foreknowledge of events. No serious changes had occurred that would require his intervention, which was a relief.
"What is this... creature?" a voice asked from behind.
Arthur turned to find Kaecilius watching with undisguised interest. It was the first time the man had directly initiated conversation.
"She's not a creature," Arthur replied coolly. "She's Winky and she is a house elf from the wizarding world."
"Another world with another form of magic entirely. Fascinating." Kaecilius's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the small being.
"This world is full of such fascinating things," Arthur said with a thin smile. "You are in for a treat. You have just stepped one foot into it right now."
"Glad to hear." Kaecilius clasped his hands behind his back, his posture perfectly straight.
"How are you finding Kamar-Taj so far?" Arthur asked.
"Enlightening." Kaecilius's eyes never left Winky. "Can someone learn your form of magic?"
"No. You need to be born with it." Arthur shook his head. "But you're not missing much. Most of the magic is the same."
"Unfortunate. I would have liked to learn wizarding magic." A fleeting expression of disappointment crossed Kaecilius's face.
"Many wizards would have liked to learn mystic arts too, but not everyone can." Arthur adjusted his training robe.
"But you can." Kaecilius's eyes finally shifted to Arthur's face, studying him with renewed interest.
"Let's just say when one door closes, another one opens up." Arthur took a step back. "Sorry, I have to go. It was good talking to you."
Then Arthur left the training area with Winky.
Finding a quiet corner of the garden, Arthur broke the seal on the first envelope. Inside lay his Hogwarts NEWT results—ten Outstandings across all subjects. Exactly as expected. The wizarding qualifications mattered little now, but completeness was satisfying.
The second envelope contained his A-level results—straight A grades across all five subjects. With these, his path to MIT remained clear. The next step would be registering for October's SAT examinations.
"All good news?" Winky asked, bouncing slightly on her toes.
"Perfect scores," Arthur confirmed. "I'll need to return to London briefly to register for my next examinations."
Winky's entire face brightened. "Winky can bring Master Hayes anytime! The manor has been kept spotless and ready!"
"I appreciate that." Arthur noticed her barely contained enthusiasm. "Have you been bored on your own?"
The house-elf's ears drooped slightly. "Winky loves caring for Master's homes, but..." she hesitated, "sometimes Winky wishes for more tasks."
Arthur considered this. Keeping her occupied would be beneficial for both of them.
"How would you feel about visiting Hogwarts occasionally? You could help the elves there and perhaps play around with Dobby."
"Dobby!" Winky's eyes widened. "He serves the Potter boy now."
"So he took my advice," Arthur murmured, pleased his suggestion had been followed. "You can follow him around. Interesting things always happen around Harry Potter."
Winky's enthusiasm returned instantly. "Winky would be honored to help Master gather information!"
"Not spying," Arthur clarified, knowing exactly how house-elf enthusiasm could lead to misunderstandings. "Be open about it and just let me know of the developments."
"Of course, Master Hayes." Winky nodded solemnly, though her eyes sparkled with anticipation of having a mission.
"I'll return to London this weekend," Arthur decided. "For now, you should go back. I need to continue my training."
With another crack, Winky disappeared, leaving Arthur alone with his thoughts and plans.
Even with the mystic arts consuming most of his energy, the technological education remained crucial to his long-term strategy. Both disciplines would be necessary for what lay ahead.
Arthur tucked the results away thoughtfully. His plans were proceeding as intended, even if his timeline had been adjusted due to his magical injury. The dual path—mystic arts and technological mastery—would provide the foundation he needed.
—
The afternoon training session focused on defensive applications of mystic energy. Students paired off to practice shielding against various attacks. Master Lhakpa surveyed the courtyard thoughtfully.
"Hayes, Kaecilius," he called. "You two will demonstrate today."
The other students formed a circle around them, eager to witness the contest. Arthur and Kaecilius faced each other, each taking the traditional opening stance.
"Begin with basic shields," Master Lhakpa instructed. "Then progress to more complex forms."
Kaecilius moved first, golden energy flowing from his fingertips to form a perfect circle of light. Arthur countered with his own, slightly larger and more densely woven.
"Good," Master Lhakpa nodded. "Now, simple attacks against each other's shields."
Kaecilius sent a lance of energy toward Arthur's shield. It struck with precision but dissipated harmlessly. Arthur returned the gesture, his bolt slightly stronger, making Kaecilius's shield flare brightly upon impact.
The exchange continued, their attacks growing progressively more complex. Arthur noted how quickly Kaecilius adapted, each new pattern more intricate than the last. His natural talent was undeniable.
"You've been practicing beyond the assigned forms," Arthur observed during a brief pause.
"As have you." Kaecilius's next attack came as a flurry of energy darts from multiple angles.
Arthur's shield morphed into a dome, intercepting all incoming projectiles. A murmur of appreciation rippled through the watching students.
"Remember your fundamentals," Master Lhakpa called. "Power flows from control, not force."
Arthur felt the familiar rhythm of combat settling into his movements. This wasn't so different from wizard dueling—anticipating your opponent's intentions, conserving energy, looking for patterns.
Kaecilius pressed harder, his frustration growing visible as Arthur deflected each attack. His final strike came as a whip of golden energy that cracked against Arthur's shield with genuine force.
"Enough," Master Lhakpa intervened. "This is a demonstration, not a battle."
Arthur lowered his shield, noting the thin sheen of sweat on Kaecilius's forehead. Their eyes met in silent acknowledgment—this contest was far from settled.
"You rely too heavily on brute force," Arthur told him quietly as they returned to the circle of students.
"And you fight defensively," Kaecilius countered. "As if afraid to reveal your true capabilities."
"No, that is what I am working on. Control." Arthur rolled his shoulders, releasing tension.
Kaecilius was not satisfied with the answer but Arthur was telling the truth. He had seen the Masters practice in the courtyard and they relied more on graceful defense and attacks and not brute force. Arthur wanted to learn that.
As the training concluded, Master Lhakpa gathered the most promising students after evening practice. His normally stern expression had softened with something like pride.
"Tomorrow," he announced, looking over the assembled group, "those who have mastered basic energy manipulation will begin the next phase of training." His hands swept through a circular motion, golden light trailing his movements. "You will learn to create gateways between locations—the foundation of a sorcerer's mobility."
Arthur's eyes drifted across the courtyard, finding Kaecilius at the group's edge. Their gazes locked in silent challenge—the next contest already beginning before the current one had fully ended. Who would master gateways first? Who would advance faster? The questions hung unspoken between them.
Arthur embraced the rivalry. Competition had always driven him to break through limitations that others accepted as fixed. With Mordo and Wong likely years from arriving at Kamar-Taj, Kaecilius was the only student besides himself that Arthur recognized from his future knowledge. This shared significance, though only Arthur knew of it, created an unusual connection between them.
The rivalry forming between them wasn't Arthur's preference. He had never sought equals among peers—his sights were set higher. The Ancient One, Master Singh, Master Lhakpa—these were the benchmarks that mattered. Kaecilius, talented as he might be, was merely a waypoint on Arthur's journey. A measure of progress, not a destination.
Let Kaecilius excel at learning forms quickly. Let him master the initial lessons with natural talent. Arthur's temporary limitations would soon fade, and when they did, the gap between them would widen beyond closing. Today's close match would become tomorrow's decisive victory.
He returned Kaecilius's stare with a calm confidence that bordered on dismissal. Tomorrow would bring them one step closer to seeing who truly had the greater potential.
And it wasn't the man who would one day serve Dormammu.