I leave Diagon Alley with my trunk carefully secured, gold and supplies accounted for. The streets hum with activity, but my mind is already elsewhere—focused, precise, calculating. The next step is clear: a proper base of operations. Somewhere I can study, plan, and prepare before Hogwarts.
I head to Gringotts, consulting my accounts and holdings. Several properties have been passed down through my Gaunt bloodline—or claimed through magical inheritance—but one stands out immediately: Slytherin Manor.
The house has been empty since Salazar himself walked its halls. Untouched, unclaimed, and rich with history. Perfect.
After consulting with my account manager and confirming access, I prepare for travel. The Night Bus proves efficient, though a little chaotic, but I arrive by evening, the moonlight casting long shadows over the ancient stone and spires of the manor.
I pause at the entrance, letting the sheer size and aura of the place register. It is magnificent—larger than any orphanage, more organized than most wizarding estates I have studied. The air hums faintly with latent magic, residual wards, and enchantments left centuries ago.
Inside, I find the manor perfectly equipped for my ambitions. A potion brewing room gleams with cauldrons and magical implements, ready for experimentation. A basement for magical experiments stretches deep below the house, lined with shelves for reagents, equipment, and enchanted containers.
And a library. Rows upon rows of books, some dust-covered, some ancient and crisp, even texts authored by Salazar himself. I feel the faint thrill of connection to the founder whose ambition, cunning, and intellect mirror parts of myself. Knowledge waits here, in silence, to be absorbed.
The manor itself is vast. Several spare bedrooms allow for future guests—or experiments. A study, meticulously arranged, perfect for strategy and spellcraft. A kitchen, surprisingly modern despite the age of the house, allows for mundane needs to be met without distraction from greater pursuits.
I walk through each room slowly, cataloging layouts, noting security weak points, and memorizing every detail. The walls, the floors, the corridors—they are all part of the environment I will command.
Slytherin Manor is no longer a house. It is a fortress of intellect and ambition, a place where I can grow stronger, plan carefully, and prepare for the challenges Hogwarts will present.
[System Notification: New Base of Operations Established — Slytherin Manor][Reward: Magical Infrastructure & Historical Resources Accessed]
I step to the window, gazing out at the sprawling grounds. The night is quiet. The manor, the books, the potion room, the laboratory—they are mine to command.
A faint smile touches my lips. Hogwarts awaits, yes—but so does the future, and I will enter it fully prepared.
[Objective Update: Settle Base of Operations — Complete]
Everything is in place. Supplies, wand, rings, gold, and now… a manor worthy of a heir of Slytherin and Merlin alike.
The next stage of planning can begin.