Hunter Association Headquarters
Aaron and Ali hurried through the polished corridors of the Hunter Association headquarters, their civilian clothes drawing curious glances from the wizards they passed. Neither spoke as they made their way to Draco's office, both still processing what they had witnessed in the café.
When they reached the Presidential floor, they found Draco and Luca deep in conversation, a projection of the New York Temple still hovering in the air between them.
"Director," Aaron began without preamble as they entered, "we've made contact with a suspected member of Kamar-Taj."
Draco's attention sharpened instantly, all other matters forgotten. "Report. Everything."
"A middle-aged man who called himself James Wilson emerged from the building under surveillance," Aaron explained. "We approached him in the café. He exhibited no magical signature whatsoever, but when confronted..."
Aaron hesitated, exchanging an uncomfortable glance with Ali.
"When confronted," Ali continued impatiently, "he revealed knowledge of both the London incident and Kamar-Taj. He claimed we fundamentally misunderstand what Kamar-Taj is, and suggested we're pursuing the wrong enemy."
"He performed magic unlike anything I've ever witnessed," Aaron added, his customary composure slipping. "Golden circular patterns, no wand, no incantations. Our spells had no effect—they simply dissipated when they contacted his... I don't know what to call them. Shields? Sigils?"
Luca's expression had grown increasingly grave. "Where is this Wilson now?"
"Escaped," Ali admitted, tension evident in his jaw. "He created some sort of portal and vanished."
"A portal?" Draco repeated sharply. "Without apparition? Without a portkey?"
Aaron nodded. "It appeared to be a gateway to another location—we could see stone corridors through it. Before he left, he mentioned someone called 'the Ancient One' and 'the Sorcerer Supreme.' He said they seek to maintain balance, not disrupt it."
"He also knew you by name, Director," Ali added. "Said specifically to tell you that the true threat comes from those exploiting weakening barriers between dimensions, not from Kamar-Taj itself."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Draco's fingers drummed against the polished surface of his desk, his expression unreadable.
"Did he say anything else?" Luca finally asked.
"Yes," Aaron said quietly. "He made a distinction between magic and what he called 'sorcery.' Claimed they draw from similar sources but are different disciplines. That our education is... incomplete."
Draco abruptly rose to his feet. "I need to see this for myself. The memory."
Without hesitation, Aaron stepped forward, placing his wand to his temple and drawing forth a silvery strand of memory. Draco conjured a small Pensieve with a flick of his wand, and Aaron deposited the memory into its shimmering surface.
"Wait here," Draco instructed, before plunging his face into the basin.
Minutes later, he emerged, his expression grimmer than before. He turned to Luca. "We need to accelerate our plans. Whatever is happening at Kamar-Taj, it's beyond what we anticipated."
"What about Rhodes?" Ali asked. "He's still inside."
"If he's truly a conduit to Kamar-Taj as we suspected, then he's exactly where we need him to be," Draco replied coldly. "Maintain surveillance on the building. I want to know about every person who enters or exits."
He turned back to the projection of the ordinary-looking apartment building. "And implement the teleportation ban immediately. If these 'sorcerers' can create portals without conventional magic, we need to determine whether our countermeasures will be effective."
"And if they're not?" Luca asked quietly.
Draco's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll need to develop new ones. Quickly." He paused, considering something carefully. "We need the Goblin Eyes here immediately. Not in three days—now. And we need more than just surveillance."
Luca raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting a raid?"
"I'm suggesting we stop treating these people as ordinary dark wizards," Draco replied. "Whatever magic—or 'sorcery'—they're using, it's unlike anything we've encountered before. We need to assess the full extent of the threat before deciding on our approach."
"Sir," Aaron interjected carefully, "what if Wilson was telling the truth? What if Kamar-Taj isn't the enemy we should be focusing on?"
Draco's gaze hardened. "The Wizarding Federation doesn't run on 'what ifs,' Aaron. It runs on evidence and orders. His Majesty has identified Kamar-Taj as a threat, and we will proceed accordingly." He paused, then added with slightly less edge, "But we'll gather more information before making our next move. I want comprehensive surveillance, and I want the Goblin Eyes here within twelve hours."
Luca nodded, rising from his seat. "I'll make the arrangements immediately."