Prologue
The high heels echoed inside the building, urgency pouring from every step. The woman hurried toward the last office on the top floor, her breathing and mind in complete disarray. The past few years have proven how wrong everyone is about the world. Humans were far more complex than science initially believed—or at least, if those beings could even be considered human.
An alternate branch of evolution that affected only a portion of the population had manifested in extraordinary abilities, beyond the grasp of scientific understanding. But if it truly was evolution’s result, what variable made it possible? Was it physical? Or perhaps… mental?
Her steps slowed while her thoughts raced faster. Finally, the door appeared before her eyes. She knocked three times and, ignoring every formality, grabbed the handle and stepped inside. Papers and documents were scattered across the room, the lights were off, and the television was on. Ignoring the chaos, she walked carefully, dodging objects on the floor.
As she moved further into the room, she finally saw him: sitting on the floor in front of the television, one hand resting on his knee, the other hanging loosely, holding an unlit cigarette. His eyes were completely focused on the man speaking on the news channel. A slight movement was the only sign of acknowledgment the woman received.
"Have you seen the mess you’ve caused, Jones?" she said.
The man—Jones—finally turned to look at her, his expression as apathetic as his previous movements. A strong wave of disappointment washed over her as she saw him.
"There are things that should never be known," the woman added, raising her voice with every reproach that escaped her mouth.
Jones’s expression didn’t change. Her anger and disappointment had no effect on him. His mouth moved for the first time, preparing to speak.
"Got a light? I’m dying for a smoke," he said, extending his hand.
Her eyes followed the movement. What had once been a formidable man was now reduced to a ghost of his former self. Ignoring the conflict in her mind, the woman walked toward Jones with slow but determined steps. She bent her knees and sat in front of him.
"We can’t stop it. The world will know, at last," she said, a hint of the nervousness she had hidden so well slipping through her voice.
Jones’s eyes sparkled with uncertainty for a brief moment, but that glimmer was quickly replaced by fierce hatred. The sound of the television caught his attention. Both of them turned to face the news broadcast. The sudden interruption made it clear the moment had arrived. The voice of the news anchor filled the now-silent office.
"We have breaking news," the man said, disbelief written all over his face. "What you’re about to hear is no joke. This is official information. The government has confirmed the existence of beings with abilities beyond human capabilities." Phones began ringing throughout the building. "These beings have proven to be a threat to us—humans."
The anchor took a deep breath before continuing.
"They look like us and act like us, but they are not like us. They call themselves… wizards."
The man kept speaking, but neither Jones nor the woman paid attention anymore. Both rose from the floor, their expressions revealing opposing emotions—satisfaction and rage.
"What have you done, Jones?" she whispered.
"What we should have done years ago, Margaret," Jones replied, a wild, chaotic energy overtaking him, in stark contrast to his previous apathy. "We’ll get rid of them before they do it to us."
With his newfound energy, Jones grabbed his coat from the desk and walked toward the door, stopping just before crossing the threshold. Margaret followed him with her eyes, pure fury burning in her gaze.
With a crazed voice and a grin on his face, Jones spoke to her again.
"Ever heard of Hogwarts, Margaret?"