Chapter 43
Light Magic and New Beginnings
Alex's POV
The soft glow of the Patronus bathed the room in shimmering light as I directed the magic towards Sirius, lying on the bed at St. Mungo’s Hospital. His face still bore the traces of Azkaban, the haunted look that clung to him despite his recent freedom. The lingering effects of the dementors' presence in that wretched place were etched into his very soul. Even though Sirius had regained his freedom, his spirit was still healing.
I had spent the past few days researching a theory: could the light magic used in the Patronus charm help heal the damage caused by dementors? Most people only think of the Patronus as a shield, but what if its very essence—hope and happiness—could drive away the darkness that had tainted Sirius for so long?
As I held my wand steady, directing my corporeal Patronus—a thunderbird, majestic and strong—towards him, I noticed the tension in his body slowly ebbing away. The longer I maintained the spell, the more I could feel the energy surrounding Sirius shift.
His breathing steadied, and after a few moments, he opened his eyes, the weariness in them just a little bit lighter.
"That... feels good, Alex," Sirius said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Better than anything they’ve done for me here."
I nodded, letting the Patronus flicker out. "I’ll do this every day if I have to. The dementors did a number on you, but with enough exposure to light magic, we can fight it off."
He gave me a weak smile, the old Sirius shining through for just a second. "You’re full of surprises, you know that?"
---
Hiring for the New Venture
After spending time with Sirius, I turned my attention back to the other project at hand—the expansion of my magical innovations. The magical postboxes were just the beginning. My next idea was to develop magic phones, using the same principle as the two-way mirrors but adding more functionality. Instant communication without owls. I knew it would shake the wizarding world.
But to bring these products to market, I needed a team. Skilled people who understood both the magical and business worlds. For that, I contacted Mr. and Mrs. Tonks. Andromeda, being a skilled lawyer, had agreed to help with the legal aspects of my venture, ensuring everything would be airtight. Ted Tonks, a muggleborn with extensive connections in both worlds, was also invaluable in providing insight into the logistics.
During one of our meetings, Andromeda said, "You’re going to face a lot of resistance, Alex. Not everyone will be on board with these innovations, especially from a young wizard like you."
"I know," I replied, leaning forward. "But that's why I want to do this. To push the boundaries, to show that the magical world can evolve."
With their help, I began the hiring process. One of the first people I hired was a muggleborn wizard named Krishn Ramsey, a young man of Indian origin who had not only excelled at magic but had also earned a muggle degree in management. I needed someone who could bridge the gap between the magical and muggle worlds, and Krishn fit the bill perfectly.
During his interview, Krishn spoke confidently. "I’ve seen what muggle technology can do. We’ve got so much potential in the magical world, but people are stuck in old ways of thinking. If we can merge the two worlds, the possibilities are endless."
I couldn’t have agreed more. "That’s exactly what I want to do," I said. "Bring something new. Make life easier for witches and wizards while challenging the status quo."
Krishn was hired on the spot as executive manager to help oversee the operations. With him on board, we set to work on building a team of creators and developers, testing out new prototypes for the magic phones and refining the magical postboxes.
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Visiting the Weasleys
With the new business starting to take shape, I decided to take a break from work and visit the Weasleys at The Burrow. I had heard a lot about them—mostly from Sirius and Lupin—but seeing them in person was a different experience entirely.
The moment I arrived, I was greeted by Molly Weasley, her warm smile and motherly nature instantly making me feel welcome. The house was chaotic but in the best way—filled with laughter, the sounds of kids running around, and the smell of delicious food.
"Alex, it’s so good to finally meet you!" Molly said, pulling me into a hug. "I’ve heard so much about you."
"It’s great to be here," I replied, feeling a little overwhelmed by the warmth of it all. I wasn’t used to such an open, welcoming atmosphere.
As I sat down at the kitchen table, Arthur Weasley joined us, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "I hear you’re working on something fascinating—these magical postboxes and mirrors, right?"
I nodded. "That’s right. I’m developing a way for witches and wizards to communicate instantly, without the need for owls. It’s based on the old two-way mirrors, but more versatile."
Arthur’s eyes sparkled with interest. "Fascinating! I always thought there was more we could do with magical communication. Have you thought about expanding it to other areas? Maybe even integrating it with muggle technology?"
I grinned. "That’s exactly what I’m working on."
The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing magical innovations, with Arthur practically buzzing with excitement about all the possibilities. The Weasleys were more than just a family—they were a support system, something I hadn’t fully experienced before. And it was clear that their hearts were in the right place.
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Preparation for the New Term
As the days of summer began to wind down, I turned my attention to preparing for the upcoming school year. There were still so many things left to do—completing the final tests on the postboxes, refining the magic phone prototypes, and making sure all the necessary patents were in place.
Krishn had already started assembling a team of wizards and witches who were skilled in runes, charms, and transfiguration, helping to iron out any kinks in the products before we launched. I had big plans for the shop we would eventually open in Diagon Alley, but for now, everything was still in the development phase.
Despite the workload, I found time to keep up my correspondence with Harry. He was doing well, his studies improving, and he was becoming more comfortable in the wizarding world. I had to remind myself that this was all still so new to him, but he was adapting quickly.
He was also excited about starting Hogwarts. I couldn’t wait to see him again and help him navigate the magical world he was still learning about.
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Light Magic and Healing Sirius
The most important task, however, was continuing my light magic work with Sirius. The more I exposed him to the Patronus charm, the better he seemed to get. The dementors had left deep scars, but with each session, I could see him regaining strength, mentally and physically.
One evening, after another session of healing magic, Sirius looked at me with newfound clarity. "I don’t know what I’d do without you, Alex."
I shrugged, trying to keep things light. "You’d probably be stuck with another Marauder trying to prank you into recovery."
He laughed, the sound lighter than it had been in a long time. "Well, I’m grateful. More than you know."
---
The future felt uncertain but promising. Between healing Sirius, launching new magical innovations, and preparing for another school year, I had my work cut out for me. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like things were starting to fall into place.
The magical world was changing, and I was determined to be at the center of it.