Ubiquitous

Everywhere

By the time they returned to Grimmauld Place, it was already nine in the morning.

Vivi's face was still a little pale, but her eyes had regained their usual steadiness.

Harry followed behind her, one hand supporting her waist, ready to catch her at any moment if her legs gave out.

Kingsley was the last to get out. He slipped the Encrypted Communicator into his pocket, stopped on the steps, and took a deep breath of London's morning air.

"The Confederation Technical Group has already begun installing Magic Filters on all known nodes in Europe. Mr. LeMay is leading the team personally. The first batch of equipment should be deployed by noon today."

Vivi pushed open the cast-iron gate and walked into the Living Room.

Hermione stood up from the Old Oak Table, an Encrypted Communicator in her hand.

Pabbie and Anne were sitting on the sofa, the Manuscript spread across their knees. When they saw Vivi come in, both of them looked up at the same time.

"The Global Purification Program has begun deployment." Hermione set the Encrypted Communicator on the table. "Mr. LeMay said the principle behind the Magic Filter is to use Anti-phase Pulses to strip the Dark Red Residue out of the Ley Lines. He's been researching it in his workshop in Hogsmeade for at least ten years, but he never had the chance to test it in the field. Now that chance has come."

Vivi sat down at the Old Oak Table, took the Magic Container holding the Golden Sphere from her pocket, and placed it on the table.

The sphere's light flashed through the silver white Runes on the container, as though it were breathing.

"The fragment from Node Negative One. He transferred part of his consciousness there, and now he's been compressed