Back to School

Hermione was sorting through the linguistics group's supplementary analysis notes on symbol sequences in the underground archives of Confederation Headquarters. When Harry pushed open the door, she was sitting at the table flipping through a thick stack of handwritten records.

Harry sat opposite her and placed the technical group's latest briefing on the table.

"The Ley Lines' displacement has increased considerably. It's been less than twenty days since activation, and the shift has already exceeded the projected curve. The system is adjusting the Ley Lines faster than the technical group initially estimated."

"How much faster? Is it still within the safety range?"

"It is for now. But the accelerated displacement means the system may be more aggressive than we imagined, redistributing the flow of Europe's Ley Lines at maximum efficiency."

Hermione pushed the linguistics notes aside.

"If the system continues operating this way, it could complete in less than a month the amount of displacement the Confederation originally predicted would take half a year. Changes to magical environments across Europe will accelerate. More people will notice them, and the Confederation will come under greater pressure."

"Veratia must have considered that already. She'll communicate with the Ministries of Magic in advance and let them know the changes are controllable."

On the third day after the Confederation decided to let the system continue running, the first field report on its effects arrived.

She returned from Hogwarts to Vienna on Thursday afternoon and found Harry in the corridors of Confederation Headquarters, clutching a slip of paper.

There was a single line written on it, recorded by her own hand.

"This morning in Charms Class, Professor Flitwick had the students practice Wingardium Leviosa. There were thirty students in the class, and twenty-one succeeded on their first attempt. Under normal circumstances, that number should have