Olivia continued sorting through the files in her bag, the soft rustle of parchment filling the quiet room. One by one, thick folders emerged, each marked with coded labels and dates. She stacked them neatly on the table before Ethan, then slid them toward him.
"Read everything about Hogwarts," she said evenly. "All of it. I want you familiar with its structure, its people, and its unspoken rules before you ever set foot inside."
Ethan had been staring absently through the window, watching the slow movement of clouds over the neighboring rooftops. At her words, he turned his head back toward her and gave a small nod.
"Sure, boss," he replied. "I will."
Olivia acknowledged this with a brief nod of her own. Then she reached back into her bag once more and withdrew four photographs. She placed them carefully on the table, aligning them in a straight row.
"Good," she said. "Now we move on to the political situation within the British magical world."
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his attention sharpening.
"Aside from Albus Dumbledore and the families who openly or quietly support him, there are four families that currently stand at the forefront of political struggle in Britain. They are wealthy, influential, and deeply entrenched in the power structure of the Ministry of Magic. For the past few decades, these families have shaped policy, elections, and public sentiment."
She tapped the first photograph.
"The first is the Potter family."
Ethan studied the image, then nodded slowly.
"They rose quickly after the fall of the Dark Lord," Olivia continued. "Fleamont Potter, the head of the family at the time, used that event masterfully. He leveraged public emotion, fear, and relief to enter politics. Within a few years, he secured a seat on the Wizengamot."
She paused briefly, letting the significance settle.
"At the same time, he expanded the Potter family business beyond Britain. What had once been a respectable but modest operation became international. Trade routes were established with neighboring magical communities across Europe. The Potters became visible, indispensable, and profitable."
Ethan nodded as he listened.
"Because of that rapid ascent," Olivia said, "a member of the Potter family is now contesting the position of Minister for Magic in the upcoming election."
Ethan exhaled softly. "So they took advantage of being the family of a hero and used it properly."
Olivia looked at him and inclined her head. "Yes. It was a calculated and intelligent move. Before that, the Potters were an old pure blood family whose influence had been declining. Their ideology was moderate, which did not endear them to more extreme families. The fall of the Dark Lord gave them legitimacy, sympathy, and a narrative they could shape."
She folded her hands together.
"They are still rising. But if they win the ministerial election, their influence within the Ministry will solidify. At that point, they will no longer be newcomers. They will be a pillar."
Ethan tilted his head thoughtfully. "I have heard of them," he said. "They have business interests in France. Though from what I gathered, they were never particularly popular there."
"That is a separate matter," Olivia replied. "International business always breeds resentment. The Potters are not universally liked. But they are taken seriously."
She shifted her attention to the second photograph.
"The next family is the Malfoy family."
Ethan's expression tightened slightly.
"They are among the wealthiest families in Britain," Olivia said. "For generations, they controlled vast portions of the British wizarding economy. Trade, artifacts, land, influence. There was a time when no major financial decision could be made without their approval."
She paused.
"That dominance weakened when a new rival emerged a few decades ago."
She indicated the third photograph.
"This is the Selvanos family."
Ethan leaned closer, examining the unfamiliar faces.
"They are a comparatively new family," Olivia explained, "but extraordinarily influential. They purchased their place among the Sacred 29 now 30 and established themselves with alarming speed. Their wealth rivals that of the Malfoys and even the Blacks."
She tapped the photograph with her finger.
"The head of the family is Gwyneth Selvanos. Irish by descent. There are rumors that she is as powerful as Dumbledore himself, though there is no concrete proof. What matters is that enough people believe it to make others cautious."
Ethan studied the image in silence. Then he looked up.
"What do we know about them ideologically," he asked. "Are they blood purists, or are they moderate like the Potters?"
Olivia's expression remained neutral. "The Selvanos family is moderate. They are new, and they are careful. They seek acceptance within British society while maintaining strong loyalty from Irish magical communities. They position themselves as stabilizers, not radicals."
She turned her gaze back to the Malfoy photograph.
"The Malfoys, on the other hand, are extreme. They are openly hostile toward ordinary people and ordinary born witches and wizards. Their ideology has not softened, despite the fall of the Dark Lord."
Ethan frowned. "But they still hold noble titles granted by the Crown, do they not?"
"They do," Olivia replied.
"Then why," Ethan asked slowly, "has the Crown not revoked their land and titles if they are openly opposed to ordinary people and, by extension, royal authority?"
Olivia looked at him steadily.
"Because power does not always rest where it should," she said. "Two centuries ago, the Malfoy family was firmly under the Crown's control. Through them, the Crown exerted influence over the British magical world."
She leaned back slightly.
"Over time, the Malfoys grew independent. Wealth brought leverage. Leverage brought autonomy. Eventually, they became powerful enough to sever ties entirely. By then, the Crown no longer had the strength to reclaim control without risking open conflict."
She lowered her voice.
"And there is another reason."
Ethan waited.
"The Malfoys possess secrets," Olivia said. "Records of the Crown's manipulation of the magical world. Deals that were never meant to be public. If those secrets were exposed, it would create political chaos. So the Crown chose caution."
Ethan absorbed this quietly. Then he spoke again.
"Did the Crown attempt to create another puppet family after losing the Malfoys," he asked. "Or did they decide not to repeat the same mistake?"
Olivia allowed herself a faint sigh. "They attempted it. More than once. And they failed."
She clasped her hands together.
"After that, the Crown withdrew from direct interference in magical affairs for nearly 160 years. That remained the case until the rise of Gellert Grindelwald."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"His terror campaigns forced the Crown to reconsider," Olivia continued. "Britain and much of Europe were threatened. Magical and non magical worlds alike. At that point, the Crown realized complete disengagement was no longer viable."
She gestured toward the photographs on the table.
"So they began planning again. More cautiously. But subtly. And that planning continues to this day."
Ethan leaned back in his seat, the wood creaking softly beneath his weight. His eyes lingered on the photographs spread across the table, but he was no longer really seeing them. His thoughts were moving too quickly, circling and colliding as he tried to fit everything Olivia had told him into something coherent.
After a long moment, he exhaled and turned toward her.
"Well, boss," he said carefully, choosing his words with unusual caution, "this new mission looks far more complex than anything I have handled before. In France, my role was simple. Observe. Study. And Record the French magical world. I learned their society, their families, their potential threats to England and the Royal Family, and I reported everything back. This is different. This feels like walking into a living web of politics and problems."
Olivia watched him without interruption, her expression attentive but unreadable.
Ethan continued, a hint of unease creeping into his voice. "There are too many factions. Too many layers of influence. Old families, new families, the Ministry, the Dark wizards, Dumbledore, international interests. One wrong step here could collapse the entire operation."
For a long period of time, Olivia said nothing. Then she smiled, just slightly.
"That," she said, "is exactly why you are here."
Ethan frowned faintly.
"It is time for you to get used to this scale, Ethan," she went on. "You are no longer a small observer OCA. I want you to lead this mission. I want you to have control over it."
He straightened a little. "Control," he repeated.
"Yes," Olivia said. "I don't want other Operative Crown Agents overshadowing your presence and performance here. I don't want them becoming more influential than you within this operation. You will be the central figure. The primary point of contact. The one whose judgment carries weight and is trusted by the crown."
She leaned forward slightly, her voice firm but calm.
"This mission must be useful to Her Majesty and to this country. And for that to happen, you must be more than a listener. You must become a player."
Ethan released a quiet sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He did not argue. Instead, his gaze drifted to the last photograph still untouched on the table.
The fourth image.
He studied it silently, noting the unfamiliar faces, the subtle arrogance in their posture, the deliberate way the portrait had been composed.
Olivia followed his gaze.
"All right," she said. "You are wondering about the last family."
Ethan nodded. "You saved them for last," he said. "That usually means they are either insignificant or dangerous."
Olivia smiled faintly. "They are not insignificant."
She reached out and turned the photograph slightly, as if aligning it with some invisible axis.
"This," she said, "is the House of Crave."
Ethan repeated the name quietly. "Crave."
"They are a newly recognized family in Britain," Olivia continued, "though that description is deliberately misleading. Their presence here is recent. Their history is not."
Ethan glanced at her. "Where do they come from?"
"Not from Britain," Olivia replied. "Their origins lie in Italy, near Sicily, in regions where ancient magic lingered long after Rome fell into dust."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Italy," he said. "That alone makes them unusual."
"Unusual, and controversial," Olivia agreed. "According to their own records, the House of Crave traces its lineage back to Salazar Slytherin himself."
Ethan's head snapped up. "Slytherin," he repeated, incredulous. "That is a bold claim."
"Bold enough to offend nearly every established pure blood family in Britain," Olivia said calmly.
She folded her hands together. "The Craves assert that after Slytherin left Hogwarts in the late tenth century, he did not fade into obscurity as history suggests. Instead, they claim he traveled extensively across Europe, searching for magical traditions untouched by British influence."
Ethan listened intently.
"During those travels," Olivia continued, "he allegedly reached medieval Italy. There, he encountered a witch of obscure noble lineage named Isabella di Cravo. She was said to be an enchantress of considerable talent, particularly skilled in venom based potions and shadow binding magic."
She paused briefly.
"The Craves claim Slytherin married her."
Ethan leaned forward slowly. "And they say they descend from that union."
"Yes," Olivia replied. "They insist that their bloodline is a continental branch of Slytherin's line, separate from the Gaunts. They regard the Gaunts as a stagnant remnant that never left England and never evolved."
Ethan let out a quiet breath. "That alone would make them enemies."
"It did," Olivia said. "And still does."
"The Craves remained in Italy for centuries. They accumulated wealth through trade in rare magical artifacts, venomous potion ingredients, and forbidden tomes. They cultivated alliances with continental dark arts circles. There are even rumors of early ties to vampire clans in nearby regions."
Ethan grimaced slightly. "Charming."
"Around the early eighteenth century," Olivia went on, "they migrated to England. Muggle persecutions were increasing across Europe. Wizarding purges followed. Britain offered stability and opportunity."
She glanced at him. "They arrived with immense wealth and an audacious claim. They purchased estates. Arranged strategic marriages. Announced their descent from Slytherin without hesitation."
Finally, he spoke. "And who is the head of this house?"
"The current head of the house is Harlan Crave," Olivia said. "Calculating and cunning man who is Soft spoken but Dangerous."
Ethan nodded slowly, understanding settling in.
"So this is the fourth pillar of the British magical society," he said. " Well it's certainly more complex than French magical society."
"Exactly," Olivia replied.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The room felt heavier than before, weighed down by the knowledge she had just placed in Ethan's hands. Then Olivia straightened, her professional composure returning fully.
"These are the essential pieces you need for this mission," she said calmly. "Everything else must be gathered by you, through observation and experience. You will need to understand the British magical world from the inside. And during this mission, you will inevitably clash with these families. Some of those confrontations will be subtle. Others will not."
Ethan nodded slowly, his eyes moving across the files and the pictures beside them.
After a moment of reflection on these information, he looked up at her. "Then why," he asked, "did it take so long for you to bring me this information?"
Olivia exhaled quietly, the sound betraying a trace of weariness she rarely allowed to surface.
"You already know the answer," she said. "My previous assignments were never based in England. Another handler was responsible for this region."
Ethan nodded in agreement.
"That handler reported directly to Secretary Cavendish," Olivia continued. "Through him, information flowed to the Queen herself. Other handlers were deliberately kept at a distance. We were not permitted access to detailed intelligence on domestic operations, even if we suspected their relevance."
She continued after a brief pause.
"I knew fragments. Broad outlines. But nothing detailed enough for what you are about to do. Policy has only recently changed. Now, if the mission requires it, handlers may share intelligence freely. Or request it."
Ethan absorbed this silently. Then he rose from his seat and walked toward the window.
Outside, the quiet street looked deceptively ordinary. He focused his gaze on the familiar house across the way, the one belonging to Lily Evans. Curtains drawn. Lights low. A life entirely unaware of the currents shifting around it.
He said nothing.
Olivia watched him from behind, her eyes lingering on his still form. Something unreadable flickered across her face. Not calculation or authority. Something closer to hesitation.
She stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Well," she said, her voice steady once more, "I hope you succeed in entering Hogwarts without us needing to involve the Handler who works in Ministry of magic any further."
Ethan did not turn around. "I am waiting for Hogwarts to respond to my application letter," he replied evenly. "Then we will see what comes next."
Olivia nodded. "When you receive their response, contact me. We will discuss the next steps."
She moved toward the exit of the sitting room, her footsteps measured. Reaching the door, she paused, her hand resting briefly on the handle.
"There is one more thing," she said.
Ethan remained facing the window.
"Do not fall in love," Olivia said quietly. "Do not allow yourself romantic attachments. You know better than anyone that such feelings compromise judgment. They hinder the purpose of a mission."
Silence followed.
Seconds passed.
Then Ethan spoke, still without turning around.
"How is Sarah doing now," he asked. "The last time I saw her, I was eleven. Does she still remember me?"
Olivia froze.
For several heartbeats, she said nothing. Her gaze remained fixed on his back, as if weighing whether to answer at all.
"She is fine," Olivia said at last. "She is doing her masters in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford."
Ethan turned slightly, just enough to look at her over his shoulder. "Will You let your daughter be part of our world, boss?"
Olivia met his gaze fully now. Her face was composed and controlled, almost severe.
"No," she said. "Never. I will never allow that."
Ethan studied her, searching for something beneath the surface.
"I will not let that world touch her," Olivia continued. "Not ever."
Ethan smiled faintly. Then he turned back toward the window.
Olivia's voice hardened. "And I want you to never meet her. Never get involve with her. under no circumstances."
"Understood," Ethan replied calmly. "Whatever you order."
Satisfied, Olivia turned and left the room.
Moments later, Ethan heard the front door open and close. He watched through the window as Olivia entered her car, started the engine, and drove away, disappearing down the quiet street.
Ethan remained still for a long time.
Then a small smile curved his lips.
"So that is how it is," he murmured softly to himself. "She is your weakness, boss."
He let out a quiet breath.
"Quite cute of you," he added, almost fondly, "to become emotional while still holding that expressionless face."