⚜ EVENING, 23RD JULY, 1990, THE GOJO ESTATE ⚜
THE POTTERS REAPPEARED within the grounds of their inherited Japanese estate — the former Gojo Estate. The moment they did, the estate's magic stirred, recognizing its owners. Soft golden wards shimmered briefly around them before fading into the air, confirming their identities.
This was not the girls' first time here — the family came to Japan every year in October — yet the estate never ceased to astound them.
Like all aristocratic manors, the entire property was hidden behind powerful wards, shielding it from both muggle and magical detection. The estate sprawled across a vast area, blending traditional Japanese architecture with subtle Western influences.
Tall, enchanted walls wove seamlessly into the natural landscape, their protections layered with the kind of old, powerful magic that only a select few could bypass. Paper lanterns floated gently in the cool evening air.
The main house — a grand, elegant sprawling ryokan-style manor with sweeping tiled roofs and intricate wooden paneling — stood at the heart of the estate. Its wooden walkways stretched over koi-filled ponds, leading to spacious rooms partitioned by shoji doors.
Warm lantern light flickered through the paper screens, casting soft golden hues against the dark lacquered floors. Their luggage had already arrived ahead of them, likely placed in their respective rooms by the estate's automated enchantments.
Beyond that, the private onsen baths waited, their mineral-rich waters steaming faintly in the night. Infused with minor healing charms, they worked wonders on both fatigue and magical strain — a luxury her mother had insisted on after too many long-winded Ministry battles.
To the left of the main house, a winding stone path led to the Tea Pavilion and Meditation Garden. The pavilion sat within the meticulously designed meditation garden featuring koi ponds, enchanted stone lanterns, and a small waterfall.
To the right of the main house, a smooth stone path branched off toward the Dueling Courtyard, a huge open-air space lined with reinforced wooden beams at its perimeter, enchanted to withstand even the fiercest spellfire.
Adjacent to the duelling ground stood the Training Hall, an enormous dojo-like structure with sleek, dark wood paneling and sliding doors. Inside, it was well-equipped for a large variety of intense magical and physical combat practice exercises.
A little farther down, tucked near a grove of carefully tended cherry blossom trees, loomed the Gojo Estate Library and Warehouse. It was a large, imposing structure that somehow maintained an air of quiet dignity despite its size.
The two above-ground floors housed an impressive variety of books. Jasmine had spent countless hours in its hushed, cavernous reading rooms, pouring over ancient manuscripts and enchanted scrolls. The shelves always seemed to stretch endlessly, crammed with knowledge just waiting to be uncovered.
Below ground, however, lay the real treasure. The underground levels were where the more sensitive contents were stored. These floors were highly restricted, and were guarded by layers of magical defenses designed to repel intruders.
There, rare magical artifacts, cursed objects, and restricted texts rested in secure, reinforced vaults. The deeper one went, the more intense the magical pressure became, a silent warning to any who ventured too far unprepared.
At the southeastern edge of the estate stood a traditional owlery, where the family's owls resided when not delivering messages. Next to it was a beautiful and well-maintained greenhouse.
Her father's favourite domain lay beneath the main house — hidden beyond the layers of natural earth and spellwork. The entrance to the Workshop and Potion Laboratory was concealed beneath the tatami floor they now stood upon.
The estate's seamlessness wasn't just due to enchantments or careful planning — it was also the work of the shikigami that quietly maintained order. These magical constructs, bound to the land itself, carried out their duties with an eerie grace, moving in and out of sight like the wind rustling through leaves.
They weren't obtrusive, nor did they seek attention. But if one paid close enough attention, the telltale flicker of paper talismans and the soft whisper of movement could always be found in the corners of the estate.
The Kamisori-no-Kami were the most frequent ones she caught in the corner of her vision, paper-thin figures that fluttered through the house like stray leaves. They smoothed out the tatami mats, dusted shelves, refolded blankets the moment they were left askew.
These delicate, whisper-light spirits kept the main house in pristine condition, their movements soundless, their presence ephemeral. They never lingered in one place for long, appearing only when necessary and vanishing just as quickly.
Their counterparts were the Suzu-no-Mae, little bell-shaped spirits wrapped in silk, moving with eerie precision. She had never seen one drop a single dish or misplace a teacup. They never hesitated, never second-guessed their tasks.
Inside the onsen baths resided the Yunagi, their forms barely more than ripples in the mist. They made sure the water was always perfect, adjusting the temperature without anyone needing to ask, usually assisted by the Kamisori-no-Kami and the Suzu-no-Mae.
Outside, near the koi ponds and bamboo groves, the Jibō-jin moved at their own slow, patient pace. They were small, cloaked figures of earth and stone, their forms shifting slightly with the seasons — crumbling and reforming with the winds, as though they had always been part of the garden itself.
Then, there were the ones deep in her father's workshop — the Fude-no-Kami. Their entire existence was dedicated to recording. They usually floated around, dipping themselves into ink without a guiding hand, transcribing formulas and notes with perfect precision.
Meanwhile, all around the estate, the Yōjin-shi stood like silent sentinels. Unlike their gentler counterparts, these shikigami were guardians — tall, imposing figures of thick parchment, their faces shifting with the flicker of inscribed kanji, unreadable and unrelenting.
The shikigami all always worked tirelessly and precisely, without need for supervision, therefore making them invaluable.
The entire estate was basically a bastion of perfection. It had taken a long time to add all the renovations, but it was worth it. Potter Manor had similar features added as well over the years, facilities, shikigami and whatnot.
The wealth and influence behind it all stemmed from the groundbreaking research and innovations that Jasmine's parents had pioneered so as to rebuild the Potter fortune fortune through groundbreaking magical innovations, transforming the wizarding world.
Their research led to advancements in communication, transport, household enchantments, and combat magic, culminating in the vast Potter Conglomerate. Notable contributions included stabilizing Portkey travel, expanding Apparition safety, and developing the MirrorLink Network for instantaneous communication and information transfer.
However, as their ideas gained traction, they faced a growing resistance. Bureaucratic roadblocks, political interference, and subtle sabotage from rival families and factions made it increasingly difficult to bring their innovations into the mainstream.
It wasn't just professional jealousy, though there was plenty of that. The real issue lay in the Potters' progressive approach to magic, which challenged deeply rooted traditions, and this had ruffled the feathers of many influential conservatives.
Every time the Potters tried to patent an invention or launch a new advancement, their efforts were impeded, whether through professional sabotage, bureaucratic red tape, or aggressive orchestrated smear campaigns against them.
Some obstacles were more overt, like the prolonged opposition to the MirrorLink Network. It had been described as a "potential security risk" by government bureaucrats for months before gaining any real momentum.
The main force against them, however, had been Dumbledore. He had a great deal of influence in international spaces, and sided with the conservatives against most of these innovations, therefore making things more difficult than they should have been.
All the same, the Potters had not only won, but they also surpassed their original pre-Grindelwald Campaign fortune by miles. It was no surprise, therefore, that the Potters had been thrust into the global spotlight, but that was the price of progress.
Jasmine could only really appreciate the efforts of her parents — they had done everything to put the Potter family on an untouchable pedestal. It was clear that the Samhain Incident really left its mark on them, motivating them to do all they could.
The train of thought came to a crashing halt as her father's voice broke through her contemplations.
"I'll be in my workshop if anyone needs me," James said quickly as he ran off before anyone could stop him.
"Ugh, what a man-child," Lily said with amused exasperation. "Do you girls need anything?"
The three Potter scions looked at each other and shrugged. "We'll be fine, Mum," Jasmine said.
"Alright, then," Lily responded. "I'll be at the greenhouse."
She then retreated towards her destination. The girls turned toward each other.
"Let's head to the Training Hall," Rose offered. Ivy nodded in agreement.
"You two go on," Jasmine replied. "I'm going to the library."
Her sisters nodded. "Alright, but you must remember your promise," Rose said. "You must come to the Training Hall later." The two then walked off.
Jasmine lingered near the koi pond for a moment, watching as the water rippled gently in the breeze. The shikigami moved quietly around her, adjusting the garden ever so slightly—clearing a path here, pruning a branch there.
She let her thoughts drift slightly before finally turning and heading toward the library. She had research to review, projects to tinker with, and questions to answer — questions that would likely keep her up far too late, as usual.
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Author here. 🥸
So, yeah, the Potters are big shots in this story. I'm trying to work with one of those archetypes where a smart character has it all — power, wealth, intelligence. Of course, this doesn't mean everything will be easy, given what I have planned for Jasmine.
Also, about that "internet" in the wizarding world — it is exactly as it sounds, but operating on magical technology rather than conventional technology. I'll explore it further in coming chapters.
Anyway, ciao! 👍