All the rune tattoos Adam had on his skin now had different functions. The one in your hand, for example, could send an object to your briefcase. More specifically, for the table with runes in the briefcase.
Adam still couldn't create a rune that could send something alive, so only objects could be sent, or brought, as long as they had a special rune engraved, or if it was on the table in the briefcase.
Among the runes on his body, there were some with built-in spells, and if he found himself in a situation with no magic reserves, he could use them to protect himself.
''Now I don't have distance limitation anymore'' He murmured, satisfied with the creation.
Before Adam could summon anything from his briefcase just by snapping his fingers, but there was a distance limit. But now, with runes, it didn't matter how far away he was from something, as long as he had the right rune engraved he could summon it.
Adam left the suitcase, and took a shower, going down to the main room afterward. Drawing runes used up a lot of his mental energy, especially when it was on something alive, and that 'alive' was himself.
''Grini.'' He called, and the elf immediately appeared in front of him.
''Master ?''
''Make me some tea, please.''
As soon as it arrived, the elf was gone.
''I need to learn how to Apparate... '' He muttered enviously, this was a skill he really wanted, the simple idea of 'teleporting' was something very interesting and useful.
Then his eyes lit up and a question arose. ''Could there be some different kind of Apparating with ancient magic?''
That thought made him excited. But he remembered that classes would be back in a short time, and it was impossible for him to study and learn something of that level in a short time. And unlike human transfiguration, testing Apparition without preparation was asking to be split in two.
Deciding that he would study this when he had free time again, he left those thoughts for later.
When he arrived in the main room, he saw that someone was already there.
George was already there, he had just arrived. The old butler looked tired, and he was sitting with his suit open, a glass of drink in his hand.
''Hard day ? '' Said Adam, sitting in one of the armchairs.
George took a sip of his drink before answering. "Terrible''
''Anything I want to know? '' asked Adam.
''Lots of bureaucracy, some idiots who didn't like our position in the ministry. Those who want to buy our rune secret, and did I mention bureaucracy? '' Said the butler.
''Yes, the bloody bureaucracy, I hate it,'' agreed Adam, making George glare at him, before they both laughed.
George thought if there was anything else before saying. "Actually, something interesting happened.''
"How interesting?'' Adam was curious.
''Two malicious wizards were found dead in Knockturn Alley.'' George said, remembering what he heard. '' The interesting thing is that it is not known exactly how they were killed. No traces of spells were found in the area, and witnesses didn't see anything, well they wouldn't say they did, it wasn't a place with helpful people anyway.''
Then he looked at Adam and asked, ''How interesting is that? ''
Adam shook his head and chuckled. ''Pretty interesting indeed.'' He sighed. '' How can someone kill two wizards in broad daylight without being seen ? And the Aurors, not finding any trace?''
George shook his head.'' I was there when the report came in, and I heard a thing or two, you know, people can't keep their mouths shut. But I heard it's like they died from lack of air.'' He laughed as he said that part.
''Can you imagine? Two wizards died from not being able to breathe, wands in hand... The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is a mess''
''Oh really ? '' asked Adam, interested. ''What do they think? ''
George said what he had heard." Some think it's some kind of black magic, others think it's a new disease. But there's no way to be sure, the Aurors will have some work to do in the next few days.''
Adam chuckled as he listened to that.'' I hope they're lucky, but I bet anyone with those skills you told me about wouldn't be easy to find. ''
"To me, it's a waste of time'' snorted George.'' Those two dead, they were sorcerer's rubbish, each had a notebook of more than ten pages, and yet they were free. Shit mismanaged country.''
Great Britain lived the marks of a post-war period, and maintained such an ineffective administration, it was as if they asked to be contaminated with pure-blood ideals and dark wizards.
Had it been up to the Ministry alone, Adam was sure Voldemort would have gained control of Britain easily.
If it weren't for Dumbledore's presence and the order of the phoenix, it would all be over by now. Had it not been for Voldemort's downfall for baby Harry, this place would have already burned in the flames of a long war, and with Voldemort's Horcrux unknown to all, it would be useless even if Snakeface suffered an attack from Dumbledore.
'Horcrux' Adam remembered the location of the Horcrux, maybe it was time for him to start looking for them.
'If he didn't know when the trio was getting them, I guess I don't have to worry.'
Adam was a little apprehensive about starting to gather the Horcrux now and end up alerting the snake face. But if in canon, Voldemort had no idea that the golden trio was destroying them, he figured it would be fine.
'Just in case, I won't destroy it before the time is right' He decided, putting the matter to the back of his mind and enjoying the tea that Grini brought.
Towards the end of the vacation, Adam returned to his training routine and continued his study of runes.
While studying runes, he had understood one thing. 'Runes are one of the strongest areas of magic'
The runes enabled someone who might have been a mediocre wizard to have the power to rise to a distant place in the world's power hierarchy.
Adam was just at the beginning of something that could go much further.
If one day he could create Golems, barriers and offensive spells with the power to destroy an army in a single rune, just using the runes, he would already be on top of the magical world.
'Imagine an army of Golems that don't feel pain, don't fear death, and can rebuild themselves as long as they have magic energy?'
Also, he had his ancient magic, which seemed more incredible every day, each of those things could take someone to the top, but Adam, he had both.
No matter how Adam looked into the future, he could see a brighter day for the wizarding world. As long as he wanted to share his creations with the world, wizards would live in a new age, and he would be the God.
The stage for the next events would still be the magical castle of Hogwarts. And as time did not wait for anyone, the morning of the first of September arrived, and it was time, once again, to enter the great chessboard that was the main plot.
As usual, Adam got up early, did his exercises, showered and ate. Then he went back to the bedroom and went down to the suitcase, which now looked a little different from before.
The shelves with books, were separated to the side, on the shelves, now, there were engraved runes. On the other side, there were some items, under the table with runes, and at the back of the room. There was something new, it was a rune barrier.
There were four pillars with hundreds of runes separated to form a square. Inside the barrier, there were some boxes made of precious metals, like gold and silver.
The boxes were open, and it was possible to see that there was nothing inside. Interestingly, there wasn't a single space in the boxes that didn't have some runes engraved on it.
Adam looked around for a moment, but that wasn't his goal right now.
He checked that he had all his materials for that year, and he couldn't help but sigh when he saw the author of the books.
''I hope to get some benefits from this idiot'' He muttered laughing, if he had to be a student of Gilderoy Lockhart, then he would need to reap benefits from it.
After confirming everything, he dressed in his standard social clothes, and kept his wand under his shirt before going down to the room where George was waiting for him.
Adam got to the station without any problems, it was still early and there weren't many people.
George pulled him into a hug and couldn't help but ask. "Promise me you won't have any confrontations with Troll this year. ''
'A Troll? No, that's a thing of the past, this year.'
Without saying what he thought, Adam replied in the affirmative.'' I promise, no trolls this year. I expect something more challenging this time''
George laughed and ruffled Adam's hair.
Adam said goodbye to George and got on the train, after finding an empty compartment he got in and put his bag in the trunk.
He looked out the window for a while, watching the parents and children saying goodbye, after sighing he looked away and invoked a book, which he began to read.
The journey began as soon as the clock struck eleven. Just like last year, no one had entered their compartment until shortly after the trip began.
Adam looked at the door that was slammed, and chuckled when he saw who had arrived.
''What's the chance you guys ended up in the same compartment as me again?'' He said with a smile to the four new guests.
''Look, just. What a coincidence.'' Said the redhead who was in front.
Harry at the side laughed and slipped under his sister's arm.
''Hey, Adam. ''Length, before sitting down.'' Don't believe her, we're opening all the compartments why she was looking for you.''
Adam chuckled at the red face Isabella had after what Harry said.
''Oh really? It seems like two months away from me was a long time'' He joked.
''I just wanted to know more about the game,'' Isabella said, as she sat down, Hermione sat next to her and Ron, who was the only one who didn't seem comfortable with Adam, sat next to Harry.
Adam looked at everyone and shook hands, ignoring Ron's suspicious look.
'Does he seem more aggressive to me? ' He thought before shrugging, he didn't care about Ron.
Smiling, Adam asked. ''Did you all get my presents?''
Everyone nodded in response. ''Thanks, Adam.''
''It was nothing''
He had sent a copy of the game to all of his close friends and acquaintances. And the four young wizards with him now were some of them.
The youths stared at Adam for a moment, but did not speak.
Adam noticed and laughed.'' What? You can ask whatever you want''
''Did you make the game yourself?''
''Which Deck do you play?
''What are those runes? Did you create them? ''
Adam crossed his legs and answered Isabella first. ''Yes that was me, I thought my name on the ad would be pretty obvious– Ouch''
He patted the leg that was kicked.'' Alright, maybe even with my name one could have doubts''
''Umf, I saw your name, I just found it hard to believe, I know you're a little bright, but from what Mum said, no eleven-year-old should be able to create something like that.''
Adam laughed and questioned.'' A little clever, really? ''
Making Isabella look away, she didn't want to call him a genius, as the others did.
In his last year at Hogwarts, Adam had this whole aura of genius around him, but only a few people really knew what he was capable of, but now it will be different, everyone would see him as a genius.
''Forget it,'' Interrupted Harry. ''Which Deck you use, you should know which one is the strongest right, I mean, you created the game.''
''All Decks are balanced, none is stronger than the other, it depends on if you know how to use it.'' Adam gave a simple answer, and that was the truth, victory or defeat would depend on the person who was playing.
''That's not true,'' interrupted Ron. ''The Fool's Deck clearly sucks. ''
Harry nodded, seeming to agree with what Ron said. He had also used this Deck, but it was impossible to win.
''Terrible?'' Adam laughed, but didn't explain much. ''He's not terrible, just the hardest to play,'' He shook his head and said to Ron, ''you better not try to use him, just play with your Prophet. ''
''Hey, how do you know I play with the prophet? ''
Adam didn't answer, and looked at Hermione. ''Yes, I created the runes, but no, I can't teach you.''
Hermione's smile brightened at first, but faded by the end. She knew he wouldn't teach her, but she thought it was worth asking.
''Hey, want to play? '' Asked Harry. '' There's still a long way to go before we get there
''Fine.'' Adam nodded, he wanted to play too.
Snapping his fingers, a small round table appeared in the center of the compartment. A battlefield was already on the table.
''Hey, why does this one look different?'' asked Ron.
The battlefield really looked different from the common ones that were sold.
This was a unique version that Adam had made, it was his collection of personal letters, some of the art present in the letters differed from the common one.
''That's my people'' Said Adam before opening his hand, and a Deck of cards appeared.
The top card of the Deck was that of a man sitting on a black throne shrouded in mist, which hid his features. At the top of the letter was a name written in gold. ''The Fool''
Adam smiled and asked. ''Shall we start?''