Rowan finished inscribing the final line of the runic array around the school grounds and let out a slow breath.
The barrier he had set up was basic, the simplest form of runic warding. Its rule was straightforward: mutants could pass freely, non-mutants could not. The protection wasn't strong enough to stop a serious assault, but it would block ordinary intruders without difficulty.
That was the point.
Rowan wasn't a trained spy. Whatever he'd done in the past had surely left traces. Regular people might miss them, but organizations like SHIELD or Hydra would eventually notice. Following those threads back to a mutant school was only a matter of time.
Even though the entire campus was already covered by a Muggle-Repelling Charm, he didn't trust it completely. That charm worked in the wizarding world because technology lagged behind magic. The Marvel world was different. Black-tech scanners, exotic sensors, and experimental detection methods might punch straight through it.
If that happened, this runic barrier would be the second line of defense. It wouldn't stop elite operatives forever, but it would slow them down long enough for the school to react.
The truth was, his wand simply wasn't performing as well in this world.
Using strands from the cloned Phoenix host hadn't given the wand any real boost. Without the Phoenix Force, the core was mediocre at best. As a result, spells like the Extension Charm were far weaker here than in the Fairy Tail or wizarding worlds.
Otherwise, Rowan would have already folded the entire school into an expanded pocket space and hidden it outright.
Still, the current setup was acceptable. Ordinary civilians couldn't see the school. Even if someone forced their way in, Wolverine and Professor X were not exactly defenseless. And even at a reduced level, the Professor's telepathy could wipe intruders' minds clean in seconds.
"Done."
It was already evening by the time Rowan finished covering the grounds. His fingers ached slightly from channeling magic for so long.
"I really need a better wand core."
Dragon Crystals were ideal, but absurdly rare. Phoenix material clearly wasn't cutting it. He needed alternatives.
"Maybe Hulk's hair. Or Thor's. Loki's might work too," he mused as he headed back to his room. "They're gods, more or less. Their hair should carry some weight."
If Odin were willing to part with a strand, plus a bit of uru metal and a branch from Yggdrasil… that wand would be monstrous.
He shook his head. That was future planning. Months away, at best.
"For now, study."
With the barrier in place, Rowan decided to shut out the outside world for a while and focus entirely on magic. Fairy Tail systems. Wizarding spells. Theory, structure, refinement. If trouble came later, he wanted to meet it stronger than before.
More than a month later.
The wizarding world had slid into May.
Nothing noteworthy happened during that stretch, aside from a one-sided Quidditch match against Hufflepuff that once again confirmed Rowan's flying talent. Everything remained calm until the day Gryffindor faced Ravenclaw.
As usual, Rowan finished breakfast early and went straight to the library.
He was currently researching the Blasting Curse, a highly destructive spell capable of detonating nearly anything it touched. Dangerous, volatile, and historically catastrophic. Peter Pettigrew had once used it to obliterate an entire street, killing twelve Muggles in the process.
"Rowan!"
He looked up to see Hermione Granger rush into the library, breathing hard.
"That's unusual," Rowan said. "Why aren't you at the match?"
On days like this, the library was usually empty. Professors and students alike flocked to the pitch. Hermione loved books, but she wouldn't miss cheering for Harry.
"Rowan, I think I know what the monster in the Chamber is," she said quickly. "I need a book. Something on dangerous magical creatures."
His expression sharpened.
"Of course."
As they searched the shelves, a quiet thought surfaced in Rowan's mind.
So it's today.
He remembered Hermione being attacked after uncovering the truth, but not the exact timing.
"Is this it?" Rowan asked, pulling out an old, battered volume.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Yes. Moste Potente Magical Creatures."
They sat down, and she flipped straight to the marked page, reading aloud.
"The Basilisk, also known as the King of Serpents. It can grow to enormous size and live for hundreds of years. It is hatched from a chicken's egg incubated beneath a toad. Its venom is instantly fatal, and its gaze kills anyone who looks directly into its eyes."
She continued, voice steady but urgent.
"Spiders flee from it instinctively. And the crow of a rooster is fatal to the Basilisk."
Rowan nodded slowly. "So you think the creature in the Chamber is a Basilisk."
Hermione nodded back. "It moves through the pipes. Myrtle must have seen it directly and died. Mrs. Norris saw it reflected in water, so she was petrified. Colin saw it through his camera. Nearly Headless Nick was already dead."
"That fits," Rowan said. "We should tell Dumbledore."
He paused, then added casually, "By the way, how's Harry's diary?"
Hermione frowned. "Riddle's diary? It was stolen yesterday. And before I came here, Harry said he heard the voice again. I think it was the Basilisk. He hears it because he's a Parselmouth."
She grabbed Rowan's sleeve.
"We need to find Dumbledore now. If the Basilisk is active again, everyone's in danger."
Rowan stood immediately.
"Let's go."