The flying car glided between two massive towers and came to a smooth stop.
A deliberate gap had been left in the city barrier here.
Dozens of enormous pillars created a clean, protected zone that kept deadly radiation and poison gas outside.
Every wizard entering New London had to pass inspection.
Riders with flying bicycles pushed their bikes forward in line.
Carriage owners climbed down while their horses and carriages waited to be checked on the other side.
Everyone stood quietly, waiting their turn.
Harry assumed they’d have to join the line, but the car didn’t slow.
It turned smoothly and slipped into a private channel between the towers.
An attendant in a bright orange uniform approached.
Eamon rolled down the window and handed over a special pass.
“Welcome, Mr.
Potter.” The attendant checked it carefully, then bowed and waved them through.
Harry twisted around in his seat and watched another flying car pull up behind them.
The attendant waved that one through as well.
“Why the checkpoint?” Harry asked his mother.
The other world’s London didn’t have anything like this.
“To keep dangerous people out of New London,” Lily explained.
“The barrier stops anyone from Apparating in.
This is the only way inside.” “Like the Order of the Phoenix?” Harry asked.
Lily looked surprised.
“Where did you hear that name?” “On the newspaper Dad was reading the other day.” “Ah… yes, the Order of the Phoenix.
They were one example.
But they’ve already been dismantled, so we don’t need to worry about them anymore.” Lily’s voice stayed calm.
“The real threat comes from armed Muggle groups.
Sometimes they slip into the city and cause destruction.
They’ve cost wizards a lot.
Livable land is rare now, and their behavior is unacceptable.” Harry nodded.
They really did sound like bad people.
Thinking about villains made him remember something else.
“Mom,” he asked, “have you ever heard the name Voldemort?” “Voldemort?
How do you spell it?” “I… don’t actually know.” Harry felt his face heat up.
Hagrid hadn’t spelled it out, so Harry had no idea either.
“That makes it tricky.
Without the exact spelling it’ll be hard to track down.” Lily frowned slightly.
“Is this a person?” Harry nodded, then glanced at Petunia Evans sitting up front.
Lily understood immediately.
“Petunia, could you give us a moment of privacy?” “Yes, madam.” Petunia bowed and moved to the front seat.
A green privacy barrier rose between the front and back of the car.
“All right, Harry.
Tell me everything.
Who is this person?” Harry hesitated, then said quietly, “In the other world… he killed you and Dad.” Lily’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened.
Harry told her everything Hagrid had said—the night his parents died, the Killing Curse, how he survived and Voldemort vanished.
He wasn’t sure how much of it was true, but he repeated it all.
“Interesting,” Lily murmured, eyes narrowing.
“That’s probably not his real name.
More like a title.
Without the proper spelling it’ll take time to find him.
There are many languages in the world—plenty of similar-sounding words.” She thought for a moment.
“I’ll look into it on this side.
But you should ask around in the other world too.
If you can learn his real name, that would help.” Her plan was simple.
If this Voldemort had killed James and Lily in the other world, he might be a threat here too.
Better to find him first and eliminate the danger.
Of course, she wasn’t about to tell her sweet son that part.
She wanted to keep her gentle image intact.
The cold light in her eyes vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
She smiled warmly at Harry again.
“Still, your safety comes first.
It sounds like this Voldemort is still alive over there.
If the rumors say you defeated him, he’s not going to forget you.” Lily paused.
“When we get home I’ll hire two private tutors to teach you self-defense magic.
You need more ways to protect yourself.” Harry blinked.
The perfect life had suddenly gotten a little more intense.
Well… magic was still fun.
Having two extra teachers couldn’t be that bad.
The car slowed to a stop.
Harry looked up.
They had parked in front of an elegant building.
A sign hung beside the entrance.
Rose Pavilion.
“Mom, what is this place?” Harry asked.
“The Rose Pavilion.
Most people just call it the talent market.” Harry knew what a talent market was—he’d seen them on TV and in newspapers back in the other world.
Places where companies hired employees.
But why call it the Rose Pavilion?
And why did everyone walking in wear formal clothes and carry invitations?
This didn’t look like any job fair he’d ever imagined.
Petunia opened the door.
Harry followed his mother out onto a soft red carpet and walked toward the entrance.
“Madam, may I see your invitation?” a polite attendant asked.
Petunia stayed with the car, so Lily handed over the cream envelope herself.
The attendant checked it, bowed, and led them inside.
The moment they stepped through the doors, a wave of sweet perfume hit them.
Elegant music played.
Wizards in sharp suits strolled between glowing display windows, examining the items inside and checking price tags.
But the things in the windows weren’t jewels or luxury goods.
They were people.
Living, breathing people.