Time, at Hogwarts, had a curious way of slipping past without notice. Days turned into weeks as leaves began to shift from green to hues of orange and gold, heralding the approach of October. For Elias Blake, the passing month had been a careful balancing act between subtle ambition and necessary restraint.
He had adapted quickly to Hogwarts' rhythm. Rising early, attending classes with calm attention, offering just enough answers to be noted as promising—but never arrogant. He practiced diligently, never showing off. Always controlled. Always calculating.
Each act of subtle deviation from canon—small interjections, different questions asked in class, helping students others wouldn't—earned him Fate Points, slowly but surely. By the start of October, he had amassed 135 points, most of it gained through tiny nudges of divergence:
Helping Neville with a charm outside of class.
Interrupting a confrontation between Seamus and a second-year Slytherin.
Giving Hermione advice on non-textbook magical theory (a twist that mildly irritated her).
Choosing to skip an expected Prefect-led study group and helping a struggling Muggle-born with potion basics instead.
The Fate Divergence System remained quiet unless prompted. But Elias had begun to understand its language: reward came through intention, not spectacle. He was no longer pushing for applause. He was orchestrating subtle change.
Discovery of the Room of Requirement
It began one Thursday evening after dinner.
Elias had taken to walking the castle alone. It was a way to think, to breathe. Hogwarts was alive in a way that felt like it breathed with you—and sometimes, if you listened closely, it whispered back.
He had heard rumors from portraits. One painted knight had once muttered, "That vanishing hallway? A trick of will and need, my boy." It had stayed with him.
And so, one night, driven by quiet purpose, Elias wandered to the seventh floor. He paced. Once. Twice. Three times. Focusing his mind on what he truly needed.
"I need a space of my own. A place hidden. A sanctuary beyond time. I need something only I can shape."
Suddenly, a door appeared where none had been.
He stepped through—and his breath caught.
The chamber was immense and glowing with ambient, natural light—though it was clearly night outside. At its center stood a wide, multi-level platform of polished wood, surrounded by bookshelves, counters, and blank walls—waiting. And in the corner: a modern sofa. A record player. A standing mirror.
Elias stepped forward, slowly. This is mine.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You have unlocked a personal domain: "The Hidden Sanctuary." All customization requests will now be channeled through the Room of Requirement Core. You may access this space from any magical doorway if you possess the Mark of Return.]
It was his—and it could be more.
Building the Sanctuary
Using 70 Fate Points, Elias purchased:
Architectural Insight (Tier I): Allows customization of magical spaces.
Mark of Return (Bound): Grants personal teleportation to the Room of Requirement once per day from anywhere, with cooldown reset at midnight.
Silent Workshop Module: A sub-room for magical experiments, warded and silent.
Modern Interface Aesthetic: Converts the room's style to a sleek, minimal design with modern Earth-like elements (sofas, LED-style lighting, wooden flooring, open bookshelves, subtle ambient music enchantments).
He spent hours inside.
He installed a library corner, with a desk and shelves that automatically filled with magical theory from Hogwarts' archives. A training alcove where he could quietly practice spellwork and wandless magic. A small lounge with an enchanted projection orb that let him listen to music from his previous life—tunes no one else in this world knew.
This was his retreat. His future fortress.
He wasn't just learning magic.
He was building a base of operations.
Internal Reflections
That night, Elias stood in front of the Sanctuary's large mirror. He looked at himself—not just at his reflection, but deeper. At who he was becoming.
"I've kept myself reserved. Strategic. That's good. But I need to start acting."
He opened the Fate Divergence System.
Goals to Achieve Before Year-End:
Master Occlumency (Phase 1 Complete – Continue Training)
Learn 10 unique spells not taught in First Year
Establish rapport with key students in each House
Secure 1 item of historical magical importance
Identify one ally among the professors
Reach 500 Fate Points before end of term
Ambitious. But necessary.
Elias glanced around the sanctuary and smiled. He didn't need approval. He needed results.
Closing Scene
The room dimmed as he lay back on the modern sofa. Soft magical tones played from the enchanted orb, a melody from a world that no longer existed.
Outside, the wind stirred against the castle's stone.
Inside, Elias Blake—The Divergent Gryffindor—planned in silence.
The game was changing.
And he was ready.