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The Mage's Path: Chapter 18
🕑 Added 2024-12-12 09:37:17 +0000 UTCHi all,
Here’s the next chapter. The Delacours continue to have issues with their adversaries and Harry runs into an issue with his wand.
Chapter 18
The island sprawled beneath Harry as Brutus soared through the late afternoon sky. He was heading for the northern side of the island. He had last one task before he left to return to France.
Harry's inventory was full of ingredients from the day's harvest. The discovery of the Nightshade Whispers sparked his systematic search for the island. If a flower from Celeste’s homeland existed here, there had to be other rare ingredients that didn’t exist elsewhere. His Appraisal skill revealed that some of them had unusual and potent properties.
He would have to improve his Potion Brewing skill a lot more before he even considered experimenting with the ingredients. If there was one thing his potion book couldn’t overstate enough, it was that brewing was dangerous.
Brutus flew down and landed on the ground. Harry slid from his back and headed into the patch of trees. The trees were so conpicious in their unusual symmetry that he should have noticed sooner that something was hidden among them.
His Mana Sense tingled as he passed through an invisible barrier. After walking for a minute, a small stone building appeared—unremarkable except for the intricate ward matrix his magic detected. Lines of power spread outward from the building, burrowing into the ground like roots.
Inside, a massive oak desk dominated the sparse room. A leather-bound tome bearing the Potter crest lay centred on its surface. Harry settled into the chair, fingers tracing the embossed symbol. Dust coated everything except the book—as if the room's magic preserved only what mattered most.
The ward book controlled the island’s wards. The building housed a complex magical array that drew power from its surroundings to power the enchantments. For over a century, they had maintained themselves without interference. Harry's examination revealed several outdated protections, but two in particular required immediate attention.
The first restricted the Grievers to the island's boundaries. While containment made sense for most magical creatures, especially the more volatile ones, the Pride demonstrated enough intelligence that he was confident they could be discrete. Allowing them access to the surrounding waters would expand their hunting grounds significantly.
Harry dipped his quill in ink and scratched out the necessary modifications. His hand paused over the page as he considered the second ward—a population control enchantment. His ancestors had implemented it to prevent the Grievers from overwhelming the island's resources. The measure proved too effective. Only one Pride remained, with no cubs to ensure their survival.
"This ends now," he muttered, striking through the relevant runes. The extinction of such magnificent creatures couldn't be his legacy. The Pride deserved a chance to rebuild their numbers.
He reviewed his changes carefully. The other wards would maintain the island's security while giving the Grievers the freedom they deserved. With proper management of the island's resources, they could establish a sustainable population once more.
Brutus flew him to the island's south side. The Pride was waiting with the Delacours and their tiny fairy escorts. As soon as his feet touched the ground, the lionesses roared, airing their grievances.
"Don’t be like that. I will come back frequently," Harry said. "Keep watching over the island for me."
“More sweets?” His new fairy friend asked, whose name he learned was Remy.
“I will bring you so many sweets that you will develop diabetes,” Harry promised.
"Ready to go?" Pierre asked.
Harry nodded but paused to scratch behind Brutus' ears. The massive creature rumbled contentedly, nearly knocking Harry over as he pressed against him.
He followed the Delacours as they made their way to the beach. There was now less than a month before he started Hogwarts but it felt like he still had too much left to accomplish. He may have skipped school to continue learning and growing independently if it wasn't mandatory.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Steam curled from the cauldron as Harry stirred the shimmering liquid. He counted the final stirs under his breath, watching the telltale signs of proper integration.
He scooped the mixture into crystal vials with practised efficiency. A week of constant brewing had honed his movements to mechanical precision.
"Appraisal."
======Minor Health Potion | Common | Effect: Instant HP Recovery | Quality: High
Description: A healing potion brewed with exceptional ingredients and precise technique. The superior quality of the bloodroot has enhanced its primary restoration properties.
* Restores 70 HP instantly.
* Restores 30 additional HP over ten seconds.
* Increases consumption by 10. ======
Harry grinned. The potion was high quality, capable of restoring seventy HP instantly with an additional thirty over time.
His results had become more consistent after reaching level three in his Potion Brewing skill, The time investment paid off, even if his bloodroot supplies were depleted. Another trip to the dungeon loomed in his future.
He'd worked through his first-year potions textbook between batches of healing potions. The practice served dual purposes—getting ahead in his studies while conserving his precious ingredient.
Harry scrubbed his cauldron clean and laid out fresh ingredients. The Invigorating Draught demanded absolute precision. It was intended for fifth-year students for a reason. One wrong stir or a change in temperature could spoil hours of effort.
He settled into the familiar rhythm—monitoring heat, counting stirs, watching for the subtle shifts in colour and consistency that marked each crucial stage.
Three hours later, he poured the orange liquid into waiting vials.
His appraisal revealed it outperformed the shop-bought version. Harry snorted, thinking of the overpriced junk the apothecary had sold him. At least he wouldn't waste money there again.
The stamina regeneration lasted longer, the attribute boosts proved stronger, and the consumption and toxicity costs dropped. Still not perfect—the complexity of the brew meant more room for error—but progress nonetheless.
The toxicity problem remained unsolved. Each potion added to the buildup in his system. The negative effects might not show now, but it would catch up to him eventually. Better to save these for true emergencies.
Harry packed away his supplies, mind already spinning with possibilities for his next brewing session. A glance at the clock had him cursing under his breath. He'd promised to meet Fleur, and tardiness wouldn't improve her mood.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Harry spread jam on his croissant, half-listening to Gabrielle chatter about her adventure with the Dusk Fairies. Apolline nodded along, hiding a smile behind her coffee cup.
"And then the smallest one showed me where they sleep!" Gabrielle bounced in her seat. "In tiny beds made from flower petals!"
The door swung open. Pierre strode in with a tall, thin man whose robes bore intricate silver embroidery. Dark circles under his eyes spoke of long nights spent working.
"Master Janssen has returned," Pierre announced. "He's prepared something to help Fleur."
Harry lowered his croissant, his curiosity piqued. Apolline rose to greet their guest, smoothing her robes.
"Please, call me Louis.”
Louise glanced around the room. His gaze fixed on Celeste, who sat cross-legged on the table beside Harry's plate, munching on a piece of croissant bigger than her head. "How extraordinary. I've never seen a fairy with such unusual colouring."
Celeste paused mid-bite. "Take a picture. You'll never see another one like me again."
Louis' eyes widened. "And intelligent as well. May I ask where you come from, miss...?"
Harry cut in before Celeste could respond with something more cutting. "She's my familiar. I found her in England."
"And you are?"
"Harry."
"Well, Harry, perhaps we can discuss your fascinating companion later."
The Delacours and Louis continued exchanging pleasantries for several minutes. Harry watched Louis the entire time. Something about the man set Harry's instincts on edge.
It wasn’t because he was interested in Celeste; she drew attention everywhere she went.
No, it was something else. Louis chatted with the Delacours, his laugh just a fraction too loud. Harry tracked the man's every movement. His fingers drummed against his thigh, twisted his sleeve, adjusted his collar—never still. Dark eyes darted between exits, scanning the room like a trapped animal.
Pierre and Apolline carried on their conversation, oblivious to Louis's twitchy behaviour. Or maybe they chose to ignore it. Either way, Harry's skin prickled with unease.
Celeste flew up to him and whispered in his ear. “Hey, that man is suspicious. Where did they find him?”
She noticed the same thing he did. Harry tapped his glasses, activating his HUD.
Louis Janssen - Level 71 - Artificer
He didn’t see anything unusual.
Louis glanced at his pocket watch. "As much as I would love to continue chatting, I have a prior engagement. Where is your eldest daughter?"
“The same place as last time,” Pierre said. “Let’s go.
Apolline glanced down the table at Harry. "Would you like to join us? I'm sure Fleur would appreciate the support."
Harry blinked. "What do you mean?"
Pierre chuckled. "Come now. You didn't think we were unaware of your visits? The tower has enchantments that monitor everyone coming in and out of the tower."
Harry winced. "I didn't mean to hide it."
"We were concerned at first," Apolline said, "but you've been good for her. She needs a friend outside of her family. And there haven't been any incidents since last time."
"I want to come too," Gabrielle said.
Pierre shook his head. "Wait here. We'll fill you in on what happened later."
Gabrielle sulked and slumped back in her chair.
"I'll watch her," Celeste offered, cheeks bulging with food.
They left the house and crossed the grass to the tower. When they entered, Fleur was at her piano, fingers dancing across the keys in a melancholy tune. She stopped when they entered, the last note hanging in the air.
"Welcome back, Mr Janssen."
Fleur raised an eyebrow at Harry as she sat on the sofa, as if asking about his presence. Harry shrugged.
Louis settled into a chair opposite her. Harry moved closer as the man reached into his robes. Fleur's hands twisted in her lap, knuckles white. Without thinking, Harry sat beside her and grasped her hand. He didn’t know what impulse made him do it but Fleur didn’t seem to mind. She squeezed back, tension easing from her shoulders.
Louis produced a silver bracelet with runes etched along its surface. "This took considerable time to craft. I'm confident it will help.”
“What is that?” Harry asked.
“This is an enchanted item,” Louis explained. “They are objects that hold permanent enchantments. They draw ambient magic from the environment or their wielder."
Harry nodded. They sounded like his enchantment gems, but they could be socketed into his equipment, giving them more versatility.
"Are they difficult to make?"
Louis chuckled. "Every enchanted object requires a certain level of proficiency. Some contain simple enchantments that require no effort. For powerful artefacts, extensive research, skill, and the right materials are required."
“So this bracelet is meant to keep Fleur’s Veela transformation under control?”
"That is the plan," Louis said, holding the item out for Fleur. "But we will not know for sure until we try it."
As Fleur reached for it, Harry caught her wrist. "Wait."
"Harry?" Pierre frowned. "What are you doing?"
"One moment." Harry activated his Appraisal skill, focusing on the bracelet. The description materialised:
=======Control Manacle | Level: 30 | Epic | Type: Dark Artefact | Enchantment Slots: n/a
Description: A Veela suppression device hiding a darker purpose. The bracelet reduces a Veela's outbursts, making it appear legitimate for cursory inspection. Speaking the command phrase "The flower is withering in my hands" in any language binds the wearer's will to the speaker. The victim must follow all commands with no ability to resist. Only the controller can remove the bracelet, and the compulsion lasts until removal.
* Defence: 0
* Durability: ∞
* Effect: Reduces Veela transformation outbursts by 50%.
* Hidden Effect: Complete mental domination
* Prolonged use may cause permanent mental damage to the wearer. =======
Harry’s stomach churned. "Where did you find this guy? The true purpose of this artefact differs from what he claims.”
Apolline and Pierre exchanged uneasy looks.
Louis stood, chair scraping against the floor. "Preposterous! Are you going to allow this boy to disrespect me?"
“Harry?” Fleur’s hand squeezed his hand tighter.
He could feel the temperature rising around her. Not good. Fleur may transform again if he doesn’t handle this carefully.
"Harry, what is going on?" Pierre asked.
"This item was designed to control the wearer," Harry explained. "What were you hoping to achieve by giving it to her, Louis?"
Louis scoffed. “How did you reach that conclusion? How can you possibly know what the item does just by—”
"There's an easy way to prove it," Harry interrupted.
"What do you mean, Harry?" Pierre's hand drifted toward his wand.
"Simple. Put on the bracelet, Louis, and I'll activate the effect. It will be obvious whether I am correct or not. If I'm wrong, I'll apologise.”
Colour drained from the man's face. "Is this how you repay me for weeks of work, Pierre?"
"There is nothing to worry about, Louis," Apolline said. "As long as you are telling the truth."
Louis glanced between their suspicious faces. Sweat beaded on his forehead. "Fine. But you'll regret this baseless accusation."
The moment the silver touched his wrist, Harry spoke the command phrase. Magic crackled, forming an invisible link that his Mana Sense detected instantly. Louis' eyes became lifeless, and he stood motionless as a statue. The sight was unsettling.
"Louis," Harry ordered. "I want you to act like a chicken pecking for food."
In other circumstances, the sight of a grown man bending down and pecking at the floor might have been amusing. No one laughed.
"Louis, sit back down," Harry said, and the man complied.
"What's happening?" Pierre demanded, wand now drawn.
Harry's grip tightened on Fleur's hand. "Why don't we ask Louis? He’s under my control. He will have to answer my questions truthfully.”
Pierre nodded grimly. “Go ahead.”
Harry collected his thoughts. “Did you intend to control Fleur the first time you came to examine her, Louis?”
“No.”
“What happened between then and now that changed your mind?”
"My home was broken into a few weeks ago," Louis said. "Several intruders entered my house. Said they knew about my work with the Delacours. They threatened my family to get me to change the artefact’s design. I was instructed to control Fleur and bring her to them."
“Why didn’t you go to the authorities?”
“They told me they were from the Abyss Realm. That was terrifying enough. But then they told me they would take my wife and daughters there and—”
“I get the picture,” Harry interrupted, feeling sick.
“I believe we have enough to go on,” Pierre said. “Let us take it from here.”
Harry nodded. He released Louis from the bracelet’s control and Pierre stunned him.
After they left, Fleur threw her arms around Harry, nearly knocking him backwards.
"You saved me," she whispered fiercely.
Harry patted her back awkwardly, feeling her soft curves pressing against his body. "You would have figured it out eventually. Someone as strong as you—"
"Would have been trapped, powerless to fight back." Fleur pulled away, her eyes bright. "Don't downplay what you did."
"Well," Harry said, trying to lighten the mood, "at least this wasn't as dramatic as the time Brutus tried to eat a cream puff and choked on it."
Fleur giggled. “You’re lying.”
“Nope. Here’s what happened…”
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Harry leaned against the railing of the Eiffel Tower's observation deck, taking in the sprawling cityscape of Paris. The late afternoon sun painted the city in shades of amber, glinting off countless windows. Far below, tourists and locals alike moved through the streets like ants, their voices lost to the wind at this height.
Celeste huddled in his pocket, grumbling about the cold breeze. She'd insisted on coming, unwilling to miss out on what she called a 'proper tourist experience'.
His mind wandered to Louis and the events of the past week. The artificer's fate remained unknown after Pierre had whisked him away. Harry hoped the man would reunite with his family soon—Louis's actions were wrong, but his motivations were understandable. The modified bracelet showed promise in helping Fleur control her transformations, even if its darker purposes had to be stripped away before it could be used.
He and Fleur had become even closer during the past week. She gave him daily French lessons to help him with his, as she put it, "awful accent." Their conversations flowed naturally now, covering everything from magical theory to French culture. On the fourth day, he received a message indicating that he had completed another requirement for unlocking France: making a friend.
Sometimes, Harry wondered about the ease with which the Delacours had welcomed him. One rescue shouldn't have earned such trust, yet they'd opened their home without hesitation. Considering what they had been through, they should have been more suspicious. His Charismatic Gamer title likely played a role, subtly influencing their initial impressions of him.
Harry unfolded his map of France, its surface covered in his cramped handwriting. Ticks and crosses marked his progress through countless cities and villages over the past week. Marseille's busy port, Lyon's ancient streets, the quiet charm of Tours— each had added another piece to his understanding of this new country.
Earlier that morning, his exploration had finally reached the requirement. The notification had flashed in his HUD:
======Congratulations. You have completed the quest: Unlocking France.
Rewards:
* France added to the Gamer System.
* New skill obtained: Gate Walker.
* Dungeons in France are now accessible.
* Quests specific to France are now available.
* France has been added to the World Map. ======
======Gate Walker | Active | Level -- | Upgrade: -- | Cost: 500 MP | Attribute: --
Description: A skill that lets the wielder perceive the underlying connections between dimensional gates and can travel between the network of known locations. Any individual connected to the system can also travel with the player.
* Can travel between any previously encountered dungeon gates, whether active or closed.
* Maximum travel distance: 200 kilometres. ======
This skill was extremely useful, and it would only become more so as he unlocked more gates. It would also free him from the confines of Hogwarts. He could go out on weekends and conquer dungeons without anyone knowing. But he needed to unlock Scotland first, or he would be unable to leave the school.
In addition to the quest completion notification, he received another one.
====== System Notice: Some terms and features have been updated following the unlocking of your first country.
* When you meet the requirements for the next country, you'll unlock three countries instead of just one. After that, you'll unlock five, seven, and so on.
* Any quest involving a locked country is much easier to initiate, so long as it’s triggered in an unlocked country. The quest can be triggered by specific events or items, such as reading information from a book. The quest can then be completed within that specific country without it being unlocked.
* The player may have no more than ten active quests at any given time. If they reach the limit, they need to finish one before taking on another. Furthermore, all quests other than main quests can be disabled for specific countries in the settings menu.
* Your World Map will display the number of remaining dungeons in an unlocked country, as well as their corruption/dungeon break progression. The player must still find these dungeons on their own.
* To improve clarity, dungeons are now ranked in four sizes: small, medium, large, and massive.
Note: Size classification is independent of difficulty rating. A small dungeon may present a deadly challenge, while a massive dungeon could be relatively easier. ======
Harry's breath fogged as he adjusted his system settings. "Time to streamline things a bit."
He disabled the French quests temporarily—better to focus on his current objectives than spread himself too thin. The lack of quests involving Fleur's situation troubled him, though. Perhaps the system recognised that his intervention was unnecessary to solve the problem.
"Back to dreary old England then?" Celeste asked.
"Not yet. I need to return to Madame Beaumont to extract this wand from my arm."
"Ugh." Celeste shuddered. "Why would anyone stick wood inside people?”
Harry tilted his head. Why did that question sound so wrong? When he heard her giggle, he shook his head in dismay, realising the joke.
"Is there anything else that needs doing before we leave?"
“Find a dungeon gate in France,” Harry said. “That way, we can return here anytime we want.”
“How clever!”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Harry pushed open the door to Beaumont's shop, stirring up dust motes in the dim light. The wandmaker looked up from her workbench, her wild grey hair even more dishevelled than before. Empty vials and scattered tools covered every surface, creating an organised chaos that spoke of endless experiments.
"Follow me," she said. "Sit down and take off your jumper."
Harry complied as Eloise drew her wand, casting diagnostic charms over his arm. Her frown deepened with each spell, muttering under her breath. She cast more spells, each one making her expression darker.
"Impossible... I've never seen anything like it... how did this..."
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, watching her growing agitation.
Eloise dropped into a chair. "Do you want the good news or extremely bad news first?"
"Good news."
"Well, you don't need the wand removed anymore."
"What? How is that good news?"
"Here's the bad news—your wand has fused completely with your humerus bone. I can't extract it without causing severe damage."
"The humerus bone?"
"It’s your upper arm bone, which runs from your shoulder to your elbow. The wand has integrated itself into the bone structure."
Harry ran a hand through his hair, processing this information. "What does this mean? Can it be removed at all?"
"I wouldn't recommend trying. I can't predict how it would react to being removed.”
"So there's no way?"
Eloise shrugged, gesturing at her scattered notes. "I'd need to research it but wouldn't count on it. This is unprecedented."
"How could you let this happen?” Harry demanded. “I thought you were supposed to be an expert."
"Don't blame me," Eloise snapped, standing up. "Something's odd about your magic—your body's assimilated the wand on its own. This isn't normal, even by magical standards. I have made several hundred wands using this method and have never had a problem."
Harry paused, his mind racing. Could the Gaia be behind this? Why would it interfere this way? What purpose could this serve?
"Is it dangerous?" he asked. "Will it cast spells involuntarily when I wave my arm about?"
Eloise stiffened. "I hadn't considered that. Apart from the fusion, it's grown to a normal wand length. It should function like any other wand, but..."
Harry drummed his fingers on the armrest, an idea forming in his mind. "Could I cast spells with my hand? Copy wand movements?"
"Are you mad?" Eloise jumped up, knocking over a stack of books. "Your arm could explode! I don't fancy cleaning that mess off my walls."
Harry snorted. "Thanks for the concern."
He raised his arm, recalling the first-year spells he'd studied in preparation for Hogwarts.
"Wingardium Leviosa," he said with a swish and flick of his hand, pointing to a vase.
The vase shot upward with unexpected force, shattering against the ceiling. Glass rained down across the workshop floor.
"Fascinating!" Eloise exclaimed. "The wand's channelling magic through your arm. The implications for magical theory alone..."
Eloise scrambled for parchment, nearly upending an inkwell in her haste.
Harry ignored her. He flexed his arm experimentally. Despite a slight twinge, his HP remained full. This could work, but he would need a lot of practice—his control needed to improve significantly.
"I want a refund," Harry said.
Eloise absently flicked her wand without looking up from her notes. A heavy pouch zoomed toward him.
"Double the amount," she said, finally glancing up. "If you keep quiet about this. My reputation would suffer considerably if this got out."
Harry snorted and headed for the door.
"Wait! There's so much to learn! Become my test—"
The door slammed shut behind him, cutting off her words. He stood outside, staring up at the sky, pondering what else could go wrong. How would he explain this to the professors at Hogwarts? Would they even let him attend school with this strange handicap? Did it matter?
He looked down, flexing his arm. On impulse, he activated Appraisal. To his surprise, he got a response.
======Hybrid Arm Wand | Level: Growth Item | Legendary | Type: Magical Focus | Enchantment Slots: --
Description: An accidental magical focus created through the fusion of an aspen wand with a sea serpent core into living bone tissue. The wand's complete integration with the bearer's humerus has created an unprecedented magical conduit, allowing spells to be cast through hand movements. The aspen wood provides flexibility and strength, while the sea serpent core excels in water-based magic.
* Enables casting of learned wand spells through hand movements.
* Reduces MP cost of spells by 20%.
* Spells may need some adjustments to work properly.
* Cannot be disarmed or separated from the user.
* +50% greater efficacy with water-based magic.
* Growth item - More beneficial effects will become available as time passes.
* Warning: Removal attempts will cause catastrophic damage. ======
“This is definitely Gaia’s doing,” Harry muttered. "This must have been your intention all along."
Before he could process the implications further, he received a notification.
======Magical Branch Mastery.
New Primer Category Unlocked: Magical Arts
The appearance of the Hybrid Wand Arm has expanded the Primer skills to incorporate traditional wanded magic. Each branch of magic can now become a distinct Primer skill once mastered.
* Casting spells with the Hybrid Arm Wand from specific magical branches (Charms, Transfiguration, Defence, etc.) contributes to unlocking associated Primers.
* Unlocked Primers grant synergistic bonuses to all spells within that branch.
* Traditional wizarding spells are generally less powerful than grimoire spells, but more versatile.
* Some spells or branches of magic may conflict with the System and be modified.
* Each branch of magic may have specific rules not stated here.
* Some non-wanded subjects also have primers. (For example, the player has not completely unlocked the Potions Primer. ======
Harry grinned. “This is amazing.”
He would not be disadvantaged if he could attend Hogwarts with his hybrid wand. Furthermore, he could cast his wandless grimoire spells while pretending to perform traditional wizarding magic, and no one would know the difference.
Suddenly, his first-year spell books became much more interesting. How much could he learn before he started Hogwarts?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Harry left France two days later, after finding a dungeon gate. It was a level fifty dungeon encompassing the catacombs under Paris. The description alone was nightmare fuel, so he was glad that he wouldn’t be tackling it anytime soon. It did allow him, however, to travel between France, and the dungeon gates in England and the Potter Isle. He had barely enough mana to make the trip, though.
His goodbye to the Delacours was bittersweet. He promised to keep in touch. Fleur, specifically, demanded that he write to her at least once a week, which he was happy to agree to.
They didn’t give him any details on the situation with Louis Janssen. But Fleur had shared with him that the Artificer was working on a new artefact for her, so he assumed the man’s family was safe.
Celeste sat on Harry’s shoulder as he activated Gate Walker and was prompted with a short list of destinations. He chose the forest to the north of Greater Whinging. One blink later, they stood among familiar trees. No flash, no sound—just instant displacement between two countries.
“Well, that was anticlimactic,” Celeste said, swinging her legs.
“Would you prefer something similar to Floo travel?”
“Hell no!”
He glanced around. Was it his imagination, or was the forest already showing signs of recovery from the corruption? If he squinted he could see several green shoots thrusting out of the ground. It was a tangible sign that the work they were doing was improving the environment.
Harry opened the World Map. Displayed on the map of England was the number of dungeons remaining in the country. There were seven, and one of them would hold the next clue to what happened to his mother that Halloween night. He would begin searching for their locations, but he doubted he would have much time to explore them with September arriving in just ten days.
Furthermore, he still needed to test out Grove in the Aspen Horror Dungeon. He planned to make the most of the dungeon before moving on to the next one.
“Let’s head home,” Harry said.
"Do you think your relatives noticed that you were gone?"
"Doubt they care."
They headed back to Privet Drive. As they got closer to the Dursleys' home, they heard shouting coming from inside.
Harry slowed down, sensing that something was off. The Dursleys always wanted to appear as a perfectly ordinary family. They would never let their voices carry to the neighbours.
"What's happening?" Celeste peeked from his pocket.
Harry entered through the open door, following the noise to the living room. The scene froze him in place. Vernon swung a golf club at a floating sword while Petunia and Dudley cowered in the corner. On the sofa sat an elderly man in eye-searing blue robes, his long white beard tucked into his belt.
The sword knocked the gold club out of Vernon’s hands.
The old man stroked his beard. “I believe I have won this duel. Now, will you sit down so we can discuss this like proper adults?
He turned, eyes twinkling behind half-moon spectacles. "Ah, Harry. You've grown considerably since the last time I saw you."
“Who are you?” Harry asked.
Celeste popped her head out. "Merlin's saggy tits, those robes! Were you dressed by a colour-blind peacock?"
“There’s no need to be rude,” the man replied. “It's all a matter of personal taste.”
Harry tapped his glasses, activating his HUD.
Albus Dumbledore - Level 157 - Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Perfect. Just bloody perfect.
"Have a seat, Harry. We have much to discuss."
So, what do you think? One more chapter, and then it’s off to Hogwarts.
Thanks for reading.
Comments
kiefer schneider
Love the work can't wait for the next chapter
GamerFiction
Can't say.
TyrantGod
So is Voldy dead? A new villain from Abyss
GamerFiction
No. Voldemort never got the chance to confront the Potters. Harry's scar was caused by something else.
TyrantGod
Btw does Harry have a horcrux in his scar?
