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Harry Potter: The Artisan's Path Chapter 8
🕑 Added 2023-04-03 10:05:00 +0000 UTCHi all,
Here's the next chapter. This one has a bit of everything in it, and Dumbledore appears in a small scene at the end.
7th August
In the late evening, Harry was in bed, reading a book on magical theory. It was a fascinating read, although it wasn't a definitive answer to questions about magic in general. He wanted a deeper understanding of precisely what magic was and how it interacted with the physical world. His curiosity was sparked when he questioned why the electronics in his shed could work around him, but not at places like Hogwarts.
After bringing this question to the attention of his grandparents, they pointed him in the direction of the book that he was currently reading in order to answer it. Initially, they wanted to make sure that he would explore magic on his own, and make his own observations about magic, so they refrained from giving him any structured lessons before Hogwarts.
As for what the book revealed, there was no clear-cut answer, but the prevailing theory was that magic is an extra-dimensional force that can be harnessed by some to manipulate surrounding matter. Essentially, it's a supernatural power, but they couldn't explain how it works or what it is.
When he considers it from a purely scientific point of view, the simple answer to the question of what is magic is that it can be defined as a form of energy. From what he remembered from his limited understanding of physics, he knew there were a few forms of energy, such as kinetic thermal, electric, magnetic, nuclear and potential. Energy can be found all around us, and it is used to accomplish a variety of feats such as boiling water to lighting cities to nuclear explosions. Magic is merely another form of energy, albeit one that exists outside of conventional laws of physics.
When it comes to detecting energy, there are some forms that are easy to observe and measure, while other forms require specialised equipment and methods to detect and observe. Magical energy, for example, falls into this latter category, with only a very limited percentage of individuals able to detect and utilise its powers.
Something that caught his attention was the physiology of witches and wizards. They didn't have magical cores, instead, it is believed that they were connected to another dimension through a semi-metaphysical channel called the Conduit. The size of this channel determines the amount of magic they can access at any one time and it affects the power of spells wizards could cast. Everyone was different in terms of potential. However, regular use of magic could widen the Conduit just like exercising a muscle.
The channel constricts as magic is used, and contracts when at rest. Overuse of magic would lead to magical exhaustion when the channel constricts too much, which could knock a witch or wizard out for days. It led to the belief that the channel was not merely metaphysical in nature but had a physical component as well.
The presence of magic is also evident in nature, where cracks have appeared between this world and another dimension, allowing the infusion of magic into the area where it exists. These magically dense locations are usually home to wizarding settlements, schools, historical sites, manors, and areas where magical creatures and other beings live. They were the places where electronics didn't work, as they were so magically dense they interfered with all Muggle technology relying on electricity.
There were also ward stones that could be artificially used to draw in magic, and they were typically used to create protection wards in houses or small manors for defensive measures. If you wanted to protect something larger, a matrix of ward stones had to be linked together. However, locations like Hogwarts were a combination of naturally dense magical areas and ward stones, so its protections were immense.
Upon arriving on the property, Harry was told that there were a few ward stones buried beneath the ground, each serving a specific purpose. Due to the fact that they were all located on the outer edges of the property, they did not have any effect on the house and shed and so they were able to use electricity without any problems.
Harry was startled by the sound of breaking glass downstairs, which made him put the book down and grab his wand from the bedside table beside him. Getting out of bed, he quietly walked over to the door. He opened it and peeked into the hallway, but didn't see anything suspicious. His ears caught the sound of cursing downstairs, and he swallowed heavily.
There could be an intruder in the house, and his grandmother could be in danger. His grandfather was away, so it was up to him to help her. Stepping gently, he approached the stairs and, as he descended to the ground floor, his wand was raised in front of him in preparation for a confrontation. When he reached the bottom, he spotted a light coming from the parlour, and some noise from inside. Inching closer to the gap, he pressed his face against the door and peered through it.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his grandmother sitting on the floor, and nobody else was in sight. Although that turned to concern when he saw the state she was in.
"Grandmother?" Harry asked, rushing into the room.
Minerva looked up with blurry unfocused eyes, and Harry was shocked to see she was shit-faced drunk. It was then that he noticed the shattered glass on the floor beside her, as well as a half-empty bottle of scotch.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" Minerva asked, slurring her words. She attempted to climb to her feet.
Harry hurried to stop her when he realised she was about to place her hand down on the shattered glass, and helped her to stand. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he led her to the sofa and seated her. Her head flopped back and she closed her eyes, moaning softly. He caught a whiff of her breath and grimaced. What was it about alcohol and getting drunk that made it so appealing in the first place?
"Why were you drinking?" Harry asked, seating himself beside her.
"Because it makes me feel good," Minerva laughed, and it had a hysterical edge to it, from what he could tell. What was wrong with her?
Harry didn't know what to do. This was no longer his composed and formidable grandmother, but instead, a very fragile woman left in her place. It was a situation he didn't know how to handle. As much as he would have liked to have had his grandfather with him at the moment, it was up to him to handle.
"How often do you drink to make yourself feel better?" Harry asked, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
"Too many times. It's a wonderful coping mechanism."
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
Minerva opened her eyes and looked straight at him. "Yes. Please don't leave me ever again. I cannae handle another loss."
"I meant for you right now," Harry sighed, feeling his eyes sting at her raw honesty.
"I am fine," Minerva said, patting his arm. "This is no problem at all."
Harry snorted but didn't contradict her. "I need to clear the glass before you injure yourself. Don't move."
After Minerva waved him off, Harry grabbed a brush and a scoop from the hallway closet and began to clean up the classroom. He picked up the whisky bottle and returned it to the liquor cabinet. He reminded himself to tell his grandfather to secure it, although he didn't know how effective it would be against his grandmother.
When Harry returned to the sofa, he found out that his grandmother had regained some coherence and was watching him quietly. She had her wand in her hand, which didn't seem entirely safe. As if she could read his mind, she placed the wand beside her.
"I vanished most of my alcohol from my body. It's an easy way to get rid of the effects of being drunk. It has helped me recover quickly in the past when I needed it."
"That sounds dangerous," Harry said disapprovingly. "Casting magic when you are intoxicated could lead to you hurting yourself or worse."
"I'm fine, I have plenty of practice. I'm sorry you had to see me like that," Minerva whispered, looking down shamefully.
"Don't worry about it," Harry shrugged, uncomfortable with the entire situation.
"Thank you for coming to check up on me," Minerva said, grabbing an afghan to cover herself. "Why don't you go back to bed? It's getting late."
"I will stay here for a little longer," Harry said. "Why don't you tell me what you and grandfather have been up to during the last few days?"
His grandparents had left the house every day for the past few days for some specific reason. Harry was curious about where they had gone, but they refused to tell him. He was hoping his grandmother could tell him now that she appeared to be feeling more mellow than usual. He hated not knowing something, especially when he got the feeling that it pertained to him in some way.
"It's nothing for you to worry about," Minerva replied.
"I am old enough to know what is going on," Harry insisted. "Especially because I reckon it has something to do with me."
"The world doesn't revolve around you," Minerva huffed, gaining some of her former vitality.
"Does it have to do with Dumbledore?" Harry asked, taking a stab in the dark. "Have you found a way to remove him as Hogwarts Headmaster?"
The silence that ensued indicated that his guess was correct. Harry looked at his grandmother in excitement. "How will you do it? Does that mean I am going to Hogwarts?"
Minerva sighed. "I think you are showing some Slytherin cunning, asking me when my barriers are lowered. It is very important to keep it a secret from everyone else."
"Who am I going to tell?" Harry snorted. "Gabrielle? Fleur? It isn't like it affects them, so why would they care about it?
"Daphne and Astoria will visit in a few days to spend some time with you."
"Really? That's cool," Harry smiled. "So, what is your plan to oust Dumbledore as Headmaster?"
She looked at him for a moment before responding. "It actually involves you, Harry. Did you know you were supposed to receive your school letter a few days before your thirteenth birthday?"
"I figured that out once I knew my birthday was the last day of July," Harry confirmed.
"Well, there are two artifacts inside a locked tower at Hogwarts called the Quill of Acceptance and the Book of Admittance. At the precise moment that a child first exhibits signs of accidental magic, the Quill floats up out of its inkpot and attempts to inscribe the name of that child onto the pages of the book. As a result of the Quill's accuracy, we can predict which students will attend Hogwarts or one of the subsidiary schools in the United Kingdom in the future."
"There are other magical schools in the UK?" Harry inquired.
Minerva glared at him for interrupting her. "Yes. Hogwarts is the premier school, and it costs a lot of gold to attend, so many families can't afford it. Although there are a small minority of students sponsored by some prominent wizarding families to attend Hogwarts. However, it is usually a lottery.
"Now, as for the Quill. It is a very important artifact because not only does it reveal the next generation of witches and wizards, but it also lets the Ministry know its future magical citizens, which is important for new blood like Muggleborns. There is a sister copy of the Book of Admittance in the Ministry that copies down every witch and wizard who is considered magical."
"I'm with you so far," Harry said. "What does this have to do with me?"
"Be patient. I still need to provide more context," Minerva said. "It is illegal for any Headmaster or Deputy Head to modify the Book of Admittance in any shape or form. It was discovered during the late nineteenth century, that the Headmaster at the time, Phineas Nigellus Black, was removing Muggleborn names from the Book of Admittance. He was a pure-blood supremacist, and did not consider Muggleborns to be worthy of learning magic. At the time, there was no sister copy at the Ministry, so if you were looking for a new witch or wizard, Hogwarts was the only way they could be found."
"Why is that a problem?" Harry asked. "Don't you think the pure-blood supremacists would be all for keeping the Muggleborns out of their society?"
"The problem with this is that if a witch or wizard is not properly trained in how to wield their magic, this magic could go wildly out of control, which would threaten the Statute of Secrecy," Minerva explained. "Keeping the secret of the magical world from the Muggle world is of the utmost importance to the Ministry. It is for that reason that it has been made illegal to modify the Book of Admittance. Any Headmaster that does so is relieved of his position and will face a heavy prison sentence for threatening the Statute of Secrecy."
Finally, Harry figured out how it all related to Dumbledore and himself. "Are you telling me that Dumbledore removed my name from the Book of Admittance? That he wouldn't allow me to go to Hogwarts? That I would never learn magic?"
"You're right. Because of your family heritage, you already had the status of a magical citizen before you supposedly died. However, that doesn't prevent you from appearing in the Book of Admittance, or its sister copy in the Ministry."
"So he messed with both of them to ensure I would stay hidden, is that right?" Harry said incredulously. "How does he have access to the copy at the Ministry?"
"He is the Chief Warlock," Minerva grimaced. "Dumbledore has access to the book, and I do not know what safeguards are in place to prevent the book from being altered. However, he is not considered one of the world's greatest wizards for no reason."
Harry recalled the necklace he had worn. One of the enchantments prevented him from performing accidental magic. Obviously, Dumbledore wasn't satisfied with the Quill of Acceptance not being able to detect him, so he took the extra precaution to make sure his name would not be discovered.
"I used to have access to the book and quill at Hogwarts when I was Deputy Headmistress," Minerva continued. "However, Professor Flitwick now has that responsibility, and I have been meeting with him to convince him to test the Book of Admittance for Dumbedores' magical signature. Every wizard leaves a trace, even though some wizards are better at hiding it than others."
"Why did Dumbledore choose to leave such an obvious weakness in the open?"
"If Charlus wasn't alive, and you hadn't escaped the orphanage," Minerva said. "Then it probably would have never come to light. I would never know you were alive. It is very likely that Dumbledore would have been free to do whatever he wished with you without fear of getting caught."
"Why is he doing this to me? What have I done to him that he would go to such lengths to prevent me from entering the magical world? I don't understand."
Her face flickered with some fleeting thought, but before he could ask, she reached out and squeezed him tightly in her arms. "Enough of this topic. It is depressing enough to drive me to drink again."
"Right," Harry said, laying his head on her shoulder.
"I need to teach you how to access your animagus form," Minerva said, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "This is a handy ability to possess, especially when you consider the additional abilities the form gives you. You haven't tried to access it on your own since?"
"Nope," Harry said, yawning. "I've been too busy."
"Good, then we will start tomorrow. Now go to bed."
=-=-=-=-=-=
8th August
Harry stretched his shoulders to relieve the ache as he looked at what he had accomplished so far. In a couple of more days, he would have cleared the topsoil and could start laying the foundation. He expected it to take longer, but his body adapted well to physical exercise. Every day he was able to do a bit more, which he credited to his magic.
It surprised him to discover that many British wizards were lazy. If they recovered quicker than Muggles from physical exertion, then why did magic not exercise as much as Muggles did? Naturally, the simple answer was that they did not feel it was necessary to do so. Magic healed a lot of health problems and made wizards complacent.
Harry didn't want to be considered lazy, so he was going to start exercising at least a few times a week. It had nothing to do with improving his physique for the purpose of impressing certain girls he had met. No, not at all.
This foundation would be the slowest part of the build. He was researching spells that would help him complete the workshop in less time. Thankfully, there are a number of easy charms that would be able to help tremendously. For example, there is the Hardening Charm that turns something into stone. As soon as he applied it to the concrete, it hardened immediately. Sure, the effects would wear off eventually, but by that time, the concrete would already have set by itself by that point.
Besides working on his workshop, he also spent time improving his skills like Calligraphy and trying to gain the Elder Futhark skill. The runic alphabet used in old futhark consisted of twenty-four characters. As a first step, he had to memorize all of them along with their meanings.
The Elder Futhark was a phonetic script, just like the Latin language. Aside from being phonetic, runes are also ideograms. That is, runes have meanings that indicate an idea or concept. 'Eihwaz' was the easiest to remember as it resembled the scar on his forehead, and its meaning really appealed to him. This character was supposed to symbolise strength, life and death, resilience, and defence.
Harry wasn't sure what it would take to acquire the skill, but he would move on to translating the runes into the Latin alphabet next, which meant he had to have some understanding of the language. He didn't receive a task to learn the language itself, so it must fall outside the kind of skills he could learn from the Source. The Elder Futhark was technically a language as well, but it had a direct effect on Enchanting, so it was considered an applicable skill.
"Harry," a voice called, and he turned to see Gabrielle running up to him. Today she was dressed in some Muggle clothing, a pair of jeans and a pink V-neck shirt. The jeans looked painted on and Harry tried not to stare too hard at the way they shaped her feminine curves.
"Hi, Gabby," he said as she reached his side.
"I told you not to call me that," Gabby scowled.
"It's a cute nickname," Harry replied. He peered over her shoulder. "Where is your bodyguard today?"
"She has finally assured herself that you can be trusted to be alone with me," she said impishly.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I am glad I have Madam Fleur's stamp of approval. Do you want to go up to the house?"
"Sure," she followed him as he headed in that direction. "I will even give you some time to shower. You really stink."
"What you are smelling is manly sweat that results from a hard day of physical labour."
Since their first introduction, the Delacour sisters were visiting him every day, and he gradually became more acquainted with them. Despite the fact that he still felt the Allure, it was lessening every time he saw them, and soon he believed that he would be able to shake it off completely.
They entered the house and found his grandparents in the parlour, sitting closely together and discussing something. His grandparents broke off their discussion and rose to greet them as they entered the room.
"Hello, Gabrielle," Minerva said. "Your mother has been complaining to me that she doesn't get to see you as much as she used to because you are always over here. Not that I mind."
"She sees plenty of me," Gabrielle replied. "Even when I leave for Beauxbatons, I will be returning in the evenings."
"I wish Hogwarts had the same privilege," Minerva sighed wistfully.
"I am going to take a shower," Harry said, looking at Gabrielle. "You can hang out in my room or stay here and listen to these old-timers until I'm finished."
"You little brat," Charlus glared at him. "I know how to keep a young lady amused. I'm not sure whether I can say the same for you. Oh, by the way, keep your bedroom door open at all times. I don't want any funny business."
"Grandfather," Harry protested, feeling the heat rising in his cheeks as he protested. Looking to the side, he noticed Gabrielle giggling at him with her beautiful blue eyes sparkling with glee. "I'm taking a shower now."
He hurried out of the room, accompanied by loud laughter from his grandfather, who sounded like an ass in his opinion. After taking a shower, he entered his room to find Gabrielle lying on his bed, with a book open in front of her. He could feel his stomach fluttering with nerves as he approached the bed and sat beside her.
"What are you reading?" Harry asked.
Gabrielle closed the book and sat up, saying, "I got the book on magical creatures from your bookshelf."
"Is that a subject that interests you?" Harry asked curiously.
Gabrielle stretched, and her t-shirt tightened over her breasts, causing him to almost swallowed his tongue. Damn his hormones. When he noticed a tiny smile on her face, he knew the little minx had done it on purpose.
"Yes," Gabrielle replied. "Due to my own heritage, I find it very dear to my heart."
"Can you tell me about Veela? Where did they come from?" Harry asked, leaning back against the headboard.
"The Veela are a race of semi-human, semi-magical hominids that are distantly related to sirens. Our early history is very obscure but it is believed we were once sirens who adapted to living on the land," Gabrielle said, sitting beside him. "As a race, we are extremely community-oriented, and the majority of us reside in enclaves to protect ourselves against those who would kidnap us and turn us into sex slaves. It is only because France is more tolerant than most countries that it has a large population of them living here."
"That is horrible," Harry frowned. "Aren't there laws against kidnapping and enslaving Veela?"
"In France, there is," Gabrielle nodded. "However, Britain is another matter entirely. We are considered dark creatures, and that is why they do not look at us as actual people. While slavery is still illegal, don't expect them to work too hard to investigate any Veela that disappears within their borders."
"That is no surprise," Harry said. "I expect my grandparents to register me as a French citizen as well, even if I go to Hogwarts. That way I can leave Britain easily if it gets too troublesome. You said you were half-Veela. What does that mean?"
"It simply means that Veela has married a wizard and had children," Gabrielle replied. "My mother is a full-blooded Veela, while Papa is a wizard. We retain most Veela traits but they continue to dilute further after a few generations if we do not marry another Veela. Since males are so rare, that doesn't happen very often."
"Wouldn't that mean the Veela race would eventually die out?" Harry asked, confused.
"No," Gabrielle said. "With families that have Veela ancestors, there is a tendency for Veela to spontaneously reappear when a period of time has passed. This is a self-defence mechanism that ensures our race doesn't disappear.
"Interesting," Harry said. "How does the Allure work exactly?"
"Unlike sirens, who sing to lure in their victims," Gabrielle wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Our Allure is passive magic, and it directly affects the minds of anyone near Veela. It's easier to resist if you practice occlumency or if you are a powerful wizard."
"Is there a way to control the Allure?" Harry asked, raising his hands when she looked at him angrily. "In an ideal world, everyone would have the strength of mind to resist the Allure. I'm just wondering if there is a way to lessen their effects."
Gabrielle huffed a little but then calmed down. "Not really. We have been extremely fortunate that our Papa holds such a powerful position within the Ministry, otherwise we would not receive the same amount of respect as we do now.""
Harry wondered why there wasn't an artifact out there that could lessen or even remove the effects that the Allure had on others. Is this something that is not possible, or perhaps nobody has yet come up with a workable solution to this problem? As long as he could come up with an artifact that was capable of helping Gabrielle, he would be at ease. To him, it sounded like a worthwhile goal to work towards.
"I see," Harry said. "Is that why Fleur was so cautious around me at first? And protective of you?"
"It is not something I want to go into detail about, but Fleur almost was kidnapped when she was younger," Gabrielle explained in a sad voice. "It traumatised her, and she has been very protective of me ever since. My parents have sheltered me as well, so I don't get to spend much time with my peers. Therefore, I am so glad I have found a neighbour who I can call a friend and I do not have to be afraid of him attacking me at some point."
"I'm glad I met you as well," Harry said, and they shared a smile. "What about when you go to Beauxbatons? Won't you get into trouble?"
Gabrielle raised a hand to her mouth and giggled. "No. Due to the large number of Veela students from across Europe who attend the school, it is divided into two campuses for men and women. While the fairer sex is still affected by the Allure, it is not as problematic as men."
"That is good," Harry said. "I need to get an owl so we can stay in touch while we are at school."
"I would like that."
=-=-=-=-=-=
9th August
Albus Dumbledore paced in his office. The usually unflappable Headmaster was starting to feel nervous since Harry Potter had not been found yet. There was no sign that the boy had returned to the shop, according to Mundungus Fletcher. He had some doubts about the wizard's credibility at the time, as he noticed that the man had slurred some of his words. Perhaps he should have posted someone else as a lookout. Although, there were alert wards on the doors, so if the boy had returned, he should have tripped them.
Fawkes cried from its perch near the window, breaking Albus out of his thoughts. He marched over to the bird and grabbed it by the neck, causing it to struggle furiously. A thin black collar was attached to the Phoenix’s neck, which allowed him to control the bird to do his bidding.
"I just had a brilliant idea," Albus said with a flat expression. "Maybe you will succeed in finding the boy where I did not. You met the boy when he was just a baby, so you should be able to lock onto his position. I want you to take me to him."
Fawkes continued to struggle in vain, and not even flaming away would end his slavery, considering the collar worked anywhere, no matter the distance. He would not be saved by a burning day either, since his collar is typically not attached to his physical body, but to his soul. There was no way he wanted to find the boy, as he knew of some of the plans the old wizard had for him, and he didn't want the boy to come to harm. While he was under the collar, he was forced to listen to the owner's commands as if he were under the Imperius Curse. It wouldn't be long before he gave in and did what he was told.
Before Dumbledore could command the Phoenix, he felt his wards on the stairs activate, indicating someone was climbing the stairs to his office. Releasing the bird, he sat back down behind his desk and put on his usual grandfatherly expression.
The door opened and Emmeline Vance rushed through it. "Albus, you need to get out of here as soon as possible. The Aurors will arrive soon, looking to arrest you."
"What is this nonsense you're talking about?" Albus rose from his seat in surprise.
"They discovered that you had messed with the Book of Admittance," Emmeline said in a rush. "They know Harry Potter is alive."
Albus fell back into his seat as he thought furiously about how this came about. The only other person who had access to the book was Flitwick, but he had no reason to look for anything suspicious in the book. Even though he had endeavoured to hide his magical signature completely, it was not possible. He expected Flitwick to confront him on the matter before going to the Aurors since they have a relationship that dates back decades. Someone else must have put him up to this, but who could it be?
Could it be that the Ministry Book of Admittance was the problem? But he had plenty of eyes watching it, so he shouldn't have been caught flat footed as he had just been, so it wasn't likely.
"Thank you for the warning, Emmeline," Albus said finally. "It looks like I will be vacating the Headmaster position for the foreseeable future. You need to get out before they connect us together. I will need you to continue being my eyes and ears in the Ministry."
Emmeline nodded and left, and Albus stood. He summoned his wand and conjured some trunks, and began packing everything of importance into them. It is likely that he will have to go underground, but he will be back at the right time. He considered looking for Harry Potter first but dismissed the idea. If they knew about the boy, they likely already had found him.
Albus approached Fawkes and grabbed onto him and looked at his office one last time before flaming away.
So, what do you think? Dumbledore is gone for now, but not for good
Thanks for reading.
Comments
ExodiaTheForbiddenOne
Harry probs just gonna take the collar off when he sees it and not even realise what he’s done. He did just say he needs a owl
ElizabethMably
I want Harry to rescue him :) And then they can be friends!
FelixStowmwolf99
Poor fire turkey.
