969This chapter was edited by Gladiusx.
Afternoon, Saturday, 21st of August 1993
Albus
"Glad you could make it so swiftly, Headmaster." Harry had greeted Albus once he partook in his guest rite, a fascinating ceremony that he could feel its effects the moment he swallowed the salted bread. Suddenly, the oppressive feeling of the wards that felt heavy even on his shoulders melted away into a welcoming blanket instead.
"I had already planned to arrive fashionably late owing to some last-minute preparations for school, but when Fawkes suddenly flamed somewhere and returned with your message, I decided they could wait until tomorrow."
"Splendid." Harry gently stroked the phoenix's plumage, "I was unsure if he would hear or even acknowledge my call. I hope you were not busy, Fawkes."
The phoenix trilled happily before flying out of the open window, joining Harry's snowy owl in flight. Albus had some suspicions as to why Fawkes had answered Harry Potter's call, and they were now confirmed - he now knew where that obviously missing tail feather went from his familiar. He was glad nonetheless. He had been increasingly out of the loop when it came to the boy, and he was delighted that he seemed in good health.
"Would you like to have tea?"
"I dare say tea sounds lovely."
"Very good. Chiara? If you could please?"
"Certainly, Mr Potter."
Harry Potter smiled at the werewolf as she demurely grabbed an empty tray from the table and excused herself. He had just exited the floo and was surprised to be greeted by Chiara Lobosca and a squad of Aurors. Albus' first instinct was that something was terribly wrong, yet judging by the lack of urgency or tension in any of the Aurors, aside from Alastor of course, told a different story.
Nymphadora Tonks was also present at the table, having been ordered to remain by Amelia once he arrived; the director of the DMLE was a very busy woman and had taken leave with her squad, though not before Alastor had grabbed him for a quick talk. His dear friend was as paranoid as ever, yet Albus appreciated his candidness and introspection. Nevertheless, his worries regarding Harry were ill-founded, for the lad had seen plenty of death and even caused a couple of them, much to Albus' great shame.
Soon, Ms Lobosca returned with a tray of tea and cookies before placing it on the table they sat on. Albus leisurely took a bite, even as he smiled inwardly at the apprehensive look the werewolf and even Nymphadora were giving him.
"Come now, my dears. No need to be so high-strung. I am but a guest in Mr Potter's home. I even partook in Guest Rights," Albus smiled genially, the girls relaxing a bit, and even Harry smirked slightly. "It's not like I will be grading you for an exam or punishing you with detention."
"Ahaha, well, Profess–"
"Please Nymphadora. We are no longer in school. Call me Albus."
The metamorph grimaced at her name, and Albus hid his chortle behind his cup of tea, a lovely chamomile. "A-Albus then. You have to understand that I, we," Nymphadora added as Chiara nodded rapidly beside her, "never really had to meet with you in person unless we did something extraordinarily silly."
"Like that time you pretended to be Professor Doyle and taught Defence Against the Dark Arts to the third years, only to make an utter fool of your–excuse me, the professor's sense of fashion?"
"Hey, in my defence, the man was an utterly indolent ingrate who forced anyone who agreed to be his assistant to do all his work for barely any extra credit and certainly none of his so-called vaunted recommendations!" Nymphadora grumbled, making him sigh inwardly. Hogwarts had always had trouble with the Defence Against the Dark Arts position; none lasted a year, and rarely were they any good.
"Incidentally, do we know who our newest Defence teacher will be, professor?"
Harry's face was decidedly neutral, doubtlessly worrying after Gilderoy and Quirinus' performance. Albus' fingers found their way to his long, white beard as he observed James and Lily's son. He had not seen the boy so closely since that fateful day when Ronald Weasley perished, and they discovered the dark magic lingering in his scar was no more. He had grown significantly, not just in stature, which was undoubtedly the result of a ritual, but also in magic. And yet at the same time, Harry had not changed much compared to months ago, when he had spoken to him in his office - or even the few times they had spoken before that.
The same defiant yet determined green gaze, if with an extra primal feeling behind it. Albus had brushed against the lad's defences back then, nothing intrusive, merely to ascertain his state of mind, and found that Harry had something new in his mind. It had gazed at him curiously, yet it felt benign enough for Albus to withdraw his curiosities - especially as Mr Potter did not exude any malignant emotions from it.
While his childish urge to understand the existence of such an entity did not fully abate, he did not wish to make the boy feel he was being pushy. Albus was not his guardian, and the boy had made it clear his thoughts about having any kind of guardian when Arabella contacted him hysterically that day to let him know Harry Potter never made it to his uncle's house. Thankfully, Tom had already let him know ahead of time about the whereabouts of the boy, and Albus trusted the proprietor of the Leaky Cauldron.
Yes, it was better to allow the young man the space he desired and see how he would grow without interference. So far, Albus found himself impressed with Harry Potter, yet even then, something else interested him far more than his achievements.
With the dark, elusive shadow gone, the scar had shrunk and paled, looking almost unnoticeable on his forehead.
None could imagine how much joy and relief Albus had felt that day in his office, so much so that he had planned to search for his erstwhile student's wraith and finish it off once and for all. His sources in the Balkans have hinted that a wraith with the same description as Voldemort existed, prowling the lands while abusing the muggle war to feed on the dead. Cannibalism was but one of many abominations that Tom Riddle was not averted to committing, it seemed. Yet, Albus was wary, for if the diary was the only phylactery, why would the wraith still linger? If he smote Voldemort's wraith while he had another soul anchor, that would only make him more cautious and hide elsewhere.
Albus needed more information; he needed to learn the depths of cruelty and madness that Tom Riddle had descended into before ascertaining the best stratagem to defeat him. There were possible contacts that Albus had been meaning to ask for certain memories that would elucidate his suspicions on how Tom Riddle survived that fateful night twelve years ago. He had already met with some of them, but it would be a tedious task to convince the rest for their help, yet he would still do it. Then, he would need to learn what those phylacteries were and how they were made. There were many ways for wizards and witches to leave an imprint of their souls in the mortal world, yet this was different.
Instead, Albus found himself swamped with even more work than he thought possible, all due to Cornelius deciding that he would be better off as an enemy rather than a friend. It broke Albus' heart to see his former student, who would always come to him for advice, lose so much trust in him and so quickly! And for what? Because of the loss of his friend Lucius? Rationally, Albus understood that Cornelius was panicking, with his largest backer in the ministry gone, yet he frankly expected him to attempt to ally himself with Albus. Instead, Cornelius had allowed the rumours of him overly relying on him to get to him.
That Albus was also far more busy with his two other jobs did not help, yet it was all for the purpose of securing Hogwarts for her students.
Supreme Mugwump? Someone had to remind the world that Hogwarts was still as prestigious as ever and invite talented students from abroad to enrol in the prestigious school.
Chief Warlock? He had to be present in the ministry lest they attempt to pass some nonsensical bill that may affect his dear students, such as Dolores succeeding in stationing Dementors in Hogsmeade.
In the end, while the hunt for Voldemort and his secrets was crucial, Albus could not commit too many resources and time to it when his school, the thousand and more students that depended on him for safety and education, demanded all his time and energy.
"I have requested an old friend of your parents to join as the Defence professor." Harry's eyes lit up for a heartbeat before returning to cool indifference. "I believe I mentioned to you and Cornelius a few months ago that he was my first choice, but the board of governors had vetoed my decision in favour of the late Gilderoy Lockhart."
"I see. Hopefully, he would prove marginally better than the two past teachers." Albus hid his grimace; he did not need a reminder of his less-than-stellar Defence professors. "Anyway, sir. I hate to ask you of this considering you are my guest here, but you have received my message, right?"
"Indeed. Alastor had also briefed me on what he discovered."
Albus stood just as the floo chime rang, causing the two other girls to jump. "Perhaps Ms Tonks and Ms Lobosca could see to your guests, Mr Potter, while we go on a jaunt into the Wildland?"
"Sounds like a good plan. Chiara? That should be the Greengrasses. They promised to be here early in case we needed any help."
"Understood, Mr Potter."
"Your parents should also be here soon, right, Tonks?"
The metamorph nodded. "Yes, Mum insisted she helps out with the cooking. I think she mentioned bringing some of her pies with her, expect beef and chicken for lunch and apple and lemon pies for dessert - if not more as she had hinted on learning more exotic recipes lately. They should be arriving with Bones and will bring Hermione and her new friend along."
"Brilliant. Could I ask you to help Chiara with greeting everyone? Your parents may know her, but while I did mention to Apollo and his family about her, I'm not sure if they realise the full details."
"Not to worry, Harry. Kira and I have this covered. Go on then, do try not to fight any dragons in there, alright?"
As the girls rushed to the foyer to greet the early guests, Albus found himself impressed! He did not realise that Harry had connected so well with many of Britain's magical elite. Then again, they were all students of his year, and it pleased him to see Harry tearing away the silly boundaries between Hogwarts' houses when outside of school.
Naturally, in school, the competitive nature must be fanned every once in a while; otherwise, the students would never aim to better themselves.
Or worse, they would get bored!
Although Albus had reservations regarding House Greengrass, Harry's generation of witches was talented and did not cause many issues, even if he wished Daphne Greengrass could take her studies more seriously. Nevertheless, that house had produced two notorious Death Eaters in the last war. The scion was killed by Alastor Moody, while his uncle occupied a cell in Azkaban for life. Hopefully, Apollo and Estelle Greengrass had done a much better job raising their daughters.
Ah, and who could forget Mary Davis; such a talented and ambitious muggle-born witch - very scary too to be able to ensnare two of the more bigoted pureblood couple in the last few decades and turn them into the respectable parents that they were now.
Ah, the power of love!
"Professor? If you would follow me?"
They made their way outside the manor and into the expansive grounds. Albus took a deep breath, feeling the natural magic at hand the closer they walked to the Wildland though the lands themselves were rich in magic. There was something else, however, that shone like a beacon to his senses, and Albus found himself scrutinising a wonderful white tree in the distance overlooking the lake. This had to be that mysterious tree that Garrick had sang wonders about yet lamented his lack of means to approach Harry Potter for more shavings.
That was not what grabbed his attention, however.
"Harry? You don't mind me calling you that, do you?"
They stopped a fair distance from the tree, and Albus noticed several markings and clearings on the grounds from their small vantage point. It was almost as if Harry was planning on building new structures soon, and considering how vast his grandfather's property was, it was a prudent decision. Albus wondered what had driven Fleamont to gamble his family's fortune into such a risky gambit; what prophecy had scared him so much to fortify his lands so heavily?
"Certainly not, Professor."
"Splendid. Now, I profess I find myself curious about how you came to know dear Chiara. I had known her personally at school as I had provided her with the means to attend despite her affliction." Albus explained as the young man nodded along, "But now I find my childish desire to learn new things has been attracted to something far more interesting."
They continued walking, and Albus noticed fewer clearings and markings the closer they got to the entrance of the wildland.
"If it's the tree, Professor, then I assure you–"
"No, no, Harry. While that tree, I believe you called it Weirwood?" The boy froze for a heartbeat before narrowing his eyes, "Don't fret. Garrick had been over the moon when you presented him with that branch, yet he required another's opinion on the matter."
"I presume that would have been you?"
"Well, I do not wish to toot my horn, so to speak, but I am considered a bit of an expert in most fields of magic."
"Only a bit, sir?" Harry grinned lightly, and Albus replied merely with a smile. "Well then, Professor. If it isn't the tree, what grabbed your attention so much?"
"Why, I was just wondering if you noticed someone had taken residence in the tree."
"Ah, don't worry about her. She is merely my tenant, and I am her landlord. Are you interested in speaking to her?"
"A chance to speak to a Fae? If you both would not mind, then certainly! Regretfully, I only had two encounters with true Fae in my long life, and both times had ended in me being the butt-end of a joke."
"I assure you, sir, that Cinder is far more obedient than any wild or worse, courtly, Fae you would meet."
"An obedient Fae? Why, my dear boy, that's about as likely as a Dementor offering you a warm hug!" Yet, seeing the boy looking utterly serious, Albus humoured him. "How did you come about gaining such a tenant?"
"That's a story for later, sir. I believe we are here."
They had stopped by the entrance of the Wildland, and Albus frowned slightly as he could feel the sheer wildness of magic oozing out of the canyon. The Elder Wand was instantly in his grasp, screaming in his mind excitedly, having been forced into dormancy as Albus enjoyed his days of peace. Now, its desire for blood and battle nearly overwhelmed Albus, yet the Headmaster of Hogwarts was used to it and quickly brought it to heel.
"I would ask you to wait here while I–"
"Out of the question." Harry withdrew his wand and a dagger; Albus gazed at the bone-white wand briefly before turning to the young man's determined eyes. "This is my land, and it is my duty to keep its peace. I shall not have others do my own work for me."
"Admirable, yet I fear you do not understand what may lay in a Wildland. For starters–"
"With all due respect, Professor, but there is no way you do not know about my little jaunt into the Forbidden Forest last month."
Albus paused and scrutinised the young man once more. It was true that he had learned from several sources that Harry Potter had spent a week in the Forbidden Forest. Considering he had broken no laws, nor even school rules, since Hogwarts was not in session, the few who knew of his adventure did not see fit to stop him. Besides, one of his sources assured him that he had held himself most admirably against many foes, and while she was hesitant to give more details, she hinted that Harry was simply on a hunt.
It did not take a genius to realise why Harry had done such a thing. He had turned thirteen a few weeks ago, and suddenly, he had grown by half a foot overnight according to many witnesses in Diagon Alley. The archaic Huntsman's Ritual and the mundane Coming of Age. The fact that Harry managed to combine both intrigued Albus, yet there was more to it than simply a couple of rituals that merely enhanced what was already there.
Harry Potter had always held himself well when it came to a fight, whether it was a schoolyard spat, or against the denizens of the forest, yet the young man before him was definitely different. More dangerous, for even with his century of experience over the lad, Albus could not help but feel instinctively wary of the young man standing a couple of feet from him. The way his knees were slightly bent, as if ready to spring into a lunge, and the way he held the dagger in his left hand spoke of vast experience. Albus did not recall seeing Harry holding a sharp weapon before, but he did hear that the muggles of London were overly familiar with the handling of knives; Harry was still too young for that, however, but perhaps it was good that he left that dangerous world behind.
Nevertheless; Harry Potter certainly remained his same defiant and determined self, yet he had clearly grown a lot over the past few weeks.
"Very well, Harry. We shall proceed at a measured pace and remember that our goal is not to explore the Wildland, but merely to scout the entrance and gain a surface understanding of how it functions."
"Agreed. I have no desire to spend days in there. It would be beyond rude for me to miss the party I am hosting after all."
The two of them shared a chuckle before growing solemn.
"Indeed. Would you be so kind as to satisfy my other curiosity, Harry? I must profess my surprise when I saw Ms Lobosca here."
After a short silence, Harry began his tale, which started with him barging into the wrong room in the Leaky Cauldron and the subsequent adventure leading to him offering her the job of attendant. As they made their way through the gorge, Albus could feel the wards of the manor thinning the deeper they went in. The protective magic was highly sophisticated and advanced, clearly the finest that Fleamont Potter could install in his new home that would even give the Hogwarts wards a run for their money. Its only disadvantage was how young it was, barely twenty years old. Wards, unlike many enchantments and spells, grew more powerful with age, and the Hogwarts wards, while certainly not the oldest in Britain, were still powerful and old enough to form a sentience in the school.
It did give Albus several ideas for revamping the wards of Hogwarts. Ancient they might be, but that also meant they were full of loopholes. Why, if James Potter and his friends could trick it in their many escapades, let alone the Weasley twins, then clearly anyone could do so as well. How he never learned of the basilisk, for instance, greatly disturbed Albus, though there was the chance the beast was registered in the wards and slipped through his senses.
Now, how to convince the board of governors to invest the ludicrous amount of gold and materials necessary for such an endeavour?
"And here we are."
The moment Albus felt the final embrace of the wards leaving them both, they found themselves inside the Wildland. He had visited dozens of wildlands around the world, yet it would never cease to amaze him with the sudden change in environment and the sheer wild nature of the wildland. They had been walking through a rocky gorge earlier with the skies clear above them, even with the mountain casting a long shadow.
Yet now before them was a sprawling underground cave with an incredibly diverse biome. Towering trees stretched to the ceiling, casting the utterly massive cave with a luminous light as their leaves shined a brilliant myriad of colours; blues and greens and golds, Albus nearly lost himself as he gazed at such beauty.
"Watch out!"
Yet not so much as to lose his wits as he instantly reacted to young Harry's warning. A rumbling underneath their feet had them jumping away from the ground where a rocky creature burst out of a hidden burrow.
Albus hummed as he agilely hopped away and twirled his wand curiously as he beheld the creature before them.
"Professor! What is that?" Harry called from beside him, his wand and dagger held before him.
"That, my dear Harry, is a Giltcore Drake." Albus stroked his beard as the creature crawled out of the ground with a shriek reminiscent of a rock thrown at a glass window. "Now, drakes come in many forms, and sometimes young dragons are also called such. Generally, any reptilian magical creature larger than a hog can be considered a drake."
The creature suddenly breathed a cloud of dusty debris, rudely interrupting whatever question was on Harry's lips. Albus merely waved his hand, not his wand mind you, just his left hand, and sent the cloud scattering sideways. The look young Harry gave him nearly caused him to smirk, but that would be highly unbecoming.
"Now, Harry. Please indulge this old man's curiosity and show me how you held yourself in the Forbidden Forest."
A*L*S*M
Harry
Harry Potter fought the urge to reply with something that he would not dare tell a teacher at school, but just as the words were on his lips, he dodged another breath attack and glanced behind to find that Dumbledore was gone.
"Senile old man!"
It was bad enough the elderly warlock had him nervous with how easily he identified Cinder in that tree, but to think that his so-called secrets were so easily discovered?
"To be fair, you didn't ask that centaur to keep mum about your jaunt in the Forest. Or that pub owner. Or that wandmaker." Harry grumbled at the Fae's giggling before she abruptly stopped. "And that man… he is beyond powerful. He makes that moody guy with the creepy eye look like an angry child."
Harry did not have a chance to reply to the Fae before the beast dashed towards him. The drake looked like a Lizard Lion from the Neck, and just as large as well. It ran on all fours in a wiggling gait, its tail trailing behind it, instinctively messing its footprints on the ground. Harry testily sent an Impedimenta that splashed harmlessly off its rocky skin.
"Of course it would have magic resistance. It's almost like a rule that every tough creature must have it."
Jumping away from its bite, and remembering his lesson from the Forest, Harry switched to transfiguration, turning the rocky ground beneath the creature into quicksand. The drake struggled to move, but considering it was clearly a creature of the earth, there was no doubt that it would eventually be able to escape. Not to mention, maintaining the quicksand would be draining on Harry, so he needed to quickly finish it.
Easier said than done, as Harry sent curse after jinx at the creature to no avail, yet he could have sworn the creature had instinctively flinched when one of the spells, a simple Depulso, crashed close to its flank. Channelling magic to his eyes, Harry activated the special trick he gained from the ritual that allowed him to see heat signatures, just like a snake.
Suddenly, the world changed colours, and the slightest heat could be seen in the endless sea of darkness. The creature had a very low heat signature, yet something seemed to pulse in its flank, somewhere behind its stomach. Noticing the creature had managed to steady itself, Harry decided to up his spell repertoire a bit, using a couple of the more dangerous spells he had learned over the past month. Channelling magic to his weirwood wand, he could feel the basilisk heartstring hissing expectantly as he aimed at that bright spot in the beast and let loose.
"Reducto! BOMBARDA!"
The creature barely had time to squeak before the destruction curse broke open its rocky hide, just enough for the overcharged exploding curse to tear into its hide and reveal what seemed like a rock of solid gold. Not waiting for it to retaliate, Harry lunged like a direwolf with his dagger as he stabbed viciously at the shining rock, hanging onto the giltcore drake as it bucked for a moment before collapsing as a puppet with its strings cut.
He breathed lightly as he stepped away from the creature before sending a tickling jinx to a seemingly empty spot, only for it to bounce away. The air wiggled, and Dumbledore appeared with a smile, thoughtfully stroking his beard.
"How could you tell I was here?"
"Just a hunch."
Naturally, he would not tell him about his new ability. Whatever invisibility spell that Dumbledore used was good; even with Harry's excellent senses, he could not hear nor smell anything out of the ordinary. Yet, the venerable old wizard had not thought about hiding his heat signature.
"An excellent hunch then, Harry. Magnificent use of silent transfiguration to slow down the drake. I am honestly astounded that you could accomplish what many adults struggle with. I do not recall Professor McGonagall mentioning you were capable of such feats, however." Dumbledore scrutinised his Weirwood wand thoughtfully, "Perhaps your new wand is more suited for transfiguration."
Harry shrugged non-committally, "Could be. It is true that transfiguration has come more naturally to me ever since I started using this wand." He would rather not mention that the price for that was his control in Charms. It would simply sound like an excuse for failure.
"Curious. Nevertheless, good use of the Reductor and Bombarding curse, though I did not expect you to finish it off with a dagger." Dumbledore appraised Claw in Harry's left hand. "Good blade, though I was hoping to witness the Sword of Godric Gryffindor in action."
Harry was very close to flinching, yet he managed to hide it with a simple breath as he brushed the dust off his clothes. "The Sword of Gryffindor? What makes you think I have such a legendary blade, Professor?"
"Gaston does like to chat a lot when he is bored." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in mirth causing Harry to groan inwardly - why was no one respecting his damned privacy? "Claims it helps him come up with a new song for the next sorting."
"Interesting." Damned talkative hat! "And? What will you do now that you know I have such a legendary sword in my possession?"
"Nothing, for clearly, it has chosen you as its wielder. Besides, you clearly appreciate its worth if you are not using it in combat. Although, if you could indulge an old man's curiosity, I would not mind having a look at it when we return."
The only reason Harry did not use Godric's sword was that he did not feel comfortable with a sword in his left hand. He was trained with a dagger on the left in conjunction with a sword on his right, but he was not yet proficient with wand weaving to use it in his off-hand. Yet, there was no need to correct the Headmaster of Hogwarts, for if anyone could make a fuss about him claiming the sword, it would be this man.
"Err, sure. I don't mind."
"Splendid! And well done defeating the drake, by the way, though I regret to inform you that you have destroyed the only ingredient of worth from the beast." Harry glanced at the dead drake, finding its body replaced by a dusty pile of brown rubble. "And by destroying its core, you have also released its danger pheromones. Every single giltcore drake within a mile will either flee, unlikely considering their aggressive nature, or will congregate here to learn who killed their kin. If they believe we are easy prey–"
Harry did not need to listen more as the earth rumbled mightily below them, and suddenly, he noticed many burrows appear behind crudely hidden mud covers.
"Harry, I suggest you come stand with me."
Warily, he swiftly joined the headmaster as the rumbling reached a crescendo and from the many holes and burrows, out came more giltcore drakes. First, it was one, then a handful, then a dozen, and as Harry's eyes widened in shock, he found nearly a hundred of the drakes crowding the way to the biome. Many of them clung to the rocky walls like giant spiders, but a few larger ones were sniffing at where he killed their brethren.
Suddenly, they all turned to them and, as one, roared.
Harry raised his wand, a Protego on his lips, yet he knew it would hardly be enough against the veritable sandstorm of dust and sharp rocks coming his way. Only for Albus Dumbledore to step forward and wave his wand lazily… causing everything to freeze. There was no sudden spike of magic, no tickle in Harry's spine to warn him of danger, and even Ghost and Cinder were taken aback in his mind. One moment, there was a massive wave of rocks and dust that would have torn them to pieces, and the next, everything was suspended mid-air.
Even the drakes were frozen in place, their beady yellow eyes wide in shock and fear.
"What?" Harry gulped nervously as Dumbledore waved his wand again. The rock storm was brought crashing into the ground, burying many of the creatures, yet they still could not move! "What kind of spell is this?"
To freeze so many things in place and in such a wide area! This could only be a truly spectacular–
"Oh, this? Merely a variant of the petrification charm. You know, the one you learned first year."
Harry gawked at the Headmaster as he strolled towards the nearest drake and pointed his wand at its back, causing the thick rock hide to break open like an eggshell and the golden core to spring to his hand. The drake immediately melted away into dust while Dumbledore inspected the core for a second before pocketing it.
"You meant to tell me this is merely a Petrificus Totalus?"
"A bit more nuanced than that, but yes, at its base, this is the same spell that all new students learn." Albus Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling madly at his no doubt stupefied face. "You need to understand, Harry, that every spell you are taught in Hogwarts will form the foundation of all of your magical learning. They may seem underwhelming at first, but it is up to the witch or wizard to advance their own understanding of magic and build upon their spell repertoire. Hogwarts will always help you in that regard, but we will not be holding your hands and spoon-feeding you spectacularly dangerous spells."
Harry found himself nodding dumbly as Dumbledore hummed and extracted a few more of the gold cores, causing the drakes to melt away in front of their eyes, as well as their kin's eyes. Then, with another wave of his wand, the giltcore drakes shuddered and squealed in terror before rushing away into their deep tunnels and burrows. Apparently, they were smart enough to realise the futility of attacking such an overwhelming force of nature that was the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"And those cores you took?"
"Excellent alchemical reagents." Dumbledore bounced one of the golden cores in his palm before pocketing it with a twinkle in his eye. "I hope you do not mind if I take a few of them. As you can see, I would rather not cull the herd too much; just enough to instil a certain wariness toward wizards in them. After all, this wildland is new, and its inhabitants most likely have never come across humans before."
That certainly made sense. A part of Harry couldn't help but appreciate the hidden well of wisdom that was Albus Dumbledore. Was there anything he was not skilled in or knowledgeable about?
He knew that nothing was more dangerous than a bear that had feasted on human flesh; the sooner they placed themselves at the top of the food chain, the safer it would be for the magical creatures as well as any wizard or witch that visits in the future.
"So, what's next from here?"
"Well, I do not see any sign of our wayward alchemist, which means he either perished to the welcoming committee or managed to find a safe spot for himself." Dumbledore frowned as he waved his wand randomly, humming all the while. "I am afraid it was most likely the latter; there are signs of dark magic going deeper into the wildland. Dark magic never forms in nature; it is always created by a sentient being, whether wizards, witches, goblins, or any of the myriad of near-human species in the world."
"Do you think it's wise to let that alchemist roam freely in the wildland?"
"Wise? Perhaps not, but there really is nothing we can do here. To explore any wildland, we would need to prepare for a true expedition. Food, drink, and many other supplies that would last us weeks if not months." Suddenly, Dumbledore lowered his wand and smiled wistfully as he gazed fondly at the surrounding rocky hills before his eyes fell on the distant luminescent trees. "Oh, how I wish I could go in there and explore. A life of adventure, one that was taken from me when I was young. Fighting and taming monsters, collecting materials, researching new species or elements…"
It surprised Harry to hear the sheer amount of longing in the headmaster's words. Harry did not know anything about Albus Dumbledore's childhood or his younger years, but looking at him now, this was not the affable teacher that he had gotten used to seeing the past couple of years. This was an old man who relished in the youth that was taken from him, and Jon had seen plenty of similar men on the Wall, men who felt like they were forced into a duty that robbed their future.
"Professor?"
"Never you mind an old man's rambling." Dumbledore sighed before looking at him seriously, "By law, this wildland is yours, Harry, and nothing I say would stop you from exploring it in the future, correct?" Harry nodded, causing the older man to close his eyes warily for a moment. "I do not recommend venturing into it unless you are ready and have at least two more capable wizards or witches to back you. In fact, make that six companions for a group of seven."
"I made it through the Forbidden Forest–"
"My dear boy, do not compare the Forbidden Forest that had been explored for over a thousand years to a newly formed wildland!" For the first time since he had met him, Harry was shocked to find Dumbledore… disturbed? Agitated?
"I cannot stop you, but if it were up to me, I would not allow you in there until you have finished all of your education, at least! Listen to me, boy," Dumbledore grabbed his shoulder before he could interrupt. "You had that wonderful centaur to help you in the forest, and I'm sure Hagrid had a hand as well. Then, there's the fact the denizens of the Forbidden Forest know about witches and wizards and how dangerous we can be if provoked. Here? There is no such thing, and with a rogue alchemist who most likely has a private army of homunculi at his beck and call, you cannot enter this place by your lonesome or without preparation."
Harry could do nothing but nod at the sheer urgency in Dumbledore's voice, causing the old wizard to sigh in relief and let go of his shoulder. "Please understand, Harry, that some wildlands take entire armies to be conquered. Both magical and mundane people worked together to tame the oldest of wildlands. There is no rush for you to mount an expedition to this place."
"But I can't let the alchemist have free rein to do whatever dark deeds inside it so close to my home!"
"And that is why I am here."
Dumbledore walked back to the entrance of the wildland, and Harry hurried to follow until they were standing on the threshold between his lands and the wildland - the skies could be seen on one side and the rocky ceiling on the other. The old wizard withdrew his wand and stood straight as a statue as he pointed the wand towards the entrance.
Suddenly, an insurmountable pressure crashed onto Harry's shoulders, and his knees nearly buckled as Dumbledore muttered a song-like chant, his blue eyes glowing with power. Something passed over them, and Harry realised it was the wards; he could feel them and the powers that came with having anything inside of them.
How did Dumbledore take control over them?!
The headmaster waved his wand once more, this time in a wide circle; one of the golden cores of the drakes in his offhand shined brilliantly before melting away. Then, the rocky walls and the ground stretched like massive tendrils until they formed a wall that blocked the entrance before transforming into solid steel. Harry's jaw dropped at the absolutely brilliant display of alchemical transfiguration. The wall of steel towered above them by a hundred feet and stretched for another two hundred to cover the gorge and the entrance transformed into a bloody castle wall!
"There, that should do it." Dumbledore lowered his wand, letting out a slight breath of exertion. Almost as if the incredible display he showed did not even wind him. "The wards shall now cover fifty feet beyond this fortification, allowing you to learn if any intruders come. Sadly, I cannot simply block the entrance, or a new one will form, most likely somewhere inconvenient; the same rule applies to the denizens of the wildland, they cannot dig through the walls to escape it as they would simply find themselves back inside. The gate shall remain closed, but only mundanely locked, for so long as it could be opened easily enough, the wildland shall acknowledge it as an entrance."
"This… This is so bloody brilliant!" Harry was in awe; to think he considered himself talented in magic, how foolishly naive he was. "Is it possible for anyone to learn such magic?"
"Well, not anyone, but you have to understand, Harry, I am considered a bit of an expert when it comes to alchemy and transfiguration."
"J-Just a bit, eh, Professor?" Harry couldn't help but look at the old wizard in a new light. Objectively speaking, he had long been told how great a wizard Albus Dumbledore was, but this was different. He had now witnessed a mere glimpse of his power, first against the drakes, and now, in forming a fortification that would have taken an untold amount of time and resources, let alone skill and finesse, to build even with magic. "And I'm sure you will say I can be that good with practice?"
"Practice, Learning, Experimenting, Nurturing, Talent, and Yearning. My personal motto for those who wish to develop their magic. It will require PLENTY of effort and time to achieve your dreams. One must not rush on the long road to sorcery, lest they stumble into the abyss."
Harry nodded along, only to flinch as he realised the hidden joke in the phrase, "Really, Professor?"
"Absolutely, Harry." Dumbledore nodded seriously, yet Ghost huffed in his mind as Harry could sense the mirth in the older man's voice. "Now, I believe it's time for us to return to your party. I'm sure your guests are waiting impatiently for their host to greet them."
"Aye, let us go." They walked silently for a couple of minutes through the gorge before he broke the silence. "Incidentally, sir. What was it you wished to speak to Cinder about?"
"Cinder? Is that what the Fae calls herself? I was under the impression they never gave their names away."
"It's what I call her."
"Ah, you must be very close then. Regardless, I wished to speak to a being that supposedly has an affinity for soul magic."
Harry raised an eyebrow, having a feeling what this was about. "I take it this has to do with what was in my scar?"
Dumbledore stopped short before turning to him with a frown. "What do you know about that?"
"Not much, but I managed to speak to an, er… to be honest, I'm not sure what it was, but Cinder called it an Ascended Being." Dumbledore's eyebrows rose high to his forehead, but he nodded seriously. "It warned that nothing could tear a soul apart aside from the soul's own free will. It further explained that the only reason any would do such a foolish thing was in an inane scheme to prolong their life."
They were approaching the exit of the gorge now, and Harry could hear the sounds of songbirds and nature coming from his lands. Dumbledore walked silently, yet he could tell there was a storm of indecision forming in his heart.
"Did it mention anything more?"
"Only that any being that tore its soul was doomed to eternal damnation both in this life and the next."
"I see. Thank you for the enlightening conversation, Harry, but I believe it is now far more prudent of me to hear out your Fae friend before I excuse myself."
"What is it, professor?" Dumbledore looked hesitant, even torn to reply, and Harry pressed on. "I believe I have the right to know anything to do with that monster that insists on hunting me. You did not answer my question a year ago, but Voldemort told me that he came for me, not my parents, but for the year-old toddler. What was it that caused him to desire to kill me? How did he survive for so long as a wraith? I already know he mutilated his soul for it, but there is still a lot that I am missing."
They stopped in the middle of the path leading to the manor, and Harry could see plenty of activity with his keen eyes. There were many more guests that had yet to arrive, and Harry realised that they had not spent too long in the wildland, thankfully. Chiara had Susan and Tracey helping her with setting up the tables, though the girls seemed to be frowning at his attendant. Luna, Astoria, and Daphne were with Mary as they brought the dishes that Dobby had been cooking over the past couple of days. Andromeda Tonks followed along with several platters of pies and drinks while her husband chatted with Apollo and Killian Prewett. Mafalda and Hermione were nowhere to be seen, but a glimpse through the wards told him they were in his newly stocked library with Henry in the portrait telling them something.
All around, it was a heart-warming scene for Harry. To find his home so lived in, full of friends and people he cared about. Yet, as he turned to Dumbledore, he found the man to look older than he had ever seen him. For the first time, Harry seemed to finally realise that Albus Dumbledore was well over a hundred years old, and despite witches and wizards having long lives, Dumbledore seemed to carry a burden that none should carry.
"I wish I could tell you, Harry. I am powerful but not omniscient, no matter what others might claim. I myself barely know anything about how Voldemort survived, and most of it is conjecture. I wish you did not need to worry about any of this; to live life safely and enjoy this slice of heaven you have carved for yourself here. Yet it is apparent that so long as Tom is obsessed with you, you shall never be safe."
"We pray and wish for many things, Professor, but the gods see fit to test our mettle regardless."
"Wise words." Dumbledore turned to him, "I do not believe this is the right time to have this conversation but I promise you this: when school starts, I will send you a summons, and I will show you why Voldemort saw fit to attempt to murder you as a toddler, and why he would never relent until you are dead and he is standing victorious over you."
Harry nodded, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Thank you for your trust, sir. But it does not matter to me if it's Voldemort or any other. I will not look for trouble or new foes, but you should well know they somehow find me regardless. Any who dare harm me or mine shall be retaliated with extreme prejudice."
"Good man," Dumbledore patted his shoulder. "Now, let's get to the party. I find myself slightly famished, and I recall dear Andromeda trying to bribe me with a promise of excellent pies when I caught her and Ted having a secret rendezvous in an abandoned classroom."
Harry chuckled as they made their way to the manor, greeting his guests and laughing along with them. He spoke with Killian about using his financial talents for a project of his. He joined Dumbledore and Apollo in discussing the wildland. The Greengrass lord seemed very impressed with Dumbledore's fortification and mentioned how allowing others to explore first was wise and suggested forming some form of exploration guild. Harry then left the Headmaster with the Fae by the Heart Tree after assuring him that the screaming face carved into the tree was just a joke he did when drunk, though judging by the way Dumbledore squinted at him, he did not seem to buy it. Thankfully, he was adequately distracted by Cinder.
All in all, Harry had enjoyed his time a lot, despite an ugly episode between Susan and Chiara that he hoped would not be repeated.
Only a few more days until school, and he would learn why Voldemort wanted to kill him.
The wildland will be a massive undertaking for Harry that would span years, if not decades, to conquer. Poor Albus, wishing he was a bit younger and without half the baggage he's carrying to go on an adventure.
With this, the summer arc has officially ended. I have nothing else to expand upon aside from maybe Harry setting up the expansion of his lands, building a town or some sort of expedition centre for the wildland. All of this can happen in the background, though, and even then, it won't be relevant for a while.
Yes, London was a dangerous place even in the 90s. Why do you think they decided to install surveillance cameras all over the place? To spy on their own citizens? Impossible, right?
The next chapter will be the Hogwarts Express.
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