Chapter 6. Corruption

Harry awoke slowly to a whispering. "It's real, it's real… Thank you, thank you, thank you." His arm was wet, however he was warm and comfortable.

"Ugh." Harry groaned as he sat up and stretched, opening his eyes to see the brown eyes of Ginny staring back at him intently, the blue of Daphne behind her with a smirk. "Hey Gin, how you feeling?"

That was all it took for her to launch herself at him, wrapping her arms and legs around him as tightly as she could as she straddled him. "You saved me again, you… you…" She then broke down in tears and Harry could tell she was crying deeply from her very soul, all the negative emotions tearing their way from within.

"Hey, it's okay. We have you now." Harry said as he embraced the girl in return, with a smirk to Daphne who smiled back, stood and made her way from the room. Returning a short while later as Ginny was calming with a broth, bread and tea for the girl in Harry's arms.

"Ginny." Daphne said softly, drawing the younger girl's attention. "I am glad that you're happy, but to stay that way you need to eat something. I don't believe you've eaten something for a few days."

"And while you do that." Harry said, pointing to the blue screen still present to the side of him with a chuckle, "We'd like to know what skill you want out of these four."

"What the hell is that?" Ginny said softly. "Save Ginevra Weasley? Is that how you knew to come?"

"Yeah." Harry delivered softly, staring at the screen. "We've been getting quests directly from this Goddess of Magic. This one popped up as an emergency quest and we came as soon as we got it."

"Oh… you came because it was a quest?" Ginny hung her head dejectedly. "Is that why—"

"Ginny, no…" Daphne said softly. "Harry came down to the Chamber out of the goodness in his heart, since then—a few things have happened. We didn't know you were in Azkaban because we've been beating this Labyrinth and learning the magic in here." Harry was glad Daphne interrupted; it was a better explanation than he could have given. Ginny just nodded mutely.

"Guys… about that… I-I have something to tell you." Ginny said softly as she pulled her status plate out, hanging her head down, looking at it then showing it to them.

"Banshee?" Harry asked looking to Daphne as though she might have an answer, she merely shrugged.

"According to Bill, I died in the Chamber, and you brought me back." Ginny explained quickly. "A-and now... well… y-you own me, Harry… Some sort of Banshee code."

"Own?" Daphne said in shock. Ginny just nodded.

"Is this why you were in Azkaban?" Harry asked, Ginny just shrugged and told them everything that happened to her from when she got home, to her nearly being attacked by that guard before they rescued her.

"I'm sorry you had such a hard year." Daphne said, softly stroking her head, "We've got you now, and you're not going anywhere. But you have to eat, c'mon."

Though a tempest of rage roiled within Harry at the mere thought of anyone harming Ginny, he took a deep calming breath and steeled himself. He believed in allowing her to exact her own revenge. For now, he took a deep breath and turned his attention to Ginny's status plate, which now read:


Ginny Weasley – Age: 12 – Female – Level: 14

Job: Banshee

Strength: 35

Vitality: 120

Defence: 5

Agility: 25

Magic: 550

Magical Defence: 250

Skills: Accelerated Growth (50% experience boost), Banshee Scream, Soul Manipulation 1/5, Shadow Manipulation 1/5, Quick Learning, Magical Resistance, Spectre Evasion, Empathy

Job Specific Skills: (Sonic Scream -Banshee Only-)

Affinities: Soul Magic, Shadow Magic, Defensive Magic, Magical Combat


Harry silently wondered why Ginny's Defence stat was so low, then figured it might be because of malnutrition or her mental health deteriorating in Azkaban, not unlike him in the cupboard… or his entire life before Hogwarts… Regardless he turned back to the status window and looked at the available skills there.

There was only one that really would work well with all of them, and as a bonus allow her to hide in future if needed. "Grant Ginevra Weasley, Stealth Field." Harry said softly to the status window. It winked out and Harry saw the skill update on the status plate before handing it back to her.

"Why Stealth Field Harry?" Ginny asked in between bites, finally eating what Daphne offered. Harry didn't answer, merely handed over his plate for Ginny to observe. Her mouth dropped and she looked up at Harry and back to the plate. It now read the following:


Harry Potter – Age: 13 – Male – Level: 98

Job: Assassin

Strength: 550

Vitality: 700

Defence: 430

Agility: 1450

Magic: 2100

Magical Defence: 1200

Skills: Mana Manipulation, Accelerated Growth (Self-Healing, Regeneration), Night Vision, Sense Presence (Hide Presence), Intuition (Deception Detection, Survival Instinct), Physical Resistance (Poison Immunity, Phoenix Cleansing, Hardened Body), Quick Step (air-step, Leg Strengthening), Apparition, Stealth Field (Area Silence), Mind Fortress, Shadow Blades (Shadow Swords, Shadow Daggers), Shadow Armour, Shadow Manipulation (Master of Shadows), Blood Lust (Intimidation, Terror).

Job Specific Skills: (Assassination, Execute -Assassin Only-)

Limit Break Skills: Berserk

Affinities: Fire Magic, Shadow Magic, Sword, Dagger, Stealth, Armed Combat


"What the actual fuck?! You weren't this overpowered last year! You had nothing there!" Ginny shouted, nearly jumping off the bed.

Harry met her eyes with a sombre expression. "I have a story for you too," he admitted, a hint of a smirk on his lips as he began.

With every word, Ginny's face drained of colour, her expression shifting from disbelief to horror. The weight of Harry's words pressed heavily on her heart, a vice of dread tightening around it.

Finally, when he finished, she looked around, her voice shaky but loud, "Thank you, Goddess of Magic!" Tears streamed down her face, glistening under the dim light. As if in response, a blue glow permeated the room, heralding the arrival of a new quest.


Quest: The Forest Labyrinth of Verdant Secrets

Description: In an ancient forest lies a hidden Labyrinth, filled with verdant secrets and magical creatures. The Goddess of Magic, has sensed a growing corruption threatening to consume the Heart of the Forest. The Goddess of Magic tasks Harry Potter, Daphne Greengrass, and Ginevra Weasley to venture into the Forest Labyrinth, uncover the source of the corruption, and defeat the labyrinth.

Objectives:

1. Travel to the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest

2. Locate the Tree of Secrets, the Labyrinth is within.

3. Navigate the twisting paths, defeat the dark creatures and solve any puzzles of the Labyrinth.

4. Confront the source of the corruption and eliminate the threat.

5. Restore the Heart of the Forest and ensure its continued growth.

Bonus Objectives:

1. Discover the ancient Guardian of the Forest.

2. Have a creature or being native to the Forest Labyrinth align themselves with you.

Rewards:

- An artefact created by Nature that creates a restorative potion every 72 hours.

- A powerful artefact that grants the user a greater affinity for the Labyrinth Magic Reward.

Bonus Objective Rewards:

- One bonus objective met: Unlock a powerful nature-based spell for one member of the team.

- Both bonus objectives met: ? Quest reward hidden

Note: The longer the corruption is allowed to fester, the more difficult the quest will become. Act with haste and determination to ensure the forest's survival. There is no time limit to this quest.

Do you accept this quest? (Yes/No)


Ginny gasped as she read over the quest text, then looking to Harry and Daphne then back to the quest, in obvious excitement. "Do we—Can we go?"

"Yes." Daphne said both to the screen from The Goddess of Magic and her friend.

Harry meanwhile just watched the pair in amusement as the blue panel winked out and the light dispersed. "But first, we need to train you up a bit." Harry smirked at the now worried redhead.


"Right." Daphne said, as Harry sat to the side watching the pair. Ginny seemed healthy enough after the next day cycle in the Labyrinth lair to begin her tutoring, so Daphne wasted no time. "First, you're weak."

"Well thanks." Ginny huffed, to which Daphne just laughed.

"Just listen, Gin." Harry chided gently, to which Ginny nodded and paid closer attention to Daphne.

"So, you wouldn't know much about these would you?" Daphne said, pulling a Mana Core from the backpack beside her.

"Yeah, Professor Lupin went over them halfway through the year. He was much better than that Lockhart ponce, no idea why mum likes him." Ginny said softly, "You can what? Absorb them, use them for enchanting or put them in potions?"

"Yep." Daphne said, handing the orb to the younger girl. "Absorb it." Ginny took the orb in her hands then looked up to Daphne. "Be ready for a little pain, then a rush. Press it to your chest."

Ginny did so without hesitation, as Harry watched on. First she let out a shriek and collapsed. Looking up, her eyes had turned violet, dark shadows swirling around her. Next the shadows seemed to rise up around her and then rush into her body, causing her to groan in obvious pleasure. Harry noted with interest that her mana appeared to be black like shadow.

Ginny sat up panting, looking up to Daphne to see if she did it right. "Check your plate." Daphne laughed out, and without hesitation, Ginny did. She stood and squealed in delight.

"No way!"

"Pretty cool huh." Daphne smiled back at the girl's happiness. Harry felt elated himself, it was good to see her happy after looking so lost and full of despair at Azkaban.

"Is this what you two have been doing to get so much more powerful?" Ginny eventually asked.

"Only somewhat," Harry spoke up from where he sat off to the side. "We got a lot of stats and bonuses from the fights themselves, bosses and mobs, as well as bonus skills from the reward at the end of the Labyrinth."

Ginny just nodded in return. Harry knew she had a lot of catching up to do, but she would also be joining them for the next Labyrinth too, so she would be able to at least get within spitting distance of Daphne's stats.

Harry sat there and watched as Ginny trained hard with Daphne, fighting and training like she had something to prove against the older girl. He just hoped she didn't burn herself out trying to outclass the other.

Harry's fears were justified as he watched Ginny absorb her 10th Mana Core, she simply crumpled and blacked out almost immediately. Sighing he stood and walked over, standing over the out cold redhead. "Ever get close to passing out from small ones like that?" Harry asked Daphne who just shook her head wide eyed. "Might have pushed her a little hard today."

"She was pushing me to push her." Daphne said defensively, no small amount of sass in her tone.

"Yeah, I know…" Harry said softly, "She's never experienced this before though."

"I suppose." Daphne sighed, "I'll get us all some lunch, hopefully she wakes up soon enough. Bring her in would you?" Harry merely raised an eyebrow in response, "What? You are her saviour after all aren't you? Mr Big Hero."

Harry shook his head as he picked Ginny up and princess carried her back inside the house, to Daphne's cackle of laughter as she ran off. He eventually made it back to the bedroom and laid her down as gently as he could "Har—ry" She moaned softly in her sleep.

'She must be just worn out then' Harry thought to himself as he pulled the covers over her and left to find Daphne and lunch.

Days later found Harry training himself conjuring items then slashing them down with his swords and daggers. Meanwhile Daphne and Ginny were off training on their own when he had an epiphany regarding Ginny's situation. Finishing his routine and making his way over to where the girls usually trained their magic, Harry drew their attention and asked for them to sit down. Daphne eyed his sweaty undressed upper body appreciably, making Ginny blush.

"I just had a theory about you." Harry said softly to Ginny who perked up and blushed at the same time. "I don't think Ginny is undead," he began to explain, "I think that Bill is right and that while she—you did die, Tom Riddle was in the middle of turning your body into a Banshee to serve him when I killed him. The ritual was interrupted, and your soul was close enough to re-enter your partially transformed body."

Ginny's eyes watered in hope at Harry's proclamation, while Daphne noticed then raised an eyebrow, pondering over Harry's words for a moment before responding with a playful smirk, "Interesting theory, Harry. You seem to have quite the imagination. I suppose all that time spent here in the Labyrinth has made you somewhat of an expert in the obscure."

Harry couldn't help but grin at Daphne's sassy remark. "Well, you know what they say, practice makes perfect."

Daphne leaned in closer, her voice taking on a sultry tone, "Oh, I can think of a few other things we could practice to make perfect."

Harry, not missing a beat, leaned in as well and whispered, "Is that a challenge, Miss Greengrass?"

Ginny, who had been listening intently to their conversation, obviously felt a pang of jealousy. She crossed her arms and huffed, "You two are unbelievable."

Harry and Daphne shared a knowing smile, fully aware that their banter had the desired effect on Ginny, both breaking her out of the sadness of the moment and making her a tad jealous. They couldn't help but enjoy teasing their fiery friend just a little bit.

It was later that day that Ginny approached Harry and asked him to train her. "Daphne said I should ask you to teach me how to use the Stealth Field skill."

"Okay." Was all Harry said, "So activate it."

"How? It's not like it's a spell."

"Doesn't matter." Harry said, "just activate it."

"Harry!" Ginny pouted and stomped her foot in anger.

"Calm down and think about it." Harry chided. "Focus, know you have the skill and the ability, want to activate it and just do it, didn't you learn this in Defence?" Ginny shook her head slowly, while Harry just sighed. "Probably because it was a first year subject and… Lockhart… Just think about it Gin, knowing it's something you can do and focus on turning it on."

Ginny stopped and focused on Harry's words for a moment. He watched as she closed her eyes and concentrated. Then suddenly she vanished from sight. "Well done." Harry said softly. "Now you need to practice sneaking with it. You don't have Hide Presence, nor do you have Area Silence, so you have to rely on your invisibility. Just beware that it does drain your mana."

"Okay," The invisible Ginny said softly, "How do I practice?"

"Daphne likes taking spa's right?"

"Yeah, she's in the outdoor spa right now."

Harry smirked his feral grin, "Steal her towel and clothes she has ready there without her noticing." Harry laughed, knowing Ginny would have a horrified grin. "Succeed and you pass."

"O—Okay, but if she gets angry at me, I'm telling her it was you!"

Harry merely shrugged and walked toward the house, sitting close enough he could hear the spa area, but far enough that Daphne could have her privacy. 'not that she uses that privacy around me anyway…' Harry thought. Daphne had joined Harry in the spa quite regularly, cuddling up to him in the nude. A blushing angry redhead didn't deter her as she simply stated, "You should do it too!" To which Ginny eventually did.

Over the next few days it seemed that this was a challenge for Ginny, and Harry was being blamed by Daphne for Ginny's ever increasing determination. Finally, a week later Harry knew Ginny had pulled it off when he heard "HARRY!" Shouted through the house by Daphne.

Turning he saw a flushed red Daphne walking toward him, completely naked. "You!" She accused as she strutted up to him in the buff, meanwhile he admired her growing form, he was though, worried slightly by the wand in her hand. Ginny appeared behind Daphne, tears spilling down her face in silent laughter. "Where are they?"

Harry raised his hands in mock surrender, a cheeky grin on his face. "Now, now, Daphne. I don't have your clothes. Ginny was the one who took them, you asked me to train her in stealth, remember?"

Daphne scowled at him, but her obvious anger was starting to fade. Harry knew that the older girl now saw Ginny as a younger sister and that she wouldn't take her anger out on her.

Harry continued, his voice dropping to a more suggestive tone, "Besides, you've never seemed to mind being naked around me before. In fact, I thought you might even enjoy the attention."

Daphne's cheeks flushed even deeper, but she couldn't hide the glimmer of arousal in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, clearly contemplating Harry's words and the possibility of his attraction to her. Finally, she huffed and turned on her heel, striding away to retrieve her clothes and hide her mixed emotions.

As Daphne disappeared from view, Harry glanced over at Ginny, who had hidden just out of Daphne's line of sight and was still trying to stifle her laughter. He couldn't help but chuckle himself, knowing that he had successfully pushed Daphne's buttons while also teaching Ginny a valuable lesson in stealth.


"Is two months really enough?" Ginny asked, unsure of herself, her lack of self-confidence due to the events over the last 2 years showing through her usually tough exterior.

"Ginny, you've levelled up plenty," Harry said softly while rifling through his bag. Even if he didn't want to, they had to leave now anyway. Their food provisions, originally planned for 2 people, had nearly run out. They needed to leave now to make it back to the nearby Village without running out. They would then plan and travel back to England, before heading out to their next destination. "Daph, you all set?"

"Yep." She said simply, she had put away the Cape of Shadows in her backpack and donned her muggle hiking gear once more, which she had duplicated for Ginny and shrunk slightly to fit the more petite redhead.

"You said you found the circle over here?" Harry said as he started moving toward the point that Daphne had identified when she was exploring the final room at large. Daphne merely nodded as the now trio made their way to the exit.

Harry let out a breath once they'd arrived, silently hyping himself up to rejoin the outside world. "A little overwhelming isn't it?" Daphne said softly, placing her hand on Harry's arm. Ginny visibly bristled slightly at the physical affection Daphne easily gave toward Harry. But Daphne seemed to pay no mind to her. "We're going back into the open world properly for the first time in roughly a year now. It's nice and safe in here, but out there..."

"We're ready," Harry said simply. "We're all 3 of us, massively overpowered now."

"We'll crush anything that tries to stop us." Ginny said simply, her features darkening slightly in memory of what the wizarding world as a whole had put all 3 of them through.

"Anyone that gets in our way is our enemy, and our enemies—"

"—Die" Both girls finished Harry's mantra, cutting him off. He merely turned and smiled at the pair of girls that now joined him. They had obviously accepted his mindset; both having been wronged and wanting to live life on their own terms, even if they hadn't taken a human life like he had. He'd already silently vowed to shield them from that if he could.

Shaking himself, his determination and resolve hardened. "Let's go then." Harry then took a hand of each of the girls, and they stepped into the circle as one. The circle lit up with magic of origins hundreds of years past. The Tome of Shadows had dictated how magic circles worked and their construction, but while Harry did understand them he was still unable to replicate a working one, still amazed at how they worked.

Instantly, the group was transported to the foot of the French Alps not too far from the start of their hike, Harry and Daphne both recognising the area from their journey in. The weather was cold and overcast, a light snowfall causing the nearly bare dirt track to begin to cover over.

"We're a lot closer than I thought we would be." Harry said softly, "Let's go." He then let go of the girl's hands, hoisted his pack and led the trio off to where he knew the village to be.

As the trio stepped off from the location that the magic circle deposited them and began their walk back to the village, they found themselves enveloped by the breathtaking scenery of the French Alps. The crisp, cool air brushed against their faces, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and fresh snowfall. The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows and bathing the landscape in a warm golden light that seemed to make the snow sparkle.

The terrain was a mixture of rugged, snow-capped peaks and dense evergreen forests, with the occasional glimpse of a frozen waterfall or a crystal-clear mountain stream as they descended toward the town. The natural beauty was awe-inspiring, and it served as a reminder of the vast world that awaited them beyond the Labyrinth. The trio couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and anticipation as they made their way through the stunning alpine landscape.

As they continued their journey, the distant sight of the charming Village of Megève began to come into view. Nestled in the heart of the Alps, the village was a picturesque sight with its cosy, chalets and inviting cobblestone streets. The warm glow of lamplights cast a golden hue on the village, creating an atmosphere of serenity and comfort.

"It's beautiful." Ginny stated reverently from beside Harry, who could only nod in his agreement of her assessment.

As they drew closer, the faint sounds of laughter and music could be heard drifting on the breeze, a testament to the vibrant life that thrived within its boundaries. The inviting aroma of freshly baked bread and hearty, home-cooked meals wafted through the air, beckoning the trio and reminding them of the comforts and pleasures they had left behind in their quest for power and revenge.

For the trio, the journey back to the village was both a literal and figurative step into a new chapter of their lives. As they walked along the snow-covered path, they marvelled at the beauty of their surroundings and reflected on the trials they had faced together. The sense of camaraderie and shared determination was palpable, and they knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they were prepared to face them together. The world outside the Labyrinth may have been vast and uncertain, but as long as they had each other, they could conquer anything. The picturesque Village of Megeve, with its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant life, served as a symbol of the new beginnings and endless possibilities that awaited them in the world beyond.

"All right, Daphne." Harry said as he pulled out a wad of Muggle French Francs. "Do you want to go and book our travel back to England?" He asked, knowing she would simply confund the nearest English speaking tour guide to assist them into booking the 3 of them various trains, buses and whatever else they needed to get back to their homeland. "Ginny and I will stock up on some food."

Harry noted that while Daphne simply took the money and left, Ginny was staring at the large wad of notes something akin to amazement.

"No shortage of money." Harry said, causing her to look at him in question. "If you want something, just grab it. We can afford it, and we still have a lot of Mana Cores we can sell if we ever get desperate."

"Oh." Ginny just said softly. Harry was sure that while she may not be familiar with the muggle currency, she recognised that he had handed Daphne more money than her father earnt in months worth of work.

As it appeared to be in the last weeks of August, Megève had their street market out, and as the weather was mild but pleasant, the streets were bustling with people. Harry took Ginny's hand so that they didn't get separated and they made their way through the throngs of shoppers.

The Village of Megeve was a delightful blend of quaint charm and modern elegance, boasting a rich history that could be felt in every corner. Its narrow cobblestone streets were lined with a mix of centuries-old stone buildings and contemporary wooden chalets, all adorned with colourful flower boxes and intricately carved wooden balconies. The village exuded an air of enchantment, with the majestic mountains serving as a stunning backdrop to the idyllic scene.

As Harry and Ginny strolled through the lively market, they were greeted by an array of vibrant colours and tantalising aromas. The stalls offered a wide variety of local produce, artisanal cheeses, and freshly baked pastries that tempted their taste buds. Megève's bustling market was a true reflection of the village's rich culinary heritage, showcasing the best of what the region had to offer. The cheerful chatter of locals and tourists alike filled the air, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere that put the duo at ease as they went about their shopping.

The pair spent their time purchasing various items of produce, baked goods and purchased a snack for all 3 of them. When Daphne eventually returned, she informed them that they only had time to eat then head for the shuttle to the train station which left shortly after.


Harry sat at the kitchen table of the Weasley's home in the dark, the sun had just set and the family were yet to return from wherever they were. He had poured himself a pumpkin juice then simply sat there waiting sipping on his beverage.

It was a good hour before the floo finally flared to life, and one by one the family poured out. The first few through, Ron, Fred, George and Bill simply stared at him, however after Percy, Arthur, Molly and Charlie eventually came through, Harry's calm demeanour ended.

Intimidation, Blood Lust, Sense Presence and Deception Detection activated at his will. The wave of Intimidation and Blood Lust was clearly visible as it struck each Weasley. Using his Mana Manipulation skill, he forced all chairs at the table backward from their normal position with raw magic. "Sit." Harry demanded simply. They all immediately complied. To those in the dark room, Harry's eyes were reflecting the rising moonlight ominously, the poor lighting and magic forcing the chairs out with no movement from him all working to make him look more terrifying to the family.

"Now." Harry said softly, his voice different to when the majority of the Weasley's had last heard it, torn and changed forever thanks to the screaming in the cupboard. "Let's talk about Ginny."

"W—we had nothing to do with her escape Harry!" Percy immediately spoke, to which the rest of the Weasley's nodded along.

"Which brings me to my first question, when did you become aware of her imprisonment."

Arthur visibly sagged, "Immediately after it happened, Malfoy was br—"

"Don't care." Harry cut him off quickly. "Who ordered it?"

Percy was the one to speak up again, "The Minister himself. He was looking for a way to get Dad back under his control, because of the Muggle Protection Act."

"Was he doing it for anyone?"

"Malfoy, Nott and the others." Ron said softly, "They were up in arms that she'd beat them with accidental magic."

"We heard a rumour that Dumbledore was the one to inform St. Mungos and the Wizengamot that she was a Banshee though Harry!" Fred or George spoke up quickly. Harry assumed it must have been out of concern for her welfare or those at the school. "Yeah, the Minister or the Death Eater Daddies must have acted on that!" The other twin spoke up.

"He was trying to get her help though." Arthur said softly, his voice sounding as though he were broken and filled with regret.

Harry nodded at this, he also believed this to be the truth as they spoke it. But it was Bill who was the next to verbalise his thoughts. "Do you know what happened to her, Harry?"

A feral grin took over Harry's features that had the group recoiling. "I took her out of there of course."

"Where is she now? Where is my baby girl?" Molly asked over the voices of the others now talking at him, standing from her seat, Harry intensified his Intimidation to regain control of the conversation.

"Right here mum." Ginny said, deactivating her Stealth Field, letting go of Harry's arm and walking to her mother. Molly openly sobbed as Ginny went around the room hugging and ensuring them she was alright, even better for her experiences with Harry afterward.

"Harry, we have to do something, we can't let them get her again!" Charlie spoke for the first time.

"We?" Harry voiced in derision. "There is no we. I didn't come here to join forces, make friends or see how you've all been. Ginny insisted I come here with her to put your minds at ease. When she is satisfied, then she and I are leaving."

There was a crack in the front yard signalling the apparition of someone onto the property. Daphne appeared out of the corner of Harry's eye, causing the Weasley's gathered to gasp. "Harry, Auror's and Dumbledore inbound. Time to go Ginny!"

Harry nodded, standing; Ginny moved around behind him as the outsiders approached. Harry decided to give them some parting thoughts. "Bill can confirm this." Harry nodded with his feral smirk re-appearing. "Daphne, Ginny and I have all gone through our own personal versions of hell. We are not the people you know anymore, we will live life on our own terms. Anyone who gets in our way is our enemy. And we kill our enemies."

The three of them disappeared from view, the oppression that Harry had held over them keeping them in their seats vanished, and the Aurors knocked on the door simultaneously.

The 3 snuck out of the rear door of the house, invisible to all those within, Harry ensuring his Area Silence skill was active so no one heard the 3 of them leaving. They definitely didn't need to get caught up in a fight with Dumbledore and the Aurors now, they had a plane to catch and it was easier to move if it were assumed they were all still missing.


"Why do we have to sit all the way back here?" Ginny asked Harry as they took their seats on the plane.

"We were allocated these." Harry stated then he leaned in to whisper, "Any closer to the front where the pilots are and we might kill the computers with our residual magic, which would have the plane crash."

"Oh. Okay." Ginny laughed nervously, Daphne just took her seat by the window and shook her head with a smirk.

"Tuck that away in your backpack too." Harry nodded to Ginny's passport that they'd copied from a random traveller in the airport, then modified a confundus to have it work for them. Daphne's handiwork to make their travels easier was a marvel in itself.

"So Brazil." Daphne said conversationally, "Either of you been there before?"

Harry laughed and shook his head, "Until last year, Scotland was the furthest I'd been."

"It'll be interesting that's—"

"Hello ladies." A late teenage boy spoke from across the aisle, attempting to strike up conversation with Daphne and Ginny. He looked rather attractive, Harry thought, he had the whole look going for him, dark skin, sleek hair. "Going my way? You're more than welcome to leave this untravelled bumpkin and join me at my beach villa when we land."

It was the type of line that would cause most young women to swoon, however Daphne turned and looked out the window in disgust, and Ginny just turned to Harry. "So, when does this thing get up in the air?"

Harry laughed and answered her, chancing a glance over her head with a smirk. The boy was scowling at him, Harry just sent him a smirk and sat his head back against the seat, while they taxied to the runway.

The girls seemed to enjoy the first half of the trip, getting refreshments and such, engaging in a 3 way conversation. However a few hours into it they were visibly getting bored. "How much longer do we have?" Ginny nearly whined.

"About 6 hours, get your rest Gin, you'll be getting a vigorous workout over the next few days. You and Daphne both." Harry said it just loud enough for the boy across the aisle to hear, chancing a glance over Ginny's head again he caught the other boy's pout before he turned away.

"That was mean, Harry." Daphne said softly with a genuine smile before she grabbed his arm and cuddled up to him. Not to be left behind, Ginny copied her and they slept cosily for the rest of the trip.


The Amazon Rainforest stretched out before the trio, an endless expanse of vibrant green foliage and towering trees. The sunlight filtering through the dense canopy above cast dappled shadows on the forest floor, painting a surreal and beautiful scene. Harry led the way, his Shadow Swords slicing effortlessly through the thick undergrowth, carving a path for Daphne and Ginny to follow. The sounds of the rainforest teemed around them – the distant calls of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the occasional splash of water as they crossed shallow streams. The air was alive with the hum of countless insects, their unseen presence a constant reminder of the rainforest's immense biodiversity.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, Ginny couldn't help but comment on the atmosphere. "This air is so thick and humid, it's like breathing soup," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow. Harry chuckled in agreement, his own clothes clinging to his damp skin.

"You're right," he replied, pausing for a moment to breathe deeply. "But we'll get used to it. We just need to pace ourselves. Make sure you stay hydrated."

They continued on, the girls marvelling at the sheer scale and diversity of plant life surrounding them. The forest floor was a tangle of roots, vines, and fallen leaves, while the trees reached high above them, their branches adorned with an array of vibrant flowers and curious-looking fruits. Daphne found herself stopping to examine a particularly large, brilliantly coloured butterfly that had alighted on a nearby branch. Its delicate wings shimmered iridescently in the blotched light, and she couldn't help but smile at the natural wonder.

As they made their way through the rainforest, they encountered various obstacles as though the forest was deliberately designed to test perseverance and determination. At one point, Harry had to slice a path through a massive fallen tree trunk, its bark slick with moss and damp from the ever-present humidity, would have been a challenge to climb. Harry, with his Shadow Swords handy, offered an easy way to carve a path for the group as they navigated the terrain.

As the evening approached, the trio decided it was time to make camp for the night. They found a relatively flat clearing, surrounded by towering trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. The smells of the rainforest intensified as the sun dipped lower, the damp earth mingling with the scent of decaying leaves and the ever-present aroma of wet vegetation.

Harry led the group in setting up a simple, muggle-style tent, as they were keen to avoid using magic that might give away their location, aside from his swords. "I think it's best if we keep things as low-mag as possible," he said, unrolling the canvas and beginning to assemble the tent poles. "We don't want to risk being tracked by anyone magical. We'll of course hide the area a little though."

The sounds of the rainforest grew more pronounced as twilight settled in, the calls of nocturnal creatures joining the chorus of insects and birds. As the trio sat around a small crackling fire they had built, they began discussing their next steps in locating the fabled Tree of Secrets.

"I've been thinking," Ginny began, her voice soft and thoughtful. "If we're looking for a tree that's supposed to be hidden it's not just going to stand out and slap us in the face. We should think about talking to some of the locals, see if they've heard any stories or legends that might help us narrow down our search."

Daphne chimed in, nodding in agreement. "While you and Harry were getting supplies at the border town, I did." Daphne then pulled out the map and pointed to a marker she'd drawn. "That's why we're headed here. It's an ancient Amazonian temple. A few of the people I asked said that there were drawings of a large tree in there. They usually run tour groups, but I figured it'd be better for us to go it alone, unnoticed.

Harry listened to their conversation, contemplating. She'd already explained the plan to him while Ginny was inside a store alone. "And it was a good call," he said. "We will look at the temple first, if that's a bust we'll see if your translation spell works with some of the tribes here. I just hope they're peaceful so I don't have to kill them." Ginny and Daphne looked mildly horrified at the thought before they shrugged in acceptance.

As the night wore on, the trio continued their conversation, discussing various strategies and ideas for locating the elusive tree. The sounds of the rainforest seemed to envelop them, providing a backdrop of natural music as they chatted and enjoyed the solitude in nature.

Finally, exhaustion began to take its toll, and they retreated into their tent, the canvas walls providing a small measure of comfort in the vast, untamed wilderness. Lying side by side in the cooling charmed tent, they listened to the sounds of the rainforest, the symphony of the night lulling them into a deep and well-deserved sleep.


The trio's hike through the dense jungle to the destination Daphne identified as an Amazonian temple continued. The group was well prepared, however the heat was intense, Harry continued to slice through the dense undergrowth like a machine, and that is when it happened; His vision went black, but not true blackness, more of a black fog or smoke so thick no light escaped. Through the fog a pinprick hole of light appeared which eventually opened up wide enough for him to see through. There was a girl, strung up by her arms to what looked like a tree formed as a cross. She was covered in marks, cuts and bruises, her silver hair matted in blood.

Harry watched impassively, he didn't know this girl or the circumstances surrounding her to get there, nor did he care. He had a job to do, he was going to find the Labyrinth and he was going to conquer it.

After a moment of introspection, the girl looked up directly into his eyes even though he wasn't there. He saw her more clearly, her forest green eyes peeking through the silver hair, ears were humanlike, but pointed out and upward, away from the head. She held the appearance of what he understood woodland elves to hold, however she didn't have the usual blonde hair and blue eyes that they were said to have. Daphne would have fit the description better.

But something about her look cut through Harry, seeming as though time stopped. Then his world went into black fog again, with only the whispered words "Please… help me."

Suddenly, Harry snapped out of the vision, feeling disoriented and realising he had moved away from the path they were following. He found himself in a new location, standing at the edge of a large clearing with an enormous tree at its centre. Daphne and Ginny's shouts reached his ears. "Harry?! Wait up!" "Where are you going?"

The tree at the of the clearing stood tremendously tall, its immense trunk stretching skyward, its massive branches spreading out wide like the arms of a welcoming guardian. The bark was a rich, dark brown, adorned with intricate patterns and grooves, as if etched by the hands of an ancient artist. Vibrant leaves in various shades of green rustled softly, casting dappled sunlight onto the ground below.

The sheer size and majesty of the tree were awe-inspiring, and Harry could feel the hum of ancient magic emanating from it, a subtle yet powerful presence. This tree, unlike any he had ever seen before, seemed to whisper that it held secrets and stories within its gnarled bark, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this was the Tree of Secrets they had been searching for.

"Girls." Harry said softly, drawing their attention away from the tree for a moment. "Something, someone reached out through magic to me… and must have led me here." He was staring at the tree, looking for something, some sign that the labyrinth was here. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling he was near the entrance.

"What… What happened? What did it say?" Ginny asked softly, probably reaching out with her empathy skill feeling he was starting to feel a tad disturbed.

"Yeah, one minute we were walking along the path, the next you were dashing through the bush like a man possessed."

"For a moment, I think I was." Harry said softly, as he started walking toward the enormous tree, the tree he was beginning to believe may very well be the tree of secrets. "An elf, silver hair, green eyes. She reached through this black fog to me, looked me in the eye and asked me to help."

"Why?" Daphne asked, "No offence to her, but we are here for something, why would we waste our time helping a house elf?" Harry couldn't tell if she was concerned for him, or if it was apathy towards those they didn't know.

"No, not a house elf." Harry said, his voice still holding its softer, light tone, "She was a wood elf, like we learned about in Defence Against the Dark Arts in our first year."

At the mention of the words 'Wood Elf' the bark of the tree nearby the group split, and a blue swirling light of mana beneath showed itself. Eventually the bark split wide enough that it was wide enough for them to walk through comfortably side by side.

"I think she might have led us to the labyrinth." Ginny said with an air of reverence. "If she's in here, we might as well save her then."

"We'll see," Harry said as he reached out to his travelling companions, determination showing through once more. "Come on, let's go!"


The group braced themselves before stepping into the swirling blue portal before them, feeling a rush of radiant power enveloping them like a whirlpool. The sensation was overwhelming, but they clung to each other regardless.

As they were deposited heavily onto their feet, and found themselves in the midst of a dense, corrupted woodland. The trees loomed over them, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows on the forest floor which seemed to meld and shift as though the shadows were more than they appeared. The air was heavy with a sense of darkness and decay, an evident contrast to the vibrant energy they had just experienced.

"This must be the corruption." Harry noted to the group as he looked around, beginning to skirt the area they'd found themselves in.

Ginny meanwhile walked up to one of the trees and looked intently at the obviously writhing shadows. "It's as though it's alive.

"Ginny move!" Harry roared, his Survival Instinct and Sense Presence skills flagging threats inbound.

Almost immediately, they were met with a volley of arrows, seemingly materialising from the blackened foliage around them. The woodland elves Harry had sensed, their bodies lithe and agile, were barely visible among the trees, their natural camouflage blending seamlessly with the corrupted forest. It was clear that their highly attuned senses allowed them to detect the trio, rendering the Stealth Field skill they had activated almost constantly on this trip so far, far less effective than they had hoped.

Harry, Daphne, and Ginny sprang into action, their months of training with each other kicking in as Harry deflected the incoming arrows with swift, precise movements of his Shadow Swords. He activated the Limit Breaking skill, Berserk; Knowing that stealth was useless and there was a high chance he'd be taking damage in this fight.

The two girls, both far stronger in ranged casting than he, began alternating between shielding the other, and launching spells and curses into the fray. Although it seemed like they were hesitating. 'They're trying to disable rather than kill?' Harry thought to himself.

An arrow shot at him from his right, immediately he twisted, flicked his wrist, causing the shadow sword to blur in movement, snapping the arrow and sending the head off course. He Quick Stepped forward through the foliage to where he sensed the shot had come from.

Immediately he saw a male elf, blonde hair shining even with the shadows. Something was wrong however, the elf's eyes were red. Snapping out the flat edge of the sword, he caught the elf in the head with an audible metallic -thud- to which the elf immediately crumpled. Harry then, using mana manipulation, stunned the elf for good measure, dismissing a Shadow Sword and grabbing its foot. Heading back to where the girls were, confident they'd dealt with their share of the threat.

The girls too were standing over a disarmed male elf, rage in their eyes causing the elf to snarl back at them like a vicious beast. Harry walked over and with a -clang- knocked that elf out with his sword too.

"Merlin Harry." A shocked Daphne said with a chuckle. "Don't hold back any, will ya?"

"We're going to question them, if I'm not satisfied, they die."

"Well they did attack us first." Ginny reasoned.

Harry woke one of the elves by kicking him in the stomach, hard, while casting an enervate. The elf made an audible -oof- while recoiling, waking quickly and looking around in fear. The eyes were no longer red, but green. "H-Humans?" The elf whispered, staring at Harry's menacing Shadow Sword before jumping to his knees and begging for his life. "Please don't kill me!"

"You attacked us, we spared you for the moment, your life is already forfeit." Daphne stated viciously, Harry looked over at her. Her head held high, eyes staring coldly at the elf below her wand. "Answer our questions and we may spare you."

"Y-yes, p-please, a-anything!" The elf stammered; the visible effects of what Harry assumed the corruption to be having abated for the moment.

As the colour returned to the Elf's eyes, his fear began to fade. "I'm Eilif," he managed to say, his voice still shaky. "The corruption... it forced me– Us to lose control."

Eilif's gaze shifted to the distorted landscape around them, the magnitude of their loss visible in his eyes. He described the woodland of the past, a paradise filled with vibrant flowers, towering trees, and harmonious birdsong. His voice choked with emotion as he told of the corruption's impact, a nightmarish transformation that turned tranquillity into turmoil.

Eilif's obviously heartbreaking tale flowed unbidden, with no prompting from the group. Harry listened quietly, internally considering the implications.

As the elf unfolded more of the grim history, Harry grew increasingly impatient, his frustration simmering. He cut through Eilif's lament, his voice cold, merciless, "I don't care about your sob story." The words were like a whip, each syllable a crack against the elf's spirit. "I'm here to conquer this Labyrinth. Get in my way again, and I'll rip you apart."

Fear flickered in Eilif's eyes as he looked to Daphne and Ginny. Ginny approached Harry, her touch gentle on his arm, her voice soothing, "Harry, this might be part of the quest. We should listen."

Her words seemed to bring him back from the edge of his anger. A quiet revelation dawned on him – his fierce protectiveness over these two girls, his unexpected allies in this merciless world.

Ginny coaxed Eilif to delve deeper into the elves' history and their ties to the Great Tree. Eilif's narration turned even more sombre as he discussed the corruption's effects on their refuge, a dark transformation from sanctuary into prison.

Then, Eilif dropped the bombshell at Ginny's probing. "It began forty years ago. A young man, tall, dark-haired, with unsettling eyes, came seeking knowledge about the Labyrinth and its ancient magic. He introduced himself as Tom Riddle. He explored the Labyrinth, failing to conquer it and left in wrath, killing our high priest. After his departure, the corruption started to spread, and our once thriving civilization started to crumble. We didn't know it was happening at the time, but now it's obvious… That human was the cause."

Harry rubbed his temples, his frustration visible. His seemingly simple mission had morphed into a convoluted rescue quest. With a growl, he accepted the new task, "Fucking Tom Riddle... Fine, we'll save your damn town. But you two," he pointed at Eilif and his unconscious companion, "are our guides."

The new strategy sparked a reunion between the two elves as one woke the other and they embraced, a scene that prompted a scowl from Harry. He called the girls over, muttering, "Why didn't we kill them? Something feels... off. Think it's the quest? Intervention from the Goddess? Or an elf thing?"

Despite the group being unsure why they hadn't killed them, Harry immediately declared an alteration to their plan, "We'll avoid the elf capital, handle the corruption, then conquer the Labyrinth." The girls nodded and followed on. "Oi, Tree-humpers, let's go!"

The group walked for a few hours with the two elves in the lead. To Harry's surprise, their journey was unimpeded, and then his vision was once more covered in a black fog.

Suddenly, Harry's mind was consumed by a dark and disturbing scene ripping through the black fog. Now bound by dark chains in a dimly lit chamber, the girl with silver hair and green eyes, appearing roughly his age, writhed and cried out in agony, now strapped to what appeared to be a workbench made from shadow. Her delicate elven features contorted in pain. Her once-radiant silver hair even more matted with sweat and blood, her silken gown stained and torn to scraps.

A shadowy vision of what Harry, deep within his core felt to be something of Voldemort similar to what assaulted Ginny, as it loomed over her. Its form is unstable, constantly shifting and pulsating with dark energy. The eyes of the Shade, burned like embers, as it reveled in the girl's torment, savouring each moment of her suffering. A twisted, wicked grin stretched across its face, as it raised a hand and summoned tendrils of darkness that lashed against her skin, leaving behind painful welts.

"Please… Hurry." The girl whispers, looking past the shade to where Harry's viewpoint was.

"There sssssshaalll be no hurrying." The Shade of Voldemort hissed, leaning down to her ear, "You sssssshall become mine for eternity, you ssssshall bring me a physical form."

Harry felt a strong compulsion to help the girl this time, wondering if this was her magic, a part of the quest or his Survival Instinct as with Ginny. As he watched the harrowing scene unfold, he became more determined than ever to slay this corruption.

Suddenly he was wrenched from the foggy vision, Daphne grabbing his shoulder and pulling back on him. "Harry stop!" she shouted at him as she did so, her voice panic stricken.

Harry's awareness came back to him as he looked around. It appeared he had walked on his own toward what looked to be a portal shrouded in shadow, dark tendrils reaching out of the centre toward him.

"Harry, what's going on with you?!" Daphne said, her tone intense and worried. "This is twice now, was it her again? That elf?"

Harry observed the two male elves looking at him questioningly too. He would not explain, not here, not with them present. He still didn't trust them. Looking back over his shoulder to the shadow portal, he somehow felt that he had to go through it.

"Ginny." Harry looked over at his redhaired comrade. "Can you sense anything in that portal, with your empathy skill?"

Ginny looked at the portal before she looked back at him and responded. "Malice, overwhelming malice, hatred and pain. But there's something else, a small amount of fear and hope."

Harry nodded then looked back to the girls and the elves. "All right, wait for me here, don't follow me." Moving quicker than Daphne, Ginny, the elves or even their arrows could, Harry turned, used his Quick Step and launched himself through the portal.

The shadows clawed at him as he did, however he just activated his shadow armour skill and surrounded himself in his own shadows, they quickly left him alone.

Erupting from the other side of the portal, he noticed something was strange. This area had the corruption far more intense than the previous areas they'd traversed; it seemed that the structure and layout was as before, leading him to believe that he wasn't on a different level, but it was separated.

"Aaaargh!" Harry heard a girl's scream in the distance. Instead of taking his time and using caution, he decided that since he seemed to be ignored by the corruption with his Shadow Armor skill, that he would leave stealth behind and overpower his enemy with brute force and his natural Assassin speed.

Activating his Berserk and Shadow Sword skills, he became a blur with repeated Quick Steps. Ahead, the scene from his vision materialized: the elf girl prone on a shadow table, overshadowed by a figure resembling Tom Riddle, yet less human and oozing malevolence as he loomed over her.

Harry didn't hesitate, he was closing in at a speed so rapid that the wind was whistling in his ears. With one last Quick Step, and a swing of his sword, he had made it to the girl's side and cleaved the Shadow of Voldemort in two.

"Look out!" The girl yelled at him, the figure of Voldemort came back up behind him, instantly coalescing from the surrounding shadow, looming over him as it grew and grew, absorbing the tendrils and oily looking shadows around the room. Eventually it was obscenely large and laughed, malevolence crashed over him.

Harry merely smirked at the challenge, out of the corner of his eye he saw the girl looking at him worriedly. He quickly sliced the chains, grabbed her arm and tossed her onto his back. "Hold on tight." He declared. The girl didn't respond, she just wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his middle.

Looking around the room, he noted there wasn't much in the way of shadows left, yet it seemed there was a wall of shadow surrounding them, keeping them contained in this zone. The portal in the distance was his goal. This Shade of Voldemort seemed plenty powerful, and Harry knew he was far more so, yet he knew that with his skillset, he may not be the best matchup for the shade, without some backup at least.

"How do you intend to fight it?" The girl whispered to him, in light of his current situation, he felt her warm breath tickle the back of his neck and goosebumps erupt on his skin.

"I don't, not just yet, be sure to hold on tight." Harry stated, and in that instant, he launched. Quick Step after Quick Step, he shot forward at a rate so rapid, he hoped that the girl hanging onto him could survive it. He needn't be worried though, for to him, she merely just tightened her grip.

The Shade of Voldemort moved quickly, striking the ground just in front of where his next Quick Step would place him, so Harry reacted, his high agility stat working in his favour as he used the combination of Quick Step and air step to leap up to the creature's head. With a flip and a slash, spinning as he fell, he took the creature's head off.

The shade screamed, the noise shaking the area completely. Harry didn't stop to admire his work however, he kept his speed up and in almost half the time it took to make it into the area, he made it out again, launching himself with the elven girl hanging onto his back, through the shadowy portal.

Upon transitioning to the other side, he saw Daphne and Ginny's worried faces turn into shock as he attempted to slow his speed, slamming a sword into the ground to turn him as he skidded to a stop.

"Get ready!" He shouted, "Where are the other fuckers?" Harry roared in a cold fury, noting the two missing elves.

"They ran, when that portal roared, they took off." Daphne responded hotly.

"Whatever, get ready."

At that moment the girl got off his back and stood next to Ginny, forming up with the three of them, summoning a bow made of light from nowhere. "I shall assist." She declared strongly. The other two girls just eyed her blood stained, near naked form intently as she stood there ready to fight alongside them.

Now having consumed their remaining time with talk, the portal before them twisted and morphed, the giant shade of Voldemort climbed through headfirst, stood and roared again, the monstrous roar trembling the cavernous forest that was the labyrinth. Shadows crawling on trees, and surrounding the area began making their way to the now slowly enlarging shade.

Harry shot forward once more, a combination of Air Step and Quick Step intent on drawing the attention and keeping it from the girls behind him. Two spells and an arrow rocketed past him. The first spell hit, fire, setting the area of impact ablaze until the wound covered itself over with new shadow and extinguished it. The second, a silvery spell hit it in the shoulder, and it evaporated a section of the shadow in an instant. Then, the arrow of light from the elf hit just below, light erupted from the wound and the arm was blown off in a cacophony of light, vaporised.

Harry closed in quickly behind the spells, just as it was roaring and once more flipped around it and took off its head the same as last time, but then using air step to catch himself upside down, he launched himself downward, Quick Stepping some more and more to increase his velocity, he then drove his swords into its neck, where the head had departed and continued downward at high-speed. Cleaving through shadow with shadowed blade, his swords seeming to draw on the power of the beast, expanding and strengthening.

Harry landed with a thump, crouching, cracking the ground beneath his feet, taking damage from the landing. He felt his Berserk skill work, increasing his stats based on the damage taken from the fall.

Harry took off again, even faster than before, not wanting to give the Shade even the slightest bit of reprieve, he launched up, carving the beast, and down again slicing away at its shadowy flesh meanwhile the spells and arrows from the girls were impacting it, causing damage and vanishing sections of shadow. The shadow from the monster lashed out, striking Harry in the stomach and launching him away, through multiple tree canopies and bushes.

As he collided with a third tree trunk, having ploughed through two already, Harry felt his Regeneration derivative skill activate, draining his mana and healing his body, while his Berserk skill increased his stats further. He looked up, clenching his jaw, seeing Daphne and the elf girl launching silver spells and light arrows at the beast, buying time. Ginny however appeared to be concentrating on something. Looking intently at the beast before them.

Harry stood, intent on getting back into the fray, ignoring the coppery taste of blood in his mouth and the feeling of potentially broken ribs shifting and healing. Suddenly the redhead turned. "HARRY!" Ginny shouted urgently, "ITS HEAD, NOW!"

Harry rocketed forward, faster than he ever had before, his increased stats from Berserk affecting his Quick Step skill, propelling him further at a rate faster than he thought possible. In less than a second, Harry had arrived at his target location, and swung the ever-expanding shadow swords at the head, this time, it connected with something hard, far harder than the shadow, it cleaved it in two. The shadow exploded outward, launching Harry far from the three girls, through tree canopies, branches and even another tree trunk itself.

Harry managed to right himself and slide to a stop, he felt his body was nearing its limit, however the Berserk skill continued to strengthen him further in proportion to the damage he took while his regeneration skill rejuvenated him, but the drain on his mana was heavy. He looked at his hands and arms, the fabric from his clothing torn away during the fight, tendrils of a blue like shadow was visible under the skin. "This must be what my mana looks like." Harry whispered, remembering seeing Ginny's blackened shadowy mana.

Shaking himself from his thoughts he used Quick Step again, rocketing back over to where the girls were, stopping before them and staring at the crater where the Shadowy figure of Voldemort was. Within the centre of the crater Harry observed an object, something he wouldn't have expected. A golden chalice, cleaved in two.

The little blue ball of light Harry associated with The Goddess of Magic appeared before him and turned into a panel:


Quest: The Forest Labyrinth of Verdant Secrets UPDATED!

Description: In an ancient forest lies a hidden Labyrinth, filled with verdant secrets and magical creatures. The Goddess of Magic, has sensed a growing corruption threatening to consume the heart of the woods. The Goddess of Magic tasks Harry Potter, Daphne Greengrass, and Ginevra Weasley to venture into the Forest Labyrinth, uncover the source of the corruption, and defeat the labyrinth.

Objectives:

1. Travel to the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest Objective Complete

2. Locate the Tree of Secrets, the Labyrinth is within. Objective Complete

3. Navigate the twisting paths, defeat the dark creatures and solve any puzzles of the Labyrinth.

4. Confront the source of the corruption and eliminate the threat. Objective Complete

5. Restore the heart of the forest and ensure its continued growth.

Bonus Objectives:

1. Discover the ancient Guardian of the Forest.

2. Have a creature or being native to the Forest Labyrinth align themselves with you. Objective Complete

Rewards:

- An Artefact created by Nature that creates a restorative potion every 72 hours.

- A powerful artefact that grants the user a greater affinity for the Labyrinth Magic Reward.

Bonus Objective Rewards:

- One bonus objective met: Unlock a powerful nature-based spell for one member of the team.

- Both bonus objectives met: ? Quest reward hidden

Note: The longer the corruption is allowed to fester, the more difficult the quest will become. Act with haste and determination to ensure the forest's survival. There is no time limit to this quest.


Harry noticed the completed bonus objective specifically on the quest text. He then looked over to the elf girl, she was staring at him with shining eyes, yet he couldn't help his vision straying to and admiring her blood and grime covered, near perfect body.

Shrugging off his backpack, Harry reached in and grabbed a cloak, walking over to the girl and wrapping it over her shoulders gently. He then looked over to the other girls with a smirk and pointed to the quest text on the shimmering blue panel before him. They smiled having completed yet another objective.

"Thank you." The elf whispered to Harry softly, taking his hand in hers and holding it to her bare chest. Ginny and Daphne, Harry noticed out of the corner of his eye, appeared to be glaring at him as though her actions were his fault. "My name is Tessia, please allow me to join you."


Tessia looked over her shoulder at Harry as she pointed to the staircase heading upward in the distance. "The stairs to the next level are just ahead." She stated cheerfully.

Harry meanwhile nodded as he observed the girl that newly joined their party, walking in front of him. While he was little wary of her to begin with, his Deception Detection skill picked up absolutely nothing, nor did his Survival Instinct intone that she was any form of threat. Add to that the quest had updated that she was allied to them; so he simply decided to trust in the girl now leading them, unless she gave him a reason not to.

As they walked through the now peaceful forest, Tessia accompanied the group with a slight bounce in her step. Her long, wavy silver hair shimmered in the dappled sunlight, framing her delicate elven features. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with a happiness and newfound hope she didn't have in Harry's visions, and her slender, graceful figure moved with a dancer's grace. Having discarded her tattered clothes, she wore only the cloak Harry had given her, which draped elegantly over her shoulders, hiding just enough to maintain her modesty.

After stopping by a crystal-clear stream, she had washed the blood off her skin, leaving her complexion radiant and fair. The corruption that had plagued the forest floor was gone, and the surroundings felt peaceful and serene.

Daphne glanced around; her expression sombre yet appreciative. "This place is quite remarkable. It's hard to believe that just a short while ago, the whole area was filled with darkness and those odd shadows, it's beginning to look like a natural forest already."

Ginny nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I'm happy to see it recovering. I can't believe Tom did that to such a–." Ginny grimaced and seemed to cut off herself as though remembering Tom's true nature in the end. "-yes I can actually."

Tessia, overhearing their conversation, chimed in, turning back and blushing at catching Harry watching her. "The power of the labyrinth is strong, but the resilience of nature is even stronger. By the time we complete the labyrinth, I believe the elves will have returned to their normal selves, and we can even visit the elven capital."

The group had already informed Tessia of their goal to complete the Labyrinth, and she had insisted she join them in completing it. As Harry had saved her, she stated that she felt she owed him at least that much.

Harry, his tone guarded, replied, "Hmm… That's something to look forward to, I suppose. We still have a long way to go before we can rest though. We should camp by the staircase and rest." He observed, the imitated sun beginning to set on the horizon.

Tessia merely nodded in agreement, "Yes, this floor should be relatively safe now, with the power you demonstrated against the corruption, everything should give you a wide berth Harry!" She smiled widely at him again, her cheerfulness infectious as Harry felt a light blush darkening his cheeks.

Looking at the other two girls, he caught Daphne and Ginny scowling at him, what they were annoyed at he could only guess for the moment.

"Men." Daphne harrumphed as she turned back to look over the scenery of the landscape.

Within the next hour, the group had reached their destination and made camp very efficiently. Harry took the time to explain to Tessia the intricacies of camping muggle style, while Ginny gathered wood and started a fire.

Daphne had decided she wanted to cook that night and decided that lamb skewers with fire roasted vegetables would be a good treat for them having defeated what they could only imagine was the boss of this floor.

Once Harry had finished the tent and gathered water from the nearby stream, he then laid back by the fire resting. Tessia hovered over Daphne's shoulder, watching with an obvious ravenous hunger. Daphne looked to be taking it in stride, talking to Tessia as Ginny returned from her walk with enough firewood for the evening levitating before her.

The sounds of the 3 happy girls talking, the fire crackling and the smell and sounds of lamb roasting on the fire lulled Harry to sleep.