Chapter 18
Daily Prophet
Abraham Redwood Found Dead in Poland: A Tragic End for Disgraced Minister
In a shocking turn of events, Abraham Redwood, the once-prominent minister of the magical community, has been found dead in Poland. Redwood had been on the run since fleeing England in a desperate attempt to escape imminent arrest by the Wizengamot. The disgraced minister's lifeless body was discovered earlier today, sending shockwaves through the wizarding world.
Redwood's downfall began when his allegiance to the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was exposed. The minister had aligned himself with Grindelwald's malevolent cause, aiming to advance his power. However, his plans crumbled, leading to his disgrace and subsequent flight from justice.
Daily Prophet – Breaking News
Adam Riverwood Emerges Victorious in Ministerial Election: A New Era Dawns
In the wake of the scandalous exit of Abraham Redwood, the magical community has turned its gaze toward a new leader. In a resounding victory, Justice Party candidate Adam Riverwood has been elected as the new Minister of Magic.
Riverwood, a one-time political protégé of the esteemed Albus Dumbledore, has captured the hearts of the wizarding electorate with his vision for a brighter future. Defeating his opponents by a landslide, Riverwood's victory signifies a clear mandate for progressive views.
With an emphasis on economic revitalization and job creation, Riverwood's platform resonated with voters who are eager to see the magical society flourish once again after the long recession.
In a particularly notable aspect of his campaign, Riverwood vowed to put Britain on "war footing" to combat international disorder. This statement alludes not-so-subtly to the recent invasion of Russia by the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
Hogwarts
Months Later
Portraits looked in interest and sneers as Harry and Dorea stood before the panel.
Headmaster Dippet sat at the center, flanked by the portly figure of Horace Slughorn and the Herbology Professor Brightstar.
Dorea's voice cut through the quiet with purpose, "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of this panel, we are pleased to present our cross-subject project." She spoke with a steady confidence that commanded attention. "The Terraflorix Enhancer has proven to be a resounding success. Through the fusion of base plant breeds like nirnwood and purple mountain flower, we've not only amplified the catalyst properties of the enhancer but also achieved harmony between the botanical elements."
Professor Brightstar leaned forward, his monocle glinting in the candlelight. "A splendid accomplishment, my dear. The blending of magical flora is a field of great promise."
Slughorn nodded, his face alight with genuine interest. "Indeed, a merger of Herbology and Potions has the potential to redefine magical concoctions."
As Dorea stepped aside, Harry took his place, his tone vibrant with enthusiasm. "But that's not all. We've pushed the boundaries further." He produced a vial, its contents shimmering like molten gold. "Allow me to introduce the Edurus Potion."
Armando Dippet leaned forward, his eyes locking onto the potion. "A defense-enhancing potion, if I'm not mistaken."
"Exactly, Headmaster," Harry affirmed. "The Edurus Potion grants the drinker sturdy, rock-like skin, bolstering their defenses against physical harm."
Horace's eyebrows arched; his curiosity piqued. "Defensive magic in a potion? Admirable, indeed."
Armando's eyes narrowed slightly. "But we've seen similar potions before, with their limitations." He appeared rather dismissive of the entire project. "Such potions have been disregarded by the Auror Corps because they interfered with latent wards of their clothing items."
Dorea seized the opportunity to respond. "That's where our cross-subject collaboration comes into play. Our research intertwines Herbology and Potions, ensuring compatibility between the potion and the individual's magical clothing and wards. By researching plant-based silks and cotton that react synergistically with the Edurus Potion, we aim to overcome the inherent challenges."
Harry continued his voice firm. "Our ultimate goal is to develop an all-functioning suit, a defense mechanism that responds dynamically to hostile situations, adapting to the threats at hand."
Horace's jovial expression shifted into a thoughtful one. "A versatile armor, tailored to the wearer's immediate needs."
Harry's gaze met each panelist's eyes, his words imbued with earnestness. "Professors, our project is not just academic. If successful, it holds the potential to reshape the landscape of wizarding security. In light of recent events, I am confident such a product will meet the market demands."
This will save lives against Grindelwald fools! Harry's unspoken implication echoed in the panelists' minds.
Dippet's stern countenance softened, "A noble endeavor, indeed."
Brightstar's voice carried a note of admiration. "Your vision extends beyond theory, reaching the realm of practical impact."
Dorea and Harry exchanged glances and Harry nodded.
"You are getting good at this," Dorea remarked.
The two were having a last meeting before they headed out to their respective homes for the summer vacation.
"Thank you, Dorea," Harry said. "Means a lot!"
"I do mean it, Harry," Dorea said. "You have come a long way from when we started. To be honest, your progress has been astounding."
"I must admit. I had help." Harry said. Dorea raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Helena Rook from Ravenclaw. She has been Merlin-sent to me."
"Ah, Helena. I have met her a few times. Although in professional settings only, I must admit." she said and went deep through. "If possible, I would love to meet her after hours."
Harry's heart nervously rose, and he took a wild hit,
"We u-uh were planning to meet earlier. Iwouldloveitifyoucouldjoinus!" Harry stammered out.
"I beg your pardon?" Dorea said.
"I mean, we were uh planning to meet at Hogsmeade later, would love it if you could join us," Harry said.
"Didn't Headmaster's order explicitly state no to tours outside since the attack?" Dorea said.
"He did. But I don't think one afternoon away is going to kill someone." Harry said. "Besides, I know a way out. They will never know a thing."
"Delightfully devilish, Mr. Petrov." Dorea grinned, "I suppose I too could use a distraction. Besides, an afternoon with Helena is a lot better than some of your newer friends."
Harry gulped. "I am not sure I follow, Dorea."
"Your current batch of mates leave much to be desired, Harry," Dorea said. "Undoubtedly you have heard of their internal manifesto?"
Harry didn't reply.
"Just know this, whatever you think she can do for you, it is not worth it. There are few people in this world whose sorceries ever concern me. She is the only one besides Grindelwald who concerns me. Her prowess defies all comprehension. My family historically disagrees with Dumbledore, but his infamous suspicion of her is one point where I fully endorse him." Dorea said.
"I- I don't know what to say, Dorea," Harry said. "To be honest, I haven't interacted too much wither her broader circle."
Dorea sighed and rubbed her temples.
"Although you have limitless potential Harry, Dumbledore isn't a fool, you still are new here," Dorea said and moved to stare directly into his eyes. "Even the mightiest of wizards can be brought down by a thousand snake bites. Please be careful, Harry."
Harry solemnly nodded. Too petrified by her invasion of his personal space to do anything else.
She suddenly turned away smirking and marched towards the exit.
"Now I believe I am owed an afternoon of boozy fun someday, Mr. Petrov. Make good on your promise." Dorea said.
Harry merely nodded. "Sure thing, ma'am!"
Somewhere in Russia
Mariam Shah
Mariam Shah was the head of the intelligence for Grindelwald's legions. Like most, she had been an unemployed teenager wasting her life in Tehran.
She gambled on chess and cards by day and drank away her winning by night. On the odd day, she would lend her wand to any who wanted spare manpower for odd deeds.
Her mother, who had homeschooled her since she was a babe, had kicked her out when she reached 24. Mariam had neither marriage nor job prospects. Still, she yearned for a life of luxury and adventure. Falling into a life of crime seemed inevitable.
Sitting on a 25-year prison sentence after a failed drop-off for poaching and smuggling too seemed inevitable in hindsight. All seemed lost till one day Grindelwald attacked her prison and singlehandedly freed all the prisoners.
He offered them a choice, to flee into the wilds and take their chances with the Aurors or enlist in his armies and make a new world order.
It had taken only two heartbeats for Mariam to enlist in Grindelwald's army. Drawing upon a decade of experience in the criminal underworld and coupled with 5 years of mentorship in dark arts under Grindelwald, Mariam was a perfect knife.
She was Grindelwald's left hand. A station above even the likes of Anika of the Black Hand and General Gustav of the Legions. During the early days, she bankrolled Grindelwald's by robbing banks, holding their heirs hostage, and forming underground herbology labs to grow ingredients for potion supplies.
It was only a few years later, Grindelwald's petty uprising had grown into a full-blown world war that threatened the very foundations of their established world.
Mariam wished she could be proud of what they had accomplished, but she couldn't.
As she toured the desolate ruins of France under an invisibility cloak, Mariam knew her time on this Earth.
Grindelwald will turn his attention to her. It was inevitable.
Not if she stabbed first.
She had a long overdue meeting with the illusive ECLIPSE.
The mistress of deception, Morgan Le Fay, had once remarked that "There is no task more challenging to undertake, more fraught with danger to navigate, or more unpredictable in its outcomes, than assuming the forefront in ushering in a novel way of doing things."
Such was a quandary that hounded Gellert Grindelwald.
The rules for rulers stated that a ruler should maneuver his subjects in accordance with the external circumstances. In times of war, the boisterous, murderous, and excess prone knights should be given preferential treatment. For it is their blade that holds your foes at bay.
Yet in times of peace where a knight's excess over the peasantry might cause a popular revolt, you must quietly slide a dagger in their throats, so they bother none. A quiet land is a peaceful land.
When Gellert Grindelwald first started his popular uprising, the Pureblood families laughed at him. The Sacred 28 had chased him out of their circles.
For all his massive individual might, Grindelwald still needed someone to keep the troops in order, secure logistics, make diplomatic headways, manage spies, and take care of discreet business.
In a masterstroke of political play, Grindelwald had turned to one manpower that had remained underutilized for over a century.
The Muggleborns.
Young, aged between 20-30, and with massive unemployment and lack of opportunities hounding them, they had been thoroughly enamored with Grindelwald's words.
It hadn't taken much to rile them up against their "pureblood masters". City after city, legions of muggleborns rose in open defiance of their lot in life.
The very fabric of society was flipped on its head by Grindelwald. Whereas the Pureblood families jealously guarded tomes, rituals, bloodlines, and spells from each other, Grindelwald set up dedicated regiment camps to share knowledge. Under his tutelage, there was no stigma nor hidden truths.
Soon disgruntled and obese citizens were transformed into skilled, disciplined, and eagle-eyed mages that heralded back to ancient mage armies of Atlantis, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Sassanid Persia, and India. Now they were with Grindelwald.
Taking inspiration from his Muggle counterparts, Grindelwald introduced combined arms tactics into modern warfare. Mages were sent forth on magical beasts with legions of healers in back camps to support them. Arcane artillery supported massed cavalry charges. Portals enveloped entire legions and moved them with such speed that even Napoleon and the Great Khan would have wept with envy.
In the end, it was inevitable that Grindelwald's armies obliterated the rag-tag volunteer militias and auror corps of Poland, France, North Africa, and Czechoslovakia.
In the end, it was inevitable that a dictator like Grindelwald slowly began to retire from his army. The Muggleborns were merely an end for Grindelwald to get the Pureblood clans to listen to him. Grindelwald had always believed in equality amongst wizards.
But Purebloods families were to be the first among equals. After all, it was the Hecate given the divine right of the nobility to guide the sheep.
In the dark hours of the night, Grindelwald had courted repentant pureblood factions. The Blacks, Redwoods, Romanovs, and more. He had promised them greater powers in the new era in return for acknowledging them as their lord and master. Slowly yet surely, repentant purebloods had joined Grindelwald's army as officers and commanders.
Yet many still fought Grindelwald on principle alone. Refusing to listen to his madness of total war. Muggleborns had been sent into the thresher in great numbers to cull their numbers. They were in a hard place,
In the end, they too were a pawn in the greater game that Grindelwald envisioned.
The total war against Muggles for the ultimate control of the planet.
All had been going according to plan until they invaded Russia. Many mages who had earlier lost against Grindelwald and Europe had gained experience with his tactics. They formed their militias and retreated into Russia. In turn, they prepped Russian forces for his inevitable assault.
At first, Grindelwald unleashed havoc upon Russians and chased them back to Moscow. And when the unusually cold winter settled, havoc had been unleashed upon him.
Guerilla forces had struck at his portals limiting his movements. When his forces were scattered and couldn't use portals for instant resupplies, the resistance had crawled from the trees and started slitting throats.
It was slowly turning into a massacre. In a last-ditch attempt, he sacrificed ¼ of his legion to summon a blood ward powered by the faith of the fanatics in him. That had put an end to the Guerilla attacks and shifted the momentum back to Grindelwald.
All that had lasted for a grand total of six months till Redwood awoke a sleeping dragon.
Albus Dumbledore had been positively identified in the field breaking his wards. The guerilla attacks were picking up again.
The Russian annexation was slowly turning into an unswallowable nightmare. Now with lowered muggleborns to throw at the problem, Grindelwald was beginning to worry.
Stalingrad | Russia
The city was restless.
For over a year now fierce fighting had engulfed the entirety of it. The backlash was felt not only in the charred landscape but in the psychic heart of it as well. Fire clashed against fire, bestial claws, and fangs rendered human flesh to ribbons and in turn, was vaporized by precision spell fire.
Arcane wards stood resolute, pushed to their limits by the onslaught of summoned monstrosities that thrashed and roared, only to be met with the thunderous barrage of relentless artillery fire.
Occasionally, the seers would report hearing the wails of widows and howls of wounded combatants where the firmament of the world was rendered weak.
The city will forevermore be remembered by the titanic battle fought within its confines.
A Russian had remarked, "Stalingrad is no longer a town. Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure." Albus Dumbledore surveyed his surroundings and couldn't help but agree. The devastation wrought by Grindelwald was beyond imagining.
Dumbledore grimaced as pangs of guilt struck his heart. He should have hurried in confronting Grindelwald.
For the last two days, they had scoured the entire landscape looking for hidden totems that Grindelwald had used as anchors.
Albus Dumbledore's piercing gaze caught a glint of something otherworldly amidst the desolation. He moved forward with a mixture of caution and anticipation, his heart pounding in rhythm with the arcane forces that surged around him.
There, partially obscured by the shadows of ruination, stood the totem he had been searching for. Several compulsions struck his mind at once. Dumbledore felt his heart race, his instincts roared at him to run, and he was short of breath. With a determined breath, he focused on his occlumency shields and bought them to bear.
The feelings of imminent doom dissipated as Dumbledore regained control of his brain.
The air around the totem pulsed with an aura of faded energies as it weakened itself in a desperate battle of wills against Dumbledore. With a long overhead arch of his wand, the barriers broke. A distant cheer of Russian soldiers sounded off as they saw the hated barriers fall.
In the distance, beasts howled in outrage at the intrusion towards their lair.
URA! URA! The Russian and volunteer legions roared in response and charged the now accessible fortifications.
Not satisfied with being a mere curse breaker, Dumbledore smiled grimly as he joined his fellow legionnaires in the fray.
Grindelwald will rue the day he set bloody hands-on Hogwarts.
Hogwarts
Snakes.
There were too many Merlin-damned snakes. He had seen more snakes in the last 24 hours combined than he had in any other portion of his life. It involved a species of snakes not found in common lore. But yeah, it had been there.
Papers, parchments, and books – he was tired of it all. As much as he had vowed to study hard in this new life, he just couldn't be bothered right now. There were no ludicrous charges against him and despite the ending, all had gone well. Also, the final exams had gone swimmingly well for Harry. Their cross-subject project proposal had been deemed worthy for final submission.
The term had ended, and all the students were either packing or waiting for the train to be ready.
He needed a break from it all. Something about all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
That's one of the reasons he was racing through the course under a blessed sun with cool winds, miserably trying to catch a Quaffle. The trees were rustling, the birds were chirping, Helena was having a picnic with her girlfriends in the audience stands, and Harry was getting smoked.
He was a seeker, damn it! Harry thought.
Amid the excitement of the game, Charlus broke the silence. "Harry, why did you do it?" he asked his tone a mix of curiosity and challenge.
Harry's brow furrowed as he focused on the incoming quaffle. "I just wanted to do a good deed," he replied, his voice determined.
Charlus let out a scoff, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Good deed, huh? No Slytherin has ever had the guts to stand up to Ashley Redwood and her gang before."
Harry's grip on his broom tightened as he deftly caught the quaffle. He glanced at Charlus before answering quietly, "That's not entirely true. Some did stand up to her."
Charlus's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He paused for a moment, processing Harry's words. "Oh? And who might those brave souls be?"
Harry's lips curved into a small smile, a hint of defiance in his eyes. "People you might not expect."
Charlus's lips twitched into a smirk as he launched another throw, the quaffle soaring through the air toward Harry. The younger wizard pushed his broom harder, racing to catch up with the quaffle before it got away. As he secured the quaffle, Charlus continued their conversation.
"Riddle, perhaps?" Charlus's tone was laced with skepticism as he mentioned the name.
Harry's eyes met Charlus's for a moment, his expression unreadable. He swiftly returned to the game, his broom darting as he aimed to intercept the quaffle's path. With a precise catch, he replied evenly, "Riddle isn't the only one."
Charlus's features remained stubborn, his competitive spirit evident as he aimed for another powerful throw. "Even so, Riddle hardly seems like a better choice than Redwood."
Harry's jaw clenched; his determination evident as he adjusted his grip on the quaffle. He surged forward on his broom, meeting the quaffle in mid-air with an impressive catch. As he landed back on his broom, he met Charlus's gaze head-on.
"Charlus, it's not about better choices," he said firmly. "It's about standing up against injustice and tyranny, no matter where it comes from."
"Aren't you the regular Dumbledore-ite" Charlus said. Harry raised his eyebrows at the remark but didn't press it.
Charlus's voice was tinged with skepticism as he asked, "So, Harry, how much do the Potters owe you for this 'gift' of yours?"
Harry's brow furrowed, a mix of annoyance and frustration in his eyes. "I wasn't lying when I said it's free of charge, no strings attached," he retorted, his voice firm.
Charlus's gaze remained fixed on Harry, his expression thoughtful. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "It's just... hard to believe that there's no ulterior motive behind it."
Harry's grip on the quaffle tightened as he soared through the air, trying to keep up with Charlus's swift maneuvers. He shot a pointed look at Charlus. "Look, Charlus, your father leads an important fight in the Wizengamot. And having someone like Martin blackmailing your family wouldn't sit well with him, would it?"
Charlus's brow furrowed, his expression pensive. He didn't immediately respond, choosing instead to circle his broom and ascend upwards into the sky. Harry struggled to match Charlus's speed on his older broom, his frustration is palpable. He called out to Charlus, his voice slightly strained, "Hey, don't just leave me behind!"
As Charlus's broom hovered above him, Harry couldn't help but feel a tinge of anticipation. The determined glint in Charlus's eyes hinted that he was about to address something significant. With a sudden burst of speed, Charlus caught the quaffle that Harry had thrown his way.
In that charged moment, as the quaffle exchanged hands, Charlus's gaze locked onto Harry's. Harry seemed to hover just a bit closer, his voice low and intense. "With Martin and Redwood's unexpected ends, you think I would be a better business partner, no?"
"Will you be?" Charlus asked.
"Considering the circumstances, our interests might align better now," Harry said.
"Our interests?" Charlus's grip on the quaffle tightened, and his tone was direct as he asked, "What are our interests, Mr. Petrov?"
"Stop letting degenerates walk all over poor folks," Harry said as Charlus eyes bored into him.
"Did you have anything to do with those unexpected ends?" Charlus asked.
Harry's heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat at the blunt question. He met Charlus's gaze, his eyes searching for any hint of suspicion or accusation. The wind rustled through their hair as the tension hung heavy between them.
Something in his demeanor must have given him away because Charlus barked out a sharp laugh, Harry stared at him in bewilderment, his heart racing.
Charlus's laughter was almost manic, and he looked at Harry with fierce intensity. "Oh, come on, Harry," he said, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Do you honestly think I'd shed a tear for those two Pureblood supremacist degenerates?"
Harry's bewilderment deepened, and he tried to find words to respond, but Charlus's next words cut him off.
"They got what they deserved, and then some," Charlus continued, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And if you had even a 1% involvement in their disappearance, you've just earned a sliver of my respect."
Harry's eyes widened in shock, his mind racing to process Charlus's words. He never expected this kind of reaction from Charlus, this vehement agreement that those individuals deserved their fate. The intensity in Charlus's eyes sent shivers down Harry's spine, and he struggled to find the right response.
"Charlus, I—" Harry began, his voice faltering as he tried to find the right words to convey his thoughts.
Charlus held up a hand, cutting him off. "Don't say anything, Harry. Actions speak louder than words." He smirked a touch of dark amusement in his expression. "If you did have a hand in it, well, I suppose we'll find out sooner or later. But for now, let's just say that our interests align quite nicely."
Harry's mind raced as he processed Charlus's words. He had never anticipated this reaction, this unexpected understanding between them. A weight had lifted off his shoulders, yet a new weight settled in its place as he realized the implications of their conversation.
Charlus looked over to him again, "I do apologize for not reaching out to you earlier. But with you under the inquisitor's glare and the Aurors snooping about, I didn't think it wise to bring attention to you."
Harry's grip tightened on his broom as it dangerously swayed in the upper atmosphere. Charlus laughed at Harry's predicament.
"Let's get you down, sport. Before you faint here." Charlus said and Harry's eye twitched at the mockery till a wicked idea came to him.
"Say Charlus, you have a snitch about you someplace?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, why?" Charlus said eyes narrowed.
"How about it, Charlus? Best of three?" Harry said with a wicked grin. "Surely you don't need to fear anything from a guy who is about to faint?"
"Game on, Petrov," Charlus said.
I'll show you Gryffindor! Harry thought.
Hogwarts
Harry Petrov sighed as he ventured forth.
This was a part of his new Hogwarts experience that he hated the most.
Morrigan Riddle had sent him a letter requesting his presence in the dungeons. One of the storerooms she used to use as a hideout in her early days.
Harry half wondered if this was a trap to finish off what happened in the chamber. Harry wondered if she was worried, he was about to lay her into a trap. He had caught her off guard when they last met.
It was a damned good feeling seeing her confused and nervous for once instead of the other way around.
With a deep breath, Harry entered the room and found Riddle standing behind a chessboard. Her pale skin and purple eyes wickedly shined under the light of conjured orbs.
"Welcome Harry." She said and gestured for him to take a seat.
Harry warily cast an eye around the suspiciously quiet room and cool room. He found no hidden men or traps at an initial glance. Riddle smiled encouragingly at his conclusions as if reading his mind.
Morrigan gestured to the table between them, where an intricate wizarding chessboard rested. "Shall we begin a game of wizard's chess? It's a perfect way to pass the time while we talk."
Harry eyed the chessboard and agreed with a nod.
"Word is, you have passed your final year project defense. Congratulations!" Riddle started as she moved a white pawn forward. Pawn to E4.
Harry moved his pawn in response. "Your sources seem to keep you well informed, but thanks." Pawn to D4.
"I try my best." Morrigan moved another pawn to C4.
Harry, ever the blunt one, cut straight to the point. "What's the purpose of this meeting, Morrigan? Last time we met we nearly killed each other. You might forget or pretend it never happened. But I won't."
Harry captured a pawn and Morrigan moved a pawn to E5 in response.
"Oh, Harry, I never forget," she replied. "But to answer your question, I have a mutually beneficial proposal for you. I propose that we restart our tutoring sessions."
"Why?" Harry said. He distantly eyed the chess board conforming to her will. Harry moved his knights forward in response to her move.
"Why?" Riddle asked in puzzlement. "Aside from practical knowledge from yours truly, I think it will be beneficial for us to communicate more. After all, our last meeting was largely due to a failure to communicate.
"You mean when you nearly got my friends killed? Or the time you hid crucial information from me." Harry said with a darkening expression. He moved pieces at random, no longer caring for the game.
Riddle never loses her serene demeanor, "Which happens to be a failure to communicate, Harry. By spending more time together, we can get to know each other better." She was swapping her rook's location with her queen.
Morrigan laughed softly again. "Besides, Harry, it's not about schoolwork. I'm offering you mentorship in more arcane forms of magic."
"Why?" Harry said.
Morrigan's eyes locked onto his with a newfound intensity. "Because you interest me, Harry. We share a rare gift - Parseltongue, just like Salazar himself. He wouldn't have wanted those who shared our gifts to fight each other. Even you must have felt our magic roar in harmony when we first met. We should cooperate, don't you think?"
"Salazar died thousands of years ago. I could care less about what he thinks. He is dead. I am not. What he thought is now irrelevant." Harry said recklessly moving his pieces and getting demolished in return.
"Well if the legacy of a founder doesn't interest you, think of all that we have accomplished. Together we ended the reign of Ashley over Slytherin and deposed a minister – all the while not even being Hogwarts graduates." She said. "Think of what we can accomplish together. We are not so alike, Harry.
At another time Harry had similar words.
We are not so different, Potter. A boy whispered to him.
"We are nothing alike, Riddle," Harry said.
"Morrigan leaned forward slightly. "We're both broken, Harry, abandoned by a system that should have protected us. We both have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a need to secure ourselves against the cruelty of the world. The knowledge you seek, I alone am willing to share it with you." Riddle said. "Why else would you seek revenge against Martin, Ashley, or even those hapless muggle scientists?"
Harry didn't say anything.
"You see, you could have gone to a teacher and complained to your heart's content. Or worse, you could have taken your beat and pretended to have a superior morality by turning the other cheek like the vast majority of those fools. Instead, you took action." Morrigan said, waves of excitement now lashing off her. "Even though your foes outpaced you in everything, yet you still stood triumphant. As you said, he is dead. You are alive. You are a man of action, Harry. I can respect that."
She moved her pieces and remarked, "Verily, I have often laughed at the weaklings, who think themselves good because they have crippled paws!"
Harry gave a confused stare at the remark. Riddle shook her head dismissively, "An old German. No need to worry about it."
"Duly noted." Harry drily said. "Not sure I still want to learn dark magic under you." To which Riddle amusedly shook her head again.
"Dark magic. Light magic. The only difference is Harry, what one observes at a particular point in history from the future." Morrigan said. "I offer you power. Surely you don't think this conflict will end with Grindelwald dead, no? Deep down you know what the future holds."
An image of a mushroom cloud over Hogwarts went off in Harry's head. Riddle smiled knowingly at him.
"If you know what's coming, Riddle, why do you resist him?" Harry spat out. Riddle hummed merrily and shattered his bishop's defense.
"I would rather avoid mass bloodshed with pre-emptive strikes. However, if it comes down to it, I won't avoid a fight. Be it Grindelwald, Muggles, Goblins, or the ministry. I will fight for the rejuvenation of our world" Morrigan said. "And I know you won't either, Harry."
She decisively moved her bishops. "Checkmate, Harry."
Harry stared at the chessboard.
"Besides, you have time to think over your response. We will be spending a lot of time together regardless." Morrigan said.
"Why?" Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, didn't you hear?" Riddle said with faux concern. "Somebody let loose to Dippet that you had no summer home. Hogwarts policy expressly forbids vagrancy, so he got in touch with people at Wool's orphanage and arranged boarding for you there. You are technically underaged after all."
Harry audibly sighed at her to which Riddle laughed.
"Cheer up, Harry. I don't mind sharing smores with you over the summer!" She got up from her chair and waved her wand at the chess set.
A glowing Queen's Gambit emblazoned itself on it.
"Don't stay up too late now!" She sang. "Ciao Harry!"
Harry's eyes twitched as the orb went quiet and darkness engulfed him.
Author Notes: Wanted to write a somewhat slow chapter after the combat heavy last chapter. Don't worry, the summer saga will have plenty of action and twists. Poor Harry having to suffer under Morrigan all summer. Summer vacays just aren't for our poor lad. With that said, DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW. I LOVE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS PRAISE AND CRITICISM ALL OF IT. PLEASE REVIEW, KUDOS, FAV, FOLLOW, AND COMMENT!