Harry glanced as Dudley measured the ingredients for the potion. He was weighing them on small silver scales, perfectly balanced. It was a skill of an experienced potion maker. Harry watched attentively as the scales oscillated and couldn't look away.
Servants... Mysterious creatures summoned only for the Holy Grail War. Heroes from the past, fictional and real. Great people, forever preserved in human memory. Servants stood above any magic. They surpassed humans in power and were invulnerable to any weapon. They called themselves mere tools in the great struggle for the Grail, devoid of feelings and needs, lacking humanity until the moment of summoning, but even those who acquired bodies don't receive it. It is quite natural that they are on a special level compared to ordinary humans.
Harry quietly set aside the book he was rereading with Dudley for the tenth time. It was the book "The Legend of the Great Grail" that they both studied in search of answers to their burning questions. Harry left the book on the table and turned to Dudley, who was still sitting in the armchair, thoughtful and gazing at the fireplace.
In the silence of the room, the crackling of burning logs in the fireplace could be heard, while the glow of the fire lazily reflected on the walls.
However, his thoughts were not on that at the moment. He pondered the meaning of the Great Grail and what dangers awaited those who decided to participate in the War for the Grail.
"Dudley, aren't you afraid to be involved in the War for the Grail?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows with interest and some concern. "I would never want to take part in it. Are all the heroes we've read about really so spiritual and willing to sacrifice their lives?"
Dudley smiled thoughtfully.
"I don't know, Harry. But people are all different, and we're always in search of something greater, aren't we? Maybe each of us needs to find our own faith and strength to achieve our goals."
Harry sighed, knowing that Dudley's words were true and complex, and he couldn't disagree. Both of them continued to contemplate in silence - Harry about how the Grail was so wise that it chose its own master, and Dudley about how faith could help in this situation. They both understood how difficult the situation was, but something urged them to keep searching for answers.
They both understood that the War for the Grail was inevitable, but even in this moment, they couldn't predict what the Great Grail was striving for and whom it would summon for its battle.
Harry glanced at his cousin, who seemed to be engrossed in something. He was sitting at the table, with his head bent, writing something.
Harry noticed that Dudley stopped writing and now was staring intently at his notebook.
"What are you doing?" - asked Harry.
"Trying to figure out which hero the Great Grail will summon for me", - Dudley replied.
"And how's it going?"
"Nothing", - sighed Dudley. - "I can't decide which one suits me the most. They are all so different."
Hermione, who could hardly answer this question herself, was not with them at the moment.
Despite their previous animosity and complicated relationship, Harry did not want Dudley to get involved in the upcoming war. He understood that Voldemort would definitely use their family connection against him. Harry didn't want innocent people to get hurt and, despite their past troubles, he wished nothing but the best for Dudley. Lost in his thoughts, he spent a few seconds searching for the right words. The answer that came to Harry's mind seemed unexpected, but as complex as it was, it was equally deep. So, without further hesitation, Harry replied:
"Listen," - said Harry. - "There is no right answer to your question. Nobody can say for sure which hero suits you best. But I know one thing: you can be your own hero. You can find the qualities needed for that and create your own story. That will be your Great Grail. You don't have to search for it if you want to fulfill your wish."
"I don't want to search for it for the sake of wishes," - Dudley surprised Harry with his answer. - "I already have everything I could wish for in my life."
Dudley glanced at Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, who were having dinner in the dining room.
"I'm doing this for them", - mumbled Dudley barely audible.
Harry understood him. They had given him everything, starting from parental love to all the material wealth he enjoyed. Throughout the years of their shared life, Dudley had always been their favorite, and his position hadn't changed at all in the past year when the Dursleys had warmed up to Harry. But now, it was about a real war, and suddenly the previously spoiled Dudley, with his motivation destroyed, spoke like a person whose life had been in completely different circumstances.
All Harry could do was exhale and silently marvel at the changes in his cousin. He was happy for Dudley, and at the same time, a sharp pain scratched his heart. Was there still something more?
If the Chosen Master is unable to infuse enough magical energy into the summoning to call forth a Servant, the Grail itself will provide all the necessary energy for the Summoning. In such cases, the Master only needs to be near the predetermined point where the Servant will be summoned. This point can only be marked with a special Circle. Unfortunately, the outward appearance of the correct Circle and the required formula remain unknown.
It seems that only Fujimaru knows how this Circle should look. And Voldemort and his Death Eaters as well. Fujimaru shared this knowledge with the students of Dumbledore's Army, but Harry personally swore never to use this knowledge and silently boycotted Fujimaru's homework. May he never need this knowledge, may all enemy Servants bypass him. May, may, may!
Saving one means the death of another. Therefore, the prophecy about you can set everyone on an overly selfish path.
These were Mash's words about the prophecy after the events in the Ministry. He couldn't help but notice how Voldemort's behavior and actions indicated his strong mania. Harry felt a strong aversion towards him and actively rejected his path. Mash's funny accent and cute appearance made Harry want to give her chocolate every time she pronounced her name as "Mas Kiryrite". Throughout the year, Harry became so close to Mash and Fujimaru that they sat together in the library and searched for materials for exams together. Although Fujimaru didn't take exams, he gave Harry valuable advice. From these conversations, Harry understood that Ritsuka's magic didn't work the way he thought, and that it could destroy anyone who followed this path. Although Ritsuka Fujimaru didn't consider himself a full-fledged mage and was just a regular hired guy, he did important work in Chaldea, fixing historical anomalies.
Previously, Harry felt a subtle connection with Voldemort, as if their destinies were strangely intertwined. But now, thanks to Ritsuka Fujimaru, he found a common ground with his new comrade. Of course, there was a small age difference between them, but it couldn't affect their communication. But the most important thing, perhaps, was that Fujimaru had already gone through many life trials that Harry was yet to experience.
Belief in oneself and one's chosen path, the protection of the Philosopher's Stone, saving Hogwarts, Ginny Weasley, and the fight with Voldemort at the graveyard - all these moments were incredibly difficult and required a lot of courage and determination. However, compared to Fujimaru's victories, they significantly paled.
Fujimaru was a living example that one can be nobody and still achieve great things if they allow themselves to dream of higher goals and don't give up their aspirations halfway. And who knows, maybe Harry will be able to achieve much more, finding his mission in life? Undoubtedly, Ritsuka Fujimaru will remain an inspiration and wise mentor for him on the path to reaching greater heights.
Harry's heart raced faster as he listened to Ritsuka Fujimaru's stories of his heroic feats. At night, his dreams were filled with images of knights wandering through the deserts around Camelot, cunning villains threatening the world, majestic fortresses, and the fox-like beauty of the mysterious Koyanskaya.
Even though Harry knew that his imagination sometimes painted these places in nonexistent colors, the characters present in Fujimaru's stories were alive and vivid. With each new tale, Harry immersed himself in a world of adventure and resisted the temptation to summon these ancient heroes to himself with the force of his will.
Sometimes he couldn't help but think that he would like to try his hand at such adventures himself, using his own talents. He knew that to do so, he would have to become a Master, and the internal struggle made him think that he himself would never call any Servants to help him.
Nevertheless, Harry continued to imagine and yearn for adventures in his dreams, even though he had to fight against his desires.
If the words about the Servant being able to be summoned by the Holy Grail and choose Harry as the Master come true, it will happen without Harry's involvement, as he ignored this opportunity and did not seek to become a Master. If the Servant is summoned, they will have to first find Harry and make a contract with him. However, an unpleasant thought occurred to Harry: what if the Servant does not wait for his agreement to the contract? Then Harry remembered Fujimaru's lessons and decided with a smile to use command spells for any scenario. But the idea that his orders may not conflict with the will of the Servant troubled him, as the command spells would not be expended in that case. This was a new and unpleasant consideration for Harry, which left him devastated.
There is a secret, well known only to a chosen few - the Holy Grail itself chooses its Master. It pays attention to those who are not defeated by fear in battle, but instead confront their opponents.
Jeanne Alter was insistent in her belief - it is a law, firm and unbreakable. During the summer, she even visited them several times and successfully pretended to be a foreign student, the boys' new acquaintance. In search of better treatment from the Dursleys, she often spoke French, talked a lot about France, and always cleaned up after herself, which brought Aunt Petunia to the brink of frenzy. Harry reluctantly believed Jeanne's words, and the more she repeated them, the stronger the fear consumed him. He was afraid to enter the Holy Grail War as a Master, but over time, doubts came to him more and more frequently. No matter what he said or did, inside him the struggle continued, and at some point, one side of the scale had to outweigh the other.
Not every Servant became one through great deeds and doing good; cruel villains who spilled much blood are also recorded as Servants.
Harry unintentionally recalled his nightmares about Jeanne. Until now, he had not told anyone about her past glory, but of course Hermione, with her vast knowledge, had long figured out what "Alter" meant in her name. After all, who doesn't know who the great Joan of Arc was? Hermione could easily solve this riddle and come to the conclusion that they were standing on the same side as not the great heroine of the past, but a cruel villainess, who in battle more resembled a soulless machine driven by one goal - to remain on the battlefield alone. For a moment, Harry returned to that night when Jeanne fought against Jack the Ripper. Until that day, he couldn't even imagine that someone could move so fast without feeling pain, easily breaking walls and ceilings with their body. Where an ordinary person would have disappeared into the past, Jeanne fought against Jack the Ripper as an implacable and unbeatable opponent, and he was scared of her.
Harry tried his best to remember what Jack the Ripper looked like and how he behaved in his presence, but all he could extract from his memory was a vague, grey image as if he had never crossed paths with the notorious killer. Jeanne, it seemed, did not treat him coldly, which often surprised Harry. Among her friends, she behaved naturally and even joked, occasionally laughing about her life and appearing like an ordinary girl, although somewhat impulsive at times. However, he knew Jeanne's past and was certain that any wrong move would lead to a new terrible tragedy. But deep down, he still believed that the heart of this girl still burned with the fire of the true Joan of Arc - it just needed to be kindled, breathing life into it.
Published by order of the Ministry of Magic
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY FROM DARK ARTS
The wizarding community is currently threatened by an organization calling themselves "Death Eaters". Observing simple safety measures will help you protect yourself, your home, and your family.
1. Try not to leave the house alone.
2. Be especially cautious during dark hours. If possible, schedule your activities to be completed before nightfall.
3. Thoroughly check the security measures in your home, ensure that all members of your family are familiar with emergency self-defense techniques such as Shield Charms and Disillusionment Charms, and underage family members possess Pairing Transgression skills.
4. Agree on secret signs with friends and relatives to eliminate the possibility of their appearance being used by Death Eaters through Polyjuice Potion (see p. 2).
5. If you suspect that someone in your family, colleagues, friends, or neighbors is behaving unusually, immediately contact the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. You might have come across a person under the Imperius Curse (see p. 4).
6. If the Dark Mark appears above your residence or any other building, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ENTER and immediately contact the Auror Office.
7. According to unconfirmed information, there is a possibility that Death Eaters are using Inferi (see p. 10). If you encounter an Inferius, IMMEDIATELY report it to the Ministry.
Jeanne Alter was intrigued by such brochures. She studied them intensely, and although she didn't speak about it directly, Harry was completely sure - the fate of Inferi when meeting her would be unpleasant.
In the past few months, Harry had read about a dozen similar brochures. Each of them intrigued Jeanne Alter in her own way. She studied them intensely, and although Jeanne didn't speak about it directly, Harry was sure - the fate of Inferi when meeting her would be unpleasant.
Harry and Jeanne continued to ask the same questions, trying to understand how King Arthur and Voldemort were connected. But all the clues seemed mysterious and unclear to them. The Death Eaters continued to carry out their terrible deeds, and the Ministry alerted wizards to this day by day.
Although Jeanne suspected something, she preferred to remain silent, while Hermione, who was always one step ahead, speculated that unknown Masters had entered the arena and had called upon King Arthur to join their side. These thoughts made Harry worry, and each time his mind became a hot cauldron filled with incomprehensible and mysterious thoughts.
He couldn't understand who could be behind Voldemort and his Death Eaters, and why the Grail had made this war three-sided. All Harry knew at this point was that he was not ready for what he was about to face when he became one of the Masters. And he certainly wouldn't easily digest this situation. But for now, the main thing was not to despair and to continue searching for connections between all these secrets and riddles in order to ultimately find answers to all the questions.
King Arthur Visited the Ministry of Magic
London, 15 July 1996 - Yesterday, an historic visit by King Arthur took place at the Ministry of Magic.
As you know, King Arthur has just been crowned and has already proven himself to be a true hero. He drove Jack the Ripper out of London, battled the London Monster, attacked flying saucers alongside Merlin, and stood against the Death Eaters. His bravery and courage leave no doubt that he is a true king.
However, his ascension to the throne was not entirely transparent. We all witnessed how the previous queen suddenly gave up her ambitions and throne in favor of Arthur. How could this have happened?
The reason is actually quite simple. Arthur has always been loved by his people, and his return was eagerly awaited. His feats became a sensation in England, and people rallied behind the new king. This was the final straw for the old queen. She realized she couldn't rival such popularity and support from the people. That's why she abdicated and retired.
But this doesn't diminish everything she did for England. She was an outstanding leader and a strong ruler, as well as a loving mother and grandmother. Her successors should be proud of her legacy and continue her work.
Turning back to King Arthur, we can proudly say that he is our hero. His accomplishments have exceeded all expectations, and we can only admire his bravery. We hope that he will continue to make our country strong and prosperous.
In conclusion, the entire editorial team would like to wish King Arthur success in his future endeavors and hope that he continues to serve as an example for all of us. Thank you for your attention.
Harry reread the article, and a smile involuntarily formed on his lips. He, Jeanne, Dudley, and everyone who was with him knew that King Arthur had returned from the depths of centuries and become the Servant of the Holy Grail. Someone had to have called him from the depths of centuries. Harry couldn't understand how people could happily smile and wave their hands in greeting to this event, which actually meant the beginning of the end.
Nevertheless, there was not a drop of joy in Harry's heart. He felt that the return of King Arthur was advantageous to unknown forces whose actions would only exacerbate the existing turmoil in the world. Therefore, he was horrified by what awaited him in the future and tried to find answers to all his questions before it was too late.
The Secret of King Arthur
London, July 20, 1996 - Lately, incredible events have been taking place in England, making us wonder that our world is not as simple as it seems at first glance. And one of the main protagonists of these events is King Arthur, who has returned from the depths of the past to protect and save England.
But what do we know about King Arthur? Why does he hide his face behind a mask? What is he really like?
King Arthur is a great historical figure who appeared in our world a few months ago and returned after many centuries to restore peace and order in Britain. He came to protect England from the dangers that threatened it from all sides. He fought against Jack the Ripper, the London Monster, the Death Eaters, and even UFOs. He demonstrated his bravery and courage, and the people of England wholeheartedly supported him.
But why does King Arthur hide his face behind a mask? Many say it is connected to his past. He returned from the depths of the past, and perhaps his face does not match our time. But there are other theories. Some say that the recently returned King Arthur is not genuine and hides his face to protect his loved ones and friends from danger. After all, if his identity were known, his loved ones could become targets for his enemies.
But the most interesting thing is that King Arthur received the British crown from the English Queen herself. She easily relinquished the reins of power in his favor without thinking about her heirs. But the people of England supported King Arthur, and now he rules our country.
Thus, King Arthur is the most mysterious figure in history who has returned to our world to protect and save England. He battles all the dangers that can threaten our country, and the people of England fully support him. But his possible secret identity and hidden face behind the mask leave many questions unanswered.
According to ancient prophecies, the king must return to England for its salvation. Arthur's return is one of the signs of the impending collapse of world history.
Harry did not know the text of the prophecies about King Arthur, but he could not resist thoughts of something very unpleasant approaching. Never before could Voldemort summon the support of great kings of the past, never before could he appeal through centuries to long-gone heroes or villains. Even before reaching the Grail, he had already come close to fulfilling one of his most cherished desires. Whether Arthur is on Voldemort's side or not, the War for the Grail completely eclipses all history before its beginning.
No one - neither Dumbledore nor Ritsuka Fujimaru, or anyone else - could explain to Harry what might happen next. Only Mash noted in her letters how well she now understands the purpose of her arrival from Chaldea.
Dear Harry,
Fujimaru-san is very doubtful whether we can change the fate of the world. We sent Jeanne Alter to the year 1994 to resolve the historical anomaly, but nothing changed. Now, we are here too, and we see: events are unfolding too unpredictably even for the best minds from Chaldea.
Ritsuka is afraid that we won't succeed in our mission. He even thinks that our attempts may only worsen the situation. It is currently impossible to predict how this Holy Grail War will end.
With respect,
Mash Kyrielight
Everything is clear. There is something in this War that no one knows. Only the Holy Grail could say what's wrong with it. But the Holy Grail remains silent and doesn't reveal itself. But if the Holy Grail still isn't trying to interfere in this War on its own terms, then not everything is so bad. Or perhaps the interference has already happened? Harry looked at the sketched Summoning Circle and absentmindedly scratched his head. Will he ever have the chance to calmly draw this Circle and summon his Servant? What if the inability to resolve this historical anomaly is due to his own inaction? Chills ran down Harry's spine at this thought. No, it can't be! It couldn't possibly be related to him. But the deepest depths of his soul revealed the opposite answer.
Harry watched as Dudley measured ingredients for a potion. He weighed them on small silver scales, perfectly balanced. A precision fit for a seasoned brewer. Harry watched attentively as their weighing pans swayed and couldn't look away.