Chapter 54. The Man Who Tamed Lightning
The morning brought a surprise for Harry - a mysterious and elegant middle-aged man suddenly appeared before him. He was the embodiment of confidence and determination, with dark curls that gave his face an unshakable strength. His eyes burned with a dazzling, almost electric blue sparkle, showing just how gifted and intellectual he was, capable of conquering the world.
Characteristically, this great scientist wore a scientific suit with a high collar and bright blue cuffs, symbolizing his fascination and openness to new technologies. His strong physique and proportional limbs spoke of his power and energy. And in his hands were tools that testified to his genius and continuous creative work.
His appearance and clothing in shades of dark gray and blue simply radiated mystery and elegance. Nikola Tesla seemed to be a truly majestic being. Everything about him reflected his unparalleled intellect and potential, and his gaze, almost prophetic, penetrated through space and time, finding answers where they remained a mystery to ordinary mortals.
"Good morning, Harry Potter," the young genius greeted. "How did you sleep?"
"Good morning," Harry muttered in bewilderment. "I slept well, thank you."
"Then allow me to invite you to breakfast," the great inventor addressed him. "My Master is already waiting for you downstairs. And do not forget about your manners, my friend!"
With these words, Tesla left Harry and walked effortlessly out of the room, disappearing into the corridor among the samples of electrical inventions. In response, Harry could only shrug in confusion.
Later, Harry pondered deeply - how did Hermione end up with Tesla? Hermione got along well with any knowledge and was a talented student, but Harry never noticed her crossing the boundaries of learned lessons and showing herself as a truly creative person. Unlike Katie Bell, she never allowed herself to experiment with spells or even attempt to brew her own potion, an idea that suddenly came to her mind. But Tesla had already created several dozen different electrical inventions even at the Burrow, and to Harry's greatest surprise, they worked.
Thanks to Hermione, he remembered well the lessons from the history of Hogwarts, that electrical devices cannot work in a magical environment, which is why the Hogwarts Express was drawn by a scarlet steam locomotive while Muggles had long mastered electricity and made use of it in achieving their advancements, making the journey to Hogwarts much faster. But Tesla, with his example, showed that even wizards do not know everything about electricity...
"... and I believe their conclusions are too limited, which is why they do not see the grand opportunities that electricity offers," Tesla said convincingly. "Soon, Muggles will create devices smaller than a matchbox that will allow them to listen to radio broadcasts and watch films. The CEO of a huge company will be able to speak a word in Paris, and it will be heard immediately in New York, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and even on other distant planets, far beyond our Earth. And the most amazing thing is that all of this will be achieved without any magic. I predicted this at the end of the last century, and now my words are becoming closer to reality."
At breakfast in The Burrow, lively conversation filled the air. Fleur, who had decided to marry Bill, was staying with the Weasleys and helped Mrs. Weasley around the house like a caring daughter-in-law. The Weasley twins proudly showed Harry their newest acquisition - suits made from the rarest dragon hide. Meanwhile, Ron, unstoppable in his efforts, tried to demonstrate his newly summoned Servant to everyone. Unfortunately, all his attempts were in vain as no one appeared despite Ron's instructions. This brought laughter from his brothers, and George, who took the situation lightly, sympathetically patted Ron on the shoulder before ceremoniously declaring, "The audience is open! Show yourself, Servant!"
Footsteps echoed up the stairs and another red-haired being descended. One could say it was an unknown member of the Weasley family. Upon seeing him for the first time, Harry blinked and thought, "Isn't this just another prank by the twins, a guest with obvious familial resemblance?" But only one glance lingered on this guest and all doubts vanished instantly. Before him stood a person with distinctly hunting eyes that shimmered with thoughtfulness. They were filled with determination and bravery. This person walked with firmness and grace, tall but slightly shorter than Tesla himself, dressed in green attire perfect for walks in the forest. But as soon as he spoke, Harry sensed two things about him at once: undeniable charisma and resemblance to the twins.
"My dear fellow citizens and noble ladies present in this humble estate! Allow me to introduce myself - Robin Hood, valiant hero, guardian of justice, and fighter against injustice. My magnanimity, generosity, and courage, as well as your honorable ancestors and the great resistance to darkness, bind our hearts together. Let the face of villainous injustice tremble when we, united and unwavering in our determination, gather on these lands! Rise, dear friends, and let me join your sunny gang!"
Ron sighed heavily, desperately trying to hide his anxiety, but his own gaze gave him away. He silently raised his hand, and Harry saw a complex symbol woven into his palm.
"I believe you, Ron," Harry gently patted his shoulder.
"And I do too," Dudley tried to cheer him up.
"What should I do now?" Ron worried.
"Under no circumstances should you use the Command spell," Hermione intervened. "Using that spell now could be a shortsighted decision! Talk to the Servant you summoned when you have the opportunity."
"Alright..." Ron lowered his gaze, agreeing with her words.
Harry paused for a moment, then decided to change the subject, hoping to distract Ron from his troubles. He didn't want to discuss complicated matters like wizards using electricity, and the topic of King Arthur came to mind first among those that had enchanted him in recent days.
Tesla instantly responded without a moment's hesitation.
Smoothing his dark hair and raising his eyebrows, he began his story with deep insight:
"King Arthur, my young friend, was a great leader, whose greatness is incomprehensible to us humble mortals. He was flawless in his pursuit of justice and the fight for noble ideals. Like a drop of velvety mist, he penetrated our hearts, becoming a symbol of courage and selflessness.
Harry and Ron listened with open mouths and eyes, absorbed by every word, as if they were being engulfed by the hungry fire of an exciting adventure. Sensing the whirlwind of emotions sweeping over him, Harry continued:
"I have always admired the stories of his kingdom, his sword Excalibur, and the Knights of the Round Table. But, perhaps most importantly, it is his ability to unite people, to embody the idea that even in a world full of divisions and fire, unity and peace can be found, and dreams of justice can become a bright light in the darkness."
Harry paused, feeling his voice hanging in the air like a miracle that brings the story to life. Ron, feeling the same energy, looked at Tesla, his eyes burning, and had something to say:
"King Arthur is not only a symbol of valor and courage, but also a symbol of brotherhood. His knights, fighting side by side, shared their blood and sweat. And I believe that such friends are stronger than all the forces of darkness combined. Sadly, my servant is not like that."
"And what do you think..." Harry began, somewhat lost.
He was trying his best to distract Ron from thoughts of his servant.
"Oh, feel the weight of this one Servant who has seized power in Britain. It is truly worrisome. I can already foresee a war, not because King Arthur took on the task of defending the country, but because of the people for whom he is merely a tool. They clearly have something terrible in mind, consciously provoking the situation. But soon you will all understand."
"And what does that mean? So, Arthur will defend the country from external threats?" Dudley asked skeptically.
Tesla just smiled mysteriously.
"He is a Servant of great power, believe me, young man. And his leadership qualities are mind-blowing, as they say. But every leader has their own trials."
"And what are these trials?" Harry began to ask, but then changed his mind - after all, Tesla said that everything would become clear very soon. And why ask questions if the answer will be known soon?
"Oh well. How will the War for the Holy Grail develop?"
"Oh, my dear friend!" Tesla smiled. "Not all the chess pieces are in position on the board yet, and the war for the Holy Grail has already begun since last autumn. It has claimed the lives of many innocent people, but even more will be sacrificed in the future when the pieces start developing their strategies under the guidance of their Masters."
"And what are the pieces on the board?" Harry asked softly, nervously concerned about Britain's future.
Tesla looked at him vaguely and opened his mouth, preparing to say something, but instead just nodded thoughtfully.
"You know, my young friend, the War for the Grail is something even more terrifying than you can imagine," he said, shedding the most consistent covering of his speech. "The great and mighty Servant has begun to deploy his army, but there's no guarantee that it will be on the side of good. He is a symbol of hope and salvation, but nothing lasts forever, right? And the trial that awaits him will shock all of us."
The war that had begun ruthlessly devastated numerous homes in London, leaving only ashes and destruction. Harry's face paled with fear and powerlessness.
"What should we do?" he whispered, feeling his heart constrict with the horrible, treacherous darkness that was gaining strength in the world.
"We must fight," a fire ignited in Tesla's eyes, as if he himself had become the embodiment of struggle and bravery. "We are the weapon that will be the last hope for our world. But remember, every shot will cost blood and tears. You must be prepared for the heaviest sacrifices."
Harry felt as if the weight of the entire world was pressing down on him. He took a deep breath, gathering all his willpower under Tesla's electric gaze.
"I'm still not ready," he said, devoid of any determination in his voice. "I don't want to let this evil swallow our world. But I'm not ready for you to fight for us until the last drop of blood."
Tesla didn't say a word in response, only giving him an understanding look. Hermione, Dudley, and Ron didn't say a word either, and even George and Fred ignored what was said, which made Harry feel like a complete stranger among his friends for the first time.
All day, Tesla tinkered with his tower in the Burrow's yard, constantly climbing up, tightening something, adjusting, all with the most enthusiastic expression. In the evening, he invited the kids into the dome of this tower, wanting to show them something beautiful. Only Hermione and Tesla dared to go up, while the others decided to watch from a distance. The wizards probably didn't take his inventions seriously, and Dudley was talking to Bill about something.
Tesla waited for the moment when the sun disk disappeared behind the clouds, and at that moment, the tower lit up. Harry shielded his eyes from the blinding brightness and flinched when thousands of lightning bolts flashed and shot in all directions like celestial arrows. Each time the echoes of thunder reached his ears, Harry's heart raced madly. In the downpour accompanied by this celestial spectacle, he saw the Northern Lights for the first time - a magical glow reigning over everything. He saw the mysterious glow around his own body and around all living creatures near him - even around every color and leaf on a tree. Power and grandeur resided in each lightning strike, swaying the slope of this tower in its astonishing dances.
Harry followed the path of each electric discharge that ruthlessly tore through the air for tens of miles, and he trembled with awe. This extraordinary evidence of the cosmic scale captivated his thoughts and gaze. He could never have imagined such power concentrated in the hands of an ordinary mortal. But Tesla was not an ordinary mortal. First and foremost, he was a walking revelation that triumphed over all notions of human capabilities and intellect.
Under the hemisphere dome that served as Hermione's sanctuary, there was a man whose power made even the lightning obey his will. Harry had never before felt such greatness and admiration towards a human being. Knowing that this man was on their side only increased his respect for him. Such was the Servant of Hermione Granger.