Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the intellectual property associated with Harry Potter.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. This chapter took me ages. It was very rough at first, and it took me longer to edit it than it did to write it. 😒

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Chapter 24

Amelia Bones, accompanied by Headmaster Flitwick and a squadron of Aurors, entered the Great Hall. Following closely behind were Daniel and Slyvia Greengrass. Susan ran up to her aunt for a heartfelt hug and engaged in a brief conversation with her.

Amelia sent her niece and strode up to the head table. Harry and Daphne sat alongside his grandparents, while the other professors moved about the hall, either organising the students or keeping a watchful eye. At the end of the table, the group of Master Artisans were gathered together, their hearts heavy with grief as they mourned the tragic loss of their fallen comrade.

Daphne embraced her parents before Sylvia Greengrass reciprocated the same affection towards Harry.

"I require a complete explanation of the situation," Amelia Bones stated firmly, surveying the hall with a monocle affixed to her eye. "I was given a brief summary of what happened, but I need further details."

"Madam Bones," Headmaster Flitwick responded, "I would be happy to provide a detailed explanation. However, it might be best to discuss this matter in a more private setting, out of earshot from my students. Let's avoid unnecessary panic."

"I've been informed that there is a magical creature roaming the castle," Amelia said. "Until we have a clear understanding of the situation, my team will establish a base in the Great Hall before commencing the search of the castle. We will set up a room here to ensure our privacy."

"That is an excellent suggestion, Madam Bones," Charlus said. "I have a hunch about the identity of the magical creature, and it would be unwise for you to confront it without thorough preparation."

"Lord Potter, your information will be helpful," Amelia nodded and then turned to Minerva. "May I ask for a favour, Minerva? Can you conjure a room where we can have a private discussion? I am capable of doing it myself, but you would be able to achieve it with greater efficiency."

"I do not mind, Amelia," Minerva replied.

"Perhaps we should also consider adding bathrooms," the tall, dark-skinned man standing beside Amelia suggested. "If students are going to sleep here, it's inevitable that some of them will need bathroom breaks."

"A prudent course of action, Kingsley," Minerva approved, walking off to complete her tasks.

"Are these the two students that were attacked?" Amelia questioned, as she looked at Harry and Daphne.

"Yes, Madam Bones," Harry and Daphne answered in unison. Despite the seriousness of the situation, both of them couldn't help but smile as they uttered the words simultaneously.

"I need to speak to both of you," Amelia informed them.

"As Harry's guardian, I will be present," Charlus asserted. "I am certain that Minerva wishes to be present as well."

"Of course," Amelia asserted, turning to the red-robed Aurors who were waiting for orders. "Kingsley and Proudfoot, you will accompany me to question the witnesses. As for the rest of you, I expect you to be stationed around the hall until further orders."

The Aurors nodded in agreement and then dispersed throughout the hall.

In a matter of minutes, Minerva quickly prepared a bathroom and a room for Amelia in the left-hand corner of the hall, nearest to the head table. Once inside the room, they discovered a long table accompanied by chairs. Harry and Daphne sat down directly across from Amelia and the two senior Aurors. The Headmaster, along with Daphne's parents and his grandparents, joined them at the table.

"Proudfoot, please take notes while we question the witnesses."

"Yes, boss," Proudfoot replied, setting some parchment on the table.

"Why don't you start by telling me your story from the beginning, and we'll ask questions as needed?" Amelia flashed a smile at the two teenagers in an attempt to put them at ease.

"Sure," Harry replied. He began the tale from the moment they arrived back at the castle and he accompanied Daphne to the Gryffindor Tower.

"After taking a shower, we left the tower and made our way down to the Great Hall," Harry continued. "It was on the third floor where we encountered the creature."

"Was it near the third-floor corridor with the Enchanted Wall?" Amelia pressed.

"No," Harry frowned. "Our usual route to the Great Hall does not go past the third-floor corridor in question. You think it is related to the Enchanted Wall?"

"No idea. I'm just covering my bases," Amelia said. "Did you see the creature?"

"I heard a voice speaking," Harry said, trying to recall the exact words it said.

"What did it say?"

Harry repeated the words spoken by the voice he heard. It was evident that it belonged to a creature, even though he couldn't grasp how he could understand it. The choice of words didn't sound like something a human would say.

"Did you hear the voice as well?" Kingsley asked Daphne.

"No," Daphne said, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at Harry. "He mentioned hearing something, but I didn't hear anything. Harry seemed genuinely scared and insisted that we should quickly leave the corridor."

"Were the words faint, or did you hear them clearly?" Amelia asked, leaning forward with a slight frown on her face.

"I heard it clearly," Harry said with a shrug. "I don't understand why Daphne couldn't hear it."

"After we started running," Daphne chimed in. "I heard a distinctive hissing sound, reminiscent of a snake."

Amelia and the two Aurors shared apprehensive glances. It was evident that they were fixated on the fact that he had heard the voice.

"Just come out and say it, Madam Bones," Charlus growled.

"If the creature was indeed a snake, could it be possible that you are a Parseltongue?" Amelia inquired. "It's a plausible explanation for why Miss Greengrass couldn't hear it speak."

"Parseltongue?" Harry glanced at his grandparents with a quizzical expression.

"It's a magical ability that allows people to speak to snakes, Harry," Minerva told him.

"Have you ever spoken to a snake before, Mr Potter?" Kingsley asked.

"No," Harry replied. "I have never encountered a snake before."

"Well, let's put it to the test, shall we?" Amelia said.

Amelia raised her wand and summoned a small garden snake onto the table. It lifted its head, casting nervous glances at the humans surrounding it.

"Why have you brought me here? Stay away, humans."

Harry listened as the snake spoke. Glancing around the table, he checked to see if anyone else had heard it, but everyone's attention was fixed solely on him.

"What did it say?" Amelia asked.

"It's scared," Harry said. "It doesn't know why it is here."

"Perhaps you should try speaking to it," Daniel Greengrass suggested. "Reassure it that we do not intend to hurt it."

Harry nodded as he directed his attention towards the snake before him. "Hello there. We apologise for scaring you, but we wanted to check whether I possess the ability to speak Parseltongue."

"Still English, Harry," Daphne giggled. "Try again."

Harry made another attempt, but to him, it still sounded like English. However, he noticed that a few of the adults flinched.

The snake turned its head and looked at him."A speaker? I have never encountered one of your kind before."

"Are Speakers rare?" Harry asked the snake curiously.

"I do not know. But they are revered among our kind."

"What's your name?"

"Selina."

"Well, my name is Harry. Sorry for bothering you."

"It's okay. Can you pick me up?"

Selina slithered across the table towards Harry. He felt no fear towards the snake, and thus, confidently extended his hand. Without hesitation, Selina slithered onto his hand, wrapping her tail around his wrist. Harry stroked its spine, eliciting a squirm of pleasure from the serpent.

"Well, that confirms you are a Parseltongue. Let me get rid of the snake," Amelia said, raising her wand.

"Wait," Harry said, shielding Selina. "I will find a home for her. After all, she didn't have a say in being summoned."

"Alright," Amelia responded. "So, we're contending with some sort of snake. What happened after you ran away?"

"We could hear it pursuing us," Daphne explained. "It was enormous, although we refrained from turning around to identify it. At one moment, it forcefully collided with the wall."

"Why didn't you look back?" Kingsley asked, appearing perplexed.

Harry and Daphne exchanged glances, silently deliberating whether to share his secret.

"Go ahead, Harry," Charlus said. "It was gonna come out at some point."

"I often have moments of insight," Harry explained. "They serve as a warning signal, letting me know when something is about to go wrong. When the creature chased us, my instincts were telling me not to look back at it."

"A seer?" Amelia asked disbelievingly.

Charlus gazed intently at Amelia and the pair of Aurors before him. "Before we proceed, I request that the information shared in this room remains confidential. If it were to be leaked, it could cause Harry a lot of trouble."

"This is an ongoing investigation," Amelia exclaimed. "You do not have the authority to demand that I keep secrets."

"No, but in the grand scheme of things, it's irrelevant to your investigation," Charlus said. "I only ask for discretion."

Amelia nodded in agreement. "If you speak the truth, I can leave it out of the official records to protect a minor. Now, what is it that you need to tell me?"

"Why don't you show them, Harry?" Minerva said.

"What is it?" Headmaster Flitwick asked curiously.

"Patience," she replied.

Harry hesitated about disclosing his abilities to the Aurors but trusted his grandparents' judgment. Once he placed Selina on the table, he stood up. Focusing on his transformation, he smoothly shifted into his Animagus form. Gasps filled the room as he leaped onto the table. Daphne grabbed him and placed him on her lap. He emitted a tiny sound of joy as she affectionately scratched him behind his ears.

"He is a Demiguise Animagus?" Amelia asked incredulously. "Has there ever been a magical Animagus before?"

"Not in Britain," Kingsley said thoughtfully. "Legends suggest that Merlin may have been one, but it is impossible to verify."

"Incredible," Syvila Greengrass breathed. "Harry has just demonstrated he is a Parseltongue, and now he reveals he is an Animagus. Daphne, your taste is truly impeccable.

"Mother," Daphne gasped. Harry looked at his girlfriend smugly. She huffed in exasperation and placed him back on the table.

"Indeed," Daniel Greengrass said. "It will also explain his incredible magical reserves. It is no easy feat to transform into an Animagus at thirteen."

"Been keeping an eye on my grandson, Daniel?" Charlus raised an eyebrow.

"He is dating my daughter," Daniel replied. "I wouldn't be doing my duty as her father if I didn't look out for her best interests."

"It is incredible how talented he is," Headmaster Flitwick beamed. "But considering his lineage, it should come as no surprise."

"Let's get back on track people," Amelia ordered. "Please change back, Mr Potter, so that we may continue with the questions."

After transforming back, Harry settled himself into a seat. Now in his human form once again, he couldn't help but feel self-conscious as he became the centre of attention.

"How long has he been an Animagus? Why hasn't he registered with the Ministry?" Amelia asked with a frown.

"Harry doesn't have to register until fifteen," Minerva replied. "I looked up the laws regarding the matter."

"I have not heard of this law. Is that true?" Amelia turned to Kingsley and Proudfoot.

"I have not heard of it," Kingsley admitted.

"I have," Proudfoot said. "It is an old law that has remained unchanged for centuries. When it was originally written, the idea of a witch or wizard becoming an Animagus at such a young age was deemed impossible. Until now, there hasn't been any evidence to the contrary."

"That's not true," Minerva corrected. "James, Sirius, and Peter all became Animagi in their fifth year. Even though they were already fifteen, it was still an incredible accomplishment."

"That's incredible," Headmaster Flitwick said. "It seems the aptitude for becoming Animagus runs in the Potter family."

"Not from the Potter side of the family," Charlus remarked wryly. "Harry owes his thanks to his grandmother for his aptitude."

"Harry, does your Animagus form account for your ability of precognition?" Amelia redirected the conversation back to the main topic.

Harry nodded. "I had a vision when I transformed for the first time. The ability isn't as powerful when I'm not a Demiguise, but some of it bleeds over into my human form."

"I have a theory about why Harry was feeling like he couldn't look at the creature," Charlus stated firmly. "I believe that we have a Basilisk on the loose. If Harry and Daphne had looked into its eyes, they would be dead right now."

There was a stunned silence as the adults absorbed that information. Harry leaned towards Daphne and whispered to her. "What's a Basilisk?"

"It's classified as a class 5 magical creature, ranking alongside dangerous creatures such as Dragons and Cockatrices," Daphne explained, her voice tinged with fear. "Meeting its gaze is fatal, while its venom possesses tremendous potency. One bite from this creature and death will swiftly follow."

Harry was amazed and frightened that such a creature existed. It was only now that he understood how close he and Daphne were to dying on the third floor. If it weren't for his instincts, they surely would have turned around to see what was chasing them. It was an instinctive response to danger, wanting to know what predator pursued them.

"If this is indeed true, our job has just become significantly more challenging," Amelia said. "Taking it down won't be easy, particularly if it is truly as massive as Mr Potter and Miss Greengrass claim."

"We examined the damage it did to the secret passage," Headmaster Flitwick said, looking shaken. "It caused significant damage to the entrance in an attempt to reach them. I have no doubt regarding the validity of their claims."

"I suggest we ask Master Karlsson if he can create some protective gear to shield us from its deadly gaze," Charlus recommended.

"That's a great idea," Amelia concurred. "Let's finish up with Mr Potter and Miss Greengrass."

She told them to continue their story. Harry recounted the grisly discovery of the dead body and the cryptic message scrawled on the wall up until the point where they arrived in the Great Hall. Her attention to detail prolonged the interview by another half hour.

"I think they have explained it enough, Amelia," Minerva said firmly. "Harry and Daphne need to go to bed. If you have any more questions, you know where to find them."

"Very well," Amelia nodded. "Mr Potter and Miss Greengrass, thank you for your patience."

Everyone stood up and left the room. Harry glanced around, still feeling cautious about Professor Quirrell, and made sure to keep an eye on him. He couldn't pin the murders on him, however. He was in the Great Hall at the time that the Master Artisan and the Slytherin student were killed. It is still possible that the two were killed by the Basilisk. However, the way Master Halihi's body was deliberately arranged, suggested that a human was responsible.

"Let's find a place to sleep," Daphne said.

Sylvia embraced her daughter and spoke gently, "It's time for us to return home. Remember to keep a proper distance from Harry when you're sleeping. We don't want hormones to cloud your judgment."

"Mother," Daphne turned red in embarrassment.

"I second that sentiment," Minerva said, staring at her grandson.

"I find the implication that I will try something offensive," Harry sniffed.

"I will have my Aurors escort you to the floo, Lord Greengrass," Madam Bones said.

"Thank you," Daniel Greengrass, taking his wife's arm and following the Aurors out of the Great Hall.

Hermione and Tracy had saved a spot for them, so they settled in for the night. Although Harry was tired, he was still buzzed from the night's events. He didn't think it would be easy to fall asleep, but he was out like a light as soon as his head hit the pillow.

24th October

The next morning, Harry woke up to find Daphne's head on his shoulder. Despite them sleeping a metre apart, she closed the gap and cuddled up to him. Harry didn't mind at all, enjoying the feeling of her body lying against him. Then a shadow fell over him and he looked up to see his grandmother standing over him.

"Would you like to explain yourself?" Minvera asked with a raised brow.

"It was all Daphne's doing!" Harry declared, throwing his girlfriend under the bus. "I swear on my innocence!"

"I doubt that," Minerva let out a snort.

"Did the Aurors find the Basilisk?" Harry asked, trying to change the subject.

"No," Minerva frowned. "I am afraid the school will be closed for a week so the Aurors have time to search the castle without having to worry about the student's safety."

"Really?" He hadn't expected that they would take it that far.

Daphne woke up groggily and quickly moved away from him once she realized where she was laying. "Harry, why did you invade my space?"

"It wasn't me," Harry protested.

"I believe you were the culprit, Daphne," Minerva said with a smirk, finding the situation rather amusing.

Daphne glanced around and confirmed that she was the one who had moved during the night. "It's still your fault, Harry."

"What?"

"You shouldn't be so comfortable to cuddle up with," Daphne mumbled before realising the words she had spoken. She stood up from the floor, purposefully avoiding making eye contact with him. "I am going to the bathroom."

"Harry, don't embarrass Daphne," Hermione murmured sleepily.

"She embarrassed herself," Harry told her. "Did you know that you snore?"

"Do not!"

"Is the Hogwarts Express coming to pick us up?" Harry asked his grandmother.

"It will arrive in the afternoon," Minerva informed him.

While the circumstances that led to their departure from school were unfortunate, he couldn't deny that it brought about a positive outcome in another way. He could return to his workshop and build his first crafting station. He decided to start by setting up a leatherworking station, eager to begin crafting the gauntlets he had designed.

The second reason for his excitement stemmed from the fact that he would have the opportunity to see Gabrielle. Unlike Hogwarts, she could return home every night. It would be enjoyable to spend some quality time with her. Even though he had Daphne here, he still missed his other girlfriend as well.

After all the students had awakened, the professors removed the sleeping bags and rearranged the tables to allow everyone to sit down for breakfast. Padma, Susan, Hannah, and Terry joined them at the Gryffindor table.

"Do you think they'll find the Basilisk?" Terry asked as he served himself some fruit salad.

"My aunt will find it," Susan said confidently.

"The Aurors were up all night searching for it," Hermione said, her expression anxious. "I highly doubt it will be as simple as that. There must be some way for it to conceal itself."

"Something that big?" "Daphne asked, her brow furrowed.

"There are ways to conceal yourself in this castle," Harry reminded her. "We know that better than most."

Daphne shrugged, unable to deny it.

"Wotcher," Tonks greeted them, appearing at their table. "Harry, were you the one responsible for the excitement last night?"

"I don't consider it exciting," Harry frowned. "Two people died last night."

"Yeah, that sucks," Tonks grimaced. "I actually knew Phylis. For a snake, she was alright."

"Will you be spending time at home or returning to the Artisan Guild?" Harry asked.

"The guild. A couple more days and my Artifact will be complete."

They congratulated her and she smiled back at them, basking in the moment.

"It took longer than I expected, but crafting an Artifact to improve my balance proved to be more complex than initially anticipated," Tonks remarked. "However, I'm nearly finished. I just need to iron out the final details."

"I'm going to visit as well," Harry told her. "I am going to use the week off to add a crafting station to my workshop."

"Not a terrible idea," Tonks agreed with a nod. "Well, catch you later, firsties!"

The Hogwarts Express arrived and the students climbed aboard the train. It was amazing that the school was able to organise it so efficiently. The primary issue was that not all of the student's parents would be present to take them home since a few were abroad. Thankfully, alternative plans were made to spend time with other relatives or at a friend's house. Case in point, since Hermione's parents were out of the country, she would be staying with Daphne.

When the Hogwarts Express arrived at King's Cross Station, Harry and the rest of the group disembarked from the train. He spotted Sirius waiting on the platform, along with the parents of his friends.

"So, I heard you tussled with a slithery serpent," Sirius grinned.

"It's more like we ran for our lives," Harry smiled. "The snake was a little too big to play with, although I did ask nicely."

"That's too bad," Sirius said, holding out a pouch filled with coins. "Here's the galleons you wanted."

"Thanks," Harry replied as he took the bag. "Hold on for a moment. I need to give this to someone."

Looking around, he searched for the twins who were easily recognisable, even in the midst of a crowded platform. The family of redheads were hard to miss. Molly Weasley was smothering her children with hugs, much to their annoyance.

"Hello Mrs Weasley," Harry greeted her.

"Hello, Harry." Molly hugged him, providing her children with a momentary respite. "I heard you were in danger last night. I am glad you are alright."

"Same here," Harry replied, extending the bag towards the twins. "As promised, here's the payment."

Fred reached out and took the bag. "Pleasure doing business with you, Harry."

"Thanks, Harry," Charlie said with a grin.

"What's going on?" Molly asked with a suspicious look at the twins. "I hope you are not taking advantage of Harry."

"Mum, you wound us with your accusations," Fred protested, clutching his chest as if in pain.

"Absolutely unwarranted," Charlie agreed.

"It's alright, Mrs Weasley," Harry reassured her. "This is just payment for an Artifact I bought from them. If it weren't for its help, Daphne and I wouldn't be here today."

"Well, if you are absolutely certain," Mrs Weasley said with reluctance.

"Merlin's saggy tits," Ron's eyes widened. "That looks like a lot of galleons."

Molly swelled up like a bullfrog. "Ronald Weasley, I ought to wash your mouth out with soap for using such vulgar language."

Harry said his goodbyes to the family, not wanting to stick around and witness Ron getting scolded. He then made his way back to Sirius and embraced Daphne.

"I will see you in a week," Daphne said, giving him a deep and passionate kiss in front of her parents.

"Okay," Harry said, his eyes unfocused. "You sure you don't want to come over and visit?"

"Nope. I will let you spend time with Gabrielle. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Daphne smirked before walking off with her parents and Hermione.

"Need a minute to gather your composure, Harry?" Sirius chuckled.

"Shut up," Harry groaned. After bidding farewell to his remaining friends, he accompanied his godfather into the nearby building in order to floo home.

25th October

The next morning, Harry stepped into his workshop. He was initially disappointed to see that not much had changed since the Enchanter had installed the wards. Then again, they weren't supposed to be visible. When it came to buildings, there was a common misconception about Wards and arrays. A ward stone was tied to the building and drew magic directly from the fae dimension. They acted similarly to naturally formed rifts that saturated this world with magic, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Arrays had a limited scope and relied on drawing ambient magic from the ward stone. Without this mana, the arrays inscribed into the structure would eventually fail as they couldn't sustain themselves indefinitely.

Harry walked around the first floor and noticed several electrical outlets that had been installed. This would enable him to use electricity in his workshop as needed.

He considered his options. Although he wanted to get started building his first crafting station, he would like to keep them separate from the rest of the workshop. If he were to construct individual rooms for each station, he could maintain a sense of organisation and tidiness.

Running back to his room, he grabbed a sketch pad and pencil. After he got back to his workshop, he sketched the layout of the first floor. With the space he had, he could have ten crafting rooms, although that was probably going overboard.

Firstly, his goal was to construct a room specifically for leather working and blacksmithing. A room for his Enchanting, which would require some safety wards, if he wanted to experiment with new arrays. The more complicated they became, the greater the risk they posed. Furthermore, he desired a designated space for woodworking and another for crafting jewellery. Before he got too ahead of himself, he decided to stop there.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a voice calling his name. He couldn't help but grin as Gabrielle burst through the doorway. He had no time to react before she jumped into his arms, causing him to fall flat on his back. With an impish smile, she settled herself on his stomach.

"Did you miss me?" Gabrielle batted her lashes at him. God, she was beautiful.

"Was there any doubt?" Harry asked.

"Show me," Gabrielle demanded.

Harry placed his hands on her waist, pulling himself up into a sitting position. As she wrapped her legs around him, he let out a groan, delighting in the sensation of her softness against his hardness.

He tenderly kissed her with reverence for over a minute, savouring the feeling of her soft lips against his. Growing impatient, she parted her lips and playfully teased him with her tongue until he allowed her in. Their tongues intertwined, instantly captivating him with her delicious taste. He delved into her mouth, thoroughly exploring every crevice before capturing her tongue and sucking on it.

Gabrielle cried out, her bottom pressing down against his excitement, and Harry almost lost his mind then and there. His hands gently stroked her waist, before they slowly crept upwards towards her chest. Overflowing with desire, he could no longer hold himself back.

"OK, I think that's enough," a voice said.

Harry blinked, his mind clearing as he shifted his gaze to look over Gabrielle's shoulder. Fleur was standing in the doorway. In his urgency to stand up, he pushed Gabrielle off him, but immediately regretted it. The signs of his excitement were embarrassingly apparent, and he didn't have her to shield him.

"Hi, Fleur, "Harry said sheepishly with a small wave.

"Hello, Harry," Fleur giggled. "Looks like you're excited to see Gabrielle."

Harry blushed in embarrassment, feeling quite awkward. Fortunately, it wasn't his grandparents or Gabrielles' parents who happened to catch them being intimate, as that would have been especially embarrassing and potentially risky for his well-being.

"Leave him alone," Gabrielle huffed, standing up and brushing off her skirt. "Why did you have to interrupt us? We were just getting to the good part."

"That's what I was afraid of," Fleur replied, stepping further into the room and spotting his sketch pad. She picked it up and looked it over. "Is this your plan for the workshop?"

"A rudimentary plan," Harry said. "I will create the room first and go from there."

"This looks amazing," Fleur said. "Can I come over when you have a woodworking station setup?"

"You're a carpenter or something?" Harry asked.

"I dabble, but only in small crafts," Fleur confirmed. "I lack the experience to construct larger items, such as furniture. I understand that you possess power tools as well."

"Are you interested in learning how to use them?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Fleur nodded enthusiastically.

"Fleur has always been interested in woodcraft," Gabrielle said, as she wrapped her arm around his. "I would appreciate it if you could teach her."

"There's no need to persuade me you little minx," Harry smiled. "I am happy to help. In fact, why don't I show you how to use your first power tool? I need to measure and cut some timber for the room."

Fleur clapped her hands. "That would be amazing.".

Harry first took measurements for the leatherworking room. He didn't need a lot of space for his leather working station. He still wasn't sure if he would tan his own leather, although he supposed he should make the effort. Relying on someone else to do it for him didn't sit well with him. If he needed a tannery in the future, then he would build it outside since he didn't want to stink up the workshop.

After taking measurements of the room, he brought the girls to the shed where he demonstrated how to measure and cut the timber to the correct size. He allowed Fleur to try it herself after observing for a while. It didn't take her long to get the hang of it.

Harry and Fleur began constructing one side of the wall, but progress was slow. He had to explain each step to her as they worked together. Once they finished, they decided to take a break for lunch and headed back up to the house.

His grandfather stood in the kitchen, appearing utterly bewildered about what he should have for his meal.

"Seems somebody else is spoiled by grandmother's cooking," Harry snarked.

"Watch your tone boy," Charlus threatened.

"I can cook something up, Mr Potter," Gabrielle said cheerfully.

"Ah, that would be lovely dear," Charlus said, sitting down. "I'm afraid my talents don't extend to cooking."

As Gabrielle got lunch ready, Fleur and Harry joined Charlus at the table.

"Where's grandmother?" Harry asked.

"There's some trouble at Hogwarts," Charlus sighed. "The Minister is in a state of meltdown over the school closing. It seems that even with the deaths of two individuals and a potential Basilisk on the loose in the castle, he wants it to remain open."

"Is he a moron?" Harry asked incredulously.

"There's more," Charlus said. "Fudge wants Hagrid to be sent to Azkaban. It appears as if Hagrid played a role in the opening of the Chamber of Secrets the first time it was opened, although there was no clear evidence."

"It's been opened before?"

So, what do you think? Next chapter, Harry visits Diagon Alley and finishes off his first crafting station.

Thanks for reading.