Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the intellectual property associated with Harry Potter.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Harry visits Diagon Alley to acquire supplies for setting up his first crafting station.
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Chapter 25
26th October
Harry sat at the kitchen table when the owl arrived with the Daily Prophet. After paying the fee, he glanced at the headline and cursed.
"Harry James Potter," Minerva admonished him.
Harry winced, but he raised the paper to display the front page to his grandparents. "Can you believe this tripe?"
"Harry Potter, the next Dark Lord?" Charlus frowned as he read the headline. "Who wrote it?"
"Rita Skeeter," Harry answered.
"Rita Skeeter is a scandal writer," Minerva exclaimed in disgust. "She excels at using half-truths and embellishments to depict others in the most negative way possible.
"What does it say, Harry?" Charlus asked.
Harry cleared his throat and read the article.
In light of the recent events that took place at Hogwarts a few days ago, we find ourselves faced with several unanswered questions. For those who may not be fully aware, it is with great sorrow that we report the tragic deaths of two individuals on the fateful night of Halloween. One of them was Indra Halihi, a highly esteemed Master Artisan. The other was Phylis Whitehead, a fifth-year student and proud member of Slytherin House. The circumstances surrounding their untimely demise remain shrouded in mystery. What led to such tragic ends for these individuals?
The news of Master Artisan's death was delivered by two first-year students who had returned to the castle after skipping the feast. Those students were Daphne Greengrass and Harry Potter. Yes, you heard it correctly—Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, who was believed to be dead for over a decade.
The children entered the Great Hall during the Halloween feast in a state of hysteria. They told the Headmaster that a man had been killed and that they had been chased by a large creature. However, this supposed creature has not been located thus far. It could be extremely well hidden, or perhaps the students are concealing a more sinister truth. What truly occurred on the second floor that led to the demise of two people? Could dark magic be involved?
The Boy-Who-Lived deserves our gratitude for vanquishing the Dark Lord, but the method by which he accomplished this feat remains unclear. Could it be that our saviour is practising dark magic? What about his companion, Daphne Greengrass, one of two romantic interests? Might she be his Dark Lady? Moreover, there is a girlfriend who happens to be a veela, and we are well aware of the powers these dark creatures possess.
Can our saviour be saved? To prevent him from continuing down his current path, it is important for us to consider the company he keeps. I hold great concern for the fate of Magical Britain if a darker and more formidable Dark Lord emerges.
Harry finished reading the newspaper, seething with anger. This woman was utterly contemptible. How could she dare to slander his girlfriends in such a way? And to slander him as well?
Minerva reached over and gently grasped his hand. "Don't pay attention to anything she writes. As I mentioned before, she is a writer who thrives on scandal. She never has anything positive to say about anyone."
"If she believes she can slander the Potter's name without consequences, she is mistaken," Charlus grumbled, standing up. "I intend to pay Pierre a visit to address this matter with her."
"Grandfather, could you please take me to Diagon Alley later?" Harry asked, his anger subsiding. "There are a few things I need to get."
"I shouldn't be too long," Charles nodded in agreement.
"Why are we here again?" Charlus inquired, as he and Harry leisurely walked along Diagon Alley.
"I told you," Harry replied. "I'm in the process of constructing my inaugural leatherworking crafting station. I plan to examine the guild's station in order to gain a clearer understanding of the specific requirements."
"Don't you already know?"
"I have a basic understanding, but it's important to be thorough. Furthermore, I need to purchase some leather and tools, so I need to locate a store that offers these items."
"Very well," Charlus said. "I have some business to attend to at Gringotts, so I hope that yours won't be too time-consuming."
He and Fleur completed the construction of the room yesterday. Once they had erected the first wall, the rest of the process went smoothly. The only challenge they encountered was fitting in the doorway. Because he planned to create a tanning area outside at some point, he decided against installing a ventilation system for the room.
After that, he spent more time with Gabrielle. They realised they had taken things a little too far after they had made out on the floor. Who knows how far they would have gone if Fleur had not been there? It would be easy for them to slip into a full-blown physical relationship, which neither of them was ready for. As young as they were, they were not ready to deal with the potential consequences of their actions. Besides, they had only been dating for two months.
It wasn't too difficult to set up his leatherworking room. The space would be used primarily for planning, cutting and crafting his projects. He may need to purchase some mannequins to shape leather into different templates. For example, if he ever wanted to create a leather tunic, he would need a mannequin torso in order to achieve the desired shape.
His first project would be gauntlets to hold his Spell Cards. After measuring his wrist to his elbow, he would sew two pieces of leather together. He had already designed blueprints for it, but measurements had not yet been determined.
Harry wasn't planning on sourcing his own leather anytime soon, so he didn't have to worry about setting up a tannery at this point. It may become necessary when he needs magical beast hides for other projects in the future.
After arriving at the guild, they made their way into the building. Inside, they noticed several individuals milling around the reception area, their attention focused on the request board. A new employee greeted them from behind the front desk—an older woman with a perm, dressed in the guild robes. Could it be that the Guild Master had hired another attendant?
"Good morning, Lord Potter," the woman warmly greeted Charlus upon recognising the crest on his chest. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"No, it's not me," Charlus said, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. "But my grandson would like to meet with the Guild Master, if he's available."
"Certainly. It's nice to meet you, Heir Potter-Black. My name is Gladys, and I believe I have you to thank for my present employment."
"Call me Hadrian," Harry replied, looking around at the other individuals in the room. "Are all of these guild members new? Are you suggesting that I am responsible for them being here?"
"Of course you are," Gladys smiled. "You are regarded as a valuable member of our society. Recruiting you was the best decision the Guild Master has ever made."
"It wasn't that difficult," Harry said. "It was my intention to join in the first place."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't dispel Gladys' illusions about my exceptional recruiting skills," Alphonso said, entering the room through the doorway behind her.
"I had no illusions," Gladys chuckled. "I simply wanted to increase your reputation a bit."
"I knew there was a reason I hired you," Alphonso beamed. "Lord Potter, it is nice to meet you."
"Guild Master," Charlus nodded.
"Call me Alphonso. Now, what can I do for you, Harry?"
"I wanted to take another look at the second floor," Harry said. "I'm setting up my first crafting station."
"How exciting," Alphonso said, rubbing his hands together. "Which craft are you focusing on first?"
"Leather-working. I have plans to design a gauntlet as my first project."
"You have chosen a subject that I have a wealth of experience in," Alphonso stated confidently.
"I thought your expertise was in tailoring?" Harry asked, his confusion evident.
Alphonso shook his head and clarified, "I specialise in all light clothing such as cloths, silks, and leather. Why don't we go upstairs and discuss it further?"
Alphonso guided Harry and Charlus up to the second floor and unlocked the door. "Remind me to get you a key. As a guild member, you have unrestricted access to these facilities. Have you read the guild handbook?"
"I have read some of it," Harry replied, entering the room.
They made their way to the leather-working station where Alphonso proceeded to explain each piece of equipment. Since most of it was already familiar to him, they quickly went through everything. "The most important part of leatherworking is having the right tools. If you want to add suppleness or flair to your design, you can include oils and dyes. While getting into the craft is not too difficult, mastering it is a different matter."
"Where can I purchase the tools?" Harry asked.
"Tanner's Leathers," Alphonso answered. "It's located on Kickshaw Alley."
"Do you have any more advice for me?"
"You're on the right track by beginning small," Alphonso said. "You must be careful with the type of leather you use as well. Certain hides from magical creatures are extremely resilient, requiring significant effort to soften and render them pliable. Furthermore, the right tools are necessary for working with such materials. You should begin with cowhide leather. Have you considered building your own tannery?"
"Yes, but it can wait."
"Good. You can worry about that later when you become more proficient at leatherworking. Do you have a purpose for the gauntlet?"
"I have created some Spell Cards, so I would like a delivery device that provides me with fast and convenient access to them. Similar to a wand holster."
"Spell Cards?" Alphonso asked with interest.
"They are akin to talismans, albeit with a greater degree of rigidity," Harry said as he reached into his pocket and retrieved one to show him. He always made sure to carry a few with him, just in case they were needed.
Alphonso took the card and examined it. "Interesting. The Obscuring Array on this is exquisite. What purpose does this card serve?"
"I call it the Flashbang," Harry explained. "It emits a powerful burst of light, effectively blinding and temporarily incapacitating an opponent."
"That sounds effective," Alphonso winced. "I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of those."
"That's incredible, Harry," Charlus exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice. "I hadn't realised you had made such significant progress. Can you show me more?"
"I have four more Spell Cards," Harry said, pleased with his grandfather's approval. "A couple may cause some damage though."
"Let's use the Enchanting station. It has protections that will prevent any accidents," Alphonso suggested.
Harry showcased the five Spell Cards, leaving a lasting impression on the two men. They were not only impressed with the cards themselves but also with Harry's remarkable accuracy. Unbeknownst to them, Harry's accuracy was greatly influenced by a comic book character, which motivated him to practice diligently.
Alphonso had two more pieces of advice for him. "You will have to use an array that can deliver the cards you want at a moment's notice. Either a touch-sensitive control or a spoken command, although the latter is harder to achieve. Furthermore, if you use cowhide, it must be magically treated so it can conduct magic better. It's probably easier if you use leather from a magical beast like a Bicorn."
Harry had a sudden image of Gabrielle's pet Bicorn. He pondered how she would react if he asked to take a strip out of its hide. After all, the vicious beast likely deserved such treatment.
They left the guild and headed to Tanner's Leathers in Kickshaw Alley. Along the way, Harry glimpsed Hagrid's huge frame slipping into Knockturn Alley. After learning about the Chamber of Secrets yesterday, it was hard for him to envision the gentle giant as being responsible for opening it previously. While he wasn't familiar with the man, he didn't appear to be capable of committing murder.
"Hagrid hasn't been arrested yet," Harry said. "That's a relief."
"It's only because of Madam Bones that he is still free," Charlus replied. "She has been getting pushback from Minister Fudge. He himself is under a lot of pressure to get Hogwarts reopened, and so he likes to be seen doing something, even if it's the wrong thing."
"There is no evidence that he did anything," Harry stated angrily.
"No, but it doesn't look favourable for him. But from what I understand, when the Chamber was first opened fifty years ago, Hagrid was raising an Acromantula in the castle. He thought it was harmless. There was no possible way that it could have been a Basilisk. The girl who died had no wounds or injuries that would be consistent with an attack by an Acromantula. It looked like she had been struck by the Killing Curse, which is similar to what a Basilisk stare will do to its victim."
"He was a scapegoat," Harry scowled. "While the true culprit remained free. Wait, do we know if someone controls the Basilisk? It could be operating on its own."
Charlus looked at him as if questioning his intelligence. "Why would it wait fifty years between attacks? No, someone must have set it loose."
Harry opened his mouth with Quirrell's name on the tip of his tongue before closing it again. He didn't want to look stupid in front of his grandfather by sharing his unfounded suspicions with him.
"Hagrid didn't get off scot-free," Charlus sighed. "He has been suspended and forbidden from stepping onto Hogwarts grounds until the Basilisk is found."
"That is outrageous," Harry muttered.
"Yes, it is. From what your grandmother told me, he wouldn't hurt a fly. And he hasn't done so throughout his entire tenure as Groundskeeper at Hogwarts. His questionable fondness for dangerous creatures notwithstanding, he would never intentionally cause harm to anyone."
"So why doesn't the Ministry take any of this into consideration?"
"There are two main reasons," Charlus said, as they turned into Kickshaw Alley. "A faction within the Ministry has arisen, who opposes werewolves and individuals of mixed heritage. It is led by the Senior Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge. She is a bigot, plain and simple. The woman has already successfully implemented laws that limit the types of jobs werewolves are permitted to have in Britain."
"Sounds like a piece of work," Harry murmured.
"That she is. The other reason is that the pure-blood traditionalists who are against Flitwick being Headmaster are using the current situation to try and get him fired from his position. They argue that the situation would not have happened with a more suitable candidate."
The Ministry became less appealing the more he learned about it. The existing system was already prone to corruption. When the parliament and court of law were run by a group of conservative wizards and witches, it created ample opportunities for corruption. It was an inhibiting approach to governing a society, which impeded progress and innovation.
"But you are fighting back against them, right?" Harry said.
"It's the primary focus of the alliance right now," Charlus confirmed. "Currently, we are at a stalemate, which is neither good nor bad. As long as we can prevent Flitwick from being ousted, it is a victory for us. I would hate to imagine who would replace him if he was removed. Unless it was your grandmother."
They arrived at Tanner's Leathers, a rustic building constructed mainly with natural materials. Instead of using sleek, glossy burl wood, the structure primarily utilised reclaimed and unfinished wood and stones. A significant feature of the establishment was a sizable drum located outside, where hides underwent treatment to soften and preserve them, transforming them into usable leather.
"I will wait outside here for you to complete your business," Charlus said. "I don't like the leather smell overly much."
He stepped inside and inhaled the earthy woodsy smell emanating from hundreds of different kinds of leather. The shop counter was on the back wall, where a grizzled old man was listening to a wizarding radio. Various types of leather were arranged on tables scattered throughout the room. Along the right wall stood a shelving unit holding additional leather, neatly stored in a series of tubes. On the left side, a collection of leatherworking tools hung from the wall, providing everything necessary for crafting.
"Good morning," the man behind the counter greeted them gruffly. He was dressed in overalls and had something in his mouth that he was chewing on. He didn't fit the conventional image of a wizard.
Harry walked up to the counter. "Hello, I'm interested in learning leather crafting and need to buy all the essential supplies. "Let's begin with some leather, tools, oils, and dyes."
"Well, you have come to the right place. The name is Tanner," the old man shook his hand. "It's good to see some young people get interested in the craft."
"Does anyone ever joke about your name?" Harry asked with a grin.
"All the time," Tanner grunted. He stepped out from behind the counter. "Well let's get you sorted shall we?"
Tanner led him over to the wall with the tools. There was a narrow table running along the wall with leather tool belts. He unrolled one, revealing several tools contained within.
"This is something I recommend for beginners," Tanner said. "It has all the basic tools you need to get started. A flat utility knife, strop and stropping compound, an awl, a beveler set, a leather slicker, stitch groover, a mallet and some punches."
"Did you craft the belts yourself?" Harry asked, running his hand over the soft leather. "They are well-crafted."
"That's right," Tanner confirmed. "Took me an age. I hand-stitched them all. I understand that sewing machines are commonly used by muggles to stitch leather nowadays, but personally, I am not a fan of it.
"Can't you use magic to speed the process up?"
"It may be helpful with non-magical leathers, but it can become tricky with magic hides. IIn certain cases, using it can disrupt the magic it contains, so it's best to avoid using it altogether. You don't want to develop bad habits from the start. Besides, hand-stitched leather always turns out better once you have some experience under your belt."
"I will take one of these," Harry said. "What else do you recommend?"
"Making sure you have the right work surface is essential," Tanner said, leading him over to another table where there were a number of mats and cutting boards. "This is a double-sided cutting mat. They are self-healing mats with a unique five-layer construction. Their superior durability makes them ideal for use with stitch groovers, edge bevelers, scratch awls and for cutting with a utility knife.
Tanner presented several additional tools to him and began stacking them in Harry's arms. "Okay, I'll take one of each. For the leather, I require some cowhide. I will also need some magical leather on which I can inscribe runes. Which would you recommend? The Guild Master at the Artisan Guild recommended a Bicorn hide to start with."
"Yep. You cannot go wrong with Bicorn leather. It is less expensive, and it holds a certain amount of magic for small to mid-range projects. I can provide you with both leathers."
"I will get both," Harry nodded. "Some basic oils and dyes as well."
Tanner got his order together, looking happy to make such a huge sale. The total came to two-hundred eighty galleons, which was a lot. He wrapped them in packaging and shrunk them down so Harry could carry them in his pocket.
"Okay, I'm finished," Harry told his grandfather after leaving the store.
"Then let's go to Gringotts."
Once he got home, Harry started building his leatherworking station. Calling it a station was misleading, given that the main components were just the tools he bought from the store. However, there were a few pieces of furniture he could construct that would enhance his productivity and maintain the workspace in an organised manner.
Firstly, he constructed a sturdy oak table specifically for the tasks involved in measuring, cutting, and stitching. Additionally, a compact desk and chair were assembled for him to sketch his designs. Lastly, another small table was crafted exclusively for the purpose of oiling and dyeing the leather, with the intention of preventing any potential mess on the primary crafting surface.
Next, he built some racks to place the leather he had purchased. He built four of them, which was more than enough to hold the leather he had on hand. The last thing he did was build a shelving unit perpendicular to the crafting table. It would hold any tools or items he couldn't store in his tool belt.
It was evening by the time he was finished, and he was surprised that he got so much done in a short amount of time. He earned a crazy amount of general experience, as well as some for his Dexterity and Construction skills. He still needed to store all the leather inside, but that could wait until later. Gabrielle was coming to dinner soon, and he didn't want to be late.
Back inside the house, he took a quick shower before heading into the dining room. Thankfully, his grandmother was home, and she cooked tuna-baked pasta for dinner. Gabrielle arrived a short while later, and she had a bottle of wine from her parent's vineyard. After greeting his grandparents, she kissed him and sat down beside him.
He sat down and served Gabrielle and himself some food from the dish in the centre of the table.
"How is the search going?" Harry asked his grandmother after he had consumed half a plate of pasta. He had worked up quite an appetite from all the work he did today.
His grandmother hesitated, looking like she was going to say something, but decided not to. "We haven't succeeded so far. But we think that it is moving within the pipes, and there may be hidden entrances that allow it to enter the castle itself."
"Something that big?" Harry asked incredulously. "How wide are the pipes?"
"The majority of the time, they are not that large at all," Minerva replied. "However, they have been enchanted to resize themselves so anything moving through them doesn't get stuck. This is to prevent waste from clogging them up and causing issues."
"It would take a Hagrid-sized-" Harry began.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Minerva interrupted with a glare.
"Why don't you break a wall down to access the pipes?" Gabrielle suggested. "Eventually, it should lead you to where it's hiding."
"Only if they had a death wish," Charlus snorted. "If the Basilisk came along while they were in the pipes, they would be sitting ducks."
"That makes sense," Gabrielle shuddered.
"Don't worry about it," Minerva said firmly. "It's not a topic we should discuss at dinner. How is your crafting room going?"
Harry grinned. "Great. I just need to move everything inside and I am done."
As soon as he did that, he could declare the room finished. He would get general experience and a reward for completing the ongoing task the Source gave him. As long as he built more crafting rooms, he would get an item related to the specific craft.
Task #8 - Build crafting stations for the workshop.
Objective: The building has been built, but is not a functioning workshop. Add crafting stations and turn it into a real Artisan Workshop.
Rewards: 1000 general experience; a piece of equipment related to the crafting station - for every station built.
"I would love to see it after dinner," Minerva smiled.
Harry nodded. He turned to his girlfriend. "Do you know about the Daily Prophet article?"
"Yes," Gabrielle sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologise for something you are not responsible for. I have encountered her kind before, and it won't be the last."
"Can you throw a fireball yet?" Harry smirked. "I would enjoy seeing you completely incinerate her."
"Tempting," Gabrielle snorted. "Let's leave that as a last resort, shall we?"
"Spoilsport."
Harry sat down at the desk in his leatherworking room. Everything had been moved in, so it was as complete as he could make it. After showing it off to his grandparents and Gabrielle, they left him alone. He stayed because he wanted to see what he got for completing the room before going to bed.
He summoned the book and declared his leather-working room complete. Opening the book, he saw that he had been given another message.
The host has completed a leather-working crafting room.
General experience earned + 1000.
Reward: Absolute Skinning Knife [Artifact].
Progress to level 10: 3914/38400
Level 10 Unlocks:
Skill: Velocior
Item: The Crafting Handbook
The Host has completed a Workshop Task
Build a leatherworking station: 200 points
Current Points: 200
Workshop Level: 1 Next [5000]
He had almost forgotten about the tasks assigned to the Workshop. He had finally earned some points, but he still had a long way to go before unlocking the first bonus.
Harry was excited to see that he had earned an Artifact as a reward. He turned the page to his inventory to read the description of the item he had obtained.
Absolute Skinning Knife [Artifact]
The Absolute Skinning Knife can cut through any creature's skin, hide, or shell with ease. It does not require a lot of strength to wield, as the arrays placed on it ensure that it is very sharp. However, this cannot be used as a weapon for self-defence, since it cannot cut anything when used against someone else. Furthermore, it cannot hurt the user, no matter how much pressure is applied.
Harry took the knife out and looked it over carefully. It looked like a typical skinning knife. It had a thin, lightweight, curved, and extremely sharp blade. His hand felt comfortable gripping the handle, which was dressed in thin black leather. He ran his thumb over the blade, but it didn't cut him, no matter the pressure he applied. The description didn't lie. At least he didn't run the risk of cutting himself.
Harry searched for the arrays, but could not see them. It was possible that they were hidden under the leather wrapped around the handle, or used another method to obscure them. When he tried to peel the leather, it refused to come off. It looks like the Source didn't want to give away its secrets so easily.
He walked over to the rack and ran the knife over the edge of the leather. The cut was smooth as if the leather were made of paper rather than thick hide. He placed the knife on his tool belt and laid it on the table. The knife was amazing. He was looking forward to what other rewards he would get for completing the other crafting stations.
27th October
Harry stepped out of the shower the next morning when his grandmother approached him. Her expression was grim, with a downturned mouth that revealed her displeasure.
"What's wrong?"
Minerva sighed. "Amelia Bones from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is here. She wants to ask a favour of you."
"Me? What could she possibly want from me?"
"I will let her explain it," Minerva took his arm and led him downstairs to the parlour. Just as they were about to enter, she turned to him and spoke. "Remember, do not feel pressured into accepting her request. It is not your responsibility to solve her problem."
"Okay," Harry said.
They walked into the room to see Madam Bones sitting there, accompanied by his grandfather. The exhaustion on her face was evident, with deep shadows beneath her eyes. She clutched a glass of alcohol, her leg nervously tapping on the carpet.
"Heir Potter-Black," Amelia said as she rose to greet him. She reached out and grasped his hand, giving it a firm shake.
"Call me Harry," he corrected her. Since he and Susan were friends, he figured he could be less formal with her.
"Then please call me Amelia," she replied, gesturing for him to sit. "I understand that you are friends with my niece."
"That's right," Harry replied. "She is part of the club we established. It's almost impossible not to like her. Susan has a good head on her shoulders."
"I am glad I did something right in raising her," Amelia smiled and then took a deep breath. "I am here to request your assistance regarding the Basilisk at Hogwarts."
"I'm listening."
"We believe we have found an entrance to its hideout. It's located in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom."
"That seems like a strange place to hide a huge snake."
"Myrtle Warren was the girl that died the last time the Chamber was opened, Harry," Minerva explained. "She still haunts the place she died in."
"Oh," Harry blinked in surprise. He glanced in Amelia's direction. "What do you need from me?"
"We believe the entrance is locked behind powerful Parseltongue Wards," Amelia said. "We've been searching for a Parselmouth, but haven't had any luck thus far."
"You need me to unlock it."
"Yes," Amelia answered. "We would also need to take you into the pipes. However, there's no need to worry as you will be fully protected and not tasked with fighting the Basilisk. If possible, we will return you to the bathroom before the fight begins."
Harry thought about her offer for a moment. His initial reaction was to turn her down, but there were two reasons why he didn't. One of them was selfless, wanting to get the school reopened for the students, and the other was purely selfish.
"Okay, I will do it. On one condition."
So, what do you think? What does Harry want in return for his help? I think the answer would be pretty obvious.
Thanks for reading.