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Here's the next chapter. Harry takes a break from building his workshop and gets interested in inscribing runes.
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Chapter 9
10th August
Harry entered the dining room the next morning to find his grandparents sitting at the table. Judging by the smiles on their faces, they were in a happy mood.
"Good morning, Harry," Minerva greeted him, appearing to have gotten over her anger at him for going behind her back about her drinking episode.
Harry had told his grandfather about the incident because he was concerned about something happening to her. He didn't like tattling on her, but she obviously needed some help. If only his grandfather wasn't such an idiot and handled the situation better, maybe he would have felt better about it. His reaction was to search the house for all the alcohol and vanish it, rather than sit down and discuss it with his wife first. Harry witnessed the first argument between the two. It was a blessing that he had something to occupy his time and didn't have to listen to it.
"Good morning, Grandmother," Harry said, sitting across from them. After loading a plate with pancakes, he smothered them in maple syrup. A few days ago, his grandmother cooked them for the first time. They were so delicious that they became his new favourite breakfast food.
"How come you're in such a happy mood today?" Harry asked after finishing one of the pancakes on his plate.
"I convinced Professor Flitwick to examine the Book of Acceptance," Minerva said happily. "He took the information to the Aurors and they issued a warrant for Dumbledore's arrest. Unfortunately, he got hold of the news beforehand and fled before they could arrive at Hogwarts."
"Here," Charlus picked up a newspaper lying on the table and passed it to Harry. "The Daily Prophet explains it pretty well. Someone must have sent them some information because the paper seems so well-informed about the situation."
"Meaning it was you," Harry grinned, opening the page to the first page.
Dumbledore Flees as His Crimes Are Revealed! The Boy Who Died Lives!
By Gerald Poole,
It has come to light that Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, committed one of the most punishable crimes in our society. He modified the Book of Admittance to conceal the fact that Harry Potter, one of our most celebrated heroes, is actually alive! In order to bring him to justice, several Aurors were sent to Hogwarts to arrest him. However, when the man heard of their imminent arrival, he fled the castle like a craven coward.
There is no doubt that Albus Dumbledore was considered a national hero. He defeated Grindelwald in 1945, ending a long and bloody war in which thousands of witches and wizards died. He also led the fight against You-Know-Who during the last war and is said to be the only wizard he feared. However, fame seems to have gone to his head, and he thinks he is above the law.
An anonymous source, which has been verified, revealed that Albus Dumbledore lied about Harry Potter's demise. He kept him out of our world, ignorant of his own heritage. His actions of concealing the boy's name from the Book of Admission suggest that he wanted the boy to not attend Hogwarts and learn magic, as is his right. What nefarious plans did Dumbledore have for our hero that required such egregious actions? Was he jealous of the boy's fame after his victory over You-Know-Who? As far as Harry Potter's accomplishments are concerned, they certainly exceed anything Dumbledore ever accomplished since he was only a baby at the time.
It is our hope that Dumbledore will be captured soon so that he can be held accountable for his actions. This reporter asked the DMLE what was being done to find the fugitive but they refused to comment as it was an ongoing investigation. Despite Dumbledore's crimes, it's undeniable that he is an exceptional and powerful wizard. Finding him and arresting him will not be an easy task. In fact, he must have many allies in the Ministry, and there is speculation that someone tipped him off that an arrest was imminent. The Family Houses aligned with him are probably scrambling right now to clean up the mess left by the revelation of his criminal activities.
Let us all be thankful that Harry Potter is alive and well today. I am sure that everyone is eager to see the boy return to the wizarding world as soon as possible. If you keep a sharp eye out, you might see him strolling down Diagon Alley soon to buy his school supplies. It has been revealed by the same anonymous source that Harry Potter is safe with his grandmother, Minerva Potter, nee McGonagall. I can only imagine how she must feel knowing that her former Transfiguration Master and colleague has kept her grandson away from her for so many years.
The article continued on, but it was only a rehash of what happened that Halloween night when his parents died, which he had no interest in reading.
"It was quite an interesting article, but I did not like the way the reporter painted a target on my back," Harry grumbled, throwing the newspaper down on the table. "There is no way I am going to Diagon Alley now. I will probably be mobbed."
"There is just no way around it. You will have to deal with it at some point," Minerva looked at him with sympathy. "There is no escape from your fame within the wizarding world."
"We will have to find a safe way to reintroduce you," Charlus mused. "Irrespective of the furore it will cause, Dumbledore is still out there. There is a chance he will kidnap you again."
"Great," Harry muttered, suddenly losing his appetite. "Why is it necessary for me to go to Hogwarts? What about studying at Beauxbatons Academy instead?"
"Nonsense," Charlus snorted. "The Potters have attended Hogwarts for centuries. You won't let some attention from the masses scare you away?"
"Besides, if you don't attend Hogwarts," Minerva said dryly. "There is a good chance I will be lynched. I also want to keep an eye on you, in case Dumbledore tries to do something."
'Might as well live my life out in my animagus form,' Harry muttered, considering the idea seriously. "Once I know how to control my invisibility, I could easily avoid people as well. Plus, there's always the chane I willget a forewarning if my life is in danger."
"Do you really want to avoid people?" Charlus smirked. "Even the pretty girls in your life?"
Harry flushed and said, "Shut up old geezer."
Minerva picked up an envelope beside her and passed it to him. "Here is your invitation letter. Professor Flitwick is the acting Headmaster. The School Governors will meet with the teachers this morning and appoint the next Headmaster."
"Are you going to apply to be the Deputy Headmistress again?" Harry asked as he took out the two pieces of parchment from the envelope. The first page was nothing special, just a standard letter informing him that he was enrolled at Hogwarts. On the second page was a list of things he needed to purchase for his first year.
"Maybe. One of the reasons I quit last time was because Albus pushed a lot of his responsibilities onto me so he could play politics. It may be different with a new Headmaster." Minerva replied, before checking the clock on the wall. "Speaking of, I need to leave for Hogwarts for the meeting."
Minerva stood up and kissed Harry's cheek before leaving the dining room.
"Where's my kiss?" Charlus grumbled.
"Me thinks you're permanently in the dog house with grandmother," Harry grinned. "If you like, I could build you a nice and comfortable one in the backyard for you to sleep in."
"My grandson is a comedian," Charlus remarked, before draining his coffee and standing up. "Someone is coming here to do some business, so I would appreciate it if you stayed away from the office. Don't get up to any shenanigans with Gabrielle while I am busy. I am too young to be a great-grandfather."
"No, you're not. And stop implying that I will sleep with Gabrielle. We are only thirteen."
"Plenty old enough," Charlus replied, getting the last word before leaving as well.
Later that afternoon, Harry finished removing the top layer of soil. Now he could get started on digging the foundation. Ever since he read the book on magical theory he had changed his mind about practising the Gouging Spell. It helped him to expand his Magic Conduit by practising a magic-intensive spell. So long as he doesn't overdo it. It wasn't a difficult spell to learn the basics, but it took a lot of power. He could only cast it three times before he needed to take a break. His grandfather said it was incredible that he could cast it even once.
His wand pointed at the spot he had marked on the ground. He performed the wand movement, which was three straight lines, bringing the wand up, to the side, then up again, similar to the symbol for a lightning bolt.
'Defodio'
In an instant, the spell dug out a huge groove in the ground, causing dirt to erupt in all directions, resulting in him being completely covered in the stuff. He heard clapping behind him and turned and glared at Gabrielle. She had a blanket spread across the ground, with a picnic basket and a book to keep her busy as she watched him work. He didn't know what she found interesting about him digging holes in the ground, but each to their own. Harry brushed off as much dirt as he could, but he was sure he missed a lot.
While he learned the spell, he hadn't truly mastered it. He had to brute force it, which meant he had no control over how much dirt he removed or where it ended up afterwards. The spell was considered a Transfiguration spell as well because you were supposed to vanish the dirt, not displace it. It was impossible for him to do that currently, as it was very complicated magic. The actual Vanishing spell wasn't taught until his fifth year.
In time, as he becomes more proficient at the spell, he will be able to exert a greater level of control over the manner in which dirt is removed, just as if he were a palaeontologist who carefully extracts dinosaur bones from the ground. For the moment, he only needed it to remove a lot of dirt, so it should be fine to use it.
Harry cast the spell twice more and ended up with a long channel on one side of the foundation. He accomplished more than he had done in a full day of physical work. However, since his magic was almost depleted, he was feeling tired. He walked over to the blanket and was about to sit down when he got an annoyed squawk from Gabrielle. Harry rolled his eyes but sat down on the ground beside it instead.
"Give me some sustenance please," Harry begged.
She grabbed a wrapped sandwich and a bottle of water from the basket and handed them to him, and he thanked her.
"How long do you think it will take to build your workshop?" Gabrielle asked.
"Well, I hope to be finished before I start Hogwarts," Harry replied. "With magic, the process will go faster, but it is still a major project for one individual."
"Did you know you could strengthen the building by adding some simple Runic Arrays to the building materials like the wood planks?"
"I thought about doing that," Harry admitted. "But it will be a lot of work. Adding a few arrays to make the building more damage resistant will take a long time."
"You are too impatient to get your building up and running," Gabrielle poked him to the side. "It is better to build it right the first time. You can add arrays after the building is finished. However, imagine it would be a lot harder than doing as you build."
"That's not the only reason," Harry protested. "It will be difficult to use electricity inside the building if it is covered in arrays."
"You don't need conventional Muggle outlets to run their technology," Gabrielle shook her head. "Our house has runic arrays that convert magic to electricity and insulate electronics from going haywire. We don't have to worry about being connected to the power grid."
"Really?" Harry asked in surprise. "Can you tell me who created it? I would love to have that in my workshop."
"His name is Matthieu Bernard, and he is a famous Enchanter in France," Gabrielle replied. "I will ask Papa if he can set up a meeting with him, but it may take a while. He is in popular demand because of his work."
"That would be great," Harry said enthusiastically.
It may be prudent for him to slow down and learn some extra skills before he builds the actual workshop. Maybe he could practice his Elder Futhark skill by learning to carve the alphabet onto parchment. He already had access to the right tools in the Magic Emporium.
After slating his hunger, he grabbed a spade and began removing the dirt by hand. One thing he discovered when his grandfather made him move the items with the Levitation Charm, was that he was pretty fast in replenishing his magic. It only took him a couple of hours to recover it fully, which meant he could cast the Gouging Charm twelve times a day. He didn't want to push it further than that. Apparently, there was a limit on how many times you could regenerate your magic before you needed a good night's rest to recover fully. Otherwise, his Magic Conduit could be damaged from overuse.
By the end of the day, he had finished digging holes for the foundation walls. Gabrielle left a few hours ago after getting bored watching him. In a way, he was relieved, since having her watch him constantly could be distracting. Harry made his way up to the house, completely filthy and exhausted, yet satisfied with the progress he had made. He was met at the door by his grandmother, who waved her wand to remove the dirt from his clothes.
"Go take a bath before dinner," Minerva said.
"How did the meeting go?" Harry asked as he stepped inside the house.
"Well, we had to deal with Lucius Malfoy pushing his weight around. Apparently, he was offended that a half-breed applied for the Headmaster position. Thankfully, the other members had common sense and shot him down. Flitwick is now officially the Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"Should I know who Lucius Malfoy is?"
"No, he is a very unpleasant and dangerous man. His son is attending Hogwarts this year, so hopefully, he is nothing like his father."
"Wonderful. Are you the Deputy Headmistress again?"
"Yes. It feels surreal now that Albus is no longer there."
After dinner, Harry retreated to his bedroom and retrieved the Source from the symbol on his hand. He hadn't acquired the Elder Futhark skill yet. Harry was beginning to think that he would have to learn how to write the language down before he could learn the skill. He opened the book to the Magical Emporium page and spent three Shop Points to get a basic runic pen, some ink and a set of parchments to practice on.
When he accessed the inventory page, he found that the new items were already placed there. He looked at the adjacent page for a description of each item.
The runic pen looked like an ordinary quill except that it was slightly more rigid and the shaft was slightly larger to hold more ink. The nib looked to be the same as it was designed for writing runes on parchment and was not suited to writing on hard materials such as wood.
The ink was a special blend of dragon blood, specifically from a Common Welsh Green Dragon, tiny crystal shards, dyes, and a mixture of several other minor ingredients. Dragon blood contained a lot of magic, so most inks used it as a base.
The parchment was made from goatskin, which was a little thicker than normal parchment. It was designed for basic arrays but could only hold a certain amount of magic. You had to take the material you were writing on into consideration when crafting an array.
Sitting at his desk, he began writing the first rune. All Elder Futhark runes were straightforward and easy to write. They were made of straight lines and angles, a necessary design since they were historically carved into wood or stone using a knife or chisel, not allowing them to be shaped in the way that liquid ink applied to parchment or paper with a brush or quill would allow.
Two hours later, after writing out the entire Elder Futhark alphabet dozens of times, he finally acquired the skill. He opened the book and read the new message that had appeared.
The player has learned the Elder Futhark language.
**Elder Futhark [1/1000] - The Elder Futhark is the oldest of all Germanic runic scripts and is the most commonly used in magical texts and enchantments. This skill shows the player has a basic understanding of the alphabet and how they translate into other languages. At higher skill levels, the player will instinctively understand how runes can be combined to create compatible runic sequences and arrays.
Task #4 Complete - Learn the Elder Futhark.
Reward: 500 General experience; 10 Shop Points.
Progress to level 7: 864/4800
The player has received a new task.
Task #5 - Create a basic Rune Sequence.
Reward: 300 general experience; 3 Shop Points.
Harry grinned with satisfaction at what he had accomplished. It looked like this was the direction and the path he would take for the foreseeable future. If he could learn to write Runic Arrays, he could strengthen his workshop as he was building it. However, he had yet to read any books on rune applications, so he was completely clueless about the subject.
There was nothing on his bookshelf, so he ran downstairs and entered the small library. There was a good amount of books that held information on just about everything in the magical world. He found a book called An Introduction to Enchanting and returned to his room. His grandparents probably wouldn't like him experimenting with runes, as it could be incredibly dangerous if he made the slightest mistake. Despite this, runic sequences are safe as long as you do not activate them with magic.
Harry opened the book and began reading. The first part of the book described the different terminologies used in runic magic.
A rune is a single letter of a runic script used in the writing of a rune expression. They didn't have any applications on their own. Rune Expressions (or words) are a combination of runes that combine to form an idea or concept. On their own, they cannot be used to produce an action or outcome, as they lack the necessary complexity to do so.
Rune Sequences were the foundation of Enchanting and Rune Spells. They were a combination of Rune Expressions that formed a series of interactions with each other to perform a singular function. For example, a trigger sequence was designed so that the user could activate a Rune Array. There were an uncountable number of them because they had to take several considerations into account, such as the amount of magic used to trigger the array itself and the material that the sequence was inscribed on.
Rune Arrays were a combination of Rune Sequences that made up the entire structure, to facilitate a specific action. Think of it like a computer program, and sequences are the code used to write the program. There are at least four types of Rune Sequences necessary for a Rune Array to be viable.
First of all, there was a specific sequence for the action you wanted to achieve. For example, if you were to create the Levitation Charm, you would have to write out the Rune Expression translated from Latin. Then you would need to add a number of expressions to customise it for the task you needed. For example, what was the weight of the object that you were trying to levitate? The duration? The height?
Secondly, there was also a Power Limiter, which controlled how much magic the user could add to the Rune Array. It was done to avoid overloading it and causing the entire thing to explode. Third, there was the trigger sequence mentioned before. It was used to activate the array.
Finally, there is the Conduit Sequence, which links all the sequences together and ensures that they interact properly with each other. Like everything else, there is a wide variety of types. It determined the speed and amount of magic transferred from one sequence to another.
Of course, that was the bare minimum requirements for Rune Spells. For Enchantments, which are more permanent, you need to add more sequences, such as a Magic Storage Sequence that can be charged to make the Rune Array last longer without having to add to it continuously over time.
There was a difference between Rune Spells and Enchantments. The former were very limited, as they were usually spells that could be only used once. They are not commonly used by witches and wizards due to the fact that creating and charging runes properly is a time-consuming endeavour, and most spells you will cast in your daily life don't require them to be created. Talismans were an example of Rune Spells that could be thrown, and it was the path he would need to follow if he wanted to replicate Gambit's powers.
After gaining a basic understanding of runes, Harry turned his attention to some basic Rune Sequences. As soon as he saw one, he realised it would be more difficult than he had imagined in order to inscribe one. The Elder Futhark language was inscribed differently as part of a sequence than writing down the actual language on parchment. It was more fluid than the straight lines that formed the runic alphabet as they had to be linked together. Not to mention a sequence usually consists of a shape or pattern made up of the expressions, and there was a near-infinite number of ways they could be arranged.
The pattern for even a basic sequence was complex and you could not deviate from it at all, or it would fail completely. It was evident from the workmanship and fluidity of the lines that penmanship was extremely high. It was now that he understood why the Source had given him the priority of learning Calligraphy first. He couldn't put the cart before the horse.
With a sigh, Harry got up from the bed and sat down at his desk. After retrieving a standard piece of parchment and quill, he began practising his calligraphy. He needed to level it up a couple of times before he even considered creating a Rune Sequence.
12th August
Harry looked down at several parchments filled with elegant script and smiled in satisfaction. He had been grinding his Calligraphy skill for two days and levelled it twice. His writing had greatly improved as a result of it, and he was now extremely accurate, making fewer mistakes. However, he was not sure if it would be the same for other writing instruments such as brushes. Even though the skill ensured he made fewer mistakes, he still needed to practice with the specific instrument to gain proficiency with it.
*Calligraphy 3 [45/2000] - The art of calligraphy can be defined as beautiful, stylised, and elegant handwriting that is done with a pen, quill, brush, and ink. There may be situations in which this skill can be applied in other fields as well.
Having made such remarkable progress so far, it was time to inscribe a Rune Sequence based on what he had learned. Grabbing the An Introduction to Enchanting book, he browsed through the available Rune Sequences. They were all basic, and available for anyone to learn. Typically, the best ones were hoarded by their creators, or they could submit them as patents so they could be paid when others used them in their own arrays.
The most logical thing to do was to start off with the simplest one, and so he chose to inscribe a basic Trigger Sequence. It was a simple trigger that worked on most parchments and had a two-second activation delay. The only issue is that it only works with basic arrays, which are the least powerful and complex arrays that can be built.
Harry grabbed a piece of parchment and started copying the array. He took his time, ensuring that the thickness of the lines was exact. The size of the sequence needed to be taken into account as well. Depending on the size of the object you drew the array on, if you made it too small, it may not work properly. Of course, there were ways around this, but that was way beyond his capabilities at the moment.
Harry finished inscribing the sequence. It was a combination of four different expressions arranged in a circular pattern, just like a button you would push. He compared it to the one in the book carefully and frowned when he realised that it was slightly off. Sighing, he started over again, determined to get it before he went down for lunch.
Half an hour later, he received a message after inscribing the sequence for the fifth time. He retrieved the book in excitement, and read the message that appeared.
The player has created his first Rune Sequence.
Task #5 - Create a basic Rune Sequence completed.
Reward: 300 general experience; 3 Shop Points.
Progress to level 7: 1164/4800
The player has received a new task.
Task #6 - Create a basic Rune Array.
Reward: 750 general experience; 5 Shop Points.
Harry dropped the runic pen on his desk and rubbed his aching wrist. He had certainly given it a good workout, but he had accomplished his task and now he could move on to the next one. It would have to wait until later in the afternoon since he had to go down to lunch, followed by a visit from the Greengrass family.
Harry stood with his grandparents in the living room, waiting for their guests to arrive.
The fireplace erupted in green flames and Daniel Greengrass emerged. He was dressed more casually today, in wool trousers and a sweatshirt, making him seem more approachable. Daniel came forward to greet them as his family followed him out of the fireplace.
"Heir Potter, it's nice to see you again," Daniel turned his attention to Harry.
"Thank you, Lord Greengrass. I hope you are well," Harry said stiffly, hoping his face didn't cramp. His grandparents had given him a few etiquette lessons, but it still felt unnatural.
"Okay, that's enough of that nonsense," Astoris stepped forward to hug him. "You only have to observe niceties on formal or official occasions like in the Wizengamot chambers. Father is having you on."
The others chuckled, and Harry scowled, his nervousness disappearing. "Wait, what about our first meeting? My grandparents seemed all too happy to point out that I wasn't following etiquette."
"Because you were meeting for the first time," Charlus said. "It's only polite to greet them formally."
"Okay, enough talk about that," Minerva motioned for the adults to follow her. "Why don't we let the kids play while we have some tea?"
"That would be lovely," Sylvia said with a smile before turning to her two girls. "Now, behave Astoria. Daphne, keep her out of trouble."
"That's as likely as me getting blood from a stone," Daphne said wryly.
"Yes, let's all gang up on Astoria. Harry, show us to your room," Astoria commanded, grabbing his arm.
"Yes, mistress," Harry rolled his eyes.
The girls followed him up to his room, and Astoria let go of his arm and began investigating the place as if she owned it. Daphne drifted over to the table and examined the parchments he had left there.
"This is amazing," Daphne said, looking at the parchment with the Rune Sequence on it. "This looks like it will work. How long did it take you to draw it?"
Harry stepped up to her side and looked at the parchment. From this close, he could smell the scent of some kind of herbal shampoo she used in her hair. It suited her. "Too long. I had to improve my calligraphy before I could inscribe it, and it still took me five attempts."
"Still, it's amazing," Daphne murmured. "Do you know how difficult it is to become an Enchanter? The level of complexity for even simple arrays is mind-boggling. However, you have higher ambitions. An Artisan not only enchants objects, but also builds them, and considering all the different kinds of materials out there, it is like an entirely new discipline in itself."
Harry was warmed by her approval. She turned her head and met his eyes. They held their gazes for a moment, and Harry had the sudden urge to lean forward and kiss her. As if she could read his mind, heat rose in her cheeks and she looked away. Stupid hormones. He already had the impulse to kiss Gabrielle and now he was thinking the same of Daphne. Maybe he was turning into a playboy? Grandfather would be laughing his ass off.
Astoria chose that moment to bounce over and interrupt their quiet moment. "Will you stop ignoring me to flirt with my sister? I heard you have a beautiful Veela girlfriend next door. Can we meet her?"
Harry looked at the girl angrily. Would it be impolite if he threw his guest out the window?
So, what do you think? Next chapter, Harry and the Greengrass girls visit the Delacours and gets caught up in some danger.