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

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Apologies for the long absence. I haven't had time to post updates due to a variety of circumstances; the Christmas holidays, a stay in the hospital due to covid complications, and working on my next story. My uploading schedule has now returned to normal. I plan to release another HP Gamer story in about a month to replace the one I abandoned, but it will be very different from the previous one.

Chapter 40

The next morning, Harry was dozing off and about to fall asleep when Professor Snape entered the Hospital Wing and approached Daphne's bedside. He was exhausted after reading through the journals all night. However, his efforts had yielded the desired result, and he had discovered a path forward that might rid the castle of Merlin for good.

He wanted to eliminate both Peter and Quirrell, but he could only focus on one at a time. He saw Merlin as the more immediate threat, so he would eliminate him first.

"Yeah, standing over a girl's bed like that makes you look like a creep," Harry said, yawning.

"Flippant as usual, Mr. Potter," Snape sneered. "I have come to see how my apprentice is doing. Since her parents aren't present, it is now my responsibility to ensure her well-being."

"I believe it is my responsibility as her boyfriend," Harry said, "but I will not complain. The more people who look out for her, the better."

"It appears that you have not gotten any rest. I advise you to go to your dormitory and freshen up before going down to breakfast. I will remain here and keep an eye on Miss Greengrass."

Before Harry could respond, Madam Pomfrey emerged from her office. "All of the affected students are expected to wake up this morning as their magic slowly replenishes. There is no reason for anyone to hover over Miss Greengrass' bedside."

"Will she be okay?" Harry asked, concerned. "What about the others?"

"I told you last night that they would be fine," Madam Pomfrey said, patting his shoulder in consolation. "I wish the incidents would stop. If the situation worsens, the students may face more than just the prospect of having their magic drained."

"I made a suggestion to the headmaster," Snape stated. "I believe we can mitigate some of the risk by moving our classes outside. It's also possible to set up sleeping quarters for the students outside and abandon the castle completely, but this would require a significant amount of effort."

"That's a good idea!" Harry exclaimed with surprise.

"I have them on occasion," Snape said, raising an eyebrow. "It appears that whatever is happening is contained within the castle."

"Will the headmaster consider your suggestion?" Pomfrey asked. "It would greatly ease my concerns. I can set up a space for my infirmary outside."

"I believe he will make an announcement on the matter at breakfast," Snape said.

That would be extremely inconvenient for Harry because he needed access to the castle to get rid of Merlin. However, he could always use his Animagus form to sneak back into the castle undetected.

"Where are my grandparents?" Harry asked, looking around. Last night, his grandfather and grandmother stayed in the Hospital Wing to keep an eye on him.

"They left about an hour ago," Pomfrey told him. "They have responsibilities to attend to."

Harry was so exhausted that he didn't even notice when they left.

"I am going back to my dormitory," Harry said. He needed to act quickly to complete some tasks if they were going to vacate the castle.

"Professor Snape will accompany you to the dormitory." Snape and Harry grimaced at Pomfrey's words, which were clearly intended as an order rather than a suggestion.

After giving his girlfriend and friends one last look, he followed Snape out of the Hospital Wing. They climbed to the Gryffindor Tower. When they arrived at the entrance, Snape announced that the students in the common room could escort him on his way to the Great Hall before hurrying away.

As soon as Harry entered the common room, several students gathered around him, eager to hear the full story of yesterday's incident.

"Leave him alone," Angelina said. "We have already explained what happened, so there is no need to badger him."

Harry gave her a grateful glance before his attention was drawn to Master Footshredder, who was sitting beside the fire. It suddenly occurred to him that he had forgotten about today's training session with the goblin.

"Sorry," Harry said, approaching him. "I completely forgot that we were supposed to train today."

"Understandable," Footshredder grunted. "Don't worry about today's lesson. Your grandfather asked that it be postponed until tomorrow."

"I would have been useless anyway, given how little sleep I got," Harry admitted.

"Make sure you get some sleep tonight," Footshredder warned. "Because I will not make it any easier on you tomorrow."

Harry grimaced but nodded in agreement. After climbing the stairs, he went into the bathroom to take a shower and finally felt awake enough to focus. He sat on his bed, taking one of Salazar's journals from his inventory.

He flipped to a page and began rereading an entry that he had read several times already.

The Guardian's Chambers

If all else fails and Merlin gains control of the castle, you must gain access to the Guardian's chambers and speak with her directly. While she has some autonomy, she may need external help to effectively combat Merlin. If you are reading this, it's likely that she has already contacted you and given you the location of one of the secret chambers. You must locate all four chambers to obtain clues from each to determine the location of the Guardian's chambers.

Harry took out a piece of parchment and started writing down the clues he already had on hand. Unfortunately, he could not decipher any real meaning from them; it appeared that he would need all four clues to locate the Guardian's chambers. He had found Ravenclaw and Slytherin secret chambers, but he had no idea where the other two were. Fortunately, Salazer had written down a few hints to guide him, even if they were not entirely clear. Harry pulled out another journal and read through the entries about the last two chambers.

Helga's Secret Garden

The four of us are known for our secrecy regarding our secret chambers, but I have discovered some clues about the possible location of Helga's secret chambers. Given her unwavering loyalty, it is reasonable to assume she would choose a location close to the Hufflepuff dormitories. If my suspicions are correct and her room serves as a garden, she will most likely require plenty of space and sunlight. However, artificial sunlight can be created relatively easily if needed. Although I haven't discovered her chamber yet, I believe I have narrowed it down sufficiently to make an educated guess. Perhaps I should try and pry it out of her the next time we speak?

Gryffindor's Duelling Chambers

Godric had an undeniable passion for duelling, as evidenced by hints he dropped over the years, implying that his secret chambers were designed with this purpose in mind. Regarding their whereabouts, I believe they are on the fifth floor. Although I'm not sure why he chose this specific location, I have frequently noticed his presence on that floor. Unlike the others, Godric is not known for his discretion. Perhaps his fondness for his house being represented by a lion has some significance in discovering his hidden chambers.

Harry stood up and stored the journals in his inventory. Since he was already on the seventh floor, he would enter the Room of Requirements to look for another clue.

Harry checked his gauntlet to ensure he had enough Spell Cards, as he expected to encounter resistance at some point and wanted to be prepared. He transformed into his Animagus form and scurried downstairs. After deceiving the Fat Lady previously, she was wary of him and watched his every move. He needed to wait until some students left the tower, which would give him the perfect opportunity to slip away undetected.

He waited in the common room, invisible to the others, until a group of students approached the door and it swung open. Then he sprinted on all fours and leapt through the opening before they could leave themselves.

With his increased magical resistance, he no longer had to worry about Merlin attempting to drain his magic. With this assurance, he was able to move around the castle with ease. Harry proceeded directly to the Room of Requirements, where he transformed back and entered the room.

"I need the clue to find the Guardian's chambers," Harry asked.

A book appeared out of nowhere and fell to the floor, making a loud thunk. He quickly picked it up and started flipping through the pages. It was Rowena's journal, and while he was interested in reading it more thoroughly, he was now only concerned with finding the clue.

He discovered it near the back of the journal and wrote it down on the parchment before storing it in his inventory. It was time to head down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

When he entered the Great Hall, his friends from other houses gathered around him, eager to find out how those in the infirmary were doing. After assuring them that everyone was fine and providing a summary of the incident, he sat at the Gryffindor table. Susan joined him, raising a few eyebrows given how close they sat together. The scrutiny increased when she kissed his cheek, a bold move for the normally shy Hufflepuff.

Harry was confident that this would cause quite a stir among the students and faculty. Although a few Ravenclaws were aware of the developing relationship between the two, it appeared that they had yet to tell the students from the other houses. He looked up at the head table, curious if his grandparents had noticed their interaction. It was clear they had seen it, and their reactions couldn't have been more different. His grandmother wore a frown, but his grandfather appeared pleased.

The two Gryffindor gossips wasted no time questioning them.

"Wow, you two seem quite cosy," Lavender Brown observed, her gaze fixed on them. "Is there anything you would like to share with us?"

"Is Daphne aware that you are so close?" Parvati asked.

"We are in a relationship, and Daphne has given us her approval," Harry explained. "I will not say anything else on the subject."

"Harry, mate, could you please calm down and stop taking all of our best-looking girls?" Ron exclaimed.

"Dude, I want to punch you right now," Seamus said, glaring at Harry.

"Funny, I didn't know you belonged in Slytherin," Katie remarked. "Because you two are looking awfully green right now."

"We won the wager!" The twins jumped up from their seats and cheered. "Please remember to settle your debts by the end of the day."

Harry frowned. "Did you make a bet on me getting another girlfriend?"

"Oh, Harrikins, it was practically written in the stars for you to end up with a third girlfriend," Fred said. "Everyone was dying to know who it would be, so we couldn't resist taking advantage of the opportunity."

"Guess what? We made a bet that you would finally make a move on Susan after the new year!" George exclaimed with a cheeky grin. "Thanks for lining the Weasley twins' coffers once more, mate!"

Harry was so outraged that he was rendered speechless. He concentrated on filling his plate because he was afraid he would snap and throttle the twins if he didn't occupy his hands.

"Your grandfather was the closest wager to ours," Fred said, chuckling. But we beat him by two weeks!"

Harry started to choke on the eggs in his mouth. Susan quickly intervened, slapping his back to keep him from choking. Her cheeks were flushed, and she appeared visibly embarrassed by the attention.

Harry was halfway through his meal when he heard a bark. He looked up to see Hedwig gracefully gliding towards him. She landed on the table in front of him. To his surprise, he noticed an envelope secured to her leg.

"Who would be sending me mail from inside the castle?" Harry asked with a furrowed brow.

"There is only one way to find out," Susan said.

"Three rashers of bacon," Harry said, beginning the customary negotiations with Hedwig after she delivered a letter.

Hedwig cast him a scornful glance.

"Four rashers and that is my final offer," Harry said. "Eating too much bacon will make you fat and useless as a post-owl. In such a case, I will have to replace you with another owl."

Hedwig refused to accept those derogatory remarks. She immediately tried to peck at his fingers, forcing Harry to quickly retract his hands before she drew blood. "Okay, five rashers of bacon, but that is my limit."

Hedwig barked in agreement, and they traded goods. When Harry opened the letter, his attention was drawn to the bottom of the page, which revealed the sender's name. "What the hell?"

"What is it?" Susan looked over his shoulder, her eyes widening. "Peeves sent you a letter. Is this some sort of prank?

"I don't think so," Harry replied..

Wee, little Potter.

I would like to meet you after breakfast in the corridor leading to the Hufflepuff common room. Come alone, unless you want to see the full extent of my wrath!

Peeves.

"There must be a good reason why he communicated with me in such an indirect manner," Harry said. "He roams the entire castle unimpeded, so he could have approached me at any time."

"Are you going to meet him? Susan asked. "I wouldn't recommend it."

"Maybe," Harry said as he tucked the parchment away in his pocket.

He assumed that the letter was about the power struggle between Merlin and the Guardian. The question was: whose side was Peeves on? He had no idea about the Hogwarts ghosts' loyalties or whether they were being controlled in some way. He would need to proceed with caution.

As breakfast ended, Headmaster Flitwick stood to address the students. "I have an announcement to make. If you weren't already aware, a group of students were attacked while walking through the corridors yesterday."

While some students were already aware of the situation, others were surprised by the news.

Flitwick continued. "They are doing well, but it could have been worse. Unfortunately, such incidents are becoming more frequent. After careful consideration, I have determined that it is best to vacate the castle. As a temporary measure, we will set up tents on the front lawn until the situation is resolved."

That certainly caused an uproar among the students, and it took several loud bangs from Headmaster Flitwick's wand to calm them down. "Today, classes will be held outside, supervised by several seventh-year students. Meanwhile, the professors will be busy setting up temporary accommodations and other facilities for the students outside. To avoid further attacks, you must go outside immediately after leaving the hall."

"Will the professors be safe?" a student called out.

"Professor Babbling created some artefacts that prevent our magic from being drained," Flitwick explained. "Unfortunately, the materials and time required by Professor Babbling to make them are limited, so we are unable to provide them to all students. The house elves appear to be unaffected by whatever is happening, so they will also assist us."

This was the first time Harry had heard about it. Professor Babbling appeared to have wasted no time devising a solution to the problem as soon as the incidents of student assault occurred.

"I think this is a great solution," Susan exclaimed with relief. "If we have to endure the inconvenience of living outside to ensure our safety, I am completely in favour of it."

Harry could hear various discussions from up and down the Gryffindor table, and the students appeared to agree with her.

"Susan, could you do me a favour?" Harry whispered, leaning in close. "Can you create a distraction to cover my exit when everyone else leaves the Great Hall? I need to speak to Peeves."

"What?" Susan shouted and then lowered her voice. "Why in the world would you put your life in danger to confront that menace?"

"Do you trust me, Susan?" Harry asked. He continued after she gave a nod. "There is something much bigger going on behind the scenes in the castle. To help resolve it, I need to meet with Peeves."

"Do your grandparents know about it?"

"No, I do not want to jeopardise their safety.".

"Didn't you just hear the headmaster?" Susan asked. "The professors are protected, so there should be no problem seeking their assistance."

Harry paused, considering the idea briefly before dismissing it. "I believe the castle has other means of attacking the inhabitants, so I am not going to take any chances."

"So you're telling me there is no risk to yourself?" Susan's tone of voice indicated how upset she was with him.

"Susan," Harry said earnestly, "for some reason, I appear to be immune to the effects of the magical drain. That is how I was able to bring Daphne and the others to safety. Plus, I have another secret that will help keep me safe."

"What is it?"

"I promise I will tell you later," Harry said as the students stood up from their seats and headed for the exit.

Susan groaned. "Okay, but remember, if you get hurt, I will not hesitate to smack you."

"I didn't expect you would be so kinky," Harry said, waggling his eyebrows.

"Shut it," Susan growled. "Get ready. I will create a distraction."

She quietly raised her wand and muttered an incantation under her breath, causing the contents at the end of the table to crash to the floor. As soon as everyone's attention was diverted, Harry dove under the table and transformed into his demiguise form. He scurried out from beneath the table and made his way to the doorway leading to the Hufflepuff dormitory.

When he reached the corridor and confirmed that he was alone, he quickly returned to his human form. Checking that his sleeves were properly rolled up so that he could easily access both his wand and gauntlet, he made his way to the end of the corridor, where the Hufflepuff common room entrance was located.

Peeve's head poked out from behind a tapestry on the wall, making Harry jump. "Look who is here—wee little Potter!"

"Why did you ask me to come here, Peeves?" Harry asked in annoyance.

"Step into my hiding place and let us have a chat," Peeves said quietly, his gaze darting suspiciously down the corridor.

After a brief hesitation, Harry pushed the tapestry aside and entered the cramped space. Peeves cast another look outside before pulling his head in and speaking to Harry.

"Oh, you better look out for those sneaky ghosts," Peeves cackled mischievously. "Merlin has some control over the majority of them. Fortunately for you, he hasn't recovered enough power to control the witches and wizards. At least, I don't believe he has, but you would be in big trouble if he did."

Harry looked at Peeves with caution. "And you're not the same?"

"I'm not like the others," Peeves boasted, puffing out his chest. "The founders made me into a trouble-making nightmare that no one could control! Even the Bloody Baron, bless his ghostly heart, has no idea that I find his attempts to scare me amusing. I just go along with it for my own amusement."

"The founders created you?! So, you're not someone who died like the other ghosts?!"

"Well, I could have died," Peeves said, shrugging. "But it's been so long ago that I can't remember."

"What has happened to Helena?"

"The Guardian can't use Helena to speak with you anymore! She's got to save up all her mojo to counter Merlin because he's getting way too powerful!"

"The whole castle is being evacuated, so we should no longer be vulnerable to Merling's attacks."

"Ha! You really think you are safe?" Peeves exclaimed. "Oh, you poor, clueless soul! This is only a temporary setback for Merlin. Just wait; once he has complete control of the castle, he will extend his reach to the beautiful grounds outside. He even performed a little magic trick by temporarily gaining control of the boundary wards, giving those Ministry stooges a run for their galleons."

Well, that was terrifying. If they weren't safe on the grounds, it only made it more urgent to get rid of Merlin.

"The Ministry tried to breach the wards?" Harry asked. "Of course they did. They have no idea what is going on at Hogwarts and must be panicking right now. So, how do I get into Hufflepuff and Gryffindor's secret chambers?"

"Believe it or not, their chambers were one and the same," Peeves said, winking. "It turned out they were more than just friends! "They decided to build a secret chamber together."

"That is mildly interesting," Harry commented, "but where exactly is it?"

"On the fifth floor." Peeves answered. "Behind the portrait of the lion and badger sleeping together."

"I'm surprised no one else has made the connection after all this time, given how clear an indicator it is of their relationship."

"It appears that you magical folks are not the sharpest tools in the shed," Peeves joked. "The portrait is also completely ordinary, so it is no surprise no one pays it any attention!"

"So, how do I access the chamber?" Harry asked.

"I have no idea," Peeve said, grinning. "The Guardian didn't see fit to share that information. You will have to figure it out for yourself."

"You're not very helpful," Harry muttered. "Why did you ask me to meet here?"

"Because it is safer. Have you ever considered how all of these attacks do not occur below the ground floor? Peeves asked. "Well, it is all due to Merlin's Sapient Array. He is spreading it throughout the castle, you see, and the more it spreads to a specific location, the more control he gains. Sneaky, huh?"

"But it's been restricted to the third floor," Harry argued.

"That is how it appears on the surface," Peeves smirked. "But, believe me, he has dug his way deep into the structure of the castle. So, where do you think he is going? He is heading straight for the fancy crystal that controls the wards. Technically, it's not absolutely necessary, but obtaining that crystal would make his takeover much easier."

"And the array requires magic to function," Harry realised.

"That's right. Merlin will soon—" Peeves paused and swivelled his head in the direction of the corridor, as if something had caught his attention.

Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

"We have got company, Potter. You need to get out of here now!" Peeves hissed before floating straight through the tapestry.

Harry held his breath as the poltergeist began speaking to someone in the corridor.

"Hello, Bloody Baron," Peeves cackled. "What can I do for you?"

"I know Harry Potter's there," Baron replied. "I want to speak to him."

Because he did not have another way out, Harry stepped out from behind the tapestry and encountered a terrifying scene. The corridor was filled with ghosts, at least fifteen at a glance, all of whom were staring at him. Helena and the other house ghosts were part of the group. The way she was positioned among the others indicated that she was no longer on his side.

Harry shivered, feeling the temperature drop dramatically due to the presence of so many ghosts. He braced himself for a fight, even though he had no idea how the ghosts could threaten him.

"Harry Potter," the Bloody Baron declared. "I advise you to stop trying to obstruct me before I eliminate you for good."

Merlin appeared to view his actions as a threat and was making every effort to stop him.

"Am I speaking with Merlin?" Harry asked. "Do you honestly think I will just stand by and watch you subjugate the castle and its inhabitants?"

"You have no choice in this matter. If you cooperate, I might consider keeping you as a subordinate."

"Trust anything a deity says? Not a chance," Harry laughed. "My family has met one of your kind before, and she was a deceptive cow who nearly destroyed us."

The baron's eyes widened with surprise, as he had not expected such an answer. He quickly disregarded his words. "Is that your final answer?"

"Do you think I am threatened by a bunch of incorporeal ghosts?" Harry asked, summoning a spell card to his hand.

"They are much more dangerous than that," the baron warned. "They can drain all of your magic, leaving you nothing but an empty husk on the ground. Attack him!"

"You are on your own now, Potter!" Peeves cried out, disappearing into the wall.

As the ghosts rushed towards him, Harry hurled the Blackout card and immediately activated its effect. The corridor ahead was instantly shrouded in impenetrable darkness. Taking advantage of the cover, he quickly transformed into his Animagus form, became invisible, and dashed forward on all fours. As he moved through the darkness, he felt a chilling sensation run through him, as if he had passed right through the ghosts.

"Why isn't he affected?" Bloody Baron screamed. "Chase after him!"

Harry ascended to the ground floor and headed straight for the staircase. He wanted to find the last chamber and get the final clue so he could finally finish this.

As Harry raced up the stairs, the ghosts appeared beside him, their hands reaching out to him. Fear consumed him as he realised that his invisibility was completely useless against them. He accelerated in an attempt to outrun them. He felt a familiar chill as their ghostly arms moved through his body.

He quickly ascended the stairs to the second floor and proceeded through the corridor to the next flight of stairs. The ghosts appeared to realise they could not affect him, so they slowed down but continued to trail behind at a distance. Just as he began to feel relieved, his gaze was drawn to a statue of a knight up ahead, which had detached itself from the wall. A squeal escaped his mouth as the knight raised his sword in preparation to slash him.

As the sword came down to strike him, he leapt over it and continued sprinting down the corridor. More statues came to life, forcing him to navigate a slew of razor-sharp blades that threatened to decapitate him.

The other floors leading up to the fifth were just as dangerous, but he skillfully avoided all of the obstacles in his path. Harry dashed down the fifth-floor corridor, desperately searching the walls for the portrait he sought. He had no idea where it was located. Perhaps he should have asked Peeves for more specific instructions on where to find it.

Peeves suddenly appeared from the wall ahead of him. "Follow me, Potter."

Harry followed Peeves around the corner, almost colliding with a statue of a lion that pounced on him. Squealing, he scrambled beneath its massive form and continued his rush forward. Peeves came to a halt in the middle of the corridor, directly beside a portrait. Just as Harry was about to reach him, he felt the tremors from the lion statue that was breathing down his neck.

He quickly transformed back into his human form and turned around to face the statue. He raised his wand and unleashed a Reductor Curse at the statue, just as it lunged at him. The curse struck the statue directly, causing it to shatter into several pieces. He spun around and approached the portrait without pausing to acknowledge his incredible accuracy.

"Are you sure you don't know the password?" Harry asked Peeves desperately.

"Nope," Peeves answered. "Better hurry up; we have pursuers coming down the corridor."

"Dammit," he slammed his fist into the portrait. "Open up. Hogwarts is in danger!"

No response.

"Godric!" Harry exclaimed. "According to Salazar, you are nothing but a dimwitted moron who doesn't know how to cast a spell to save himself!"

The lion in the portrait opened one of its eyes. "There is no need to be offensive," it grumbled.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise as his insult had the intended effect. "Could you please let me inside? I'm being pursued by Merlin."

"I thought it was an ordinary painting," Peeves huffed.

In an instant, a section of the wall receded into itself, revealing a passageway ahead of him. He hurriedly entered the passageway, his pursuers shouting in the corridor behind him. The wall closed quickly behind him. With no other choice, he continued down the passageway, eventually arriving in a large chamber that captivated him.

"This is incredible."

So, what do you think? I intend to finish the Enchanted Wall arc in the next few chapters rather than delaying it until the end of the school year.

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Thanks for reading.