This chapter should be 116, but FF seems to be messing it up, so here it is as 117 too. So if you see this chapter twice, you've got the good ending.
For the first time in a long while, Harry began to feel hope, as Nicholas' final attack slammed against his shield. The force of the blow was enough to make him stumble backwards, yet he remained completely unharmed.
Only for a frown to cross his face as he noticed the pronounced dents marring the once flawless surface of his shield. The nature of the mithril meant the runes emblazoned across it were unchanged, and it only took a moment to restore the mithril to its previous pristine condition, but it was an extra step he hadn't expected.
But, for the moment he was only focusing on defensive improvements, and its viability as a useful shield. With Nicholas having used as many spells as he felt safe to use, they'd verified the mithril wouldn't just fall apart from an impact.
However further tests would take more time, as Harry had disappointedly noted how bad his mentor was at combat. It made sense, since the aged philosopher by his own admission wasn't a fighter, but to actually see the man try and test Harry's defences was difficult.
Despite undeniably being the strongest wizard Harry had ever met, Nicholas' actual combat experience was comparable to Gilderoy Lockhart, just without the ego. In the time it took the man to cast a spell, Harry could've returned a multitude of simpler spells.
So, as Harry walked back to Nicholas, he planned his next strategy, absently doing his best to repair the damage to their spell stricken valley as he went.
"Well, how was that?" Nicholas asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet with a rare look of excitement on his face.
"That was good. My shield didn't hold up to my standards physically, but magically this is likely the strongest thing I've made by myself. I just need to figure out a way to get the mithril to repair itself after every hit."
"Why can't it already do that? Is this self repair not supposed to be a main part of your mithril's power?" Nicholas asked, peering at the shield as if it held the answer.
"It can… just not as I need it. Spell damage will get undone, assuming it even gets close enough to touch the mithril. But it's the recoil from blocking the stronger spells. It's physically warping the mithril, and the shield isn't smart enough to recognise it as damage.
"The only solution I currently have is to tell the mithril to constantly return to its original shape, but that will just eat up magic. Obviously another mithraite crystal will work, but I don't really want to use two crystals on this shield, especially when they shatter so easily."
Nicholas hummed in sympathy, taking his time before answering. "I'm afraid I'll have to take your word for it. It's just a shame you can't extend the enchantment of the Veela wood to protect the mithril too, but I suspect the contrasting magic wouldn't work well."
"So… if I was able to give my mithril Fleur's signature, it would take on the resistance of the wooden base?"
"I can't know for certain, but the logic is sound. I have encountered nothing that says it shouldn't be possible. But how are you planning on doing so?"
"Are you willing to make a short trip to Hogwarts? Because I think Fleur gave me exactly what I need when I last saw her."
Harry wasn't entirely sure what the official rules were for visiting Hogwarts during the Summer. It wasn't something that had been widely advertised, but the front gates had opened for at least one of them.
But, having decided to avoid the main doors, Harry and Nicholas silently treaded the outskirts of the Hogwarts grounds, lit solely by the low hung moon in the sky.
Approaching a secluded area at the base of the Astronomy Tower, Harry gestured toward an unassuming section of the thick Hogwarts foliage.
With a deft movement, he pulled back a creeper to reveal a concealed lever, blending seamlessly with the natural shrubbery. The ground beneath them rumbled, and a concealed door creaked open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit passage.
"Quite the ingenious find," Nicholas remarked, casting a glance at the revealed passage. "But, I would fear having such a security flaw myself."
"Indeed," Harry agreed, his eyes focused on the passage ahead. "But it works for us. This way, we can enter Hogwarts without raising any alarms, and awkward questions."
As they descended into the tunnel, the sensation of Hogwarts enveloped them. The earthy scent of the passage mingled with the magic that permeated the castle grounds, creating an almost melancholic atmosphere.
The narrow corridor led them beneath the enchanted wards of Hogwarts, before swiftly depositing them into a shadowy alcove inside the castle, where they stepped out from behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy.
A quick glance out a window confirmed for Harry that he had no idea where he was. After unfurling the Marauder's Map, he was able to work out they'd exited on the fourth floor, very close to the Ravenclaw tower.
He also hadn't detected any sense of alarm from the school wards, whilst the map had shown no nearby presences. Relieved, Harry confidently led Nicholas up a floor, before entering the secret passageway to his workshop.
Unlocking the room with practised ease, Harry swiftly crossed the darkened room, making his way to the concealed control core. There, precisely where he'd left them, rested the ten golden Mithril bars infused with Fleur's blood.
Picking them up, he was able to easily sense their similarity to the shield slung over his back. For now, he slipped the bars into his pocket, before turning and sealing the chamber behind him.
Only to stop short as Nicholas held up the short Goblin sword, having pulled it from a forgotten shelf.
"Such a treasure shouldn't be left on some common shelf, Harry."
"I put it there because I've learned all I can from it, I don't really have any other need for it."
"Harry, my boy, I fear you may not realise the significance of this goblin-made sword. Possessing a blade crafted by goblins is more than just a practical choice; it's a symbol of prestige and respect. Carrying such a sword signifies not just your importance as a wizard but your standing in the magical community.
A goblin-made blade, Harry, is a mark of respect and a declaration that you're a force to be reckoned with. Besides which, you cannot get in trouble for wearing such a blade in public, whilst your own mithril may not be granted such immunity."
"Sure, but what's the point of that? People who are actually a threat to me, like Voldemort, won't care if I have a decorative blade. And I've made my own weapons that are easier to conceal, and hold far more power." Harry retorted, still unconvinced.
Nicholas sighed, shaking his head wearily. "Look, if nothing else, an extra sword won't be a bad thing. Besides which, I'd dread to think how the goblins might react if they learned how you treat their gifts. Especially when you want their help. Honestly, are you this resistant to taking a simple sword?"
Embarrassed and unable to come up with a proper retort, Harry instead chose to silently take the sword and drop it into a pocket.
"Is there anything else you feel like I should take?" Harry asked, trying to add an apologetic tone to his question.
"Unless you've been given a device to find the lost dwarf civilization, I think that'll be all." Nicholas returned with a laugh, waving away Harry's concerns.
"How can you lose a civilization anyway? Seems like a pretty big thing to forget."
"Ah, now you see that is an interesting tale. You see, if we first assume dwarves were indeed real, it's believed they buried their kingdom a very long time ago, before the bronze age civilization had even reached modern Europe. So, it's likely to the dwarves, their civilization isn't lost at all. It's just us non-dwarves who can't find them.
"And of course, there are still some dwarves wandering around, although they are accepted to be lesser folk than their ancestors. My own apprenticeship was spent studying different dwarven artefacts, to see if they might hold the secret to a philosopher's stone."
"Huh, but they might not have existed?"
"Well, it is a possibility, but of course that does open the question for who else might've left those artefacts behind. Most of them are metals we couldn't hope to surpass. Remember, the recipe for the orichalcum blade we were making was dwarven in origin."
Humming along in agreement, Harry's mind spun with possibilities. "So, if I were the one to find these dwarves, do you think they'd help me make new weapons?"
"Doubtful. It's believed they hid themselves for a reason. However, I suspect the goblins would place themselves in your debt if you did manage such a feat. I'm led to believe the beings saw the dwarves as deities, hence their obsession with constantly expanding down into the earth.
"Regardless… I think you should stop expanding your horizons. If you spend your time looking elsewhere for solutions, you'll miss the potential you already possess. Maybe you could find the dwarves, and maybe they could help you. But you already have all you need."
Scoffing, Harry didn't even hesitate to dismiss Nicholas' wisdom. "No. With all due respect Nicholas, you didn't have to stand before Voldemort, look straight into his eyes, and know you were hopeless. That man has decades of experience over me.
"When it comes to beating Voldemort, I refuse to believe there is such a thing as overkill. If I want to live my life, I must see Voldemort killed. And to do that, I have to be his equal, by any means necessary."
"I don't doubt your determination, Harry. Voldemort is a threat few others could hope to match. But remember, power alone may not be the key. It's how you wield it that matters most. Your intellect, creativity, and the bonds you forge are equally crucial." Nicholas replied, regarding Harry with a mixture of understanding and concern.
Harry, however, remained steadfast in his resolve. "I get that, but I've seen what he can do. I've seen the devastation he's caused. Until I can match him blow for blow, I won't rest." To emphasise his point, Harry extended his metal arm, the cool gleam of silver serving as a silent testament to the last encounter with Voldemort that had cost him his original limb.
Nicholas sighed, recognizing the unyielding determination in Harry's eyes. "Very well, my boy. Just be cautious not to lose yourself in the pursuit of power. Sometimes, the greatest strength lies in knowing when to hold back."
With a nod, Harry acknowledged the advice but remained resolute. "I will have all the time in the world to restore myself, once I've seen Voldemort fall."
Starting towards the workshop door, a sombre expression crossed his face. "I wish, Harry, you didn't have to be the one to carry such a burden. But, if you are determined, I will talk to Albus. You'll need proper training, the kind I am ill equipped to offer.
"But, my opinion hasn't changed. Do you think Voldemort found a lost civilization of dwarves… or made mythical weapons? By all means, get every advantage you can get. But don't spread yourself too thin. Focus on what you've got, learn to master it all to the best of your abilities.
Voldemort, and Dumbledore, and myself, do you know why we're so powerful? All of us, we dedicated ourselves to our craft. I for alchemy, Albus for Transfiguration, and Voldemort to the Dark. You, Harry, are destined for similar greatness. But only if you can focus."
With those parting words, Nicholas opened the door, before beckoning Harry to follow. "Come on, I doubt I know this school well enough to sneak out of Hogwarts on my own."
With his new shield at a satisfactory state, Harry felt he could finally move onto the next entry on his Summer plans. However, arranging a visit to Daphne's home proved to be more time-consuming than he'd initially expected.
But by the time he and Nicholas returned home from yet another test, Corvus awaited them with the required Greengrass invitation. Its new mithraite eyes seemed to inspect him with a newfound intelligence, which still unnerved Harry. But, he'd yet to see anything alarming from his creation.
Knowing Dumbledore was resistant to the idea of Harry going anywhere alone, they'd strategically arranged for Harry's visit to coincide with the Wizengamot, a session that Lord Greengrass was conveniently avoiding. The court, it was widely accepted, had convened solely to demote the Professor, providing Harry with the perfect opportunity to visit the Greengrass estate.
He'd told Nicholas and Tonks at the last possible moment, arranging for one of the two to pick him up once his business had finished, before he activated the included portkey.
The heavy and oppressive wards that greeted him upon arrival were not quite on par with those of Hogwarts or the Dumbledore cottage, but they were far less welcoming. Meeting Daphne's family was unremarkable, going about as he'd expected, easily fading into the background once the main event had arrived.
Prior to the visit, Harry had surreptitiously picked Nicholas' brain on the Fae, despite his oath to Lord Greengrass preventing him from revealing family information.
Utilising a subtle amount of the Gauntlet's power, Harry carved runes into the stone patio, as he positioned the mithril spikes prepared beforehand. This process consumed four of the ten plates Fleur had given him, but Harry prioritised dealing with the Greengrass curse over conserving replenishable resources.
Having consulted a myriad of shields and charms designed to contain a fae, Harry had done his best to memorise the various options. His primary concern lay with the potential power requirements. Which was why he'd gone for a fully rooted shield scheme, instead of relying solely on his own personal shield.
As he reached for the Fae's magic with the aid of the Soul Gem embedded in the Gauntlet, the sensation of touching the fae magic sent a shiver down his spine. It eerily mirrored the experience of encountering demon magic within the Chamber of Secrets, emanating a deep inhumanity.
The Soul Gem proved effective in handling Fae magic, which functioned differently than normal wizard curses. Historical evidence suggested Fae had to leave an imprint stronger than simple magic for a long-term connection, a connection that perfectly described the Greengrass curse. So the magic contained enough of a soul for his Gauntlet to get a firm grip, successfully wrenching it free of Astoria's magic.
However, Harry's books hadn't prepared him for the sudden onslaught of winter when the curse was briefly exposed to the open air. He promptly buried it deep within the prepared mithraite containment crystal, but not before the world itself seemed to react poorly to the exposed Fae magic, as if reality had momentarily taken a step back to avoid it. Eventually, Harry felt his magic imprison the curse, the crystal being corrupted into a chilled azure light, fractured into a thousand glittering shards of sharp, angular planes.
As a Stone for his Gauntlet, the crystal was next to useless. Its main use would've been its winter chill, which paled in comparison to the Soul Gem's ability to nullify any amount of heat. One would passively bring the temperature down to its level, while the other would gladly consume and consume until there was nothing left to take. Nevertheless, for the curse's potential of granting the Greengrass family magic, it was worth pursuing elsewhere.
And then, with the task at hand finished, Harry found himself hugging Daphne and saying goodbye before it had fully registered that they wouldn't meet again for a while. He had naturally clicked into their usual dynamic, and the realisation of their temporary separation struck him as he reluctantly left Daphne behind, whistling for Fawkes.
He wasn't quite expecting Tonks to appear alongside the phoenix, her bright orange hair giving away her anxious mood.
"Ready to go home then?"
"Just one more stop left, Tonks. Fawkes, can you take us to Number 4, Privet Drive please?"
A special thank you to AvidReader and Nanu from the Discord server for helping significantly with writing the story's new summary.
Things I think need explaining:
- Daphne part: It's basically a recap of the chapter 108: 'Daphne's Summer', since I didn't want to repeat too much information. The important part of it for Harry is he now has Astoria's family curse trapped in a crystal.