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 meets with the Veela Council and learns of a potential new adversary. Also, there is some excitement at King's Cross station.
Chapter 61
27th August
Harry and his grandparents arrived at the Conclave to meet with the Veela Council. Apolline and Pierre greeted them and guided them to the meeting venue.
"Pierre was invited today because of the political implications that will arise as a result of the artefact," Apolline explained. "The upcoming elections will bring about changes when the new Minister of Magic is announced in November."
Pierre was currently leading the polls, but that could change in the coming months, with his closest rival not far behind. The Veela were concerned about Pierre's opponent, who had strong feelings about Veela and posed a threat to their standing in French magical society. The retiring Minister of Magic shared Pierre's views, which explained France's progressive stance towards Veela compared to other countries.
"The council will likely seek concessions from me in return for their support," Pierre said.
Gabrielle's parents had quickly scheduled the meeting to ensure it didn't interfere with his Hogwarts education. He didn't understand their concern, given that, as an artisan, he had the right to leave the school whenever he wanted, as long as he was accompanied by someone.
Harry's Allure Suppressant Necklace had already been tested at the artisan guild and was found to be a high-grade artifact. The guild master's reaction was hilarious, as he appeared both flabbergasted and overjoyed at his accomplishment. While Alphonso was eager to share the news with headquarters and the other branches worldwide, Harry told him to wait until after the council meeting.
He could understand Alphonso's impatience. When news spread that he had crafted a high-grade artifact at fourteen, their guild branch would attract significant attention.
Since Harry joined the guild, its fortunes have improved, and it is no longer at risk of closing down. Since Harry joined the guild, its fortunes have flourished, no longer facing closure. Initially, Harry's impact was limited as he couldn't rely on his title as the Boy Who Lived to attract talent. Snly after creating his first artifact did substantial changes occur, drawing in more artisans and gaining recognition in the artisan community for his exceptional skills.
Harry had created several more Allure Suppressant Necklaces during the paste week to present to the council, as well as two extra for Fleur and Apolline. This allowed him to refine his skills with the sea essence crystal, now capable of completing the entire process independently. Tonks praised his work but cautioned that refining actual gems would be more challenging. Nonetheless, Harry was pleased with his progress and even levelled up thanks to the valuable experience he had gained.
As they approached, they could hear voices coming from inside the building, which made Harry nervous. He had been told that the council was made up of Veela, who wielded significant power and influence. The race may have been persecuted in some countries, but they weren't shrinking violets and could adequately defend themselves.
"Why do I have to dress up to meet the council?" Harry asked, tugging on his suit.
"A lot of council members are vain and overly proud of themselves," Apolline said with a smile. "They expect their guests to have a certain level of sophistication; otherwise, you will hear an endless stream of complaints."
"Don't be so fixated on it," Minerva advised. "Even without the suit, you are far more handsome than any of the council members."
"Not that you aren't biassed," Harry retorted. "Besides, I was led to believe that there were only female members in the council."
Apolline nodded. "Yes. Males aren't involved in the council, and they don't have a high status in Veela society either."
Given the nine-to-one ratio of females to males, it came as no surprise that it was a matriarchal society.
"Is Seraphine going to be there?" Harry asked.
"Yes. My mother is a member of the council."
Harry entered the meeting room and was immediately scrutinised by more than twenty female Veela. Being stared at by so many beautiful women was extremely intimidating. However, he was irritated to discover that they were all actively releasing their allure, and he had to work hard to avoid embarrassing himself. Why were the Veela constantly putting him to the test by making him resist their allure? Looking over at his grandparents, he was astounded to see that they appeared unaffected.
Only Seraphine held herself back and slammed her hand on the table to draw their attention.
The council finally stopped actively using their allure and Harry was able to relax.
"I'm not impressed with how you greet your guests," Minerva said, looking around with a stern expression. "What was the purpose of that little stunt? Are you trying to seduce my fourteen-year-old grandson?"
"Let us remind you that Harry is only here because of our close relationship with the Delacours," Charlus added. "We can leave now and you can forget about any cooperation."
A woman rose from her position at the head of the table. "I apologise for our behaviour. We have heard so many stories about Mr Potter so we couldn't resist putting him to the test. I am Gisela, the Veela Council matriarch. Please take a seat at the table, and we will begin our meeting."
Gisela was one of the few people in the room who showed signs of age, with wrinkles around the corners of her eyes and mouth. Veela didn't show signs of old age until later in life, so she must be quite old. Despite this, she remained a beautiful woman and had an air of regality about her that depicted her status.
As soon as they had taken their seats, Gisela introduced them to the rest of the Veela Council. All of them represented different European countries, so they all had a variety of accents, but they had the same lyrical lilt that was characteristic of their race.
"Enough with the niceties," Claudia, a Veela from Switzerland, said. "Do you have the artifacts to demonstrate their abilities?"
Harry passed down the necklaces, which were inspected by everyone before being handed over to the matriarch.
"We already know how to use these artifacts," Gisela said. "I will test one myself, and distribute the rest among a chosen few."
The tests went off without a hitch, and the atmosphere became a bit more lively as the council began to discuss the artifact among themselves. Gisela raised her arms to silence them and began asking Harry questions about its security features.
"Why did you create an artifact specifically for us?" A Veela from Poland inquired.
"What do you mean?"
"Wouldn't it have been more profitable to create an artifact that protects wizards from the Veelas' allure instead? You would have a broader market to sell to."
Harry took a moment to think about his response. "That is because my priority wasn't to make a profit. My mother also dabbled in enchantments, and she used her skills to help her friends. I was inspired by her and thought about how I could do the same. I was inspired to create this artifact after seeing Gabrielle endure the constant stares and being approached by men with bad intentions."
"Very well put," Charlus agreed, and Minerva smiled. Gabrielle's parents also seemed pleased with the comment.
"Even with a larger market, an artifact designed to protect wizards wouldn't necessarily sell more," Apolline said. "Not everyone expects to encounter a Veela every day, and most witches are unaffected by the allure."
There was a murmur of agreement from the council.
Gisela clapped her hands. "I believe we have seen enough. Mr Potter, I would like to see this artifact distributed to the Veela population as soon as possible. Seraphine has told me that you would need assistance, considering that you will be returning to Hogwarts soon, and you have no one else to help you."
"My manager found me a property here in France," Harry replied. "Where the enchanters can work in private with some degree of security. The wards only need to be strengthened to increase security before the property is ready to be used."
"That is reassuring," Gisela said. "Once word spreads about the artifact, we will need to be cautious. I am sure Obsidian will take action to protect their business interests."
"Obsidian?" Harry asked.
"It's an underground organisation that engages in various illegal activities," Seraphine explained. "The slave trade is one of their biggest sources of income."
"They also meddle in politics to some extent," Pierre said. "They try to put sympathisers and their own people in positions of power to ensure that policies that benefit their activities are passed."
Harry frowned. "Does this include policies that make slavery legal in some countries?"
"That's correct," Seraphine replied. "No one knows who they are, but they are suspected to be a group of purebloods. They are willing to harm others to fill their pockets with galleons."
"They are a blight on the continent," Charlus grunted. "Harry, do you recall when Lauren travelled to Italy to report on the vampire uprising?"
Harry nodded. "Sirius was really concerned about her."
"With good reason," Charlus replied. "The real truth is that a war broke out between a large vampire family and a werewolf pack."
"They didn't succeed."
"That's right. But they created a lot of disturbance that almost spilled over into the Muggle world."
Harry had never heard that before, but he hadn't been paying much attention to the story. Regardless, Obsidian sounded dangerous. He wondered if they had any influence in England or France. With the attention he was attracting with his new artifact, would he see them emerge from the shadows to cause trouble?
"Forget about Obsidian," Gisela said. "Let us return to the matter of the Allure Suppressant Necklaces. I would like to place an order for five thousand of them. For any we don't use, we will stockpile them for future generations. How much are you looking to sell them for?"
This was something he had discussed with Remus. The artifact wasn't expensive to make at all. The sea essence was the most expensive material, but Nerine was selling it to him cheaply. She had found a huge batch of them not far from the island, so he wouldn't be running out of them anytime soon. Besides, she wasn't looking to get rich, but to make enough money to make her habitat comfortable.
The total cost of making one wouldn't be more than ten galleons if you didn't consider the time involved. However, if he was going to hire employers to produce them on a large scale, he needed to think about things like wages.
He didn't have to worry about making them too expensive to earn a profit because the council would be paying for them all, not individuals. He was surprised when he learned that particular fact. It indicated that they had deep pockets or wanted to protect their race. Remus had told him not to be concerned about the affordability and to try and get as many galleons out of them as he could.
'Seventy-five galleons," Harry said finally. "I was going to charge more, but since you are ordering so many at once, then I will give you a discount."
Gisela briefly discussed it with the council before approving the expense without hesitation. The cost of five thousand artifacts was nearly four hundred thousand galleons, which was a significant sum. If they were to buy one for each Veela in Europe, the total cost would be four times that amount.
"I have ten enchanters who are willing to work for you," Seraphine said, "as long as you promise to pay them a good salary. I have made certain that all of them will keep your secrets; otherwise, they will be sorry."
What would she do to them if they did betray him? Perhaps it was better not to know.
"I would like to meet them before we confirm their employment," Charlus said, looking at Harry, who nodded in agreement. "I would like to make my judgement about them.
Seraphine shrugged, apparently unconcerned about the request. "I will continue to search for more enchanters for you. Filling your first order with only ten enchanters will take at least a year, but completing it sooner is more preferable."
Given the importance of the artifact, the council didn't want anyone other than Veela to work on it. Harry could understand, but it severely limited the number of employees he could hire in the short term. If he were to create another artifact, then he may have to establish a new workshop with fewer constraints.
The rest of the meeting was uninteresting, as they discussed politics, so Harry didn't pay much attention. Some council members wanted to use Harry's popularity to boost Pierre's chances of winning the election, but they were quickly shut down. He wasn't going to use an underage boy to win, and he had a good chance of winning already.
Pierre told Harry that his popularity would influence the election regardless, owing to his relationship with his daughter. Harry had a hard time believing him. Although he was aware of his popularity, given the amount of attention he received, he didn't believe it was significant enough to influence the outcome of a country's election. It was more likely that he would have a minor influence on top of the foundation Pierre had laid.
30st August.
"I cannot believe you finished it so quickly," Charlus said as he stood with his grandson in the garage Harry had added to the workshop.
"I gained a lot of experience while building the workshop," Harry told him. "Once I had finished the design specifications for it, building the garage was simple."
The garage wasn't finished. It was empty, with no equipment, furnishings, tools, or other necessities for a functioning garage. He needed to install wards so that he could use electricity inside the garage as well. A new ward scheme wasn't required because he could extend the one in the workshop to cover the garage. However, he wasn't sure how to do it and might need help from the enchanter who had originally built the wards for his workshop.
The wards weren't strictly necessary. There were double doors leading into the workshop, and he could use extension cords to connect any equipment that needed power to the electrical outlets installed there.
He was relieved to learn that the Source had also added the garage to his trunk workshop, though he would have to explain how it was added later. After he finished the garage, he would be able to work on the car while at Hogwarts.
The car parts were placed in the centre of the garage, and Harry noticed his grandfather kept glancing at them. Harry recalled that he was fascinated by muggles' soldier's uniforms and armaments. Could this extend to vehicles as well?
"You could always get a car kit for yourself," Harry suggested. "There is enough space here to accommodate another Hummer."
Charlus shook his head. "I already have too much on my plate. Maybe when you have finished yours, I will have a go at building one."
"We can race each other once they are finished," Harry said, smiling.
"Not a chance," Charlus snorted before he checked his watch. "You should go back to the house and wash up. We have a guest coming for dinner."
"Who is it?"
"You will need to wait and see."
Harry put his tools away before returning to the house with his grandfather. He could now relax for the final day, knowing he had accomplished everything he had set out to do before returning to Hogwarts.
Other than the garage, Harry was kept busy for the final few days before returning to Hogwarts. The council had made a significant down payment on their order, and everything was in place to begin producing the artifacts. He had met the enchanters briefly, and three of them were male Veela looking to make a name for themselves outside of the enclave. He was embarrassed by his assumption that all male Veela were nothing more than breeding machines to ensure the Veela race's survival. To be fair, his bias stemmed from his previous interactions with the annoying fellow who had bothered Gabrielle.
He worked hard to finish the mirrors for his friends and family, and he gave them to his grandparents, godfather, and the other adults in his life. It was part of a small network of mirrors capable of communicating with one another. He created a separate network of mirrors for his friends and would hand them out once he boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Lauren's article on the Allure Suppressant Necklaces was published two days ago, and the reaction to the announcement was mixed. The French newspapers covered the reactions of various parties, particularly political ones. Pierre's rival for the position of Minister of Magic expressed his dissatisfaction with the artifact.
He argued that it changed something fundamentally about the Veela that didn't need to be altered and was discriminatory against their race. Harry thought that argument was ridiculous because the man had been using Pierre's relationship with Veela in his political campaign, calling them unnatural and demanding stricter restrictions on their liberties.
On the British side, several traditional families also spoke out about the artifact. These were the same families who were trying to repel the law about Veela slavery being illegal, so their arguments were suspect. Lucius Malfoy was the one leading the charge, but with his grandfather's alliance, the policy wasn't likely to pass in the Wizengamot.
After showering, Harry made his way down to the kitchen. Their guest had already arrived and was seated at the table.
"Sheena!" Harry exclaimed.
Sheena was one of the Runic Knights he had met earlier in the year. Harry had received a recommendation from her, which would allow him to take part in the trials to become a knight once he turned fifteen.
She was an African American woman who relocated to Finland to work at the artisan headquarters. It was strange to see her without her armour. Sheena was dressed in a short-sleeved dress, which highlighted her muscular arms that looked like they could inflict a lot of damage.
"Hey, Kiddo," Sheena said in her usual drawl, hinting at her southern roots. "Are you surprised to see me?"
Harry took a seat at the table. "To say the least. What are you doing here?"
Sheena stretched out her arms. "You are looking at the new professor of Defence Against the Arts."
Harry's mouth dropped open. "You're the new professor? What about your job at the artisan guild headquarters?"
"I'm on assignment. It was a last-minute decision to teach at Hogwarts, but the headmaster accommodated my request. I replaced the professor who was hired before me, but they were properly compensated for their troubles."
"I'm confused. Why do you have an assignment that requires you to be a professor?"
"It's because of you," Sheena said, poking him in the chest. "Are you aware of the uproar you have caused at headquarters as a result of your most recent accomplishment?"
"I had no idea," Harry admitted. "What's that got to do with your assignment?"
Sheena glanced at his grandparents. "Haven't you told him yet?"
Minerva placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not yet. He was so preoccupied with his projects that we decided to wait."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
Charlus cleared his throat. "There has been a threat made against you as a result of news getting out about your artifact. Do you want to guess where it came from?"
"Obsidian." Harry felt a sinking sensation in his stomach.
"They delivered a message to the artisan's guild branch in Diagon Alley," Sheena said. "They are demanding that you cease plans for producing the artifact or there will be consequences."
Alphonso had failed to inform him of the situation. He shouldn't be surprised that Obsidian has chosen to target him. But he hadn't expected it to happen so soon, as news of his artifact had only been released two days prior. Perhaps it would have been better to not tell anyone about it and distribute the artifacts to the Veela in secret. But he knew it would be nearly impossible to keep such a huge secret for so long.
"Sheena has been assigned by headquarters to keep an eye on you," Minerva explained. "Her position as a professor provides her with the cover she needs to stay close to you."
"Why is headquarters so interested?" Harry asked. "Is this really because I created a high-grade artifact?"
"It's not an easy accomplishment at your age," Sheena said. "They are impressed with your talent, and they want to ensure that nothing happens to you."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Is that the only reason?"
Sheena hesitated. "They do have an ulterior motive. Did you know that the American branches are splitting from headquarters to form their own faction?"
"Alphonso alluded to it. He said that he wouldn't be seeing his friend for a while due to the situation. Why's it happening, though?"
"A difference of opinion, mostly. Headquarters believes that the American ideas are too radical. Some of the things they are creating by combining technology and magic are becoming increasingly focused on weapon manufacturing. They also don't like how MACUSA is becoming closer to the mundane government."
"Are they right?"
"Yes, in some ways," Sheena replied. "On the flip side, the Americans are becoming frustrated with the restrictions headquarters has tried to impose on them. Which is why it has reached the point where they are breaking away from them."
"I don't see how that has anything to do with me."
"That is because the guild branches are experiencing a record low for new applicants," Sheena explained. "A lot of artisans are moving to America because of the new opportunities available to them."
"Magic-tech?" Harry guessed.
"Correct. It has only been around for the past twenty years, so many see it as an exciting new field that has a lot of possibilities. It's another reason that there is friction between the two factions."
"What do they want to use me for?"
Sheena smiled at him. "Surely you are already aware. They intend to use your popularity and talent to attract new members to the guild branches. I wouldn't be surprised if they asked you to compete in some artisan competitions to gain even more attention."
"What?"
"There are international competitions where artisans from around the world compete against one another. They typically take the form of a series of tasks, each of which receives a score from the judges. Whoever has the most points at the end is declared the winner."
That seemed like something he would be interested in, if only for the challenge. "Can anyone take part?"
"There are different competitions based on your age group. If you compete in the competition at the beginning of next year, you will be eligible for the under-fifteen category. Interested?"
"I might be. But I'm not going to let headquarters use me or become involved in the conflict with the Americans. While I agree that using magic technology to develop weapons is concerning, this does not mean I am uninterested in the field. I plan to study engineering in the future, so I can learn it as well."
Would he get in trouble if headquarters discovered the car kit in his garage? It's not like he cared what they thought, but it would be interesting nonetheless.
"That is your prerogative," Sheena said. "It's nothing to do with me. I'm just doing my job."
"You're from America, right? Are you thinking about returning, considering the situation?"
"No. Helsinki is my home now, and I enjoy the lifestyle there too much to ever think about returning."
Minerva served dinner, and they talked about other topics. Sheena inquired about his spear training, and he admitted that he had neglected it due to his busy schedule. He had only been to the gym three times during the summer for bojutsu training, and he hadn't made any progress with his Velocier skill.
"It's a good thing I will be at Hogwarts this year," Sheena said, her eyes gleaming. "I have some experience with spears, so I can quickly whip you back into shape."
Harry shivered at her fanatical expression. Why did he have the impression that she would be even worse than Master Footshredder?
1st September
It was time to return for another year at Hogwarts. Hopefully, it will be less eventful than the last.
Harry proceeded downstairs, carrying his trunk workshop. Nagini was wrapped around his arm, while Hedwig perched on his shoulder. Hedwig would fly to Hogwarts because she didn't want to be confined to a train for an entire eight hours. Fawkes wasn't present because he was spending time with Solas in Greece. He had no idea when he would return, but he wasn't concerned because Solas appeared to be very capable.
Charlus met him as he was heading for the parlour. "The floo network to the platform is down. When we arrive in England, we will use the King's Cross entrance."
"Alright," Harry agreed. "Is Gabrielle here yet?"
"Harry!" Gabrielle ran down the hallway and jumped into his arms. "Did you miss me?"
"I'm not sure," Harry mused. "I think I need a reminder as to why I would miss you."
Gabrielle giggled and began to pepper his face with kisses.
"Enough of that," Charlus said. "We need to leave now that we have to travel further. We will be late as it is."
Charlus held out the portkey, which they grabbed tightly as they were yanked towards their destination. They appeared in a secluded area not too far from the Ministry and made their way to King's Cross Station. Gabrielle appeared to revel in the fact that she wasn't receiving any gormless stares from the male population. The necklace was doing its job in suppressing her allure. While she still received attention, it was because she was gorgeous and could easily be a model if she wanted to.
When they arrived at the station, Harry spotted the Weasleys arriving in a blue car. They burst out of their car and began unloading their luggage from the boot.
"I can't believe we arrived at the same time as the Weasleys," Charlus muttered. "They are known for always arriving at the last second."
Arthur Weasley saw them as they approached. He had a layer of sweat on his forehead and appeared frantic based on his movements. Molly Weasley appeared even more agitated, and she was ordering her children around to get them to hurry up. Ginny was coming this year, and she looked equally excited and annoyed by how rushed things were.
"Charlus, you're running late as well?" Arthur asked.
"Because of some unforeseen circumstances, Arthur," Charlus said. "The floo network to the platform is down. What's your excuse?"
"The same reason. We wanted to take the floo this year for more security, but we weren't prepared for it to break down."
"Well, let's get moving."
Harry greeted the Weasley children as they entered the station. Ron appeared dazed, unable to take his gaze away from Gabrielle, until Ginny kicked him in the shin, which resolved the situation. The boy didn't even have the excuse of an allure affecting him.
Percy and Ron went through the barrier first, followed by their father. Harry was waiting in the back with Gabrielle and Ginny. When the rest of the Weasleys had passed through, Charlus motioned for them to go next.
Harry felt a frisson of alarm. The next moment, an explosion shook the platform across from them, and Harry instinctively pushed the girls to the ground and covered them with his body. He looked up to see a pillar of smoke and flame rising into the air, accompanied by screams as people ran towards the exit. A section of the ceiling had collapsed, burying the platform in rubble, and their cries for help came from beneath it.
Charlus cursed as he looked down at them. "Get through the platform now. I need to see if I can help those people."
He dashed away, and the three of them rose to their feet and picked up their luggage. When they attempted to pass through the barrier, they encountered resistance.
"It's turned completely solid," Ginny cried, before looking up at the station clock. "But it's not even eleven yet."
"I don't think the platform closes even after that," Harry said, taking a look around. Something was off. His instincts were screaming at him that he was in danger.
The three of them exchanged glances. The girls appeared to be feeling something was up as well, but they paused, unsure what to do next.
"You need to get out of the station," Nagini hissed. "It feels like a trap. The explosion was a distraction."
Harry didn't need any more convincing. "Come on. We need to leave now."
They hurried down the platform, dragging their luggage behind them. Harry took out his wand and made sure his sleeve was rolled up so he could access his gauntlet. The platform had already been cleared of people, allowing them to run unimpeded. As they were about to reach the exit, they heard a series of pops as several individuals apparated onto the platform. They were dressed in cloaks, and their faces were obscured.
Harry raised his wand in preparation for a fight.
"Hand over Ginny Weasley," one of them demanded. "We will let you go if you do."
Ginny trembled with terror. They had revealed their motivations as to why they were here immediately. This was Dumbledore's handiwork.
"Wait," another said, this one sounded feminine. "That's Harry Potter. We can take him as well."
They were surrounded, with one of them blocking their escape. The situation didn't look good.
What was he supposed to do?
[Harry's End of Summer Holidays Status Report]
Magic reserves: 4100 {total gains decreased due to losing some magic reserves to Fawke's bond.)
Shop Points: 720
Level: 12 Next: 10210/ 307200
Artisan Rank: 912th
Renown: 640
Workshop Level: 2 Next [5750/10000]
Level 3 Unlocks: Wardstone; Protection Wards
Crafting Book Level: 1 Next [4910/5000]
Current Tasks
Task #8 - Build crafting stations for the workshop (ongoing).
General experience earned + 1000
Task #10 - Climb to the 750th position in the rankings.
Objective: Continue to create artifacts to increase the player's renown and rise in the world rankings.
Reward: 5000 workshop points; additional rare items added to the Magic Emporium.
Skills
Special
[IV] Warden [Mastered]
[III] Arcane Resistance [3/5]
[III] Animagus [Mastered]
[III] Velocier [Mastered]
[III] Assimilate Runes [2/5]
Passive
[III] Dexterity [5/5] [Mastered]
[II] Steady Hands [Mastered]
[II] Elder Futhark Runes [Mastered]
[II] Anglo-Saxon Runes [3/5]
[II] Parseltongue Runes [3/5]
[II] Majikkurun Runes [4/5]
Technical
[II] Construction [3/5]
[II] Blacksmithing [2/5]
[II] Leatherworking [2/5]
[II] Whittling [2/5]
[I] Maintenance [3/5]
[I] Dismantling [3/5]
[I] Calligraphy [5/5]
[I] Drawing [3/5]
So, what do you think? In the following chapter, the three make a daring escape that involves a certain car.
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