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 shows off his new artifact, and Sirius has some surprising news.

Chapter 60

As Harry approached the front door of Gabrielle's home, he heard voices coming from the back. Curious, he made his way around to find Gabrielle standing next to Thibault, her pet bicorn, coaxing him into an extended trunk on the ground. Her family stood nearby, watching her futile attempts.

He approached the fence, greeting her family, before speaking with his girlfriend. "Have you finally taken my advice and decided to cut ties with the menace?"

Thibault stared menacingly at Harry, pawing the ground with his hoof as if preparing to charge. His relationship with Thibault remained strained as always. Gabrielle ran over to embrace him as soon as she heard his voice.

"Stop being so ridiculous. As if I will ever get rid of him!" Gabrielle exclaimed. She gave him a bright smile. "Can you figure out what I am doing?"

Harry looked at the trunk on the ground for a moment before realising what she was doing. "I suppose you're trying to replicate Newt's suitcase and create a world for your magical creatures to inhabit."

"That's right. I sought advice from Newt before we left and have started small, gradually expanding as more magical creatures are added. Papa cast the expansion charms, and I have already started building a homestead."

"You're on your way to becoming the next Newt Scamander. It is both amazing and intimidating. I hope you don't become an eccentric old person like him," Harry joked.

Gabrielle playfully slapped his shoulder. "As if that would ever happen."

Thibault began digging a hole to bury the trunk inside it.

"It seems like Thibault isn't keen on entering the trunk," Harry observed.

Gabrielle gave Thibault an annoyed look. "I was just testing it out. I'm not planning on moving him there permanently. He's such a baby."

Harry looked at her with disbelief. She had to be kidding, right? "How did he even get inside?"

"Newt has enchantments that transport the magical creatures to a specific habitat," Gabrielle explained. "But I am doing it more conventionally, with a lift at the entrance that can support even a dragon if necessary."

As the family assembled, Harry noticed Gabrielle's grandfather, Andre, giving him a stern look.

"Hello, Harry," Fleur said. "I can not believe I am saying this, but does your presence here mean you were able to create the artifact?"

Harry nodded, and Gabrielle squealed with delight.

"What are you talking about, Fleur?" Seraphine asked.

Fleur's words took her grandparents by surprise. They had no idea Harry was close to finishing the artifact, so they demanded to know what was going on. When Gabrielle explained that he had a breakthrough after visiting Greece, their scepticism was palpable.

"Don't be ridiculous," Andre scoffed. "Can a teen boy accomplish what others have tried for decades?"

Even Gabrielle's parents didn't seem to believe him, but they remained silent and took a wait-and-see approach.

"Harry is not a liar," Gabrielle insisted adamantly. "If he says he did it, I believe him."

"Would you like to bet on whether or not I was successful?" Harry challenged Andre.

"I'm not going to bet with a little boy."

"Oh, I get it," Harry said with a nod. "You're scared I'm right, and you'll look foolish for doubting me."

"Impudent boy," Andre chuckled. "Alright. If I'm wrong, I'll grant you any request within my power. But if you're wrong, you should stop seeing Gabrielle."

"Grand-père!" Gabrielle gasped.

Apolline frowned. "Papa, stop being so stubborn. I already said we approve of Harry."

"It is okay," Harry said, waving his hand dismissively. Once he had proven Andre wrong, he might have him kneel in front of him and beg forgiveness.

Harry took out the necklace and demonstrated how it worked. "It has a blood-binding sequence inscribed on it, so the first person to drop blood on it will be the only one able to use it. To activate or deactivate it, press this button on the back of the metal encasement."

He had to change the blood-binding sequence so that the person could bind to the artifact after it was created, rather than during the process. It took him some time to work out the wrinkle, but he was confident that it would work properly.

Seraphine snatched the necklace from Harry just as he was about to give it to Gabrielle. "If we are going to test its effectiveness, I am the better choice. If it can suppress my allure, then it should work on any Veela."

"No!" Gabrielle protested. "If I am going to join Harry at Hogwarts this year, I will need the necklace."

"Don't worry," Harry reassured her. "I have enough materials to make a few more, so I will make you another one. It should only take a few hours now that I have experience making the first one."

Gabrielle subsided, and Seraphine dripped blood onto the necklace. She pressed the button and held it in her hands as she turned on her allure. Harry smiled when he didn't feel a hint of her allure, even after a minute of her trying to do her best to affect him. Normally, he would have to make an effort to resist it, but now he was at ease. If the artifact completely suppressed her allure while active, it would also work perfectly with the passive allure.

"Incredible," Pierre breathed. "I can't feel anything from her."

Seraphine's cheeks flushed as she attempted to unleash the full power of her allure, but the effort proved futile, prompting her to abandon the endeavour upon realising its futility. Undaunted, she transformed into her harpy form, all the while keeping an intense gaze on Harry. While he had only witnessed Apolline's transformation before, the sight of her mother's form was profoundly unsettling. Her features seemed far more savage and bestial than her daughter's, sending shivers down his spine as he locked eyes with her. Her eyes were completely black, devoid of pupils, and exuded a sinister aura.

"The necklace doesn't affect any other aspect of a Veela," Harry explained as Seraphine transformed back. "I'm not trying to suppress your entire heritage. Just the one that makes it hard to interact with others on a daily basis."

Gabrielle lunged into his arms and gave him a passionate kiss. It felt like a wonderful reward for his efforts, and they could have stayed there with their lips locked indefinitely if not for her family interrupting them.

"This is incroyable," Apolline said, slipping back into French because she was overcome with emotion. "Congratulations, Harry. Do you understand the significance of what you have accomplished?"

Harry nodded. "Gabrielle gets to join me at Hogwarts."

Gabrielle and Fleur giggled at his words.

"Beyond that," Apolline said, smiling indulgently. "This will fundamentally change the Veela's interactions with the world. Did you know that it is difficult for us to appear before Muggles because they cannot resist our allure?"

"I saw some of that while we were in Greece," Harry confirmed. "Even some older men gave Gabrielle and Fleur lecherous looks."

"Then you understand," Apolline replied. "But that's only the tip of the iceberg."

"We need to contact the council," Seraphine said. She moved forward, taking Harry into her arms and burying his face in her bosom. He squirmed, trying to escape, feeling suffocated, albeit in a pleasant way. "This little boy is absolutely adorable. Haven't you got anything to say to the boy, Cherie?"

"I underestimated you," Andre admitted grudgingly.

"Don't worry," Harry gasped as Seraphine finally released him. "I promise not to be too harsh on you with my request. Something that humiliates you in front of a crowd should suffice for me."

Andre cast a rueful glance at Harry, wondering if he should have kept his thoughts to himself upon seeing the mischievous glint in the boy's eyes.

"What is this council?" Harry asked.

"It is a committee composed of elder Veela who oversee the larger Veela community in Europe," Seraphine explained. "They provide resources and guidance to all Veelas and handle criminal cases involving them."

"Criminal matters?"

Seraphine's expression darkened. "Indeed. Slavery remains a deep-rooted concern. Every year, Veelas are kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder. In some European regions, owning and selling Veela slaves is not even illegal."

Harry's stomach churned with a sickening mix of dread and disbelief. While the existence of slavery wasn't entirely surprising, given the attitudes towards Veela and other magical beings, the harsh reality of its prevalence hit him hard.

"The matriarch heads the Veela Council," Apolline explained. "She is usually the oldest and most respected among us. It's important that she's informed promptly. This news will likely elicit a negative reaction in some circles. We must tread carefully and strategise our approach going forward.

Harry let out a frustrated groan. "Do I really have to meet them?"

"Yes, I'm afraid the matriarch will expect it. You can have your grandparents accompany you for support. Would you prefer to meet here?"

After careful consideration, Harry shook his head. "It's a little too close to home. Given that Dumbledore is still alive, we must be cautious about who knows where I live."

"Indeed, we must exercise caution," Pierre acknowledged. "Given the potential backlash from certain quarters regarding the artifact's creation, we can arrange a secure meeting location known only to us."

Harry thought about Pierre's words. Why would anyone object to a Veela's allure being suppressed unless it affected their interests? Perhaps the allure was a vital aspect of their appeal to the people taking advantage of them. Furthermore, changing public perception may be another concern for them. Many people viewed Veela negatively because of their unpredictable effects on them. If that changed, would it lead to more empathy for Veela and a stronger opposition to slavery?

"Have you thought about how you plan to scale up your production?" Andre inquired. "Once word of your artifact gets around, every Veela in Europe will want one."

"How many Veelas are there in Europe?"

"Around two thousand," Andre replied. "But this only applies to Veela who are free. When it comes to those that are enslaved, the figures become more ambiguous."

"I haven't thought about it much," Harry admitted, referring to the necklace's production. "First, I need the guild to examine it to make it an official artifact. Maybe I'll start another workshop and hire enchanters to produce more. But there's a risk of the design getting out and being misused."

"Maybe you should hire some Veela," Seraphine suggested. "I know some enchanters who would jump at the chance to work on such an amazing artifact."

Harry rubbed his face, feeling overwhelmed by the situation. He had come here, eager to show his girlfriend the artifact he had created for her, and it had grown into something far larger than he had imagined. Perhaps he was naive in failing to consider the full implications of creating this artifact. He knew what it meant for the Veela after visiting their enclave.

"For now, put it aside," Apolline advised, noticing his stress. "Go home; talk to your grandparents about it. We'll arrange the meeting before you go back to Hogwarts for your second year."

Harry agreed with a nod.

"Dad, remember to enrol me at Hogwarts," Gabrielle chimed in.

Pierre hesitated, as if he regretted making the promise, but eventually agreed. "Headmaster Flitwick should have no problem with it. If I donate to the school, it should cut through the red tape and get you enrolled."

When Harry returned home, he discussed the situation with his grandparents, who praised his accomplishment. He immediately returned to his workshop to create another allure suppressant necklace for Gabrielle. He asked Tonks to shape and refine another sea essence for him, but he would have to learn how to do it himself pretty quickly. While working, he considered the idea of forming a team of enchanters to manufacture the artifacts he created in the future.

Several logistics issues needed to be addressed. First and foremost, he needed to find a workspace for a team that was completely secure and isolated from the outside world. If people found out where the artifacts were being made, he would have to worry about them being attacked and stolen. He didn't need anything elaborate because the work was simple, but it had to be a comfortable working environment.

Harry didn't need a team of artisans because enchanters would be sufficient and more cost-effective to hire. Making the necklace was straightforward; he could even buy the metal frame and chain separately. The sea essence posed the most significant challenge. He had secured a steady supply of them, but they needed to be cut and refined before they were usable.

They required a specific set of skills and were time-consuming to create. He considered hiring Tonks to do it, but realised it wouldn't work because she was busy with her own work. Maybe she knew someone who could be hired. Otherwise, he would have to train the enchanters to do it, which would take time.

"Dobby!" Harry called the elf.

Dobby appeared before him, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Master Harry has summoned Dobby!"

Now that the elf was being paid to work as Remus' assistant, the elf had indulged in shopping sprees, using his galleons to acquire an assortment of clothing items. His eclectic taste led to unique and unconventional fashion choices. Currently, he sported a boy's ensemble featuring a white dress shirt paired with black shorts fastened by suspenders. The look was completed with oversized clown shoes and a cap boldly emblazoned with the phrase "stay weird."

"Hi, Dobby. Could you please tell Remus that I need to see him later to discuss some business? He is welcome to join us for dinner if he wants."

"Dobby will tell him," he said before disappearing.

Harry returned to making the artifact. He finished it late in the afternoon and gained valuable experience points. It occurred to him that if he wanted to level up quickly, he might want to continue producing some of them himself in the future, given the high ratio of experience earned to time invested. He would gain even more experience points if he could refine the sea essence himself, as he was penalised for others' contributions. Furthermore, he would only improve his ability to inscribe the arrays, reducing the time it takes to create them.

The car kit he had received for his birthday remained in the centre of his workshop, untouched. He was eager to get started, but he had a few things to complete first.

He had done some preliminary research on how to build a car. It wasn't simple to do so on its own, but when you added enchantments, it became even more complicated. He would have to first decide what enchantments he wanted to add to it and then design an array schematic for it.

Many of the arrays would have to be added as he built the car. In addition, he planned to build an attached garage on the workshop where he could work on it and store it when finished. Hopefully, the garage would be considered part of the workshop and automatically added to the trunk, allowing him to work on it while at Hogwarts.

Harry still needed to create some more allure suppressant necklaces to demonstrate their abilities to the council, so he wouldn't have time before returning to work on the car before Hogwarts. In addition, he needed to make two-way mirrors for his friends and family. He had some ideas for broadening their scope to include a network that connected all mirrors across the country, but it would be a lot of work, and he wasn't sure if it was even possible yet.

When Harry returned home, he discovered Remus had already arrived and was sitting in the living room with his grandparents. But Sirius and Lauren were with him, and it was immediately clear that something was wrong. Sirius was burning a hole in the floor with his pacing, and he looked like he hadn't slept in a week. Lauren, on the other hand, appeared composed, albeit with a small smile on her face, as she watched Sirius.

"Where's the fire?" Harry asked.

"Harry!" Sirius rushed over to grab his shoulders. "I am going to be a father!"

Harry's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that answer, and it explained why Lauren looked so happy. But why was Sirius freaking out about it?

"Congratulations," Harry said, hugging Sirius. "Do you know whether it will be a boy, a girl, or a mutt?"

Laughter filled the room, and even Sirius cracked a smile at Harry's jest, but anxiety soon took over, prompting him to resume pacing.

"I don't know how to be a father!" Sirius wailed. "I'll mess it up completely, and my kid will grow up with all sorts of issues."

"It's great to have a grounded partner to balance out your craziness," Harry told him. "Otherwise, you might end up with some 'Sirius' problems."

"Thank you, Harry," Lauren said, smiling. "He has been driving me crazy for the past few days, ever since we found out I am pregnant."

Harry approached and hugged her. "Do you know how far you are along?"

"Two months. Our baby will arrive in March next year."

"When is the wedding?" Minerva asked.

Sirius hesitated, exchanging a glance with Lauren. "We haven't discussed marriage yet."

"You should consider it soon," Minerva advised, raising an eyebrow. "Do you want your bairn to be born out of wedlock?"

"That is right!" Harry exclaimed. "You should tie the knot so your child can be the next Black Heir and relieve me of the duty."

"Is that all you're concerned about?" Sirius teased. "Besides, the title belongs to you."

"But I don't need it," Harry countered. "Not with the responsibilities that come with the Potter lordship. Money isn't a concern either."

"What about your girlfriends, Harry? Remus asked. "Wouldn't they prefer it if one of your children became the Black Heir?"

Harry flushed as everyone's attention focused on him. Why did he need to ask such a question?

"First and foremost," Harry stated, ignoring Sirius' sniggers. "There is a possibility that none of us will be together in the future when I start thinking about marriage."

"As if that would ever happen," Sirius remarked, smiling. "The four of you are so close that I wouldn't be surprised if more Potters were running around before you finished school."

"If that happens, Harry, I will disown you," Minerva sternly warned.

"Without consulting me first?" Charlus protested.

"Could you please be quiet?" Harry requested, annoyed. "Now, if we all get married in the future, everything should work out. Susan would keep her name and pass down the Bones lordship to our oldest child. Daphne can do the same for the Greengrasses, but Astoria could also take on that role. This would allow Gabrielle to take on the Potter name. If Fleur marries into another family, Gabrielle will keep the name Delacour, while Daphne will be a Potter."

"You seem to have given this a lot of thought," Lauren said, amused. "Should we expect to hear about your engagements soon?"

Harry huffed as he became the source of everyone's laughter. He supposed he deserved it for teasing Sirius, but that did not mean he had to like it.

"We should talk about business," Remus said, taking pity on Harry and changing the subject. "Why did you ask me to come here, Harry?"

When Harry told them about the Allure Suppressant Necklace, he was greeted with congratulations.

"The problem is that once it is announced, I have to ramp up production pretty quickly," Harry explained. "Seraphine has offered to find me some enchanters to hire, but I will need a secure location where they can work. There will be a lot of interested parties who would be interested in getting their hands on my artifact."

Remus took some time to think about it. "Well, the location must be in France, because Britain is too risky. If you want to keep the location secret, I recommend buying a small property like this, which already has wards installed or can be easily added."

"All wizards' properties must be registered with the Ministry," Charlus said. "You should ask Pierre to use his connection to keep it hidden from them. He did the same thing with this property."

"How much would that cost me?" Harry asked. "Do I have sufficient galleons in my account to purchase it?"

"More than enough," Remus reassured him. "The cheaper option would be to buy a muggle property and then ward it, but you have the option to choose either."

"Then see if you can find a wizard's property that has already been warded."

"Got it, boss."

"The most important issue will be who you hire," Minerva advised. "Even if Seraphine knows them personally, that doesn't guarantee their trustworthiness."

"We can address that after we meet with the Veela Council," Charlus said. "I doubt anyone who knows Seraphine would dare to cross her. Even I would have trouble defeating her."

"Harry," Lauren interjected, touching his arm. Would you like me to write an article about your accomplishments? Regardless of the artifact's purpose, making a second one at your age is impressive."

"I suppose so," Harry agreed. "But hold off on publishing until after the Veela Council meeting."

The discussion ended, and they went into the kitchen for dinner. They spent the majority of the meal discussing potential names for Lauren's baby. Sirius suggested a few names that adhered to the Black family tradition of naming children after stars. He proposed Scorpius as a son and Delphinus as a daughter. Lauren immediately rejected his suggestions, and Harry had the feeling that their child had dodged a bullet.

Later that evening, Harry was called into his grandfather's office to discuss something. He sat in the chair, waiting for his grandfather to finish his letter. Charlus placed the letter in an envelope and sealed it with wax. He then pressed his ring against it, leaving an impression of the Potter seal. The image depicted a Hippogriff standing on its hind legs, his hooves balanced on the pommel of an upright sword.

"Why do you still use the Hippogriff to represent the Potter family?" Harry asked. "I assumed you would have changed it now that we no longer have the family magic."

"For practical purposes," Charlus answered. "It is already well-known, so changing it now may confuse some people. Besides, it is only an image at the end of the day, and it causes no harm."

"I guess so. What do you want to talk about?"

"There are two matters I wanted to discuss," Charlus replied. He stood up, opened the window, and Hedwig flew through. "Do you mind if I use Hedwig to send my letter? She likes to keep busy, and it saves me from having to buy an owl."

Harry shrugged. "That is up to her."

Hedwig agreed with a bark. She waited for Charlus to finish attaching the letter before giving Harry a friendly nip and flying out the window.

Charlus sat and leaned back in his seat. "The first thing I would like to say is that I will not be returning to Hogwarts as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor."

"What? Why the hell not?"

"Because I will be preoccupied with other matters."

"Do you mean hunting for Voldemort's Horcruxes?"

Charlus nodded. "That is one of the reasons. I need you to behave well this year and not cause any trouble for your grandmother."

"I'm offended by your lack of trust in me."

"For good reason," Charlus retorted. "Another reason is that I intend to begin work on rebuilding the family manor."

That certainly got his attention. "Why now?"

"Because I want to be ready in case we are ever attacked and need a safe place to retreat."

"The manor is in ruins," Harry pointed out. "It doesn't sound very safe."

"It took Voldemort and a dozen of his goons hours to break the wards at the Potter Manor," Charlus said. "I will construct wards that are even stronger than before, so that no one will be able to enter without a tremendous effort."

"I sure hope so," Harry sighed. "Who is replacing you at Hogwarts?"

"I have no idea. You will have to wait and see."

"What was the other thing that you needed to discuss?"

Charlus reached down and retrieved a shimmering black cloak from his drawer, revealing it to Harry. As soon as Harry laid eyes on it, a shiver ran down his spine and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, as if the cloak itself were imbued with a powerful, unsettling energy.

"This is a Potter heirloom that has been in our family for centuries," Charlus said. "It is an invisibility cloak, but unlike others of its kind."

Harry attempted to overcome his feelings of unease. "What makes it different?"

"A standard invisibility cloak loses its effects after a few years, but the enchantments on this cloak never wear off. Furthermore, it shields the wearer from all forms of scrying or magical detection."

Impressed, Harry whistled. "That's an incredible ability. Where did the Potter family come by such a remarkable cloak?"

"It was inherited from the Peverells. Our families merged when the last female descendant of the Peverells married into the Potter lineage."

Harry froze. "Did you say the Peverell family?"

"Yes," Charlus confirmed, puzzled by Harry's reaction. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Harry replied, snapping out of his trance. "I've heard of the Peverells, but I never realised our connection to them."

"They were one of the oldest families in existence, and their origins are still unknown. Have you read Tales of Beedle the Bard?"

Harry replied in the negative.

"It's available in our library if you're interested. There's a captivating story about the cloak in there," Charlus offered

Harry had completely forgotten about researching the Peverells after speaking with one of them in the fae realm. He had been preoccupied with other matters, but now it has quickly risen to the top of his priority list.

Charlus handed the cloak to him. "Anyway, I wanted to give you this because I no longer need it. I know you have the ability to disguise yourself, but you can never have too many options."

Harry nearly recoiled as he was handed the cloak, and Charlus noticed his reaction.

"Don't worry. It has been thoroughly washed, so you won't get any of your grandparents' germs."

Harry held the cloak gingerly. "What are you talking about?"

Charlus leaned back in his seat and stared up at the ceiling with a smile on his face. "Good times."

Harry bolted from the office as soon as he saw his grandfather's expression. He didn't want to think about it, despite having a good idea, which made him shudder in horror. He took "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" from the library so he could read it before going to bed.

Dumbledore awoke abruptly, jolting upright in bed, the lingering fragments of a haunting nightmare etched vividly in his mind. His heart raced, and perspiration clung to his skin, but the dream also left him clear-headed for the first time in months. With a sense of urgency, he reached for his wand on the nightstand.

"You are to blame for clouding my mind," Dumbledore muttered. "Who knew the Death Stick could be so dangerous? Even though it hurts to lose such a powerful tool, I cannot allow you to have such a strong influence on my mind."

For the past few months, he had done nothing but work on the grand array that would bring all of his dreams to reality. He had made incredible progress with no other distractions to keep him focused. If he had gotten his hands on the Weasley girl, he might have made even more progress. Still, he hadn't given up on acquiring her and already had a plan in place.

"But is the grand array really my idea, or am I just a puppet?"

It became increasingly difficult to tell at times. The wand had worn him down. What happened to his burning desire to exact revenge on the Potters? His vendetta against the Potters seemed to have waned, a consequence of his compromised state. If he was going to finish what he started before he died, he needed to have all of his mental faculties.

Dumbledore tried to snap the wand, but it resisted his efforts. Frustrated, he stood up from his bed and approached the window. He opened it and threw the wand out. Returning to bed, a sense of relief washed over him. Tomorrow, he would move to another location to completely cut ties with the wand.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he glanced over at the nightstand and nearly had a stroke. The wand lay on the nightstand as if it hadn't been moved at all.

Dumbledore cried out in anguish and confusion.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry meets the Veela Council, and the days count down to the new school year.

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