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 and Hermione go on their first date and he travels to Finland for the artisan competition.

Chapter 79

With a flash of flames, Harry and Hermione arrived in an empty bedroom. Hermione stumbled, unused to the method of travel, but Harry grabbed her arm before she could tumble to the ground. Fawkes trilled at them, before flaming away. He would be back to pick them up when they were finished for the day.

Hermione offered a grateful smile as she steadied herself. "Where are we?"

"The Leaky Cauldron," Harry said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the door. "We're at the Leaky Cauldron. I asked Tom if we could use one of his rooms as an arrival point to avoid drawing too much attention."

Exiting the room, they made their way downstairs, where they exchanged pleasantries with Tom before stepping out into the bustling Diagon Alley. Despite it being New Year's Day, the alley was abuzz with activity, Hogwarts students scurrying about to grab last-minute supplies before returning to school. As they strolled down the cobblestone path, they noticed a few familiar faces casting curious glances at their interlocked hands.

Hermione looked down at their joined hands, perplexed as to how such a simple gesture could feel so intimate. Even more so than seeing Gabrielle giving him a blow job. It did, however, give her a perverse sense of pleasure. She was unfamiliar with the sensation of arousal, as her newly awakened hormones caused her to imagine what it would be like to be in Gabrielle's position. While she wasn't ready for that level of intimacy, she was certainly thinking about it, as well as other intimate acts they could do together.

"We are going to have lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, but it is still hours away," Harry said, noticing her strange expression and wondering what she was thinking. "The rest of the day is in the air. What do you want to do first?"

"I think we should start by visiting the Daily Prophet. We need to search the archives for any mention of the resistance group."

"Do you think there will be anything in them?" Harry asked, his brow furrowed with doubt. "There was only one mention of the group in the copies of the newspaper Luna's father gave us."

"Yes, but the Quibbler was still primarily focused on writing odd articles, despite the ongoing war," Hermione replied, making a face.

She wasn't particularly fond of the newspaper's content, except for articles about some of the magical creatures. "The Daily Prophet was meticulously reporting on the war, with surprising accuracy - a stark contrast to the current state of affairs, where exaggerations and falsehoods are rampant."

"Will they even give us the copies?"

Hermione produced a pouch of galleons from her pocket. "I believe a little persuasion with some gold should do the trick."

"Fair enough," Harry conceded. "But I'll foot the bill. This research is about finding Lewis, so it's only right that I take care of the expenses."

Hermione didn't argue, which surprised him. He expected a protest but she simply conceded without saying anything.

"Why do I feel like the galleons will be spent on books?" Harry teased as he came to a realisation.

"Well, that's an obvious conclusion to draw," Hermione said primly, ignoring his snickering. "Even though I made a few thousand galleons from the items we sold in the Room of Hidden Things, my parents insisted that I save it, and I still have to stick to a strict budget. Do you know how many books are still begging to be purchased?"

Harry laughed. "I've heard stories about your book collection. They probably don't want your bedroom floor to collapse from the weight of all the books you have stuffed in your bookshelves. I should have looked at your room while we were at your house, but someone was in a hurry."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You just wanted to get me alone in my room to do some naughty things."

"True, but I wouldn't call it naughty," Harry said, waggling his eyebrows.

"My mother would have made me keep my bedroom door open."

Harry's eyes widened. "You mean she likes to watch? Now I understand where you get it from. A family of voyeurs, huh?"

"Harry!" Hermione gasped. "I'm not a voyeur!"

"Even if you were, I wouldn't mind," Harry replied, leaning in and whispering to her. "I wasn't even embarrassed when I realised you were watching me. Actually, I was really—"

Hermione punched his arm, her cheeks flushing furiously. "Enough, Harry!"

"You are just like my girlfriends," Harry muttered, rubbing his arm. "When I make them mad, they get punchy."

Hermione nodded. "Good for them."

Harry noticed the artisan guild ahead of them and remembered that he needed to go see the guildmaster.

"Do you mind if we make a quick stop at the artisan guild?" Harry asked.

"I don't mind."

Upon entering the guild's reception area, they spotted Alphonso and Tonks engrossed in conversation at the front desk. Tonks' hair turned red when she saw Harry and Hermione holding hands.

"Harry, you rascal!" Tonks exclaimed, rushing over to them. "What's the meaning of this? Is there a secret girlfriend that the other girls don't know about?"

"Of course, they know," Harry replied. "What do you take me for?"

Tonks feigned a dramatic swoon, holding a hand to her forehead. "Oh, Harry, how could you break my heart like this? Didn't you promise me that if there was to be a fourth, I would be your first pick?"

Hermione nudged Harry. "What is she talking about?"

Tonks grinned. "It was a dark and stormy night, and in a moment of weakness, I grabbed Harry and we leaned—"

"Shut up, Tonks. She just loves to stir up trouble," Harry explained to Hermione, rolling his eyes at her antics.

Alphonso approached them with his usual enthusiasm, greeting Harry warmly. "Hello, Harry! Are you ready for the competition?"

"Alphonso," Harry replied with a nod. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. What did you need to speak to me about?"

Alphonso pulled out a parchment from his robes. "I received a guild commission specifically asking for your expertise to complete it."

Harry smiled. "That's a first for me. Am I finally getting recognition for my work?"

"It's a bit unusual. Take a look."

Harry took the parchment from Alphonso and started reading it.

Guild Commission: Challenge for Harry Potter

Greetings Harry Potter,

I extend a challenge to you to craft a bow artifact. The artifact must be made from Yew wood, and be imbued with an arrow flight enchantment that enhances both the speed and force of the arrow. You may add other enchantments as you wish, as long as they don't affect the stability of the bow.

You are granted a time frame of one year to complete this task. If you fail to meet the deadline, your commission fee will be forfeited. The bow you craft will be yours to keep, as it may prove invaluable in your future endeavours. Upon successful completion of this challenge, you will be rewarded with 5000 galleons, and reveal the location of the Wind Vault. It has come to my attention that you are seeking them out. A brave fellow indeed!

G.

Harry felt a chill run down his spine. "What the hell?"

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

Harry wordlessly handed her the parchment.

Who knew he was looking for the cursed vaults, besides his friends? Could Jacob have told somebody? That didn't seem likely. The ghost wanted Harry to help him access the vaults, so he would have told him about it in the same way he did with the water vault, rather than in this roundabout manner.

Harry was caught up in a dilemma. Although he was interested in discovering the location of the wind vault, he disliked the fact that this person knew so much about him. Could he take this offer at face value or did the person have hidden motives?

Harry looked at Alphonso. "Did the person deliver the commission in person?"

Alphonso shook his head. "They sent it by owl, and the funds have already been deposited in the guild's account. It appears to be legitimate."

"But I haven't accepted the request," Harry pointed out.

Alphonso reassured him, "In that case, I will hold onto the galleons until the time limit expires, then return them to the depositor. The goblins will guarantee that, even if they won't reveal the person's identity."

"You should consider completing the request," Hermione interjected. "Even if they reveal the location of the wind vault, you're under no obligation to act on it. You'll still be compensated for your efforts."

"That's true enough," Harry agreed. "But it makes me curious. Who would give up such important information? Why didn't they explore the vault themselves? Could it be that the person is actually…"

He trailed off, realising that Alphonso was still listening in on their conversation. Hermione caught on to who he was going to mention, and refrained from speaking his name.

"It's a possibility," Hermione acknowledged. "Or perhaps they were unwilling to risk their own safety."

"Maybe."

"Are you planning to accept the commission?" Alphonso asked.

"I suppose so," Harry said. "Though it may take some time to complete."

Leaving the guild behind, Harry and Hermione made their way to the Daily Prophet, a short distance away. Stepping into the building, Hermione approached the receptionist—a young woman with blonde hair and a hint of eagerness in her eyes.

"Not much excitement today," the receptionist said, eyeing Hermione expectantly. "Got any juicy news to share? I'm an aspiring reporter, you know?"

Hermione stared at the receptionist, bemused. "No news to share, but I have a rather unusual request. I'd like copies of every newspaper printed during the first wizarding war."

"The newspapers are kept in the archives," the receptionist explained. "You aren't permitted access to them."

Harry stepped forward and threw a bag of galleons onto the desk. "Then we will pay you to make copies for us."

"Harry Potter!" The receptionist's eyes widened in recognition, and she sprang to her feet, rushing around the desk to shake his hand enthusiastically. "I'm Betsy. It's an honour to meet you. Could I trouble you for your autograph?"

Harry's eyes darted to Hermione for help, but she merely watched with an amused smirk, leaving him to navigate the situation on his own. Reluctantly, he obliged, signing the parchment Betsy presented to him.

Once the excitement had subsided, they reiterated their request for newspaper copies. Betsy eagerly seized the galleon pouch. "Return in a few hours, and I'll have the copies ready for you."

With a mix of relief and bemusement, Harry and Hermione exited the building.

"I bet you could have convinced her to do it for free," Hermione teased, chuckling at the encounter. "If you had turned on the charm a bit more."

"I highly doubt it. Did you see the greed in her eyes when she took the galleons?" Harry said. "Where to next?"

Hermione's face lit up with excitement. "Let's head over to Flourish and Blotts."

"Well, that was a silly question, wasn't it?"

After thoroughly exploring the bustling alley, Harry and Hermione made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione's eyes widened in surprise as Tom led them up the stairs to a small, cosy dining room that offered a more intimate setting.

"I reserved the room," Harry explained with a warm smile. "I thought it would be nicer than sitting downstairs with everyone staring at us. We could have gone to a fancy restaurant, but I didn't want to make our first date too formal."

Hermione nodded. "You know me too well. Thank you for being considerate, Harry."

Tom handed them each a lunch menu, beaming toothily. "Just tap on the items you'd like to order, and I'll have it up here in no time."

As they placed their orders, they engaged in light conversation, savouring the anticipation of their meal. Deliberately steering clear of discussing their budding relationship, they simply enjoyed each other's company. Harry was pleasantly surprised by the ease with which he could converse with Hermione, even with the new unspoken connection between them.

"Are you going to tell me why Fawkes has changed so dramatically?" Hermione inquired curiously. "He seems so much larger and more vibrant now."

"He's been keeping mum about it, despite my pestering," Harry confessed. "All he mentioned was some cryptic thing about being forbidden to reveal anything. I suspect it might have to do with the Origin flame that Solas briefly mentioned during our time in Greece."

Hermione chuckled. "It's amusing to think that phoenixes have their own hidden society. Does his transformation grant him any new abilities?"

"Besides his more potent flames?" Harry pondered. "He mostly remains in his usual form but can shift into his larger size at will. Other than that, I haven't noticed any significant changes."

Their meals arrived, and they dug into the delicious spread. Harry couldn't help but notice a bit of sauce lingering at the corner of Hermione's lips. Without a second thought, he reached over, gently wiped it away with his thumb, and licked it clean.

Hermione's breath hitched. "Harry, no seducing me during our meal. It's rather improper."

"Not if you are the one being served up for me to feast on," Harry said, his voice dropping.

Hermione rose from her seat and settled herself on his lap. "I'm not quite ready for anything serious, but I wouldn't mind a kiss.

Harry was taken aback by her boldness, but he welcomed the opportunity. Gently grasping her waist, he drew her closer until their lips nearly touched. She felt wonderful in his embrace.

"I can certainly oblige," he murmured.

He brushed a strand of hair out of her face leaning in slowly, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. She returned it awkwardly, her inexperience obvious, but not lacking in enthusiasm. Harry was patient, instructing her on the art of kissing. As the warmth of their embrace and the spark between them intensified, Hermione deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Feeling a surge of desire, Harry struggled to contain his arousal, his body responding eagerly to her closeness.

"Open your mouth," Harry said softly against her lips. "Professor Potter is going to teach you how to kiss in French."

She agreed, and he thrust his tongue into her mouth to duel with hers, their breaths mingling. Hermione groaned, clearly enjoying the new sensation, and began the new lesson with renewed enthusiasm.

After a minute of this pleasurable sensation, Harry reluctantly drew back, his breathing ragged. "We should stop before things escalate further. I might end up teaching you more than you bargained for."

Hermione fluttered her lashes playfully. "But there's so much more to learn, Professor Potter."

Harry snorted. "Do you have a teacher kink, perhaps?"

"Absolutely not!" Hermione blushed. "You started it with the 'Professor Potter' business."

"And you responded so beautifully."

Hermione ignored him, climbing out of his lap and returning to her seat. She tidied her hair, which had become messy from Harry's fingers running through it.

Harry checked the time. "I should probably get you back home before my grandmother starts searching for me."

"Thank you for the lovely meal, Harry," Hermione said. "I had a wonderful time."

"Me too," Harry replied. "We can do this again when I return to Hogwarts."

"It's odd that the competition clashes with the Hogwarts schedule," Hermione remarked.

Harry shrugged. "I'm not complaining."

He signalled Fawkes through their bond for him to pick them up. Fawkes appeared, but with a playful gesture covering his eyes with his wing, implying embarrassment.

"What is he doing?" Hermione asked.

Harry received a mental image from Fawkes, and he shot the phoenix an unamused look. "We weren't up to anything scandalous, I assure you."

Another mental image appeared, this time showing him entangled in bed with his girlfriends. "It was your fault for flaming into my room without permission. I should be the one embarrassed, not you!"

Fawkes trilled in amusement.

2nd January

Harry stood in the empty field with his grandfather and Dobby standing beside him. The remnants of the old Potter Mansion were completely gone, leaving them with an empty canvas to build the mansion to be bigger and better than before.

He had received two new tasks after arriving at the Potter grounds, both of which were centred around building the Potter mansion.

Task #17 - Enhance the wardstone to better protect the Potter property.

General experience earned 300000; (Rifts: Unravelling the Mystery ) book.

Task #18: Assist in rebuilding the mansion to its former glory.

General experience earned; variable based on contribution.

Harry had no experience drawing runes for ward schemes, but he was confident that he could grasp the concept with his current abilities. He was fully invested in ensuring that their family's property wasn't breached again, and their manner destroyed. He was determined to strengthen their defences and make it extremely difficult for any potential attackers.

A plethora of supplies lay before them, sufficient to construct a substantial portion of the mansion's defences. However, one crucial component was conspicuously absent.

"Where's the ward stone?" Harry asked.

"It lies beneath our feet," Charlus responded. With a flick of his wand, the ground parted before them, revealing a deep hole that descended over a hundred feet.

Harry peered down. At the bottom of the hole, there was a spatial rift, its colours twisting and distorting as they interacted with its surroundings. Suspended above it was a massive wardstone held by chains that were roughly half the size of his Hummer. In terms of ward stones, it was quite impressive.

"Have you already inscribed the necessary runes on it?" Harry inquired.

"It came with some pre-existing runes," Charlus explained. "Ragnok acquired it from a family who had defaulted on their debts to Gringotts, resulting in the seizure of their ancestral manor."

Harry wrinkled his brow. "It must be reconfigured to meet the needs of the Potter Mansion while also recognising our magic. Do you have the schematics for the old wardstone?"

Charlus took a folded parchment out of his robes and handed it to him. "Would you like to work on the wardstone? I intended to handle it myself, but I lack the expertise in this area."

"I'll take care of it. Let me handle the modifications and customisation. We need this wardstone to be flawless in its defence of our home."

Harry unfolded the parchment, which ended up being even larger than his body. He laid it on the ground and put some rocks in the corners to keep it from flying away.

After delving into the intricate schematic, Harry experienced a wave of dizziness, overwhelmed by the design's sheer complexity. Countless arrays were meticulously arranged in intricate patterns, maximising space utilisation to increase the number and complexity of the wards they could accommodate.

Wardstones, unlike enchanted items, were not self-contained systems with predefined functions; rather, they worked externally to power a property's protective wards. There were two main types: one created an artificial rift to protect a smaller estate, and the other interacted with an existing rift, providing a more powerful but volatile magic source. The wardstone at Hogwarts Castle was an example of the latter.

Their wardstone fell into the latter category, designed to leverage the existing rift beneath the Potter Mansion. Given the rift's size, it promised a substantial magical reservoir, allowing Harry to expand the arrays for enhanced protection.

As he continued to study it, he began to notice some patterns that gave him a better understanding of the overall design. It became less intimidating as he began to break it down into more manageable pieces.

"This wardstone surpasses the old one in size," Charlus remarked, breaking Harry's concentration. "You should be able to add on to it. Can you do it?"

"I will need to look into it further," Harry admitted. "But I have already got a basic understanding of the layout. I have no idea who designed this wardstone schematic, but it's a work of art. It's going to take some effort to improve it."

"It was designed by one of our ancestors," Charlus told him. "Ignatius Potter. He was a well-known enchanter back in his day. His journals are kept in the Potter Vault. I intended to use them as a reference to help me inscribe the arrays."

Harry rose slowly, a surge of indignation building within him. "You mean to say you've known about this invaluable treasure trove of knowledge all along and kept it from me?"

Charlus scratched his cheek sheepishly. "It slipped my mind entirely."

Harry opened his mouth several times but was unable to say anything. Instead, he cursed his grandfather mentally, inventing every insult he could think of.

"Stop what you are thinking right now," Charlus said, narrowing his eyes. "Your expression gives it away."

Harry inhaled deeply and spoke with gritted teeth. "I would appreciate it if you took me to Gringotts so I could get Ignatius' journals."

5th January

Harry spent the next few days reading Ignatius Potter's journals and sifting through the Daily Prophets newspapers for information on the resistance group with the golden dragon symbol. Hermione and he had divided the task, each taking half of the newspapers. As usual, she was far ahead of him and had already finished her share, but she had nothing significant to report. There were a few anecdotes, but nothing that revealed their identity.

He made a small breakthrough when he found a witness account of the resistance group rescuing some Muggleborns. The individual witnessed the group wielding small devices, which prompted a realisation. He recalled Argus Filch telling him about Lewis' device, which allowed him to perform some magic. Was it possible that the resistance group was composed of Squibs? If this were true, it would be a hilarious situation. Just imagine the Death Eaters' faces if they realised they had been thwarted by Squibs.

In any case, it provided him with direction to continue his search for Lewis. If he could find information on any known Squibs that were around at the time, he might come across one who was a member. But that would have to wait until he was less busy.

Harry enjoyed reading Ignatius' journals because they contained a wealth of invaluable information in all aspects of enchanting. Even though the journals were written several hundred years ago, they remained valuable. There were many things that were just as relevant today as they were then.

What piqued his interest was the proprietary information. He now had access to a wide range of sequences, arrays, schematics, and runic tools that had not been shared outside of the Potter family. As the days passed, his knowledge grew rapidly, and he began drawing his wardstone schematic, combining the previous one with his observations and ideas.

It was a tall order, so he was unlikely to complete it anytime soon. Drawing a functional schematic was a herculean task in and of itself, but he had to run dozens of tests before even considering inscribing it on the wardstone itself. An old schematic could be removed by carefully polishing the wardstone, but the number of times he could do so was limited. If he messed up, the wardstone may never be usable again.

A day before leaving for Finland for the artisan competition, Harry went to his second workshop with Fawkes to check on the progress of the Allure Suppressant Necklaces. The ability to travel instantly was a huge advantage. Not only was it convenient, but it was also secure because no one could intercept him.

Bastien greeted him at the door. "Mr Potter, this is unexpected. Please come in."

"Call me Harry," he said as he entered the building.

Bastien was a male Veela in his early twenties with a great gift for enchanting. Instead of living his life within the constraints of the conclave, he desired to forge his own path. Harry decided to put him in charge of the workshop, despite Seraphine and Remus' advice not to. So far, Remus hadn't complained, and he even praised Bastien for running a tight ship, which validated Harry's decision.

He was led into the main room, where several stations were set up, each with an Enchanter bent over, hard at work. Harry observed them for a minute and noted that they were all skilled at their jobs, working accurately and quickly. He had taught them how to transform the internal structure of the sea essence, which they had quickly mastered.

"How many are you producing per day?" Harry asked.

"Thirty-five," Bastion announced proudly. "Once we practised enough, we became more efficient."

Harry was pleasantly surprised. He mentally calculated how long it would take to complete all five thousand necklaces. If they continued at this pace, they would be finished in five months. It was much quicker than he had predicted.

"Well done," Harry said. "Have you considered what you want to do next? I have some new artifacts that are almost ready to go, and I expect them to hit the market at some point. But is there something that you wanted to make?"

Bastion shook his head. "I am working on an artifact, but it won't be ready for some time. I will continue working on your projects and gain more experience."

"Okay," Harry replied. He looked around, happy that his workshop was running so well. "Before I go, have you noticed anything strange?"

Bastian tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Anyone outside the property paying a little too much attention to it," Harry clarified. "Or attempts to breach the wards."

"There is nothing like that. But I am keeping a close eye on things."

"That's a relief. Remember to use the escape tunnel as soon as someone breaches the wards. I don't want anything happening to you guys."

Bastion smiled. "I promise."

6th January

As the carriage crested the hill, Harry's eyes landed on the avenue where the under-eighteen competition was to be held. It was a majestic castle, perched atop a verdant hill, its towering turrets reaching towards the sky. The castle's ancient stone walls are adorned with intricate carvings and tapestries.

The venue for the competition had changed. Originally, it was scheduled to take place at the artisan's headquarters, but the location was changed last minute. The guild leaders wanted to add some grandeur to the competition, going to great lengths to ensure it remained relevant. The castle was located west of Helsinki and was warded to keep Muggles away.

"This scenery evokes some nostalgic memories," Sheena sighed. "The castle is typically used as a training ground for apprentice knights. I was here for two years and spent the majority of my breaks perched on the ramparts, gazing at the surrounding hillsides."

Charlus grunted. "It's a castle. It was designed for warfare, not for the scenery."

"I will never understand how Minerva tolerated your old crusty ass," Sheena snorted.

Harry laughed. "Grandmother can't be bothered to go out and find someone better. She has already put in too much effort to train him."

"Very funny. Why did I come with you again?" Charlus growled.

"Because grandmother told you to," Harry answered.

Sheena imitated cracking a whip, and Charlus ignored them from there on out.

She had managed to get a replacement for her duties at Hogwarts for the two days that the competition ran. There was no way she was going to miss Harry's debut on the world stage, where all eyes would be on him. Sheena was dressed in her armour, as both she and Charlus were acting as his bodyguards. With the constant threat of Obsidian present, they didn't want to take any chances of anything going wrong.

The carriage entered a grand courtyard in the heart of the castle, with its cobblestone ground polished to a sheen. At the centre of the courtyard stands a magnificent fountain. Statues of mythical creatures and ancient wizards and witches surrounded the fountain, their eyes appearing to track the artisans' movements as they gathered for the competition.

Clusters of workstations dotted the courtyard, each meticulously outfitted with the materials, tools, and ingredients needed to complete the tasks assigned to the participants. Harry got excited when he saw them. Soon, he would compete against dozens of young artisans from across Europe.

They disembarked from the carriage, and a man dressed in elaborate robes with the symbol of the artisan guild on his chest.

The man greeted them, "Good morning. I'm Henri. I work in the administrative division of the artisans' guild headquarters. Are you participating in the competition, young man? May I have your name?"

"Harry Potter."

Henri's expression changed, and his smile grew wider. "Ah, it's nice to meet you, Mr Potter. I have heard of your exploits from Alphonso."

"I just bet you have," Harry said. "When does the competition start?"

"This afternoon," Henri answered. "Because the competition is two days long, we have provided all of the participants with rooms in the castle. Let me escort you to them."

As someone brushed past him, nearly causing him to stumble, Harry shot a fierce glare at the older boy, who continued without a word of apology.

A sudden hand on his shoulder made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Curious about the source of these unsettling vibes, he turned to see an elderly man staring down at him. Harry initially detected a hint of malevolence in the man's gaze, but it vanished so quickly that he wondered if he had imagined it.

"I apologise for my student's behaviour," the old man spoke, his smile seemingly benign. "He must have forgotten his manners."

"I'm fine," Harry replied, brushing off the man's hand from his shoulder. "No need to worry."

Hurrying to catch up with his grandfather, Harry glanced back at the old man, only to discover him observing intently. He made a mental note to steer clear of the man for the next couple of days. Harry trusted his instincts implicitly, and they were signalling danger in this encounter.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry participates in the competition.

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