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Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Harry finishes the Potter Mobile and takes it for a spin on the Hogwarts grounds.
Chapter 84
16th January
Harry wiped the sweat from his brow, a satisfied grin spreading across his face as he surveyed his handiwork. The Potter Mobile stood before him, its sleek lines and magical enhancements a testament to months of hard work.
"Just a few more tweaks," he muttered.
As he worked on the final enchantments, his mind wandered to the whirlwind of events that had unfolded over the past week. The revelation at Gringotts about his potential claim to all four Founders' titles still felt surreal. He remembered the looks of shock on his girlfriends' and friends' faces when he'd broken the news.
Hermione had immediately begun listing out the responsibilities and implications of the inheritances. Daphne, meanwhile, had been more focused on the strategic advantages. She had outlined the reforms they could push through with the Founders' seats on the Wizengamot. In the end, they all agreed that the potential for positive change far outweighs the drawbacks.
Harry chuckled, remembering Blaise's cheeky comment about Harry having a Founder's house for each of his girlfriends. That had led to a speculative discussion about which title would suit each girlfriend best. It wasn't hard to figure out: Hermione was perfect for Ravenclaw, Daphne for Slytherin, Susan for Hufflepuff, and Gabrielle for Gryffindor. When he'd pointed this out, they'd looked mildly annoyed at being so easily categorised.
He had the same discussion with his grandparents about the repercussions. Charlus had been cautiously optimistic, recognising the enormous boost this could give their political alliance. Minerva, on the other hand, had been more concerned about the pressure it would put on Harry.
If he were to take the titles, he would need to choose a proxy for each of the four houses, as he couldn't take his seat until his age of majority. He'd chosen his grandmother as the Gryffindor representative, a decision that had elicited a groan of exasperation from his grandmother.
Harry smiled at the memory as he carefully etched the final rune into the array. His grandmother's reluctance was understandable, but he knew she'd do an excellent job. He still needed to choose representatives for the other houses, but he already had some ideas.
Tomorrow's trip to Gringotts loomed large in his thoughts. Accepting the Founders' titles would be a monumental step. Lauren had already prepared an article for her newspaper, ready to break the news as soon as it became official. They were bracing for the inevitable chaos that would follow.
His mind drifted to the ongoing mystery of the Room of Requirement. Despite keeping a vigilant eye on the Marauder's Map all week, they'd seen no sign of the intruder returning. It was both a relief and a frustration. Had they gotten what they came for, or were they biding their time for another reason? He was considering going to his grandmother with the problem and settling the issue once and for all.
The Providence pocket watches had been a game-changer this week. With the extra time afforded by the temporal domain, Harry had not only completed the three boots but had even managed to improve upon their base functionality. The knowledge gleaned from the Artisan Codex had been invaluable, opening up new possibilities he'd never even considered before.
He needed to talk to Remus about how he would manufacture the new artifacts. Even though he had a workshop prepared to take on another task, he doubted they were prepared for three new artifacts. Either he would need to expand the workshop or set up a new one. In either case, he would need to hire more Enchanters.
As for the rest of his time, his focus was on the Potter Mobile. He'd been working tirelessly to finish it, eager to take it for its maiden voyage. He was going to badger his grandfather to teach him how to drive, and what better place than the Hogwarts grounds?
Harry stepped back, admiring the Hummer. Its dark green exterior seemed to absorb the light around it, though he'd added a colour-changing array at the last minute for versatility. Even without the expansion charms, the vehicle was big and rugged, not something typically associated with flying or submersible capabilities. But with magic, you didn't have to worry about things like aerodynamics.
He opened the driver's side door, settling into the comfortable seat. The dashboard came to life at his touch, magical displays flickering into existence. He ran his fingers over the control panel, double-checking each enchantment to see if there were any problems.
"Flight capabilities, check," he murmured, tapping a series of runes. "Underwater mode, check. Invisibility, check. Shield charms... check."
He activated one of his favourite additions. The entire vehicle shimmered for a moment before seemingly vanishing into thin air.
"Disillusionment charm, definitely check," he chuckled, deactivating it with another tap.
As he continued his final checks, Harry's mind wandered to the Water Vault in the Serpent Lake. With the Potter Mobile's capabilities, reaching it would be easy. Even with the creatures in the lake, its protections should stand up against them long enough to access the vault. The hard part would come after that, as he still didn't know what waited for him inside. Before that happened, though, he needed to put the vehicle through its paces.
After Harry had made his final checks, he declared the vehicle complete. Even if it was made from a car kit, he had put a lot of work into it, so he should receive experience points for it. He still had plenty of ideas for the vehicle, but he didn't have any more capacity for them. He even considered incorporating the new Flux Runes into the vehicle, to see if he could give it sentience like the Ford Angila had spontaneously gained. But that would require too many readjustments, and he was still not competent with the strange runic language.
He retrieved the Source and read the new message waiting for him.
The host has completed the Potter Mobile.
Description: The Potter Mobile exemplifies the fusion of Muggle engineering and wizarding innovation. Built on a Hummer H1 car kit, this remarkable vehicle boasts enchantments that allow it to fly, submerge underwater, and turn invisible at will. Its magically expanded interior offers spacious comfort, while integrated shield charms and protective spells transform it into a mobile fortress. It gives the driver the freedom to go almost anywhere, and do so in style.
General Experience 50000
Mechanical Engineering 3000
Mechanical Engineering has levelled up to three!
Workshop Pomts 500
Workshop Level: 2 Next [9780/10000]
Current Level: 14 Next: 370690/ 500000
Artisan Rank: 765
Renown: 1780
Harry closed the Source with a snap. His progress this week had been remarkable; completing the new artifacts had yielded a substantial amount of general experience, pushing him close to level fifteen. The three parts of the schematic he had earned from previous levels piqued his interest, and he only needed one more level to complete the set.
His Artisan ranking had also improved significantly. He only had a little way to go before he reached the 750th position, which would complete one of the pending tasks. He had so many tasks to complete that crossing one off the list was a relief.
Harry reached for his two-way mirror, eager to contact his grandfather. Surely he wouldn't say no to taking the Potter Mobile for a spin.
Students poured out of the main entrance to take part in the spectacle. At the centre of attention stood the Potter Mobile. Charlus Potter settled into the driver's seat, his usually stern expression showing excitement.
Harry slid into the passenger seat, while his girlfriends settled into the back, their faces revealing their trepidation. Daphne was the most nervous, having only ridden in a car once before.
"Ready for the maiden voyage?" Charlus asked.
"Born ready, Grandfather," Harry replied, casting a glance at the growing crowd of onlookers.
It seemed the entire school had turned out to witness the spectacle. He spotted Professor Flitwick at the front, practically bouncing with excitement.
Charlus revved the engine, eliciting a collective gasp from the audience. The Potter Mobile's engine purred, hinting at the power concealed beneath its rugged exterior. Charlus eased the vehicle forward, taking it easy as he got used to driving again.
Charlus accelerated as they approached the Forbidden Forest's edge, then turned and drove parallel to it. The Potter Mobile's suspension absorbed every bump and dip in the terrain, resulting in a smooth driving experience.
After several exhilarating minutes, Harry couldn't contain himself any longer.
"Fancy giving the flight mode a go, grandfather?" Harry asked.
Charlus shook his head. "I'd rather not risk your grandmother's wrath. Not to mention it's illegal to fly enchanted vehicles in Britain."
Harry nodded, slightly disappointed, but he was already thinking of ways to get around the law. It was a stupid law anyway.
Harry noticed movement coming from the Forbidden Forest. A flash of blue appears between the dark trunks.
"Look out!" he shouted, pointing towards a shape emerging from the trees.
The occupants of the Potter Mobile tensed, but as the blur resolved into a familiar shape, they relaxed.
"It's the Ford Anglia!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "I thought it had been lost in the forest for good."
The battered blue car raced alongside them, its engine roaring in what almost sounded like a challenge. Despite the months in the wild, the Anglia seemed as spirited as ever, weaving between trees with surprising agility.
Susan leaned forward, her hair whipping in the wind from the open window.
"Look at all those arrows," Susan said, pointing at the Ford Anglia's bodywork.
Indeed, the Ford Anglia's blue paint was peppered with dozens of arrows.
Before anyone could speculate on the cause of the car's predicament, the answer emerged from the treeline in a thunderous gallop. A group of Centaurs burst from the forest and galloped alongside the vehicles. Their bows were drawn and arrows nocked, aiming to finish off the blue car.
"Grandfather," Harry said. "I think we'd better stop before this gets out of hand."
Charlus eased off the accelerator and brought the Potter Mobile to a halt. The Centaurs slowed their pace and approached them cautiously.
As Charlus stepped out of the vehicle, hands raised in a gesture of peace, one of the Centaurs moved forward.
"I am Firenze," the Centaur introduced himself. "Why do you bring this contraption to the edge of our forest?"
Charlus frowned. "We stayed out of the forest, so you have no right to complain. But I must ask, why were you pursuing that other car with such enthusiasm?"
Firenze's lips quirked in an almost smile. "The blue beast has been a thorn in our side for months. It crashes through our forest, disturbing our peace and hunting grounds. We've made something of a sport of hunting it, though I must admit, it's proven remarkably resilient."
Harry, who had joined his grandfather outside the vehicle, muttered under his breath, "Well, it did survive the Whomping Willow."
Firenze's keen ears caught the comment, and he turned his piercing gaze on Harry. His eyes narrowed, studying Harry with interest. "You bear the mark of destiny, young Potter. The stars speak often of you."
Before Harry could respond, the Ford Anglia revved its engine and sped back into the depths of the forest. The other Centaurs pawed the ground restlessly, clearly eager to resume the chase.
Firenze held up a hand, staying his companions. He looked at Harry intently, as if weighing a decision. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and filled with portent.
"Harry Potter, a word of caution. There is unrest in our herd. Some are displeased by the humans interfering in our forest."
"You mean the Knights from last year?" Harry asked.
Firenze nodded solemnly, his tail swishing in agitation. "Their incursion has not been forgotten. Some of the herd are angry about human interference, even if they got rid of the Acromantula plaguing the forest."
Harry shrugged. He couldn't argue that the Knights had been intrusive.
Firenze continued. "The stars speak of troubled times ahead. The forest grows restless. Be vigilant, Harry Potter."
Before Harry could press for more information, Firenze turned away. With a signal to his companions, the Centaurs galloped back into the forest.
As the group climbed back into the Potter Mobile, a pensive silence enveloped them. The initial excitement of the maiden voyage had been tempered by Firenze's cryptic warning. Harry settled into his seat, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
The vague nature of Firenze's caution gnawed at Harry. While he couldn't pinpoint its exact significance, his instincts were on high alert. There was an undercurrent of importance to the Centaur's words that he couldn't ignore.
"Well," Charlus said, breaking the tension as he started the engine, "that was certainly more excitement than I bargained for."
"Have you ever seen a herd of Centaurs pursue a sentient car before?" Hermione asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Gabrielle laughed. "It's a new experience for me. Maybe the Ford Anglia is a new breed of creature? I should add it to my creature habitat."
"I have a feeling it likes its freedom," Susan said, giggling. "I don't know how it's survived this long in the Forbidden Forest, but it's certainly impressive."
"It makes your Potter Mobile seem lame in comparison, Harry," Daphne joked. "Better step up your game."
Harry scowled. "Why did I bring you along for the ride?"
17th January
"Lord Potter, Heir Potter" Ragnok greeted them. "I trust you're here to discuss the matter of the Founders' titles?"
Harry stepped forward. "Yes, Director Ragnok. I'm ready to accept the titles, if you could explain exactly what that entails."
Ragnok gestured to the chairs before his desk. "Please, be seated. This may take some time."
The Director leaned back in his chair, his expression growing serious. "Before we proceed with the formal acceptance, there's something you must understand about these titles, Heir Potter."
Harry straightened in his chair, sensing the weight of Ragnok's words. Beside him, Charlus leaned forward, his brow furrowed.
"The Founders' titles are not mere honorifics," Ragnok continued. "They carry with them a sacred duty that extends far beyond the Wizengamot seats. By accepting these titles, you will become more than just an Heir. You will become the Warden of Hogwarts."
"The Warden?"
Ragnok nodded gravely. "As the Warden, you will be bound to the castle in ways even the Headmaster is not. You will be responsible for protecting and nurturing Hogwarts until your death."
"What exactly does that entail?"
"It means that you will be intrinsically linked to the very magic of Hogwarts. You will be called upon to defend it in times of danger, to heal it when it's wounded, and to guide it as it grows and changes with the times."
Charlus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "That's a tremendous responsibility, Harry. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Harry took a deep breath. It was a heavy responsibility, but one that he was already carrying. Thanks to the incident with Merlin, he was the cornerstone of the wards' proper operation. He had no idea how to go about separating himself from the wards. So, even if he wanted to, he couldn't avoid responsibility. This could be why he was allowed to inherit the titles in the first place. If he was going to be responsible anyway, he might as well accept the benefits that came with it.
"What happens if I don't accept?" Harry asked.
Ragnok's expression softened slightly. "Then the titles will remain unclaimed. Hogwarts will continue as it has for the past millennium, under the care of its Headmasters and staff. But it will not have the protection and guidance of a Warden, as the Founders intended."
Harry closed his eyes for a moment, centring himself. When he opened them, there was a new determination in his gaze. "I understand the responsibility, Director Ragnok. And I accept it. If I can protect and nurture it in return, then that's what I'll do."
"Very well. Then let us proceed with the formal acceptance of the titles."
The goblin produced an ancient-looking scroll and unrolled it on his desk.
"Place your hand on the parchment and repeat after me," Ragnok instructed. "I, Harry James Potter, do hereby accept the titles and responsibilities as the Heir of Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. I swear to uphold the duty of the Warden, to protect and nurture Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, from this day until my last."
Harry took a deep breath, placed his hand on the parchment, and began to speak. As he recited the oath, he felt a surge of magic course through him, starting from where his hand touched the parchment and spreading throughout his body.
As he spoke the final words, Harry felt something shift within him, as if a new awareness had bloomed in his mind. For a brief moment, he could sense Hogwarts in the distance, a warm, pulsing presence full of life and magic.
The parchment glowed brightly, then four seals appeared at the bottom—a lion, a badger, an eagle, and a snake.
"It is done," Ragnok announced. "You are now officially the Heir to all four Founders and the Warden of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Harry slumped back in his seat, hardly believing he had done it. Was it too late to take it back? Charlus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder as if sensing his inner turmoil.
As they settled into the plush chairs, Ragnok pulled out a ledger. "Each of the Founders' titles carries with it a legacy seat in the Wizengamot. But these aren't ordinary seats—each title grants you four votes, for a total of sixteen."
Harry's eyes widened at this revelation, and he felt his grandfather stiffen beside him. Sixteen votes in the Wizengamot was an unprecedented amount of influence for a single individual.
Ragnok continued, his long fingers tracing the lines in the ledger. "However, as you're not of age, you'll need to name proxies for these seats until you reach your majority. These proxies must not already hold seats on the Wizengamot."
Harry had already decided on who would be his proxies. He glanced at his grandfather, who gave him an encouraging nod.
"For the Gryffindor seats," Harry began, "I'd like to name my grandmother, Minerva McGonagall-Potter, as the proxy."
Ragnok made a note on a piece of parchment, the scratch of his quill loud in the quiet room. "An excellent choice. And for the others?"
"For Ravenclaw, I'd like to name Remus Lupin."
There was a moment of silence. Ragnok's quill hesitated over the parchment, and Charlus inhaled sharply.
Undeterred, Harry pressed on. "For Hufflepuff, I'd like to name Nymphadora Tonks. And for Slytherin, Violet Rosier."
Ragnok finished writing, then looked up at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Interesting choices, Heir Potter. Particularly Mr Lupin."
Harry turned to his grandfather, uncertainty creeping into his voice for the first time. "Is that allowed?"
Charlus sighed, running a hand through his greying hair. "Technically, yes. But Harry, you must understand—there will be significant backlash for naming a werewolf to such a position. The more conservative members of the Wizengamot won't take kindly to it."
Harry's jaw set in determination. "I don't care. Remus is one of the most intelligent and fair-minded people I know. He deserves this opportunity."
Charlus couldn't help but smile at his grandson's resolve. "Very well. We'll weather the storm together."
Ragnok cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "Now, regarding the inheritances associated with these titles. Each Founder's legacy includes not a bank vault, but a property that had been hidden away. I don't know if they left anything else behind, but the properties would likely hold any heirlooms or gold. If there is gold, I would appreciate it if vaults were opened for the Founders so we can start profiting from it."
The goblin reached into his desk and withdrew a small, ornate box. He opened it carefully, revealing four rings nestled in velvet.
"These," Ragnok said, "are the Founders' rings. They serve as both symbols of your new titles and function as portkeys to each of the Founders' hidden properties."
Harry leaned forward, examining the rings closely. Each was distinct and seemed to embody the essence of its respective Founder:
"Gryffindor's ring."
The first was a heavy gold ring with a ruby the size of a small pebble. Tiny lions were etched into the gold band, their eyes glinting with minuscule diamonds.
"Hufflepuff's ring."
The second had a large, round amber stone with delicate badgers carved into it.
"Ravenclaw's ring."
The third was a delicate silver ring with a sapphire. Tiny eagles were engraved on the band, with their wings spread.
"And finally," Ragnok said, " this is Slytherin's ring."
The final ring was made of white gold, set with an emerald, The band was fashioned to look like a serpent eating its own tail.
Harry reached out to touch the rings. As his fingers brushed against them, he felt a spark of magic, as if the rings recognised him.
"You may wear them if you wish," Ragnok said. "They will resize to fit you perfectly. You need to twist the ring and speak the house name to activate the portkey. It will only work for you, but you may take over with you."
With all four rings on his fingers, Harry felt more connected to the Founders and to Hogwarts itself than he ever had before. It was as if he could feel the weight of their legacy, their hopes and dreams for the future of magical education.
"I think that's enough for today," Charlus said, getting to his feet. He could sense how overwhelmed Harry was at the moment. "Why don't we grab an ice cream from Fortescues before we return to Hogwarts? I won't tell your grandmother if you won't."
"Grandmother will know," Harry said. "She always knows."
"Keeps me on my toes," Charlus replied with a smile.
18h January
The Great Hall hummed with the usual morning cacophony as students filtered in for breakfast. The enchanted ceiling above mirrored a crisp autumn sky, wisps of clouds drifting lazily across its expanse.
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, surrounded by his friends. He absentmindedly twisted the Founders' rings on his fingers, still marvelling at their weight. The enchantments allowed him to make them invisible, which he had done, but it would soon be unnecessary once the news spread.
"You look like you barely slept," Hermione observed.
Harry gave a rueful smile. "That obvious, huh? I kept waking up, thinking it was all a dream."
Daphne, sitting across from him, raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's about to become very real. Are you ready for this?"
Before Harry could respond, the familiar sound of fluttering wings filled the air as the morning owl post arrived. A veritable storm of owls descended upon the tables, dropping letters and packages off to the students. But it was the newspapers that caught everyone's attention. The headline of the Veritaserum, emblazoned in bold letters, caused an immediate hush to fall over the Hall.
HARRY POTTER CLAIMS TITLES OF ALL FOUR HOGWARTS FOUNDERS
The silence lasted for a heartbeat before erupting into a flurry of whispers and exclamations. Harry picked up his copy of the paper. He began to read the article written by Lauren, aware of the curious and sometimes incredulous glances being cast his way.
As Harry finished reading the article, he looked up to find the entire Hall staring at him. The weight of so many eyes felt almost physical, pressing down on him from all sides.
"Well," Susan said softly from his left, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, "I guess the cat's out of the bag now."
The noise level in the Great Hall rose to a near-deafening pitch, with students from all houses craning their necks to get a better look at Harry.
"Is it true, Harry?" Colin Creevey shouted from further down the table.
Before Harry could respond, students from all houses began approaching the Gryffindor table. Questions flew from all directions, each one louder than the last as students competed to be heard.
"Can you really control Hogwarts now?" a wide-eyed Hufflepuff second-year asked, her voice squeaking with excitement.
"Are you going to change the school rules?" shouted a hopeful-looking Ravenclaw.
The crowd around Harry grew, with students pushing and jostling to get closer. The air grew thick with the press of bodies and the rising volume of voices. Harry felt his chest tighten, the beginnings of panic setting in as the space around him shrunk.
His girlfriends, sensing his discomfort, formed a protective circle around him.
"Give him some space!" Hermione shouted, trying to establish some order. But her voice was lost in the growing chaos.
Harry's friends rallied around him too. Neville stood shoulder to shoulder with Daphne, his usually gentle demeanour replaced by a stern frown. Luna's dreamy voice cut through the clamour, spouting something about Nargles being attracted to magical rings, which confused enough people to create a small bubble of calm.
Blaise, ever the tactician, had manoeuvred himself to Harry's back, effectively blocking anyone from approaching from that direction.
"Merlin's beard, Potter," he muttered, "you sure know how to liven up the morning."
Just as the situation seemed about to spiral completely out of control, a loud bang echoed through the Hall, silencing everyone. All heads turned to the staff table, where Headmaster Flitwick stood on his chair, his wand raised. Despite his small stature, the power radiating from him was palpable, reminding everyone that he was a former duelling champion.
"Students, please return to your seats immediately," Flitwick's magically amplified voice rang out, bouncing off the stone walls.
As the students reluctantly returned to their tables, shooting glances back at Harry, Flitwick continued, "I understand that this morning's news is exciting, but we must maintain order. Yes, the reports about Mr Potter's new status are true. However, this does not change the day-to-day operations of Hogwarts."
Flitwick looked directly at Harry. "Mr Potter will continue his studies as normal, and I expect all of you to treat him as you always have—as a fellow student."
Murmurs rippled through the Hall at this, students exchanging sceptical looks. How could they treat him normally when he was now, essentially, the Heir to Hogwarts itself?
Flitwick raised his hand for silence, the simple gesture immediately quieting the whispers. "That being said, we at Hogwarts are honoured to have the Heir of all four Founders among us. This is a historic moment for our school, and I'm sure we will all watch with great interest as Mr Potter grows into his new role."
As Flitwick sat down, the Hall once again burst into excited chatter, but this time students remained in their seats.
Harry felt relief as he turned back to his friends. He noticed that even the staff table was abuzz with discussion.
"Well," Daphne said. "I hope you're ready for this, Potter. It looks like your life just got a lot more complicated."
"Yeah. I guess it has."
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry prepares to tackle the Water Vault.
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