Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru is here with another chapter of Arch Mage, the Path of Magic! With the Triwizard Tournament complete, and Fourth Year coming to an end, it’s time for Harry and friends to enjoy their summer break. But aside from spending time with each other and their families, everyone is going to be a bit busy with various projects. With Lucius having bolstered Fudge’s denial of Voldemort’s return, friction will only increase between Fudge and Dumbledore and we all know that Voldemort isn’t the only one with a heartless sycophant that serves them.
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Chapter 48 – Summer of Discovery
The Leaving Feast was notably toned down from its normal jubilation. While there had been some cheers when Hufflepuff had won the House Cup, Dumbledore’s speech about the return of Voldemort weighed heavily on most of the students. It had been a couple of days since then, but the sudden return of the Dark Lord wasn’t something that anyone had expected or could easily wrap their heads around.
There were those that believed Dumbledore’s words, and those that doubted them, and even those that thought the old headmaster was lying for one reason or another. Several of Harry’s Ravenclaw friends and housemates had asked Harry what had happened after Dumbledore’s announcement and Harry had simply told the truth. That had convinced almost everyone in Ravenclaw that Voldemort—or at least someone pretending to be the Dark Lord—was indeed slinking about in the shadows and preparing to cause harm to Magical Britain. A few Ravenclaw Seventh Year students that had just graduated were now quietly looking into apprenticeships abroad so that they could get out of the country, just in case.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you this summer, Harry.” Fleur told her boyfriend with a warm smile, not letting the dampened mood of the Great Hall affect her. “I’ll have a Mastery to show you soon enough.”
Harry smiled back at Fleur. “Oh? Did you finally decide on which one you wanted to pursue?”
Fleur nodded with a cute grin. “Charms Mastery first, then a Transfiguration Mastery as well, I think.” She could take exams for both at the Ministry in Paris over the summer. While many went through an apprenticeship for a couple of years after graduation to assure their success in the exams that the French Ministry required to earn the title of Master; Fleur was more than confident that she could earn her Mastery right out of Beauxbatons.
“I guess we’ll be calling you Sorceress Delacour next time we see you then?” Luna smiled brightly at Fleur.
“Of course.” Fleur said in a faux haughty tone as she flipped her hair slightly.
That got most of their group to crack up into laughter together which notably lightened the mood at the Ravenclaw table.
It also confused more than a few of the students—including the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students—since laughter from Harry, who had supposedly fought the Dark Lord, didn’t seem like a proper reaction at this time. It would lead a few more people to believe that Dumbledore’s claims of the Dark Lord’s return were at the very least exaggerated, widening the already growing schism between the people that believed, didn’t believe, and those that weren’t sure either way.
“I’m looking forward to showing you around the magical side of France as well, Hermione.” Fleur said with a warm smile for the other girl.
“Y-Yes, I’m looking forward to it too, Fleur.” Hermione said, barely suppressing a squeak when she felt Fleur’s foot gently trail up her leg under the table. The smoldering eyes that Fleur looked at her with made Hermione shift in her seat as heat and butterflies seemed to appear in her tummy at the same time. “I’d love to see m-more of magical France…”
Harry saw the looks that his girlfriends were sharing and could only smile fondly—even as his teenage mind went into the gutter for a moment—and he took another bite of his food. “I’m looking forward to working with Daphne on our potions project.” The way he said it was simple and held a hint of excitement, but everyone could see the desire in his eyes to complete another project and—as a bonus—steal Snape’s ‘Youngest Potions Master’ record from the dour man.
-Next Morning ~ Hogwarts Grounds-
Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were leaving Hogwarts today and many of the foreign students were being seen off by their new friends from Hogwarts.
“I’ll see you all as much as possible over the summer.” Fleur promised her friends and boyfriend…and perhaps girlfriend, if Hermione’s responses to her gentle advances were to be believed.
“See you soon, Fleur.” Luna beamed at the older girl and hugged her warmly.
Astoria joined the hug a second later. “Can’t wait!”
Tracy hugged Fleur from the other side. “Group hug!”
Fleur laughed beautifully as she let them group hug her for a long moment.
“Don’t hog Fleur.” Daphne interjected with a grin as she gently pried Tracy and Astoria off Fleur.
“If you wanted a hug too, you just had to say so, Daphne…” Fleur purred teasingly as she wrapped her arms around Daphne from behind, pressing herself flush against Daphne’s back.
Daphne looked over her shoulder at Fleur with a flat expression. “I never said I wanted a hug.”
Fleur kissed Daphne’s cheek. “You never said that you didn’t want a hug either.”
“Fair.” Daphne smiled as she accepted the kiss on the cheek before turning in Fleur’s arms and giving the Veela witch a warm hug of her own. “Let’s both get our Masteries this summer.”
“We will.” Fleur smiled and gently squeezed Daphne. “You and Harry are going to change the world.” She whispered into Daphne’s ear with absolute confidence.
Daphne nodded in agreement, as she returned Fleur’s gentle squeeze. “We will.” Her tone was soft and filled with gratitude for Fleur’s belief in her and Harry creating something that had been sought for centuries.
Harry stepped forward once Daphne and Fleur released each other. “We’ll see you soon, Fleur.” He promised while wrapping her in a hug.
Fleur leaned in and kissed Harry’s lips softly. “Mmm~” The two both hummed in pleasure as their kiss poured their love and affection for each other into it. “I’ll drag you away from your work if you too wrapped up in it.”
“You sound like Tonks.” Harry said with a little smirk.
“I’m sure with both of us together, even you’d walk away from your work for a while~” Fleur teased with a heated purr in her voice.
Harry chuckled at his girlfriend. “Potentially.”
The two separated and Hermione stepped close to wrap Fleur in a warm hug. “I can’t wait to see the magical parts of France with you, Fleur.” She said while enjoying Fleur’s arms wrapping around her and returning the hug.
“I look forward to it as well, Hermione.” Fleur squeezed Hermione flush against her body, making Hermione let out a surprised gasp before she looked at Fleur with a cute smile. “I let your hair in this style too.” She lightly ran her fingers along one of the two large braids that were resting over Hermione’s shoulders and reaching her chest. “The glasses finish the look~” Fleur whispered breathily into the other girl’s ear.
“I-I’ll wear them next time.” Hermione stumbled over her first word, but felt her heart thump in her chest that Fleur thought she looked attractive.
Fleur kissed the edge of Hermione’s lips with a warm look in her blue eyes. Hermione’s cheeks went from pink to red as she looked into Fleur’s eyes, but after a moment she leaned in and returned the kiss, her lips brushing the corner of Fleur’s lips.
“Knew it~” Tracy whispered to Astoria and Daphne with a cheesy grin.
“Shh.” Daphne shushed her best friend quietly.
“It’s cute.” Astoria giggled softly.
Hermione and Fleur separated with warm smiles for each other as they both confirmed that there were feelings between them beyond just friendship. It was something they’d explore together and with Harry over the summer when they were all relaxing from their own projects and family time.
What, or rather who, broke the moment was slightly surprising.
“Potter, Delacour.” Krum greeted the two of them with a polite wave and a small smile. “It was an honor to compete against you both.” He held out his hand to Harry and the two shook strongly.
“It was fun.” Harry agreed with a friendly smile.
Krum and Fleur shook hands as well. “You both are incredible spellcasters.” The professional Quidditch player complimented his former competitors.
“Thank you, Mr. Krum.” Fleur gave him a small smile, making sure to pull back her Allure as much as possible. She was pleasantly surprised that Krum wasn’t falling to her passive Allure; his eyes still sharp and focused. ‘Occlumency practice or just the focus of a serious athlete?’ Fleur briefly wondered before putting the thought out of her mind.
“It was very nice to meet you all.” Krum gave a polite nod to Luna, Astoria, Daphne, and Tracy. “I’d like to stay longer, but we must keep an eye on the High Master.” He glanced over at the Durmstrang ship that was being prepped to leave the same way that it had arrived at Hogwarts, through the Black Lake.
Harry hummed slightly as he looked towards the wooden sailing ship. While he’d love to examine the spells and enchantments woven into its construction…just to sate his random curiosity…he left that aside for more important things. “Has Karkaroff been trying to flee since the night of the Third Task?”
Krum nodded once, his face harder now, brow furrowed. “Yes. Many of Durmstrang do not approve of his past connections and how it makes our school look. We are keeping him under watch until we return so that the Deputy Master and other faculty can decide what to do with him.”
“I’m sure your Ministry will want a word with him as well if you mention his actions since Harry returned that night.” Daphne said with a cool expression on her face.
“We believe so as well. Everyone has written their own testimony of Karkaroff’s actions since that night. The constant attempts to sneak away is very unlike the man we called High Master for years.” Krum said with a scowl creeping onto his face. No magical institution wanted to be associated with Dark Lords, after all. Durmstrang practiced the Dark Arts, but from an educational perspective, not as a means of moral depravity or attempted genocide…no matter what a few of their former students had done out in the world. The Institute was STILL dealing with the suspicion of their ties to Gellert Grindelwald to this day, even though the man had been expelled before finishing his schooling.
Krum bid them all farewell before returning to the Durmstrang ship. Most of the Hogwarts students watched as the ship sailed close to the center of the lake and then the water began to swirl about, forming a massive whirlpool. The wooden ship followed the magically created current and slipped beneath the waves, disappearing from view. Only a moment later and the whirlpool closed with a large splash, the dark waters of the Black Lake rippling and waves lapping at the shore for a few minutes after the departure.
“Miss Delacour!” Madame Maxime’s voice, amplified by a Sonorus Charm, called out as Fleur was the last Beauxbatons student that they were waiting for before they left.
Fleur smiled at her friends and loves, giving them all a beautiful look of affection. “It seems I must go now, but we have our plans for the summer.” She gave them a wave and with only a hint of her magic being used, Fleur easily skipped across the grounds towards the enormous carriage and the Abraxans hitched to it…in just ten steps.
Most of the Hogwarts male students watched the Beauxbatons carriage leave, many of them still with slightly dazed expressions from the procession of Veela students that had entered the carriage one after another. The Abraxans started at a slow walk, then sped up into a trot, once they got to a gallop their large wigs spread wide and then flapped powerfully, raising the massive horses off the ground. The Beauxbatons carriage followed behind the winged horses and lifted into the air, rising higher and higher before the Abraxans turned and circled the Hogwarts grounds once. The carriage headed southeast through the sky and grew smaller and smaller before they were completely out of sight in only a minute or so.
“I feel like this is going to be a very interesting summer.” Luna said with a smile after the Beauxbatons carriage had disappeared over the horizon.
-July 1st ~ Tonks’ Family Home-
Harry yawned as he woke up in his bed, blinking the sleep from his eyes. Sitting up he stretched his arms and tossed his blankets aside. Setting his feet on the floor Harry stood from the bed and with barely a thought had it make itself neatly behind him. “Breakfast…” He mumbled out, already smelling the freshly cooked meal in the kitchen as soon as he opened his bedroom door.
“Wotcher, Harrikins!” Tonks greeted him loudly as soon as Harry stepped into the kitchen.
“Must you do that?” Harry deadpanned as he always slept a bit longer on his first day or two back home and he wasn’t fully awake yet.
Tonks grinned unrepentantly. “Afraid I must.” She handed him a letter that had clearly come in the Owl Post.
Harry took the letter with a little grunt and moved to sit at the kitchen table. “What’s all this then?” He read the front of the envelope. “From the Minister for Magic himself, huh?” That immediately told Harry what this was about. “Doesn’t waste time to get his publicity…” Harry opened the letter and began to read, the overly verbose letter was the date and time of Harry’s ceremony to be awarded his Order of Merlin, First Class at the Ministry. “I don’t have anything planned just yet, but are we doing anything on Monday the third?” He asked Sirius, Andromeda, and Ted.
“The third? You just got back home from school!” Andromeda looked affronted at the lack of time that Fudge was giving Harry before trotting him out in front of the press for another photo opportunity.
“Seems a bit sudden.” Ted agreed with his wife as Harry passed the letter over to him. “He should’ve asked for a time when Harry was free. Instead he’s already set everything up on the Ministry’s end.”
Sirius scoffed at that. “Can’t expect anything less from Fudgy.” He finished his forkful of egg before accepting the letter from Ted. “The man can’t wait to preen for the papers.”
Tonks was digging into her breakfast in the seat beside Harry and wiped her mouth before speaking up. “He’s trying to stick his nose into the ongoing investigation of the Crouches too. Amelia is spending a portion of her day, every day, reminding him that the Minister cannot tell the DMLE what cases they can and can’t investigate.”
“Of course he is.” Sirius shook his head as he set the letter aside. “But it may be a good thing to have the award ceremony done quickly. Then Harry won’t have to be bothered by Fudge any longer.”
“Sounds good to me.” Harry cracked a grin at Sirius, both laughing a bit before returning to their breakfasts.
After breakfast, Sirius headed out to collect Remus since both of them were meeting up with the ‘old group’. Harry didn’t pry, though he knew it had something to do with Dumbledore and the return of Voldemort, and he honestly didn’t much care for Tom and his petty hatred and revenge trip. He had better things to spend his time on.
“Have a nice day, Nym.” Harry smiled warmly at her.
“Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do while you and Daphne are all alone today, Harrikins.” Tonks teased him lightly.
Harry raised an eyebrow, an amused grin on his lips. “That’s a rather short list.”
Tonks cracked up before leaning forward to capture Harry’s lips in a warm kiss. “See you tonight, Harry.” She said after the two pulled their lips away from each other’s.
“See you tonight, Nym.” Harry said with a happy smile on his face.
Tonks tossed a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in as soon as the flames turned green. “Ministry of Magic.” She vanished in a flash of the green fire.
“Heading out, Harry?” Andromeda asked her nephew in all but blood. “Do you have everything you need?”
Harry smiled and nodded while patting his pocket. “I have everything. Thanks for letting me put my cultivars in your greenhouse again this summer.”
Andromeda gave Harry a gentle hug. “There’s plenty of space in the greenhouse, Harry. And the garden isn’t exactly big enough for a second greenhouse.”
“I’ll be back in the evening.” Harry said before tossing his own pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace. “Greengrass Manor.” He spoke clearly as he stepped into the green flames.
-Greengrass Manor-
The Floo flared up with green fire and Harry staggered out and nearly fell onto the floor, but managed to catch his footing before his face met the wood.
“Always so graceful, Harry.” Daphne greeted her boyfriend with a teasing smile, placing a bookmark into the book she’d been reading while waiting for him.
“I do have a natural grace about me, don’t I?” Harry said in a faux pompous tone as he straightened up.
“Nope!” Astoria called out from the hallway as she walked past the sitting room. “Good morning, Harry!” She walked on, planning to spend the morning with her mother today.
Harry let Daphne’s laughter wash over him with a good-natured smile. “Good morning, Astoria.” He called out to his ‘little sister’.
Daphne stood up from the couch and held her book in her left hand while holding out her right hand towards Harry. “Shall we?”
“We shall.” Harry took Daphne’s hand in his and the two walked through the Greengrass home until they got to the area that had been made into a potions lab for Daphne’s research.
“I’ve had a few ideas now that I’ve had time to study the Wolfsbane Potion.” Daphne said as she pulled a leather apron off a hook and put it on. “Based on what it does…my best guess is that it’s a failed attempt to stop the transformation during the full moon.”
Harry put on his own leather apron as he walked over to the table where Daphne’s notes were laid out. “Hmm, you’ve definitely improved your knowledge of the Healing Arts.” He understood the magical theory parts, but some of the Herbology notations and several of the healing and biology terms were unknown to Harry at all.
Daphne felt a little proud at having advanced far enough into the Healing Arts that her prodigy boyfriend couldn’t instantly comprehend everything in her notes and experiment documentation. It was practically proof that she was advancing in her chosen field, at least to her. “Thank you. I’ll go through it with you…after you tell me your own thoughts.” Daphne knew Harry well and there was no way that he didn’t have more than a few ideas of his own already.
Harry raised his hand and began moving his index finger through the air, leaving behind a floating trail of softly glowing sparks that continued to crackle and pop even as he lowered his hand. “This is the Homorphus Charm. It’s the only known spell that can forcibly revert the transformation of a werewolf…all be it temporarily. There’s also no guarantee that the werewolf won’t still be violent or nearly feral when forced back to human form.” Harry looked at Daphne with interest gleaming in his eyes. “I’ve been looking into how this spell functions and then comparing it to various potions ingredients, as well as the recipe for the Wolfsbane Potion.”
“That’s the first hurdle, the rarity and price of the ingredients. The Wolfsbane Potion is expensive and most werewolves wouldn’t be able to afford the ingredients, even if they could brew it themselves.” Daphne said while pulling out the page with the list of the ingredients for the Wolfsbane Potion from her notes. “To make a cure is one thing, but if those that want to be cured can’t afford it, then what’s the point?”
“Agreed.” Harry nodded as he looked over the list of ingredients, having become familiar with it himself from his own research. “I think we can substitute a few ingredients, especially if you purify and refine them.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a shrunken notebook, returning it to its true size with a flick of his wrist. “I’ve had a few ideas for some substitutions we can make. The first being the Occamy egg.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Daphne agreed immediately.
Given that an Occamy egg had a shell of soft pure silver and that the magical serpentine-like birds were incredibly protective of their eggs, also meant that the price for even a single one was exorbitant.
Harry opened his notebook to a specific page and a list of notes on various ingredients. “I looked into a few magical eggs that might work…”
Daphne finished his sentence. “…with a bit of silver added in.”
The two smiled at each other as they continued to compare their notes together and the paths they were working on to try and figure out the magical curse that was lycanthropy. Daphne was approaching the treatment from a Healer’s perspective: identifying how the curse took hold, what made it activate, and how it lay dormant outside of the full moon. All the while practically dissecting the Wolfsbane Potion to figure out why it needed to be taken every day for the seven days leading up to the full moon to be effective. Harry approached lycanthropy from his Spellcrafter perspective: understanding the magic of the curse, how it tied into the phases of the moon, and how the Wolfsbane Potion affected the magic of a forced and horrific Transfiguration.
“So, Daphne, would you happen to have all the ingredients on your list?” Harry asked with a playful smile.
“Of course.” Daphne motioned to the potions cupboard in the corner, the chest of small and labeled drawers sitting atop the table while flush against the wall, and the shelves on the other wall with various jars sitting on them. “Do YOU have all of the ingredients that you need?”
Harry reached into his other pocket and pulled out a tiny trunk. Setting it on the ground, Harry breathed on it and the trunk returned to its normal size, being just a bit larger than his Hogwarts trunk. “I did come prepared.” He snarked while sticking his tongue out at Daphne.
Daphne smirked back at Harry. “You should keep your tongue in your mouth, unless you want to use it.”
“I can think of a ‘use’ for it.” Harry shot back with a grin.
Both boyfriend and girlfriend managed to keep straight faces for all of a minute before Daphne’s cheeks went pink and they both burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright, let’s come up with some recipes before we try and get sidetracked.” Daphne said as she leaned over and left a gentle little kiss on Harry’s cheek.
Harry agreed, returning the gentle peck on the cheek, and the two sat down together and started comparing their recipe ideas. The Wolfsbane Potion required both precise temperature control as well as specific stirring patterns and the use of a wand in its multitude of steps. Daphne suggested using a Runespoor egg to replace the Occamy egg and covering it completely with powdered silver.
“Runespoor eggs promote mental acuity and clarity. If we want to properly cure lycanthropy, then keeping the witch or wizard in question lucid is a good place to start; the Wolfsbane Potion proves that much.” Daphne explained her reasoning for her choice.
“That’s a sound idea.” Harry wrote it into his own notes. “I’m considering using sunstone instead of moonstone in my recipe. The moonstone has a magical effect to calm and it’s one of the reasons that it’s used in the Draught of Peace. But a sunstone promotes cleansing and harmony, which should help with removing the curse of lycanthropy.
Daphne considered that and wrote it into her notes as well, jotting down a short potential recipe utilizing sunstone instead of moonstone. “That could be a good substitute, or it might just be a better ingredient overall for what we’re trying to accomplish.”
It was almost lunchtime before Harry and Daphne finished complying their ideas and making a few recipes to start experimenting with brewing.
“Thirteen leaves of wolfsbane, purified.” Daphne added her first ingredients to her first cauldron. “The purified juice of three mandrake leaves. Then seven drops of purified dragon blood. Maintain medium temperature as the ingredients begin to simmer. One powdered sunstone.” She dumped a small measuring cup’s worth of the shimmering orange dust into the cauldron and maintained the temperature while allowing the time necessary for the mixture to begin melding together. “Four stirs, clockwise then add purified syrup of hellebore.” Daphne stirred the cauldron four times before adding in the purified syrup to the swirling mixture. Once the mixture settled into a gentle simmer again, then she’d be ready for the next step.
Harry was likewise beginning his own brewing a bit further down the long stone table. “Seven Valerian roots, purified.” He shot a smile at Daphne, making her jokingly roll her eyes at him. After seeing how she purified ingredients a few times, Harry had worked out the process easily enough and could do it himself. “Then we add half a cup of purified Horklump juice.” He poured in the reddish liquid. “Then nine drops of pure salamander blood.” Harry counted out each drop in his head as he added the blood to the cauldron. “A powdered sunstone.” He poured the glimmering powder into the cauldron. Then raise to high heat to activate the inherent magical properties of the salamander blood.” The flames at the bottom of the cauldron made an audible sound as they increased in intensity. “Seven stirs counter-clockwise once it reaches a boil.”
“Nine stalks worth of lavender flowers ground into paste and purified.” Daphne added the next ingredient to her cauldron. “Six sprigs of Fluxweed, picked during the full moon and purified.” She added each of the small stalks into the cauldron. “Medium heat as we stir seven times, clockwise.” Daphne stirred again, keeping an eye on the heat.
“Lessen the heat to low and add three Murtlap tentacles.” Harry lowered the heat and waited for his cauldron to stop boiling. Once the mixture was lightly simmering, he added the tentacles one at a time, taking note of how the potion slowly changed to a teal color. “Good, that should be correct. Then purified juice of four Sopophorous Beans added one bean’s worth at a time.” The concoction let off a steam-like mist that vanished after only a moment. “Stir counter-clockwise nine times while keeping heat low.”
Daphne picked up the Runespoor egg that she’d dusted in fine silver powder. “Runespoor egg coated in pure silver powder.” She dropped the egg in and immediately started stirring. “Nine stirs counter-clockwise while slowly raising the heat.” She stirred with her right hand and controlled the flames with her left. The shade of the potion turned from green to a light—almost pastel—yellow color. “Right, that was the most likely response.” Daphne made a mental note to confirm the color change in her research notebook.
Harry noted the change in his potion as the teal color began to lighten, becoming a very pale green that was approaching white in tint. “Now we add in a split Fire Seed and purify it right after splitting.” Harry carefully used his knife to split the seed that looked like a small yellow-orange flame and then purified it with his magic, making it shrivel slightly even as it began to let off noticeable heat. Dropping the two halves of the seed into the cauldron, the seeds did what they always did when exposed to heat or fire…let off even greater heat. “Seven stirs clockwise while the Fire Seed expends its heat into the potion.”
“Finally, we add five dried roots of asphodel that’ve been purified.” Daphne added the five roots together and then pushed them down with her stirring rod. “Lessen the heat until its low and stir slowly seven times counter-clockwise.” As she stirred Daphne watched her potion carefully, the color changed again as the potion let off a thin steam that was strangely blue in color. As Daphne finished stirring, she turned off the heat and watched her potion cool down, the pastel yellow color darkened slightly, gaining a faint hint of orange to it, but as this was a new potion entirely—even if based on the Wolfsbane Potion—she had no idea whether that was perfect or meant a slight flaw existed in the brew.
“One Runespoor egg dusted with fine silver powder.” Harry gently added the egg into the mix and began to stir again. “Four strong stirs clockwise and then cut the heat.” He gave the cauldron and the potion within four powerful stirs and watched the brew swirl within as he killed the flames beneath it. The potion darkened to an orange-red color and Harry quickly wrote that down in his notes.
Daphne and Harry were silent for a few minutes, nothing but the sound of pens writing could be heard in the potions lab as they wrote down the entire process they’d went through on this first attempt. Every ingredient, both amount and how it was processed, the heat, the time, the number of stirs, everything had to be recorded perfectly as they continued to test and refine their new potions.
-Ministry of Magic ~ July 3rd-
Harry pulled at his dress robes in annoyance. He really didn’t like having to wear them just to receive his third Order of Merlin. Andromeda caught Harry’s eye with a glance and he put his hands back at his sides.
“I know you don’t like dress robes, Harry, but this is a special event…even if it was short notice and planned without our input.” Andromeda said to him softly. “As soon as we’re done here we’ll go home and you can take them off.”
“Thanks, aunt Andomeda.” Harry smiled at her, already looking forward to taking off the formal wear.
Just like when he’d earned his first two Order of Merlin awards back in his second year, there were tons of reporters from various magical news outlets in the large room, though if Harry knew who and what to look for among the press—which he didn’t—then the lack of certain journalists and even certain publications entirely would’ve been obvious. The Minister clearly didn’t want anyone among the press that would ask ‘uncomfortable’ questions at this ceremony. No one that would ‘rock the boat’ and ask Harry about Dumbledore’s claims of the Dark Lord’s return. Cornelius Fudge also wouldn’t miss an opportunity for another photo opportunity with Harry Potter; a subtle show that Harry was ‘on the Ministry’s side’ in the back and forth that was slowly growing between Fudge’s administration and Albus Dumbledore.
“As Minister for Magic, I’d like to say a few words…” Fudge began a short speech as the reporters and cameras focused on him at the podium that stood atop the raised dais. “Magical Britain is truly blessed to have brought forth a wizard of such caliber that at the young age of fourteen is already receiving his third Order of Merlin.”
Harry tuned Fudge out immediately, not interested in listening to a longwinded speech from the politician. He shared an eyeroll with Sirius, the man even making a ‘yapping’ motion with his left hand that got Harry to chuckle lightly. Ted lightly nudged Sirius with his elbow to make him stop as it would look bad if someone saw him doing that. He caught sight of Tonks acting as security along the far wall with a few other red-robed Aurors. He was sure her relative ‘newness’ to her position saw her getting details like this still while the more senior Aurors continued their normal duties.
“Harry Potter, my fellow Wizards and Witches!” Fudge ended his speech a few minutes later. Harry walked over to Fudge and shook the man’s hand as cameras flashed over and over again. “For apprehending an escaped convict from Azkaban at great personal risk and alerting the Ministry of a dangerous group of dark witches and wizards gathering together to cause harm to the citizens of Magical Britain. I, Minister for Magic, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, present to Harry James Potter, the Order of Merlin, First Class.” He held out an ornate wooden box, the top opened on its gleaming golden hinge, The color of the ribbon for this class of the award was green, which—according to Harry’s very brief research—was believed to represent Merlin’s Hogwarts House, Slytherin. It was settled upon an equally green cushion and the golden medal was inscribed with Harry’s accomplishment of ‘For acts of outstanding bravery and distinction in the pursuit of justice’, which seemed both an understatement and an overstatement at the same time.
Harry accepted the award and another round of camera flashes went off. ‘And that makes one Order of merlin of each class.’ He thought to himself, wondering if that would help push him towards becoming a Grand Sorcerer.
“Would you like to say a few words, Harry?” Fudge offered, as it was normal for the recipient of an Order of Merlin to say something.
Holding back a sigh, Harry moved to the podium and looked out at the sea of cameras and reporters. “Thank you, Minister Fudge, for presenting me with my third Order of Merlin. I’m not one for speeches, and I’m already working on another project—or three—at the moment.” That got a small round of chuckles from the crowd. “I’ll just say that I’m still going to be the first Arch Mage in history. I hope the member nations of the ICW will look favorably on my next accomplishment and consider granting me the Title of Grand Sorcerer when the time comes.” He said it with full intention and belief, not realizing that it was also the bravado that only a young man could have.
The large room was quiet for all of a moment before applause rang out and cameras flashed again. Many of the members of the various news outlets stood up and cheered, most notably those from Britain, the words Harry heard as he walked off the dais towards his family weren’t important to him, but he did notice them.
“Practically challenging the ICW!”
“A young man of his caliber has no need to stifle himself!”
“The ICW should take note of the accomplishments of Magical Britain when we’ve produced a prodigy like Harry Potter!”
Such opinions were clearly a source of pride for the British wizards and witches. The same pride would color more than a few of the articles written and printed in tomorrow’s papers that went out to all of the neighboring countries on the mainland.
Harry had no idea that his teenage bravado would garner him some negative attention that had nothing to do with Voldemort.
-End Chapter-
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Youthful bravado might just get Harry in a bit of trouble in the future.
But, to be fair, he told everyone that he was going to be the first Arch Mage when he was twelve.
Daphne and Harry begin working on potions to try and cure Lycanthropy! With the Wolfsbane Potion as a template, they use Daphne’s perspective as a Healer-in-training and Harry’s prodigy Spellcaster knowledge and understanding of magic to come at the ‘uncurable’ from different angles that a Potioneer like Damocles Belby wouldn’t have considered.
Harry gets his THIRD Order of Merlin! Now he has a Third Class, Second Class, and First Class version! He collected the whole set! Kek!
But this is only the START of a busy summer for Harry and friends! What will they all get up to before the next school year starts?
Keep reading to find out!
Until I get your reviews, later!