Arch Mage, the Path of Magic Chapter 50

Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru is here with another chapter of Arch Mage, the Path of Magic! The partner work between the two youngest Potions Masters in history continues as they search for a cure to Lycanthropy. Their first potions attempts based off of the Wolfsbane potion have already improved upon the original significantly, proving they’re on the right track. But after testing on Malediction cursed rats and figuring out some tweaks to their potions…as well as how the two different potions work together, the truest test will come only when their attempts are tried out by a real werewolf. At the same time, a certain Russian wizard is coming to ‘show’ Harry not to be so full of bravado and arrogance…or what HE perceives as arrogance.

If you’d like to become a patron and get access to these chapters earlier, just head on over to Pat re on and add a /Kairomaru after the com.

Make sure to thank the patrons that make these stories possible by checking out the Patron Plaque on my profile!

So, without further delay, please enjoy.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Chapter 50 – True Test, Writ of Challenge

Remus Lupin had experienced much in his life: a normal early life, tragedy after Fenrir Greyback had attacked him to take spiteful revenge against his father, many years of painful werewolf transformations, the death of his mother, making friends with Sirius, James, and Peter, seven years at Hogwarts, and the death of his father not long after James and Lily had been murdered. He’d seen and lived through much negativity in his thirty-five years of life, much of which had come from his lycanthropy and how people looked at him once they knew of his infection.

But what he’d never experienced was two teenage Potions Masters asking him to test out their newly created potions as a possible cure for the cursed affliction that had caused him such grief for most of his life.

“I’m sorry…they’re what now?” Remus had to make sure he’d heard Harry and Daphne clearly.

Daphne, understanding Remus’s skepticism, smiled at the man while noticing his haggard appearance as the full moon was drawing closer. “We’ve based these two potions off the Wolfsbane Potion and have tested them against a Malediction curse of transformation. The results have been very positive, but without actually having a werewolf use them, we can’t say for sure that they’ll be truly effective against lycanthropy.”

“We can be sure that they’re an improvement over the current Wolfsbane Potion, though.” Harry assured Remus with confidence as he held a vial of his potion in hand, the liquid an orange-red that was reminiscent of the light at sunset.

Remus looked at the vial of potion in Daphne’s hands, the liquid a soft yellow-orange that reminded him of sunrise. “I see.” He took each vial into his hands, looking at them closer, seeing they were lightly viscous, but much less unappealing than the lightly steaming Wolfsbane Potion that he’d taken every month for so long, thanks entirely to Sirius always paying for it. “I’ve already taken the Wolfsbane Potion for the past few days though. Would that have any effect on your potions?”

Daphne shook her head once as she pulled out a few pieces of parchment and showed them to Remus. “Not at all. As you well know, the Wolfsbane Potion requires a seven-day regiment to be effective on the night of the full moon. Missing even one dose makes the entire regiment fail, leading to a normal and violent transformation. All of our tests currently indicate that our potions can be taken once, the day of the full moon, and still be fully effective.”

“Daphne’s potion has fully prevented the transformation in our test rats.” Harry said, lightly praising Daphne’s accomplishment, and getting a warm smile from his girlfriend. “Mine makes the transformation slower and reduces the pain from it, while allowing the afflicted to maintain their lucidity the entire time.”

“Truly?” Remus looked up from the parchments that Daphne was showing him and glanced between Daphne and Harry in surprise, then his gaze fell on the two vials of potion in his hands. “Not transforming at all would be incredible.” He said lowly, sounding close to disbelief. “Even reducing the pain of the transformation and keeping my mind with just a single potion would make me feel less guilty about accepting Sirius paying for my potions every month.”

“Are you still on about that, Moony?” Sirius said as he entered the sitting room of the Tonks’ home with some tea for everyone. Andromeda made it a point that all guests would be properly looked after; and Sirius happily took up the hospitality when he brought Remus over. “I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m going to pay for those potions, and you’re going to take them!”

Remus glanced away from Sirius, feeling his best friend’s eyes needling him. “It’s just…”

Sirius tsked loudly, making Remus stop talking. “None of that! I’ve heard it all a thousand times!” He motioned to the tea he’d brought. “Have some tea. Then decide if you want to try out Harry and Daphne’s potions.”

“Alright…” Remus sighed and accepted the tea, making it how he liked it, before sipping from the teacup. “Should I take both of the potions together?” He looked between Daphne and Harry, curious about trying this new treatment compared to the pain he went through every month.

“That would be helpful for testing, but it would also be good to test each potion individually.” Harry said after a moment to think about it. “What do you think, Daphne?”

Daphne looked thoughtful as she shuffled through her parchments. “Going by our current results with the test rats, mixing both potions prevents the overall transformation…but may cause some parts of it to still manifest, albeit without pain. Both potions have always ensured the subject retains their lucidity, so there should be no loss of control regardless.” She looked at Remus with a gentle smile, much like a professional Healer with excellent bedside manner. “We’ll leave the choice up to you, Mr. Lupin. You may take my potion, Harry’s potion, or both for this first test.”

Sirius patted Remus’s shoulder with a smile. “You’ve still got two days to think it over, Moony.” The full moon was on the twelfth this month, and it was only the morning of the tenth at the moment.

“I only need to take either of them on the day of the full moon?” Remus asked Harry and Daphne, to be sure he understood when to take the potions.

“Yes, both of our potions are much more potent in their effects compared to the Wolfsbane Potion. So one dose on the day of the full moon should be enough.” Harry nodded with a small smile, thankful that Remus was going to give his and Daphne’s work a chance.

-Delacour Home ~ Next Day-

Fleur grinned smugly as she stood by the pool in her skimpy black bikini. One might wonder why she was so smug, until they looked to Fleur’s left and saw Harry admiring her nearly naked form with loving appreciation.

“See something you like, mon amour?” Fleur teased with a little purr in her voice.

“Yeah.” Harry nodded, shooting her a grin. “Very, oh la la…”

Fleur giggled warmly as she turned and wrapped her arms over Harry’s shoulders. “If we had the house to ourselves, we could make the day much more…pleasurable~”

“But you don’t…” Tonks teased as she stepped through the French doors leading to the back patio and the pool. She had on a purple bikini that was equally as skimpy as Fleur’s, making Harry’s eyes lock onto her. “Now, if your parents weren’t here, we three could get up to something…fun.” She smirked at Harry and Fleur, her hair turning an alluring shade of gold while growing longer, her eyes becoming a deep blue sapphire-color that was almost mesmerizing.

“Beautiful~” Fleur purred to Tonks as she sauntered over to the other woman, making sure to put a sway in her hips to draw the eyes of Harry and Tonks. “What do you think, Harry?” She wrapped her arms around Tonks, pressing their bodies flush together for their pleasure and Harry’s viewing enjoyment. “Silver-blonde and golden-blonde together?”

Harry managed to blink after a moment, his instinctive desire to burn this image into his mind forever taking precedent over his natural need to blink. “I like it.” He said after another few seconds of admiring the sexy sight.

Tonks, smirking mischievously, kissed Fleur’s lips, getting a happy hum from the Veela woman as their hands roamed each other’s bodies. “We can’t be too risqué…but I can think of something to do.” She said after pulling away from the kiss and turning to face Harry. Before anyone could ask, both Tonks and Fleur’s skimpy bikinis changed…shrinking down to barely more than strings and tightening on the lovely women, leaving almost nothing to the imagination as they both practically posed under Harry’s wide-eyed staring.

“You’ve gotten better with your wandless magic…” Harry said with a smile, his eyes drinking in the sight of Tonks and Fleur barely a few scraps of tiny cloth away from being naked before him. He could easily see their hard nipples poking through the little triangles of cloth over their large breasts.

“It’s tight on my chest, Harry~” Fleur purred out, her blue eyes filled with love and desire as she pushed her chest out more, further outlining her hard nipples against the thin cloth.

“We might just pop out of these itty-bitty tops~” Tonks said heatedly, licking her lips once as she made her tits larger with her Metamorphmagus abilities.

Harry nodded without thinking. “Okay.”

Both women giggled and walked over to Harry with sexy sways in their hips, their bodies on full display and their tits bouncing with each step. Tonks captured Harry’s lips first the two eagerly deepening the kiss as their tongues played for a moment before pulling away from each other. Fleur swiftly took Harry’s lips for herself next, showing him just why it was called ‘French’ kissing as she teased his tongue with her own.

The three continued a bit longer, both Tonks and Fleur placing Harry’s hands on their tits, letting their boyfriend touch them and feel the softness of their bodies while their hands ran over his bare chest and shoulders. More than a few times, wandering hands would cup the growing bulge in Harry’s swim shorts, gently touching and squeezing to rile him up.

“Told you that Tonks and I could make you put down your work~” Fleur breathed hotly into Harry’s ear, a smug little grin on her lips.

“All work and no play makes Harry a dull boy…” Tonks grinned before claiming Harry’s lips again, letting out a muffled moan when Harry’s hand that was playing with her tits groped her and ran his thumb over her hard nipple.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the pitter patter of small feet coming from within the house alerted the three lovers to Gabrielle’s incoming arrival. With barely a thought, Fleur and Tonks’s bikinis returned to their normal sizes under Tonks’s magic. Both Fleur and Tonks took a step back from Harry, Fleur adjusting her bikini top to make sure she was properly covered while Tonks reduced her breast size back to the nice perky C-cups she usually kept them at. Harry, still riled up, quickly jumped into the pool, letting the cool water put out his ‘desire’ where no one could see.

Gabrielle beamed at Fleur and Tonks as she came out onto the patio in her blue one-piece bathing suit. “Are we swimming?” She looked around for Harry and saw his head break the surface of the water a moment later. “Harry!” She laughed brightly as she ran towards the pool and jumped in, splashing Harry with her entrance.

“Gabby!” Harry cheered playfully, his ‘mood’ dealt with by the cool water and the sudden presence of his little sister. With a thought, Gabby was floating in the air with a ball of water around her waist and legs.

“Look, Fleur! I’m flying!” Gabrielle laughed brightly as she kicked her legs in the water ball.

Fleur smiled warmly at her little sister. “You are…for now.” She trotted over to the pool, and using her emotions of happiness and joy, managed to step onto the surface of the water lightly and walk towards the water ball that Gabrielle was floating in.

The ball of water, along with Gabrielle, suddenly fell back into the pool, making a large splash that soaked Fleur entirely.

“Harry…” Fleur shot a look at her boyfriend.

“Yes, Fleur?” Harry’s over the top ‘innocent’ tone and smile was almost as blatant as the way his green eyes watched the water trail down Fleur’s amazing body.

Fleur let out a cute little snort and a wave of water sprung up behind Harry and fell on him all at once. “Fair is fair, mon chéri.”

Gabby, having bene treading water since her dunking, burst into bright laughter at Harry being hit by the wave. “Tonks! Tonks! Come swim with us!” She called out with an adorable smile.

“Sure thing, Gabby.” Tonks couldn’t help but smile at the little girl as she hopped into the pool. With a twirl of her hand, the water around Gabrielle swirled upwards, carrying the little Veela into the air until she was sitting on a raised platform of water two meters above the pool. Tonks had simply changed the water’s surface tension until Gabrielle couldn’t sink through it and the little girl cheered as she marveled at walking on ‘solid water’.

“So amazing!” Gabrielle jumped up and down on the water platform. With a grin she jumped off and splashed down into the pool right beside Fleur, covering her big sister in water again.

Harry cracked up as Fleur wiped the water off her face. “Good one, Gabby!” he was quickly silenced as Tonks released her magic on the floating water and it came splashing down on Harry.

Tonks burst into laughter. “Got ya, Harrikins!” She happily took hold of Gabby’s hands and pulled her along, away from the approaching Fleur who was tossing splashes of water at her little sister.

“You get back here, Gabby!” Fleur called out, playfully overacting as she tossed another splash Gabby and Tonks’s way.

“Nuh uh!” Gabby denied as she let Tonks pull her along through the water.

The splashing and laughter from the pool made Apolline and Marius smile as they came out onto the patio to enjoy the wonderful day with family…and soon-to-be family, given Harry and Fleur’s relationship.

Marius, admiring his wife’s gorgeous figure in her white bikini, showed her a little bottle of sun cream, a magical concoction similar to non-magical sunscreen, but it absolutely prevented sunburn while allowing for a tan to develop. “May I, mon amour?”

Apolline grinned at her husband. “We Veela don’t burn.” She teased, her husband having known this for years, of course. “But I suppose I can indulge you~” Apolline let a little purr into her voice as she rolled over on her lounge chair to lay on her stomach, revealing her back to her husband.

“Merci…” Marius would NEVER get tired of looking at his beautiful wife. Especially her wide hips and perfect bottom!

“I can feel you starring, mon chéri…” Apolline said with a teasing lilt in her voice. “Behave while our daughters and guests are here.”

Marius chuckled as he put cool sun cream on his wife’s back, hearing her let out a little gasp from the temperature. “I’ll save it for tonight, ma chérie~” He promised Apolline, hearing the soft and sensual moan from her lips as he began to rub the sun cream into her skin.

-Remus’s Home, July 12th-

Remus smiled, despite the fatigue he always felt when the full moon was close. He knew he looked worse for wear, but as he looked at the two potions in his hand, he had just a little hope that maybe, just maybe, these horrid nights would come to an end.

“Ready, Moony?” Sirius asked his best friend, wanting to be there with Remus for this night, as he often was for many a full moon since they’d been students at Hogwarts.

“I’m feeling a little hopeful.” Remus admitted with a nod, getting grin from Sirius.

Daphne was there, sitting on the sofa with Harry. “Did you decide which potion you’ll be taking tonight?”

Remus didn’t answer verbally, he simply uncorked both vials and drank them down one after the other.

“Both then.” Harry snickered as he wrote that down at the top of the page in his Potions research journal.

“All in! That’s the Marauder way!” Sirius laughed brightly.

Daphne, practically slipping into ‘Healer mode’, looked Remus over after he’d taken both potions. “Are you feeling alright, Mr. Lupin?” She asked first and foremost.

“I don’t feel any different yet.” Remus said, lightly placing his hand on his chest.

“That’s good.” Daphne said as she wrote down his response into her own research journal. “We’ll want to monitor you for the night to ensure that there are no negative effects from taking both potions at the same time.”

Remus nodded, even though he looked a bit worried. “I have a secured room I usually lock myself in. It doesn’t have any windows though.”

Harry smiled and waved his hand. The couch that Sirius and Remus were sitting on turned nearly transparent, making it look like the two men were sitting on a faint outline of a couch. “I can handle that.”

As the sun began to set, Remus let out a sigh. “I should head for the room.” Without having taken Wolfsbane, should these two potions fail, he’d become a savage beast hungering for blood and violence.

As the group walked towards the room near the center of the Lupin family house, Sirius, who was very familiar with Remus and what he looked and acted like on the nights of the full moon, couldn’t help but speak up.

“Is it just me, or are you looking a little better than you usually do on these nights, Moony?” Sirius mentioned his friend’s complexion and the seeming lack of weakness and sickly feeling from his best friend.

“I do feel a bit less ill.” Remus mentioned as they reached the large, heavy door with multiple thick metal latches on the outside.

Daphne and Harry both had their research journals out and looked at Remus closely.

“Your complexion has definitely improved.” Harry mentioned the healthier skin tone compared to the pallid color Remus had earlier before taking the potions.

“Are there any aches or pains? Do you feel feverish?” Daphne asked more delicately than Harry’s blunt statement.

Remus rolled his shoulders and twisted at the waist a little. “Surprisingly, no. I feel mostly normal…which is very odd on this night.” He opened the heavy door and stepped into the room.

Sirius shifted into his Animagus form, a large and shaggy black dog, before trotting into the room as well. With a flick and point from Remus’s wand, the reinforced door closed and all of the various metal latches and locks loudly clicked into place, barring the door from opening.

Harry touched the door and it became see-through, with just a little opaqueness to show that it was still there. “There we are. Now we can observe safely.”

“Hopefully all will see is Mr. Lupin being perfectly fine.” Daphne said, giving the man a gentle smile.

“I already feel better than usual. So, I’ll put my trust in your work, Healer Greengrass.” Remus said with a small smile of his own.

Daphne felt her cheeks turn pink at being called a Healer. “I’m still a bit far from becoming an actual Healer, but thank you very much, Mr. Lupin.”

Over the next hour, the sun fully set as day became night and the full moon rose high into the sky. Remus could feel something shift in him, but there was no pain like his transformations normally caused.

“Are you feeling alright, Mr. Lupin?” Daphne asked, noticing the man stiffen up.

“I feel something…” Remus said as he looked himself over.

Harry looked at Remus with his Mage Sight spell (having to parse through the magic of the opaque door in front of him) and noticed the magic within the wizard had changed subtly. “The curse is active.” He wrote into his research journal as he continued to observe. “So far, it seems that, just like the test rats, the potions are preventing the curse from taking full effect.”

Over the next several minutes, Remus paced about the room as he felt something within him, there was still no transformation though. It was a strange itching sensation all across his body that let him know when something had finally changed.

“Mr. Lupin has grown thick hair over his body.” Daphne recorded into her research journal. “Are you feeling anything in particular, Mr. Lupin?”

Remus looked over his arms, the thick hair just short of being fur-like. “Aside from a bit of itching, I still feel mostly normal.”

“That’s good. There don’t seem to be any side effects yet. Do you feel any pain anywhere?” Harry asked as he wrote down what he was seeing, both physically and within Remus’s magic.

“No.” Remus shook his head once, patting himself down a bit. “There’s a slight feeling of something being ‘off’…but I think that’s because I haven’t transformed like I normally do.”

After several minutes of no changes, Remus sat down on the floor and looked at Harry and Daphne through the mostly see-through door. After a full hour had passed with nothing really happening, Sirius returned to his human form, a big smile on his face.

Remus was on his feet instantly. “Sirius! Turn back right now! We don’t know what will happen!”

“You look like you could use a bit of a shave there, Moony.” Sirius chuckled while running his right hand over his well-trimmed beard and moustache; comparing it to the thick and wild hair covering Remus’s face.

“Sod off, Padfoot…” Remus said with a flat tone. “Turn back, just to be safe.”

Sirius looked over at Daphne and Harry. “Is anything happening now that I’m human again?”

“Nothing that I can see.” Harry said, the faint glow in his eyes giving away his Mage Sight spell.

“There are no physical changes, and Mr. Lupin is clearly still lucid and in control of his actions.” Daphne said as she wrote down the new observations.

Remus gave Sirius a look, pleading with his oldest friend to be safe, just in case something DID change suddenly.

Sirius relented, but not before giving his opinion. “It may not be a cure, yet; but this is rather close, I think.” With a shift, he was the shaggy black dog again, trotting around the room with his tail wagging.

“I think so too.” Remus smiled, though it looked a little silly with his face covered in so much thick hair. “I’d be happy to test these potions again next month, Harry, Daphne.”

“We’d be happy to provide them to you.” Harry said with a nod and a small smile.

As the night wore on, Remus not only remained in full control of himself, but was even able to sleep for a few hours a bit after midnight, something that wasn’t normal for werewolves on the night of the full moon.

“Something’s happening.” Harry said at about four in the morning, watching as Remus’s magic shifted.

Daphne watched Remus for a moment before speaking to him. “Mr. Lupin, are you alright?”

“I think so?” Remus said, feeling the ‘off’ sensation that he’d been experiencing over the night slowly fading. “I think the transformation is ending.”

“The sun shouldn’t rise for almost an hour though.” Daphne said, even as she recorded Remus’s speculation into her research journal.

Under the watchful eyes of Harry, Daphne, and Sirius (in dog form), the thick hair all over Remus’s body slowly thinned and receded over the course of a few minutes until the man was back to normal.

Harry quickly wrote the time and duration of the ‘transformation’ into his notes. “Remus’s transformation was shortened by roughly one hour, despite the sun not having risen yet.”

“The combination of the two potions prevents a full transformation, pain and aches associated with Lycanthropy in the time leading up to the full moon appear to be mitigated to a degree, and overall transformation time is shortened, regardless of sunrise.” Daphne said aloud as she wrote the results of the first werewolf test into her notes.

Remus still insisted he stay in the secured room until the sun fully rose, but even with the extra precaution, nothing happened. He undid the spell and locks on the reinforced door about fifteen minutes after sunrise and stepped out of the room. Surprising Harry, Remus wrapped the young man into a hug and squeezed him tightly for a moment before pulling back.

“Thank you, Harry, Daphne.” Remus smiled gratefully at the two for what their potions had done for him through the night and what they gave him hope for…a true cure to Lycanthropy.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Lupin.” Daphne smiled as she accepted a small side-hug from the man. “This has been incredibly helpful and proves that our potions work.”

Harry grinned at them both. “They work, but they’re not complete just yet. Next, we CURE lycanthropy!”

Sirius returned to his normal form and wrapped an arm over Remus’s shoulders. “Bloody right, Harry! We’ll have Remus cured and going out on the town with me, looking for ladies to woo, soon enough!”

“You already drag me out for that, Padfoot.” Remus reminded his best friend with a joking roll of his eyes. He was in a VERY good mood after a full moon night where he didn’t transform or feel like his body had tried to tear itself apart for close to eight hours.

“Yeah, but you’re a bit of sad sack about it, Moony!” Sirius laughed, even as Remus lightly elbowed him.

Harry wrapped his arm around Daphne’s waist and pulled her into a hug. “How about some breakfast, love?”

Daphne smiled and pecked Harry’s lips. “Sounds great. Then a bit of a nap, I think.”

“Together?” Harry wiggled his eyebrows.

“If you’re good.” Daphne said with a tempting little grin.

Sirius and Remus watched the interaction quietly, but both were smiling. James and Lily would both be so happy that Harry had so much love in his life.

-July 15th-

Harry smiled as he walked through Diagon Alley hand-in-hand with Hermione. The two were on a date together as Harry told her about the current state of his and Daphne’s potions research, and she told him about her progress with her Spell Scrolls.

“I’m also looking more into Runes and script-based magics. I want to deepen my understanding of them and various magical phenomena.” Hermione said with a smile, just happy to be on a date with Harry and talk about their intellectual pursuits.

Her father had been happy to see her happy, but also very much still protective of her when he found out she was going on a date. Knowing it was with Harry did calm him down a bit, and her mother had been thrilled that they were dating. Explaining her relationship had been a bit embarrassing, and her parents were both still coming around to the realization that their daughter was bisexual, but they loved Hermione far too much to change anything between them over her orientation. In her parents’ words: “If we could accept you being a witch, then we can accept you liking both girls and boys.”

“What type of script-based magics are you looking at right now?’ Harry asked with a little smile as they walked together.

“I’d like to learn how to use other mediums to write out things, like wards, perhaps even removing the need for a material like parchment or stone entirely.” Hermione said with the energy she always had when she talked about her studies. ‘Though, since I earned my Mastery, I suppose it’s more ‘my research’ now.’ She thought to herself, feeling the warmth of pride in her accomplishment again.

Harry nodded and looked thoughtful. “I’d considered that idea too, but haven’t had much time to try and make progress. I think a single rune can still hold a magical effect, as long as it’s simple.”

Hermione considered that, knowing that she had to write out entire rune sequences to create Spell Scrolls. “A single rune can have meaning, of course. Magic can enforce that meaning upon the world, changing a logical state or action into an illogical one, or the opposite. However, the effects could be much more complex with a runic sequence. I’ve yet to find a way to apply script magics to non-standard mediums though, only the well-known materials like wood, parchment, and stone.”

“Surely one of us will figure it out.” Harry said with a playful grin, encouraging Hermione with a small and fun challenge, like a race, between them to discover new horizons in runes and other script-based magic.

“Don’t be upset when I win.” Hermione smiled and pecked Harry’s cheek. She wasn’t just looking into runes though, having set herself a task based on her interpretation of magic. ‘I’ll surprise Harry once I can make it work. It’ll be something I can do wandlessly without figuring out the ‘right question’. And with Fleur’s advice, I feel like I’m close now.’ She’d make sure to show off her accomplishment to her girlfriend first as thanks for Fleur’s help.

“High Sorcerer Potter, Sorceress Granger!” Florean Fortescue called out to the couple as they entered his ice cream parlor. The old wizard smiled as he personally moved behind the counter to take their orders. “What can I get you two today?”

Harry nudged Hermione to order first with a smile.

“I’ll have a chocolate and strawberry sundae with caramel and chopped nuts, please.” Hermione ordered with a smile.

“Vanilla, strawberry, and peanut butter sundae, with chocolate syrup, please.” Harry put his order in with Florean.

The older man nodded before a few swishes of his wand had chilled glass bowels floating through the air and scoops of the chosen flavors of ice cream lifting out of their individual containers. It was always entertaining to watch the sundaes come together at Fortescue’s, the making of the sweet treats was a show in and of itself and had made the place popular for decades.

After receiving their sundaes, Harry paid Florean the Sickles and Knuts before he and Hermione headed outside to eat their ice cream at the tables under the shade of the umbrellas.

“What would your parents think, seeing you eat something so full of sugar?” Harry teased Hermione as he popped his first spoonful into his mouth.

“Don’t you dare tell them!” Hermione snipped at him before taking her first spoonful of her sundae and enjoying the sweetness.

The couple enjoyed their ice cream together and once they finished, they stood up from the table and took each other’s hands again. The used glass bowels and spoons floated into the air as one of the shop employees stood in the doorway and levitated them over so that they could be taken into the back and cleaned.

Harry and Hermione did some window shopping for a bit until a large figure blocked their path. The cloaked wizard was tall and broad shouldered, his face in shadow thanks to his hood. Hermione’s left hand closed just slightly, ready to let one of her Spell Scrolls (for emergencies) fall into her hand. Harry looked at the wizard with his Mage Sight spell; seeing the control and fluidity of the man’s magic made it obvious that this was an accomplished and skilled wizard.

“High Sorcerer Potter?” The large wizard asked rhetorically, clearly already knowing who Harry was.

“That’s me.” Harry confirmed, noting the man’s accent and guessing he might be from Russia. “And you are?”

Maxim pulled his hood back to reveal his face as he looked down at Harry. “High Sorcerer, Maxim Volkov. I saw your remarks in the Daily Prophet when you earned your third Order of Merlin.” The way his tone was even, but rough, showed his feelings on the matter. “You seem to think that you are owed the Title of Grand Sorcerer. Childish bravado and arrogance like that is an insult to all of the other High Sorcerers in the world that have dedicated much of their lives to earning their merit and accolades.”

Harry considered Maxim’s words for a moment before he responded. “I see. Well, I am sorry that what I said made you feel like that. However, I was merely stating my goal to become the first Arch Mage ever. My hopes for the ICW to recognize my future efforts and look favorably on granting me the Title of Grand Sorcerer was only that, a hope.” He would, apparently, need to watch what he said to the newspapers or at events where journalists were in the future.

“A lesson must be taught.” Maxim said, barely acknowledging Harry’s words. The man held out his arm, his cloak moving to the side, and presented a scroll of parchment to Harry.

“What’s this?” Harry quickly scanned the scroll with his personal Identification spell and found it possessed no harmful magic, nor any magic like a Portkey that could whisk him away somewhere. Taking the scroll from the much larger wizard, Harry unrolled it and started to read it, Hermione reading it over his shoulder.

-Scroll-

Writ of Challenge

Due to arrogant words and the insult perceived from them; High Sorcerer, Maxim Volkov has issued this writ to settle the matter against High Sorcerer, Harry Potter with a Magical Duel.

The Duel shall be held on an agreed upon date and location between both parties.

Should one party fail to present themselves after accepting this writ of challenge, they will be known and shamed as a coward and discredited amongst their fellow wizards and witches.

The one defeated in the Duel must bow their head and admit that they were in the wrong on pain of magic. Failure to comply will see their magic bound for one year from the date of the Duel.

-Scroll-

“You can’t be serious.” Hermione couldn’t hold herself back after reading the scroll. “You don’t like what Harry said, so you’re going to fight him to try and prove your feelings matter more than the truth?”

“This is merely a lesson for the young man to learn to humble himself and not speak so arrogantly.” Maxim dismissed Hermione’s complaint against his challenge.

Harry cocked an eyebrow at the Writ of Challenge. The way it was worded as a ‘Duel’ and not a ‘Formal Duel’ meant that instead of the types of Duels practiced on the professional circuit with the long stage and structured rules, this would be a true fight between spellcasters. The only rule of an informal Duel was that you couldn’t kill your opponent. Duels to the death had been outlawed for a very long time by the ICW because people used them simply to kill those they didn’t like or wanted out of their way. “How…interesting.”

Maxim looked down at Harry again, his eyes sharp as steel. “Do you accept?”

“I’m afraid I can’t just go around accepting such challenges, Mr. Volkov. My family would be very upset if I just agreed to such a thing without telling them.” Harry said simply and logically. “However, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t curious about this and what magic you may be able to show me.” He looked up into the Russian wizard’s eyes and met his intense gaze with his own. “You also interrupted my date with my beautiful girlfriend…”

“Harry…!” Hermione said with an almost whine that Harry found cute.

“…so, I would like to express my dissatisfaction. While I understand that it’s tradition to deliver challenges like this in-person, you could’ve been much less rude about it and sent an owl first with a request to meet.” Harry told the older wizard without backing down. “I’ll let my family know about your challenge, so let’s meet at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade tomorrow at noon. You’ll receive my answer either way then…but I’m certain they’ll agree with me that I should accept.” His last words were sharp and carried a weight to them from a bit of his magic seeping into his voice.

Maxim nodded once, not breaking his stare down with Harry. “Very well. Until tomorrow.” He then vanished with Apparation…subtly showing his skill with the magic by not having to move to use it, unlike the vast majority of wizards and witches that had to pivot and ‘spin into it’ to use the ability.

It was only a few seconds after Maxim vanished that Diagon Alley erupted into noise and chatter as everyone anywhere close to where Harry and Hermione were standing had clearly been eavesdropping.

“A challenge to a Duel!” One wizard with a wide-brimmed, pointed hat said excitedly.

“Harry Potter is going to be in a Duel against another High Sorcerer tomorrow!” A witch exclaimed in shock.

A group of wizards sitting at a nearby table outside of a pub quickly stood up, leaving their half-finished drinks behind. As they quickly walked away, nearly breaking into a jog, the words ‘We have to tell the Editor-in-Chief!’ were heard.

It seemed the Daily Prophet would have a new story in tomorrow’s morning paper.

A witch whispered to her friend, though it was still rather loud to be able to hear over the new din within Diagon Alley. “We need to make sure we get to Hogsmeade early tomorrow!”

Harry simply took Hermione’s hand and started walking, ignoring anyone that tried to approach them with a simple Repelling Charm that kept anyone from crossing within a certain area of the caster. It could easily be cancelled out with a simple Finite, but to move through a gathering crowd, it was quick and efficient.

“Harry, why would you accept such a challenge?” Hermione asked as she gently squeezed his hand. She knew that the challenge had caught Harry’s interest, that was usually reason enough for her boyfriend to do something, but this seemed to be more than that.

“Part of it is to, hopefully prevent others that don’t like what I said from coming to challenge me in the future.” Harry said while squeezing Hermione’s hand in return. “If I make it clear in this Duel that I’m not to be trifled with, others should, hopefully, rethink challenging me.” He turned to look at her with a warm smile. “But the rest of it is because he interrupted my date with you.”

Hermione felt her cheeks heat up and her heart thumped in her chest before she leaned in and kissed Harry’s cheek. “It’s not ruined yet.” She said with a smile of her own as she tugged on his hand. “Let’s go somewhere that we can be…alone.” Hermione grinned, her cheeks still adorably red as she pulled Harry along.

Harry, never one to turn down ‘alone time’ with his girlfriends, quickly sped up and led Hermione towards a shop with Floo access. If they were going to spend some more time together, it would be much easier to do so in the privacy of his room.

-End Chapter-

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The two potions that Harry and Daphne are working on have proven effective against Lycanthropy! Woohoo!

It’s not a cure just yet, but they’re clearly making progress! Perhaps a bit of further refinement and testing will let them take that final step from ‘treatment’ to full-on ‘cure’ for the magical infectious curse!

Tonks and Fleur happily spend some free time (and time off in Tonks’s case) pulling Harry away from his work and into their loving arms! Harry is MORE than okay with taking a break with such an incentive! Hehehe~

Plus, after the naughty moments, there’s family fun to be had in the pool! Gabrielle certainly appreciates having her big brother and big sisters splashing around with her! Adorable little thing that she is!

Harry and Hermione have a cute date in Diagon Alley! Unfortunately, it was interrupted by a certain someone.

Maxim has made good on his plans and issued Harry a formal Writ of Challenge! An old, traditional way to set terms and conditions on the outcome of a Duel! Most notably, he didn’t request a ‘Formal Duel’ with a stage and regulations…but a ‘Duel’, plain and simple. The only rule is that you can’t kill your opponent! It’s the most real combat between spellcasters outside of true life-and-death fights.

Harry plans to use this to make a point that he isn’t some upstart to be bullied. But no one becomes a High Sorcerer through dumb luck, so just what will Maxim show in this Duel?

Keep reading to find out!

Until I get your reviews, later!