Harry Potter and the Artificer Legacy Chapter 19 (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans! Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter of Harry Potter and the Artificer Legacy! Basilisk is dead, Second Year is almost done, what can happen this summer?

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So without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 19 – Restoration and an Invitation

Harry headed for the Hospital Wing as soon as he’d stopped being questioned by the Aurors. Dumbledore had taken Ginny to his office where her parents were waiting. Harry quickly reached the Wing and entered, he found Penny sitting up in bed and looking a little confused at how she’d gotten there. Madam Pomfrey appeared to be talking to the blonde Prefect, but Harry couldn’t care less. The Second Year rushed to Penny’s bedside and pulled the older girl into a hug.

“Harry?” Penny questioned as she was hugged.

“I’m glad you’re alright, Penny, so glad.” Harry murmured into the hug. Penny softly smiled as she returned his hug.

“Madam Pomfrey says I’ll be fine.” Penny assured him as they continued to hold each other.

“I was saying that,” Pomfrey nodded before looking crossly at Harry. “Until a certain someone came barreling into the Wing and interrupted me.”

“Sorry.” Harry mumbled out as he refused to let go of Penny.

“So what happened after I was petrified?” Penny asked. “The last thing I remember was a pair of large, bright yellow eyes reflecting off the water on the floor of the second floor corridor.”

“I fixed the problem, Penny.” Harry finally pulled back. “The Basilisk in the Chamber is dead.”

“It was a Basilisk?” Penny questioned before what Harry said caught up with her. “Wait, what do you mean ‘You’ fixed the problem?” Harry suddenly felt like he’d said too much. “Harry…please tell me you didn’t go off half-cocked and charge into the Chamber of Secrets by yourself!”

“It wasn’t half-cocked; I had a plan…sort of.” Harry defended his actions.

“It sounds like you took revenge on my behalf.” Penny raised an eyebrow at him.

“I…well…that’s…that’s about right, I guess.” Harry admitted with an exhale of breath. “I was so angry when I saw you petrified, my Occlumency kept me from going off entirely, but I went and got some of my things and then headed for the Chamber. Your theory about where it was hidden was spot on, by the way. I thought that you’d been attacked because you’d gotten too close.”

“Harry, you could have died!” Penny chastised even as she pulled him into a hug and held him tightly. “I was only petrified. It hasn’t even been a full day and I’ve already been cured with Mandrake Draught. But if you had died then you would be gone! What would that have solved?”

“I know…I was just so angry…I barely thought….” Harry returned the hug and sighed at the familiar warmth of Penny.

“Don’t risk your life on something like revenge, Harry.” Penny mumbled into his hair. “I’d rather just have you here with me.”

“Penny?” Harry pulled back and blinked at the Prefect. He was no expert, but that almost sounded like a confession.

“What you did was reckless and poorly thought out,” Penny admonished before her expression softened and a warmth entered her eyes as she smiled. “But thank you for caring about me so much, Harry.” With that the Prefect’s lips met Harry’s in a brief kiss before she pulled back. Harry felt…well…he didn’t quite know. He was happy, elated even, but also confused and he kind of wanted to do that again.

“That was…um…wow.” Harry stumbled over his words a bit.

“Glad you think so.” Penny giggled before she tapped his nose with her index finger. “But I’m still telling Tonks what you did too!” She teased.

“Please don’t….” Harry ‘whined’, already knowing that Tonks would blow the whole incident out of proportion. She tended to overreact when her friends and family were involved. He’d be lucky if she didn’t practically smother him for a good week once she learned of his ‘revenge’ for Penny.

“I’m going to.” Penny grinned at him while Harry sighed. With a delightful giggle Penny pulled him back into a hug and the two just sat together and held each other for a while. Harry mirror called Sirius several minutes later and explained the situation. Including the need for professionals to move and render the Basilisk for parts and meat. Sirius was less than pleased to hear that Harry had risked his life and was already planning to Floo to Hogwarts to berate him for it. AFTER he finished giving Dumbledore a piece of his mind for this whole Chamber business!

So it went that Harry was scolded by a worried Sirius for the better part of an hour. His Godfather moving through various emotions throughout his admonishment; bouncing between worried, concerned, irritated, proud, and several others. Harry agreed not to put himself in such danger again and Sirius nearly hugged the life out of him. Sirius had promised to get professionals to retrieve the Basilisk and start rendering it down before he left. With the Chamber fiasco over with, the school resumed normal activity and routines; the only interruptions being the Aurors leaving and the arrival of the ‘Renderers’ the next day. All of Hogwarts had stood back and gaped at ‘Slytherin’s Monster’ when the Renderers had hauled it out of the school on multiple floating boards. The sheer size of the Basilisk had made more than one student shriek in terror. Many people knew that Harry had some involvement with the beast’s death and mad mental notes to never get on his bad side.

“Oh Harrikins~” Tonks had sweetly called out when she arrived shortly after the ‘Renderers’ had left. Harry had felt like bolting at the look on Tonks’ face but resolved himself to face his friend’s worried wrath. That had lasted for a good half hour with Tonks alternating between hugging him tightly and scolding him for doing something so insanely dangerous that not even Tonks herself would attempt it! Tonks had been very reluctant to leave Hogwarts and let Harry out of her sight; but Penny had managed to convince her after some time. Harry fell face first into his bed that night, mentally drained from the whole day.

It was discovered that Lockhart had fled sometime during Ginny’s abduction into the Chamber. The bumbling peacock of a Professor having been a bigger coward than Harry had previously thought. This was saying something as Harry had already had a low opinion of the man to begin with. Dumbledore had, once again, had to step in and cover the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes for the end of the year. Harry and Penny wouldn’t find out until much later that the man’s running from Hogwarts had prompted an investigation into him. An investigation that had uncovered illegal Memory Charms and the lies he’d published to further embellish the achievements he’d stolen. 

-June 20th-

“Hmm, what’ve you brought me Hedwig?” Harry asked his Snowy Owl as she landed next to him at breakfast. The beautiful owl raised her leg to let Harry remove the letter and then helped herself to some of his breakfast before flying off to the Owlery. Turning the letter over Harry smiled at seeing the neat writing of Fleur Delacour. Opening the letter Harry read over the first page as best as he could, since it was in French. Harry had asked Fleur to write to him in both French and English a while back to help him practice. Fleur had agreed as it helped her practice her English as well. Harry still had a bit of trouble with some of the sentences and switched over to the English copy on the second page to check his own comprehension.

-Letter-

Bonjour Harry,

How have you been since our last letters? I have been well enough. Fifth Year at Beauxbatons hasn’t been much of a challenge. My Exams have gone well, O.W.L.s were slightly nerve inducing but I feel I’ve done well on them. I hope your own Exams have proven easy for you.

How have your Enchanting projects been working out? You told me the ‘Auror Baton’ had been given a trial run with Ms. Tonks in the field. I hope that is still going well. The ‘Ward Breakers’ you mentioned sounded so interesting I asked Madam Aveline about the concept. She was very interested and we had an in depth discussion over the facets of Warding in relation to Magical Theory and Spell Crafting. I hope all of your projects are coming along well.

Incidentally, I have finally achieved the goal I set for myself this year when it came to my Mana Level. As of writing this letter to you I have finally surpassed 6,000 Mana. I was overjoyed to see my reading and know that all of my practice had paid off. Madam Aveline won’t share the exact Mana Levels of the other students with me; but she assures me that I’m one of the most magically powerful students in Beauxbatons.

Since the summer break is coming up I have been given permission from my mother and father to invite you and your Godfather over to our home. I hope you’ll consider visiting so that we may meet in person for the first time. France is lovely in the summer months, I assure you. I hope for a favorable reply!

I eagerly await your next letter, Harry!

Sincerely,

Fleur Delacour

-Letter-

“Hmm, that could be interesting.” Harry murmured to himself.

“Another letter from Fleur?” Penny asked. “Were you able to read the whole thing in French this time, you have been improving.”

“Almost all of it.” Harry grinned. “A few words still stump me from time to time.”

“If you ever want to work on it more, I’m available.” Penny smiled at him. She’d been helping Harry with his French during their breaks from Wandless practice for months now.

“Thank you, Penny.” Harry smiled back. “Fleur hit her goal that I told you about.”

“She broke six thousand?” Penny questioned looking impressed. “She beat me to it. I was at 5,664 when I checked the other day.”

“Fleur has a knack for Magic, especially Fire Magic. She’s a Veela so I’m guessing it’s natural.” Harry shrugged as he folded the letter and placed it inside his robe pocket.

“What was your last reading, Harry?” Penny asked curiously. “It’s been a while since you’ve checked to my knowledge.”

“It has been a while.” Harry admitted with a nod. “We studied for Exams quite a bit after all. Plus I’ve been looking into the ‘loss’ of my prototype as well as researching the ‘other’ sword.”

“I still wonder about that.” Penny shifted in her seat. “It’s an important piece for the school, but you were told you could hold onto it. I guess I’m a bit conflicted, especially after what you told me about your meeting Mr. Erdunn.”

“Just Erdunn.” Harry tried to imitate the Dwarf’s deep voice and failed. Penny giggled at his attempt though. “I don’t plan to keep it forever; I just want enough time to look it over and learn all I can about it. Though it is very good at hiding most of its secrets; I think I might be able to figure out part of the Enchantments woven into the metal.”

“Well, then let’s head to the workshop after breakfast and check your Mana Level.” Penny suggested and Harry agreed.

“Maybe that feeling I’ve gotten from eating the Basilisk meat means I’ve gained some of its Magic?” Harry laughed at the notion.

“I still don’t see how you’re eating that thing.” Penny’s nose scrunched up. “It doesn’t even sound good.”

“Tayla has been cooking it in various different ways for me. I don’t want her efforts to go to waste.” Harry shook his head. Tayla had been over the moon to have to learn how to cook something new like snake. The cheerful House Elf had been ‘popping’ into Hogwarts to deliver him lunch in his workshop on specified days. So far the meat had been palatable and with some recipes actually tasty. He’d had a bit of a ‘rush’ when he’d eaten the first part of the Basilisk meat, something he assumed came from the Rite of Conquest, but hadn’t really worried about since he’d felt really good afterwards. He’d had no further ‘rushes’ since the first time, but he did always feel something when he ate the Basilisk meat. Though he couldn’t be sure if that wouldn’t always happen regardless, when a Witch or Wizard ate the meat of a Magical Creature.

The two finished their breakfast a short time later and left the Great Hall together. The familiar path through the castle was second nature to both of them now and they arrived quickly. After closing the door behind them, harry went to his desk/worktable and opened the drawer he kept his Test Frame in. Taking it in both hands Harry poured his mana into the Talisman. The number displayed wasn’t what Harry was expecting however, and it must have shown on his face as Penny spoke up.

“Harry? Are you okay? You look shocked.” Penny worried and Harry shook his head for a second before turning the Frame around to show her his reading. Displayed in the Frame with the standard ‘light’ numbers was the reading 5,160.

“This…I’m sure it’s part of the Rite of Conquest. It’s probably some kind of Ritual Symbolism being completed when I first ate the meat of the Basilisk.” Harry reasoned as he looked over his new reading. That was a massive increase for him to say the least!

“But wouldn’t you feel your mana growing by that much?” Penny questioned at Harry’s large increase.

“Do you actually feel your mana grow?” Harry asked her in return.

“Well…no…now that you mention it.” Penny looked thoughtful as she puzzled over what they’d realized. “So we don’t notice growth unless we try to use spells more often and see that we can cast more. Or we check it with the Scouter or Test Frames, of course.”

“Seems to be the case.” Harry nodded as he pondered. “Maybe because it’s our new ‘normal’ we simply don’t realize. We do realize when we use a large amount of mana of course; the drop in our reserves brings about a feeling of lethargy.”

“Do you think you’ll keep getting this boost as you eat more of the Basilisk?” Penny wondered and Harry shook his head.

“I feel a small bit of ‘something’ every time I eat the meat, but nothing like the first time.” Harry remembered. “I think that was the majority of what I could gain right there. I suspect the Rite of Conquest is something like a Ritual or Contract made between two Magical Beings from a challenge between them. When I consumed the first part of the Basilisk I gained a portion of its mana all at once and the repeated eating will only give me miniscule boosts, if any, from now on. Ritual Symbolism of taking in the Basilisk was completed the first time, so that’s probably the ‘rush’ I felt. I should have looked into it sooner, I partially believed that rush came from satisfying my own spite against the snake for petrifying you.”

“Harry, that’s…sweet…in a weird way; but you should have definitely gotten checked out if you felt this ‘rush’ when you ate the Basilisk.” Penny sighed, though she looked downwards to hide the pink on her cheeks at how much Harry cared about her. “What if it had been something bad?”

“Well I felt really good afterwards, so I kind of put it out of my mind.” Harry shrugged and Penny shook her head at his lackadaisical attitude about this.

“Well, at least this time it was something positive.” Penny smiled, that smile then turned mischievous as she looked at Harry. “We could pull a little prank on Tonks with this, you know?”

“Pranks Penny? Really?” Harry had a fake shocked look on his face. “What happened to our rule abiding Prefect? The future Head Girl shouldn’t be involved in such shenanigans!”

“So you don’t want to play a little prank on Tonks?” Penny questioned sarcastically.

“Well now I didn’t say that.” Harry smiled mischievously himself. “What did you have in mind?” The two friends spent the next while going over their idea to prank the final member of their little trio.

-The Next Weekend ~ June 26th-

“Still so secretive.” Harry murmured to himself as he looked over the Sword of Gryffindor. The Dwarves certainly knew how to hide their secrets in the metal they forged, that was for certain. He’d been looking over the legendary sword for almost a full month now and had only just gleaned a bit of knowledge from examining it. He knew the rubies he’d thought were ‘decorative’ were actually linked to the sword’s power. Perhaps the ‘True’ power that Drad Erdunn had briefly hinted at. The metal was most assuredly an alloy of Magical Steel and what appeared to be Adamantite. Though Harry suspected that another Magical Metal had been forged into the alloy as well, he couldn’t identify it.

“But what I’m really looking for is how your Magical Ability works.” Harry spoke to the sword. “How do you ‘take in’ things that make you stronger? What constitutes as ‘stronger’ anyway? Is it just any ability or function you don’t already possess?” The sword, of course, didn’t answer him but Harry picked it up and briefly ran his mana through the Artifact Sword. By feeling out the weapon’s reaction to his mana he should, hopefully, be able to glean a bit of information about its Magical Properties. This was a ‘Skill’ that he was still learning and fine-tuning, but it was essential to become a good Artificer. 

Feeling with his mana as it flowed into the sword Harry sank into the equivalent of an Occlumency trance. He slowly felt through the sword, touching its own innate Magic and feeling how it responded. The sword was ‘closed off’ for lack of a better term. His mana could be focused to the edge of the blade to increase sharpness; the blade itself was also greatly resistant to damage of both physical and magical nature. Continuing his ‘feeling’ of the sword’s Magic, Harry did find something new this time. The blade seemed to have a small ‘vortex’ of mana near the guard. So miniscule that even after several of these sessions he’d never noticed it. Letting his mana touch the ‘vortex’ Harry felt his mana be drawn into the depths of the sword. Before he could try to follow this small bit of his mana it was ‘spat out’ for all it amounted to and the vortex seemed to disappear.

“Well now, isn’t that interesting.” Harry grinned as he set the sword down on the work table in the smithy. He exited the smithy into the main room of his hidden workshop and pulled down the most advanced book on Runecraft he currently had. If he was right this book might be able to tell him what the ‘vortex’ of the Sword of Gryffindor was. Flipping through the pages Harry stopped near the back and looked at what he believed to be the most likely candidate for the sword’s Magical Ability; or at least what made up the basis of it. “The ‘Consume’ Array.” He smiled at the complex description of the Array. That was all this book had on the Array, a very complex description of what it did. There were no examples or even any concrete Runic Sequences that went into making said Array. Just an overview of what it did and how it functioned in relation to Branches of Magic like, Warding, Enchanting, and Ritual Magic.

“Looks like it’ll be a good long while before I’m able to put something like this together.” Harry mused as he read over the entry on the ‘Consume’ Array. “I might end up hurting myself or others if I messed up with this one.”

-June 30th ~ Leaving Feast-

Harry, Penny, Luna, and Padma clapped politely for Hufflepuff, this year’s winner of the House Cup. The House of Yellow and Black were cheering at having won the Cup for the first time in nine years. Admittedly this might have been due to the tensions that arose this year between Gryffindor and Slytherin over the Chamber of Secrets. Many a fight had broken out between the two Houses when accusations had been thrown about between them.

The ride on the Express was fun. Luna sat with Harry and Penny for the ride and happily watched as the two performed Wandless Magic. The Trio separated at King’s Cross Station and Harry and Penny were met by Sirius, Tonks, and Penny’s father Edward.

“Good to see you, Harry!” Sirius smiled brightly as he pulled his Godson into a hug. “Penny keeping you out of trouble?” He teased.

“Unlike ‘some’ people, I don’t get in trouble at school.” Harry retorted and Sirius chuckled while ruffling his hair.

“Wotcher, Harrikins!” Tonks practically smothered him with her hug.

“Tonks, Harry and I wanted you to guess how much Harry has developed his Mana Levels this year.” Penny told the Metamorph after hugging her father tightly. “Harry has been busy this year.”

“Hmm, is that so Harry?” Tonks put her face very close to Harry’s with a teasing grin. “Well I know you haven’t eclipsed me yet. Not to brag, much, but I got a reading of 6,422 this morning.”

“Well then, how about you guess?” Harry grinned challengingly. “A free Stinging Hex to me if you’re within one hundred points of my level. If you’re not, I get a free Stinging Hex on you.”

“Oh, someone’s confident are they?” Tonks grinned back at him. “I accept your bet!” Penny and Harry both forced themselves not to smirk at Tonks walking right into their prank. It was a bet the Metamorph wouldn’t be able to win! She’d never expect the boost Harry had gotten from the Basilisk and the Rite of Conquest.

“Whenever you’re ready?” Harry grinned, knowing it would rile Tonks up a little.

“You were only around two thousand the last time you told me.” Tonks began as she looked contemplative. “Harrikins usually splits his time between Wandless Magic and Enchanting, unlike me who’s always getting stronger.” She teased with a wink. “So if it’s been almost half a year, a little less, then I’m going to ballpark you around an even three thousand since you’re so confident!”

“Penny, hand me the Test Frame.” Harry requested with a smile.

“Here you are, Harry.” Penny replied in a chipper tone.

“Oh sorry, Tonks, looks like you were a bit off.” Harry grinned as he poured his mana into the Test Frame and got his reading. He turned it around and both Tonks’ and Sirius’ eyes went wide at the number displayed.

“How the heck are you at 5,172?!” Tonks exclaimed and Penny and Harry burst into laughter. “Stop laughing and explain, you prats!”

“First my prize!” Harry exclaimed as he hit Tonks in the shin with a Stinging Hex.

“Ow! Darn it, Harry!” Tonks censored herself as a family with small children walked by.

“Ah, victory, such a lovely feeling.” Harry teased her back. Penny was openly giggling at her older friend while Edward and Sirius both looked amused at the antics between the three.

“Less gloating more explaining.” Tonks huffed at them and the two told Tonks, Sirius, and Edward about Harry’s Rite of Conquest and the ‘Ritual Empowerment’ he’d received from eating the Basilisk.

“Only you Harry, I swear only you.” Sirius chuckled as he patted his Godson’s shoulder. Edward congratulated him on ‘Conquering’ such a powerful Magical Beast. Tonks just grumbled about Penny and Harry setting her up. Penny hugged Harry tightly as they said their goodbyes and then left with her father. Tonks, in revenge, kissed Harry’s cheeks in front of the remaining students on the platform before Apparating away. This left a red faced Harry looking at a lot of staring classmates.

“Let’s go.” Harry spoke as he turned away from the Hogwarts students and headed for the Floo.

“I think you two tied today, Harry.” Sirius offered his commentary on the ongoing ‘Prank War’ between his Godson and Tonks. “Though I believe that still puts Tonks ahead by a wide margin!” He laughed as Harry started and then walked faster towards the Floo.

“Shush you!” Harry threw back over his shoulder. This of course only made Sirius laugh harder. The two quickly returned to Wood End Cottage in a flash of green fire.

-End Chapter-

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Well now…didn’t see that coming! Harry got a boost! Ancient Magic is odd and pseudo-Rituals even more so. Plus Harry’s learning another aspect of being an Artificer, the ability to commune with Artifacts or their innate Magic at any rate. This will most definitely come into play multiple times throughout the story! How will this summer play out? Especially since Harry has been invited to visit his Pen Pal, the lovely Miss Fleur Delacour!

Keep reading to find out!

Current Mana Levels

Harry – 5,172

Tonks – 6,422

Penelope – 5,670

Fleur – 6,000+

Until I get your reviews, later!