Harry Potter and the Artificer Legacy Chapter 56 (Patreon)

Sorry about the delay, friends and fans! I got stung by a piece of garbage hornet while I was mowing the grass and my left hand swelled up. That made it really hard to write for the past couple of days. But the swelling is finally mostly gone, so here's the newest update! I hope you all enjoy it!

Hey friends and fans! Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter of Harry Potter and the Artificer Legacy! With Azkaban fallen, the Dementors all consumed by Harry’s new sword, and Voldemort’s Inner Circle back with their master, things are certainly heating up. Now Harry has another annoyance coming to cause issues. The prodigious Artificer just can’t catch a break, can he?

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So, without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 56 – Unjust Action, Inner Circle

“Ah, you little shite.” Harry growled at his new Artifact Sword. He was standing outside the ring of Magical flames that Dumbledore had conjured to contain the spread of the frost that continued to be produced by the blade stuck in the ground. He was trying to commune with his creation, both to figure out why it was spreading frost and chill without being used, as well as to try and learn why it had tried to freeze his hand when he’d held it. As the Artifact’s creator and master, it shouldn’t passively harm him just from holding it.

“No luck, Harry?” Sirius questioned from just behind Harry. He was ready to step in at the first sign that something was going wrong. He’d pull Harry away kicking and screaming if he had to.

“It’s an unwieldy thing to say the least.” Harry glared at the blade. “Even to my senses it feels off. But I can’t just let it sit here forever.”

“Did you find out anything about it though?” Sirius was curious himself. This new Artifact was different than anything that Harry had created before, especially since none of his previous creations had ever harmed him like this one had.

“A little.” Harry sighed with a grimace. “Its power source is the one hundred Dementors that it consumed. Naturally, that means it promotes feelings of sadness, fear, melancholy, and the like. I imagine that it’ll make anyone that holds it feel like they’re near a Dementor at the very least.”

“Is that why it tried to freeze you for holding it?” Sirius had a thoughtful look on his face as he looked between the sword and Harry. “This is starting to sound similar to what Tōshū warned you about, isn’t it?” The godfather looked pointedly at his godson. “Didn’t he specifically warn you about mixing Creature Craft with Runes?”

“He did.” Penny spoke up, visiting Harry after what had happened last night. She was worried when Harry had mirror called her last night, but had agreed to wait until morning to come over.

“Very specifically mentioned that creatures with a lot of magical power or intelligence could have their intent or even their will linger within the creation because of the Runes.” Fleur had also come over and looked none to amused at Harry’s latest creation. Even if it hadn’t been intentional, her lover had made exactly the type of creation that he was warned about.

“I wasn’t exactly planning on consuming one hundred Dementors with it.” Harry looked at both of his scholarly girlfriends with a heavy shrug. “But from what I’ve been able to glean from it, the problem lies in the sword’s innate power now.”

“The Dementor’s powers?” Penny raised an eyebrow at the sword.

“Not their abilities, no.” Harry shook his head. “Their combined Magical Power is much greater than my own. That’s why I can’t touch the sword. The power of the blade overwhelms my own Magical power and it starts to freeze me over because of it.”

“You made a cursed sword.” Fleur’s blue eyes were filled with a mix of worry and curiosity. “No one weaker than it can touch it without suffering or potentially dying. There are curses that can be placed with similar parameters, of course, but you’ve made it a part of the sword itself, even if accidentally.”

“I wouldn’t suggest trying to experiment with it.” Harry wasn’t the only overly curious one in their relationship. Fleur absolutely loved to study and figure out new or obscure Magics. She’d already been offered a role in the current study her old mentor Madam Aveline was a part of after all.

“Can we do anything about it?” Penny’s question once more showing her responsible side that had seen her become Prefect and then Head Girl back at Hogwarts. “If it’s this dangerous, then we really can’t just leave it here for long.”

“We might try making a barrier?” Sirius suggested, stroking his trimmed beard. “We’d need some stone, preferably granite, then rune work to contain the sword’s power would have to be etched into the stones themselves. Maybe some kind of Magical fire too since Dumbledore’s spell seems to be holding it back well enough.”

“Penny and I could handle the rune work.” Harry looked at his girlfriend with a smile.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult.” Penny agreed with Harry, a grin on her lips. “An array to contain Magic within a certain space isn’t something new. It was the basis of the original wards that hid the Magical from the Non-Magical after all.”

“I can provide all the Magical fire that you could ever need.” Fleur held up her hand and flames danced in her palm. “Veela fire has some innate Magical properties of its own that should help counter the frost that the sword exudes.”

“Alright, I’m sure we can get some granite from the Dwarves, and if not, I can always buy some.” Sirius was happy that they’d decided on a plan of action already. If even Harry couldn’t touch his creation, then it was best to seal it away for now until something else could be done with it.

The four of them headed towards the cottage to work out the plan to build a barrier around the sword. Thanks to Magic, after the Aurors had investigated Wood End Cottage and taken pictures of the frost covering the walls and the damages done, the home had been quickly repaired and set to rights. Tayla had wailed about being unable to protect Harry, but he’d forgiven her immediately. With every Dementor in Azkaban attacking their home, it was no surprise the House Elf had been nearly comatose in fear and despair.

None of them were expecting a sudden crack of Apparation that was quickly followed by shouting.

“What the hell?” Sirius demanded as he looked over to see a newly arrived group of three that were being held back by the two Aurors that had been stationed at Wood End Cottage for the day incase anything else happened at the residence.

“I am the Senior Undersecretary for the Minister of Magic!” The shrill voice of Dolores Umbridge was heard and Harry immediately scowled. The woman, once more wearing bright pink robes, practically shoved past the two Aurors and the two following her gave their colleagues apologies. “Potter!” Umbridge screeched as soon as she caught sight of him. “You’re under arrest for theft of Ministry assets!” She had an ugly smile on her toad-like face.

“Shut your mouth, you vile pink toad!” Sirius roared at Umbridge, making the squat woman stop her approach with a visible flinch. Sirius was quickly Lord Black as he nearly stomped towards the annoying woman. “How dare you accuse my godson of stealing anything! What proof do you have? He was just attacked by every Dementor of Azkaban last night! Do citizens not have the right to defend themselves in Magical Britain anymore? The fact that Azkaban has fallen must not mean anything to you if you’re here throwing around false charges.”

“I…how…how dare you, sir!” Umbridge sputtered out after a moment to get her wits back. “The Dementors are Ministry property! Regardless of the reason, taking them from Ministry handling is a crime!”

“They were already out of Ministry handling last night when they attacked, or are you implying that the Ministry knowingly sent every Dementor in Azkaban after my godson?” Sirius’s glare nearly burned into Umbridge’s eyes.

“The Ministry did no such thing!” Umbridge denied, her disgusting gaze locking onto Harry with a glare. “Your godson most likely did something to draw them here so that he could steal them from the Ministry!”

“You dare?!” Sirius nearly drew his wand on the horrid woman right then and there.

“We will also be confiscating whatever Artifact you stole the Dementors with, Potter!” Umbridge declared imperiously, not facing Sirius’s anger seemed to give her confidence. “Now, where is it? Hand it over you little thief! I’ll have you in front of the Wizengamot today for what you’ve done!”

“How dare you ignore a Lord!” Sirius stepped between Umbridge and Harry, his dark eyes glaring death at the pink witch. “I’ll have your job for this, Umbridge!”

“Are you threatening me, sir?” Umbridge blustered, trying to make her position seem equal with the standing of one of Magical Britain’s Lords. Her eyes caught sight of the sword surrounded by clearly Magical flames and an ugly sneer twisted her lips. “I see, that’s what you used, isn’t it?” She was quickly walking, not quite jogging, but more of a fast waddle, towards the nameless Artifact.

“Don’t touch it, you fool!” Harry bellowed as he moved after the woman along with Sirius. All four Aurors were rushing after the three to try and prevent a physical or, heaven forbid, magical altercation.

“I am retrieving the Ministry property that you stole, boy!” Umbridge nearly spat, staying just ahead of Harry and Sirius. “You have no right to try and stop me!”

“He’s trying to save your life, you daft bitch!” Sirius warned the toad-like woman.

“Aurors! My life has just been threatened!” Umbridge pointed back at Sirius while still moving as fast as she could towards the Artifact Sword. “Arrest him immediately!”

“Ma’am, don’t you think you should listen to them?” One of the Aurors she came with questioned, not moving to follow her orders.

“Do your job or I’ll have your badge, Auror!” Umbridge stopped at the edge of the ring of fire and her stubby-fingered hand reached out to snatch the handle of the sword. She pulled it from the frozen ground and nearly brandished it at Harry, Sirius, and the four Aurors.

“Put it down now!” Harry demanded, knowing exactly what would happen if she held it for more than a few seconds. With a quick burst of his mana into his glasses, he used the Scouter function to read Umbridge’s mana level. 2,704 appeared on the lens and Harry nearly choked on his own breath. She’d be overwhelmed near instantly at only about a tenth of what he possessed!

“I will not!” Umbridge declared with a glare. “This is now Ministry property! You are under arrest!” She pointed the sword at Harry. “And you, Lord Black, are also under arrest for threatening me!”

“Drop the sword, it’s going to kill you!” Harry yelled at the vile woman.

“Enough!” Umbridge swung the weapon, unleashing a wave of ice at Harry, Sirius, and even the Aurors without meaning to. “I’ll hear no more of your lies!” Inwardly she was giddy at having this sword in her hand. She’d cast a powerful spell merely by swinging it! With this…with this she could get whatever position she wanted in the Ministry! She could finally enact the laws and policies that she’d always wanted to. Keeping the filthy beasts and the thieving, Magic-stealing mudbloods out of the Magical World.

“Madam Umbridge!” One of the Aurors that had come with her called out.

“What? Were you hurt by my spell?” Umbridge demanded of the Auror, already considering the power of the Artifact to be her own.

“Your hand!” The Auror ignored the almost mocking tone in the Undersecretary’s voice.

“What are you talking about…?” Umbridge trailed off as she realized that she couldn’t feel her right hand anymore. Looking down she quickly saw the reason why. Ice and frost were rapidly spreading up her arm. Her hand was already encased and the flesh of her arm that had yet to be covered was already a deathly blue as the Artifact Sword stole all heat from her body. “Aaaaahhhhh!” She screamed, unable to let go of the sword or even flail her arm in an attempt to dislodge it.

“Harry!” Sirius looked at his godson and received a nod in return. “Incendio!” He cast at Umbridge’s arm to try and halt the ice. Harry joined in, wreathing Umbridge’s frozen arm in flames wandlessly to stop the encroachment of the frost.

“Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!” Umbridge continued to wail and scream as the two worked to save her life.

The flames swirled around the ice, letting off steam as it melted but quickly refroze. The nameless sword was more powerful than their spells though. While they could deal with the ice creeping across her skin, they weren’t able to make any real progress on stopping the chill from stealing all the warmth from Umbridge’s body. The toad-like woman’s skin turned a deathly blue as her screaming slowed and then stopped. Her body seemed to lock up and frost quickly began to form all over her.

“Shite…” Sirius ended his spell and Harry followed his example.

“Wh-What the hell just happened?” One of the Aurors questioned as they all stared at the frozen form of Dolores Umbridge.

“I told her not to touch it.” Harry grimaced at the death that would possibly be blamed on him.

“You warned her, Harry, you even tried to save her life. Everyone here saw it.” Sirius assured his godson while shooting a pointed look at the four Aurors.

“She did not listen and grabbed a dangerous Artifact against the express warnings of the Artificer that created it.” Fleur glared at the frozen Witch. “The wretched woman deserved it.”

“I think she’s still getting colder.” Penny pointed out with wide eyes.

Indeed, frosty steam began to rise off of the frozen body. The wisps became almost as thick as smoke before a loud crack was heard and what was left of Dolores Umbridge’s body shattered into hundreds of pieces. The Artifact Sword fell to the grass and the green blades slowly started to freeze over as the frost spread anew. Harry wandlessly banished his creation back into the circle of flames, but the spell seemed to have less of an effect than it should’ve. The blade only moved back a handful of centimeters, rather than into the ring of fire that Harry was aiming for.

“Of course…Adamantite.” Harry realized his mistake of trying to use a spell against his newest Artifact. He moved forward quickly and with a light kick, he sent the Artifact Sword into the air for a second before it landed within the ring of flames again. “There, that should hold it for a bit.”

“Umm…Artificer Potter…we need to take some statements and investigate this.” One of the four Aurors spoke up after a long moment of silence.

“Yeah, I figured.” Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“You’ll speak to my godson only with our lawyer present.” Sirius stated, supporting his godson to the fullest extent of the law.

“Of course, Lord Black.” A different Auror nodded in agreement. It wasn’t like they really had a choice. Having legal representation was his right, especially as Harry was still not of his Majority yet. Sirius, as his godfather, could step in on Harry’s behalf until he was seventeen.

“I guess we’ll have to put the barrier construction plans on hold for now.” Fleur sighed and Penny gave her a one-armed hug.

“Speaking of barriers, I’ll definitely need to use a similar method once I can get the time to make a scabbard for that sword.” Harry nodded to himself as he looked at the icy blade for a drawn out moment.

“How strong is it, Harry?” Penny questioned, knowing that most of Harry’s Artifacts were made over several days. That meant they usually ended up being some multiple of his own full strength as he imparted as much of his mana into his creations as possible.

“At best estimate?” Harry looked between Penny and the Artifact Sword. “Probably close to four times what Aethereum has innately.”

“Four times what Aethereum has?” Penny nearly gaped at the ludicrous amount of innate mana the deadly blade possessed. “That would put it close to 60,000 mana!”

“Which is why none of us can hold it.” Harry nodded with a grimace. “Not even Dumbledore has that much mana, I’ve checked.”

“How are you even going to get it into any scabbard you make if you can’t touch it?” Fleur questioned, her blue eyes nearly glaring at the sword surrounded by flames.

“I’ll have to figure out a temporary work around.” Harry admitted with a shake of his head. “It can’t be left out and a barrier can be broken if people are determined enough. I’ll make a scabbard to contain it and then I should be able to stuff it into a Mokeskin pouch that I can stash into my Rune Safe. No one will be able to get to it then.”

What Harry didn’t tell anyone was the other two functions that he’d been able to glean by communing with his newest Artifact. The ability to slowly but consistently consume mana that came into contact with the blade. As well as the ability to sever the connection between body and soul. Much like a Dementor’s Kiss, his blade would be able to break that connection, once any mana was out of the way first. It was a terrifying ability, and would technically not kill the person unlucky enough to experience it. Their soul would simply leave their body and go to wherever souls went after death. That was assuming that the chill of the sword didn’t kill them before their mana ran out, of course.

‘Too far, too fast, Harry.’ Harry’s self-recrimination was kept inside his own mind. ‘Tōshū warned you of something like this, though the circumstances were much different. Once I can contain it, maybe I can take it to Drasurd and have him look it over?’ The Dwarf King was centuries-old and there was a chance that he might be strong enough to hold the sword to examine it. ‘I really should start scanning people with my Scouter more. I’d at least know who to watch out for should things get bad, or who I could ask for help in situations like this.’ Now done berating himself, Harry went with Sirius, Penny, and Fleur into the cottage to Floo the Black Family lawyer. The four Aurors following after them, all confused by what they’d just seen and none in any hurry to try to confiscate the deadly Artifact.

-Malfoy Manor ~ Wiltshire-

“The Daily Prophet, my lord.” Lucius handed over the newspaper to Voldemort with a bow. He kept his head down and his eyes on the floor and hated that he was doing the work of a House Elf in his own home.

“Hmm…Azkaban destroyed…Dementors vanished…Prisoners missing…Dark Mark in the sky.” Voldemort read over the main headline that was showing multiple pictures of the devastated prison. “Has the Dark Lord returned?” He narrowed his red eyes at the paper. “Who else could accomplish such a feat?! Are they that foolish to doubt me?!” He nearly snarled at the newspaper. He was the greatest Wizard to ever live! Where did these sheep get the nerve to deny his power and knowledge?

“Fudge is trying to maintain calm, but not many are listening to him.” Lucius reported to his master. “Fear is already spreading and I believe that soon the situation will return to what it was in the Seventies.”

“As it should be.” Voldemort lessened his rage as he flipped to the second page of the paper to continue reading. It was best to know what was going on with the Ministry since his people inside were being somewhat stymied by the near lockdown that the DMLE had enforced. Just as he’d suspected, there were interviews with Madam Bones and other Senior Staff at the Ministry regarding what had happened. He may not know exactly what they planned right away, but their assurances to the sheep would let the Dark Lord know their general plans. “Any contact from Yaxley is to be brought to me at once, Lucius, am I clear?”

“Crystal, my lord.” Lucius had not raised his head the entire time.

“Go check on the inner Circle and report back to me their conditions.” Voldemort waved Lucius away, stinging the man’s pride again without a care.

“At once, my lord.” Lucius backed out of the room and only stood back to his full height after closing the door. With his fists clenched, he turned and made his way to the guest wing which had been converted into a pseudo-infirmary for the Inner Circle that had been freed from Azkaban.

“Lucius…” Snape gave a nod to the man as he entered the room. He was administering potions to the laid up Inner Circle members, many of whom were asleep as the various Magical treatments did their work to restore their bodies and minds.

“How are they?” Lucius looked over to see Augustus Rookwood sat up in his bed and writing on some parchment. The former Unspeakable always did like to write down his thoughts and whatever knowledge he felt would help Voldemort.

“I’ve managed to stabilize them for now.” Snape spoke as he stood up to his full height. “The damage to their bodies will take a bit of time to recover, but their minds are a more delicate matter.”

“Have they completely lost them?” Lucius questioned, knowing that Voldemort would be incredibly angry if his Inner Circle was already lost to him after going through the trouble of destroying Azkaban.

“No, though there is noticeable damage in some of them.” Snape looked over to the unconscious form of Bellatrix Lestrange, and then the brothers Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange. “The rest just need time for the potions to undo the damage of Dementor exposure for the most part, but after ten years that will be a somewhat slow process.”

“I see.” Lucius already knew that the Lestrange trio were damaged, even back in the Seventies. A decade of Dementor exposure would’ve only made them worse. “What of Rowle and Dolohov?”

“Still sane, their Occlumency no doubt helped.” Snape looked at the two sleeping Wizards. “Once their treatment is complete, then they’ll be ready to return to the Dark Lord’s service at full form.”

“That’s some good news.” Lucius nodded with some small relief.

“Do you yet know what it is our Lord needs with all the materials he’s having you acquire?” Snape questioned as he moved to the next bed and the Death Eater lying in it.

“No, he only speaks of performing a Great Magic with them.” Lucius honestly felt out of the loop. The Dark Lord had been keeping most everything close to his chest since his return. “He tells me nothing of what this Great Magic entails, only that all of this material is absolutely necessary.”

“Strange, I do not recall him being so distant in the past.” Snape shook his head as he began administering potions to the sleeping Death Eater.

“His fall seems to have changed him. He holds no trust in anyone now.” Lucius agreed with his old schoolmate.

Truthfully, Severus Snape didn’t care much anymore who won or lost this conflict. He was playing both sides so that he would come out on top regardless. After Lily died, he’d just stopped caring once Voldemort vanished. When the Dark Lord had suddenly returned, Snape had agreed to be a spy as it let him get back into Voldemort’s good graces. For him it no longer mattered the outcome. Lily was gone and there was no bringing her back, Voldemort wasn’t someone that Snape could take on for revenge normally. But if the chance presented itself, and it was guaranteed that Voldemort couldn’t return, then the Potions Master might take his chance to exact some modicum of vengeance. But with the Dark Lord returning from what was basically death, revenge of any kind didn’t seem likely. So, he’d play his part on both sides and survive no matter who won.

-Wood End Cottage-

“I must admit, I wasn’t expecting your request, Brother Potter.” Drasurd stroked his long beard with a chuckle. “But it’s good to get out of the mountain every once and a while.”

“Thank you for accepting my request to come here, King Erdunn.” Harry gave a polite bow.

“If you’re being formal like that, you must have a favor to ask me.” Drasurd grinned, only denoted by the movement of his beard and his eyes. “What do you need, Brother Potter?”

“I was hoping that you’d allow me to scan you with my Scouter before I asked anything else of you.” Harry tapped his glasses so that Drasurd would understand his intentions.

“Very well, it’s no harm to me.” Drasurd shrugged without a care.

“Thank you very much.” Harry sent a bit of mana into his glasses to activate the Scouter and broke into a smile at what he saw.

“How’d I do?” Drasurd chuckled at Harry’s smile.

“You’re mana total is 62,488, you’re the highest I’ve ever scanned besides Nicholas Flamel.” Harry informed the Dwarf King. “You’re stronger than both Dumbledore and Voldemort.”

“I’d hope so,” Drasurd chortled and slapped his knee. “I’m far older than both of them after all.”

‘He is, it’s just unfortunate that Dwarves do not use Magic in the same way as Wizards and Witches.’ Harry mused to himself while Drasurd finished his laughter. ‘If Drasurd was a Wizard of such power, then Voldemort probably wouldn’t be an issue.’ A wand in the hand of a Dwarf was about as useful as giving a violin to a person that had never played before. Nothing of value would come from it. A Dwarf’s Magic lay in their ability to imbue it into their creations and understand the characteristics of earth, soil, stone, and metals. Harry still wouldn’t want to face Drasurd in single-combat or anything like that, he’d probably have his head taken off for his trouble, but someone like Voldemort would probably be able to kill Drasurd even with the difference in their mana levels.

“So, what’s this favor you spoke of?” Drasurd questioned the Sworn Brother of his people.

“I’ve created a new Artifact, based on our last conversation, you see.” Harry informed the Dwarf King.

“You fool boy!” Drasurd raised his voice and looked at Harry like he was mad. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? We barely went over possibilities for working with the Consume Array, and you go and do it right after? Are you dense as iron?”

“It wasn’t my intention to make the Artifact as I did, but it did save my life.” Harry raised his hands to try and placate Drasurd.

“Let me guess, something went wrong?” Drasurd let out a heavy exhale of breath. “Are you alright, Harry?” He was genuinely concerned for the boy’s wellbeing.

“I’m fine, but a mistake in the completion of the Artifact has made it unwieldy, to say the least.” Harry grimaced as he thought back to his own experience and Umbridge’s death. “It harmed me and killed someone else, just for holding it.”

“What in the deepest pits did you create?” Drasurd looked Harry in the eye.

“A sword….” Harry spoke, only to be cut off.

“Not much of a sword if you can’t even touch it now, is it?” Drasurd gave some criticism of Harry’s experimental work. He wanted to impress upon the young lad just how badly things could’ve gone by rushing like he’d done.

“Not really.” Harry admitted with a nod. “But I need to check if its possible to wield it if I become stronger.”

“So, you want me to try and handle it?” Drasurd realized what favor Harry wanted to ask of him.

“If you would grant me the favor, yes.” Harry nodded to the Dwarf King.

“Very well, shouldn’t be too hard to deal with.” Drasurd stood up and motioned for Harry to lead the way. “It won’t be the first unwieldy creation I’ve dealt with in my life.”

As the duo walked outside, they saw Fleur and Penny both going over some parchment and taking some rough measurements by eye. The lovely Scholars were in the midst of planning out the barrier they’d build around the nameless sword to contain it. When Drasurd and Harry approached, both Human and Veela gave a polite bow to the Dwarf King.

“So, this is your cursed sword, eh?” Drasurd eyed the blade lying in the circle of Magical fire.

“Yes, until it can be wielded, I have yet to give it a name.” Harry looked down at the sword.

“Please be careful, King Erdunn.” Penny requested of the dwarf. “We’ve seen what it can do to people just by holding it.”

“Don’t you worry, lass.” Drasurd reached down and took the sword firmly by the handle. “I’m not concerned about this ice pick.” He lifted the sword up and held it horizontally.

“King Erdunn! Your hand!” Fleur immediately warned the dwarf as the sword’s effect began to cover Drasurd’s hand in frost. “Please, let go of the sword! It’ll freeze you to death!”

“Who do you take me for?” Drasurd looked down at his ice-covered hand. With a flex of his fingers the ice cracked and fell away harmlessly. Harry felt Drasurd’s Magic pulse and then stood puzzled as the off feeling that the sword normally emitted seemed to be suppressed. “This unwieldy thing is no match for me.”

“He can hold it.” Penny blinked in shock as Drasurd brought the blade up to his eye level to examine it.

“That’s a good sign.” Harry actually felt some relief. “That means that I just have to get stronger than the sword to be able to wield it.”

“Aren’t you just under thirty-thousand right now?” Fleur looked at her lover with a slight warning in her eyes.

“If I’m close to halfway there, then it shouldn’t take me too much longer, right?” Harry smiled at her softly. “Until that time though, we can seal it up in the barrier so no one else will be hurt by it. And in the meantime, I’ll work on crafting a scabbard that can contain its power.”

“We’ll all be making sure you don’t do something crazy, Harry.” Penny informed him, her eyes locking with his. Fleur nodding in agreement beside her friend/future-sister-wife.

“I promise.” Harry held one of their hands each with a smile.

“Harry, might I speak to you about this cursed ice pick you’ve made?” Drasurd questioned after letting the youngsters have their moment. “Dour thing it is…being so unwieldy and making frost all the time.”

“Hmm…” Harry mused, looking at the sword in Drasurd’s hand and thinking about it for a second. “That’s not a bad name.”

“Huh?” Drasurd raised a bushy eyebrow at Harry.

“Dour means relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.” Harry noted while looking at his newest Artifact. “Rather fitting for that blade, isn’t it?”

“Aye.” Drasurd could agree with that assessment. The cursed thing was dour as he’d described it.

“Plus, it makes frost as a side-effect when it isn’t properly controlled.” Harry grinned at Drasurd for a second. “Every Artifact needs some kind of name so I think I’ll call it Dourfrost. Thank you for the inspiration, King Drasurd.”

“Heh,” Drasurd chuckled loudly for a few moments. “Happy to be of inspiration, Brother Potter.” He was stern a moment later as he motioned Harry over to him. “But let’s be serious now. You already know what all the abilities of this sword are, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Harry confirmed with a nod, his eyes showing his concern about the sword’s most dangerous ability.

“That is a fate worse than death.” Drasurd whispered to the Artificer. “Be very careful with this sword, even once you’re strong enough to wield it. It’s not an ability that should be flaunted and spoken of.”

“I agree.” Harry nodded, knowing that he’d never want to use the soul-severing ability of Dourfrost if he could help it. If it had to be done, then so be it, but he’d never seek to remove a person’s soul. “For now, I’ll focus on containing it until I’m strong enough to wield it like you are.”

“You’re a good man, Harry Potter, stay that way.” Drasurd patted him on the shoulder lightly, by Dwarf standards.

“I’d rather not disappoint my family.” Harry shot a glance at Fleur and Penny, a smile making its way to his face almost immediately.

“That’s good.” Drasurd grinned before they both stopped their little huddle. “Now, let’s see about putting this thing through its paces while I’m here.”

“Just let me go get my notebook first!” Harry rushed over to his smithy with Drasurd’s chuckles following him.

-End Chapter-

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The new Artifact Sword has been named!

Dourfrost! A sword of ice and death. Its abilities are both fearsome and horrible. It’s also an unwieldy weapon, as Umbridge found out. Those weaker than the sword can’t even hold it without repercussions.

Perhaps it’ll come in handy in the future conflict though. But Harry has a lot of growing to do if he wants to be able to wield it like Drasurd can.

Magical Britain is already starting to come apart at the seams and Voldemort has barely been confirmed to be back. You have to wonder how they haven’t fallen apart completely over the years, don’t you?

What will happen as both Harry and Voldemort continue to prepare for their seemingly inevitable clash?

Keep reading to find out!

Current Mana Levels

Harry – 26,884

Tonks – 21,718

Penelope – 16,362

Fleur – 16,926

Until I get your reviews, later!