The Wind Mage's Legacy: Chapter 32

Hi all, 

Here’s the next chapter. 

Chapter 32

The gavel crashed down with finality. Chief Warlock Griselda Marchbanks surveyed the chamber impassively. 

"By majority vote of this Wizengamot," she declared, "Kingsley Shacklebolt is officially dismissed from his position as Minister for Magic.”

Kingsley rose from his seat at the ministerial podium. He didn’t look surprised by the outcome. 

"Honourable members," he began. "I have served this office to the best of my ability during turbulent times. The decisions I made were mine alone, and I accept responsibility for their consequences."

He paused, scanning the assembled faces. "Britain faces challenges that require fresh leadership. I trust you will choose wisely."

Kingsley descended from the podium and exited the chamber without looking back. 

Harry watched from the visitors' gallery, flanked by the Weasley family. 

After the vote of no confidence was declared, he was one of several who gave speeches explaining why Kingsley was not fit to be Minister. He didn’t find it easy to speak out against the man. Despite his questionable actions as Minister, the man had fought alongside them during the war and had bled for their cause. He wouldn't object if Kingsley went back to being an Auror, since it was clear he was better at law enforcement than running the Ministry.

"We need to determine a new Minister," Marchbanks announced. "Is there anyone here who would like to put their name forward?"

Arthur glanced at his wife. She gave him a smile of encouragement, and he pushed himself to his feet.

Two more wizards rose. Lord Parkinson and Lord Diggory.

Both men looked prepared for this moment. Their lack of surprise was evident.

Lord Parkinson represented the traditionalist faction. Amos embodied progressive ideals similar to Arthur's. The neutral faction didn’t produce a candidate. Without Daphne's father to lead them, they had lost a lot of their cohesion. Several families competed for the leadership role, splitting the faction and causing it to lose much of its support.

Daphne told him that several families had approached her, wanting her to take on the leadership of the neutral faction because of her family name. She suspected it had more to do with her relationship with Harry than anything else. Daphne wasn't sure if she wanted to enter politics after leaving Hogwarts. She was thinking about doing an apprenticeship instead. Since she was pregnant, she didn't have to decide immediately.

"Gentlemen," Marchbanks commanded, "come stand in the centre and present your case as to why you should be Minister for Magic. We will then vote. I see no reason to delay the decision. Too much work remains to repair our society."

The three candidates gathered in the middle of the chamber. Arthur looked nervous, his hands clasping and unclasping behind his back. 

They spoke in turn. Lord Parkinson's words were smooth, filled with promises of stability and tradition. But no one was impressed by his slick talk. Amos played to sympathy, invoking his son's memory and the need for change. His passion resonated, but lacked substance.

Arthur stumbled over his opening lines. His voice gained strength as he spoke of rebuilding trust, of serving all wizarding families regardless of blood status. The Wizengamot members leaned forward. Several nodded in approval.

"Dad's got this," George said. "No one will vote for Parkinson."

"What about Amos?" Molly asked. "He's quite popular among the progressives."

"With Harry backing Dad, Mr Diggory doesn't stand a chance,” Bill said.

Charlie shook his head. "I don't know. He played the sympathy card pretty well. Everyone liked Cedric."

"And everyone liked Fred," George shot back. "Dad didn't need to resort to getting sympathy votes."

"Hush," Molly hissed. "It's time to vote."

Harry held his breath as the Wizengamot cast their ballots. 

The result was never in doubt. Arthur's votes dwarfed his competitors. Even some traditionalists had abandoned Parkinson.

The chamber erupted in applause. Molly sobbed into her handkerchief. George whooped loudly enough to earn glares from nearby spectators.

Arthur stood frozen as Marchbanks approached with the ceremonial chain of office. His face registered shock, disbelief, then gradual acceptance. 

"Ladies and gentlemen," Marchbanks declared, "I present Minister Arthur Weasley."

Harry slipped quietly from his seat. The crowd's attention remained fixed on the new Minister. His job here was finished.

Arthur's appointment meant he was safe from Ministry persecution. Harry could finally stop looking over his shoulder. 

The man's first act would surely involve dismissing Tiberius from his position as Head of Magical Law Enforcement. That would remove the biggest thorn in Harry's side. With Tiberius gone, the systematic dismantling of Kingsley's regime could begin in earnest.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry burst through the tunnel mouth into brilliant sunlight. The roar hit him like a physical wall—forty thousand voices merging into pure sound that vibrated through his bones. Navy and silver banners whipped in the breeze whilst fireworks exploded overhead in a dazzling display.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer's voice boomed across the packed stadium. "Welcome back, your Tutshill Tornadoes!"

The crowd's jubilation reached fever pitch as Harry completed his entrance spiral. His suspension was behind him now.

"And leading the team back onto the pitch, Harry Potter!"

Harry raised his hand to acknowledge the cheers. Their star Seeker was back where he belonged.

The Montrose Magpies emerged from the opposite tunnel in their distinctive black and white striped robes. They were filled with confidence after the mid-season transformation that had shocked the league. 

"The Magpies are in fourth place after their unprecedented unbeaten streak!" the announcer continued. "Their strategy has confounded every opponent!"

Harry studied their formation as both teams took position. The Magpies had an unusual lineup. Three Seekers, two Beaters, a Chaser, and a Keeper. The Seekers focused on finding the Snitch while the others formed an impenetrable wall around their goalposts to block the opposing team from scoring. After catching the Snitch, they would move into offence. The strategy gave them the best chance to build a one hundred fifty-point lead. It had proven effective against other teams.

The Tornadoes' strategy followed the traditional team setup. The Furies—Alana, Brenna, and Ciara—formed their standard attacking triangle. Brevis took his captain's position as Beater, whilst Keith patrolled the opposite flank. Mervyn settled between the goal posts, looking bored. He wouldn’t get any action until the Snitch was caught.

"Captains!" The referee beckoned Brevis and the Magpies' captain forward.

The whistle blew, and the match started.

"The Quaffle's away! The Magpies' three Seekers spread across the pitch whilst their defensive wall forms around the goal posts!"

Harry rose above the fray, watching the battle unfold below whilst scanning for the Snitch. 

The Furies launched their first attack, their synchronised movements cutting through the opposition like a blade. But the Magpies' defensive wall held firm. 

"Alana with possession—passes to Brenna—blocked by the Magpies' wall!”

The Tornadoes' traditional formations crumbled against this unconventional defence. Alana tried to find space on the right flank but found his path blocked by overlapping defenders. The Furies' usually devastating combinations failed to penetrate the compact formation protecting the Magpies' goal posts.

"Twenty minutes in and still no score! The Magpies' defensive strategy is stifling every Tornadoes attack!"

Harry circled higher, tracking the three opposing Seekers whilst searching for any glint of gold. The Magpies' patience was remarkable. They showed no urgency to attack, content to defend and hunt for the Snitch simultaneously. 

A flash of gold near the eastern stands caught his eye. The Snitch hovered briefly before darting towards the centre of the pitch. All three Magpies Seekers converged instantly, their formation tightening like a closing trap.

Harry accelerated hard, reading the Snitch's erratic pattern as it weaved between the converging players. The lead Magpies Seeker stretched out his hand, fingers grasping for the struggling golden ball as his teammates provided interference.

But Harry's skill and experience showed. He angled his approach differently, coming from below, whilst the three Magpies Seekers focused on each other. The Snitch darted upward to escape the chaos, flying directly into Harry's waiting palm.

"POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH! One hundred and fifty points to the Tornadoes! But watch this—the Magpies are making immediate substitutions!"

The Magpies' strategy shifted instantly. With their primary objective failing, they abandoned their defensive approach entirely. Fresh Chasers flew onto the pitch, their defensive wall dissolving and moving into attacking positions. Iggy immediately responded, switching 

Harry kicked off again, but instead of resuming his Seeker position, his role had shifted from hunter to interceptor, using his skills to read and disrupt the Magpies' offence.

The first Magpies attack nearly caught the Tornadoes off guard. Fresh legs and renewed tactics overwhelmed the defence that had grown comfortable against their cautious approach. Only a spectacular save from Mervyn prevented an immediate goal.

Harry's interceptor role came alive immediately. A Magpies Chaser broke free down the left wing, the Quaffle tucked securely as he lined up his shot. Harry materialised from above, his hand deflecting the pass at the crucial moment. The Quaffle spilled loose, allowing Ciara to recover possession and launch a counter-attack.

The Furies capitalised immediately. With Harry providing defensive cover and reading the opposition's movements, their attacking combinations found new life. Alana ghosted past two defenders whilst Brenna positioned herself perfectly for the cross. The Quaffle sailed through the central hoop with pinpoint accuracy.

"GOAL! Ten points to the Tornadoes!"

The match evolved into a tactical chess game. The Magpies' fresh attackers pressed forward in waves, their coordination impressive as they sought to overcome their deficit. But Harry's presence disrupted their timing, appearing in passing lanes and forcing hurried decisions that led to turnovers.

"Brenna with possession! Beautiful pass to Ciara—she's clear! GOAL!"

The crowd sensed the momentum building. Harry's defensive work allowed the Furies to attack with freedom, their natural chemistry overwhelming the Magpies' hastily reorganised defence. Each interception led to a counter-attack, and each counter-attack threatened to extend the lead.

"Another turnover! Potter intercepts and finds Brenna! She's away! GOAL!”

By the hour mark, the Tornadoes had established complete dominance. The scoreboard showed their growing control: 190-20.

Harry's role expanded as the match progressed. No longer content with mere interception, he began creating more attacking opportunities, his unique vision allowing him to spot openings that conventional Chasers missed. A perfectly weighted pass found Ciara in space. A clever dummy run drew two defenders away from Alana.

The Magpies called a timeout with two hours remaining, their coach gesticulating frantically as he tried to restore order. When forced to abandon their strategy, they had no backup plan to handle it. Their coach used the last of his substitutions, attempting to find fresh energy to match the Tornadoes' relentless pace. But it was too little, too late.

Harry sensed the moment for a personal statement as the match was coming to an end. He intercepted another wayward pass and drove forward himself instead of immediately distributing it. Two Magpies defenders converged, expecting him to pass to the supporting Furies.

Instead, Harry ghosted between them, his Seeker's agility allowing him to thread through the narrowest of gaps. The Magpies Keeper, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, could only watch as Harry's shot sailed through the left hoop.

"HARRY POTTER SCORES! Five hundred points to the Tornadoes! What a stunning individual effort!"

The stadium exploded in noise as Harry celebrated with his teammates.

The final whistle brought scenes of jubilation. The Tornadoes had turned their Snitch advantage into a comprehensive 530-80 victory.

"What a statement Harry Potter has made on his return match! The Tornadoes have found their momentum again!”

Harry landed amongst his celebrating teammates.

"What a beast!" Brevis clapped his shoulder. "You transformed the entire game."

Harry shrugged. “I had a lot of built-up frustration that I needed to let out.”

“Well, make sure to build up some more frustration before the next game,” Ciara said. “Stay away from your girlfriends.”

“That’s not what I—”

“Be a monk!” Ciara insisted. 

Harry shook his head. He felt like some unusual rumours might come from this game. Still, he was happy his comeback went well. Now he could focus on improving his Mage skills and start hunting for Gaia.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry stood in the backyard of Grimmauld Place. About ten metres away, several reinforced training targets had been arranged in a neat row. These weren't ordinary practice dummies—each one had been enchanted with protective charms designed to withstand a lot of damage. Only after he destroyed them could he claim mastery of the wandless spells he was practising.

He raised both hands, feeling the familiar tingle as his two energy sources began their delicate dance toward fusion.

When the fusion settled into place, Harry unleashed a barrage of rapid-fire Bombardas at the nearest target. The spells erupted from his fingertips in quick succession—one, two, three, all the way to ten in the span of a few heartbeats. Each strike shook the reinforced dummy, but the target stayed firmly upright and barely damaged. The ground surrounding it, however, bore the scars of his efforts—marking where his aim had strayed.

"You need to slow down," Alexander called from his portrait, which rested on a wooden chair Harry had carried outside. "Worry about powering your spells before you increase the velocity."

Harry paused his assault, wiping sweat from his brow. Although the portrait's advice was useful, Harry wished the man would shut up once in a while.

He stopped firing multiple Bombardas and instead concentrated on building a single spell. He could feel the mass growing, becoming dense with concentrated power. When he judged it had reached sufficient strength, he fired it from his fingertip.

The enhanced Bombarda flew through the air at normal speed. It struck the reinforced dummy dead centre, and the target simply ceased to exist. One moment it stood there; the next, nothing remained but smoking fragments scattered across the ground.

"Now it's too slow," Alexander observed.

Harry turned to face the portrait. "Do you want to be used as target practice next?"

"I'm good.”

Harry continued practising until the fusion disappeared. He looked at his watch and saw he had held the fusion for five minutes, a big improvement over his previous limit of two minutes. The steady progress filled him with confidence. With this level of control, he could finally attempt the scrying spell.

He walked over to the chair and picked up the Potter grimoire lying beside Alexander's portrait. He flipped to the page containing the scrying spell.

"Have you used this spell before?" Harry asked.

"No," Alexander replied. "Never had reason to."

"Not very helpful."

"Ask me about the other spells. I mastered most of them during my lifetime."

"Not right now," Harry replied, already moving toward the house. "It's more important that I find Gaia."

"What are you going to do when you find it? You're no match for that monster in your current form."

Harry paused at the back door. "You don't need to tell me that. How do I compare to you?"

"You surpass me in terms of raw power," Alexander conceded. "But you have a long way to go before you surpass me in skill."

Harry snorted. "Something to look forward to.”

Inside the house, Harry gathered the necessary materials for the scrying spell. He filled a cauldron with water and added several ingredients. This wasn't like brewing a potion, where precise measurements and timing determined success. The ingredients served merely as catalysts for the spell.

He returned to the backyard with the cauldron and placed it on the ground.

"Night," Harry said in his mind, closing his eyes to concentrate on the connection. "Can you hear me?"

"What do you want?" 

"I'm ready to perform the scrying spell. Can you feed me the memory of Gaia?"

"Alright."

The memory bled into Harry's consciousness, overwhelming his thoughts and perceptions. It was the strangest experience—like being stuck on a TV channel he couldn't change, and forced to sit there and watch. 

Once the memory settled firmly in his mind, Harry merged his powers once more and spoke the incantation. 

Slowly, an image began to surface in the water. The image was zoomed out and appeared to cover several kilometres. It showed a landscape Harry didn't recognise—rolling hills covered in sparse vegetation, with jagged rock formations jutting from the earth. The terrain looked arid, almost desert-like, but patches of scraggly trees suggested a more temperate climate. No obvious landmarks distinguished the location, no buildings or roads that might provide geographical clues. 

Harry frowned. "Is that it?"

"Did you expect it to spell out the name of the location for you?" Alexander laughed. "This is scrying magic for images, not words."

"But how am I supposed to narrow it down?"

Alexander shrugged.

Harry rushed back inside and grabbed his camera. He snapped several photographs before the image disappeared entirely.

"If I show it to enough people, someone's bound to recognise the general location," Harry said. "At least narrow it down to a country. That would save me considerable time."

"I wouldn't be in a rush," Alexander warned. "You're not ready to confront Gaia."

"You’re still going on about that. I won't be working alone."

“Not if you want most of them to survive.”

"How would you know? You don't even remember the fight."

"Am I wrong?"

Harry fell silent. He'd been operating under the assumption that he would confront Gaia with hundreds of allies. But was that wise? How many people would die fighting the entity? Could he face it alone? What kind of power would be necessary to defeat it?

The back door opened, and Daphne emerged from the house. "A Knut for your thoughts.”

"Why are you being so cheap?" Harry asked, grateful for the distraction.

"I only pay for something equal to its worth," Daphne replied with mock severity. "Not a Knut more."

"Ouch. Why are you out of bed?"

"I'm not an invalid anymore. I can walk around perfectly well."

"If you say so. How's Sirius doing?"

Daphne's expression immediately soured. "I'm not naming the baby that."

"Must be a girl then. Let's call her Tonks."

"Over my dead body."

Alexander's eyes widened. "Wait—you're pregnant, lass? Why didn't anybody tell me?"

"It's none of your business,” Harry muttered.

Alexander ignored him. "I don't see a ring on your finger. Please tell me you're getting married."

"We're betrothed," Daphne said. "We haven't discussed marriage yet."

"Well, you'd better get on with it quickly. Unless you want your child to be born illegitimate?"

Harry and Daphne exchanged glances. The thought had occurred to both of them, but they'd avoided discussing it directly. Word of her pregnancy had already started to spread everywhere, and it had even appeared in the Daily Prophet. If they don't legitimise the situation soon, it could create serious problems for their child's future.

"When's Ayano getting back?" Daphne asked. "We need to have this discussion with her present."

"She will be back from Japan in a few days.”

Ayano had returned to Japan to help her clan deal with a yokai threat. She hadn’t given many details, but he figured she had it under control since she had plenty of experience in dealing with them before.

“Do we need her permission to get married?" 

"Are you dense? If we're going to discuss marriage, we have to consider her opinion. She might want to get married at the same time."

Harry paled.

"While you're at it," Alexander added, "why don't you include the smart witch with the bushy hair? Ensure the Potter line has intelligent children."

Daphne's face began turning red with anger, though Harry couldn't tell whether she was more upset about the idea of adding another girl to their complicated relationship—particularly one who was already taken—or because Alexander seemed to be questioning her intelligence.

Harry decided to fuel the flames. "Are you insinuating that Daphne isn't smart?"

"Of course not!" Alexander backpedalled quickly. "Wait—don't pull out your wand. Let's discuss this reasonably—"

But Daphne's hand was already raising her wand, her eyes promising retribution.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ayano adjusted her travelling pack and quickened her pace. Reports of Oni sightings had reached the Kannagi estate three days ago—disturbing accounts from Toto village that demanded an immediate investigation.

She crested the final ridge and looked down at Toto spread along the valley floor. Traditional houses with steep-pitched roofs clustered around a central shrine, rice paddies stretching beyond in neat geometric patterns. Smoke rose from cooking fires, but something felt wrong. The village seemed too quiet for midday.

"Miss Kannagi?" An elderly man hurried up the path. Grey hair escaped from beneath a simple cap, and his work clothes bore the dust of recent travel. "I am Takeshi, the village head. We sent word to your clan—"

"I received your message," Ayano said. "Tell me about these Oni sightings."

Takeshi wrung his hands. "Strange creatures prowling the forest at night. Villagers report hearing bestial howls. One saw the creature in the flesh.” 

Ayano frowned. “Are you sure they weren’t mistaken? Could it be some kind of animal?”

“I heard them myself,” Takeshi replied. “The howls don’t belong to any animal found around these parts. I thought it was just my imagination until yesterday morning, when we found Kenji's body. His body was mutilated and arranged in a deliberate manner."

"Show me the scene."

Takeshi led her away from the village, following a worn trail that disappeared into dense woodland.

"Here," Takeshi whispered, stopping beside a small clearing.

Ayano surveyed the scene. Dark stains marked the earth where blood had soaked into the soil, and broken branches suggested a violent struggle. 

"It looks like he died quickly."

Takeshi nodded. "Kenji was gathering medicinal herbs for his wife. Good man, never harmed anyone."

Ayano noticed something. She rose and approached a massive oak tree at the clearing's edge. An image was etched into the tree. The image depicted a fox, but nine distinct tails curved behind its body.

Takeshi's sharp intake of breath made her turn. The village head had gone pale, his eyes fixed on the carving.

"You recognise this?" Ayano asked.

"The nine-tailed kitsune. The most powerful yokai in existence, said to have demonic origins. But why would someone carve it here?"

Ayano had heard about the yokai before, but only in passing. It was considered a myth, with no real proof that it had ever existed. Still, that wasn’t enough reason to dismiss it completely. Many of the yokai her clan hunted had similar origins.

She returned to the bloodstained earth, crouching low and brushing aside the dead leaves. Faint lines appeared in the dirt—forming concentric circles around the spot where the body had lain.

"A runic circle," Ayano said. "This wasn't a random attack. Someone performed a summoning ritual."

"Summoning? You mean—"

"Someone is trying to summon a Yokai. Maybe the mythical nine-tailed kitsune.” Ayano stood, dusting soil from her hands. "Using human sacrifice as the catalyst."

"Have they succeeded?"

Ayano shook her head. "One sacrifice wouldn't be sufficient. Something that powerful would require multiple offerings." A chill ran down her spine as the implications struck her. "Nine sacrifices, perhaps? Was it the Oni that killed Kenji?"

Before Takeshi could answer, screams erupted from the direction of the village, followed by inhuman roars.

Ayano sprinted toward the village, Takeshi struggling to keep pace behind her. They burst from the forest to find chaos consuming the peaceful settlement. Huge creatures moved between the houses. They stood about eight feet tall, with muscles rippling under blood-red skin. Sharp fangs protruded from their mouths, matching the horns that grew from their heads.

Six Oni stalked through Toto's streets, overturning carts and smashing doors. Villagers fled in every direction.

"Enraiha, come forth!" 

Her sacred sword materialised in a burst of crimson flame. The Oni closest to her turned at the sound, lips peeling back from its fangs in a snarl of challenge.

Ayano darted forward, her blade trailing arcs of flame. The first Oni swung a massive clawed hand, but she ducked beneath the strike and drove Enraiha deep into its abdomen. Fire erupted through the wound, and the creature's roar became a scream of agony as the purifying flames consumed it from within.

Two more Oni converged on her position. Ayano spun, her sword cutting through the air. Each movement left blazing trails that formed protective barriers around her body. The creatures' claws struck the fire shields and recoiled, their skin blistering from contact with her flames.

Ayano pressed her attack, advancing with strikes that targeted vital points. She jumped high, thrusting her blade to pierce the second Oni's throat, and sending it crashing to the ground. The third Oni lunged at her, but she sidestepped the charge and opened its back with a diagonal slash that severed its spine.

The remaining Oni regrouped, circling her from all sides. Ayano adjusted her stance, the flames dancing higher along Enraiha's edge.

The fourth Oni feinted left before attacking from the right. Ayano anticipated the deception, pivoting to meet its true assault. Her blade carved through muscle and bone, dropping the creature in a spray of ichor. But the distraction allowed the fifth Oni to close from behind.

Claws raked across her shoulder, tearing through cloth and flesh. Ayano gasped but channelled her pain into fury. She spun within the creature's reach, bringing Enraiha up in a rising cut that opened it from groin to sternum. The Oni collapsed, its death cry echoing off the surrounding mountains.

The final creature hesitated. It recognised the futility of direct assault against her flames. Instead, it turned and bounded toward the village's residential quarter.

Ayano pursued relentlessly. She leaped onto a rooftop, her enhanced agility allowing her to keep pace with the fleeing Oni. When it paused to smash through a house wall, she dropped from above with Enraiha extended. The blade pierced the creature's skull.

Silence settled over Toto, broken only by distant sobbing. Ayano surveyed the carnage—six Oni corpses scattered throughout the village, but she didn’t see any victims.

Takeshi approached her. "Are there more?"

"The immediate threat has passed." Ayano dismissed Enraiha. "We need to account for everyone. Check the houses."

The village head organised search parties while Ayano caught her breath. The fight had been short but intense.

"Miss Kannagi!" A woman ran toward them, tears streaming down her face. "They took my husband! And the Yamada family—all four of them are missing!"

More reports filtered in as the search continued. Seven villagers had vanished during the attack, taken by the Oni that had escaped while Ayano fought their companions.

The ritualist now had eight sacrifices—one from the previous murder, seven from today's raid. They needed only one more victim to complete their summoning circle.

Ayano pulled out her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she dialled her father's number.

"Father," she said when Jugo answered. "We have a serious situation in Toto. Several Oni attacked the village and kidnapped some of the villagers. I think someone's attempting to summon a nine-tailed kitsune, and they're almost ready to complete the ritual."

Jugo drew a startled breath. “A nine-tailed kitsune? Ayano, are you sure?”

"Not entirely, but there is some evidence that suggests it could be possible. Father, are they real?”

“Yes. The Blaze Spirit King encountered one in his youth. It almost killed him, and he could only escape with his life.”

Ayano bit her lip. That sounded bad.

"I'll head to the village right away with reinforcements," Jugo said, before pausing. "Ayano, you need to find the villagers quickly. If the ritual is finished, we'll be fighting for our lives.”

“I understand, father.”

“You should call Harry and have him come here as soon as you can."

Ayano frowned. “We can’t always have Harry fighting our battles.”

“This is what the alliance is for,” Jugo reminded her. “He could be the difference between dozens of clan members dying and none. There is also the chance that this is related to Gaia.”

“I hadn’t considered that,” Ayano admitted. 

“Take care, Ayano. If it gets too dangerous, fall back and wait for us to get there.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry followed Percy down the corridor toward the Minister's office. The new Undersecretary walked with purpose, his shoulders squared and posture rigid—some things never changed. Percy paused at the doors, straightening his already immaculate robes before knocking.

"Enter," came Arthur's voice from within.

The Minister's office bore little resemblance to its previous occupants' décor. Gone were Kingsley's austere furnishings and Fudge's garish displays of self-importance. Arthur had filled the space with family photographs and a collection of Muggle objects.

Arthur rose from behind his desk as they entered. "Harry! Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Good afternoon, Minister," Harry said, settling into the offered chair.

"What’s with the formality? We're family."

Percy moved toward the door. "Will you be needing anything else, Minister?"

"No, thank you, Percy. Please see that we're not disturbed."

Harry watched Percy exit. "How's he working out as Undersecretary?"

Arthur chuckled. "He's good at his job, even if he is a little too obsessed with following the rules. Some people are crying foul about favouritism, but I ignore them."

"Good for you." Harry leaned back in his chair. "Now, why did you want to meet me? Please don't tell me you're about to do a Kingsley on me."

"You know me better than that. There are a couple of matters I'd like to discuss. First—I heard you're acquainted with the Queen."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "We haven't spoken in a while, but I suppose the statement's true. Do you want to meet her?"

"If it's possible," Arthur replied. "I wish to have a better relationship with the Muggles, but the Prime Minister has been ignoring my overtures. I thought the Queen might be more open to discussion."

"I don't blame the Prime Minister," Harry said. "Fudge treated him and his predecessor as fools. Kingsley wasn't much better toward the end. As for the Queen, I can ask her, but I can't guarantee anything."

"Thanks, Harry. I'd appreciate whatever you can arrange." Arthur hesitated, then continued. "There's another reason I wanted to meet you."

“What is it?”

"It’s about a job opportunity."

"Not interested."

"Hear me out." Arthur held up both hands. "Gawain Robards will be taking over as Head of Magical Law Enforcement. I need a Head Auror, and you would be an ideal candidate for the position."

Harry stared at him. "Are you mad? I'm barely out of school, and you want me to lead the Aurors?"

"What the position needs most is absolute authority," Arthur explained. "Someone the other Aurors will look up to without question. Can you think of anyone better qualified?"

"What about Kingsley? He was a bloody good Auror before he became Minister."

Arthur sighed. "I offered him the position, but he declined."

"At least you're reasonable and didn't give me the first offer." Harry shook his head. "Arthur, I'm not interested. First of all, I have a Quidditch career to think about. Secondly, I'm not working under that idiot Robards, who tried to have me arrested."

Arthur leaned forward. "It's a shame I couldn't convince you. Can I make a counterproposal?"

"What is it?"

"The Auror department is in shambles after Tiberius's leadership, and I don't feel confident they can handle every threat out there. Would you consider taking on cases the Aurors can't handle? You'd be compensated for your time, naturally."

Harry studied Arthur's earnest expression. "A freelancer? Why do I get the feeling this was your aim all along?"

"I can’t fool you."

"I'll consider taking on cases if they're too dangerous for the Aurors," Harry said. "But I work alone, and I don't take orders from anyone but you. No interference from Robards or anyone else."

"I can work with that. To be honest, Magical Britain is in a strong position at the moment."

"Oh?"

"Crime is down all over Britain, and it's not just because the Death Eaters were wiped out. Criminals are afraid of you, Harry. Not only did you defeat Voldemort with apparent ease, but you also have a reputation for being ruthless. No one wants to risk getting on your bad side."

Harry snorted. "Glad I can be of service."

He left the Minister's office, making his way through the Atrium and out into the London streets, searching for a secluded alley. Just as he was about to launch himself skyward, his mobile phone rang.

"Harry, I need your help." 

"Ayano, what's the matter?"

"There's a good chance Japan is about to be invaded by a powerful yokai, and I don't think my clan can handle it alone."

Harry frowned. "That powerful? What is this yokai?"

"The nine-tailed kitsune. This is serious, Harry. My father said even the Blaze Spirit King barely escaped from one alive."

"Don't worry, I'll head to Japan immediately," Harry said. "Where am I going?"

"Someone will meet you at clan headquarters and give you directions. Harry..." She paused. "Thank you. I know we can't always ask you to fight our battles."

"That's what the alliance is for," Harry replied. "I'll be there soon."

He ended the call. The scrying image of Gaia's location would have to wait. Ayano needed him, and if this kitsune was as dangerous as she claimed, delay could cost lives.

Wind swirled around him as he launched into the sky. He activated his Wind Walker ability and headed toward Japan.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry faces his toughest challenge yet. 

Thanks for reading.