The Mage's Path: Chapter 35

Hi all, 

Here’s the next chapter. Another chapter tomorrow. I still owe two for this week.

Chapter 35

Harry watched as the gate started glowing an angry red and expanding outwards. It was only a matter of time before it exploded. 

Potter Isle was about to experience a Dungeon Break. Harry wasn’t prepared for such a dangerous situation, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. 

His HUD flashed with a notification.

======Main Quest: Sanctuary Under Siege 

Description: Potter Isle faces an imminent Dungeon Break. Monsters from the Shadowlands will soon arrive, threatening to overrun the island. Harry must organise his defence and ensure no monsters escape out to sea. The consequences of failure are severe.

Main Objectives:

• Organise the Grievers to defend the island. 

• Raise the protective barrier to prevent the monsters from escaping the island.

• Ensure that at least 50% of Potter Isle's inhabitants survive the invasion. 

• Kill all the monsters.

Rewards: 40,000 XP; Potter Isle Management System unlocked.

Time Limit: None

Quest Difficulty: Very High ======

Harry dismissed the notification as thunderous roars echoed across the island. Brutus and his pack emerged from the forest, their eyes fixed on the newcomers from the Shadowlands. The Potter Isle Alpha approached slowly, his massive frame radiating territorial aggression.

The Shadowlands Alpha stepped forward to meet him, wings spread wide in a dominance display. Both creatures circled each other, hackles raised, low growls rumbling in their throats.

"Now is not the time," Harry snapped, stepping between them. "We're about to be invaded by monsters. I need you to work together and eliminate as many as possible. Focus on the aerial monsters first and make sure they don’t leave the island."

Brutus turned to Harry. The massive Griever threw back his head and roared—a sound of acceptance and battle readiness. The other Grievers echoed his call.

"I need to warn the Dusk Fairies," Celeste said. “They aren’t strong enough to survive on their own.”

Harry nodded. "Get them to safety. I'm going to activate the protection wards."

"I thought they were only designed to hide the island from outsiders."

"There's a ward for a physical barrier, but it's currently inactive. Costs too much magic to maintain. And it won't last long under a sustained assault."

“Alright. Once I’ve taken care of the fairies, I’ll find you.” Celeste darted toward the forest.

Harry pulled his Nimbus from his inventory and swung his leg over it, but at that moment, the Potter Isle gate exploded outward in a violent eruption of energy. A massive rift tore open above the island. 

Shadow Wraiths poured through first—dozens, then hundreds, their keening wails splitting the air as they scattered across the sky. Behind them came the land monsters, their bodies tumbling through the air to land on the ground with a deafening crash.

But monsters weren't the only things emerging.

A chunk of earth the size of a house plummeted to the ground. Withered trees followed, their skeletal branches snapping as they struck the ground. Then came something even bigger.

The colossal tree with the fairy settlement. Its massive trunk, easily a hundred metres in circumference, dropped through the rift like a falling mountain. 

The impact shook Potter Isle. The tree's roots tore through the soil, carving trenches in the earth. The fairy huts in the settlement exploded, their delicate construction no match for the violent landing.

Harry stared at the scene with disbelief. "A warning would have been appreciated."

The Grievers sprang into action, following his orders and attacking the aerial Wraiths first. Their levels far exceeded the monsters. Each swipe of their claws obliterated a Wraith. But there were hundreds of them, far outnumbering the Grievers.

Harry shook off his shock and kicked hard against the ground, the broom shooting northward toward the structure housing the ward controls. 

A group of Shadow Wraiths gave chase. Harry leaned forward, urging every ounce of speed from his broom. As the patch of woods appeared below, he executed a dangerous dive to maintain his lead.

The ground rushed up to meet him. At the last possible second, he pulled the handle up to stop his descent. His boots scraped the grass as he steadied the broom and flew forward. He entered the woods and weaved through the trees, maintaining his pace as the wails sounded behind him. He leapt from the broom the moment he reached the structure and rushed inside. 

Harry flipped through the book on the desk until he found the ward that controlled the protective barrier. He picked up the quill and crossed out the previous command, and wrote ‘active’. 

A new status bar appeared on his HUD: 

Potter Isle Barrier: 100,000/100,000. 

Right before his eyes, the number immediately began dropping as monsters outside hammered against the barrier.

Harry raced back outside to find the Shadow Wraiths had arrived. He backed against the doorway, raising his arm and summoning wind blades above his palm. Four crescent blades cut through the air and struck one of the Wraiths, killing it instantly. 

The skill had reached level four, increasing the damage and letting him release up to four wind blades at once. The mana cost had gone up, but it wasn’t proportional, giving him more damage for less.

He unleashed volley after volley, killing another Wraith with each barrage. But more kept coming. His MP reserves, already depleted from the boss fight, were draining rapidly. Furthermore, their dying wails would attract even more monsters. 

Without Grove to tank their attacks or sufficient mana to maintain his assault, the situation deteriorated quickly. It was time to leave.

Harry mounted his broom again and shot through the trees, the Wraiths streaming after him in a dark cloud. He burst into the open sky and accelerated to escape their pursuit. 

He was distracted by the massive transparent dome that covered the island. From his vantage point, he could see that the barrier ended at the island’s edge, which allowed the land-based monsters to hammer against it. 

Each impact sent ripples across the dome's surface whilst the Ward Integrity counter dropped steadily: 98,000... 97,500... 96,900…

Harry frowned. The barrier held for now, but if he didn’t act soon, the monsters would break through. Still, as long as the flying monsters were taken care of first, it didn’t matter too much. 

He flew around the island, assessing the situation while the Wraiths chased him. The Grievers had already wiped out a large number of the aerial monsters, and soon there would be none left.

Harry spotted Brutus in the distance, the Griever tearing through a formation of Wraiths with brutal efficiency. He banked toward his companion.

"I've got more cannon fodder for you!" Harry shouted as he approached.

Brutus turned as Harry passed overhead. The Griever launched himself upward, claws extended, and began systematically dismantling Harry's pursuers.

"Once the Wraiths are dealt with, focus on killing the monsters attacking the barrier!"

From his aerial vantage point, Harry surveyed the battle's progress. Most land-based monsters concentrated their assault on the protective barrier. But scattered groups were spreading across the island and rampaging through the wildlife.

The island's more formidable inhabitants, like the Dire Wolves, were holding their ground against the invaders. But the ordinary wildlife stood no chance. The creatures fled in panic as the monsters pursued them.

His quest tracker updated continuously: Survival Rate: 89%... 85%... 82%...

Harry gritted his teeth. Without intervention, he would fail the quest by losing too many of the island's inhabitants. 

Perhaps he should focus on killing them before focusing on the monsters attacking the barrier. He shook his head. By the time the Grievers chased them down, the barrier would likely be destroyed. He didn’t know if the barrier could be restored or not, but he would rather not take the chance. 

A thunderous roar echoed from the east. Harry spun his broom toward the sound and saw two dragons launch themselves into the sky. Harry grinned at the sight.

They were a pair of Common Welsh Greens who usually kept to themselves in the island's eastern reaches. Harry had nearly forgotten about them in the pandemonium. He had named them Clover and Parsley for their distinctive green scales.

The dragons swept over the interior, flame erupting from their throats in controlled bursts. The monsters below scattered as dragonfire consumed them, their forms dissolving under the intense heat. Clover banked sharply, her claws raking through a cluster of Shadow Weavers, whilst Parsley focused his attention on the monsters chasing a herd of deer.

Their mild temperament had vanished, replaced by fury at the invasion threatening their food supply. They couldn't consume shadow monsters, so these invaders needed to be eliminated.

Harry had discovered the pair during his second exploration of Potter Isle. They inhabited a secluded cave system amongst the eastern cliffs, hunting deer and generally avoiding contact with other creatures. When he'd managed to get close enough to scan them, their levels had registered in the low seventies—formidable predators in their own right, though no match for a pack of Grievers.

The Dragons and Grievers lived on the island together, clashing over territory and food sources. It was amazing that the Dragons managed to survive with the Grievers around. Harry had intervened, establishing boundaries that allowed both species to coexist. The island supported enough wildlife for everyone, and having a breeding pair of dragons on his property was undeniably cool.

A sudden worry struck him. Where was Celeste? 

He banked westward, flying toward the fairy grove. He dove into the canopy and weaved through the branches to reach the ground. The sight that greeted him made his stomach clench. The grove lay in ruins. A clutch of Shadow Weavers scuttled along the ground and in the trees, already spinning webs to transform the habitat.

Harry didn't land to engage them. His resources were too depleted for another fight, and the spiders posed no immediate threat to escaping the island. He started flying through the forest, calling her name.

Silence answered him for long moments. Then, faintly, he heard her voice calling back from deeper in the forest.

Harry followed the sound. He found them in a small clearing—Celeste hovering protectively over the Dusk Fairies whilst three Shadow Weavers closed in from different angles.

The tiny fairies huddled together, their usual playful demeanour replaced by terror. One of the spiders phased behind them, rearing up on its hind legs, mandibles clicking as it prepared to strike them.

Harry landed next to it, the Inferno Blade sliding from its sheath in one smooth motion. He needed to be careful with his HP. His Consumption Gauge still hadn’t recovered so he couldn’t use any potions.

The spider turned toward him. Harry sidestepped its lunge and slashed downward, the blade biting deep into its body. The creature recoiled, mandibles clicking in pain.

The spider recovered quickly, legs sweeping toward Harry's ankles. He jumped back, barely avoiding the razor-sharp appendage. It pressed forward, forcing him to parry a series of stabbing attacks with its front limbs. Harry ducked under another swipe and drove his blade upward, piercing the creature's thorax. The spider convulsed once before collapsing.

He spun toward Celeste, who was dancing around the second spider, her whip keeping it at bay. The creature lunged at her, but Shadow's Reach wrapped around its rear leg. Celeste yanked hard, sending the spider tumbling sideways.

Harry closed the distance whilst it struggled to regain its footing. His blade found the gap between carapace plates.  He scored a series of critical hits, and the spider's death throes lasted only seconds.

The third spider had already begun retreating, but Harry's experience with these creatures showed. He'd learned their patterns during the dungeon fights. It would circle back to attack from behind—they always did.

He waited, blade ready. The spider emerged from behind a fallen tree, exactly as predicted. Harry's strike caught it mid-leap, the Inferno Blade cleaving through its head. It didn’t take much effort after that to finish it off.

The moment the last spider fell, the Dusk Fairies swarmed toward Harry, their tiny forms clinging to him. They weren't fighters. The sudden violence had terrified them beyond measure.

"Bloody spiders," Celeste spat. "They destroyed the grove."

"We can build another one. Something even better."

"What's the current situation?"

Harry checked his quest status. The survival rate had dropped to 64%—barely above the failure threshold. The barrier integrity had fallen to 43,000 and continued dropping steadily.

"Not great. I need to get back up there and direct the Grievers to clear out the monsters attacking the interior."

"Alright. Let's go."

The Dusk Fairies maintained their grip on him as Harry mounted his broom, their small forms tucked safely against his body. 

Harry orchestrated the defence like a general commanding troops. He directed the Grievers away from the monsters attacking the barrier, and they focused their efforts on hunting down every monster that had penetrated the island's interior.

Clover and Parsley had already eliminated plenty of them, so it didn’t take them long to finish cleaning up the monsters. Despite their efforts, the damage was severe. His quest tracker showed the final tally: 54% survival rate. Nearly half the island's wildlife had perished. Fortunately, most of them were ordinary creatures, which could be replaced easily enough. But the loss still stung.

Once the interior was secure, Harry redirected the Grievers to the barrier assault. The monsters attacking the dome fought with single-minded determination, as if it had offended them.

The monsters fell in droves, unable to match the Grievers' speed and strength. Harry noticed that several gained a level during the prolonged battle. It shouldn’t be surprising that they could level up, but it was welcome. Their level had likely stagnated due to a lack of prey to hunt.

Harry and Celeste didn’t have to do anything. They hovered in the sky, watching the slaughter unfold.

It was late morning when the last monster fell. It was confirmed after receiving a notification. 

====== Congratulations! You have completed the Sanctuary Under Siege Quest. Rewards: 40,000 XP; Potter Isle Management System unlocked. ======

His brows furrowed. What was the Management System? He shook his head, closing the window. Now wasn’t the time to speculate. He could check it out later.

“We got lucky,” Harry murmured. 

He barely met the requirements to finish the quest. If the Dragons hadn’t intervened, he wouldn’t have completed it. He reminded himself to give them a special treat later.

The barrier remained, holding at 8,000 integrity—severely damaged but intact. 

“I’m tuckered out,” Celeste said. “Let’s never do that again.”

Harry sighed. “We couldn’t have predicted the gate would be swallowed up.”

He flew around the island, checking the damage. Debris from the dungeon was scattered everywhere, and the monsters had destroyed much of the vegetation. The cleanup would take weeks, but that problem could wait.

More urgent was replacing the slaughtered creatures. Predators could feast on the carcasses for now, but they would rot soon enough. With the addition of the new Griever pride, there wasn’t enough meat to go around. The island needed more deer, possibly sheep as well. He made a note to ask the Delacours, as they might know someone who could supply him with what he needed. 

“Can we still visit the dungeon using the Dungeon Recall feature?” Celeste asked. 

Harry opened his menu and scrolled through the available destinations. "It's on the list."

Celeste nodded, then stared at the colossal tree dominating the island's centre. "Why did the tree come through the rift?"

Harry shrugged. “An accident? Or maybe the queen knew this would happen and took measures.”

Celeste shook her fist. "The burial chamber better be intact. All of my equipment's in there, and there's no guarantee that another version exists in the dungeon.”

The Dusk Fairies were curious about the tree. Now that the danger had passed, they abandoned Harry and flew over to inspect it. The Grievers were sprawled across the grass in exhausted heaps. Both packs had collapsed together, too drained to maintain their territorial hostilities. 

Harry was exhausted after several tumultuous hours. Sleep called to him, but he needed to take care of some things first, and then he had to return to Hogwarts before his absence raised even more questions. 

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

Harry entered the ward room and settled behind the wooden desk. He was worried that the protective barrier was draining too much magic—he needed to adjust its settings before it depleted the island's reserves entirely.

The moment he sat down, a translucent window materialised in the air before him.

======= POTTER ISLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Status

Wards

Mansion (Locked) 

Map

Creatures

Resources ======

Harry's eyebrows shot up. "Well, that's new."

He reached out and touched the Status option. The interface responded instantly, expanding into a comprehensive overview.

======ISLAND STATUS

• Level: 1

• Experience: 30/5000

• Daily Experience Gain: +30 XP

• Barrier Integrity: 8,247/100,000 (Slowly Recovering)

• Available Magic: 420/4,200 

• Ward Consumption: 90% of available magic

• Ecology Health: 32% (Severely Damaged)

Current Issues:

• A damaged ecosystem that reduces natural magic reserves by 68% and XP gain by 70%. Creature stress levels are critically high due to the monster invasion.

Suggested Actions:

• Repair the fairy tree settlement.

• Establish a new Dusk Fairy grove.

• Restore damaged vegetation.

• Clean up the debris.

• Import replacement wildlife.

 >> Expand

Island Upgrades: Available at Level 2. ======

Harry exited the Status menu and opened the Wards menu next. The new interface proved far more intuitive than the ward's book. Active wards glowed green whilst inactive ones showed in red. He left the barrier alone since the island could sustain it for the moment. But he adjusted the barrier settings, enabling the Grievers to pass through it without compromising it.

A Protection Ward option appeared for the building itself. Harry activated it immediately—the last thing he needed was monsters breaching his control centre. The barrier's health display updated as the ward engaged. It used most of the remaining magic, but there were no other wards he wanted to activate at the moment.

Harry explored the other options. 

The Map section showed Potter Isle in great detail, even more than his map. Creature territories were marked with colored zones, plant distributions appeared as small symbols, and debris from the dungeon was indicated by grey dots scattered across the land.

The Creatures menu listed all the islands’ inhabitants, complete with the creatures' levels, mood indicators and dietary needs. Harry took a notebook from his inventory and started jotting down notes. He now had a clearer understanding of the numbers needed to support the island's population.

Finally, he checked the Resource menu. It organised all the island’s resources into an easier system, showing items like wood that he could get by chopping down the trees. It wasn’t something he would do, but it was nice that he had a clear overview of what he owned.

"What's taking you so long?" Celeste flew through the doorway.

"Just checking out a new feature."

She hovered over his shoulder, examining the interface. "Cool beans. It even has the Dusk Fairies listed here. Their mood isn't great."

Harry snorted. "Do you blame them? The island suggests we create another grove in the tree settlement, but it needs to be repaired first."

"How do we do that?"

"I don't know. We'll figure it out."

Celeste's expression grew thoughtful. "So it's probably not a good time to hatch the eggs."

Before Harry could respond, a window materialised in front of Celeste. Her eyes widened as she read the contents.

"I received a quest!"

Harry stood behind her, reading over her shoulder:

======New Side Quest: Fairy Godmother 

Description: The displaced Dusk Fairies require assistance in building a new Grove in the tree settlement, and the Umbra children await their new world. Celeste must prepare a suitable environment before awakening the next generation.

Objectives:

• Restore the fairy tree settlement to functional condition.

• Establish a new grove within the settlement for Dusk Fairy habitation.

• Hatch the preserved eggs.

• Integrate the newly born Umbra Fairies with the Dusk Fairies.

Rewards: 40,000 XP; New skill unlocked.

Time Limit: 3 months 

Quest Difficulty: Moderate ======

"Well, we know what to do next," Harry said. "But it's time to return to Hogwarts now."

"What's your excuse for your absence?"

"Same as the last one. I found a secret room and became trapped inside."

Celeste rolled her eyes. "Hermione isn't going to believe that excuse. Try again."

Harry shrugged. "I'll just wing it."

"You're hopeless."

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

Harry and Celeste materialised beside the Chamber of Secrets gate. He retrieved his Nimbus from his inventory and mounted it. Celeste perched on his shoulder as they flew down the tunnel, quickly reaching the pipes.

She summoned a shadow snake to open the entrance above. They made it a habit of closing the entrance whenever they came down here, to prevent others from finding it. Harry guided the broom up the pipes, expecting to find the bathroom empty as always. If he had been less exhausted, he would have noticed the two dots on his mini-map.

Hermione and Ron were waiting for him. Harry exchanged a panicked glance with Celeste. 

They had placed a table, its surface laden with books and parchment. Ron was hunched over a chess set, playing by himself. It looked like they came prepared to stay awhile. What were they doing here?

Both friends looked up as the sink ground shut behind Harry.

"About bloody time," Ron said. "My arse has gone numb from sitting here all morning."

Hermione slammed her book shut. "Hello, Harry."

Ron grinned. "Do you know how hard it is to beat myself at chess? It’s bloody difficult, I tell you.”

"Caught in the act," Celeste stage-whispered.

Harry dismounted his broom. "What's going on?"

"We were curious about where you were disappearing t,” Hermione said.

"We?" Ron raised an eyebrow.

Hermione ignored him. "Since you weren't being forthcoming, we decided to investigate."

"Did anyone ever tell you that you're too nosy?" Celeste asked.

"All the time." 

"How did you find me?" Harry asked.

"We asked the twins," Ron said. "They always seem to know where everyone in the castle is. Proper spooky, if you ask me."

“And we knew you were interested in the Chamber of Secrets, so this was on the shortlist of places we thought you might go,” Hermione added. “We investigated it with you, remember?”

"Well, you caught me." Harry spread his hands in mock surrender. "Are you going to pin me down with thumbtacks and torture me for the truth?"

Hermione nodded. "If it becomes necessary." 

Harry shook his head, fighting back exhaustion and irritation. Truth be told, he wasn't angry with his friends. If he'd crafted better excuses for his disappearances, their curiosity wouldn't have reached this point. 

"How did you open the entrance?” Hermione asked. “I thought you needed a Parselmouth.”

Celeste grinned. “I’m a gal with many talents.”

"Do you want to have a look?" Harry asked.

"Definitely." Hermione was already rising from her chair.

Harry gestured to Celeste, who concentrated intensely. Shadow coalesced around her tiny form, taking the shape of a small serpent. She'd been practising summoning her creatures without needing to touch the Shadow Orb. Her success rate remained abysmal, but she was gradually improving. 

The shadow snake slithered forward and hissed at the appropriate tap. The entrance opened, revealing the pipe that led downward.

Hermione blinked. “How did you do that?” 

“I told you, I’m a gal of many talents,” Celeste replied.

They slid down the pipes, and Harry led them down the tunnel. Hermione released a sharp intake of breath when they reached the massive snake skin.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, prodding the skin with his toe. "What does this belong to?"

"I don’t know, but it’s something we don't want to meet," Harry replied.

They reached the serpentine door. Ron and Hermione approached it and ran their hands over the intricate carvings.

"I've been spending my time here, trying to figure out how to open the chamber," Harry said. "I think it requires Parseltongue as well, but I don't know the password."

Hermione spun around, her expression torn between excitement and concern. "Harry, this is an incredible discovery. But if there's a dangerous creature lurking inside, the school could be in danger. You need to tell the headmaster."

"I'm not going to," Harry said. "First of all, I don't trust him to do the right thing. Secondly, there haven't been any incidents in fifty years. I think the school is safe for the moment."

"Harry's right." Ron crossed his arms. "It's his discovery, so he should get to decide who he tells."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, then shut it with visible effort. The internal struggle played across her features.

"Alright," she said finally. "I'll leave it be. But if you manage to open it, please don't enter the chamber on your own."

"Promise," Harry said without hesitation.

Technically, he would enter through the dungeon gate, so it wasn't entirely a lie. 

"Now that the mystery's solved, can we get some food?" Ron's stomach chose that moment to emit a prolonged growl. "I'm starving."

"Me too," Celeste chimed in. "I could eat a Hippogriff."

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

The Great Hall buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter as Harry pushed the remains of his shepherd's pie around his plate. Ron had demolished three helpings already and was working on a fourth.

The familiar screech of an owl echoed overhead, causing him to look up. Hedwig descended in a graceful spiral and landed beside his goblet. She extended her leg to present an envelope sealed with the Delacour family crest.

"Good girl," Harry murmured, stroking her head as he accepted the letter. 

He'd sent correspondence to Fleur before entering the Shadowlands dungeon and hadn’t expected a response so soon. Hedwig usually spent an equal amount of time between Hogwarts and Fleurs’ home.

Hedwig hooted softly, clearly expecting her usual treat. Harry obliged by pushing his plate towards her. He broke the wax seal and unfolded the letter.

Mon cher Harry,

Your timing with your previous letter was impeccable—it arrived just as I needed a distraction from the Ministry's latest bout of bureaucratic nonsense. They've rejected my application to return to Beauxbatons for the third time, despite the artefact Papa commissioned to suppress my allure. The officials claim it's "insufficient for public safety”.

Even here in France, where conditions are supposedly better for our kind than elsewhere in Europe, the discrimination runs deeper than most realise. 

Speaking of Papa, he's been in correspondence with your Headmaster regarding a transfer to Hogwarts. The discussions have progressed remarkably well—apparently, Dumbledore is more progressive regarding creature rights than his French counterparts.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this sooner, but surprises are so much more entertaining, don't you think?

I do hope you won't mind having me underfoot at your school. I promise to behave myself.

Avec tout mon amour, Fleur

The letter slipped from his fingers. The news stunned him. He never thought Fleur would be at Hogwarts. He imagined she was going to cause quite a stir. Still, he was glad, since he considered her a close friend. Writing letters to her didn't compare to seeing her face to face.

He was so focused on his inner thoughts that he didn’t notice the students’ voices rising in excitement. Soft hands covered his eyes from behind, blocking his vision.

"Guess who, Harry," a melodious voice whispered near his ear.

"Is that you, Hagrid?" Harry deadpanned.

A sharp slap connected with his shoulder. "You horrible boy!”

Fleur had learned about Hagrid and his distinctive voice from one of his letters. She didn’t appreciate the comparison.

Harry twisted in his seat, grinning at Fleur. The months since their parting had been kind to her—she seemed more poised, more confident in her own skin. The nervous energy that had characterised their early meetings had mellowed into something more controlled.

She pulled him into a fierce embrace before he could fully stand. Her body pressed against his chest, soft curves yielding to his developing frame. Heat flooded through him at the contact, his teenage hormones responding predictably to her proximity.

"You have grown taller, Harry," Fleur observed, stepping back to appraise him.

"Still not as tall as you," he replied.

She laughed. "I am three years older. If I let you surpass my height so easily, I would be ashamed." 

Her laugh carried musical undertones that drew glances from nearby tables. Harry became acutely aware of the attention they'd attracted. Students craned their necks to get better looks at the striking blonde, whilst several professors observed with varying degrees of interest. 

"Perhaps we should sit," Harry suggested, gesturing to the bench beside him.

Celeste waved. "Hey, Fleur!" 

"Bonjour, Celeste. Even you have grown bigger."

"Why didn't I notice that sooner?" Hermione mused. "Are you going to introduce us, Harry?"

Harry performed the necessary introductions, watching as Ron's jaw slackened when Fleur's attention briefly shifted to him. The redhead's ears flushed crimson as he stammered through a greeting.

"That was a nasty prank you pulled on me," Harry said, settling back onto the bench. "You could have told me sooner about transferring to Hogwarts."

"Where is the fun in that?" Fleur's eyes danced with mischief before she turned to Hermione, pointedly ignoring Ron's continued staring. "Harry mentioned in his letters that you're a Cadence Mage. Are you related to Veela, by chance?"

"I'm Muggleborn," Hermione replied. "Besides, aren't all Veela supposed to be really beautiful?"

"Don't sell yourself short," Fleur said. "It's not widely known, but Cadence Mages typically have Veela ancestry. Our voices are part of our allure, allowing us to affect others. The ability doesn’t usually manifest in those with diluted bloodlines.”

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "Interesting. Do you know any other Cadence Mages?"

"Non, but they are highly prized in certain circles. Have you considered what you wish to pursue as a career?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead," Hermione admitted. "I've considered working for the Ministry to fight for Muggleborn and creature rights."

Harry raised an eyebrow. It was a lofty goal for a first-year student. Where was this ambition coming from?

"You don't need to enter the Ministry to do that, Hermione," Ron interjected, finally finding his voice.

Fleur nodded. "Ron is right. There are plenty of ways to, ah, skin a Kneazle?" 

Hermione laughed. 

Harry was struck with a brilliant idea. Before he could voice his thoughts, a quest notification pinged in his peripheral vision. He discreetly opened the notification.

======New Side Quest: A Voice for the People (1/5) 

Description: Hermione Granger possesses a rare gift that gives her plenty of career pathways for the future. But first, she needs to solve the issue of obtaining money for next year’s school tuition. Help her discover an activity that generates income whilst serving her moral convictions and assisting those who need her voice most. 

Objective: 

• Help Hermione find a suitable venture that utilises her Cadence Mage abilities.

Rewards: 15,000 XP; 1 PP; Next quest in chain unlocked. 

Time Limit: End of school year. 

Quest Difficulty: Moderate ======

Harry closed the notification, his excitement building as the pieces fell into place.

"Hermione," he said, leaning forward. "I've got an idea for you. Ever thought about being a radio host?"

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry continues to train with Ron, and Hermione prepares for her radio show debut with the Wizarding Wireless Network.

Thanks for reading.