The Mage's Path: Chapter 30

Hi all,

Here’s the second chapter for the week. Author’s notes at the end.

Chapter 30

The courtroom buzzed with whispers while they waited for the trial to begin. Harry studied Remus Lupin out of the corner of his eye. Despite his shabby appearance, he carried himself with quiet dignity.

"You said you were friends with my parents," Harry said.

Remus nodded. "James, Sirius, Peter and I were inseparable at Hogwarts."

A small purple blur shot from Harry's pocket, hovering directly in front of Remus's face.

"Hello, wolf-man," Celeste said, crossing her tiny arms. "I'm Celeste, Harry's familiar."

Remus blinked in surprise. "A fairy?"

"Umbra Fairy," she corrected. "The last of my kind. You smell like a wolf." 

"I do?"

She nodded, wrinkling her nose. "Not entirely unpleasant, but distinctive."

Remus stared at her, momentarily speechless. After making her introduction, she darted back to Harry's pocket. Though bored by the prospect of sitting through a lengthy trial, she was unwilling to leave Harry to face it alone.

"Where have you been all these years?" Harry asked, his bluntness making Remus wince. "I grew up thinking I had no one."

"I've been living with a werewolf pack in the forests of Eastern Europe," Remus said. "Largely cut off from wizarding society."

Harry's eyebrows shot up. "A werewolf pack?"

"I am a werewolf, Harry." Remus watched for his reaction, tension visible in the set of his shoulders.

Harry simply nodded, absorbing this revelation. After what he'd seen in the dungeons, a werewolf seemed almost mundane. 

Remus smiled briefly, looking relieved at his easy acceptance.

"I only learned about Sirius when I ventured into a town last week and saw the Daily Prophet," Remus continued. "I came back immediately. I should have been here for you. I should have questioned what happened."

"Why were you living with werewolves in the first place?"

Remus sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "It's a long story."

Harry opened his mouth to press further, but a hush fell over the courtroom as Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, stood and cleared his throat.

"The Wizengamot is now in session," Fudge announced, his voice magnified to reach every corner of the room. "We are gathered for the trial of Peter Pettigrew on charges of murder, conspiracy, and treason."

In the centre of the room, Pettigrew cowered in his chains. His watery eyes darted around the chamber like a cornered rat.

Madam Bones approached Pettigrew with a small vial of clear liquid. "The accused will be questioned under Veritaserum to ensure truthful testimony."

Three drops fell onto Pettigrew's tongue. His expression went slack, eyes unfocusing.

"State your name for the record," Madam Bones commanded.

"Peter Pettigrew," he replied, voice flat and emotionless.

"Were you the Secret Keeper for James and Lily Potter?"

"Yes."

A murmur rippled through the courtroom. Sirius lurched forward in his seat, knuckles white as he gripped the bench.

"Why did the Potters choose you instead of Sirius Black?"

"It was Sirius's idea," Pettigrew droned. "He thought he would be the obvious choice. Everyone would target him while I remained safe. No one would suspect me."

"Did you betray the Potters' location to Lord Voldemort?"

Flinches cascaded through the crowd at the name.

"Yes."

Harry's stomach clenched. Hearing the admission so plainly struck harder than he'd expected.

"Why?"

"The Dark Lord was winning. I wanted to be on the winning side. He promised me power, protection." Pettigrew's voice remained monotone despite the damning confession. "I was tired of being overshadowed by James and Sirius."

"Did you kill twelve Muggles on the street when Sirius Black confronted you?"

"Yes. I cast the Blasting Curse, then cut off my finger and transformed into my rat Animagus form. I framed Sirius for everything."

"What happened the night Lord Voldemort attacked the Potters? Were you present?"

"I followed him. I wanted to see..." Pettigrew's expression remained blank, but his voice hitched. "I wanted to see Lily."

Harry's fingers dug into his knees. Beside him, Remus went rigid.

Madam Bones glanced up at the gallery, as if sensing his turmoil. “Continue.” 

"I followed at a distance, in my Animagus form. The Dark Lord never made it to the cottage. Someone intercepted him at the edge of the village. A cloaked figure that concealed his face."

The courtroom fell silent, every ear straining to catch his words.

"What happened next?" Amelia asked.

"The stranger confronted the Dark Lord. They spoke, but I was too far away to hear. The Dark Lord seemed upset." Pettigrew's voice remained emotionless despite the shocking claim. "Then they fought. Not an ordinary duel with wands. The stranger conjured a spear of pure light."

Whispers rippled through the chamber. Dumbledore leaned forward, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.

"After a long battle, the spear pierced the Dark Lord's chest. His body began to disintegrate." Pettigrew's gaze remained unfocused, lost in the memory. "But something remained—a dark cloud, a wraith. It shot towards the stranger, who appeared to absorb it into his body. The stranger stood still for a minute, then continued down the street towards the cottage."

Chaos erupted. Wizengamot members leapt to their feet, shouting over one another. In the press section, reporters scribbled frantically, quills scratching against parchment with furious speed. 

Dumbledore's head snapped up, his usual composure momentarily broken. It took a lot to surprise the headmaster, but it was plain to see how disturbed he was by the revelation.   

Fudge banged his gavel repeatedly, trying to regain control of the proceedings.

Harry glanced at Sirius. His godfather sat rigid, confusion etched across his gaunt face. 

He was confused as well. What was that wraith all about? Had Voldemort performed some magic to exist in that state? How did Uriel absorb the wraith into his body? Did Voldemort possess Uriel? Somehow influenced his actions afterward? 

Harry frowned. No, that didn't match the memory he'd watched in the theatre room. Uriel had appeared in complete control during the confrontation with his mother. The man showed no signs of internal struggle or possession. It had to be something else. 

Harry turned to Remus. "Looks like I'm going to lose the Boy-Who-Lived status."

"Are you going to miss it?" Remus asked. He appeared fairly composed after Peter’s revelation. 

"No. But losing the title may turn out to be just as annoying as having it."

Madam Bones raised her wand. A deafening crack like a thunderclap silenced the room instantly. She lowered her wand, her expression stern as she surveyed the now-quiet crowd.

"We can discuss the implications of Pettigrew’s testimony later. I will continue with the questioning." 

What followed sickened Harry. Madam Bones interrogated Pettigrew further on his reasons for betraying the Potters. Each answer stripped away another layer of deception, revealing the twisted mind beneath.

"I have wanted Lily Evans since our fifth year at Hogwarts," Pettigrew began.

Harry's stomach churned. The idea of this pathetic, traitorous man lusting after his mother made bile rise in his throat.

Pettigrew described in excruciating detail how he'd followed Lily around Hogwarts, collecting trinkets she'd touched, memorising her schedule. He'd convinced himself their friendship meant more, that she secretly harboured feelings for him despite all evidence to the contrary.

"I sent her anonymous gifts, love poems," Pettigrew continued, eyes unfocused. "She never knew they were from me. I planned to reveal myself, but then..."

His confession continued, each word more disturbing than the last. He'd finally worked up the courage to ask her out, only to face gentle rejection. How that rejection curdled into hatred when she started dating James Potter three months later.

"She chose arrogant, bullying Potter over me," Pettigrew said, the potion forcing brutal honesty. "I gave her everything—my loyalty, my devotion—and she tossed it aside for a pretty face and a family vault."

Sirius lurched forward in his seat, face contorted with rage. Aurors moved to restrain him, but he shook them off, settling back with visible effort.

"When the Dark Lord asked for information about the Potters, I saw my chance," Pettigrew continued. "I thought perhaps, if James were gone...."

The courtroom had fallen deathly silent. Several witches looked physically ill. Harry sat frozen, his mind struggling to process how deeply Pettigrew's obsession had run, how his schoolboy fixation had evolved into an unforgivable betrayal.

Pettigrew's confession painted a portrait not of dramatic villainy but something far more disturbing—ordinary jealousy and entitlement twisted into evil.

The questioning continued, revealing every sordid detail of Pettigrew's treachery. By the time Madam Bones concluded, even the most hardened Wizengamot members looked disturbed.

The deliberation was brief, followed by the vote that sealed his fate. Pettigrew's confession left no room for debate.

"Peter Pettigrew, this court finds you guilty on all charges," Fudge announced. "You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban."

Aurors dragged Pettigrew away, his Veritaserum wearing off enough for him to wail and beg for mercy. 

As the courtroom emptied, Harry remained seated, processing everything he'd heard. 

"Harry."

He looked up. Sirius Black stood before him, uncertainty written across his gaunt features. 

"Sirius," Harry said, standing.

They stared at each other, neither knowing what to say.

"You look like James," Sirius finally said, voice hoarse. "But you have—"

"My mother's eyes," Harry finished. "So I've been told."

Sirius smiled weakly. "I rehearsed what I'd say a thousand times in my cell, but now I can't remember any of it."

"How about 'hello' for starters?"

"Hello, Harry." Sirius swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"You were wrongfully imprisoned. Not much you could have done about it."

"Before that. I never should have gone after Peter. I should have taken you and—" Sirius broke off, overcome with emotion.

Harry stepped forward and did something that surprised even himself. He hugged his godfather. Sirius stiffened, then clutched Harry like a drowning man grasping a lifeline.

A small purple blur shot from Harry's pocket, hovering between them.

"Ahem," Celeste cleared her throat. "Are you trying to crush me?"

Sirius jerked back. "What in Merlin's name—"

"This is Celeste," Harry said quickly. "My familiar."

"An Umbra Fairy," Celeste corrected, performing a small bow in midair. "The last of my kind, now bonded to Harry Potter. A pleasure to meet the infamous Sirius Black."

Sirius's jaw hung open. "What’s going on here?"

"Are you dumb?" Celeste flew a circle around Sirius's head, inspecting him. "You look terrible. Azkaban really doesn't suit you."

A bark of laughter escaped Sirius. "Blunt little thing, aren't you?"

"You have no idea," Harry muttered.

"Mr. Potter!" A shrill voice interrupted them. "Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet. How does it feel to learn you're not the Boy-Who-Lived after all? Do you feel disappointed now that the wizarding world won’t worship you?"

Harry blinked at the blonde reporter, her acid-green quill hovering expectantly over parchment.

"No comment," Madam Bones interrupted, stepping between them. "This is a courthouse, Ms. Skeeter, not a press conference. Mr. Potter is a minor and, therefore, exempt from your particular brand of journalism."

Rita's painted smile didn't waver. "The public has a right to know—"

"The public has a right to accurate reporting, which I've yet to see you produce," Bones cut in. "Now move along before I have security escort you out."

Scowling, Rita retreated, though her quill continued scratching away.

"Thank you," Harry told Bones.

"Don't thank me yet. Rita will write an article about you, regardless of your participation."

Dumbledore approached them. The usual twinkle in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a thoughtful gravity.

"Harry, Sirius, Remus," he greeted them with a nod. "I'm afraid I must cut this reunion short. I need to return Harry to Hogwarts. There are matters I must investigate with some urgency."

"You mean the rat's story?" Sirius scowled. "If he hadn't been dosed to the eyeballs with truth potion, I wouldn't have believed a word of it."

"Yes, it came as quite the shock," Dumbledore replied, his gaze shifting briefly to Harry. "It calls into question everything I thought I knew about that night."

"I'll be at St Mungo's if you need me," Sirius said, turning to Harry with softened eyes. "Are we still on for a visit during the holidays? We've got ten years to catch up on."

Harry nodded. "I'd like that. What about you, Remus? Are you going to disappear again?"

Remus sighed. "I need to check in with the pack, but I won't vanish this time. You have my word."

"He's worried I'll get up to mischief without him there to keep me in line," Sirius said, laughing.

"Some things never change," Remus murmured.

Celeste settled on Harry's shoulder, leaning close to his ear. 

"I like them," she whispered. "Especially the dog man. He smells interesting."

Sirius heard her comment. "Dog man?"

"You have a canine scent," Celeste explained. "Something about you reminds me of a big, shaggy mutt."

Remus laughed.

“Awfully perceptive,” Sirius said. “I’m liking you more and more by the second.”  

“Are you an Animagus?” Harry asked.

Sirius nodded. “I’ll show you next time.”

“As long as you don’t give me fleas.”

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

Later that afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered near the massive oak doors in the Entrance Hall.

Harry surveyed the cavernous space. "The troll couldn't have come through the front doors without someone noticing."

Ron nodded. "It’s too noticeable. Even with the feast going on."

Hermione pulled out a roll of parchment. "We need to explore the first floor and look for entry points. I'll sketch a map as we go."

Harry watched as she drew the entrance hall with surprising artistry. It was unnecessary, as his system map automatically updated whenever he explored a new area, but he couldn't reveal that to his friends.

Over the past month, Harry had mapped much of the castle. Unfortunately, his map didn't reveal any secret passages or hidden rooms the castle was rumoured to feature. He would need to discover them himself before they were added to the map. It happened with the Chamber of Secrets after he found the entrance in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Where should we start?" Ron asked.

"Let's check the eastern wing first," Harry said. 

They moved methodically through the corridors, Hermione adding details to her map as they went. They skipped the Great Hall and staff room but checked the Astronomy tower, followed by several classrooms that looked like they hadn’t been used in decades. They climbed the spiral staircase to the Owlery, finding nothing but sleeping birds and scattered droppings, then checked the small courtyard nestled within the wing's centre.

"Any of the portraits see anything?" Harry asked, approaching a painting of elderly wizards playing chess.

The wizards looked up, annoyed at the interruption. "We weren't here, lad. All portraits gather in the dungeon gallery for Halloween."

“There’s a dungeon gallery?” Hermione asked.

“That’s right,” one wizard answered. “It features hundreds of empty portraits that allow us to gather and celebrate the holidays.”  

"You celebrate Halloween?" Ron asked.

"Of course," the other wizard scoffed. "We might be dead, but we can still carry on a conversation."

“Says you,” Ron muttered as they walked away.

“They do have interesting stories,” Harry said. 

Ron snorted. “How could I forget you spent hours talking to that pirate?”  

They continued their search, finding nothing unusual in the eastern wing.

"Let's try the west wing," Harry suggested. "That's where the bathroom is located."

As they started searching the west wing, Harry spotted the entrance to the Divination Tower. "Trelawney's classroom is up there. I've mentioned how odd she's been acting, right?"

Hermione frowned. "You think Professor Trelawney let a troll into the castle?"

"I don't know what to think," Harry admitted. "But I wouldn’t be surprised if she did."

They continued down the corridor until they stumbled upon a door labelled "Filch’s Office." The door swung open, revealing Filch's hunched form.

His yellowish eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What are you doing here? Plotting mischief?"

"We're investigating how the troll got in," Harry said. "Did you see anything unusual on Halloween night?"

"I was at the feast," Filch snapped. "Unlike some students who think rules don't apply to them."

A cat wound between Filch's legs, fixing them with lamp-like eyes.

"That's Mrs. Norris," Ron whispered. "Evil incarnate, that one."

The cat meowed, then padded down the corridor, looking back as if expecting them to follow.

"I think she wants us to go with her," Hermione said.

"Rubbish," Filch growled, but Mrs. Norris meowed insistently.

They followed the cat to a row of unused classrooms and a dead-end corridor. Despite a thorough search, they found nothing unusual.

"Do you think there's a secret passage around here that leads out of the castle?" Harry asked.

Hermione tapped her quill against her chin. "It's not an unreasonable assumption. 'Hogwarts: A History' says there are numerous secret passages throughout the castle."

"We should ask Fred and George," Ron suggested. "They're always sneaking around without getting caught."

Harry turned to him. "You could have mentioned that earlier."

"Didn't think of it, did I?"

They found the twins in the Gryffindor common room, huddled in a corner over a piece of parchment.

"Fred, George," Harry approached them. "We need your help."

The twins looked up in unison, quickly hiding the parchment. "What do you need?"

"Do you know any secret passages in the west wing, first floor, near the unused classrooms?"

Fred and George exchanged knowing looks. "Perhaps."

"There might be a tunnel," Fred began.

"Leading to the Forbidden Forest," George finished.

"Show us," Harry demanded.

"For a fee," they said together.

Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out five galleons. The twins' eyes widened.

"This way, good sir," Fred said, pocketing the coins.

They led the trio back to the first floor and stopped before a statue of a one-armed wizard.

George spoke a word and tapped the statue with his wand.

The statue's hump slid open, revealing a dark passage descending downwards, wide enough for a person to squeeze through. Or a troll.

“The path goes directly under the castle and the grounds,” Fred explained. “Heads straight for the Forbidden Forest.” 

“How did you find it?” Harry asked.

“That’s for us to know—”

“—and for you to never find out.”  

"Pleasure doing business," George said with a mock bow as they departed.

A notification appeared in Harry's HUD: 

Objective Completed: Determine how the troll entered Hogwarts.

"This is how the troll got in," Harry said.

Hermione bit her lip. "This is a serious security breach. If this tunnel bypassed the wards, anyone could enter the castle. We should tell the headmaster."

"Not yet," Harry cautioned. "We need to investigate more first. Find out who used it."

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

Harry lay on his four-poster bed, curtains drawn around him, as Celeste's soft snores emanated from the tiny hammock he'd fashioned for her on his bedpost. Their evening dungeon runs had been productive, and now it was time for some upgrades. 

He opened his menu. With a thought, he confirmed the level up. He jumped from level eighteen to twenty. Most of the experience he had gained from the quest was gone in an instant.

Ten attribute points and fifteen path points. A substantial haul, but he needed to distribute it carefully. He had to tackle the Shadowlands dungeon soon.

Harry recalled what he knew about the dungeon. It had a permanent weapon, and he couldn’t use any magic at all. It also had a limited time to find and exit the dungeon.

His grimoire skills were focused entirely on magic. Even Grove relied on magic to a certain extent. Harry had been considering expanding his Elemental Golem Path to allow for the creation of water elementals. But it wasn’t the best use of his path points currently. He needed to prioritise physical combat.       

The time limit worried him most. How large was the dungeon? He forgot to check the last time he was on the island. Perhaps he should accelerate his plans to acquire a broom. Flying would make navigation substantially faster, assuming the dungeon allowed for it.

Making his decision, Harry allocated all ten attribute points to Strength. The immediate boost rippled through his muscles, though the sensation remained internal—no bulging biceps or broader shoulders. The change was in potential, not appearance. Only his damage output was affected. 

With how much he had grown over the past few months, he wondered if it was time for him to invest in some gym equipment. He was a little too skinny for his liking.  

Harry turned his attention to spending his path points. His gaze settled on the Dungeon Survival Path. 

The next skill, Efficient Rest, cost him three path points. He'd been indifferent to it before, but with a timed dungeon, efficiency would be crucial.

Harry confirmed the purchase without hesitation. The skill after it, Efficient Consumption, caught his eye as well. Both skills were passive skills that would help with his survival in the Shadowlands dungeon.

======Efficient Rest | Passive | Level: MAX | Upgrade: -- | Attribute: END

Description: A survival technique that maximises recovery during rest periods within dungeons. 

* Reduces time needed to fully restore resources when sleeping in safe zones by half.

* Grants a 30% chance to receive a "Well Rested" buff after sleeping, providing +5 to all attributes for 2 hours.

* Can be used in non-safe zones with 50% effectiveness.

* VIT > 70: Reduces sleep time by an additional hour (3 hours total). ======

======Efficient Consumption | Passive | Level: MAX | Upgrade: -- | Attribute: END

Description: An advanced biological control technique that allows the player to extract the maximum benefit from consumed substances while minimising harmful side effects. 

* Reduces all Consumption costs by 50%.

* Reduces all Toxicity buildup from potions and elixirs by 50%.

* Extends duration of buff-providing foods and potions by 25%.

* END > 70: Increases consumption and toxicity reduction to 70%

======

Both skills transformed his dungeon-diving capabilities completely. Efficient Rest would let him catch four hours of sleep instead of eight—crucial when time was limited. More importantly, he could use it outside safe zones at half effectiveness, meaning any secluded corner might serve as a recovery spot if he could avoid monsters. 

Efficient Consumption might prove even more valuable. Cutting consumption costs by half meant he could drink twice as many potions before hitting his limit. The toxicity reduction addressed his growing concern about long-term potion use, while the extended duration of food buffs would give him more combat time between meals. Most dungeons had forced him to carefully ration his resources, but now he could push harder and recover faster.

Harry opened his status window to assess his changes:

====== Player Status

Name: Harry Potter 

Occupation: Apprentice Mage 

Level: 20 Next Level: 35270

Experience Pool: (17150) 

Attribute Points: 0

Path Points: 9

Resources

HP: 400/400 

MP: 828/828 [974]

SP: 716/716

Attributes

STR: 30

AGI: 37

VIT: 40

END: 19

SPI: 42

INT: 30

WIL: 35

PER: 22

DEF: 5 [+ Equipment] 26

=====

Occupation:

Apprentice Mage: +1 to SPI per level, +25% increased efficiency and potency for all elementary spells/skills.

Titles:

Charismatic Gamer: Your magnetic personality and charming presence have a positive influence on those around you. This may lead to new opportunities and favourable interactions in the future.

King’s Authority: +1 to WIL per level, +50% effectiveness towards resisting mental manipulations, both magical and mundane.

Accelerated Growth: Reduces the amount of experience required after level 10.

Burdens:

Veil of Blood: Decreases total MP by 15%. 

Accelerated Growth (temporary): Harry isn’t a little boy any longer. =======

He still had nine path points left. Better to save those for the dungeon, to react to any unexpected situations. He would need to make another Grove as well. While the Golem’s combat capabilities would be reduced, it would still serve as a useful tank. Furthermore, he could have two golems at a time. He could either deploy them simultaneously or keep one in reserve.   

Harry closed the menu and grabbed his Spatial Pouch. He dumped the contents of his inventory onto his bed, looking to reorganise it. Thirty inventory slots weren’t much, considering the items he’d accumulated through his dungeon runs. He was forced to store items physically, which ran the risk of being discovered by others.

"This is getting ridiculous," he muttered, sorting the items into neat piles.

He lifted the Colossus Core. The massive boss had been nearly impossible to defeat, making this single core particularly precious. Until his golem creation skills improved significantly, he'd keep it safe rather than risk wasting it on a subpar construct.

Next came the stack of Corrupted Aspen Cores—over a dozen of them harvested from the elite monster. Unlike the rare Colossus Core, these were common enough that he could experiment with them. 

The Aspen Abomination Essence caught his attention. It was meant for potions—a catalyst that added unique properties to any brew it enhanced. He set them aside with the other potion ingredients. He had enough now that he could start experimenting with them.

The Goliath's Brain was stored in a container. It was small compared to the size of the monster, but no less disgusting. According to its description, it could dramatically increase a golem's intelligence when properly incorporated. Another component worth saving for the perfect creation.

Harry frowned as he looked over his collection. Even the most powerful golem materials faced a significant drawback: no matter how rare or powerful the components, a golem could still be destroyed in combat. Grove's incineration at Lydia's hands proved that. 

He swept the items back into his inventory, restoring his bed to its neat state.

"I need more space," Harry concluded. "Too many useful items, not enough slots."

Harry closed the menu and rested his head against his pillow. He would tackle the Shadowlands dungeon next weekend, giving them five days to prepare. Celeste needed to gain a couple more levels to match the dungeon’s level more evenly, and he wanted to prepare some more. 

It looked like he needed to sneak out to purchase some items from Diagon Alley. Or maybe he could get Remus to assist him?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  

Harry and Celeste materialised next to the Shadowlands dungeon gate. The Potter Isle landscape spread around them, with the effects of the gates' corruption apparent in their immediate surroundings.

"Let's check on Brutus and the fairies before diving in," Harry suggested, pulling his new Nimbus Two Thousand from his inventory.

He mounted the broom. The moment Harry kicked off, he understood why the Nimbus was considered top-of-the-line. The broom accelerated smoothly as he weaved between trees, with Celeste zipping alongside him. Wind rushed through his hair as he pushed the broom faster, testing its responsiveness with increasingly sharp turns.

"Show-off," Celeste called, performing a perfect spiral around him.

Remus had been surprisingly helpful after Harry had written to him. The werewolf had jumped at the chance to assist—perhaps because of guilt over abandoning him, driving him to overcompensate. Harry wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He knew Remus had tried to keep in touch initially, although he could have tried harder. 

Beyond the broom, he'd sourced potion ingredients from apothecaries Harry couldn't access while stuck at school. When he’d inquired about bags with extension charms, Remus had gone one better. 

He'd purchased a trunk with multiple compartments, each expanded beyond its natural dimensions. It was much better than Harry’s school trunk. It featured protective enchantments against tampering, allowing Harry to store non-essential items in his dormitory without fear of discovery. Remus had also added some protective enchantments to the trunk, making it even more secure. 

Harry had asked Remus to find him a Pensieve as well. Despite scouring the alley, including Knockturn Alley, Remus hadn't located one. But he promised to keep searching for one. Harry would have to be patient. If all else failed, he could travel to France and see if he could find one there.

The past week had been aggravating. The Daily Prophet had run article after article about Pettigrew's revelations, with Rita Skeeter's pieces proving especially vicious. Her headline, "THE BOY WHO LIED?" suggested Harry had somehow fabricated his status as Voldemort's vanquisher.

Numerous students approached him, peppering him with questions until his patience snapped. After threatening to hex them, the interrogations had finally ceased.

Meanwhile, their troll investigation stalled. Despite regular inspections of the secret passage, they'd found no evidence indicating who had used it. Hermione's constant reminders to inform Dumbledore grated on his nerves, though he understood her concern.

Harry slowed as they approached the fairy grove. The Dusk Fairies darted from the trees to greet him. He distributed sweets from his pocket, watching with amusement as they started gouging on them.

"You’re spoiling them rotten," Celeste observed.

“I can’t help myself,” Harry said. “They are a cuter, less annoying version of you.”

“Hey!”

After visiting with the fairies, they sought out the Griever's pride. Brutus lounged in a clearing with his mates. The massive creature's ears perked up at Harry's approach, his tail swishing in recognition.

"Everyone doing well?" Harry asked, running a hand through Brutus's mane. The beast rumbled contentedly.

Harry glanced around the clearing. No cubs yet, though he shouldn’t have expected any so soon. He studied the females, trying to spot signs of pregnancy, but he didn’t know what to look for. He realised he knew nothing about Griever reproduction cycles. How long did it take? 

They returned to the gate after ensuring all was well. He noticed from the surface description that it was now classified as a massive dungeon. It seemed like purchasing the broom had been a good idea. 

Harry called up the quest information, which he could now view since reaching level twenty.

======Side Quest: Umbra Queen

Description: The Shadowlands were once home to powerful Umbra Fairies. Their near-extinction preceded the realm's magical decline. Explore the forgotten homeland, discover the truth behind the Umbra Fairies' fall, and create a new queen.

Objectives:

1. Navigate the Shadowlands and locate the Umbra Queen's forgotten sanctuary.

2. Discover the reason for the Umbra Fairies' extinction. 

3. Recover the Queen's essence. 

4. Give it to Celeste to upgrade her Occupation.

Rewards: New Occupation and Path unlocked for Celeste; 50,000 XP and 5 PP for Celeste. 

Time Limit: 1 day 

Quest Difficulty: Very High======

After so long, he finally had the opportunity to complete the quest. It was worth the wait.

“Yes!” Celeste cheered, reading the description. “Time for an upgrade!”

“Did you notice the quest difficulty?” Harry asked.

Celeste waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sure it will be alright.”

“Don’t forget what happened in the Aspen Horror Dungeon.”

“You're such a killjoy.” 

Harry checked his equipment one final time. "Ready?"

Celeste squared her tiny shoulders. "Let's go."

They stepped through the gate together, the familiar disorientation washing over them as the world twisted and reformed. The Shadowlands waited beyond—a final link to Celeste's past and, perhaps, to Harry's ancestry.

So what do you think? This took me longer to write than expected. In the next chapter, Harry and Celeste explore the Shadowlands dungeon.

Note: I have fixed chapter 21, where Harry unlocks Scotland. It was supposed to be three countries, so I added Ireland and Wales to the system as well.   

Thanks for reading.