Harry Potter: The Mage's Path Chapter 11

Hi all,

Here's the new chapter. Hermione and Tonks join Harry on his journey to France as he looks to get a new wand.

I have gone back and changed how the item/equipment grades work because it was all over the place. Simply put, the grade determines the item's quality, from 1-5, with 5 being the highest quality. If the item has a grade, it can be upgraded, improving the stats. 

Enjoy.

Chapter 11

As Harry Potter examined the treasure chest, he wondered what he would receive from Gaia. Celeste was so impatient that she tried to lift the lid by herself, and Harry stepped in to help her.

“There are only three pieces of loot,” Celeste pouted.

“Yes, but take a closer look. One of them is a garment that is your size,” Harry pointed out.

“Oh yeah!” Celeste dived into the chest and grabbed the dress.

While she was occupied, Harry grabbed the next item, an odd piece of equipment that was shaped to fit Hedwig, with thin metal plates going around the chest area, with two appendages that looked like wings.

=====

Hedwig’s Breezy Panoply | Equipment | Rare | Grade: 2

Description: It is a piece of equipment forged for the Snowy Owl, Hedwig, to reward her for her dedication to protecting her partner. Besides protecting against slashing, blunting, and piercing damage, the armour offers a small degree of magical protection.

• Defence: 20

• Magical Defence: 15

• Slashing Defence: C

• Blunt Defence: E

• Piercing Defence: C

Passive Ability: Gale Force - Boosts the power of wind attacks by 50%.

=====

Harry whistled. Gaia sure delivered a pleasant surprise. But how did he equip it? He opened his equipment menu and discovered a new tab for his familiars.

“Don’t be alarmed, girl,” Harry told Hedwig. “Some armour will appear on your body.”

Pushing the breastplate into Hedwig’s equipment slot, he watched as it appeared on the owl. Hedwig moved around cautiously, testing out her range of movement.

‘This is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable.’ Hedwig barked in approval.

She looked even more imperious and queen-like with the armour on her, and Harry gave her the thumbs up before returning his attention to the chest—only to discover a naked fairy pulling on her new dress.

“Woah,” Harry closed his eyes. “If you had been a little more patient, I could have equipped the dress on you without resorting to getting naked.”

"As if I care," Celeste said, adjusting the dress until she was satisfied. "Nakedness is nothing to be ashamed about."

“Do you get naked for a lot of male fairies?” Harry asked impudently.

“Ha! As if I would kiss and tell. You're still too young to know about such things. Wait to you grow some hair down there, little boy."

“I could say to same to you, midget,” Harry stated rudely, referring to a lack of hair on her own genitalia. “Is the dress comfortable?”

"It's surprisingly good," Celeste said, smoothing down the front of the dress with her hand. "Well, tell me about its capabilities."

“Bossy little thing,” Harry muttered. As she instructed, he examined the dress in more detail.

=====

Celeste’s Battle Dress | Equipment | Rare | Grade: 2

Description: It is a piece of equipment designed by Gaia to commend the fairies aggravating nature. This item adds protection against Slashing, Blunt, and Piercing damage, as well as some magical defence.

• Defence: 25

• Magical Defence: 10

• Slashing Defence: C

• Blunt Defence: E

• Piercing Defence: C

Passive Ability: Taunt - Battle Dress has a minor illusion that draws attention to the user and distracts the enemy.

=====

“How rude!” Celeste shook her tiny fist.

Harry laughed, both at the fairy's angry expression and in relief for gaining some protective equipment for his familiars. He turned to the last item in the chest, which was a strange mask.

=====

Face-Changing Mask | Equipment | Rare | Grade: 2

Description: It is a rare piece of equipment that can obscure the user's identity when worn, changing their appearance into someone else. Unlike conventional spells, no magic can be detected when this mask is used, which is an excellent way of avoiding magical detection.

• Defence: 10

• Magical Defence: 10

• Ability: Obscure Identity - Changes the user's appearance.

=====

“Why do I get the feeling that Gaia is giving this to me for a specific reason?”

“Because if your paranoid enough, you live longer,” Celeste shouted. “Constance Vigilance.”

“I may as well try it out,” Harry muttered. Placing the mask on his face, he waited to feel something. “Did it work?”

“You look weird,” Celeste said.

Harry rolled his eyes. “I take it worked then. Let’s get out of here.”

<====({owo})====>

2nd July

One week later.

“We could have gone ourselves,” Harry complained as they boarded the ferry in Dover, heading for Calais in France. “Hermione can speak the language. We would have managed.”

“You're too young to travel out of the country by yourself,” Tonks retorted.

“With Ms Responsibility here, that is an unfair statement.”

“Harry!” Hermione nudged the boy. “That’s rude.”

“More like honest,” Harry batted his lashes. “You love honesty, don’t you, Herms?”

“Don’t call me that,” Hermione huffed.

“Mione?”

“Not a chance.”

“Jane?”

“Only if you want to die.”

“Okay, last one. What about Emma?”

“How did you come up with that name? There is no correlation,” Hermione scowled.

“Dunno, just a strange feeling.”

Tonks watched the byplay with amusement. The two friends had gotten closer after spending more time together in the last week. Hermione had relaxed once she became more secure in their friendship, and Harry loved teasing her.

“Alright, kiddies. Enough flirting. I’m surprised that your parents let you come, Hermione.”

“We couldn’t go to France this summer,” Hermione said. “My parents are swamped at work at the moment. Another nearby dentist practice has closed down, and they are taking on a lot more clients.”

“I think what she was getting at,” Harry told Hermione. “Is that she is surprised that anyone would give her any responsibility over their kids.”

“Hey! I’m a competent adult,” Tonks declared.

They stood at the railing with the early morning sun peeking out from the cover of the grey clouds. The trip wouldn’t take long, only about an hour and a half, but Tonks already looked queasy.

“Gross, this kind of travel is torture,” Tonks said, clutching onto the rail. “Why couldn’t we travel by Portkey?”

“Because I have to register the Portkey with the Ministry,” Harry said. “I don’t want to go anywhere near the place until absolutely necessary.”

“Also,” Hermione added. “This is Harry's first time out of the country, and he should enjoy the experience.”

“Oh yes, the view is unforgettable.” Tonks waved at the grey skies with exaggerated reverence, causing her to almost lose her balance and tip over the side of the ferry.

“Don’t trip and tumble over the railing,” Harry smirked. “It would be a hassle to fish you out of the water.”

“I’m going to sit down,” Tonks mumbled, walking unsteadily to some nearby seating.

A few days ago, Harry told the Tonks he was going to France. That had roused the maternal instincts of Andromeda, and she ordered Tonks to go with him. Despite his protests, Harry soon wilted under her stern gaze.

He would have likely ignored her mandate and sneaked off on his own if he hadn't owed her so much. She had been incredibly helpful in improving his Meditation skill and getting him started on Occulumency. After a couple of days of her tutoring, he finally got the skill.

=====

Occlumency | Active/Passive | Level:5 | Next: 43% | Cost: Variable |

Description:  The player has learned the art of Occlumency, a discipline that detects and protects the mind from intrusion. It is an incredibly complex and challenging skill to learn, let alone master. At later levels, the player can create his own mindscape to increase the degree of protection.

• Chances of detecting an intrusion from a Level 1 Legilimencer + 25%.

• Speed of detecting an intruder + 10%.

• Passive Mind Barrier: 48/48 [Intelligence Modifier].

• Active Mind Barrier 96/96 [Intelligence Modifier].

=====

Harry had practised all he could in the last week but had been distracted by another problem. The time for the next part of the quest was still unresolved, and only a few days were left. He didn’t find a Pensieve in Diagon Alley, and he was tempted to take a step into Knockturn Alley, but common sense prevailed. Finally, he was able to wheedle out some information from the wizard who owned a second-hand shop, who mentioned that there might be a Pensieve for sale in France. It was a double blessing for Harry to have found a lead that led him to a place where he was already going to later.

He didn’t spend time training in the Empty Dungeon since it would have affected the time left on the quest. Instead, he kept practising on the outside and managed to level some skills.

=====

Skills

Running Level 7 ➝ 9

Observation Level 9 ➝ 11

Dual Casting Level 7 ➝ 9

ID Creation Level 1 ➝ 5

Potions Level 6 ➝ 8

Meditation Level 3 ➝ 8

Bookworm Level 1 ➝ 3

Spells

Basic Fireball Level 8 ➝ 10

Severing Charm Level 2 ➝ 5

Potio Roborate Charm Level 3 ➝ 4

Wand Lighting Charm Level 4 ➝ 7

=====

There were a few things of note that resulted from his training session.

Upon reaching level five, his ID Creation Skill enabled him to add another Instant Dungeon to the list. For now, he would have to wait until he entered another one.

Secondly, as a result of increasing Meditation and learning Occlumency, he gained a new skill that had him one step closer to levelling his affinities.

=====

Sense Mana | Active | Level:2 | Next: 10% | Cost: 0 |

Description: The player is in tune with the world and its elements. He can sense the swirling energies that permutate the air, and his ability to detect magical beings and objects has increased.

• + 2% to Sensing Mana.

• + 4% to identifying the type of energy in the surroundings.

• + 2% to Perception.

=====

To increase his affinities, he only had to learn to absorb the energy around him, so that was the next skill he needed to acquire. Finally, when he increased the Basic Fireball spell to level ten, he unlocked a new spell from the Grimoire.

=====

Immolate | Active | Level:1 | Next: 0% | Cost: 12 | Control: 50%

Description: Immolate is an area-of-effect spell that targets the ground in a certain range. Any target caught up in the spell will receive direct fire damage and damage over time as long as they remain in the area of effect.

• Fire Damage: 6-7 [Modification: Magic]

• Fire Dot: 1-2 per second. Ignores Magical Defence.

• Burn Chance: +1% for every second spent within the area of effect.

• Area of Effect: 2 mᒾ

• Duration: Five seconds

=====

‘Hey!’

Harry was broken out of his thoughts by the little devil riding on his shoulder.

‘What's the matter?’

‘Why do I have to stay invisible? No one is even paying attention to you.’

'It's more about how loud you are than being seen.'

'You had better apologise! I will cause trouble for your girlfriend if you don't.

Harry rolled his eyes. 'She isn't my girlfriend. I am only ten years old, almost eleven. I will also get Hedwig to bully you if you cause her trouble.'

‘Empty threat. I am not afraid of her.’

‘Sure you are. You're no different than me.’

After another hour, they approached the Port City of Calais. When Harry saw the golden beach and the houses in the distance, many of which had distinctive red rooftops, he whistled in appreciation.

“Amazing isn’t it,” Hermione said. “I never get tired of the view.”

Tonks joined them as the rail, having discreetly taken a potion to cure her sea sickness. “And the sun is out as well. Typical. Once you leave England, the weather improves.”

As soon as they docked at the port, Hermione led them through customs and outside, where public transport was waiting to take them to their next destination.

“How would you like to travel to Paris?” Hermione asked. "You can take the bus or train, which is cheaper but takes longer. Taxis are much more comfortable and faster, depending on traffic. It is, however, much more expensive."

“Let's take the taxi,” Harry decided to splurge a little. “I will pay.’

“Oh, man,” Tonks mock swooned. “Just what a girl wants to hear. I may have to snatch you up myself.”

“Tonks,” Hermione placed her hands on her hips. “Are you going to act like an adult?”

Tonks rubbed her chin and gave it serious thought. “Nope.”

Harry snickered, and Hermione sighed in exasperation. “Let’s just go and find a taxi.”

Hermione marched off, and Tonks turned to Harry and grinned. "If you ever decide to date her, she will be the one who will be wearing the pants, right?”

“What do pants have to with anything?” Harry asked, confused.

“Never mind,” Tonks sighed. “I must remember that you are kids and crack jokes that are age appropriate.”

“Whatever.”

<====({owo})====>

They arrived outside the famous Hotel de Ville in Paris three hours later. Hermione was determined to show him as many tourist spots as possible in the three days they were going to spend there and had decided this was the perfect starting point.

Seeing the building, Harry was amazed. It had a certain majesty, built like a palace, with neo-renaissance architecture. However, its primary purpose was to house the local government council, which didn't fit its grandeur. How did he know about all this? Harry had the human library walking beside him, naturally.

Above him, a familiar Snowy Owl was seen gliding through the air. There was no way that she would be away from him for the three days that he would be here, so she followed him to France.

Hermione took out her camera from her bag and handed it to him. “We need to get you a camera. I can’t believe you forget such an important item.”

“Hermione, I came here for a specific reason,” Harry said, although he did snap a few pictures of the building. “Tourism is the last thing on my mind.”

“Ridiculous,” Hermione declared. “We will get your business sorted on the first day; then, we can spend the rest of the time touring the city.”

Tonks patted Harry on the back. “She’s right. You need to learn to be a kid.”

“Right,” Harry said drolly. “Maybe you can remind my relatives of that.”

‘Stop being a Negative Nancy.’

Hermione bit her lip, suddenly unsure of herself. Harry could have kicked himself for ruining her excitement. “Well, let's see if I can finish my business early then.”

Hermione brightened, then demanded to see the address once more. She pointed to the River Seine. “We need to cross to the other side of the river; then it’s about an hour's walk from there.”

“Alright, let's go—”

Hermione grabbed his hand and dragged him across the square. Amused, Tonks followed them as they crossed the street and onto the bridge.

One hour later, they reached a small side road where it was immediately apparent that they had entered a magical area. There was a dissonance between it and the district they'd been walking through, with stores lining both sides with blatantly magical products on display.

“Quartier des artisans,” Hermione read the street name. The Artisan Quarter. This is the right place. I wonder why I never noticed this location before?”

“What a cool little slice of the magical world,” Tonks enthused, her hair cycling through various colours in her excitement.

“Let's find the pair of wand crafters,” Harry said, and they walked down the street, staring at the different shops with interest.

When they passed a small second-hand bookstore, Hermione squeaked, involuntarily drifting from their side and peering into the store window.

“Why don’t you stay with her,” Harry suggested. “I feel my business is going to take a while.”

“I will stay with you until I can meet the people you are seeking,” Tonks shook her head before grabbing Hermione and hustling her along. “Come on, you bookworm. We can come back and explore when Harry is getting his wand.”

Hermione protested half-heartedly before following along. Minutes later, they stopped outside a nondescript building almost hidden between two large stores.

“This is the place,” Harry said, checking the address. They entered a small room with a counter and two doorways, one behind the counter and the other on their right.

“We need to ring the bell to get their attention,” Hermione said, pointing to the item on the counter.

Harry rang the bell, and they waited. A beautiful young woman stepped through the doorway from behind the counter and smiled at them.

“Bonjour. Comment puis-je vous aider.”

Hemione said something in reply, and the woman nodded in understanding. “It seems we have some customers from England here with us today. My name is Camille. What do you need?”

Harry stepped forward and handed her the note. “I got a recommendation from Ollivander to seek your expertise in crafting me a wand.”

The woman frowned before summoning her wand and tapping the note. Her expression changed, and she looked at Harry with interest. “My Grand-mere will be able to help you, but do your companions know of your secret?”

“What is she talking about, Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Sorry, Hermione. It’s not like I don’t trust you, but this information is too sensitive. I need to get you started on Occlumency so you can protect the secret.”

Despite her pout, Hermione nodded in agreement. She had learned about the discipline, and Harry had promised to teach it to her once he gained some competency.

“What about me?” Tonks cried. “Am I chopped liver?”

“I don’t know,” Harry eyed her with a smirk. “You seem trustworthy, but you work for the Ministry of Magic. That shows a serious lack of judgement.”

Camille raised a hand to her mouth and giggled. Harry's sentiments were evidently shared by her as well.

“I can understand your reservations,” Tonks rolled her eyes. “But family comes first. I’m not going to give your secret to anyone in the Ministry.”

“Let me think about it,” Harry said before turning to Camille. “How long will this take?”

“That is up to Grand-mere,” Camille shrugged.

“Then let’s meet up at the bookstore at three,” Harry checked his watch. “Feel free to get some lunch; I will get something later.”

“Okay,” Tonks replied reluctantly. The two females left the store, and Harry turned back to Camille.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr Potter.” Camille waved her wand over the counter, causing a space to open up. Motioning him to follow her, they stepped through the door and into a hallway.

“Call me Harry,” he replied.

“Very well. You may call me Camille.”

“You don’t seem like a traditional store,” Harry commented. “Where are all the wands on display?”

“We do not sell to the mass market like Ollivander, for example. Our wands are custom-made and expensive, as we use an unconventional method to attune the wand perfectly to the wizard or witches' magic. Some find it unsettling, so we are not always the highest in demand."

"Is that why you don't have a store in the main shopping district?"

"Yes."

They stepped into a large room where an elderly woman was seated on a stool, examining something on the table. Numerous shelves lined the walls, filled with various materials, and Harry imagined the total value would be staggering. The building would be an obvious target for thieves, so hopefully, they had decent security.

"Grand-mere, we have a special customer," Camille called from the doorway.

As she placed the item down, the woman turned in her seat and asked, "Who is it?". She had a few wrinkles, but her face was relatively smooth. Her dark wavy hair was streaked with grey, and her electric blue eyes were the same colour as her granddaughters. It was evident to Harry that Camille inherited her beauty from her grandmother.

"Harry Potter," Camille stepped forward and placed the note in her hands.

The older woman read the note silently, and like Camille, it was apparent that she was surprised.

"Well, you don't see many Mages in this day and age," the older woman raised her head and pierced him with a look. " I last encountered one at the turn of the century. My name is Isabelle. So the Boy-Who-Lived lives up to his reputation, eh?"

Harry grimaced. "Please do not call me that. The truth of what happened that Halloween night is much more complicated."

"Really?" Isabelle laughed. "Well, it's good that you are not arrogant and have some common sense, at least. Now, regarding the matter of your secret, do you require an oath from us?"

"If you wouldn't mind," Harry nodded. "I know you must be somewhat trustworthy since Ollivander sent me here. But, for my peace of mind, I would like the oath."

The two women performed the oath, and Harry relaxed. He looked around the room some more and noticed several ingredients specific to Dungeons, including the Witch's Caps.

"Have you seen those before," Isabelle asked, noticing his interest.

"There is a Dungeon near my home that has a good supply of the Witch's Caps," Harry said.

"There's no doubt that the Dungeons' arrival is a boon for all parties involved; however, everyone is blinded by greed and not seeing the bigger picture. If the Dungeons continue to increase at the current rate, we will be overwhelmed in a few years. Now, come and sit down so we may discuss your wand."

Harry sat on a stool next to her, and Camille stepped out of the room.

"Are you going to show yourself, little fairy?"

Harry tensed as Celeste appeared on his shoulder, but Isabelle didn't seem to recognise that she wasn't an ordinary fairy.

"I should of known," Celeste pouted.

"She is your familiar?" Isabelle asked.

"Yes," Harry relaxed after seeing that the woman wasn't very interested in Celeste. "The little monster grabbed my finger and bit me, trying to suck out all my blood."

"Hey, that is a wildly inaccurate version of events," Celeste stomped her feet on his shoulder.

"She seems inordinately smart for a fairy," Isabelle mused. "Maybe it is because of the bond?"

"Do you think I can add Celeste as the magical substance?" Harry grinned evilly, trying to change the subject. "I'm sure it would make a very compatible wand, with her being my familiar and all."

Celeste screamed and launched herself off his shoulder, settling on a shelf in the far corner.

"They would make average wands," Isabelle said dryly. "Your magic is already intertwined with your familiar; there is no benefit to having a part of them in your wand. So, do you know how wands are made traditionally?"

Surprised by the question, Harry took some time to gather his thoughts before replying.

"The wandmaker sculpts the wand from trees that is compatible with magic, carves runes onto the handle that encourage the flow of magic, and adds a magical substance that matches the wizard's magic. Depending on the materials used, these may not work together due to compatibility issues. Also, they are known to be semi-sentient and recognise their owners when they are held for the first time."

"It's a good enough summary for someone unfamiliar with the craft," Isabelle said. "Unlike most wand crafters, however, I craft wands differently. For one, I make custom wands for my clients and do not mass-produce them. Mass production is undoubtedly more efficient and cheaper, but a customer will never get a perfect match.

I have the customer choose the magical substance that is the most compatible with them, and then I create the wand itself. However, I use wood that has no magical properties of its own but can assimilate a wizard's magic. Furthermore, the wood is tiny compared to the usual-sized wand."

"How does that even work?" Harry asked, interrupting her.

"So impatient," Isabelle muttered. "Now, the next part is where many people leave because they are uncomfortable with the process. I implant the wood beneath the skin in a wizard's arm, and over time it will grow and absorb some of the wizard's magic and blood. This results in a wand that is not only a perfect match for them but is much stronger and can handle a lot more potent magic."

"I can see why it would be unpopular," Harry said.

"In your case, it is your only option since you are a Mage. Otherwise, any other wand will only last you a short time."

"How do you implant the wand into my arm?" Harry asked, interested in the process, even though it nauseated him. "Do you cut my arm open as a surgeon would?"

"Gods, no. That would be barbaric. No, I transfer the wood into the wizard's arm with magic, which is relatively painless. When the wand is fully grown, I extract it with a spell. Nice and easy."

"Right," Harry said doubtfully. "So once I choose a magical substance, how long for you to craft the initial wand?"

"It depends on the substance," Isabelle shrugged. "I want you to circle the room and place your hand over the substances and see what reacts most strongly to you. Do not rush this, as this step is crucial."

Twenty minutes later, Harry turned to Isabelle and pointed to two substances. "I cannot tell the difference between the two, but these are the strongest reactions I get by far."

"Interesting," Isabelle took the two materials down and placed them on the table. "Runespoor blood and a Thestral feather. You must have some exciting heritage in your family line or have gone through some incredible experiences in your life."

She looked at him apologetically when she said that last part. "Combining the two into the wood will be hard, so it will take a few hours."

"May I watch?" Harry asked. "I have some interest in wand crafting."

"Sure," Isabelle shrugged. "Let's get started."

A few hours later, the tiny wand had been crafted, and Harry was seated, waiting nervously for Isabelle to implant the wand into his arm.

"Relax, this won't take a moment," Isabelle said cheerfully. She waved her wand, and the piece of wood vanished, and Harry felt a slight pinch as it entered his arm.

Harry stared at his arm, where a slight bump could be seen beneath the skin, and he shivered with disgust. "Are you sure it won't affect my arm? It still has to grow a lot."

"Don't worry. Even if it grew to twice the size of an average wand, it wouldn't damage the arm."

"How much is this going to set me back?"

"Fifty Galleons," Isabelle said, and Harry handed over the outrageous price but ascertained that it was worth the cost.

"How long will it take to grow?"

"One to two days. The wand will let you know when it's ready. Come back then so I can remove it."

"Right," Harry headed for the door but paused when she called out to him.

She handed him a large book. "If you are interested in learning more about Wand Crafting, you can start with this book. It will give you a good foundation."

"Thank you," Harry said. He could get the skill and learn how to craft the practice wands. Since they did not have the Trace, they would be popular with the younger muggleborn students. Harry had to figure out a way to sell them without revealing his identity. Then he realised what he was thinking and could have slapped himself for his idiocy. He had the perfect tool for the job.

<====({owo})====>

3rd July

The following day, Harry requested they visit the magical shopping area, Place Cachee, in the Montmartre district. He needed to find the shop selling the Pensieve before they sold it to someone else. Hermione didn't need convincing, as she hadn't visited the place before and was excited about exploring the stores. Well, the bookstore in particular.

The entranceway was through a magical bronze statue depicting a woman sitting on a pedestal called The Moving Statue.

They stepped into the street and looked around curiously.

"This looks much more modern than Diagon Alley," Hermione said. "I think I prefer this place."

Even though it still shared much of the city's classical architecture, it still looked more technologically advanced than the British equivalent, with a fusion of old and new.

"Look," Hermione pointed at a nearby building. "Hotel De Ginestou. Should we stay there tonight? It would be interesting to compare how it differs from the non-magical side."

Tonks rolled her eyes. "Always has to be a lesson with you, doesn't it?"

Hermione glared at the young woman. "If you ask me, you need to learn a few lessons of your own."

"Why, you little brat," Tonks grabbed the girl and messed her hair. "See how I deal with you."

"Kids," Harry sighed, walking ahead and leaving them to their own devices. He searched for the second-hand store, a difficult task with all the unrecognisable names. Finally, he found it towards the end of the street as the two females caught up with him.

The store was surprisingly spacious, which hinted at its utilisation of Extension Charms. There was a wide variety of items, apparel and furniture, all neatly organised. Harry stepped up to the counter where an older man stood, watching them carefully.

"Hello," Harry greeted the man. "There is a shop owner in Diagon Alley who told me you might have an item I have been looking for some time."

"What is the item?" The man said in flawless English.

"A Pensieve. Do you still have it?"

The man's eyes lit up as the item in question was the most expensive product he had in store. "I do, but it is not going to be cheap. I'm selling it for four hundred galleons."

In other words, forty thousand pounds. Harry didn't blink at the price, as the quest was too important to him. "Money isn't an issue. I want to buy it, please."

The shop owner became a lot friendlier after that and went to retrieve the item. After the Pensieve was wrapped and shrunken down, Harry poured the gallons onto the scale on the counter.

"Thanks for your patronage," the shop owner said happily as they left the store.

"You certainly are a spendthrift," Tonks said. "What do you need the Pensieve for?"

"To study a memory in detail," Harry replied. "What else is it used for?"

Hermione grabbed his hand and began marching towards the bookstore. "Come on, let's see what books they are for sale."

Happy that he had obtained the Pensieve, he allowed her to pull him along.

<====({owo})====>

Inside the Hotel in Place Cachee, Harry sat at the table with the Pensieve in front of him.

"Finally, I can put my detective hat on and solve the case," Celeste turned to Hedwig, who was perched on her stand. "Watch and learn, rookie. I will show you how it's done."

Hedwig tucked her head under her wing and completely ignored the fairy.

Harry read the instructions that came with the Pensieve and grabbed his practice wand to extract the memory from his head. It took him a few tries, but a long white strand eventually emerged, clinging to the wand tip, and he placed it in the Pensieve.

"So all I have to do now is place my head in the bowl?" Harry asked doubtfully.

"That's right," Celeste flew over and settled on the table. "I hope I don't get swallowed up by the thing. Eh, it should be okay."

"Let's go then," Harry said, lowering his head to the Pensieve. What would they find?

Translation:

“Bonjour. Comment puis-je vous aider.” ("Hello. How can I help you.")

So, what do you think? Please excuse any mistakes with the language in this chapter if you happen to speak French. Blame it all on Google translate.

Thanks for reading.