- Let's go over it again, you saw the figures above the castle, didn't you? - Harry settled into his favourite armchair at the table, Sirius sitting across from him, carefully moving the Doomball away from the edge. - Where do you think most of the leaks are coming from?
- OK, first of all," Sirius jotted something down in his notebook with a pencil, "it looks like the protective dome is thinning, you can't even feel it. Secondly, and most importantly, the elements are leaving the castle. According to my calculations, everything in the castle was connected to and fed by the four main elements. Incidentally, Hagrid also has a black ball of smoke above his hut.
- He'd have to find a way to send a giant on a hike and, in the meantime, equip the hut with magical amulets. Hagrid can be a bit of a drunken wreck, Merlin knows what he's capable of. - Harry reached up. - Well, I've decided on a course of action, so I'll go and see what the artefacts are. The silver discs I've already covered, I need to apply the runes and complete the ritual.
A maiden's voice came from the doorway:
- I can help you with the runes and the ritual.
Everyone turned around. Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise:
- Good morning! Have you reached this level of skill too? Come on, let's show you what you know," he pointed to the door. - By the way, if you want something to eat, tell Dobby to come down to the laboratory.
Knowing from experience that creating artefacts took a lot of energy, Louise decided to get something to eat. Half an hour later, on her way down to the laboratory, the girl saw Harry working his magic. A golden glow was emanating from his hands and small bolts of lightning were streaming towards several palm-sized silver discs.
- Can I help you? - The girl came closer and looked at the artefacts with interest.
- Here's a start," Harry held out a disc. - We need to apply the runes clockwise - the first circle, counterclockwise to reverse the energy. Uruz is the opening rune, Wunho the closing rune. In between is a standard chant for positive thinking, the accumulation of power and energy to restore the students of Hogwarts. Next is the ritual - let's do one for all the artefacts. That is, of course, if you can manage it.
Louise grinned and picked up the disc. Quickly carving out all the necessary runes, she placed her palms, folded into a boat, over the artefact and began to infuse it with energy while reciting an incantation. Harry watched in amazement at what was happening. Louise's hands glowed with a blue light. The glow intensified until it became a blinding beam that struck the centre of the disc, burning out the last protective rune, Algiz. The artefact was impressive, and seemed to have enough power to last a long time.
- Bravo, Master! Now I'm sure you didn't get the ability for pretty eyes," Harry was pleased and not stingy with the praise.
A few hours later, Louisa and Harry walked up from the laboratory to the living room, tired but happy with the result. Dobby had organised another snack - refreshments and sandwiches. Sirius was nowhere to be seen.
- Did you like my laboratory? - Harry took his time sipping his cocktail.
- Yes, I did. It's impressive. I also liked that there was space not only for making potions, but also for research, rituals. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay and help you rebuild Hogwarts. I went there too, and I have the best memories of it.
- Good. Just don't try to get into the far cupboards, they contain dangerous potions and ingredients for dark magic artefacts. Under my supervision only. - Potter blinked. - And if you want to make something special, tell me, I'll make your potions myself.
Sirius, walking past the living room door, looked in and grinned. Yes, good Godfather, he's found himself a friend as well as a colleague! Black reached out and, quickly turning into a dog, decided to say goodbye and ran to the shore to check the perimeter of the hold. Ingvarr and Junshen stayed at the school, but no matter how strong Harry was, he still had to renew the dome regularly.
****
Over the next few hours, Harry and Louise continued to work on the artefacts, performing complicated, energy-intensive rituals over the discs - and consolidating the results. Potter was reluctant to create the artefacts at Hogwarts, assuming that the Headmaster would not be able to provide him with normal conditions, so everything was done at the manor.
"Two men in white robes preparing for the ritual. Torches soaked in a special potion illuminate the room with a blue flame. A runic circle is drawn on the floor, within which is a hexagram with artefacts placed in its rays. Louise and Harry stand on either side of the image, hands raised to the ceiling, chanting incantations interspersed with pleas to strengthen the spirits of the castle's ancient wizards and protect them from the forces of evil. A faint glow emanates from their bodies, quickly intensifying into a blinding white flash. Louise first directs the rays into the centre of the pentagram, Harry closes the runes and places a rainbow dome... Now you can rest - until dawn, the circle will cool down and absorb the energy that the mages have directed onto the runes on the discs...".
Sinking exhausted onto the marble floor of the Ritual Hall, Harry called for Dobby and asked for potions. After drinking the tonic, he and Louise retired to their rooms to clean up. Half an hour later, relatively awake and refreshed, they went down to dinner.
Sirius had been waiting for his godson for quite some time and looked up at the sound of footsteps from the library, where he now spent his regular time.
- That went well," Harry nodded at him and then added, "Dobby, set the table.
****
The next day, Potter removed the protection from the circle. The artefacts were well made: the silver shone like a full moon on a clear day, all the runes were energised and glowed blood red. It was time to repeat the rituals already performed at Hogwarts, arranging the artefacts so that the energy would be concentrated and circulated throughout the castle.
After talking to Sirius, Potter showed him the finished discs. Black waved his wand over them and nodded contentedly:
- "It's all right. I think the desired effect will soon be seen, you put even more into it than you did into the Potters' records.
Harry carefully folded the artefacts into a bottomless pouch and fastened it to his belt. It was safe to go to Hogwarts.
****
Strangely, the headmaster's office was once again packed with mages, as if their meetings had never stopped.
- Good afternoon!" Harry nodded slightly in polite acknowledgement and continued coldly. - Headmaster, I have done what I promised. I hope you won't bother me any more after today's event. My dragons are bored.
- Hello, my boy! - Dumbledore insisted on addressing Potter, and everyone else for that matter. - Let's get on with it. Otherwise, the holidays will be upon us and we won't have time to check that the artefacts work.
Harry grimaced:
- Are you doubting my powers? Then what was all this farce for?
And the young wizard walked across the castle, straight into Gryffindor's sitting room. It seemed the right place to start. The others followed, led by the Headmaster.
And there was the entrance with the massive door again. It was unlocked again. Harry made his way into the living room and, with a few spells, placed one of the artefacts in the middle of the ceiling, giving it damage protection. Some of the boys sitting by the fire were surprised by the manipulation, as they had been the last time, but said nothing.
As soon as Potter put his hands down, the artefact began to hum and jingle. Not too much, but noticeable enough. Harry had to cast a diagnostic spell on the Lion's living room and something was revealed under the mantelpiece - a black stone with multicoloured veins. It was exactly what the dragon had shown on his first inspection of the castle. It was what Sirius had spoken of.
- What's all this? - Harry looked angrily at Dumbledore. - The castle is your responsibility, but strangely you let the Black Opal of Discord into the school! And you, Professor Snape? And don't tell me you don't know what it is! A powerful artefact designed to cause strife and discord! How could you!
Harry placed the stone in a protective sphere and levitated it beside him:
- I can't secure it yet, so try not to touch it until I'm out of the castle!
There was a look of confusion and fear on the faces of those around him. Only Dumbledore and Snape remained unmoved.
- Harry, we had no idea what was inside the castle. There were no signals from Hogwarts, and he always keeps me informed of his needs," the headmaster apologised to Potter, hunching over tiredly. Snape remained silent, but his whole demeanour showed that he was offended.
After a few minutes, a breeze blew through the room and a faint sound was heard, as if crystal bells were ringing. Those present gasped. The drawing room had changed. It was as it had been ten years ago. The fire in the fireplace had risen, the furniture looked as good as new, the tapestries and curtains had dried and become lighter, the portraits had moved slightly. The students perked up.
- Shall we conjure? - Harry bowed picturesquely to the students.
Ellara, the little second year who had been here when Potter arrived, waved her wand:
- Vingardium leviosa! - The cushion on the sofa rose gently.
She didn't look tired, though. The spells were relatively easy to cast; not at first, no, but they worked. The doubts faded and then the other students became enthusiastic and began to cast their own spells. The adult wizards had no choice but to acknowledge Harry's strength and ability.
The Gryffindor house was followed by the others - Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff. Again, the artefact tinkled, warning of danger. Potter, who had mounted the disc on the ceiling, took out the Black Opals and placed them under a protective sphere with the ones he already had. The runes flashed, enveloping the living room in a soft glow. The dampness receded and a breeze blew through the living room again. The students felt better.
Now it was the teachers' room's turn. It was uneventful, but the scent of discord was beginning to spread. Potter looked grimly at the teachers: there was no point in saying more. The artefact was glowing properly. As an experiment, Harry even argued with the Headmaster again, telling him everything he thought. The disc worked properly: the negativity was concentrated in a light grey haze and dissipated as it rose to the ceiling. Potter then directed the wizards down into the dungeons to create a magical floor on the castle's foundations. The lake flooded part of the dungeons, and by the time the wizards had dried the corridors and made their way to the cellars, it was evening.
Harry took the black opals with him: the dragon's breath was excellent for getting rid of all sorts of evil. By nightfall, Hagrid's hut was ready. Having found the sobered giant and shown him out, the wizards entered the hut. As usual, the giant had made a mess of his hiding place. A collective effort cleaned the hut and unearthed a number of strange objects, all heavily 'phoned' by dark magic. They turned out to be crystals that would erase the mind and cause madness in anyone near them. That was why Hagrid was so fond of the dangerous creatures. But at least things would be better now. Harry thought.
- I wonder who brought all this stuff into the castle and planted it around: staff rooms, teachers' rooms, woodcutter's hut..." the wizard probably addressed himself.
The others were silent. Hagrid sobbed, wiping himself with a dirty cloth the size of a duvet cover. There was nothing to say.
****
Time passed. Louise remained at the Vale. On the first day after Harry's return, she wrote to the Headmaster asking to be relieved of her duties. Dumbledore was stunned, but signed the petition immediately. A week later, Hogwarts had a new Artefacts teacher, Amadeus Selwyn.
Harry, on the other hand, continued to study dragons and tried to recreate crystal lizards. His research was based on Louise's animagic form. All animals that a wizard can take the form of exist in nature. This means that a crystal dragon also exists, but for some reason did not answer the call. At Harry's request, Louise shifted and voluntarily gave up her scales, claws and a few bubbles of blood.
Research had shown that the crystal reptiles were related to the Peruvian lizards and golden dragons, which had been extinct since the time of the Founders. So Harry had to stop his experiments. And all was calm and quiet. Dumbledore kept his word and didn't show himself.
Until one day, exactly one month later, Alastor Grum appeared on the edge of the valley.