The world was silent — too silent.
Harry groaned, forcing himself to breathe evenly. His throat was dry, his vision still blurred. A faint blue glow flickered in the air above his head — a system notification window, hovering quietly like a spirit waiting to be read.
He focused, and the text sharpened.
[Quest Completed: The Midnight Auction]
Type: Major Quest
Status: Completed
Objectives:
Negotiate with the Aurors
Infiltrate the Midnight Auction undetected
Rescue all magical creatures and prisoners
Capture or eliminate Lord Celtigar and subordinates
Rewards:
1,500 XP
1,000 Galleons
Reputation Increase (Auror Department / Zeus Hotel)
New Skill Unlocked: [Lightning Wave – Lv.1]
Rare Item: [Auctioneer's Gavel] (Grants immunity to Compulsion & Charm magic)
Stat Increase: 5 INT 3 CHA 2 STR 2 WIS
Bonus Rewards (All Objectives Completed):
Unique Contact: Auror Liaison – Cassandra Vale
Bonus XP: 500
Rare Consumable: Elixir of Restoration (Full HP & MP Recovery)
Title Earned: The Liberator (Reputation Boost: Magical Creatures / Neutral Factions)
The screen faded slowly, leaving Harry staring at the faint runes on the ceiling once more. His mind replayed everything — the burning docks, Celtigar's smirk, the dragon's screech, the feeling of flight before everything went dark.
Wherever he was, it wasn't the Ministry, nor St. Mungo's. The air was dense with ancient magic — calm, protective, and familiar. He turned his head with effort, noticing the serpentine carvings coiling along the walls. A realization dawned.
This isn't a hospital... This is Slytherin Castle.
The dragon must have brought him home.
[Level Up!] Lv. 22
[Updated Status Window]
[Name: Harry James Potter]
[Level: 22]
[EXP: 0 / 2200]
[Class: Shapeshifter]
[Title: Lord Blackfyre]
[HP: 780 / 780]
[MP: 1500 / 1500]
[Stamina: 620 / 620]
[Strength: 50]
[Dexterity: 45]
[Intelligence: 67]
[Wisdom: 55]
[Endurance: 53]
[Luck: 37]
[Charisma: 40]
[Skill List]
[Lunar Bond] – Lv. 2
[Moonlit Aura] – Lv. 2
[Goblin Warding Style] – Lv. 9
[Parseltongue] – Lv. Max
[Soul Read] – Lv. 5
[Skin Changer] – Lv. 3 (Wolf, Eagle, Snake)
[Shadow Veil] – Lv. 11
[Death Ward] – Lv. 9
[Soul Drain] – Lv. 13
[Bone Spear] – Lv. 10
[Wraith Flight] – Lv. 13
[Wind Step] – Lv. 13
[Poison Mist] – Lv. 10
[Fireball] – Lv. 13
[Water Shield] – Lv. 9
[Observe] – Lv. 11
[ID Create] – Lv. 5
[ID Escape] – Lv. 5
[Astral Gate] – Lv. 3
[Lightning Wave] – Lv. 1
[Stat Points to Distribute: 5]
Harry knew from experience that when a level-up occurred, it was more than just numbers on a screen — it was renewal.
His broken bones mended themselves with a faint golden glow, fatigue melted away like mist under sunlight, and the sharp ache in his left arm faded completely. His body felt lighter, faster — stronger.
[System Notification]
All HP, MP, and Stamina restored.
Status ailments removed.
Harry flexed his hand experimentally. The arm that had been twisted and shattered by the Bone-Breaking Curse was now as good as new, perhaps even sturdier than before.
He summoned one of the house-elves from Slytherin Castle. The small creature appeared instantly, bowing low.
"My Lord," it squeaked nervously, "the great beast that brought you home — it sleeps in the woods. None of us dare go near it. The trees shake when it breathes."
Harry smiled faintly. "Feed it. Raw meat, water — enough for a growing dragon. And make sure no one disturbs it. That dragon is not our enemy."
The elf nodded quickly and vanished.
After that, Harry opened his [Skill Menu] and activated [ID Escape Lv.5], choosing one of his five fast-travel points — Zeus Hotel.
A faint ripple surrounded him. The familiar hum of shifting space vibrated through his bones.
And in the blink of an eye, Lord Blackfyre vanished from Slytherin Castle — leaving behind the slumbering dragon whose snore still echoed faintly through the forest.
The lobby of Zeus Hotel was chaos.
Dozens of Aurors swarmed the marble-floored hall, parchment floating beside them, quills scratching automatically as they interrogated nervous staff. The once-calm air of luxury now carried the sharp scent of authority and tension.
Harry stepped casually through the open doors, his light-blue cloak rippling faintly with motion. His expression was unreadable — the perfect calm before a storm.
Several heads turned. Conversations died.
Amelia Bones herself stood near the reception desk, arms crossed, her expression a mixture of suspicion and disbelief. The faint hum of her wand filled the air as she turned toward him.
"Lord Blackfyre," she said at last, her tone clipped. "We're here to arrest you for the murder of Lord Celtigar — and others who perished in last night's incident."
Harry paused mid-step, then smiled faintly.
"Lord Celtigar?" he repeated with mock surprise. "I'm afraid I don't know anyone by that name. I was at my castle last night. Perhaps you've mistaken me for someone else."
A murmur ran through the Aurors. The boldness of his tone — the absolute certainty — caught several of them off guard.
Amelia narrowed her eyes. "We saw someone matching your description at the scene — short, cloaked, using advanced combat magic."
Harry chuckled softly. "Short? Cloaked? That could describe half the wizards in Knockturn Alley."
Before she could retort, one of the junior Aurors — the same who had examined the battleground earlier — whispered hurriedly to her.
"Madam Bones, the man we saw fighting Celtigar… there's no way this is him. The injuries he had were severe. Broken arm, bleeding everywhere. This man's completely fine."
All eyes turned toward Harry again.
A faint shimmer flickered beside him.
Harry smiled, knowing exactly what they were thinking.
"Well," he said lightly, brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve, "it seems whoever fought your Lord Celtigar wasn't nearly as lucky as I am."
Amelia studied him in silence — frustration and suspicion warring behind her sharp eyes. But with no proof, no wand marks, and no visible injuries, she could do nothing but watch as the man known as Lord Blackfyre strolled past her, completely untouchable.
The Aurors left Zeus Hotel one by one after hours of fruitless questioning.
Harry had answered every query with practiced ease — voice steady, expression unreadable. The words came effortlessly, like water slipping through fingers.
None of them noticed the faint silver gleam of the pendant hanging from his neck — a miniature gavel, carved from obsidian and etched with fine runes that pulsed faintly when magic touched them.
[Item Equipped: Auctioneer's Gavel (Unique – Rare)]
Effect: Grants complete immunity to Compulsion, Veritas, and Charm-class spells.
Every time one of the Aurors subtly flicked their wand, whispering a half-formed Compulsion Charm, the runes shimmered — absorbing the spell in silence.
The caster would blink, confused, thinking their magic had simply failed.
Harry smiled inwardly. They'll need more than a charm to crack me.
When the questioning finally ended, Amelia Bones stood at the entrance of the hotel, looking weary and unsatisfied.
Her sense of justice warred with her duty to the law. She knew, deep down, that this man was guilty of something — but without evidence, her hands were tied.
"Lord Blackfyre," she said at last, her tone carefully neutral, "you're free to go… for now."
Harry inclined his head politely. "I trust you'll find the real culprit soon, Madam Bones."
That earned him a hard glare. Amelia turned sharply, her cloak sweeping behind her as she left, followed by her Aurors.
Harry watched them go from the balcony, the faint smile never leaving his face.
Down below, the lobby returned slowly to normal — guests whispering, staff exhaling in relief.
For the Ministry, this was a failed investigation.
For Harry, it was a perfect victory.
It was well past noon when the sound of the fireplace flickered to life in Harry's private suite.
Out of the emerald flame stepped Charles, Joseph, and David — their cloaks torn and boots still covered in ash from the night before.
All three dropped to one knee the moment they saw him.
"Lord Slytherin," Charles said with a grin, "you're alive and well! We thought you might've—"
Harry raised a hand, cutting him off with a small smile. "You doubted me?"
They all laughed, relief washing over their faces.
[Reputation: Mercenary Trio – Loyal (Honoured)]
The three men looked different than when Harry had first recruited them.
Gone was the look of rough mercenaries-for-hire — the kind that took shady jobs from feuding wizard families or contraband runners. Tonight, there was pride in their eyes. They had fought for something greater than gold.
"We've hidden the ship," Joseph said, straightening. "The magical creatures are safe — for now. They're docked in a cove north of Cornwall, shielded and under concealment wards. But we need your instructions, my Lord. What should we do next?"
Harry leaned back in his chair, his eyes distant for a moment. The soft flicker of candlelight reflected against the silver serpent ring on his finger.
[Quest Chain: Operation Silent Wings – Phase II Unlocked]
Objective: Relocate rescued magical creatures to secure sanctuaries.
Optional: Establish covert transport network.
Rewards:
500 EXP
Reputation (Knockturn Alley 10 Magical Creatures 5)
New Skill Unlock
"Good work," he said finally. "For now, no movement. Keep the creatures fed and hidden. I'll find safe ground for them soon — somewhere the Ministry can't touch, and the pureblood lords can't exploit."
The men exchanged proud glances.
David chuckled. "Feels strange, doing something that actually matters."
Harry's faint smile returned. "Get used to it. The world's darker than you think — but that only makes light more valuable."
The fireplace dimmed again, leaving the four of them in quiet confidence.
Outside, thunder rumbled faintly over Knockturn Alley — a warning, or perhaps an omen.
The Hotel lobby had grown quiet — the chatter of guests replaced by the rhythmic clatter of cleaning charms and the soft hum of enchanted lamps. Most of the day staff had gone home; those with night shifts were only just arriving.
Harry, in his Harry Potter persona, was tidying the lobby when the fireplace flared emerald green.
Out stepped Cassandra Vale, still in her Auror robes, her expression as sharp as ever.
"Find Lord Blackfyre," she said briskly. "Tell him Cassandra Vale came to meet him."
Harry straightened, feigning confusion. "Aren't you the Auror who came here this morning?"
"Yes," she replied impatiently. "Now go. Quickly."
"Of course."
He hurried away, disappearing down the corridor — and into his private suite.
Inside, he moved fast. The door sealed behind him, and with practiced precision he pulled clothes, rings, and the black serpent cloak from his inventory. His entire appearance shimmered, his hair darkening, face aging into the familiar mask of Lord Blackfyre.
Moments later, the short wizard with silver-trimmed robes stepped back into the lobby.
Cassandra blinked — she hadn't even noticed the time that passed.
"Do you have more questions for me, Auror Vale?" Harry asked smoothly.
She shook her head. "No. The investigation is over. Officially, the report states that the auction site was destroyed by dragon fire."
Her tone was flat, but her eyes betrayed discomfort.
"It took a lot of convincing — Moody, a few others, even Dumbledore himself had to speak to Amelia Bones. The Ministry decided to call it an accident. Otherwise, they'd lose too much credibility."
Harry tilted his head slightly, pretending not to understand what she was getting at.
"So why are you here then?"
Cassandra hesitated — then stepped closer. "Because I don't believe in coincidences," she said softly. "Moody works for Dumbledore. But I… I want to work with you."
Harry's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened.
"I saw what you did — the kind of justice you deliver," she continued. "The Ministry talks about law, but you fight for something more. I want to be your eyes in the Auror Office. An informant — your contact inside."
Harry studied her carefully. "You are betraying your own department and expecting me to trust you?"
"I'll swear an oath," she said simply.
And she did. Dropping to one knee, Cassandra drew her wand, tracing silver runes in the air.
"I, Cassandra Vale, swear upon my magic and life that I will serve as Lord Blackfyre's informant within the Auror Department — to keep his secrets, and aid his cause until released by his will."
The runes blazed white, sealing the vow.
[New Contact Acquired: Cassandra Vale (Auror Informant)]
[Reputation Unlocked: Auror Department – "Hidden Ally"]
Harry extended a hand. "Welcome to Zeus Hotel, Miss Vale."
The moment Cassandra stepped into Lord Blackfyre's private suite, her eyes widened.
It was nothing like the rest of Zeus Hotel. The walls shimmered faintly with layered wards, a soft silver aura humming through every rune-etched beam. Velvet curtains framed tall windows that overlooked the magical cityscape. In the center, a massive marble fireplace burned with blue flame.
Harry gestured toward it. "We'll need the fire," he said, tossing in a handful of Floo powder. "They're going to want introductions."
One by one, the emerald blaze flared — first David, then Joseph, then Charles. The mercenary trio appeared in a swirl of soot and flame, straightening instantly when they saw Cassandra.
Her Auror robes still carried the Ministry crest. The three men stiffened, hands instinctively brushing near their wands.
Harry's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Don't worry about her. Cassandra is with us now. She swore a magical oath — her loyalty is sealed."
The three exchanged glances, then bowed slightly. Their respect for Harry outweighed their suspicion.
Before Cassandra could respond, two more figures stepped out of the fire — Sam and Regina, both still smelling faintly of Wolfsbane potion. They nodded in greeting.
Then, in another flash of green, Jason and Cassia arrived — curse-breakers turned loyal allies.
Cassandra looked around, realizing what she had stepped into: not an organization, but something deeper — a circle built on trust, strength, and unspoken purpose.
Harry stood near the hearth, his black cloak casting long shadows.
"This," he said quietly, "is my circle. We don't have a name. We don't need one. If I wanted, I could have a hundred more — loyal people who will fight for me. But these are the ones who stand closest to me. The inner circle."
A flickering notification blinked faintly before his eyes:
Harry reached into the fire again, murmuring a short incantation. A slip of parchment burned to ash — a Floo signature.
"You're added to my personal network now, Cassandra," he said. "You can come here whenever you wish. Tomorrow evening — six o'clock sharp. We meet again."
She nodded firmly, understanding the weight of what that meant. Around her, the others dispersed one by one — returning to their posts, their duties, their hidden corners of the wizarding world.
When the last flame died down, Harry stood alone before the fire, its light painting sharp gold across his serpent ring.
The pieces were moving.
And the game had only just begun.
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