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Ch330- Summer!
Ch330- Summer!
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Harry's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze back to the cup. A simpler solution would be to destroy the fragment and be done with it. though the loss of such a concentrated magical essence might sting. On the other hand, the thought of obliterating Voldemort’s soul—even partially—was tempting. It was an act of finality, of erasing the man piece by piece until there was nothing left.
Still, the potential to use it was hard to ignore. Merging it with the fragment already in his wand could amplify his magic significantly. The wand had proven to be an invaluable asset ever since the soul fragment had taken root. Spells came easier, faster, and with more potency. But the idea of granting the soul piece additional strength left Harry wary. What if it gained too much power? What if it became harder to control?
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Destroying the fragment would be the safer route, but it was also the least ambitious. “Well, I am a Slytherin, after all,” Harry muttered. The gamble, however calculated, was far more tempting. He leaned closer to the cup, its faint shimmer drawing his attention back to the runes.
Helga Hufflepuff had built her legacy on loyalty, forging bonds that strengthened the unity of her house and the castle. Her artifacts often carried enchantments rooted in that ideal, enhancing trust and devotion. The system had hinted at the cup’s power to inspire loyalty, but Harry hadn’t yet seen how it functioned in practice. That made it worth studying further.
Tracing a finger along the cup’s surface, he focused on the secondary set of runes. These were subtler than the others, barely visible without deeper effort. The pattern wasn’t meant to radiate power openly; instead, it suggested an aura of influence, working beneath the surface.
Harry grabbed a notebook from his bedside table, flipping it open to a blank page. “Alright,” he muttered, jotting down the structure of the runes. He preferred clarity when deciphering enchantments, breaking them into manageable pieces. The sequence of sigils wove together in intricate loops, spiraling toward a central glyph. That glyph hummed faintly under his touch, almost like it was alive.
“This is where the loyalty bit kicks in,” Harry mused to himself, tapping the glyph lightly. “But how does it work?” It wasn’t raw compulsion—the magic wasn’t invasive enough for that. If anything, it felt subtle, like a quiet suggestion that lingered in the background.
The enchantment wasn’t designed for brute force. Instead, it enhanced existing connections, amplifying bonds that already existed between individuals. Hufflepuff had likely intended the cup to foster trust among her followers, not create it artificially. It was a distinction that mattered, particularly when considering its misuse.
Harry's eyes narrowed as he turned the cup slightly, the faint shimmer of a rune catching his attention. At first, it seemed to be part of the loyalty matrix, but upon closer inspection, there was something else woven into the design. Something hidden. His eyebrows lifted, and he leaned in closer, muttering to himself, "Oh, this is interesting."
--
The next morning, the Great Hall buzzed with the usual end-of-year energy. The Slytherin banners draped over the hall gleamed in green and silver, marking their victory in the House Cup. Harry sat with his friends, a mixed group from all four houses. Ginny and Neville were deep in conversation about summer plans, while Daphne and Tracey quietly discussed their families’ expectations for the holidays.
Harry took a bite of his toast, listening with half an ear to the chatter around him. Across the table, Hermione was animatedly explaining a theory about magical creature types to Luna, who was nodding along.
Fred and George were a few seats down, plotting what Harry could only assume was their next prank.
“Still heading to South, Harry?” Neville asked, breaking Harry’s train of thought. He looked up to see his friend watching him curiously.
Harry shook his head wryly. "This year, I’m sticking home."
The group paused mid-conversation, their surprise evident. Daphne arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What gives? Weren’t you planning on visiting South America with Rosier?"
Harry nodded, taking another bite of his toast before responding. “I had to change my plans. Something more pressing came up.”
“More pressing than an ancient jungle and cursed artifacts?” Tracey teased, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Sounds serious.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn
“It is,” Harry said simply, he couldn't say he had a Death Eater loyal to him, waiting him to give her orders even now, right?
Ginny tilted her head, watching him closely. “You’re not sick or anything, are you?” she asked, half-serious.
Harry snorted, shaking his head. “No, nothing like that. I just figured it would be nice to spend the summer in one place for a change. You lot might not believe it, but I too actually enjoy a little peace and quiet.”
Neville chuckled. “You? Quiet? That’s rich coming from the bloke who keeps dragging us into the Forbidden Forest for ‘study sessions.’”
“That was one time,” Harry countered, though a faint smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “And it wasn’t my fault the Acromantula got curious.”
“You brought raw meat to attract them!” Hermione chimed in, setting her teacup down with a disapproving clink. “Honestly, Harry, sometimes I think you do these things just to see how much chaos you can cause.”
“And yet,” Luna added, “it was very educational. I didn’t know Acromantula liked venison. Fascinating creatures.”
Harry shrugged. “See? Educational. Hermione, you’re always telling me to expand my horizons.”
Hermione rolled her eyes, though there was a trace of a smile on her lips. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
The table erupted into laughter. Harry leaned back in his seat, enjoying the moment.
--
The train ride home was lively as usual, filled with laughter, inside jokes, and the comfortable banter Harry had grown to enjoy. He sat with his close group of friends, the compartment brimming with energy as they shared plans for the summer and exchanged half-hearted promises to write often.
“Bet you’ll still be stuck in your Gran’s greenhouse, Neville,” Ginny teased, leaning back against her seat with a grin.
Neville rolled his eyes but didn’t bother denying it. “Better than being turned into a walking joke by Fred and George.”
Across from them, Fred smirked. “Don’t give us ideas, mate.”
“Yeah,” George added, “summer’s the perfect time for some experimentation.”
Hermione, who had been skimming through a book, sighed. “Just try not to come up with something loud. Some of us actually enjoy the quiet.” She glared at Harry.
“Quiet? What’s that?” Pansy chimed in, pulling a face. The group burst into laughter, even Hermione cracking a smile.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics—Quidditch World Cup planned for the summer, favorite places to visit, and complaints about homework piling up for next year. When the trolley passed, they loaded up on sweets, and by the time the train neared King’s Cross, the compartment was a mess of wrappers, laughter, and a lingering warmth that made the goodbyes feel heavier than usual.
As the train slowed to a stop, Harry and his friends gathered their things, stepping out into the bustling platform. The Weasley clan was easy to spot—Mrs. Weasley waving enthusiastically, her sons piling around her like a red-haired whirlwind. Hermione hugged everyone tightly before rushing off to her parents, who stood at the far end with wide smiles.
Daphne and Tracey exchanged quick goodbyes with Harry, their words brief but genuine before they disappeared into the crowd. Luna gave him one of her smiles and a fleeting hug before drifting away, her radish earrings swinging as she went.
Finally, Ginny, Pansy, Draco and Neville stood by him. “We’ll see you soon, right?” Neville asked, his voice hopeful.
“Of course,” Harry said simply. “We’ll plan something.”
Ginny nodded, her smile small but bright. “Take care, Harry.”
With that, they parted ways, and Harry found himself weaving through the crowd until he spotted a familiar face. Petunia stood near the entrance, her summer dress swaying slightly as she waved to him. The sight was oddly grounding after the whirlwind of the past few months.
“Hello, Harry,” she greeted, her smile lighting up her face as he approached. “How was the second semester?”
Harry shrugged, shifting his bag on his shoulder. “Busy. Good, though.”
Petunia’s eyes softened slightly, but she didn’t press further. “Well, I’m glad you’re home. Let’s get going. I parked just outside.”
As they stepped into the warm summer air, Petunia fell into step beside Harry. “Did you enjoy your time at school this year?”
“Mostly,” Harry replied. “Same as usual—classes, Quidditch, a bit of excitement here and there. You seen the games.”
Petunia chuckled. “I imagine your definition of ‘a bit’ differs from most people’s.”
Harry smirked but didn’t elaborate. Instead, he changed the subject. “How’s the garden coming along?”
“Oh, it’s lovely this year,” Petunia said, her tone brightening. “The roses are in full bloom, and I’ve been trying my hand at growing some new herbs.”
Harry nodded. “Sounds like you’ve been keeping busy.”
“I have,” she agreed. “But I’m glad you’ll be around for the summer. It’s been quiet without you.”
They reached the car and as they drove through the familiar streets of Little Whinging, Petunia filled the silence with updates about the neighborhood, tidbits about her work, and plans for the next few weeks.
Harry listened, chiming in occasionally but mostly content to let her talk. When they arrived home, Petunia unlocked the door and ushered him inside. “I made your favorite,” she said, her smile returning as she headed toward the kitchen. “Take your things upstairs and wash up. Dinner will be ready soon.”
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