Harry Potter: The Artisan's Path Chapter 58

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. Newt examines Fawkes to try and see what’s wrong with him, and Harry meets a Siren.

Chapter 58

The idyllic start to his time on the island was shattered when Harry found out the situation with Fawkes was more urgent than he had originally thought. Newt appeared unusually serious, but when he realised Harry was about to panic, he backed off his statement slightly.

"He is not in critical condition yet, but I need to examine him to see why his immortal flame has been affected. I believe he still has a few weeks before it burns out."

“Immortal flame?” Harry asked.

The rest of the group listened as they discussed Harry's concerns about Fawke's health. Gabrielle grabbed his hand and held it, offering comfort, and he smiled gratefully at her.

Newt nodded and poked Fawkes in the chest. "An immortal flame resides within every phoenix, which symbolises their life force and is the source of their magic. In contrast to a wizard, a phoenix is unable to regenerate its magic, so it only has access to a finite amount. However, due to the flame’s immense power, it takes a long time to burn out.”

“Like the sun!” Hermione exclaimed.

Newt nodded in agreement with her comparison. “The power of the flame is a double-edged sword, as it slowly consumes the phoenix’s body over time. Contrary to popular belief, their bodies aren’t completely resistant to fire. It eventually reaches the point where their bodies can no longer hold the flame within them. The phoenix bursts into flames, reducing their bodies to ashes. They are reborn, rising from the ashes, their bodies rejuvenated once more to hold the immortal flame. This cyclical process of reincarnation happens several times during their lifetime."

"I never imagined that a phoenix's burning day could have such profound significance," Gabrielle said, fascinated. "What happens if a phoenix dies prematurely from another cause? Does this have an impact on their flame when they are reborn?

"What a great question.” Newt clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace back and forth, as he became more engaged in sharing his knowledge. ”It affects the lifespan of a phoenix. Their longevity is determined by the number of times they have been reborn, rather than the number of years that have passed. When a phoenix experiences a burning day, it expends a significant amount of magic that impacts its immortal flame. It is unclear who coined the term "immortal flame," but they were incorrect in their description.”

Harry understood what Newt was trying to convey. "Every death and rebirth that a phoenix goes through shortens the lifespan of its immortal flame. So, if a phoenix is killed repeatedly outside of its burning days, it will die much sooner for the final time."

"Here, I thought phoenixes were fortunate to have the ability to be reborn," Blaise snorted. "But it would only take one determined wizard with a grudge against them to significantly shorten their lifespans."

Daphne gave him one of her signature "Are you stupid?" looks. "Phoenixes can flame travel. I don’t think they would be stupid enough to stick around if they were being targeted by someone."

That didn’t help Fawkes when Dumbledore got a hold of him, Harry added silently. He wondered what kind of artifact could constrain such a powerful magical creature.

"It is extremely rare for a phoenix to not live a long life despite its flaws," Newt said, chuckling. "Anyway, what concerns me about Fawkes is his plumage, which has lost much of its vibrancy. Given that they get that vibrancy from their flame, you can understand why I am concerned about its current state. The only thing that has a similar effect is a phoenix's burning day, which you already told me Fawkes had last year."

Harry was distracted when Fawkes sent a series of images over their bond to express his displeasure with all of the attention being paid to him.

“Fawkes doesn’t seem to think anything is wrong,” Harry said.

"There is definitely something wrong with him," Newt said, giving Fawkes a puzzled expression. "He should know this already. But why isn’t he saying anything, I wonder?”

Minerva stepped forward. "I understand that Fawkes should be examined, but does it have to be here? I would like to unpack my belongings and get settled in my room.”

Newt gave a sheepish nod. “Of course, Minerva. I’m a poor host. Allow me to show you to your accommodations, and then I will take Fawkes into my lab to examine him."

The group was shown to their rooms, where they quickly unpacked their belongings. Following that, Newt led the teenagers up to the main building, where he had left his suitcase. All of them wanted to see what Newt's magically expanded world looked like, especially Gabrielle and Luna.

“Who owns this island?” Harry asked.

"A Greek witch named Thalia, who is an old friend of mine," Newt replied. "She has provided a refuge for the Siren that you will meet later. Because she rarely visits, the island is usually empty. There are wards installed here to keep Muggles from discovering the island."

Newt set his suitcase on the floor before opening it. The teenagers were perplexed when they discovered a rather ordinary interior, with clothing neatly arranged inside, including a pair of drawers.

"Oops," Newt said, quickly closing the suitcase. "I forgot I had left it in Muggle mode."

He flicked a switch on the front and reopened it. The interior now revealed a ladder leading down into a cluttered room. He tapped his wand on the suitcase, and it expanded, allowing them to climb into it comfortably. They followed Newt down into the room, pausing to look around once they reached the bottom.

"When was the last time you cleaned this place?" Gabrielle asked, before sneezing.

The room appeared to be Newt's workspace, but it was disorganised and smelled musty, as if it hadn’t been cleaned in a long time. The surfaces were covered in a variety of items, including old newspapers, plants, robes, magical devices, and magizoologist books, including several copies of his Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. A cauldron was set up in one corner, and a bookcase brimming with books stood at the other end.

“This is my shed,” Newt said. “It’s where I do most of my work, but I have a lab as well, which is more properly equipped to examine and treat the magical creatures in here.”

Hermione’s interest was caught by a book placed on the table, and she walked over to examine it. “Bestiarium Magicum. What is this book? It looks old.”

Newt rushed to her side. “Be careful with that. This is a mediaeval book about magical creatures. It’s incredibly rare and fragile.”

“Can I read it?” Hermione inquired, her eyes bright.

Newt rubbed his chin as he studied her closely. "I’m not sure if I can trust you with this precious treasure, Miss Granger."

"That is the wrong thing to say to Hermione. She would probably tear off your limbs if you ever hurt a book," Susan said, only half joking.

“Very well—” Newt started.

They heard a crash from behind them and turned to see what had happened.

"I found a Niffler," Luna said, her arms full of another creature competing for her attention alongside Cuddles. It grabbed Luna's necklace and tried to remove it, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“What a cutie!” Astoria gasped. She petted the creature, who sniffed her hand curiously.

“What are you doing here, Teddy?” Newt asked, exasperated. “It explains why this shed is in such a mess, you little bugger!"

“Sure, it must have been Teddy,” Harry cast him a scornful glance, causing the others to laugh.

Newt was spared his dignity when Neville asked a question about an unusual plant he had spotted. Daphne was also interested and moved over to join their conversation.

Harry walked around the room, examining all the different things. His eyes caught a photo frame set on the bookcase, which had a picture of a woman with short, dark hair. Before he could ask who the woman was, Newt ushered them out of the shed.

Above Harry stretched the sky, with the sun shining down on them and not a cloud in sight. It immediately brought back memories of the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling, which had been made to resemble the outside.

"You can compare this space to a safari park, with some differences," Newt said as they walked down the steps on the hill where the shed was located. "There are over a hundred habitats inside here, filled with various magical creatures. Each of them has its own biomes tailored to the creature's requirements, which I created using Atmospheric Charms."

"The habitats must be kept separate," Hermione observed. "First, to keep the biomes from clashing with one another. Second, to avoid any conflict between the magical creatures.”

"You’re a smart cookie," Newt said, smiling, as they came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. Just off the path was a small stand with several brooms and a pair of rolled-up carpets. "This place is so large that I need assistance to get around."

A cobblestone road stretched ahead of them into the distance, with lampposts running alongside it to provide illumination at night. On either side of the path were the edges of two vastly different biomes, creating an unusual contrast. On one side was a bamboo forest, while on the other was a grassland area with pale grass that reminded Harry of the African Savannah.

Newt approached the forest but paused before entering. He raised his cane and prodded the space in front of him. Surprisingly, it encountered some resistance from something invisible to the naked eye. The group came forward to test it, but their hands met the same resistance.

"Each habitat is separated from the other by a barrier," Newt told them. "This protects the magical creatures and prevents accidents with the more ferocious creatures when guests come to visit. I‘m not sure how Teddy keeps escaping his habitat, though. We can explore some of them later, but let’s proceed to my lab first. So, do we use broomsticks or the flying carpet?”

Given Hermione and Neville's aversion to riding broomsticks, they opted to ride the carpet. As they flew down the road, Newt shared more information about his park. There was a road that ran through the entire thing, connecting all of the habitats, which numbered over a hundred. Some were so large that they could function as entire safari parks in themselves. Harry was astounded by the sheer size of the world that Newt had created in his suitcase. How much time would it have taken to build everything?

Newt's lab was near the centre of the park, and it took them more than an hour to get there, despite the flying carpet's high speed. If they hadn’t been affixed to the carpet with a Sticking Charm, they might have flown away due to its inertia. They passed several different habitats along the way, and Newt informed them of the magical creatures that lived inside them.

“That one houses a Nundu,” Newt pointed out as they passed a rainforest habitat.

“Wicked,” Gabrielle breathed. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but Harry quickly held a hand over her mouth, anticipating what she was going to say.

“You aren’t going to visit the Nundu,” Harry hissed. "Do you have a death wish?

Gabrielle pouted.

Newt continued. "The Nundu has been with me for a long time. Unfortunately, he was crippled, making it difficult for him to return to the wild as he would find it harder to defend himself. Despite their lethality, wizards continue to hunt Nundus because they can be harvested for extremely valuable materials.”

Harry shook his head. Anyone who hunted such an incredible magical creature was both cruel and insane.

The lab resembled a small farmstead, with fenced areas for creatures brought to the lab to be studied or treated for injuries or illnesses. A Hippogriff was inside one of the enclosures, and when they arrived, it turned its head in their direction to peer at them curiously.

"You may stay out here and meet Edgar while I examine Fawkes if you like," Newt said, pointing to the Hippogriff. "As long as you show him respect, he is a friendly beastie."

Hermione and his girlfriends joined Harry, while the rest went to meet Edgar. Newt led them to the main building, where they entered a room resembling a medical room, complete with sterile surroundings and an unusual medical table.

The contraption was a peculiar blend of technology and magic, resembling a sizable donut-shaped machine with a central tunnel akin to a CT scan machine. Yet, what set it apart was the presence of embedded crystals lining the tunnel walls, signalling that this was no ordinary piece of technology.

"This is called a magic diagnostic bed," Newt explained, motioning for Harry to place Fawkes on the bed. "It is an American invention that allows a layperson to diagnose many magical diseases, ailments, and oddities without the need for a Healer. I had a friend repurpose it for magical creatures, but I can only use it on smaller creatures, such as Fawkes."

Harry and the girls examined the machine with interest. Hermione, especially, since she hadn’t hidden her interest in combining muggle medicine with healing.

“I want to learn engineering even more after seeing this,” Harry stated.

"I was born in the wrong country," Hermione lamented. "Do you think I can persuade my parents to move to America?"

“Let’s all go to an American magical school for our third year,” Daphne suggested. “Wouldn't that be something?”

“Yes!” Hermione exclaimed.

"I believe she was being sarcastic," Susan said while looking at Daphne's face. "Sometimes it’s difficult to tell with her."

Harry considered the idea, which appealed to him, but he knew his grandparents would be strongly opposed. He shook his head and returned to the topic at hand. “Will this help diagnose Fawkes?”

"Not on its own," Newt replied, who had moved over to a computer in the corner and was tapping on some keys. The machine beeped once when it started up. "It will take some time to warm up, so why don't you tell me a little about Fawkes' background? Like how you met, and if you encounter any significant events or issues."

Harry groaned, unsure where to start. He began a detailed account of everything that had happened between him and Fawkes since their first encounter. First, he described how the wand containing Fawkes' feather unexpectedly exploded while he was searching for a wand at Ollivanders. This incident somehow severed Dumbledore's control over the Phoenix, resulting in a unique bond between the two of them.

"Dumbledore used an artefact to control Fawkes." Newt pondered. "I would like to know what it was because it could help with my diagnosis. I have never heard of a bond forming in this way before, but wand lore is notoriously unpredictable, so I’m not sure how much I can deduce from it. Is there anything else that occurred?"

“Fawkes has a hard time flame-travelling,” Harry said. "It causes him a lot of pain, especially when he is carrying a passenger."

Newt nodded. "A phoenix derives this ability from their immortal flame, so it may be related."

“Tell him about the burning day, Harry,” Daphne reminded him.

"I can not believe I forgot about that," Harry grumbled, slapping his forehead.

He went on to tell Newt about Fawkes burning day and how it had affected him. It caused him to faint and end up in the infirmary, but it also made him feel and look like a new person afterwards.

Newt remained silent for a moment before getting up from his seat and approaching Harry. Newt grasped his shoulders and peered down at him with excitement. “You're a magical marvel! How about you get up onto the machine and see if we can discover just what makes you tick.”

“You're freaking me out,” Harry said, shaking him off. “How about we find out what’s wrong with Fawkes first?”

When the machine was ready, the bed was drawn into the tunnel, and the crystals inside lit up. There were a series of flashes, and Newt explained that he was taking images of Fawke's insides, just like a CT scan. Except that it captured images that could not be seen by a normal machine, and he was hoping to get an image of Fawke's immortal flame.

After the photos were developed, Newt thoroughly examined them before showing them to the teenagers. One of the images was a black-and-white photograph of a phoenix-shaped flame, presumably the immortal flame. However, the image contained an anomaly, or so Harry believed.

“What is that black line running through it?” Harry asked.

“That’s the question,” Newt said grimly. "It looks like the flame is splitting in two, which I had no idea was even possible.”

Harry was getting worried now. If someone with Newt Scamander's expertise could not tell what was wrong, how could they help Fawkes? His girlfriends surrounded him, offering hugs and comforting words. Even their support couldn’t completely alleviate his distress. The prospect of something happening to Fawkes haunted him. What was he supposed to do?

"May I cast a charm on you, Harry?" Newt asked. "I would like to confirm that the two of you share a bond."

Harry nodded. Newt directed his wand at Harry, and he felt a tickling sensation near his chest. As he watched, a golden strand appeared in the space between him and Fawkes, linking the two of them together.

“It’s beautiful,” Susan breathed, reaching out to touch it, but her hand passed right through it.

Newt examined the golden strand carefully. “The bond has some anomalies. Some black spots are running through it, which means it’s not complete or there is something wrong with it.”

“What are you going to do?” Harry asked.

“I have to bring in an expert, as this is way above my expertise,” Newt said. “It may take her a couple of days to get here because she is elusive. Don’t worry, we will find a solution. Until then, we have to wait. I don’t believe he is in any immediate danger.”

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

The following day, Newt took Harry to meet the Siren, who lived in an inlet on the opposite side of the island. Sirens were introverts who were not particularly friendly to humans, so it was decided he would travel alone.

After learning about Fawkes' condition, he hadn’t been in the mood to enjoy the island's atmosphere, though he did not mind his friends having a good time there. Fortunately, he had a distraction today, which could lead to some progress on his new project.

As Harry emerged from the forest path, a picturesque scene unfolded in front of him. A small inlet stretched out before him, with sunlight dancing on the sparkling turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. Unlike the other side of the island, this area has remained untouched by development, with no buildings or signs of human activity visible. There was a protruding rock in the centre of the inlet, which looked like it could comfortably seat a few people.

"Nerine will most likely put you to the test," Newt warned him.

"That sounds ominous," Harry replied. "I assume this is why you asked me to wear my swimsuit. Will I meet the same fate as many sailors in the past?"

"Nerine is nice," Newt said before clarifying his statement. "She is nice in comparison to the rest of her species. Just make sure you do enough to prove yourself, and you should be able to have a pleasant time with her."

As soon as Newt finished his sentence, a figure emerged from beneath the water, near the outcropping of rock.

"Here's Nerine now!" Newt said cheerfully before taking a few not-so-subtle steps back from the water's edge. “Good luck to you, Harry!”

Nerine climbed up onto the rock with her arms, and Harry got his first good look at her. He swallowed when he noticed she was naked from the waist up, revealing a pair of full breasts that were only partially concealed by a curtain of green hair. She caught his gaze and winked at him, splashing her long fishtail in the water. Her beauty was truly captivating, demonstrating why sailors could be enticed by her even before hearing her enchanting song.

"Damn," Harry blushed, unable to take his gaze from her chest. "Newt might have warned me."

Nerine crooked her finger at him, inviting him to join her on the rocks. Even though he was initially stunned by the beautiful Siren, he didn’t want to enter the water. His instincts were screaming at him, telling him that it was a terrible idea. But he needed to speak with her, so he took off his t-shirt and dove into the water.

Harry had swum about halfway when Nerine started singing. Almost immediately, he felt a strange influence on his mind, causing his body to become lethargic and heavy, as if he had been completely drained of energy. He quickly erected his occlumency shields, but they appeared ineffective against the enchanting melody. The song teased his senses, seemingly imbued with magic, and he struggled to resist its allure. If it hadn’t been for his innate magical resistance, he would have sunk beneath the waves.

Harry struggled to swim with determination, and by the time he arrived at the rock, he had a massive stitch in his side and was gasping for breath. But at least his mind remained relatively clear. He hoisted himself onto the rock, trying to avoid looking at her chest. His girlfriends would be furious if they knew the situation he was in right now.

“Newt didn’t lie about you,” Nerine said, her voice melodic. “You are strong for such a little boy.”

Nerine crossed her arms to shield her breasts, allowing him to observe her more closely. Now that he was facing her directly, he noticed a ruthless and indifferent demeanour on her face. Her eyes appeared to look through him rather than at him. It was so unsettling that if he had seen her face up close while listening to her siren song, he might have been less affected.

"Was the test really necessary?" Harry asked.

"Not really," Nerine replied, shrugging her shoulders. "But I am doing you a favour by speaking with you, so I am allowed to have some entertainment."

"Yes, watching someone almost drown amuses me just as much," Harry muttered. "Should we get started?"

Harry started asking Nerine questions about her race. Unlike the Veela, Sirens possessed a genetic memory that enabled them to recall their history in great detail. This is something the Veela lost when they migrated from the sea to land. Since they didn’t have a good memory of their origins, he wanted to ask Nerine about the events that happened back then that caused a portion of the Veela to be driven out of the sea.

“The Veela believe that they were driven out of the sea because they lost their voice,” Harry said. “Is that true?”

Nerine took a long time to answer his question. It was as if trying to recall a memory. Although he wasn’t sure of how genetic memories worked, he imagined that one had to actively retrieve them, rather than have them readily accessible.

"Back then, Sirens were few in number, so we banded together to defend ourselves against both seafaring and land-based enemies,” Nerine explained. “A portion of the Sirens did lose their voices, but this wasn’t the reason they were shunned, but rather a side effect of their affliction. At the time, we were at odds with some land dwellers who saw us as a prize to be possessed. They brought along a magical disease that infected some of the Sirens. It was extremely contagious, so we separated them to protect the majority. It didn’t kill the Sirens, but rather triggered an evolutionary process."

“Did the disease really cause their evolution?” Harry asked incredulously.

“Yes,’ Nerine nodded. "They underwent a rapid evolution in front of our eyes in a matter of months. Not only did they lose their voices, but their elemental affinity shifted from water to fire. They also lost their tails and developed two legs, just like the land dwellers. We could see that they no longer belonged in the sea, so driving them away was the only thing that could be done."

Harry thought about what he learned in the Veela Enclave’s library. “Is it possible that the magical illness could have been intentionally created?”

Nerine paused. “It’s possible. The land dwellers were throwing around a lot of magic, but I can’t be sure. It wasn’t ever proven.”

Harry had a dreadful thought. He was aware of the numerous difficulties that the first Veela had faced when settling on land. They were threatened not only by Selkies but also by humans who wanted to use the Veela as objects of lust. Could it be that humans used magic to deliberately trigger their evolution, in an attempt to create a human-like race to satisfy their perverse desires?

He continued to ask Nerine questions. He was primarily interested in the Siren’s physiology. He was eager to compare the two species after previously conducting an in-depth study on Veela's physiology. What did the Veela gain and lose after they evolved, and how could he use that knowledge to support the design he had for his artefact?

Since visiting the Veela conclave and discovering that their allure didn’t work underwater, he has been experimenting with the water element to create an array that would replicate the phenomenon outside of the water. When he shared his idea with Nerine, she had a surprising response.

“You should try using the sea essence in your artifact,” Nerine said. “Veela are weak to it, It was used to help drive them out of the sea, and it also affected their allure, which they were starting to develop.”

Harry tried to control his excitement. “What is this sea essence? Where can I get my hands on it?”

"They are water crystals that have absorbed a lot of magic from a rift," Nerine explained, taking note of his surprised expression. "The rifts aren’t exclusive to the land. Some appear deep within the sea and have a strange influence on their surroundings. Some Sirens believe that this is how we were created in the first place.”

“Where can I get my hands on this sea essence?”

“What’s in it for me?” Nerine asked.

Harry's brows furrowed. He didn't think haggling with a Siren was a good idea, but he desperately needed the sea essence. It may be what he needs to bring his idea to fruition.

“Is there anything that you want?”

"I heard there are some visitors on the island," Nerine stated. "Some adult males have also arrived. I would like you to introduce them to me."

Harry blinked, his gaze shifting to her tail. She couldn’t possibly be thinking about sleeping with one of them. How does that even work? “I thought Sirens hated humans?”

Nerine smiled. "I’m not like the rest of my kind. That is why I am an outcast, and why I seek refuge here on this island.”

"The only unattached male here is Remus," Harry told her. Surely, it wouldn’t harm Remus just to meet her. It’s not like he had to do anything. Hell, he might just thank Harry.

“Tell me about him,” Nerine demanded, her tail splashing the water with excitement.

“Well, he’s a werewolf.”

She wasn’t deterred by this, and in fact, she appeared to be even more excited. “A child of the moon. We have an affinity for each other. Go get him for me.”

Harry returned to shore, conflicted over the exchange. If he wasn’t so interested in the sea essence, he would not have agreed to such a deal. Why did he feel like a pimp selling his girl for money? What reaction would Remus have if he told him?

Remus, you need to take one for the team.

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

August 2nd

The next day, everyone was lying on the beach, lazing around and relaxing. Harry was sufficiently distracted from his worries when his girlfriends asked him to apply sunscreen to their backs, which he thoroughly enjoyed doing.

“There is a sunscreen charm that works better,” Minerva said with a frown while observing them.

"Yes, but this feels so much better," Daphne sighed as Harry's hands glided over her back.

"Minnie, don’t be such a prude," Sirius said, shaking his head. "They are fourteen now. They could be doing much worse."

“Not with this audience,” Harry muttered, causing Daphne to giggle.

“What did you say?” Minerva demanded.

“Nothing.”

They were interrupted when a familiar figure came walking along the beach.

“I hate you, Harry,” Remus declared when he reached his side. His clothes looked rumpled, and his hair was a dishevelled mess.

Everyone laughed when they saw him, and even his grandmother couldn’t help but reveal a small smile.

"Wow, you lucky wolf!" Sirius yelled.

"Uh, do I want to know what happened?" Harry asked, biting his lip to keep himself from laughing even further.

“The Siren sucked him—” Gabrielle began but had to dodge when Remus threw a towel at her.

"Nothing like that happened," Remus exclaimed, annoyed. "Nerine simply wanted to talk. She is surprisingly lonely on the island all by herself."

“Well, I appreciate the sacrifice,” Harry said, before adding. “I’m sure it’s the start of a beautiful relationship.”

"I want a raise," Remus declared, glaring at him. He threw something at Harry, who caught it deftly.

The crystal glowed with an iridescent blue hue and was approximately the size of his palm. Its surface appeared wet, yet it felt completely dry to the touch. “Is the sea essence?”

Remus nodded.

"Harry, what is that thing?" Gabrielle backed away from him. “It makes me feel sick.”

That wasn’t good. Perhaps he needed to break it down into smaller pieces so it didn’t have such an impact on her. If he was going to use it as the foundation for his artefact, it couldn’t make the Veela sick.

His thoughts were interrupted by a burst of flames overhead. He looked up and spotted a phoenix flying overhead, but it wasn’t Fawkes. This one was significantly larger and more majestic. It circled the air once before coming down to land in front of him. Was this the friend that Newt mentioned?

"He sure does have a lot of friends."

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, their new visitor tries to save Fawkes, and Harry crafts his next artifact.

Thanks for reading.