Harry Potter: The Artisan's Path Chapter 57

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. Harry enjoys the sights of Athens and meets the eccentric Newt Scamander.

Chapter 57

They had arrived in Athens. As the group descended from the platform where they had arrived by portkey, they were greeted by a tall man with olive skin, dark eyes, and a welcoming smile.

“Kalimera,” the man said to them. “My name is Stefanos. Welcome to Athens.”

Charlus stepped forward to shake his hand. “We spoke earlier on the phone. Where is Mr Scamander?”

“Mr Scamander is occupied with something at the Attica Zoological Park,” Stefanos explained, “so he asked me to guide you there.”

Hermione looked up from the Greek phrasebook she had brought with her. "Kalimera means 'good morning', right?"

“Neh. That is correct,” Stefanos replied. "I will take you to your hotel and check you in before we head to the zoo. It is only a few minutes away by car.”

"That will be fine," Charlus said to him.

"We need to have your wands checked at the security desk before leaving the ministry," Stefanos said, before looking at Harry’s and Luna’s companions with a frown. "I didn’t realise you had magical creatures with you. It will be hard to hide them when we go outside.”

Hedwig and Fawkes were perched on his shoulders, but Stefanos didn’t notice that Nagini was wrapped around his arm, concealed by his clothes. She had shrunken down so she could be carried by him.

"I have my expanded trunk with me," Harry said, setting it down. “They can stay there for the time being.”

Stefanos nodded. "That’s a good idea. There is a no-fly zone outside the ministry for owls and other magical birds because it’s too conspicuous."

Hedwig refused to enter the trunk, expressing her displeasure with her claws, but Harry was able to eventually coax the two birds inside. Cuddles needed more convincing, but she eventually released Luna and entered the trunk.

Stefanos led them out of the portkey room and into a large open courtyard. Everyone looked around in awe at the sight in front of them.

The Greek Ministry of Magic wasn’t located underground, unlike their own, so it lacked the dreary and claustrophobic atmosphere. Instead, it was a cluster of buildings encircling a courtyard that was completely open to the sky, allowing in plenty of natural light. In the centre, there was a massive statue of a woman. She sat in a chair, wearing a flowing gown with one shoulder exposed and holding a cup in her hand. Smaller statues of various animals surrounded her, along with some elaborate flower beds and water fountains.

“This is magnifique,” Fluer exclaimed.

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before," Blaise said, pointing his nose to the sky. “It loses its magic after a while.”

“If that were to happen, we would be in big trouble,” Stefanos chuckled.

"Please don’t spoil it for the rest of us plebeians," Harry said dryly.

The buildings had multiple levels, each with several openings, but there were no conventional stairs or elevators to reach the upper floors. Instead, they had another means to get access to them. Above them, dozens of witches and wizards were flying around on broomsticks and flying carpets, making for a chaotic scene. They were flying at such high speeds that it appeared they were about to collide, but they always managed to avoid it.

"Has anyone ever crashed to the ground?" Astoria inquired, her eyes shining.

"Not because of a collision," Stefanos smirked. "There are cushioning charms on the floor, so it will only hurt your pride if you fall."

Astoria pouted. “How dull.”

“You’re so bloodthirsty,” Daphne sighed. “Are you even my sister? Or are you adopted?”

"I could be Astoria's real sister," Luna said serenely, playing with her Butterbeer cork necklace. "Nargles are pesky thieves, so they could have stolen her from my parents. They weren’t aware of the necklace's powers at the time, or they would have been protected.”

Daphne nodded. “That makes a lot of sense.”

“It does?” Harry asked, confused.

"Makes perfect sense," Sirius agreed, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“I have never heard of these Nargles,” Gabrielle asked. “Can you tell me about them?”

Luna beamed and proceeded to share everything she knew about them. Astoria groaned.

"Who is the woman represented by the statue?" Hermione asked, ignoring their interplay.

Stefanos smiled. “Her name is Circe, a woman of great reference in our society. It is believed that she is the one who introduced magic to ancient Greece and also shared her knowledge of potions. There is even a legend that she is still alive today, imprisoned on the island of Aeaea for some crime she committed.”

Hermione scrunched up her face. "She’s a real person? Isn’t she considered a villainess in mythology? A seductress who turned men who offended her into animals.”

"It might be the case," Stefanos acknowledged. “The statues surrounding her are supposed to represent the men she changed into animals. But we know very little about her, so who can say if they are true or if the men didn’t deserve what they got? Even if it were true, that was only one aspect of her, and that doesn’t discount what she has done for us.”

Tonks changed her face into Circe's likeness and sashayed over to Harry. She tipped his chin up with her finger, giving him a coy smile. “Hey, gorgeous. Why don’t you become my lover? I can promise you an experience you will never forget.”

Everyone laughed at Harry, who blushed despite knowing she was teasing him. His girlfriends didn’t look particularly impressed.

Stefanos led them across the courtyard to the entrance. "It takes us a lot of wards to conceal this location from the Muggles. This ministry is located close to the National Historical Museum, which receives a lot of visitors every day. An interesting fact about the building is that until 1935, the museum was the Old Parliament House, which housed the Greek Parliament. The ministry was reconstructed near the Muggle’s seat of power in the nineteenth century, during a period of conflict between the two societies. There have always been some Muggle government officials who are aware of the magical society, and they have caused us some trouble in the past."

After their wands were checked, they exited the building and entered the streets of Athens. Stefanos had a car waiting for them that was much larger on the inside and could comfortably fit the entire group. He drove them through the city streets for a few minutes before stopping off at their hotel, which sat opposite the Temple of Apollo. They checked into their rooms and unpacked their belongings. Because they were unfamiliar with the Muggle world, some of the group were a little lost.

"Why are we staying at a Muggle hotel?" Daphne asked.

Harry shrugged. “To broaden your horizons?”.

"I am comfortable with the Muggle world because my aunt has shown me enough of it," Susan remarked.

“This place is huge,” Neville said, looking overwhelmed.

Minerva, who was standing nearby, overheard their conversation. "We will be here for only a night before Newt will be taking us to an island in the Aegean Sea. I thought we could celebrate Harry's birthday with a special dinner here at the hotel."

“I don’t need anything fancy,” Harry protested.

“We are on holiday,” Minerva said with raised eyebrows. "It would be a waste not to try the local cuisine, and I understand the hotel has a five-star restaurant."

“Besides, we need to hand out your presents,” Gabrielle said, nudging him.

“I don’t need anything,” Harry told them, which was the truth.

He had already received a tonne of gifts last year and was rich enough to buy anything else he wanted. His circumstances had drastically changed since the time he was living at the orphanage.

Minerva smiled. "You will only receive one present from all of us. We decided to pitch in together to get you one big present rather than a lot of small ones."

“What is it?” Harry asked.

Minerva ruffled his hair. “You will find out tonight.”

Dammit, now she had him thinking about what they could have gotten him. He looked at the others, hoping to get something out of them, but they turned their backs on him. Traitors.

Harry kept his trunk with him, and they headed back to the car. They drove for about fifty minutes to their destination, and Stefanos told them about the zoo along the way. The Attica Zoological Park, situated in the suburbs of Sparta, was a private zoo, and the owner was a wizard. It featured a separate, enclosed section solely devoted to housing magical creatures.

When they arrived, Stefanos led them to the main building and through a concealed entrance known only to the magical community. This hidden passage led them into a souvenir shop that offered a wide array of magical products, including stuffed toys, books, t-shirts, and a selection of candies.

“Do you want anything from the shop?” Stefanos asked.

Except for Gabrielle, all of the girls gravitated towards the stuffed toys on display. Neville and Blaise followed them.

“Where is Mr Scamander?” Gabrielle asked impatiently.

“Newt is working with a dangerous magical creature that is having some issues at the moment,” Stefano said. “He should wrap it up soon and meet us at the restaurant.”

“What kind of magical creature?” Harry asked.

“A MInotaur,” Stefano replied, smiling as he saw their excitement.

“Can we watch him work?” Gabrielle pleaded. "That's not something we see every day.”

Harry nodded enthusiastically.

Stefanos took a moment to consider the idea. “It must be a small group only. We don’t wish for the MInotaur to become agitated and go on the rampage. They are territorial creatures with a short fuse.”

It was decided that they would divide into two groups. Charlus, Sirius, Harry, Gabrielle, and Luna were most interested in seeing Newt work with the MInotaur, so they decided to go ahead. In the meantime, the others would look at the other magical creatures that were here at the zoo.

Stefano led them outside and along an elevated walkway with a panoramic view of the enclosures below, which housed a diverse range of biomes. Harry caught a glimpse of some of the creatures as he walked and he was tempted to stop and investigate them further. Some of them he would only read about in books, while others were completely unfamiliar to him. He came to a halt, however, when they passed by a massive enclosure and spotted the magical creature sleeping on the ground.

“Is that a Cerberus?” Harry asked incredulously.

Gabrielle ran over and peered down into the enclosure. She looked like she wanted to jump down and hug the three-headed creature.

“Neh. His name is Fluffy, and he is a big softy,” Stefanos answered. “The Cerberus has a reputation for being aggressive, but they can be trained, just like a dog.”

“He would make a good companion for Thibault,” Gabrielle said wistfully.

Imagining the MInotaur living with the ill-tempered Bicorn, Harry shook his head in dismay. She, like Hagrid, saw dangerous creatures as animals that could be domesticated.

As they approached the MInotaur’s enclosure, a resounding bellow reached their ears, causing them to slow down and approach with caution. A minute later, Harry finally caught sight of the MInotaur. It resembled the creature depicted in the books, but no image could truly capture the true sense of what it felt like to see it in person.

“Damn, that’s something you don’t see every day,” Harry breathed.

“He’s beautiful,” Gabrielle gushed, pressing her hands to her cheeks.

"He is hurting," Luna said with a frown.

Harry couldn’t see anything to indicate that the creature was in pain.

The MInotaur was an imposing figure, standing at a towering height of twelve feet. It was a cross between a bull and a man, with a bull's head, hooves, and a physique that would put a bodybuilder on steroids to shame. Its physical strength was so immense that it almost seemed to exude a tangible aura that caused the air to vibrate.

The MInotaur grabbed a large boulder beside it and threw it across the enclosure with an impressive display of strength. Only then did Harry notice the old man, who was standing in the enclosure opposite the MInotaur and was the intended target of its aggression. It had to be Newt Scamander.

With a flick of his wand, Newt transformed the boulder into a beach ball that began to bounce along the ground. The MInotaur responded with a thunderous roar, displaying clear signs of escalating rage. Rather than retreating, Newt boldly advanced towards the creature, speaking to it in soothing tones, almost as if he were speaking to a frightened child.

“Is he crazy?” Sirius looked at Newt with disbelief.

"He has always had a few screws loose," Charlus remarked.

“Do you know him, grandfather?” Harry asked.

"We have met a few times in the past."

When Scamander was about twenty feet away, the MInotaur raised his foot, as if to stomp the ground, but then hesitated. Harry could see the reason. Something sharp was embedded in its foot, and the wound was bleeding profusely. The MInotaur gingerly lowered its foot again, hoping to avoid further injury.

They watched in amazement as Newt persuaded the MInotaur to let him tend to his foot. He crouched next to the creature and removed the sharp object, prompting the MInotaur to roar once more.

“Too close for comfort,” Harry shuddered, seeing how vulnerable the elderly man was with the MInotaur looming over him.

Newt escaped from the enclosure unscathed, and they walked over to a stairway to meet the man as he climbed the stairs. Stepanos had business elsewhere, so he said his farewells.

The tapping of a cane was heard before Newt appeared at the top of the stairs, holding a suitcase in his other hand. Its appearance seemed to excite Gabrielle, based on how she shook him violently.

"That is his magical suitcase," she told him. "It houses dozens of magical creatures he has encountered over the years."

Harry nodded, sharing her excitement. He hoped he would be able to enter the suitcase and explore the area to meet some magical creatures.

“Did you enjoy all the excitement?” Newt said it as an introduction. “The MInotaur had some beef with me, but it all worked out.”

Sirius laughed at the elderly man’s joke, who winked at him.

Newt did a double-take when he saw Charlus. “Hello, Charlie. It looks like you haven’t aged a day since I last saw you. Good show!”

“Still as flippant as ever I see,” Charlus sighed.

“Life’s too short to live with your drawers in a twist.”

Newt's outfit was a perfect match for his eccentric personality, although Harry had the feeling that he wasn’t entirely genuine and was putting on a show. Newt wore a brightly coloured tuxedo with a vest and a small bow tie. His tall and lanky frame was constantly moving, giving the impression that he had boundless energy despite his age. Maybe the cane was for appearances only.

Newt introduced himself to the rest of the group before shifting his focus to Harry. He appeared to be examining an interesting specimen, which made him uncomfortable.

“Good day, Harry. May I call you Harry?” Without bothering to wait for a response, he continued. "I have been wanting to meet you for some time. Absolutely fascinating.”

Harry glanced at the others, confused about the man’s enthusiasm. His eyes narrowed when he saw that his grandfather was unable to meet his eyes.

Newt extended a hand to shake, and Harry accepted it. The elderly man unexpectedly touched Harry's arm, taking him off guard and causing him to have some unsettling thoughts before he realised what he was doing.

Nagini hissed. “Tell that human to stop touching me before I bite him.”

Newt let go of him. “Well, who do we have here? May I meet the snake hiding itself in your sleeves?”

“Do you want to meet him?” Harry hissed.

“May as well. I would like to stretch my legs.”

Harry rolled his eyes. "Why do you continue to use idioms intended for humans? Have you been hiding some legs that I wasn’t aware of?”

Nagini ignored him and slithered down from Harry's arm to the ground. She expanded back to her original size, and Newt bent down to examine her, his expression serious, as if he were a completely different person from before.

"She appears to be a Burmese python, but she is also clearly a magical snake. Did you know that some common snakes can evolve to become magical? As a result, they constitute the most diverse group of magical creatures. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between an original magical snake and one that has evolved."

“Can all snakes speak parseltongue?” Harry asked curiously.

"Yes. There may be a connection between the language and why some evolve to become magical,” Newt said. “I envy your ability to speak parseltongue, as I would love to have the ability to converse with my Runespoor.”

Harry nodded. He had discovered that parseltongue couldn’t be replicated simply by making hissing sounds with your tongue. This became apparent when his friends hilariously attempted this and failed spectacularly.

“I would like to ask you a question,” Newt said.

“What is it?”

“When can I get you into my research lab?” Newt asked, patting his suitcase. "I would like to study the only known wizard with a magical animagus. And a demiguise to boot."

Harry’s anger ignited, and he spun around and glared at his grandfather. “You told him?”

"Newt is someone I can trust, despite his inability to act his age," Charlus said, not looking guilty at all. "I was curious if there were any other known cases of magical animagus; you have to admit, it is extremely unusual. He demanded to know why I was asking.”

"I can be very nosy and persistent when I come across something interesting," Newt said, grinning. "I was just kidding about the laboratory. Maybe. Probably.”

Charlus placed a hand on his shoulders. "He threatened to withdraw his offer to set up a meeting with the Siren and take a look at Fawkes if I declined."

Harry looked at Newt and snorted. “You sound like another manipulative old man I know.”

Newt clutched his chest. "Your words have dealt a mortal wound. How about I tell you a secret about Albus Dumbledore as a form of apology?"

Harry chuckled, despite his anger. “Haven’t you heard? He doesn’t have a last name anymore. Tell me the secret and I will let you know if it’s worth the apology.”

"Albus was interested in becoming an animagus at one point," Newt explained, twirling his bow. "But when he meditated to find his inner animal, he was disappointed. Would you like to guess his animagus form?"

“A flobberworm?” Sirius suggested.

“That’s a magical creature,” Gabrielle reminded him.

"A senile old goat!" Charlus grunted.

“A shark,” Gabrielle proposed.

“A Blibbering Humdinger.” Luna’s suggestion. When everyone looked at her, she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if it's a magical creature. It would be an unfortunate outcome regardless."

“One of you is in the general ballpark,” Newt told them. “What’s your guess, Harry?”

Harry thought about it for a moment. "Something to match his long, crooked nose. A bird of some sort. A toucan?”

“Gabrielle was the closest,” Newt said. “His animagus form was a fish. He never did say what kind.”

Everyone erupted into laughter. Harry had a mental image of a fish swimming around in the sea with Albus' head superimposed on it, which set him off again.

Harry's laughter died down, and he suddenly thought of something. Someone else here had learned about his animagus form.

“Can I hold you while you’re in your demiguise form?” Luna asked guilelessly when their eyes met. “We could have playdates with Cuddles.”

Harry was certain that he didn’t have to worry about her telling his secret to anyone. He decided to ignore her suggestion, though. That would be a nightmare.

Gabrielle stepped forward to catch Newt’s attention. “Can we take a look at your menagerie?”

Newt smiled. “Miss Delacour. As a fellow magizoologist, I cannot refuse your request. But, may I suggest that we start by looking at the zoo's animals? They have magical creatures that aren’t found in my suitcase."

"We still need to visit some of the tourist attractions before we have dinner tonight to celebrate Harry’s birthday," Charlus added. “There will be plenty of time when we get to the island.”

"I suppose I can wait," Gabrielle sighed.

“Where is Fawkes?” Newt asked.

“Inside my trunk,” Harry said. “You’re not the only one who gets a piece of luggage with an expanded space inside of it.”

"You will have to show me at some point," Newt said. "When we get to the island, I will take a look at Fawke to see what’s wrong with him. We can discuss your animagus form in further detail as well."

Harry shuddered at the manic gleam in Newt’s eyes.

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

They spent an additional hour exploring the zoo, admiring all of the magical creatures on display. When they had had their fill, they returned to Athens' streets to see more of the city's attractions. The first stop on their itinerary was the Acropolis, a massive fortified citadel with several famous monuments. They also discovered Hecate's Alley, a magical shopping district with a diverse range of shops, stalls, and restaurants. Harry spent a lot of galleons on souvenirs for his friends who couldn’t make the trip.

As evening approached, they returned to the hotel to prepare for the dinner party. His grandparents had rented a room for privacy, and when they entered, they found a long table ladened with a variety of delectable Greek dishes.

“This looks amazing,” Remus said. “I am so hungry that I could eat a—”

“Hippogriff,” Sirius finished, patting his shoulder. "Just as long as you don’t want to nibble on me, Wolfie."

“Very funny,” Remus replied, sporting a razor-sharp grin that promised retribution.

"Sirius, please behave," Lauren chastised him. "Do I need to tell everyone about some of the things you've consumed as a dog?"

Harry laughed at Sirius's hangdog expression.

"Don’t stand on ceremony," Charlus said. "Grab a plate and load up on some food. We can give Harry his present after we have finished eating."

Harry filled his plate with a variety of dishes before taking a seat at the table. As he sampled each dish, he quickly developed an appreciation for Greek cuisine. One dish, in particular, caught his attention: a pie filled with beef, eggplant, and potatoes, then finished off with a delicious sauce. He went back for seconds and cleaned everything on his plate.

He glanced around, taking in the vibrant atmosphere filled with people engaged in lively conversation and laughter. It was difficult to fathom a moment when he had felt more content. Given the chaotic nature of his life, it was a wonderful feeling to simply let go of everything and relax.

When they had finished eating, waiters came in to clear the tables and offer refreshments. His grandparents allowed him to try a glass of Ouzo, a Greek aperitif with a flavour similar to black liquorice. Although it didn’t suit his tastes, he appreciated the opportunity to try it.

Charlus rose to address the room. "I would like to thank everyone for joining us tonight to celebrate our grandson's fourteenth birthday. His previous celebration was less lively because we had just been reunited with him, and we were afraid of losing him again. Over the last year, I have been proud to watch him grow into an incredible young man. I would dare anyone to say there is a more talented and handsome grandson in the world."

Harry groaned and thumped his head on the table. His grandfather was sure laying it on thick.

As everyone cheered, Minerva stood to deliver her speech. By the time she concluded, Harry couldn't help but sink into his seat, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him. He thought his grandfather was bad, but his grandmother was ten times worse at extolling his virtues.

When his girlfriends rose from their seats with identical mischievous grins, he knew what they were planning.

“Oi! That’s enough,” Harry cried. "Let's move on to my present.”

“Spoilsport,” Gabrielle grumbled.

Charlus took an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Harry across the table. He examined it curiously, and he felt a small lump inside it.

"What is this thing?" Harry asked.

"Just open the damn thing," Charlus said, his tone impatient.

Harry opened the envelope and poured the contents onto the table. A small key fell out, along with a photo and a piece of paper. He picked up the photo and was surprised to see that it was a picture of the inside of his workshop. But there were a bunch of items piled in the centre.

The largest item was a rectangular steel car frame supported by concrete blocks. It was surrounded by various car parts, such as the body panels, engine, transmission, wheels, and interior components like the seats. It appeared that someone had disassembled a car and dumped the parts in his workshop.

Harry looked at his grandfather, silently demanding an explanation.

"This is a car kit for assembling an American Hummer," Charlus said. "Except this one has been modified to accept enchantments, such as the ability to make it invisible. This was created by a magic-tech company, and it’s very popular in the magical community. Because the country is so large, they prefer using them to other magical modes of transportation, such as brooms."

Harry was stunned, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Never in a million years could he have anticipated receiving such a present. The sheer excitement he felt at this moment almost overwhelmed him. It was evident that this project would be enormous, requiring months of dedicated work, and that was before factoring all his other projects into the equation.  However, the thought of sitting behind the wheel after the hummer was finished and hearing the engine roar made all of the effort seem insignificant.

“I think we broke him,” Blaise said, waving a hand in front of his face.

“It’s highly customisable,” Lauren said. "If you know how, you can even modify the car's body or its components. However, this necessitates extensive knowledge of mechanical engineering.”

“It was Lauren’s idea for a birthday present,” Sirius told him, causing her to squirm in her seat.

“Thanks, Lauren.” Harry smiled. “And thank you all for the amazing present.”

"We all pitched in to pay for it," Daphne said. “Including our friends who couldn’t be here.”

“Look at the paper, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, bouncing in her seat.

Harry took her advice and discovered that it was an educational plan to pursue an engineering degree at a university. The main requirements weren’t easy, requiring good grades in both physics and calculus. He went down the list and discovered that the plan began in Year 7.

"I worked on it with my mum and dad," Hermione explained. "You said that you wanted to pursue a normal education in engineering, so we devised this plan for you. I’m not sure how far along you are in your education, so Year 7 is an estimate. We can always adjust it later.”

"This will be extremely helpful. Thank you, Hermione.”

Harry tucked everything back into the envelope, still buzzing from the surprise he had received. Then something occurred to him.

"What is the legal age to hold a driver's license in France?"

"Who really cares?" Sirius dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand. "As long as you can drive safely, age is just a number."

His grandparents' expressions seemed to suggest they believed otherwise.

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

August 1st

The group reached the island in the Aegean Sea by using another portkey. This time, the journey was smoother because they didn't have to travel as far, allowing them to land on their feet.

Harry felt the intense sun beating down on his neck and he immediately removed his sweatshirt. Even this early in the morning, it was already extremely hot. He took out his wand and cast a cooling charm on himself, sighing with relief as the cooling sensation washed over him. The rest of the group, seeing this, copied him.

"Welcome to the island of Lamonesos," Newt said, stretching his arms to encompass the beach they were standing on. "This is where you will be staying for the next few days. I hope you have a good time."

The beach stretched out before Harry, a picturesque expanse of golden sand meeting the sparkling turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. A path led from the beach to a main structure and a group of cabins. The entire area was picturesque enough to be a getaway resort, but Harry couldn’t see another person in sight.

Luna stepped in front of him. “Can I have Cuddles back now?"

Harry nodded and opened his trunk to release their companions. He was immediately besieged by an enraged owl, and he received some scratches on his face before Hedwig flew off to perch on a tree in the distance.

"It is not like I just left you there alone," Harry muttered, wincing as he touched one of the scratches on his face. "I visited you frequently to feed you."

Hedwig turned her back to him.

Fawkes and Cuddles appeared more leisurely, with the latter immediately snuggling into Luna's arms. Harry frowned when he noticed that Fawkes looked even worse than before, with his red plumage now faded into a dull red.

Newt approached Harry and examined Fawkes with a grim expression. "I should have looked at Fawkes sooner. I am afraid it's more serious than I imagined.”

So, what do you think? What’s wrong with Fawkes, and is Harry going to meet the Siren?

Thanks for reading.