Harry Potter: The Mage's Path Chapter 30

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. I know this is late, but I'm afraid this will be the new schedule for the foreseeable future. Because I have to help my mum with therapy, my work hours have been adjusted, so I will post around this time.

1st August

Harry woke up the next morning in a good mood, despite not getting enough sleep the night before. He had spent time levelling his ID Creation skill, and judging by the results, it was the best decision he had ever made. By raising the skill to level twenty, he gained two new abilities that solved a couple of issues he had with the dungeons.

His first concern was that he had no privacy when exploring Instant Dungeons, as he feared Victor would be watching him. He was so paranoid that he didn't even enter the Empty Dungeon, for fear that the man had gained access to it as well. As far as he was aware, it operated on the same principles as the other dungeons besides the fact that it was empty.

The other issue was that he couldn't travel outside alone to explore the Peverell Crypt. This seriously curtailed his ability to grind experience. Thankfully, in one night, he found the solution to both problems.

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ID Creation | Active | Level: 20 | Next: 1% | Cost: 20 |

Description: [Updated] The player gains easy access to both Instant and Property Dungeons he has already encountered before. The player must use an available slot to return to a dungeon. It may, however, be raided an infinite number of times for experience and resources. Time moves three times as fast in instant dungeons, which affects the player's age.  Property dungeons are different in that they do not accelerate time.

[New Ability] Dungeon Veil: The player's movements are concealed within dungeons.

Dungeons Accessible:

• Empty Dungeon - Level N/A

• Wandering Aspen Horrors: Levels 1-5

• Nuckalevee Fairways: Levels 30-35

• Peverell Crypt

• 1 Dungeon Slots Available

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He had immediately used up a slot to add the Peverell Crypt to his list of dungeons. Now he could access it at any time. The only thing he had to worry about was others noticing his absence, but he would worry about that later. If need be, he could explore the dungeons in the evening after supper where his absence would be less likely to be noticed.

Harry joined the others for breakfast in the Great Hall and was surprised to see Susan Bones sitting at the table. Last night, her aunt picked her up after spending the day here, so he was confused by her presence.

"My aunt dropped me off here so I could travel with you to Diagon Alley," Susan explained. "The Adventurers Guild's opening ceremony will be at 10 a.m."

Harry nodded. Yesterday, Dumbledore summoned him to his office, where Saul Croaker was waiting for him. The Unspeakable had an unusual request for him that caught Harry off guard.

"Good afternoon, Mr Potter," Croaker greeted him. The man looked tired, as there were bags under his eyes and his face was pale, wrinkles standing out in stark contrast. In spite of that, his gaze was sharp, and he gazed at Harry like a predatory shark.

"Hello, Mr Croaker. It looks like you had a rough night."

Croaker barked out a laugh, "You are not wrong. I ran into an unexpected problem that kept me up last night."

Harry settled into a chair beside him and ran a hand through his hair. "Why do I get the feeling I will be majorly inconvenienced?"

"Nonsense," Croaker said. "A minor inconvenience, maybe."

"Sure," Harry said, not believing the man for a second. "So what do you need?"

"My spy within Fudge's camp has informed me that he will be in Diagon Alley tomorrow," Croaker said. "He is going to try and derail the opening ceremony of the Adventurers Guild. A team of reporters from the Daily Prophet will be in attendance, portraying the guild in the least favourable light. I expect some international reporters as well. The novel concept of an Adventurers Guild has caught some interest from other countries."

"How is it that the Minister controls a newspaper? Isn't that unethical?"

"Because Lucius Malfoy owns a majority stake in the company," Croaker grimaced. "I have no doubt he is behind the entire thing. He doesn't want others cutting into his profits from the dungeons."

"I thought the Aurors was responsible for closing the gates?" Harry said in confusion.

"They are supposed to be," Dumbledore said, speaking up for the first time. "Rather than granting Amelia the funds she requested to hire more manpower, Fudge has forcibly recruited a number of wizards and witches of dubious origin into the ranks of her Aurors. It is evident that they are nothing more than legalised thugs. They are there primarily for the purpose of ensuring that Fudge, or Malfoy, gets their share of the profits from the dungeons."

"Are you telling me that they have the authority to act in law enforcement matters?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Not quite," Croaker replied with a sigh. "They have their own division within the Auror ranks, called the Dungeon Expedition Force that deals with anything relating to the dungeons. They are not involved with any matters regarding local enforcement, but everything that occurs within the dungeons themselves is under their control."

"It's difficult to imagine Amelia would be okay with this," Harry said.

"She doesn't have a choice in this matter," Dumbledore replied. "She was overruled by the Wizengamot. Besides, despite their questionable conduct, she needs manpower to manage the dungeons. Initially, Fudge wanted the team to be under his own authority, but he didn't get enough support from the Wizengamot members. Not even Malfoy could bribe enough of them to rule in the Ministers' favour. There were too many who thought Fudge would wield too much power, having his own private force within the Ministry. So, instead, he tacked the division onto the Auror force, and the Wizengamot found that more palatable."

"The British magical population are sheep," Harr shook his head in disgust. "It boils down to the same thing. They are still Fudge's men under the guise of belonging to the DMLE."

Harry thought about something. "Hang on, if they are responsible for closing the gates, why was Amelia responsible for the one in Aberdeen?"

"It is difficult to say," Dumbledore replied. "The Expedition Force had no interest in exploring the dungeon. So they threw all responsibility for it onto Amelia. It's like they had prior knowledge that the dungeon would be dangerous."

"Let's get back to the dilemma at hand," Croaker cleared his throat. "I need someone with enough popularity to counter their media blitz. Someone who most witches and wizards see as a hero."

"Are you kidding me?" Harry exclaimed, finally seeing what Croaker wanted from him. "You want to put me front and centre in front of the world and endorse your guild? Isn't Dumbledore a better candidate than me?"

"I cannot be seen openly supporting the guild, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Fudge will come to the conclusion that I am involved in its establishment."

"He wouldn't be far off the mark," Harry snorted. "Hang on, aren't all businesses in Diagon Alley under the Ministry's purview? How does he not know who the owner is?"

"On paper, the dungeon belongs to a wizard from Belarus," Croaker said. "He does not really exist. Fudge will find it difficult to track the man down, considering the country's Ministry of Magic record-keeping is so poor."

"Why doesn't he stop internationals from setting up businesses in Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.

"That would lead to a huge revenue loss for the Ministry," Croaker replied. "Over thirty per cent of the businesses in the alley are not local to Britain."

"You can say no," Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat. "There will be protections put in place to ensure your safety, and a team of Aurors will be patrolling the alley. However, we are not able to guarantee your safety completely."

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," Croaker said. "We cannot allow Fudge to get a monopoly of the dungeons. It's not sustainable, and it will lead to dangerous situations in the future. To manage the dungeons, we need to be accessible to anyone."

It took him some time to agree to the proposal. The reason he hesitated the most was that he felt that if he went through with it, he would be thrust into the limelight like anything before. It made his skin crawl just thinking about it. Maybe he should increase his Charisma to get over that feeling. Surely it would help with his aversion to publicity.

Harry returned to the present when a few owls swept into the hall, copies of the Daily Prophet clutched in their talons. He was surprised when one landed next to Hermione, who held out its leg to the girl. Hermione took the newspaper and deposited two Knuts into the small pouch attached to its leg. The owl didn't stick around, taking flight with a flap of its wings. Further down the table, the teachers present also received their copies and opened them to peruse them.

"I like to know what's going on with the wizarding world," Hermione said in response to Harry's questioning look.

Harry shrugged, returning to eating his breakfast. Taking a piece of toast, he buttered it and slathered it in a generous amount of raspberry jam. Hermione snorted, and he looked back at her curiously.

"Something upset you, Hermione?" Susan asked.

"It's this ridiculous article on the Adventurer's Guild," Hermione frowned. "It hasn't even opened yet, but they're not hiding their bias."

Judging by their expressions, the teachers sitting at the table weren't happy with the article either. Professor McGonagall tossed the paper away in disgust. Dumbledore didn't seem surprised in the least, placing it down calmly and returning this food.

"What does it say?" Harry asked.

"Listen to this," Hermione huffed, speaking in a high-pitched tone as she repeated a paragraph from the article.

"The reporter can't help but feel concerned about the existence of this new business that is setting up shop in Diagon Alley and why it actually needs to exist. Taking care of the dungeons is something we should leave to the brave witches and wizards in the Auror Department. As a result of our Minister's brilliant foresight, the Aurors have more than enough manpower to deal with the issue of the dungeons on their own. It is difficult to even figure out where this Adventurers Guild has even come from. The reporter has investigated the owner and has found some sketchy details about their origin. The man is a foreigner named Dmitriy..."

"Who wrote the article?" Susan interrupted.

"Rita Skeeter," Hermione replied.

"It figures," Susan scowled. "Rita seems to write slander instead of anything that resembles authentic journalism. In other words, she writes what her readers want to hear, and not what she thinks they need to hear."

To be fair, she wasn't wrong about the guild's sketchy origins, Harry mused.

"She's horrible," Neville shuddered. "She once commented on my grandmother and her hat. Something to the effect that it was roadkill she picked up off the side of the road and stuffed, and now she wears it like a trophy."

Susan giggled, "Don't tell your Gran, but I actually laughed when I read that line. You have to admit, that hat is horrid."

Harry smiled. It was actually pretty funny. Even more so, if you imagine the expression Madam Longbottom must have had on her face when she first read the article. He wondered how Rita was still alive.

<====({owo})====>

The streets of Diagon Alley were teeming with people when Harry and the others arrived there. It took them some time to walk down the street, dodging the crowds as they headed to the guild's location. Harry was feeling slightly nervous. However, considering he had already stood before the Wizengamot, he couldn't imagine facing a crowd and a bunch of reporters would be a challenge.

Professor McGonagall was with them, and she looked alert. She would be the last line of defence if something happened, and he was certain she would put up a fight. Judging by her pinched expression, she did not approve of this excursion. To her credit, she didn't take her ire out on Harry, but he was sure that Dumbledore got a verbal lambasting from her.

"Professor, do you think we should stop at the Magical Menagerie before leaving?" Hermione asked. "I need to get some toys for Crookshanks before he destroys my room."

"We shall see, Miss Granger," McGonagall replied. "I suggest speaking to Hagrid if he is that restless, as he may just need more exercise."

When they finally arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, Harry was amazed by the size of the crowd that was jammed into the street. As dense as it was, it was almost impossible to move forward. Maybe he could understand Fudge's fears a little if the opening sparked this much interest.

Harry narrowed his eyes when he spotted a podium set up outside the building. Fudge, Umbridge, and a few other Ministry workers stood nearby. It was clear the Minister would speak soon. Several metres away, some nervous-looking people in green-gold uniforms stood. Were they guild employers?

"How are we supposed to get through?" Susan jumped up repeatedly, trying to see over the crowds of people in front of them. She had it the worst, being the shortest in the group.

"Wotcha, Harry," a voice spoke from behind him, and they turned to see Tonks behind them, with several Aurors dressed in red robes. She wore the same, but had the words Trainee written on them, denoting she was not a full Auror.

"Hey Tonks," Harry reached out and hugged her. "Are you here to escort me through the crowd?"

"That's right," Tonks grinned. "Hello, Professor. Hermione, Susan. I hope this menace hasn't caused you any trouble."

"Nothing I can't handle," McGonagall smiled softly. "It's good to see you doing so well, Nymphadora."

Tonks grimaced, and the Aurors chuckled behind her. "The name is Tonks."

Seeing one of the Aurors standing behind Tonks, Harry suspected he knew him. When he saw him looking at him, the Auror grinned, and Harry finally remembered his face. "Proudfoot. Already working?" he asked.

"No rest for the wicked," Proudfoot confirmed.

"How's the wife?"

"Still dumb enough to stick by me despite everything I put her through."

"Alright," Tonks clapped her hands. "It's time to get moving. We will surround you five, and bulldoze our way through the crowd. Don't worry too much if we cause a few injuries."

"Tonks!" McGonagall and Hermione shouted together. Harry pictured Hermione wearing spectacles and presenting a stern facade at Professor McGonagall's age. Harry suppressed a laugh at the imagery.

"Auror, coming through," Tonks called, and Harry and the others were flanked by the Aurors as they parted the crowd like the red sea.

They arrived at the building just as Fudge was getting ready to step up to the podium. Then, he noticed a group of journalists standing at the front of the crowd, their cameras flashing as they rushed to take pictures of the Minister. One reporter spotted Harry, and the other soon followed the first reporter's gaze. At that exact moment, Harry felt like their attention had been diverted away from the Minister. Fudge glanced down and noticed the interloper, and he scowled angrily at him.

Harry turned to his friends. "You may want to stand back. It's about to get exciting."

"I am sticking with you," McGonagall said firmly.

"Me too. Cousins have to stick together," Tonks said, ruffling Harry's hair.

Proudfoot nodded his head in agreement and turned his attention to the other Aurors around him. "I will stick with Harry as well. You stay with the rest of the kids. I am sure that I don't have to point out the consequences if Miss Bones or Mr Longbottom are hurt."

The men nodded and moved the three kids further away from the podium. Harry stayed still, waiting for the Minister to make his speech. The crowd got louder as they recognised Harry, and Fudge had to cast the Sonorous Charm on himself to be heard over the noise.

"Good morning, witches and wizards of Magical Britain," Fudge beamed. "I am the Minster of Magic, Cornelius Fudge."

"We know who you are you blithering idiot," someone heckled from the crowd, causing everyone to erupt in laughter. "Get on with your speech. I am sure it will be as riveting as watching paint dry."

Harry chuckled. He had a feeling that it was one of Croaker's people causing trouble for the Minister.

Fudge flushed, looking around for the person who spoke, but they were impossible to spot in the huge crowd. "Yes, well. Due to my grave concerns regarding the opening of this establishment, I am here today to voice my protest. They are looking to undermine the Auror's job by hiring out services to unqualified citizens that do not have the expertise for the job."

"I bet you know how that feels," another shouted. The crowd roared again, and the mood became merrier as they took great pleasure in mocking the Minister. Harry suspected that the majority of the crowd was Muggleborns looking for a job. The magical world didn't have the greatest prospects for them, and if they couldn't find work, they would have to return to the non-magical world.

Fudge continued to argue his case, but it was already apparent that he didn't have the crowd's support. Harry wasn't sure why he was there. As most of them looked committed to joining the guild, he was completely unnecessary. He wondered if Croaker and Dumbledore already knew this would happen. Did they have another reason for sending him here? Why did he feel like he had been played for a fool? Something he would discuss with the Headmaster when he returned to Hogwarts.

Harry opened his Status and looked at his current Charisma. It was currently seventeen, one of his lowest attributes. He decided to spend eight of his AP and increase it to twenty-five. So far, he hadn't seen any major effects that Charisma had on him, so he was interested to see if that changed with the perk.

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The player has learned a new Perk.

Commanding Voice

Description: Whenever the player speaks, everyone stops to listen. If they are interested in the words he speaks, then they are more likely to follow his lead. Must be activated manually to take effect.

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Harry grinned. This would ensure he had the crowd's attention, at least in the short term. That was more than the Minister could claim he had. He considered switching to his Familiar Class, since it gave him a small boost in Charisma, but decided against it. If something happened, he wanted to be prepared with his strongest class.

Fudge stepped down, his complexion ruddy as he twisted his hat. At that moment, he looked like a child about to throw a tantrum. It was not just Daily Prophet reporters here, but also international ones. As there was no chance of them being bribed by a foreign country, they would take their stories back to their own countries and report them truthfully. In the eyes of the world, Fudge would look like a fool. However, that is probably unnecessary, as his reputation was probably already at rock bottom with other magical countries.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked the adults.

"Whenever you are, Harry," Tonks said. "Let's show Fudge how it's done."

While Fudge was distracted talking to the toad, Harry stepped up to the podium with the three adults standing behind him. The crowd hushed when they spotted The Boy Who Lived, and the reporters were whipped into a frenzy, shouting questions at him.

Harry activated his new perk. "Silence," he commanded, and the reporters fell silent. Okay, that was pretty cool.

"We have heard the Minister of Magic speak, and while some of the arguments sounded persuasive, he failed to mention the most crucial point. I am sure some of you know this, but the dungeons are no joke. In the last six months, five new dungeons have appeared in Britain alone, a remarkable escalation over the previous year. If this trend continues, there will be dozens more appearing. I do not have to spell out the danger we face in both the magical and mundane world."

"Too right," someone shouted, and the crowd roared in agreement.

Harry continued. "The Auror Department alone will not be able to handle it by themselves. This is why I believe the Adventurers Guild is such a simple and effective solution to our problems. Not only will the common citizen be able to contribute and keep our world safe, but also offer employment to those who cannot find work in the magical world. Why the Minister would be against this is anyone's guess."

"I can tell you," a voice shouted from the crowd. "Because he wants to line his own pockets with gold. He does not care about us."

Immediately following that statement, there was a very loud response from the crowd. Harry let the noise continue for a minute before raising his hands, and they fell silent. "Please understand that this job is extremely dangerous, so I strongly urge you to consider it carefully. If you decide to take on the job, I would recommend forming a party with a group of friends you trust to watch your back.

"Also, at the moment, there may not be enough work for you in Britain alone, so consider checking other countries that would welcome help from capable witches and wizards. This is a global problem, and if we want to survive and thrive, we need to think about our international neighbours and their plight as well."

The crowd cheered, and his name was chanted. Harry tried not to grimace at some of the worshipful faces watching him. He didn't think his speech was that good. Surely the perk wasn't that overpowered. Harry completely failed to consider that his status as the Boy Who Lived was also a contributing factor as well.

Harry felt some hostile eyes on him, and he turned to see Fudge and Umbridge's malicious eyes on him. Honestly, their unspoken threats felt like nothing considering all of the others that were after him. Still, he would have to tread carefully around them.

Harry turned when he heard a shout, and saw the reporters getting restless. He sighed, resigning himself to their annoying questions. He had been lectured by Dumbledore on the importance of providing something to reporters while setting boundaries at the same time.

"I will answer one question each of the reporters present," Harry said firmly. "And no more than that. Also, I reserve the right not to answer a question if I feel it's inappropriate."

He pointed to a man dressed in eyewatering bright green robes and a prominent double chin. "You first."

"Greetings, Lord Potter. Jeremy Hall from the Australian Billywig Express. I hear you were recently emancipated. Will you be registering with the Adventurers Guild?"

"I am only eleven years old," Harry said with a smile. "Do you expect me to explore the dungeons when I haven't even had a magical education yet? Next question."

This time it was a beautiful woman dressed in blue robes. "Lord Potter, does your conflict with the Minister mean you will seek to elect a new Minister?"

"I will reiterate my last point," Harry said. "I am only eleven. I have two fantastic witches that represent my interests in the Wizengamot and they will take the steps they feel are necessary. As for any conflict with the Minister, I am sure that has been blown out of proportion."

He pointed to another reporter, and he looked strange, having crossed eyes and shoulder-length white hair, and dressed in pale yellow robes.

"Greetings, Lord Potter. Xenophilius Lovegood from the Quibbler. I sense the Peverell aura on you. Is it true that you are a descendant of theirs?"

"As far as I know, I am not related to them," Harry lied. "If you could bring me proof of your suspicions, I would be interested in knowing about it."

He continued to point out reporters when he, unfortunately, had his first encounter with an infamous female reporter. The witch looked predatory, with a strong jaw and short blonde hair set in elaborate curls.

"Rita Skeeter, the Daily Prophet," the woman said with a shark-like smile. "I am sure that we will be getting to know each other very well soon enough. Is it true that you assisted the Aurors in closing the Aberdeen dungeon?"

"That is an official Auror operation, so I cannot comment," Harry replied. "I'm sure Madam Bones would like to know who leaked that information."

When Harry pointed at another reporter, Rita tried to interrupt, shouting over the other, but Harry ignored her. He had a feeling she would be a pain in the neck in the future.

By the time Harry had answered all the questions, he had grown tired of the entire ordeal and just wanted to return to Hogwarts. But despite this, he stayed for the guild's opening ceremony, which was alright. The people surged into the building, eager to register and start adventuring, and soon no one else could enter. The others were disappointed that they couldn't venture inside, but Professor McGonagall wouldn't allow them to wait until the building was free.

"All right, let's move," Tonks said. "Are we heading straight for the Leaky Cauldron?"

Hermione looked at Professor McGonagall with pleading eyes, who sighed in resignation. "Miss Granger needs to stop at the Magical Menagerie first."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione exclaimed.

"I need to get some insects for Trevor as well," Neville said happily.

Harry waited outside while the others entered the store, and Tonks waited outside with him. Now that the opening ceremony was over, the other Aurors stayed at a distance to give them privacy.

"Did you want to keep your cousin company?" Tonks batted her lashes at Harry.

"Sure," Harry smirked. "Whatever makes you feel better."

"I heard from my friend that you encountered mundane wizards in the Aberdeen dungeon," Tonks said, leaning up against the store window.

"Was he there?" Harry asked.

"Yep," Tonks said. "He wanted to say something, but never got the chance to approach you.

"After he ratted me out, he is lucky I won't punch him in the nose," Harry said indignantly.

"Harry," Tonks said, leaning down to look him in the eyes. "I am sorry I let your secret out."

"You already apologised," Harry reached out and patted her shoulder. "It probably would have been revealed at some point anyway. So, is your friend just a friend or is he your boyfriend?"

Tooks wrinkled her nose in disgust. "We tried going on a date, but it was a disaster. We wisely chose to remain friends."

Harry was about to respond when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. A man was hiding under an Invisibility Cloak, and they headed down Knocktrun Alley He shouldn't have been surprised that he could already see through them, considering his Perception was already high. The fact that the person was wearing one in the middle of Diagon Alley was suspicious enough. However, it was the wriggling sack they carried over their shoulders that caused alarm. Just like the man, the sack was wrapped in an Invisibility Cloak.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Tonks asked, following his gaze.

Suddenly, Harry received an urgent notification for a new quest, so he opened it while replying to Tonks. "I saw someone being kidnapped. They were wearing an Invisibility Cloak."

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Rescue in Knockturn Alley

Description: The player has spotted someone being kidnapped, and if he doesn't do anything about it, they will not survive. Follow the kidnapper and rescue the hostage.

Current Objective: Save the hostage.

Time Limit: 5 minutes.

Reward: Charisma +3.

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"What?!" Tonks turned sharply and whistled to the Aurors to summon them, and they came running to her side.

"What's the matter Tonks?" Proudfoot asked, seeing her urgency.

"Harry witnessed someone being kidnapped," Tonks said quickly, turning to Harry. "Where

were they headed?"

"They headed down Knockturn Alley," Harry replied. "We need to hurry. I feel we don't have much time."

"We didn't see anything," one of the other Aurors protested, "and we were vigilant."

"Harry said they were wearing an Invisibility Cloak," Tonks responded before pausing as she contemplated what Harry had told her a bit more. "Harry, can you see through Invisibility Cloaks?"

"Yes," Harry said. What else was he supposed to say? He looked down the street anxiously, knowing that time was running out.

"That's not possible," another Auror snorted.

"What about my mentor, Mad-Eye?" Tonks snapped.

Harry had waited long enough. He ran towards Knockturn Alley, ignoring the shouts from behind him. Entering the dingy alley, he scanned the area, but the person had already vanished. There were a few sketchy individuals who looked at him with unfriendly gazes, but they averted their gaze when they spotted something behind him.

"Harry, wait up," Tonks huffed, catching up to him, with Proudfoot behind her. "We left the other Aurors behind to keep an eye out for the others. I will be in so much trouble when Dumbledore finds out about this."

"Okay. Follow me," Harry said, running forward until they reached an intersection. On the corner, he could see what looked like an inn similar to the Leaky Cauldron. He considered it for a moment before shaking his head. The kidnapper wouldn't enter there. Judging by the noise inside, it was too crowded for them to remain unnoticed.

Harry looked at the three options in front of him. Which direction did he choose?

So, what do you think? Will Harry catch up with the kidnapper?

Thanks for reading.