The next evening, the rain had stopped, and a silver fog wrapped around Knockturn Alley as the members of Harry's group gathered once again in the top suite of Zeus Hotel.
Everyone was present—Cassandra, Sam, Regina, Jason, Cassia, Charles, Joseph, and David. A list of magical creatures was stretched across the table, dotted with moving markers representing the rescued magical creatures still aboard the enchanted ship anchored near the western coast.
Cassandra Vale began the meeting with a report. "I went to the centaur herd in the Forbidden Forest," she said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "They were furious when I told them about the trafficking. One of them nearly drew a bow on me. But once I explained that the traffickers were all dead, they calmed down. They're willing to take in the displaced centaurs."
Harry leaned back in his chair. "And they won't be hostile to outsiders?"
"They made it clear," Cassandra said. "If the newcomers behave and respect their ways, they'll be treated as kin. They even said it's an honour to shelter a herd that survived such horror."
Charles unrolled another scroll. "Then that's one problem solved. The centaurs in the ship agreed to relocate to Hogwarts. They don't wish to return to their old herd anyway. We can arrange transport within two days."
There was a short silence before Jason spoke up. "That still leaves the rest of the creatures. The dwarves, goblins, and those that can't be released into the wild." He tapped his quill against the map.
The room went quiet for a heartbeat. Then Cassia nodded. "Jason and I will start warding the Slytherin Castle's surrounding forest."
Sam grinned. "A private sanctuary. I like it."
Harry's expression softened, his green eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Then it's settled. All rescued beings will be moved to Slytherin Castle. The forest will become a sanctuary—our sanctuary. Jason, Cassia, you'll begin warding at once. Cassandra, oversee the centaurs' relocation to Hogwarts. Charles, Joseph, David—you handle the transport from the ship."
He rose from his chair, placing his hands on the table as his cloak rippled faintly with residual magic. "Zeus Hotel remains neutral ground. We'll hold no further meetings here. From now on, all gatherings will take place at Slytherin Castle. I won't risk this place—the hotel is a heaven for everyone, and I intend to keep it that way."
Everyone nodded solemnly. The decision was unanimous.
As the others left one by one, Harry lingered at the window, watching the flickering lanterns of Knockturn Alley below. For the first time since the chaos of Hartland, his world felt… quiet.
Harry spent the morning linking his eight trusted companions to the Slytherin Castle's warding system. Their magical signatures were etched into the central keystone of the ward—an obsidian monolith hidden deep beneath the great hall floor. Now, every one of them—Cassandra, Jason, Cassia, Sam, Regina, Charles, Joseph, and David—could enter and leave the castle freely without triggering any of its ancient defenses.
Jason and Cassia immediately began their work in the surrounding forest. They were both accomplished curse-breakers, but even they were unprepared for what awaited them there.
The moment they reached the treeline, a deep growl echoed through the woods. The trees shuddered, and from between the ancient oaks, the dragon emerged—the same dragon that had burned the Hartland Harbor and annihilated the Midnight Auction. Its eyes glowed faintly in the shadows, and its scales shimmered under sunlight.
Cassia froze, her voice barely a whisper. "Is that… the dragon?"
Jason chuckled nervously. "Looks like our Lord Slytherin keeps better guards than Gringotts."
The beast did not attack—it merely watched them, its wings tucked and breath calm. Jason grinned. "It's official. We're working in a fairy tale. A dragon-guarded fortress—it doesn't get any cooler than this."
They began setting the new wardstones, each engraved with intricate runes. Basic barriers came first—muggle-repelling charms, anti-apparition fields, and containment wards for large magical creatures. The air hummed with magic as the entire forest slowly fell under their protective enchantments.
Meanwhile, Charles, Joseph, and David oversaw the transfer of magical creatures from the enchanted cargo ship to the castle grounds. Using Portkeys attuned to the new sanctuary, they sent the creatures in groups. The first to arrive were a herd of unicorns, their silver coats gleaming in the twilight. One of the castle's house-elves clapped her small hands in joy and begged Harry to let her care for them. He gladly agreed.
Next came the hippogriffs and thestrals, who settled uneasily near the eastern ridge of the forest. Small magical creatures—okami, runespoors, and mooncalves—found homes near the lake. Dangerous beasts like acromantulas and manticores were either relocated to remote areas deep in the mountains or destroyed under strict supervision.
By sunset, the once-empty forest behind Slytherin Castle had transformed into a thriving, living sanctuary.
The group gathered by the castle gates, watching as the creatures roamed freely beneath the darkening sky. Cassia spoke softly, her voice filled with awe. "It's beautiful. Like something out of a fairy tale."
Harry smiled faintly, gazing at the dragon circling above the castle towers. "That's the idea."
The doors for relocation were opened across the country, and Harry made sure every creature reached safety. The dwarves and goblins were sent first, using Portkeys that Cassandra arranged through her Auror contacts. Their destination: hidden sanctuaries in the Alps, ancient valleys once home to wizarding clans long gone. The dwarves went eagerly, while the goblins eyed the white mountains with cautious respect. For the first time in centuries, those lands would echo with life again.
The next mission was escorting the centaur herd to the Forbidden Forest. Harry went along this time, both to oversee the relocation and to satisfy a curiosity he'd carried since childhood.
When the group reached Hogsmeade, he slowed his steps. The cobbled streets glimmered under the setting sun, and soft snow dusted the rooftops. The smell of butterbeer wafted from the Three Broomsticks, and laughter spilled from shop doors. Though he'd lived a year in the wizarding world, Harry realized he'd only visited Hogsmeade a handful of times. It felt like stepping into a living painting—vivid, warm, and welcoming.
As the convoy of centaurs crossed the last bridge, Harry paused to look up. Hogwarts Castle stood far in the distance, its towers glowing golden in the twilight. For a long moment, he simply admired it—the place that had once been his home. "Someday," he murmured to himself, "I'll build a house here."
The Forbidden Forest was even more enchanting than he'd imagined. Light pierced through the thick canopy, illuminating flowers that shimmered faintly with magic. The sound of hooves, rustling leaves, and distant cries of unseen beasts filled the air. The Hogwarts herd was already waiting near the ancient stone circle, their leader—a tall centaur with chestnut fur—stepped forward to greet them.
Cassandra did the talking, her voice steady and respectful. After hearing how the rescued centaurs had suffered, the herd's anger turned to grim resolve. They agreed to take them in, vowing that none of their kind would ever be enslaved again.
Harry stood silently through it all, feeling a rare sense of peace. Around him, the forest pulsed with life and ancient power. The stars twinkled above, and the centaurs lifted their heads to read them, murmuring words of destiny that only they understood.
When the task was done and the herd had disappeared deeper into the woods, Harry turned back toward Hogsmeade. The path glowed softly under the moonlight. It was a moment of calm—before the next storm that fate would surely bring.
A faint ding echoed in Harry's mind as a golden interface shimmered before his eyes. The transparent window floated gently in the air, framed with intricate runic borders that glowed softly before stabilizing.
[Quest Chain Complete]
Operation: Silent Wings — Phase II
Objectives:
Relocate rescued magical creatures to secure sanctuaries — Completed
Rewards:
+500 EXP
+Reputation (Knockturn Alley +10 | Magical Creatures +5)
+1 New Skill Unlocked: [Party]
The new window expanded, detailing the freshly unlocked ability:
[New Skill Unlocked: Party]
[Type: System / Team Utility]
Description: Allows the user to form a temporary adventuring or operational party. Members of the Party share:
20% XP gain from group combat or missions.
Real-time HP/MP status visibility (optional).
Skills sharing (3).
Passive Buff: All Party members gain +10% Combat Efficiency and +20% Resistance to mental attacks while within proximity.
Limit: Allows 10 active members per Party.
The screen faded away, leaving a lingering message written in elegant script:
"A leader is not one who commands, but one whose strength guides others forward."
Harry smiled faintly. The timing was perfect. With his group growing stronger, this new skill would help them fight, train, and survive together more effectively.
"Party system, huh?" he murmured under his breath, the corners of his lips curling. "That'll make things… interesting."
The group sat around the large oak table inside the grand meeting room of Slytherin Castle, their excitement still lingering from the week's victory. The rescue missions, the wards, the relocation—it all gave them a sense of purpose none had felt before. For the first time, they weren't just surviving in a corrupted world—they were changing it.
Cassandra leaned forward, her Auror trainee badge faintly glinting in the firelight. "There are so many cases I've seen buried," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "Pure-blood Lords hurting people, cursing muggleborn families—and no one does a damn thing because of their names. We could help them. Quietly. Efficiently. Like we did before."
The others nodded, each eager for another mission. That was when Harry stood up, and the entire room fell silent.
"There's something you all should know," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You've fought beside me. Trusted me. You deserve to know who I really am."
He reached up and pulled back his hood. The shadow over his face faded, and with a faint shimmer, his features began to shift—his jaw softening, his height shortening, and his face transforming until before them stood a boy of barely nine years old, with wild black hair and emerald green eyes that gleamed like shards of light.
A collective gasp rippled across the room.
Cassandra froze. "That… that's impossible."
Charles stepped closer, disbelief etched in his features. "You're—"
"Harry Potter," Sam finished quietly, smiling faintly.
The silence stretched. Joseph ran a hand through his hair, stunned. "You mean you were the one who fought through two hundred wizards at Hartland? You're a child!"
Harry's smile didn't fade. "People still believe a one-year-old boy—Neville Longbottom—defeated the Dark Lord of the century," he said softly. "So tell me, why is it harder to believe that an eight-year-old fought a few slavers?"
The words struck deep. The adults exchanged uneasy glances. Even hardened mercenaries like Charles and David, who'd seen war and blood, couldn't quite reconcile the boy before them with the man they'd followed.
But the system interface hovering faintly behind Harry's eyes told another story—the story of someone far beyond his years. His level, his power, his control over life and death.
Harry looked at each of them in turn. "You've seen what I can do. But what matters isn't power—it's what we use it for. You wanted to fight for something good? Then this is our chance. Together."
There was a long silence—then Cassandra rose to her feet, placing her wand across her chest like a salute. "Then count me in, Harry Potter. Whatever name you wear, I'll follow you."
One by one, the others did the same.
And as the castle torches flickered and the wards pulsed faintly with blue light, the system chimed again before Harry's eyes:
[Party Formation Complete]
Members: Cassandra, Jason, Cassia, Sam, Regina, Charles, Joseph, David
Party Leader: Harry Potter
"The first step toward building a legend is finding those willing to believe in it."
The table in the meeting room shimmered faintly under the golden candlelight as the oaths were sealed.
Each of them placed a hand over their heart and spoke the words of binding, their voices layered with intent and magic.
"I swear upon my magic, I will not betray the trust of this circle, nor reveal its secrets to any outside this group."
Threads of blue light connected them all for a brief moment before vanishing into the air. The air hummed faintly afterward, charged with power.
Harry exhaled, leaning back slightly in his chair. As the notifications flickered before his eyes, he opened the Party Menu, and within moments, a list of names appeared with glowing HP and MP bars beside each one. He immediately toggled the visibility settings—
[Real-time HP/MP status visibility: OFF]
He wasn't ready for anyone to know what he could do—not yet. The system, the skills, the leveling—it was his edge, and secrets like that were better kept buried. Only he would see the numbers, the alerts, the quests.
Once that was done, he looked back at his team—his allies.
"We're something new now," Harry said, his tone measured. "And we'll be doing things the Ministry won't. But we'll need a name, something to stand for."
Everyone looked thoughtful. Cassandra crossed her arms. "Something that means freedom. We're breaking chains, after all."
Jason smirked. "Or something that sounds mysterious enough to make the Ministry nervous."
Harry chuckled softly. "Then each of you—think on it. We'll meet again tomorrow, and decide what we'll be called. Names carry power."
They all nodded in agreement. As the meeting dispersed, the system window appeared one last time, faint and subtle:
[Party Oath Registered]
Loyalty Level: 100%
Betrayal Clause: Active
Visibility Restriction: On
The following evening, the meeting hall of Slytherin Castle was alive with chatter. Everyone had come prepared—with names. Dozens of suggestions filled the air: "The Silver Circle," "The Warded Blades," "The Shadow Hands," "The Oathbound," and others. But when Jason leaned back in his chair and casually said,
"The Serpent Court—to honor Salazar Slytherin himself,"
the room fell silent.
The name fit perfectly—ancient, regal, mysterious. Even Cassandra, who wasn't easily impressed, nodded in approval. "It carries weight," she said softly. "And a warning."
Harry smiled. "Then it's settled. From this day onward, we are the Serpent Court—protectors of those who cannot fight for themselves."
A faint system notification blinked before Harry's eyes, invisible to anyone else:
[Party Name Registered: The Serpent Court]
Reputation Bonus: +10 (Magical World)
Leadership Title Unlocked: Cobra Commander
But the real surprise came from Harry's experimentation the previous night. The Party System had hidden potential—something the interface called Skill Sharing. It allowed him, as leader, to share three skills with all active members, granting them the same powers instantly as if they had mastered them themselves.
He'd spent hours thinking before deciding which would define their team—their style.
Now, in the grand hall, he stood and addressed his team. "I've found a way to share a bit of Salazar's magic—ancient spells that fit our cause. Think of it as… legacy magic. It'll make us stronger, faster, and harder to kill."
He stretched his hand forward. Three glowing sigils appeared in midair—each representing a spell.
[Shared Skills Activated]
Astral Gate: Create twin blue portals for instantaneous travel within 5 kilometers. Signature escape and infiltration tool.
Death Ward: Summon a dark barrier capable of blocking all but the deadliest curses. Protection spell.
Shadow Veil: Spread thick black mist that blinds enemies but leaves allies' sight unhindered. Tactical battlefield control.
Blue streams of light extended from Harry's hand to each member's chest, vanishing one by one as the spells were imprinted into their magical core. Gasps echoed as each of them felt the power flow through them—the pulse of the magic, old and deep.
Jason flexed his fingers, eyes wide. "This—this is incredible. It's like the magic already knows me."
Harry nodded. "It will respond to you instinctively. But remember—it's a gift, not a toy. Use it wisely."
None of them questioned how Harry had done it. He'd already told them it was ancient Slytherin magic, something preserved in old texts and ritual scripts. That story was easier to believe than the truth—that it was all part of his system.
As the torches flared brighter, the Serpent Court officially came to life—united by oath, power, and purpose.
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