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HRHL# Chapter 94: The Map's Hidden Chamber, Reunion (2)
🕑 Added 2025-02-10 13:38:57 +0000 UTCAs the meeting adjourned, Harry and Ron, along with the others, made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hagrid was already there, waiting. The moment he saw Harry, he rushed over, sat beside him, and grabbed his hand, tears streaming down his face.
“It’s all—my—fault!” he sobbed, covering his face with his large hands. “I told that scoundrel how to get past Fluffy! I told him! He knew everything—except that one thing... and I just had to go and tell him! You almost died! And all for a dragon’s egg! I’m never drinking again... I should be thrown out, live as a Muggle forever!”
Harry understood his big friend’s straightforward nature. Hagrid was an open book, incapable of keeping secrets, especially against someone as skilled in Legilimency as their enemy. It wasn’t his fault.
“Hagrid,” Harry said softly, embracing him gently. “It’s not your fault. That man is the most ruthless and cunning Dark wizard of this century. Even if you hadn’t told him, he would have found out some other way.”
“But you nearly died...” Hagrid sniffled, grabbed a rag from the table, and blew his nose loudly.
“But I didn’t, did I? And his plot was stopped.” Harry smiled and then leaned in to whisper in Hagrid’s ear. “And because of that, I even got a few gifts. My classmates are all celebrating me. I quite like this feeling.”
“Really?” Hagrid broke into a smile, wiping his tears. “That reminds me, I have a gift for you too!”
“Oh?” Harry asked, intrigued.
“Of course. Here, have a look.” Hagrid reached into his coat and pulled out what looked like a book, its cover ornate and finely crafted.
Harry took it and gently opened it. Inside, it was filled with moving wizard photographs.
His father. His mother. Each page held pictures of them, smiling and waving at him.
Hagrid said softly, “I sent letters to your parents’ old friends, asking for photos... I know you don’t have any of them... Do you like it?”
“Thank you, Hagrid.” Harry reached out and ran his fingers tenderly over the album. “I love it... I really do.”
It was the first time he had ever seen so many photos of his parents.
Hagrid didn’t disturb him any further. He quietly said his goodbyes and left.
Harry remained seated, flipping through the album over and over, unwilling to close it.
It was only when Ron reminded him that dinner was being served that he finally shut the album and carefully tucked it into his robes.
He intended to treasure it forever.
That night, when he returned to the Gryffindor common room, he carefully placed the album in the safest part of his trunk.
“Harry, it’s already ten o’clock. Aren’t you going to sleep?” Ron yawned, having just finished a game of Wizard’s Chess with Seamus.
Ever since he had been used as a piece himself, Seamus had developed a fascination for the game.
“I feel like taking a walk. I’m not sleepy yet,” Harry told Ron. “You go ahead and sleep. I’ll be back soon.”
“You didn’t eat much at dinner, did you? If you’re heading to the Hogwarts kitchen, it’s near the Hufflepuff common room in the basement. The entrance is a pear-shaped door handle. You need to tickle it, and then the door will appear...” Ron mumbled sleepily.
“Got it, Ron,” Harry nodded.
“Alright then... goodnight,” Ron said as he rolled over and promptly fell asleep.
Ah, the energy of youth—falling asleep the moment your head hits the pillow.
Harry quietly stepped out and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.
Now that he had acquired the power of the Philosopher’s Stone, it was time to visit the Chamber of Maps in the underground tunnels.
His emotions were mixed—excitement and anticipation, but also fear that he might find nothing... or worse, something he didn’t want to know.
He made his way deep into the underground corridors of Hogwarts. With the Stone’s power, he finally perceived the ancient magical disturbances in front of the entrance to the Chamber.
It was a swirling mass of black and white mist, constantly churning, emitting an indescribable sound.
Standing before it, Harry raised his wand and traced an archway in the air.
With the guidance of ancient magic, the swirling mist obediently transformed into a shimmering archway. In its center, a watery veil rippled gently.
Beyond the veil, the once-sealed entrance to the Chamber of Maps had vanished.
This was the wonder of ancient magic.
Only those born with the gift could see the hidden places concealed by such spells. For anyone else, no amount of effort would reveal them.
Harry stepped through the watery veil. Just as he expected, the Chamber’s doors were gone.
He could finally enter the Chamber of Maps.
Even after a hundred years, the chamber remained unchanged.
Directly ahead of the entrance stood Veratia’s book.
Lifting his gaze, Harry looked towards the paintings on the walls.
Four massive portraits hung side by side.
Harry recognized them vividly. The first, on the far left, was Headmaster Niamh Fitzgerald. Next was Professor Charles Lockwood. The third was Professor Percival Pockham. The fourth—was empty.
But as Harry looked at the rightmost portrait, he suddenly noticed something.
It was no longer empty.
A figure had appeared.
And she was looking at him with a gentle gaze.
“Harry...”
The girl was the first to speak. Her dazzling smile was as radiant as her hair.
It was Ve—Veratia Grindelwald
“Veratia?!”
Harry stood frozen in shock.
He had never expected that the girl he had been thinking about for so long had now become a portrait hanging in the Chamber of Maps.
“It’s been a long time,” she said softly.
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travis btmb
Tftc
