96 Chapter 96: "Godric Gryffindor's Legacy"

After everyone in Hogwarts had settled down for the night and the corridors had become silent, Harry made his way to the library. The library was deserted, with Madam Pince having retired to her quarters for the evening. The still library now held a secretive air.

Harry, hidden under his cloak, set about the intricate task of dismantling the complex wards that had been set up by Dumbledore or the other professors near the treasure's hiding place. It was a careful and slow process, as Harry was cautious not to accidentally trigger an alarm that would alert the professors to his purpose.

After about thirty minutes of careful work, Harry successfully removed all the wards without any accidents.

With the security measures now disabled, Harry's focus shifted to the ancient Gryffindor key in his possession. He had spent a lot of time learning how to dismantle the wards solely based on the assumption that his blood would activate the key. There was a risk that his efforts could be in vain if his blood wasn't the right catalyst for the key.

Harry had postponed testing the key's reaction to his blood, uncertain of what might happen upon activation. There was a possibility that the key might start moving on its own as soon as it was activated. If it flew straight into the wards Dumbledore had placed around the area, Harry worried he might lose his opportunity to claim the treasure. In such a case, Dumbledore might find and claim the treasure for himself before Harry could even get a closer look.

Now was the moment of truth. Using a small knife, Harry made a tiny cut on his finger and applied his blood to the key. The key responded immediately, glowing brightly and transforming slowly into a shield shape. The new shield-shaped key with the Gryffindor emblem now looked coller.

Harry felt a tug from the key in his hand as if the key was pulling in a specific direction, ready to guide Harry to the treasure.

Ensuring he was alone, Harry released the key. It floated towards a shelf in the library and fitted perfectly into a special carving, much like a puzzle piece finding its rightful place.

A soft click sounded as the shelf moved aside, revealing a hidden compartment within the wall. This secret space contained three distinct sections: one with a collection of books, another with an ancient sealed scroll that looked like a letter, and the third housing a magnificent sword, resembling the fabled Gryffindor sword but a little different in its design.

Not wanting to linger longer than necessary in the library, Harry quickly gathered the items into his expandable storage pouch. Then he removed the key.

Once the key was removed from its slot, the wall and shelf seamlessly returned to their original form, hiding the secret once again.

Harry now with the contents of the treasure safely stored away, retreated to the Room of Requirement to examine his harvest.

The first item Harry examined was the letter, sealed with an ancient wax. Breaking the seal, Harry discovered a message from Godric Gryffindor himself, addressed to his future descendants.

The letter was scripted in an old form of English, sprinkled with words like "thou" and "thee" among other rarely-used terms. Harry needed a moment to mentally reorganize the sentences to grasp the full meaning of Gryffindor's message.

The letter, once Harry had deciphered it, conveyed the following message:

Dear Descendant,

It fills me with immense pride to know that you, a direct descendant of mine, have managed to uncover the treasure I left behind. I am Godric Gryffindor, one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your ability to discover and unlock this legacy of mine proves your worthiness and dedication. Well done on this significant achievement.

This legacy came into being due to a disagreement I had with Salazar Slytherin, another founder. He created a hidden chamber within the school, home to a basilisk, claiming it would protect Hogwarts from Muggle threats. However, I've always had my doubts about his true intentions and worried about the future dangers posed by such a dangerous creature.

To help you prepare for any future threats, including the basilisk, I've left behind a sword crafted by goblins and a set of my personal spells, some of which are unknown to others. These, along with the Knight's inheritance, are meant to equip you to face and possibly defeat the basilisk, a beast known for its resistance to magic.

But this inheritance isn't just about dealing with the basilisk. It's also about protecting Hogwarts from any form of danger, whether from inside or outside. It's up to you to wisely use what I've left for you.

I trust your judgment on how best to utilize these tools and knowledge. If the basilisk turns out to be the protector Slytherin envisioned, I owe him an apology. However, if my fears are correct, then the responsibility to protect our school falls to you.

I wish you the best of luck. Stand strong against adversity, guided by the values of courage and honor. The future of Gryffindor, and indeed Hogwarts, is now in your hands.

With all my hope for the future,

Godric Gryffindor

From this letter, Harry understood that Gryffindor's inheritance was meant to protect the school against any potential threats, be it the basilisk or witch hunters that existed during the era of the founders. Gryffindor didn't just leave behind a sword; he left a treasure trove of his own magical knowledge and spells, stuff that Harry had never come across before. Through this letter, it was clear as day to Harry how much Gryffindor cared about Hogwarts. It wasn't just a school to him; it was something he poured his heart into, more important even than his own family.

Next up, Harry dived into the books he had found, which were all about how to become a Knight. There was so much information, including the history of knights, what the Gryffindor family had passed down about knights, and how to fight with a sword.

These books opened Harry's eyes to a whole different kind of power, nothing like the magic he was used to. Until now, Harry hadn't even thought there could be something else besides wizard magic in this world. He had always believed that this was a world just for wizards, but it looked like he might have been mistaken.

Learning about knights made Harry curious about what other kinds of strength might be out there. Maybe there were things like ancient Chinese cultivation methods, samurai warriors, or other mysterious arts. If that were true, then the world was much more complicated and challenging than he had thought.

Harry decided that he would look into all these different paths to power after he finished school at Hogwarts. It seemed a bit too soon for him to start exploring these possibilities right now, even if they did exist.

But for now, the idea of becoming a Knight really grabbed his attention. The thought of fighting with a sword and living like a knight was something totally new and exciting to Harry.

In addition to the inheritance of Knights, the collection also included books on battle magic, containing spells designed for war and large-scale destruction. These spells required significant magical energy, prompting Harry to postpone experimenting with them until he felt more confident in his magical reserves.

Lastly, Harry inspected the sword, its craftsmanship likely the work of goblins and adorned with a ruby-encrusted silver handle. While similar to the Sword of Gryffindor, this sword bore the Gryffindor family emblem instead of Godric Gryffindor's name. It was a splendid sword, not just in appearance but also in what it represented and its potential capabilities. Harry could easily envision this sword being the key to helping him slay a basilisk that had lived for over a thousand years.

Satisfied with his discoveries and eager to delve into the path of the Knights, Harry carefully repacked his findings and returned to his dormitory. His thoughts were filled with anticipation for what lay ahead, but for now, rest was his priority. The night's adventure had been fruitful, and the knowledge and tools he had acquired held the promise of future endeavors and protection for Hogwarts.