99 Chapter 99: "Summer Holidays Part -1"

As Harry and Sirius materialized on the grounds of the Black Castle, Sirius turned to Harry with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with both joy and expectation.

"Harry, there's something important I need to share with you," Sirius began, his voice filled with deep emotion. "Amelia is pregnant. I'm going to be a father."

Harry's face immediately brightened with a sincere smile. "That's incredible, Sirius! Congratulations!" he cheered, giving Sirius a hearty pat on the back. "It's about time you had a child. I love the idea of having another brother or sister to play with."

"Thanks, Harry," Sirius responded, his signature grin spreading across his face.

They continued walking towards the castle, their conversation light and full of excitement. As they approached the grand entrance, Lord Black warmly welcomed them. A wide smile spread across Arcturus's face upon seeing Sirius and Harry.

"Welcome home, Harry! And Sirius, do hurry back to Amelia. Make sure to support her and lessen her workload. I eagerly await the new joy this baby will bring to our family," Arcturus said enthusiastically, his voice echoing in the hall as he hugged them both.

"Thank you, Grandfather. I'll head back now. Take care, Harry. I'll see you soon," Sirius said, already turning to leave, his steps quickening as he exited the castle grounds.

Sirius and Amelia had previously lived at the Black Castle, but as Amelia's job became more demanding—often requiring her to meet with many people at home—they found the castle's secluded location less than ideal. To accommodate her professional needs better, they moved to the Bones Manor, which offered easier access for visitors and was less stringently protected than the Black Castle. 

Then Harry went inside the castle and freshened up. Later that evening, he and Arcturus settled into the study, where the old man expressed a keen interest in Harry's first year at Hogwarts.

Arcturus leaned forward, his voice tinged with curiosity. "I heard there were quite some disturbances at Hogwarts this year. Something about the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher attacking students and then being sent to St. Mungo's?"

Harry nodded, settling into his chair. "Yes, it was quite an eventful year. I was actually involved in that situation. I was the one who ended up sending him to St. Mungo's, so I know all the details."

Arcturus raised an eyebrow. "I suspected as much. So, what exactly happened?"

Harry then delved into the more dramatic parts of his year, starting from the destruction of the library on Halloween, and then progressing to the mysterious attacks on students. "I found out that Professor Fletcher was behind it all. I followed him one night under my invisibility cloak and discovered he was attacking students to collect their blood, which he needed to unlock a special key."

"What happened next?" Arcturus asked, leaning in closer.

Harry continued, "One morning, he attacked me. Thankfully, I was wearing a dragon hide vest, which deflected his attack, and then I managed to knock him out."

Arcturus shook his head slightly, a mix of concern and relief in his voice. "What have I always taught you, Harry? Always be mindful of your surroundings. What if he had used a stronger spell?"

Harry met Arcturus's gaze, his expression serious. "I know, Grandfather. I've learned from that mistake. I'm already working on a solution that will allow me to see invisible people, so I'll be better prepared in the future."

Arcturus nodded thoughtfully. "Good. What did you discover from Fletcher?"

Harry leaned back slightly, his voice steady. "I found out that the key he was after required blood from the Gryffindor line to unlock it. Fletcher was desperately searching for this."

Arcturus's interest peaked. "The Potters are descended from Gryffindor. So, did you manage to find the treasure? What exactly was this treasure?"

Harry then explained about the Knight inheritance, the battle spells, and the sword he discovered in Gryffindor's hidden vault. He carefully left out any mention of the basilisk; he didn't want to alarm Arcturus unnecessarily. The idea of a thousand-year-old basilisk lurking in the castle might prompt Arcturus to cause a commotion or call the Aurors to kill the snake, and Harry wanted to avoid this to possibly handle the basilisk himself and claim its valuable remains.

"Fascinating," Arcturus mused thoughtfully. "I've heard whispers of such a lost art, which faded into obscurity as wizards grew stronger and more prevalent. In ancient times, many kingdoms relied on knights to win wars. But that's all I know—nothing specific about the techniques or training."

Arcturus looked thoughtfully at Harry. "What do you plan to do with the inheritance? It seems like it will require considerable effort, but the rewards might be relatively modest for the years of practice the Knight Breathing Exercise demands before showing results."

Harry nodded, his decision clear. "I plan to practice it. The boost in physical strength it provides is more beneficial than just continuing with my aimless daily exercises."

Arcturus appeared supportive of Harry's choice. "I agree. You should definitely give it a try. The potential benefits in strength and longevity sound very promising. I would have attempted it myself if it were possible, but the requirement for a specific bloodline makes it impossible for me. However, do proceed with caution."

"Yes, I've arranged a check-up with Cordelia tomorrow to ensure everything is okay," Harry confirmed.

"And what about learning to wield a sword?" Arcturus inquired, showing interest in Harry's diverse skills.

"I'm really interested in mastering swordsmanship," Harry confessed. "It might not be the most practical skill for dueling, but it looks cool. Plus, imagine being able to fight a dragon with a sword and being called a dragon warrior?"

Arcturus chuckled at the idea. "Whatever you wish, Harry. With the progress you've shown in your wizarding studies, you deserve some time to explore other interests. You'll need a proper instructor, though. I'll see who I can find."

"That would be perfect," Harry responded, his appreciation evident.

They then shifted the conversation to Harry's year at Hogwarts.

"It's good to hear that you've made friends from different houses," Arcturus said, settling more comfortably into his armchair. "It's wise to have friends of diverse characters. Sticking to one house, as most do, can lead to problems. I experienced that myself. We Slytherins are known for being cunning and ambitious, so most people around me were trying to outdo each other. I never managed to forge true friendships during my school days."

Harry nodded, understanding the value of Arcturus's advice, and then inquired about the families of his friends, particularly if any were associated with Death Eaters. He was relieved to learn that none of his friends' families were supporters of Voldemort.

Pleased with their discussions, they concluded their evening. Harry was set to visit Cordelia the next day for his check-up. He really hoped all was well because he didn't want to stop practicing the Knight Breathing Exercise. It was crucial for him to gain strength quickly if he was to match Voldemort's power in the limited time before the dark lord's potential return.