Harry Potter: Magic and Guns

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"Gift?"

Harry stood before the crystal wall, gazing at his reflection in the mirror, a slight sense of confusion settling in his mind.

He was not a true Awakened; his mother, Lily Evans, was. Though he had inherited some of her power as her son, that power was incomplete. Even though part of his magic had been purified after consuming the Philosopher's Stone last year, he was still, at best, only three-quarters of an Awakened, lacking the mysterious runic heritage that came with it—the kind of magical power that felt like a cheap, faulty copy without the original's guarantees.

For Awakened individuals, who possessed both power and inherited knowledge, there were many things they knew instinctively without needing to study. Seth hadn't told Harry how to open the gift's package in his message, perhaps because it was something so simple it didn't require instruction.

"Am I supposed to use an Awakened's runes to open the wall?"

If that were the case, Harry would be in trouble. While he could understand the meaning of these strange runes, he still hadn't figured out how to use them. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted by the power, but sometimes it felt like holding a pile of food yet starving because he couldn't open the can.

These runes, infused with mysterious power, were like cans that could only be opened with a can opener. Without the right tool, no matter how much he tried, Harry wouldn't be able to taste a drop of the contents.

"I hope it's not that bad," he muttered.

After finding no clues on how to open the wall, Harry gently pressed his hand against it. The dark, ink-like magic surged from his palm. Although his magic wasn't fully Awakened magic, the transformation it had undergone had imbued it with many of the traits of an Awakened's power.

The crystal wall, which had been blackened by the surge of magic, slowly began to thin and eventually melted into the air, revealing a small room behind it.

Seth had said this was his research lab at Hogwarts. However, the tools inside were sparse. From the previous messages, it was clear that Seth had invested a lot of time researching spells. Magic was much like mathematics—a field that required minimal equipment and funding.

Mathematics only needed a stack of paper, a pen, and a smart brain, while spell research only required a wand, a wizard, and some test subjects.

The tiny, overly tidy room lacked both wands and wizards, with only a solitary target for spell testing standing in the center. But as soon as Harry saw it, he couldn't look away.

It wasn't a simple target made from wood or straw. Inside, a humanoid wooden frame was wrapped in a strange armor casing made from an unknown material.

What should have been described as a violent current was transformed into a tangible substance. If not for the static causing his hairs to stand on end as he approached, Harry wouldn't have been able to identify the material at all.

In his interactions with the Thunderbird, Neil, Harry was more familiar with this feeling than anyone else. Neil, his mischievous godson, always greeted him with a flash of electricity. The crackling electric sparks had become their usual way of saying hello.

On the chest of this peculiar target, there was a yellowed note with a brief message:

"Hey, friend. If you, like me, enjoy Transfiguration, I think you'll be happy with this gift. I learned Animagus Transfiguration at the end of my sixth year, but in order to complete the second phase of the transformation, I needed an alchemical suit of armor. That presented a bit of a challenge. While I'm not lacking in money, it's not something you can just buy.

Luckily, last year I discovered a clue left by the Awakened deep beneath Hogwarts, which gave me a lot of inspiration. If you haven't been there, you can enter through a secret passage behind the Dripping Stone Beast on the first floor of the dungeon, at the end of the corridor to the left of the kitchen. It's a passage I built myself.

After receiving guidance from an Awakened predecessor, I began trying to solidify elemental forces. Though the process was complicated, it was clear that my research succeeded. I summoned qo (lightning) and redefined its properties, solidifying the thunder element (as I call it) into a tangible substance. It even has weight!

It weighs seven times more than the same volume of gold. It has all the properties needed for an alchemical suit of armor, especially in terms of magical conductivity. It's made with our own magic, and nothing is more attuned to our power than this.

I've left behind the framework for the alchemical armor I used for experiments. If you're struggling to find a suit suitable for the second phase of Animagus Transfiguration, this will solve all your problems. Just use your magic to fill the framework with your own power, and it will transform into the material best suited to you. Afterward, all you need to do is use qo (lightning) runes to correct the armor. This should be easy for you.

However, a word of warning: this armor is heavy. If you want to use it, it's best to learn the runes mul—strength, qua—defense, and slen—body. They will enhance your body, making it easier for you to bear the weight.

I hope you like it. – Seth Laris Sgege"

Perhaps to the poachers who once hunted Seth, he had been seen as a terrifying executioner—worse than a demon, a butcher who cared nothing for human life. But to Harry, this legendary senior was the kindest person in the world!

This empty chamber held treasures worth more than a room full of gold!

Solidified lightning! Lightning with substance and weight!

Such magical and surreal objects were beyond anything Harry had ever imagined.

Perhaps when it came to imagination, time travelers wouldn't have an inherent advantage. Even in the 'ancient times', those people were limited by their vision, but their wisdom was definitely not to be underestimated.

However, Harry wasn't planning to take it. A harsh reality faced him: right now, he didn't have the ability to use these runes. Even though these priceless treasures were right in front of him, he had no way to harness their power.

"It seems I'll have to figure out how to learn it," Harry thought, his hand gently tracing the armor framework. After feeling its heavy weight, a decision formed in his mind.

"I must master it!"

"But how should I go about it?"

Lost in thought, Harry sat on the floor, pulled out a bottle of Dragon Blood Whiskey, and drank it in one go. The fiery, spicy liquid warmed his body, but rather than dulling his mind, it made him even more alert.

"The Philosopher's Stone purified my magic. I proved that last year. If I could get my hands on another Philosopher's Stone, I should be able to do it."

"But would Nicollemay agree? There's a chance, but it's unlikely. Relying on others is the stupidest thing to do."

"Then…" Harry furrowed his brow, his mind racing.

"Before coming to Hogwarts, my magic was no different from that of other wizards. It was only after meeting my mother and being acknowledged by her that I truly inherited the legacy she left behind. In other words, compared to the Awakened Ones, I am still only one year old. I should still have a lot of room for growth."

"Serti mentioned that when he treated the right people in what he believed to be the right way, his growth was extremely rapid. Before coming to Hogwarts, he had been suppressing himself, making compromises for the sake of life."

The empty bottles at Harry's feet were piling up, and his eyes were becoming brighter. It seemed he had caught onto a clue and was working hard to unravel the mystery.

"Awakened Ones' magic has a unique trait. It's a somewhat extreme emotion."

"Serti's strength is aligned with Lawful Evil. He adheres to order, and when confronted with chaos, his method is to personally destroy the forces disrupting it. As he put it, 'Here, I am the law.'"

"In other words, the growth of an Awakened One's strength depends on the release of their emotions. Following one's desires is the way they grow stronger. Pure emotions not only enhance the power of spells but also allow the Awakened One's strength to continually grow."

"Perhaps 'following one's true nature' is a better way to describe it? Magic itself is a power of the mind, and describing it only through emotions feels a bit narrow. 'Following one's true nature'—strengthening the mind might be a more fitting explanation."

"So what is the truest thought in my heart?"

Dark mist poured out from Harry's body, silently and steadily forming beside him. He stopped restricting his breath, and the chaotic, evil aura that felt like it could drag someone into the abyss began to spread around him.

Harry had once believed this to be a reflection of his inner self, but upon reflection, it seemed more like a self-deception. He couldn't deceive himself a third time. Allowing himself to take on the role of the Fourth Disaster had already revealed everything. It was just that, at that time, Harry hadn't realized this yet.

Chaos and evil came from the power of the Fourth Disaster. Back then, he had hypnotized himself into taking on the role of a 'player' with a god's perspective, looking down on everything. Such an individual might see the world as a game, spreading chaos for fun, using any means to please themselves as the 'god' of the game.

The destruction of cities, massacres, and extermination were never the goal. Those evil actions were simply ways to entertain themselves. The chaotic shifts between a cheerful laugh one moment and deadly violence the next were not their true nature. Perhaps it was only because the reward for completing the task was meager, and 'I' had my eyes on 'your' equipment.

Even chaos and evil were not inherent to the Fourth Disaster. They were willing to undertake endless tasks for a simple 'thank you.' They would fight monsters for the sake of a stranger and would sacrifice themselves to save their loved ones, such as setting the golden tree ablaze to save Melina.

Lawful, Good, Neutral, Chaotic, Evil—these labels cannot accurately describe human nature. They are merely broad categories, and human nature moves between them. Serti, despite being Lawful Evil, also showed a gentle and generous side to his fellow Awakened Ones. That kindness came from the heart and was given selflessly, without expecting anything in return.

Now that Harry understood this, his gaze toward Mo Moran softened. Mo Moran, once as dark as ink, gradually faded. This had always been a part of Harry's mental traits, but it was a false one. Upon understanding all this, the illusion that had once been clear lost its meaning.

As Mo Moran began to dissipate, Harry didn't regret it. Realizing who he truly was, understanding his own heart—that was a treasure more valuable than any legacy left by Serti.

The growth of an Awakened One comes from the growth of their soul. Following one's heart is the only way their power can grow.

In this idealistic magical world, a strong mind is above all else, and the 'emotions' that enhance spells are just the tip of the iceberg of this power.

"Maybe Peeves would be happy about this," Harry said with a slight smile as he watched Mo Moran slowly disappear. "I can't scare him anymore."

The magical energy used to solidify Mo Moran began to flow back after his disappearance, and Harry was momentarily stunned by the sharp increase in his magical capacity.

Upon further thought, this made sense. Mo Moran had been a product of the wizard's spiritual will and magical energy, shared within the same body and soul. The energy Mo Moran had provided couldn't have appeared out of nowhere.

Mo Moran's strength was the wizard's strength. Now, Harry had reclaimed it. In contrast to this silent and unannounced 'loan,' Harry preferred the feeling of having all the power in his own hands.

"After all, I'm not Grindelwald."

For ordinary wizards like Grindelwald, the total amount of magical energy wasn't particularly important. Grindelwald's strength came from his natural talent, not the sheer quantity of his magic.

The special magic that Mo Moran provided could elevate Grindelwald's power by one level, but to Harry, the magic of an Awakened One was far more precious than that.

With each breath, Harry's magical 'lungs' exhaled new magic, filling the empty spaces inside him. Minutes later, the overflowing magic left Harry feeling a sense of unprecedented satisfaction.

Due to the high consumption of magic during body cultivation, his total magical capacity had grown slowly. Even after drinking numerous expensive potions, he had only been able to maintain a level slightly below that of an average wizard.

His magic was about 200, an increase from last year when he first entered Hogwarts. A normal wizard like Neville, for example, would have at least 220 or 230 by now.

After Mo Moran disappeared and the borrowed magic returned, Harry drew his wand, activated the trigger, and the ivory-white tip of his wand fired a barrage of magical flames that continued for 30 seconds—short but powerful, breaking through previous limitations.

"Anyone who says I'm fast is going to regret it!"

"Thirty seconds! Six hundred shots!" Harry put his hands on his hips, chest puffed out. "Long and powerful—that's definitely me!"

The recovery of his magical limits made Harry realize something—he was indeed growing, rapidly, in the way of the Awakened Ones. It was just that until now, Mo Moran's presence had prevented him from noticing this fact.

"I knew I wasn't some naturally evil person. Helping old ladies cross the street was a sincere, unpretentious act!"

Harry opened his palm, and the gathered magic formed a sphere in his hand. It wasn't the same dark black as before, but a mixture of pure white and black, blending into a steel-gray hue.

"Being a good person is exhausting, being bad is too miserable—what's the point of worrying about all these labels? They say I'm good or bad, so what?"

"qo" (Lightning).

A faint spark flickered at his fingertips, disappearing in an instant.

Harry clenched his fist. He now understood what he needed to do moving forward.

And this transformation was the greatest, most precious gift he had received since coming here.

(End of Chapter)