The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 30: Secrets of Ben Nevis

The biting wind howled around them as Harry and his team stood at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. The cold air stung their faces, but Harry barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on the faint silhouette of a building hidden within the mountain's rocky crags, visible only because of a strange marking he had found on the old map retrieved from the Room of Requirement.

Gathering his team of ten—Neville, Luna, Draco, Blaise, and others from various houses—Harry led the expedition with a sense of quiet determination. They had come prepared, knowing that whatever they found might hold strategic value in the coming fight. The mysterious fort hidden on the map had piqued his curiosity, and Harry trusted his instincts that this place could be important.

As they climbed higher, the air grew thinner, and the structure gradually came into clearer view. It was an ancient fort, its walls weathered and crumbling from years of exposure to the elements. It had clearly been abandoned for a long time, yet there was something undeniably magical about it—like the land itself had been guarding its secrets.

"Do you think this was a Muggle fort?" Neville asked, his voice hushed, as though speaking too loudly would disturb the mountain's eerie stillness.

"Maybe," Harry replied, his breath visible in the cold air. "But if it is, it's been out of use for centuries. No one's been here for a long time."

They approached cautiously, the doors to the fort creaking open as if the mountain itself was welcoming them inside. The interior was dark, the light from their wands casting long shadows over the stone walls. Dust covered everything, from the dilapidated tables to the ancient banners hanging from the ceiling, barely recognizable now after so many years.

Harry's senses were on high alert as they carefully surveyed the main hall of the fort. It was abandoned, that much was clear, but there was something about the place—an energy that hummed faintly in the background.

"This place feels odd," Blaise commented, his eyes narrowing as he looked around. "Not dangerous, but definitely not normal."

Draco, ever the pragmatist, nodded in agreement. "There's old magic here. I can feel it."

Harry, trusting his instincts, stepped to the center of the room and raised his wand. He knew there was something more to this place. He took a deep breath, and with a commanding voice, he called out: "Hogwarts."

The air in the room shifted immediately. A soft, golden light began to form in the center of the hall, swirling gently before coalescing into the ethereal figure of Hogwarts herself. The temperature in the room warmed slightly, and the magical presence seemed to breathe life back into the ancient fort.

Gasps of shock and awe echoed around the room as Hogwarts took shape. The group stared, wide-eyed, at the shimmering figure of the castle's guardian. For most of them, it was the first time seeing Hogwarts in this form, and they were clearly stunned.

Harry, recovering from the shock quicker than the others, stepped forward. "Can you protect this place?" he asked. "And can you create a passageway that connects it to Hogwarts itself?"

The figure of Hogwarts smiled, her presence warm and calming. "Yes, Harry Potter," she said, her voice soft but full of power. "This place has been connected to the ancient magic of the land for centuries. I can restore its protections and create the pathway you seek."

With a graceful wave of her hand, the stone beneath their feet rumbled softly, the very walls of the fort glowing faintly as ancient wards reawakened. A low hum filled the air as the magic wove itself through the structure, and moments later, a hidden staircase appeared in the floor, leading deep underground.

Hogwarts' ethereal figure turned to Harry, extending her hand. A soft, glowing map materialized in the air, hovering gently before landing in Harry's hands. "This map will guide you through the passageway to Hogwarts," she said, her gaze warm. "The fort is now protected, as you wished."

Harry looked at the map with a sense of awe. "Thank you," he said, his voice sincere.

The others quickly echoed their thanks, their voices still tinged with amazement. Hogwarts gave them a serene smile before slowly fading from sight, her form dissolving into the same golden light from which she had come.

As the light disappeared, the room returned to its previous stillness, but the energy in the air remained—stronger, more vibrant now. The fort was no longer just an abandoned building. It was part of their growing network of defenses.

Exploring the Fort

With the protections in place and the passageway open, the group began to explore the fort in more detail. They carefully moved from room to room, uncovering old supplies, artifacts, and relics that had been left behind. Most of it was old military equipment—rusted swords, broken shields—but there were a few magical items that caught Harry's attention.

In one of the back rooms, Luna found an ancient magical compass, its needle spinning in circles as it detected the magical energy in the fort. "This could be useful," she said with a dreamy smile, handing it to Harry.

Draco, meanwhile, discovered a collection of old maps and charts that showed detailed routes through the Scottish Highlands, some of which weren't on any modern maps. "We could use these," he muttered, folding them carefully.

After hours of exploration, the group had gathered everything they could find—old relics, useful maps, and a few magical artifacts. Harry looked at his team, feeling a sense of accomplishment. This place was going to be important, he could feel it.

The Passage Back

Once they had finished their exploration, Harry unrolled the map Hogwarts had given him, studying the route that would lead them back to Hogwarts. The passageway she had created stretched beneath the mountain, winding through the earth like a hidden artery that connected the fort to the castle.

"Let's head back," Harry said, leading the way toward the hidden staircase.

They descended into the earth, the air growing cooler as they moved deeper underground. The passageway was well-lit, glowing softly with magical torches that lined the walls. It felt ancient and powerful, as though it had always been there, waiting to be rediscovered.

After what felt like hours of walking, they emerged at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, just outside the grounds of Hogwarts. The passageway had brought them safely back, and Harry felt a sense of relief wash over him. Another strategic location secured.

Returning to the War Room

Once back at Hogwarts, Harry led the group to the War Room, where they laid out everything they had gathered. The maps of the Scottish Highlands, the magical artifacts, and the old relics were carefully arranged on the large table.

Harry took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day's events settle on him. They had accomplished a lot. The fort was secure, and Hogwarts had linked it to the castle. The passageway could serve as a hidden escape route or a means of moving supplies and people between the two locations without being detected.

"I think we're on the right track," Neville said, looking over the maps they had brought back. "This place is going to be important."

Harry nodded in agreement. "It will be. And we're just getting started."

After organizing everything, Harry felt exhaustion creeping in. The day had been long, and there was still so much to do. But for now, he needed rest.

"Good work today," he told the group. "We'll pick this up tomorrow."

With that, Harry left the War Room and headed to his dormitory, the weight of his responsibilities heavy on his shoulders. But as he lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. They were building something—something strong, something powerful.

And soon, they'd be ready for whatever came next.