The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 65: The Calm Before the Storm

Harry sat in the War Room, his brow furrowed in concentration as he reviewed the plans spread out before him. The room was quiet except for the soft scratching of his quill against parchment as he made small adjustments to the sketches. He had been working for hours now, finalizing the deployment of Markers—the Muggle-control amulets—and preparing to send them to Draco at HMP Shepton Mallet. Everything seemed to be moving smoothly, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, a sense that something was off.

Just as he was about to finish one of his notes, a sudden chill ran down his spine.

Harry froze, the quill still in his hand. His skin prickled, and for a moment, it felt as though the air in the room had shifted—like something was lurking just beyond his perception. He glanced around the room, but nothing was out of place. The flickering candles, the stacks of documents, the maps pinned on the walls—all were exactly as they had been. And yet, the uneasy sensation lingered, gnawing at him.

"What was that?" he muttered under his breath.

He shook off the feeling, trying to refocus on his work. There were too many things to do to waste time worrying about a passing chill. But still, the discomfort remained at the edge of his thoughts.

With a heavy sigh, Harry set his quill down and leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his messy hair. He had been working non-stop for weeks, managing the affairs of Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the new subdivisions, and overseeing the defensive preparations for the magical world. There was so much at stake, and he couldn't afford to lose focus now.

He glanced at the Markers on the table before him. These amulets would soon be in the hands of Draco at the prison, where they would be used to keep the Muggle prisoners in line. The Markers had already proven effective in controlling Muggles, and Harry knew that Draco would be able to use them to maintain order. The prison was a crucial part of their defense, and with the Markers in place, it would be nearly impossible for any prisoner to resist.

Taking a deep breath, Harry pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to Draco:

Draco,

I'm sending 20 Markers to the prison for your use. These should help with managing the Muggle prisoners and any new arrivals. Let me know if you need more.

—Harry

He folded the note and called for Dobby, one of the few house-elves still loyal to him. With a soft pop, Dobby appeared in the War Room, his large eyes gleaming with eagerness.

"Master Harry, what can Dobby do for you?" the elf asked, bowing low.

"I need you to take these Markers and this note to Draco at the prison," Harry said, handing the amulets and the letter to Dobby. "Make sure he gets them as soon as possible."

Dobby nodded quickly, accepting the task with enthusiasm. "Dobby will take them right away, Master Harry!"

With another pop, Dobby disappeared, leaving Harry alone in the War Room once more. The unease still lingered, but Harry forced himself to ignore it. There were too many things that needed his attention—he couldn't let his instincts distract him from the bigger picture.

The Day Continues

By mid-afternoon, Harry was back to work, meeting with Neville, Luna, and Ginny to discuss the progress of the new hospital being built between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The construction was moving swiftly, and soon, it would be a fully functioning medical center capable of treating both magical injuries and any Muggle issues that arose from their growing refugee population.

"We've made good progress on the main wards," Neville reported, pointing at the blueprints spread across the table. "The foundation's nearly done, and the enchanted walls will be up by the end of the week. We're also reinforcing the wards around the hospital to ensure it's as protected as Hogwarts."

"Good," Harry said, nodding as he looked over the plans. "We'll need to make sure it's ready for anything. With more refugees arriving, we can't afford to be unprepared."

Luna, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up. "The creatures we're housing will need their own space in the hospital too. Centaurs, werewolves, and even the veela—they'll need different kinds of care."

Harry glanced at her, appreciating her insight. "You're right. We should add a separate wing for magical creatures. It'll keep things organized."

As the meeting continued, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that something was looming on the horizon. It was a quiet, gnawing sensation in the pit of his stomach, the same one that had gripped him earlier in the War Room. Something was coming—he just didn't know what.

After the meeting, Harry found himself wandering the halls of Hogwarts, lost in thought. The castle, as always, felt alive around him, its ancient magic pulsing in the walls. It had been months since the Muggles had begun their experiments, and though they had made significant progress in shutting down the labs and capturing key figures, Harry couldn't help but feel that there was something more out there—something darker.

His steps eventually took him to the War Wing, where he found several students sparring in one of the large practice rooms. The enchanted walls flickered with the impact of defensive spells as the students—seventh and eighth years—practiced stunning and shielding techniques. Harry watched from the doorway, his arms crossed as he observed their progress.

"Nice block," he called out when one of the students, Dean Thomas, managed to deflect a powerful spell with a quick shield charm.

Dean turned, grinning. "Thanks, Harry! We've been practicing hard. Never know when we'll need it."

"Good," Harry said with a nod, stepping into the room. "Keep working on your reaction time. You never know what's coming, so it's better to be prepared for anything."

As he moved through the War Wing, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in what they had built. Everyone at Hogwarts was coming together, working toward a common goal of protection and survival. The Perfect Barrier was in place, the defenses were stronger than ever, and the magical community had never been more united.

Still, the unease lingered in the back of his mind. There was something out there—something he couldn't quite see yet.

An Ominous Feeling

Later that evening, as Harry sat in his private quarters, reviewing reports from the prison and the fortifications at Raven's Hold, the shiver returned. It was sudden, just like before, a cold, creeping sensation that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

He set the reports aside, leaning back in his chair as he tried to shake the feeling. Something is coming, he thought, his mind racing. He didn't know what it was, but he could feel it—like a storm brewing just beyond the horizon.

Harry stood and moved to the window, looking out over the castle grounds. The glow of the Perfect Barrier shimmered faintly in the distance, and beyond it, the sprawling landscape of the magical world stretched out before him. It was quiet now, but for how long?

With a heavy sigh, Harry turned away from the window, trying to push the unease aside. Whatever was coming, they would be ready. They had to be.