The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 74: The King's Rest

When Harry woke, the world around him was soft and quiet, the curtains of his room gently fluttering in the breeze. The familiar, ancient feel of Hogwarts surrounded him, comforting and steady, but something felt off. He blinked a few times, his body heavy and sluggish, trying to shake off the deep fog of sleep.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his face and glancing around the room. There was no immediate sense of urgency, but the heavy exhaustion that had gripped him when he fell asleep was gone. Harry stretched, feeling his muscles groan in protest as if they had gone unused for a long time.

His mind finally began to clear, and he reached for the clock on the bedside table. His eyes widened as he realized just how much time had passed. Four days. He had slept for four days straight.

Harry ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to make sense of it. The last thing he remembered was coming back from securing the barriers around Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. The exhaustion had been so overwhelming, he had barely made it to bed. And now, he had lost four whole days.

He was about to get up when the door creaked open, and Neville walked in, a tray of food in his hands and a knowing smile on his face.

"Morning, mate," Neville said, setting the tray down on the bedside table. "Or should I say, good afternoon?"

Harry blinked at him, bewildered. "Afternoon? How long have I been out?"

Neville chuckled, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "Four days, Harry. We were starting to think you'd sleep through the whole week."

Harry rubbed his eyes, the shock slowly fading. He supposed it made sense—he had pushed himself beyond his limits, staying up for days on end to handle the aftermath of the Diagon Alley attack. But four days? It was a wonder he hadn't collapsed sooner.

"Four days..." Harry muttered, shaking his head. "I didn't think I'd been out that long."

"Honestly, you needed it," Neville said, his tone gentle but firm. "You've been running yourself ragged. Luna wanted to come check on you, but we all agreed to let you rest. You earned it."

Harry sighed, feeling both the weight of responsibility and the relief of having people around him who understood. "Thanks. I didn't mean to leave everything hanging, though. Is everything... under control?"

Neville nodded, taking a seat. "We've managed. Diagon Alley is still in bad shape, but we've started clearing the rubble and working on rebuilding. The Perfect Barrier and the Faded you put up are holding strong, so no more Muggle incursions. The Aurors are getting used to the new weapons, and Kingsley's been helping coordinate the rebuilding efforts with the shopkeepers."

Hearing that things were under control eased Harry's mind, though the thought of Diagon Alley in ruins still sent a sharp pang through his chest. "I need to get back to it," Harry said, already moving to get out of bed.

Neville gave him a stern look. "Eat first. Then, you can get back to work."

Harry looked at the tray of food Neville had brought—toast, eggs, and tea—and gave a small smile. "You sound like Mrs. Weasley."

Neville laughed. "We've all picked up some of her habits. Now eat. You won't be any good to anyone if you collapse again."

Rebuilding and Moving Forward

After finishing his breakfast and regaining his strength, Harry finally felt ready to get back to work. As soon as he stepped out of his quarters, he could feel the magic of Hogwarts humming around him, welcoming him back. The castle, as always, seemed to know what he needed, and now, more than ever, he needed focus.