"Master Taimur, I must congratulate you on this exquisite work. It's a marvel to the eyes." Harry said with genuine appreciation.
The Dwarf on the receiving end of his praise puffed up with a proud grin.
"It's a marvel. Is it not?" Taimur, the dwarven architect in charge of building the first of Elysium's cities, said with a look of satisfaction.
"Indeed, it is, Master Dwarf. Your people's skill in the craft of all kinds is most certainly the best in the universe." Harry said with an appreciative hum.
He was not blowing steam up the ass of the new Dwarven citizens of Elysium. The city that sprawled out before him was a novelty and a feat of great architectural skill of the Dwarves. It blended Alteran technology, Wizard enchantments, Elvish labour and Dwarven architecture. The city encompassed the future of magical races and the heights they had already climbed in a short few months. The relative peace in Elysium allowed its people to build the city from nothing to the stellar pillar of strength it now exuded.
The capital city of Elysium, now dubbed Elysia, sprawls over 640 km (nearly 400 miles), encompassing the largest icy mountains to the west, green hills to the east, and a long river flowing through the city's heart, originating from the icy peaks that give life to animal and plant life. To celebrate the name of their progenitor, it was decided to name it the Emrys River. The Emrys river branched out from the city centre into five tributaries, bringing much of the water to the farmlands on the outskirts of the city.
To the south of the city lay the vast Merlinean Sea, which covered the entirety of the south-eastern coast of the continent. The Merlinean Sea was dominated by different Merpeople clans comfortable with a seawater habitat. The freshwater Merpeople were given the numerous lakes and rivers in the continent's interior as their abode. The city also hosted eight reserve forests, each assigned to Elves, Centaurs, Dwarves, Fae, and many other magical creatures migrating into Elysium. These reserve forests also served as a sanctuary for magical creatures and wizards who preferred a more nature-oriented lifestyle.
The city proper, bustling with modern architecture and technology, was open to all magical races and muggles. The unique architecture of a futuristic metropolis was an attempt on his part to create a unified cultural heritage for future generations. He had also ensured the promotion of a two-language policy in the schools that cropped up after Elysium's population settled, offering courses in English and Alteran.
There were marked protests over this policy from other linguistic groups, such as the French, German, and Russian minorities. To be inclusive of other language groups, Harry proposed private schooling in those languages, easily partnering up with lesser-known magical schools spread across Europe, Asia and Africa. The lucrative prospect of additional employment opportunities for teachers, combined with their own financial interests, created a sufficient incentive among the linguistic groups to support a common bilingual policy being adopted in Elysium's state-run educational institutions. He didn't know what would happen to the policy once the Senate and the High Council were formed.
For now, his policy remained intact.
"Come, Lord Potter. You must see the Senate building. I believe it's my best work, or so my sons say." Master Taimur said, laughing boisterously.
Harry smiled at the illustrious architect's family before nodding at Master Taimur.
"Lead the way, Master Dwarf."
Harry followed the Dwarven architect and his assorted well-wishers and family members, enjoying a personalised tour of the massive building, which was supposed to host the senate and the ruling council of Elysium.
The new Senate building, a monument so breathtaking in scope and subtlety that for a moment, he forgot himself to admire the fine craft and detailed works done by the Dwarves. Bathed in the gentle lavender hues of the setting sun, the structure shimmered like a dream.
The Senate Hall was unlike anything in the magical or Muggle world. It rose in elegant tiers from a foundation of white stone that looked like marble but radiated warmth and hum beneath his feet—an Alteran alloy, he was told, grown in crystalline matrices. The base itself pulsed faintly with lines of golden energy, veins of pure light etched through the material in symmetrical filigree, like glowing veins breathing in magic and power into the building.
"We managed to pull the ley lines as you suggested. The planet is vibrant, much more than Earth." Master Taimur spoke almost reverently.
Harry could feel the power oozing through the building, and now that he had felt the faint echo of the ley line, he could see the multitude of layers of wards woven intricately into each particle of the building.
The walls were built curved and soaring, translucent in parts like frosted glass, yet unbreakable even to the most powerful blasting curses, according to its creator. They caught the sun's last light and refracted it inward, creating a perpetual golden hue inside. A waterfall flowed down from the highest tier, cascading over a series of Dwarven-carved terraces before disappearing into the stone itself. The water was enchanted never to cease, never freeze, and always reflect the starry sky of Elysium, no matter the time of day. A channel cut from the Emrys river flowed into the senate building, and from there it snuck through the different streets of the city.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" came a voice beside him.
Harry turned. Fleur, clad in robes woven with silver threads and the seal of the Elysian fleet, a shiny golden eagle embroidered on her shoulder, stood quietly watching him.
"Beautiful…" Harry admitted, "…but also powerful."
Fleur smiled.
"It 'eez. 'Ze Alterans gave us 'zeir knowledge. We harnessed magic and bound it to the structure. 'Ze Dwarves breathed in life with their art."
They crossed the plaza together, the enormous archway ahead of them opening without a single physical touch. Glyphs lit beneath their feet as they passed, softly whispering words of welcome in the old Alteran tongue—a language long extinct yet intuitively understood by those who underwent the touch of learning crystals. Within the grand atrium, they were greeted by pillars of light. Not stone, not glass—light, captured and hardened, shaped into spiralling columns that changed hue with the mood of the chamber. As more spectators and visiting dignitaries of allied magical nations arrived, their emotions coloured the light: deep blues of contemplation, greens of serenity, and occasionally the fierce amber of rising passions.
Above them, a domed ceiling stretched wide and high. It was transparent to the outside, revealing the night sky in perfect clarity, yet was itself covered in ancient runes carved by Dwarven runemasters. The enchantments interlaced with Alteran force shielding, allowing the building to exist in perfect equilibrium with its environment. The ceiling could open to the stars or seal the chamber tighter than Gringotts' deepest vaults.
They entered the amphitheatre at the heart of the Senate. Tiered seats circled the central dais in a spiral of interlocking platforms that shifted and rearranged themselves depending on the number and position of speakers. Harry watched as a delegation of centaurs stepped onto a platform, which gently lowered and reformed into a half-moon shape suited to their frame. Dwarves appeared next, their section embedded with glowing runes of home and hearth, pulsing warmly. Even the merpeople had a delegation tank suspended in an anti-gravitational field filled with glowing coral and swaying seaweed.
The werewolf and vampire delegations were also represented. No longer bound by the curse afflicting them on Earth, they were free to mingle in society as their curse now became a source of strength under their control. Without Earth's moon and sun fuelling their curse, the two magical races were entirely in control of their transformation and bloodlust. This allowed vampires and werewolves to integrate into society, as they were hardly distinguishable from common wizards or witches.
Harry managed to gain the trust and support of two huge, physically enhanced magical communities this way. The Merpeople were also deeply indebted to him because of their new freshwater homes and their deep abodes in the seas. He had essentially breathed new life into their communities by transporting them to Elysium. There was already a marked improvement in their health, magical power and birthrates as the nanobots in their bloodstreams became inactive upon entering Elysium. The Centaurs were as elusive as they always were. They were hardly interested in anything other than tending to their forest groves. Still, they had arrived as a courtesy to all the magical races.
The Veela clans that chose to move into Elysium were also a major influential community, owing to their large numbers. To his surprise, most of the veela community were interested in signing up with the fleet or starting new businesses in the city.
More magical creatures and wizards were interested in living far away from the city in an isolated area close to nature, but for now, Harry had forbidden it. The city was the only place where a functioning shield generator could provide ample protection in the event of an enemy invasion. Having the populace of Elysium spread out was not an ideal situation, considering they lacked the Aurors to enforce any laws.
"I remember when the Wizengamot was just a bunch of old wizards in purple robes," Harry murmured, watching the newly chosen members of the Elysian senate take their respective seats.
"Oui. Very different." Fleur chuckled as many magical species were represented in the senate, which was not the case in any of the magical ministries on Earth.
Harry and Fleur made themselves present in the Senate gallery and watched the proceedings. The Senate's first job was to draft a constitution acceptable to all the members present in the Senate. It was decided that the constitution could only be passed with a full vote of the Senate and the members of the High Council. While Harry was not a member of the Senate, he remained a member of the High Council on account of being a founding member and the Marshal of the Elysian fleet.
Other than framing the constitution, the Senate was also bound to discuss the formation of a new currency and the economic system that was to be in place in Elysium.
When Harry finally took his seat, it was a central one by design in the viewing gallery. He let himself absorb the ambience of the chamber. The air smelled faintly of fresh lilies and mountain breezes, a spell woven to evoke a certain earthly feel in the grand hall of power. The acoustics were perfect. Even a whisper would carry across the chamber if intended, yet secrets remained private when kept.
Above the dais hovered a massive crystal sphere, held in place by threads of magical energy, swirling ever vigilant of the happenings. Within it swirled the recorded knowledge of the Senate—every speech, every spell, every debate. It was the Memory Core, a sentient archive that responded to truth and respected silence. A bit of modification to the Alteran repository technology. It was a little something he and Daphne contributed to the Senate to guide it during the difficult hours. A virtual interface was also installed to provide smooth interaction between the senate and the knowledge held within the crystal ball.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment and felt the hum of it all—magic and science in balance, darkness and light in union. Here, in this place forged by unity and crafted by the wisdom of ancient hands, he felt hope for the future of the magical race.
The Senate was not just a building. It was to be the centre of hope and power of the Elysian civilisation. There were only thirty members in the senate, but the numbers would increase once the senate created a draft constitution to guide the future of the Elysium Federation.
"All rise." Speaker Lauren Helfer said.
She was an old witch who once represented the German Ministry of Magic in the ICW. Now that her entire family had moved to Elysium, she agreed to serve as the speaker of the house, which now served as the constituent assembly.
The crowd gathered in the senate and its visitors' gallery stood, and the band started playing a song.
From the icy mountains to the silver shore,
We rise as one, divided no more.
Through storms we came with hearts ablaze,
Now dawns the light of Elysian days.
Elysium, our proud domain,
In peace we build, though trials remain.
With wisdom and magic, our spirits soar—
Forever free, forever more!
We forged our bond in fire and stone,
Though many races, one fate we own.
With justice firm and voices true,
We shape the world anew, anew!
Elysium, our proud domain,
In peace we build, though trials remain.
With wisdom and magic, our spirits soar—
Forever free, forever more!
No tyrant's hand, no shadow's blight,
Can dim our truth, can steal our light.
For every soul, for every land,
We rise as one, we make our stand!
Elysium, our home, our name,
A beacon bright, a sacred flame.
To guard and guide, an oath we swore—
Forever free, forever more!
The applause that followed was thunderous. It shook the Senate chamber as everyone showed their appreciation for the song, evoking patriotic fervour among the gathered crowd.
"Please sit." Speaker Helfer struck the gavel, bringing order to the chamber. "With this, I declare the constituent assembly to be in session. The first order of business will be the formal declaration of the Elysium Federation with its defined borders in our galaxy, followed by the formation of committees on fundamental rights, magical creatures' rights and provincial governance framework."
Harry took a deep breath as the proceedings began in earnest. It was a monumental step they were taking in the hopes of bridging past differences and facing the future together. The only major intelligent magical species excluded from these proceedings was the Goblins, out of their own violation, no less.
******
Harry was taking a sabbatical from the fleet and spent the day in his personal abode near the shores of Elysia, hosting Sirius for lunch.
"This is a nice villa you've got here, Harry. Not that great on the colour part though." Sirius commented as he cut into a slice of mutton on his plate.
The bland white marble adorning the floor and the overall white colour scheme of the entire building did not go unnoticed by Harry.
"I'll have it coloured once Daphne returns during the Yule vacation." Harry said, munching on a side of beef.
"Good. I'd hate you to live in this bland place for the rest of your life." said Sirius.
"So, when are you planning on moving here with Brigitte?" Harry asked.
"As soon as everything back home is taken care of. The Goblins have been making a ruckus over the loss of their vaults. With so many wizards and witches moving here, they're frothing at the mouth at the loss of business."
Harry listened carefully as Sirius explained the troubles back on Earth. Since his focus was on Elysium and the exploration missions organised by the fleet, he was far removed from the tensions felt in the wizarding world.
"The Goblins are not taking this well, but they still refuse to join Elysium." Harry said with a huff.
"There is too much bad blood between the wizarding world and the Goblin nation for trust to be established. Their pride won't allow them to become a part of the new world as one of the races under a collective governance."
As someone who had worked closely with the goblins in the past, he knew how stubborn they could become. If he spent a lot of time on Earth and was willing to bloody his hands a little, he was sure he could bring the goblins abroad.
But frankly speaking, he saw no use in bringing goblins into Elysium. Instead, he saw the chances for a lot of tension brewing between the dwarves and goblins. That was why he never expended any effort to bring the goblins to the fold. He had left the particular task to Amelia Bones.
But now, it looked like even Minister Bones was incapable of earning the goblins ' trust.
"Well, if the goblins are making a ruckus, we might have to go to some extreme lengths to make them comply." Harry said, while frowning thoughtfully into the sea.
"You mean to attack them?" Sirius asked with wide eyes.
"I frankly don't have the time to wage a conventional war against thousands of goblins armed to the teeth spread out over the world." Harry said with a scoff.
But what he didn't say was that he didn't have to wage such a war to destroy the goblin threat. There were far subtler ways to remove an enemy like the goblins from his way. Harry had sworn he wouldn't use that method to get what he wanted, but if the goblins proved too much of a threat and a nuisance, he might have to reconsider his stance.
"Alright, enough of this dreary topic." Sirius changed the subject. "Tell me what is ol' Moony up to these days? I haven't heard anything from him since he moved here."
"Well, believe it or not, he is now working on a research facility dedicated to studying the Stargate." Harry answered as he took a small sip from a glass of pumpkin juice.
"The Stargate?" Sirius raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I thought you already had that figured."
"Not all of it. Let's just say it's imperative to learn about the Stargate's functioning enough to take some Stargates out of the network that stretches across the planets." Harry said without going into a detailed explanation.
"Heh! I gathered Moony might end up doing something like this. He was always the more bookish one amongst us." Sirius said fondly with a reminiscent smile.
"Oh, I know. Remus was the sensible one. The rest of you lot were troublemakers." Harry said, and they both laughed.
Suddenly, his data crystal pinged with an alert on its interface.
Harry slid the crystal against his palm and placed it against his left ear. The crystal morphed into a snugly fitting headphone which covered his ear and started to play the voice message. Once the message finished playing, Harry removed the crystal and put it back on his armband.
"I must apologise and cut the lunch short. Something has come up and I must attend to it." Harry said with an apologetic look.
"It's fine." Sirius dismissed his apology with a wave of his hands.
"I'll send Remus in the evening. He'll be happy to see you." Harry said before apparating away from his home.
He arrived immediately in his office at the airbase.
"What is the matter?" he asked the staff gathered in his office once he took his seat.
The men and women in his office were now responsible for conducting advanced reconnaissance on potential life-sustaining planets in the galaxy for exploration purposes.
"Sir, we sent out probes using satellites to study our next prospective location to explore, and this is what we found."
A series of readings and long-range visuals were digitally dumped into the crystal interface of his office table.
"Interesting." Harry muttered as he briefly sifted through the data. "Very interesting. Alert the Spitfire crew and send them the data. I believe we must upgrade the mission on this planet to Alpha level."
AN:
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