The wall shifted.
Stone melted into archways of deep crimson and burnished gold. Iron sconces flared to life with warm firelight, casting long shadows across carved pillars etched with both gothic arches and precise geometric inlays, like a cathedral designed by an arithmancer.
They stepped inside.
And stopped.
The air itself felt different, alive with layered magic, ancient and modern woven together seamlessly. The floor was polished obsidian threaded with faint glowing runes. Tall stained-glass windows depicted lions, phoenixes, and constellations unknown to Britain.
"This," breathed Flitwick, "is a spatial expansion far beyond standard Room parameters."
"It looks like a castle," Ginny whispered.
"It feels like one," Luna corrected softly.
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "It… grew as I did."
The Dueling Chamber
Harry led them first into a circular chamber paneled in dark wood and silver inlay. The dueling platform shimmered faintly, protective wards layered so thickly that even Snape paused in visible appreciation.
"Impact dispersion runes," Snape observed, brushing a finger across the edge. "Ancient configuration."
Harry nodded. "It adjusts to magical output automatically."
McGonagall raised a brow. "Convenient."
"Necessary," Harry replied simply.
Ron coughed. "You blow things up a lot."
The Library
They ascended a spiral staircase into a two-story library that seemed to stretch impossibly far. Shelves towered upward, ladders sliding silently along enchanted rails.
Hermione froze.
"…Oh."
Ancient grimoires. Elemental treatises. Spellcraft texts that predated the Ministry. Leather-bound volumes embossed with sigils she had only ever seen referenced in footnotes.
Dumbledore walked slowly between shelves, fingers brushing spines reverently.
"You have texts here," he murmured, "that were thought lost."
"There's a whole section on Ancient Magic," Harry said casually.
Flitwick made a small choking sound.
The Study
The study room was warm, plush chairs arranged around a roaring fireplace, maps pinned to walls, notes scattered across a massive oak desk.
Neville smiled faintly. "It feels like you."
Harry shrugged. "It's where I think."
The Emporiums
Then came the doors.
Massive archways opened into separate biomes, self-contained ecosystems humming with life.
The first held Diricawls flitting through misty air. An Occamy coiled lazily around a silver perch, scales catching the light.
"An Occamy," McGonagall whispered, stunned.
The next enclosure crackled faintly with stormlight as a Thunderbird spread its wings, lightning dancing along its feathers.
"A Thunderbird," breathed Flitwick. "Native to North America…"
The air grew warmer in the next chamber.
A Nundu prowled behind reinforced wards, its massive form both elegant and lethal.
Sprout clutched her hat. "Good gracious."
They moved onward.
Thestrals lifted their skeletal heads gently as Harry approached. A Griffin preened regally from a rocky outcrop. Hippogriffs stomped and bowed.
And then,
The Graphorn.
Massive, horned, and magnificent.
Hagrid actually sat down on a nearby stone bench.
"Beautiful," he said thickly.
Above them, a phoenix burst into flame and reformed midair, its cry echoing pure and bright.
Dumbledore smiled faintly.
But the final enclosure drew stunned silence.
Beyond reinforced barriers lay three massive shapes, sleek, black-scaled, eyes glowing amber.
Herbadene Black Dragons.
Even Snape took an involuntary step back.
"You have dragons," he said flatly.
"A few," Harry admitted.
Care and Breeding
Harry guided them to a structured section of the chamber, magically stabilized breeding stations, each carefully warded and monitored.
"Controlled propagation," he explained. "No inbreeding. Ethical relocation plans once matured."
Sprout looked near tears. "They're thriving."
Hagrid stood and approached a Thestral foal carefully.
"They trust yeh," he murmured to Harry.
"They were hunted," Harry said quietly. "Most of them. I found them during my travels. Rescued what I could."
"And the maintenance?" Hermione asked.
"The house-elves," Harry answered. "They volunteered. They've been extraordinary."
As if summoned by praise, a small cluster of elves popped into existence and bowed.
"Master Harry's sanctuary is pride of Hogwarts!" one declared.
Dumbledore's eyes shone.
Reactions
Ron turned slowly in a full circle. "You've basically built your own magical dominion."
Luna smiled serenely. "It's like Narnia decided to settle down."
Neville's voice trembled slightly. "You've saved entire species."
Ginny looked at Harry with something fierce and warm. "You didn't just survive other worlds. You brought pieces back and made them better."
Snape regarded Harry for a long, assessing moment.
"You are either dangerously reckless," he said quietly, "or historically significant."
Harry smirked faintly. "Probably both."
Dumbledore chuckled softly. "I would say… transformative."
Later That Night
The Room quieted as the others departed, stunned and thoughtful.
Only Harry and Dumbledore remained, standing in what Harry apparently considered his office, a high-ceilinged chamber overlooking the sanctuary below.
Dumbledore exhaled slowly.
"Harry," he said gently, "the scale of this… is not merely academic."
Harry leaned back against the desk. "Licensing."
"Yes."
Dumbledore folded his hands. "International creature management laws. Cross-border species protections. Dragon custody statutes."
Harry winced. "That sounds like paperwork."
"It is," Dumbledore agreed gravely. "A great deal of it."
He paused.
"I will contact Vale."
An International Inspection
Within the hour, a controlled Floo connection brought Vale into the sanctuary.
She stepped through confidently.
Then stopped.
"…You've been busy," she said faintly.
Harry offered a sheepish half-smile.
They walked her through everything, the wards, breeding controls, relocation plans, magical stabilization systems.
By the time they reached the dragons, Vale looked both professionally impressed and personally stunned.
"This is not reckless hoarding," she said slowly. "This is structured conservation."
"Exactly," Harry replied.
She turned to Dumbledore. "With proper licensing, this could set a precedent."
Dumbledore inclined his head.
Vale faced Harry.
"I will process emergency authorization through the ICW tonight. You will have provisional licensure by tomorrow."
Harry nodded. "And when it becomes public?"
She gave him a knowing look.
"It will."
Harry shrugged lightly. "That's fine."
Dumbledore studied him carefully.
"You are certain?"
Harry looked out over the sanctuary, at the phoenix rising in flame, the Thestrals grazing peacefully, the dragons sleeping behind layered wards.
"I'm not hiding what I've built," he said quietly.
Vale smiled faintly. "Then prepare yourself."
The wizarding world was about to learn that Harry Potter did not just inherit legacies.
He created them.