Chapter 31: Seven Swords and Surprises
When Hogwarts learned that Professor McGonagall was now Headmistress McGonagall, almost everyone wagered right as to who was behind Dumbledore being given the proverbial boot. None of them argued against it, though there were several owls from highly influential families questioning the word of a mere boy against the great Albus Dumbledore; Minerva managed to stop those instantly, though it did help when Harry, having enough of the letters, announced to the whole school that he would personally feed any more owls that bore those letters to Iris if he saw them.
Now though, as September began to leave them behind and October drew closer, talk turned to the one key thing on everyone's mind: the Triwizard Tournament and the visiting delegates from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. With Sirius in charge of Gryffindor – a truth and revelation that was welcomed by every member of the Lion's Den – Harry found himself safe enough to return to the Tower from time to time and, on one such evening, talk turned to the Champions and what people would do with the winnings.
"If it were me," Fred Weasley explained, all of their company lounging around the fireplace, "I would use those winnings to acquire the means for George and I to start our own business."
"Which you already have," Harry reminded them, "We talked about this last year when I gave Ginny her gift and made that ass-clown brother of yours look like more of a dunce than he already is."
"Oh yeah," Fred laughed, George chuckling in agreement as he asked, "So what would someone like the Great and Powerful Holy Knight of Thunder do with those winnings then?"
"Who's saying that I want to enter?" asked Harry in counter, before a sad, expectant smile crossed his face as he added, "But you'd be right to ask Fred; after all, if the past years are anything to go on, I'd be willing to…bet…that…"
"Harry?" asked George, all the Gryffindor gathering now looking to their Alpha Male; perched comfortably in the spot between his feet, Hermione looked up and felt a modicum of realisation coming across the bond, the eyes of her betrothed were filled with realisation.
'What is it Sparky?' she asked, using his little nickname to get his attention.
'Artemis' Prophecy,' Harry answered, his eyes on the twins as he cleared his throat and added, "Sorry guys; I'm going to have to go."
"Wha…" the twins chorused, before Harry was up and out of his seat, Hermione apologising to the twins as she followed him upwards towards the Wing, the Arch-Knight almost relieved when he found every member of his entourage, including Lily, Sirius and Remus all gathered in the meeting room.
"Harry?" asked Lily, noticing a shocked, disbelieving look in her son's eyes, "What is it?"
"Artemis' Prophecy," Harry told them, all of the Holy Knights taking notice as Harry took his seat at the head of the table, "It's going to come true."
"We know that," Luna remarked, though she was worried for her leader; she had never seen him so determined to get the answers out, "She is the Lady of Darkness after all Harry."
"It's more than that Luna-girl," Harry told her, a soft smile creeping across his face as he explained, "I…I solved it: I know what it means."
"You do?" asked Sirius, Harry then aware of the Order now joining them; no doubt Sebastian had been informed of Harry's hasty departure from Gryffindor Tower. "Do tell."
"All right," Harry nodded, his voice calm as he began his explanations, "We all remember the words of the Lady of Darkness, don't we?"
"Yes," Luna answered, the others nodding in agreement as the Knight of Sky repeated the words of the Lady of Darkness;
The swords of destiny shall be as one when the time of the Three shall be changed with the coming of the Fourth; where the Four shall meet to become the One, there shall the Snake be reborn; only through his heart and soul shall Number Four hold the strength to make the Snake into the warrior he once was; the time of the Three shall begin when Lucifer rides again.
"So how have you figured it out?" asked Neville, watching his leader as the Arch-Knight appeared to calm himself thanks to Luna's almost melodious voice; whether it was irony or something to do with her Sky abilities, Neville didn't know, but his girlfriend's voice had recently acquired a sort of birdsong-like edge to it that seemed to be able to calm even the most tense of people.
"I was talking with Fred and George," Harry explained, "And we were discussing what we'd do if we won the Tournament; however, when I made a remark about my run of bad luck lately, it hit me."
"How?" asked Lily, "Are you sure that you've got the right answers son?"
"I am Mum," Harry answered, looking to his team before he began his explanations, "We already know that the time of the Three referred to the Triwizard Tournament, but it was the coming of the Fourth that had me worried; Artemis said that where the Four shall meet to become the One, there shall the Snake be reborn; what she meant was the final task of the three: where four, as in four champions shall meet to become the One, as in the One True Triwizard Champion."
"But Harry," Luna pointed out, Harry not minding as his sister-in-arms cut him off, "A Triwizard Tournament will only have three champions, won't it?"
"Perhaps," Harry agreed, "That would be the normal thing for the tournament, but we already know that there are forces out there that will choose to stand against me and, in one such case, I'd bet every ounce of gold in Camelot's Treasury that those forces will try and find a way to name yours truly as the Fourth Triwizard Champion."
"It would make sense," Sirius agreed, looking to his godson as Harry continued with his explanations.
"Yes it would Sirius and, thanks to that notice a few days ago, we also know that the other schools will arrive on October 30th, the day before Halloween; the day that, according to most magical legends, shows a weak-point in the forces of light and darkness, life and death; translation…"
"When Lucifer rides again," Hermione finished, earning a nod and a small kiss on her cheek from her betrothed, "That will be the day that everything changes."
"In more ways than one," Harry told her, before he added, "And through my becoming the Fourth Champion, we also have the final part of the prophecy: only through his heart and soul shall Number Four hold the strength to make the Snake into the warrior he once was; that's referring to my blood being offered to a certain Dark Lord we know and loathe."
"Voldemort," Lily whispered, earning a flinch from Sirius and Remus, "He's coming back."
"He's…the Snake," Remus added, Harry now nodding in agreement.
"He is," commented the Arch-Knight, "And, as we know, it will be when we meet Tom that the Seventh Circle will be forged, thus completing the unity and formation of the Holy Knights, with me as their leader."
"But there's one little snag to your theory and the plan," Neville suggested, "We have no idea who the last of our gathering will be: if they're meant to reveal themselves, then why hasn't the Order, Excalibur, Aunt Lily or even you Harry found them?"
"Isn't it obvious?" asked Harry, a crafty smile crossing his face.
"It is," Luna commented, looking to Neville as she decided to fill in the blanks, "When you think about it Neville, Harry's right: it is pretty obvious."
"That what?" asked Neville.
It was Hermione that answered his question;
"The last of the Holy Knights, the Holy Knight of Earth, is to be someone from either Beauxbatons or Durmstrang."
HPHG
There was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day. Nobody was very attentive in lessons, being much more interested in the arrival that evening of the people from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; even Potions was more bearable than usual, as it was half an hour shorter. When the bell rang early, Harry, Neville and Hermione hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, deposited their bags and books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed back downstairs into the entrance hall, all of the Holy Knights bearing their swords while, under his cloak, Harry also had Iris hidden in case of trouble.
The Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines.
"Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair." Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her plait. "Follow me, please," said Professor McGonagall. "First years in front...no pushing..."
They filed down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent-looking moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest. Harry, standing between Neville and Hermione in the fourth row from the front, saw Dennis Creevey positively shivering with anticipation among the other first years.
"Nearly six," Harry overheard Weasley commenting, checking his watch and then staring down the drive that led to the front gates. "How d'you reckon they're coming? The train?"
"I doubt it," said Hermione.
"How, then? Broomsticks?" Harry suggested, looking up at the starry sky.
"I don't think so...not from that far away..."
"A Portkey?" Ron suggested. "Or they could Apparate - maybe you're allowed to do it under seventeen wherever they come from?"
"You can't Apparate inside the Hogwarts grounds, how often do I have to tell you?" said Hermione impatiently.
They scanned the darkening grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything was still, silent, and quite as usual. Harry was starting to feel cold. He wished they'd hurry up...Maybe the foreign students were preparing a dramatic entrance...He remembered what Mr. Weasley had said back at the campsite before the Quidditch World Cup: "always the same - we can't resist showing off when we get together..."
And then McGonagall called out from the back row where she stood with the other teachers, "Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"
"Where?" said many students eagerly, all looking in different directions.
"There!" yelled a sixth year, pointing over the forest.
Something large, much larger than a broomstick - or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks - was hurtling across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the time.
"It's a dragon!" shrieked one of the first years, losing her head completely.
"Don't be stupid...it's a flying house!" said Dennis Creevey.
Dennis's guess was closer...As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.
The front three rows of students drew backward as the carriage hurtled ever lower, coming in to land at a tremendous speed - then, with an almighty crash that made Neville jump backward onto a Slytherin fifth year's foot, the horses' hooves, larger than dinner plates, hit the ground. A second later, the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels, while the golden horses tossed their enormous heads and rolled large, fiery red eyes.
Harry just had time to see that the door of the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars) before it opened.
A boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment with something on the carriage floor, and unfolded a set of golden steps. He sprang back respectfully. Then Harry saw a shining, high-heeled black shoe emerging from the inside of the carriage - a shoe the size of a child's sled - followed, almost immediately, by the largest woman he had ever seen in his life. The size of the carriage, and of the horses, was immediately explained. A few people gasped.
Harry had only ever seen one person as large as this woman in his life, and that was Hagrid; he doubted whether there was an inch difference in their heights. Yet somehow - maybe simply because he was used to Hagrid - this woman (now at the foot of the steps, and looking around at the waiting, wide-eyed crowd) seemed even more unnaturally large. As she stepped into the light flooding from the entrance hall, she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.
McGonagall started to clap; the students, following her lead, broke into applause too, many of them standing on tiptoe, the better to look at this woman.
Her face relaxed into a gracious smile and, much to Harry's surprise, she walked forward toward Dumbledore, extending a glittering hand. Dumbledore, though tall himself, had barely to bend to kiss it.
"My dear Madame Maxime," he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
"Dumbly-dort," said Madame Maxime in a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"
"If only that were true dear lady," said Dumbledore, Harry then aware of those twinkling blue eyes flicking in his direction, "Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm afraid I must hand you over to the new Headmistress, Professor McGonagall."
"My pupils," said Madame Maxime, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her.
Harry, whose attention had been focused completely upon Madame Maxime, now noticed that about a dozen boys and girls, all, by the look of them, in their late teens, had emerged from the carriage and were now standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. A few had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads. From what Harry could see of them (they were standing in Madame Maxime's enormous shadow), they were staring up at Hogwarts with apprehensive looks on their faces.
"As Karkaroff arrived yet?" Madame Maxime asked.
"He should be here any moment," said McGonagall, now appearing next to Dumbledore in case, like Harry, she suspected trouble. "Would you like to wait here and greet him or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?"
"Warm up, I think," said Madame Maxime. "But ze 'orses -"
"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them," said Dumbledore, "the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation that has arisen with some of his other - er - charges."
"My steeds require - er - forceful 'andling," said Madame Maxime, looking as though she doubted whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up to the job. "Zey are very strong..."
"I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job," said Dumbledore, smiling.
"Very well," said Madame Maxime, bowing slightly. "Will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?"
"It will be attended to," said Dumbledore, also bowing.
"Come," said Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps.
"How big d'you reckon Durmstrang's horses are going to be?" Seamus Finnegan said, leaning around Lavender and Parvati to address Harry.
"Well, if they're any bigger than this lot, even Hagrid won't be able to handle them," said Harry.
They stood, shivering slightly now, waiting for the Durmstrang party to arrive. Most people were gazing hopefully up at the sky.
For a few minutes, the silence was broken only by Madame Maxime's huge horses snorting and stamping. But then –
"Can you hear something?" said Ron suddenly.
Harry listened; a loud and oddly eerie noise was drifting toward them from out of the darkness: a muffled rumbling and sucking sound, as though an immense vacuum cleaner were moving along a riverbed...
"The lake!" yelled Lee Jordan, pointing down at it. "Look at the lake!"
From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the smooth black surface of the water - except that the surface was suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in the centre; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks -and then, out in the very middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor.
What seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out of the heart of the whirlpool...and then Harry saw the rigging... "It's a mast!" he said to those around him.
Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.
People were disembarking; they could see their silhouettes passing the lights in the ship's portholes. All of them, Harry noticed, seemed to be built along the lines of Crabbe and Goyle...but then, as they drew nearer, walking up the lawns into the light streaming from the entrance hall, he saw that their bulk was really due to the fact that they were wearing cloaks of some kind of shaggy, matted fur. But the man who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of a different sort: sleek and silver, like his hair.
"Dumbledore!" he called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"
"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied. Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice; when he stepped into the light pouring from the front doors of the castle they saw that he was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was short, and his goatee (finishing in a small curl) did not entirely hide his rather weak chin. When he reached Dumbledore, though the old man had to repeat his statement about handing Karkaroff to McGonagall, a truth that Harry noticed did not sit well with the other Headmaster, he shook hands with both of his own.
"Dear old Hogwarts," he said, looking up at the castle and smiling; his teeth were rather yellow, and Harry noticed that his smile did not extend to his eyes, which remained cold and shrewd. "How good it is to be here, how good...Viktor, come along, into the warmth...you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold..."
Karkaroff beckoned forward one of his students. As the boy passed, Harry caught a glimpse of a prominent curved nose and thick black eyebrows.
"Bloody hell," Harry heard Weasley remark, "It's Viktor Krum!"
"Who?" asked Harry, now following the students back up to the main entrance of the castle.
"He's a Quidditch player," Hermione explained, joining Harry at the Gryffindor Table, the usual feast decorations now replaced by four House-coloured banners with the animal representations of the Founders. At the High Table, there was a large golden banner with the Crest of Hogwarts and a dragon encircling the crest. "Supposedly the overseas fame version of you Harry."
"That's all I need," Harry sighed, "Some big-headed blowhard on top of two schools and, wait, Hermione…do you see those girls?"
Hermione, following Harry's gaze, looked over to the Ravenclaw Table where several female members of the Beauxbatons students were sitting and waiting for the announcements, though, when she looked to the spot usually acquired by Luna – who was seated with her friends at Gryffindor at that moment – Hermione saw it too.
A rather young-looking girl with almost silvery-blonde hair and eyes that were shining like sapphires; she had a kind smile and, like the other students of the school, she had a sort of angelic aura to her. At her side, looking more excited than awed and scared, was a younger girl with the same colour hair and bright blue eyes that shone like aquamarine; the younger girl looked no older than eight or nine, but she had an air of magic to her like the girl she was sat next to, who looked to be nearly eighteen, maybe nineteen.
"Harry," whispered Hermione, "Have…have we met them?"
"I…I don't think so," Harry told her, his hand now moving down towards Excalibur's blade, his eyes on the two mysterious girls, "But then why…"
"Why do they seem so familiar?" asked Hermione, Harry nodding in agreement; looking away from the Ravens, Harry opened the link that he had discovered over the summer; a bond that was different from the one he shared with Hermione that allowed him to communicate and locate the other Holy Knights under his banner.
'Mum,' Harry sent, Lily starting for a moment before she met her son's eyes, 'Two girls; Ravenclaw Table; look like sisters: do you know who they are?'
'I'll find out,' Lily replied, before she leaned over diminutive Professor Flitwick and asked, "Begging your pardon Madame Maxime, but two of your students appear to have captured the attention of my son and his friends: could you perhaps tell me their names?"
"But of course Mademoiselle Potter," Madame Maxime replied, "Zey are two, 'ow you say, sisters in my gathering; highly respected members of ze French Wizarding Community; ze eldest iz called Madame Fleu Delacour et elle soeur est Gabrielle: if I may say so, it iz an 'onour to be speaking with you."
"Merci," Lily answered, before she sent the information back to Harry via their link.
'Thanks Mum,' Harry replied, settling in his seat as he looked back to the Ravens, 'Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour: why would two people attract my senses so much?'
HPHG
Harry's dilemma plagued his mind all night and into the next day: after an Advanced Charms lesson with his Mother, Harry then decided that, before the time that was stated in the prophecy, he would get some answers. Retrieving the Marauder's Map, Harry activated it and, spreading it out across the table in the wing, he placed Excalibur's tip against the map and commanded, "Locus Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour."
The map began to glow with a strong silver light, before all the names that covered the map seemed to dim in appearance, two particular names – which Harry found to be out by the greenhouses – shining with the same light as the Arch-Knight then added, "Locus Finite; Mischief Managed."
Leaving the Wing, Harry followed his mental map of Hogwarts down to the greenhouses, his body standing tall and proud as he kept Excalibur under his belt, his voice remaining strong and his heart slowing to a patient, albeit almost expectant feeling that spawned inside him and threatened to bring the worst storm in the world to Hogwarts.
Arriving at the edge of the greenhouses, Harry allowed his mind to reach out, seeking out the presence of the two French witches; when he found them, he was surprised as he sensed their willingness to welcome him into their circle as well as a foreknowledge that he was looking for them. Without much to worry about, Harry turned the corner and, outside greenhouse three, he saw them: the two French witches that had grabbed his attention from the first moment he had seen them.
"Bonjour Monsieur," Fleur Delacour spoke up, breaking the tension as she asked, "Were you, 'ow you say, looking for ma soeur et moi?"
"I was," Harry replied, actually grateful for that vacation in France before their third year, "I don't mean you any harm and I'm sorry for intruding on a private moment, but, well…I've been…feeling things towards the two of you."
"We understand," Fleur smiled, Harry actually liking her smile as she approached him, "My sister and I are Veela-blooded; we 'ave zis…allure that draws males towards us."
"NO!" Harry yelled, his voice may as well have echoed all over Hogwarts as he told her, "No Mademoiselle Delacour; the feelings I feel are not those feelings: I already have a soul-bonded and betrothed who has that honour. No, my feelings are of something…else."
"Else?" asked Gabrielle, now moving next to her sister as she told Harry, "Je suis desole: je ne comprends pas."
"Believe me Mademoiselle Delacour," Harry laughed, "Neither do I: no, you see, the feelings I sense from and towards the two of you are…powerful."
"Ah," Fleur then smiled, before she asked, "Pardon my, 'ow you say, abruptness? Are you Monsieur 'Arry James Potter?"
"I am," Harry answered proudly, straightening himself up as he asked, "You've heard of me?"
"Everyone 'as 'eard of you," Fleur laughed, before she stepped back and, as Harry watched, both her and Gabrielle seemed to curtsey before him, their heads lowered as they spoke in unison, "Mon capitan; we 'ave found you."
"Captain?" asked Harry, a part of him finally clicking the missing piece of the puzzle into place: it seemed impossible; there were two of them and one of those-who-Harry-suspected they were;
"Oui," Gabrielle replied, before she looked to Harry as she explained, "Ma sœur et moi sommes Chevaliers Saints; Les Chevaliers Saints de la Terre et la tempête."
That knocked Harry for six: My sister and I are Holy Knights; the Holy Knights of Earth and the Storm.
'I've found them,' he thought, 'But how can there be two Holy Knights of Thunder?'
"Could you two come with me?" he then asked, "I think there's someone I should introduce you to."
Chapter 31 and the last of the Holy Knights has been revealed, but how are there TWO Holy Knights of Thunder, presumably Pure Knights, if Harry is, or WAS the Holy Knight of Thunder himself?
Also, with the prophecy revealed, what will Harry do to ensure his plan is seen through to the end?
Keep Reading to Find Out;
Next Chapter: Dumbledore is not giving up as Harry gets stronger with the seventh knight being found: how desperate can he be? Also, the Champions are announced and Harry, after learning of Fleur and Gabrielle's revelations, goes to the only person he can think of with the answers he needs: Merlin!
Chapter 32: Artemis' Gift
Guiding Fleur and Gabrielle up through Hogwarts' maze of hallways, Harry found their path towards the Lion's Wing easy to access, very few students moving to stop him as he still had Excalibur at his side, his eyes fixed with a look that was defined as a man on a mission. Stopping before Lancelot's statue, Harry turned to them, his silver eye still flashing dangerously as he spoke to them, "If you are who you say you are, then know that you have my trust, so I hope that my password and the secrets of my Wing are kept to yourselves."
"But of course," Fleur replied, "We are, 'ow you say, aware of ze secrets of ze 'Oly Knights and you as their leader; we shall oblige with your request Lord Potter."
"Thank you," Harry sighed, before placing the tip of Excalibur against Lancelot as he added, "Septimus Virtus."
When the passageway into the Wing was revealed, Harry led Fleur and her sister into his chambers, the only other signs of habitation at that moment being Dante and Elora from the Order, any other magical signs that Harry could feel from his allies were around Hogwarts. Opening the link to its fullest potential, Harry called out, 'All Holy Knights to the Lion's Wing right now: we have a situation.'
'I'm speaking with Dumbledore at the moment Harry,' Lily sent him back, 'I'll try and keep my mind on you so he can't read my thoughts: are you okay honey? You sound a little distressed.'
'I'm fine,' Harry answered, now moving his attention to a specific person, 'Where are you Mione?'
'Tower,' Hermione answered, 'Neville and Luna, I believe, are down in the training chamber with Sebastian: are you sure you're all right my love?'
'You'll see for yourself when you get here,' Harry sent her, 'Have the team meet me here as soon as you can Kitten: and be careful, my leaving you on your own once before had us both hurting.'
'I know,' Hermione returned, a warm, supportive wave of empathy being sent over their bond, bringing a smile to Harry as he severed the link before looking to Dante and Elora, both of whom could see the tension in their Lord's eyes. Giving them his best reassuring smile, Harry then switched into the role of their Lord as he commanded, "Go and find Tyler and Felicia: the entire Order should be here to hear this."
"As you command Harry," Elora replied, leaving the room through the tunnel that led to the seventh floor while Dante, watching Harry warily, then looked to the other two ladies accompanying his Lord; having been around with Sebastian for some time, Dante also knew the pull of a Veela and, as soon as he looked to the elder of the two women, he felt it, stronger than ever.
A theory came to Dante's mind as he tried to put the pieces together, but he left it for his commander, his friend and his Lord to explain…
HPHG
It took nearly forty-five minutes for everyone to gather in the Lion's Wing and for Harry to calm his emotions enough so that he could speak freely, calmly and clearly enough. Seated in the main entrance room of the Wing, around the ornate Venetian Oak table that almost divided the rooms and chambers left from right, the three passageways that led up to the main chambers shadowed in Harry's background as he stared around the room. Sat at the head of the table, Hermione on his left and Sebastian on his right, Harry cleared his throat before he indicated the two newcomers and, without hesitating, came right out and said it.
"Allow me to introduce Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour…our newest Holy Knights."
The reaction was as he had expected: stunned silence followed by several members of the gathering – namely Neville, Sebastian and Lily – falling over their words before the Order's Commander asked, "Lord Potter, are you certain of this? We know that there is one more Holy Knight; the Holy Knight of Earth and…"
"And zat is me," Fleur explained, looking to Sebastian from her end of the table, Gabrielle next to her; the Order were seated next to Sebastian while the Knights were next to Hermione. As leader, commander and King of the Knights, Harry took the main chair so that he could witness the entire table and notice any and all reactions when it was necessary to do so. "We cannot explain 'ow zis has 'appened, but it iz true Monsieur McDale: my little sister and I are 'Oly Knights."
"And if you can't believe her," Harry told his first noble warrior, "Then use that seeking ability of yours: you'll see it."
Sebastian did as he was asked: taking several deep breaths, he tapped into his power and extended his nobleman's sense of fealty outwards: this was the ability he had spoken of the year before when Harry, Luna and Hermione were talking about Ethereals on the Hogwarts Express. As soon as he lowered his shields around his sixth sense, Sebastian actually gasped: not only could he sense the waves of power rolling off his young Lord and commander, but there was also the power of Lady Lily and, just as he reached out, Sebastian felt it, exactly as Harry had said. A double wave of pure Knight's power that came from their two newcomers: the identity was unquestionable, but as he looked at their power, Sebastian did find a question coming to his lips.
Glancing back at Harry, who to Sebastian's sixth sense appeared to make the Arch-Knight glow like the setting sun, the commander asked, "My Lord Potter, how is it that I can sense the two Knights' signatures as being one that we already have among us?"
"If you mean how can little Gabrielle Delacour be radiating the aura of the Holy Knight of Thunder," Harry countered, earning more gasps from the table as he spoke, "Then your guess is as good as mine."
"I have a theory," Hermione then spoke up, taking Harry's hand as she shared in the calm demeanour of her betrothed, "If Harry is now known as the sole Lord of the Elements, or the Arch-Knight as they call him, then it's clear to me that the lineage of the Holy Knight of Thunder must have passed on from Harry when he was crowned. This means that…"
"A sibling of a Holy Knight became a Holy Knight," finished Luna, Hermione nodding in agreement with the Knight of Sky's explanations; even Harry thought it made sense: Fleur, as a student and guest to Hogwarts, was currently the only Knight living that held a sibling. Of course, Harry had Neville as a blood-brother and, were he alive, his Mother would have probably had James Potter or – Merlin forbid – his Aunt Petunia! Now that was a thought to give him nightmares for weeks: a woman that couldn't stand magic being one of the most powerful wizard-blooded warriors in the world: there was irony for you.
"If this is true," Neville added, smiling at his girlfriend as he seemed to share her understanding of the situation: then again, it helped that they were soul bonded. "Then it means we now have eight Holy Knights of the Elemental Order instead of seven and the worst of them is still unavailable to us."
"Yes," Harry growled, sharing an almost saddened expression with his Mother, "Tom Riddle: the Anointed Holy Knight of Darkness, but let's focus on the main dilemma here: we have less than a few hours before we have to be down at the feast for the naming ceremony…"
"Pardon," Fleur then spoke up, "But if it iz my, 'ow you say, strength and power zat you wish to see, then I should inform you zat I 'ave entered ze Tournament's nominations for ze Beauxbatons Champion."
"That's fine," Harry smiled, deciding to keep the secret of Artemis' Prophecy from the sisters until he had some answers, "But as I was about to say: we have a matter of hours before then, so I suggest we wait until the main business of today is over and done with: then, tomorrow morning, I will take you and Gabrielle down into one of the Chambers I own here at Hogwarts and, from there, we'll be able to get some answers."
/I am sorry,/ Gabrielle piped up, her French language rolling off her tongue as she looked to Harry, /I am afraid that I do not understand you Captain: where can we get answers in this school?/
"Somewhere that's not in this school," Harry answered, his eyes on each of the Knights as he noticed they all appeared to understand her foreign language, "Somewhere where the answers will be available and we'll be able to talk more without fear of being overheard: and don't worry," he then added, smiling at the little girl that was almost…cute in his eyes, like she was his sister. "I get the feeling that everyone here understood what you just said, so if you need to speak French, then do so: we'll still understand you."
"Thank you 'Arry," Fleur smiled, Harry then aware of Sebastian and Dante becoming uncomfortable in their seats, not to mention Sirius actually looking like he was about to go catatonic.
"Looks like not all of us are immune to the Allure," Harry laughed, Remus now shaking his head: it was actually thanks to his wolf half that he was immune while he knew that, because of the powers of the Knights, not to mention their soul bond, Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna only had eyes for their other halves. Clearing his throat, Harry continued, "For the rest of the day, we just need to relax: according to the notice posted around school, the Naming Ceremony will take place at 9pm, so, if nobody minds, there's a rather special bit of business that I need to tend to and, as much as I want to do otherwise, I'd like to leave the school for the afternoon."
Without saying another word, Lily rose from her seat, moved around the table and placed a light hand on her son's shoulder, a part of her in agreement with his suggestion: all day, Dumbledore had been getting on her nerves, asking questions about Harry's lineage and how she, as his Mother, could just stand there and let him do this. The business that Harry needed – though she also suspected that he wanted to do it – to do was a way for the future to be set in stone for the Lord of Hogwarts.
"Say no more Harry," Neville finally spoke up, looking to Sirius and Remus as he added, "I don't think anyone here would argue against the Lord and owner of this school leaving the grounds."
"Of course we wouldn't," Remus told him, nodding to Harry and Lily as he explained, "You two, or three if Hermione wishes to go with you, get yourselves off and the rest of us will keep an eye on things here."
"Thank you Remy," Harry smiled, now rising from his seat as if he were in Council with the Lords of Nature, "Then for now, let's say no more about this mystery: oh, and Fleur?"
"Yes 'Arry?" asked the newly-recognised Knight of Earth.
"Good luck for tonight."
HPHG
Remus' words proved true: no sooner had Lily told the Headmistress that they needed to be off campus for a little while than she, Harry and Hermione found themselves travelling by Side-Along Apparition to the main gate of Harry's family home of Albion House. Standing there, a mild autumn chill gave Harry a shiver that made him feel worse than any loss or nightmare could manage: taking the hand of his Queen, he smiled before he asked, "Would you give Mum and me a few moments alone Mione?"
"Of course I will," answered Hermione, now nodding to the house behind them, "No doubt Mum and Dad will be home so, if it's okay with you, I'll wait for you inside."
Lily just nodded in agreement as Hermione turned and made her way up the garden path, Harry now moving with his Mother through to the graveyard: as they walked, Harry lifted his hand, the familiar mists of the Void rising around them; as they took each step, Harry poured power into the Void, creating a strip of red, blue and silver lights that were like fairy-light candles floating on the air, lighting the way towards their destination. Seeing the power in her son, Lily clasped Harry's free hand as she whispered, "When we get back, remind me to award Gryffindor points for such an amazing display of Illusionism."
"Can we leave talk of work until then?" asked Harry, stopping before the familiar headstone; when Lily saw what Harry had carved into it on the previous Christmas, she reached out and ruffled her son's hair before placing a soft kiss on his forehead.
"You do realise you'll have to change that, right?" she asked him, standing before the specially-crafted headstone, "Given that one of the two is not dead."
"So it would seem Lily."
Harry and his Mother both gasped, Harry now whirling round, his hand moving to Excalibur, but what he saw made him go weak at the knees, his eyes filled with tears while Lily was almost pale and as shocked and confused as her son.
"D…D…Dad?"
Standing before them, his body bathed in silver light, was none other than James Potter, his dark brown eyes filled with delight as he looked upon his son and his wife.
"Hello Prongslet," James smiled, "You've gotten so big and so handsome: I bet you're a real lady-killer huh?"
"It has to be you," Lily then laughed, stepping towards the apparent apparition of her husband, "Only you would comment on that for your own son: but…how?"
"Artemis," James explained, Harry then aware of the silver glow around his Father; it was like looking at…a ghost, a spirit of the ether, "She wished to reward my little king for all his hard work over the summer while you were in Camelot: don't worry," he then added, smiling at Lily, "She said you can touch me and see me: she and I were hoping you'd come here."
"James!" sobbed Lily, wrapping her arms around the former Potter Lord, Harry still confused, but fully aware that he now needed to take a little trip into his kingdom: he wanted to have a few choice words with the Lady of Darkness. When the two elders parted, James actually kneeled down before he opened his arms to Harry, who, forsaking all his formality, nobility and shock, ran into his Father's arms. He was a little boy again, not the Holy Knight, not someone with the problems of Dumbledore and a fake prophecy: no, he was a little boy in his Dad's embrace.
"Hey," James whispered, his voice as soft as silk in Harry's ears, "No tears from you Harry; you're the man of the house now." Parting from his son, James smiled and wiped a tear from under Harry's eye, the Arch-Knight's silver eye actually looking like frost in his face as James held him. "I don't regret doing anything I did except leaving you alone that night," he told Harry, "That's why I made sure that the old man couldn't get to my will: now, before we continue, tell me: were we right?"
"Y-yes Dad," Harry smiled, "The H-Holy Knight of T-Thunder: but I was crowned King of C-Camelot and became the Arch-Knight: according to M-Merlin, I am the most powerful Knight since Arthur himself."
"That's my boy," James laughed, ruffling Harry's hair as he held onto his son; at that moment, Harry also noticed a scent on his Father's body: it wasn't foul or smelling of death; instead, it was strong and reminded Harry of the woodlands and the flower garden that led out to the Royal Stables where Raiden and Freya were nestled. Then again, Harry had to remind himself of what Sirius had told him about his Father's Animagus form: Prongs; a stag, just like the one that escaped Excalibur and Harry's wand when he cast the Patronus.
"How…how long can you stay?" asked Harry, not wanting to let go of his Father so soon: pretty quickly, those choice words he had for Artemis were becoming words of thanks and gratitude.
"Until midnight," James answered, "Cheesy I know, but Halloween is the only night of the year when the line between life and death is at its weakest: beyond that, only the Master of Death could bring me back."
"The who?" asked Harry, slightly confused as to the title; something about it made his blood burn with energy.
"The Master of Death," answered James, now actually sitting by his son's side; once again, Harry allowed the little boy in him to come out as he gently clambered into his Dad's lap; smiling softly, James held Harry close, Lily next to them as he continued his explanations. "You see Harry, as powerful as certain wizards think they are, there is one power that still eludes them: the power to control life and death. The Master of Death is the title given to the wizard who becomes the legitimate Master, by conquest or birthright, of three powerful items: the Deathly Hallows."
"And what are they?" asked Harry, but he, James and Lily were all surprised when a familiar voice spoke over James' explanations.
"'There were once three brothers who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at twilight," Hermione appeared through the mists that Harry then noticed were still around, despite the fact his focus was no longer on the power of Illusionism. Behind her, though keeping their distance as they felt this was a family moment, were Dan and Emma, both listening to their daughter's voice. "In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure. And Death spoke to them."
"Sorry," interjected Harry, "but Death spoke to them?"
"It's a fairy tale, Harry!" Lily pointed out, "A story behind the creation of the Hallows."
"Right, sorry. Go on."
"'And Death spoke to them." Hermione repeated, now sitting opposite the three Potters as she gave her story, "He was angry that he had been cheated out of the three new victims, for travellers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said that each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him. So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! So Death crossed to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it to the oldest brother."
Hermione seemed to pause, allowing Harry a chance to think on what she was saying, before she cleared her throat and continued, "Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead. And then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also the wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death. So he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility."
"Death's got an Invisibility Cloak?" Harry interrupted again.
"Yes," James answered, a sly smile crossing his face as he added, "This is the good bit though Harry; please, go on Miss Granger."
"Then Death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way, and they did so talking with wonder of the adventure they had had and admiring Death's gifts: in due course the brothers separated, each for his own destination. The first brother traveled on for a week more, and reaching a distant village, sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally, with the Elder Wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted loudly of the powerful wand he had snatched from Death himself, and of how it made him invincible."
"Well that's stupid," Harry remarked, "Why have all that power if you're only going to show off? At least when I use my power, it's for a purpose."
"That's true," Hermione agreed, continuing her story, "That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine-sodden upon his bed. The thief took the wand and for good measure, slit the oldest brother's throat. And so Death took the first brother for his own. Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his own home, where he lived alone. Here he took out the stone that had the power to recall the dead, and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement and his delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry, before her untimely death, appeared at once before him. Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. Finally the second brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, killed himself so as to truly join her. And so Death took the second brother from his own. But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And the he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life."
"However," James continued, "Those three items really do exist and, to control them would make one the Master of Death: you see Harry, the story is very real: Death, though no-one of the Old Ways will admit it, was actually a woman…"
"Artemis," Harry whispered, the pieces now falling into place.
"Artemis," James agreed, "How do you think she was able to bring me back for tonight? By the way, it's a pleasure to meet the lovely young lady who's captured my son's heart," he added, giving a sly wink to Hermione before Lily gave him a rather painful-looking rap on the arm. "And," James continued, actually wincing at the touch, "If you look over there, you'll see why it's real."
Following his Father's directions, Harry rose from James' lap and moved over to a gravestone that, at first, looked like it had suffered some real wear and tear; it was only when Harry managed to clear away the moss, mould and fix up the headstone that he was able to read the name: Ignotus Peverell.
"One of the three brothers," James explained, now standing by Harry's side as he pointed to a symbol on top of the gravestone, "And that is the mark of the three items, known collectively as the Deathly Hallows."
Harry looked at the symbol: it looked like a triangle, but it held a full and complete circle inside its shape, a single stripe of black moving from the point of the triangle to its base, passing through the circle.
"The three items," James explained, "The Elder Wand for the stripe; the Resurrection Stone for the circle and the triangle is for the Invisibility Cloak: to own all three makes one the one true Master of Death and, with time and training, gives them the power over life and death itself."
"Voldemort," Harry whispered, an air of realisation filling his voice as James cocked his head.
"What about him?" he asked simply.
"I was told," Harry answered, looking to his Father's corporeal apparition as he added, "That Tom Riddle surrendered to his darkness and became Voldemort: now that he's trying to…to come back…" he actually hesitated as he wondered just how much he could reveal to his Father; when he felt the man's hand on his shoulder, Harry looked up into a smiling face.
"Artemis told me everything," James told him, "Go on Harry."
"I have to give my blood to him," Harry explained, "That will return him to his status as the Knight of Darkness: but I think I finally realise why he did it: he was trying to equal his power to that of Artemis, of Death!"
"If that's true," James nodded, "Then it is of vital importance that you let nothing and no-one stop you from doing that Harry: with the Knight of Darkness on your side, you could have the power to become him: after all, I may be dead, but I've met Death and I can sense her essence on you: on your holster and all around you."
"Your cloak!" gasped Hermione, realisation hitting her as James nodded proudly. "But…what about your holster?"
Flicking his wrist, Harry revealed a black wand that was fifteen inches in length, its design slightly different from other wands as it had carvings of a berry-like nature; staring at the wand, Harry asked, "Dad, are you saying that this wand…it's really…"
"The Elder Wand," James nodded, "The most powerful wand in the world is now in the hands of the most powerful Knight and wizard: someone who has been touched by death: no," he then laughed, "Don't tell me: let me guess: you…found the wand?"
"Actually," Harry answered, "It…it came to me: back in September, we were making plans to deal with the monster who really holds responsibility for what happened and, to help, I used my right as Lord of Hogwarts – "I knew it," James commented as Harry continued – to strip Dumbledore of his post as Headmaster; when that became official, the wand flew to me and, as soon as I touched it, its power bonded to me."
"Then that makes two," James laughed, "You see Harry, I told you that one could only become Master by conquest or…birthright: the Potters are one of the descendants of Ignotus and that's how I had the cloak and now you do: just think son, all you need is the Stone and you'll be the most powerful wizard in the world."
"Maybe," Harry agreed, "But I'm sorry Dad; I…" he turned away so his Father didn't see him crying, "I…won't be using the power; not for you…not for anyone…"
"I understand," James smiled, his fingers trailing over Harry's black hair as he smiled at his son: what more could he have expected from the King of Camelot? "I wasn't expecting you to use it Harry; I just wanted you to know the truth about your power. That's why we're the descendants of Ignotus: because we use our brains and not our need for power. I mean you have all the power in the world already at your command, so I don't expect you to consider using any of it for dark purposes. However," he placed his hand on Harry's shoulder, now spinning him round so that Father and Son were face to face. "Don't ever forget me, okay Prongslet?"
"Dad!" Harry remarked, James pulling his son into a warm hug as they held onto one another, the revived soul actually shedding his own tears as he sensed an air of his power in Harry, mainly focused on his Patronus.
"I will always be with you; look after your Mum and that lovely girl of yours; be strong, be good and be the King that you can be proud to be, okay?"
Harry just nodded, though Lily, watching from the sidelines with Hermione, both of them shedding their tears as they saw Harry finally have the chance to know his Dad, felt an air of surprise when they saw James' glow almost pass into Harry, as if he were passing on his power once and for all.
When it was time to go, Harry dropped his illusions, lifted Excalibur once and, looking to the spirit of his Father, shook his head before he asked, "Can I say one more thing Dad?"
"Of course you can Harry," James replied, "What is it?"
Holding Excalibur in a strong, warrior-like salute, Harry whispered, "Goodbye Dad; I love you."
Then, as James watched, Harry, Lily and Hermione vanished, the spirit feeling that his time was coming to a close; with his own smile, the once proud Marauder now felt pride at seeing his little one so strong. Staring seemingly into the darkness, he asked, "Will you watch over him?"
"I will," a familiar female voice answered, "You know that, unless he chooses to use the power, you can never come back, don't you James?"
"I do my Lady," James replied, wiping a tear from his eye as the most special day of Harry's year came to a long and winding end, James' last words echoing on the wind as he vanished back to the realm where spirits go after they die;
"I love you too…my little one…"
Then he was gone and all seemed normal once again, though Harry, on that day, made himself a promise:
He would find the Resurrection Stone; not for the return of his Father, but to ensure that no-one else could abuse the powers of death…
And he would do it for his Family, his legacy and all those who fell at the hands of their dark thirst for power…
He, Harry James Potter, King of Camelot, Arch-Knight and Lord of the Elements would gain another title, no matter how long it took:
Master…Of…Death…
Chapter 32 and I hope everyone liked my little Halloween present for Harry and Lily; I needed a way for Harry to be put on the path that he has set himself no matter what lied ahead; also, I wanted a way for him to learn about the real power of his wand and, well, this came to mind.