Harry Potter and the Child of Tourach
Summary: Sequel to Fortress of WoeFive years after Voldemort's fall a new threat rises. As ancient foes clash the Wizarding World crumbles in their wake and Harry finds himself caught in the middle
Notes: rated for language, violence and graphic sex, you have been warned! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't, nor will I ever, own Harry Potter, nor will I make any money with this story.
Chapter 1: Awakening
31.8.2002 Bering Sea 7:32 PM European Standard Time
A storm was raging over the Bering Sea, the sea separating Canada and Asia. The black sea was churning, steamed up by the howling wind. Ice floes topped the waves; little white spots contrasting brightly against the black water. Dawn wasn't even close, only the lighting bolts lightened the sky; tiny moments of brightness followed by absolute darkness. Claps of thunder accompanied the bolts, only seconds separating them. The temperature was icy and the sea completely deserted for everyone sane had retreated into the safety of the mainland.
That was about to change.
Slowly a vortex was forming within the raging sea. At first it was only a few inches in diameter but it grew quickly. Within a minute it grew to three feet and gained strength, eagerly swallowing all water it could get. Suddenly it stopped. A gigantic water column erupted from the vortex, spraying water and ice floes twenty feet into the air. After this the sea wasn't deserted anymore.
A lone figure was levitating over the churning water, precisely where the vortex had been mere moments ago. The figure was a skeleton, its pale bones covered by translucent ice. Judging by its broad shoulders and slim pelvis it once belonged to a tall man. Its head was topped with ice spikes, resembling pale, spiky hair. Its eye sockets were filled with two glittering, almond-shaped ice crystals, shining with malice and intelligence. The rest of his body was completely covered in ice instead of flesh and a tattered black cloak was his only clothing.
This creature's name was Crosis.
Slowly Crosis turned around, his face now facing east and something like a smile played on his ice-covered lips. He had found what he had been looking for and started to fly east, knowing that the others would join him soon.
- - - - -
31.8.2002 Argentina, the volcano Maipo 7:32 PM European Standard Time
Carlos was drenched in sweat as he walked on the narrow paths crossing the volcano on his way home. Even though the winter had only ended a short time ago, it was already warm and the stony parts were difficult to climb. The heavy backpack he was carrying didn't ease his journey at all, and he cursed silently under his breath in Spanish as he continued walking. He was a small man of about thirty, with chocolate-brown skin, black eyes, short, curly black hair and a boyish face. He had spent his day working on a coffee plantation and bought a few things on his way back. He still had about two miles to walk before he would reach his home and meet his wife and two small children.
It was already late and therefore he had decided to use some shortcuts, which lead further up the mountain, sparing him the journey around it. Normally he didn't use this way, due to the strange presence one could feel if you walked close to the top of the volcano. It felt as though something dangerous was watching you and waited for a good moment to strike. Of course no one had ever been attacked, but nevertheless most people avoided to top as much as possible. There was no reason to press one's luck after all.
Carlos wiped the sweat from his forehead and just wanted to continue his journey, as he heard a muffled voice speaking to him in a language he couldn't understand.
"Free, free at last!!! The time has come to continue the old battle. Time to get out of this hole and find Tourach. It won't be long now until the contest starts again."
Suddenly the ground started shaking and Carlos feel on all fours, being caught off-guard. The stone under his feet and hands was trembling and creaking and suddenly a five foot long crack appeared in it, directly next to him. It widened quickly and soon was two feet wide. Suddenly a hand appeared in the crevice and grabbed the edge of it, apparently someone was trying to pull him- or herself out of the hole! It was a very strange hand, made of what seemed to be vines. Carlos was stunned. He was completely petrified. Unmoving he watched the creature unfold itself from its stony prison.
It looked like a very tall and big man, made of vines and fire. The left half of his body consisted completely out of plants, forming a human body, while the other half was made of magma. Even the creature's face was divided, one half of it fiery red and the other moss-green. Only its eyes weren't red or green; they were jet-black and staring at Carlos intensely. After what appeared to be an eternity the creature's gaze unlocked itself from him and it flew away. Soon it was only a small dot in the sky and for a brief moment a name blazed through the young man's mind: Anhur
- - - - -
31.8.2002 Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro 7:32 PM European Standard Time
The Kilimanjaro was riddled with caves, but only one of them was invisible to mortals. Its entrance was only four feet wide, but led to a vast cavern, more then thirty feet in diameter. Stalagmites, stalactites and various colourful crystals lined the narrow path leading deeper in the mountain. Sometimes a ray of light would hit one of the crystals and get refracted, illuminating the cave with coloured beams. Drips of water were falling from the ceiling in regular intervals, the sound of them hitting the floor echoing throughout the grotto.
A straightaway path lead deeper into the mountain; the only source of illumination was a special sort of crystal, which was light-blue and glowing in the dark and whose radiance seemed to grow stronger the deeper one travelled into the peak. After about half a mile the path widened into a circular grotto, about ten feet in diameter and eight feet high. It was nearly completely filled by a big, translucent crystal, the shape of an obelisk, which was six feet high and three feet wide and deep. It was clearly a magical object due to two reasons: First of all it crackled with magical and energy and there was a woman embedded in it. She had nearly snow-white skin, platinum-blonde hair and was dressed in a white tunica, which hugged her lean form. The only not-white thing on her, were her blood-red lips. She had her knees pulled up to her torso in a foetal-position and seemed to slumber peacefully.
Suddenly the sound of a hammer striking a glass bell filled the cavern. Cracks appeared in the crystal and suddenly it exploded in a shower of translucent splinters. The woman gracefully floated down to the ground, her bare feet unhurt by the sharp crystal fragments. She opened her eyes, which were golden, and focused her gaze on the path leading out of the cave. She knew that the others had awoken as well and that it was time to continue their old fight. Her first step would be to find the judge. Slowly she floated out of the cave, before speeding up and disappearing in the sky.
After she had left a light wind arose, whispering a name: Shai.
- - - - -
31.8.2002 Great Britain, London 7:32 PM European Standard Time
"Home, sweet Home" thought Harry as he pushed open the door leading to his apartment. Closing the door behind him and slipping out of his shoes, he walked into the largest room of the flat, the living room, which connected all other parts of it. Once again the beauty of it awed him. It was a very modern building, built only five years ago, and was located in one of the upper-middleclass areas in London. It was an apartment building, ten storeys high and Harry owned the penthouse on top of it.
Most of the flat was either made of glass, light-coloured wood or aluminium and Harry completely loved its style. The living room housed a wooden table with four cantilever chairs and a cream-coloured couch. One corner of it had been separated by a counter, housing the fridge, the stove and pantry, plus some cabinets containing all kind of plates, glasses, pots and cutlery. One of the walls of the living room was a gigantic window, granting the inhabitants a spectacular view over London. A door on the left wall led to the bedroom, which was connected to the bathroom, and one on the right to his working room and his library.
Harry walked into the bedroom, his steps echoing dully on the hardwood floor, which contained a king-sized bed and lots of closets, and started undressing. He slipped out of his brown jeans and his black T-shirt and changed into casual trousers and a sport shirt. He opened on of the closets and extracted a pair of trainers, before dumping his discarded clothes in the hamper, holding the dirty ones. He put on the trainers and took a moment to regard himself in the big silver mirror which hung at a wall of the bedroom.
A young man in his early twenties looked back at him. Harry's hair was as unruly as it had ever been and he had given up any hope that it would ever lie flat. He had grown up to six feet two inches and while still being lean, had developed a fair bit of muscle, due to his Auror training. He had a bit of a tan, the only pale spots in his face were the two scars, the one shaped like a lighting bolt on his forehead and the cut on his left cheek. All in all he was more than satisfied with his appearance.
He grabbed his key, which he had placed on his bedside table and walked back to the living room. Just as he wanted to use magic to cook his dinner, he remembered that this wouldn't be necessary today and instead headed for the door. Putting his wand back into the pocket of his trousers, he left the apartment, heading down the flight of stairs leading to the basement.
Five minutes later he had left the apartment building and started his daily ten miles run before dinner. As an Auror he needed the stamina and in his opinion it was very relaxing. He found it easier to think after returning from a good, long run.
Harry had become an Auror four years ago. After he had defeated Voldemort and taken his N.E.W.T.s – more to shut Hermione up than because he really wanted or needed them - he had immediately signed up for the Auror training program and he finished it in under a year, much faster than anyone else of the rookies. Of course it wasn't fair to compare him with the other trainees, because he had learned nearly all of the spells an Auror had to know already, to fulfil his quest to get rid of Voldemort. Being able to control his powers very well, he had been able to learn the few spells he didn't know very fast and even breezed through potions, which wasn't too bad without Snape breathing down your neck or Slughorn babbling all the time.
Only the theoretical part of the Auror training had delayed him. The part about how to handle special situation wasn't that bad, put having to learn the Auror's handbook by heart was downright painful. After having become an Auror, Harry got promoted very quickly after rounding up a large group of Death Eaters in his first year. He was now a High-Auror and the first person in recorded history, which had achieved this rank at the age of twenty-three. He really should be happy about his work.
But he wasn't.
The group of Death Eaters he had arrested had been the only exciting case in the last four years, the rest were only dull every-day work or paperwork. Harry had become more and more bored at work and usually spent most of his time training in the Auror training room. There simply was nothing else to do! After Voldemort's fall the remaining Death Eaters were either arrested or fled, leaving the country as peaceful as it had been before his resurrection. As much as Harry had loathed having to fight Voldemort, he had realized by now that he seemed to need the excitement of a good battle.
Of course he didn't wish the old days of slaughter back, mind you, but a BIT of excitement would be more than welcome. Out of boredom, he had learned nearly all Muggle martial arts and was constantly sparring with other Aurors. His N.E.W.T.s had been pretty good and everyone would have liked to employ the famous Harry Potter, but he always knew that he wanted to be an Auror. It was sad that his dream turned out to be less exciting than he thought.
Knowing that his current train of thought would only depress him, Harry started to think of more pleasant matter. First of all how well he had been able to submerge after his appearance at his own funeral. It had been easy to arrange that he his N.E.W.T. examination took place in the Ministry rather than at Hogwarts, a necessary course of action because he really had not felt like returning to the school. It was sad that the place he had always considered home was now hunted by so many ghosts that he did not want to visit it anymore.
His post would be delivered to a post-office-box in Hogsmeade, which he had bewitched to teleport the post directly in his apartment. He had cast a special charm on him, making it impossible for any owl to find him directly, unless he had allowed it. Only the Weasleys and Hermione were able to owl him and only very few people knew that he lived in Muggle London. He was pretty sure that the reporters, who were all dieing to interview him, were still trying to learn about his whereabouts by riddling the Weasleys with questions, but he knew they would be unsuccessful.
As the thought about the Weasleys Harry's gaze settled on the rings on his hand. On his left hand he wore a silver emerald ring, which once had been his father's and he had gotten as a Christmas present from Ginny, and on his right finger a gold ring, with a single large ruby. His wedding ring. He had married Ginny a year ago and it had been the best year of his life. He still vividly remembered his wedding, which had been a very small one, because he didn't want to alert the media, and especially his wedding night. Ginny had worn a white, silken dress and he fondly remembered peeling it off her after the festivities were over.
Harry was so lost in his memories that it took it some time to realize that he was back at the apartment building. He was drenched in sweat, but otherwise felt very good and was already looking forward to his daily mediation and a hot shower. On his way back up, he ran into Mr. Curtis, one of their neighbours. He was a stocky man of around thirty-five, with short black hair, a prominent nose and a moustache. He was married and the father of two children and normally a very pleasant person. Harry and he chatted for a few minutes about nothing special, before Mr. Curtis returned to his flat.
Harry and Ginny had moved in the penthouse three years ago, wanting to take their relationship to the next level: living together. Harry had been looking for a flat for some time, wanting to finally live his own life and as soon as he had seen the new penthouse, he knew that he had to buy it. It had been expensive, yes, but in Harry's opinion it had been worth every penny. All their neighbours believed that Harry was working in the consulting company of his rich uncle, who had bought him this apartment and that Ginny was studying medicine and was working part-time at the hospital. Until now their real identity hadn't been discovered.
Harry entered his flat and slipped out of his trainers before heading to the bedroom again. He sat down Indian-style on the bed and used his wand to light the many candles placed in the room. He always found it easier to meditate in twilight. Using the Focus Arcanum, a meditation technique he had learned out of one the books Remus gave him six years ago, Harry practiced channelling his magical energies. This had allowed him to gather enough power to fight and defeat Voldemort. Over the last years, he had become so adapt at controlling his magical energy that he could cast simple spells now without using his wand. It was far harder than casting spells the normal way, but Harry considered it wise to have a trump up the sleeve for almost every situation.
During the meditation his mind was exceptionally clear; he often relieved the passed day during his sessions and analyzed it more deeply. After a while - it was always hard to measure time while you are meditating - he felt Ginny approaching the door to the apartment. His ability to feel other person's minds was another very useful feat he had acquired during his crusade against Voldemort. It allowed him to feel if any persons were nearby and also to recognize people by the unique pattern their thoughts and feelings formed.
He rose from the bed and walked to the front door, which promptly swung open, revealing his wife standing on the threshold. Ginny was wearing a bright red T-shirt - matching her hair - and blue jeans. Most of her fiery hair had been pulled back in a pony tail, only a few wisps were still falling in her face. She looked tired, but her chocolate-coloured eyes lit up she spotted her husband.
"Hey sweetheart", she said, pulling Harry into a hug. "Merlin, what a rough day, I swear I will throw the biggest party you have ever seen when I am through with healer training."
Once again Harry was amazed how much she had grown over the last years. She was now five feet eight inches tall, only four inches smaller than him.
"Rough day, huh?" he asked, gently lifting her head with a hand before capturing her lips with a passionate kiss. His tongue entered her mouth and tangled with hers, sending shivers of pleasure down their spines.
"That's truly a nice way to be welcomed home", she said, grinning mischievously, after they had broken apart. "Yeah, I had a rough day, patients running my door in. You won't believe how hard a trainee healer at St. Mungo's has to work. Let's have a quite evening tonight, shall we? Tomorrow will be Friday and we can go out all over the weekend."
Harry knew exactly what Ginny meant by a "quite evening", as she started to trail kisses down his neck. He hated to be a spoilsport, but they had others plans this evening.
"Sorry to disturb your plan Gin, but we are having dinner with Ron and Hermione tonight at 9 o'clock. That means we've got only half an hour to get ready and to go to Salvatore's, you know, the small Italian restaurant two blocks down."
Ginny groaned, having completely forgotten about that. Even though it would be nice to see Ron and Hermione again, she was very tired and longed for a bit of privacy with her husband.
"Well", she said, "I guess trying to talk you into not going would be pointless, so let's head to the shower together and get ready."
"Oh no." replied Harry grinning. "If we both shower at the same time, we will emerge even dirtier than we were before. No way. I'm going to go first and you'll go second. Normally it would be 'ladies first', but I simply shower faster. Don't worry, we won't be staying too long, we still will have enough time just for the two of us."
Ginny grudgingly gave in and fifteen minutes later both of the left the apartment. Harry was wearing dark-blue jeans, a bright orange T-shirt embroidered with the name of his favourite Muggle rock band and their logo, a black, flaming skull, a black leather jacket and black trainers. Ginny was wearing a white skirt and a light blue blouse, her hair still pulled back in the messy ponytail. They decided to walk instead of Apparating and arrived at Salvatore's ten minutes later, finding Ron and Hermione already seated at a table, which had been placed outside, due to the warm weather.
Both of them hadn't changed much. Ron was as tall as ever, now nearly six feet six inches tall, with lots of freckles and fiery hair. The only change in his physique was that he had grown much broader, due to playing keeper at the Chudley Cannons.
Hermione's appearance had only changed slightly, as well. Her brown hair was still somewhere between curly and bushy, but it was much shorter than it had been; now only barely reaching her shoulders. Both of them were dressed in casual Muggle clothes.
Hermione spotted Harry and Ginny first, and promptly enveloped them in a big hug while squealing with joy.
"HARRY, GINNY, oh it has been much too long."
"Let them breath Hermione", interrupted Ron, grinning. "Hey sis, Harry, it's really great to see you. Sit down."
"Thanks Ron", said Harry, smiling at his best mate and brother-in-law and sat down at the table, followed swiftly by Ginny. "How are you? As far as I can tell you still aren't married."
"We are simply great Harry", replied Hermione beaming. "And no, we still aren't married, even though you have been pushing us for ages now. Ron it often on the road with his team and I am often tied up at my work as a spellmaker at the Ministry, so we don't have much time together. Nevertheless we have decided to take our relationship to the next level. The Quidditch season won't start for another two months and we're going to move together in a week. We have found a nice apartment here in London and…"
"..are willing to take the risk of seeing each other twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week", finished Ron dryly. "Prepare yourself for some world-shaking rows."
Just as Hermione opened her mouth, probably to tell Ron that she didn't agree at all with his pessimistic way of thinking, the waiter arrived and quelled the brewing argument by asking them to order. Instead of further discussing their relationship any further, Ron and Hermione decided to riddle Ginny and Harry with as much questions as possible.
"Well, Harry, Ginny, tell us about being married." said Hermione. "The last time we saw you was nearly eight months ago, on Mrs. Weasley's birthday and then you've just been back from your honeymoon in the Caribbean."
"Don't worry Hermione." replied Ginny, smiling. "Everything is just perfect. Green Eyes over there is treating me very nicely indeed."
Ron, who had just been taking a sip of soft drink, suddenly started spraying his drink everywhere.
"Green Eyes???" he asked, startled. "What kind of name is THAT supposed to be?"
Harry felt himself blushing slightly before responding.
"It's a nickname Ginny gave me during our honeymoon, nothing to be shocked about Ron. Don't tell me that you don't have any nicknames for Hermione."
"I think it's simply cute." said Hermione softly, causing both Ron and Harry to roll their eyes. Dinner arrived swiftly and was spent with small talk; Hermione riddling Ginny about being married to Harry, while Ron and Harry were talking about Quidditch, especially about Ron's performance during the last season.
"By the way Harry." asked Ron after dinner. "Are you still so frustrated with being an Auror? You've complained a lot about it being very boring at the moment."
Harry sighed, not really wanting to talk about that topic.
"Yeah, I still am. There's some hope though. I talked to Wright today and he made me an interesting proposal."
John Wright was the current Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Office, a tall, lean, ascetic looking man in his fifties, with short silver hair and light blue eyes.
"Really?" asked Ginny, surprised. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, we didn't really have the time to talk about my job, had we? Nevertheless there's a bunch of recruits coming in, who have enrolled for Auror training. Their apprenticeship is scheduled to begin tomorrow, but their original instructor, the old Auror Hartman, isn't feeling too well at the moment and won't be able to train them. There aren't many Aurors around who are willing to take care of the rookies and Wright knows how bored I am at the moment, so he offered me the position. Of course I accepted immediately."
"Oh Harry, that's so great." squealed Ginny, hugging her husband. "Finally you've got something to do at work."
"But Harry", piped up Hermione. "You are only twenty-three years old; do you already have the required rank to train the recruits?"
"Hermione, you are talking to the bloody Boy-Who-Lived.", chuckled Harry. "As I arrested these Death Eaters a few years ago, I was immediately promoted to High Auror status, the second highest rank that exists. Of course my reputation as the great saviour helped greatly. All in all I think I'm more than qualified to train a few rookies."
"Right.", said Ron. "But let's talk about the really important issues now; when do you think I'm going to be an uncle?"
Harry was a bit taken aback by this question. When had Ron developed a love for kids? Ginny, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated it.
"For heaven's sake Ron." she replied, rolling her eyes. "You have asked me that question about a dozen times at Mum's birthday and the answer is still the same: I've got my healer exam in December and I need the time to study instead of shopping for baby clothes. If you like babies so much, then why aren't you a father yet? I'm sure Hermione would be more than happy to comply."
This effectively stifled Ron and they continued chatting for an hour, before saying goodbye and heading back to their homes.
- - - - -
Harry hadn't even been able to close the door behind them, before Ginny captured his lips in a heated and passionate kiss. Their tongue tangled and started to dance with a ferocity that left both of them breathless. After about two minutes they broke apart, both of them in desperate need of oxygen. Harry used this short break to close the door behind them and to slip out of his trainers before scooping his wife up in his arms and kissing her again. She moaned as his tongue entered her mouth and hungrily kissed him back.
Slowly Harry started to feel his way to the bedroom, which wasn't quite easy while kissing one's wife and carrying her in one's arms. To make matters worse, Ginny abandoned his mouth just as he entered the living room only to start kissing and sucking his neck. A part of Harry's neck was extremely sensitive and he started to moan, feeling raw lust flooding his mind.
After what felt like an eternity he finally reached their bed and gently lowered Ginny on the silken covers, stopping her ministration to his neck and capturing her lips with another mind-numbing kiss. He was beside himself with arousal now and judging by her eyes, which were black with lust, and her hard nipples poking through the thin fabric of her blouse, Ginny shared his state-of-mind.
Much too impatient to undress normally, Harry started to tap his magic powers, vanishing Ginny's and his clothes wandlessly. The discarded garments appeared neatly folded next to the bed. Harry abandoned his wife's mouth and started to trail butterfly kisses down her neck, on her collarbone. Encouraged by her throaty moans, he started to suck her right nipple, causing her to gasp. Knowing exactly what she wanted Harry continued his journey downwards, sucking gently on her navel, before reaching her wet, throbbing core.
He started to suck her clit and smiled smugly as she cried out his name and buried her hands in his hair. Once again Harry congratulated himself for placing Silencing Charms around the apartment. After only thirty seconds Ginny started bucking below him and clamping her legs around his head, as her orgasm hit her. Harry patiently waited for her to regain at least a bit of control. Finally she released his head and muttered a single word: "Harry…"
Harry didn't need more encouragement. He was rock hard by now and more than eager to get a bit of release himself. He climbed back on the bed and gently slipped inside her, causing her to moan throatily. Granting her a moment to adjust to him, he kissed her again, once more overwhelmed by the searing passion radiating from her.
He started to thrust, slowly at first, but picking up speed quickly. One of his hands snaked down to her clit and started to stroke it, while he continued to make love to her mouth. Harry felt his climax approaching at top speed, but he knew by experience that Ginny would come first.
Just as Ginny started to buck under him, he came as well and for a moment both of their brains were aflame with pleasure. After a few minutes of recovery they snuggled into each other, both of them falling asleep almost instantly.