Harry Potter and The Realm of War
Summary: Seven years after the fall of Voldemort, a wizard from a distant realm arrives in the Wizarding World we know so well. He needs help ending a century long reign of tyranny over his Kingdom and prophecy tells him he needs Harry and Hermione to do so. Thus begins another round of Wizarding War. A H/Hr love story with a full new adventure.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, these ideas and stories are purely for fun.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
Chapter One: The Past Seven Years
The streets are bustling with the dawn of a new school year. Children run about vibrantly, celebrating their new owls or cats, wands and robes. They push cart loads of school supplies on the cobblestone roads, yelling at each other to keep up. Harry Potter watches in amusement. It's been 14 years since he was shopping for Hogwarts for the first time. He smirks as he remembers his younger self: wide-eyed, unassuming, completely oblivious to what was in store. Tripping over his new robes as he tried to keep up with Hagrid. His face never stopped smiling. Now, he glances around these familiar shops and sees three very young wizards, most likely in their first year, introducing themselves. Two boys and a girl. He smiles and looks around for his two best friends. Ron was going to be starting a job as Gryffindor Quidditch Coach this year at Hogwarts, and he needed to come to Diagon Alley to make sure he had all the necessary equipment for the team. Harry and Hermione tagged along, eager to see the hustle of the place they knew so well.
A lot has happened in the seven years since the trio defeated Voldemort. Immediately following the war, Harry worked with Professor McGonagall to restore Hogwarts to its former glory. The day the Dark Lord fell was officially named "The Battle at Hogwarts", and would forever be referred to as such in all the history books the new wizards of today are studying. The process to rebuild Hogwarts took a month. A team of fifty wizards were assigned, all working tireless hours to get the place ready in time for the next school year. When the school year rolled around, it had the highest attendance Hogwarts had seen in over fifteen years. Everyone was jubilant, excited, ready to sit in the castle and learn magic without the fear of an attack. McGonagall became Headmistress, and Harry insisted that statues of both Dumbledore and Snape be built to honor the two men who helped him save the Wizarding World the most. One pass through Snape's pensieve memories, and McGonagall obliged willingly.
Once the castle was rebuilt, Harry and Hermione helped the Aurors at the Ministry track down the final Death Eaters. Both assisted in the trials that sent them all to Azkaban for their crimes. It was not an easy task, as many had gone into hiding in the Muggle world mere moments after Voldemort's final scream. But since they were so familiar with that world, Harry and Hermione were the perfect duo to lead the search, and after a year and a half they watched the final Death Eater get whisked away.
Simultaneously, Harry, Hermione, and Ron visited the homes of every single family who lost someone in the final battle, letting their family members know their sacrifice would not go unnoticed. They spent countless hours with mourning parents, cousins, sisters, brothers and more; comforting them, offering them their support. The Daily Prophet hounded all three for inside intel into how these people were coping as part of their "Moving On" exposé, and Harry quickly shut them down, and then bought the paper. He said they had spun too many lies over the years and it was time the news told the truth.
The second year after Voldemort fell, Harry and Hermione returned to Hogwarts so they could become official graduates. Ron didn't come with them, as he spent the first few years after the war taking care of his mother. She had suffered a great depression at the loss of Fred, and he knew she needed all her children by her side to help her get to the other side. She eventually did, and now hosts weekly dinners for everyone (including Harry and Hermione) so that the family stays in touch.
In case his teaching position didn't give it away, Ron decided Quidditch is what he wanted to do after nearly dying. He quickly rose to the top of Britain's team five years after the war. Since Quidditch seasons fall so that the professional team plays in the summer, and the schools play Fall and Spring, McGonagall was thrilled he would be joining them and helping to get Gryffindor's team back on top. Admittingly without Harry as seeker, they haven't been winning many games in the last few years.
Harry and Hermione both work in the Ministry. Hermione in the Care for Magical Families unit and Harry in the Auror Department. They work together often, as they are the wizard equivalent of Social Worker and Detective.
Yes, it's clear to say that life has found its groove for all of them. They are three of the most respected wizards in history, and are still only 25.
However, it's important to note that the personal lives of the three brave heroes looks nothing as it did on the afternoon of May 2nd, 1998. Something switched in all of them the moment Harry walked off to the forest alone. Ginny never crossed his mind as he was dying, and he was agonizingly aware of that when she came bounding into his arms after the Elder Wand was destroyed. Hermione's face, however, was swimming in his thoughts from the moment his body rose out of Snape's memories. When Voldemort's curse shot through him, she was the one he wanted more than anything. It wasn't anything he was ever going to tell her, as he thought she was with Ron, but he knew he couldn't be with someone he didn't truly love. And it wasn't fair to Ginny. They had a long talk a couple days after the war ended, and left with no hard feelings. As she was leaving, Ginny even smirked at Harry and said, "You should tell Hermione how you feel." Harry's jaw dropped to the floor in protest, but Ginny simply smiled. "I've seen the way she looks at you, Harry. She'd go to the end of the world for you. Tell me she isn't the one you really want to be with." Her eyes looked at Harry expectedly, but he didn't know what to say. " Mhm…" she mused. " I say tell her." Ginny urged, and then she left.
As Harry remembered all of these things, he sees Hermione coming up to him through the crowd of people. A brilliant smile breaks out onto his face as she stands in front of him, and his lips swoop down to capture her's in a sweet kiss.
"What're you thinking about?" she asks him kindly, and his eyes dance with hers.
"Us." he replies, and Hermione smiles in return.
For Hermione, Harry was always the one she fantasized about in her dreams. He was the boy who saved her, in every aspect of the word. He unhinged her, challenged her, helped her soar and kept her grounded all at the same time. To this day she can't figure out how the rumor that she and Ron kissed got started, but they both burst into laughter when they heard it the first time. Ron let out a resounding "Nooooo way, she's like my sister" and Hermione playfully hit him on the arm. At this sight, Harry's heart fluttered at the idea that Hermione was not taken up. Granted, it still took Harry another eight months to have the courage to say anything, and it was during their last year at Hogwarts that he finally opened up to her. Hermione still remembers the unimaginable joy she felt the night they first said "I love you." But more on that later- for now Ron was coming out of the broom shop with a receipt a mile long, quickly swerving left and right to avoid the happy wizards who were still shopping.
"Blimey!" he exclaims as he approaches the two love-birds. "I forgot what a mess this place the week before school." Hermione smirks.
"That's because you never did the shopping." she teases. Harry laughs lightly and takes the receipt from Ron.
"This all looks good! They're a lucky team." He says. Ron nods his head happily.
"I'm excited!" he reveals. "But I can't stay here anymore. I'm feeling a little claustrophobic…"
Harry and Hermione both nod. Ever since Ron was almost ripped in half apparting, tight spaces make him very uncomfortable. And with the amount of wizards currently on the street, it's a wonder Ron was able to shop at all. Hermione opens her bag, which has several magical compartments inside of it, and helps Ron store the seven new brooms inside. She swings the bag over her shoulder and grabs Harry's hand, and they start to walk back to Leaky Cauldron.
It's not an incredibly warm day, but it's also not cold. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are eager to use the floo network and head back to Harry and Hermione's house, a cottage in Brighton. However, as they walk, both Harry and Hermione become exceedingly aware of a flurry of snow that seems to be falling from the alley near Gringotts. They exchange a glance and get Ron's attention, who shakes his head.
"It's probably just a kid testing out a weather charm." he moans. "Please, I just want to relax." Harry and Hermione look at each other again. If it is just a kid, then fine. But if it isn't… who is it? And why would they cast such a distracting charm in the middle of one of the busiest shopping days of the summer?
"It'll take one minute." Harry encourages, and he and Hermione take the lead toward the snow cloud. Ron sighs. Since the war ended he has been pretty against chasing after anything that could be remotely concerning, but since these two still do it for a living he finds himself in the middle of strange occurrences more often than not.
"Hey, hold on!" he calls after them. The couple is thirty feet ahead, their wands placed out in front of them.
It gets colder around them as they venture deeper into the alley. Hermione takes a moment to transfigure their shirts into sweaters, which Harry thanks her for and Ron huffs at. He could be home by now! Nonetheless, he also pulls out his wand as all the light from the main part of the strip disappears.
"Lumos" they all say, looking around. The snow is clearly falling above their head, but they don't see anything or anyone who is causing it. The bricks on the side of Gringotts are frosted over, and the alley smells of smoke and blood. Harry's wand quickly drops down, making sure there isn't any carnage at their feet, but all he sees are cobblestones and snow.
"Hello?" Hermione asks. Her breath can be seen in the light from the wands, showing them just how cold this alley had become. Her teeth begin to chatter and she looks at Harry once more. "This is strange." she says. He nods and continues to look around.
"Guys, we should just go." Ron says. "Nobody is here." Suddenly, a hooded figure appears behind him. Harry shouts at Ron to move and raises his wand to disarm the figure, but the hood drops quickly and reveals a man of about 30 with his arms up in surrender. Harry lowers his wand and grabs Hermione's hand. Ron has moved behind them again, and all three stare at him for moment.
His lavender robes are tattered, perhaps even scorched. His sunken face looks hollow, and his crystal blue eyes have a haze to them they can't quite explain. Silvery hair drips down his back in a perfect braid, and he quickly drops to his knees and begins to chant in an ancient language. Hermione kneels down, waiting for his prayers to stop, before introducing herself.
"Hello," she says softly. The man looks up at her, tears spilling onto his cheeks. Harry notices the snowing has gotten stronger, and gestures to Ron to get his wand ready. "My name is Hermione, what's yours?"
"I'm Llewel." he squeaks. Hermione senses he is nervous, so she holds out her hands to show his she isn't holding her wand.
"You're okay, Llewel." she says. "This is Harry, and Ron." Harry kneels down next to Hermione, slipping his wand back into his pocket and doing the same thing Hermione just did. Ron does this next, and Llewel looks at all them in awe.
"I'm not supposed to be here." he says. "If they find out…" he begins to quiver, and the snow picks up into a tiny blizzard. Hermione manages to control it with a calming spell, and Llewel looks at her anxiously. "Can we talk?" he asks. "Away from here? I think you are who I was looking for." Hermione looks over at Harry who nods once. She smiles at the curious man and stands up.
"Come with us. Don't say anything and don't look anyone in the eye. Keep your hood up." she instructs. He does as she says, his hood places over his features as he follows the trio out of the alley. They hasten their pace to the Leaky Cauldron, and stand by the window.
"Have you ever used floo powder?" Hermione asks Llewel, who shakes his head. She nods. "Okay, I'll apparate back with you." she says, and looks at Harry. "You two go ahead."
Harry's senses are on alert now. He doesn't want to leave Hermione alone with Llewel without knowing why he is there. But he can see the determination in her eye to earn the new man's trust, so he leans over and kisses her fiercely. When they separate, Llewel is bright red and Ron looks irritated.
"I know it's been five years, mate… but it's like you two just got together all the time. It's disgusting." Harry stifles a laugh and looks back at Hermione.
"Love you." he says.
"I love you, too. We'll see you soon." she says. Both she and Harry knew Ron was acting like this because he didn't want to have an adventure, he wanted to rest, so they took his irritation with a grain of salt. Harry lingered for one more second before pushing the door open and walking in with Ron. Hermione and Llewel watch as they each disappear in a puff of green light in the fireplace.
"That man really loves you." Llewel says smally. Hermione looks at him.
" I really love him, too." she says. "C'mon, grab my arm. Don't let go until I say, okay?" Llewel once again does as she says, and in a moment they feel like they can't breathe, and then its over. Llewel lets out a gasp when he realizes they are standing in an entirely new place. It's a living room. A huge open window stands behind them and overlooks the ocean, a small patio directly outside. There rests a small table and two chairs on the deck, and back inside, on either side of the window, sits Harry and Hermione's diplomas from Hogwarts. Llewel looks around, seeing he and Hermione are standing right next to the fireplace. A strange box sits atop it, and the living room is decorated splendidly. Warm honey colored sofas face the entertainment area. There is a wall of bookshelves, with a small writing desk and fresh quill and ink opposite it.
"I've never seen anything like this." Llewel whistles. Hermione smiles.
"Have a seat," she says. A moment later she hears a pop, and Ron is the first to arrive back.
"That was quick." he says, quite irritated. Hermione rolls her eyes in annoyance and grabs her friend's arm, pulling him to the side of the room.
"What is wrong with you?" she scolds under her breath. Another pop in heard, and she sees Harry. He immediately notices tension, and shoots an uneasy smile over to Llewel, who is still standing.
"Take a seat, Llewel. We'll be right back." he offers. As Llewel finally sits, Harry joins Hermione and Ron in the corner of the hallway. "You two okay?" he asks hesitantly. Ron sighs.
"I'm sorry, you guys. I just… Everytime it feels like we're heading down a dangerous path, I get nervous. It's not you, it just…" Harry nods.
"Stop, Ron, I get it…" he says earnestly. "But Hermione and I are gonna hear what he has to say, you don't have to stay." Ron looks between the two of them and shakes his head. He left once before, and it didn't end well.
"Nah, let's go. I'll be fine. Sorry." he says. Together, the three head back into the room. Llewel is staring at the box over the fireplace, his fingers dancing on his knee.
"What is that?" he asks innocently.
"Oh," Harry begins. "It's called a television. It's um… it's a muggle thing, people watch it to pass the time."
"What does it do?" Llewel asks.
"Well," says Harry. "Um, you watch shows. It's all pretend, they have what are called, er, actors on them. Here." Harry hits the power button on the remote and it flips on. Llewel claps excitedly as an episode of one of Hermione's favorite romance shows pops on, and she smiles at the joy on Llewel's face. "Hermione and I both grew up in the muggle world, so when we moved here we wanted one. We're used to it." He says, his eyes darting to Hermione. They both knew they spend more time rolling around on the floor by the fire then they do watching any telly. But no one else needs to know that. Harry reaches up and turns off the television before getting too lost in thoughts of what he might try tonight.
Hermione sits on the armchair to the left of the sofa Llewel is on. Harry sits on the arm beside her, and Ron on the opposite sofa. No one says anything for a moment, Llewel simply looks around the room, pondering. Harry notes that he reminds him a little of Xenophilius. Finally, Hermione breaks the silence.
"Llewel," she prompts. "Can I get you anything? Tea, perhaps?" The man shakes his head and licks his lips in anticipation.
"N-no, thank you, Ms. Hermione." he says. "I'm sorry I haven't said much, I'm not used to such kindness." he says. In an almost Dobby-like fashion, his face falls immediately, as if he's insulted someone who isn't the room. Harry notes how uncomfortable Llewel is, and clears his throat.
"Well, we want to see if we can help." he says. "You said you were looking for someone, and you thought Hermione might that person?" Llewel shakes his head.
"N-n-no." he begins, whispering. "You and her." he says. Harry nods slowly.
"Okay, both of us. Ron too?" he asks. Llewel looks at the red-head and his eyes grow dark.
"No, not him." he whispers again. Ron's eyes dart to Harry and Hermione, and the three of them realize Llewel won't speak with Ron in the room. He stiffens for a moment but eventually nods. No one says anything, as the trio is able to communicate without words. It's clear that Ron is relieved but also a little guilty he can't help. Harry smiles at him, letting him know everything will be fine. Slowly, Ron stands and gives his two friends a hug. He then turns to Llewel and wishes him good luck before apparating to his own house near the Burrow. Once he is gone, Llewel begins to tremble. His lips shake violently, as do his hands and Hermione quickly uses the same calming charm as snow begins to fall around them. "I'm sorry." Llewel says. "I'm just… so nervous."
"What's going on?" Harry asks. He and Hermione are both intrigued by the man sitting before them. He is so mouse-like, shy, awkward, and yet they can sense a heavy burden weighing him down.
"I'm not from here." he begins, his mouth still shaking. "If people knew… that I was… that I was here, I - I - I would be k-killed." he reveals, completely terrified. Hermione's heart aches at the fear that is gripping this man, and she reaches over and gently touches his arm.
"We're not going to tell anyone." she says, trying to comfort him. He nods.
"I - I know." he says. "I'm from another world." Harry eyes glance quickly at Hermione. They had read about other worlds in their magical logistics class their last year, and again during their training at the ministry, but they had never met anyone from one. Traveling between worlds was difficult magic, often dark magic, and one risked death each time. But they waited and let Llewel continue. " I know what you're thinking. How can I be here?" he says, his tongue darting in and out of his lips like a dog that wants food. "It took great pains to do it. And I don't have much time." He continues. "My world, my Kingdom, it has been under dark magic's rule for over a hundred years. The King, a dark wizard named Abarat Caikalyn just killed his own son to re-establish dominance… His son was 45, the age at which an heir takes the crown from the current King." Llewel's face is contorted as if in pain. "I loved him." he says, choking back a sob. Hermione grips Harry's hand as Llewel continues. "People die everyday where I'm from. It's normal. And it shouldn't be…." his eyes are staring up at the ceiling, and both Harry and Hermione see a stream of tears line the side of his face. "Merith, was his name… the King's son."
"I'm so sorry." Harry says. "I know what it is like to lose someone you love."
"Me too." Hermione adds. Llewel looks at them gratefully.
"Yes…" he says. "There is no greater pain. Before… it happened… Merith was working for decades to try to stop his father's rule. A small resilience team was formed, a team of strong but… not strong enough, good wizards. Over the years we've lost most of them. King Abarat has a much stronger following. A much stronger following. And the people of my Kingdom, my sweet home, Elazia… they are too afraid to fight." Harry nods.
"There is a prophecy…" Llewel continues. "It speaks of two great wizards from another world. It says "The darkest time will come when the brightest of them all will fall. A distant otter and a magnificent stag will come at great speed, and in the end, only one will win…" Harry and Hermione look at each other intently. It is true their patronus' are an otter and stag, and they both look back at Llewel. "But there is more… The prophecy also states that these animals are bounded together, and know magic like no other. Bounded, in a way that only happens when true love is involved." Harry grips Hermione closer and takes in a breath. They also knew they had that on their side, too. "I have searched every realm I can think of. Every one. I first came to this world eight years ago. And a man named Harry Potter and a girl named Hermione Granger were all anyone could talk about in all the local pubs, the stations, the streets. Your friend, Ron, I think you said... he had come home, but you two were missing. And I heard quite quickly about your dark wizard. And I checked in a year later, and you had won. And I stayed for as long as I dared, following you. I'm sorry I did, I just had to see if you were it. And I watched, once, and you did something with your wand and an otter and a steed came forth, and I knew you were the ones we need. I just had to wait until I knew the time was right to come find you."
Harry and Hermione sat in silence for a moment, trying to process what they have just heard. Multiple worlds, another dark and evil wizard… it was surreal to even consider. However, Harry and Hermione were both quite familiar with prophecies, and knew that what Llewel was saying made sense, and could be true. Prophecies never lie. Hermione bites her lip again and squeezes Harry's hand, then looks at Llewel again.
"Are you a wizard?" she asks. He nods.
"Yes, but my magic is weak. We do not have a school like you do. I am not properly trained. Merith was, being the King's son he had access. But most of us in Elazia go by instinct. We know not how to control it, it works when we desperately need it to." Hermione nods at these words.
"In the alley," Harry says, "I smelled smoke… and blood. Was that from the portal to get here?"
"Yes." Llewel says in a whisper. This entire time he has spoken in such a way. "It's very cold in Elazia. Snow is curious, and when I need to go to a new realm I come in a sort of storm. But it wasn't gone when you found me, it's perhaps how you found me. It wasn't closed, so parts of Elazia were there. The smell, is one."
"What do you need from us, exactly?" Hermione asks.
"Help." Llewel says quickly. "The prophecy is on your side. If you come, all we need is help." Harry pondered this.
"We need time. To train. Not only ourselves and get us fully combat ready again, but you.. And anyone else from Elazia who you think needs to know how to fight." Llewel shook his head violently.
"N-no - no time. No time. We must move quickly."
"A time turner." Hermione says. "We can get one from the Ministry, probably easily. We can train here in batches perhaps and head into Elazia when we feel ready." But Llewel shook his head.
"No, we have no time. The portal is going to open soon. You have to come with me." Harry looked at Hermione.
"Can we meet you there? Hermione's right, she and I need to brush up at least, and maybe we can find a time to train you in Elazia...In a few days, perhaps you can come back for us? We can't come now, Llewel I'm sorry." Llewel looked nervous and shook again, snow falling slowly. Hermione did one last calming charm to ease his tired self.
"I suppose… I have traveled many times and so far they have not caught me. I can try once more. Is three days enough time?" he asked. Harry looked at Hermione.
"We'll make it be." she assured Llewel. "Meet us here in three days. We'll come with you." Llewel began to shake again and nodded.
"Thank you. Thank you." he was sobbing now, and Harry stood up to hug him, as did Hermione. He wept as he felt their arms around him, for the last person to hug him was Merith.
"I promise we will do what we can." Harry said. "Now go, before they realize you are gone." Llewel nodded and snow began to fall in a blizzard-like fashion. Harry and Hermione watched as Llewel was wrapped in a swirling white blanket, the smell of smoke and blood filling their lungs and causing them to gag. The he was gone.
A/N: Thanks, all! Next chapter will be up soon.
