Inheriting a Draconian Mantle – Book 3
By Stargatesg1fan1
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognized characters or universes within. If I did…I would have ended the Inheritance Cycle with Arya and Eragon in love and entangled in a heated, naked, and sweaty mess in their bed. Harry Potter would have been smarter and taken every opportunity he had to make love to the gorgeous Miss Granger and when they were old enough he would have made her the next Mrs. Potter.
Females Bonded by Harry Potter So Far (In Books One and Two):
Nymphadora 'Nym' Tonks is played by Sarah Chalke
Hermione Granger is played by Emma Watson
Susan Bones is played by Karen Gillian
Cho Chang is played by Katie Leung
Ginny Weasley is played by Julie McNiven
Females Bonded by Harry Potter in Book 3:
Luna Lovegood is played by Evanna Lynch
Queen Dianna of the Fairies is played by Dianna Agron
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"I can see now that Myrrdin's offspring must have taken his mother's last name of Potter, probably to shield themselves from their father's fame. Myrrdin made many enemies as he reshaped the mortal magical world. But before that his father whom the Sidhe referred to as Treyis in their tongue reshaped the mortal and immortal magical world. Treyis means reality bender in the Sidhe tongue. It's a name many Sidhe came to fear. The final battle of the Sidhe Wars saw millions of Sidhe set to attack all of the ancient magical kingdoms at once. Eragon pulled all the Sidhe into a pocket dimension of his creation and slaughtered them with power I did not know he possessed. It was amazing," Dianna whispered in reminiscence.
"I…Eragon," Harry began confusedly. "He converted most of his mass into energy and enhanced the effect with his magic. It was like a non-magical nuclear weapon enhanced with magic."
"Is that what you did," Dianna mused, letting the Rider know she thought of him as Eragon if he could remember that much. "Our best thinkers could not figure out the spells used. We had just assumed they were from the land Eragon inhabited before he came to this continent."
"Oh they were," Harry assured, recalling the technique being used by previous Riders in an ancient war against some of their own. "What happened to Myrrdin and your sister Jaimie?"
"They still live. That much I know. You see fairy families can tell the health status of the members of their family. We can't tell location but I can tell my sister and nephew are alive. I am not sure how this is possible. Even though they have fairy blood flowing through their veins they were not immortal from birth like full blooded fairies. They would have lives several times the normal length of a pure human but they should have perished by now of old age," Dianna explained.
"If Myrrdin left the enchanted egg for me in my family vault that would mean he had access to dragon eggs. Bonding with Saphira's breed like I have makes the Rider immortal unless they die of injury," Harry explained.
"That would make sense I suppose. My sister and nephew could be anywhere. I'm not surprised that they might want to hide away for a few dozen centuries after the excitement they had throughout Merlin's time among the mortals. I am curious about something…do you perhaps have a form like Eragon's? He was quite…alluring the few times I met him," Dianna admitted with a curious smile.
In response to the inquiry Harry shifted his shape to assume his base form. Dianna's breath caught as she laid eyes upon the immortal warrior's striking form. It was the Rider she had been talking with for some time but with pointed ears, sharper features, and a predatory look about him that set the Queen's loins buzzing. The blonde fairy picked up a musky scent coming from her companion that only enhanced her attraction to him. Then Harry shifted back to his human-appearing form. He was still quite attractive but the draw to immediately take this wizard into her bed had subsided for Dianna.
"Well…that was interesting," Dianna declared.
"A gift from Saphira when we first bonded I do believe," Harry explained.
"Thank you Saphira," the Fairy Queen projected to the dragon.
"You are welcome," Saphira replied.
"So…," Harry began to change the subject. He was not unaware how attractive Dianna was. "This place is different from most pocket dimensions. It's like the forest in a trunk Myrrdin gifted to me."
"That would be because Myrrdin used a mixture of the magic taught to him by his mother, what little Eragon was able to teach him before the Rider's fall in battle, and the magic I taught him to come up with these other realms. They're tied to the mortal world by portals; which is what Saphira managed to stumble through in her hunt. This is also likely where my sister and nephew are at, in another realm of his creation. Myrrdin garnered many favors among the immortal magical races when he created each a realm of their own. This is where the immortals retreated after the Sidhe Wars. We cannot war with each other or the mortals if we cannot gain access to each other."
"We're out of phase with the normal universe," Harry observed.
"Out of phase," Dianna mused.
"Yes," Harry confirmed as he stood and suddenly sunk through the floor like a ghost. Startled Dianna watched as the green eyed male floated back up through the floor and resumed his previous sitting position. "It's a trick I learned to do after someone tried to trap me in a demon cage."
Harry had realized that his teleportation had slowed down drastically while trying to escape Dumbledore's cage. After much experimentation and practice the sorcerer had managed to slow his traversal through other dimensions down to such a level that he could stand still and observe the normal world but pass through lower dimensional matter as if he were a ghost. Normally he was also invisible to lower dimensionally residing beings but fairies weren't completely anchored in the lower dimensions. It was obvious Dianna had been able to see him.
Dianna's eyes flashed and she probed in a deadly tone, "Who tried to trap you in a demon cage?"
"The Headmaster of Hogwarts," Harry answered with a shrug. "He's done some terrible things to me in the past and insists on continuing to meddle. I'm going to make him suffer; tear him apart piece by piece before I finish him off. I've got it all in hand. Dianna, why are you the only fairy my size I've observed?"
Her anger cooled only slightly after learning of the Rider's control of the situation with the Headmaster. But the Queen made a mental note to have some of her stealthier warriors observe this mortal that would dare to harm Eragon reborn.
"Only the royal family line of fairies can switch between the size of my subjects you have come across and the size I am now," Dianna explained as she suddenly shrunk down to an incredibly small size before restoring herself to human size. "I am the last pure royal fairy," the beauty added sadly. "Our best scholars have actually performed studies among the mortal races and have determined that a very small number of mages in this region of our continent have what the mages term the metamorphmagus ability. They have what the mortals call a gene activated by distant royal fairy lineage. Arcane genetics are more complex than what the mortals are researching right now but that's the base of it."
Harry's eyes brightened at the thought of fairy knowledge and he asked, "Do you have a library of this knowledge compiled by your people?"
"Yes, we do," Dianna assured, recognizing a fellow scholar in the warrior mage. "You are most welcome to come to this realm any time and learn from our many libraries."
"If it isn't too delicate of a subject to ask about…how did so much fairly lineage enter the mortal realm?" Harry queried.
Dianna smiled and assured, "It's not a difficult subject to talk about. Fairy males are very…amorous and potent sexually. Each one mates with several females and in general we're not as strung up on monogamy as the mortals. Some fairies only take one mate and many take more than one. The males of my family would often go out into the mortal world and sow their oats as the non-magicals say."
"As fascinating as I have found our time together I need to be getting back to the school before my lovers and friends awake," Harry said as he stood.
Dianna filed the information that the Rider had already taken multiple lovers away for later contemplation.
"Time flows differently here than in the mortal realm. It can be a bit confusing. Sometimes time flows faster in other realms and sometimes it flows more slowly. I'll explain more on that the next time you return. I'll also show you how to gain access to a portal within the forest you entered through so that you don't have to keep punching through our wards," Dianna said with some amusement as she rose into the air on her beating wings. The blonde was quite surprised when the Rider also took to the air but without being on his dragon. "How are you doing that? I did not think you could fly without the aid of a dragon or a broom."
"It's a trick I learned while phasing through higher dimensions. Gravity is caused by the curvature of spacetime. Mass bends spacetime and causes other matter to want to flow towards the point of greatest spacetime curvature," Harry explained while flying alongside Dianna towards the portion of the forest he and his dragon had entered this realm from. Saphira was flying overhead of the pair. "Spacetime is easier for me to manipulate in higher dimensions and I found that I could reverse the curvature of spacetime around me. Instead of my mass being attracted to other larger masses I could cancel these gravitational field out and even propel my mass off of the fabric of reality with reverse curvature. It took quite a bit of practice but I could do the same in this dimension as well."
"I would like to see more of what you can do when you next visit this realm. I hope it is soon," Dianna suggested as she and the Rider touched down. "Now, let me show you how to make the portals visible and gain access through them."
It didn't take long for Harry to master the portal manipulation because it was similar to the portal rings he had crafted with the vanishing cabinet modified charms. Dianna keyed Rider and dragon into the wards protecting her realm and bid them farewell.
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The next day was the first Hogsmeade day of the year and the first time the third years would get to go. Harry and Saphira had visited the village many times in their first two years at Hogwarts with the dragon invisible and the Rider shifted into a new form.
"Where should we go first?" Hermione asked excitedly as she, Harry, Nym, Susan, Hannah, Neville, and Cho reached the village.
"Well we're closest to the post office. It's even bigger than the office they keep in Diagon Alley," Nym said as she pointed to a nearby building with a pyramid-shaped roof.
The Hufflepuff seventh year led the way up the stone steps and in through open double doors. The magicians could feel energy barriers as they passed through the doorways which kept the temperature inside the building with an open roof comfortable. Approximately two hundred owls lined the roosts spaced around the ceiling. The owls were charmed different colors.
"Why are the owls all different colors?" Hannah asked, never having been to Hogsmeade before.
Hannah's family owned their own post owl.
"The color coding signifies how fast the owl is," Nym explained. "They shift back to their normal colors when they fly through the wards. That way the non-magicals don't see some funny looking owls."
"Dervish and Banges is next door," Neville pointed out. "Let's go there next. My gran once took me there to buy me a pair of shoes. Most comfortable footwear I ever wore."
The wizarding equipment shop had whatever a person could need to travel or for every day work from magical tents and trunks to magical umbrellas which held a self contained environment suited to the bearer's preferences. The store's owner was an enchanter so just about anything could be custom made for the right price.
After Dervish and Banges the group visited Zonko's Joke Shop followed by The Three Broomsticks. The magical pub was bustling with activity as students ordered food and non-alcoholic drinks. Harry ordered his friends a round of butterbeers. The drinks were brought by Madam Rosmerta herself when she realized she had a celebrity in the house. The mugs of hot brew were topped with foam. Harry took a sip and couldn't help but grin as the hot liquid which reminded him somewhat of butter rum Lifesavers candy slid down his throat.
"Can I get you anything else Mr. Potter?" Rosmerta inquired.
"Not right now love but I'll let you know if we need anything, thanks," Harry replied.
As Rosmerta turned to leave with her tray towards the isle that led behind the bar the Rider swatted her bum playfully faster than mortal eyes could follow. Rosmerta jumped for a moment and turned to find a group of teens staring at her curiously, mirth and playfulness dancing in Harry Potter's eyes. Rosmerta recognized that look. James Potter had often had a similar expression when she attended Hogwarts with him. Rosmerta simply flashed the hero a smile and walked behind the bar.
"Play nice Harry," Nym teasingly told her lover, having figured out what he had done.
"Where's the fun in that love," Harry teased back before giving the seventh year's bum a firm squeeze.
Nym returned the gesture from her spot beside her wizard. The friends each downed several butterbeers before leaving. Harry left a healthy tip in addition to the cost of the drinks on the table charmed so that only Rosmerta could get it. The friends stopped off at Honeydukes Sweet Shop before heading back to Hogwarts for the delicious feast. Harry had a charmed cold room in his magical forest within his trunk devoted to Honeydukes sweets. The group of friends stayed down in the Great Hall for some time after the feast ended to let their food digest. They then went out for a run to work off some of their gained calories. It was child's play to transfigure their daywear into workout clothing.
It was while they were running around the school grounds that Saphira spotted the observer.
"Harry, you and your friends are being watched by a large black dog. Should I swoop down and pick him up?" Saphira inquired.
Harry picked up speed and rounded a corner moments before his friends. In that time the mage teleported onto Saphira's back and the dragon jumped Between. The duo had been practicing with a particular feature of the travel inherited from the dragons of Pern. That breed of dragons could travel through time as well as through space. This talent was called timing it. When riders and dragons of Pern timed it and the rider ended up in a point in time where another version of them was already living both versions of the rider would become extremely weak. Harry and Saphira had learned that this was not the case with him. The mage suffered no ill effects from timing it. Harry thought it had something to do with his magical core. Pern riders didn't have that source of energy to draw on.
Who knows…if a non-magical used a time turner they might also feel the same type of fatigue. In any case, Saphira now jumped back a few minutes and swooped down to snatch the dog up. As soon as she had the canine in her grip the dragon jumped further back in time to a clearing in the Forbidden Forest. Saphira dropped the dog to the ground before landing. Immediately the animagus shifted back to human form and pulled a wand while scanning around uselessly for something he had no hope of detecting. Harry leapt off Saphira's back and became visible as he left her cloaking enchantments.
"You won't need that wand against me Sirius," Harry assured as he laid eyes on his godfather for the first time in over a decade.
"Harry," Sirius whispered as his eyes scanned over the spitting image of his long dead best friend. "Is that really you?"
"It's me," Harry assured. "I know you're innocent of the crimes they said you committed. I just found out this last summer after you had already escaped otherwise I would have broken you out myself."
Sirius wasn't sure what to make of that statement. The third year was so confident and casual about breaking into Azkaban.
"But how did you find out I was innocent?" Sirius inquired, lowering his wand but not putting it away in case this was some trick.
Harry waved his hand casually and caused two comfortable chairs to materialize facing each other in the clearing. Sirius' eyebrows rose at the casual display of wandless magic.
After taking a seat and gesturing for Sirius to do the same Harry explained, "I have led an interesting life to date. One of the accomplishments I'm most proud of is enslaving Lucius Malfoy to my cause."
Sirius hadn't thought he could become anymore surprised but that statement definitely proved him wrong.
"How did you manage that?" Sirius probed.
"With application of my mental talents," Harry projected straight into Sirius' mind.
Sirius shuddered as he felt the power of the mental presence within his mind. Suddenly Sirius Black had no trouble picturing his godson being capable of taking control of Malfoy.
"I have so many questions," Sirius muttered after several moments of contemplative silence.
"You might get answers to some of those questions. Know this about me Sirius, I like my secrets. I find it's fun to be much more than those around me think I am and know much more than they believe. I don't trust easily and I only trust a select few. Give it time. Plus mystery is a great way to keep the ladies interested," Harry added.
Sirius let out a bark-like laugh and asked with a grin, "Do you have many ladies after you?"
"Currently I have five girlfriends. I have two or three more in mind," Harry answered casually.
Sirius gaped at his godson before a wide grin split his face.
"Bloody hell Harry! Your dad couldn't even juggle that many women at once and he tried," Sirius said.
"Oh, you misunderstand me. I don't try to juggle them. They all know about each other," Harry assured.
"And they're ok that you're seeing all of them?" Sirius queried in confusion and some disbelief.
"Most definitely," Harry assured.
"But how can you keep up with that many constant girlfriends?" Sirius wanted to know.
"My stamina is beyond human and I no longer really require sleep. And when I do need to rest it only takes two hours to recharge me," Harry explained. "Where are you staying?"
"There's a cave in the hills outside of Hogsmeade I've been hiding out in," Sirius admitted.
"That won't do. I 'inherited' the Dripping Slit from Lucius and it's under new management. The keeper of the brothel, Morn, is an alright bloke but he really isn't suited to deal with the high class sort I want to attract for the companions. That's what I'm calling them now by the way, companions. Prostitute is so low class," Harry suggested.
"Let me get this straight…you want me, a fugitive with a kiss on sight order, to manage a brothel in a wizarding center of commerce," Sirius asked disbelievingly.
Remote teleporting a belt into his hand from his trunk, Harry handed the apparel to his godfather and explained, "The enchantments on this belt will lay a glamour charm on you that not even Auror issue equipment can penetrate and it'll also make you invisible if you think it. I suspect you'll want to keep Morn on to help manage the day to day minor affairs. He did do a good job with his limited scope. You on the other hand could expand."
The belt was enchanted with fairy magic.
"Tell me more," Sirius invited, now realizing this could actually work.
Harry took Sirius to the brothel and introduced him to Morn and the ladies. Melody was unofficially the head woman of the brothel and agreed to take charge of Sirius' return to respectability. She was also the only one in the brothel who Harry revealed his godfather's real identity to. Everyone who worked at the Dripping Slit understood discretion given some of their clientele but there was no reason to risk the information with more people than necessary. After he was assured his godfather was in good hands and promised to visit soon and often the Rider slipped back onto his dragon and made it back to the running track just as his past self was jumping back in time. Neville and the witches never noticed Harry's absence.
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The weather in Scotland that time of year grew much worse as the first Quidditch match of the season approached. Hooch also delivered some bad news with telling the Gryffindors that they would not be facing off against Slytherin. Flint used Malfoy's hippogryph induced injury as an excuse. But really Flint and the Slytherins just did not want to play in the torrential rainstorms that had been blanketing Scotland. Instead the Gryffindors would be facing off against Hufflepuff who was making the bold move of electing their newest player, a fifth year Seeker named Cedric Diggory, into the position of team captain. The day before the match the winds howled against the castle and the rain clouds blocked a good portion of light out of the skies.
Professor Lupin was not in the Defense class the day before the match. Instead Professor Slughorn took over the class.
"I'm afraid Professor Lupin is feeling under the weather and might be that way for a few days. This gives me an excellent opportunity to interject a bit of Potions into your defense lessons," Slughorn declared jovially. "Does anyone know how potions can be used during a fight? Miss Granger," the Head of Slytherin called when he saw Hermione's hand raised.
"Certain types of potions are quite effective against magical creatures which most spells cannot affect. In a lot of cases the spells required to defeat a highly magical creature are too taxing on the magician while a potion doesn't require any energy during the usage stage. It also takes much less concentration," Hermione explained.
"Very good Miss Granger," Slughorn praised. "Take ten points for Gryffindor. Mr. Potter," the portly professor called next.
"There are also potions that can be used in battle either as a direct assault on an opponent or as a distraction," Harry pointed out.
"Good, good, take another ten points," Slughorn replied. "The trick is storing the potions in a safe medium and delivering it to your opponent before they can cast spells to stop you," Slughorn explained. "I will demonstrate."
The professor turned to two dummies which had been placed not far from the stone wall adjoining the DADA professor's office. The students watched closely as the professor gestured with his wand. The dummy on the right immediately exploded with a loud boom. Another gesture from the professor saw some acidic substance rapidly dissolving the second dummy.
"Wicked," Seamus Finnegan declared, sharing the sentiments of many of his classmates.
"Thank you Mr. Finnegan. Now, what stores the vials which contained and delivered the potions I just demonstrated is this belt," Slughorn explained as he brandished the belt he was wearing which held a buckle with a serpent on it. The professor flipped open the belt cover to reveal dozens upon dozens of tiny glass vials. "The belt is enchanted to be larger on the inside than the outside and with many stasis charms. There are other enchantments for security as well. The belt and the potions within will only work for me. Healing potions can be stored in here as well which are useful for a fight. The charms work is beyond OWL work and some of the charms are even beyond NEWTs."
"Are the potions beyond us?" Hermione inquired.
"No Miss Granger they are not. But they are also not part of your standard Hogwarts curriculum. But I suppose I can make an exception for those I believe are trustworthy enough to learn to make these dangerous potions," Slughorn mused. "If I find you trustworthy enough I will send you an invitation to teach you how to brew special potions in your free time. If you succeed at these brews then I might be convinced to teach you how to enchant the belts. Now what I will teach you all are the delivery spells. There are banishing charms and then there are translocation charms which move objects from one space to another without crossing the intervening space between in the conventional sense. The former is easier to do than the latter. In my day third years who were particularly determined could handle these spells. We'll see about you lot."
With that said the professor began his instruction. The class worked excitedly and diligently, hoping to receive a special invitation.
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The next morning things did not look promising for a Quidditch match.
When Oliver arrived at breakfast he announced, "This is going to be a tough match."
"Quit your worrying Mr. Wood," Alicia said teasingly. "A bit of rain won't kill us."
"Yeah…and I'll catch the snitch quickly enough," Harry assured.
Oliver perked up a bit at the reminder of his Seeker's abilities. Soon enough the teams were in the locker rooms suiting up. When Gryffindor took the pitch the Quidditch players were hit with a powerful wind that staggered all but Harry sideways. The Rider's resolve was hardened to catch the snitch soon into the match. Harry mounted his Nimbus and waited until the whistle sounded before shooting into the air.
"You are looking a bit intangible Harry," Saphira warned her Rider.
"Thanks," the mage responded, putting more effort into appearing solid.
As soon as he had taken to the air Harry had gone out of phase with the surrounding universe and used an illusion to give the appearance that he was just as hindered by the rain and winds as everyone else playing Quidditch. Trying to catch the Snitch by visibility alone would have been difficult. Luckily the green eyed sorcerer had other senses which were quite attuned to magical items. The magical presence of the snitch was small but Harry detected it. He shot after the target of the seekers with a vengeance, Diggory not far behind. A sudden updraft caught the snitch and gave it additional speed as it was carried far up into the air.
Cedric and Harry raced up towards the clouds until the spectators in the stands were distinguishable only to the Rider's keen eyesight. So intent was Harry on catching the Snitch that he didn't at first notice the new arrivals until after he had already caught his target. The fact that the celebrity was out of phase also meant he didn't notice the Dementors' auras until he visibly spotted their presence. The demons also hadn't noticed the out of phase Rider but they had certainly noticed Cedric. As soon as Cedric had floated above the ward dome the Dementors had swarmed. One of the demons had Cedric in its grip, preparing to suck the Hufflepuff's soul out. Lightning split the sky next to Harry. The sorcerer's anger at the vileness of the Dementors caused his aura to visibly manifest.
Reaching out to the heavens with his powers Harry thrust his hands towards the group of Dementors. In his bid to master the elements the mage forgot about his broom. Dozens of bolts of lightning rained down from the clouds and struck the demons. The creatures screeched in agony as their forms were wracked with high frequency energy. Several Dementors disintegrated, including the one holding Cedric. As the unconscious Cedric plummeted out of the sky Harry used his flight ability to go after the opposing Seeker.
Harry was thankful the wind and rain didn't hamper him as he sought Cedric. As it was the celebrity didn't catch up to the plummeting wizard until Cedric was a dozen yards off the ground. Harry channeled a force absorbing shield around his hands before catching Cedric and the energy barrier absorbed the inertia. It amazed Harry that wizards didn't know enough about the universe to realize the inertia built up from falling the distance Cedric had and being stopped suddenly by being caught so close to the ground should have killed the Hufflepuff as easily as actually hitting the ground. It probably had something to do with the inertia absorption abilities of magicians but that generally worked best when conscious. Cedric might have survived the fall unconscious but he would have been gravely injured and possibly crippled for life.
The observers of the match had held their collective breath when they had noticed one of the Seekers plummeting unconscious to the ground. When Harry Potter had come racing from the heavens and caught the Hufflepuff before touching down on the ground the watching magicals let loose with a cheer of approval and relief.
"Oi, Harry, you're supposed to catch the Snitch, not the other Seeker," Fred Weasley joked.
"I did that too," Harry assured while opening up the palm of his right hand enough to reveal the Snitch.
"He caught the Snitch too," George shouted up to his friend Lee Jordan who announced Gryffindor's win.
After Madam Pomfrey had taken Cedric off Harry's hands the victorious Seeker was spun around and was showered with kisses by Hermione and Ginny. His non-Gryffindor girlfriends would get their kisses in later.
When giving her boyfriend a hug Nym whispered in his ear, "Next time don't forget your broom." Harry drew back in sudden realization and the beauty added, "Hermione has it." Mentally she added, "Saphira warned us of what was going on and it gave me enough time to cast an illusion so that it seemed to watchers as if you were still riding a broom. Saphira got behind the stands and Hermione jumped down onto her back. They went Between times and caught the broom shortly after you dropped it."
"You my dears are bloody brilliant," Harry told Miss Granger and Miss Tonks.
"Do we get a reward?" Hermione inquired impishly.
"Most definitely," Harry assured.
The reward was just as fun for Harry as it was for the two witches later that night.
IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM
"Thank you for bringing me along Harry," Luna said to her friend dreamily as she hugged herself to his back while Saphira flew deeper into the Forbidden Forest above the treetops.
It was nighttime and Harry had decided to take Luna along on one of his excursions into the forest. The blonde Ravenclaw slept less than the others and would often go into the forest on her own anyway.
"No problem. I wasn't sure if you had ever been this deep in the forest," Harry replied.
"Daddy and I have gone to many forests but never this deeply in the Forbidden Forest," Luna explained.
Suddenly Saphira dove down between a gap in the tree tops and landed in a small clearing. Tall ancient trees that tasted of magic to the three sensitive beings surrounded the clearing. Harry leapt off of his dragon and helped Luna off. The blonde was being quite friendly with her hands but Harry certainly didn't mind. It didn't go unnoticed by the sorcerer that Luna was developing much more quickly than a witch her age should.
"Hermione and Nym have shared the shape-shifting potion with her. It's only a matter of time before Luna will claim you," Saphira informed her Rider in amusement.
"Come on Luna, I want to show you something," Harry said as he took his friend's hand and began to lead her through the trees.
Saphira followed with the trees expanding to accommodate her. A few minutes of walking brought the trio into to a shimmering portal in the air. Dianna had given her permission for Harry to bring his ladies to visit her realm. Luna could see the portal whereas most mortals could not. She allowed her handsome friend to lead her through the portal and they came out in the early morning light of another place.
"It's beautiful Harry," Luna whispered as she spotted a wide open field filled with many different kinds of magical creatures. "Wait…is that?"
Luna couldn't continue as her eyes examined a herd of creatures that were covered in blue fur, had massive tongues and large mouths, and possessed two ridged horns that were "crumpled" in appearance. Each creature had a tail varying between three and five feet in length. The tip of this tail was devoid of fur and instead had small barbs which could be used to fend off attackers with their venom.
"I believe you and your father call them crumple horned snorkacks," Harry said with amusement.
Now it was Luna who began dragging Harry towards the field. As Luna reached the edge of the field a flock of creatures which looked like miniature winged animals of all species chattered out of the trees and yipped around her.
"Nargles," Luna cried happily as half a dozen nargles landed on her arms and shoulders.
Luna followed her friend over to one of the larger snorkacks. The blue beast turned towards her and sniffed her. It must have liked her because it was soon licking her, startling all but the nargle on her right shoulder away. This remaining nargle looked like a miniature wolf cub.
"Saphira says he'll let us ride him," Harry suggested.
"Really…let's do it," Luna agreed.
The blonde allowed Harry to help her up on the snorkack's back before he leapt on behind her.
"Hold on tight…we're in for a wild ride," Harry warned, wrapping his arms tightly around Luna and grasping the fir between her legs.
The mage added a sticking charm to his butt just for good measure. A moment later a piercing tone sounded from their mount's horns and suddenly a bright purple energy connected the two horns before lancing into the air six feet in front of the blue being. As the energy coalesced into a portal the snorkack leapt through. The tone continued to ring through Harry and Luna's ears as they began to slide down a purple tunnel. The snorkack was surfing through a wormhole at what seemed like blinding speeds. The twists and turns were exhilarating and Luna whooped with joy. After a few minutes the snorkack emerged into a large tunnel that was more of a slide. The tunnel was composed of purple and blue crystal.
Energy "gloves" formed around the creature's clawed feet and this allowed it to slide along the crystal structure downwards. Soon enough the two riders saw a bright light where the tunnel seemed to end. The tunnel suddenly ended and the trio was falling out of a hole in the side of a massive cliff. The cliff was one side of a cavern that must have been miles in width and which didn't appear to have a bottom. Columns of gigantic crystal rose into the air from the unfathomable depths deep in the earth, bigger than any skyscraper built by man. Hundreds of snorkacks were gliding through the air on energy gloves surrounding their paws, defying gravity.
"This is amazing," Luna shouted with joy as their snorkack glided towards one of the many tunnels on the opposite wall.
"I'm glad you like it," Harry said as he took in the sights around him.
"I love it," Luna declared before turning her head enough to steal a kiss from the dragon Rider.
The couple spent the next few hours exploring the tunnel network where the snorkack colony lived. All throughout that time the single nargle that didn't seem to be afraid and which Luna had named Pretaline stayed on her shoulder. The little creature with pink stripes seemed to enjoy the exploration as much as the blonde witch and black haired wizard.
IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM
Ravenclaw also beat Hufflepuff in the next Quidditch match at the end of November. But Oliver didn't let the fact that Gryffindor was in the lead deter him from pursuing more and more training. The Gryffindor team managed to keep their manic captain from taking up all of their free time by pointing out they couldn't lose with Harry. Even a swarm of Dementors wouldn't stop Harry Potter from catching the snitch. It was only two weeks before the end of term when the weather finally lightened to reveal a fine frost on the grounds that made Hogwarts simply sparkle. The buzz of Christmas was entering the consciousness of the student body.
Professor Flitwick had already decorated his classroom for the holidays, even managing to lure wild fairies into his classroom with a sundry of charms that amused the tiny beings. Flitwick would have been startled to learn that the fairies were also acting as spies and observers to make sure nothing untoward happened to their Queen's newest friend. Harry visited Dianna at least every other day and often spent an hour or two most days talking with her and learning to master fairy magic. Often the two would sit in one of the fairy libraries in companionable silence while reading.
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The Leaky Cauldron, a back room…
"Good afternoon Harry, Lucius," Cornelius Fudge greeted as he stepped into the back room and dispensed with his heavy cloak. "It's a bit chilly outside. Thank Merlin for warming charms."
"It is that time of the year Cornelius," Lucius pointed out drolly.
"Yes, yes quite," Fudge agreed while taking a seat across from the two wizards who had requested this meeting. "What can I help you with today Harry?"
Cornelius was quite eager to see what other fantastic ideas Harry Potter possessed. After their last meeting Cornelius had enjoyed an upswing in voter confidence, something the Minister could certainly use about now with this whole Sirius Black fiasco.
"Minister, what I am about to reveal to you will be quite startling. I would like you to allow Lucius to cast a mild calming charm on you," Harry said.
Fudge looked at the two wizards intently; his geniality disappearing as he suddenly realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Go ahead," Fudge agreed.
Lucius cast the charm and the Minister relaxed a bit.
"Lucius has been working undercover as a Death Eater in Voldemort's inner circle. Voldemort has returned to physical form. He was never fully killed when he tried to attack me as a child," Harry explained. Fudge's emotions visibly struggled against the calming charm but Nym was standing behind him under the concealment of a fairy enchanted invisibility arm band enhancing the charm every time his emotions increased. "Voldemort is using Sirius Black as a focus for the Ministry's attention while he builds his forces in secret."
"He can't be back," Fudge desperately said.
"I'm afraid he can," Lucius corrected.
"What are we to do Lucius? Only Harry's intervention last time saved us," Fudge pointed out.
"And it might do so again," Harry asserted. "I had the power to disembody that wanker as a baby. What do you think I can do to him now?"
Nym smirked and projected so her boyfriend would pick it up, "I do get so hot when you show your confidence."
"Please dear, don't tease me in the middle of important manipulations of government officials," Harry urged.
"You're no fun," Nym replied, her tone still teasing.
A look of sudden realization and hope appeared on Fudge's features as he realized the truth in Harry's words.
"You'll have the full backing of the Ministry," Fudge promised. "What needs to be done?"
"The first step is to slowly increase the strength of the Magical Law Enforcement department. There are certain spies for Voldemort that need to be marginalized and kept in the dark. Lucius has a list. I also think it best if your Head Unspeakable checks your department heads himself to make sure they are not under the influence of another by magical means. Most important is that my godfather is innocent. But we'll keep the attention focused on him. You can't even terminate the kiss on sight order without Voldemort knowing of it because he can communicate with the Dementors to a limited degree. But Sirius is well protected. When the truth comes out you can point to the previous administration for sentencing him," Harry explained.
Fudge was nodding his head in complete agreement.
"If you need anything within the Ministry I think it would be best if I handle it myself. Lucius can act as a buffer between myself and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named but that cannot be said for my Department Heads," Fudge pointed out.
"Quite right," Lucius agreed. "It's probably best if you speak of this to no one but your Head Unspeakable. I doubt even Amelia Bones could protect herself if the Dark Lord came for her. Harry and I have taken great pains to make sure this meeting has not been observed by the Dark Lord's spies."
"I appreciate it," Fudge assured. "Your country owes you a great deal. I will begin increasing the Auror forces right away. I can just pass it off as preparation for the World Cup and Triwizard Tournament next year."
Of course Harry had learned about the upcoming events through Lucius.
"I believe we should draw this meeting to a close. The less time we take out of your normal schedule the better Minister," Lucius suggested.
"Quite right," Fudge agreed as he stood. "Don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything gentlemen."
The two wizards nodded before disapparating.
IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM
Harry awoke in the middle of the night with a sense of apprehension.
Moments later Saphira put thought to the cause of her wizard's troubling feeling and sent, "The manor is under attack. He is here."
Harry could tell immediately who his dragon meant. Voldemort was paying a visit to Bones Manor.
"Susan, wake up," Harry urged as he felt the wards go down.
Moments later Harry heard a loud explosion and a scream from the hallway. The mage was on his feet and phasing through Susan's bedroom door in an instant. The sight was of Susan's mother, Jennifer Bones, writhing on the ground under the agony of Voldemort's cruciatus. Jennifer must have been using the restroom when Riddle blew down the wall.
"Come out, come out Amelia," Voldemort called, his voice carrying over the manor house with the aid of a sonorous charm. That's when Riddle noticed Harry and let up off the curse. Jennifer vanished, remotely teleported by the Rider, but her torturer didn't even notice as an unholy look of glee stole onto his snake-like features. "Harry…whatever are you doing at Bones Manor?"
A moment later a disheveled Susan stepped through her door behind her boyfriend, her wand held in her hand which was shaking as she stared at Voldemort. Amelia Bones stepped into the hall at that moment from around the corner of the hall furthest away from the section now exposed to the elements.
"Run children," Amelia barked, noting that Harry had stepped from her niece's room when he had clearly gone to sleep in the adjacent room.
Amelia put those thoughts aside as she steeled herself to die so that the two younger magicians could escape Voldemort. She wouldn't go down though without a fight.
"No, no," Riddle objected. "Stay and play. I must admit I did not realize you would have company over for the holidays Amelia but the more the merrier."
Harry and the two Bones witches could sense the anti-transport wards which had been erected moments after the Bones Manor wards had been destroyed.
"Protect Susan," Harry directed. "I have Tom."
A dangerous gleam of anger appeared in Riddle's eyes and he growled, "Don't call me that boy." Harry slowly walked towards the Dark Lord whose eyes never left the approaching wizard. "Do you intend to face me without a wand?"
"Yes," was the simple response Harry gave before his sword suddenly appeared in his hands and he was plunging it through the evil wizard's heart.
Amelia couldn't believe what she was seeing. Harry had calmly walked towards the creature that had killed his parents and so many others like them, including her husband. The green eyed teen had shown no fear whatsoever. Then Amelia watched as a sword suddenly appeared in his hand and he was running the elder wizard through. Amelia's heart leapt for joy but plummeted just as quickly at the dark smile that stole onto Voldemort's thin lips.
"Did you really think I would be so easy to beat Harry?" Riddle demanded as he grasped the blade and started to pull himself off. "I have taken precautions. I won't be as easy to defeat this time as when you were an infant. I am not merely my body."
As Riddle finished pulling off the blade Harry watched in disgusted fascination as the wound healed itself. At first Harry thought maybe Riddle had become a vampire or some other type of undead but there was none of the smell of minute decay present with the undead.
"Heal from this mother fucker," Harry growled before lashing out with his blade faster than mortals could perceive, cleaving Riddle's head from his shoulder.
"A good effort," Riddle's severed head declared from the floor a moment later before it began to float back up to the rest of its body.
Harry remembered from his readings in Merlin's tome that there were things far older and far worse than modern day undead. If Riddle had managed to make his magically generated body into something like one of these ancient abominations then the world could be in serious trouble. While Harry was considering what to do Riddle's head had rejoined its body.
"You see Harry…there's nothing you can do to stop me. You will die now," Riddle asserted as he raised his wand.
With a flick of the Rider's wrist the Dark Lord's wand was severed. With another much longer sweep of the sword Riddle found himself bisected from crotch to between his eyes. Before Riddle could put himself back together Harry leveled the tip of his sword at Riddle and channeled a very old piece of magic learned from his past life as Eragon. The magic washed over the Dark Lord just as Riddle became whole again. The spell would leach power from Riddle's essence. It wouldn't kill him but it would certainly slow the Dark Lord down. With a last burst of magic, Harry teleported Riddle far away.
Spinning on his heel Harry faced the two witches and barked, "We need to get the wards back up and quickly. And I'd suggest calling in help from your people at the Ministry."
IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM – IaDM
Posted: 2/23/2014 (Edited Version) Rev 0
Author's Note:
Well that's the third chapter of book 3.
On my Facebook group there is an Excel file listing what stories I have read in the recent past and what I thought of them. This also includes stories you should probably stay away from and the reason why I think you should probably stay away from them (rated from 1 to 10). If you get a chance check it out. It might save you the trouble of reading some really bad fics and might also direct you to some really good fics.
This chapter is a little longer than most but I didn't want to leave you readers with a cliffie because I know I hate them.
~Deserdi Etere Lume
Stargatesg1fan1
