Chapter 9: Alice Returns

He stretched his limbs while waking up. The body beside him also moved and their skins gently brushed each other. He basked in that feeling remembering the night before and his last week. His joy lessened as he remembered the hectic moment before the pleasure.

It was the time of the morning meditation. His superior hearing was detecting familiar melody. "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?...", and Harry opened his eyes. He took a moment to enjoy vision of the beauty who was now in constant oscillation between her five forms, now merged into one being. Then he looked around at the luxury suite which was now his home.

He got up and went out on the balcony. The sight there really was up to its reputation. The melody changed and the new song could be heard : "One dream, one soul, one prize, one goal, one golden glance of what should be..."

The song turned his thoughts to the happenings of the past days and what was ahead of him. It looked like setting in motion of his plan for better future was putting him further away from living a quiet existence he had hoped for as "old" Harry Potter.

When he had returned to his senses after the ceremony, he had been completely naked, lying in a corner of the cave in the embrace of an equally naked goblin girl of mixed breed and it looked like the girl was shape-shifting in her sleep.

Beside them were major Tizona and her team, keeping guard. Something very important must had happened: the Goblin warriors were openly showing happiness.

After a short moment the memories of what had happened during the ceremony started to return: being snatched by magic of five goblin sisters, their magic deciding that Harry was the best and the most worthy companion present in the cave, his own magic giving similar assessment about magic of the five girls, his bonding with them which enabled permanent synchronisation between five girls and permanent corporeal appearance of "Princess Devi".

Tizona came forth and gave him a set of ornate robes while her next in command was organizing transportation of the still sleeping Princess.

It was clear he had been slightly "roped in", but without ceremony he had no access to advanced technology and the resources needed to create efficient defence against various threats, and without those he would have difficulty in keeping his existence hidden. The situation called for a talk with the Chief. The Chief explained everything: the meaning of the markings on his forehead, his position as Oberon, current political situation.

After disastrous end of the Goblin rebellion, Grunning's tribe had gone underground to keep their freedom from the invading Wizards. During their journey the tribe had come across refugees from other Fae nations, and the community of Megacity contained sub-communities of every kind of Fae which existed on Earth. These sub-communities were like embassies of the respective Fae nations.

Most of Fae nations had signed the Gringotts Agreement, either right after the peace talks, or after having to face great difficulties of living in hiding and isolation and deciding that accepting the terms of Wizards would not be such a bad idea.

Of the free nations, Grunning's tribe was the most advanced, economically and technologically.

Therefore, there had been two currents among the Fae, those who wanted to align themselves with the Wizards, and those who wanted to remain in hiding and were hoping that one of these days Grunning would rise again.

Over time the views and politics of Wizards towards Fae were changing, and most of the International Confederation were following progressive figures like Albus Dumbledore.

However, the opinion of Fae about Humans and Wizards alike had suffered greatly after the World Wars and Grindelwald's revolution and rule. And then, there was Voldemort. Tom Riddle had the gift of powerful magic, but his twisted mind had twisted that gift, which naturally led to his downfall at the hands of a baby; the famous backlash was more consequence of what he had done to his magic than of what Lily Potter had done to protect her child. His quest to become the strongest Dark Lord and his rule had left a bloody trail in the unprotected Fae communities. Now the threat of his return was looming. All eyes were turned to what Wizards would do and to what Grunning would do.

Now, the eyes would be turned to what new Oberon would do also. The news about "the Oberon incident" had spread like fire among Fae nations. For the moment only the heads and the councils of the nations were in the know that new Oberon had appeared, and for the moment other nations had accepted that Grunning and the Goblin sages were the only ones to know his identity.

Becoming Oberon meant that Magic itself had judged Harry being powerful and worthy of becoming its protector. For the moment Fae nations recognised his power, but not yet his authority. Oberon's authority over Fae nations was something which was gained over time through deeds of courage, wisdom and compassion.

Goblin nation was united again. All tribes were flocking around the Grunning-Gringott alliance and their new queen. (Here Harry sighed with understanding: of course that explained the happiness, all were celebrating their National day and, Harry sighed again, "the Royal wedding").

Harry had one more week left of his time for "his Goblin adventure" before having to return as he was scheduled to be picked up by the Weasleys. It was just enough time to ensure the creation of what was the purpose of his adventure in the first place: the shipyard.

The location he had in mind was perfect: thick atmosphere and strong natural electromagnetic emissions of the planet would keep the shipyard hidden, and in the planet's core was the biggest diamond in the Solar system.

First he had to visit a holocaust scene. He concentrated on the sensation he had felt while casting Patronus, turned to energy and shot through the natural worm-hole network of the universe. He reappeared in a yellow sand desert. Around him were smashed blue crystals. He used necromancy and transmutation. He collected natural magic of the planet and echoes of the souls of now dead crystals and from some crystal dust created his seed hypercrystal.

His next stop, Jupiter. It would take a month for the seed to assimilate the entire diamond core and turn it into a gigantic hypercrystal. The hypercrystal would then start the process of building the shipyard around Jupiter's core.

On that last day Harry took a moment to enjoy the magnificent view of his new home, said and made farewell for a while to Queen Devi.

He said his goodbyes to the Chief, Tizona and Droot, concentrated and reappeared in the garden shed of 4, Privet Drive as his clone there dissolved into thin air.