A/N Hello! Thanks for the continued support everyone. Let's get straight to it.
Chapter 9
"From Lorath, you say," Wyman Manderly repeated, fixing Hermione with a curious gaze as she danced with Daryn Hornwood. It was the penultimate day of festivities for Robb's sixteenth nameday. As pleased as Ned was to see his eldest son become a man, he would be heartily glad once all his guests had returned to their homes. Housing such a large number of people had put great strain on his household, but he couldn't deny that the past few days had been a great success.
"Yes, Hermione and Harry have been my wards for over a year now," Ned replied, spotting Harry amongst the dancers too, with Jorelle Mormont. He had sincerely wished that the festivities would pass by without Harry and Hermione attracting too much attention. However that hope had been quickly dashed when Robb had insisted on opening the dancing on the first night (and each subsequent evening) with Hermione. At once everyone had wanted to know who this mysterious girl was.
Catelyn had been less than impressed with her son's first choice of dance partner but as Robb was perfectly entitled to pick whomever he desired, there was very little Catelyn could do about it. Though Robb was not discourteous to the other ladies present, for he made sure to dance with any who would have him before returning to Hermione at the first opportunity. It was perfectly obvious to all of those present that Robb was entirely infatuated with her.
Ned had suspected as much for a couple of moon's turns; he had seen the brooding looks on Robb's face on many a man before. While Hermione was a perfectly intelligent, good-hearted and loyal young woman, Ned had never considered her as a marriage prospect for his son. It was definitely for the best that she and Harry were due to leave for Oldtown in a matter of days. That was what he was telling Catelyn to soothe her worries anyway.
Fearing that Robb would leave Hermione with a 'parting gift', Catelyn had requested that Ned talk with their son about expected standards of honour around women. Ned wasn't sure it was strictly necessary given the two people involved, but he was also aware that Robb and Hermione wouldn't be the first young lovers to get carried away.
"Father, please!" Robb had objected with distinctly pink cheeks when it became clear what their conversation was about. "I would never, that is to say, I know what –"
Ned clapped his son on the shoulder, deciding to put him out of his misery, even though he found his discomfort somewhat amusing. "Peace, son, I know you are a man of honour."
Robb had been avoiding his father's and mother's gaze ever since, but it hadn't kept him away from Hermione. Ned supposed that he was trying to be with her as much as possible as it was likely that soon he would never see her again.
Whether the girl in question returned Robb's feelings or not, Ned wasn't sure. He was in no doubt that Hermione enjoyed spending time with his son but she also seemed happy in the company of most other members of his household. That being said, it was quite plain that her heart lay in finding her way home.
"A pretty girl," Rickard Karstark commented. "Is she promised to anyone?"
Ned glanced warily at him, knowing that Karstark had three sons of marriageable age that had yet to be matched with prospective wives. "No," Ned replied, taking a sip of wine. "They both leave for Oldtown shortly. Harry has been accepted to train at the Citadel."
"And she goes with him as his wet-nurse?" Greatjon Umber boomed, his joke being met with hearty laughs by the other lords.
Ned smiled tightly, glad that Harry was unable to hear the comment; the boy was far too sensitive for his own good.
"I'm sure your family will miss their presence greatly," Medger Cerwyn said, with an amused look at the dancing. Robb had found his way back to Hermione for the third time that evening.
Ned shook his head at his son's persistence. "Very much so," he replied.
"Ah, but enough of this," the Greatjon said, placing his empty tankard down noisily. "What about these direwolf tracks I've heard of? I nearly clouted the man who told me of them. Direwolves! Can it be true?"
"Saw the tracks myself," Galbart Glover claimed, shouting along the table. "No mistaking them. An ordinary wolf couldn't make prints that large."
This declaration was met with a number of cries of scepticism from some but Galbart Glover was backed by Helman Tallhart and Medger Cerwyn. Ned hadn't seen the supposed direwolf tracks himself but his most experienced men had claimed not to have seen their likeness before.
"What say we ride out tomorrow to investigate, my Lord?" Rickard Karstark suggested. "Then we can settle the matter."
"Aye, a grand idea," Greatjon agreed, while others nodded. It was so rare for his lords to agree on anything that Ned consented at once. Besides, he was curious to see the tracks for himself. A direwolf hadn't been sighted south of the wall for two hundred years. If there was one in the Wolfswood then it would be a most astonishing discovery.
Ned excused himself from the table in order to warn his master-of-horse of the next morning's ride. He spotted his wife not far away, watching the dancing intently, a frown on her face. Ned didn't need to look at the couples to know which pair held her gaze.
Catelyn seemed to sense his presence for she turned her head slightly towards him and muttered, "He's tenacious, I'll give him that."
Ned chuckled and placed a soothing hand on her arm. "What harm can come of it, my lady?" Catelyn arched an eyebrow at him but Ned shook his head. "I told you, he gave me his word." Catelyn turned back to the pairs as the dance came to an end.
Ned watched as Robb took Hermione's hand gently and kissed it. She laughed in response and shook her head slightly, seemingly unaware that Robb's affection for her was most sincere. If Robb was pained by this casual treatment, he didn't show it, but smiled widely instead.
"The day she leaves Winterfell cannot come soon enough," his wife said lowly.
And despite the great fondness Ned had for both Harry and Hermione, he couldn't help but agree. Call it infatuation, lust or love; there was no doubt that it made men do such foolish things.
Ned was waylaid on his way to break his fast in the Great Hall the following morning by a somewhat nervous looking Harry and Hermione.
"We apologise for the earliness of the hour, my lord, but is it true that you and your lords plan to investigate the direwolf tracks in the Wolfswood today?" Hermione asked.
"It is," Ned replied, surprised that the pair of them would be concerned with such a matter. "Do you wish to join the party?"
"No thank you, my lord." Harry responded. "We already know that you won't find her."
"Her?" Ned repeated in shock. "How do you know the wolf is a female?"
"Could we perhaps continue this conversation somewhere more private?" Hermione requested. "With the amount of guests Winterfell is housing at the moment there's no telling who might be about to come round the corner."
Ned nodded in understanding. "You would have no objections to Maester Luwin hearing what you wish to tell me?"
"None at all," Harry replied at once.
Ned motioned that they make the short journey across the castle to the Maester's turret. He had a feeling that whatever Harry and Hermione had to tell him would be related to their magic and therefore it was imperative that they were not overheard.
There was a group of young men in the courtyard loosing arrows at a couple of targets. Robb was amongst it all while Jon watched the crowd from a distance. Robb's arrow found the centre of the target and he turned back to the other men to accept their congratulations. He spotted his father walking with Harry and Hermione and quickly excused himself. The men looked on in confusion for a few seconds before they too spotted Hermione and gave each other knowing looks and grins.
"Why do I get the feeling you're about to discuss something important?" Robb greeted, keeping step with them.
Ned looked towards Harry and Hermione to see if they wanted his son present.
Hermione shrugged. "You may as well come too. You are the heir to Winterfell and the North after all. How could we possibly refuse you," she said with more than a hint of sarcasm. Instead of being offended, Robb laughed loudly and Ned had a feeling that there was a private jest between them.
Harry called out to Jon and beckoned for him to join them as well and soon the four of them were climbing the steps to Maester Luwin's solar. The Maester looked surprised to see them all but didn't raise any questions.
Everyone turned expectantly to Harry and Hermione. Hermione cleared her throat. "You wanted to know, my lord, how Harry and I can be sure your search for the direwolf will be unsuccessful?" Ned nodded in confirmation. "Just try to keep calm," Hermione advised them all.
Ned was still puzzling over her appeal for calm as he watched light brown fur sprout all over Hermione's body. Jon and Robb backed away from her with yells of shock as she grew taller and her face lengthened. She fell forwards onto hands that were now large paws with dangerous looking claws. Ned had never truly seen one before but he was in no doubt that Hermione was now a direwolf.
"S-seven hells," Robb stammered, eyes wide, as the wolf sat back and gazed at them all.
"A little bit more warning might have been advisable," Maester Luwin suggested, holding his hand over his heart.
Harry looked quite amused by their reactions. "We thought it might be easier to show you. She's quite safe," Harry explained, seeing the wary looks on their face. "Hermione is in complete control of what she's doing; it's still her inside."
The direwolf walked calmly towards Jon who was closest and nudged her nose at his hand. He let out a nervous bark of laughter and raised his hand to tentatively pat its head. "This is unbelievable." The wolf wagged its tail, knocking over a chair. Its size really was enormous.
"Can she understand what we're saying?" Robb asked, as he too held out a cautious hand which the wolf promptly licked.
"Every word," Harry replied.
"You can become a wolf too?" Ned asked. It was a bizarre question to ask of someone.
"I can become a different animal," Harry replied. "I don't think you have my type of animal in this world and to be honest, I had never heard about it either. It's called a thestral."
"A thestral?" Jon repeated, the word unfamiliar to them. "What does it look like?"
"It might be easier to show you. Hermione," Harry addressed the wolf, which turned to face him. "You'll have to turn back, there's not enough room for us both."
A moment later Hermione was in human form once again, looking no different than she had before, though she somehow seemed more alive.
"I can't believe you didn't tell us you could be a wolf," Jon said, staring at Hermione in wonder.
Hermione laughed. "We were waiting for the right time. Funnily enough there weren't many opportunities for me to casually mention that I'm an animagus."
"Ani-what?" Robb asked.
"It means we can turn into animals." Harry explained. "Ready? This is a thestral."
Ned didn't think he'd ever feel at ease with watching someone change into an animal. The thestral creature was very strange. It most resembled a large, black horse – an extremely starved horse, for its skeletal frame stood out starkly against its shiny coat. It was tall too; a few inches taller than any horse he'd seen. But most astonishingly of all were two wings that were tucked into its side. It was by no means the most beautiful creature that Ned had ever seen but it was possibly the most fascinating.
"He can fly?!" Robb asked in amazement. The thestral unfurled its wings, causing everyone to duck away from its massive wingspan and a few objects in the Maester's solar fell to the floor.
The wings were tucked away and the thestral tossed its head, its black mane as untidy as Harry's hair always was.
Hermione's head suddenly turned sharply towards the closed door. A split second later the door was thrown open and a dishevelled Arya practically fell into the room. "I beat you!" she called down the turret, clearly out of breath. Everyone tensed but Hermione held out a hand to tell them not to react. Quite how Ned was going to explain to his daughter about the large skeletal winged horse, he wasn't sure. "Maester Lu – oh." Arya had finally looked into the room. She looked guiltily at her father but to his surprise she made no comment about the thestral.
"Arya, you know better than to barge in to a closed room," Hermione chided as Bran appeared over Arya's shoulder, blowing hard. Hermione didn't seem at all amazed that his younger children showed no reaction to the large animal. It was almost as though they couldn't see him.
"Sorry," Arya said meekly, then her forehead creased. "Why's it so messy in here?" she asked, staring at the various objects that the thestral had knocked to the floor.
"Wait outside, Arya," Maester Luwin instructed.
"But – "
"Arya," Ned said lowly to stop her argument in its tracks.
His daughter let out a huff of annoyance then pushed Bran behind her and pulled the door closed noisily.
"Why couldn't they see?" Maester Luwin asked quietly as Harry returned to his human form.
"The only people who can see a thestral are those who have seen death," Hermione explained sombrely.
"How…unusual," Maester Luwin commented wryly. "Alas, with Arya and Bran waiting for their lesson I fear that my other questions will have to wait, for you can be quite sure that their ears are pressed solidly against the keyhole."
Hermione nodded then turned to Ned with a cheeky smile. "Well, enjoy your ride, my lord."
Ned chuckled, imagining the looks on the faces of his lords if he told them that the direwolf they sought was actually his sixteen-year-old female ward.
The squeals of laughter and cries of delight reached Ned's ears long before he entered the kitchens. It was a glaring contrast to the sombre mood at the execution he had carried out earlier that day. The White Walkers, I saw them. The ranger's words echoed in his brain but Ned pushed them aside, convincing himself that they were the words of a madman - the White Walkers had been gone for eight thousand years. He would be more comfortable in believing his own argument had he not witnessed things he believed to be impossible on numerous occasions in the last year and a half…
"Oh, Father, thank you!" Sansa cried rushing forward, direwolf pup cradled in her chest. She embraced him tightly. Ned was taken slightly by surprise as he couldn't recall the last time his daughter had shown him such affection. It was reassuring to know that his little girl was still inside the young lady.
The rest of his children offered similar cries of gratitude as they sat with their pups and attempted to get them to drink milk. Even Harry and Hermione looked at him more warmly than they normally did when he returned from an execution.
They had discovered the direwolf pups on their journey back. A dead stag had blocked their route and upon investigation they had found the body of an adult direwolf not far away. For a second Ned had worried that the dead wolf had been Hermione but he soon saw that the colouring was wrong. His first instinct had been to dispatch the pups as well, but Bran's protestations and Jon's insistence that they were meant to find these pups had been enough to change his mind. There had been six pups in total; one for each of his true born children and his baseborn son, Jon.
Ned smiled down at his children all beaming and laughing together, knowing that soon things would be changing forever. "A raven came from King's Landing," he announced, taking a seat at a bench.
"What did it say?" Robb asked, not taking his eyes off of his pup as it tried to crawl into Hermione's lap.
"The Hand of the King, Jon Arryn has died." Saying the words didn't make them feel real yet.
The older children looked at him in sympathy, knowing that the man had been one of Ned's greatest friends, almost like a second father.
"I'm sorry, Father," Jon said softly.
Ned nodded grimly. "Your aunt Lysa and cousin are well though."
"That is good news," Robb replied dutifully.
"Who will become the new Hand?" Hermione asked, fending off Rickon's pup from her person.
"The King and his family are travelling to Winterfell," Ned replied. There was a moment of surprised silence before he was assaulted by various questions.
"Why are they coming?"
"When will they get here?"
"Is The Imp coming?"
"Will there be dancing?"
"Are the princes and princess coming too?"
"Peace!" Ned held up a hand to silence them all. "I can only answer one at a time."
"So you are to be the new Hand of the King?" Harry asked.
"The King has not made his intentions explicit but that is the most likely motive for him to travel here," Ned conceded. "It is a long journey from the capital and he would not bring his family for something trivial." It was not ideal to play host to such a large party so soon after Robb's nameday but Ned would never refuse his King and friend such a thing. Whether he would accept the anticipated offer of becoming the King's Hand was another matter... "It should take them about a moon's turn to get here as there will be so many of them travelling. I anticipate Prince Joffrey, Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella will be coming, though I cannot be sure about Lord Tyrion. As for the dances, Sansa, I expect there will be time for one or two at least."
Sansa gasped in delight and immediately launched into details of the new dress she planned to make for the occasion. "… and I'll spend all my nights on the embroidery, I don't care how long it takes."
"I'm sure you'll look lovely, Sansa," Hermione said kindly. "I almost wish that I'd be here to see it."
Sansa looked horrified at the idea of Hermione and Harry missing such an occasion. "Oh, but you must stay for the visit of the royal family! How could you not?"
Hermione shook her head. "We've already delayed our journey twice. We shouldn't keep the Citadel waiting."
"But it'll only be another moon's turn," Robb pointed out eagerly. "That's not going to make much of a difference, is it?"
"And following that there will be another reason to stay!" Hermione argued. "It's not that I'm desperate to leave you all but," she turned to Harry, "we have a journey to take. Right?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I don't see the harm in it," he replied, causing the others to cheer and Hermione to sigh. "Come on, you must admit it'll be interesting to see the King and Queen. The Citadel's not going anywhere."
Hermione looked at Harry stoically for a few seconds before finally turning to Ned. "We wouldn't be an imposition on your household?"
"Not at all," Ned replied, though in truth the lingering presence of Harry and Hermione was slightly concerning. There were the more obvious worries that Robb was going to fall further into his infatuation or that someone in the King's party would discover their magic. But there was also something lurking underneath the surface; something that neither of them apparently wanted to acknowledge.
"That's settled then," Sansa declared happily. "Oh, Hermione, you must let me help you make a new dress too. The ones you wore at Robb's celebrations were nice enough but now we'll be seen by royalty!"
Hermione smiled tightly in reply. "Thank you, Sansa, that's most kind. But if you'll all excuse me for a moment, there's a book of Maester Luwin's that I've been meaning to borrow and now I've got enough time to read it." She extricated herself from the direwolf pups that had somehow managed to clamber onto her person. The pups whined as she left and Harry frowned at the floor.
"Those pups look like they'll fall asleep at any moment," Ned pointed out to fill the silence in Hermione's absence. "Best take them to your bedchambers." His children followed his suggestion without argument; Jon carrying Rickon's pup for him.
"You wish to speak to me, my lord?" Harry asked as he lingered behind.
Ned rose. "It was very thoughtful of you and Hermione to delay your journey to Oldtown for Jon's coming of age as well as Robb's."
"Jon is just as much our friend as Robb and we think he deserves to know that," Harry replied. Jon would be turning sixteen in a couple of days' time, though there would be very little celebration of the event. "Hermione and I both know how it feels to be treated differently because of our last name."
They exited the kitchens and Ned led them up some stone stairs to stand atop the inner wall of Winterfell. "It pleases me greatly that you have all become close friends," he said. "But you risk your friendship with Hermione the longer you wait to tell her."
Harry turned his head sharply to stare at Ned. "I- I don't know what you mean, my lord."
"The Citadel," Ned prompted.
Harry's face fell and he leant forward over the wall while Ned waited patiently for him to respond. "She's depending on me," he eventually muttered. "It doesn't matter what I think."
"And what do you think?"
"That it's impossible," Harry admitted glumly still staring at the ground far below. "I know that it brought us here in the first place but we didn't make the timeturner ourselves. Maester Luwin says that what Hermione and I can do is far beyond the magic taught at the Citadel, but to us, a spell to take you to another world that's, that's," he struggled to find the words to describe their predicament and shook his head.
"Have you told Hermione this?"
Harry laughed harshly. "No. How could I? She doesn't understand that sometimes there isn't a solution for everything no matter how hard you look; it's always worked for her before."
"So you plan to journey to the Citadel, train as a maester and investigate magic even though you consider it pointless?"
Harry looked up at him in confusion. "What else could I do?"
Ned frowned at his defeated attitude. "Live," he suggested. "If it's impossible for you to get home, would it not be a waste of the lives you and Hermione have been given to chase a dream? Would a life here be so bad?"
"You don't understand," Harry shook his head. "It's not just Hermione who's depending on me. Back home, there's someone I need to save. If I give up then I'm condemning him to a fate worse than death."
Ned didn't envy Harry's position. It was obvious that the boy was extremely loyal to those he cared about and would put their needs before his own. "Whatever you decide, putting it off won't make it any easier."
"I've already decided," Harry said forcefully, possibly to convince himself. "I'm going to do the right thing."
"But are you sure what the right thing is?" Ned questioned, laying a hand on Harry's shoulder. He couldn't help but feel that soon after the King's visit, either Harry or Hermione were going to be extremely unhappy.
A/N Hooray! Ten chapters in and we're finally up to the start of the first episode of Game of Thrones! This chapter is kind of a stepping stone to the next phase of the story.
When I described Harry's animagus in the previous chapter I thought it was so obvious that he was a thestral but to be honest I'd totally forgotten that hippogriffs had hooves and wings too. There are lots of reasons why I chose a thestral like Harry's association with death, black hair, skinny body, love of flying. It just seemed to fit him very well. Hermione obviously wouldn't be a direwolf if she'd stayed in her own world but I don't think someone's potential animagus form is set at birth but is subject to change depending on environment and experiences until they first transform. Direwolves are loyal, intelligent and brave creatures which I think suits Hermione very well.
Anyway, the next chapter shouldn't be too long. I've got a decent chunk of it written already.
Lil Drop of Magic
PS I SO want a direwolf pup! They are too cute.