Chapter 11: Nightmares of the future past.
Three days had passed since Harry put Voldemort in to his small prison. He was sure that he was going to find a way to get free but perhaps by then they would have found out why he didn't die before. At least he would have been if he had not been lying in the hospital bed in a slight magical coma from all the energy that it took to hold Voldemort in place until he placed the locket upon his neck. Even weakened, Voldemort was powerful magically and it showed from the near victory that he had over Harry. In those three days, death eaters had tried to escape so that they could reform later but many that had been at the so-called final battle of the second war had been captured.
As Harry lay in his bed, a placard had been placed above it by Ron. It simply said "Reserved for Harry Potter" as a bit of a joke and to acknowledge the fact that Harry had spent so much time in that bed when they were in classes together. As the now of age Redheaded Dragon Rider sat with his best friend, watching over him incase his best friend awoke. He looked up as Hermione walked in to sit across from Ron.
"It is odd, we healed him, Poppy looked over him but they can't find anything wrong. Even his wizard's magical core is strong." Ron told his other friend. The last two years had taken the moody and jealous youngest brother of 7 children into a young adult. He was not happy with Harry when he had first come back and he had that Dragon but when Serenity bonded with him, it had shown him so much more about his life. He understood more that the Master of his Order did not want what had been dealt him but he accepted it and made the most of it. Now the Redheaded Weasley just wished he could be half as good as Harry Potter and eventually join the council of Elders here on Earth that governed the Riders.
With a soft sigh, Hermione brushed a lock of Harry's hair out of his face "He will awaken when he awakens." She said, though she noticed that her friend's eyes were darting back and forth behind their lids. She wondered what he could be seeing that made him so upset.
What they did not know is that both Wizard Magic and the Magic of the Dragons where at work with in Harry Potter. What he saw bothered him greatly. Before him was a massive battle between three Dragons in Alagaësia. Below them he saw what he thought was Ilirea but it had changed so much. There was a blue dragon being ridden with what looked like an elf male. Attacking from both sides was a red dragon that held a red blade and Galbatorix himself. He caught several words in the wind.
"Eragon, there is so much that Oromis did not teach you. There is so much about the Dragons that you should know. You might think of me evil and perhaps I was at one time. There was so much madness in my heart after I lost my first Dragon but that is no more. That is the reason why I spent much of my time after brining the land under my yoke sequestered." Galbatorix said, while Murtagh moved from behind Eragon's line of sight. "We do not wish to kill you for Saphira is the last female Dragon alive. Together we can rebuild the riders and bring peace to this land once and for all." The King said.
"Your Father Morzan served me well as has your brother, though a few small punishments for failure were required, not that I enjoyed giving them but a strong hand is needed." The King smiled as he spoke, his hand moving to the Elf Rider. Harry assumed that the rider of the Red Dragon was the brother of the blue rider but they didn't look alike and the Red Rider didn't look like an elf.
The Blue rider lifted his blade "You are wrong Galbatorix, my father did not serve you. In fact, my father helped steal Saphira's egg and killed my brother's father in battle." He glanced back at the blue rider and smiled at him "My father was Brom. Our mother remains to be the same but she betrayed Morzan and you Gabby." He said.
"We might be beaten in this battle Gabby but we are never defeated." Eragon lifted his blade, though it was shaking slightly and whispered the blades name, letting it catch on fire as he swung it at the black dragon. He was slow however; Galbatorix's blade deflected it as Murtagh swung Zar'roc. Eragon moved back but he didn't know that his head was right in the path of the blade. Seconds before impact, Harry's vision changed.
Lay before him laid the former lands of Du Weldenvarden, home of the Elves, aflame. The Menoa Tree was moving limbs and roots to capture the solders that burnt her but there were too many of them for her to stop them all. A Mental scream was heard as the roots were torn from the ground. With another shift, the heart of Du Weldenvarden could be seen. Every house looked like it had been smashed. Trees where cut down with many more in the middle of being cut. Hundreds of Elvin bodies lay in the clearing, most having their heads removed. Visions of place after place were shown to Harry, all of them burnt and dying before he saw Hogwarts.
It was burning. Gryffindor tower laid in rubble as did several of the walls. On the top of the highest tower was a black Dragon and upon his back was Galbatorix. Walking into the main doors of the Castle was Voldemort, carelessly casting the killing curse at anyone in his way.
He heard a soft voice "Nightmares of the future past chosen one. Vanquished Voldemort you did but not forever. Help the other chosen one in his quest and this will not come to pass but do not delay much longer or you will lose everything. The order of good and evil restored you must do."
With those words, Harry shot up out of his bed into a sitting position. A curse word muttered as he looked around. His two best friends had moved to sit next to each other and Hermione had her head on Ron's shoulder as they slept. He glanced around the room and smiled as he saw the sign above his bed. Madam Pomfrey shuffled into the ward, checking on several that still where there from the battle.
"You have awoken Harry." She said as she bustled up to him. She drew her wand and started to check his health. "We were afraid that you would not wake up." She said as Harry's two friends started to stir.
"Poppy, I am fine now. There is much work to be done. I have to go back to where Godric and I…" he was cut off as his friends cried out
"Harry!" Both of them moved to hug their friend but paused as the medi-witch glanced at them.
"Your clothes are here Harry. You may leave but I want you back here if you feel any pain or experience any issues." Poppy said.
"Give me a moment Ron and Hermione and we will talk in my office." With those words, he dressed. /Godric, are you close?/ he asked his Dragon
/Yes little one. I am glad to hear you once more. We were worried about you./ Godric told him.
/I am sorry but I think the fates or someone wanted me to see something./ As he spoke, he pushed the memories to his Dragon. /We have to stop him and help that Rider. I think he is the key to vanquishing the Darkness once and for all./
Godric was silent for a few moments as he reviewed the memories of the vision. /Agreed. When do we go back?/ he asked.
/Soon Godric… We have to plan our arrival as we do not know when and what state the land will be when we arrive. The Elves might have even abandoned their forest by the time we get there. Listen in as I speak to Ron and Hermione. We will plan our return. I plan on taking most of the Riders with us./
/Alright Harry./
As soon as Harry was dressed, he walked out of the hospital wing, his two friends behind him. As he walked several of the children in the school came up to him and thanked him for ridding them of Voldemort once more. Harry smiled and after a few moments of small talk finely entered his office. He sat down and looked his friends.
"Do either of you have my wand?" He asked. Ron handed it over to him "Thank you. This will make what I have to say easier." He said before getting out a pensive. He withdrew a silvery strand and placed it in the bowl. He tapped several of the runes on it, causing it to project above the bowl.
"This is the land of Alagaësia. The black rider killed the entire order of riders as I left. Him and a selection of his friends. I assume the Red Rider is a new rider that he enslaved and the Blue Dragon is fighting to stop their evil." Harry explained as they watched the battles. "I can only assume that he died, and because no one could match the strength of the other riders, this is what happened." He showed the death and destruction of the lands. "Because he was unchecked, will some how come back here…" He then showed them the burning Hogwarts and Voldemort.
"We have to find out how Tommy Boy stays alive and stop that. I will ask Dumbledore to find that out. Ron, I want you to select fifteen riders to come with us. The rest will remain here to protect the school and the lands, at least the best they can while remaining hidden. We are not ready to show ourselves to the Muggles again as per the agreements to protect the peace."
Ron nodded, thinking for a few minutes "Neville, Luna, Hagrid, Ginny, Susan, Daphne, Blaise, Katie, Hermione, myself, yourself…" He paused before adding a few names from the Riders that came with Harry from Alagaësia. "I think they will be the best riders and I want to bring some mage support with us. We will need a lot of help when we arrive. Portkey creation should allow us to move quickly if we can find a place to protect them." Ron stood up and started to pace, thinking for a moment.
"We should be able to ward off a small base camp." Hermione started to say, thinking. "I am sure that this Blue Rider has an army behind him. If we could locate them and assist them, we might even be able to cause this king some surprises because he won't expect our magic. It might even be more important to have the mage support teams instead of the riders."
"She is right Harry" Ron said as he turned to look at his friend. "Once we find their army, we can help their mages to ward the area that they are camped in, which will be a great boon for them and us." He said before resuming his pacing. Harry looked at Ron.
"I want to be able to leave in three days Ron. I just hope I can convince Hogwarts to open a path to the Dragon Hold so that all of our Dragons may join us. Make sure that you have enough food for two weeks for…" He pondered for a moment "50. The house elves should help with that. Hermione, could you take care of that for us? I know you think that they should be free but time is critical here."
His female best friend nodded before she stood "Of course Harry." She said, smiling at him. "Come on Ron. We have a lot of work to do." She said before they left the office. Harry watched them, a pang in his heart as he knew that they where forced to grow up way too fast. They all did because of the madman known as Lord Voldemort and now were about to face an even greater madman. He slowly ran his palm over his face, hoping that he would be able to bring everyone home safely, but baring that, alive.
Three days passed quickly for everyone. It was time for Harry to return to the home of the Dragon Riders. He looked back at the 20 Riders that would come with him and their Dragons. He smiled slightly as he saw behind them another 30 mages, trained in many arts between them. He led them to the Obelisk that brought them back and forth. He looked over it as everyone entered. Closing the door the deep voice boomed "It is time. Return to the home of the Dragon Riders and the Elves. Time and space has commanded Master Rider, that only one hundred times Alagaësia has gone around the sun since your last visit."
With a bright flash, the group felt the magical pull, much like a portkey taking them all to Alagaësia. Harry landed in the forest. He stepped forward to ensure that everyone had arrived safely. He heard a voice next to him "Wicked!" He smiled at Ron's comment, but he was still thinking about the one hundred years that had passed since he was last here. It didn't make much sense to him as last time, he had spent thirty years in the land but only two months had passed in Hogwarts. Three hundred and sixty years should have passed for them but then again, Fates did warn him of what was to come to pass.
He took a step forward out of the glade that covered the small area and mentally projected himself to find out if Oromis or Gilderien the Wise were still in the land. He smiled as he requested permission to enter and it was granted from the old keeper of the wards. A quick conversation with the elf, directed him to find an elf that would update him some what of what was going on.