Chapter 21:

"Everybody ready?" Harry asked the next morning as he and his friends gathered in the courtyard of Hogwarts. It was early, not quite six in the morning, and although none of them looked very awake they at least looked excited at the prospect of adventure.

"I think so," Hermione stated hefting her knapsack slightly, "the House Elves were kind enough to pack us all a picnic lunch since we don't know how long this will take."

"How big is the forest?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Big enough to ensure this likely won't be a quick trip," Hermione declared primly, "Though it's not likely we're going to find anything anyways…"

"Yes Hermione," Ron said shaking his head, "we know what you think about it all."

Hermione huffed indignantly and made to speak but was cut off by Draco whom didn't want to see the duo devolve into another fight.

"Where's Longbottom?"

"Ya, I'm surprised he's missing a trip to a new forest what with all the new plants he'd be likely to see." Ron frowned glancing around as if he thought he may have just missed the quiet boy.

"That's partly why he isn't coming," Ginny shrugged, "doesn't want to hold us up does he, thinks he'll be too distracted to be of any help. Also he has to study, finals are coming up and he's having difficulty in some subjects. Luna Lovegood said she would help him but could only do it this morning."

"Fair enough," Harry nodded, "Well if we're good to go then," he paused and waited till his friends nodded in agreement before speaking again, "then we should split up. Two with me and two with Jessica we're going to shimmer there."

Hermione and Draco clustered around Jessica whilst Ron and Ginny went to Harry. Both Knights grasped a hand of each of their companions and held on tight.

"Alright kids," Jessica grinned, "keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times and I would highly suggest not letting go of our hands."

Hermione grimaced and clutched at Jessica hand tighter, "why what will happen?"

Jessica laughed, "No idea! Ready?" without waiting for an answer she shimmered away with a smirking Draco and terrified Hermione on board.

Harry shook his head with a grin at his partners playful attitude before smiling kindly at Ron and Ginny, "ready?" they nodded and he disappeared to.

They reappeared on the edge of Paimpont forest, the air and ground was damp with freshly fallen rain, and the light drizzle that still fell, but that didn't dampen the beauty of the forest in front of them. It seemed to be a forest filled with broadleaf trees, Oaks and Beeches from what Harry could see so far, and a lot of vegetation seemed to dominate the land. The whole area was a beautiful lush green that reminded Harry of the hills in Greenshade. With a pang in his heart he wondered how his Elf friends were doing, if they missed them as much as he and Jessica missed them, he hoped he could see them again soon. He shook off the thought.

"C'mon then," he grinned, "Into the woods."

He opened up his Aura sight and then followed Jessica as she led the group into the forest, they trudged quietly through the vegetation the wet forest floor sagging under their feet and the air cool. It was definitely a beautiful place though, the trees were tall and the forest was full of life as birds and animals went about their daily lives. Small valleys littered the forest with babbling brooks lain at the bottom all seeming to flow into a singular river. To Harry the last remnant of the Ancient Forests in Brittany was beautiful and, despite not finding anything when they finally stopped for a break and lunch hours later, he couldn't help but enjoy his hike through it. Jessica seemed to be of the same opinion as him but Ron, Hermione, Draco and Ginny didn't seem quite as pleased.

"Blimey," the red head groaned in misery, "we've been walking for hours and haven't found a bloody thing!"

"That's not true, there was a fascinating plant I noticed back there…" Hermione began primly only to be interrupted by Ginny.

"That's all well and good Hermione," the fiery girl groaned and barely refrained from rolling her eyes, "but I think my brother meant we haven't found anything magical. You know, the reason we're here."

Hermione huffed and didn't bother to hide her own eye roll, "well I did mention this was a wild goose chase before we left didn't I."

"Oh not again," Ron groaned his annoyance echoed by Draco and Ginny as the four began to help themselves to some lunch from Hermione's magically enhanced backpack.

Jessica ignore her friends as they began to bicker and instead moved to Harry, whom had moved apart from his friends to sit on a log ten feet away, she joined her partner on the log and handed him a sandwich she had managed to pilfer before the argument had broken out.

Harry gave her a small smile and unwrapped his lunch taking a large bite as he continued to gaze about the forest, his back to his bickering friends.

"Alright Harry?" Jessica whispered nibbling on her own sandwich.

"Ya, bit of a headache but that's not surprising considering." He grimaced and sighed, "What do you think? Are we wasting our time here Jess? Is there anything out here to find or are we just so desperate that we're willing to chase rabbits."

"I don't know," the girl answered honestly dropping her sandwich into her lap no longer hungry, "I wish I could say we're absolutely going to find something...but I can't. All we can do is hope Harry, hope our search isn't in vain and that we'll find what we need here. I have hope, despite what Hermione says, and I'm sorry I can't offer you something better than that..."

Harry smiled lightly as his girlfriend and leaned over to kiss her gently, he pulled away a moment later a smile gracing his features, "hope is better than nothing. Thanks Jess."

She winked, "anytime."

The duo continued their lunch in silence and tried to ignore the continuing bickering of the group behind them as they did.

Harry glanced behind them in exasperation after both he and Jessica had finished eating, "what say we go for a walk, just the two of us?"

Jessica grinned, "Why Mr. Potter I thought you would never ask."

He smiled and the two of them stood quietly and snuck away from the moody group of teens behind them. Harry knew they were going to be furious when they finally met up again but at this point he didn't much care. He was tired of their complaining and honestly it was awfully distracting. How could he focus on his search when he was constantly trying to ignore his friends? It was near impossible. He loved his friends, he truly did, but maybe hiking through ancient forests wasn't a great way to spend time together.

It only took a few minutes of walking for the sounds of their friends to dissipate and blessed silence to envelop them.

"Thank goodness," Jessica groaned, "If I had to hear Ron complain about the rain one more time I may go mad," she smirked, "or throttle him."

Harry laughed and squeezed her hand, "I'm not even sure what the problem is," he admitted opening his Aura sight and looking around keenly, "Hermione used an impervious charm on him he's not even getting wet or cold!"

Jessica grinned and teased, "I think it's just because he's not used to walking so much, purebloods."

"That or he's just trying to rile up Hermione and she's taking the bait and Ginny is probably fueling the fire because she thinks it's funny. Draco is definitely not used to the physicality of hours of hiking though and it's certainly affecting his mood." Harry mused, "But that's ok, we'll let them have their fun. Hopefully we'll find what we're looking for before they notice we're gone."

Jessica smirked, "not bloody likely,"

"This place is beautiful," Jessica murmured sometime later, "maybe we can come back when this is over, camp here or something..." She hoped they got the chance it really was a lovely place after all but she couldn't hide the sadness in her voice knowing she may not.

Harry smiled sadly noting her solemnity, "sounds brilliant. There are other forests we can check out too, plenty of beautiful places around the world. We can see them all." He paused wondering if he should bring it up, the subject they had been dancing around for months the one the pain in her voice was alluding to. It had to be talked about at some point and they were in such a peaceful place he couldn't help but think it should probably be now. With a deep sigh he spoke, "you don't think you're going to survive the power transfer do you."

Jessica hadn't expected him to bring it up and it caused her step to falter before she caught herself and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was staring at her and had stopped walking so she stopped to and turned to face him. She didn't want to talk about it but she refused to lie to him and he deserved an answer. "No."

He stared at her for so long she actually began to fidget, wringing her hands in front of her.

"Why didn't you say anything?" The raven haired boy spoke softly stepping closer and taking her hands in his to stop her fidgeting and just to give the girl some comfort.

She sighed but squeezed his hands, "because we have to do it anyway and I didn't want you to feel like you had to make the decision between me or the world. So I didn't bother bringing it up."

His heart wrenched in his chest, of course she hadn't spoken of it, she had been trying to save him feeling guilt or pain. "You thought I wouldn't know the danger?"

She shook her head, "I had hoped that maybe you wouldn't think of it at the time. Are you angry?"

He smiled sadly, "no, I just wish you had talked to me about it instead of bottling it up. You don't have to worry about me okay?"

"Ok," she whispered.

He grinned again, "besides I know you, how strong you are, how stubborn..." he laughed at the mock glare his partner shot him, "and if anyone can survive something like this it's most definitely you."

She smiled.

"I'm surprised they haven't found us yet," Harry said an hour later as he and his partner continued their search through the woods the raven haired boy being sure to keep a keen eye on the surrounding area.

"Maybe they just decided not to bother," Jessica laughed, "probably just napping in the picnic area."

Harry snorted in amusement, he wouldn't put it past them honestly. None of them were really enjoying their time in the forest. Before he could comment though he caught a glimmer of something out of the corner of his eye. He stopped and turned immediately.

"What is it?" Jessica asked having noticed his distraction promptly and stopping as well. She followed his eye line and saw only a small cliff face, that couldn't have been more than six feet tall, through a break in the trees on the other side of a larger brook.

"That cliff face," he said walking towards it before stopping just at the edge of the brook, "it's got ancient magic surrounding it."

Jessica's breath caught, could this be it? Could they have actually found it? The mythical resting place of Merlin himself?

"Can you tell what the magic is?"

He focused on it noticing it had similarities to the notice me not charms that wizards used to keep muggles away from magical places only stronger and just slightly different. He figured it was because it was designed to keep both muggles and magical folk from seeing it. He told Jessica his theory.

"That's sounds right," she mused, "he wouldn't want anyone to see it whether they had magic or not so an invisibility charm of sorts would work." She casually walked through the brook, not caring that her shoes became even soggier then they had been, and stopped about a foot from the cliff face. "Anything else?"

"Yes, a bunch of wards. May take some time to get through but I'm sure we can."

It was another two hours before the duo finally managed to break down the last ward and by that time Hermione, Ron, Draco and Ginny had managed to find them again.

"I can't believe you just left us!" Hermione huffed when the Knights had finally finished and had plopped down next to the foursome for a break. Up until that point she had been quiet allowing her friends to work quickly and without distraction but now that they were done and taking a break she would speak her mind.

"Can you really blame us, 'mione?" Harry said calmly sipping the drink Draco had handed him from the backpack. "All your arguing and complaining was distracting me. Besides it worked out didn't it? I mean we found something."

Hermione had the good grace to look abashed at least, "I suppose we haven't been much help have we. Sorry."

Ron too looked embarrassed, "Ya mate, sorry about all that, we got carried away."

Harry shrugged with a grin, "its fine, not everyone enjoys a walk through the woods like Jessica and I do. At least you found us when we got to the interesting part of our little expedition."

"You broke all the wards right?" Ginny wondered eyeing the wall curiously even though it just looked normal to her, "does that mean we can pass through now?"

The raven haired boy finished his drink and handed the trash back to Draco so he could store it back in the backpack, "let's find out." He pushed himself to his feet and didn't even need to glance behind him to know the others had scrambled up after him.

Harry approached the cliff and reached towards it cautiously; his hand met solid rock. He left his hand there and turned to his friends with a frown. Before he could speak though he yelped as a slight burning sensation crept across his hand suddenly.

Yanking his hand away quickly he noticed it was red and he shook his hand to try to ebb in the painful feeling, "blimey, what was that? The stone is solid but after a second it felt like it was burning my hand!"

Hermione frowned her eyes far away as she thought trying to remember if she had read anything that would explain that.

"It must have been scanning you," Draco drawled his eyebrows raised surprise clearly showing.

"Scanning me? For what?" Annoyed at the burning sensation distracting him he allowed some of his ice magic to surface, covering the red palm with a thin layer of frost, immediately cooling it and allowing him to give the Slytherin his full attention.

"It's how Pureblood's used to safe guard their treasures," the platinum blonde said casually, "it's an intention charm. See most people who break into vaults want to steal what's inside so Pureblood's used intention charms as a lock. Place your hand on the door and the charm scans you reading your intentions, so if you wanted in to steal something the charm would know it and wouldn't open for you. But if you were the owner and just wanted in to look at your things or take something from your vault the charm would know that too. Very old magic but as the years went on it became too unreliable to use."

"Why?" Hermione asked sounding fascinated, it wasn't often she didn't know something and honestly she found it a little refreshing to be the one learning in that moment and not teaching.

"Well as time passed thieves became more intelligent and more determined to beat the charm and they began making spells that could fool the charm into thinking whatever they wanted thus getting into the so called impenetrable vaults and stealing the treasures. Eventually Pureblood's just stopped using them at all and stored anything of real value in Gringotts."

"Wicked!" Ron grinned, "I'm not sure what's cooler; the charm or the fact you just out schooled 'Mione!" He laughed and ducked behind Ginny as Hermione advanced towards him threateningly with a shrieked 'Ronald Weasley!'

"But it didn't open," Harry frowned looking back at the wall and ignoring his longtime friends, "it should have known my intentions are good shouldn't it?" After all he only wanted in to find a spell to help stop a bunch of revenge ridden Elves from murdering the entirety of Britain. Surely that showed good intentions in Merlin's book.

Draco nodded, also content to ignore the fuming Hermione and back tracking Weasley, "do it again, hand on the wall, and think about why you want in this time. The Charm isn't made to go through all your thoughts to find your intentions, you have to think about them then it will decipher whether they're true and good."

Harry nodded strongly and shook the frost from his hand before placing it back on the wall. He closed his eyes as the slight burning started and thought about why he wanted in making sure to focus on his intentions. He knew his intentions were only good so Harry wasn't worried about trying to hide anything as he concentrated on his goal.

The burning in his hand disappeared instantly and with nary a sound the solid rock wall in front of him began to undulate like water causing the raven haired boys hand to pass into it. He belatedly thought it was like sticking his hand in a vat of jello but he ignored the feeling and pushed forward, the barrier moving up his arm and over his body as he eventually passed through to the other side. He stumbled at the sudden unrestricted movement but didn't bother looking around as he turned back to the barrier to help his friends pass through it.

Jessica had followed him so Harry reached in and grabbed her outstretched hand pulling her through the thick barrier quickly worried it may close before she could pass through safely. She stumbled out and away as Harry turned back to the others; they looked hesitant.

"Come on you lot!" he yelled at them not sure if they could even hear him. He saw Hermione reach towards the cliff face and stop when she touched the barrier with a frown.

Hermione looked back at Draco and Ron, "it's solid. Where did they go? Why can't we get through?"

Draco frowned as he and Ron stepped up and touched the wall as well; solid. Ginny tried next but was similarly unable to get through.

"Guys?" Harry tried again with a small frown.

"Must be the charm," Draco drawled not worried about it, "if Merlin made it then he may have also created it to make sure only those he deemed worthy of his trust could pass through. I can't think of anyone more worthy then Mystic Knights, can you?"

"Too right," Ron grinned easily also unconcerned at the turn of events, "still would have been nice to see the legend. Ah well,"

"I don't think they can hear me," Harry told Jessica as none of his friends having given any indication of hearing his calls or seeing him through the barrier.

Hermione looked perturbed though, "It's hardly fair…"

Ginny laughed, "oh give it up Hermione, some things just aren't meant to be seen by us normal folks. Should have expected it really, Merlin wouldn't let just anyone near his tomb and things. Anyone could be corrupted after all, except those who are incorruptible like Harry and Jessica. Only they, and others like them, could be allowed anywhere near Merlin's most secret spells and stuff."

"I know all that," Hermione huffed in annoyance before sighing sadly, "I just really wanted to see it that's all. I suppose we should just relax here and wait until they come back then." She waved her wand at the ground with a muttered spell creating a dry spot and plopped down followed quickly by her friends.

Harry turned from them and back to Jessica whom he noticed wasn't even looking at their friends, her attention was focused on something behind him, her face full of wonder and awe.

It was then that Harry finally took stock of what they had passed into, it wasn't what he had expected honestly. He had expected to pass into another forest, possibly the famed Broceliande forest with all the wonders they had heard about. What he wasn't expecting was to turn around and realize he was in a large stone room.

"OK," He said slowly before shaking his head, "didn't see that coming." The room had to be the size of the great hall at Hogwarts. The wall to his right had a tomb made of stone and ivory, which Harry was fairly certain contained Merlin himself, the wall at the far end contained a massive bookshelf made from mahogany containing hundreds of books and scrolls and the wall to the left had a massive stone fireplace with a large table and two plush wing chairs.

Jessica laughed lightly before heading to the tomb on the side, she bowed slightly in respect when she read the inscription on top confirming Harry's thought about who was contained inside, before moving past and towards the bookshelf at the back. Harry followed.

"These books are ancient," Jessica murmured thumbing through the first one she picked up, "I know it's to be expected really but it still boggles my mind. And look," she held the book out to her partner, finger pointing to the borders of the page, who glanced at it curiously, "not only did he make notes sometimes he even made corrections to the texts."

"He was the greatest wizard of all time," Harry grinned looking briefly at the connotations before moving to pick up a book of his own, "we should get started, there are a ton of books and scrolls to get through."

An hour later they realized how long this was really going to take Harry found himself passing through the barrier back to his friends whom scrambled up to meet him.

"What's in there?" Ron asked.

"Is it the Broceliande forest?" Hermione demanded.

"I bet it's his tomb!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Draco drawled.

Harry held up his hands, "We haven't found what we came for yet. It's Merlin's tomb alright and his study it looks like, but there are so many books and things we have a feeling it's going to take days to get through them all so Jessica and I decided it's best to take you guys home." He waved at himself, "and Jessica decided I would be the cab service today."

Draco laughed, "And why did she choose you to go?"

He smirked, "Because I am the chosen one," that got laughs from all the friends remembering one of the nicknames people had called him during Voldemort's reign, "now come on, I also promised to grab some dinner on the way back as it is nearing seven."

The others grumbled but agreed to go, since there wasn't any reason for them to stay really given they couldn't even enter Merlin's tomb, and they gathered around Harry ready to get back to Hogwarts.

By the time Harry got back it had been only a little over half an hour and Jessica was still hard at work flipping through an especially large tome in one of the chairs, her back to the entrance and Harry.

He didn't announce his presence, only watched as she slowly read through a page and then flipped it delicately; endlessly patient in her task. He admired her this, Jessica was a contradiction that way. She could be endlessly patient when she needed to be but just as impatient at other times.

Harry on the other hand was entirely impatient in the task of sifting through books and things which was why he hadn't minded taking his friends back to Hogwarts and getting them some dinner. He was lucky he had Jessica to keep him on task most days.

"You're staring," his partner declared never looking up from her book, she didn't sound angry or anything just curious.

"Yes," he said casually not the least bit ashamed at being caught, why should he be? She was his girlfriend and he would stare if he wanted to.

"Ok, what did you bring for dinner?" Jessica questioned finally looking up at him and eyeing the bags he still held, she sniffed and her eyes brightened, "Chinese?"

He grinned and nodded moving towards her and setting the bags on the table, "Yep, from your favorite restaurant."

Her eyes brightened considerably as she eyed the bags happily, "Harry I could kiss you."

Harry laughed and leaned closer to her his hands on the arms of her chair to balance himself as he brought them face to face, "I won't complain," he said with a small smirk and teasing eyes.

Jessica rolled her eyes but obliged the raven haired boy by kissing him softly for a moment before she pushed him away gently, "now feed me cat boy."

Harry blinked and looked half insulted and half confused, "cat boy?!" He spluttered.

She smirked, "Yep, because of your Animagus form, thought I'd try out a new nickname for you." She worked very hard not to show her vast amusement when Harry looked horrified at the idea.

"You can't call me that!" He cried, "Blimey I'll never live it down!"

"I think it's cute," she said easily as he stumbled away from her the horror still on his face.

When he sank into his chair she couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing at his stupefied expression. She laughed so hard tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

Harry, realizing she had just been teasing him, glared at her lightly before shaking his head and pulling out the food.

She just grinned unrepentantly and took the plate offered to her, "thanks."

"I shouldn't give you anything," he drawled giving her another mock glare.

She smiled at him brilliantly and saw him soften instantly before taking a bite and sighing happily, "so good."

He grinned and picked up the book he had been reading before he left and arranged it on his lap so he could read it while still eating his dinner. Harry very much hoped they would find what they needed soon.

A bit of fluff between Jessica and Harry. I'm not great at writing the romance thing but I do try lol. Cheers!