After what seemed like an endless round of questions and answers; Corina and Harry were able to set up their tents, Corina had the foresight to get two of the tents, seeing as the Companions needed shelter, and weren't likely to enjoy her and Harry's nighttime activities.
The two Heralds had took the tack off both Companions, and gave them a grooming until they nearly glowed, and set them loose to explore and get a better layout of their new grounds. The two Heralds then went back up to the castle to get the layout.
Corina found herself in the hospital wing, there wasn't a pressing need for her, but the potions that madam Pomfrey used reminded her of the House of Healing and Healer's Collegium.
"Well, my Gifts are Empathy, I'm also a mindHealer. Normally, people with healing gifts are trained as Healers, but I was Chosen as a Herald. I never questioned why." Corina explained as she helped the Healer of Hogwarts.
Madam Pomfrey looked at the Herald Corina, "What does a mindHealer do, exactly?"
"That is rather hard, since I am a true Healer, but in essence, I can enter someone's mind and heal their mental wounds." Corina answered, she was taken back at the expression on Madam Pomfrey's face. It was as if, the news of someone that could enter someone's mind was a good thing. After that initial question, that leads to a serious discussion of the various types of healing both Valdemaran, and wizarding world.
Harry on the other hand, stood rigid staring with both physical eyes and Mage-Sight at the power flow around a classroom, which was as blood red as anything, he had ever heard about as a Trainee.
Harry shook his head, to find this curse's focal point, it would take time, and some background information that he did not have. The Herald-Mage leaned against wall, without any of those idiotic talking portraits, studying the mess of curse.
Harry left the room to continue his tour of the old castle some of the braver students can up to him and spoke with him.
"I don't need a wand." Harry answered politely; he kept his 'public' face on. Someone asked him, why he didn't carry a wand.
"You mean all your magic is wandless, your power must be very high to do it that way" one red head asked.
Harry shrugged, "we call it Mage-Gift, but I can access ley-lines and nodes, and we have been taught, that mage-gift is not the answer to everything, and we do not have that many trained mages."
"Mage-gift, I never heard of but ley-lines and node, my brother Charlie told me about them." The red head states
"Mage is just another word for someone can use magic, and did your brother tell you that not everyone can use nodes or else your magic channels will be scorched for days?" Harry questions "And you are?"
"Oh, I'm Ron Weasley; it's a pleasure to meet you. He didn't tell me that, he said that wizards can find them but can't use the power directly." Ron replied
"Some wizards can access the ley-lines; I'm surprised that none of your instructors have even taught you that, nodes are for Adepts, which I am." Harry answers
:Harry, you have got to see this.: Corina's voice sounded in Harry's mind.
"Excuse me but I have to go now maybe we'll talk later." Harry Politely said as left to find his lifemate.
Corina had left the hospital wing, on her way to see how the Companions were doing, when she noticed something strange and yet completely awe inspiring.
Harry came around the corner and saw this as well. :Wow I didn't think I ever see this Morgan okay with someone petting her like that.:
Corina turned to her lifemate. "What's with the mindspeech? I only used it because you weren't in hearing distance."
"I didn't want to ruin this it's a sweet sight." Harry replies, "They're acting like little foals."
"They won't be able to hear us from here." Corina answers, "You do know who Kantis is right?"
"Yes, I know he's the Sunlord, I heard the stories of him." Harry replies
"Then it is given to say that He is worshiped here as well as Karse, Valdemar, and Iftel just under another name like we call Him the Lord of light." Corina states, "Maybe just maybe, he is selecting more people for Valdemar and we are just merely shepherds."
Harry thought for a few marks then nodded in agreement.
Corina started down the stairs to where the Companions were frolicking. Harry followed shortly after.
As the two Heralds near them, the companions stopped as turned to look at their chosen.
"Don't let us interrupt, we were watching." Corina teases
: I like her, but she doesn't refer to us as Companions, she calls us white spirits.: Morgan commented
The blonde haired girl turned to look at the strangers "I'm sorry, I just heard them calling and I had to see them."
"Don't apologize for something natural, they are rather remarkable." Corina waved away the apology.
"Corina's right, you're the first to come seeking the Companions." Harry added
The girl grinned in agreement "they're the first one that don't make me feel like I'm the strange one here." She spoke in a soft voice.
"We know the feeling." The two Heralds replied in unison.
The Companions went and stood by their chosen.
"Perhaps formal introductions are best, I am Herald Corina, and this is Dasher."
"I am Herald Harry, and this lovely mare is Morgan."
"I'm Luna, Luna Lovegood; it's a pleasure to meet you all." Luna replies curtsied to the group.
Harry reached for the young girl's hand and gently kissed her knuckles. " The pleasure is all ours, my lady."
Luna blushes and giggles, "You shouldn't flirt with girls when your fiancée is right there."
"He's not flirting, I'm not the jealous type; he just hasn't had the chance to practice those lessons from Courtly Manners and Etiquette class." Corina replies,
"Well around here some of the pure-bloods would think your flirting withering me." Luna answered.
"Another name for Highborn." Corina snorted, "I know the sort all moneyed and no sense."
She nods "As good a name for them as any all they care about is how far back their families' magic goes without a muggle in them."
"In other words, they marry cousins and cross-cousins." Harry commented "Just like all Highborn families. Mine included."
Dasher neighed in laughter, :I believe she needs to be back up to the Castle now.:
"I suppose you need to be back up at the castle right now?" Corina asks
"Oh my, your right I have to get ready for my classes, it was nice meeting you I hope to talk with you more." Luna replied before she started to run off.
Harry reached out and touched her shoulder, "We have a slightly faster way to get around. How would you like a ride? If that is alright with our Companions?"
The Companions looked at each other, before nodding. Corina pulled herself on Dasher's bareback. Harry went over and cupped his hands, to assist Luna to mount.
"Really, I can ride them I would love that." She smiles as she mounts Dasher.
"Normally they wouldn't allow anyone but us to ride them. You are the first to realize they are Intelligent and not mindless well trained beasts." Harry answered as he pulled himself on Morgan's bareback.
Luna just smiles even wider with the excitement she felt while riding on Dasher.
The moment the two Companions entered the castle. Harry jump down from Morgan's back with practiced ease. He went up and assisted Luna down as if she were a Princess.
"Why thank you kind sir, its nice to see that there are still gentlemen out in the world." Luna states
"At least, I learned something from that dreadful class of manners." Harry replied, "My foster mother will be pleased."
:Now Harry your mother would be pleased any way.: Morgan replies
:I was joking, she had always nagged at me about my table manners.: Harry replied
Morgan whinnied in humor at Harry's words.
The group made their way to the Hall for lunch.
As they all sat down to eat their meal, Corina noticed the bushy haired girl and the red haired boy talking and seem to be compiling notes of some kind.
Dasher noticed and made his way toward the table in question and looked over the two children's shoulders. Dasher saw what the notes were and passed the information to his chosen.
Harry stood up and excused himself; he walked over to the two students, looking over their shoulders. "The line you're looking for is Chosen by a Companion."
The two of them jump at his words and quickly try to cover the sheets, they wrote.
"Oh Herald Harry; we have no idea what you mean." Hermione said.
"Heralds aren't chosen by a person." Harry explained, "If they were, there would be a lot of us."
Ron sat there for a minute then his eyes shot open wide "Then that means that your companions are intelligent and understand all the happening."
"Yes." Harry answered he looked around mainly at the table with the green and silver banner, "Fair warning, Corina and I will not stop our Companions from defending themselves, so if you wish to have hoof print shape bruises that's your business not ours."
Corina stood up, "And to add to that warning, Our Companions are combat ready and trained." She sat back down, and leaned over to Professor McGonagall, "Would you please meet us at Hagrid's hut tonight?"
She nods and continued her meal.
Later that evening, the two Heralds were sitting in Hagrid's hut waiting on the Headmaster's Second.
A few minutes pass and the was a knock on Hagrid's door.
Hagrid opened the door and invited the Deputy headmistress.
Corina unshielded and pushed her extra sense out to make sure no one had followed Professor McGonagall. She nodded to harry, whose hands glowed with power as he set a spell around the hut that no one would hear what was going hear what was said within the walls.
"Forgive us, for using you as a go-between." Harry apologized
"No problem at all I can understand your feelings about the headmaster." McGonagall replied
"There is a more pressing reason we gave that warning about the Companions." Corina states, she looked the professor dead in the eyes, "To come right to the point, if our companions are placed in a situation where they can die, we will follow."
Professor McGonagall's eyes widen at this. "Oh my how horrible well then we must guard the information well."
"Yes, we are bonded to them, think of them as guiding spirits that take the form of a horse, I am sure you have horses in this world." Harry agreed, "Which is another reason, I do not belong to this world any longer."
Professor McGonagall sighed, "I agree you made a life for yourself in that world and you should get back to it."
"And we are within our rights as Heralds to offer an invitation to those who wish to cut ties to this world, when we return to Valdemar, we will find places for them if they are not Chosen to be Heralds." Corina states softly. "Also, would you be willing to see if you could bring two patients of your version of a House of Healing here? Madam Pomfrey told me of two that were tortured to insanity; I might be able to help them."
McGonagall understood who she was talking about."If you can help them then I'll arrange for them to be brought here at once."
"Oh, did you know there is a blood path curse on one of your classrooms?" Harry asks
"What a curse in one of our class room oh my we must do something about this, I'll have the classroom closed off till we can remove this curse." McGonagall
Harry allowed a smirk to grace his lips, "I'll remove it, and I will do something else too, I will send it to the one who placed it in the first place."
"Very well I will leave this in your hands as well." McGonagall replied
"Now let's lure this blood path wizard to us." Corina replied as the three of them bend their heads to the task.