The Chronicles of Camelot: Swords of Destiny

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its respected characters; all copyright goes to the fantasy queen known as JK Rowling: I do own any OC spells explained at the end of the chapter.

Notes: This story is dedicated to MariusDarkwolf for his brilliant story Harry Potter and the Eyes of the Serpent: a recommended read

Normal Speech

'Thought'

{Parseltongue}

'Mind Speech'

/Speaking in a foreign language/

Key Pairings: Harry/Hermione; Neville/Luna

Side Pairings: eventual Sebastian/Amelia; Tyler/Tonks

Review Answers for Ch 35:

Stallion6 of Deviantart: I thank you for that kind remark;

DarkHeart81: With magic, anything is possible;

IronLad: No, but there will be a surprise with what is to come;

StormyFireDragon: Well guess what Storm; you don't have long to wait for that;

T4: It may surprise you;

Harryhermionealways: Yeah and you'd be right, but I'm not saying much;

Lady Cougar-Trombone: Of course he is and here is that return;

When the meals vanished, the hall was filled with music and Harry felt like he was now on cloud nine; every move he made was as swift and fluent as he could recall: there wasn't a single step out of place and, during one particularly slow dance, he and Hermione seemed to become the centre of attention when they appeared to be lost in each other, the other students applauding the two when they finished with a kiss.

Truly, the Yule Ball had become the turning point for Harry and Hermione…and there was so much left to do…and so little time…

Chapter 36: The Inevitable Event

Now that they had knowledge of the Second Task, both Harry and Hermione mad sure to increase their training sessions with Sebastian and, at times, Sirius and Remus, all the while having Lily and Severus watch their health and ensure they stayed safe and strong. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that the Second Task was when he would meet with his Last Knight and he was more than prepared to bring his plans ahead for the sake of the completion of his Circle.

However, as January started to pass them by, Hermione asked Harry for a private meeting in the Lion's Wing one Saturday afternoon: everyone else was down at Hogsmeade for a post-holiday weekend so they were more or less alone; seated in the now commonly used Common Room of the Wing, Harry held Hermione in his arms as he asked her, "What's wrong Kitten? You're giving me a bit of a headache with your negative emotions: are you scared?"

"It's…it's just…I was worried," Hermione answered, her hands actually trembling in Harry's hands as he held onto her, "I…I don't know much about the Third Task, but, on a point, what if the mystery opponent is someone with a grudge against you?"

"You mean Dumbledore?" asked Harry, Hermione nodding as she tried not to show any weakness around her betrothed: they had spent the day after the Yule Ball in a real festive mood with their family and that had brought the kind of smile back to Harry's face that hadn't been seen since Hermione had kissed him after he'd sat on his throne in Camelot Castle. Hugging his girl close to his body, Harry tried to calm her nerves, "If he tries anything and I say if, then I have more than enough power to take him head-on: on the other hand," as he said this, he ran a soft hand through Hermione's dark hair as he continued. "I have nothing to fear because this little duelling competition will prove once and for all that my powers are as strong as I say they are; it doesn't matter what I have to do for the Tournament or for us Mione, I will emerge victorious through it all."

"Thank you Harry," sighed Hermione, now resting her head on his lap as she tried to get over her doubts, "But what about the maze? The prophecy that Artemis gave you said that you'd meet Tom when the four become one, but now there's five of us, how will it change things?"

"It won't," Harry answered her, "I will meet with Tom sooner or later and I will give him my blood willingly; if I have to, I'll add Excalibur's magic to whatever ritual brings him back to ensure that I come back as the leader of a completed Order of Knights. Trust in me Hermione and I will always come back to you."

"You know," Hermione smiled, now lifting her head so that she could kiss his lips, "You always sound so strong when you speak as the leader that you are: how do you know that you'll survive what the Tournament has ahead?"

"Because," Harry replied, guiding her aside so that he could stand up; turning back to her, Harry winked before he shed his robes, exposing his pale chest and body, "I'm not going to wait any longer; not with this change of plans."

"Y-You mean?" asked Hermione, gasping at the sight of her betrothed looking so strong and so healthy: it was like he was a whole new person again.

"I do," Harry told her, "If you want to Hermione; this way, we have time to explore our advanced power before the Second Task: but only if you…"

He didn't get to finish as Hermione wrapped her arms around him, placing a passionate kiss on his lips as she pushed him back, their magic meeting as their emotions heightened…

HPHG

Down in Hogsmeade, Neville and Luna suddenly stopped dead in their tracks, Luna gasping as she dropped the Butterbeer she was holding; the reason for their reaction was the wave of magic that had passed between the two soul-bonded Holy Knights; looking to his girl, Neville asked, "Harry?"

"And Hermione," Luna answered, before she giggled as she told him, "Oh well; it was inevitable, but what could…this mean?"

"Maybe it's our power," Neville suggested, "The Arch-Knight and Arch-Mage have been found so the Knights are formed together and become who we're meant to be: I mean," he lifted a hand and summoned a ball of white flames that seemed to waver like a candle flame in the breeze, "I can actually feel the fire inside me: it's like there's a dragon within me."

"I…I know what you mean," Luna gasped, "I…I can feel the very air around me: it seems to tingle with magic that I can see now that…well now that it's official. Why do you think they advanced their plans anyway Neville?"

"Why else?" asked Neville, "Now they'll be bonded in every way and Hermione will have access to the power of the elements as a whole: these bonuses give them an advantage in the Tournament and they can help one another without realising it."

"Isn't that…cheating?" asked Luna, ordering another drink as she listened to her bonded, "Helping one another like that."

"Luna," Neville sighed, moving around the table as he kissed his girl on her cheek; lowering his voice, the Knight of Fire told her, "Harry's King of Camelot and Lord and owner of Hogwarts: who cares?"

HPHG

Lily Evans was busy grading her newest assignments from her fourth-year class when she too suddenly stopped dead, a warm tingling magic rushing through her Light-Blessed body; looking around, the Holy Knight of Light just sighed before she shook her head.

"You and I are going to have words when this is done young man," she whispered, her voice trying and failing to carry to Harry.

It was a good thing that Sirius wasn't a Holy Knight because, if he could feel this, he would have a field day and Lily would have to put him back in the doghouse.

'Come out of this safe my son,' she thought, before returning to her work.

HPHG

Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour were busy researching methods for the next task when they felt the wave of magic pass over them; unlike the other Knights, they didn't panic: instead, Fleur held onto her younger sister before she whispered, /Our leaders have become their true forms./

/We are one,/ Gabrielle told her, both of them remaining together before the wave passed them, allowing the Knight of Terra and Thunder to return to their research.

Fleur, reading through several ways to harness the earth for her task, already knew who would emerge victorious in all of this…

HPHG

In a seemingly abandoned house in the south of England, a weakened, but very much alive corpse suddenly snapped his head up, a pair of dark brown eyes suddenly flashing blood red as a wave of magic passed through him, something inside him snapping from the life he'd so desperately held onto for all these years.

Rising with some difficulty from the chair he was seated in, the figure, a weaker, but still very much alive form of Tom Riddle, once known as the Dark Lord Voldemort, stared out over the graveyard near to his family home, a look of hope filling his eyes as he whispered, "See you soon Harry."

Even as he said the words, an aura of darkness rose from the earth and enveloped the body, its magic growing stronger, but Tom knew he wouldn't be truly alive until the part of him that was Voldemort was dead and buried.

And for that, he needed Harry James Potter; Arch-Knight of the Elemental Order…

HPHG

Indeed, just as the Holy Knights felt one surge of magic pass through their bodies, all around Hogwarts, the portraits, ghosts and even the suits of armour shuddered as magic flowed through the cores of their being, the suits of armour rattling as the magic seemed to clean their rusted and slightly damaged appearances.

In the Headmistress' office, Fawkes and the Sorting Hat seemed to glow with recognition of what was happening, both of them giving a cry of power and strength that flowed through all of Hogwarts.

In the Lion's Wing, a certain Founder's portrait joined in the crying song that echoed between him and his three counterparts;

Down in the Chamber of Secrets, a certain statue actually opened its eyes and joined in the cry;

Up in the Room of Requirement, a violet-coloured apparition rose from a diadem and, raising her head to the sky, let out her song of succession and empowerment;

Deep within the network of Hogwarts' House Elves, an ancient spirit awoke again, her eyes looking upon her descendants and her founding children and, watching them, she smiled before joining in the song.

HPHG

Harry snapped his eyes open as the sound of Hogwarts' song hit him hard, his magic spiking while next to him, her hair slightly dishevelled from the actions of their completing the bond between them, Hermione turned over in her sleep and, opening her mouth, seemed to let out a mournful, but power-induced tune that reminded Harry of the songs of the siren from mythology.

'What is happening?' he asked himself, looking all around, the school's song of power and succession making his blood rush with raw power, 'I don't regret what I did, but why…'

'Magic itself is singing our praise my love,' Hermione told him, her bright brown eyes now back to normal as she looked to Harry, who – though he wouldn't discover it until later – now bore a pair of strong, magically-transformed golden-coloured eyes that burned like the sun. 'We and the Knights are the only ones who hear her: I know you don't regret it and I thank you for it.'

'What do we do Kitten?' asked Harry, before his question seemed to be answered as a tendril of magic flowed through his body, his mind feeling like it had been blown up from the inside; falling back onto the bed – when had he been taken here? – Harry gasped as his mind became one with the song of magic, the tune making the very core of his magical being come alive. Soon, a glorious smile crossed Harry's face as he found both he and Hermione bathed in light, the magic of Hogwarts supporting them; looking to her, Harry asked, 'Hermione?'

'Yes Harry?' asked Hermione, her body tingling as the magic of their bond's aftermath washed over them.

'We may be bonded,' he told her, 'But don't expect me to hold back now that the deed is done and we are well and truly one.'

'What kind of King would go easy when he has all this power?' asked Hermione, before she pushed Harry onto the bed and kissed him again, both of them allowing the magic to fill them as Hermione added, 'Not to mention what kind of husband would you be if…'

'Shit,' Harry swore, earning a light tap from Hermione, 'I forgot completing the bond would mean that: oh Merlin, Uncle Dan's going to have my head when he puts two and two together.'

'Then he'll have to go through the Queen of Camelot to get to you,' Hermione told her husband, Harry sighing with contentment as she let herself be pulled into his embrace.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way my love," he whispered, both of them allowing their relaxing periods to be brought upon them as the song and magic of Hogwarts finally passed over them.

The biggest adventure of their lives was now over…and their destiny was all that lay ahead of them;

HPHG

When the adults found out about what Harry and Hermione had done – at least those who didn't know already – the King of Camelot was right when he said Dan would hit the roof: he was given a rather stern lecture and told not to try anything too big just yet. Harry put that down to Dan being a Father and translated it to mean he didn't want to be a Grandfather just yet; a fact that Harry agreed with him about wholeheartedly: he didn't really want to be a Dad until after he left Hogwarts.

Sirius, as Lily had predicted, made a joke about Harry becoming a man; a comment that had him chained to a cramped doghouse for the rest of the weekend when Lily was finished with him, though neither of them could deny how they felt for their wards and allies.

Sebastian and the Order saw fit to increase their training of the new, and officially-crowned King and Queen of Camelot, Harry and Hermione both discovering surprises in their power as the rest of January passed them by and February crept up on them, bringing with it the date of the Second Task. It seemed that, now he was officially, fully and completely in synch with Hermione and the powers of the elements, Harry had an easier time commanding their power and their strength: he also learned about the command of the creatures associated with each element and some rather unique skills, such as using fire to shroud him from an ice attack or vice versa – water with fire – as well as summoning dark-forged objects to help carve a way to his target.

Another ability that came easily to Harry and Hermione was the control and masteries that they possessed with Excalibur and Nimueh, the two blades now like a pair of extensions no matter who held them. Their duelling drills usually ended with two very tired, but very pleased Arch-Knight and Arch-Mage, both of them able to equal the other in power and, though no-one else knew it, both Harry and Hermione were more than ready for the second task and everything it would bring.

So, on February 24th, the date of the Second Task, while all the members of the three schools were gathered in a stadium-like seating area, in front of the massive maze where the five cups waited for their champions, Harry and Hermione both realised just what it would mean when the end came and the official champion was crowned.

Amelia Bones, acting as official judge and referee for the event, calmed the crowd before she spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen: welcome to the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament; now, hidden in that maze, contrary to past Tournaments and events, are five cups; each one is personally tuned to the magical signature of the associated Champion and inside the cup will be a name: that name is the Champion's opponent for the final task. As scores stand, we have Miss Hermione Potter in the lead with 93 points, followed by Viktor Krum with 84; then we have Sir Potter with 75: it would have been more, but due to Sir Potter's interference in the last task, he was deducted points."

'Told you that would happen,' Hermione commented dryly, 'Though Amelia did confide in me that, if that hadn't happened, you'd have gained 100 points out of 100.'

'It's not the points,' Harry sent back as Amelia announced Cedric and Fleur's points, 'I told you before Kitten; I would risk everything if it meant you were safe, but in here we'll be adversaries, so be careful.'

'I will,' Hermione told him, just as a cannon sounded and, like runners in a marathon, all five champions made their way into the maze, Harry more than aware of the entrance he had used closing behind him. Ever persistent to get to the point, the King of Camelot reached down to his belt and unsheathed Excalibur, before he poured a small amount of Light magic into the sword, turning it into a glowing magical weapon and guiding light.

The inside of the maze was almost like something out of a horror movie: when Harry tried to turn in one direction, he found he couldn't turn back as the entranceway closed behind him: at one point, he was completely cut off, but, calming his thoughts, the King of Camelot simply tapped into the power of Terra and carved a new path through the foliage.

Then, just a few pathways from the centre of the maze, Harry stopped dead, his eyes suddenly looking around, his hand flexing around Excalibur as he'd heard something: a twig or a foliage being pushed aside, a loud snapping echoing all around him: for a second, Harry considered the fact that it was just one of the champions, but something inside him told him different.

Then, just as Harry rounded another corner, he lifted Excalibur suddenly as a cry came from his left; whirling round, Harry was surprised when he parried the blow of another goblin-steel sword and, on the end of that sword was none other than Ronald 'Dead Man Walking' Weasley; facing his one-time friend, Harry asked, "Weasley, how the fuck did you get in here?"

"Shut your mouth Potter," snapped Ron, their blows deflecting one another as he asked, "What? Afraid to face the unexpected in a place you can't escape?"

"How did…" Harry gasped, looking to the sword, "How?"

"Professor Dumbledore," Ron laughed, going for a side-ways strike that would have broken a few ribs…if Harry wasn't the master that he had become; deflecting the blade again, Harry flicked his wrist once and parried the blow, sending his own sword against Ron's hand, the red-headed idiot crying out as the two old friends circled one another. "He forged this blade especially for me after you humiliated me: what? Did you think I'd let you walk away after you tricked me into being your slave?"

"Ron," Harry growled, Excalibur's blade reacting to his emotions as its steel-edged design started to glow and crackle with white lightning, "Don't challenge me: you won't like the outcome."

"I already know the outcome," Ron laughed, charging again and again Harry dodged the blow, but this time, Ron followed through by using the pommel of his sword and smashing Harry's teeth in; with a cry, Harry pushed his free hand outwards, a blast of wind sending Ron flying through the brush as Harry used the power of Light to heal his bloody teeth. Ron, however, was still grandstanding, "I beat you and you forfeit your powers and that Mudblood to me and then I decide to either let you live or leave you for You-Know-Who."

"What are you talking about?" asked Harry, now using his Terra abilities again: summoning thick vines from the foliage around them, Harry blocked Ron's path, knowing the red-head would have to cut his way through and Harry, in his heart of hearts, didn't have time to dance with this deadman. "How does he seem so confidant of that?"

Ron gave a laugh from the other side, Harry then gasping as, with one swipe of his own sword, Ron carved a path through the barrier, his eyes on Harry, "Haven't you figured it out yet? Dumbledore set you up Potter: like a lamb to the slaughter; he had Percy sneak in here with the Ministry members and put your name in the Goblet and then he cursed that Mudblood's dragon so you'd do what you did: but you had to sneak through it again didn't you?"

"And you're the last piece," Harry growled, summoning more tendrils from the maze, their thorn-lined embrace snaking around Ron's body, holding him in place like a worm on a hook. "What's this meant to be Ron? A distraction? Revenge? What? Just tell me because I'm confused."

"This?" asked Ron, "This is personal: he's been training me all summer and since you continued to humiliate me: when you cast him out, I snuck out of school and continued my training: well, now look; here you are. I'll slay you and claim everything you have by right of conquest and then I'll be the hero around here."

"You're still an idiot," Harry sighed, shaking his head as he stepped back and, sheathing Excalibur, turned on his heel, "You were always a fool Ron; do you actually think you'll beat my power?"

"Yes," Ron laughed, before he heard the slicing sound again and the delusional Weasley hiss, "Now die Potter!"

Harry, rounding on Ron, shook his head sadly: time seemed to slow down as the two long-time friends and companions faced one another; looking to the delusional boy, Harry whispered, "Don't do it: you can't beat me."

Ron charged, his sword pointed in front of him, but Harry, realising that the choice was inevitable, told him, "I'm sorry for this."

Then, lifting one hand, Harry unleashed a powerful bolt of white lightning, the elemental energy electrocuting Ron's body through the metal of the sword in his hand; Harry, being one of pure light and a king of goodness, held the effect for only a moment before he released it, Ron falling to the floor as Harry then summoned a mix of stone and ice trapping Weasley in the ground.

"Y-Y-You D-D-D-Dark W-W-W-W-Wizard," Ron gasped, Harry now approaching him as he faced Ron.

"No Ron," he told him, "I'm not a Dark Wizard: just different to your puppet-master and someone that has spared your life today: remember that because next time I won't hold back."

With that, Harry used his Terra abilities and carved a path through the foliage, moving off through the undergrowth and leaving his first friend and now his enemy behind.

However, had he looked back, he would have seen Ron look up, before he told the darkness, "I failed."

"Yes," hissed a voice, cold as death and filled with rage, "You did; and now you have outlived your usefulness: Avada Kedavra!"

The Killing Curse filled the maze and, in the afterglow, Albus Dumbledore emerged from the shadows, his eyes filled with fire as he looked to where Harry had vanished;

"You will bow to me you stupid boy," he hissed, "I am the one true saviour here and you will see that!"

HPHG

Cheers started to ring through the arena as three of the champions had already made their way out of the maze bearing their cups and the name of their final opponent in this extremely unique Tournament; however, inside the maze, Harry stood with Hermione, both of them looking to the podiums where their Cups were standing. Taking his Queen's hand, Harry explained, "Mine is enchanted Hermione: no doubt a Portkey from Dumbledore; listen, take yours and leave here; get back to Albion House or go to the Chamber and just wait for me. Don't let anyone enter or leave unless they're one of us and don't allow yourself to be trapped by any who are our enemies."

"You will be careful, won't you Harry?" asked Hermione, her eyes now on Harry as he approached his indicated cup. "What if…what if something goes wrong and he comes back?"

"I won't let that happen," Harry told her, before he turned and, pulling Hermione into his arms, kissed her for all she was worth, both of them lost in a moment of passion that seemed to last forever. When they parted, Harry added, "Wait for me…my Queen."

"I will," Hermione replied, watching as Harry took his cup; there was a flash of red light and Hermione reached out and grabbed her cup, its magic taking her back to the entrance of the maze where everyone else was waiting.

HPHG

Harry felt the word spin endlessly, his mind and body meeting somewhere in the middle as he crashed down onto solid stone, a sense of darkness all around him that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time: looking around, Harry gasped when he saw that he was standing in a graveyard, a large pewter cauldron set in the centre.

Keeping his eyes open for any sign of trouble, Harry tried the oldest trick in the book: he resorted to Parseltongue, {Tom? Where are you? I'm here: come out and face me.}

"Hello Harry Potter," a slick voice spoke up, Harry now turning to see a frail, but no doubt alive Tom Riddle standing against what appeared to be a stone angel: he reminded Harry of a starved and dehydrated man that was only standing on sheer willpower. "At the risk…of sounding cliché; I've been expecting you."

"I can bet you have," Harry told him, nodding to the cauldron as he asked, "So is that how we do this? Because I'm not here to bring Voldemort back: I'm here for Tom Riddle."

"Then…you do it?" asked Tom, watching as Harry approached him, before he nodded once, "I see it now: you truly are reborn aren't you my one-time enemy?"

"I am," Harry answered him, "And I willingly give my blood."

Even as he said the words, Harry pointed the tip of his wand at his arm and, with a quick hiss of Parseltongue, he seemed to draw a rather long and thick tendril of crimson blood from his arm in the same manner that someone would draw out a memory for a Pensieve; drawing out almost the equivalent of a half-pint of his blood, Harry used his water control to hover the crimson liquid over his hand before he asked, "What do you need Tom?"

"Put it in the cauldron," Tom explained, watching as Harry did so; when the blood hit the contents of the cauldron, Tom gave a weak smile before he asked, "Why do you do this? After what I did to you?"

"You're one of us," Harry explained, "Lord Emrys himself told me how Grindelwald anointed you and how you were lost to the darkness because you sought to equal the power of Lady Artemis: well, it's too late for any kind of mercy killing and I'm no murderer, so I chose to do this to help the both of us."

"And for that I thank you," Tom replied, before he stepped past Harry and, with a soft smile, told him, "You are the Arch-Knight: King of Camelot and my leader; I know I can never make up for what I did to you and your family, but, if I can, then rest assured that whatever you ask, I will serve."

"Thank you Tom," Harry nodded, now stepping back as he asked, "Is there anything else?"

"No," the ex-Dark Lord replied, before he shed his cloak, Harry turning his head slightly as the seemingly elderly man stepped into the cauldron, the contents already mixing around his body; as his body seemed to sink into the potion, or whatever it was, he explained, "I managed to acquire the other items I needed for my return: right now, your Majesty, you need to return to Hogwarts so you can protect your friends. At the end of term, I will be there for you and I will swear my fealty: until then, Sir Potter."

Harry, inclining his head, gave a firm answer, "Until then Sir Riddle."

Then, in a flash of red light, Harry grabbed the Portkey and left the graveyard, leaving Tom Riddle to be reborn into the world as the being that he was meant to be all this time;

The Holy Knight of Darkness…

Chapter 36 and again I apologise for the change in the return: I know it's not what the original challenge desired – I realised that when I found Sirius freed – but I hope that what I did in this chapter compensates for it.

So, Tom's back, Ron's DEAD, Dumbledore has shown his true colours and the King and Queen have become one: what's left for the two now that the Tournament is almost over?

Keep Reading to Find Out;

Next Chapter: Harry returns to Hogwarts where he finds an unwelcome surprise; the end of an era is brought about by a duel that is long overdue and it's the end of the adventure for Harry and Hermione; what lies ahead for them when all is said and done? (YES THIS MEANS THAT THE NEXT CHAPTER IS THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE CHRONICLES)

Please Read and Review…