Forbidden Forest's edge
Just shy of the forest edge Dumbledore paused. "And we have passed the edge of the wards. You can call on your authority here safely. Harry nodded and stepped forward. He closed his eyes and focused on the words that had spilled from his lips yesterday.
"Noble white steed born from a monster's blood. Thunder forth and bless the earth with spring again. Carry a hero aloft once more to victory!"
Like the last the animal erupted from a shower of silver blood that disappeared as quickly as it had come. "Interesting. When Perseus summoned it, it appeared in a flash of light without delay." Dumbledore noted. "She." Harry corrected as he gently reached out and patted the pegasus affectionality. Hermione watched with wide eyes. "Is she now?" Dumbledore slightly bent his knees. "Indeed she is." he agreed. "I can safely assure you no-one will mistake her for another breed of winged horse."
"What is her name?" Hermione asked as she almost gingerly touched the horse with her hand next to Harry's. "I don't think she has one." Harry mused out loud. "Victoria?" he offered. The pegasus stilled for a moment and then affectionately nuzzled Harry's head and nearly pushed the boy over.
"Well you are easier to name then Hedwig was." Harry said with a laugh as he allowed the pegasus to lean her head against his. "Do you want a ride Hermione?" He asked. "I am not sure Harry." Hermione tried to deflect as Harry walked to Victoria's side. The pegasus smoothly expanded her wings to allow Harry access to her back without knocking Dumbledore or Hermione over.
"Magnificent." Dumbledore breathed as he watched the spread white feathers. "Don't worry Hermione. You won't fall off. She won't let you." Harry assured from Victoria's back. "How did you get up there?" Hermione asked as she noticed her not so tall friend had somehow gotten on the back of the large animal without help.
"The authority helps." Harry explained with a helpless shrug as Hermione ducked under the extended wing. The girl looked caught between her desire to join Harry, her fear of flying and that she was supposed to be in a classroom. "I'd love to Harry but we really should head towards our transfiguration lesson."
"Do not worry about that miss Granger." Dumbledore waved off. "I am sure your classmates can help you catch up with whatever subject you missed." "Headmaster?" Hermione blurted flabbergasted. "The people from the Witenagemot will be arriving soon and I'd prefer to have them for myself for a while so I can make it clear what they can, and cannot do in Hogwarts." There was a hint of steel in the gentle headmaster's tone that made Harry wonder what the headmaster worried about.
Hermione nodded meekly as she caught on that there was more going on than she knew but steeled herself she wouldn't let her friend down again. "It will be safe Hermione. You are a girl." Harry said encouragingly as he leaned over to offer Hermione a hand. "I am a girl? What is that supposed to mean?" she asked with a hint of indignation.
Harry blushed. "Ah… euh…" he stammered. "Victoria won't let her rider or a woman fall off her back unless she or the rider really wants to." he explained. Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Her rider? Not the woman?" she asked for clarification and Harry nodded. "But… that doesn't make sense."
"It does actually." Dumbledore replied as his hand went thoughtfully through his beard. "Does Perseus strike you as the person who would care about the woman's opinion on his reward when he rescued them?" Hermione whirled around and looked at Dumbledore without truly understanding. "Women's equality is a rather modern invention. It is also distressingly recent in world history's terms that they even can have an opinion if they want to share a bed with a man."
"Perseus comes from a time where might makes right." Dumbledore finished his explanation with a hint of finality. It didn't take Hermione much time to connect the dots. "Oh." she said dumbly. Her expression turned into disgust and she shuddered bodily for a moment. "Would he…"
Dumbledore nodded gravely while Harry dismounted. The young man hovered indecisively close to his friend when she turned around and took him into a tight hug. He returned it while looking puzzled at Dumbledore. 'Does he not understand?' Dumbledore asked himself. 'Who should I ask to explain.' he started to muse as he amused himself at his staff's expressions of being the one to tell the young Campione how human reproduction worked.
"Thank you Harry." Hermione said from her heart. "No problem?" Harry replied as he wasn't certain what he had done. 'Delightfully unaware as well just how heroic his actions are.' Dumbledore thought with a hidden smile.
"Still an interesting authority you received from Perseus." Dumbledore mused out loud to distract Hermione from the unpleasant truth he had revealed. "One of the authorities, Headmaster." Harry corrected. "Mister Potter, are you saying you received more than one authority from Perseus?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes?" Harry replied and his tone clearly conveyed that he was caught off guard. "Fascinating. As far I am aware Campione only receives one authority when they slay a god." Dumbledore noted excitedly. "How many authorities did you gather?" "Two in total, headmaster. Pegasus from beating his challenge and Sword of a Hero from defeating him." Harry replied and blinked at his own answer. "How did I know that?"
"It is said that a Campione during their ascension meet their 'adopted' mother Pandora. Perhaps she has told you then and you only remember it now?" Dumbledore suggested. Harry pursed his lips and shook his head. "No. If I try to remember how I know I can vaguely hear Perseus' arrogant voice." Harry replied.
"How curious. Could a defeated heretic god leave a message to those who usurp their authority?" Dumbledore asked as he gazed into the forest as if held the answer to the question. "And what does this second authority entail?" Harry shrugged as he couldn't answer the first question. "I do not know, headmaster. I need a sword to activate it."
"That, I can solve." Dumbledore smiled as he drew his wand and seemingly effortlessly conjured a simple metal blade which fell tip first into the ground in front of Harry. After a moment spent untangling himself from Hermione's hug he picked it up.
"Chosen blade of the hero reveal yourself in grand splendor. Cut all those who oppose your wielder. Stand fast against both claws and teeth!"
The non Campione members watched the sword with keen eyes only to feel slightly disappointed that there was no lightshow to view. "Are you sure you did it right Harry?" Hermione asked as Harry slowly raised the blade and frowned at it.
Seemingly in reply he marched to the nearest tree of the forest and in a lazy swipe slashed at it.
The tree fell down with a crash as Harry both cut and crushed the tree and he had backpedal to avoid getting crushed in return by the toppling wood. Victoria let out a complaining neigh as the uppermost branches came close to falling on her.
"I think I did." He answered as he watched the devastation. Then at a whispered spell from Dumbledore the tree seemed to reverse its fall and knitted back together leaving only a faint scar. "I shall make sure you have some suitable targets to practice on next time. I'd rather not have a large swathe of trees cut down in the name of practice." Dumbledore said mildly and Harry blushed slightly.
"So your second authority increases the power you have with a sword." Dumbledore said after a moment of silence. "I think…" Harry paused for a moment as he tried to listen to something neither could hear. "I think the better the sword is. The stronger the effect is." he stated.
"Curious." Dumbledore replied musingly. "I wonder what the authority considers a sword." "Sir?" Hermione asked puzzled. Dumbledore smiled at her curiosity and conjured a stick. "For a child, this is a sword. If Harry would pluck it out of a child's hands and use his authority, would it take? What would happen if I conjure a sword, but hypnotize myself into believing it is not a sword?"
"Perhaps we could spare an hour tomorrow to experiment with this." Dumbledore decided and Harry just nodded in agreement. It made sense and working with someone considered a genius to figure out his authority sounded like a brilliant idea to him.
"Well then. Off you soar. Lest I get lost in my desire to learn more." Dumbledore said and with a polite nod to Hermione he turned around and started his trek back to the castle. Harry looked at the conjured sword and shrugged and gently placed it on the ground. From what he understood of conjuring it should disappear soon enough. As soon he let go of the weapon he felt his authority release as well.
Harry did not waste any time getting back on Victoria's back and with an outstretched hand he hauled Hermione up behind him. With an apprehensive look on her face and a death grip on Harry the girl braced herself for the upcoming flight.
The boy grinned widely and gently tapped Victoria's sides once with his feet. The pegasus shot off with an excited look in her eyes and Hermione made a spirited attempt to squash Harry's insides out.
Grimmauld Place
Harry Potter, the 7th Campione! The headline of the new Daily Prophet screamed. Sirius Black looked at the article with disbelieving eyes as the front page picture showed a slightly clouded sky where two blobs were approaching each other. The somewhat larger blob fired almost a beam-like projectile three times and only seemed to hit its last shot before the blobs collided.
"How?" He croaked. He had wanted to go to watch in his animagus form but he had been warned off by Dumbledore at the last moment. When the Daily Prophet had been late he was all but ready to storm Hogwarts to get his answers but Remus Lupin had managed to talk him down.
"He killed a heretic god with a firebolt?" he asked the dilapidated mansion with a hysterical giggle that his gift found such a good use. "What in Merlin's name is Dumbledore doing. Why is my godson fighting heretic gods…" Sirius mumbled as he started to work himself into a right fit.
Dilapidated Gaunt Mansion
"WHAT?!" the tiny form of a baby bellowed with more volume than it had any right to. The lazing snake by its side jerked up in response to the outburst. "Campione, you said Pettigrew?" the red eyes of the baby glared at the rat-like man. "Yes my lord." Peter Pettigrew squeaked
Babymort shook with anger. 'I spend a decade hunting down magical lore and heretic gods and the brat gets one served on a platter!' he thought furiously. Then it hit him that the only reason the Potter brat was getting a chance at fighting the heretic god was that he was entered into the tournament on his orders.
He effectively turned his nemesis into a Campione.
He roared in rage at the realisation.
Dumbledore's Office
"Welcome to Hogwarts." Dumbledore greeted new arrivals. "Thank you for bringing them here Argus." he thanked his caretaker of the castle. The caretaker grumped back a reply but it was not audible for those present to hear.
Dumbledore checked if the ink had dried as the fast-drying ink had advertised. He then gently rolled up the parchment he was writing down his theories on Harry's second authority. The actions gave him a moment to silently observe the two young women the Wittagamot had sent.
The first young lady was almost mousey with short dark brown hair. Despite her small stature her blue eyes radiated strength. He was mildly surprised at the half-plate armour she wore openly without making any attempts to hide it. Aside from the duo of daggers hidden in a sleeve on each arm he could not spot a main weapon. 'One she must summon then.' he concluded.
The second lady, and Dumbledore was doubting if she was officially an adult or not, was not overly tall but her thick chainmail lined robes could not hide she had a willowy build. Her hip bag allowed Dumbledore just enough space to peek in and see the books she carried. If it was not her choice of attire that would have pegged her as the scholarly type it would have been the bag.
Her aristocratic face was lined with light blond hair that fell to the small of her back. Her brown eyes shined with the ambition Dumbledore was used to seeing in some politicians he has met over his long career. If he had to mentally sort the pair the blonde would be heading straight to Slytherin.
Her smaller companion was a toss up between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. He would need to speak to her for a definitive choice. "Thank you for making time for us Headmaster Dumbledore." the blond lady replied once he was done rolling up the parchment. "Will his majesty arrive soon?"
'Straight to the point. I wonder if she judges me as an obstacle. I have thrown myself up as the King's advisor and if she is the scholarly type that I think she is, I am taking up her role.' Dumbledore reflected. "I believe he is still testing the limit of one of his authorities." he deflected. "Meanwhile allow me to entertain you. As you know I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. I could rattle off my titles but I think my name alone takes up enough time."
He saw the mousey girl's lips twitch into a smile for a moment but the joke fell flat for her companion. "May I know your names?" "Cressida Lyala of house Lyala." the willowy blonde introduced herself. "Mia Develd." the armor wearing girl added with a small courtesy.
"I believe mister Potter will be out for a while longer as he does enjoy flying." Dumbledore noted and he purposefully left miss Granger out of his explanation. He was curious how miss Lyala would react. "Which gives me ample opportunity to explain which rules I expect you to adhere to while you are inside Hogwarts."
'Miss Develd seems to accept this without comment.' Dumbledore noted and he did not miss the calculating look in Cressida's eyes. "Although it is unlikely anything will happen mister Potter does have some less than pleasant rivalries with his fellow students. I expect you to show restraint and not injure a student for verbal insults. I will also be severely disappointed if non-lethal spells is met with a lethal response."
"I hope by this evening that I will have a separate room available for mister Potter as I expected him to get an entourage. Should you join him during his lessons you will be treated as any other student." he expounded. "Any divine items should remain in a storage where they do not disrupt the wards protecting Hogwarts. I have already shown mister Potter a small area you can practice or train."
"Do you have any questions?" he offered. "No sir." Mia replied crisply. Cressida weighed a proper response before shaking her head. "Excellent. Lemon drops?" Dumbledore asked. "Thank you sir." Mia said as she took one. "Could you tell us something about his majesty? His disposition?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he weighed what he could tell about Harry. "He is a good young man. He has a knack of being at the right place at the right time and then doing what is right, not easy." he pondered out loud. "He is reasonably levelheaded as well despite the fame he gained at a very young age. I do not see him become active and use his status as Campione soon." he finished and observed Cressida intently without giving it away he was doing so.
Her expression stayed studiously neutral. 'Well this will be an interesting game to find out what your intentions are, Miss Layla.' Dumbledore thought. Further thoughts were interrupted when his floo flared to life and Sirius Black charged into the office. "Mister Black." he greeted and wondered why the man had chosen to go to him directly.
'Is he here to confirm I managed to secure him a fair trial?' he mused but discarded that theory when he saw the wild look in Sirius's eyes and the glowing wand. He noted that Mia drew her daggers and that Cressida took a step back with an analytical look in her mind.
"Dumbledore!" Sirius roared and any further words were cut off by the red spell Dumbledore fired without an incantation. A second spell stopped Sirius from cracking his head open on Dumbledore's desk as he toppled forward.
"Why does a well known criminal have access to your office?" Cressida asked mildly and Dumbledore gave her a smile. "Since I knew that he was placed into Azkaban without a trial, thus he is not a criminal." he explained as he rose from his seat. "He is also mister Potter's godfather and I suspect he is rather upset with his ascension."
"Regardless. I must hand mister Black to the ministry so he can get the trail I secured on mister Potter's behalf." Dumbledore said as he started to levitate the unconscious Sirius towards the floo. "If you could wait for five minutes I would appreciate it." he noted as he prepared to floo out with Sirius in tow.
"We will." Cressida noted calmly while Mia was stuffing back her knives with a sheepish look on her face.