Harry Potter: Vel'ilstaer: Stormraven I own none of these characters, neither do I own Harry Potter.

Vox Machina froze one moment Vel was having a pleasant conversation with Allura, then he was on his knees, before curling up in a foetal position, hands covering his scar and his head.

Pike was already moving forwards, hands alight with Sarenrae's power flowing through her body. "I can't detect anything that might be influencing this attack." Allura was moving away as Vax and Keyleth rushed towards their son. Eve and Neville rushing to Vel, Eve concern and horror on her face; Neville straight faced but trembling, those nightmares of Harry being tortured by visions of Voldemort had not faded enough.

"Vel, it's Neville, I know your head feels like a dragon's stepped on it and someone re-constructed it to be used as target practise, but can you stand?" Vel groaned, the white heat of pain burned! It was worse than Voldemort's Cruciatus but then again whatever caused the attack, was considerably older, more experienced and thus much more dangerous.

Slowly, tenderly and using Neville as a support; Vel pulled himself to his feet. Eve pulled Vel to her, and she looked into his emerald eyes, they were glowing ever so slightly illuminating the distinctive blood-shot whites. "What happened?"

"I...felt the distinctive presence of someone or something extremely old, powerful and positively evil. Said he'd be seeing me at some point."

Vel's body was shaking, he went to try and create a chair but failed to go through the motions. In the end Vox Machina and Allura with Kima ended up sitting on the grass outside of Castle Whitestone. "Do you mind sketching what you saw? I can show it to some people I can trust."

Vel's eyes narrowed "I'll sketch it. You get 1 minute to memorise it; then I'm burning it."

"That's completely…" Allura began but Kima calmly interjected.

"Ally, somethings, need to have a very short existence in the world. If Vel'ilstaer says this is one of those things then who are we to disagree with his decision."

"The Cantata…"

"Has been infiltrated, subverted…at least with some people; either knowingly or unknowingly. I am extremely reluctant and reticent in exposing the next world ending catastrophe whilst we're in the middle of one."

Allura nodded "I dislike it but I do reluctantly accept your reasoning and logic."

Vel chuckled mirthlessly "Hopefully, when all these catastrophes are over I'll be able to be a semi-functional member of society. I've been dealing with potentially world ending disasters since I turned eleven."

"Darling, despite that we're, I am still unaccustomed to you, my nephew, being so nonchalant about it." Vex retorted, pulling him into a hug.

"I'm…doing my best to be less nonchalant."

Eve smiled as she placed her dragon-like arm on his shoulder "I hate being the blunt hammer, but that's what I do. What do you remember seeing?"

Vel sighed and he grabbed the quill and paper that Allura had placed before him. He was no artist but when it came to sketching what he had seen, it felt as if his hand was being guided. Soon enough on the paper was a very life-like worn hand with an eye embedded in the back. Everyone present had varied reactions; Allura looked pale, Kima horrified and Vox Machina were varying stages of confusion and contemplative; Neville was dumbstruck and Eve looked thoughtful.

"Vel, if this is who I think it is then I'm going to need to send some letters."

"I'm going to need to speak to the Highbearer...Highbearer Vord of the Platinum Sanctuary, think of him as the Devoutest of the Devout Servants of the Platinum Dragon."

Neville groaned "It doesn't help that the Servants of the Platinum Dragon, Kima aside, have come across to me as pains in the ass."

Vel grinned "Now...how did that happen? I did notice the very dark looks you received."

"He somehow crashed through the ancient protections of Vasselheim and proceeded to stare everyone down. It was going to get interesting." Kima explained, a slightly bloodthirsty grin on her face. "Vasselheim is a place where everyone is separately united; it is a city of juxtaposition but in the juxtaposition is where the true strength of humanity and civilisation is revealed. It is the closest place to the Gods on the Prime Material Plane."

Vel's eyes widened "So it's holier than holy; and I'm guessing an insane practitioner seeking godhood or immortality would see Vasselheim as a good thing to wipe out?"

Kima nodded "You'd be absolutely insane to try; but that's not to say that it hasn't been attempted before."

(Sirius and Remus) Getting out of Hogwarts was easy; despite being seen as saviours and heroes in the defence of Hogwarts, some things like being a Wanted Criminal and a Werewolf did make things difficult for the duo.

However, since Hogwarts was ever so much sentient and had allowed the Marauders to map her entirety, minus a bits and pieces; no-one said sentient buildings couldn't be prankster; the School allowed the Marauders to dance around the roaming teams of Aurors and Hit Wizards. They departed through the One-Eyed Witch Statue and apparated out the moment they left the wards.

They re-appeared in Grimmauld Place, where Dobby, who'd been summoned by Sirius, handed them two enchanted rucksacks and they disapparated again; this time reappearing in the ruins of the Potter Cottage. After taking a moment to mourn their lost friends and say they were going to rendezvous with Harry, they strode into the trees and for the portal.

They crossed through the unaligned Plane Shift and found themselves staring at a pair of double doors. In front of them clad in an armour of grey crackling with red and blue lightning was a Solar "Welcome. One

will take you where you want to go, the other where you need to go. Decide." With that it vanished.

"It seems we're parting ways, Moony."

Remus nodded "It seems so Sirius…Deep down, where I'm heading through those doors will allow me to control my Were-side, something…"

"You've always dreamed of doing. Moony, do what you need to. Our paths will cross again." With that, Sirius pushed open one of the doors revealing a swirling portal; the barely restrained thunder rumbled and lightning flashed and Sirius stepped through before vanishing.

Remus watched his friend depart, before walking through his own door. This one was more akin to walking through a transparent doorway; he quickly found himself in a dark chamber "Who are you! Volstrucker? Kryn Scum?"

Remus paused "I do not know where I am. Volstrucker? I don't know what that is, nor do I know what Kryn scum are. I mean no harm."

The drawn sword slowly sheathed itself "Then you must be very lost, friend. What brings you to the Marrow Valley?" The person in front of him had brilliant bright blue eyes but now they were definitely canine yellow.

Remus smirked, something inside him tingled as he poked his werewolf side "A lycanthrope! That explains a lot, the Clarent Order opens its arms to you good lycan."

"Can you help me?" Remus responded, not quite getting what the man was saying.

"Help you? Yes and no. We're going to give you the tools to get you to help yourself; then we're going to turn you and your inner lycanthropic curse into a tool to defend the world. We can help you train and harmonise with your inner beast but in return we expect you to hunt down the fiendish, abyssal and the aberrant. "

Remus's jaw dropped "I…accept."

"Welcome to the Clarent Hunters, recruit."

Sirius landed heavily outside of what appeared to be a monastery. Around him, well built-humanoids were building, mining, sculpting and even lightly sparring.

"Welcome, bargainer of Kord." A deep rumbling voice from behind him.

Sirius turned "Bargainer of Kord?"

The man chuckled "You cried out in desperation for power, did you not?"

Sirius nodded "I did. Many times, but not for…"

"Not for the same reasons, true. Noble reasons are very true but you were faced with problems outside of your own control; the Stormlord answered your prayers and has found you worthy. I am The Dawnmarshal, Earthbreaker Groon."

"Earthbreaker Groon; well met. Thank you for welcoming me too…"

"The Braving Grounds in Vasselheim, the Cradle of Civilisation." Groon clarified.

Sirius nodded "I'm…"

Groon paused "I have belief that the people you're looking for will come through Vasselheim sometime soon. The people you're looking for will understand if you remain here; granted I am not going to tell you not to try and make contact with the people you're following."

"I feel like a failure; this'd be the second time…"

"This isn't the second time you've failed him. You have no idea where he's going to be; have faith in Kord. Have faith that your paths will cross again. For now let us make sure that you're prepared for future storms."

(Vox Machina) After the interesting meeting with Allura and Kima; the meeting with Shaun Gilmore was something completely different. Vel's eyes narrowed momentarily, it was probably his gut but in front of them wasn't Gilmore; whomever it was wore his face and personality too match.

"Everyone, let's have some food. Rest for tomorrow we head to the Feywild." Percy instructed.

Eve smiled at that "Vel, I'm heading into town."

Vel was already turning "Mom, Dad I'll see you in a bit."

Keyleth lifted an eyebrow "Are we going to be picking you up off the street?"

"Why, I hadn't thought about doing such a thing, thanks for the idea though."

Eve smiled slightly, with her interesting upbringing and subsequent manifestation of the families draconic bloodline it made emotional situations rather awkward. Granted she was improving "Vel, let's go."

Vel grinned as loped after the dragon-blooded girl. Soon enough the duo were heading into the small town "Shall we get some lunch? It's on me."

"Are you asking to court me?"

Vel paused "Quite possibly…My relationship experience is limited."

Eve giggled "Mine is none existent, I've always found myself more comfortable around books…I suppose I can be tempted by food especially if it's been bought for me."

"You little glutton." Vel retorted a wide grin on his face, getting a giggle in response. Surprisingly Eve tentatively took Vel's hand with her draconian one; the bright red reflected eerily off Vel'ilstaer's pale skin.

They reached town and to their surprise, the last time they'd been there it had been mostly trashed. Now it was less trashed and slowly, ever so slowly becoming a flourishing town.

It did little to stop the biting cold wind that seemed to be ever present. Eve heard Vel murmur something and suddenly her companion began pulsing with heat. "Warming spell. Makes cold areas rather bearable although heatstroke and heat exhaustion are possibilities."

"Will you teach me that spell?"

Vel grinned "You just needed to ask…"

Eve nodded "I do find myself rather attracted to you. Aside from learning your spells, I do want to see where we go as a couple."

The duo spent the rest of the afternoon up to the end of the working day, they'd snacked throughout the afternoon. Word had gotten out that Vel was the surrogate nephew of the Lord of Whitestone and as a result Vel found it hard to pay for some of the supplies.

Eventually, stomachs full and arms laden down with supplies ranging from rope to various spell parts. The duo, arms locked, arrived back at Castle Whitestone. "Have fun?"

"Immensely Scanlan." Vel stated in a tone that caused the Gnome to remember that Vex was indeed his paternal aunt from time to time.

"Vel'ilstaer, have you thought about playing an instrument?"

Vel eyed the Gnome with suspicion "I...can't say I have, why? I'm not…"

Scanlan chuckled "Your ability to play doesn't need to be brilliant, it's a request from your parents…They'd rather you didn't pick up some of our...unsavoury habits; drinking like fish."

"You'll get no argument from me." With that the imaginary pressure that seemed to dissipate into harmless banter; dinner was a banquet as normal. Vel, Eve and Neville had managed to pace their drinking to one mug for every four of Vax.

That evening Eve, using Vel's cloak of invisibility, snuck across the hall and entered Vel's room. She found the half-elf; sitting at his desk, candles lit, writing in earnest. Eve's jaw dropped as she saw the elaborate mark on Vel's back; the antlered skull with the horned tips resting on his shoulders. "Vel, when did you get that done?"

"That appeared on its own accord; I think it's linked with the idea that my true-self was waking up. The other scars, well I had a rough childhood along with being trained to be a martyr."

Eve didn't know how to truly respond to that but merely wrapped her arms around her partner. "Come on, we're going to all of our faculties if we're to survive the Feywilds."

Vel sighed "Joy, means we're going to meet my paternal grandfather and be scorned for being too human."

"I'm pretty sure Vox Machina will look the other way if you set someone on fire."

Vel chuckled "Now that sounds fun." He flicked his hand and the book shut with a thump.

At some point the duo fell asleep only to be woken at the scream of 'Jenga!'