Hello All!
I had this idea the other night and it won't leave me alone so I figured I'd get something jotted down before I went nuts!
The idea/plot behind this story is still in flux, but I have an overall plan. It's going to be a crossover with the Legend of Zelda franchise, mostly just borrowing themes and stuff. I didn't realize how much Link and Harry have in common til I decided to replay Breath of the Wild again, so that is the game I will be loosely playing with in the Potterverse. I am hesitant to mark it a full crossover as of right now, I don't plan on using actual characters or places from Zelda, but we shall see how it progresses.
Now, on with the show!
*I own nothing, this is just a sandbox I like to play in.*
The first thing Harry noticed, was that he felt like he had been run over by the knight bus. he waited for the memories of why he felt like such utter crap to come, but for some reason they didn't. Straining to listen, all he can hear is the soft patter of water dripping somewhere, and the scurrying of some insects.
Harry Potter, the wizarding world's savior, carefully peeked through his thick black lashes to get a cursory look at his place of rest. Once established that he is indeed alone, Harry opens his eyes and pulls himself to a seated position.
He appeared to be in a cave. The darkness only abated by a glowing blue flame torch on the wall to the left of his bed, if you could call the rock tablet he laid on a bed that is. After scoping the room, he takes stock of his own condition. The throbbing full body ache he initially awoke with was fading, so he took that as a small mercy. He was dressed in plain clothes, khaki trousers and a white tank top, and of course, barefoot. Not feeling his wand in his pocket, Harry let's out a groan and rubs his face with his hands roughly.
"What in Merlin's name happened?" Harry asks out loud to the empty room.
At the sound of his voice, the blue flame torch he noticed earlier glows frighteningly white, and a single blue ember pops out of the flames to the ground in front of him. Slowly but surely, the blue ember grows to a full size Spector of his best friend.
"...Hermione?" Harry gasps out as he takes in her ghostly blue form. She smiles a sad smile at him.
"Hello Harry."
"What...what are you? Where am I? What's going on?" He asks becoming increasingly distraught.
Hermione's cold blue hand reaches out to him, but stops herself before she can make contact. Her eyes well up, and she let's out a soft cry.
"Oh Harry. I'm so sorry. I had to do it. You're the only one who can save the World. I'm afraid I don't have much time, and there is so much to explain.
You were dying Harry. We were looking for the horcruxes, the three of us, and they found us. You were hit by a curse meant for me." Spector Hermione begins to sob louder.
"Hermione, what happened?"
Gasping for breath she no longer needed, Hermione wiped her ghostly brown eyes and met Harry's bright green ones.
"I'm sorry Harry, my knowledge is limited. Think of me as an enchanted painting. Before I sent you here, I activated the runes I have been carving on the torch there. A copy of me lives within it now, but I only know what happened before the climax of our fight.
A side effect of the spell I used to send you here could cause some memory loss. Don't fret, it will come back to you slowly the longer you are here."
"Where is 'here' exactly?" Harry asked her, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"It looks to be the same cave the Death Eaters found us in, I stowed my bag behind a Fidelis at your feet. It should have everything you need inside of it.
As far as ...WHEN you are...that I am uncertain." She says taking her first real looks around the cave. As soon as she was done speaking, the spell broke around her bag and it appeared, looking dusty and worn but still intact.
"What do you mean WHEN Hermione?" Harry asked her.
The blue flame of Hermione's form flickered and was quiet for a moment.
"I had to do it Harry. It was just the three of us and you are the only one who can defeat him. I found the spell in a book at Grimauld Place. I didn't think we would ever need the spells in those books, some of them were so awful Harry, but I grabbed them when we fled anyway. Thank Merlin I did, or it all would have ended here.
The spell was an ancient one. The actual results were a bit...uh...sparse."
Harry put his hand over his face again.
"You cast a basically unknown spell from the darkest library we could find at me?"
Spector Hermione looked ashamed and kicked her feet at the dirt she couldn't rustle.
"I had to Harry. The book is inside my bag, it's titled Mundus Menus, Lux Mea, Futurum Meum." She pointed to the bag at Harry's feet. He carefully grabs her bag and opens it. To both of their dismay, the expansion charm seemed to have malfunctioned and it was just a normal bag inside. Reaching in, Harry pulls out the book and a bit of dusty parchment. Grasping both tightly, Harry realizes it is the Mauraduer's Map, albeit a bit worn, and the book Hermione spoke of. Setting the map down, for it is of no use at the moment, Harry flipped open the book to the page marked by a small piece of parchment.
Carpe Fatum
Only those who are truly in need
are able to stumble upon indeed,
To find this page and see,
to help seize their final destiny.
~Last Resort Only~
The Lord Phillinus Black of the year of our Merlin 1488 does here decree that this ritual spell should only be used as a last resort for the results are unchangeable and there is always a price to pay to displace destiny.
Below the handwritten note on the page Harry was able to make out a ritual circle and many runes he did not recognize.
Harry looked up to Hermione with a questioning gaze.
"I still don't understand, or remember what happened."
Hermione sighs again, and looks towards the only exit of the cave.
"The research that I found showed that Phillinus had a son who had a terrible illness that no one could heal. Arcturus was his only son, and without him the family would die. He searched for many years, and finally found that spell. The Egyptian sorcerer who sold him the ritual only told him this: This ritual can heal any wound or illness on any person. Even if they are at death's door. Destiny is a fickle mistress and she always takes her price. You will save him, but he will be forever displaced to you.
I didn't understand at first, and as I said you took a curse for me and were dying. We got the Death Eater's, but how could be go on without you? I...enacted the ritual. I didn't ask or tell you, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize what would happen." Hermione became upset and started sobbing again.
"Harry...I've been watching over you from the torch. The spell...the cost was...me. I was able to activate my carvings on the torch to save this imprint of myself to help guide you. As long as you carry it, I shall be with you." Hermione gave him a sad smile as she gestured to the torch.
Harry reached up and carefully pulls it down from the wall and begins to stand and ready himself to leave the cave. Better to see what is out there, Harry thinks to himself. He grasps the torch firmly with his right hand.
Hermione smiles sadly yet again, and speaks to him one last time before drawing herself back into the torch.
"Harry...time has passed. The ritual was designed to heal your wounds and set you on the path to seize your destiny. I am not sure how much time has passed...but my magic is fading so I must retreat for now. I have waited so long for you to awaken, I am so glad you are here." The blue flame flows once she returns, and then the fire fades to a low ember.
Harry grabs the beaded bag, and tucks the torch into his trouser pocket.
"Here we go..."
Let me know what you think! sorry for any odd formatting, I'm typing directly into FF.
review please!