"We shall meet again, Potter!" Harry could hear the self-styled Lord Voldemort's distinctive sibilant tones. "You are to be witness to my reincorporation. Then you and all you love must die!"
Harry Potter! This is just a nightmare. Your mental link with Tom Riddle was broken when you bonded when Parvati.
Lady Hecate? Is that you?
Yes, Harry. You, Ginny, Millicent and Pansy have good reasons for nightmares. In your pasts are bad memories. The tournament is playing on your mind. Riddle is lurking in the darkness, waiting to return. Your fears are causing you to dream. I, however, am protecting your mind and those of the rest of my Coven from evil dreams.
Thank you, my lady. I shall be forever in your debt. Voldemort is so much more experienced than me and has skills that I can only dream about. I get so overwhelmed sometimes…
Steps are to be taken to neutralise him, Harry. He doesn't know about your new allies or that you are now telepathic and have a superpowered alter ego. With the training and backup that we shall give you and the rest of the coven, Riddle shall get the shock of his foul and unnaturally extended existence.
Again, thanks, my lady. I am sure that I shall have better dreams now.
Sweet dreams.
"Remus, can you get enchanted engagement rings? If so, what can they do?"
"Well, Harry, there are automatic resizing charms. You should ask for those to be included, as your soulmates still have some growing to do. There are also charms against accidental damage and to warn the wearer of the presence of love potions, poisons and other dangerous potions.
"A really powerful enchanter might be able to include a multiple-use emergency portkey, taking the wearer to a refuge point with a pre-set password. Given who we have with us, I would get rings with the resizing and accidental damage resistance charms and ask one of your tutors do the enchanting for you."
"Thanks, Remus. Should I ask the fathers' permission first? I mean, not of Millie and Pans' fathers, obviously, but…"
"It is traditional, Harry. Bear in mind, though, that all five other fathers have accepted the soul bonds already. They all know that you could never willingly hurt their daughters and already consider you to be their son-in-law in all but name. As such, you have nothing to fear."
"Thank you, Remus. I was planning to ask them today, before finding a way to take my ladies out ring shopping over the next couple of weeks. How we prevent Riddle finding out…"
"Why don't you ask Gomez and Morticia to take you all out shopping in muggle America? Tom Riddle has no agents that we know of there."
"Thank you, Remus."
Harry did manage to take the portals to ask Daphne, Tracey, Ginny, Parvati and Wednesday's fathers for permission to marry their daughters. All said parents did was remind him that he was effectively married to said daughters already, but that he had their blessings. Harry also asked Giles Greengrass as Millie and Pansy's legal guardian for his blessing to propose to them. This was also granted willingly. Gomez and Morticia knew a firm of magical jewellers of absolute discretion. They would arrange a visit for Harry, his ladies and Remus and Tonks to visit them the following Saturday.
After that, he took his soulmates for a romantic stroll along the beach. "I know that we are technically already married, but I want to get engaged to you all formally. Earlier today, I spoke to Daffy, Trace, Gin, Parv and Weds' fathers and they all gave me their blessings, with Giles Greengrass also giving me his as Millie and Pans' guardian.
"Darlings," he got down on one knee, "I love you all. Will you marry me?!"
"Yes!" all seven replied in unison. They all rushed up to him, pulled him to his feet and took it in turns to kiss him. Once Tracey had been the last of the seven to claim her kiss, all eight soulmates shared a group hug.
"Weds, your parents are arranging for us to visit a jewellers' shop that they know to be discrete. They are arranging for us, Remus and Tonks to visit the shop with them on Saturday.
"What would you say to a set of eight identical engagement rings being commissioned, one for each of us?"
"That sounds marvellous, mon amour," Wednesday assured him. "Any ideas for a wedding date?"
"I was thinking of Ginny's sixteenth birthday in about thirty-one months' time. We would all be of age in Scotland and with parental consent in England and Wales. Daffy's parents are Millie and Pans' legal guardians and so would be the ones required to consent."
"Cool! I will have no trouble remembering our anniversary then!"
"I always wanted a summer wedding," Parvati agreed. "Why don't we have it here? I assume that the Amazons can conduct a wedding ceremony according to their laws?"
"Certainly, Parv. I'll speak to Diana."
Parvati thanked Harry in turn with a long kiss.
After a shorter session of exercise than usual the following day, the young mages were assembled on the beach in front of the Ancient One. "For your first week of magical training, we are focusing on meditation techniques. This is essential for such disciplines as occlumency, the ability to cloud your mind to defend it from external attack. By the end of our sessions, a powerful telepath should still be able to read your minds, but nobody else.
"There are also certain benefits to your soul bonds that should be developed via meditation. It will help you speak in your minds and even know exactly where each of you are at any given time. I have been led to believe that this might be useful.
"We shall begin by burning some incense in a bowl and play some soothing Himalayan music on the gramophone. This should create the right spiritual atmosphere.
"Ah! Now we are ready. Close your eyes and focus on nothing but the scent and the music.
"Relax! Just relax…"
"That was interesting," Hermione commented afterwards. "Nothing like Hogwarts, but I feel more of a connection to my magic than ever before. I also feel more at ease than ever."
"True," Susan agreed. "I also seemed to sense the presence of my soulmates. There was not so much of a feeling of the rest of you in our coven, but there was still something there. It also felt more passive and not the more active sense of our usual telepathic chats."
"I felt something similar, Sue," Neville commented.
"As did I," Harry admitted. "If we can focus on that a bit more over the rest of the week, we should have a plan for the Second Task.
"I wonder when our other lessons start?"
"It is still early," Jason Blood noted from nearby. "What have you learned in Defence Against the Dark Arts to date? We could start reviewing what everyone knows. After that, we can start planning on teaching you what you still need to learn.
"From what Remus tells me, you should mostly have a good grounding from your year with him. If Mr Moody is teaching you this year, you must have learned something from him. He was the best wizard fighter I've seen in many a long year."
"You know Mad-Eye Moody?" Ron asked. "When did you meet him?"
"One advantage of being on the White Council's 'Do not anger at all costs!' list is that the Ministries, Congresses, Bureaux nearby tend to assign their best men when you are in the vicinity. Alastor was the Ministry of Magic's best man. I remember battling Klarion and Teekl with Alastor a few years or so back.
"In any event, Mr Weasley, I am sure that he would make a good defence instructor. He has fought dark wizards for decades and captured or killed more of them than probably even he can count."
"Thank you, Mr Blood. You had better call me Ron. There are three Mr Weasleys here for one thing."
"And technically five Mrs Weasleys," Katie noted. "Throw in three Mrs Longbottoms and seven Mrs Potters and this could get really confusing!"
"Most of us haven't taken our man's surname yet, Katie," Hermione pointed out.
"I did say technically, Hermione! It was also intended as a joke…"
"We haven't taken Fred's surname yet either," Alicia added with a grin.
"I shall just address you all by your given names then, if I may? That should prevent any further debate on who answers to what…"
"Well, we don't share any first names, so that shouldn't be a problem…"
"At any rate, can you provide me with a list of what hexes, jinxes and curses that you each know, as well as the relevant counter spells? In addition, provide any other defensive spells that you know and what dark creatures that you have covered. This should allow me to tailor an appropriate course to cover your development needs. The elder among you probably don't need to go through material you have already covered, so I might need to divide the class at some point.
"You should probably all do the same for your other subjects as well. My fellow instructors and I can then decide on a development plan for each of you personally. This should make each of you into the best witch or wizard that you could ever be."
As each of the young mages began to write a list of the spells, potions, plants, creatures and heavenly bodies that they had studied, Jason allowed himself a wry smile. Whatever you have planned, young Riddle, you don't know how badly it shall go for you.
Now, Jason mused, looking at Harry, to do something about the rest of those foul abominations that are keeping Riddle from Death…
"What do we do about the other horcruxes?" the Doctor asked the other Powers That Be. "If we can get all bar that poor snake destroyed before the graveyard, then Riddle is in for a nasty shock!"
"We are taking Harry and his soulmates to Hogwarts in a few weeks," Athena pointed out. "Perhaps we could persuade him to loan the Sword of Gryffindor to us? He should be able to escort a couple of us to the Room of Requirements without that impostor knowing.
"At least, the woman was separated from the snake some years ago. That is one less thing for us to worry about, at least."
"Indeed!" Aslan roared. "We must destroy them. Such vile offences against the natural order cannot be tolerated!
"Soon, my friends, it shall be time for Riddle to flee from death no more! Then we can remove all who fear that which is different to them from their positions of power in British wizardry.
"We must ensure that our interventions shall lead to glorious hope dawning on the wizard world…"
"We would like to try to something different today," Diana told Harry and his soulmates as they were gathering around her on the beach. "Instead of a treasure hunt for Parvati, Pansy and Millie, Harry, we are going to be teaching you all how to swim underwater using scuba apparatus.
"Jupiter Jones was able to supply some diving goggles, two sets for each of you. The ones we are using today are for clear water. Once you are more confident, we shall descend deeper into the depths to experiment with infrared lensed ones. Since peaty Scottish lochs are unlikely to offer great visibility, you shall be using your set for the Second Task, Harry. Until we know if your hostage shall be awake, we should assume that you might need to find her the old-fashioned way!
"You should be able to cast spells when breathing through your aqualungs, Harry, easier than if you are using Gillyweed to breathe. As far as any of us can tell, if you have the equipment hidden near the lake and then summon it to you, it doesn't contravene the rules of the Tournament."
"Few pureblood European wizards would probably ever think of any mage using muggle equipment in a magical competition," Pansy noted. "If they wouldn't think it would or even could happen, why would they make a rule forbidding it?! That sadly sounds all too believable."
"Our estranged fathers would reject the matter out of hand," Millie agreed. "Professor Dumbledore might think of it but would be more amused than horrified at the thought."
"That sounds like the Dumbledore that I know!" Harry grinned.
"That noted," Diana continued, "I'll give you a primer on how to use the equipment. Once done, there should be enough air in your tanks for a couple of hours of underwater swimming.
"My friends, let's get started!"
Harry waved to their pod as the dolphins swam up to him, his soulmates and Diana. It is good to see you all again, my friends.
As it is to see you, my children, the Matriarch responded. Good afternoon to you too, Wonder Woman. You are always welcome to share our fishing grounds.
Thank you, good friends. The dolphins have always been welcomed to hunt in our waters and always will be.
Wonder Woman was in a sort of blue wetsuit that she had spun herself into, as opposed to her usual attire as a superheroine. Whilst she had told the teens that, as a demigoddess, she could breathe for long periods underwater unaided, she was using her own scuba gear to further demonstrate to her students the techniques for breathing underwater. Not to her surprise, they were all fast learners.
Harry was increasingly confident that the Second Task shouldn't be too tricky. For once in my life, the fates aren't conspiring against me!
Not when there are seven good women always with you, Harry!
Thanks, Pans. Throw in the rest of the coven and I might stand a chance against Voldemort…
I think that you are in better stead than that, Harry. He doesn't know about the Furies and Berserkers, not to mention our new allies. That Voldie punk is going down, mon amour!
Thanks, Weds! Our man is wonderful, but he does have a self-confidence issue or two…
I can hear you too, Trace!
You were meant to, Harry my love! I was going to add that you always have us to raise your spirits…
Trace, you have earned yourself a nice long kiss later!
"You do know that we don't have any assignments yet, don't you love?" Ron asked teasingly. "All we have done is exercise and practice meditation so far."
"We have made lists of the spells that we know, Ron…"
"That we have already handed in, darling! Ron's right!"
"But, Pads, what if they test us…?"
"Not until our lessons begin next week, Hermione, and you can do all those spells flawlessly already, as you know. You'll be fine!"
"Ron's right! We," Padma said, pulling Hermione into an embrace, "are going to be reviewing your kissing skills. Pucker up!"
"That was fun!" said Millie, as she sunbathed with Astoria, Luna and her soulmates later. "Whilst I preferred using Gillyweed, this muggle getup would be better for spellcasting. If I am a hostage at the bottom of an icy cold loch, I want my dashing hero to have his full arsenal of spells available to him. The quicker he rescues me, the longer he gets snogged for afterwards!
"Did you hear me, Harry?!"
"Yes, darling! The quicker I rescue you, if you are my hostage, the longer I get snogged for later. If I had needed further incentive, that would be it. I never have any objection to the idea of a long kiss with one of my soulmates, as you well know.
"In the meantime, how about a mock duel in a diving session later in the week? That would allow us to experiment with much more effective this scuba gear is for that. That could be fun.
"We must also get back to me having to find and rescue you, Pans and Parv again. I don't suppose that they would let us practice that properly at Hogwarts!"
"Probably not, no!" Daphne chuckled.
"It was good of you invite me, Mr Lovegood," Rex Milligan noted, as Xenophilius invited him into the house shaped like a rook in Ottery St Catchpole. "It is very you and Luna…"
"No problem, Mr Milligan," the eccentric wizard told him. "I must admit that it is the first time that I have had a muggle for tea. I take it that you like a good cream tea?"
"Of course! I am English!
"Now, Luna told me that you had a motive for inviting me down to Devon…"
"I did indeed, Mr Milligan. How would you like to be the first Muggle Correspondent of a British wizard newspaper?"
"You make me an intriguing offer, Mr Lovegood. I am most flattered. It would be an honour to…
"Fossilised Fishhooks! What about your Statute of Secrecy?! Officially, most wizards are unaware that the Six Goddesses and the other Powers That Be have introduced us to you. From what I hear from Luna, your Ministry of Magic sound like a right bunch of prehistoric specimens, unlikely to approve of my appointment."
"Naturally, your appointment won't be announced until the Six Goddesses have authorised it. That will probably be when the stars are in alignment and the Nargles are in season."
"Petrified Paintpots! What is it with you Lovegoods?! When exactly are Nargles in season?!"
"They live in mistletoe and are mischievous thieves. Luna has had problems with them at Hogwarts, but her Butterbeer cork necklace should keep them at bay."
"Well, I haven't seen any mistletoe on Potter Island, so she should be safe enough.
"In any case, Mr Lovegood, I provisionally accept your offer. Please call me Rex!"
"Welcome to The Quibbler, Rex. Oh, and call me Xenophilius. I think that we shall be good friends.
"The Wrackspurts must be affecting me again. Where are my manners? I promised you a cream tea. It is time to put the kettle on.
"Now, Rex, what are your thoughts on the Heliopath Conspiracy?"
"Come again? What the Dickens is a Heliopath when it's at home?!"
"Young Rex, you have much to learn…"