Reviews:
Greer123: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the fight scene and the arrival of Harry back in his world. Hope you'll enjoy the rest.
PrinceZarok: Happy to see you're excited, I'll do my best to keep the story interesting.
PrometheusDark: Casca's had it rough to be sure, and Harry and Schiekre will be having a talk as to their relationship to get it all sorted out. So glad you enjoyed the three chapters.
EVA-Saiyajin: Sorry, I didn't mean for it to feel rushed and hopefully in the coming chapters Harry's magic will seem more natural and in place. I had Harry's return planned out from the beginning at happening at this point, so hopefully, it will work to improve the story.
Pyromania101: I had fun writing the scene with Sirius and Remus, and the magic duels are a look at to how some future magic fights will be.
Celexs Draconia: I'm happy that things came as a twist, I look forward to writing the future chapters as well.
ezok: I love the enthusiasm. As for the Patronus part, since the AK is only unblocked by incorporeal forms, I knew that Patronus' could take corporeal form and I did a bit of digging to see if it was possible, and the answers were a bit mixed, but for the sake of magic, it was able to work.
3elizabeth: Yeah, the hiatus was bad, but I started reading just after the hiatus ended so the wait wasn't too bad. I had his return planned since the first chapter to happen at this moment. I'm sorry for not updating last week, I had other college projects to work on, but I should be back on schedule.
Greyjedi449t: Thanks, I hope the next one will be good and enjoyable to read.
Guest: Thank you, glad that you enjoyed.
love duke nukem: Glad that enjoy reading. I try not to write characters or groups as being blind or idiots and stopping the influence of the God Hand from spreading will be a theme, but many of the creatures that don't exist in Berserk do exist in the HP side. As for adding another character, I'm unfamiliar with the series he's from and never intended for this to be a three-way crossover. But Dragonslayer will live up to its name at one point.
horus100: Casca had it rough with the Eclipse, but anything that could go wrong in a person's life has happened to Guts.
Necrogod: No problem, enjoy the next.
kaxipoptos: Sorry, I didn't intend for it to feel rushed, I had the chapters written out in advance and published all at once. The duel between Harry and Daiba set to feel how future magical duels will play out. And writing for Zodd is always fun since he doesn't really care about Griffith's plan. And I do have a scene planned for Voldemort and Zodd, those two are going to hate each other for sure.
Lord Rusia: A theme of this part of the story is to stop the spread of the God Hand's influence. And I'm sure Boris Yeltsin was President in 1995 of the timeline.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast: I have ideas for Guts to get some boosts in the near future, and Cascais close to coming back as well.
tau warha: Once I've committed to a pairing, I'm going to stick to it. The relationship between Harry and Schierke is meant to feel a little awkward at first since neither has been in a relationship before, but as more events unfold, hopefully, that will change to feel more natural.
el nalgon: I never intended this story to be a three-way crossover and certainly not with a series I do not know. As for Voldemort, I have an idea for his future when it gets to it.
SandSasori: I did keep a lot of Golden Age the same, but I also wanted to change the characteristics of a few minor characters to reflect back later in the story. Sorry, you didn't like it.
Energy-the-hedgehog: Glad to hear from you, I hope to keep it as interesting to read as I can.
Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.
"All hands, report!" Roderick commanded from the helm of the Sea Horse. The Lith warship slowed its pace in these new, unfamiliar waters.
"We're all clear below deck, Captain," the quartermaster reported.
"Aye, her hull is perfectly intact," Roderick's first mate further elaborated. "Not one leak to be found."
Roderick gave a curt nod. He pulled a spyglass from the inner pocket of his sea coat, directing it toward the other ship that was anchored close to the pebble-covered shore. He gave no further command for the moment, trusting his crew enough that he knew that they knew what they were doing.
"Do you recognize the sail?" Serpico more or less floated up to the helm.
Roderick handed the spyglass around. "Never seen it before in my life. The design is too western to be Kushan, and it certainly isn't from Lith or Midland. Chuder mainly keeps to warships, and I didn't spot enough cannon's for on the deck for that to be the case. That leaves the option for pirate ship open, but… they would at least have someone on board, walking the deck."
"Let's fire a cannonball at it!" Isidro offered, climbing down from the mast.
"Matten down the hatches," Puck said, a mix of humor and confusion.
Roderick still kept his eye trained on the other ships billowing flags. "No need to go making enemies with what looks to be a luxury cargo ship." He turned to his first mate. "Do make sure we have hands manning the port side cannons, just to play it safe."
"Aye, Captain!" the first mate nodded. He was a man of at least fifty with long, grey and grizzled sideburns that came down to his chin. To Harry, the first mate looked how a typical navy man would look.
"What do you plan on doing?" Serpico asked. "Are we to make contact somehow?"
"Frankly, I don't think anyone is on that boat, not at the moment, anyway." Roderick still observed the other ship. "They have no men walking the deck and no lookout in the crow's-nest. If I was a betting man, and I am, I would say that whoever that boat belongs to must be up in that castle at the moment."
"Yes, but whose castle?" Magnifico wiped some spittle from the corner of his mouth. The third Vandimion had not taken to the lurch of energy well.
"There is a small fishing village and outpost on an isolated island, but we shouldn't have come across it at three days out to sea. And that castle is beyond anything they could afford."
"I don't think we are at sea anymore," Harry chimed in. "I don't know if anyone else got a faceful of that splash, but it sure didn't taste like salt water."
Roderick ran a hand through his partly wet hair, taking a sniff to see if it was true. "Holy – well, color me stumped."
Farnese was equally confused as all of them. "Teachers, do you suppose that whatever that white wave was, that it was the source of our being… well, here?"
"It was magical in nature, no doubt about that," affirmed Schierke. "Surely we all felt a sensation as it passed over us."
"Yeah," Guts winced slightly as he walked over. He was still a bit stiff after getting zapped by Ganishka. "It almost felt like when you pull me out of my armor."
Serpico nodded. "I thought it was just in my head, but, it felt like the sylphs in my blade and cloak acted up in some fashion, almost like they became stronger in some fashion."
"Magic, you say?" Roderick rubbed his chin "Not caused by the three we have onboard?" the two mages and their disciple fixed the captain with a withering gaze. "Not blaming anyone," Roderick said, quick to defend himself. "But us men of the sea tend to be a bit superstitious."
The voice of Isidro yelled from the side of the boat's hull. "What the hell is that?!"
Harry caught sight of a light-red appendage breaking the surface of the water. There was a multitude of white suckers running down the length of it. The tentacle submerged itself before any weapons were drawn or spells were cast. Something big moved beneath the hull of the Sea Horse, a long, red body that dove deep into the dark waters below. Some more tentacles were barely visible as they propelled the creature down.
"I believe," Roderick didn't sound like he believed, "that was a squid. They're rare creatures; they reside in the depths, hardly ever making contact with people. My grandfather once hunted one. They're only supposed to be native to salt-water, though." He frowned. "Another mystery to all of this."
"Castles and mystery?" Guts asked, sounding as tired as he looked. "You two," he pointed to Harry and Schierke, "anyway to find out how many people there are at that place with your magic or whatever?"
"If we concentrate on od signatures, yeah," Harry nodded.
"Guts, you're not thinking of fighting again so soon, are you?" asked Schierke.
Guts directed his attention to some of the flickering torch lights coming from up at the castle, he seemed to be squinting, like the light was out of focus. "That's all up to them, and if our captain decides to go ashore." Looks were cast to Roderick.
"Hm. I have taken my share of gambits in the past, but for a situation like this… I'm not about to endanger my crew by making a rash decision. As superstitious as us sea folk are, I'd rather place my lot in with your magical talents first before making a decision that could be swimming with the fishes."
"Are you serious, Roderick?" Magnifico questioned, looking like he might throw up again. "You would go off the advice of a couple of-,"
"-Of what, Magnifico?" Farnese asked her older brother. Magnifico opened his mouth, trying to think of how to correctly put it into words.
"Ha!" Roderick laughed, despite of the situation. "My friend, you look like a fish gasping for water when you do that. And I can see that you may not have been exaggerating when you said your sister could be scary at times. Besides, have you forgotten what you saw in Vritannis? Their magic certainly came in handy next to the Chief here. Try having a little faith once and a while. Mr. and Miss. Witch, if you would so kindly…"
Taking Roderick up on his offer, Harry directed his focus toward the castle, letting go of his physical sense of self as he went to connect to a larger plane of reality. He did it no different than he would have any other time, but the sense of od that hit him was like taking a blow from Nosferatu Zodd in full apostle form. There was just so much of it, magical od, and it all seemed to stem right from the castle. Smaller flows of od, stronger flows of od, even the castle seemed to have four different types of od flowing through it. Harry knew that it was possible for objects to have od, Guts' Dragonslayer had its own, as well as the Berserker Armor and behelit too. It felt more like Flora's spirit-tree than anything else, though; ancient, perhaps close to a thousand years of age. There were people there, no doubt about that, and all of them had magic in some way.
But it wasn't just the castle that was emitting high levels of od, the forest was too. The od there seemed different though, more attuned with nature like Flora had been, but different that it felt more like how the troll cave had been when it had manifested, albeit, much less dark and feeling evil. Magical creatures lived in those woods and plenty of them too. Some od felt lighter than others, but others, well, it felt like there was a swarm of something within those woods, and not in the least bit friendly. The closest human od Harry was able to feel out, was that of two adults, standing near the shore. He pulled back to his physical body, Schierke doing the same.
"You felt that too?"
"Felt what?" Isidro asked.
"All of that od, yeah, it was impossible not to."
"And… by the shore, near the forest?"
"What's by the forest?" Isidro asked again.
"The two people."
"You saw people?" Serpico asked.
"Felt, more like it," Harry clarified. "Whatever this castle is, it's filled to the brim with magical od."
"Ooooohda," Casca tried to repeat.
"There are more mages inside," Schierke further added. "More than any living on the main continent."
"Hey, Puck!" Ivalera called to the other elf.
"You called?" Puck saluted.
"There are mages living on your home island, right?" Ivalera asked.
"Sure are!"
Ivalera directed his attention to the castle. "Look familiar?"
"Hmmm. Nope, doesn't ring any bells to me. King Danann isn't one for castles."
Well, that rules this place out as being Elfhelm. "You said there were two people near the forest of the shore?" Guts asked them. They nodded and Roderick took the spyglass once more.
"Huh? Well would you look at that?" he handed the spyglass around, letting them all get a chance to see. Standing on near the forest were two men, one shabby and the other with black hair. Both wore a set of robes.
From on the shore itself, Sirius and Remus looked out over the Black Lake, the image of a new boat was unmistakable and unforgettable to the two who just finished performing the summoning ritual. They had done it, the ritual was complete, meaning only one thing; Harry must be onboard.
"Sirius…" Remus asked, not taking his eyes off of the boat. "Do you realize what this means?"
"It worked." Sirius wanted to jump up in the air right now, give a loud yell, and swim right out there to go and finally meet his godson after all the years wasted away in that damn prison. The more sensible side to him also threw its two cents in; cautioning him of whomever else might be on that boat, it was far too big for just one person. They could be holding Harry prisoner, or he could be one of them, forced to join their crew to survive for those years he had been missing. Or, the more terrifying possibility, Harry would have no idea who he was and not know how to react to seeing him.
It wasn't as if he and Remus just performed the ritual and Harry magically materialized right in front of them and knowing exactly who they were and where he was right now. No, Harry had disappeared at a young age, he was now on a boat of some kind, and would have no knowledge of magic, how to use it, or even who he and Remus were.
Maybe for now, but if Harry were agreeable to listen and hear him and Remus out, they could sort out this whole thing, explain everything to him. Harry would… what would he want? There was only one way of finding that out. Acting on true Marauder instinct, Sirius fired a burst of red sparks into the air for those on the boat to see.
"Sirius?!" Remus asked hurriedly. "I know that you're anxious to see Harry again, but we don't know who else on that boat is friendly. They could be muggles, the design looks similar enough to be one, an old one at that."
"If they are muggles, don't you think summoning their boat off course to a strange castle more than counts as exposure?" Sirius asked. "If they are, we broke the Statue of Secrecy then instead of something they can pass off as a flare going up."
"All I'm saying is-,"
A set of red sparks flew from off the deck of the boat with a seahorse masthead. They had responded, and with magic at that. "Looks like breaking the Statue isn't a concern anymore." Sirius allowed a sly grin to slide onto his face. "It looks like they have wizards onboard." Does that mean Harry might already know some magic?
Remus fired another round of red sparks into the air, signaling back to whoever shot up the other set. They waited with paused breaths before two more sets of red lights were shot up in rapid succession. "They seem just as curious about us as we do them."
"They haven't tried to open fire on us with those cannons of theirs, so our natural charm must be holding out. Mine more than yours, of course." Sirius put the tip of his wand to his throat casting the sonorous charm.
"THIS IS SIRIUS BLACK AND MY FRIEND, REMUS LUPIN. WE DON'T MEAN TO ALARM YOU, JUST TO MAKE CONTACT. IF YOU'RE AGREEABLE TO IT, YOU CAN MEET US ON THE SHORE OF THE BLACK LAKE. BRING AS MANY ASHORE AS YOU WANT. WE'LL BE WAITING IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT."
Remus uncovered his ears. "A little warning next time you do that, Sirius. The whole castle might have heard you."
"You teach there, you know how loud those kids talk, I doubt that I disturbed the infamous Hogwarts gossip mill." It was a risky move though. He had no idea what type of people were on that boat, just that they had magic and at least tried to establish some sort of communication with the sparks. It wasn't Harry just yet, but it was a start.
"Well the students will have plenty to gossip about," Remus responded. "There's no covering this up. Look."
A small rowboat was being lowered down into the water, the number of figures in it totaling about eight, but they were too far away to discern any noticeable features. One of them did seem a lot taller than the others and covered in black with something large strapped to his back. The rowboat slowly and cautiously made its way toward the shore.
"Are you prepared to do the talking?" Remus asked him, not looking away from the advancing boat.
"Remus, this is me we're talking about."
"Should I feel at ease by that?"
Sirus didn't say it out loud, but he was wondering the same thing himself.
Dumbledore was held up from under his arms by Minerva and Madam Bones, the two witches supporting him as they apparated back to Hogsmeade Village. The operation to stop Voldemort from doing whatever it was he had done had been a complete failure. They had lost two Order members, and he and Moody were in a terrible state from Voldemort and his new and improved Death Eaters. The only good thing to come about from that mission was that Amelia Bones now had evidence of Voldemort's return. Between her word as head of DMLE and all the pensive memories she could use, there was no denying it at this point.
"I assure you, Professor Dumbledore, as soon as I return to the Ministry, I'll be having a few choice words with our Minister of Magic."
"Thank you, Amelia," Dumbledore wheezed out, the lingering effect of the torture curse still bogging him down. "I trust your better judgment on this." He attempted to shake free of the two witches.
"Not so fast, Albus!" Minerva scolded in her Scottish accent. "Don't go around putting too much strain on yourself. We'll be to Poppy's shortly, she'll have you fixed up and right."
"Far be it from me to pick an argument with you, Minerva." He put on a smile to hide the wince that came with every step he took. Voldemort seemed to have put more power into that curse. That or he was just that strong now. The rest of the party they had brought with them had either stayed to clear up the muggle authorities at Stonehenge, or gone back to the Ministry to file reports of their own.
Even though they were farther north than Stonehenge was, the weather seemed more agreeable at this time of morning. Dumbledore was thankful for that, it made it so much easier on his old bones as opposed to how it would be if it were snowing. The headmaster felt his vision begin to glaze over, his thoughts drifting to whatever his eyes could discern. The Hogwarts grounds this time of year were always a delight to see. Smoke lightly rising from Hagrid's Hut, the sway of the Whomping Willow. Even the two other schools transportations had added to the scenery. The pegasus' were tended to by Hagrid and the two ships bobbing in the waters of the Black Lake really – two ships? Dumbledore concentrated his attention down to the Black Lake. His eyes were not deceiving him.
"Hold on a little longer, Albus," Minerva tried dragging him along. "We're almost to Poppy. She'll fix-,"
"-Minerva, what is that ship?"
"It's from Durmstrang," she replied, not looking over. "Keep your eyes open, don't fall asleep."
"No, the other one." He wasn't hallucinating; he still had sense enough for that.
"Focus, Albus. There's no…" Minerva forgot to finish her sentence as she too spotted the second ship that was positioned in the Black Lake. Two figures that looked to be Sirius and Remus were standing on the shore of the lake, with Sirius shooting red sparks up into the air. The second boat responded in kind after a minute or two by sending up red sparks of their own.
"You weren't expecting more company, were you?" Amelia Bones asked, perhaps less confused than Dumbledore was, but not by much.
"It is as unexpected to you as it is to us," Dumbledore managed to stand up a little straighter, his vision hazed before zoning in. "It would appear this is what took priority over answering the call to arms earlier."
Even from where they stood, the sound of Sirius' magically magnified voice carried over to them, inviting whoever was on the boat to come to shore to talk things out. "Amelia, take Albus up to the hospital wing," McGonagall instructed the other woman. "I will see to this."
"Minerva, as much as you mean well, I am still Headmaster of Hogwarts," Dumbledore reminded her. "If anyone is to be down there, it is I."
"Headmaster you might be, but you still took a cruciatus from You-Know-Who. Even you are not invincible."
"I am not invincible, no," Dumbledore agreed, "But an unknown vessel has wandered onto Hogwarts ground. It is within my responsibility to deal with it above my own person."
A new development happened, but not from the boat or the shore, but from the doors of Hogwarts being opened and Severus Snape striding towards them, black robes billowing behind him as he walked. "Headmaster," Severus addressed curtly. "I trust you see what is happening down by the lake?"
"Who else in the castle has seen what is happening?" Dumbledore asked, not wanting more spectators crowing around this new development.
"The school is enjoying brunch in the great hall," Severus lightly drawled. "I saw sparks flying from out the window and have come to investigate. Should I have alerted more staff?"
"No, Severus. No, best to keep this hushed while we can. With what is sure to make the headlines tomorrow, a panic is the last thing we need." Perhaps not even tomorrow's headlines, news of Voldemort's return would blow up right away. The Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, even the Quibbler would be publishing articles about his return. Dumbledore freed his arms from both Amelia and Minerva, finding newfound vigor with his duties as headmaster, not that his strength would last long. He was barely containing his legs from shaking from supporting the rest of him. "It's best we make haste down to the lake." A rowboat was already making its way from the main vessel and toward the shore where Sirius and Remus waited.
Dumbledore was even a bit surprised himself at how he was holding up as his long strides carried him across the grounds and down toward the lake. Minerva and Severus followed closely behind, ready to support him should he collapse. He would not fall. Not now, anyway. A sense of anticipation kept him moving, driving him forward; he needed to see what this was all about. If he would like it or not, was yet to be seen.
Harry sat between Guts and Serpico as Roderick stood at the helm of the rowboat, spyglass in hand, observing the two strangers standing at the shore, waiting for them. Among their company included Schierke, Farnese, Isidro, Casca, and the two elves. Serpico and Guts rowed, while Harry and Schierke were on the standby to use magic, should the encounter go sour. The two men, now identified as Sirius and Remus, hadn't moved from their spot since calling them out to meet.
Schierke, meanwhile, was fiddling with her hat, making sure it was on straight, and fiddling with other parts of her outfit. "Nervous?" Harry asked.
"Anxious, more like it," she adjusted her hat once more. "Apart from that Daiba, these are the first mages outside of Mistress Flora that we're meeting. I don't feel any negative od from them, so first introductions are important. Besides, that castle is filled to the brim with magical od. If all goes well here, well…" she looked at Guts, "maybe they would have a method of helping Casca."
Guts' lone eye briefly regarded the witch, but never losing track of his rowing. "If they're anything like Flora, generosity might come naturally to them," Harry recalled the kind smiles that the old witch would give after every successful spell performed. She had never mentioned other mages living in Midland, just Merlin, and his visit. Harry wondered what Flora would do if she were to meet these fellow mages. She would have least given them a chance to talk, she did take him in to teach him the ways of magic.
The boat neared the shore and Harry was better to see the two men better. Both wore robes, and while they seemed to both be the same age, the shabbier of the two looked much older, with streaks of grey in his brown hair. He was old before his time, almost like Guts looked after he donned the Berserker Armor. The second man had a full head of dark hair with some well-trimmed facial hair, and a face that looked like it could turn into a mischievous smile at any point in time. But right now, his face held no confident or boyishly playful expression. He seemed almost… thoughtful, at least, at the moment.
The bow of the boat breached the rocky shore, small waves lightly lapping at the sides of the hull. No one spoke as the two mages observed the recently docked party. Taking the initiative, Roderick stepped from the boat, wearing his best and most charming smile.
"Greetings."
"Same to you," the dark-haired one spoke first. "I take it that you're the captain of that boat out there?"
"That would be me, Roderick of Lith, Captain of the Sea Horse. And you must be Sirius black, the one who called us out here."
"The one and only." The trace of that smile somewhat manifested on his face. "The shabby-looking fellow over here is my friend, Remus Lupin." Lupin offered a tilt of his head and a polite smile and wave. Lupin's eyes passed over each of them, studying their faces. As his gaze passed by Harry, it lingered. It was like Lupin was seeing a ghost, a ghost that he once knew quite well.
"Considering that you seem to be the dignitary at the moment, permission to come ashore?" Roderick negotiated with Black.
"I wouldn't call myself a dignitary, but permission granted."
So far so good.
'He does seem friendly enough,' Serpico concurred.
'Where are their staffs?' Schierke mentally asked. Harry looked, but he saw no staffs for either of the two men. Instead, they held… wands.
Wand users. Harry recalled what Flora had once told him about wands, it was practical to use, but far less powerful than a staff. The user couldn't channel or harness enough magic with it, but the spells cast would be faster to do at a much less powerful rate. Not to mention, it would fail to fully allow them access to their luminous bodies for astral magic. As a sign of good intentions, they kept their wands at their sides, not looking for a conflict. Guts was eyeing their wands as well, recognizing the gesture of neutrality, but not trust them fully.
Roderick stepped from the boat, Guts following him, ending with Farnese assisting Casca to the shore. "Much appreciated," Roderick offered a small smile, trying to establish a good impression. "I've introduced myself to you fine people, I suppose I should do the same for my companions here." It did amaze Harry how quickly Roderick was accepting all of this. He suspected it had to do with being brought up from a high standing family; a mask of sorts had to be crafted. He did take the acceptance of magic surprisingly well after Vritannis, and still seemed keen on marrying Farnese. Or he could just be a personable sort of guy; Harry did not know him well enough to make a final judgment on that just yet.
"The Chief here is Guts. I'm chartering him and his companions on their journey."
Both wizards attention were drawn to the fearsome appearance of Guts and the massive length of the sword strapped to his back. "Erm…" Black cleared his throat. "Well, that's quite the sword you got there, uh, Guts."
Guts' eye drifted to their wands that were still held at their sides. "Yeah."
"And I'm his partner, the Mighty Puck!" Puck landed on Guts' shoulder, creating quite the sight.
"Oh, you have a pixie with you," Black observed the small creature.
"Huh?" Puck looked around. "Pixie? Where?"
Ivalera flew over to him. "He means you, chestnut."
"Me? But I'm an elf! Don't they know what an elf is?"
"Forgive my friend," Lupin interjected. "The elves we are familiar look quite a bit different."
"I'm willing to bet our elves are better," Isidro boasted. "Name's Isidro by the way, you'll be hearing it a lot once I become a master swordsman."
"That is… nice to know," Lupin gazed over to Harry once more.
"My lovely betrothed, Farnese, and her personal attendant Serpico." Roderick wisely left out Farnese's last name. If they recognized her as a Vandimion who participated in a multitude of witch hunts, then this meeting just might go south real fast.
"Greetings," Farnese gave a polite curtsey, even when not in a fancy dress. "As one studying under two mages, it is a pleasure to meet others of the craft."
A small bit of confusion crossed both men's faces. Had they made the connection between Farnese and her family? "You're a witch as well?" Black asked.
"Are you attending Ilvermorny or Salem?" Lupin sounded more at ease asking this question, it kept his eyes from looking back and forth between all of them and at Harry; always back to Harry.
"Pardon, but I am unfamiliar with those names," Farnese told him. "I am learning from my two teachers."
Looks like someone beat us to the punch with the idea for a magical school, Harry mentally conveyed to Schierke.
She took a second to respond. 'That doesn't seem right. This Lupin man speaks like it's common knowledge where we are now. But for as long as I've known Mistress Flora, she never mentioned the idea of magical institutions. For as long as she was studying magic, there's no way she didn't know.'
Roderick spoke again. "Yes, our two young mages have lent a helping hand with her studies. Their tricks certainly helped us out of a tough spot a few days ago." Roderick patted both their shoulders. "The Miss. Schierke and young Harry."
Both wizards were looking at them now. Their eyes were drawn to Harry like they were seeing an old friend once again for the first time in years. Lupin shifted on his feet, looking a bit unsure what to say. Black, meanwhile, broke into a wide smile, but his eyes held a trace of longing that had just been rekindled with a sense of hope. It seemed similar to how Guts looked after rescuing Casca from St. Albion.
"Well," Black ran a hand through his dark mane, "It's certainly nice to meet you, Harry… Schierke." He directed his greeting more towards Harry. "You are… trained in magic?" His eyes never left Harry's, searching his emerald green eyes with his darker ones.
"I am," Harry answered, not looking away from Black. The other wizard looked… relieved? Concerned? Proud? Some mix between all three, perhaps.
"The two of us studied under the same teacher," Schierke mentioned. "As a pupil of Mistress Flora, it is nice to meet fellow members of the art."
Black hardly seemed to have heard her, still focused on Harry. "We're more than happy to welcome you – all of you – here." He extended his hand toward Harry. "The pleasure is mine to welcome you."Black still kept his wand at his side, so Harry slowly extended his hand to shake. "Nice handshake you got. Reminds me a lot of a friend of mine."
"Uh… thanks." How else was he supposed to respond to that? Flora had her weird tendencies, but Black just seemed awkward talking to him.
Guts picked up on the rather uncomfortable vibe. "Hey, your friend isn't into boys, is he?"
"Absolutely not," Lupin assured him. "Sirius has always been strange; I can personally vouch for that. He just gets a bit anxious when he doesn't know what to say, or how to properly say it. No doubt you all have your fair share of questions, as do we. Right, Sirius?"
Black nodded, giving Harry some space. "Right, sorry if I came across as a bit too forward."
"A bit?" Isidro asked. "You looked like you were going to start crying."
"Still no tact, as always," Serpico commented. "Not ideal for making first impressions."
If Sirius was offended by the comment, he did well at hiding it. He actually laughed. "Personally, I always found tact a bit boring, thanks for the wake-up call."
"Pardon," Lupin spoke up. "But what of the last member of your party?" Casca was still sticking close to Farnese, occasionally poking her toe in the water.
"Coll," Casca whined as she pulled her toe free.
Guts shifted slightly. "Her name's Casca."
Hearing her name being said, Casca snuck a peek at the two wizards. She shuffled closer to Farnese, not ready to meet the two others.
"Right," Roderick spoke again, "now that we're all on a name basis, maybe it's time to sort this confusion out. For as long as I've been sailing, I've never made a stop at a place such as this. I'm glad my crew isn't here to see me ask this, but, where exactly is this place? We weren't expecting to reach land this soon."
Black and Lupin shared a look as if to decide which of them was going to be the first to speak or, even how to answer the question. As luck would have it, neither of them got to answer.
"Remus! Sirius!" an old, practically ancient looking man yelled out their names in an equally wizened voice. This ancient man was running down to them, dressed in a purple robe decorated with yellow star and moon designs. It was a bizarre attire, even for anyone claiming to be a wizard in Midland society. His long, silver beard reached down to his waist, a wand held tightly in his wrinkled hand.
He was followed by three other people, two women, and one man. The first woman wore emerald green robes and had her hair in a tight bun underneath her pointed hat that was similar to the one Schierke always wore. The second woman had a monocle and wore darker and more practical robes. The other man was much younger than the one with the beard, looking to be around Black or Lupin's age. His dark hair looked greasy as it came down to his chin. The way his robes billowed behind him as he walked made him appear to be some sort of bat.
The aged man came closer and Casca anxiously pulled at Farnese's sleeve. "Oooo mn." Guts partially pulled out Dragonslayer.
"Who's the old man?"
Lupin blanched a little. "Our boss." Guts still kept his hand on Dragonslayer's hilt, clearly not trusting the new arrivals.
"Sirius! Remus! What is going on here?" the old man tried to keep his voice as calm as possible. The old man's sparkling blue eyes looked extremely tired as he looked over the landing party from the Sea Horse. "Who are these-," his eyes landed on Harry and widened. "Harry Potter."
'Harry, do you know this man?' Schierke instantly asked.
Never seen him before in my life.
'He appears to know you, teacher,' Farnese added.
"Er, how do you know my-?"
The old man started for him, dropping his wand, grabbing both of Harry's shoulders as if he were on the verge of collapse. He was studying Harry's face, but unlike Black and Lupin, he was not focused on his eyes, but the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.
"Harry Potter…" his face and long, crooked nose were much too close. It was a random thought, but the man looked like an older version of the King of Midland from what Harry could remember of the man. The same king who lusted for his daughter and labeled the Band of the Hawk as enemies of Midland.
Harry pulled his sword from its scabbard, poking the tip into the old man's stomach. "Back off, old man!"
Serpico and Roderick shuffled uneasily, slowly drawing their weapons as well. The three other wand-users aimed them at the growing tension. The old man did not seem to get the point, still reaching out toward Harry like a madman.
"Is it really you, Harry?" he reached out those wrinkled hands again to grab at him.
"What's your problem?! Back up already!" the old man hardly seemed to hear what Harry was telling him, forcing Harry's hand in the matter. With his staff, Harry shoved the elderly man back, Black and Lupin moving to grab the old man's arms, further restraining him.
"Expelliarmus!" the greasy man yelled. Harry's sword flew from his grasp. The greasy man was about to utter another incantation, but the massive heap of metal that was Dragonslayer moved in an upward arc, forcing the man to step back or be disarmed himself,in a much more literal sense. He tripped over his robes, falling down, looking humiliated and full of loathing.
"Might want to watch where you step," Guts sarcastically advised. "Maybe just stay on the ground, for now, my way of disarming is a bit more literal."
"Control yourself, Albus!" the witch in the emerald robes tried to placate the restrained old man. "You're acting mad!"
"Harry Potter," the old man said almost like a prayer. "It's Harry Potter, Minerva."
"Harry Potter?" the one witch with the monocle repeated. "Professor Dumbledore, do listen to what you are saying. Harry Potter is-,"
"-Here," the emerald witch finished. She was looking at Harry now as well. She had a similar look that she was seeing someone she had once known. Her eyes quickly darted up to his scar before refocusing on his eyes.
Harry raised his staff as a warning to the witch, letting her know what would happen if she decided to act like the old man.
"Dear Merlin." The other woman's monocle fell, breaking as it hit the ground. She too looked at his scar.
Harry pointed his staff at the other woman next. If either one of the witches decided to rush at him, he wanted them to know that his threat was standing.
'They all seem to know you.'
"It is young Harry." the old man stopped resisting in Black and Lupin's hold. "How is this – oh!"
Isidro threw a stone, striking the old man. "Suck it, old timer!"
"A perfect hit," Puck praised. It would have been more humorous if it had not been for the rising feeling of tension from those who came from the Sea Horse.
"Teacher, how do they know you?" Farnese sounded concerned.
Harry didn't answer verbally, still not taking his attention away from the new group of wizards. Still trying to figure that one out myself.
Schierke stepped a bit closer, looking nervous, but prepared should any of these new wizards retaliate because of Isidro's action. The two witches tightened their grip on their wands, but made no direct aggressive moves, just looking cautious. Serpico shifted his footwork, his cloak lightly billowing. The only one to show outright anger was the greasy-haired man.
"You arrogant little-!"
"-Really want to finish that sentence?" Guts asked, Dragonslayer ready to go.
Seeing the heated tension, Roderick steeped between both sides, arms held out and sword put away. "Hey! Easy now, everyone! We were getting on so well before, no reason to muck it all up now." He looked between those from the Sea Horse and the set of wizards. "Now, on behalf of my passengers, I offer my apology for aggression on our end of things."
"Way to go, idiots," Ivalera stuck her nose up at Isidro and Puck.
"However, you can't exactly blame them for looking after their companion. Your elder seems to have lost his cool." Roderick eyed the elderly man being lifted to his feet by the two wizards whom they had initially met. "I don't know what he fully expected to happen by harassing one of them."
"You don't know?" the same greasy man asked in a drawl. "How else would you expect the headmaster to react to seeing Potter?" the man's dark eyes glared at Harry like a long-time rival complemented by an award-winning sneer. When his eyes bore into Harry's, the sneer seemed to lessen, if only slightly, replaced by a look of longing. It was quickly snuffed out as he scoffed and turned his head indignantly.
Glaring back at the man, Harry said, "Forgive me, then. How else would I react to being grabbed by a man I've never met before?" he kept his tone sarcastically dangerous. The man's sneer went beyond simple humiliation, it was pure loathing.
"Severus…" the elder man sounded tired, but more in control of himself than he had been before. "Do not be an instigator in this. Now is not the time to be fighting, I've had enough of that for one day." His blue eyes flickered over to Harry once again.
Black slackened his hold of the man's arm. "Look, I apologize for our headmaster's behavior and for Snape as well. This is just bit of a… exciting time for us is all."
"Exciting?" Schierke parroted. She sounded less than pleased with how the two other wizards had behaved.
"Surely you understand?" Lupin asked. "You are traveling with-,"
"-Me?" Harry finished. Lupin gave a slow nod. "I don't remember the last witch I met acting anything like how he just did." He made sure to sound disdainful.
"Please," Black put his wand away, leaving Lupin to hold the elder wizard. "We all have our share of questions, and I can't speak for the rest, but I'd prefer not to do it at wand, or swordpoint," he quickly added noticing how large Guts' Dragonslayer was.
Roderick let out a soft breath of relief. "Then we are in agreement then." Serpico put his sword away but kept a firm hand on the hilt. Schierke moved her staff closer to her body but still kept a vigilant eye on what the older wizard might do next. The only ones who did not instantly put their weapons away were Harry and Guts. "What is it you suggest?" Roderick asked.
"Dumbledore needs medical attention, Sirius," the witch in emerald told Black. "If they are here to talk, they can wait in the hospital wing."
"The castle?" Guts inclined his head, still not looking away from the greasy man known as Snape. "You sound a bit eager to get up there. Probably of plenty of other people in there, whatever it is that needs to be said can be said here. Your headmaster seemed full of energy a few moments ago."
"Look," Lupin stepped up to try and ease the tension, "if it makes you feel more at ease, both Sirius and myself will swear on our magic that no harm will befall any of you if you agree to talk this all out up at the castle."
"Swear… on your magic?" Schierke sounded a bit confused by that. Was he implying that he would somehow lose his magic if the promise was broken? Anyone could learn magic, Farnese as their pupil was proof of that.
"As a failsafe of sorts," Lupin explained. "Just so you know that we're serious about us not wanting any altercation."
"There is no need for me to go to the hospital wing…" the headmaster managed out.
"Dumbledore, you're not thinking straight!" the emerald witch insisted. "Just-,"
"-Hear me out, Minerva. I can manage the walk to my office; send for Poppy to meet us up there. I imagine there is much explaining to be done."
"I… yes, headmaster." The one now identified as Minerva cast a worried glance at the elder headmaster before quickly setting off for the castle.
The headmaster groaned as he put his weight on his legs. "I do apologize for how I acted. The events of earlier have been rather taxing on me." He looked to see if Harry seemed a little more forgiving; not much changed. "As Headmaster of Hogwarts, I do offer you sanctum at our establishment for my offense."
"Hogwarts?" Isidro asked, barely holding back a chuckle. "What's that?"
"The castle's name," Lupin explained. As strange as it was, it did help a little in lightening the mood, mostly because no one could believe that that was the actual name for a castle as generous as that. "And you have the headmaster's permission as well as ours that no harm or ill will shall be directed to any of you if you agree to come and discuss things in a more private setting." He namely looked at Roderick when saying this.
The Lith captain rubbed at his chin. "As much as I admire the show of peace you're displaying, I'm just the escort in all of this. If you're to ask anyone, ask the Chief."
Guts' sole eye fell on the headmaster, not looking impressed.
"Him?" Snape drawled out.
"Severus," the headmaster sent a careful look to Snape, and he went silent. "Well, Mr…" he waited for a name.
"Guts."
"Guts?" Dumbledore repeated. "Well, Mr. Guts, I can guarantee that Remus speaks true. Hogwarts is always there for those who need it." He pointed to his fallen wand. "You can even confiscate that if you please."
Using his staff, Harry pulled the wand to him, pocketing the relic. He still had his apprehension of the old wizard. While Harry wasn't impressed with how Dumbledore had acted, he didn't feel any deceit from the man now.
'Schierke, Harry, you two are the magic experts. What's your take on this?' Guts' voice spoke through thought transference.
'That Dumbledore seems a bit unhinged.'
'A bit?' Isidro joined in. 'If I didn't know any better, I'd say he has a thing for young boys.'
'That other woman hasn't said much,' Serpico noted. 'I believe she's still in shock.'
Over seeing me?
'Yes. They all seem to know you – or rather – know of you.'
Yeah, it's kind of annoying. They keep staring at my scar. Harry wasn't really self-conscious about it. Sure, there had been a time when he felt an evil presence from it after the Eclipse, but that had all stopped after the Misty Valley. Now, it was just an ordinary scar.
'Teachers, they did say that this… er, Hogwarts, is a school.' Farnese joined in. 'It stands to reason that there are others learning magic in there. Teacher Schierke, you were even asked where you attended. It may be a bit naïve, but if they truly meant us harm, I don't think they would willingly bring strangers into the place where their students are.'
'…Mistress Flora certainly wouldn't have taken a risk to put me in danger…'
'C'mon!' Isidro insisted. 'They're looking at us all funny-like. We have an answer or what?'
Guts, Black and Lupin seem reasonable enough, but that Snape guy seems to enjoy glaring at me. He knows something, they all do.
"Are you going to answer?" Snape demanded of Guts, impatient from waiting, ignorant to the mental conversation that was taking place.
"Just thinking it over," Guts answered. "In the meantime, why not go and wash that head of yours, I could be awhile."
Harry could practically hear Snape grind his teeth, making good on his end to the headmaster to not fully instigate a conflict. It only intensified when Black stifled a laugh behind a cough. Black looked at Guts not with full confidence, but a hint of admiration.
Guts turned his stare over to Black and Lupin. "You two seem the most reasonable of the bunch, you willing to keep the old man and the grease ball in line if they decide to act up?"
"You have our word," Lupin said with sincerity.
No telling how far his word will actually go, though. Harry remained a bit skeptical, but Lupin did seem sincere.
"Strange," Snape drawled once again, "that you see a reason to keep us in check, yet you're the one holding the sword. If you truly seek no conflict then turn over your weapons."
"Oh?" Guts sounded amused. "Then what? You planning on carrying all of them?"
"Guts," Serpico spoke up. "We all know that will not happen. Mr. Snape, the best we can do is offer our word similar to what Mr. Lupin has suggested; no further conflict shall come from them." Serpico opened an eye toward Guts. "That is what we want, isn't it?"
"…Sure, what you said." He put Dragonslayer back in the scabbard on his back.
"Well, glad to see we're making progress on both ends," Roderick looked relieved. "I assume that was a 'yes,' Chief?" Guts gave a slow nod, not looking relieved or distressed about it. "Well, I believe we're heading to your castle next."
"Right," Black sounded eager to talk things out. "You coming too, Amelia?"
The witch who had worn the monocle and had remained silent for most of this time gave a nod. She quickly mended her fallen monocle, putting it back in place over her eye.
Harry tried to put a scale on how big this… Hogwarts (he was still trying to get around that name) truly was. It looked to be the bigger than Farnese's family estate, and maybe about the same size as Castle Windham. Unlike Windham, there was no outer wall separating it from the city – because there was no city. There were the forest and a small hut near the edge of it, but that was it. He supposed that if this castle really was a magic school, it would be isolated; a city like Windham and Vritannis had less connection to the elements. But even still, he thought that they might see some sentries, golems, maybe those gargoyles and statues could become animated.
Through a large set of doors, they came to the entrance hall which had another set of doors. Many voices could be heard talking from the other side. This was probably where most of the od Harry and Schierke had felt coming from.
"This way, to the right," Dumbledore and Black led the way, turning from the set of doors and over to where a grand staircase was located. But the staircase was anything but ordinary.
To each floor, there was another set of stairs leading to a landing, and each moved in no logical order, one that led up soon moved to being down, and vice versa. There looked to be seven or eight floors altogether with possibly more space on the lower level.
Farnese was wide-eyed as they stepped on a staircase leading up. "Teachers, this is… this is extraordinary."
"Why thank you, young miss."
"Huh?" Farnese looked for who spoke. It wasn't any of the resident wizards. "Who…?"
"Pnnt." Casca was pointing at a painting along the wall. Much like the staircase, it was moving, at least the four men sitting around the table in the picture were moving. One raised his glass to Farnese and made a toast with the other animated figures.
"They move," Schierke was impressed as well. As long as she had been studying magic, she hadn't seen it put into practice like this before.
They got off on one of the landings, passing a cat wandering the hall. "Hey, it's a cat!" Puck excitedly exclaimed.
"Moving staircases and talking paintings, and you're excited about a cat?" Ivalera rolled her eyes.
Puck flew over to the cat. "Hey, I'm Puck! Nice to meet y-ooh!" Puck flew under the cat's paw as it tried to swipe him out of the air. He took refuge on Guts' shoulder, high above the crazed feline. "Obviously not in a good mood."
"Filch still has that cat?" Black asked Lupin.
"If it's a kneezle, they tend to live much longer than normal cats," Lupin did not seem keen on the idea.
They reached a junction in the corridor where a stone gargoyle sat guarding an alcove behind it. "Lemon drop," Dumbledore said. The gargoyle leaped aside, allowing them entry to a spiral staircase that led up.
The Headmaster was the first one up, followed by the witch named Amelia, then Snape, Lupin, Black, and Guts and the rest following behind. A smart move considering they had no idea what awaited them at the top. Pushing open the door at the top of the stairs, they were met with an oddly decorated room filled with all sorts of gadgets, gizmos, and other assortments of instruments. There was an ornate desk where the emerald witch and a worried looking woman waited for their arrival next to the flame-colored bird that was perched next to them.
"Professor Dumbledore!" the new witch ushered him over to his chair behind the desk, handing him a vial of potion to drink. "Minerva told me you were struck by the torture curse, this should help with the lingering shock."
"…Thank you, Poppy."
"You should be in the hospital wing, you shouldn't have to have walked all the way here," Poppy insisted. "What could be so important as that – oh Merlin!" her attention was now on the party from the Sea Horse, or more specifically, on Guts. The burns from Ganishka's lightning were still to fade from his neck and face, and his prosthetic arm must have been a sight for her as well if she was a healer of sorts. "Headmaster, what has happened?"
"That, Poppy, is what we shall be discussing." Dumbledore drank the rest of the potion. "Could you bring my pensive over here for a moment?"
The witch went over to an alcove near a few of those instruments to pull out a basin of clear liquid. Puck took an interest in it, sniffing the air almost like a dog. "Ah, smells like home."
"You've never seen it before," Ivalera reminded him. "How could it?"
Puck shook his head defiantly. "Nope. I know what home smells like, and it smells a bit like the mushrooms that are near the giant cherry blossom tree."
"Mushrooms, you say?" Dumbledore borrowed a wand from the medic. "Funny you should mention it; one of the ingredients to pensive fluid comes from a magical mushroom."
"Told you." Puck finally got to look triumphant over Ivalera.
Looks like we might actually be close to Elfhelm then. Harry rationalized. That wave of energy that washed over them might have just pushed them off course or – what was the headmaster doing?
Using the borrowed wand, Dumbledore put the tip to his temple and drew out a silvery substance that clung to the wand for survival. With a flick, he sent it into the basin, watching as it twirled around in the contents. "I will have to view that at a later time, for now, I believe there are more pressing matters to attend to. Minerva, could you conjure up some more chairs?"
With a wave of her wand, a chair was conjured up for each of them. They took to them save for the Snape guy who remained to hover in the corner by the window, Guts who was lingering near the door, and Casca.
"Swoo," Casca's attention and face were inches away from a shiny sword that was on display along the wall underneath another moving portrait, one of many that lined the room. The sword was of a finer make, not a flaw to be seen on its smooth surface. An inscription was etched into the blade itself, and a ruby rested in the pommel. "Swoo." Casca reached to take it from its place.
Farnese was quick to hurry over, leading her back to her seat. "No, Casca. Don't go touching that, it isn't ours." Casca sat down, but she would poke her head out from Farnese's side to look at the weapon on display.
"So," Roderick initiated a conversation once more, "where do we begin? We know that this place is called Hogwarts, but in relation is it to the mainland? Or why a saltwater creature is living in freshwater?"
"How about what you are doing with Harry Potter of all people?" Snape countered. "I'm sure that is the question that is on everyone's mind other than where this castle is. You did sail to it."
"Or why don't we start with how you all seem to know who I am," Harry demanded. "Because I sure as hell don't know any of you."
Snape gave a sharp, "Tch!" accompanied with a sneer. "My, awfully eager to talk about yourself, Potter. Already seeing us as beneath your celebrity status, eh? Such arrogance."
"Actually," Schierke was quick to speak, "you were the one to mention him first. And it would be more ignorance than arrogance."
Getting cheeky already?
'He made it easy.'
"Enough!" Dumbledore weakly yelled. "Severus, you do not need to be here. Would you rather go back and finish breakfast in the great hall?"
"He doesn't have to be here?" Isidro repeated.
Dumbledore took a calming breath, sinking back into his chair; the bird perched next to him gave a sad cluck. "Now, young Harry asked a good question, and it would seem that he is indeed ignorant to being here. Harry, you do not know who any of us are or what this place is, do you?"
"I thought my asking that was evident enough," Harry replied. "Some answer would be nice right about now."
Dumbledore stroked his beard. "Very well, as you have noticed, Harry, you are very well-known here, and for good reason. Thirteen years ago, you received the scar on your forehead from a dark wizard by the name of Voldemort." The wizards local to Hogwarts flinched at the name, leaving Harry to look at them funny. "He set out to kill you when you were just a baby, killing both your parents in the process. But, when he tried to kill you, something stopped him that night, the curse that was meant for you, struck him instead. He was assumed dead, until quite recently.
"After that, I took measures to ensure your safety, placing you with your mother's sister and her family, hoping that-,"
"-Hold on," Harry held up his hand. "You put me there?" his feeling of anger was suddenly replaced by a revelation. He was back. Back to the world that he lived in a cupboard for ten years, been made into a punching bag by his cousin, and neglected by his relatives. He had assumed that was all behind him, a memory of a distant past.
Whatever that wave of energy was, it had sent him back just as the Skull Knight had taken him to Midland four years ago. He had never even told any of them that he wasn't from their layer of reality; he assumed he would be in Midland for the rest of his life. He knew that they would understand, they had been through enough to have that level of acceptance, he knew for sure Guts wouldn't judge, the swordsman had his own fair share of darker parts of his past. Farnese would probably feel a bit let down but would understand, so would Serpico. Isidro probably wouldn't know what it all meant anyway. Schierke… well, he would have to brace himself for a staff to the face. Apart from Guts and Casca, she was the one he had known the longest. She had made her feelings known, and he wasn't going to reject her, but this would be something they would have to talk out, that, as well as just where they fully stood in terms of a relationship. Problems for later.
Black chimed in, sensing a more hostile tone taking over. "You were supposed to come with me, actually."
Harry raised a brow. "You? Why you?"
"Well…" Black ruffed up his black locks, the ghost of a playful smile danced across his lips. "Your father named me godfather."
For a brief moment, it was like Harry felt his brain shut off, taking in what Black had just said and replaying it over to make sure he hadn't misheard. "You… knew my dad?"
Black smiled for real this time. "We were the best of friends. Moony too." Lupin gave a nod of confirmation. "This school, Hogwarts, we were all classmates here, housemates too. We were as thick as thieves. I was best man at your parents' wedding, James actually made a bet with me to see who could eat the most cake the fastest." He gave a healthy laugh. "I never ate so much in my life!"
Harry thought Black's laugh suited him. It just seemed to fit on his face so naturally. "So why didn't you?" Harry asked. "If you were such good friends, why didn't you take me in?"
The question must have struck something sour with Black, his smile slowly faded. "I was… preoccupied."
"Oh yeah?" Guts spoke. "With what?"
"Twelve years in prison."
"Wrongfully accused, and locked up without a trial," Amelia interjected seeing some of the worried gazes that were directed at Black. "The real culprit was another close friend of your parents, he was the one who sold them out to… to…"
"Voldemort?" Harry guessed, and some of them flinched, again. They freak out over me and jump at Voldemort's name.
"Yes," Black answered. "Once the traitor was found out, my name was cleared. One of the first things I asked for was to see you after all those years."
'Well it looks like we know why he and Lupin were so eager to discuss things,' Serpico concluded. 'The son of an old friend, and all.'
"You look very much like your father, Harry," Lupin told him. "I knew you were James' son as soon as I saw you."
Snape gave a dry laugh. "And he matches personality as well." He said that with as much venom as possible.
"And you have your mother's eyes," Dumbledore added, sending a glance to Snape instead.
"I'm surprised you noticed my eyes, you seemed more interested in my scar," Harry told the elder wizard. He would much rather learn about his parents as they lived than know of the memory of how they died. His scar seemed less ordinary now and more of a notice-me beacon, something he could live without.
"Again, I extend my apologies," Dumbledore said. "Four years ago, I was fully suspecting that you would walk through the front doors and follow in your parent's footsteps." He rummaged through a drawer on his desk, pulling out a letter. "Hogwarts has a magical system of sending letters to all enrolled students. This letter was addressed to you." He slid the letter across the desk.
Sure enough, Harry's name was written on the envelope, but where a location was written, there was just a question mark. "So, my parents enrolled me here before they were killed?"
"It was their wish that you attend as they had. Which makes me ask, if not Hogwarts, how is it you know magic? And how did you acquire that staff?"
"I learned from the same teacher as Schierke," Harry began. "Mistress Flora of the Spirit-Tree."
"Flora? I can't say I'm familiar with either of those names." Dumbledore eyed the staff. "May I?"
"The old man is asking to see Harry's staff," Isidro whispered to Puck, much louder than he intended. "I knew he was into young boys."
Harry held the staff out but did not let it out of his grasp. As much information as Dumbledore was giving, an exchange of information would have to be made at one point. Dumbledore leaned over his desk, adjusting his half-moon spectacles. His blue eyes widened a considerable amount.
"Did you make this?" it didn't sound like a question, at least, not the one he didn't know the answer to.
"Not this one." He carefully watched what the headmaster would do next.
Dumbledore rose, retrieved a book from his shelf and began to skim through the pages.
'What's this nut up to?' Guts mentally asked.
'Teacher, do you suppose he knows about your staff?' Farnese asked.
Her question was answered by Dumbledore holding up the book for Harry to read the text. "This passage describes the design for a staff that was once carried by Merlin. It was labeled as a missing myth, but, not so missing anymore."
"Merlin?!" Minerva exclaimed. "Surely you don't mean to tell us that he has a relic of Merlin!"
Dumbledore seemed to have not heard her. "A staff carved from the wood of an elder rowan tree. Once carried by Morgana as well, a staff that channels the magic of previous users at personal risk. Still capable of performing tasks, and chooses a user based on personal worth."
"That does describe Teacher Harry," Farnese spoke. "I've seen him use it before, we all have."
"I don't doubt young Mr. Potter's worth," Minerva said, "but how is it he came about it?"
"From the same person I learned it all from," Harry answered. "Merlin visited her and left it behind to keep it out of dangerous hands. You can't have it if that's what you want to know."
"Careful," Snape spoke once again. "You may have a staff that once belonged to Merlin, but that does not give you a right to deny the headmaster."
"You headmaster agreed to meet with us, and just because I'm enrolled here doesn't make me a student that can be bossed around." What is it with this guy?
If possible, Snape's sneer got even worse. "Listen here-,"
"-Mr. Potter is right, Professor Snape," Minerva surprisingly defended. "While he may have lacked tact, it is his right to refuse if he deems so necessary." She spoke in a strict tone, something Flora hardly ever used.
"You may all relax. I have no interest of robbing you of your staff; I doubt that I would be able to use it. I can only advise that you be careful of how you use it and ask the question that has been plaguing me for years now; just where have you been to have acquired something like that?" his blue eyes looked like twinkling stars.
"I told you, I got it from my teacher in her spirit-tree."
"And where is that located?" Dumbledore insisted.
"Just outside of Enoch Village, in Midland."
Falconia, that's what it was called.
The capital that Charlotte had known and grown up in was a thing of the past, a distant memory. The city that stood now was like the Kingdom of Gaiseric had risen from the ground to retake its place on this earth. The outer walls stood a hundred feet tall, there were two full coliseums spaced on east and west of the city districts, all houses had a unique appearance to them, but still keeping with a design that was ancient and modern. Statues of griffins lined the walls of the city, looking pristine with their white marble look. The castle, if it could be called that, was easily twice as tall as the previous and more than twice the length. It was styled like the spread wings of a white hawk about to take flight.
It was so foreign, but so expected of a miracle worker like Griffith.
Inside the place was just as glamorous as the outside would have it believe. The main entrance to the palace was not by a drawbridge, but a winding, zigzagging staircase that led up to the top, unique only to a city like Falconia. Her room was thrice as big as her previous one had been, and she was fine with it. Her old room brought back memories of her father and what he had tried to do to her that one day. She was glad that the old castle was gone, transformed into something beautiful. More than once, she felt she was going to get lost, having Anna escort her as Griffith led the way around.
It was three days since the battle with Emperor Ganishka, who still remained as the largest tree in history; standing as tall as a mountain, legs/trunks spread to reach different ends of the city dubbed Falconia. But the Ganishka tree and the city weren't the only changes the world was seeing.
Beasts, hydras, unicorns, yetis, trolls, and yes, even dragons had all seemed to have been reborn into the world. Every now and again, Charlotte would spot a dragon flying in the distance, but never near the city, never near the city.
Giant rocks formed from the Kushan Army's demons after the blast held some sort of property that kept those type of creatures away.
"Falconia is now the only safe place left for humanity," Griffith told her as they sat in the garden of the palace located at the top of the "head" of the bird palace. To get up, a winding staircase led to it which gave her a strange sense of vertigo.
The garden presented a very spring-time feel to it, seeming to have its own temperature to make it feel as inviting as possible. They sat at a table under a gazebo, enjoying the sound of an artificial stream that was planted a short distance away, a small white bridge crossing over it.
"Is that the reason for all the new arrivals?" every day new people were flocking to the city, usually being pursued by some type of mythical creature of old.
"It is the only explanation," Griffith concluded, plucking a flower and putting it in her dark brown hair. Charlotte felt her cheeks redden from his act. "You will forgive me if I excuse myself to go and check on the retrieval team's arrival."
Sir Irvine was usually the one sent out to bring back survivors and accompanied by Sir - General Laban. All those who participated in the fight had been promoted, it didn't matter if they were from Midland, Chuder, or even Kushan Lands. At this point, the people were sick of fighting, sick of seeing death, and if the creation of Falconia didn't stand as a monument to all of humanity, Charlotte didn't know what did.
"Of course, Griffith." While Charlotte was the legal Queen of Midland, Griffith was still her betrothed and the unofficial leader of this City of Falconia as well.
He planted a kiss on the back of her hand. "Until I return."
He's always so charming. Like he knows how to do and say everything so right. Him, this city too, both are so grand, mesmerizing, pristine, and… foreign. Where had that come from? No, Griffith is the same as he has always been, an enigma to everyone, but captivating with his light. This city is still so new like Griffith. Of course, it would seem foreign at first. He had still to share with her the story of how he made his recovery. He is still as grand as this city, though. Still charming, eccentric, and…
…Empty. Zodd watched in boredom as one of Locus' Lancer Apostle units bit into the leg of his opponent; a three-headed hydra.
The city that had been birthed from the fall of the Emperor had also seen fit to cater to the needs of the apostles in the form of a spherical pandemonium located behind the main palace, only accessible by a narrow bridge. Here, the apostles could fight to their heart's content against the mythical beasts that were captured and brought here.
It is so empty it is lacking. Zodd watched as the corpse of the hydra was dragged away to be made into food for all the apostle spectators in attendance. What is the point in fighting a mindless beast? It was fighting for sport, a mockery of the real thing.
"Thinking of entering?" Zodd looked to see Locus coming up next to him. "You wouldn't even need to transform to defeat some of these creatures."
"Exactly." He didn't bother to hide his displeasure.
Locus made a face. "Why discontent? This city has been tailored to cater to the needs of all beings. No one is denied entry to Falconia, even Kushan soldiers are being permitted entry. I would have thought that you would relish in this setting."
"Fighting for sport is not fighting a true battle. These creatures, no matter how mythical, are still creatures of instinct; they do not possess the mind of a warrior."
"Well, I'm not about to offer myself up in service of a challenge to you." Locus gave a half-smile. "You're a more complex man than I first thought, Zodd."
"Think what you will," Zodd watched Grunbeld enter the arena next against a Yeti. "I'll be off."
"Not going to stay and watch?" the crowd gave a cheer as the next match started.
"I know the outcome." Unlike the thrill of a true fight.
A/N: Happy Easter! This was a pretty dialogue heavy chapter and the first part of how everyone will react to the situation. Thank you for reading.