It was a perfect night Harry thought as they left the direwolfs to rest, he was staring up into the beautiful night sky, he had never seen so my stars.
"Ser Potter it's getting late shall I suggest I show you to your quarters," Lord Eddard said as the others made their way off into the night.
"Thank you Lord Stark, for everything," Harry said holding out his hand as Eddard grasp it firmly " Lad you have brought much-needed honor back and much-needed courage spreads before winter arrives. I should be thanking you. " he said letting go of his hand and guiding him throughout Winterfell.
They walked a nice and steady pace as Eddard ran through the history of Winterfell coming past certain individual buildings in the quiet night until Eddard stop and gestured Harry to a small cottage.
"Suitable for the likes of you Ser Potter" leading Harry into a warmly lit room, a homely smell filled his senses " Perfect," Harry said taking off his robe and jumper accidentally baring his scar-ridden torso.
"By the Gods" Eddard muttered Grimley "what happened to you," Eddard said putting a hand on his shoulder keeping him from walking away " its nothing Eddard, past mistakes" Harry muttered pulling away grabbing out his dragon skin pouch and digging in.
"Here you go," Harry said holding a dozen or so gold coin in his hand.
"Whats this for, " Eddard said Taking the coins and frowning.
"My keep," Harry said slumping down onto the bed pulling out the fragmented glass that Sirius had given him, he peered at himself hoping someone eles would replace him.
"Well thank you, Ser Potter, " Eddard said rattling the coins together " Ill have someone collect you in the morning," taking one last look at Harry before sighing and leaving.
Harry watched the fire burn; it lit his green emeralds ablaze, contemplating this strange world, it was beginning to dwell on him that this was the start of magic, the dementors must have had been around for that long but why did they travel back to this time. Apparently, something or someone must have needed them to set time differently.
Harry sat back and relaxed for the first time in months; the bed was surprisingly comfortable, better than anything the Dursleys had given him, he sighed, he would have to explain to Eddard carefully about his scars, Harry hated describing how weak he was and that he couldn't do anything to help himself when he was so young.
Grabbing around in the bottomless dragon pouch; a smile pressed his lips as found the honey cakes, he missed Rons Mums cooking taking a bite, he forgot how starving he was and shoved the rest of it in his mouth as he sat back and enjoyed Mrs. Weasley's cooking.
Harry escaped the dangers of overthinking and plopped himself off the bed after a reasonable time contemplating if he should stay or leave to find his friends on his own..now is the time to do some exploring he grinned.
After donning his invisibility cloak, he stepped outside into the darkness and watched the moons light dance about over the old buildings continuing down a long stretch of gravel up until he came upon a premise that piqued Harry's interest.
It had two stone direwolf statues sitting in front of the old battered door..Harry stood there amazed at the amount of the attention to detail they had been carved into, then that's when he heard a cold dead voice coming from within the building.
Taking a step closer to the door and trying to open it a cold chill ran down the spine of Harry as he caught the sound of the voice " , You do not belong here" the sound ended abruptly after Harry moved his hand away from the door, he wondered how the hell someone knew he was there and then he held his wand up to the door and whispered 'Alohomora' the door clicked, and suddenly violently burst open revealing a long set of stairs going deep into Winterfell.
When the cold wind escaped the tunnel, Harry made his way down the gloomy set of stairs, after what seemed like an age he made his way down to the open lowly lit tomb, its a graveyard Harry muttered to himself looking at the men and women beautifully carved into stone figures.
Harry bent down to read one of the inscriptions 'Lyarra Stark', Harry noticed that they were all Starks after walking more in-depth into the tomb he came to three statues together away from the rest.
Lyanna Stark
Rickard Stark
Brandon Stark
When Harry noticed that they had all died before Roberts Rebellion, a coldness tingled all throughout his body as a white mist passed through him and floated next to the middle statue.
"Rickard Stark" Harry whispered catching the Ghost by surprise as he took off his invisibility cloak " What happened to you," Harry said taking in the mans horrible disfigured face where the burns made Harry want to be sick.
" You can see me young one, " Rickard said in surprise floating closer to Harry trying to put a hand on his shoulder only for it to go right through him with another cold shudder harry reluctantly suppressed another bought of sadness staring at this trapped soul.
"Are you okay? " Harry said sitting down in front of him with the cloak in his lap; his emerald eyes twinkled in the dim setting as the man in front of him bent down and looked at him.
" I... haven't talked to someone in so long, " Rickard said in agony touching his face " I still feel the pain from that dreadful day i. i... believed in that rat, he handed me that parchment and I rode off like an angry wolf after its pack only for it to burn everything away. " Rickard said in his sad voice turning Harry's insides out.
Harry felt the cold of voice pierce his heart as he tried not to shudder, he wanted to help this man be free and if it was to find a rat. Harry could only feel his own pain in the rat that betrayed his family.
"Who betrayed you, " Harry asked, but before he could say anything he vanished into nothing.
"Harry," a soft but loud voice said behind him.
When Harry turned, he saw Jon with a torch in hand and deep borrowed frown which Harry could only quietly chuckled at, as he walked up beside him and looked at him with his grey eyes full of questions.
"Who were you talking to," he said straight to the point causing Harry to decide between lying or being laughed at, though Harry could sense Jon wouldn't laugh at his face he would listen surely Harry thought before looking at the clean carved face of Rickon before it turned into the horribly burned scared face that made Harry snap his head back at Jon in distress.
"It was your grandfather; he is somehow trapped here and still feels the pain from that day he rode off south because of a lie, " Harry said as Jon slumped down beside him.
"You were talking to Rickard Stark, how is that possible " Jon said looking at the statue of his grandfather in wonder, Jon would be scared for life if he had seen what Harry saw with his own eyes, no one should have to go through that kind of pain and that only made Harry want to help Rickard be free of this terrible burden even more.
"Yes, Jon, I did, and I was the first person to talk to him before he could tell me who betrayed him " Harry fought off a grimace at the thought of Rickard so empty and cold.
"Betrayed," Jon said angerly turning towards Harry, " Father said he rode off to get his daughter back who had been kidnapped by Raeghar Targaryen "
Harry only nodded at that before speaking the truth Rickard told him " That was a lie, Raeghar never kidnapped her, someone betrayed the Starks but who I don't know " Harry said closing his eyes and sighing in defeat.
"I will find out who betrayed the Starks," Harry said standing up and laying a hand on the tomb of Rickon " I promise you that Rickard" Harry felt his magic warmth at the oath.
" What did you do? There was a shimmering blue glow around you " Jon said standing up next to him with concern.
"That promise I made to your grandfather, extracted a price of my abilities as judgment, " Harry said as a whisper turning to face Jon.
"This must stay between us Jon," Harry said with authority as Jon's brows narrowed at Harry.
"I must tell father this, he deserves to know the truth," Jon said taking a step closer to Harry, his face full of anger.
" He will I promise you that Jon but we cannot go to him with no evidence " Harry pleaded holding his Hands in peace at Jon, he had to see sense Harry thought, this would be causing more pain.
Harry watched Jon turn away in anger before slowly nodding; Harry picked up his cloak "Good; you will help me with this won't you Jon" Harry said handing him the torch and putting a hand on his shoulder.
His grey eyes studied his green for a short moment before he spoke "Of course Lord Potter I will, but trust me on this, no one will pay respect to a bastard, " Jon said somberly causing Harry to shake his head at the young man.
"Jon I don't care if you were a lizard with wings I'd still listen to what you had to say. And Enough of this lord stuff I'm just Harry, come let us get out of here before the whole of Winterfell finds out where we are, " Harry said guiding Jon out of the tomb.
AN:At first i thought it was Rickon gods know why i did but now its Rickard thanks to some keen eyes.