Whispers of Truth

Chapter 5: And So It Begins

Hogwarts was very different during Summer break, no soft whispers of students sneaking about in the halls, or of the Professors and Prefects roaming around looking for them. The Ghosts were who knows where, and the other Professors had long since left for home.

Hogwarts was different during Summer break, Hogwarts was empty.

Albus Dumbledore could not wait for the new school year to begin, if only to have an excuse to ignore the paperwork, paperwork that he had to get out of his nice warm bed and walk down echoing halls for or else Minerva was going to tear him a new one. Sighing to himself, Albus climbed the spiral stairs to his office. Upon entering he froze and his wand slide from his sleeve and down into his hand, someone was in his office.

"Hello Professor"

"Harry?"

Wand still in hand, he moved closer, and yes indeed; it was Harry. Patiently siting in the chair in front of his desk, upon seeing the Headmaster, Harry smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Albus asked genuinely bewildered.

"I have a request of you"

Albus's eyes narrowed, something was odd, suspicious, and after lighting up the fireplace for better vision; the Headmaster put away his wand and settled down at his desk.

"And what kind of request is that? And why are you not at your relatives' house?"

"We both know I was not wanted there, too much hurt from childhood years, My request, is a simple one, support me."

"Support you in what?"

Harry then smiled, and Albus knew.

"Harry" he said softly in horror, "what have you done?"

"I was given a choice, I chose, and now see Truth"

Albus paled, during his younger days, when he had yet to understand what the quest for power did to a man. He had met a young man, a man named Gellert Grindelwald, who could see Truth. And used its powers to do unspeakable things, things not in the history books.

"You are afraid" Harry suddenly said with a slight tilt of the head, "afraid that I have become like him, or will become"

"And you aren't? You won't?" Albus demanded, voice rising slightly, his mind suddenly a whirlwind of plans, outcomes, spells and long buried memories rising.

"It is not the path I chose"

"No one choses that path, but power corrupts, trust me on this"

Harry hummed softly, "I do trust you, to an extent, for despite your good intentions, you are not without your manipulations"

Albus went still, and wondered how much the other knew, possible everything if his experience with Gellert is anything to go by.

"You…You asked me to support" the Headmaster then said, turning the conversation back to the earlier matter, and to give him time to calm down and come up with a plan on how to handle this, "and I asked you in what"

With a knowing smile, Harry answered him, "This world needs to change, it is divided and dying because of it"

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

"In many ways, for example, the Ministry; the blind should not lead the blind"

Albus was sure that he wasn't talking about the Ministry alone, "You want to overthrow the Ministry?" he asked bluntly, seeing not point in being otherwise.

"If they are willing to change there will be no need to" Harry said as he looked at one of the sleeping portraits.

It's then that Albus realized that none of them had woken up during the conversation, it was worrying.

"I think you and I know better than that Harry" he then said.

Harry looked away from the portrait and back to the Headmaster, his tone is soft when he spoke "I suppose we do"

"You can't force people to—"

"It is not my intention to force anyone" Harry interrupted calmly, "I only wish for all to see Truth, and create a union of peace, if war is unavoidable then I hope to have the support of you and your allies"

It was reasonable, everything Harry was saying was reasonable, and that is the problem. Gellert had been reasonable as well, had a valid word for every doubt Albus had brought up. Had blinded him to who he was really was.

"I'm not a fool in thinking that you haven't already started to build your army" Albus said after a moment of thoughtful silence, "have already convinced others of your cause"

"I have" Harry confirmed, "and they have joined in hopes of a better life for them and generations to come."

"So they will fight?"

"They have been fighting long before me"

"And exactly who, are they?" the Headmaster asked suspiciously.

Harry titled his head, eyes gleaming in almost amusment, "It is not Voldemort"

That was not reassuring.

"And those who are not him?"

"Will it bring you comfort to know?"

He doesn't think it would, and Harry obviously knew that as he waited patiently for an answer. Finally Albus decided to play is hand, he hoped by doing so, he will be able to see behind the calm that Harry was emitting. To see if he was facing another Voldemort, or worse, another Gellart, heart racing just slightly; and wand discreetly at the ready. Albus spoke.

"I cannot support you in this Harry," he said, "nor can I allow to you to go through with whatever plan you have for the Ministry. For it will not stop there"

And Harry….Harry smiled, "…..See you at school Professor" the…boy said; then he stood, and under Albus's watchful gaze left.

Alone, Albus Dumbledore did not move for a very long time.

~.~

Avalon Castle was very impressive, not even Hogwarts could compare, Severus suppose that was expected of such a legendary place. Though why most of the wine and air around tasted and smelled like apples, he didn't know and Po—Harry never gave him an answer for it. The room he and the others were currently in, was round with books lining the walls with spiral stairs that went up to a second floor where more books lined the walls, a fire place burned and gave warmth. Comfortable arm chairs and desks decorated about, on the ceiling was a beautiful painting that told the story of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin. In middle of the room was a large round wooden stand, it was a map, but unlike any Severus and the others have ever seen. Familiar mountains, trees, and buildings had risen and became solid. And people; small and real, walking, running and talking amongst each other.

"Have you've seen anything like this Professor?"

Severus looked away from the map to Hermione who had come over to stand by him.

"No" he answered, "I have not"

Hermione nodded and looked back at map, her fingers twitched as through she wanted to reach down into the map and poke at the moving people. Severus's lips curled up into an almost smile before his expression goes back to its usual blankness.

"Professor, may I ask a question?"

Severus turned away from where he was watching one of the small people get into an argument with one another and back at the girl who looked nervous.

"What is it?" he said after a moment.

Hermione shifted nervously, fingers fidgeting with the bottom of her shirt, her eyes glancing nervously about. Severus waited with surprising patience for her to speak; he didn't want to think about why.

"Why" Hermione finally said, "why did you say yes? I thought you didn't like Harry"

Severus knew the girl was being polite when she said he didn't like Pott—Harry, his feelings toward the boy were complicated, at least he thought so. Now, he slowly starting to see that it wasn't, he had just been making them so. Letting his past, blind him to the truth.

"How ironic" the Potion Master thought with amusment, but before he could answer the girl, the door to the room opened and the nine priestess came in, and behind them was Harry.

Gone were his dull, large clothing, in place were soft cotton grey pants. A black robe embodied with white owls. He was barefooted, which Severus had a feeling was going to become a common and frustrating thing, on his shoulder was the ever present Hedwig.

"Hello everyone" Harry greeted, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long"

Hedwig flew off, glided over to one of the cushioned chairs and settled down on the arm. "Shall we begin?" he then said as he approached the map.

Everyone else gathered round, and Severus found himself standing to the child's left, he's pretty sure that was deliberate.

"I have spoken to Professor Dumbledore" Harry said, eyes on school on the map, "and he is not with us"

"Somehow, that is not very surprising" Ambrogio said softly, beside him Hermione looked very disappointed.

"Albus not siding with us will make this harder" Severus sighed, "his influence in the Wizarding community is great"

Fenrir grunted in agreement.

"So it is" said Harry, watching the mini Albus hurriedly leave the castle and disappear.

"And your meeting with him mostly likely didn't help" Ambrogio added.

"So it seems"

Severus doesn't mention that Harry didn't look disappointed or surprised, "Will he try and stop you?" the Potion Master then asked.

"He fears power, fears what it can do, fears that I have become lost to it. And so, he's become blind" Harry answered, expression sad, "he will do what he believes is right"

"What do we do?" Hermione asked her friend, eyes worried.

She couldn't imagine Professor Dumbledore hurting Harry, but then again she never imagined she'd be here in Avalon, standing beside a infamous Werewolf, her most hated Professor, the Father of the Undead, and the nine famous Priestess.

"We will handle Albus" Harry said, "but not now, there is much to do before then, Voldemort is growing in power, and followers"

"We should strike soon then" said the Vampire.

"It would be wise to do so" Harry agreed.

Ambrogio paused and looked at the Chosen who was now staring at a rather run down manor, "You're not going to talk to him first?" he then asked bewildered, he had expected the child to do so.

Harry looked up and locked eyes with him, it took the Vampire all he had not to shiver, "Do you think he will listen?" he asked.

"No" Severus said, when the Vampire didn't speak, "perhaps once, but...I've been in his presence once since he's resurrection, and…it's clear that the Dark Lord is not as he once was."

Harry hummed before he moved his attention to another house, lips curling up slightly, "While it would be wise to strike now, it would not be wise to do so when our forces are few"

"Few, but strong" Fenrir grunted, "very few magic can hurt Werewolves and Vampire, and Severus here isn't the youngest Potion Master for nothing. Then there is Hermione, and the Nine Priestess"

"Very good points" Harry agreed, eyes still on the house "however, even a mountain can fall under the right force. We need more allies"

"Who do you have in mind?" Severus asked.

Harry looked away from the house to look at Hermione, "Soon, you must return. Hermione, you will be taken to a place. There will be our potential allies. Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Sirius, and Remus, also a letter to Viktor Krum would not be amiss"

"And Ron?" Hermione asked, "he is your friend Harry" she then said when Harry tilted his head and remained silent.

"I know" Harry smiled, "and he had proven that numerous times, as well as having a very strategic mind that can prove to be helpful"

"But?" the witch urged.

"We shall see" Harry then said, before turning his attention to Severus, Hermione stared at him before her eyes go to the Weasley house on the map.

"The Malfoy family is your task Professor" the Chosen said, "and Fenrir, speak with the other Packs"

"Aren't you worry Albus will say anything?" Severus asked.

Harry smiled, "Are you?"

Severus's lips twitched, no he wasn't. If Albus really feared Harry, then he won't tell anyone until he was sure his plans were solid. The Headmaster at least would have Harry closely watched. It helped that Harry wasn't worried at all about Albus talking to anyone about the meeting between the two.

"And me?" asked Ambrogio, "what will I be doing?"

Harry's smiled, and his eyes sparkled with something close to amusement, "You will be assisting the sisters in finding the right book"

"…Excuse me?"

Apparently, Avalon Castle had a library, a library that held every book that had been written into existence. And in within the millions of shelves was the one book that will tell them how to destroy Voldemort once and for all.

"The Chosen is evil" Ambrogio grumbled as he stared at the shelves.

The sisters laughed.

~.~

It was afternoon when Hermione found herself with her arm wrapped around Harry's and being escorted through the woods and to a lake where a long wooden boat was waiting. Harry helped her climb in before getting in himself.

"Where are we going?" she asked when the boat started moving.

"A surprise" Harry said, as fog started to roll in.

Hermione's brow furrowed, but said nothing as the fog became thicker and thicker until she couldn't even see her own hand. Finally, the boat lurched to a stop, and the fog disappeared. Harry got out first, then helped Hermione out. Once on dry land, the witch looked around her. They were in a grassy field, and in some distance away she could make out some kind of structure, she had had feeling that was their destination.

"Shall we?"

Hermione nodded and they headed for the structure.

The closer they got, the more it felt like the ground was shaking, and there was this kind of ringing in her ears. Covering one ear, she looked at her friend, but either he didn't notice or it was just her. When they finally arrived at the structure, the ground stopped shaking and the ringing stopped.

"Where are we?" she asked.

There were three stone pillars circling around a large smooth boulder that was imbedded into the earth, Harry placed his hand one on the stone pillars, he stared at it before looking at Hermione.

"Below the stone you see before you, lay the spirits of two, who, if they find you worthy will give you the greatest of gifts. A gift they will help us"

"…..Who are, were, the spirits?" Hermione asked after a moment.

Harry smiled, before tilting his head to the stone center, "Sit there, close your eyes, count to three and then open them again"

Hermione stared at him, wincing when the ringing and shaking started again, then after a long pause she goes and sat down on the stone. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and mentally counted to three, when she opened them again she was staring into the eyes of an Dragon.

"Oh!" she gasped startled, Hermione stood and scrambled back, "Harry?" the witch looked around but Harry was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she wasn't even in the field, instead she was surrounded by darkness.

"No need to fear, Child of Magic"

Hermione froze and slowly turned back to the Dragons, one was red and the other was white. Big and powerful.

"What is your name child?" rumbled the White Dragon

"H-Hermione Granger"

"Hermione Granger" purred the Red Dragon, "do you know who we are?"

Hermione shook her head, and to her surprise the White Dragon chuckled.

"Why would you?" said the White, "history and books would have you believe us to be mindless beasts"

"Humans" grumbled the Red Dragon.

It was, more or less, the same thing Harry said to her that night in her bedroom. Now curious, Hermione moved closer to the Dragons.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"We are myth among worlds, father and mother to the ones of this land who you call merely beasts, and teachers of Merlin." The Red Dragon rumbled.

"Teachers of Merlin?" Hermione found herself moving closer to the Dragons, she couldn't tell who were male or female, voices to low and rough to help. And they were equal in size, and shape.

"We taught him many of our secrets, including our language, and soon; he became our Lord" said the White Dragon, tip of its tail twitching, "and friend. For years that friendship transcended to others even after Merlin's…departure, then something changed. We were betrayed, and our children were treated like animals until they themselves became animals."

The growl that the White Dragon let out was angry and very much dangerous, but Hermione didn't back away or even felt fear like she was sure she should feel. Instead she was starting feel something that was mixture of anger, bewilderment, and pity for the Wizarding World, as well as something else she couldn't name in the two Dragons' behalf.

"The Chosen brought you to us because he believes you to be worthy" said the Red Dragon bringing Hermione out of her thoughts.

"Worthy of what?" the Witch asked taking noticed of how the White Dragon started to circle her on her right.

"Worthy of the name Mother" said the Red Dragon as it circled her on her right, "worthy of the power, the knowledge."

"Our children need a Mother" the White Dragon spoke up, "someone who will guide them in this upcoming war, and guide them during the peace that will come after. Who will be their voice until they can find their own once more, and still be their voice afterward"

"You will be changed should you accept, in mind and body, but do not fear it. You will still be Hermione Ganger"

She had so many questions, wanted so many answers, and she was sure the Dragons would answer them. But, maybe, just maybe instead of wanting questions and answers; she should go with her feelings. Feelings that were telling her to say yes, to accept this gift and use it to do good.

"You have made you decision then" said the White Dragon with a slight tilt of the head, "and so have we"

"I have"

Both Dragons rumbled.

"If you find me worthy, then I accept your gift" Hermione then said, formal words falling from her mouth "and I hope to use it well"

"The Chosens are many things" said the Red Dragon, looking amused, "but they are never wrong"

Then both Dragons opened their mouths and let loose their fire.

As he laid in the soft green grass, looking up at the clear blue sky, Harry hummed a happy little tune.

~.~

Avalon Castle had three courtyards, one in the East, the second in the South, and the third and final courtyard was in the middle; in the heart of Avalon Castle. Surrounded by stone pillars that stretched high, reaching for the moon that was full, round, and bright; it's ray caressing the flowers of every season that grew from beneath soft sweet smelling grass. The round pond was peaceful, it's waters occasionally rippling when lillypads were playful nudged and pushed by the fish that called the pond's waters home.

The peaceful silence was broken by the cello, it's melody telling of a love that was pure, and eternal, yet lonely and longing for touch. Above, the moon brighten, it's rays caressing Ambrogio as he played for her. Scattered around the courtyard were Wolves, big as horses, with various furs of black, brown and grey. The largest of them all had fur of thick white with a long stripe of grey going from between shoulder blades to tailbone. He was curled around Harry and Hermione, the former with eyes closed and fingers running through the Wolf's fur, his shoulder being used by Hermione to pillow her head.

Sitting by the lake was Severus, looking most unusual without his black robes, dressed in simple clothing and reading a blue bound book, the Potion Master looked almost peaceful. Perched on top of the pillars, were Gabriel and his Clan of Gargoyles, their shadows covering over those below like guardian angels. Tonight was the last night for some of them, as they had to leave, each with a duty that they will see done, but right now they sat; listening to the Father of the Undead sing to his goddess.

From the castle balcony that looked down at the courtyard were the nine sisters.

"It is finally beginning sisters" said Morgan, "the New Dawn is finally upon us"

Below, Harry opened his eyes….and smiled.


Here is what the room looks like, just replace the window with a fireplace: www. pinterest pin / 464363411549878685 /

The map is basic off of the Fable 3 world map which for those who don't know you get a good idea here: www. gamingbits game - reviews - bits / fable - iii - review / and it's the third picture down. Also here: m . youtube watch ? v = CODf5i7pOLK

According to legend, the white and red dragons represented the ongoing war between the English and the Welsh. The white represented England and the red represented Wales. The dragons were buried in a pit after falling into it, exhausted from fighting each other for so long.

Centuries later, King Vortigern tried to build a castle over where the dragons were buried, but the walls and foundation kept being demolished by unseen forces, when consulting with his advisors, he is told to find a boy with no natural father and sacrifice him. They find the boy, who upon learning he was to be put to death to solve the demolishing problem, tells the King about the two dragons, who later release the dragons. The dragons fight and the red dragon defeats the white dragon. If Vortigern was believed to have lived in the fifth century then these people were the British whom the Saxons failed to subdue and who became the Welsh. The boy in some stories will later become Merlin the Wizard.

Next chapter: Fifth Year begins, and Harry finds someone very interesting on the train ride there. Three guesses who.

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