A/N: Thank you all who have read and/reviewed, special thanks to carick of hunter moon for the websites.
Whispers of Truth
Chapter 9: The Bonded Paths Pt. 1
"Absolutely not!"
Potter said nothing in response, merely sipped the tea he had asked an house-elf for earlier, next to him, Lucius raised a brow; not impressed.
"First," Cornelius Fudge said, " you want me to resign my post, and now, you want me to get rid of the Dementors at Azkaban!"
"Preferably the later before the former" Lucius drawled.
Fudge's face turned an interesting shade of red as he sputtered, "You—I—No!"
Potter placed the cup back onto it's saucer, and Fudge shivered when green eyes locked with his own blue ones, something about them was not right.
"Is this….did Dumbledore send you?" he asked, throat dry.
Lucius scoffed, "Don't insult us."
"The Headmaster has already chosen his Path" Potter said softly, "it does not twist with ours"
Fudge frowned, both at Potter's answer and that it was possibly that they were telling the truth, Lucius had always made his opinion about the Headmaster known. But then again, there was Potter, still…..
"My answer is still no"
Lucius does not look surprised or disappointed which irritated the Minster, and Potter….Potter smiled.
Fudge's heart hammered and something in him, cowered in awe, "W-What are y-you?" he stuttered to the child….no, not child. Something else.
Potter titled his head, before both he and Lucius stood. With tea cup and saucer in hand, Potter walked over to his desk and placed them there.
"Have a pleasant evening Minister"
And then, they were gone.
Fudge sat there, now alone, wondering what just happened. Wondered if it indeed had happened, and what to do next.
~.~
Draco, everyone noticed, acted differently when it came to Harry. It wasn't in awe and respect, or something intense like the boy's father. The best they could describe it was that Draco was almost an equal to Harry.
"In a way, he is" Harry said when Fred asked one afternoon in Severus's private brewing chambers, "Draco's Path is as our own, however it is also deeply bonded with another"
"You mean Ron" Hermione spoke up from behind the book she was reading.
From where he was helping Severus with the man's potion, Draco looked up, and made a face when Harry nodded. "Weasley, really? What could I possibly have in common with him?"
Harry's lips curled up into a small smile, "Your Path will be made clear soon"
"And Ron's" asked Fred.
"Ron's Path is a great one, one that will weigh heavily on his shoulders, but perhaps strengthen his heart and give him much needed courage. His Path will help and keep worlds bonded, this is his Path, and it is this Path that is tightly woven with Draco's"
"…Really" Draco blinked, now really wanting to know.
Harry just smiled.
~.~
It said something about his life when he walked through the door of a Wizarding Pub, he found himself standing in Avalon's Castle Eastern garden, he just couldn't find the name for it just yet.
"Right on time" Morgan smiled at him.
Sitting, and apparently waiting for his arrival were the Twins, Viktor, and Hermione.
"I leave everything to you" the Priestess said to Hermione, who nodded.
"Well, let's go" Hermione said when Morgan left, and abruptly started walking.
"Where are we going?" George asked as they followed her.
"To Romanian" Hermione answered as they left the Castle through the side entrance.
"And what's in Romanian?" George asked, "besides the Dragon Sanctuary Charlie works at"
"Exactly" Hermione smiled.
The four males looked at each other, curious, and a bit confused.
"You've been spending way to much time with Harry" Fred told the young woman.
Hermione giggled. Finally when they came upon the lake, they climbed into the waiting boats, and floated into the rolling fog. When the fog cleared, and the boat slide up to the bank, Charlie instantly recognized the Dragon Sanctuary.
"Erm, Hermione" the man said, a bit uncertain.
Hermione looked over her shoulder at him, and Charlie made a startle noise when he saw that her eyes were glowing a bright amber.
"Judging from your reaction" she said, when she noticed the Twin's shocked expressions, Viktor only seemed curious, "no one told you"
Charlie shook his head, and became a little worried when Hermione grinned.
Above, there was a loud roar of a dragon.
~.~
Upon Hermione's request, Charlie lead the group to the Nesting Ground, the Older Weasley had a feeling that she knew where it was; but lead them there regardless. Upon arriving, they all paused to take in the dozen or so dragons soaring in the sky or laying curled up upon the ground around their nests.
"What are you doing?!" Charlie hissed when Hermione suddenly started making her way to the nearest dragon, he started to run after her when he was stopped by Viktor.
"Do not vorry, she is fine." He said when Charlie glared at her.
"That is not fine" Fred pointed out worriedly.
"Vatch" Viktor simply said, "Herm-own-ninny vill not come to harm, she did not tell us, but I think I know vhat her…Path is"
Still worried, but really having very little choice, because honestly they were way out of their depth; they watched.
The nearest dragon, was curled around it's nest of eggs, and upon seeing the approaching girl lifted its large head. To the surprise of the Twins and George, the Dragon did nothing, and when Hermione got close enough and placed her hand on the creature's snout, their jaws dropped. Charlie nearly fainted when the dragon rumbled and nuzzled the girl.
"Come on boys!" Hermione called out to them.
Viktor moved first, then after trading looks, the twins; and finally Charlie. And while the Quidditch player went about placing his hand on the dragon's snout, the Twins and Charlie merely watched. Hermione laughed, looking up in the sky when the sun was blocked by familiar shadows, grinning when the dragons started to descend.
~.~
It's one o'clock in the afternoon, all of the students are in class when an owl carrying a letter with the seal of the Ministry of Magic, entered the open window of the Headmaster's office. Forty minutes later, the same owl left, with another letter.
In Charms class, Harry paused in his note writing, blinked then continued on with his task.
By the time Fudge and Albus's plan is sent into action, it will be too late.
~.~
The moment his feet touched the soft grass of Avalon, Draco felt it. A connection to this legendary place that he couldn't name or place.
"Draco?"
The young heir blinked and looked over at his Potion Master, who was giving him a curious and slightly worried look, a little a ways was one of the nine sisters, Tyronoe. The Priestess was staring at him with something of a knowing gaze, it made him very uncomfortable.
"I'm fine" Draco said when he finally looked away from the Priestess.
Tyronoe smiled, "Let's be on our way then, the Chosen is waiting"
She lead the two away from the lake, and boat they had arrived in, and through the forest until they came upon a mouth of a cave; there waiting for them, was Harry.
"Thank you Tyronoe" Harry said.
Tyronoe gave a slight bow of the head, before she disappeared into the forest, leaving the three.
"Do you have something against footwear?"
Harry tilted his head, and looked down at his bare feet, Severus merely sighed. Standing next to him, Draco took in his surroundings. There didn't seem to be anything special about this place, but for some reason his heart was pounding.
"Shall we?" Harry said when Severus finally gave up for the day.
"Where are we?" Draco asked.
"A place of healing" Harry answered as they entered the cave.
Lit torches lined the walls, giving them light as they walked further and further. Draco's brows furrowed when he felt….. something. At some point, the slightly narrowed tunnel opened up into a wide open circular cavern. Several holes from the ceiling let in sunlight, and despite their various spots, seem to cluster together in one ray shining down into the middle of a lake that was being fed by three waterfalls and covered in fog. Draco and Severus could barely make out what looked like an island with what seemed to be a tree and a person shaped figure underneath the light. Harry took a step forward and big round stones emerged from beneath the water, all in a single line that lead to what Severus, and Draco presumed was the island. Without hesitation, Harry walked along the path, Severus right behind him. After a moment, and throat dry, Draco followed.
The fog, Severus noted, seem to part for them. And when they finally stepped onto the grass of the island, not only was the fog gone, but it wasn't a bright as they expected.
The tree was a willow tree, it's long vine like leave sweeping the ground. At first, Severus and Draco didn't see the other person, more focused on the man laying down at the base of the tree. He looked to be in a deep sleep, with blonde hair and handsome features. The man was dressed in what was obviously royal clothing, and his hands were entwined together on his chest. There was something familiar about him.
Then the other person appeared from around the tree trunk, startling Severus and Draco. Lanky, young, and awkward looking was the best way to describe the person, short black hair with slightly big ears and blue eyes. He wore red robes, and upon seeing them, smiled warmly.
Draco's breath hitched when recognition came over him, he knew who this person was. He shouldn't, for one thing, he looked very much different then the way the books described him. Another, was that he was supposed to be dead.
"Hello Brother" Harry said.
"Hello Brother" said the young man, before he looked over at Severus, "hello Severus Snape, son of the late Tobias and Eileen Snape. Potion Master, head of Slytherin, Half-blooded Prince and former Spy with two Masters"
"You're…a Chosen" Severus's brow furrowed, he looked at Harry who only looked back with something close to amusement.
"I am" said the man.
"I thought there could only one Chosen at a time"
"There is no former Chosen" said the man, "just Chosen"
"Why did I expect a straight answer?" Severus thought with a sigh before looking a Draco, he frowned when he saw that his student had yet to look away from the man, he opened his mouth but was stopped when the man went over to the heir and kneeled.
"Welcome, Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Child of the House of Serpents, my Decedent and Guide to the soon to be King"
Draco said nothing, just continued to stare, Severus was worried that the child had stopped breathing. Finally, after opening and closing his mouth three times, the young Malfoy uncharacteristically stuttered out words, "T-Thank y-you, M-Merlin"
"…Wait, what?"
Harry's started to hum a pleasant tone, and Merlin smiled, blue eyes glowing amber.
~.~
It was Professor Snape who tipped him off, in all his years of attending Hogwarts, and listening to his brothers' stories. Snape has never given the Gryffindors a break, never given Harry a break, but that is what he has been doing for the past few months. Never once singling out his friend for every little thing, or even giving barely subtle insults, it's like the man had changed or had been switched with someone else entirely. It's because of this, that Ron had also noticed the other….weirdness.
Hermione spending more time with Looney Lovegood of all people, Malfoy staring at Harry with something like curiosity, instead of malic. His brothers, Fred and George, often whispering in the corner.
Then there was Harry.
Harry, who was more quiet the usual, who smiled as though he knew something the world didn't, who often disappeared without warning and popping up right on time for class as though he was always there. But what really had Ron deciding enough was enough of the strangeness, was when Umbridge had suddenly disappeared after his first night of detention. The night when Harry had gone cold with fury.
So, one night, he followed Harry.
It was a little weird, watching his friend walk through the dark halls without the Invisibility cloak; which Ron was currently using, as though he knew he didn't have to worry about Teachers or Prefects. He was even humming! Finally, they get to the dungeons, and Harry entered through a door Ron doesn't recognized. The Gryffindor is barely able slip through before the door closed, and quietly he looked around. There was nothing spectacular, just desks, chairs and a few books.
"The cloak is no longer needed"
Startled, Ron looked at Harry, and his heart jumped when he found his friend staring right at him. After a long pause, and calming his racing heart, Ron took off the cloak. Harry smiled warmly at him, and Ron shuffled awkwardly.
"So" Ron coughed, "um, I—"
"Come" Harry interrupted.
"W-What?" Ron blinked.
Harry just came over, took his friend's hand, lead him out the room and into the hall that was definitely not the dungeons of Hogwarts.
"H-How" Ron turned back to the door they came out off and opened it, inside was not the room, but a stone wall. "….What just happened?" he turned back to Harry who watched him with sparkling eyes.
"Avalon has many secrets" Harry said, "now then, we must be on our way."
He walked away, and Ron after a long moment, followed.
"You said Avalon" Ron pointed out when he fell into step with his friend.
"That I did" Harry nodded.
"We're in Avalon" the young man mumbled, then more excitedly repeated, "We're in Avalon!"
Harry's lips titled up as his friend babbled about where, how, and how cool this was. Patiently, he waited for what was to come. And it did, Ron's excitement slowed as something the Chosen knew the boy could not yet name came over him, and his eyes glanced around the castle's halls, "We're in Avalon" Ron said softly.
"That we are"
When they get to the entrance of the castle, the nine Priestess were waiting.
"Welcome Ronald Weasley" Morgan Le Fay greeted.
"Hi" Ron waved at them, unable to do much else with suddenly being in front of the legendary sisters.
Morgan smiled warmly at him, before looking at Harry, "Ambrogio wishes to inform you, that he had finally found the book, and will send Sirius and Bill off to gather the required items after today's events. He also wishes to inform you that and I quote: You are an evil child and I hope you burn in the pit of Tartarus for putting me though this torture"
Ron looked alarmed, and curious at the fact that apparently Sirius and his brother were here, and that this person named Ambrogio wanted his friend to burn in Tartarus.
"Noted" Harry said with something close to amusement.
With the message delivered, Harry, the Priestess, and Ron exited through the entrance door; down the stairs, over the bridge, and deep into the forest.
History time!
In Greek mythology, Tartarus or Tartaros was both a primordial deity that existed before the Olympians, as well as a name to describe a region of the Underworld. As a god, he was third in rank after Chaos and Gaea, preceding Eros. As a place, it was far below than where Hades resided and it was used as the most horrible prison. Although the kingdom of Hades was the place of the dead, Tartarus was where ferocious monsters and horrible criminals were banished, or where the gods imprisoned their rivals after a war. The three judges of the Underworld, Rhadamanthus, Aeacus and Minos, decided who would go to the realm of Hades and who would be banished to Tartarus. It's also where the Cyclopes, and Hecatonchires were banished by the Titan Cronus. Only to be released by Zeus in order to help him and the Olympians defeat the Titans. After the Olympians won the war, Zeus banished many of the Titans to Tartarus.
This is for the previous chapter: Themiscyra, in Greek mythology, was the capital of the Amazons – an all-female nation of warriors. It's also the home of Wonder Woman in the DC comics.
Merlin is one of the most fascinating and well known figures in the Welsh literature and the Arthurian legend. Merlin is a man of mystery and magic; contradiction and controversy surrounded his life. He was a wizard or sorcerer, a prophet, a bard, an adviser and a tutor. He appeared as a young boy with no father. He appeared as an old, wise man, freely giving his wisdom to four successive British kings. He was a dotting old fool, who couldn't control his lust over beautiful women, who hold him in fear and contempt.
He had even appeared as a madman after bloody battle, and had fled into the forest and learned how to talk to the animals, where he became known as the Wild Man of the Woods. Merlin was the last of the druid, the Celtic shaman, priest of nature, and keeper of knowledge, particularly of the arcane secrets.
It should be understood that the early known work on Merlin has nothing to do with King Arthur or his knights.
It was Geoffrey (the Arthur) who invented the episode of Arthur's magical conception and birth. When Uther fell in love with Gorlois' wife, Igraine, Merlin helped the king, by transforming Uther to resemble Gorlois (duke of Cornwall). When Gorlois died, Uther married Igraine, but she was already pregnant.
According to the earlier authors about Arthur, apart from his involvement in the incident of Arthur's conception and Merlin's foretelling of the Britons defeating the Saxon with the help of the future king (Arthur), Merlin was never present during Arthur's reign.
However, many later writers say that Merlin was involved in Arthur's education. According to the French writer, Robert de Boron, at Arthur's birth, Merlin gave the infant to Sir Antor (Malory called him Sir Ector) to raise the child in obscure fosterage. Antor was the father of Kay, later a knight who served as his foster brother's seneschal.
When Uther died it was Merlin who informed the barons of Logres that only a person, who could draw the sword from the stone, would be the rightful king. Merlin was largely responsible for putting the crown on Arthur's head. Some lords were discontent when only Arthur could draw the sword. Merlin was also involved with Arthur, providing strategy to win the war against the rebel barons.
When Arthur broke this sword that had named him king in a fight with King Pellinor (Pellehen), Merlin brought Arthur to the lake where he received a new sword from the Lady of the Lake. This sword was the true Excalibur. Merlin told the young king that the scabbard was better than the sword, because it would prevent him from bleeding from his wounds. Merlin wasn't only an adviser to Arthur. In the Didot Perceval, he aided Perceval in several adventures. In Suite du Merlin, Merlin had unsuccessfully tried to guide Sir Balin. Merlin foretold of the greatness of Lancelot and Tristan, though Merlin had died shortly after Lancelot was born.
Next chapter: I think you guys can guess lol.
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