Author's Notes: I'm hoping that putting a slightly longer chapter up will
make some of you consider not hurling heavy objects at my head (cringes in
anticipation). I'm going on holiday for ten days. I won't have access to
my computer – although I may be able to write some of chapter eight.
Therefore, there will be no new chapter up until at least Thursday 6th May,
possibly the Friday depending on how quickly I write the new chapter. I'm
very sorry – don't throw heavy things at me! – especially since I've left
this chapter on a bit of a cliffhanger. I really don't mean to end them
like this, I swear…Thanks again to all you lovely people who review!
Disclaimer: See part one for full disclaimer – must I go through this again? None of them are mine if you recognise them.
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When Zodiac, Seraph, Hermione and Thor finally made it back up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, they were greeted by half the witches and wizards in the castle. At the front of them were Snape, Sirius and Dumbledore. Snape and Sirius both looked absolutely furious, Thor winced at the expressions on everyone else's faces.
"It was my fault," he admitted. "I took Hermione down there, and Zodiac and Seraph followed me."
"Why did you feel it necessary to go down into the Chamber of Secrets?" Dumbledore inquired gently. "Surely there are, ah, more accessible places to go, even in Hogwarts."
"Yes, but not with as much Magic," Thor replied. He took a step away from Zodiac's supporting arms and almost fell to the ground; Sirius managed to catch him. "Thanks. I guess that magic took it out of me."
"Took it out of you!" Zodiac repeated loudly. "More like pulled it into you! Of all the stupid –" He cut himself off as he remembered who Thor was now. Thor shot him a curious look, then turned back to Dumbledore.
"Voldemort is definitely holed up in the Dragon-realms. My control is back – I think. I can now guarantee that the Circle of Mages will help you. I can almost promise that all the magical beasts and peoples of England will help, and I can definitely promise that the dragons will aid us."
"How can you promise this, when before they wouldn't help?" Fred Weasley demanded.
Thor shrugged uncomfortably. "I just can," he said. "I can't explain why just now." He yawned. "Right now, I just need to sleep." He shrugged off Sirius's arms, carefully put his weight on first one foot then the other, and started towards the door of the bathroom.
"Thor," Zodiac called to him. "We have to tell them something more." Thor paused for a moment, but didn't look back. He shrugged finally.
"Tell them whatever you want," he said wearily. "I'm too tired to care right now." He took another step, then collapsed with a shriek of pain. The pain stopped as soon as it had come, but it left him gasping. It was the first sign of his new connection with Draco, and it only served to strengthen his resolve to find Draco as soon as possible.
Seraph and Zodiac reached him before anyone else, and helped him back to his feet. Pale-faced, eyes glinting, he nodded appreciation.
"What happened, Thor?" Dumbledore inquired. Thor glanced back at the old wizard.
"It's the first signs of the Change," he admitted. "My new connection with Draco. He's in pain…and Voldemort is the one inflicting it." He grimaced. "Zodiac, perhaps you would be so good as to contact the Council for me, and get them here by tomorrow…or is it today already? Well, whatever it is, you'd better get them here." He staggered through the door. Zodiac and Seraph looked at each other, then at the expectant witches and wizards.
"Seraph, tell them something," Zodiac ordered her. "I'll get the Council." He followed his former apprentice from the bathroom, leaving Seraph to stare helplessly at the group.
Thor made his way slowly back to Draco's room. The room he was supposed to be in, next to Zodiac and Seraph, was situated at the other side of the castle, but after feeling that vivid connection with Draco, even for such a short time, Thor wanted to be somewhere Draco had been. He opened the door of the dark, silent room, and stepped inside. The air was cool, as if no- one had been in here for days.
"No-one has," he murmured. He moved towards the bed, pulling off his shirt, and sat on the edge of it as he carefully removed his boots, wet with the damp murk of the Chamber of Secrets. Then he lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and slept as the Change began to take effect in his body.
The sun was high in the sky when Thor awoke. He yawned, stretched out in the bed, and winced from pain that was not his own. He narrowed his eyes at an enemy that was not there.
"Voldemort," he muttered. "I'm going to get you soon." He slowly sat up, loosening taut muscles, and reached for his shirt.
It wasn't there. Nor were, he saw, his dragon-hide boots. Thor took a deep breath. His familiar, comfortable uniform had been replaced by different clothes. Black trousers and shirt. A silvery cloak. Shoes. In fact, all that remained of his Mage uniform were the trousers that Thor hadn't removed when he had fallen asleep.
He took another deep breath. There was no sense in loosing his temper, he reminded himself. After all, he was still War Mage Thor, even if half the world was going to insist on calling him Dragon King. No, it would be best if he stayed calm, didn't get angry, and just went and found Zodiac – and, hopefully, his uniform. He grabbed his wand, stuck it in his belt, and stalked from Draco's room.
Seraph was sitting cross-legged on the floor just outside his door, and he nearly tripped over her before she jumped up.
"Thor," she said smilingly. "You're awake…but you'd better get dressed, the entire…" She trailed off at the look of restrained anger in his eyes. "Thor, quoi?" she demanded, lapsing into her native French in her alarm. "Tu n'aime pas les vêtements?" (Thor, what? Don't you like the clothes?)
"No," Thor growled. "Where the hell is my uniform?" Seraph winced.
"Thor, the Council thought that you should wear something different now that the Change has begun," she said soothingly. "Your uniform is a bit, well, ordinary for the Dragon King." She gave him an apologetic smile. "Zodiac and I tried to talk them out of it, but…"
"My uniform is comfortable," Thor enunciated his words carefully. "My uniform is the mark of a Mage, which, incidentally, is what I am. My uniform is *mine*. Where is it?"
"Uh, I'm not sure," she admitted. "I think maybe Coyote would know."
"Where is he?"
"The Great Hall, they're all eating lunch."
"Let's go," he ordered, and set off at break-neck speed through the castle. Seraph, who did not know the halls and corridors half as well as he did, struggled to keep up by skidding on the floors, but Thor stopped for nothing, not even a ghost in the entrance hall – he stormed straight through the startled Bloody Baron. He flung open the doors to the Great Hall, swept his eyes over the tables, and pounced on Coyote.
"Where are my clothes?" he seethed. Coyote blinked; around them other Mages stirred. Thor ignored them all.
"I'm not sure," Coyote said slowly. "Perhaps Zodiac knows?" With a growl of frustration Thor grabbed hold of the collar of Coyote's shirt and lifted the man out of his seat.
"Don't you dare play games with me," he hissed. "I want my clothes back. Now." Coyote gritted his teeth, but made a symbol in the air. A moment later Thor's clothes were on him. Except for his boots, which he quickly pulled on. "Thank you," he said curtly. "Next time, try to remember that I actually quite like this uniform, and I'm still a War Mage even if I am the Dragon King."
"So it's true then?" another Mage demanded. "You're – you're the Dragon King?" Thor spared the Mage an appraising glance, then nodded.
"It's true" he nodded. "Is that lunch?" Zodiac rose from his seat in the next table.
"Thor," he called. "Perhaps you'd better come and sit here." Thor, with a nod, obeyed his former teacher, and quickly started eating. "Thor, I know you're quite attached to your clothes, but did you have to make a scene?"
"Well, you know me," Thor grinned. "Always have to be the centre of attention."
"Oh, believe me," Zodiac said fervently. "You are most definitely the centre of attention after last night's events." A serious look came over Thor's face, and he nodded slowly. "Thor, am I right in assuming that you actually have a plan now?"
"Yes," Thor agreed, helping himself to more vegetables. "Is the entire Circle here, Zodiac?"
Zodiac grinned unapologetically. "Sorry. I told them that the Dragon King had begun the Change and they Apparated here in an instant." Thor raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, Thor, this is huge. You can't expect nothing to happen when you've started the Change and called the Council here – called, mind you, not asked for a representative or any of the normal things."
"Well, I've never been normal," Thor shrugged. "But I guess it's good that the whole Circle is here. Voldemort can't fail to realise it, and hopefully he'll start getting scared." He finished his meal, and looked around the Great Hall with critical eyes. "Hmm. Vanille is a Unicorn Mage, isn't she?"
"Yes, she finished her specialisation last autumn," Zodiac agreed.
"Good," Thor murmured, deep in thought. "Alright, here's what I need you to do. Get a representative from each type of Magic, tell them to meet me up in the Astronomy tower in half an hour or so. It doesn't matter who, so long as they're not from the Council. Then I need you to talk to Dumbledore, make sure as someone represents the wizarding world when we meet up in the Astronomy tower. Lastly, get the Council to send out magical warnings to Voldemort, warning him that he's broken whatever laws they can pin on him. Got that?"
"Yes," Zodiac said slowly. "Harry, what's going on?" An almost gleeful smile flickered onto Thor's face for a moment before being replaced with a grave look.
"If I'm to be Dragon King, I have to have the backing of all the magical races," he explained. "I researched a lot of it last year, after I'd finished training. The last Dragon King died about ten thousand years ago – a drop in the ocean for dragons, obviously – but during his reign he had created a sort of council of all the magical people and beasts he was ruling. I want to do the same sort of thing – it's the only way to get all the beasts and beings to cooperate." He caught Zodiac's eyes curiously.
Zodiac was watching his former apprentice with something akin to awe. Thor seemed to have changed so much overnight…and yet, if he admitted it to himself, Thor had always taken charge of situations like this. it was what he did. It was, he smiled to himself, what Thor would call a Gryffindor trait. He shook himself as Thor frowned at him.
"Are you alright, Zodiac?" the young Mage demanded. "You look a little…I don't know. As though you've been misplaced."
"Perhaps I have been," Zodiac mused. "You truly are the Dragon king, Harry." Colour flushed Thor's cheeks, and he looked away. Zodiac rose. "I'll fetch the people you wanted," he said quietly. "And tell the Council to send out the warnings. I don't think they'll do much good, Thor."
"The warnings? They aren't meant to."
"Ah." Zodiac frowned, but sauntered away along the tables, stopping every now again to talk to a Mage in a low voice. Thor watched him for a moment, then rose and caught Snape's eyes. He jerked his head towards the door, then started for it. A moment later, Snape followed him.
"Well?" the Potions Master snapped. "What do you want? If it's to feed me some ridiculous story of you being some sort of a king, I –"
"Dragon King," Thor overrode him. "And it's not directly about that. I need some Potions, and as I'm sure you remember with relish, I can barely make a simple boil-curing potion. Besides, you're practically the best Potions Master the wizarding world has ever seen, so it makes sense that I ask you to make them for me."
Snape stared at him suspiciously. "Which potions?" he demanded. "It's hard to get ingredients now, Thor. All the suppliers are either Death Eaters, collaborators, or in work camps."
"Some invisibility potion, lots of healing potions, some burn-ease, some pepper-up…" Thor hesitated. "And some Polyjuice and Veritaserum," he finished quietly. Snape's eyebrows met his hairline. "Look, I can't explain to you why I need those last two. The others are fairly obvious, I should imagine. We're going into battle, Severus, and we're going soon. Can you make the potions or not?"
"I don't have any shredded boomslang skin," Snape said abruptly. "And not nearly enough lacewings, dragon liver, or porcupine quills."
"But you have everything else?" Thor checked. Snape nodded. "I can get you those ingredients. How soon can you start?"
"I can make batches of pepper-up and healing potions by tonight," Snape replied. "I can start the invisibility potion, and the Veritaserum, providing you don't need much Veritaserum. I may have some Polyjuice potion already…I'll have to check its potency, of course. I can't finish the invisibility potion until I have the lacewings. The burn-ease requires porcupine quills and dragon liver."
"I can probably get you all three by tomorrow morning," Thor told him. "The Polyjuice potion isn't as important as the others, but I'd be grateful if you could make sure I have some anyway. I don't need much Veritaserum – enough for two full-grown men will be plenty."
Snape's eyes sharpened. "For you and Draco?"
"I never said that."
Snape's eyes narrowed. He nodded once, then disappeared in the direction of his dungeons. Thor watched him go for a moment, then turned and went back into the Great Hall, where Zodiac was now herding a dozen Mages out of a side door. Thor looked over all the remaining Mages carefully, then moved his gaze to the witches and wizards, most of whom had already finished eating and were beginning to flock past him out of the Great Hall. Then the Mages began leaving also, and Thor weaved his way through the crowds to grab hold of two Mages.
"Sellisse," he greeted the taller Mage. "Opele," to the shorter one, "could I have a word with you two?" They nodded silently, and followed him out of the castle onto the front steps. Thor motioned for them to sit down, and they did so, still silently watching him. "I need to ask a favour of you both."
"Name it," Sellisse said instantly. Thor furrowed his brow.
"This isn't because of last night, is it?" he demanded. "Because, well, I don't want it to be."
"You saved my life three years ago, Thor," Sellisse told him gravely. "I owe you a life debt." Not for the first time was Thor immensely grateful to the ethics of Half-Elves and their life debts. "What do you need us to do?" Sellisse asked.
"Contact your people," Thor replied. "Get a representative here as soon as possible – obviously I can't ask you two, as you're Mages."
Opele grunted. "Well, that's all well 'n good," he remarked. "But how will any dwarf representative get 'ere from Armorego? Or th'Half-Elves for that matter," he jerked his head at Sellisse. "I'm not objectin' or nuthin', but you've gotta be realistic."
"The Half-Elves can fetch someone from the dwarves," Sellisse told the stout dwarf Mage. "The Forests are not far from the mountain mines, after all, and our mode of transport is swift." She looked back at Thor. "What shall I tell the rulers?"
"Tell them that the Dragon King respectfully requests a meeting with a representative of the Half-Elves at Hogwarts, as soon as is convenient," Thor said slowly, trying to fit what he wanted to say around the complicated Half-Elven etiquette. Sellisse raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Well, something to that effect," he said hastily. "You know me and Half- Elven protocols – and they're your people!" Sellisse gave a shrug, a half- bow, and then started walking in the direction of the lake to contact her people. Thor looked hopefully at the dwarf Mage.
"Ah, 'course I'll contact 'em," Opele grunted. "They'll be 'ere as soon as them Half-Elves are." He too bowed – a gesture that seemed almost humorous when coming from a Mage who was half Thor's height – and retreated back into the castle.
Thor took a moment to look about him at the grounds of Hogwarts. The huge lawns, the distant, silent Quidditch pitch, the still lake, and the dark Forbidden Forest. It was funny, he mused, how it all seemed to be stuck in time. It looked the same as it had when he had been at school here, and yet he had changed so much. A strange smile haunted his face for a moment, then he shook his head at his ridiculous thoughts, and turned back to enter the castle.
He was stopped by Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Ginny, and Sirius. All with demanding, angry expressions on their faces.
"Uh, hi?" he tried. They were silent. "Um, if you don't mind, I need to go up to the Astronomy tower…" He started trying to edge around them. Bill stepped in front of him. Thor froze.
"Thor," Sirius started dangerously. "Did you know before last night that you're some sort of a king?"
"The Dragon King, you mean?" Thor queried. Sirius nodded. "Uh, well, I knew that there was a possibility. You see, there was this Prophecy, and –"
"No," Ginny said curtly. "No, Thor. No excuses. Just – why didn't you tell us?"
Thor stared at her thoughtfully for almost a whole minute before he answered. "Because it's very, very dangerous knowledge," he replied at last. "Or at least, it's less dangerous now, but it was incredibly dangerous before last night. If Voldemort, or many other people for that matter, had found out that I was very likely destined to be the next Dragon King, I would have been a target for dozens. I can't fight off an army by myself, and that's what I would have faced. Now, if Voldemort finds out that it's me, Draco will suffer for it. If Draco suffers, so will I, because of the bond that now holds us together."
Ginny appeared a little stunned by his explanation, as did the other Weasleys, but Sirius stepped close to Thor, his grim expression replaced by one of inexplicable sadness.
"You reminded me so much of James just then," he said softly. "It was almost as if…as if I wasn't the only one left of us Marauders."
Thor blinked back tears. There was a sudden lump in his throat, and when Sirius hugged him tightly he put his arms around his godfather and hugged him back.
"You're not the only one left," he muttered. "They're here, in us." Then he pulled back, a little embarrassed, and looked at the Weasleys. "I am sorry for not telling you," he said truthfully. "I really am."
"That's alright, Thor," Charlie said quietly. 'We understand that you had your reasons, it was just a bit of a shock. I mean," he gave a laugh, "even with everything that's happened since you've arrived, most of us still think of you as that quiet sixth-year we last saw you as who told us everything."
"Well," Thor demurred, his thoughts on Draco and his sixth-year crush on the Slytherin, "perhaps not everything." He shrugged at the twins' identical looks of interest. "Sorry, I have to go. I'm expected in the Astronomy tower to prepare for a war." And he moved out of reach of the Weasleys, into the castle.
Zodiac was waiting for him at the foot of the Astronomy tower. "Do you need me up there, Thor?" he demanded nervously. Thor looked at him for a time, feeling a long moment of complete and utter peace within himself, then he half-smiled, and shook his head.
"No, I'll be fine," he assured Zodiac. "Don't worry about me." Zodiac gazed at him for a second, then nodded slowly.
"Alright," he agreed. "I'll try not to…my king." He turned away and soon disappeared around a corner, leaving Thor to walk up to the top of the Astronomy tower alone.
When he reached the old Astronomy classroom, twelve Mages were waiting for him. They were sitting cross-legged in a circle. They had left a space for Thor, and now he sat down in it, completing the Circle. He looked around, carefully noting each Mage and which specialisation they stood for.
"Thank you for coming," he said abruptly. "I need each of you to contact the beasts or beings of your specialisations to get a representative here by dawn tomorrow at the latest, and to ask them to prepare for war under the Dragon King."
The Mages stared at him silently for a moment. Then several of them exchanged dubious glances, nodded, rose and silently left the classroom to contact the Basilisks, the Griffins, the Unicorns, the Dragons, and the Centaurs. The seven remaining Mages shifted uneasily.
"I know your specialities aren't with beasts or beings," Thor assured them. "Mage Fior, contact as many sentient magical beasts as there are that can help in a battle, and bring them here." The Beast Mage nodded and followed her companions from the room. "I need you six to begin preparing the witches and wizards here for a Mage battle," he said seriously to the half dozen Mages still in the classroom. "Protect them with Heart and Soul Magics, put illusions on the ones that the enemy will most likely target – I'll tell you who in a minute, Mage Ivory. Put up personal shields around as many of them as you can. Get all the other Mages to help you – those who haven't specialised can help with most of your work."
He looked at the two Mages who still had nothing left to do. "Mage Lupa, you and the other War Mages will be most help in the battle. Try and explain to the non-Mages exactly what kind of spells we'll be facing from Voldemort, and get the War Mages to talk to the non-Mages about the spells we can expect from the Death Eaters."
Lastly he looked at Mage Arielle, a small woman whose delicate look deceived many. "Arielle, I want you to work with Professor Snape. He's making healing potions for the non-Mages, and I want you to put healing spells into them. That way they'll be effective on both Mages and non- Mages."
He looked around once more. "Any questions? Except for Ivory, of course?"
"No, no questions," Mage Lupa said with a grim smile. "Although I must say, War Mage Thor, I wish we'd met again under better circumstances." He rose, and then knelt. "It is a pleasure to serve you, my king." Then he, and the others, left the classroom. Only Mage Ivory remained.
"Which people do you want me to put illusions on?" the Illusions Mage asked quietly. "It cannot be many, or the spells will not hold up."
"Get the other Illusion Mages to help you," he told her bluntly. "The illusions *must* hold, or more people will die than necessary. Get apprentices to help you, if you need to, but the illusions must be in place when we go into battle." He met her eyes for a moment to ensure she understood; Ivory nodded. "I want illusions on Sirius Black, all the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, and Severus Snape. All of them, I imagine, will argue that it's unnecessary, but I'll speak to them about it. Do you understand?"
Ivory nodded slowly again. "I understand," she agreed. "By the time we leave for the Dragon-realms, they will be under illusions, my king." She rose, bowed, and left the room swiftly. Thor, the only one left in the circle they had formed, stood up and shivered. There was a chill wind whistling through the Astronomy tower, and he didn't like it.
He moved to the balcony, where he remembered yawningly sketching the stars with Ron and Hermione so many years ago…but it wasn't midnight now. It was a sunny afternoon, and his bones still ached with Draco's pain.
"Don't worry, Draco," he whispered to the wind. "I'm coming. I'll be there soon."
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To be continued.
Disclaimer: See part one for full disclaimer – must I go through this again? None of them are mine if you recognise them.
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When Zodiac, Seraph, Hermione and Thor finally made it back up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, they were greeted by half the witches and wizards in the castle. At the front of them were Snape, Sirius and Dumbledore. Snape and Sirius both looked absolutely furious, Thor winced at the expressions on everyone else's faces.
"It was my fault," he admitted. "I took Hermione down there, and Zodiac and Seraph followed me."
"Why did you feel it necessary to go down into the Chamber of Secrets?" Dumbledore inquired gently. "Surely there are, ah, more accessible places to go, even in Hogwarts."
"Yes, but not with as much Magic," Thor replied. He took a step away from Zodiac's supporting arms and almost fell to the ground; Sirius managed to catch him. "Thanks. I guess that magic took it out of me."
"Took it out of you!" Zodiac repeated loudly. "More like pulled it into you! Of all the stupid –" He cut himself off as he remembered who Thor was now. Thor shot him a curious look, then turned back to Dumbledore.
"Voldemort is definitely holed up in the Dragon-realms. My control is back – I think. I can now guarantee that the Circle of Mages will help you. I can almost promise that all the magical beasts and peoples of England will help, and I can definitely promise that the dragons will aid us."
"How can you promise this, when before they wouldn't help?" Fred Weasley demanded.
Thor shrugged uncomfortably. "I just can," he said. "I can't explain why just now." He yawned. "Right now, I just need to sleep." He shrugged off Sirius's arms, carefully put his weight on first one foot then the other, and started towards the door of the bathroom.
"Thor," Zodiac called to him. "We have to tell them something more." Thor paused for a moment, but didn't look back. He shrugged finally.
"Tell them whatever you want," he said wearily. "I'm too tired to care right now." He took another step, then collapsed with a shriek of pain. The pain stopped as soon as it had come, but it left him gasping. It was the first sign of his new connection with Draco, and it only served to strengthen his resolve to find Draco as soon as possible.
Seraph and Zodiac reached him before anyone else, and helped him back to his feet. Pale-faced, eyes glinting, he nodded appreciation.
"What happened, Thor?" Dumbledore inquired. Thor glanced back at the old wizard.
"It's the first signs of the Change," he admitted. "My new connection with Draco. He's in pain…and Voldemort is the one inflicting it." He grimaced. "Zodiac, perhaps you would be so good as to contact the Council for me, and get them here by tomorrow…or is it today already? Well, whatever it is, you'd better get them here." He staggered through the door. Zodiac and Seraph looked at each other, then at the expectant witches and wizards.
"Seraph, tell them something," Zodiac ordered her. "I'll get the Council." He followed his former apprentice from the bathroom, leaving Seraph to stare helplessly at the group.
Thor made his way slowly back to Draco's room. The room he was supposed to be in, next to Zodiac and Seraph, was situated at the other side of the castle, but after feeling that vivid connection with Draco, even for such a short time, Thor wanted to be somewhere Draco had been. He opened the door of the dark, silent room, and stepped inside. The air was cool, as if no- one had been in here for days.
"No-one has," he murmured. He moved towards the bed, pulling off his shirt, and sat on the edge of it as he carefully removed his boots, wet with the damp murk of the Chamber of Secrets. Then he lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and slept as the Change began to take effect in his body.
The sun was high in the sky when Thor awoke. He yawned, stretched out in the bed, and winced from pain that was not his own. He narrowed his eyes at an enemy that was not there.
"Voldemort," he muttered. "I'm going to get you soon." He slowly sat up, loosening taut muscles, and reached for his shirt.
It wasn't there. Nor were, he saw, his dragon-hide boots. Thor took a deep breath. His familiar, comfortable uniform had been replaced by different clothes. Black trousers and shirt. A silvery cloak. Shoes. In fact, all that remained of his Mage uniform were the trousers that Thor hadn't removed when he had fallen asleep.
He took another deep breath. There was no sense in loosing his temper, he reminded himself. After all, he was still War Mage Thor, even if half the world was going to insist on calling him Dragon King. No, it would be best if he stayed calm, didn't get angry, and just went and found Zodiac – and, hopefully, his uniform. He grabbed his wand, stuck it in his belt, and stalked from Draco's room.
Seraph was sitting cross-legged on the floor just outside his door, and he nearly tripped over her before she jumped up.
"Thor," she said smilingly. "You're awake…but you'd better get dressed, the entire…" She trailed off at the look of restrained anger in his eyes. "Thor, quoi?" she demanded, lapsing into her native French in her alarm. "Tu n'aime pas les vêtements?" (Thor, what? Don't you like the clothes?)
"No," Thor growled. "Where the hell is my uniform?" Seraph winced.
"Thor, the Council thought that you should wear something different now that the Change has begun," she said soothingly. "Your uniform is a bit, well, ordinary for the Dragon King." She gave him an apologetic smile. "Zodiac and I tried to talk them out of it, but…"
"My uniform is comfortable," Thor enunciated his words carefully. "My uniform is the mark of a Mage, which, incidentally, is what I am. My uniform is *mine*. Where is it?"
"Uh, I'm not sure," she admitted. "I think maybe Coyote would know."
"Where is he?"
"The Great Hall, they're all eating lunch."
"Let's go," he ordered, and set off at break-neck speed through the castle. Seraph, who did not know the halls and corridors half as well as he did, struggled to keep up by skidding on the floors, but Thor stopped for nothing, not even a ghost in the entrance hall – he stormed straight through the startled Bloody Baron. He flung open the doors to the Great Hall, swept his eyes over the tables, and pounced on Coyote.
"Where are my clothes?" he seethed. Coyote blinked; around them other Mages stirred. Thor ignored them all.
"I'm not sure," Coyote said slowly. "Perhaps Zodiac knows?" With a growl of frustration Thor grabbed hold of the collar of Coyote's shirt and lifted the man out of his seat.
"Don't you dare play games with me," he hissed. "I want my clothes back. Now." Coyote gritted his teeth, but made a symbol in the air. A moment later Thor's clothes were on him. Except for his boots, which he quickly pulled on. "Thank you," he said curtly. "Next time, try to remember that I actually quite like this uniform, and I'm still a War Mage even if I am the Dragon King."
"So it's true then?" another Mage demanded. "You're – you're the Dragon King?" Thor spared the Mage an appraising glance, then nodded.
"It's true" he nodded. "Is that lunch?" Zodiac rose from his seat in the next table.
"Thor," he called. "Perhaps you'd better come and sit here." Thor, with a nod, obeyed his former teacher, and quickly started eating. "Thor, I know you're quite attached to your clothes, but did you have to make a scene?"
"Well, you know me," Thor grinned. "Always have to be the centre of attention."
"Oh, believe me," Zodiac said fervently. "You are most definitely the centre of attention after last night's events." A serious look came over Thor's face, and he nodded slowly. "Thor, am I right in assuming that you actually have a plan now?"
"Yes," Thor agreed, helping himself to more vegetables. "Is the entire Circle here, Zodiac?"
Zodiac grinned unapologetically. "Sorry. I told them that the Dragon King had begun the Change and they Apparated here in an instant." Thor raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, Thor, this is huge. You can't expect nothing to happen when you've started the Change and called the Council here – called, mind you, not asked for a representative or any of the normal things."
"Well, I've never been normal," Thor shrugged. "But I guess it's good that the whole Circle is here. Voldemort can't fail to realise it, and hopefully he'll start getting scared." He finished his meal, and looked around the Great Hall with critical eyes. "Hmm. Vanille is a Unicorn Mage, isn't she?"
"Yes, she finished her specialisation last autumn," Zodiac agreed.
"Good," Thor murmured, deep in thought. "Alright, here's what I need you to do. Get a representative from each type of Magic, tell them to meet me up in the Astronomy tower in half an hour or so. It doesn't matter who, so long as they're not from the Council. Then I need you to talk to Dumbledore, make sure as someone represents the wizarding world when we meet up in the Astronomy tower. Lastly, get the Council to send out magical warnings to Voldemort, warning him that he's broken whatever laws they can pin on him. Got that?"
"Yes," Zodiac said slowly. "Harry, what's going on?" An almost gleeful smile flickered onto Thor's face for a moment before being replaced with a grave look.
"If I'm to be Dragon King, I have to have the backing of all the magical races," he explained. "I researched a lot of it last year, after I'd finished training. The last Dragon King died about ten thousand years ago – a drop in the ocean for dragons, obviously – but during his reign he had created a sort of council of all the magical people and beasts he was ruling. I want to do the same sort of thing – it's the only way to get all the beasts and beings to cooperate." He caught Zodiac's eyes curiously.
Zodiac was watching his former apprentice with something akin to awe. Thor seemed to have changed so much overnight…and yet, if he admitted it to himself, Thor had always taken charge of situations like this. it was what he did. It was, he smiled to himself, what Thor would call a Gryffindor trait. He shook himself as Thor frowned at him.
"Are you alright, Zodiac?" the young Mage demanded. "You look a little…I don't know. As though you've been misplaced."
"Perhaps I have been," Zodiac mused. "You truly are the Dragon king, Harry." Colour flushed Thor's cheeks, and he looked away. Zodiac rose. "I'll fetch the people you wanted," he said quietly. "And tell the Council to send out the warnings. I don't think they'll do much good, Thor."
"The warnings? They aren't meant to."
"Ah." Zodiac frowned, but sauntered away along the tables, stopping every now again to talk to a Mage in a low voice. Thor watched him for a moment, then rose and caught Snape's eyes. He jerked his head towards the door, then started for it. A moment later, Snape followed him.
"Well?" the Potions Master snapped. "What do you want? If it's to feed me some ridiculous story of you being some sort of a king, I –"
"Dragon King," Thor overrode him. "And it's not directly about that. I need some Potions, and as I'm sure you remember with relish, I can barely make a simple boil-curing potion. Besides, you're practically the best Potions Master the wizarding world has ever seen, so it makes sense that I ask you to make them for me."
Snape stared at him suspiciously. "Which potions?" he demanded. "It's hard to get ingredients now, Thor. All the suppliers are either Death Eaters, collaborators, or in work camps."
"Some invisibility potion, lots of healing potions, some burn-ease, some pepper-up…" Thor hesitated. "And some Polyjuice and Veritaserum," he finished quietly. Snape's eyebrows met his hairline. "Look, I can't explain to you why I need those last two. The others are fairly obvious, I should imagine. We're going into battle, Severus, and we're going soon. Can you make the potions or not?"
"I don't have any shredded boomslang skin," Snape said abruptly. "And not nearly enough lacewings, dragon liver, or porcupine quills."
"But you have everything else?" Thor checked. Snape nodded. "I can get you those ingredients. How soon can you start?"
"I can make batches of pepper-up and healing potions by tonight," Snape replied. "I can start the invisibility potion, and the Veritaserum, providing you don't need much Veritaserum. I may have some Polyjuice potion already…I'll have to check its potency, of course. I can't finish the invisibility potion until I have the lacewings. The burn-ease requires porcupine quills and dragon liver."
"I can probably get you all three by tomorrow morning," Thor told him. "The Polyjuice potion isn't as important as the others, but I'd be grateful if you could make sure I have some anyway. I don't need much Veritaserum – enough for two full-grown men will be plenty."
Snape's eyes sharpened. "For you and Draco?"
"I never said that."
Snape's eyes narrowed. He nodded once, then disappeared in the direction of his dungeons. Thor watched him go for a moment, then turned and went back into the Great Hall, where Zodiac was now herding a dozen Mages out of a side door. Thor looked over all the remaining Mages carefully, then moved his gaze to the witches and wizards, most of whom had already finished eating and were beginning to flock past him out of the Great Hall. Then the Mages began leaving also, and Thor weaved his way through the crowds to grab hold of two Mages.
"Sellisse," he greeted the taller Mage. "Opele," to the shorter one, "could I have a word with you two?" They nodded silently, and followed him out of the castle onto the front steps. Thor motioned for them to sit down, and they did so, still silently watching him. "I need to ask a favour of you both."
"Name it," Sellisse said instantly. Thor furrowed his brow.
"This isn't because of last night, is it?" he demanded. "Because, well, I don't want it to be."
"You saved my life three years ago, Thor," Sellisse told him gravely. "I owe you a life debt." Not for the first time was Thor immensely grateful to the ethics of Half-Elves and their life debts. "What do you need us to do?" Sellisse asked.
"Contact your people," Thor replied. "Get a representative here as soon as possible – obviously I can't ask you two, as you're Mages."
Opele grunted. "Well, that's all well 'n good," he remarked. "But how will any dwarf representative get 'ere from Armorego? Or th'Half-Elves for that matter," he jerked his head at Sellisse. "I'm not objectin' or nuthin', but you've gotta be realistic."
"The Half-Elves can fetch someone from the dwarves," Sellisse told the stout dwarf Mage. "The Forests are not far from the mountain mines, after all, and our mode of transport is swift." She looked back at Thor. "What shall I tell the rulers?"
"Tell them that the Dragon King respectfully requests a meeting with a representative of the Half-Elves at Hogwarts, as soon as is convenient," Thor said slowly, trying to fit what he wanted to say around the complicated Half-Elven etiquette. Sellisse raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Well, something to that effect," he said hastily. "You know me and Half- Elven protocols – and they're your people!" Sellisse gave a shrug, a half- bow, and then started walking in the direction of the lake to contact her people. Thor looked hopefully at the dwarf Mage.
"Ah, 'course I'll contact 'em," Opele grunted. "They'll be 'ere as soon as them Half-Elves are." He too bowed – a gesture that seemed almost humorous when coming from a Mage who was half Thor's height – and retreated back into the castle.
Thor took a moment to look about him at the grounds of Hogwarts. The huge lawns, the distant, silent Quidditch pitch, the still lake, and the dark Forbidden Forest. It was funny, he mused, how it all seemed to be stuck in time. It looked the same as it had when he had been at school here, and yet he had changed so much. A strange smile haunted his face for a moment, then he shook his head at his ridiculous thoughts, and turned back to enter the castle.
He was stopped by Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Ginny, and Sirius. All with demanding, angry expressions on their faces.
"Uh, hi?" he tried. They were silent. "Um, if you don't mind, I need to go up to the Astronomy tower…" He started trying to edge around them. Bill stepped in front of him. Thor froze.
"Thor," Sirius started dangerously. "Did you know before last night that you're some sort of a king?"
"The Dragon King, you mean?" Thor queried. Sirius nodded. "Uh, well, I knew that there was a possibility. You see, there was this Prophecy, and –"
"No," Ginny said curtly. "No, Thor. No excuses. Just – why didn't you tell us?"
Thor stared at her thoughtfully for almost a whole minute before he answered. "Because it's very, very dangerous knowledge," he replied at last. "Or at least, it's less dangerous now, but it was incredibly dangerous before last night. If Voldemort, or many other people for that matter, had found out that I was very likely destined to be the next Dragon King, I would have been a target for dozens. I can't fight off an army by myself, and that's what I would have faced. Now, if Voldemort finds out that it's me, Draco will suffer for it. If Draco suffers, so will I, because of the bond that now holds us together."
Ginny appeared a little stunned by his explanation, as did the other Weasleys, but Sirius stepped close to Thor, his grim expression replaced by one of inexplicable sadness.
"You reminded me so much of James just then," he said softly. "It was almost as if…as if I wasn't the only one left of us Marauders."
Thor blinked back tears. There was a sudden lump in his throat, and when Sirius hugged him tightly he put his arms around his godfather and hugged him back.
"You're not the only one left," he muttered. "They're here, in us." Then he pulled back, a little embarrassed, and looked at the Weasleys. "I am sorry for not telling you," he said truthfully. "I really am."
"That's alright, Thor," Charlie said quietly. 'We understand that you had your reasons, it was just a bit of a shock. I mean," he gave a laugh, "even with everything that's happened since you've arrived, most of us still think of you as that quiet sixth-year we last saw you as who told us everything."
"Well," Thor demurred, his thoughts on Draco and his sixth-year crush on the Slytherin, "perhaps not everything." He shrugged at the twins' identical looks of interest. "Sorry, I have to go. I'm expected in the Astronomy tower to prepare for a war." And he moved out of reach of the Weasleys, into the castle.
Zodiac was waiting for him at the foot of the Astronomy tower. "Do you need me up there, Thor?" he demanded nervously. Thor looked at him for a time, feeling a long moment of complete and utter peace within himself, then he half-smiled, and shook his head.
"No, I'll be fine," he assured Zodiac. "Don't worry about me." Zodiac gazed at him for a second, then nodded slowly.
"Alright," he agreed. "I'll try not to…my king." He turned away and soon disappeared around a corner, leaving Thor to walk up to the top of the Astronomy tower alone.
When he reached the old Astronomy classroom, twelve Mages were waiting for him. They were sitting cross-legged in a circle. They had left a space for Thor, and now he sat down in it, completing the Circle. He looked around, carefully noting each Mage and which specialisation they stood for.
"Thank you for coming," he said abruptly. "I need each of you to contact the beasts or beings of your specialisations to get a representative here by dawn tomorrow at the latest, and to ask them to prepare for war under the Dragon King."
The Mages stared at him silently for a moment. Then several of them exchanged dubious glances, nodded, rose and silently left the classroom to contact the Basilisks, the Griffins, the Unicorns, the Dragons, and the Centaurs. The seven remaining Mages shifted uneasily.
"I know your specialities aren't with beasts or beings," Thor assured them. "Mage Fior, contact as many sentient magical beasts as there are that can help in a battle, and bring them here." The Beast Mage nodded and followed her companions from the room. "I need you six to begin preparing the witches and wizards here for a Mage battle," he said seriously to the half dozen Mages still in the classroom. "Protect them with Heart and Soul Magics, put illusions on the ones that the enemy will most likely target – I'll tell you who in a minute, Mage Ivory. Put up personal shields around as many of them as you can. Get all the other Mages to help you – those who haven't specialised can help with most of your work."
He looked at the two Mages who still had nothing left to do. "Mage Lupa, you and the other War Mages will be most help in the battle. Try and explain to the non-Mages exactly what kind of spells we'll be facing from Voldemort, and get the War Mages to talk to the non-Mages about the spells we can expect from the Death Eaters."
Lastly he looked at Mage Arielle, a small woman whose delicate look deceived many. "Arielle, I want you to work with Professor Snape. He's making healing potions for the non-Mages, and I want you to put healing spells into them. That way they'll be effective on both Mages and non- Mages."
He looked around once more. "Any questions? Except for Ivory, of course?"
"No, no questions," Mage Lupa said with a grim smile. "Although I must say, War Mage Thor, I wish we'd met again under better circumstances." He rose, and then knelt. "It is a pleasure to serve you, my king." Then he, and the others, left the classroom. Only Mage Ivory remained.
"Which people do you want me to put illusions on?" the Illusions Mage asked quietly. "It cannot be many, or the spells will not hold up."
"Get the other Illusion Mages to help you," he told her bluntly. "The illusions *must* hold, or more people will die than necessary. Get apprentices to help you, if you need to, but the illusions must be in place when we go into battle." He met her eyes for a moment to ensure she understood; Ivory nodded. "I want illusions on Sirius Black, all the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, and Severus Snape. All of them, I imagine, will argue that it's unnecessary, but I'll speak to them about it. Do you understand?"
Ivory nodded slowly again. "I understand," she agreed. "By the time we leave for the Dragon-realms, they will be under illusions, my king." She rose, bowed, and left the room swiftly. Thor, the only one left in the circle they had formed, stood up and shivered. There was a chill wind whistling through the Astronomy tower, and he didn't like it.
He moved to the balcony, where he remembered yawningly sketching the stars with Ron and Hermione so many years ago…but it wasn't midnight now. It was a sunny afternoon, and his bones still ached with Draco's pain.
"Don't worry, Draco," he whispered to the wind. "I'm coming. I'll be there soon."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To be continued.