Chapter 7: The Audience

Harry was led into the largest building of the stronghold. It wasn't ostentatious or overly decorated differently from the rest of the buildings. However, he recognized that it was the main defensible aspect to the compound. There were several guards stationed throughout the building, relaxed but seemed to have the ability to quickly react to any threat. The inside of the building was reflective of its purpose. Natural halls and chokepoints that could be easily defended. The walls themselves thrummed with magic that was reminiscent of Hogwarts. It was a circuitous path before they reached the entry point. The guards surrounding Harry fanned out, two taking positions near the door, the other two slightly behind and several paces away. The Speaker paused for a moment before opening the doors allowing them the ability to access the audience chamber.

Harry felt his breath hitch as he entered the room. Both from the visual spectacle and the sheer magical presence that was flooding his system. He had to restrain himself from just staring around in abstract wonder. Looking forward he could see the ruling elite of the nation. Each woman was sitting down, no table blocking their view. A pair of guards behind each one, subtle differences to the armor of each pair. More people stood throughout the chamber but no one else was sitting. Harry looked straight ahead at who he deduced was the Queen. Her seat was slightly elevated, yet was just as simple as the others. However, it was her sheer presence within the chamber that caused shivers to roll down Harry's spine. As they reached the center of the room, Harry felt the questioning gaze of the Queen look him over. The magic in the room responding to the commanding touch of the woman before him.

It was clear that even this was unusual. The councilors shifted in their seat. A low murmur spread throughout the room as everyone stopped what they were doing and began to stare. Harry had to suppress the wry smile that threatened to come forth. This entire motion reminded him of when he had claimed the Potter seat in the Gamot. No matter what, staring was the same no matter where he went. As the murmur settled into silence he felt a shift in the magic. The Queen's gaze had shifted away from Harry to something behind him. Harry resisted the urge to turn around, knowing the insult that it would be perceived as. However, the answer was provided quickly as the walls of the chamber started to shift. He had thought they were just a painted mural; a depiction of the history that surrounded him. Yet here they were, living and shifting with the magic. A herd of horses began to roam around the walls, led by a small troop of unicorns. A few thestrals flew above the herd, though their attention seemed to be centered on the chamber itself. One landed, causing the herd to part; and that's when Harry understood. The murmur started again. A few bold ones pointing at the landed thestral. They couldn't see it. Harry turned his gaze back to the Queen. The questions were still in her eyes but he saw a humor in them.

The Queen didn't wait for a silence choosing to have her voice wash over the chamber, "Who is this man that comes before me seeking a boon?"

"A descendent of the Peverell line." Harry responds, the murmurs rising again.

The Queen smiled, seemingly having her suspicion confirmed, "Many have stood where you stand, and claimed the same. Yet none have ever been able to back their claims."

Harry's eyes darted to the wall where that thestral still stood, staring towards him. A guard had appeared next to him and held out a small ceremonial knife. Seeing a small nod from the Queen saw Harry take the knife from the guard and start to walk over towards the wall. Once he was just a few steps away he made a small cut on his hand and spread just a small amount of blood around. Raising that hand he placed it against the wall, on what would be the center of the thestral's head. Harry felt the magic in the wall pulse before it changed. He was petting the thestral. Staring back at Harry were eyes that challenged him. It was then Harry heard the surprise from the crowd. The whispers and shock had grown in volume.

The whole exchange was only for a few moments before the thestral backed away from Harry and begun its flight once again. Harry watched for a moment before he turned and made his way back to the center of the chamber, passing off the ceremonial knife to the same guard. As Harry stood in the center once again the chattering stopped.

"And what is it that my people could possibly offer a line that seeks to cheat death?"

Harry bristled at the comment, "The history of my family is not one that taints my soul. I seek not to cheat death, but find a way to honor and respect that which should be finality found through death."

The Queen smiled, "Then you understand the importance of cylces, thus leading you further along to understand magic itself."

Harry relaxed, "To understand magic would require a lifetime of study. A lifetime that I do not have, thus I have come to you to seek knowledge that would allow me to continue to honor deaths finality."

The Queen leaned forward, "Speak plainly. Groveling does no justice here."

Harry answered, "I've come seeking knowledge to cleanse a horcrux from a living host."

The response was immediate. The magic of the chamber grew weighty. Guards surged, weapons drawn. Yells from the councilors sprang forth. All stopped as the Queen held up her hand, "A steep request bears the equivalence of a steep price. What could you potentially offer as payment?"

"Something of equal value that will be discussed between us."

The Queen scoffed, "That means nothing."

Harry shrugged, "I offer a life for a life."

There were a bunch of whispers and murmurs that started up once again. "Just as meaningless."

"Grindelwald's supporters are looking to make a move against one of your European strongholds."

One of the councilors stood up yelling, "You come her and seek to threaten us?"

Harry didn't turn, his attention placed solely on the Queen. Several other councilors stood up and began expressing their displeasure at what Harry had said. The Queen's eyes stayed locked on the man who stood before her. The Queen's voice was soft as she spoke again, "You know much man of death, who are you?"

Harry pauses for a moment. His eyes drift back towards the spot on the chamber wall where the thestral once stood, "One who has stared at deaths face and watched it claim and entire people. One who has sacrificed in hopes of that future not rising again."

The Queen took in Harry's words for a few moments. He felt the magic of the chamber really begin to inspect him once again. Harry let the magic wash over him, only resisting when it seemed to brush against his mind. After the magic receded the Queen stood up. She quietly commanded that Harry follow her, dismissing the guards to the protest of the councilors. A look from the queen silenced the protests outright as Harry followed her through a door that appeared behind her seat. Harry walked only a pace behind the Queen as she led them through a small hallway before coming to another sealed door. Pressing against a rune cluster caused the door to unlock, allowing the pair to walk into the area.

Harry looked around and saw groups and individuals clustered around runic circles, braziers, and other magical constructs. Though there seemed to be no sound from anything, the general thrum of magic informed him of the multitude rituals taking place throughout the room. The Queen deftly navigated the room, not interrupting any of the rituals. The pair made it to a sectioned of part of the room that was filled with less people, though the setup was similar. Various witches clustered and performing rituals or meditating. They were only in there for a few moments before a blonde witch approached them. This witch did not bow before the Queen or even address the Queen directly. Instead she approached Harry.

"Luna?"

The question was involuntary, and Harry immediately knew he had said something that meant much more to the two witches beside him. The Queen shifted her stance, watching the interaction that took place between the other two. The blonde witch in front of Harry smiled. It was that same smile he had seen on Luna so many times. The memories flooded forth. Harry grimaced as he couldn't stop them. The witch infront of him held her hand to his head. She let her magic pulse and Harry resisted for a moment before giving into its cool touch. He felt the memories fade, his control over his mind regaining its strength. It wasn't long before she withdrew her touch and Harry had regained control over his own mind, if only for the moment.

"You know my unborn granddaughter?" Harry stayed silent, not trusting his voice before nodding his head. The Queen moved to speak before the other woman held up her hand, "My daughter did not want this fate for her daughter. It was foretold that the young would bear the sight, and that vision has not been rewritten nor has it faded."

The blonde witched circled around Harry. He tried to shift and face her, but the Queen's hand on his shoulder prevented him from doing so. Instead he chose to speak.

"Luna is… was one of my closest friends." Harry spoke.

The blonde witch smiled as she stopped in front of Harry, "Would you stand and defend my granddaughter?"

Harry didn't hesitate, "To my dying breath."

The smile grew for a moment before the witch muttered a short incantation, the cool magic once again brushing against Harry's mind, "Much lies before you, and much you must prepare. Go with our blessing. Let magic return you in time. Stand in defense of those that need it. May your strength never waiver."

Harry watched as the woman joined another group that had just set up for a ritual. He only saw the opening moments as the Queen led him out of the chamber. Harry mused over everything in silence, not paying attention to where he was being led throughout the compound. It was only as the pair approached the door that he began to think that the walk was shorter this time. Harry found himself entering a room that appeared to be a small study, where there was another woman waiting for them. It was the Speaker from earlier. Harry stepped inside behind the Queen and watched as she seemed to shed a bit of that royal aura from earlier. The Queen sat down next to the speaker and picked up a mug of some drink. Harry paused for a moment in wonder before he too sat down and looked at the mug. It was only after he took a drink that the other two occupants appeared ready to speak.

A/N: Alright. I know its a day late. My apologies. Stuff happened over the weekend in combination with the stupidity that is just October. As a reminder the chapters over the next few weeks (like this one) will be shorter in length. This is so I can maintain a weekly upload schedule. Should be back to normal at the end of October/beginning of November. Link in the profile has more information on all of this.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a phenomenal day.

Next Upload scheduled for October 16th.