For a time the three wizards watched the generals' antics in silence. The silence was disturbed, however, when Albus drew himself together enough to ask a question.
"Harry? What is this place?"
Harry, who's head was contentedly lying against Serverus' chest, flicked a glance to his headmaster, then turned his gaze back to the scenery.
"This was my room…when I wanted to visit my grandson."
Serverus had been listening to the conversation in silence, but when he heard the word 'grandnephew' he gave a little jerk in surprise. Thoughts of, 'Just how old is Harry, anyway?' ran through his head as he gazed down into the hypnotizing green eyes.
Albus was not so silent, however, "GRAND-son?"
Harry pulled out of Serverus' grip just far enough to make it comfortable to talk. "Yes, Albus. Godric Gryyfindor is my grandson…or should I say grand-nephew?"
Harry let out a defeated sigh as he took in his companion's confusion. "I guess an explanation is in order, isn't it?"
Without waiting for an answer, Harry called the generals over then started to lead the whole group deeper into the forest.
As they walked Serverus, Albus, and the generals started to take notice of their leader. Harry seemed to glow with an internal light in the shady light provided by the overhanging tree limbs. Every once and a while a rare, exotic, or long-extinct creature would suddenly appear at Harry's side. The animal would stay just long enough to get a friendly pat and a few words quietly whispered to it, before it disappeared once more.
At one point in their walk the group came upon a small lake. Harry stopped them at the edge of it, but he continued on into the water, totally disregarding the fact that he was getting wet. With the lapping water coming up to mid-shin Harry called out to the empty air, "Lady! I have returned!"
The six men on the shore watched on, confused, as Harry stood in the lake calmly waiting for the "Lady."
Suddenly a porcelain white hand shot out of the water, holding a shining golden key. Harry smiled, turned in the direction of the hand, and said, "Lady, come on…you do not have to be shy! These are friends. They will do no harm."
A voice seemed to rise from the water, surprising all but Harry, who seemed to expect it. The voice was burbling rivers, solemn streams, and strong seas all put together into a magically beautiful voice. "Call me by my true name and I will come…."
Harry let out a joyous laugh, "You never made Merlin do such a thing! Why make your son do something you never asked of your favorite?"
The voice laughed as well, "because…Merlin was my favorite!"
"Very well…I call upon the Lady of the Lake, Atlantia, keeper of the sword Excalibur, wife of Lord Neptune, and co-ruler of the waters."
As soon as those words were uttered, a lady emerged from the depths of the lake in a fountain of spray; a lady whose beauty has gone unmatched in the mortal realm since the dawn of the mortal race. With streaming long white hair, a delicate, almost elven face, and shocking sea-green-gray eyes, she made a shocking picture with her live fish necklace, and waterfall dress.
While the six men stood in shocked stillness, Harry moved forward and into Atlantia's arms, giving her a fierce hug. As they stepped from each other's embrace, Atlantia gained an innocent look to her face as she ruffled her "son's" unruly hair. As Harry pushed the offending hand off his head, Atlantia smiled, "What's with the change of appearance anyway, Ambrose? Didn't the one we give you suit you enough?"
"Atlantia! You know very well that I could not be born a mortal while maintaining my god form!"
"If any of us could do it, it would be you, Ambrose."
"I know…and who says that I haven't?"
"Well then come on little godling! I want to see how you've grown!"
"You know I hate to be called that! I'm older and more powerful than Cupid, and only a few years younger than Apollo and Artemis!"
"Yes…I know that fact. You just look cute when you're indignant!"
"Fine…if it will stop you're teasing, I'll show you!"
Harry closed his eyes, concentrating on tapping into, and releasing his long-unused and very powerful powers. With a sudden uprising of the wind, Ambrose's powers were released. Seemingly with a will of its own the power surrounded Harry's body in an almost blinding display of bright white and deepest black lights. When the lights faded and Serverus, Albus, and the generals could see once again, Harry was no longer standing where he had been. Instead a man of about 28 years of age stood in his place. A little shorter than Serverus' impressive 6'3", the man was now hovering a few inches over the top of the water so as to protect his intricate robes.
With a tension-relieving sigh, Ambrose's eyes snapped open, revealing Harry's emerald green eyes, but with a look to them that clearly said, 'here stands a being that has lived for more millennia then humans have walked the earth.' With graceful hands Ambrose fingered his familiar robes in an almost reverent manner. They were made from the richest of silks, colored in a balance of black and white, the collar, hem, and sleeve cuffs held patterns of battling dragons in and amongst ancient runes that gave off their own power-light. Ambrose's black hair shimmered in the light as it cascaded down his back, ending halfway down his thighs, styled into a clean but loose horsetail. Harry's signature glasses had disappeared, freeing his porcelain white face to face the full brunt of the sun. Harry's lightening-bolt scar still held its prominent position on Ambrose's forehead, but on the god it seemed to… fit, rather than stand out.
Atlantia reached out a hesitant hand, and gently cupped her "son's" cheek. Ambrose leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. He had not seen his family in a millennium, having business that drove him to the ends of the galaxy and time itself. He had reached his majority and come into his full powers while he was away, and with his new powers his youthful look had faded into the confident god he now displayed so proudly. Atlantia would be the first god to see his new appearance, and if her reaction could be a gauge, the other gods and goddesses would be happy with how things had turned out.
"You have grown well, Ambrose, we are all so proud of you!"
Ambrose smiled, reassured that his family would be there for him and love him regardless.
"Now Ambrose, who are the gentlemen behind you?"
Turning to face his shell-shocked companions, Ambrose started to introduce them to his "mother." The introductions went well and smoothly, despite the fact that the generals (who had no idea that Ambrose was a god) and the two wizards were still too shocked to say much.
When Ambrose came to the end of the last introduction, Serverus'. Atlantia gave one look from Ambrose to Serverus and back again, a light of understanding dawning in her eyes. Taking a deep look into her son's eyes, Atlantia looked for the feelings she thought she had caught a glimpse of in both men's eyes. When she returned to herself, she found that her face held the matching smile to the one on her son's face. The feelings were true, at least on her son's side. Ignoring the men on the shore Atlantia, drew her son into a motherly embrace, whispering into his ear as he went to pull away, "A good choice, little one…a good choice. Congratulations and many wishes for your happiness."
Ambrose pulled away smiling, all thoughts of familial rejection disappearing from his mind.
With one flick of her hand Atlantia let fly the golden key she held, into the air. By the time the key had fallen into Ambrose's outstretched hand, Atlantia had returned to her vacation castle under the waves.