Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and any other affiliated stuff, I own
Rhona and all it's inhabitants though.
Harry Potter and the Dragon's Lair
CHAPTER 4: The Council
Harry looked into the green, blue, black, red, and white marble chamber. He glanced at Althea but her face seemed to be in a grim set. Harry gulped and shivered in his still damp clothes.
Twelve torches were lit on each side of the room, although that did not seem to provide enough light, the room was glowing like mid-afternoon.
He saw five throne-like chairs. To the far left going right: A human-like figure with silvery-white hair sat in a silver chair except he had only three fingers on each hand and his amber eyes pierced Harry's thoughts. The blonde one next to him sat in a golden chair he seemed perfectly normal except for the fact that he had two pointy ears, instead of normal ones and two silver eyes with an unusual sparkle in them. Next to the elf sat what appeared to be human with brown hair on a wooden chair with gems molded to it's surface, his brownish-evergreen eyes looked at Harry with curiosity and slight amusement. Next to him in a chair that seemed to be made of glass sat a young woman, she was a deathly pale with royal blue hair in a long braid that reached the floor and her sea-blue eyes held wisdom that seemed to be beyond her years. Beside her sat a girl that seemed no older than Harry in a chair made of black stone with no back so her black and silver dragon-like wings could be spread out, her black pupiless eyes that were filled with anything but excitement and hip length black hair tied back clearly made her the most unusual one there.
Harry fidgeted slightly under the gaze of the five and wondered if had done something wrong. With his luck he probably did.
The one in the middle rose up and said, "I am Sylvain of the Forest Clan, to my right sits Taran of the Desert Clan, and next to him sits Gwanhir of the Sky Clan. To my left sits Maylin of the Ocean Clan and next to her sits Atalanta of the Mountain Clan." gesturing to each with his hands.
"And what would your name be little one?" The blue-haired Maylin asked.
Harry bristled slightly at the 'little' comment but tried not to show it, he didn't know enough about this place to have an opinion yet.
"Harry" He said wondering if he could get away with little information.
"Harold James Potter, you mean." said the silver haired member on the left.
"Er..Yeah." he said lamely.
The winged girl looked at Althea and said before the elf Taran had a chance to start what he was going to say, "Where did you find him?" she said in a mechanical tone.
"In the Shadow of Hilzarie" Althea said in her ever-professional tone.
Gwanhir looked up and asked as if had not heard right "Hilzarie? The Shadow?"
"Yes, in the shadow" she said repeating herself.
Sylvain asked with slight concern, "Which edge?"
Hesitating, Althea seemed to be choosing her words carefully, "On the East side," she paused, " near Nylaris."
A groan could be heard from Gwanhir, Taran leaned to the left and mumbled something to Sylvain's who nodded slightly. Maylin looked concerned at Atalanta who looked like she was trying very hard to dig up a memory.
Harry wondered what had caused this reaction and assumed it was the name Nylaris.
"And why was he there?" Sylvain asked wearily. Great, Harry thought, he was already in trouble for ending up in someplace he never heard of and probably would have to face the consequences.
"Falling." Althea said deadpan.
"Falling?" Sylvain asked eyebrows raised to match seven others (Atalanta only had one raised).
"Falling. Oh, and he bounced." Althea said not catching any of the amusement of what she was saying.
"And he bounced." Sylvain said in a now only slightly tired tone, then, in a louder one said, "May the ledger show that the purpose of Harold James Potter's occupancy in the Forbidden Radius of Nylaris Pass was because he fell and-" then to Althea he asked in a tone of 'Are you sure?' "Bounced, was it?" Then continued when Althea nodded in confirmation, "-bounced." there was a snigger coming from the left of the Council to confirm the amusement of the situation.
Harry by now was blushing enough beat a tomato. He glanced into the general area of where Sylvain had talked. There on black circular table was draped a long piece of parchment and a two-foot long, white, quill that was etching the word into the paper on its own. Harry was instantly reminded of Rita Skeeter's accursed acid-green quill.
"Now," Sylvain said smiling lightly all weariness gone, "if you were falling you obviously had to fall off something, the edge of Hilzarie perhaps?"
"No, no, no."Althea interrupted before Harry could say something, "This is boy from the Other Place."
Atalanta went into a coughing fit, Maylin just stared, Sylvain was mouthing wordlessly, Taran inserted his forefinger into a pointy ear wondering if had heard right, while Gwanhir just blinked dazed.
Sylvain regained his voice and said, "Althea, the Council leaves the boy in your charge. We ask that you bring him here tomorrow at high noon he will be interviewed own his own then. You may go."
Althea took Harry by the shoulder and lead him back down the hallway silently. Only when they reached the door did Harry hear the voice of another person, Nera.
"That was quick," she said across the hall. Kele was nowhere in sight.
"They took it quite well actually." Althea said lightly walking towards the jaw, from this angle Harry could see it was that of an enormous shark. Harry gaped at the thought that something like a shark could be so, well, huge.
"Took-keh-keh-keh- what?" she asked clearing her throat.
"Ah, nothing much, basic report on the scouting mission." Althea giving Harry a glance as she moved to take her cloak off the tooth.
Nera said nothing more on the topic as footsteps echoed along the main entrance. After each footfall was a resounding clink of metal.
Althea did a wonderful impression of a deer caught in the headlights while Nera straightened her papers and restuffed the incense pipe.
Just before the footsteps enter the hall Althea shoved Harry behind her cloak, which judging by its size could easily hide him, but the question was, from what?
"Ah, Althea" said a smooth deep voice, "looking as beautiful as always" Harry could here Nera hacking away in the background.
"Good day to you too." Althea replied forcibly, "May I ask what brings you here at this time?"
"Isn't one allowed to marvel at the history of our world?" he said countering, "But while I'm here I might as well see the Council, a few Tree Sprites are infesting my property."
"Funny, Tree Sprites haven't left their sacred ground for over a millennia, I wonder what should cause one, let one alone a few, to leave." Althea implied innocently, Harry could have sworn there was a laugh hiding behind Nera's second sudden coughing fit.
"That is what I came to find out." the voice said shortly then exited the hall the way he came it was only after the footsteps faded into the silence that Althea lifted her cloak up to reveal Harry.
"We can't take you to a very public area when you are dressed like you are. People ask too many questions" she paused then violently muttered more to herself than Harry "Where is he?"
Soft footsteps were heard then Althea spun around and said, "There you are!"
As Althea walked away Kele came into view holding a wad of clothes under his arm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mundungus Fletcher looked at his magical wristwatch (useless for keeping any track of time) go from 2:00 to 12:00. What the Devil happened now?
The wristwatch was a gadget given to all Order Members each hour represented a level of danger or importance. Whenever it reach five the top dogs of the Order are having a meeting, six, they let in some other Order members, and so on until 10:00. When it reaches 11:00 everyone can come 12:00 everyone has to.
Mundungus silently cursed and grabbed his deck cards off the table much to the protests of the other players, and then he left the pub and tapped the cards twice with his wand to portkey to Hogwarts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry stepped out of the storage closet in the hall wearing slightly worn grey trousers, brown leather boots and a white shirt with a beaten up leather vest over it.
He looked around for Kele and Althea, when he couldn't find them he went to see if they were outside. Just as he was turning the corner to leave he heard voices. Pressing flat against the wall he listened.
"How did the Council take it?" asked a voice that was presumably Kele.
"Heh. Quite well actually, though I think at least a few of them suspected it." came Althea's voice
"Like who?"
"Atalanta." she paused " she choked a bit, I think she has more idea than any of the Council what this means."
"Yeah, well" Kele said then paused, "that is right up her alley."
"Don't you start again." Althea said in a warning tone.
"What? I was just going to say that for the past year or so she has been studying and practicing much more than usual, and you know what usual is."
"I think anybody would have an idea as to why." Althea said then was silent for a long moment. "Did you get the charts from Deren and Deidra?" she asked quietly.
"Mmmm-hmmm..." was the reply.
"And?" when there was no answer, "Was Quillan right?"
Kele snorted, "Nope, hate to break it to him though."
Althea sighed. "You and I both."
"Did you hear about the little explosion that happened today?" Kele said baiting Althea.
"Where?" She asked concerned.
"Here."
"Here? Couldn't have Nera told me the only thing that happened today that was worth noting was-Oh." she stopped as realization hit her, "You're talking about Atalanta and Dra'agorn Elyisa."
"And Ecthal"
"What? Are you obsessed with that family?" Althea asked exasperated.
"Nope, I just know there is a secret they are all hiding, and I want to know it." Kele said smugly.
"Dare I ask why?"
"Name one person I don't have dirt on."
"Ecthal. And remind me again why you nose into others business?" she asked in a raised voice.
"So that if, scales forbid, that I am in an argument with someone I can always have a map out." he said delicately
"You mean blackmail." Althea said in her deadpan voice.
"Euh.... Yeeaahh"
"I don't believe you. Come on the boy's waiting by now."
Harry quickly straitened up and walked outside as if to make it seemed he had just walked out.
"There you are, barely recognized you, boats waiting, lets go," he said in a rush fleeing from Althea's glare.
Harry followed too before Althea reads his mind to find him mauling over the information he just heard. All of it was useless at this point and tomorrow the Council will probably know how to get him back home.
~~~~
The boat drift along past decrepit stone building, Harry wondered if they were once or are as marvelous on the inside as the Council building.
A voice behind Harry asked, "So what's your world like?" Harry spun around to see Kele lying back whittling something like a ring out of wood.
"Well?" Kele persisted while Harry tried to think of a good way to answer.
"Which part?" Harry asked meaning the Muggle and Magical types of worlds.
He pointed the knife at Harry and said, "The part you're from."
Harry was going to say he is part of both but then again, was he? "I'm from the more Magical side." Harry said then he wondered if Dumbledore knew he was missing by now, probably Dumbledore has always been on top of things, the Ministry? Maybe, they might know if someone literally dropped off the face of the Earth, but then what about Bertha Jorkins said a nagging voice in his head, she worked for the Ministry and they refused to believe she was missing, waited a few months before even thinking of looking for her.
Do Ron and Hermione know? Or Sirius? What would they say? Sirius would probably go on a rampage in Diagon Alley and then get caught. Harry shuddered at the thought.
"Well what about the Magical side of your world?" Kele asked snapping Harry from his thoughts.
"Well I don't know where to begin..." Harry said wondering where exactly to begin.
"Well where are you most of the time?" Kele said helping Harry along.
"Kele." came Althea's voice from the front of the boat, "You shouldn't question him, the Council hasn't interviewed him yet."
"So?" came his defiant remark.
Althea turned around and came towards the back where they were sitting and kicked the rudder. Pulling a silver strand out of her face she said, "You will be brought in front of the Council and questioned on what he told you."
"Who will tell?" Kele said smiling carefree.
"Me." she then turned and stalked to the front of the boat.
Kele gulped, carefree smile gone, and remained silent (a wise choice) for the rest of the trip.
Harry went back to watching his surroundings wondering what the next day would bring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, on to chapter 5!
All right loyal readers, now for some serious input. Tell me what can ruin this fanfic and you favorite character. (do not tell me what will make it better just what will ruin it, I can figure out the rest for myself)
Harry Potter and the Dragon's Lair
CHAPTER 4: The Council
Harry looked into the green, blue, black, red, and white marble chamber. He glanced at Althea but her face seemed to be in a grim set. Harry gulped and shivered in his still damp clothes.
Twelve torches were lit on each side of the room, although that did not seem to provide enough light, the room was glowing like mid-afternoon.
He saw five throne-like chairs. To the far left going right: A human-like figure with silvery-white hair sat in a silver chair except he had only three fingers on each hand and his amber eyes pierced Harry's thoughts. The blonde one next to him sat in a golden chair he seemed perfectly normal except for the fact that he had two pointy ears, instead of normal ones and two silver eyes with an unusual sparkle in them. Next to the elf sat what appeared to be human with brown hair on a wooden chair with gems molded to it's surface, his brownish-evergreen eyes looked at Harry with curiosity and slight amusement. Next to him in a chair that seemed to be made of glass sat a young woman, she was a deathly pale with royal blue hair in a long braid that reached the floor and her sea-blue eyes held wisdom that seemed to be beyond her years. Beside her sat a girl that seemed no older than Harry in a chair made of black stone with no back so her black and silver dragon-like wings could be spread out, her black pupiless eyes that were filled with anything but excitement and hip length black hair tied back clearly made her the most unusual one there.
Harry fidgeted slightly under the gaze of the five and wondered if had done something wrong. With his luck he probably did.
The one in the middle rose up and said, "I am Sylvain of the Forest Clan, to my right sits Taran of the Desert Clan, and next to him sits Gwanhir of the Sky Clan. To my left sits Maylin of the Ocean Clan and next to her sits Atalanta of the Mountain Clan." gesturing to each with his hands.
"And what would your name be little one?" The blue-haired Maylin asked.
Harry bristled slightly at the 'little' comment but tried not to show it, he didn't know enough about this place to have an opinion yet.
"Harry" He said wondering if he could get away with little information.
"Harold James Potter, you mean." said the silver haired member on the left.
"Er..Yeah." he said lamely.
The winged girl looked at Althea and said before the elf Taran had a chance to start what he was going to say, "Where did you find him?" she said in a mechanical tone.
"In the Shadow of Hilzarie" Althea said in her ever-professional tone.
Gwanhir looked up and asked as if had not heard right "Hilzarie? The Shadow?"
"Yes, in the shadow" she said repeating herself.
Sylvain asked with slight concern, "Which edge?"
Hesitating, Althea seemed to be choosing her words carefully, "On the East side," she paused, " near Nylaris."
A groan could be heard from Gwanhir, Taran leaned to the left and mumbled something to Sylvain's who nodded slightly. Maylin looked concerned at Atalanta who looked like she was trying very hard to dig up a memory.
Harry wondered what had caused this reaction and assumed it was the name Nylaris.
"And why was he there?" Sylvain asked wearily. Great, Harry thought, he was already in trouble for ending up in someplace he never heard of and probably would have to face the consequences.
"Falling." Althea said deadpan.
"Falling?" Sylvain asked eyebrows raised to match seven others (Atalanta only had one raised).
"Falling. Oh, and he bounced." Althea said not catching any of the amusement of what she was saying.
"And he bounced." Sylvain said in a now only slightly tired tone, then, in a louder one said, "May the ledger show that the purpose of Harold James Potter's occupancy in the Forbidden Radius of Nylaris Pass was because he fell and-" then to Althea he asked in a tone of 'Are you sure?' "Bounced, was it?" Then continued when Althea nodded in confirmation, "-bounced." there was a snigger coming from the left of the Council to confirm the amusement of the situation.
Harry by now was blushing enough beat a tomato. He glanced into the general area of where Sylvain had talked. There on black circular table was draped a long piece of parchment and a two-foot long, white, quill that was etching the word into the paper on its own. Harry was instantly reminded of Rita Skeeter's accursed acid-green quill.
"Now," Sylvain said smiling lightly all weariness gone, "if you were falling you obviously had to fall off something, the edge of Hilzarie perhaps?"
"No, no, no."Althea interrupted before Harry could say something, "This is boy from the Other Place."
Atalanta went into a coughing fit, Maylin just stared, Sylvain was mouthing wordlessly, Taran inserted his forefinger into a pointy ear wondering if had heard right, while Gwanhir just blinked dazed.
Sylvain regained his voice and said, "Althea, the Council leaves the boy in your charge. We ask that you bring him here tomorrow at high noon he will be interviewed own his own then. You may go."
Althea took Harry by the shoulder and lead him back down the hallway silently. Only when they reached the door did Harry hear the voice of another person, Nera.
"That was quick," she said across the hall. Kele was nowhere in sight.
"They took it quite well actually." Althea said lightly walking towards the jaw, from this angle Harry could see it was that of an enormous shark. Harry gaped at the thought that something like a shark could be so, well, huge.
"Took-keh-keh-keh- what?" she asked clearing her throat.
"Ah, nothing much, basic report on the scouting mission." Althea giving Harry a glance as she moved to take her cloak off the tooth.
Nera said nothing more on the topic as footsteps echoed along the main entrance. After each footfall was a resounding clink of metal.
Althea did a wonderful impression of a deer caught in the headlights while Nera straightened her papers and restuffed the incense pipe.
Just before the footsteps enter the hall Althea shoved Harry behind her cloak, which judging by its size could easily hide him, but the question was, from what?
"Ah, Althea" said a smooth deep voice, "looking as beautiful as always" Harry could here Nera hacking away in the background.
"Good day to you too." Althea replied forcibly, "May I ask what brings you here at this time?"
"Isn't one allowed to marvel at the history of our world?" he said countering, "But while I'm here I might as well see the Council, a few Tree Sprites are infesting my property."
"Funny, Tree Sprites haven't left their sacred ground for over a millennia, I wonder what should cause one, let one alone a few, to leave." Althea implied innocently, Harry could have sworn there was a laugh hiding behind Nera's second sudden coughing fit.
"That is what I came to find out." the voice said shortly then exited the hall the way he came it was only after the footsteps faded into the silence that Althea lifted her cloak up to reveal Harry.
"We can't take you to a very public area when you are dressed like you are. People ask too many questions" she paused then violently muttered more to herself than Harry "Where is he?"
Soft footsteps were heard then Althea spun around and said, "There you are!"
As Althea walked away Kele came into view holding a wad of clothes under his arm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mundungus Fletcher looked at his magical wristwatch (useless for keeping any track of time) go from 2:00 to 12:00. What the Devil happened now?
The wristwatch was a gadget given to all Order Members each hour represented a level of danger or importance. Whenever it reach five the top dogs of the Order are having a meeting, six, they let in some other Order members, and so on until 10:00. When it reaches 11:00 everyone can come 12:00 everyone has to.
Mundungus silently cursed and grabbed his deck cards off the table much to the protests of the other players, and then he left the pub and tapped the cards twice with his wand to portkey to Hogwarts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry stepped out of the storage closet in the hall wearing slightly worn grey trousers, brown leather boots and a white shirt with a beaten up leather vest over it.
He looked around for Kele and Althea, when he couldn't find them he went to see if they were outside. Just as he was turning the corner to leave he heard voices. Pressing flat against the wall he listened.
"How did the Council take it?" asked a voice that was presumably Kele.
"Heh. Quite well actually, though I think at least a few of them suspected it." came Althea's voice
"Like who?"
"Atalanta." she paused " she choked a bit, I think she has more idea than any of the Council what this means."
"Yeah, well" Kele said then paused, "that is right up her alley."
"Don't you start again." Althea said in a warning tone.
"What? I was just going to say that for the past year or so she has been studying and practicing much more than usual, and you know what usual is."
"I think anybody would have an idea as to why." Althea said then was silent for a long moment. "Did you get the charts from Deren and Deidra?" she asked quietly.
"Mmmm-hmmm..." was the reply.
"And?" when there was no answer, "Was Quillan right?"
Kele snorted, "Nope, hate to break it to him though."
Althea sighed. "You and I both."
"Did you hear about the little explosion that happened today?" Kele said baiting Althea.
"Where?" She asked concerned.
"Here."
"Here? Couldn't have Nera told me the only thing that happened today that was worth noting was-Oh." she stopped as realization hit her, "You're talking about Atalanta and Dra'agorn Elyisa."
"And Ecthal"
"What? Are you obsessed with that family?" Althea asked exasperated.
"Nope, I just know there is a secret they are all hiding, and I want to know it." Kele said smugly.
"Dare I ask why?"
"Name one person I don't have dirt on."
"Ecthal. And remind me again why you nose into others business?" she asked in a raised voice.
"So that if, scales forbid, that I am in an argument with someone I can always have a map out." he said delicately
"You mean blackmail." Althea said in her deadpan voice.
"Euh.... Yeeaahh"
"I don't believe you. Come on the boy's waiting by now."
Harry quickly straitened up and walked outside as if to make it seemed he had just walked out.
"There you are, barely recognized you, boats waiting, lets go," he said in a rush fleeing from Althea's glare.
Harry followed too before Althea reads his mind to find him mauling over the information he just heard. All of it was useless at this point and tomorrow the Council will probably know how to get him back home.
~~~~
The boat drift along past decrepit stone building, Harry wondered if they were once or are as marvelous on the inside as the Council building.
A voice behind Harry asked, "So what's your world like?" Harry spun around to see Kele lying back whittling something like a ring out of wood.
"Well?" Kele persisted while Harry tried to think of a good way to answer.
"Which part?" Harry asked meaning the Muggle and Magical types of worlds.
He pointed the knife at Harry and said, "The part you're from."
Harry was going to say he is part of both but then again, was he? "I'm from the more Magical side." Harry said then he wondered if Dumbledore knew he was missing by now, probably Dumbledore has always been on top of things, the Ministry? Maybe, they might know if someone literally dropped off the face of the Earth, but then what about Bertha Jorkins said a nagging voice in his head, she worked for the Ministry and they refused to believe she was missing, waited a few months before even thinking of looking for her.
Do Ron and Hermione know? Or Sirius? What would they say? Sirius would probably go on a rampage in Diagon Alley and then get caught. Harry shuddered at the thought.
"Well what about the Magical side of your world?" Kele asked snapping Harry from his thoughts.
"Well I don't know where to begin..." Harry said wondering where exactly to begin.
"Well where are you most of the time?" Kele said helping Harry along.
"Kele." came Althea's voice from the front of the boat, "You shouldn't question him, the Council hasn't interviewed him yet."
"So?" came his defiant remark.
Althea turned around and came towards the back where they were sitting and kicked the rudder. Pulling a silver strand out of her face she said, "You will be brought in front of the Council and questioned on what he told you."
"Who will tell?" Kele said smiling carefree.
"Me." she then turned and stalked to the front of the boat.
Kele gulped, carefree smile gone, and remained silent (a wise choice) for the rest of the trip.
Harry went back to watching his surroundings wondering what the next day would bring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, on to chapter 5!
All right loyal readers, now for some serious input. Tell me what can ruin this fanfic and you favorite character. (do not tell me what will make it better just what will ruin it, I can figure out the rest for myself)