Flame reared before Harry causing a great wave of heat to blast past him. Harry cringed against the hot wind. He was no longer mortal but he was still somewhat susceptible to feeling, and imagination. An unstoppable force had drawn him to the lair of his enemy. He had determined that it had not been his adversary to draw him to this realm but a higher magic. That didn't necessarily mean that the High Lord of Hell was unhappy with his sudden appearance, quite the opposite really.
"BOW TO ME PHOENIX!" The great flame hissed to Harry. "SERVE ME OR PERISH."
"I will not bow." Harry yelled, trying to make his voice heard over the deafening wind that seemed to emanate from the ever-growing flame before him. "I will not serve thee ever."
Harry's response only seemed to feed the over-powering force before him. "THOU HATH COME TO FACE ME THEN. I WILL DESTROY THEE AND TAKE FROM THEE THY POWER. THE PHOENIX WILL NEVER DOMINATE AGAIN."
Harry mentally winced. He had not come here to pick a fight. He had nowhere close to the power needed to overpower his eternal opponent let alone stand up to him without perishing. Why had he been drawn here if neither he or the evil High Lord had wished to meet immediately? Harry decided to stall before doing anything. "Do you have a name?" he shouted.
"I AM TESMETHLIN, HIGH LORD OF HELL!" the terrifying voice answered. "THE NAME YOU CALL THYSELF IN THE MORTAL WORLD IS POTTER. HARRY POTTER. AN ALIAS. YOU ARE WEAK IF THOU NEEDEST TO HIDE BEHIND A FAKE NAME."
"Yeah sure, I picked my own name when I was less than an hour old," Harry bellowed sarcastically. "In fact, no one picked the Potter part of my name. It was just there automatically. And another thing, I am not weak nor am I afraid of you! Lastly, I'm not here to face you or anybody and I'll never come and bow to you."
Tesmethlin's anger seemed to rage as the flames towered even higher before Harry. He felt the very essence of his spirit begin to drain from existence. The High Lord of Hell was killing him. The fact was confirmed when the great and terrible voice returned. "THEN DIE, WORM."
Another voice suddenly pierced the air, "Not quite yet Tesmethlin, Harry needs to finish all of his chores before he goes out to play."
Harry spun around to look at who had spoken, likewise he could feel Tesmethlin's attention turned towards the same place as well. It was Ginny and she was mounted on a gleaming white winged horse somewhat resembling Pegasus from Greek mythology. Although she seemed to be wearing the same armor that they had found in the vault at Valahost Hall, it had almost transformed and been added too. She also was carrying an addition to everything, a shining blue rod. Ginny herself resembled a Greek war-goddess from legend. The sight left Harry stunned. "Ginny. . . what are you doing here?"
The winged horse carried Ginny next to Harry. "I followed you so I could take you back to where you belong. Mount up."
Harry scrambled onto the hovering animal behind Ginny and they took off, flying in the general direction of where Harry had been dragged from, back towards the Hogwart's Express. The High Lord of Hell however had other ideas. "STOP!" The flame that had overshadowed Harry during the confrontation seemed to be following, or rather, stretching out towards their retreating forms.
Ginny twisted around and pointed the rod at the flame. A substance resembling a stream of blue ice shot from it and Tesmethlin seemed to retreat from it. "Another day!" Ginny called merrily.
They continued on gaining acceleration. It could be that the universe is shifting around us rather than us moving, Harry observed. "So what happened after I got taken away?" Harry asked.
Ginny quickly related the Dementor attack and how they had disposed of them all. She then went on to talk about how she had been able to track him and where she had gotten her magical rod. "So then I met up with Seilftrist and he provided this really nice horse creature. He also gave me a few tips on how to improve my appearance."
"Seilftrist?" Harry asked in shock.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Really Harry! You're supposed to be the High Lord of Phoenix. Shouldn't you know these things? Of course I met up with Seilftrist! Just because he died and left the mortal realm doesn't mean that he no longer exists."
"Oh," Harry said. He surveyed the stars that they now were passing. Many of them he had seen from the astronomy tower at Hogwarts. "So you met up with his ghost?"
Ginny shook her head in a puzzled manner, "No, not a ghost. Ghosts, although they are dead, are still partially mortal I think. Seilftrist appeared to and felt as if he had a full body. Just like us right now. We've temporarily lost our mortality but we still have bodies."
"He's dead but still alive?" Harry asked, now even more confused.
"Why don't you just see for yourself," Ginny said pointing to their side as the magical horse slowed down. "He's right there."
Harry looked over and spotted a regal figure standing among the stars. Harry hesitantly stepped down from the horse once Ginny brought it to a complete stop. She waved and flew off It seemed that she enjoyed riding the horse. Harry watched her make a circuit around where he was standing and then turned and walked towards the figure. Wow! He was walking among the stars! Harry carefully stepped towards the brilliant figure before him, afraid of falling into the deep reaches of space. "So, I hear that you have some answers," Harry addressed the smiling figure.
The immortal man smiled and gave a slight bow. "My Lord. I do have some answers for you. What do you wish to know?"
Harry looked at Seilftrist. He was nearly as tall as Dumbledore and his face seemed to have an ageless quality to it. He looked as if he knew everything. "Well first of all, how is it that you're here if you are supposedly dead?"
"I fear that I am not allowed to answer that question completely, my Lord," Seilftrist replied calmly.
"Not allowed by who?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"The question should be what," Seilftrist said. "There are laws and regulations. You must not know until the time is right. You will know though, one day."
Harry sighed, he was getting rather used to this now. He was the High Lord of Phoenix and he was still not allowed to know everything there was to know. "All right then. How did I find myself facing that jerk back there?"
"There are seven supreme laws that govern the universe, my Lord. They were laid down by the creator, the Lord of the Universe. The law that you found going into effect was the third law. The Law of Surrogates. It is rather complicated but I'll try to explain it simply. It says that a surrogate my exert power against a High Lord, but a High Lord may not exert power against a surrogate. If you exert power against someone's surrogate then you're likely to find yourself facing whoever the power comes from." Seilftrist explained.
Harry bit his lip and thought carefully, "All evil is what the High Lord of Hell sponsors isn't it? Why is it that I can do stuff to other people all the time that are doing Tesmethlin's will?"
Seilftrist sighed, "That's where it gets complicated my Lord. You might have noticed that those Dementors weren't quite normal. A surrogate is someone who is wielding the High Lord's direct power. Not his authority, not on his command, but the High Lord's own strength. If you were to face the High Lord's power through a surrogate there are many things that could go wrong because of the way magic and power is."
Harry nodded, "I think I understand now. But that does put me at a disadvantage doesn't it? If I can't face Tesmethlin's surrogates then I'll just have to face him and that's it."
"Make your own surrogates to fight Tesmethlin's surrogates," Seilftrist instructed. "The High Lord of Hell isn't able to use surrogates all the time. There are complications for him that have to do with Nosyl Sharod's broken power. A solution to that problem has been discovered I fear."
Something clicked in Harry's mind and he understood the situation. "Voldemort." he whispered hoarsely.
Seilftrist nodded gravely, "Yes, Voldemort. What Voldemort is doing is dangerous and foolish. He doesn't understand that the power he seeks to gain and take control of actually has a personality of it's own. When he finds out that awful truth it will be too late. In fact, it already is. By next year, Voldemort's soul will have been destroyed, but the body he was born to will be inhabited by another. A mind and power that was not born into mortality as all minds and powers should be. Tesmethlin will make the mortal realm his own and all of mortal mankind will be enslaved to his terrible will. Once he makes himself Lord of the mortal realm, no one will be able to stop him."
"Do you know how to stop him before he gets too far?" Harry inquired as he mind rushed with every possible strategy and spell that he had ever known.
Seilftrist shrugged, "You are the High Lord of Phoenix, my Lord. I am only your Lieutenant. You must stop the transformation from taking place."
"When will it take place? How?" Harry questioned.
"I do not know. That is your task. Stop Voldemort from giving his mortal body to Tesmethlin, the High Lord of Hell."
Harry nodded. He could now see what a hard task he now had. A couple of questions popped up in his mind. "You mentioned that there were seven supreme laws that governed the universe. What are they?"
Seilftrist grinned, "You were ever curious my Lord. I shall list the laws for you. Time grows short though so I will not explain them at this point."
"Fair enough," Harry said.
Seilftrist nodded and began. "There is the law that opposition must exist equally and or potentially. Next comes a law that non-magical humans have already discovered. Matter may not be created or annihilated."
"Why haven't magical people discovered that?" Harry asked in a puzzled voice.
"Because they do not know that magic exists therefore they have never seen something disappear or appear. Magical folk have. They don't realize that the materials they conjure up come from the magical matter that they cannot see or understand." Seilftrist clarified. "Next is the one I just explained, the Law of Surrogates. Fourth, the Law of Magical Marriage. Fifth, the Code of Authority and Influence. Sixth, the Code of Traitors. Lastly and certainly not least, the Law of Power."
"What is the one about marriage?" Harry asked.
Seilftrist merely smiled. "There is not time to explain High Lord. Our short time together draws to a close. Your High Lady has researched it and understands. She will explain all you wish to know about it to you if you so wish it. I must now bid you farewell."
Harry nodded and turned to look for Ginny. He found her riding the winged horse just to his side. He had not noticed her return. "Ready to go?" Ginny asked.
"I suppose so," Harry said. "I think that we need to get back quickly." He stepped over and with Ginny's help climbed onto the horse's back behind her. He raised his hand and wave at Lord Seilftrist. "I hope I see you again."
Lord Seilftrist raised his hand to bid Harry farewell as Ginny turned the horse which jolted forward at an astonishing speed. He watched as the lone figure seemed to fade away. "Have an interesting talk?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, I understand what's going on a lot better now. I still wish that I knew more though," Harry said as he watched even more stars pass and began to blur together.
Ginny nodded, "He explained it to me as well Harry. Don't worry, you'll have all the help you need."
"So what is this law about marriage?" Harry inquired.
Ginny smiled and shook her head. "Later Harry, later. Everyone will be wondering where we've gone.
*
Hermione grasped Ron's hand as they stood on the Astronomy Tower together at Hogwarts. The first day of the term had been set back to one day due to circumstances beyond the control of the school. The day since the delayed arrival of the Hogwarts Express at Hogwarts had been long and disappointing. There were no answers and Harry and Ginny had failed to turn up. "You're mum was sure unhappy about Harry and Ginny's disappearance," Hermione commented to Ron.
"I think that they'll be able to take care of themselves," Ron said.
"Your mum doesn't know that," Hermione pointed out. "How is she supposed to know that her daughter is an all-powerful figure who could probably overpower Merlin or any other wizard or witch of noted accomplishment let alone a couple of measly Dementors?"
Ron chuckled dryly, "You're always right Hermione. Always."
"Really Ron, it's only a matter of common sense. If I had a child I would be worried too. More than worried actually, I would be frantic." Hermione explained.
Ron looked at her and frowned, "What would you be doing with a child?"
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes, "Really Ron! Sometimes you are thick. Hasn't it occurred to you that someday we'll get married and start a family?"
"Oh yeah, marriage, start family, I know. I was just wondering where Harry and Ginny are right now."
Hermione moved closer to Ron, "I'm sure they'll be fine Ron."
Ron cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Um, yes. Well we should probably head off for bed now. It's late and we'll be teaching some classes tomorrow." He looked into her eyes as their heads moved closer together. Their lips finally met and they shared a passionate kiss.
They broke apart and Hermione replied, "Yes, off to bed we go."
Ron's attention had already turned from her and his eyes looked to be bulging out of their sockets. "Bugger! Did you see that?"
"What?"
"Some comet or falling star just landed in the Forbidden Forest!"
"Really Ron! Now you're seeing things. Investigate it if you want, I'm off to bed." Hermione promptly left the tower leaving Ron staring at the Forbidden Forest.
"I think I'll go and take a look actually," Ron said.