A/N: Hi and welcome to a now chapter this one is a little shorter then my
other of late but then it is coming to a close for the store or this part
so on with the show
Chapter 20: Skull Port
The next day Dumbledore was called to Blackstaff Tower to talk with Harry and Hermione about what he had been hiding from Harry all of this time.
Dumbledore came back that night by himself, Harry and Hermione stayed at the tower. After everyone was in the lab under the Inn he told them what he had been told to do. "Well they are both fine and have given me another chance." he paused here then looked at Drizzt and said. "Drizzt, Harry would like for you and Liriel to take them both down to this other city under this one for supplies but not tell me what it is they are after. You are to go to them tomorrow morning."
Drizzt and Liriel nodded at this.
Dumbledore then looked at the Mr and Mrs Weasley ."You and your children can go with them if you wish but no one else is to go." After telling them that he walked out of the lab and to his room, the others not far behind him talking about what was happening tomorrow.
The next day found Drizzt and Liriel leading Ron and Ginny out of the Weasley's that wanted to go to Skull Port up to Blackstaff tower to get Harry and Hermione.
Getting in was not a problem because Harry and Hermione were standing out side the tower door with their weapons in hand or on their belt.
"Drizzt, Liriel. Thank you for this." Harry said when they all got together.
"Think nothing of it Harry besides Liriel still needs to get some thing's from her tower down there."
Harry looked at Ginny and Ron behind Drizzt "Are you all who wanted to go with us?"
Ron nodded and replied. "Mum and Dad wanted to stay where the sun is and Bill and Charlie are trying to chat up the Simbul right now."
Ginny and Hermione smiled at this while Harry said, "Well let get going there are some things I would like to get today from that city."
Drizzt nodded and led the way to one of the sewer entrances and into the complex called Under Mountain that was under the sewers.
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It was 5 hour's later that the 6 of them found the gate to the Drow section of Skull Port and enter the City. The city looked like Waterdeep with the houses and a dock at the far side of the cave it was built in, catwalks between buildings and pathways crossing over head. A ship all of a sudden appeared out in the lake and started in to anchor at the docks.
Harry looked around the street they were in to see Drow and Human's side by side and further down the street was what looked like a brain with 12 eyes coming of it on stalks and one big eye in the middle and a fanged mouth under that eye.
"Ahm, Liriel what is that thing?" Hermione asked.
Liriel looked at the monster and said "That is a Beholder one of the more powerful monster's of the Underdark and that coming out of that building over there is called a Illithid or Mind Flayer by others, stay away from them if you can all of you."
Everyone looked at where Liriel was pointing to see a monster with a human like body and the head of a squid with four tentacles and milk white eyes dressed in a purple robe of fine silk. Behind it was a Humanoid creature with grey skin and a porcine face. It walked like it had no mind of its own.
Ron looked at it then Liriel "Do I want to know why it is call a Mind Flayer?"
Liriel gave an evil smile before answering his question. "It is because they eat other peoples brains and they are one of the most powerful Psionic monsters of this realm."
Everyone except for Drizzt looked ill at that, but Harry was the first to say anything. "Ok... I did not need to know that. Anyway, Drizzt where down here can I get Drow Chain mail like your's?"
Drizzt looked at him then at Hermione to see that she had the same look in her eyes as Harry now. "I know a place that has some armour like this and it is well made. If you like you can go with me while Ron and Ginny go with Liriel who can take them to her tower to help finish packing her books?"
Harry looked at Ron and Ginny to see that they liked that idea and nodded to Harry to say it was ok. "Sounds good Drizzt, so let's get going" Harry said.
Drizzt nodded and placing a kiss on Liriel's cheek he then led Harry and Hermione to the Human area of the city where the Dwarf armourer's work.
It was half an hour later that found Harry and Hermione standing next to Drizzt out front of a nice shop with a sign of a hammer and armour over the door.
Drizzt looked over to them then said, "This is the best you will find in what you wanted in armour and the smith is also a friends daughter from my old home and she should know me."
Drizzt lead the way into the shop as the bell above the door rang.
A Dwarf with coal black hair and beard all of which was worn in brads walked up to them when they entered her shop. "What can I do...." The female voice said from under the hair but stoped when she saw Drizzt, looking at him in shock.
Drizzt smiled at her "Stone Shoulders how nice to see..." He ducked as her hammer went flying at him.
"That is for 20 years with out a visit from you and then my dad's death and you not showing up for the funeraly. Now what can I do for you?"
Drizzt looked at her with a smile. "I was there you just did not see me, that is all and these two would like some of your finest armour."
Stone looked at Harry then Hermione. "What do you want in this armour?"
Harry answered for them both. "Hermione here would like a light armour that leaves the legs free to move and I would like something like Drizzt's, please."
Stone nodded "I think I know what you want. Now what is it to be made out of? I have Mithral and Adamantine in stock or just old fashioned iron?"
Harry looked at Hermione, since she had been researching the metals of this realm. 'Harry, Adamantine is the most comon metal down here and is the strongest know metal on both worlds. It is heaver then Mithral but it also has some magic that is a part of the ore used in making it. Do make mine Mithral though as I don't think I could handle the weight of Adamantine.' She thought to him.
Harry nodded and said out loud. "Mithral for both mine and Hermione's armour, please."
Stone nodded. "That will cost you around 30,000 gold and 4 days to make."
Harry nodded and handed her two diamonds that were the size of playing cards and with out a flaw.
Stone looked at the gems and then at Harry. "That is more than enough for the armour. See you in four days."
Harry nodded and then turned to leave with Hermione, leaving Drizzt to say good-bye to Stone and saying that they will be back in four days time for the armour.
It was an hour before Harry and the others got to Liriel's tower, which was not what Harry thought it would be.
It was a stalagmite that had windows up and down its four floors with a huge double door carved with runes of all kinds out front. The whole building was out lined with a soft amber light making it stand out from the rest of the buildings around it.
"How is it glowing like that?" Hermione said while studying it.
Drizzt smiled. "That is how most building in Menzoberranzan look. That is the name of my and Liriel's home land and it is a spell called Faerie Fire that is making it glow."
When they approached the door Drizzt walked up to a spiral rune close to head high and pressed it, making the doors open on to a large hall with book shelfs all up and down the hall and into the other rooms of this floor. The stair at the end of the hall, like the rest of the walls and floor were made from black onyx with purple veins running through it.
Drizzt looked around then at the stunned looks of Harry and Hermione. "This is also standard work by my Home City." he stated.
"Drizzt, are most buildings in your home made out of stalagmites and stalactites?" Hermione asked looking at one of the shelves next to her.
Drizzt nodded as Liriel with Ron and Ginny behind her walked up to them. "Welcome to the Tower of Runes and my home for over 50 years." Liriel said to them after giving Drizzt a hug and peck on to the cheek.
"Thanks Liriel." Harry said then looked around at the shelves. "How much of this are you taking back?"
Liriel smiled and waved a hand over one shelf making it shrink and then picking it up and placing it in a pocket. "All of it." she said.
"Ok." Harry said watching her start on other shelves in this hall.
They stayed the night in Liriel's tower and had a meal consisting of a moss and meat that was surpassingly filling and were up and out of the tower before dawn on the surface, their pockets full of Liriel's book shelves and other furnishings from her tower.
After stopping at the Temple of Eilistraee and handing over the tower control to the temple they all left for the tunnel to Waterdeep. It was noon by the time everyone got back to The God's Leave. Dumbledore, Minerva and the others were sitting at the bar with Aerie serving drinks to all the noon customs, while Mrs Weasley was in the kitchen helping with the cooking.
Aeries smiled when Harry and the others walked in from the street door and take a seat at the bar. "So, what will in be for the six of you?" Aerie asked when there all took a seat in front of her.
Drizzt smiled and pointed to a bottle of wine on the top shelf behind her.
Aerie smiled and got six glasses from under the bar then brought the wine bottle and served them all a light blue wine in the glasses.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione looked at the wine then at Drizzt and Liriel who had taken a sip of the wine with a smile. "It has been over 100 years since I last had Drow wine and it is a good vintage too." Drizzt said, looking at Harry and his friends next to him "Do try it, for Drow wine is very rare to find here."
Harry picked up his glass and took a sip. It had a sweet flavour with a hint of mild spices as an after bite. Harry nodded and took another sip as the others followed suit.
"So what is it you did down in Skull Port?" Merinid said from behind them all of a sudden.
Harry and Hermione looked at him then at the others looking at them for an answer to the question.
Hermione said. "We got some armour and if Liriel is willing could she cast some enchantment's on it for us?"
Liriel looked up from her wine then said, "I would be more than willing to do it for you two, just give me the armour and 3 weeks for me to work and you will be as quiet as a bird in the trees by the time I am done."
Harry and Hermione nodded their thanks then looked at each other and left for their room up stars for the afternoon.
Chapter 20: Skull Port
The next day Dumbledore was called to Blackstaff Tower to talk with Harry and Hermione about what he had been hiding from Harry all of this time.
Dumbledore came back that night by himself, Harry and Hermione stayed at the tower. After everyone was in the lab under the Inn he told them what he had been told to do. "Well they are both fine and have given me another chance." he paused here then looked at Drizzt and said. "Drizzt, Harry would like for you and Liriel to take them both down to this other city under this one for supplies but not tell me what it is they are after. You are to go to them tomorrow morning."
Drizzt and Liriel nodded at this.
Dumbledore then looked at the Mr and Mrs Weasley ."You and your children can go with them if you wish but no one else is to go." After telling them that he walked out of the lab and to his room, the others not far behind him talking about what was happening tomorrow.
The next day found Drizzt and Liriel leading Ron and Ginny out of the Weasley's that wanted to go to Skull Port up to Blackstaff tower to get Harry and Hermione.
Getting in was not a problem because Harry and Hermione were standing out side the tower door with their weapons in hand or on their belt.
"Drizzt, Liriel. Thank you for this." Harry said when they all got together.
"Think nothing of it Harry besides Liriel still needs to get some thing's from her tower down there."
Harry looked at Ginny and Ron behind Drizzt "Are you all who wanted to go with us?"
Ron nodded and replied. "Mum and Dad wanted to stay where the sun is and Bill and Charlie are trying to chat up the Simbul right now."
Ginny and Hermione smiled at this while Harry said, "Well let get going there are some things I would like to get today from that city."
Drizzt nodded and led the way to one of the sewer entrances and into the complex called Under Mountain that was under the sewers.
============================================================================
It was 5 hour's later that the 6 of them found the gate to the Drow section of Skull Port and enter the City. The city looked like Waterdeep with the houses and a dock at the far side of the cave it was built in, catwalks between buildings and pathways crossing over head. A ship all of a sudden appeared out in the lake and started in to anchor at the docks.
Harry looked around the street they were in to see Drow and Human's side by side and further down the street was what looked like a brain with 12 eyes coming of it on stalks and one big eye in the middle and a fanged mouth under that eye.
"Ahm, Liriel what is that thing?" Hermione asked.
Liriel looked at the monster and said "That is a Beholder one of the more powerful monster's of the Underdark and that coming out of that building over there is called a Illithid or Mind Flayer by others, stay away from them if you can all of you."
Everyone looked at where Liriel was pointing to see a monster with a human like body and the head of a squid with four tentacles and milk white eyes dressed in a purple robe of fine silk. Behind it was a Humanoid creature with grey skin and a porcine face. It walked like it had no mind of its own.
Ron looked at it then Liriel "Do I want to know why it is call a Mind Flayer?"
Liriel gave an evil smile before answering his question. "It is because they eat other peoples brains and they are one of the most powerful Psionic monsters of this realm."
Everyone except for Drizzt looked ill at that, but Harry was the first to say anything. "Ok... I did not need to know that. Anyway, Drizzt where down here can I get Drow Chain mail like your's?"
Drizzt looked at him then at Hermione to see that she had the same look in her eyes as Harry now. "I know a place that has some armour like this and it is well made. If you like you can go with me while Ron and Ginny go with Liriel who can take them to her tower to help finish packing her books?"
Harry looked at Ron and Ginny to see that they liked that idea and nodded to Harry to say it was ok. "Sounds good Drizzt, so let's get going" Harry said.
Drizzt nodded and placing a kiss on Liriel's cheek he then led Harry and Hermione to the Human area of the city where the Dwarf armourer's work.
It was half an hour later that found Harry and Hermione standing next to Drizzt out front of a nice shop with a sign of a hammer and armour over the door.
Drizzt looked over to them then said, "This is the best you will find in what you wanted in armour and the smith is also a friends daughter from my old home and she should know me."
Drizzt lead the way into the shop as the bell above the door rang.
A Dwarf with coal black hair and beard all of which was worn in brads walked up to them when they entered her shop. "What can I do...." The female voice said from under the hair but stoped when she saw Drizzt, looking at him in shock.
Drizzt smiled at her "Stone Shoulders how nice to see..." He ducked as her hammer went flying at him.
"That is for 20 years with out a visit from you and then my dad's death and you not showing up for the funeraly. Now what can I do for you?"
Drizzt looked at her with a smile. "I was there you just did not see me, that is all and these two would like some of your finest armour."
Stone looked at Harry then Hermione. "What do you want in this armour?"
Harry answered for them both. "Hermione here would like a light armour that leaves the legs free to move and I would like something like Drizzt's, please."
Stone nodded "I think I know what you want. Now what is it to be made out of? I have Mithral and Adamantine in stock or just old fashioned iron?"
Harry looked at Hermione, since she had been researching the metals of this realm. 'Harry, Adamantine is the most comon metal down here and is the strongest know metal on both worlds. It is heaver then Mithral but it also has some magic that is a part of the ore used in making it. Do make mine Mithral though as I don't think I could handle the weight of Adamantine.' She thought to him.
Harry nodded and said out loud. "Mithral for both mine and Hermione's armour, please."
Stone nodded. "That will cost you around 30,000 gold and 4 days to make."
Harry nodded and handed her two diamonds that were the size of playing cards and with out a flaw.
Stone looked at the gems and then at Harry. "That is more than enough for the armour. See you in four days."
Harry nodded and then turned to leave with Hermione, leaving Drizzt to say good-bye to Stone and saying that they will be back in four days time for the armour.
It was an hour before Harry and the others got to Liriel's tower, which was not what Harry thought it would be.
It was a stalagmite that had windows up and down its four floors with a huge double door carved with runes of all kinds out front. The whole building was out lined with a soft amber light making it stand out from the rest of the buildings around it.
"How is it glowing like that?" Hermione said while studying it.
Drizzt smiled. "That is how most building in Menzoberranzan look. That is the name of my and Liriel's home land and it is a spell called Faerie Fire that is making it glow."
When they approached the door Drizzt walked up to a spiral rune close to head high and pressed it, making the doors open on to a large hall with book shelfs all up and down the hall and into the other rooms of this floor. The stair at the end of the hall, like the rest of the walls and floor were made from black onyx with purple veins running through it.
Drizzt looked around then at the stunned looks of Harry and Hermione. "This is also standard work by my Home City." he stated.
"Drizzt, are most buildings in your home made out of stalagmites and stalactites?" Hermione asked looking at one of the shelves next to her.
Drizzt nodded as Liriel with Ron and Ginny behind her walked up to them. "Welcome to the Tower of Runes and my home for over 50 years." Liriel said to them after giving Drizzt a hug and peck on to the cheek.
"Thanks Liriel." Harry said then looked around at the shelves. "How much of this are you taking back?"
Liriel smiled and waved a hand over one shelf making it shrink and then picking it up and placing it in a pocket. "All of it." she said.
"Ok." Harry said watching her start on other shelves in this hall.
They stayed the night in Liriel's tower and had a meal consisting of a moss and meat that was surpassingly filling and were up and out of the tower before dawn on the surface, their pockets full of Liriel's book shelves and other furnishings from her tower.
After stopping at the Temple of Eilistraee and handing over the tower control to the temple they all left for the tunnel to Waterdeep. It was noon by the time everyone got back to The God's Leave. Dumbledore, Minerva and the others were sitting at the bar with Aerie serving drinks to all the noon customs, while Mrs Weasley was in the kitchen helping with the cooking.
Aeries smiled when Harry and the others walked in from the street door and take a seat at the bar. "So, what will in be for the six of you?" Aerie asked when there all took a seat in front of her.
Drizzt smiled and pointed to a bottle of wine on the top shelf behind her.
Aerie smiled and got six glasses from under the bar then brought the wine bottle and served them all a light blue wine in the glasses.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione looked at the wine then at Drizzt and Liriel who had taken a sip of the wine with a smile. "It has been over 100 years since I last had Drow wine and it is a good vintage too." Drizzt said, looking at Harry and his friends next to him "Do try it, for Drow wine is very rare to find here."
Harry picked up his glass and took a sip. It had a sweet flavour with a hint of mild spices as an after bite. Harry nodded and took another sip as the others followed suit.
"So what is it you did down in Skull Port?" Merinid said from behind them all of a sudden.
Harry and Hermione looked at him then at the others looking at them for an answer to the question.
Hermione said. "We got some armour and if Liriel is willing could she cast some enchantment's on it for us?"
Liriel looked up from her wine then said, "I would be more than willing to do it for you two, just give me the armour and 3 weeks for me to work and you will be as quiet as a bird in the trees by the time I am done."
Harry and Hermione nodded their thanks then looked at each other and left for their room up stars for the afternoon.