Chapter One

Let The Games Begin!!!!

Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry - Scotland 1997

Harry Potter stepped back against the door to the great entrance of Hogwarts, surveying the beautiful grounds laid out in front of him. He was a slender dark haired young man of seventeen, with a pleasant open face set off with a pair of piercing jade green eyes. As usual, he wore the standard school robes of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, over the top of his oversized clothes handed down to him by his muggle aunt from his obese Cousin Dudley. In his back left hand jean pocket was one of his favourite belongings, his wand.

One of Harry's two best friends stood watching him suspiciously. His name was Ronald Weasley, and he is Harry's oldest and best friend. Ron's experience of his adventures with Harry had convinced him that 1, he didn't know what was going on most of the time, and 2, when he did get things right it was more by luck than judgement.

Harry had just come out of a very nasty detention with Professor Snape, from which he suffered a laborious punishment of cataloguing all of Snape's rare potion ingredients. Before he went into the detention he assured Ron he would be out no sooner than you could say fizzing whizbees, and 3 hours later, here he was ready to spend the rest of his Saturday with his friends.

Feeling Ron's eyes on the back of his neck, Harry turned around.

"Oh there you are."

"Finished?"

Harry proudly beams. "Yes, and it looks rather splendid as well if I do say." Harry giggled.

Ron had more practical concern. "Do you think we could get some flying in then, oh fearless leader," snickered Ron.

"Of course, let's go then,"

Once in the air Harry sat on his broom looking around him, surveying the peaceful scene with quiet enjoyment. Looking down he could see students walking amidst the Ivy covered outdoor passages. There was scarcely a breeze to stir even the leaves and tall grass. It might almost have been a perfect muggle autumn afternoon, if you didn't notice the giant squid surfacing and waving to the students walking along the lake foreshore.

Hermione Granger, Harry's other best friend, sat with her back against an old oak reading a rather old and tatty book. She was full of face and had bushy brown hair and was rather good looking, but she wouldn't say so, very studious she seldom has time to do nothing and for the moment she appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood.

"It really is marvellous here, I feel so calm and relaxed," Hermione said almost dreamily.

"It's because of the high bombardment of positive ions in the atmosphere," said Harry in a mock scientific voice as he landed beside his bushy haired friend,

Ron followed Harry as he landed almost falling off his broom with laughter at Harry's outburst,

"You should have seen the look on your face Mione, when Harry started sprouting that codswallop," said the gangly red head as he leant down to kiss his girlfriend.

Hermione just glared at the two boys as they rolled around on the grass in fits of hysterics. Suddenly a shadow fell over them; there standing next to them was one Draco Malfoy, Prince of the Slytherin's, but also paramour to one Harry James Potter.

"What I think my boyfriend is trying to say Hermione, in a very round about way is that the air at the moment reminds him of being outside after a thunderstorm," smirked Draco as he pulled his boyfriend up off the ground and into a fiery kiss.

"Ewwww, Keep it clean kiddies. Underage kids about," Ron yelled as he poked both boy's in the sides.

"So my darling, what brings you down here to be with the little people?" Harry queried as he slung an arm around Draco's lithe waist.

"Well petal, I had just come down here to tell you that lunch is being served and to see if you would care join me?" pouted Draco.

"I love it when you pout baby. Are you two coming?" yelled Harry as he and Draco headed up to the great doors hand in hand.

"Can't we all stay here, Harry?" Ron yawned.

Harry looked at Draco with big puppy dog eyes. Draco gave in and said to Harry "Why not - for a little while at least. We all could do with the rest since we only finished our NEWTS yesterday," beamed Draco as he hugged Harry as they made their way back to Ron & Hermione where they sat under an oak tree.

They sat there for a while in a companionable silence, drinking in the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. This was to be the last peace of mind they were to enjoy for a very long time.

The Player made a final adjustment to the scrying pool and the picture sprang sharply into focus. It showed an elderly white haired gentleman, wearing forest green robes, bending over a lily bush, secateurs in hand, face totally absorbed. It was an old face, lined and wrinkled, yet somehow alert and vital at the same time. The jade green eyes were bright with intelligence. The commanding beak of the nose gave the old man a haughty, imperious air.

The player smiled in cruel satisfaction.

Malfoy Manor - Wiltshire - 2100

The old man in the garden was known as Harry Potter-Malfoy - a Harry Potter- Malfoy that had come to the end of a fantastic career as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry knew it was time to move on, he wasn't getting any younger and he wasn't up with all the modern scholastic resources. He knew he had to choose a successor but who he didn't know. That is why he had come to this place, the most peaceful part of Malfoy Manor - his flower garden. Here in this peaceful garden he could prune his roses, water his lilies and think of his dear departed Draco.

He could enjoy this time of peace thinking of the prospects of finally retiring and settling in to the solitary existence of being The Lord of Malfoy Manor.

Suddenly Old Harry tensed. Something was wrong. Something evil. Some alien presence had come into his private retreat. It seemed to be some kind of pyramid, rolling and rumbling towards him, growing larger and larger.

Suddenly it was almost upon him.

He turned to run but it was too late. Far too late.

"No, No," he shouted.

The Pyramid rolled forward, swallowing him up, absorbing him completely.

For a moment his distorted screaming face peered out from inside the pyramid. Then the pyramid rolled away, disappearing as rapidly as it arrived.

The Player rose from the scrying pool and went over to the game table. From within the ivory box he removed a tiny but beautifully carved figure. It represented a white haired old man in forest green robes. The Player put the little figure of Headmaster Harry Potter-Malfoy onto the board, pushing it towards the centre with a long rake.

The First piece was on the board.

Hogwarts - 1997

On the banks of Hogwarts Lake, the Harry Potter we all know and love gave a sudden involuntary cry, his face twisted in pain.

"Honey, are you ok?" whispered Draco as he cradled Harry in his arms.

"Just a twinge of cosmic angst," Harry murmured.

Ron Just stared at him.

"Cosmic what?" He queried.

Harry looked puzzled

"It is as if I have - lost something.." He trailed off with.