Gravity of it All by PLS
Summery: Sick of trying to survive as Harry Potter in a post-Voldemort world, a young wizard takes a new path in the past that leads to the stars.

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Chapter 11- Gollum-ization.

DAGAZ - Daylight and God's Light
The ultimate aim of transformation of one's consciousness into whatever she or he envisions the greater whole. Relationship Interpretation: Contributions by one partner to the other's spiritual or psychological welfare.

from Anglo-Saxon Celtic Runes: Symbols & Meanings

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Once again they were used as bodyguards. Rested, cleaned, given new clothes and pikes, they stood on either side of the king as he sat and listened to the business of the city-state he ruled. The man was in his thirties, scared and swarthy. He also was a very crude man, liked his jokes dirty and his people subjugated. Harry was appalled and Jack was resigned.

It was Harry who first noticed that the binding had given them the ability to understand and communicate with their master, and thus knowledge of how to speak and understand the native tongue. It gave him something new to focus on, the idea that the ritual adapted to the foci's needs and changed them to suit their new master was a rather odd thing to include in a gollum creation but it made sense.

Jack frowned as he saw what Harry was thinking, that if the ritual changed in that way, what else happened to them? Jack didn't want know, he just wanted to leave the crazy world. He really frowned as he saw Harry try to do something they weren't ordered to do. The spells didn't stop him per say, they just stopped his breathing until he gave in. Much to their disgust the king saw it and laughed at how Harry was panting.

So you still have spirit left in you? Good, it means you'll fight to live because if I die you two had better have already gone on before me. sneered the king and Jack scowled as Harry pulled himself into a ramrod straight position to rival the guards at Buckingham. Jack matched Harry perfectly in both expression and bering, to remind himself as much as the weak king in front of him that he still had pride and was a fighter. The king scowled but instead went back to his own business.

I want to get his head on a platter.'

Jack's eyes widened as that foreign thought popped into his head. He looked at Harry. Is that you?' Jack thought at Harry. Harry looked over at Jack and smirked.

Telepathy... Finally a gift worth having.' Harry's thought carried a mental laugh and memories of times when he'd learn about a skill which would be great on paper but had no use in the real world. Jack returned with memories of dissecting sentences, learning how to spell archaic words, and algebra. He almost laughed in joy as Harry's mental laughter filled his mind with hope and love.

So was this a change, or did we always have this?' asked Jack. Harry came back with somber winds of unintelligible thoughts, until he settled on the answer.

We've seemed to have this sort of connection for a long time, but we never developed it because we could speak freely, or at least sign at each other. Now we can't overtly communicate, this connection has opened completely and thus we are.' Harry gave a mental sigh, I don't know whether to be thankful or bitter.'

Be neither. Instead let's just take this one day at a time.' Harry gave a minute nod. Jack sent over all the love and warmth he ever felt for Harry and could feel his friend's joyous laughter and returned feelings.

They both returned their focus to the proceedings, the topics were turning toward training of the militia/army and scouting reports as well as diplomatic relations. Both Harry and Jack knew just were this was going. The king was getting tired of just a city-state and wanted a kingdom. He just couldn't pick which of his neighbors he wanted to hostility take over versus taking over through the marriages of either himself or his son and daughters. Harry already spotted three spies in the room, one assassin, and several who obviously did not like the king at all. The rest were zealous idiots or using the man.

Jack hated it, but he was prepared to save the king if need be, if only to save his and Harry's lives. Living was a priority, escaping was right up there, but living was what he could do. But he wouldn't be alive if they didn't protect the king. Jack took comfort in that Harry's mind was already spinning off plans and profiling every soul deemed a danger. Harry knew how to make plans, Jack knew he was great at execution of said plans.

This poor guy has no clue of the sword that hangs above his head.' Harry thought bemused at the idea of being so oblivious of such danger. He hadn't been so clueless in decades. Jack had been a paranoid little bugger for ages, it totally amazed Harry how a man in such a position could be so ignorant of the vipers he hosted.

Vipers?' Jack thought and had a sudden flash of inspiration, Anyone look snaked to you?' Harry let loose with his sixth sense. He caught flashes of deception, then in one, a spike of something he felt in the Tok'ra as well as the Grecian Gou'ald. Harry homed in on it and Jack let his mind piggy back as Harry pinpointed the odd feeling. It was from one of the priests, the eldest and the kings most trusted advisor. He was also the one putting ideas in everyone of the zealots' minds about the glories of war and expansion.

I know, we're screwed.' Jack watched the priest, he was setting up for the reveling of the assassin as well as a spy, but he also seemed to show a bit of anger at having gollums as guards. Something about being soulless or stupid.

Harry gave a snort of amusement and Jack smirked as it was said and the king simply raised his cup to his lips, but stopping before taking a drink.

Gollum, check this. said the king, Harry stepped up and waved his hand over the cup and softly said a detection spell. The liquid flashed green and the cup started to glow a blue light. What does this mean? Jack was startled as the information started to pour out of his mouth, as if the had always known about magic spells.

The liquid itself has a poison infused with magical intention with in it. The cup has been saturated in a poison as well, but it is weak, just enough to make a man ill unless he is sensitive to the poison. Jack said in a deferent voice, he hated it. Harry nodded and cast the cancelation spell. The king flung the cup away and scowled.

Who dared to poison me?Any number of your court. Harry said, You surrounded yourself with serpents and jackals, only the fools here don't have your demise at heart and you really should know fools can be turned into assassins with just a few well said words. It's impossible to tell from whom the poison came, but unless you truly want to slaughter your court and weaken your position, I suggest you simply call a halt to this day and take counsel in your chambers.The spells, they foresee your loyalty and your total compliance? Jack nodded.

We can do nothing against you, as we are bound to you. In fact, all we can do is be loyal and do our very best to protect you. With that the king stood and ordered for Harry and Jack to follow him. He was finally acting like he had a brain.

-End Chapter 11