Chapter 14: Journey To Falandais

"Umm. Harry?" Ginny asked, staring wide-eyed at the egg. "What just happened?"

Harry merely gaped at her. He had certainly not been expecting this.

"Well Ginny." He began, after recovering himself. "What just happened was that phoenix has chosen you. It will be bound to you, and you to it, like Apollo and myself."

She gasped in shock, staring in disbelief at the egg before her.

"R-really?" She stuttered.

He nodded, still somewhat shocked himself.

"But how? Why?" She asked.

"I don't know. The Phoenix chooses, and it has chosen you." He said.

"Oh, okay then." She said somewhat nervously. "Why would it choose me?"

"I have no idea Ginny. I have no idea." He said, shaking his head.

"So umm, when will it hatch?" She asked.

"Well," he replied, looking down at the egg, "it looks like it was just recently laid, so it should be about eight or so weeks until it hatches. Sometime in the early new year. For now, just keep it in a warm, safe place, and you'll have nothing to worry about."

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(AN. And here is where I spent nearly a week trying to figure out how to legitimately skip a month and a half!)

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The next month and a half passed quickly for Harry. (AN. Okay, so I cheated. So what? Anyway, sorry. Nothing interesting was planned until the holiday break, so I skipped some time.) There were no further attacks from Voldemort. This worried Harry somewhat, but he wasn't going to complain.

Before he knew it, the end of term had come, and most of the students had gone home for the holidays.

Harry was sitting in the Headmaster's office, along with Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Professor Lupin, Allia, and of course, the Headmaster. They were discussing the upcoming trip.

"Now, the journey won't take overly long. We shall create a gate to just outside the city's shields. Then it will be about a one hour walk through the forest to the outer reaches of the city. Do you have any questions?" Harry asked.

"What do we need to bring with us?" Hermione asked.

"Well, bring whatever you think you may need. You won't need more than a few sets of clothing, as the robes you have would be most inappropriate in the forest, we shall provide you with proper apparel once we arrive." He told her.

Allia nodded in agreement. "You won't really need to worry about bringing too much. Only bring things you don't want to be without. Anything that is truly necessary will be provided."

"So can I bring my books?" Hermione asked.

"A few. Keeping in mind you'll have to carry them on the walk to the city. Also, Falandais does have a rather extensive library. Most of the books are in Elvish, but I'm sure you could find some in English you would find interesting." Harry told her.

"Really?" She asked excitedly. "That's great! They must have some truly fascinating books! I can't wait-"

"Hermione." Ron said, cutting her off. "You rambling again."

"Oh." She said sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Anyway," Harry said. "We'll be gating from here at about noon tomorrow, so have everything you want to bring ready by then."

"Are the rest of the elves coming?" Dumbledore asked worriedly.

Harry shook his head. "No, they are staying here to defend the school. You needn't worry."

Dumbledore nodded, relieved. "Well, I guess I better go get all my socks together. Can't forget those." He said, as he rose from his desk. "I'll meet you all tomorrow then." With that, he left the room. The others soon left as well, except Harry and Allia.

"Did you send the message?" He asked her, as the made their way to the door together.

"Yes. The majority of the Strike Force shall be a half hour's march from the walls for the duration of the stay." She replied. "They will not be seen."

"Good." Harry said, nodding. "It wouldn't do to have for Grandfather or any of the others to see the size of our forces. Otherwise, they may wonder about why there are so few elves within Hogwarts' walls."

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On his way to the Great Hall the next day, Harry stopped off in the kitchen to see if Dobby or any of the others had decided to accompany the group travelling to Falandais.

When he arrived, he was surprised to find that none of the house elves, Dobby included, desired to come.

"Dobby appreciates the offer, as do the others," Dobby said in explanation. "But we belongs here, and this is our home. We are happy to be here."

"That's fine Dobby. The offer remains open though. If you should ever desire to visit Falandais, you will be able." He told the house elf, who nodded happily.

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When he arrived in the Great Hall, he found the others already waiting for him. Allia had also brought Rathi and Warwick along, as the two elves would be bringing their mounts with them.

"Are you ready?" He asked, as he joined them.

"I believe we are all a trifle nervous." Dumbledore said. "But we are ready."

"Very well then." He said, turning to Allia. "Ready the gate."

She nodded, and turned, her mouth moving silently, as she invoked the magic to open a gate. Moments later, the gate stood, a shining portal of light in front of them.

"Allia and I shall go first." Harry said, facing the others. "Wait five minutes before you follow. If we are not there waiting for you, remain where you are, and someone will find you."

"Why? What's this all about?" Ginny asked.

"The gate exit is outside the shields. Gating is not an always exact, particularly when you are opening a gate to an outside area. With a building, such as Hogwarts, you have something to lock on to. Outside, you don't." Allia explained.

"What's your point?" Ron asked.

"Our point is, we do not know exactly where we will emerge, and we do not know if where we will emerge is completely safe, since it is outside the shields. There are several patrols awaiting our arrival, to escort us in, but until we contact one, we will be alone. Therefor, Harry and I need to secure the area upon our arrival, and contact the nearest patrol." Allia finished.

"Oh, alright then." Ron said.

They watched as Harry and Allia rode through the gate. They then waited patiently for five minutes before following.

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They emerged in a forest, surrounded by tall trees. Alone. There was no sign of Harry or Allia.

They settled down to wait, but not even ten minutes had passed before they began to feel anxious. Standing up, Hermione walked to a nearby tree, and looked closely at its trunk.

"I've never seen a tree like this one before. I wonder where we are." She said.

"You are in the forest of Glendon, human. No human has set foot on this ground in over a thousand years." Came a deep, powerful voice from the forest. "Who are you? How did you come to be in this place?"

"Umm, well, we..." Hermione stuttered.

"We came with Harry Potter." Lupin said.

"I know not of this Harry Potter you speak of." Responded the voice. Then a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a centaur. "You desecrate this land humans. You will explain your presence here, or I will be forced into action."

It was then that another voice entered the conversation, this time from the other side of the group. A lilting, musical female voice. "That shall not be necessary Carnoth. The Harry Potter they speak of is Lord Caldarain. They came with him." Following the voice emerged a trio of figures, elves, mounted upon war unicorns.

"Oh really? And why were the Sentinels not informed of this?" The centaur asked, looking to the elf who had spoken.

"Where were you during the last Sentinels Council?" The elf asked.

"Umm, well..." The centaur replied.

"It does not matter where you were, other than that you were not at the Council. Had you attended, you would have known of this." The elf told him.

"Oh." Said the centaur. "Well then. I'd best be off." He said, before turning and running back into the forest.

"Forgive him." Said the elf. "He is somewhat hard-headed, and can be quite stubborn. I am Elune Cathein. Leader of this patrol of the Strike Force. We were contacted a few minutes ago by the Prince, and came as quick as we could."

"Where is Harry?" Asked Ginny.

"When they arrived, Emrys and Allia encountered a small band of forest trolls. They were just driving them off. They shall meet up with us further up the trail to Falandais."

With that, the elf turned, and gesturing them to follow, led them into the forest, the other two elves falling in behind them. Of course, they did not see the other two score elves who were shadowing their movement.

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They had been walking for twenty minutes when they heard the sound of hooves approaching, and from the trees burst Harry and Allia. The two quickly fell in with the others, and dismounted their steeds, letting the unicorns gallop ahead.

"What happened Harry?" Ginny asked, when he fell into step beside her. The others moved closer as well, to hear his answer.

"Just a small tribe of trolls. It didn't take much to persuade them to move along. Nothing to worry about." He said, looking at her.

"Oh, okay." She replied.

"Harry," Hermione began. "Where are we exactly? I mean geographically."

"We are in a portion of Ireland that has been magically separated from the rest. Animals can enter at will, but people cannot find it unless they are led here. Even if a human managed to somehow find a way in, which is most unlikely, Falandais is charmed to be invisible to human eyes unless we cast a spell enabling specific people to see it. Even elves who don't transform have to have this spell cast on them." He told them.

They continued through the forest for another half hour, before Harry told them that they were nearly within site of the valley within which Falandais rested.

"When we reach the top of this little ridge, you'll be able to see the valley. You won't see the city yet, of course, because we have yet to cast the spell, but you'll be able to see where it is, and once we cast the spell on you, you'll be able to see Falandais in all its magnificence." Harry said.

They approached the ridge, and looked over it.

Harry and Allia gazed down at their home in peace. The very sight of it filled them with happiness.

All of the others looked down at what appeared to be an empty valley in interest, knowing that while they couldn't see it, a vast city lay below them.

All of the others except Ginny. She was looking down into the valley with a mixture of shock and confusion on her face.

"Umm. Harry?" She asked tentatively.

"Yes Gin?" He replied, still looking into the valley.

"Why can I see a city down there?"