Authors Note: I hope everyone enjoyed HBP as much as I did. This story is officially an AU I suppose. Some elements from HBP may be incorporated into future chapters. Thankyou all for your continued support. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 8

The Lady of the Lake

Harry thrashed violently against the woman's mysterious power, the water closing in over his head resolutely. He took a deep breath of air and held it, his weak swimming ability panicking him. The strange woman shook her head at him ruefully and gestured around herself. Harry realised that they were inside a bubble of energy that kept the water away from them. Aside from a few splashes, he wasn't even wet. Nimue giggled at his look of confusion as the bubble descended into the murky depths of the lake. Nimue seemed to sink into a trance of concentration. Her watery dress rippled around her like waves. She almost seemed to fade into the fluid around her. Harry was almost certain that she was a part of the current. Like a modern dryad. As she concentrated, Harry took the time to look around him.

Although he had been in the lake during the Tri-wizard tournament, Harry didn't really recognize anything that was below the surface. It was an entirely different world. Above the waves, on dry land, the water seemed a glassy, smooth, blue ripple; a reflection of the sky. Below the waves, the blurry water was a siphon of light. A rippled spot of sunlight could be seen high overhead as the water closed around them, cushioning them as the world grew much darker. He watched that tiny pinprick of light fade, it seemed so far away. The silence of the water surrounded him. Not even the sound of Mermish reached them; he was so very far away from everything.

It was only after five minutes of descent, that the water began to lighten again. Harry glanced around him yet didn't see anything. Nimue gestured with a pale hand below them. Harry looked between his feet and gasped at the site of the crystalline structure that grew in size beneath them. The bubble floated down gently toward the entrance and entered into a set of huge double doors, dissipating at the entrance slowly, as if merging with the magic of the building. The building itself seemed alive, it reached out its magic toward Harry, testing and assessing him. It moved through his body like an electric current.

They passed into a giant corridor, the water staying behind, like a wall. Curious, Harry poked at the rippling wall and ended up with a wet finger. His head hurt as he contemplated how it was possible. He glanced at Nimue with the question in his eyes. Nimue regarded him with her mysterious gaze and moved onward into the corridor. Harry followed, at a loss of what else to do. He still gripped his wands within his hands, though had forgotten he held him. They moved through many hallways and rooms until they reached a large bedroom with a crystalline four-post bed within it. The whole palace seemed to be made of crystal, or glass. Harry looked around him in confusion, noticing a wardrobe full of men's clothes and a crystal desk prepared with many parchments, inks, and quills. Clearly, Nimue had been expecting a visitor.

"Who are you?" Harry's voice was husky with awe.

"I am Nimue, as I told you before," her voice rippled around him. "In tales of old, I was known as the Lady of the Lake."

Harry goggled at her, "You mean, like Merlin and Arthur stuff?"

She shook her head ruefully. "Yes, that is what I meant. Please sit," she gestured to the bed as she took the desk chair, her dress melding into the translucency of the crystal it brushed. "I have brought you here, because you are the one of legend. Many years ago, Emrys spoke of your coming. He taught me all he knew so that I might prepare you for the coming trials. You will be here for quite awhile. There is much that you shall learn."

Harry felt a well of panic filling within him. "I can't stay here! My friends will go ballistic if I go missing for a long time. They'll think I was captured by one of Voldemort's minions. They might do something crazy!"

Nimue smiled wryly. "Time moves differently here in this crystal palace. Hopefully, you will be prepared enough to return to the surface by the beginning of your school term," she frowned in thought, "although, you should return here on your breaks. Their isn't much time to train you. The darkness is closing in on your world at a remarkable pace."

"They will still worry." Harry muttered, annoyed. "And, I will miss them…" he whispered quietly.

Nimue's frown softened as she reached toward Harry and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I will allow you to speak to them. You deserve the chance to say goodbye."

Harry smiled shyly at the beautiful woman. "Thank you. You don't know what this means to me."

Nimue smiled bigger as she rose gracefully from the chair. "This is your room for now." She gestured around the large room, "follow me and I will show you the rest of the palace. We will start your training tonight. Unfortunately, we are a little pressed for time; I wish your wand had found you sooner." Nimue grimaced. "Hopefully, Emrys will find the time to visit and help with your training." She led the way out of the room as she spoke, heading down another glass like corridor.

Harry hastened to catch up with her. "That's the second time you've said that name. Who exactly is Emrys?"

Nimue regarded him with wide eyes, "You do not know? Emrys is the greatest wizard of all time. He, like I, goes by many names." She smiled at his confusion. "The name you best know him by is Merlin."

Harry stopped in shock. "Merlin? Isn't he dead? How could I ever meet him?"

She smiled mischievously at him. "As I said before, time is different here. Emrys was a very powerful sorcerer as well as a time walker. He created this place."

"But… How could you have known him?" Harry looked at her suspiciously. "Nobody lives this long."

"Who said I was living." She continued down the corridor.

The Headmaster's Office

Dumbledore sat at his desk, his head in his hands. Within his mind he replayed the sight of Harry being taken. He watched as the boy's terrified face slipped below the waves and out of his hands. He had wronged Harry in so many ways, and now he feared that he would never make up for it. He only hoped that he could find Harry and apologize before it was too late, if it wasn't already.

The Weasleys were currently on their way to Hogwarts. The formidable Mrs. Weasley wasn't very happy with the headmaster. Dumbledore wasn't looking forward to seeing her or her hot tempered children. Explaining how Harry could be taken right beneath his nose wouldn't be easy. Maybe if he'd been younger, quicker, or healthier.

Dumbledore sighed and stood to pace around the sanctuary of his office. Too many questions and worries plagued him. He swore that if Harry were to come back, he'd turn over a new leaf. Fawkes trilled happily as though supporting his master's thoughts. Dumbledore smiled at his pet and began the long wait for the arrival of the Weasleys, firm in his resolve that everything would end happily.

Severus Snape paced his own chambers, murmurs of idiotic boy and foolish old man tumbling from his lips, where, gratefully, no one could hear him. After awaiting a summons that never came, he lost his patience and stalked out of the dungeons, running into the Weasley family near the entrance to Dumbledore's quarters. He was amused to notice that all of the Weasley's were unnaturally red. He was very grateful, that at least this time; their wrath wasn't directed at him. They barely even acknowledged Severus's presence except to nod and stock past him once the gargoyle had moved aside. Snape followed in an unnatural good humor.

Upstairs, Dumbledore stood to welcome his guests, his customary twinkle missing from his warm gaze. He watched in expertly disguised horror as no less than seven Weasleys tromped into his office, followed by a smirking Professor Snape. Dumbledore squared his shoulders and readied himself for the inquisition.

Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to begin her tirade but was silenced by an odd sight. A large bubble containing and envelope was wafting lazily into the office through the open window. She pointed toward the bubble behind Dumbledore and he swung around startled. The bubble floated toward him and settled into his hands with a cartoon like pop.

Dumbledore held the envelope in his hands gingerly, his eyes wide with hope as he broke the seal. He regarded the contents for a moment and turned toward the group within his office with a serene smile, and began reading.

Dear Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Bill, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny,

Don't panic, I am fine. I am currently very close by, in fact. I ask that you do not try to find me.

I have been taken to the home of Nimue. She is the Lady of the Lake of legend and has agreed to train and teach me in order to prepare me. I will be done hopefully a week or two before school starts, and expect to be there for the Sorting Feast. I do, however; have a favor to ask. I need my stuff brought from headquarters and to the edge of the lake in two days time.

I am quite safe where I am. No one can get past Nimue's enchantments except for Merlin himself. Please don't worry about me.

Ginny, if you would look after Hedwig until school starts, I would appreciate it.

Everything will be fine here, and I hope to come back to you healed and happy. Professor Dumbledore, if you would please discuss with those involved with the Department of Mysteries that which we discussed afterwards, I would appreciate it. I would actually like to request that all involved in that horrible night be brought to Hogwarts for the summer for their own safety, as well as training opportunity.

I shall try to keep in touch with you as often as I can, however; Nimue has pointed out that time is different here. I will see you in two days time when I retrieve my personal items.

Please try not to be to upset with me. This needs to be done, and I couldn't be safer anywhere else.

Sincerely,

Harry

Dumbledore set the letter aside thoughtfully. He looked into the Weasleys shocked faces and smiled once more. "Harry will be fine where he is. I agree with his decision to stay there. I also agree with his suggestions as to you," he gestured toward the children. "We will all gather here in two days hence. I suggest you come prepared to stay for awhile. Don't worry about school things as of yet, we will take care of that later."

Ginny and Ron whooped and danced around each other, both relieved to find Harry safe and excited about having Hogwarts all to themselves for the summer. Mrs. Weasley merely frowned in thought, too upset to really argue with the Headmaster. Snape looked as though he'd been on the receiving end of Ron's slug curse.

It was only once everyone had filed down the stairs and out into the summer evening that Dumbledore turned weary worried eyes onto the phoenix perched beside him. "I suppose the heir has been found then," he shook his head sadly. "I hope that your prophecy rings true."

Fawkes merely preened and trilled a low happy tune.

In Deep Water

Harry panted, exhausted. He had spent the last three days doing rigorous strength and endurance training. He had never imagine that such a sweet looking woman could be such a monster. Sighing, he slumped against a cool crystal wall as he drank deeply of a bottle of water he had nearby. He tipped his head back and allowed his eyes to close for a moment.

"You aren't finished with this segment. No naps." Nimue's stern voice reached his weary ears.

He sighed again, even his ears were weary. "When can I contact my friends?" He sighed, again. "They must be worried about me by now."

Nimue shook her head in amusement as she entered the makeshift gymnasium. "You have only been gone a day up there. But if it will make you feel better, I will show you a charm to send a letter to them. However, you must remember, time moves differently. You can't send them letters everyday, or they'll receive a letter three times a day from you. You need to make sure you space them correctly."

"I will," Harry sat up eagerly, weariness forgotten. "Can we send them a letter now?"

"Yes, Harry." Nimue watched as the boy clambered to his feet quickly and beckoned her out of the room.

"Come on then!" His excitement bubbled over causing Nimue to giggle.

She followed him out of the room, heading for his chambers to write his letters. All that remained was his water bottle, slowly leaking onto the crystal floor and absorbing into the smooth surface.

Authors note 2: Review responses...

Dragonero: thankyou for the review

Lil' Brother: Tanks much

Charmedsisters: I appreciate your continued support and reviews

fhippogriff: more of the dress, as per request. Nimue isn't really a spirit, no is she living. You will, of course, find out more later. If you'd like more on the dress, I would be happy to oblige.

Nightwing 509: Thanks for the review, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.