Author: RaisinWithAGun

Title: Harry Potter and the Rune of Ur

Summary: The events of book 7 in my head. Added one character but for the most part it'll focus on Harry and his friends and they're search to destroy Voldemort. Hopefully it'll be adventurous and funny.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except the ones that don't appear in normal HP books. If I did, I'd be living in a castle in Ireland. Please don't sue.

Harry Potter & the Rune of Ur

Harry was sitting in an uncomfortable wooden folding chair, staring off into space. He'd developed quite a habit of looking out into nothing, mulling stuff over in his head. Right now he was reliving his last couple of weeks. He'd already gone back to the Dursleys for his last annual visit. He'd packed up his room and said goodbye to his aunt and uncle. He chuckled, remembering his parting gift to the Dursleys – in a disgusting pile on the kitchen table he'd left every birthday or Christmas present they'd every deigned to give him. Harry could hear Aunt Petunia's screams of revulsion as he walked down the street.

He was now firmly installed at The Burrow. It had been a hectic time to arrive, with Mrs. Weasley and Fleur running around getting ready for the wedding, but Ron had made sure he was tucked away nicely. When Hermione had arrived two days ago, she and Ron had tried to brooch the subject of their next adventure and he'd just mumbled something about "working out the details". Fact was he didn't really know where they were going. He knew Dumbledore had given him everything he needed, but without the great wizard to shed light on important details, he was lost. He knew he wanted to visit his parents' last home, but beyond that, no matter how many times he went over the memories he and the Headmaster had experienced, he couldn't think of where to begin.

So he sat here, waiting for the wedding to start, with almost no idea where they were setting off to tomorrow.

"Hey mate, wake up. They're gonna start any minute." Ron said as he slid into the seat next to Harry's.

"Don't you have some official job you should be doing?" asked Harry, looking around at a much frazzled Mrs. Weasley.

"Nope. I'm keeping a low profile." Ron responded.

"RONALD! Where ARE you!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.

"Hide me!" Ron whispered hoarsely as he ducked down under his chair.

Hermione walked up the aisle and stopped by Harry. "Hey Harry." Looking down at Ron huddled on the floor, she added derisively, "Ronald."

"Don't 'Ronald' me. She might ask me to escort Mrs. Delacour down the aisle, and neither of us wants that." Ron said, as he stood up and brushed his suit off.

Hermione gave him an amused smile. "I suppose you're right. Sit down quick so she can't spot you out of the crowd." Hermione scooted past Harry and took the seat next to Ron. Harry noticed she slipped her hand in Ron's the minute she sat down. He couldn't help but smile. After all, it'd taken them long enough to get together.

The opening measures of "Ava Maria" wafted from the enchanted orchestra. Gabrielle and Ginny began walking down the aisle. Each was dressed in a rose pink dress with gardenias in their hair. Harry couldn't think of time Ginny had been more beautiful. His decision to end it with her had weighed heavily on his heart during his time at The Burrow. She was almost a constant presence and seemed to be taking the break-up really well. "It's for her own good. If I come back, we can try it again." Harry consoled himself.

The tune from the orchestra changed. Fleur started down the aisle to the strains of "Here Comes the Bride". She was draped in a dress that looked like she'd ripped the wings off a million dragonflies.

Harry turned to Hermione with a question on his face. Hermione laughed. "Don't worry," she whispered. "No dragonflies were harmed in the making of that dress. She's just bewitched it."

Fleur had finally made it to a beaming Bill. It was actually a rather grotesque sight. Bill's face was not healing as fast as everyone had hoped. When he smiled, gashes spread wide and scars forced bits of his face to contort in an inhuman manner, but the joy in his eyes could not camouflaged.

"Shall we begin?" The wizen minister asked.

Harry had a hard time concentrating on the rest of the ceremony as he was envisioning his own to Ginny.

As the guests retreated to the house for the reception, the trio hung back to talk.

"So Harry, when will we be leaving tomorrow?" Ron asked.

"Early." Harry responded vaguely.

Hermione looked miffed. "Honestly Harry, do you even have a…"

"Hey Harry!" Neville ran up and interrupted. "How are you guys doing?"

Harry, glad for a momentary reprieve from Hermione's rebuke, greeted Neville rather too warmly. "Hey mate. How are you holding up?"

"Doing well. Ron, thank your mother for inviting me. I brought Luna." Neville pointed at the dark headed girl who was absent-mindedly ambling their way.

"Hi Harry, Hermione. Ron, nice to see you." Luna said blithely.

Neville started looking around nervously. He leaned into the impromptu circle they'd made and said in a low voice, "Harry, there's rumor that you're going in search of a way to defeat Voldemort."

"I'd say its a little more then a rumor." Ron said, too loudly. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.

"Neville, yea, it's true. I am. But its just gonna be me, Ron and Hermione doing it. I don't want to put anybody else in harm's way." Harry responded gravely.

Neville appeared to turn this over in his head. "But what if someone volunteered to go with you? That wouldn't be you putting anyone in harm's way. It'd be the individual putting themselves in harm's way."

"Neville, please…"

"No, you listen to me. Voldemort took my parents from me too! I have just as much right as you to see him die."

"Who are we killing today?" Tonks joked as she and Lupin approached the group.

"Oh, just Ron." Hermione answered.

"I was just trying to explain to Neville that he cannot come along on my little quest. It's only the three of us. And that's final." Harry said.

"Actually," Lupin responded, "Tonks and I were kind of hoping you'd agree to take someone else along. Something like a sherpa."

Harry rolled his eyes. "As much as I appreciate the offer…"

Tonks interrupted. "Will you at least meet her? She right over there." She beckoned to a fairly young witch standing a short distance off.

Harry let out a sigh. "Why can't they just let me do this my own way?" He whined silently.

The pretty witch approached the group. She had dark brown hair and small red-framed glasses. Her appearance and manner reminded Harry of a cross between himself and Hermione. Slightly disheveled but studious looking. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Lorelei Handel." Lorelei shook hands with all the young wizards.

"Harry, I know you don't think this is a good idea, but Lorelei here is one of the foremost authorities on ancient magic, having studied in Mesopotamia and the Orient as well as having a firm understanding of ancient Celtic enchantments and charms." Lupin explained.

"That's great." Harry said, slightly exasperated.

Tonks continued the hard sell. "Plus, she was a special student of Dumbledore's."

Harry's attention was peaked by this bit of information. He had always assumed that since he was "The Boy Who Lived" he was Dumbledore's only special student. "I suppose it makes sense. He taught for years, why wouldn't he have picked out certain exceptional students."

"Really?" He said out loud. "And what was so special about it."

Lorelei gave him a hard look, searching this face and lingering on his eyes. "Oh, just a little Legilimency and Occumency. He got me interested in the runes of ancient civilizations. Oh, and Telemetry. He did teach me that."

"Telemetry?" Hermione queried. "But how does that differ from Legilimency?"

"Eye contact. With Legilimency you have to maintain eye contact to communicate. But Telemetry is different in the fact that I could be halfway across the world and still be able to talk to your brain. It's quite effective in military tactics. None of that yelling of orders." Lorelei clarified, with a wave of her hand.

"Darlings, what are you still doing out here?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she walked up to join the group.

"Sorry Molly. We were just trying to convince Harry to take Lorelei along for the ride." Lupin explained.

"Oh. Well what a shame. I was going to try to convince him to take Charlie with them. Sort of a chaperone." She eyed Ron and Hermione. Ron gulped and tried to drop Hermione's hand. "And a protector too, of course."

"Did I hear my name?" Charlie said jovially. He still looked good in his best man tuxedo. "Lorelei? What are you doing here?"

"Charlie. How are you?" Lorelei said in a rather forced tone.

"I'm good. Just a little surprised to see you at my brother's wedding." Charlie said.

Lorelei looked visibly awkward and dove quickly to explain. "Well, I came with Tonks and Lupin. They want me to go with Harry and your brother and their young lady friend."

Charlie turned to Harry and his mother. "Well, if they're taking Lorelei then there's really no need for me. She was the brightest witch at Hogwarts when I was at school and she was two years behind me."

Mrs. Weasley and Harry looked at Lorelei appraisingly. She stood a little taller, trying to live up to Charlie's praise.

Harry let out a defeat gust of breath. "I suppose you can come. If only to teach us some stuff."

"Actually, I think it would probably be a good idea to bring along these two fine young wizards," Lorelei indicated Neville and Luna, "And Charlie." Charlie looked up, surprised.

"What? Why? I don't even really want you to come." Harry huffed.

"Aye…well, seven is the perfect magical number, is it not?" She looked at him pointedly. "And if I've counted correctly – 2 Weasleys, a Granger, a Potter, a Handel, a Longbottom and a Luna – makes an even seven. I assume, Mr. Potter, you want to eke out as much power as you can from your current situation." She tilted her head in a slightly condescending manner. "Besides, it can never hurt to be over-prepared, can it?"

Harry looked defeated. Neville was looking at him anxiously. Luna was distracted by the garden gnomes running around in pink bridesmaid's dresses. ("Fred and George's contribution to the wedding. Ghastly really." Ron had explained when Harry had spotted them earlier.)

"Fine. But if any of you start to think you're running this expedition, its home for you." Harry declared firmly, wagging his finger in the face of every member of the group. He started back up to the house. He was not happy with these latest developments, but he knew if he hadn't agreed he would have heard a lot more about it. Besides, he could use some practice on his Legilimency. He heard Neville say "Brilliant!" and then someone asked again "When are we leaving?"

Perhaps sensing his best friend's funk, Ron answered. "Tomorrow. Early."