Summery: Now sixteen years of age, Harry is in mourning over Sirius's death. On the night of his birthday, Dumbledore and Remus come to take him back to Hogwarts, but Harry gets another visitor as well. Mystra, Goddess of Magic. X-over with Harry Potter and Forgotten Realms

Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to Harry Potter or Forgotten Realms. They belong to their respective creator's, namely J. K. Rowling and Ed Greenwood, I am just borrowing them for a while.

Chapter 6

"The main thing is to make history, not to write it."
-Otto Von Bismarck

The only true wisdom consists of knowing that you know nothing.

-Bill S. Preston, Esq. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

As the weeks wore on, classes at Hogwarts continued on as usual. The four Gryffindor's and one Ravenclaw were always seen close together now. Ginny and Luna were already studying for their OWL exams even if it was just September still. Letters were exchanged rapidly between the Boy-Who-Lived and his five closest friends. Always these letters seemed to include descriptions and reasons behind pranks played on both ends of the ever-busy Hedwig.

They had decided that they needed a name for themselves. It was from a mention in Harry's letter about being a Chosen of the Lady Mystra that the six of them decided on their name, The Lady's Hands. The newest set of pranksters in Hogwarts, and elsewhere. For Harry was surely making his own contributions to the Hands Book. Lhaeo had taken pictures for the most part, of the interesting events occurring in the Old Mage's tower over the past three months.

This included the prank Harry had pulled of Ayana, Storm, and Sylûne being colored bright lavender, with pea green lines, dots, and splotches to offset it. They had retaliated with turning Harry bright yellow with hair ten feet long, blue, and needing to be carried every where he went. He was just thankful that they hadn't given him a beard to boot.

At one point all in the Tower had been hexed to make their hips turn around and had to walk backwards to walk forwards. Elminster had been absent that day so they all knew who was responsible. They were just to afraid of the payback-in-kind if they even dared to retaliate against the old mage.

Some of the current pranks in Hogwarts had been the turning of every student and professor's hair the color of their house. This had been Neville's idea. The most curious outcome of this had been that Lady Sillfair's hair had turned pure silver and Professor Granstone's had been striped with black and silver. No one did figure out what it meant as it could be seen that every one else had been changed accordingly.

Snape's was green, Dumbledore's was gold and McGonagall was scarlet red. "A matching set if I ever saw one." Hermione was heard to comment later. The students and the rest of the staff had all alternated between the two correct house colors just like Dumbledore and McGonagall. It was an interesting eight hours till the potion, delivered in that mornings breakfast, wore off. Luckily no one was too angry as it was his or her own house colors.

No one but a certain snarky potion's master. He was herd to be growling when he couldn't change his hair back after breakfast. Lady Sillfair and Professor Granstone completely declined to comment or give explanation about their colors, and Dumbledore was seen to be practically prancing about with the joy of his now golden hair. Other pranks continued as the month of September moved into October and Halloween crept ever closer.

The Order was busy as well. Snape had been called to many Death Eater gatherings including those of the not so nice variety, which generally included torture of Death Eaters as well as prisoners. The Order had come to the conclusion that Voldemort had stopped looking for Harry Potter not long after it was announced that he had gone off to train. Instead the Death Eaters were lying low for the most part. And they were trying to figure out why.

From Snape's reports all the information pointed to a ritual that the Dark Lord was working on. The thing was no one had an idea of what the ritual was for or how it was to been done. At the time being, all they had was a continuing chant to be repeated by the gathered followers of the one doing the main magic in the ritual itself.

The chant in and of itself could provide little information either. Remus had been given the job of head of research to find out all he could but was currently coming up blank. Many were working on the research even if they weren't in the main group. They were all dreading the coming of Halloween, as it always seemed to be a favored day for Voldemort to call for an attack of some sort.

That day was fast approaching and as luck or perhaps in Remus' case misfortune would have it, the 31st was a full moon, and just two days away. Everyone was wondering what it would be this year. There was dead silence when Snape reported that it was going to be the day of the ritual. They still didn't know anything about it but that the chant was so old as the only written word in the same language was supposedly written by an apprentice of Merlin's. Even when they had a copy of the book this apprentice wrote with the part of it in said language, they could not translate it. They had no clue. And that seemed to even worry Dumbledore.

In the dark night, a man stood in front of a black marble alter. It was the night of the full moon and it would soon be at its pinnacle. He stood dressed in black robes with a hooded cloak, though his hood was down. Behind him stood a plethora of others who were dressed similarly but unlike the man in front, they all had their hoods up.

On top of the alter which the man stood facing was an inscribed design. It was a purple sun with what would have been an open center if not for the jaw-boneless skull grinning inside of it. Above this a black and purple flame floated. It seemed to be burning with nothing to sustain it, and this was in fact the truth.

The alter and man were surrounded as well. Only a trench, filled with blood, ncompassed them. Outside of the group of people bodies could just be seen. Some had slits in their wrists where they had been bleed dry. On others it was their throat. Not a single drop of blood was in any of the bodies.

When the moon rose to it peak the man standing in front of the alter raised his hands up high and called out. "Lord Cyric, all is prepared. Through us let the way be opened for your works." The flames flashed bright for a moment and blinded all there.

In an open field between a cemetery and a mid sized castle, stood another group of black clad people. All but one stood with hoods up and white masks covering their faces. The one without stood in front of a black marble alter on which a design was inscribed onto the legs and top center. It was much like the other alter but more cruder, as if those who had inscribed it were not ment for the job, had done it quickly, and from a poor picture. Yet as true as that may be, it was none the less a purple sun with a jaw-boneless skull in the center.

Above the center of the alter, over top the inscribed design were green and black flames. They floated and burned on nothing but air. Like the other Alter, here too was a trench of blood. It was large and deep, and it didn't take much imagination for the amount to be guessed, as the bodies that the blood filling the trench was taken from littered the grass of the cemetery off to the side.

One man, or former man at least, stood in front of the alter with his red eyes to the sky and his hands raised, watching as the full moon made its way to its peak. "We are ready. Start the chant." He yelled out to those behind him. They started to chant together a repeating string of words untranslatable. He waited for the moon to be at it's exact point before he too called out, one word only, and set all of the magic that had been gathered by the chant into motion. The flames on the alter flared. Their brightness forcing all to turn there heads and cover their eyes. All but the one who had released the magic. Voldemort.

Once the light dimmed down enough for the others to look back toward the alter they found their way blocked by a tall ring of purple, green, and black flames. One of the stupider Death Eater recruits tried to get through the flames to his Master with a yelled aquae cavus spell. He was repelled in a way that let all others know not to even try. He was burned to death, slowly; as his spell kept putting him out and the wall kept setting him alight again. Some of the most sadistic of the group laughed at this, the rest just decided to wait for their Master to come out on his own.

Snape, like the rest of those who had bore the mark from before the first fall knew he was alive. The Dark Mark was burning. It only burned if he was alive. Snape had known Voldemort would be back after his first downfall. The mark had still burned, though barely, and it was enough to let him know that the Dark Lord was still out there if only a ghost of his former self at the time.

Snape had been there for the whole ritual just like the rest of them. He had not had a chance to let the Order know that the chant was going to be used. Hell the Order still had not known what the chant meant or did even. And still Snape was in the dark as he could tell nothing with the ring of flames hiding the alter and the Dark Lord. It would not be a pleasant debriefing when he got back to Hogwarts.

A few hours after the initial flame up, Voldemort emerged from the Alter Ring, as it was being called by the gathered Death Eaters. As he looked at all of his followers he smiled. It was truly frightening to those present. The Dark Lord never smiled that kind of smile unless it was for something truly evil. He said not a word but led them all back into the building behind them. It was the current and, as far as Snape knew, future home of Voldemort. It was hidden and none of them knew exactly where it was, they simply apperated to the Dark Lord's presence through his mark. It was frustrating for Snape and the Order as they could not get a position on him because of this.

It was another hour before Snape was able to make it back to Hogwarts. And yet an hour more of debriefing Dumbledore. All said and done, it was nearly dawn when he finally got back to his chambers and into bed. He was glad it was a Saturday already. He would have a chance to get some sleep before having to deal with the brats.

Back at Voldemort's Manor the Alter Ring, Alter and Center Flame continued on as they had before. They would remain that way till the correct spell work closed them. It made Voldemort smile as he thought about that. No one knew the correct spell work. It wasn't even from this realm. His laughter rang throughout the Manor and past the muggle wards making all around shiver in fear of the sound heard on that Halloween night.

Halloween at Hogwarts was quiet for the most part. The only thing to disrupt it was the prank that was played by the group The Lady's Hands. Many had their suspicions as to who this new group of pranksters consisted of, but none could prove their involvement in the pranks played.

Halloween's prank turned out to be a most extravagant one. Aimed solely at three Slytherine's who had caused so much trouble through their years in Hogwarts. Crabe, Goyle, and Malfoy.

Many ideas had been tossed around as to what they should do. It was finally decided that they would do a multitude of their ideas at once. They would be set to both a time release and a spell trigger. Throughout the week before Friday the 31st, Luna and Ginny silent and hidden cast nearly completed spells on the three boys. Making sure the half spells would hold to them till Friday's feast.

Neville was the lucky one who got to spill a potion that was harmless enough but for the fact when Malfoy walked through a specific spell it would activate. The potion would remain soaked into the skin until it had been activated and ran it's course, 24 hours. During the time Neville spilled the potion on Malfoy, it was Ron's job to spill the other potion on the other two boys. It would act in the same manner as the one on Malfoy but with different outcomes.

It took a simple tumble out on the lawns too get the three boys dosed. Malfoy splashed with clear water like liquid, and the two goons a thick greenish brown one. The simple explanation to the watching public that Ron was helping Neville with some plant fertilizer and Neville carrying the water was enough to through any future suspicion out the window. Too bad those suspicions would be right.

Hermione's job was to set the doors of the great hall with the activating and time release spells without anyone knowing she had done so. Easy enough for her. She simply sat waiting for her friends outside the doors Thursday evening reading a book. Or so it seemed. The spells were quickly put in place and all that was required to activate them was one word as she passed through. That would be done tomorrow before the feast.

In a letter Harry had sent them once he had learned of their plans was an outrageous statement of Hermione's sanity. She was supposed to be the Perfect Prefect. Hermione had responded with a color hex hidden on the letter that had sent Harry, neon pink, sputtering about turning her into a monster. They had gotten a note and photo from Sylûne on that one.

The Halloween feast came and with it the greatest prank on Malfoy that had been seen since he had arrived as a bully of the school. It would be great. Nearly all of the students were present when Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Ron, and Neville arrived in the Great Hall. Passing through the doors Hermione muttered the activation word and the five went to sit at the Gryffindor table. It the two months the year had had so far, Luna had been accepted as an honorary member of the house and it was no surprise to see her seated with the others.

Hermione and Ginny made sure to sit on either side of Ron for he was the only one who would likely show off that they knew something they shouldn't. He was getting better. The Physical classes taught by Professor Granstone was doing wonders for all of them but it really helped Ron tone down his over enthusiastic emotions. He had learned early on that they could cause trouble.

All of them were also going to the early morning workouts. It was truly helping them to get in shape quicker and therefore they were further along in the class than those who were not going to the early morning, in particular Malfoy, Crabe, and Goyle.

Speaking of which, said three were just about to enter the Great Hall. Oh boy was this going to be fun. The five sat there watching out of the corner of their eyes. 'Yes,' Ginny thought, 'I'm glad I made sure to have a proper reason to bring my camera tonight. This is going to be great. And I can get other pictures off of Collin as well.' She had just noticed that he too had brought his camera; though in truth he was rarely see without it.

As Malfoy walked thought the doors he was suddenly turned into a woman. He shrieked like one too. Of course the shriek alerted all of the others in the Great Hall that something had happened. At which point the entire Gryffindor table as well as may other students, burst out into full-blown laughter. Those not outright laughing were trying their best to hide it.

For you see along with being turned female, Malfoy's clothing was also switched. He now supported neon pink tube top to show off his ample front, and a very short black leather skirt and black fishnet stockings. His pristine blond hair had been lengthened and put up into a high ponytail after which it was braided to the end, somewhere waist length.

Along with these changes where his two sidekick dummies. They too had changed. Into midget belly dancers. It was hilarious yet appalling to see. They had on matching outfits of lavender and sky blue silks. Voluptuous pants and bikini like tops to cover where there feminine breast would be but still show belly. Only thing was they had not been changed into women. They were ugly as could be. Every one was cracking up.

That is every one but a few teachers. Snape was not present and there for didn't get to see what had happened. But everyone was sure that when he did find out he would be quite livid and take points from any who he deemed 'worthy' of the 'praise' for the prank. Gryffindor understood that they would likely loose a lot of points, but they all seemed to see it as justifiable.

Amid the laughter of the rest of the school, including many Slytherine's; who simply strove to hide it more than any of the others, the three pranked Slytherine's ran from the great hall to try and undo the magic upon them. Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna all looked at Ginny. She in turn held up her camera, and with a big smile, looked over at Collin. He too smiled and held up his camera. The laughter didn't die down for quite some time, and smiling Dumbledore sent the students off to bed after the feast was done. It would be an interesting Saturday.

Besides the pranks by the only Lady's Hand in Faerion and the three Lady's of the Tower, as Lhaeo called them, life was going well for Harry. The first meeting with Ayana had been good and she seemed to be quite friendly and open. Much like Tonks was he thought.

Flash Back

Storm, Sher, and Ayana rode up to the stables near Elminster's tower. "Well I'll be off. I'll see you later Storm." Sher said to the others as she unloaded her horse and brushed her down. After they had all seen to the care of their animals Storm took Ayana to the tower where she would be staying for the most part. It was most likely that she would

room within Storm's own cottage not to far off, as Storm herself did. Sylûne had been remaining in the tower with El, Lhaeo and Harry.

"Well as you know I have another that I am training. A man just younger than you. His training will be less than yours though as he is mostly working on his magic." Storm told Ayana as they walked up to the tower.

"I am looking forward to meeting him. How old did you say he was?" Ayana asked. "I didn't." Storm smiled. "I simply said he was a little younger than you. So if you are 19 and I consider him to be a man and not a boy what age do you think he would be?" She asked her new apprentice. "I would say 16 or 17 maybe. Which one?" "He's 16 and his name is Harry." Ayana made a thoughtful noise in the back of her throat. 'I wonder what he looks like. Well I'll find out soon enough it seems.'

The two women could hear the voice of an old man quizzing some one, but could not hear the responses. They did know that the one being quizzed was doing fair, but not great. As they walked into the tower through the kitchen door they heard a groan from the direction of the study. Storm quietly snickered at something she could hear but Ayana was clueless. That was until they walked into the room.

"I know that." Harry replied with a sigh. "Well then quite yer grumbling, say hello to the two lady's at the door and get back to work." Elminster said. With that he stood up and walked over to the said ladies and gave kiss to the cheek of Storm. With that done he turned to the other young lady.

"Welcome to my humble tower lady. Ye are welcome to stay here if Storm wishes to remain. Dinner is in a hour I believe?" He asked Lhaeo as he walked from the library to the kitchen, giving a quick nod as he passes all in the study. "Well there ye go. Ladies." El said with another nod and walked passed them and to the upper floors of the tower.

Harry watched while all this was going on. When the two older men had left he too got up and greeted the two women. "Hello, my name is Harry. The older man it the Mage Elminster, and the other is Lhaeo." He said to the woman by Storm's side as he took her hand and lightly bowed over it.

Ayana smiled. "Hi, I'm Ayana." She was just about to continue when Storm broke them apart. "Well it will be nice having you get along, but you can get to know each other later. Harry I believe El gave you an assignment, and Ayana we need to get you set up in your room here." She told them. "Welcome back Storm. Sylûne is off somewhere today but she said she would be back for dinner. I'll see you both then." And with that Harry went back to his work, and Storm led Ayana up the steps to the apprentice rooms that were actually getting a lot of use for once.

End Flashback

Ayana had been very friendly her first night there. A bit quiet with the guys in the tower, but that didn't last long. It only took three days for her to completely relax. And boy did she ever.

During those three days Harry and Ayana, both a bit shy and quiet around those they don't know, strove to get to know each other. They knew they would both need it as they would be living and working closely for at least a year. They talked of many things. How they grew up, their family and friends, their dreams for the future. Harry also told her that he was from a different realm, brought here by magic. It would have been hard to get to know each other with out it.

When she had found out about Harry's prank book she decided it needed some non-magic pranks added to it. And she was happy to be able to assist in that regard. She began a tower wide pranking war with helpful suggestions from Storm and Sylûne. Of course, once she had started, Harry was sure to retaliate in kind. And he had help through his correspondences with the Werewolf Marauder, and the rest of The Lady's Hands.

Through the following weeks and months a new schedule was followed. Every morning Harry, Ayana, and Storm would work out and then have breakfast. After which Harry went to his studies with the Old Mage on most days, and Ayana and Storm worked on her strength and fighting techniques and other ways to making the young woman a successful, well trained, and long-lived Harper fighter. On the days that El was off doing his other duties of projects, Harry worked mostly on his Hogwarts class work or on his research.

After dinner was a resting and companionship period. Many evenings were spent with Harry and Ayana playing games, walking around town, or riding horses around the surrounding area. All the time discussing anything and everything.

On the weekends Harry would join Storm and Ayana in fighter practice. He found that while Storm favored a double-handed broad sword, Ayana favored a dirk and dagger combination. Harry also favored two weapons. He worked hard until he was proficient with his mid-length rapier like sword in his left hand as well as his right. If he was using two weapons he would us his sword in his left and a short dagger or his wand in his right. He was progressing rapidly.

The months continued and September moved on into October and those in the Old Mage's tower continued their busy lives of working, training, studying, and research. At the end of September there had been a large party in Shadowdale. It had been the wedding of some more well know members of the community.

Harry and Ayana had the chance to meet many local people of the town and its closely involved Lord and Lady, who were happily performing the ceremony to wed the couple. It had been a grand affair with much partying, dancing, and drinking. Harry was able to meet many of the local Knights of Myth Drannor as well as a few Harpers. Through the rest of the month he got to know a few a bit better than others.

The rest of the time was spent as usual. The only other major thing to report was some intriguing information on the creation of the doorway, or arch system used to get to the realm of Mystra. Apparently it took blood magic. A realize of blood from the caster and some lengthy incantations should open the archway. Harry even found the exact spells he would need.

He was hoping to do this with in the next few months. The only reason he didn't do it at once was that he needed a few things still. Not to mention Elminster would have socked him good for being so careless. He had yet to find the perfect homing beacon spell so that he could find his way back with Sirius.

He also needed to bring his overall magic reserves up. His work on wandless magic had helped with this but it wasn't enough yet. Maybe for the winter holidays. It would be nice to actually spend it with family who love him. It would take a lot of work but Harry figured he could meet his goal.

AN/ IMPORTANT NOTE:

I have accepted a job in an area that I will not be able to get on the internet. It is only a summer job so by the time I get back I should have one, maybe two chapters ready to post. But till September this is my last post for a while. I hope those you who read this will continue to stick with the story as I will be continuing to write it. I just won' t have anything up for a while. I am also hoping to pick up the story's pace a little so beware.

Reviews:

Puck Silverbreeze: If you look closely at the previous chapters you will find that I did not that as a chosen of his own realm and not that of Faerûn the type of Chosen is different. Harry is not nearly immortal. He will live longer than any other wizard has on earth but Merlin. His becoming a Chosen was for the same reason as Merlin. To change the world. I can't remember but I think I had said at one point that Merlin had been a Chosen of earth like Harry. Because of this Harry will still have a match of his own. I will not set him up with one of the Seven as his 'mate' has already been decided for the most part. Don't worry we'll get to that in a while.

Satyr-oh: Thank you. I'm glad your enjoying this. While I do like Drizzt I do not believe he is the best one to mentor Harry. Drizzt is more of a physical combatant. Harry must learn as much as he can from magic. There for he must learn under one who uses it on a large scale, if as I said before, he is to take on the same role as Merlin. As for traveling the realm than I will have to say yes. He is likely to go to Silverymoon, Waterdeep, and other places I will not say yet. Because of this I will have him meet Drizzt to satisfy so many people who have asked. I'll even try and get a spar or two in with them but I'm not so good at writing that so we'll see how it goes.

bahamut9999: I believe that Fazul was killed in the Hand of Fire series. If this is not correct then I apologize. I don't think I gave the leader a name anyways but it won't be Fazul as I want my own character there. Thank you for correcting my mistake on the cleric over wizard I will keep that in mind.

Shion20: Elminster other wise known as El or Old Mage is not Merlin. I can say however that yes he did know him, I will even go so far as to say that Merlin was an apprentice of El's for some time much like Harry is now. Trust me El is a lot older than you think, try some where around 1300 or so if I calculated and am remembering correctly.

Nogoalielikeme: It is an interesting way to write but I wouldn't be able to get all the information I need into the story that way. Besides I like to write more drawn out stories. It add suspense, knowledge, and character familiarity.

HHM: Thanks for the comment. You should know that I am not a professional writer and I am doing my best. I have on occasion noticed something like you described and changed it but nothing is going to be perfect.