AN: Hello again everyone. It has been a few months since I have posted and if you didn't read the author note last chapter then the reason was I was away from download access. I have done my best to get this done so that I could post it when I came back to civilization. Now that I am back that is just what I am doing. I hope that this answers some questions and brings up some others. Please review at the end. Thank you all… DragonFoxx

Chapter 7

The Archway, The Wizard, and The Immortal

Part 1

The Passage of Time

"Someone once told me that time was a preditor that stalked us all our lives. I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, reminds us to cherish every moment, because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived. After all Number One, we're only mortal." - Capitan Jean Luc Picard

"Speak for yourself sir, I plan to live forever." – Commander William Riker

Star Trek Generations

It was nearing Christmas and all of the students had signed up to go home for the holiday. Because of this Dumbledore was closing the school down completely. Only he and a few of the staff were remaining like always, and they were all members of the Order and would be at Headquarters to celebrate on Christmas. It was a rare occurrence, not having any students over the winter holidays. Usually at least four or five would stay, those who were orphans, or their friends for the most part, but this year even they were headed out to homes of friends. With Voldemort's return declared true by the Ministry, every one wanted to be with friends and loved ones during this time, even if there had been relatively very little activity actually occurring.

The Lady's Hands were no different then the rest of the school. Hermione had gone to be with her family, some of which she hadn't seen in quite a long time. Neville had gone to do the same with his grandmother and parents. Luna and her father were out of country to visit some relatives as well. That of course left the Weasley's who were all, with the exception of Percy, staying at Headquarters. No one was actually sure if the rift the middle son had created would ever be repaired. Especially not since he still adamantly believed they should have followed the Minister, even if Dumbledore was proven right.

Christmas eve came quickly and all were having a great time at Headquarters. Hedwig had just left after dropping off the gifts from Harry and Hermione who had been visited first. Every thing was nice and quiet during the holiday. The food was wonderful as was the company. And, as always, on Christmas morning much joy was shown during the opening of presents. Gifts from Harry had taken the first round.

All of Harry's close friends had received nearly the same gift. And it was fortunate that they all came with a letter of explanation. Otherwise no one would have known what to do with them. Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny, and Luna each received a foot long box with two rods inside. One made of wood, and the other made of steel. In the letters Harry explained what they were for.

When he had heard from his friends about their defense class he decided to help them out. Those who were taking the class each received a box of rods and when they were ready for weapons training, according to their teacher, they were to take the rods to their teacher and perform a particular spell that what engraved on the inside of the lid of each box.

Harry himself had already enchanted the rods, with the help of Elminster, to create the weapon perfectly suited to each person. They needed to do this in front of their instructor as to get training in that weapon. The only others to receive anything similar were Fred, George, and Remus.

Fred and George each received a pair of twin throwing knives. When asked about this by others they simply said they had told Harry they had been practicing. The knives they had received where apparently some of the best in the area of where Harry was studying and had been spelled by his mentor to be anti theft as well as rust and dull resistant.

Remus on the other hand had been given a steel laced wooden staff. The wood was of a magical type that when treated correctly would absorb and mix with molten metal. Harry could not afford Mytheral and didn't know how Remus would react to it so had simply stuck with steel. The staff was not ornate but rather plane and simple like the old werewolf himself. If used like a walking stick he would be able to keep it around him at all times so that when he did need it he would have it handy. Remus also received a letter.

Part of this letter was to all explaining why many had received weapons. Apparently while working on his training one of they spells he was learning had a rare side effect of given the user momentary visions of the future. He of course being used to getting the unexpected, happened to have a short vision of many people he knew fighting with weapons. He didn't know where or when this would occur but knew that if they got the weapons now then they would have a much better chance of wining when they actually needed to use them. The rest of the letter had been privet for Remus about the plans for getting Sirius back.

The rest of those present got other gifts from Harry. Dumbledore received a set of candy from the local area where Harry was living. These included Mell Melminon, a melon fruit chew somewhat like taffy, Daleland Delights, a hard candy in many different unique flavors, and Honney Suckkle Sweetsticks, a flavored rod of hardened honey.

The Weasley's received a box of spices unique to Faerûn as well as some local knickknacks. Hagrid was sent a book of Faerûn's Creatures. McGonagall was sent a small box of local delicious foods, and Tonks was sent a small box of local prank items and a letter telling her to prank Remus for him. She of course didn't show this to anyone.

Every one was having a great holiday vacation. Voldemort was quiet and families were enjoying their time together. That was until New Years, when the reason for Voldemort's lack of activity reared its ugly head.

Harry on the other hand was having a wonderful time. He had received his present from Hedwig earlier that morning, and had gone through the pile looking for a particular book shaped one. He had told Hermione in mid October that he was looking for a special locator, tracking, or beacon spell to use when he when to get Sirius. He had also told her it was causing the most difficulty to find. She in turn had promised to see if she could find anything and that she would send it to him if she did. Harry was hoping that she had found something and sent it to him.

Just as he found the package from Hermione, and surprisingly Bill Weasley as it said on the note, Storm, Sylûne, and Ayana walked in. "What is with all of the packages?" Ayana asked

"Well they are Christmas Gifts from all of my friends. Christmas is a holiday we celebrate on earth." Harry replied to her as the three women took seats around Harry. They were currently in the living room of the tower so there was plenty of room for all of them. Even with the small pile of presents in the middle of the room where Hedwig had dropped them.

Said owl was currently sitting on the back of Harry's chair thanking him profusely for the spell he had placed on her before she left so she could carry heavy loads with out a problem. It wasn't a perfect spell of course. She was quite tired out from the effects and glad it was wearing off. Still she what happy to have had it in the first place.

"So are you going to open them or not?" Storm asked with a hint of mischief in her voice. This was quickly put to rest though as soon as Harry spoke.

"Maybe. It depends on what is in this package. If it has what I hope then I am going to wait on the rest till after I get my Godfather back." He replied to her. Once said he opened the package and looked at the book. It was titled 'Ancient Spells and Curses' and was marked in three places.

Harry opened it up to the first marked page. There Hermione had placed a letter,

Harry,

I have looked carefully for the type of spells your looking for and found three that I think might work. Bill helped me get the book and showed me how to do the third one. It is the hardest but your best possibility. All are in this book the first one being on the page marked by this letter. I hope this works for you. You should be sure to try them before you go after Sirius so that you know how to do them. I did myself and they are quite difficult, even for me. Good luck Harry and remember we all love you, so you better return.

Hermione

Harry, Storm, and Sylûne all looked at the three spells. And each came to the same conclusion. The third one would be the best. It would also be the hardest. Because of this Storm gave Harry the rest of the day off. She and Ayana would be out side practicing in the courtyard if any one needed them. They both wished Harry luck before they left.

Once the other two were gone, Sylûne and Harry began working on the spells. After having deciding to do each of the spells so that he would know them just in case, they decided to set the deadline at the day after tomorrow. The winter solstice. It would be then that Harry opened the gateway and went after his Godfather. The time in between then and now was entirely spent on preparations.

They began setting up early in the morning of the Solstice. There was much snow on the ground Elminster had chosen for Harry's use. It was a spot outside of Shadowdale that was well used for spell casting of large caliber as well as community gatherings. It was the perfect setting for such occasions. It was a perfectly circular open hill. No trees were on it anywhere. It was not a tall hill, nor was it roughened with rocks. The base of the hill was also surrounded by trees. Keeping those below the short summit in a protective embrace.

A few hours after the set up had begun many of the town folk came to see what was happening. It was rare for large spell castings to occur in the winter months, but many had met the Master Mage's new apprentice. They had come to like the young man and were interested to know if this was his own casting or if he was simply helping Elminster. If it was his own casting then he must be more powerful than any in town had realized.

As the town folk gathered around the perimeter of the hill, safe in the trees, no one spoke a word. Those on the hill seemed to be beginning. It looked like it would be a spectacular casting if the alter set up near the center of the hill was anything to go by.

Harry walked up the hill with a stone bowl in his hands. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt with a coller and loose pirate type pants. Both were made out of black silk and though it was cold it didn't seem to be affecting Harry in his outfit. As Harry got to the top of the hill he set the stone bowl in the center of the alter.

Said alter was a simple thing. Mostly consisting of a pile of stones with a large flat stone on the top engraved with Mystra's symbol. On top of this mystical symbol sat the bowl. Next Harry pulled out six quartz crystals and began setting them up in front of the alter in a particular order. Five of the crystals were set up as the points of a star with the top of it right in front of the alter. The sixth and largest crystal was set in the very center of the others.

After this was done Harry returned to the alter where Elminster was standing. Storm, Sylûne, Lhaeo, and Ayana were also nearby but could not help in this matter. Therefore they stood apart from the Master Mage and Mage-to-be as they had begun calling Harry in the confines of the tower. The truth of the matter is he would soon be a full mage if this worked. It would help him not only get his Godfather back but also raise his magic to another level.

The two stood there facing each other and conversing quietly for about ten minutes. Elminster then set one old hand on Harry's shoulder and with the other presented to him a dagger. Harry took the dagger with both hands and breathed in deeply. He then slowly nodded to Elminster. The Old Mage gave a slight nod in return and lifted his hand from Harry's shoulder. He then turned around and walked to the others. They stood there behind Harry as he stood at the alter, facing away from them into the center of the crystals.

At this point Harry was on his own and he knew it. The set up had been the easy part, and he realized that much of the town was watching. Harry began to get nervous until Elminster cleared his throat and brought Harry back to the purpose of the spell he was about to perform. After the young mage took a deep slow breath he began the first spell.

Harry was standing at the alter with the bowl in front of him. To the sides of the bowl were two strips of cloth one white and one silver. Ahead on the ground were five crystals forming the points of a star and a sixth larger crystal in the center. In his right hand he held the sharp dagger given to him by Elminster, and his other remained empty. Things were set, it was time to begin.

"Lady of Mysteries, Guardian of all Magic, Mystra my Goddess, Hear my call." Harry began, his hands raising above the bowl and alter. "May the door be open, May I cross the threshold, May you guide my feet to the intended." At this point Harry had brought the sharp edge of the dagger to the palm of his empty hand. Both held over the bowl, he brought the dagger down and released his blood. Harry then began to speak a language long forgotten by the general populace.

He spoke for several minutes, all the while letting blood flow out of his open palm and into the bowl. When he finished with the spell he laid the dagger he still held on the right side of the bowl diagonally across the silver cloth. Still using his right hand he folded the two ends over the dagger, the first over the blade and the second over the handle. Harry then let his palm rest on the dagger. Once done with that he put his left hand, palm down on the white cloth, and looking into the bowl now filled with blood he began to speak.

This time, while still unrecognizable, those watching could see something happening. As Harry spoke white and silver tendrils of light began to form around his feet. Slowly they wound themselves up his body and around the alter till all was completely covered. The tendrils then began to get brighter and larger until nothing could be seen but the light. With a sudden flash the light tendrils disappeared and Harry stood at the alter, right hand still on the covered dagger and left hand now bound by a white cloth with red ends.

Harry took a moment to catch his breath and open his eyes. He didn't even know when he had closed them. Upon their opening he saw that his hand had been bound and that the bowl filled with his blood was now filled with silver liquid. After another few deep breaths he continued on with his work.

Taking hold of the bowl with both hands he carefully picked it up and slowly walked around the alter and into the crystal star. Once he was at the center he again began to speak in that unknown language while he slowly poured the silver liquid over the crystal that was placed there. All at once magic began to become tangible and started to swirl around Harry.

Reds, yellows, blues, whites, greens, all surrounding a center pillar of silver light. Harry stepped back from the magic as it rose higher and higher. Forcing the air out and into all those watching the mage work the young apprentice was performing. All where speechless as Harry took a step back toward the pillar of lights.

As Harry reached the pillar he put up his left hand and placed it into the magic as it continued to move up into the sky. Once his hand was inside the silver center of the pillar Harry spoke again. "Lady guardian, Keeper of Magic, Protector of the Weave; hear my call and let the door be open to me." As he finished their was a flash in the lights, brightening to an un-viewable degree.

Every one watching covered their eyes as the whole sky lit up to a white brilliance. When it disappeared Harry was gone and in his place stood a stone arch with a white veil fluttering in a nonexistent breeze.

"What just happened?" Ayana asked. No one could really give the young woman a straight answer though as none had seen this performed before. Even Elminster gave not a strait answer but a simple, "Now we wait."

After saying as much he walked over to the arch and alter and sat down between them. With a wave of his hand a tent appeared around him blocking others views. Storm, Sylûne, Lhaeo, and Ayana walked over to the tent and entered in for some rest and to wait for Harry's return. Many of those watching from a distance decided to return to their homes. If Elminster was setting up a tent than the end result of the spell, and Harry, could be a long time in coming. Only a few decided that they would remain and so set up small camps near the summit of the hill. The rest of the crowd would wind up filtering in and out as the days passed.

In Harry's eyes things were much different. As the lights flashed Harry too had to close his eyes, though he could not cover them as his body had become otherwise immobile in the large degree of magic surrounding him. When he opened his eyes again there was no light surrounding him. All was black but for a white veil fluttering at his back. For a moment he didn't know what to do. Then he remembered that he must finish all his spells before he could go looking for Sirius. He had only one left.

Harry began speaking in Latin. A spell tying one end of a thread of magic to himself and the other end to the place in which he stood. When he took the thread back it would lead him on the most direct path to his current position. After that he figured all he had to do was walk through the veil behind him to get back to Faerûn.

Once he was done with the spell, and could feel a slight tug on his navel, Harry tried to look around him and find out where to go. It was unfortunate for him that all he could see was black in all directions. "Well," He said aloud to the dark atmosphere, "No one said it would be easy. I guess I just head forward." Saying this he began to do just that.

It seemed to be hours before Harry got anywhere. Well if you could call a small speck of light anywhere. But now that there was something to see he was headed directly for it. A possible way out. The focus now was just to reach it, and that in itself was getting difficult as Harry was tiring, and he knew he needed to reach that point of light before he could make it no further. This knowledge was not something he could even explain to himself, he just knew it was important. The place he was in now was not somewhere for resting.

It had been another stretch of time that the young mage could not measure before he got to the former point of light. The light that was now an open doorway. It was with great strain and shill will power that Harry crawled his way over the threshold, where he closed his eyes for a moment and the doorway boomed closed. This woke Harry up enough to see what happened and why, or at least his thoughts on why.

'If I had been in there I would have been trapped. Why did it only close now, when I closed my eyes? Is that why I felt I couldn't rest in there?' Harry decided he was too tired to think about it anymore. The door was gone and he was out of the black passageway. He needed to set out to find Sirius, but first some time to rest. Harry looked around where he was and saw that a tree was to his left not 5 feet off. He was too tired to even get up to go over there so instead just crawled his way to the shade of the limbs. There he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the moss softened base of the tree.

"He's alive. Another one through the arch?" The voice woke Harry but he was still to exhausted to move so he lay there to listen.

"Maybe, but he's different than the others some how." Another voice responded to the first.

"Yea I see what you mean. Why do you think that is?" The first voice asked.

"How should I know! You've been here longer than I have. We should get Horus, he would know why he is different or know someone who would at any rate." The second voice responded.

"Sure, I'll get him. Be right back." And with that Harry heard movement heading away from where he way sprawling against the tree. It was this fact that made Harry realize he had been moved. He knew he had not actually made it to the tree, nor into the position he was now in. With this in mind he tried to move with out attracting the attention of the second voiced person. This was when he got the startling realization that he could not move at all.

His whole body seemed to be frozen in the position he was placed. Not that it was uncomfortable; he was leaning against the trunk of a tree, padded by soft moss. No the problem came in that he had a mission to complete and was soon to be surrounded by three if not more unknown people. This was not looking to be good. Harry wasn't even quite sure just where he was.

The young mage worked to calm himself down. He would deal with things as they came and it sounded like they were coming right now. 'That didn't take long.' Harry thought hearing the footsteps of two individual people. 'The first one must have found Horus.' Harry was immediately wary as he still could not move and this man seemed to be a knowledgeable source if they other two were anything to go by.

"Well this is interesting. I have not seen one of these come through for many generations. You both know he's awake right?" Harry assumed the man talking was Horus. He was also surprised that the other could tell he was awake. It seemed this also startled the other two as Harry could hear both draw in quick breaths.

"Don't worry young man, we won't hurt you. You are in Mystra's realm and all here are friendly. You have done a difficult thing, especially for one so young. That is why you are unable to move. This is something I can easily help you with."

At this Harry felt himself being lifted off the ground but could feel no solid support under him like he could with Elminster's carry disk or a mobila corpus spell back home. 'Then again,' he thought, 'I am in the realm of Magic. Any thing has to be possible.' Though Harry could not see it, Horus gave a smile.

It took only about ten minutes but to one who could do nothing about what was happening it felt like a lot longer. Harry felt himself being lowered onto a soft flat surface.

"Young man, you are in my home. As my companions have said my name is Horus. When they found you out near the edge of my lands they did their best to make you comfortable while waiting for you to wake up. When you did not they came to get me. Now, you have had a rough journey through the passageway and I can tell you are quite tired. Sleep now and when you wake again I will answer all you questions."

With that Harry heard Horus leave the place where he lay and close a door. He figured that he must be in a bedroom laying on its soft contents. As he could do nothing else Harry resided himself to some time thinking before his mind succumbed to sleep.

'I wonder who this Horus is? I feel that I can trust him and I know that Lady Mystra doesn't accept those who abuse her magic. Apperantly he knows what is wrong with me as well. What ever the case there is nothing I can do right now but try and get better soon. I need to find Sirius and get us home quickly.' With thoughts of Sirius in his head Harry soon fell asleep.

When he woke again it was with the ability to move. Groaning Harry rolled over to his side and with a great effort pulled himself out of the bed. He was still quite stiff and it was taking him some time to walk around the room and get his equilibrium back. This short walk did help to get the circulation flowing again though. It was then that a man walked into the room.

The man was about medium height with long black hair that had been pulled to the back of his head in a tight, braided ponytail. On his chin was a short square goatee and his eyes were a light violet in color and almond in shape. What skin Harry could see was a light smooth copper color as if the man had seen sun all his life.

The clothing he wore was exceptional. It covered all his body but his face as his hands were clasped in opposite sleeves at his front. The outfit intrigued Harry. It was nothing that he had seen before. It was indescribable and seemed to defy logic. 'But then who ever said magic was logical.'

Again Horus smiled but this time Harry did see it. Deciding that the man would likely have many reasons to be happy he didn't really think about it and instead asked a question. "May I ask you who you are sir?" He said as politely as he could.

"My name is Horus. How are you feeling after not being able to move yesterday?" he asked in return.

"Well I can move but I'm still quite tired." Harry said feeling he needed to be fully honest with this man.

"That is to be expected after a journey like yours. But now that you are up and about we must get you on your way. You have much to do, do you not? Please follow me." With out giving Harry time to answer his question, Horus walked out of the room. Harry gave a start at the abruptness but quickly followed the man out of the door and down the hall.

Following Horus, Harry was led into a kitchen area much like Elminster's in it's old fashioned nature. A wood burning hearth stove was against one wall with a sink and water pump on the other. A wooden table with chairs sat in the center and on the last wall were the cabinets.

Horus motioned Harry to a seat as he went over to the cabinets. A moment later he came back to the table with a whole pile of food floating in front of him. After placing it on the table he joined Harry in sitting.

"Please help yourself. It will help you regain your strength." Saying as much he took an apple and some cheese. Harry too took some food and began to eat. After a few minutes of silent eating Harry spoke. "Sir what do you know of how I got here, or what happened to me?"

"Well I know you came through an archway. I also know that it was you who opened it, and that you are here to get another living soul out. You were unable to move at first because you used so much physical and magical energy to get the arch built and to make it through the passageway that it left you completely drained. Sleep and food will take care of those problems." Horus replied to Harry, answering not only the first questions he asked but others he had in mind as well.

"Ah, ok then. Why do I trust you." Harry covered his mouth. He didn't mean to blurt that out. Horus saw the suprize in the young man's eyes.

"Young Harry, you are a very powerful Mage, well a Mage in training anyways. You are connected to our Lady Mystra in very strong ways. Because of this you are also very connected to magic. Your perseptions of it will continue to enhance as time goes by and with it many gifts will appear. What they are I can not tell you. That you must learn on your own with experiance. What can you tell me about myself?" Horus asked.

Harry looked at the man in front of him carefully. "Your not what you appear, and older than many believe. Your..." Harry gasped. "Your not mortal or dead! How did I know that? What ..." Harry had pailed drasticly and his head was trying to come to terms with what was happening.

"You are correct. I am not dead or mortal. The ability you have just used is very hard to control and usually it takes you trying on someone you know well already or some one who is very powerful. Trying to use it on others can cause some nasty side effects for a while. I would not recomend it." Horus said to Harry. "Anyways now that you know one of your talents you will have to figure the rest out on your own. Come it is time for you to be on your way."

Horus rose from the table and Harry soon followed him to the front door. "Take this. The food here will not do much to help you but that which is in the bag will. Head strait down this road then turn right when you reach the first fork. Enjoy your time here but do not remain long. Good travels young Mage." With this Horus gently closed the stunned Harry out of the house holding a small light brown satchel.

Harry stood there for a few minutes getting his head around all that had just happened. Once the shock wore off he began heading down the road. It was a few hours later that he came to the fork that Horus mentioned. Without any heasitations Harry turned to the right and continued walking.

It took him what seemed to be two days, but he could not be sure. The distinction of time always seemed to be fluctuating, as well as the weather. His first day here had been very plesant and sunny. When he had left Horus' it had been the same but that had quickly changed to a light summer storm. Night had fallen not long after and Harry had thought that a tent would be nice.

He had been looking at the side of the road when he thought this and where he had been looking a tent had suddenly appeared. Harry was suprised but went to the tent quickly, ate some of the food he had recieved from Horus, and fell asleep soon after, comfortable inside the tent rapped up in a large fluffy blanket.

The next morning after some breakfast, he had looked outside of the tent he and was blasted in the face with a cold wind. The ground was covered in snow. He could still see the road through the blowing white and figured that with the way it was going it wouldn't be too hard to continue his journey. It didn't look to be a storm, just average winter weather. He wondered if he could get some winter clothing the same way he had gotten the tent.

With some thought as to what he needed for travel in the cold weather Harry found them appearing before him. With a smile he donned the warm clothing and walked outside of the tent. When he had turned around to figure out what to do with the tent, it had already dissapeared.

The walk went well and by the end of the day, one that seemed much longer that the day before, he again thought of a place to stay and the tent appeared on the side of the road. The next morning the snow had dissapeared and it was a nice warm spring day with a fully shining sun.

This day though something different happened. He met some one.

AN/ Part 2 will hopefully be posted in a few days. Sorry to have kept you all waiting.