A/N: Kind of a short chapter, sorry about that. But if you enjoyed, please Follow, Favorite, and Review.
Chapter XVI: The Princess and The Queen
(Daphne P.O.V)
With March came the softest tinge of warmth in the breeze that danced across the plains where Daphne and Dobby had landed. Daphne feared that the trek to Avalon would be arduous, but Harry's directions had been precise. Harry had told her that Avalon was a work of beauty, but his words did the place little justice. Daphne had seen castles, but never one so tall and polished that it reflected the sun rays as it kissed the clouds.
Goosebumps ran down her arm. She'd never been able to accurately measure magical-levels like Harry could. But much like when in the presence of the Dark Lord, she hardly needed it. The magic that radiated from the palace upon the hill spoke for itself. It truly was a fitting home for the most powerful witch to ever walk the earth.
Daphne stepped carefully towards the steel walls that surrounded the city. It was precisely how Harry had described it. The whole town looked like it had been trapped in time. The sound of plate armor creaked from atop the wall, and a voice boomed down from the knight, "Halt Mage! State your business here!"
"My name is Daphne Greengrass!" She called up to the guard, "I've come to seek the guidance of Lady Morgan le Fay!"
"Our lady is not here to offer guidance to the likes of you!" The knight bellowed, "Begone Mage! Begone or I will be forced to shoot you down!"
"Please, listen," Daphne pleaded, "I've come at the behest of Harry Potter! I need to speak with the Queen!"
"Potter?" The knight shuttered as if Daphne had shot him with ice. "Very well then, have Lord Potter present you as his guest and we will lower the bridge. Without it I-,"
"For the love of God Thorald, open the bloody gate!" A voice shielded from view shouted. Daphne smiled; she did not need to see the figure. There was only one man that spoke with such grizzled authority. All the same, she could not shield her soft smile when a Prime Alastor Moody phased through the wall.
"Yes, my lord," The knight said, the confidence in his voice broken, "Lower the gate!"
The draw bridge screeched like a harpy and fell to the ground with a thud. Daphne unsheathed a held breath and marched beyond the wall. Harry had told her the importance of showing no weakness when in Avalon. If her spirit broke, there would have been no way to return to her world. To return to her time. There was no time to go back on her decision now. Astoria needed her to succeed, as did Harry. Failure was not an option.
Daphne held her head high and fought the urge to look back as the draw bridge locked back into place behind her. She scanned the streets of the city cautiously. Yet, she couldn't shake the oddity of seeing a world only talked about in her childhood storybooks right before her eyes.
Bread from the small bakery filled the air, paired with the sound of hammered metals from a blacksmith who forged weapons for the war that would never come. Children played with toys so outdated, Daphne was unsure of its name or the games they played. She was uncertain if it was a mercy or not. Those children would never grow up, they'd never lose their innocence, but they'd never become who they may have blossomed into.
The heels of her boots clicked on the cobblestone but came to a sudden stop. The chill of a ghost was a familiar feeling to all Hogwarts students, and Daphne prepared herself for the worst. She turned blankly to the spirit, and Moody studied her closely.
The auror looked nothing like the grizzled man from her memories. The man now carried a pair of matching eyes and long hair tied back in an elegant knot. He wore a lord's tunic and cape tucked into the shoulders that descended to his feet which hovered centimeters above the ground. He wore a familiar tight scowl, but his scars had faded into non-existence. Frightening as it was, she had no choice but to admit that the auror was rather handsome.
"The boy must be in some deep shit if he considered sending you here," Moody greeted.
"You may look a bit different, but you certainly are as friendly as ever."
"Death does little to remedy one's personality," Moody stated. He looked her over once more, and Daphne felt his gaze upon her tatted wrist, "No mistaking it, you are who you say. I sense the boy's magic in those bonds. Which leads me once again to ask, why in the name of Merlin's Saggy Ball-Sack would he send you here?"
"I asked to come," Daphne replied, "I needed to come."
"And here I thought you were the brains behind his brawn," Moody sighed. "Well, no use crying of spilled milk. Let's go meet who you've come to see. Pray that she's feeling favorable."
The auror's warning had been received. Harry had warned her of the fabled witch's temper. Yet, the further she climbed towards the stone walls of the castle, the better the view she got of the town of Avalon. The storybook village bustled with merriment. The people, while lost to time, seemingly looked happy. It gave no inclination that the woman who ruled the town was a malevolent spirit.
The magic the hummed off of the stone walls of the keep crushed the doubt. It was cold and foul. Even the stones that held the castle looked desperate to escape but didn't only out of fear of the mistress within. For her entire life, Daphne walked the halls of Hogwarts as the coldest bitch in the room. Now, just the woman's magic made her look like a puppy.
The black oak door screeched open at Moody's approach. The scent of death overtook Daphne the instant she entered the castle's Great Hall. She scanned the corridors, but her mind couldn't map the building. Harry had told her not to show fear, but for all her might, she couldn't keep her hand still. How had a magic this powerful once existed? More so, how had it ever been defeated? The rumors of Merlin called him a wizard like no other, without a doubt, those rumors were correct.
Suddenly, Daphne's mind stilled. Her eyes locked upon the throne that sat at the end of the hall. A woman lounged atop it, though Daphne thought a goddess was a more suitable term. Even translucent, the woman looked like art, and a blush filled her cheeks at the thought of Harry's time with the woman. It was irrational, but for the first time, Daphne could confidently say that there was no contest; she was not the prettiest girl in the room.
"I faintly sensed the boy's magic," The woman whispered, "I'd thought he had returned. Yet, instead of my crow, I see a dove in my halls. Approach girl, now."
"Go," Moody whispered.
She wanted to, gods she wanted to, but her legs felt frozen in place. Until suddenly, she found herself soaring through the hall. Her face slammed into the carpeted floor unceremoniously, and a groan wiggled its way from her throat.
Daphne gathered herself and looked up at the queen with shaky eyes. The goddess shared none of Daphne's insecurities, and her eyes hardened into a glare, "When I give an order, it is to be followed. Understand?"
Daphne nodded hastily and lowered her eyes once more. Without a word, the former Slytherin found herself hoisted to her feet by Morgana's will. The witch studied her closely, "Yes, my crow's magic is upon you. Tell me, why is that?"
"Your crow?" Daphne asked.
"Harry Potter," Morgana clarified, "My student."
"Well, my lady," Daphne started, sure to remember her manners, "It most likely has to do with the runic bond I have formed with him. Harry, he's my-," Daphne mulled over the word for a moment before she said it, "Partner."
"Ah, I see," The witch said dryly. "He spoke fondly of you while he was here when I allowed it. Tell me, why did he send you here? Did you anger him? Did he threaten you with death?"
"What? No!" Daphne replied, "I was the one who asked him to show me where your country was. I begged him to let me visit you because I need your guidance, my lady. I need your help."
"Help?!" Morgana threw her head back in laughter. "Surely the boy told you I don't offer help. He had something to provide me with, something that interested me. It was only right I gave him the tools to make that a reality. You, however, I have no interest in."
Daphne bit back her lip that cried out to tremble. Morgana yawned and lessened her glare. "I will admit that I do have a fondness for the boy, however. As he is your partner, I will let you leave this place. Consider it mercy."
"Please!" Daphne dropped to her knees, "I've never begged for anything, but I am begging you; my sister is dying of a blood curse, and I'm nothing more than a burden to Harry. I've dedicated myself to the study of medical magic for the sole reason of saving my sister and protecting my loved ones. You are the greatest healer in all recorded history; I will do whatever you ask, but please, teach me. Teach me so that I can help your crow. Teach me so that I can save my sister."
Morgana's lip curled. She turned her back, and Daphne felt her heart sink into her stomach before the witch snapped. Daphne stumbled back in shock as a bloodied and battered man appeared before her minutes from death. "You claim to be a healer. Keep this man alive until morning, and if you are successful, I will teach you. Fail, and... well, the apothecaries of my little hamlet always are in need of skilled helped."
Daphne swallowed hard. The cruelty in Morgana's eyes flickered like fire, "Of course, you can always take my offer and leave this city. So tell me, girl, what will you do?"
"If I succeed, you'll teach me?" Daphne asked. Morgana nodded stiffly, and Daphne glanced down at the bloody man. "He'll live to tomorrow. I swear it."
"Very well," Morgana said with a twisted grin, "Good fortune to you. From one healer to another, I'd hurry up, his heart's just stopped beating."
(Astoria P.O.V)
The noise of 12 Grimmauld Place had begun to make her head spin. Harry hadn't attempted to hide where Daphne had vanished but did not attempt to apologize for it either. Instead, he'd elected to sit and listen to the questions of his sanity. He replied in short responses only and used his rank to end discussions. It reminded her a bit of Dumbledore. But the way Harry looked at her showed the difference. Harry didn't care about those that questioned his judgment, but he did care for the pain he rightly assumed she was feeling.
Harry's voice grew cold. It was an expression that Astoria had grown depressingly familiar with, though she doubted she would have done better in his position. "I'm done with the Daphne subject. She asked to go, and I let her. I believe she will succeed and that the results will be fruitful for the Order. Now, can I please hear about the reports from the battle?"
Molly Weasley harumphed but fell silent at Harry's lifeless stare. Kingsley Shacklebolt held a rolled-up piece of parchment in his hand that Harry pulled open and skimmed. She didn't need to read the paper to know what it said; Harry's face was enough. Her brother handed the scroll back to Kingsley before he murmured, "Less than I thought, more than I'd hoped."
"At least the Obliviators did their job," Amelia Bones, one of the new residents of the Black Manor, said firmly, "Thought the Prime Minister wants my head for the attack. I don't blame him, it'll be hard to think of a good excuse."
"What of Voldemort?" Astoria cursed in her mind when the words left her lips. "Sorry, maybe it's not the time for that."
"It's fine," Harry said kindly. His voice was always warm with her. "By the time the aurors did their assessment of the damage, he was gone. Make no mistake though; he's not dead. Injured, maybe, but not dead."
Harry's face was gaunt. It was often hard for her to remember that the Harry she'd met on the boat was the same person that sat beside her. He was taller, stronger; his hair was more closely cut, but it was his disposition that always threw her off: the constant exhaustion and the fear he'd allow nobody to see.
"So, you were able to wound him though," Amelia said, a sliver of hope in her voice.
"Honestly, he won't let lightning strike twice like that. I won't get another chance. I need to get stronger. The prophecy says it's either him or me and that I'm supposed to have this power he doesn't have. Dumbledore believed it to be love, but outside of the rune bond, I haven't exactly figured out a way for me to weaponize love." Harry's elbows pressed into the table before he took a deep breath, "We need to start reclaiming territory. Voldemort and his followers won't stay stagnant for long. We have to start our counter attack."
"I'll assess how many aurors we have to mobilize at the moment and begin to create plans for our offensive," Kingsley said, "I'll be off." He nodded politely at Harry and Amelia's bones before he departed from the room.
"Alright, if Kingsley is going to handle that, then everybody else take some time to heal and prepare yourselves, we strike back as soon as possible," Harry said, "Dismissed."
Astoria glanced up at Harry, but the boy's eyes didn't leave the parchment. Harry mouthed the names of the fallen and repeated them as if to commit them to memory. Astoria reached out to grab his wrist but stopped when the Minister for Magic called out to him first, "Mr. Potter, a word please... in private."
Harry nodded and finally turned to face Astoria, "I'll be out soon," He said, "Try to relax or do something to unwind." She hated the way Harry treated her like a child but said nothing. With a nod, she left the room and turned the corner. But Astoria had no intention of missing the conversation. With a wave of her wand, she increased her sense of hearing, and then she waited.
There was an awkward air of silence before Harry spoke, "So, Minister, what is it that you wanted to talk about?"
Astoria held her breath. She didn't want to miss a single detail. For a moment, she considered it wrong to eavesdrop, but good siblings looked out for each other. Her method was just a little more unorthodox than most. She released her held air only when words escaped the Minister's lips.
"Tell me, Potter, what are you willing to sacrifice to win this war?"
"If you have some twisted plan that involves the death of others to get me stronger, I'm gonna have to pass on that," Harry said.
"Not of others," Amelia said, "Of yourself. When we go into battle, no matter how conditioned, there is a sliver of hope that exists that perhaps we'll live through the situation."
The Minister wasn't wrong, she knew the nagging thought quite well, but it was the following sentence that stilled Astoria's essence. "What if I told you I had a way to possibly boost your power considerably, but without a doubt, you'd die."
Astoria wasn't sure what answer she'd expected. Had it been her, she wouldn't have been able to answer the question. But Harry wasn't her; his answer was all the proof of that. "Would it be enough to kill Voldemort?"
"If the prophecy is correct, then yes, most-likely," Amelia said, "But please, think before you give me your answer. This will inevitably lead to your-"
"Fine," Harry said; Astoria could hear the shrug in his voice, "What do I have to do?"
"This isn't something to be taken lightly, Mr. Potter." Amelia said, "The ritual may fail if you don't have a strong enough will to make it a reality."
"I'm tired of fighting," Harry sighed, "If it kills me to end this once and for all, then it is what it is. As long as the people I care about are safe, then nothing else matters."
"I see," Amelia said, "Very well then. I'll begin the preparation. The ritual may take sometime to get ready, so until then, keep it between us."
"Alright, we'll keep it quiet," Astoria's spine chilled at the sensation of Harry's eyes spotting her through the wooden walls, "Right, Astoria?"
(Harry P.O.V)
If there was one thing that the Greengrass sisters shared in common, it was that they could get remarkably physical when they got mad. Harry's shoulder throbbed from the way Astoria slugged him, and it was the quickest application of a silencing charm that restrained her from shouting out the 'private talk' to the whole house.
Astoria marched after him until Harry closed the bedroom door and finally relented. With a wave of his hand, Astoria's vocal returned, and the tirade began. Worse yet, the young Gryffindor made good points. If not a little hypocritical herself.
"Harry," Astoria whimpered after her shouting ceased, "You can't die. I-"
"Astoria," Harry's voice carried an arctic chill, "I let you listen in because I know the type of person you are. So think big picture here. We aren't playing games here anymore. We're losing this war, and even though we got a win at the ministry, it doesn't change the fact that I hit Voldemort with the maximum power of the runic bond, and all it did was wound him."
"I know that but-"
"There isn't any more buts, Astoria. I have to do this. Not because I want to, but because there aren't any other options," Harry gritted his teeth. "There are no more clever ploys, work arounds, or deceptions to be run. It's either I kill him, or he kills me. If I have to die to make sure you're safe, I'm fine with that." Harry smiled, "So please, don't make this anymore difficult than it needs to be."
"What about sending Daphne away to train with Morgana," Astoria begged, "Wasn't that to-"
"It was to stop her from doing exactly what it is you're trying to do to me now," Harry admitted, "And to try and find a cure for you so she wouldn't be completely alone."
"You know that if you try this, I'll stop you even if I have to do it by force, don't you?" Astoria roared.
Harry smiled once more, "You're a better person than I could ever be. I wanted you to listen so that you know I'm serious when I tell you my last request." Astoria's eyes widened at his words, "I don't know what will come years after I defeat Voldemort, but you have the potential to become strong. So become strong Astoria, and protect the people we hold dear after I'm long gone. That's my last request."
"You selfish, arrogant bastard!" Astoria yelled, "Do you think you can just tell me all that and I'll just agree to it willingly. You're my-" Thud
Blood pulsed along the knife of Harry's hand, and a soft smile crossed his face as he lifted his wand to Astoria's head. "You won't remember any of this until I'm dead and gone, but please know this, I am sorry." Then with a mumble he spoke, "Legillimens"
A/N: Please Follow, Favorite, and Review!