Chapter Two: The Fourth Champion

It had been centuries, whole ages even, since Harry had seen his mother. He knew his parents were dead, oh how those nightmares would haunt him when he was younger. How the last thing he saw would be a green flash before he awoke on a war-torn battlefield with a massive dragon about to devour him. And yet here he could see her, reborn in his baby sister. A baby sister who was now a young woman and to his confusion, wasn't dead.

"Iris? How… it's been centuries, how are you still alive?" She raised an eyebrow in confusion and Harry could hear other students mumbling and whispering.

"Centuries? Harry, it's been about fourteen years." He froze at that before looking over to Filianore.

"Time moves differently Harry. It was centuries ago when you arrived, but here only a short amount of time passed."

"Light is time." Harry said as he remembered Halflight once telling him that. He heard someone stepping up to them. A grip on his greatsword, Harry turned to see an older man in blue and silver robes, a long white beard hanging down to his waist.

"Harry?" His voice was filled with sorrow. "Harry Potter?"

"Hadrien good sir." He wasn't about to forgive his manners as he stood and gave a bow, Filianore following with a curtsey. "Sir Hadrien, Commander of the Ringed City, Ring Lord and Ringed Knight, Warrior of Farros, and Guardian of Filianore." She reached out to him on the last one as he took her hand. "And you would be?"

"You don't remember me?" He seemed disheartened by this. "If you say it has been centuries for you then I can understand. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Harry blinked before he smiled, he remembered a man similar to this who would sneak him yellow candies with a smile.

"It is good to see you again Headmaster." He looked around the room. Hogwarts you say? How did we get here?"

"That would be the work of the Goblet of Fire Mr. Potter." This came from a lean man with a mustache that for some reason unnerved Harry by looking at him. "You have been selected as a champion for the Triwizard tournament." Now Harry was really confused.

"I'm sorry, Mr…"
"Crouch."

"Mr. Crouch, how could I have been selected if I didn't put my name forward?" At this, Crouch seemed to be a little nervous.

"In all fairness Mr. Potter."

"Sir Potter. Didst thou not hear him?" Filianore asked.

"Sir Potter then, your name was put in, you have been selected as a champion, your refusal to compete will lead to you losing your magic and your life." At this Harry's eyes narrowed. Steel sung against leather as his Greatsword was in his hand and pointed at Crouch.

"Is that a threat Mr. Crouch?" The blade ignited in flame. "I would suggest you think very carefully about your answer."

"Harry, Sir Potter." Dumbledore began. "Please put down the sword, I think all of us here have seen enough bloodshed for the night." Harry smiled at that.

"Only because you said please." The fires dissipated and he sheathed his greatsword on his back. "So what am I to do in these challenges? A melee? Archery? Don't tell me it's a joust."

"None of the above Sir Potter." This came from an older looking woman with glasses. "This is to be a test of your skills in magic." He nodded with a frown.

"Great, more sorcerers. Alright, where do I go?"

"Right now Severus will lead you to the other Champions, as for your companion…"

"Filianore stays with me." No nonsense, no room for arguing, that was the tone as Harry stood in front of Filianore.

"Sir Potter, Lady Filianore…"

"Stays with me."

"You can't be considering this Dumbledore," This came from a man who looked like someone took a dull cleaver to his face. "We don't even know if she's magical? He could have brought in a muggle for all we know."

This time Fili stepped out from behind Harry and leveled her best glare at him. "I am the Princess Filianore of Anor Londo, secondborn daughter of Gwyn: God of Sunlight, I am the Maiden of Time, and the Lady of the Ringed City. Do not even try to cross me or separate me from my friend." At this the whole hall was quiet as the scarred man had backed up a distance with each title that was dropped.

"I'll take both of them." This came from a man with oily hair and dark eyes in black robes. He stepped forward. "Follow me." The two broke off after the man in black down a flight of stairs.

"I'm guessing you're Severus." Harry began as they were some way down the stairs.

"I am, though I prefer to go by Professor Snape in these halls Mr. Potter." Harry raised an eyebrow at that.

"Perhaps you can answer a question for me then."

"I can, there your question is answered."

"Why do I have memories of your voice coming out of a glowing doe?" Snape froze and looked at the couple behind him as they stopped.

"What?"

"The night my mother and father were killed, I remember it very clearly. Every last detail. And I remember your voice coming out of a glowing doe. You were trying to warn us by saying…"

"Enough!" Snape had grabbed the railing to catch his breath. "I believe that you remember. Let us continue." The three continued on again and stopped before a gate, inside was a series of treasures and trinkets. "This is as far as I can take you." The gates opened as the Professor gestured inside. Harry gave him a nod as both he and Filianore entered, the door shutting behind them.

"He seems pleasant." Fili began.

"He seems layered, perhaps we'll find out why in the future."

The two stopped talking as three people stepped into the center of the room. The first was burly and muscular, a warrior of some kind. Farros, Havel, and Smough would have loved this guy amongst their ranks. The second was a woman, all soft and elegant yet he could tell she had a soul of steel and would surprise them all, just like Gwynevere and Ciaran. The last was a slim man with elegant features, lightly muscled but he had a fire in his eye that Harry had seen before. He had seen it in Ornstein and Artorias.

The three of them stooped as Harry and Fili entered the central chamber.

"Oo are jou?" This came from the woman, a thick accent coating each word.

"Do the judges want us back upstairs?" This came from the slim man.

"Forget that, we heard smashing sounds and screaming all the way down here. What happened?"

"I was in the middle of a fight when the goblet summoned us." Harry began as the other three froze at his words.

"Vhat do jou mean by Somoned us?"

"Harry," Fili began. "Let me please?" He knew she was the better speaker of the two of them. "Thou art not the only champions." Fili began. "My friend was summoned from battle along with myself and our foe as he was supposed to take part in this tournament. The sounds of steel singing upstairs were from the battle, our foe had killed several of thy countrymen in his rampage." The three seemed to get paler at that thought. "We have no idea of how we even got here, while Harry was born in these lands he hasn't been back in ages." The slim man looked at Harry more before his eyes widened in shock.

"By Hecate… Harry… Harry Potter?"

"It's actually Sir Hadrien now, but yes." The three other champions' jaws dropped as the slim man stepped forward.

"Harry, do you remember me? It's Cedric, Cedric Diggory?" Harry's eyes widened as he let out a joyous laugh and grabbed Cedric close to him in a hug.

"Ricky! I… I don't know what to say."

"Thou art Ricky?" Fili asked. Harry turned and smiled.

"Fili, allow me to introduce you to my childhood friend, Cedric Diggory. Or as I liked to call him, Ricky."

"You called me that because you couldn't pronounce my name." Cedric laughed as he said this.

"Ah, where are my manners though," He guided Cedric over to Fili. "Cedric Diggory, allow me to introduce you to my friend, partner, and closest companion. The Princess Filianore." The woman let out a small gasp as she quickly schooled her features while the man's eyes widened.

"Did you say Filianore?" Cedric was curious now.

"Like that book my…" Whatever the warrior was about to say, he was cut-off as the woman smacked his arm. Both Harry and Fili were confused by this. But the shouting behind them prevented them from asking any questions. Turning around they saw Headmaster Dumbledore arguing with two other people. The first was a man with dark hair and the second was an incredibly tall woman. Behind them were Crouch along with the hatchet faced man and a third man who looked far too jovial for Harry's liking.

"Ee cannot be expected to compete Eadmaster!" This was from the woman. "Ogwarts cannot ave twoo champions!"

"I Agree with Madame Maxine, he cannot compete." This came from the black haired man. "It is called the Triwizard tournament for a reason!"

"Technically Mr. Potter…"

"SIR POTTER!" This came from Maxine.

"Isn't a Hogwarts student as this is the first time he has ever been in these halls. Nor should he be able to compete as he didn't put in his name right Barty?" Dumbledore looked over to Crouch for an answer.

"The Goblet made its choice." He began. "As of tonight, Mr…"

"SIR!"

"Sir Potter is a Triwizard Champion." There was silence, Dumbledore seemed to deflate with this.

"Put me down for the Ringed City." Harry spoke up as the others looked at him.

"What?"

"Put me down to represent the Ringed City, it will allow the other champions to remain champions of their schools and will work to prevent any infighting amongst the houses." Everyone looked at him.

"That can work." Crouch stated. "Bagman," The jovial man looked towards Crouch. "Put him down to represent the Ringed City, whatever that is." Bagman gave a nod before leaving.

"I'm surprised no one is talking about the assassination attempt."

"Alister." Dumbledore's voice was harsh.

"What? He says he didn't enter his name and yet someone did, someone who wants him dead." The room was silent at this.

"Assassination?" Harry began. "This is their plan for an assassination, they should have thought of a better plan." He smiled as he crossed his arms before looking back over to Cedric and the others. "I never got your names, that was rude of me."

"Fleur Delacour, of House Delacour." The woman stated, giving a slight curtsey.

"Victor Krum. Heir of House Krum." The boy responded curtly as he nodded his head.

"Well, now that we have all met, we should figure out where to put you Sir Hadrien." Dumbledore began. "Now normally I would bring out the Sorting Hat but as you are not a student here, we would need to give you different lodgings for you and your companion." He gestured to Filianore.

"What are our options Headmaster?"

"There are quarters that were used by married couples in the past. These quarters fell out of style but we can re-open one for the two of you." Albus smiled on the inside as the two began to blush.

"I mean that is thoughtful…."

"Not the most proper…"

"I have been asleep for a long time…"

"Really I would be fine on the floor…" Dumbledore laughed and raised his hands, causing the two of them to stop speaking.

"It would be a two bedroom set of chambers." Both of them were frozen at this.

"That can work." Filianore replied.

Albus smiled, his eyes giving a twinkle.

"Please, follow me, I can lead you to your quarters." The two followed the elderly wizard as fevered whispering could be heard in the background. Traveling through the castle, Harry took in the tall ceilings and massive statues of knights.

"It reminds me of Anor Londo." Fili whispered to him, frankly, Harry agreed. The only thing that was missing were the sounds. The booming voice of Farros as he sparred with Ornstein and Havel, Gough looking out onto the world from one of the tall towers with Gwyndolin on his shoulder, Gwynevere and Flann sneaking off for tender kisses. Artorias and Ciaran chasing after Sif, and Smough and Gael, who were always ready to lend a hand. It was with this thought that Harry's memories of Anor Londo grew dark. Seath's machinations, Filianor's frantic letter, what they found in the Grand Archives. He could still hear her crying as Gwyn damned her. As the God of Sunlight took them all away from him. At Gwynevere's hollow eyes. At Smough and Ornstein's bound minds and souls. Farros' exile. Havel's imprisonment… he never really had a chance to process that his friends were all gone, that he even killed one of them tonight after he went mad. He crashed to his knees and began to weep, the centuries of holding it in finally overtaking him as tears dripped onto his black plate. Only to feel a pair of slim arms wrap around him and hold him tight.

Harry looked up to see Fili's eyes also weeping and Dumbledore looking on in worry.

"Forgive me Headmaster." He wiped both of their eyes with his cloak. "I just… it…"

"I understand Harry." He placed a hand on his shoulder. "I understand completely." He led them forward towards a painting of a man and woman with black hair and blue eyes embracing each other. The man wore a blue tunic and red scarf while the woman was clothed in a purple and gold embroidered gown.

"Here we are. Merlin, Morgana, are you two there?" The man and woman broke their embrace.

"Of course we're here." Morgana began. "Where else would we be?"

"With Arthur and Gwen perhaps." Merlin replied with a grin as Morgana smacked his arm.

"I have two new charges for you." Albus gestured over to Harry and Fili.

"Of course, let me just open the painting." Merlin continued as the painting opened up, revealing a room in cool blues and bronze. Harry and Fili stepped inside the room.

"Breakfast will be served tomorrow at seven to nine. Speak with Merlin and Morgana to assign a password to your quarters, only give this password to those you trust. I wish you both a good night." And with that Dumbledore left as the painting closed. Merlin and Morgana appearing on the other side.

"So…" Merlin began. "What would you like your password to be?" Harry looked over at Fili, the princess nodded. They both had the same name in mind.

"Priscilla." They both responded. The painted figure nodded at this.

The Clubhouse

Slightly Earlier

"So that happened." Draco said as he looked over to Iris she nodded, still silent in shock. Hannah and Susan on either side of her, pressed in close. The others were scattered around the abandoned classroom that they made into their clubhouse. The room was filled with sleeping bags for when they wanted to spend the night. Hermione, Luna, and Nevile had brought books in for them. Ron and Ginny managed to get Fred and George to rig up a place to store food and cook. There were quilts, books, a few tapestries and even a small sleeping bag hammock kept by the window for Luna. Luna herself was over at her window bed talking to Hedwig. Her sweet girl was worried and had flown into the room with ruffled feathers and began hooting at Iris's hair before picking at it.

"The board will most likely be calling a meeting, due to all the… deaths on school grounds." Nevile replied as he approached the circle they had set up in the center of the room, beside him were Greg and Vincent, the three boys had their arms filled with treats. Hell, Iris knew they would all need them. The door opened, revealing Pansy along with Daph and Tori, the three girls making their way into the room and sitting by Hermione, who had her legs stretched out and poking at Iris' legs with her toes while Ginny was resting her head in Hermione's lap.

"The Minister's Heliopaths will be on the move as well." This came from Luna as she stepped into the dog-pile circle that they made before sitting down, Hedwig perched on her head. Iris nodded at this. She still remembered what Fudge said when he arrested Hagrid. "The ministry has to be seen as doing something."

"So we can expect a visit from Fudgepacker then?" Iris asked as everyone in the room snorted, blushed or had their eyes widen.

"I think it's more likely he'll send Umbridge." Began Draco. "A truly despicable woman."

"Father likes to call her Umbitch." This came from Greg. the large boy was clenching his hands. "I could write to him? He's dealt with her before."

"So has mine." Vincent added. "She tried to push into House Crabbe's trade deals and nearly broke one between us and House Shatter-Shield of Norway. She stated they weren't English and were filthy barbarians." He looked in worry. "Father almost hexed her right there."

"She tried to claim land from House Malfoy once as well." Draco added. "Five square acres that just so happened to be where our House had one of our silk farms." Draco's eyes narrowed. "She claimed it was her ancestral land, yet could provide no evidence." The room was silent with that.

"So Umbitch it is then." This came from Hermione, much to Iris's shock. "But I feel as if we are ignoring something."

"What would that be?" Astoria asked.

"The Hippogriff in the castle Tori." Pansy replied. "The return of Harry Potter." And just like that, the room quieted again. Harry Potter, a name that carried weight and sorrow in two words. Iris didn't even know she had a brother until she was seven when she and Duds asked their parents if she was a bastard. After being scolded for calling herself that, her mom. No, her Aunt told the two of them the story, the story of a three year old boy who was murdered along with their parents. Her older brother. Duds found her crying in her room with the door locked and had to climb in through the window as she wouldn't open the door. And then there was the first year of Hogwarts.

"I remember your brother." Quirrelmort hissed in front of her. "Oh I remember his screams and cries of mercy, I remember striking him down." Iris only remembered feeling cold fury after that. That and burning Quirrelmort.

"Where has he been though?" Draco stirred her out of her thought's. "You can't just disappear without a trace, not even from an unforgivable."

"They mentioned Anor Londo and the Ringed City." This came from Hannah. "But that would be impossible."

"Why's that?" Iris asked. Hannah looked like she was about to speak but looked at Susan, biting her lip.

"I mean, they did mention several places and people from the books." Susan added.

"It doesn't make sense though." This came from Ginny. "It's a book, it's a children's book." What was she talking about?

"The Ringed City and Anor Londo," Daphne began. "Those are not cities in Britain or the world. And yet two people claim they are from there."

"What are you talking about?" Iris was curious now as everyone looked at her.

"You don't know about them?"

"Of course she doesn't know Neville, how could she know?" Ron added on. As their group began arguing, with Hermione looking as confused as she was, Iris saw Luna stand up and smooth her skirt before walking to the book pile. Pulling a thin book from the middle of the pile, she stepped back to the circle and plopped herself in Iris' lap. Everyone stopped as Luna passed the book to Iris. Taking the book, the redhead looked at the title, and froze. She read the title, she read it again, she felt her breaths coming more rapidly before Luna leaned her head back to Iris' chest.

"Wizarding children grew up on the stories of Beedle the Bard, for decades that was the only collection of fairy tales we had." Luna's voice had that dreamy tone to it that kept Iris drawn in as the lithe blond wrapped her arms around her. "Then six years ago they came out of the woods. A group of four, two men, a woman, and a baby. Papa helped them buy some land nearby and mama helped them settle in, the lady was nice, she wrote the books like the one you hold, her husband had a talent with painting and began doing the illustrations for her, he was an amatuer to if you believe it." Iris' eyes widened, the book looked like it was illuminated by one of the old painters, not an amaetuer. "They sold the books and they became popular with the wizarding world." Iris was focussed on the book, and the title.

The cover of the book showed a towering castle in the shape of a cathedral with the sun behind it. There were several individuals on the cover as well. The first was an armored figure with royal vestments and a golden crown, he had a heroic stance as his blue and silver hair whipped in unseen wind while the massive spear sword he carried crackled with lightning. Next to him was a man clad in armor wrought from stone with a giant tooth slung over his shoulder. The next two figures were a juxtaposition of each other, the first being slim and lean with a spear that had lightning crackling off of it. The other was massive and round, the warhammer he was leaning against looked heavy enough to crush a man. Both of these figures were clad in golden armor with the larger man having a second face on his helm and the slimmer man having a lion shaped helm.

After these two were three others, the first was another man that was tall and slim, clad in silver armor with blue vestments but he carried a large sword over one shoulder and a shield at his side. Next to him was a woman wreathed in dark blue cloth and black leather armor, a white mask upon her face and twin swords crossed in front of her. Behind the two of them was a massive grey and white wolf with yellow eyes that stood stalwart and true. Next to the blue haired man was another group of three people. The first one was a woman, perhaps the most beautiful woman Iris had ever seen, with reddish brown hair and alabaster skin. She was clothed in white and golden silks and was standing next to a man with fiery red hair and brown almost red eyes as they looked down on a baby in the woman's arms. The baby in question had porcelain pale skin and silver hair, a furry tail snaking out from her dress, she was beautiful, and the man and woman thought the world of her. Then Iris' eyes were drawn to the giant in the back to the couple, the giant in question was wearing a dark metal helm and was clad in armor with a pauldron made of bones, in his hands was perhaps the largest bow that Iris had ever seen as he looked ready to draw it.

But it was the last three figures that had Iris' complete attention. The first was a man, he was clad in a mix of metal and leather, a circular shield at his side and a greatsword pointed towards the ground. But it was the clean white beard and red hood that drew her attention. Before him were two other figures sitting on the stairs, the first was a woman with midnight black hair and crystal blue eyes, she was clad in a white dress and had a smile as she was leaning against the figure next to her. A hooded knight in black armor, the breastplate branded with the midnight black circle and burning ring. A pair of greatswords on his back, his cape was burning as well and his eyes, Iris could see under the hood that his eyes were a bright emerald green. She wept as she read the title.

Legends of Lordran, Written by Gwenevere White, Illustrated by Flann White.

Iris held the book, and Luna close to her, as she wept.

Merlin and Morganna Chamber

Present

The portrait door was locked and shut, no one would enter, Fili had gone to her private chambers while Harry stood in the sitting room that connected their chambers. He glanced longingly at Filli's chamber door once more before he sighed. It wasn't proper, and they weren't children anymore. He stepped towards his chambers and opened the door before making his way to the bed. He turned and shut the door behind him before exhaling, the fires on his cape died out as he unclasped it from his armor. Folding it up, he placed his hooded cape on the trunk at the end of his bed. He unclasped the straps of one gauntlet, then the other, sabatons and greaves followed as he placed the pieces of armor down on a table nearby.

Lastly, he unbuckled his breastplate, the piece of armor joining the others only it was stood up on a chair. His mail shirt came off after, each midnight black link rattling as he folded up the shirt and placed it on the trunk next to the cloak. All that was left was his black tunic and breeches, he shucked them off and folded them up. Checking the closet, Harry pulled out a pair of sleep pants, black ones, thank the light, and pulled them up before freezing before the mirror. Hideous scars criss-crossed his torso from past battles but his attention was drawn to the burn at his side. A burn caused by lightning.

"Thou truely are a traitor to turn mine children against me." He blocked out those memories as he pushed back the sheets and climbed into bed, waving a hand the candles dimmed and went dark. Harry was just about to close his eyes when the door to his chamber opened, he shot up and looked over to see who it was only to see Fili enter as the door shut, a white nightgown replacing her dress as tears dripped down her cheeks.

"To hell with propriety." She stated as she stepped over and slid under the sheets next to him. Harry looked down at the goddess before he joined her, wrapping his arms around her abdomen, feeling her heartbeat in his chest. The two of them closed their eyes and finally slept peacefully for the first time in ages.