Disclaimer; I wish I owned it all, sadly I own nothing. Oh well, maybe people will write nice things about me?
/This means people are speaking mind-to-mind/
After a brief time spent in the potions lab at Grimmauld place preparing the special candles needed for the gate opening ritual, and instruction on the ritual itself, the quartet left for Salisbury, to a certain stone circle.
"Sir, how are we going to get there? I've never been to Stonehenge so I can't apperate there." This was only partially true. Harry could apperate by coordinates, but he was really interested in how the other three got around. They kept mentioning the winds.
"About time you asked. Well Harry, remember what I taught you about speaking to others with your mind? How you send your mind looking for another person? Now I want to show you another use for that skill." Jaenelle said with a mischievous glint in her eye, "Follow my mind upwards, I want to show you something." She extended her hand for Harry.
/Can you feel that web of power? Those are the winds. They are how magic flows through the world. You might call them ley lines. There are different webs for different levels of power, but we will be taking a dark one and shielding you against the effects. You cannot use a web darker than your own strength, but you can be a passenger if someone of appropriate rank shields you. To ride the winds you reach with your mind and grab hold of the web. You will then join the flow of magic as it moves into the world. If you want to get to an area where there is no wind nearby, you need to drop out of the wind and travel overland. You could also throw your mind from the winds and travel through the darkness to that place, what you call apparition.Understand better now?/
/Much better, but I think I will need some help. I understood what you said, but I don't know how to do it./
"Don't worry Harry, we're here to teach you remember. You'll be flying all over the place in no time."
"Speaking of flying, I still want to challenge you two to a race as soon as we get somewhere suitable."
Saetan suppressed a groan. The poor boy had no clue what he was getting into.
"Alright, Lucivar if you could take care of Harry's luggage, I will shield him while Jaenelle takes Hedwig. We will ride a grey wind?"
At the chorus of nods, Lucivar wandlessly vanished Harry's two trunks and then quickly disappeared without a sound.
Saetan wove a black shield around Harry then placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Alright just follow my mind and I will show you how to catch a wind."
The last four vanished together, riding a wind only they could feel.
Harry loved it, he always felt at home in the air, and no he was flying without a broom. It wasn't really a wind, more of a stream or river. He reveled in the tingle of magic flowing over him and through him as he flew through the crisp afternoon air. He caught glimpses of landscape beneath him, but he knew he wasn't really present in the real world right then. He was magic!
They only stayed on the grey wind for a few brief minutes before landing in a field not far from the iconic stones that personified magic in Britain. Lucivar brought out the candles, holder, and silver knife. They all shed a few drops of blood onto the ground, Jaenelle and Hedwig more than the others. The candles were lit in the proper order and words in the Old Tongue spoken before the gateway between the realms opened. Saetan paused to apply some time released spells to snuff the candles and close the gate, when suddenly Harry had an epiphany.
/Hermione! I need a favor./
/Harry, what in the bloody blue blazes is going on? People are going crazy about what you pulled in Diagon Alley this morning! Where are you?/
/I am at Stonehenge right now, and that leads me into the favor I want. Could you apperate over here and do something for me?/
/What?/
/Well if you come over in five minutes there will be a bronze triangle shaped candlestick with four black candles in it. Come get it and keep it safe for me. Those are expensive and I will need it when I come back./
/Come back? Where are you going? And you still haven't told me how you do this!/
/Sorry Hermione, I need to go now, the portal is about to close!/
Harry was the last to go through the gateway, and just got through before the candles sputtered out and the magical portal closed behind him
Harry Potter Gone Missing.
By Steve Hardy
It has been a week since Harry Potter was last seen. While controversy and intrigue rage over his last public outing, the ministry is beginning to take notice. When aurors tried to contact Mr. Potter with some routine questions regarding that day, they discovered he was no where to be found. After going to the address on record with the ministry (something that has been sealed ever since October 31, 1981), his relatives claimed he and all his possessions disappeared the evening before the day in question. Questioning his friends and class mates lead investigators to discover this was a planned exodus and he took time to say goodbye before he left
While no one knows for certain where he went, there is some speculation. He was in the company of someone claiming to be Queen of Ebon Askavi. No one we contacted at the Department of International Magical Cooperation knew where Ebon Askavi was, and it certainly isn't on any maps.
We don't know where Mr. Potter has gone, but we are certain that there will be many questions to answer when he returns.
Minister Scrimegour Demands Hourglass Bodyguards.
By Steve Hardy
Following the revelation last week that a shield to protect against the Killing Curse does indeed exist, Rufus Scrimegour has publicly demanded that the organization known as The Hourglass either teach the spell to Aurors or provide bodyguards for high ranking ministry workers. His calls have apparently fallen on deaf ears however as no one claiming to be a member has come forward. The search for Harry Potter and his Companions has likewise come up fruitless.
Stepping out of the gateway, Harry immediately fell to the ground in relief. It was as if a weight he had never known was present suddenly lifted and he was free. His thinking became clearer than ever before and he couldn't even feel his scar, let alone the constant tingle that he had lived with since the Tri-wizard tournament.
"Are you alright?"
"I am better than alright my Lady, I haven't ever felt this good. Voldemort is gone from my mind. I can't feel him or see the horrors he commits. For the first time in my life I am free and making choices on my own. You have no idea how good this feels."
"I do," Lucivar said in a voice haunted by years of pain, "My brother Daemon does too. We can help."
"I don't know why, but hearing your voice, I believe you. Now I understand why you said you would teach me for free. To feel how I feel now, anything is worth this. If I can help others feel the same way, I will. Some things are worth the risk."
"Exactly, and that is the price of our teaching. When you find your brothers in bondage, you must work to set them free."
"I will. I understand now." Harry said as he stood straighter and took a deep breath, "Ok, where to now?"
"We are at the Dark Altar next to SaDiablo Hall, in Kaleer. We just need to go out the doors and follow the path around to the front doors." Saetan supplied.
Walking out the front doors, Harry was shocked at the size of the building in front of him. The Hall was nearly as big as Hogwarts! Saetan raised his hand, his ring flashed, and the very stones of the Hall answered his call. Harry's eyes widened as he looked at the High Lord.
"Over fifty thousand years ago, the witches and warlords of Dhemlan came to me. I was the only Black Jeweled Warlord Prince in the history of the Blood. They asked me to protect them from a great evil. They begged me to watch over them and their children in the war that was coming. Of course I would do it, a Warlord Prince must protect his people, it is in our blood. But the people feared me. And I saw what no one could say. The public does not understand a living Hero. If he dies saving them, he will be remembered as great, but if he lives he becomes human and the people cannot tolerate that. They grow resentful and learn to hate the Hero. But, if the Hero demands a price, then he is no hero just a mercenary. At the end of a battle, the mercenary collects his fee and leaves. The people feel no sense of debt to the mercenary and so they can let him live in peace. A living hero they feel that they owe a debt they cannot repay, and they grow resentful.
"So when the people of Dhemlan came to me and begged for my help, I set a price worthy of the most powerful Warlord Prince ever born. In all three Realms, I was given the territory of Dhemlan to rule as my own and they built SaDiablo Hall as my home. It was a price that was never seen before or since, but in return I have watched over this land long enough to see entire civilizations rise and fall. I've seen races of men be born, grow old and vanish, but never in fifty millennia has evil held sway in Dhemlan."
"You are really that old sir?"
"I am a guardian. When it came time for me to die, I performed a special ritual so that I would live a half life and be able to watch over my people. Before you start to worry, part of the ritual requires the desire to protect. It is not an option available to most."
"Thank you sir, you have just given me much to think about."
"Yes, I see that I have. Come, I will introduce you to Mr. Beals our butler and he will see to setting up a room for you and taking care of your trunks. Dinner will be served promptly at six, proper dress is encouraged. Tomorrow morning at seven thirty Lucivar will want you in the courtyard for your training. You will then have time to shower before breakfast at nine. Lessons with myself until lunch. Dress for lunch and breakfast is informal. Insisting on dressing for dinner is the only way I get Jaenelle or her daughter to wear nice clothing at all. After lunch you will have lessons with Jaenelle, and have the rest of the afternoon and evening to yourself. Likewise the weekends are yours, except this one coming. Sunday we will perform your birthright ceremony and discover what jewels you will wear."
"Yes sir. Is it possible for me to use the Gate and Altar to visit friends?"
"Of course, we want to help you here, not cut you off from your friends and life. You are free to come and go as you please, but if you go home, please let someone know so we know when to expect you back. By the way, you mentioned that you will be reaching adulthood for your people soon?"
"Yes sir. My seventeenth birthday is six weeks away."
"At that time you will need to perform a ritual called the "Offering to the Darkness". It is a ritual that unlocks your full potential and strength. I know from what you have said that your people consider dark to mean evil. That is not the case here. We see the Darkness as primordial Chaos. It is the essence of power and Craft, or magic. To say someone has a darker jewel means they are stronger or more powerful. Don't be angry if someone calls you dark or part of the Dark Court while you are here. The Dark Court is the ultimate ruling body here in Kaleer. Jaenelle is the Queen and leader. Lucivar, Daemon, and I make up the first circle of males. There is another first circle of witches. Apparently Jaenelle has accepted you into the fourth circle. This is a very powerful position in our society. Basically defer to anyone in a higher circle or if we ask you to, but the rest of them should defer to you. Be polite and don't be quick to take insult and you will get along fine here."
"Thank you for explaining that sir. It has been confusing me since she said it."
When they entered SaDiablo Hall they were nearly bowled over by two flying forms, one with wings, and one without. A small girl with light brown hair and blue eyes seemed to enjoy taunting the bronze skinned teen. How the girl was staying up without wings was not evident, but Harry wanted to learn.
"Lucy! Why are you taunting your cousin, get down here this instant. You know we have rules about flying in the Hall. Daemonar, stop encouraging her!
"Harry, this is my daughter Lucy, and Daemonar is Lucivar's son."
Harry couldn't suppress a smirk, "So let me see if I have caught the family relations here. Daemon is your husband. He named his daughter Lucy. His brother, Lucivar named his son Daemonar?"
"I never said they were creative. They're male they don't have to make sense. Lucy wears the Red jewels and Daemonar wears the Sapphire. Lucy is about to turn eleven and Daemonar is fifteen. Harry here has come to learn from the First Circle and I."
"It's nice to meet you both. This beautiful Owl here is Hedwig, she and I have been together since we were very young." Hedwig preened a bit at the introduction and praise, then nipped Harry's ear affectionately. "Well I am going to go settle into my rooms, but will see you at dinner I am sure. Actually Hedwig and I will probably go flying before dinner to get a look at the area, we would appreciate guides who knew the terrain if you are interested."
"Sure, Dae and I know all the cool places, we can show you."
"Thanks I appreciate it. How about we meet here in half an hour?"
"Sure."
Harry came back wearing his quidditch robes with his Firebolt over one shoulder Hedwig on the other.
"Why are you wearing funny clothes and carrying a stick?"
"Well Lucy, where I come from we have a sport that people play while flying. These robes are the robes of my team. I wear them when I am playing. The "stick" is a racing broom. I ride it to fly. Maybe later I can teach you to fly on a broom if you teach me how to fly without one."
"People have a game in the air?"
"Sure, it is an obsession for a lot of people. Last time I played, over a thousand people came to watch. There was a match I went to once, two of the best teams in the world were playing, over one hundred thousand people came to watch."
"Wow. That sounds cool."
"Oh it was. Lets get going before the sun sets okay?"
"Sure, Dae is busy with Uncle Lucivar so he won't be coming."
At first they flew slowly and just enjoyed the sights Hedwig easily keeping pace with the other two. They took a tour of the village by air and Lucy pointed out the important parts of the Hall. Noticing the afternoon had slipped away Harry proposed a race back to the front doors.
Lucy was put out to come in last. And Harry was a little less than pleased too. Hedwig just looked smug, the big cheater. As Harry tore off on the Firebolt, and Lucy took up chase, Hedwig pouted for a moment before having her idea. Grabbing the darkest wind she could, she was almost instantly at the landing web just down the drive from the door.
"We should have known better than to have a flying contest with an owl! She was born for flying." Harry finally cracked a smile, "I've always considered her the smartest owl I know, this just proves it."
Dinner that night was something else entirely. Once again wearing his best dress robes, he asked a guard to point him towards the dining room and was quickly set straight. There were a lot of people he didn't know, and introductions were made he was sure he wouldn't remember later. There were two that made a particular impression on him however.
When he saw Daemon Sadi enter the room, there was no doubt in his mind who he was. He looked like Saetan, but forty years younger. There was something about him though, the way he moved, the way he spoke, the look in his eyes… Simply put, he was the only man that ever made Harry consider playing for the other team. The man exuded a seductive and alluring presence. His name was just confirmation of what he already knew.
Harry was able to enjoy his meal and field questions about himself and Hedwig for quite a while before his next surprise. As the desert course was being served his hand brushed against the witch across from him. Her head shot up and her eyes snapped into focus.
"Wait, I thought you were a white owl!"
"I am. Hedwig and I are both owls." Harry said after a brief thought that this witch was a lot like Luna, "I am pure white mostly, but have a big black lightning bolt on my back and green eyes. You didn't think Hedwig kept me around just for my ability to lift heavy objects did you?"
"Great, now they're both in the Twisted Kingdom!" Aaron snorted.
"Shush! I want to hear how this works out." Jaenelle looked interested. Perhaps this was the breakthrough Harry and she both wanted.
"But you look so human," Tersa was looking confused now.
"I am human too. I am always human, unless I am an owl. I am always an owl, except when I am a man."
The glazed look returned as her eyes lost focus. "Maybe you should have Lucy teach you to fly. When you find your wings again you might find the rest of you too."
"I will thank you. Maybe someday I will show you my wings, but I cant right now."
"Yes, you have to find them first."
Tersa went back to her meal, very interested in the cobbler in front of her.
"That was probably the most insightful conversation I've had since my professor died two weeks ago. Is she always like this?"
"My mother looks at the world differently." Daemon looked impressed that someone new could deal with Tersa as she spoke from the Twisted Kingdom.
"A good friend of mine is a lot like her. She says the most interesting things, some people think she is insane and say hurtful things but I know that there is truth hidden behind the riddles."
"Indeed," was Saetan's only reply. Meanwhile several of the witches around the table looked at each other, had a silent conference and nodded slightly to each other, evidently having reached a decision.
"Harry, may I speak with you privately in my father's office when we are done here?"
"Of course sir, I could go with you now if you wish."
"No, please finish the cobbler, Mrs. Beale would be upset if she thought we weren't appreciative of her cooking, and call me Daemon, or Sadi whichever you prefer."
"What is it you wanted to talk with me about Daemon?"
"My brother tells me you and I are a lot alike, but he won't tell me how. After seeing how you spoke with and about my mother tonight, I admit to being curious. Would you tell me about your life? Please, don't skip the parts that are painful, I understand those better than anyone and they are important to what I am thinking about."
"Given how Lucivar reacted to something I said earlier, I think I know why you can understand. It's a long story, but stay with me."
In the next hour he told Daemon about life growing up at the Dursley's, about being a slave to his relatives, living in a cupboard, being beaten for speaking, being starved and imprisoned for being what he was. He told him things he never even told Ron or Hermione, because something in Daemon's eyes showed that he understood and knew how it felt. Daemon never flinched as he told him about life at Hogwarts and how people were either jealous of the fame he didn't want or hated him. He talked about being an orphan, never knowing his father, about his Godfather being on the run, then dying before he could be freed to take care of Harry. He talked about the press and government trying to convince everyone he was crazy. He mentioned the witches who wanted to be with him because of his fame, never caring who he was inside. Finally he talked about Voldemort. He told Daemon about the pain of the cruciartus curse, the pain of visions. He told about being a witness to the deaths of innocents, and the rebirth of a man who wanted to rule the world. And he told Daemon about the prophecy that said he had to be the one to end it all.
"We are very much alike after all. Thank you for talking to me, I know that had to be hard. Allow me to tell you my own story."
Daemon told Harry about his life. He spoke about having a Ring of Obedience put around his genitals when he was three years old, the constant pain he lived with every day for centuries. He spoke about the life of a pleasure slave, and knowing that his brother's life depended on his doing whatever he was told. Centuries of life trapped by a small circle of metal. Growing up in Hyall's courts, the intricate dance of status and strength. Abuse, deprivation, and the unending desire to just have one woman who he could love. These were the themes of his life. He killed, he tortured, and he destroyed entire cities as punishment. He fought with every fiber of his being against the twisted perversions of his world. And he spoke of meeting Jaenelle and the years he spent insane and wrapped up in self blame and misplaced guilt.
"We are men forged of pain and suffering. We know what it is like to be worthless and looked down upon. And because we believe no one should ever have to go through it, we fight. Deep in your soul you know what life would be like if this Voldemort won, and you cannot allow that to happen. You won't allow anyone else to grow up in pain and as a slave. I see what they were talking about. You need our help, and you can count me in. Given my past, there are things I can teach you that no one else can.
"Furthermore, there is a great stigma in this world against children without fathers or parents. My brother and I grew up treated as bastards because the world refused to accept our father. You will not. As Jaenelle is the daughter of Saetan's soul, you are the son of mine. When you go for your birthright ceremony, I will stand with you so the world knows that the SaDiablo Family supports you. No one argues with the SaDiablo Family. Now I just need to think of how to explain this to Jaenelle."
"Thank you Daemon, I feel a lot better having talked to you. I appreciate what you are doing for me. I promise to try my best not to embarrass myself if you are going to stand by me."
"Come on, I think I need some of Jaenelle's homebrew. Would you join me for a drink?"
The next morning his head was pounding as Lucivar dumped a bucket of water over him.
"I should have known I would find the two of you together! Get up boyo, you're late for practice."
Daemon said something that while pithy was anatomically impossible while Harry just wished he had his wand so he could curse whoever thought of there being two seven o'clock's in the same day. Especially if one of them was going to be so early. The two hung over men stumbled into boots and pants before following after Lucivar. They weren't sure who he was ordering around, but they knew it would require too much thinking to find out.
Lucivar worked them until they puked (which given their state wasn't all that much) before splashing them with another bucket of water and working them some more. He drilled them with stick and knives. Even in his less than optimal state, Harry picked up some of the moves, and was confident he could do better if he wasn't sick as a dog.
Eventually Lucivar let them go and there was only one thing on Harry's mind.
"Daemon, go get a bottle of whatever that was that tasted like sunshine and springtime and meet me in my room. I can cure us."
Daemon looked at him funny, but left to get what he needed. Harry returned to his room and dug out his potions kit. Thankful that his much graffiti-ed copy of Advanced Potions had a hangover potion that actually worked. He had everything he needed in his potions kit, but also needed a few drops of whatever he had drank to get into this state.
Harry was just putting the cauldron over the flames from his wand when Daemon came back into the room.
"Okay, put three drops for each of us into that as soon as it boils, then stir for ten minutes, I need a shower before I will feel human again. "
Harry quickly showered and was just toweling off when it was time to remove the potion from the fire. He poured it into two glasses and cast a quick cooling charm over them.
"This will probably taste horrid, but its better than suffering all day. Drink up."
They both grimaced at the awful taste then smiled as the headaches and nausea disappeared.
"Jaenelle will want to see that book, but first let's have some breakfast. Now that I am not about to die, I am starving for some food."
When they walked into breakfast clean and smiling, jaws dropped.
"How can you possibly be alive after all that drink? Saetan said he found four empty bottles of Jaenelle's mix in his office. After what Lucivar was telling us of your morning exercise we weren't expecting to see you at all for breakfast!"
"Five," Daemon said as he tossed the now empty bottle he used to make the potion, "but Harry here made some brew to fight the Gravediggers and we feel fine."
"That was nothing special. I am just glad I didn't screw it up. If you make that one wrong, the symptoms get even worse," Harry gave a shudder.
"You are a god!" Khardeen whispered, "Which of you passed out first?"
"He did!" both pointed fingers and spoke simultaneously, "No I didn't!"
The room broke in laughter