Chapter Seven
When Kali reappeared, she had not been expecting to be back at her old dojo and back in her teenage body. Blinking in shock, her eyes darted around the room and up and down herself. She hadn't aged a day since being deposited in Narnia. For a second, Kali thought that she must have been imagined the entire thing, but looking down at her clenched fist, she saw the arrow slowly vanish.
"It was all true." She muttered to herself. Gazing around the room, the details slowly came back to her, what once was so familiar was now so hazy.
"Potter-San, the other students are arriving. Out now." Her Sensei's voice called out sharply.
"Hai, Sensei." She replied automatically and took a step forward before pausing. Frowning inwardly, she began to move slowly towards the door again. Apparently, the decades in Narnia hadn't dulled her instincts, instincts that she hadn't used in years. Well, this was going to get irritating. For decades, she had been the head authority, the leader. Now, she was back to being a teenager who had a Sensei, Professors and the Dursleys. Grimacing, she headed out of the changing room, just in time to see the first few students step into the dojo.
As soon as he saw his student, Seto knew that something had changed. Kali walked with a lethal grace of a warrior decades more experienced than she was.
"Potter-San, begin the stretches." He ordered curtly as he met with several parents that wished to have a quick word before they began. The Belt Exams would be occurring soon, for those who felt confident enough to attempt them.
"Hai, Sensei." Kali replied softly, with a bow, before she walked over to the front of the dojo and began to lead the students in the warm up stretches.
The instinct that something had changed only got worse as the session went on. Kali had begun to unconsciously correct several students as she fought them, not to mention that she took them down with contemptuous ease. Seto had to remind her sharply more than once to tone it down as Kali had been fighting more viciously than what was truly warranted. When the session was finally at an end, Seto held her back to properly interrogate. Something that happened in the time he had sent her to the changing room to the time he had called her out and he was determined to know what.
"What has happened?" He demanded, standing across from his favourite student. Kali stiffened; this was not good. How was she supposed to fool people that she hadn't changed when the first person she saw could spot the difference?
"I have no knowledge of what you mean." She replied emotionlessly. Seto raised an eyebrow,
"Do not play games with me, Potter-san. I know something has changed." He warned darkly. Kali lifted her chin slightly and glared. Seto returned the glare,
"Are you challenging me?" He questioned softly, his tone holding an edge. He didn't know what was going on with his student, but he was starting to entertain the notion that she wasn't who he thought she was. What if a Death Eater had kidnapped her and taken her place? A ludicrous notion perhaps, but one that was making more sense than Kali suddenly displaying such disrespect towards him. Kali swallowed. Although there was a part of her that wanted to prove that she was superior now in terms of skill, a larger part was outright refusing to even attempt to. It was frightening, almost, how little her own mind and magic wanted to fight the man. Coming to a decision, she dropped to her knees and fell forwards onto her hands before bowing her head low.
"No, Sensei." She whispered, "I beg your forgiveness for my disrespect."
Seto blinked in surprise. Once again, Kali's behaviour had done a 180, though he was relieved that he wasn't going to have to fight the girl into submission.
"Answer my question, Potter-san." He spoke coldly, making no mention of his forgiveness, "What has happened?" Kali closed her eyes briefly, wondering whether or not he would believe her before she answered,
"I was transported to another world and time, Sensei. Over eighty years has passed for me since I last saw you." Seto blinked, stunned. He didn't know why he believed the teen, but he did. It certainly explained why her level of skill had increased so dramatically.
"Where were you?" He asked, his tone much calmer now. Kali looked up, surprised.
"You… believe me?" She questioned in shock.
"With magic, Potter-san, it is not quite so unbelievable." He answered calmly, though with an edge of amusement in his tone at her shock. "Now, answer the question."
"Narnia. The land was called Narnia."
Seto, once again, was stunned. He knew of the mystical land of which was Narnia even if he had never visited. He never thought he would meet one who would.
"Narnia, you say?"
"Yes, Sensei." Kali responded softly. Seto straightened up,
"I have heard of Narnia, Potter-San. I believe you." He stated before narrowing his eyes, "I forgive your lapse in respect, my student, for I know that coming back after eighty years and expecting to return as though nothing has changed must be difficult. However, I will not tolerate it again. You will treat me with respect even if you are my equal now in skill." Kali looked up and swallowed,
"I understand, Sensei. I thank you for your understanding and vow that I will not treat you with such disregard again." She answered quietly. Seto nodded,
"Very good. Stand." He watched as the girl, woman, he corrected, obeyed and stood at attention. "We will test your skills, Potter-San. I want to know how far you have come."
Kali couldn't quite hide her excitement at that even as she bowed to her Sensei and went to collect two swords. Handing one to Seto, they both bowed to one another as opponents before the spar began.
Seto knew instantly that he was going to lose this match. The skill that Kali was displaying was phenomenal and it was clear that she had practiced much during the time in Narnia.
"You are much more skilled, Potter-San." He stated as he parried a blow that would have decapitated him if it had hit. Kali fought more to kill than to disable, something that worried him so.
"Thank you, Sensei." Kali responded quietly as she focused on the fight.
"And yet, you are fighting to kill." Disapproval lined his tone. In his opinion, killing should be the last resort possible, at least when one was not fighting for their life.
"I have spent the better part of the last three decades fighting multiple wars, Sensei." She answered tightly. She had learnt harshly during her time in Narnia: there was no point in showing mercy to her enemies. They would never return it.
Seto had nothing to say against that. He could hardly blame his pupil for her zealousness if that what her life had been life for three decades. Besides, it would serve her well in the Wizarding War to come.
"Have you had thought of how you will act when you return to the Wizarding World?" Kali grimaced,
"I will insist on combat training from Dumbledore. He owes me this."
"Why? I would assume you would have far surpassed anything Hogwarts could teach you?" Seto questioned as he parried another strike.
"It would give me the excuse I need for when I annihilate the Death Eaters on the battlefield." Kali answered bluntly. "I have no desire to have to dumb down my knowledge for the sake of some nosy busybodies." Seto gave her a look but nodded slowly. His student spoke true however ruthless her words were. He had seen the aftermath of the previous generation's blood war. So called 'imperious' Death Eaters were allowed to escape justice because of their money and status. Dumbledore forbid those fighting to kill the Death Eaters which enabled the war to last much longer than it ever should have.
"Very well." He stated solemnly. There was nothing more to say on the matter and they both knew it. Kali would kill even if her Sensi disapproved. Based upon how the last war had ended, Seto knew enough to know that Kali had little choice in her ruthlessness. The magical world simply could not handle another massacre like the first war. Already, the population was struggling to recover. Another war would destroy any chance for future generations. "I believe it is time for you to return home, Potter-San." He said as he blocked one last sword strike before stepping back. Officially calling their spar to an end.
Kali nodded and lowered her sword in agreement.
"Hai, Sensi." She responded before bowing low as expected. Seto returned the bow with one of his own before walking over to the sword racks and placing his back in its place. He waited for Kali to do the same before speaking again.
"Be careful, Potter-San." He warned gravely, "Your skills are deadly; your decisions going forward even more so. Just be careful how you respond to others now. Your new abilities does not mean revenge should be your goal." Kali shot him a scathing look but said nothing as she bowed her head in reluctant agreement.
"Hai, Sensi." She murmured, knowing that she could not harm her relatives just because she now had the power to get away with it. Seto nodded, his approval clear.
"Very good. I will see you tomorrow then, Potter-San." Kali nodded as she slipped on her shoes,
"I will be picked up by the Order soon. I will be writing to Dumbledore with my conditions. If he wants me to continue fighting this war by his side, he will learn and give me the space and the skills to make it possible. I will no longer be content to wait for Voldemort to come after me and attempt to kill me. This time, I will be ready."
Seto felt a pang in his heart at her words. He never wanted his favourite student to fight in this war but now he knew that she would do so. At least, he surmised, she would be doing it on her terms now rather than on the terms of the two old men who had started it in the first place.
"Good night, Potter-San."
"Good night, Sensi." Kali returned with a bow, one that Seto returned solemnly.
When Kali returned to the Dursley's that night, she went straight to her room, ignoring her relatives as she did so. She was not in the mood to entertain their pathetic views of superiority. Indeed, should they attempt to bother her going forward, Kali was unsure whether she had the restraint needed to not curse or kill them. Her long decades away in Narnia may have healed her of many childhood traumas, but they had also enlightened her to others. In some ways, that had made several of them worse. The treatment she had received at the hands of the Dursley's was one of them. It was many a night that Kali had laid awake imagining the pain she would put them through as revenge for what they had done to her. The Dursley's should just be grateful that she had learned patience and good judgment over the long years. Otherwise, today would have been the last day they lived.
Greeting Hedwig softly; she had missed her old friend dearly, she sat at her desk and picked up her quill. Dumbledore was going to listen to her for once. If he didn't, then he could fight the war without his best weapon. Kali had no delusions of what the Order viewed her as, even if most of them denied it. She didn't have much of a problem with it; well, unless they didn't treat her with the respect and wariness that she deserved that is. She was dangerous and vital for the war efforts. After all, she was the only one who could truly end it. It was a conundrum that had frequently been on her mind during the decades in Narnia; how they treated her like a baby and kept her in the dark whilst also expecting her to fight and win the war for them at the same time. That was going to change.
Professor Dumbledore,
You and I both know that I dislike you and distrust you after the events of last year and indeed, after the events of my entire life which you have managed and manipulated to suit your own needs. You and I both know that you have done nothing to help prepare me for this war despite knowing that I am the only one with a hope of ending it.
To that end, I deliver you an ultimatum. Remove me from the Dursley's and give me combat training or fight this war alone.
I have had enough of your manipulations, old man. I am emancipated, after all, thanks to the incompetency of the Ministry, Hogwarts and the Wizengamot. Refuse my ultimatum and I will leave the wizarding world to its fate. You cannot stop me legally and I will fight and die should you attempt further manipulations of me.
I am not a child, despite what you may think. I have never had one and you know it. Despite what you preach about giving me a 'normal' childhood as a reason why you denied me my magical inheritance, you and I both know that the Dursley's never let me have one. I know for a fact that you knew about their abuse and did nothing. And so,
This is your one chance to make up for at least some of your crimes against me, Dumbledore. You will not get another.
Owl back or send Moody with your response if you agree to my terms. If you refuse, be warned that anyone you send will most likely not get a good reception from me.
Regards,
Lady Kali Diana Potter
Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter
Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black
Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell
Finishing the elegantly written letter with a flourish, Kali quickly dried the ink with a wave of her hand before rolling it up and heading over to Hedwig,
"To Dumbledore, girl." She murmured gently, tying it to the owl's front leg, "Ensure that he reads it." Hedwig hooted her agreement before taking off out of the window.
Kali watched her friend fly away before continuing to stare at the stars above.
This time, she wasn't going to be manipulated.
No. This time, she was going to fight the war on her terms.
And if anyone had a problem with that?
Then they would die too.
The End
AN: End of the First Book. I am planning to write a second book based upon the war and Prince Caspian film. Please let me know if you think it would be a good idea or if it's something you would be interested in reading.
Hope you're all well and staying safe no matter where you are.
S.
