AN: I appreciate the participants for the poll. The results are listed here on who will be Hermione's bodyguard.
Napoleon- 10
Sigurd- 14
Edmond Dantes-12
Cu Chulainn (Caster)-9
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Saber)- 1
Mandricardo- 1
Ch 21 Battle between Heroes
Ritsuka, Hermione, and his parents are running for their lives from the Avenger of the Gallows. She summons black vines with thorns to attack them chipping away pieces of bricks from the wall each time they miss. "Just what is she!" James cried out as he dodges another black energy ball.
"She's a Rogue Servant, they manifested by themselves without a master," Ritsuka said as he shot a barrage of gems at her.
"If she's a Servant then why doesn't she obey you?" Lily asked him. "She's a familiar right? So, she needs a master to bond with."
"It doesn't work like that, in this case when a servant manifest, they can either be your ally or enemy." He said. "I need to stop to call for help, but if I do that here then the whole school will crumble down on us." He said to them.
James pulled out his wand and sent a message to Dumbledore requesting help. "Don't worry, I call for Dumbledore. he knows what to do."
Hermione thought of where they should go for Ritsuka can call for help. Then she sees the Whomping Willow outside through the window. "Outside on the grounds near the Whomping Willow!" she said as she dodges another black sphere. "There's plenty of room to combat Avenger of the Gallows." She said.
Ritsuka looks outside and smiles. "Good thinking Hermione, lead the way." He said to her taking the lead.
"Oho, leading me outside? Very well humans," Avenger said as she moves quickly to catch up with them.
They arrived at the huge door that leads to the grounds but the problem is that the doors are closed. "Damnit it's closed!" Hermione cursed.
James used his wand to open the huge doors "Alohomora!" as he cast the spell the doors begin to open. "Come on!" James shouts as they all went outside.
After a few meters, they stop near the tree as it sways on its own ready to attack anyone who comes close. 'Brynhildr, I need your help.' He mentally called the Lancer to him.
'Yes master,' she said to him.
Brynhildr stood up from her seat at the Chaldean table getting the attention of everyone in the hall. "Lancer? What's the matter?" Mashu asked her.
"Master is in trouble," she said as she flew off.
Dumbledore was about to ask the Valkyrie when a message from James. "James is requesting some help," he said to the staff. Worried faces came to all of them except for Snape.
"We must help him," Sirius said to the headmaster.
"Agree, but how about everyone else. I'm sure you don't want to start a panic." Moody said to him.
"I agree with Alister Albus, do something." Fudge order the headmaster.
"Yes, I know minister," he said walking up to the podium. "Excuse me, everyone." He said as the chatter went down getting their attention. "I ask you to stay here and enjoy yourselves in tonight's feast, I and a couple of staff will be heading out to assist James Potter. For he has found something near the Whomping Willow." He said causing some chatter.
"I ensure you that this is nothing, Mr. Potter takes the security of Hogwarts seriously." Dumbledore gave them a rescuing smile. "So please enjoy yourselves." He said as Moody, Sirius, Fudge, Umbridge, and Remus went out of the Great Hall.
Charles saw the senior members of the Order and the minister leaving in a rush and curiosity got the better of him. "Hey Ron want to check things out?" he asked his best friend.
"Sure," Ron said.
Zelretch overheard them as he sips his wine. "Ritsuka can handle himself," he said sipping another from his glass.
"Bombarda!" Lily cast the exploding spell at the Servant. She took the spell head-on as it was not affected.
James shot a barge of spells at the Avenger still unaffected by their effects. "Why aren't our spells working?" he shouts.
Ritsuka still shooting is almost out of gems "A servant can withstand low ranking spells, even the killing curse. Magecraft can do damage but it's compared to a bee sting." He said to them.
"Then how can you defeat them if Magecraft won't work," Lily asked him.
"Another servant," he said as Avenger came closer.
"This is the end of the line, Humanity's final master." She said as the black vines erupt from the ground forming a spear ready to pierce him. She brought down her spear before it was knocked away. Then blue flames came rushing to her, she dodges it right in time and landed perfectly. "Who dares to-"
"You shall not harm my master," Brynhildr said twirling her lance before prostrating in front of her ready to attack.
"Lancer!? How did she get here so fast?" Hermione asked as the Avenger chuckles.
"My, you called your servant, smart move." She said twirling her spear. "If she didn't come to save you then you'll be in a casket by now." She said.
Ritsuka stood up and stand next to Brynhildr. She held out her arms block him to go any further. "Master…stay back, I will handle this."
"I know you will, Lancer. I will support you like always." He said giving some magical energy to her.
She moans as she felt the mana pouring in her. "Much appreciated master," she smiles at him before staring down at her opponent. "Servant…Lancer, I shall defeat you in my master's name." she declares out loud.
"Such loyalty, very well I'm Avenger of the Gallows. Come fight me Servant of Chaldea!" she said lunching herself to the female warrior.
Brynhildr blocks the attack and pushes her back. She spun her lance before she dug it in the ground causing chunks of dirt to hit her. "Damn you." She responds with multiple black spheres aiming for her in each direction.
The Lancer manages to block two of them but the third on hitting her side. "Lancer!" Ritsuka cried as he held his hand to her giving some more mana. The Valkyrie got up and flew towards the Avenger.
James, Lily, and Hermione observe the battle between Servants as each attack from them astonished them. " Just look at her, she just….just…just…"
"Amazing," Hermione said gawking at how she fights. "The way she's handling her spear, it's breathtaking." She said as Brynhildr flew up in the night sky.
"SHE CAN FLY!?" Lily gawk at the sight of the Valkyrie.
"I'm sorry," she said as she blew blue flames at the servant. Avenger was quick on her feet as she summons more black vines to act as a shield to block the scorching flames.
The vines were burnt to a crisp as Brynhildr floated down back on the ground. Soon Dumbledore and the rest of the senior members of the Order and Fudge with his undersecretary arrived at the scene to witness a phenomenon only seen by a few.
"What's going on here?" the pink toad said seeing a battle between servants.
"Is that Lancer?" Sirius said as walks to the Avenger.
"It is! But who is that woman on the opposite side?" Remus asked as Brynhildr summons more flames to her direction causing her to go her knees and on the defense.
"Damnit, never thought I face someone with Divinity so soon," Avenger said as she stood up. "I guess I have to use my Noble Phantasm." She smirks ready to unless her trump card before red lighting came crashing down in front of her. She manages to dodge it and look to see what almost hit her.
"A sword?" she said staring at the silver sword. She moved out of the way as a mental thing crashes where she was standing. "Hey bitch, I don't care who or what your class is. But no one messes with my master." The armored knight said walking to pick up her sword.
Soon the servants that were in the Great Hall were on the grounds outnumbering the Avenger. "Damnit all," she cursed getting up to face Ritsuka. "It seems I'm outnumbered here so I'm taking my leave. My only goal is to evaluate you, Humanity's final master," she said out loud.
"Humanity's final master?" Dumbledore said to himself remembering the prophecy that was told a month ago.
"Who are you working for really?" Ritsuka asked her.
"That is a secret I like to keep to myself, you better watch with that girl over there she will be target by Voldemort's lackeys if not careful. " she smiles before dematerializing. "Sayonara," she said as she disappears.
Hermione heard what she said and was now scared that the Dark Lord will go after her.
"Shall I go after her master?" The Valkyrie asked him.
"No, just rest up for tonight." He said almost collapsing on the ground. Mordred grabs him before he contacted the ground.
"You overdid it, master, you're almost out of magical energy." The Knight of Treachery said to him.
"I'm fine, Saber," he said as everyone went to him. Mashu quickly went over to him.
"Senpai, let's get you back to the outpost. Berserker-san will help you." She said worried about his health.
"Mashu, really I'm fine all I need is rest." He smiles standing up.
"Harry, are you okay?" Lily asked him.
"I'm fine Mrs. Potter, I just want to go home." He said as he walks away.
"Then we'll have a room for you here, you look, tired son," James said to him. Ritsuka turns around to face his father.
"You have no right to call me your son after what you have done! You try to manipulate me and now spy on me? What kind of parents do that to their son!?" he yelled at them. "So Fuck off."
"Don't you dare talk to your parents like that Mr. Potter," the Pink toad came up to him. "You're clearly delusional that you can run an organization at your age. I mean look at you; you can't even stand up straight." The toad said looking pompous as ever.
"My suggestion is to hand over all information of Chaldea something to the ministry, this includes your familiars and going back with the Potters is for your own good." She said to him.
"I have to agree with Madam Umbridge here. Mr. Po-Fujimaru, you look like you're about to collapse." Dumbledore said siding with the Undersecretary. "Until you are well we'll take care of your work." He said with a grandfatherly tone.
"Tch, like I ever do that." He responded. "You clearly want to exploit Chaldea for your selfish needs, I will not hand over the Organization that the founder worked hard for." He proclaims.
"HOW DARE YOU! The Ministry of Magic will not do such a thing, we will use the Organization for the benefits for the Wizarding world." Fudge said to him.
Ritsuka stared at the coward. "This is why the British Government hates dealing with you arrogant fools, you only think for yourselves and not of others." He said pushing them aside. "I'm leaving, goodbye."
Umbridge grips her wand as she was ready to attack him for ignoring them. Saber walks behind her master as she stares at the pink toad. "I hope you're not going to do what I think you're doing if you do, I will cut you down right here." She warns her taping Clarent on her shoulder plates. She backs off not wanting to die by this lower life's hands.
Hermione steps upfront calling out for Ritsuka. "Uh, Ritsuka." She called.
Ritsuka turns his head to the Gryffindor girl. "Thank you for saving us," she said.
Ritsuka smiles "I'm just doing what is right." He said as he threw a gem at her. "A keepsake from tonight's incident." He said waving them off.
"Damn that brat," Umbridge said. "We were this close on getting dirt on Potter." She said to them.
"What are we going to do?" Fudge asked.
"It seems our only hope is to spy on that Magus Ms. Adashino," Dumbledore said wanting to know more of the mysterious boy.
Sirius and Remus were impressed by the Lancer's abilities in combat. "Hey Moony, I can't shake this feeling that Ritsuka is more than here to compete in the tournament." He said to the werewolf.
"I completely agree with you, just what is it." He added.
"Whatever it is, it's not good," Moody said bias on Ritsuka being a dark wizard.
Charles and Ron saw the whole battle transpire. "This is proof he's a dark wizard, just look at that woman fight that other woman," Charles said.
" I feel like we need more proof, it looked like that your brother is defending your parents," Ron said.
"That's what he wants you to think." He said getting up. "Come on, let's spy on that lady in the strange robes. I overheard that was Dumbledore's plan."
"If you're right about this Charles." He said leaving the area.
Gryffindor Common Room 11:35 PM
Hermione looked at the gem Ritsuka gave her as she twirls between her fingers. She was dazzled by the gem. "Why would he give this to me?" she said to herself when the gem started to glow.
She drops the gem spooked her as words appear. Hermione read the words that were projecting in front of her. " 'Come meet me in the entrance of the Forbidden Forest, this is urgent for your safety.' " she read as it stops glowing.
Hermione looked around to see her dormmates are still asleep in their beds despite the light flashing. She hopped out of bed and puts on her casual clothes and left the dorm. She sneaks down the stairs to the exit is.
She slowly opens the painting of the Fat Lady who is sleeping as well. Hermione went faster as the stairs change position. Once out of the stairwells she moves slowly to prevent any footsteps to be heard from many teachers that are patrolling the halls. She soon stops as she heard chatter down the hall.
"Anything that out of place Ruler?" Reines asked.
"Not out of the ordinary, there are no objects that share the same aura as the last two." He said to the Rider. "I hypothesize that Voldemort has taken precautions on this and hide the others in a secure area."
"So we pretty much got all of them here then?" she said to the Ruler.
"Yes, we have Ms. Archisorte." He said as they enter a room.
Hermione sighs as she continues forward to the secret entrance to Hagrid's hut. She passed many teachers who did not see her and manage to get to the secret entrance. Hermione made to Hagrid's hut hearing snoring from the inside of his home.
Hermione treads lightly to the Forest carefully not to snap any twigs to cause fang to bark. "Nice job sneaking out of school Hermione." She jumps and turns around to see Ritsuka leaning on the tree trunk.
She sighs in relief. "Ritsuka you scared me." She said to him as he smiles. "So what do you want to speak to me about?"
"It's about tonight's fight between Avenger and Lancer," he said in a serious tone.
Hermione stiffens remembering the frightening woman. "Yes, that woman scares me. Even when she threatens that the Dark Lord will come after me." She admitted.
Ritsuka walks up to her. "And that's the reason, I don't take threats lightly when it comes to my job." He said. "That's why I asked my servant to act as your bodyguard."
Hermione widens her eyes at his statement. "But why? I get my life is in danger from the Dark Lord's force, can't the Aurors handle it?"
"Since a servant is involved in this and working for Voldemort it's only right for a servant to protect you from her or the Death Eaters." He said to her. "It's only temporary until this is all over,"
"Oh, I understand." She said looking around. "So where is your servant?" as she said that a man with white hair on the sides with the middle being greyish purple appears. He has teal green eyes and wearing glasses over them. he is covered in grey armor and spiked shoulder plates to complete the look her wore a greyish purple cape.
She steps back shock to see the man. "This is Saber, he'll act as your protection during the year."
He looks at Hermione "So, I'm guessing you're the one I'm protecting." He said to her.
"Uh…yes,"
"Very well, my class is Saber even though I'm contracted to master I won't hesitate to protect you," Sigurd said.
"G-Good to meet you, Saber," she said to him.
"I better get back; Berserker will have a fit if I'm not back in bed." He said waving them goodbye.
"So, my name is Hermione Granger it's a pleasure on meeting you Saber." she greeted him.
Sigurd nodded. "Pleasure all mine, Lady Granger I will be in spirit form, so I won't cause any suspicion amongst your peers." He said to his ward.
"Uh, sure do what you wish Saber," she said as they head back to the school.
AN: How do you like it? Please Leave a Review.