Hey everyone,
Sorry, again no new POV. To be honest, I'm not even sure I'll be creating a new POV for every chapter as that will create a massive amount of characters and I don't want to do that if after they get introduced, they just stop having a purpose. So I guess some chapters will just have familiar canon interactions before the reading.
Merry Christmas,

Venquine1990


Chapter 47
Their new residence

Hercules' POV

For the last few minutes have Phil, Meg, Pegasus, a few Air Gods and I been working on changing the storm clouds the Air Gods have wanted to use for several small storms over the next week into proper seating and cushioned beds and sleeping bags for our upcoming guests, of which Riku told us it would be more than 200, at least.
The Air Gods bring them, me and Pegasus – my brilliant, white-colored flying stallion with the intelligence of a bird – then push all the water and rain out of them and finally would Meg shift their looks into chairs, love seats, family seats, couches, cushions, single and double beds and sleeping bags respectively which Phil would then move.

They are now all located inside the Grand Courtyard of the Colliseum, around the Training Court and on the Podium around the arena and the doors of the small lobby in between are open, making sure that we can house them in both locations without anyone missing a thing of what will – in the next few days – be read; whatever that means.
I sigh and say: "I just don't get it, Phil. What are Sora and Riku reading that makes it so important they are reading it with more than 200 people?" But the small, brown-furred, satyr shakes his head and says: "I don't know either, Herc, but I can't really say I like it either. I just hope this reading won't cut in on our training program."
I shake my head in amusement as Phil has been pushing me twice as hard since Sora, Donald and Goofy became Real Heroes, honored by my father by having a picture of them hanging in the stars. That had been Phil's dream when I first met him, and now four of his students had made his dream come true.

Then the same dark portal that Riku has been using twice to get here shows up again and I suddenly understand why he needed so much space as at least 150 teenagers, all black robed and divided by four differently colored trims are in the lead of another large set of group, different looking in many ways, from old to young, from warm to coldly-dressed.
A large set of adults, some of them looking like teachers and others seemingly just guests or parents, are around the group of black-cloaked students and four teachers divide the students in their four groups, while a gigantic lady and a crooked man call together a group of teenage girls and a group of teenage guys respectively.
The rest of them are obviously Sora and his friends, together with other people who they must have met thanks to this reading thing and I happily walk over to the young brunette, shouting: "Sora, over here!" Over the loud exclamations of OOH'S and AAH'S and other words of amazement that sound from all over.

One young blonde haired boy with red trim on his black cloak and with a lion, I now see, etched on the left chest side of his cloak, then bravely starts pressing down on some of the clouds around him and he says: "This is amazing. I never touched a cloud before in my life." And looking behind me, I see Phil smirking in pride.
I shake my head and walk over to Sora, grabbing his hand in a manly hand-shake as he says: "He-ey Herc, thanks for letting us stay here. I'm really sorry, I didn't know it would be this busy. It seemed to fit perfectly back on the Island." I smile at him and say: "No problem, Sora. This reading seems important, so I'm happy to help."
Then Phil sounds from right behind me and says: "Against acceptable prices, of course. You come here, you train here. Or at least some of you. I can already see quite a few with quite the potential among all of these groups." Making me and Sora look at each other before we both turn our eyes skyward in disbelief.

Then Meg comes over and with her wonderful smooth voice, asks: "So, why is all this reading so important?" And Sora says: "Harry, the boy we met a few days ago, wants to save the future of going all Dark and Warlike and so he used a Time Reading Spell, but now we all have to read all 7 books or else – well, he'll die."
The woman looks shocked and intrigued and Riku says: "It's also us wanting to help them with this because Erica here came to our world and some of yours and is apparently from Harry's world and was even Harry's help when he was younger. When he kind of experienced the same as we did the first year of Sora's travels."
The woman nods and I feel shocked that someone can experience something close to the darkness that was eclipsing and overtaking Riku back when the boy was just twelve years old. I ask: "So who of these kids is Harry?" And Sora aims for a small black-haired boy with messy hair and quite the amazing emerald green eyes.

The boy, together with a small group of other people, are all standing in the far right corner of the Entrance Courtyard and are all looking around as the rest of the groups divide themselves and seem to be looking around. I look from the boy who caused all of these people to get together to the group he seems to be with.
One of them is dressed in the same thick robes as the small group of 17 year old boys that the elder looking man has with him, another is a young man with a yellow trim on his black robes and a badger on his chest. The thickly dressed boy seems to have his arms around the younger lad lovingly and I look at the two elders with them.
One of them is black haired with long hair and strong grey blue eyes, the grey looking around carefully while in the blue I can see hints of humor and amusement shining. The other man is brown haired with grey streaks in his hair and I almost feel shocked when I see the amazing amber brown eyes the man has.

I walk over to the group and say: "Hi, I'm Hercules. You're Harry, right? Sora told me you were kind of the cause behind all these groups getting together." The black haired boy turns shy as two women come over as the black-haired man says: "You can say that. I'm Sirius, Harry's adopted mother and these are Remus, Cedric, Viktor, Erica and Fiana."
I nod and say: "Nice to meet you." I then look behind me and say: "Seems like not everyone will be able to fit in here. I better let them know of the extra room we have outback." Sirius nods and I see him grabbing a piece of wood from his pocket that he aims at his own throat. This makes me wonder what he's up to and he says:
"Sonorus." Before, with a voice that seems magically magnified, he says: "Everyone listen! Hercules just told me there is room outback. So let's divide the six groups into three each and let's split up." Before he whispers: "Quietus." And his voice seems to turn back to normal as he puts the wood back in his robe pocket.

I look at his power in shock and then a strict looking woman with square glasses in front of her eyes and with a straight jaw says: "Alright, Beauxbatton, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, you can stay here. Durmstrang, Gryffindor and Slytherin, come to the back with me. Stay in order of your Houses and follow your Heads, please."
And she leads the red-trimmed, the green-trimmed and the thickly-dressed groups out back. Then Harry asks: "If we divide the groups, how will we be able to read?" And I say: "Don't worry, the lobby in between is only a very small room and has quite the echo. The reader can go there and read, so everyone will hear him or her."

Harry nods and after about an hour the strict woman returns and says: "I've divided the Houses and Durmstrang. Viktor, you, Sirius, Remus and Harry can stay together, but I do want you in the small area we were able to arrange between Gryffindor and Durmstrang." The thick dressed boy nods and Sirius says: "Thanks, Minerva."
The woman nods and that night, while I do my nightly routine of taking Phil and Meg back to Greece before returning back to the top of Mount Olympus to stay with my father for the night, while everyone else that arrived, use their sticks – or wands – to change the cloud seats into cloud beds and we all sleep peacefully.

The Next Morning
Meg's POV

The arrival of all those people make me kind of quasy and worried as I have been with Hercules – or Wonderboy as I like to call him – for 4 years now and yet the big guy still has not made a single move to really prove how much he loves me – other than fighting Hades for my life and to keep my mortal body in tact, of course.
Yet, constantly doing so makes it look kind of old and even, a few months ago, Hades officially decided he had enough of using me to make Hercules do as he wished. After that the signs Wonderboy liked me had gone back to shy, loving gazes, a kiss on the cheek for goodnight and holding my side whenever we walked together.

And now there are loads of students and people in the Olympus Collisseum, including a flock of absolutely beautiful girls that are at the courtyard in front of the lobby. Not wanting to lose Hercules to those beauty queens, I asked him this morning to land with the other group in the Stadium, a request he was kind enough to accept.
We land on the midst of the stadium and Sora and Riku quickly come over to greet us, while Harry and friends look at Pegasus in shock, just like they did the night before when we left the stadium. The white steed of course happily takes in the awed looks and I shake my head, agreeing with Zeus that he has the brains of a bird.
Then Herc asks: "So, how much of the story have we missed?" And my mouth drops when I hear everything the young black-haired boy has gone through. Abusive relatives, fame and mockery, a Troll, A Cerberus, deadly traps, a Flying car and even a moving, violent tree and a disgusting teacher that was after his virginity.

I gulp in shock and he says: "And that's about one and a quarter into the books." Making Herc and me share a shocked look before we look back at him, the boy turning red and lying a hand in his neck as we keep starring at him. Then Herc says: "And I thought my training to be a true hero was hard, but – but you – WOW!"
And I nod in agreement, suddenly wondering who should be worried about losing who. Me about losing Wonderboy or Wonderboy about losing me. This thought sates a big part of my fear and I put my hands on top of my hips like I do quite often and ask: "So, what do you say we continue where you all left off? I'll read."

Sirius nods and I let my hand slip from Wonderboy's side, glide over his back and slightly down to his hard-toned ass – "Does he train that as well?" Goes through my mind as I feel it – before leaving to retrieve the book. The woman named Minerva tells me to call her McGonagall as she hands it to me and shows me the right page.
I nod at her, wondering if the man named Sirius used a nickname on McGonagall before I leave for the lobby. There I hear the strength-improved voices of Sirius and McGonagall explaining the students in their own part that they will be continuing the reading and a lot of weird words come from both sides, making me wonder what's happening.
I stick my head out the door to the Stadium and see the groups there changing their beds back into benches and other seatings. Sirius then aims his wand at my door and after casting some kind of witchcraft or something, he says: "There, now the sound of the Lobby will be intensified to be heard all over the place."
I smile at him and then inform McGonagall of what Sirius did. The woman nods and seems to do the same, but I can tell that her wand is different from Sirius'. Wondering how they make those wands and whether or not Wonderboy can be charmed away from me with them, I press down on my fear and turn back.
I look at the three trophies Herc shares with Sora, the Phil cup – a small golden cup – the Pegasus Cup – a square brown cup with golden lines at the four corners – and the Hercules Cup – a large Golden Cup with the Symbol of the Gods at the front – before sitting down on the small pedestal on the left and starting to read.

The Dueling Club

Instantly Herc and Phil join me and Phil asks: "Did you just say Dueling? As in Fighting? As in a club where you learn to fight and be a Hero?" I shrug and say: "I don't know if that's what the club was for, but that's the title, yes." The Satyr lies down on his front, his tail flapping excitedly and I shake my head and read on.

Harry woke … very stiff.

Wonderboy nods and says: "I know what it's like. That's how I feel whenever Phil lets me train for a whole day." And the Satyr says: "Something you're aiming for if you don't shut up. I want to know more about this Dueling Club." Wonderboy looks at me lovingly and shakes his head, making me smile before I read on.

He sat … weren't there.

To this the voice of one of the students sounds from the left of me and asks: "Where were you that morning? You sure left in a hurry and we all thought you wanted to go see Harry." And a girl's voice answers: "We did, but then we – well, I explained Harry in a few minutes in the story, so just listen, Dean." Which makes me read on.

Harry left … or not.
He knew it was stupid; Madam Pomfrey was after all known for not having encountered a single injury yet that she couldn't heal, so that must have made his friends believe he would be alright anyway; but still, it hurt a little, no matter how stupid it sounded.
As Harry … they'd met. Harry looked around and saw nothing that could ruin the boy's mood and he felt relieved.
"Oh, hello … said Harry. He was happy to have made Percy proud, but the longer he was unable to find Ron and Hermione, the more he worried if it couldn't be possible that the Monster had made more victims than just Collin.
"No, I … locked cubicle.

This makes an elder voice, probably this Percy person, groan and he says: "Ron, really. Why on earth were you in there again?" And to this the girl answers: "Why are you asking us questions we actually explain to Harry in the story?" And when the elder boy holds silent, I smile at the girl's sharp tongue and read on.

He felt relieved and smiled as he came closer to where their voices were coming from. But right at the first step did he walk into a puddle of water and he decided to let them know who he was before they would try and hide away or something.
"It's me," … of Hermione's.

"Yes, I know." A sneering voice sounds from the Gryffindor side and the girl's voice squeaks in fear, but then silence rings for a few minutes and the sharp voice of McGonagall spats: "Severus, that was mean." Something which the man named Snape doesn't seem to care about as his side stays silent and I read on.

"We'd've come … get going -"

"Aaah." The boy named Dean says and Hermione goes on and says: "We were on our way to the Hospital Wing, when we passed the Teacher's Lounge and while the Gargoyles kept us away, was the door ajar and did we hear them talking. That made us turn for another route, so to say." I nod at her in understanding and read on.

"The sooner … on Colin." Harry really wanted to tell them about the same theory he had told his Quidditch match partners, but he could already see that this was quite like the Snape situation of last year and so, decided to just aid them – and in the meantime hope to gain evidence that could convince them Malfoy could be innocent.
It was, after all, to his imagination, more a possibility that Lucius Malfoy had met the Heir of Slytherin and introduced him to Draco Malfoy and that this was the reason Malfoy was as confident as he was, because he knew what no one else did – and Harry wanted to know too.

This time a more drawling, teenage voice sounds and says, in an exasperated tone: "And again he gives us good reason not to suspect the most susceptible and still give us a good reason behind his suspicions on said person. Unbelievable, how he does that." And many murmurs of agreement are my lead to continue reading.

"There's something … mouths open.
Harry also took this opportunity – as Hermione was only paying attention to him and the potion – to quickly write down the entire list of ingredients and steps or preparations. That possibility of being someone other than Harry Potter was his, at last.

Laughter is heard all around me and then strong voices seem to cast spells that – to my and Wonderboy's shock – make the walls of the lobby vanish and making us see our crowds on both sides. Phil runs around, crying in shock and despair, but then suddenly he bumps into something invisible and falls down hard.
The teachers seem to cringe and McGonagall says: "Sorry, we just cast disillusion spells on the walls so we can see our fellow readers. It's like draping an Invisibility Cloak over someone; he's still there, you just can't see him." I nod, amazed at their magic and after Phil has calmed down by these comforting words, do I read on.

"The Chamber … kill you."
Harry only slightly agreed with Ron on both parts – both that Hermione read too much and that Dobby could, unintentionally, kill him if he didn't stop his acts of protection – but he also thought they were both wrong concerning Dobby and the creature at hand.
He didn't think the monster was really sneaking around, more that it was using a different form of transportation, like the Secret Passageways. He also didn't agree with Hermione about the creature able to disguise itself as no disguise would make it capable of not being heard by anyone but him – which was something he was still sure of had a link to Slytherin's abilities – somehow.
The news … behind statues.

This makes said twins hit themselves on the heads and one of them says: "Yeah, if you say it like that." And the other, to my shock, goes on: "It really was the wrong way of trying to cheer her up." And they chorus: "We're sorry, little sis." The girl nods, while the other brothers look at them in pride and I read on.

They only … having nightmares.

To this a balding red-haired man turns to Percy and asks: "And why didn't you?" And the boy answers smoothly: "Because inside Hogwarts, the Weasley Eldest Tradition rules and that says that the eldest member of the Family is responsible of his family when away from his Family Head for more than 250 miles." The man smiles in pride and I read on.

Meanwhile, hidden … the school...

"Was it, really?" The small, tiny man that had taken control of the group of black cloaked students with blue trim asks and just about everyone who must have been in school back then nods before he asks: "Were they any good?" To which one of his eldest students says: "Just listen for yourself, Professor Flitwick." And I read on.

Neville Longbottom … be attacked.

Now Harry sighs and says: "You know, I really think that whole myth only strengthened the public differences between Purebloods and Muggleborns." To which the girl named Hermione asks: "What do you mean, Harry." And the boy retorts: "I don't like saying it, but what monster has the ability to see a difference between that?"
Everyone with black cloaks now looks at each other shocked and then suddenly I notice how the blonde haired man – that had taken a seat near the blonde haired boy with green trim on his black cloak and who shared quite a few similarities with the man – whitens as if purely terrified over what he has heard. Wondering why, I read on.

"They went … a Squib."

"Hey Neville." The red-haired man with black robe and green eyes with purple triangles shaped downwards on his cheekbones asks and he goes on: "No offence, but have you ever even felt as if you have reason not to doubt yourself?" I look at him shocked and the boy named Neville shrugs and says: "Sometimes, in Herbology."
The man sighs and says: "Well, to be honest, I think you can do a lot more than you give yourself credit for. And really, had you been a squib, I'm sure Filch would have noticed by then." The boy smiles and while I feel relieved that this man isn't as hurtful and arrogant as he looked, leaning against one of the outer walls, he says:
"No – no, I think it's some kind of outside force that is keeping you from reaching your full potential. And if you don't mind, I would like to find out why. Say, during breaks or maybe thanks to the training these guys here offer." Neville nods and I see Phil looking at him contemplatively, obviously trying to see if he is worthy of training.
Then Wonderboy steps in and says: "Hey, you didn't want to train me or Sora, Donald and Goofy, and look where that lead you to. Just give him a chance, Phil." The Satyr nods and says: "Hey kid, you and Herc here will start some practicals right first break, you got that?" Neville nods excitedly and Herc and I share a glance before I read on.

In the … very suspicious – especially seeing the comments about those staying home Malfoy had made last school year.
The holidays … his office.

This makes a small proud smile be shown on the sour looking man with greasy hair and Harry kids: "Still think so, and this time I actually fought that thing." The man's grin widens and the red-haired boy Harry seems friends with says: "Harry, you'd rather face a dragon than ask someone out, so shut it." Harry turns red and I read on.

"What we … the eye. In fact, he'd rather face Norbert again than see what happened if Snape caught them on it.

I look at the boy confused and he says: "Norbert was Hagrid's Norwegian Ridgeback, one of the most poisonous and dangerous dragons of our world." This shocks me and I ask: "And you faced that?" But the boy shakes his head and says: "Send it off to a reserve. Together with Hermione and Charlie." I nod and want to read on.

But then a shiver running over my spine warns me just seconds before a large black cloud of smoke appears and from it – the devil himself. Blue flames for hair, bright yellow eyes with black pupils and a long black cloak – quite like the red-haired man – with curling tendrils of smoke rising from the bottom of the robe.
Everyone looks at the Lord of the Dead in shock – some of them in fear – and Wonderboy growls: "Hades, what are you doing here?" And the man checks his long, spiderlike fingers as he smoothly says: "Oh, just coming to see why so many souls are gathering here and why you, Blunderboy, aren't training like usual."
To this Sora, who has come to stand with us, draws his Keyblade and says: "Because we have guests. And because we are doing far more important things than training – or even your little tournaments." The Lord of the Death glares at him, but Sora stands his ground firmly as he spats: "Stay out of it, little shorty."

Now Sora snorts and asks: "Really, the same nickname you gave me when you gave me that ticket? Are you really that pathetic, Hades?" And Wonderboy smiles as well, while Riku comes over to stand right behind Sora, with a hand on his shoulder. Hades looks at the boy and I see his eyes catching Riku like they caught me all those years ago.
"Well, well, well, long time no see." The devil then suddenly says before he humphs and asks: "Last time I checked you were trying to destroy this kid. Why stand by him, huh? Got bored with the simple powers Maleficent was giving you or something?" This familiarity shocks me, but Riku smirks at the devil and says:
"Think again, Hades. I just found much better ways to use Darkness without succumbing to its allure or constantly losing like a certain someone else I know." And this actually angers the Lord of the Dead as he asks: "You think you're better than me, hotshot? Trust me, you're nothing. You were nothing then and you're nothing now."

Sora glares at this, while Hades seems to slowly cool down from yet another raging slew of insults before he says: "Trust me, brat, you have no idea what I'm capable of." He then looks down to Sora and I see him looking at the protective grip Riku has on his shoulders, before a victorious smirk appears on Hades' face and he says:
"Oh yeah, I can crush you, no problemo." And while both Keyblade Wielders glare at the man and Wonderboy raises his sword, ready to strike, does Hades disappear in the same black cloud of smoke as he appeared in, while I have already gotten a good idea of what he plans to do to get back at Riku for his semi-insult.
I sigh and Wonderboy says: "Seems that Hades is up to his old tricks again." He then turns to Riku and says: "Riku, keep an eye on Sora. Don't let Hades do to him what he did to Meg to get me into his Tournaments and all." Riku nods and the two return to their seats, while I feel relieved that Herc figured out the same thing.
The red-head then comes over and asks: "Anything wrong?" Wonderboy shakes his head and says: "Just keep an eye on Riku. Hades will probably use Sora to get back at him and I don't want that to happen. I don't want him to hurt either of them." The man nods and says: "I will, and I'm Axel." We smile at him and I read on.

Potions lessons … large dungeons. Harry had never been in the smaller dungeons, but he suspected that the Common room of the Slytherins was there, because he sometimes saw some older Snakes go there while he was in the Entrance Hall.

This makes the elder teens with green trim to their black cloaks – obviously the Slytherins – turn red and Harry says: "Don't worry, I know your common room isn't there." This turns the embarrassment into shock and one of the eldest asks: "How do you know?" And Harry answers: "You'll see." Making me read on.

Thursday afternoon's … of ingredients. Harry blessed himself for having bought two sets of all ingredients as he now had an overdose and with that plenty of chance to experiment – something he knew Snape would hate and thus only did in his bed. The man in question prowled through … too runny, something he knew was due to the first few puffer-fish eyes he had been unable to block because he hadn't noticed them being thrown at first, but he … watery potion.
He just didn't care as he had already made a perfect Swelling Solution last weekend. The potion had been a test for him to see if he could, single-handedly, make the more difficult potions of several years – a test he wanted to pass for himself before he would try his hand at the Polyjuice Potion.

Now the man named Snape smirks at Harry in pride and the boy says: "Hey, I'm interested, not stupid." Making many laugh at his airy tone, while Sirius and Remus shake their heads. Harry then turns to the blonde haired girl that had come with Sora and says: "Thanks, by the way, I feel much better." The girl smiles and I read on.

When Snape … Goyle's cauldron.

This turns the proud smirk into an angry scowl and Snape stands up, his cloak actually billowing behind him as he does so and says: "Mr. Potter, I really thought you would know better than to endanger your fellow students with the dangers of an incomplete Swelling Solution." The boy looks confused and Snape sighs before he says:
"Mr. Potter, the explosion of that firework caused many of my students to scream, the Solution, thanks to the fireworks showered everything. We were lucky nothing of that Solution hit the students tongues or those would have grown and could have allowed the students to choke on their own tongues. Now do you understand the danger?"
Harry whitens and hits himself on the head, obviously realizing his mistake of that day. Snape sighs and says: "I know we're practically on holiday, but I still want you to write an essay on how the students appendages swelled and what the after effects of that could have been had I not used the Deflating Draught."
Harry nods and then he stands up and says: "To all those that were hit that day, I'm sorry for my actions and for the fact that I endangered us without thinking my actions through." The Potions Master nods at this, together with quite a couple of the Fifteen year olds and when the boy has gone to sit back down, do I read on.

Goyle's potion … small melon. He finally believed his revenge on the boy for the M-word was complete.

Now the blonde boy named Draco hits himself on the head and while Snape groans: "Don't remind me." Does the blonde say: "Okay, in light of those events, I deserved it." He then smiles at Harry and says: "Just don't use my favorite subject next time, okay?" And Harry nods, sealing the agreement between them before I read on.

As half … bulging. He quickly sparred a glance at Snape and then used his wand to levitate Hermione's bag to her, telling her silently to put the ingredients there before Snape noticed her. The girl smiled at him and did as asked, Harry all the while keeping a warry eye on Snape being busy cleaning up his mess.

The girl in question sighs and says: "I really should have taken my bag with me. I just didn't think it would be that noticeable, until Harry levitated my bag up. The ingredients weren't all that big, after all, so I didn't think anyone would notice." To this Ron says: "Trust me, they would." Making the girl blush before I read on.

When everyone … sudden hush and Harry was glad he had held the thing with the sleeve of his robe as he didn't know whether or not Wizards knew of ways to track people by help of their fingerprints.

"That's possible?" An elder man with pin-striped cloak asks and Harry nods, lifting up his forefinger and pointing at it with his other hand as he says: "The twists and turns of every circle that makes a fingerprint are always different depending on whose they are, Minister." The man looks intrigued and he asks:
"And how can you exactly trace someone's fingerprint?" And Harry asks Hermione something, who then hands him a bottle of ink from her bag. The boy also takes some parchment from the girl and dips his forefinger into the bottle before pressing it strongly onto the parchment, leaving it there for about a minute.
He then raises the parchment and everyone can see the circles and twisting lines of his fingerprint in the top left corner. He then says: "It can also be done by tape, flour and cocoa powder. Just anything that has a light substance, but is colored can be used to find fingerprints and only touching something leaves a print."
The Minister seems intrigued at this, and so do a woman with a monocle and a blad tanned man and the three quickly go sit together, while the first man had, at first, sat a little more solitary and they obviously converse together about the benefits of this kind of identification. Then Hermione turns to Harry and asks:

"Harry, how did you know this?" And the boy, for some reason, lowers his head and says: "I often, when young, hoped the police would notice the differences between the Dursleys treatment of me and their treatment of Dudley and that they would do something, so I learned everything I could of them, in the hopes of helping them help me."
The girl looks hurt and devastated and then Sirius hugs Harry close and whispers: "I hate how much you had to give up as a child to survive those Muggles. Even wanting outside forces to help you and then realizing again and again that even the authorities wouldn't help you." The man moans and hugs Harry close.
The boy smiles and says: "I did have some help from the Authorities. Erica after all worked for the USA Army and they were very nice for me and kept me company even after her death. It did change into only once a month visits, but it was definitely reason for the Dursleys to lessen their terrible punishments by a lot."
The man has tears in his eyes by this time, but a large smile on his face and whispers: "Thank Merlin for that." While I can barely believe what I am hearing. I share a glance with Wonderboy and he too has shock in his blue eyes that must be just as wide as my own. We then both nod, deciding to leave it be for now and I read on.

"If I … could tell."

Now McGonagall snorts and says: "Really Severus, for a sly, cunning Head of Slytherin House, you really were obvious and open in your hatred and detestment of Harry, don't you think." The pale faced man turns red and mutters: "Shut it, Minerva." Making a victorious smirk appear on the woman's face as I read on.

Hermione threw … these days ..."

This excites Phil and Wonderboy as much as it seems to depress Harry and he says: "Yes, yes it did come in handy. Obviously." And the boy who must have been named Seamus, a boy with sandy brown hair and strong blue eyes, turns red and mumbles a soft: "Sorry, Harry." But Harry shakes his head and says:
"It's not your fault, Seamus. There was no way you could have known we might need those Defensive Skills in war in two to three years." My beloved and I now look shocked and Wonderboy asks: "You fought in a war?" But Harry mumbles: "Almost had to." Making me wonder what happened before I shrug it off and read on.

"What, you … be him."

"Wish it had been him." Quite a few of the students now mumble and Phil asks: "What's with all of you? You're all sporting muddy faces as if that Dueling club was the worst thing that could have happened to you." And Harry, lying back in Sirius' embrace, moans: "Not the club, Mr. Phil. The teachers Dumbledore assigned to the club."
This confuses me and then Harry, who has one hand over his eyes, peeks through his fingers and says: "No offence, Professor Snape." And while already having an understanding on why the boy would hate the Dueling Club, if a teacher that hates him teaches it, does the man say: "No offence taken, Potter." And I read on.

"As long … usual black.

"Ehem, excuse me a minute." Axel interrupts me and asks: "Sorry for interrupting, but – who exactly put the grumpiest and the most flamboyant teacher Hogwarts has ever met together in something as possibly lethal as a Dueling Club?" And Harry moans: "Who do you think?" This makes the man hit himself on the head as he asks:
"Dumbledore?" And Harry raises his finger as he says: "Dumbledore." This makes the redhead sigh and Phil asks: "So the Club would have been a success had it not been for this Dumbledore's bad choice in teachers?" And now, seemingly quite reluctant, most students nod, making Phil grin before I read on.

Lockhart waved … published works.

"Published works?" Wonderboy asks and Hermione moans: "Loserhead just likes bragging about things he hasn't done. Things he took someone else's credit for. He even went so far as to put it in books he sold, making it look like he was the one doing it all." This makes Phil and Wonderboy share a shocked glance and I read on.

"Let me … was curling.

"By that time he had already pushed me far enough I was already willing to do just that, Mr. Weasley." Snape growls, glaring at the book like Hades would glare at me if something didn't go like he wanted and I shudder a little while Phil moans: "No, Loserhead is ruining the Club." And he shakes his head while I read on.

Harry wondered … head irritably. It was obvious to Harry he saw the over-reacting of Lockhart as an insult to his Dueling skills and that he showed how little he respected the man himself by just jerking his head. Harry actually felt himself agreeing with the man, but quickly shook it off. Then they … cried: "Expelliarmus!"

"BEST SPELL EVER!" The Bulgarian boy sitting with Harry then suddenly shouts and everyone looks shocked, as he had obviously barely made such shouts before and Harry asks: "Why do you say that, Viktor?" And the boy says: "Because it saved your life, of course. At least in the books it did." To this Harry smiles and says:
"I do like that spell a lot. The twins and I even practiced it when we left on the train back to London that year." Viktor now happily takes Harry on his own lap and Harry seems to happily cuddle in the elder boy's embrace, while Sirius looks at the elder boy contemplatively, as if wondering something. Not interested in what it can be, I read on.

There was … the floor. Harry instantly memorized everything he had seen of this spell to heart.
Malfoy and … her fingers.

This makes the girl in question sigh in shame and then the tanned boy that has Slytherin colors but still decided to sit with her, hugs her closely and says: "Hey, you were brilliantly intelligent in mind, you just needed time to become just as brilliantly intelligent at heart." The girl smiles at him, while I feel touched by his words and read on.

"Who cares?" … Ron together, while Harry had to shake off the idea of asking Professor Snape if he would join him in pranking Lockhart just for revenge.
Lockhart was … on end. Harry couldn't really say he liked this look better as it made the man look as if he just got out of bed and for some reason did that give him the creeps – perhaps because it reminded him of those disgusting glances Lockhart had been sending him.
"Well there … them see ..."

"Did that spell make the man hit his head too hard when he fell?" Wonderboy asks with a tone of disbelief coloring his voice and then the redhead twins come over and one of them says: "Believe it or not, Hercules my man." And the other ends: "But this is regular Lockhart behavior." This shocks the three of us and I read on.

Snape was … Miss Bulstrode."

This makes Harry ask: "Professor, I can understand why you put me with Draco, seeing how we were both the most popular of that year and our respective Houses, but why did you put Hermione with Millicent?" And the man answers: "To see if Mss. Granger could cast quicker than Mss. Bullstrode could punch, I'm afraid."
Harry looks shocked and Phil says: "Well then, if that girl is that good in punching – Herc?" Hercules nods and asks: "Millicent Bullstrode, could you come over, please?" And a girl that would make Medusa look beautiful comes over. The girl has a large square build, heavy, jutting jaw and short black hair.
She raises an eyebrow at my Wonderboy as she reaches him, having extended her hands shortly to feel where the opening from the Stadium to the Lobby was and Hercules puffs up his chest and says: "Show me how strong you are. Punch my chest with all your strength." The girl looks shocked and then an evil smile appears on her face.

I see Wonderboy setting his muscles tense with his power while the girl pulls back her fist and squeezes her hand tightly, before ramming it straight into Herc's chest. But then cracks are heard and a second later the girl is crying it out as she holds her hand to her chest, her knuckles bleeding and obviously broken.
Wonderboy cringes as he sees this and says: "Whoops, guess I gave a little too much of myself." And a woman all dressed in a white apron with soft pink dress and with white head cap runs over, waving her wand over the girl's hand and casting some bandages to wrap around the hand as she leads the girl to the back of the Stadium.
Wonderboy, by now, has his hand behind his head and is rubbing the back of his neck in guilt as Phil asks: "So Herc, how strong was she?" And Wonderboy says: "I definitely felt something, but I think you can compare it to a human feeling a few bugs landing on a part of their skin." The Satyr nods as Wonderboy sighs and says:
"She definitely has potential and she can become quite the fighter, but she knows no basics about fighting whatsoever. Hitting something metal with your thumb inside your fist is bound to make you break something. Always hold your thumb next to your fist, not inside it." The Satyr smiles at him and I read on.

Malfoy strutted … not return and Harry wondered why Snape would put these two completely different souls up together.
"Face your … each other. Harry might not hate Malfoy, but after that stupid attack on Ron last year Christmas – where it was obvious he had waited with pestering his best friend until he was sure Professor Snape was near – he didn't trust him anymore than you could hold a Bludger calm.
"Wands at … a saucepan.

"And again more proof that bint has used that damned Saucepan before the last mentioned summer." The man named Remus growls and Hercules asks: "You've been hit with a saucepan before?" Harry nods and says: "It was her favorite way to punish me if Vernon wasn't around to do it." This angers the both of us and I read on.

He stumbled … a mistake.

Now the blonde sighs again and says: "No, just a misunderstood sign of nobility. I thought you believed me too weak to fight now that I was laughing and because I couldn't see your wand arm lying by your side loosely, like your other arm was, I believed your pride made you gloat over me, so I cursed you back."
Harry nods and says: "I didn't have it in my side if that was what you thought, Malfoy. I just didn't want to take any risks and still had my wand arm up. I just didn't know any shield spells, so I couldn't block your attack." The two boys, so obviously different in so many things, smile at each other in good humor and I read on.

Gasping for … in pain.

This makes the whimpering girl – still sitting with the nurse at the far back of the Stadium, blush in embarrassment and Snape says: "Definitely not my intention, but then again, I had my eyes only on Potter and Draco to make sure Potter wouldn't pull the same stunts as his father did to me when we dueled, so it was my fault too."
This makes Harry turn to the two adults he sits with and he asks: "What does he mean, pull the same stunts as his father did to me? Did dad cheat when dueling?" And Sirius sighs and says: "No Harry, he just – he just liked dueling Snape with us by his side, something I now see is quite unfair, but I promise he had good reasons."
Harry glares at this, making me see a fire I didn't expect to see burning in those emerald green depths and he asks: "What?" Sirius sighs and says: "I promise to explain you and Snape privately once the reading halts for a meal, okay?" Harry nods, but turns back to Viktor, pointedly ignoring Sirius and Remus as he does so and I read on.

Both their … he was, but luckily enough did holding onto a broom tightly while flying at high speeds give him a lot of strength and he was able to pull Bullstrode's arms far away apart for Hermione to slip out of the strong girl's grip.
"Dear, dear," … quickly away. Harry could barely believe the man was stupid enough to not realize this before setting up this club, let alone think he could use Snape's assistance for this again.

Now Wonderboy asks: "Are you sure he didn't hit his head somewhere during the day?" And Harry says: "Trust me, he didn't. You'll get used to his ridiculous behavior soon enough though." To which Wonderboy asks: "He's always like that?" And Ron answers: "Sure has been for as long as we've known him."

Wonderboy looks shocked, but then a loud scream interrupts us all and we suddenly see a dark blue colored creature, with purple wings, two golden bracelets, a silver choker, blue jeans with metal kneecaps, black sandals with red straps and a white and blue striped bandana carrying a shouting Sora up in the air.
"A Heartless!" Leon shouts while everyone else shouts: "SORA!" Riku seems to be the loudest and then Axel summons fire, from which a strange circular shaped weapon, made of red and white metal bands with black handles appear and he throws one of them at the creature, killing it with one strike and causing Sora to fall.
Everyone screams at this, but then Riku runs at the boy and while those in his path jump aside to allow him the chance to get to the boy, does Sora suddenly bump into something invisible, before he grabs onto it, making Wonderboy and me know he was higher than the roof of the Colliseum when he started falling.
Riku reaches him and with his arms open above his head, he shouts: "Sora, let go! I'll catch you!" Sora looks down, trying and failing to put his feet against the walls of the Colliseum and then he nods, before letting go. Most of the girls scream, but the silver-haired, chrystal-eyed boy seems to be stronger than he looks.
Grunting a little when Sora falls in his arms, he slowly lets the boy stand on his own two feet again and Hercules growls as he says: "Hades! He's trying to kidnap Sora so he can get back at Riku for his semi insult." And I feel a new level of hatred rush through me as I think of the blue haired devil causing all of this.

Wonderboy and I then run at the two, making sure we don't run into the Colliseum itself and Herc asks: "Is everyone alright?" A stumbling Harry, Viktor, Sirius and Remus have joined us by now and Riku says: "Yeah, we're alright. Or at least I am." He then turns to Sora and the boy nods, leaning slightly against the toned boy.
Riku smiles at him lovingly and I wonder if this could be my chance to get Sora back for that comment he made before his picture was shown in the sky above. Deciding not to, seeing how the boy was almost kidnapped, I say: "It was Hades. He's trying to kidnap Sora so he can break you, Riku. Trust me, I've seen it happen before."
Riku nods and then asks: "Sora, can you stand?" Sora nods and Sirius and Remus are quickly at his side as he steps away from his obvious crush. Riku then suddenly summons his black and red colored Keyblade and says: "I'll be right back. Continue reading without me." Sora sends him a questioning glance and asks:
"Riku?" But Riku smiles at the boy and says: "I'll be alright, Sora. You know me, don't you?" Sora smiles and nods and then Wonderboy lies a hand on Riku's shoulder and says: "Be very careful down there. Hades is quite tricky and can be very convincing when he wants something. Make sure you get the upper hand right away."
Riku nods and leaves, using his Keyblade to get from the Stadium, through the Lobby and then through the doors at the other end of the Courtyard, down a staircase I know only too well. I sigh and while Harry and the others take Sora back to their spot, do I wish the crystal-eyed boy luck and do I continue reading.

"Let's have … them room. Harry suspected the man only agreed to get back in Snape's good graces – and seeing the looks Snape was still sending him, he couldn't blame the dirty bastard.
"Now, Harry," said Lockhart, not getting as close to Harry as he did when back in Diagon Alley but still with that disgusting look in his eyes, "When Draco … little over-excited." Harry wondered if the man was really casting a spell or if this was something like the Pixie Fiasco.
Snape moved … at Lockhart, remembering Percy's words about Snape knowing a lot about the Dark Arts, and said, … his mouth. No way was he giving into the taunts of his rival, no matter how his rational mind thought about it.
Lockhart … the shoulder, his hand lingering there for only a second too long in Harry's opinion. "Just do … to strike.

Now Harry groans and says: "And here it goes wrong." This confuses me and Wonderboy asks: "I thought it went wrong when Lockhart entered the Dueling club." Harry nods and Ron says: "He means that now things concerning the rest of the book are about to go downhill." Wonderboy nods and I read on feeling concerned.

There were … the floor. Harry wanted to do the same – this was after all not the same snake he had spoken to when he was ten and he wasn't stupid enough to attempt to do it again when the snake was obviously pissed at being dropped like that. But then suddenly he felt the same amazing power as when he had pressed himself against the hallway wall and he realized he had part of Hogwarts protecting him.
"Don't move … angry snake, not knowing what was going on in Harry's mind as thousands of animal repelling spells suddenly showed themselves to his mind's eye and he was quickly looking for the best but least painful one. "I'll get … do it, especially because he was still seeing only lethal spells in his mind's eye. He wasn't … have explained. It was like the magic of Hogwarts inside of him somehow connected him mentally to the snake and that this made him know things he normally wouldn't have known – that was at least the only logical explanation he could think of.
He looked … and scared.

"And here I show just how loyal Hufflepuffs can be." The boy named Justin groans and he hides his head in his hands as he moans: "NOT!" Making me wonder what could be going on. Then Phil stands up and says: "Listen, I've been thinking of a schedule where we all get what we want and I think I've come up with something acceptable."
Everyone turns to the small Satyr, held up by Wonderboy and he goes on: "We'll read three chapters and then take a break. During this break Herc and I will pick some of you runts and you will train with him and Sora to become stronger and, maybe, you can – while you're here – get the chance at the title of Junior Heroes."
This makes the students look at each other and then a timid youngster asks: "Do we need to hit Hercules too?" But Wonderboy shakes his head and the young girl sighs in relief, before McGonagall says: "My fellow colleagues and I agree with this schedule, Mr. Phil. Thank you." The Satyr sits back down, while nodding and I read on.

"What do … said Harry. To him the last couple of minutes got more and more confusing the longer they increased in numbers.
"A Parselmouth!" … another language?

Now I look up and ask: "So Harry, you really don't realize you're speaking another language when you speak Parsletongue?" Harry shakes his head and says: "It was only later in the story that it started sounding a little different to me. Before that I just heard myself speak English." I feel fascinated by this and read on.

But – I … fell open. He had completely forgotten that Slytherin had this secret power that the other Founders didn't have. Instantly he remembered his suspicions, but if the gift of Slytherin was talking to Snakes, then what kind of snake could petrify people. Harry decided to research all kinds of snakes once he knew.
"Exactly," said … could be."

Now Harry turns to Sirius and Remus and the two smile as Sirius says: "Don't worry, son. James made a Family Ancestor Potion in his Sixth and it showed just about all the most important and most historical Ancestors he had in his line. Salazar Slytherin was not part of that list." Harry smiles at the man and I ask:
"Adopted, right?" And Harry lifts his shirt, showing scars that actually write words on his front. I look at the scars appalled and he says: "Don't worry, they were for a Blood Adoption Ritual. They make me the son of Sirius and Remus. They also already seem to be fading." This reliefs me and makes me read on with a happy smile for the young boy.

Harry lay … Salazar Slytherin? Was that really how he had become a Parsletongue without knowing it? Because it had been in his family for generations? How could he find out? He didn't … wizarding relatives and here there was no one willing to tell him – as if expecting him to know everything about the family he never got to have.

This makes quite a few of the teachers cringe as Wonderboy and I look at them questioningly, McGonagall says: "Damn you, Dumbledore. Convincing us Harry would be raised in a way that would do Lily and James proud." But Snape puts a hand on the hunched shoulders of the woman as he shakes his head and says:
"It's also partially our own fault. We believed, because he looked so much like James, that Petunia would tell him everything about the man he was the splitting image of and that made us hold back on information. And I did it just out of spite back then, but that's another story." The woman nods and I continue my reading.

Quietly, Harry … turned over pushing the voice out of his mind with the thought that, even though that was true, the Sorting Hat wouldn't have placed him in Gryffindor if he didn't fit even better in said House. He'd see … have realized.

Now most of the school cringes, except for, apparently, all of the younger years and I realize that these must be the First and Second Years, who hadn't been present during this year. Looking around at those who look down as if feeling really stupid, I can barely believe how many of them there are and with a sigh do I read on.

By next … a badger.

Now I snicker and ask: "Can your magic really do that?" And as the teacher in question nods, does Riku suddenly walk out of the doors leading to the Underworld, shocking us all with how he looks. Instantly his friends are by his side and Sora asks: "Riku, what happened to you? You're all – all burned up. What did Hades do to you?"
The silver haired boy, who has half of his hair on the right side of his face burned away, who has several nasty burns and circular scorch marks on his face, neck and arms and who is carrying the smoldering remains of his white and yellow sleeveless shirt, smiles and says: "Nothing I wasn't able to give right back at him."
But this, of course, doesn't console Sora's worry and he says: "Nothing you couldn't give right back at him? Riku, I didn't want you to get hurt just because –." But then Riku grabs Sora's arm, while his hand had been softly trying to reach for the nasty burn around his right ear and pulls the boy close roughly as he says:
"Sora, he tried to kidnap you. He almost got you killed by that fall and I will not allow it. Remember what I said, I will always fight the Darkness and return it to Light. I will always use my powers to protect what matters. And you matter, Sora. You matter. So I don't regret these wounds, they showed Hades what I'm capable of."

Sora has tears in his eyes by now and hugs Riku tightly, the boy tensing for a second, before he happily embraces Sora back, while I can almost see how loving the embrace is for both boys – and how neither of them realizes that the other's embrace is that loving. I shake my head and then see Sora mumble under his breath.
Wondering what the kid could be on about, I see them part and Sora summons his Keyblade. He holds it over Riku's head, just when I see Snape and Pomfrey getting their bags growing from one of their pockets. Sora then whispers: "Curaga." And I feel a wave of gentle healing magic erupt from him as leafs fall down from his Keyblade.
The leafs softly attach themselves to all the burns and slash marks on Riku's body, making the boy cringe for a second before they all soak into his skin, causing the skin to reattach itself and making the wounds disappear. Sora stops once he sees all wounds gone, but then still looks sad and softly lifts what's left of Riku's hair.

Riku looks at the hand with a smile and a raised eyebrow as Pomfrey says: "Just leave that to me, Sora. Riku, I want you to drink a cup of this every hour for the rest of the day. Then by tomorrow your hair will be back to the same length." With that she hands him a vial with dour green liquid swirling inside of it.
Riku nods and the two return to their seat, close to Harry, who quickly pulls a group of clouds together to make a thick looking cushion. Riku smiles at the young boy and then lets Sora join him, the brown-haired boy still looking at him worriedly as he takes the first cup. He shudders afterwards and Harry snickers as he says:
"Yeah, all her potions taste awful. But I've come to learn that the worse they taste, the better they work. I just personally like to experiment on how to keep that good working effect while taking away the chances of it tasting bad." Riku, Pomfrey and Snape seem interested in this, but I quickly pull their attention back to the book.

Resisting the … library first.

Harry sighs and says: "I really should have just waited another day." But then Sora seems to hear something none of us hears and he happily says: "Well, I'm glad you went and – well, you know what happened." The black-haired boy nods and says: "I do, but how do you?" And while Sora motions for Axel do I read on.

A group … be working.

Now said Hufflepuffs sigh and one of the girls, one with long blond hair that is slightly in a pigtail, but of which most is hanging around her face, says: "I wish we had been working. I really said terrible things that day." But then a stout boy lies a comforting hand on her shoulder, softly pushing her hair behind it as he retorts:
"Not half as bad as what I said, and I even convinced you. I should have listened to you from the start, Hannah, then none of it would have happened." But then Harry says: "That's not true. You saying those things to Hannah was after you told Justin to stay in the dormitories. Neither of you was at fault that day."
The two smile at Harry and the girl says: "You're always so easily forgiving, Harry. And that with the terrible treatment of those terrible monsters, I mean Muggles." Harry shrugs, but when the girl looks a little more serious, he sighs and says: "I just fear – slightly, instinctively – that if I don't, the situation will only become worse."

The girl looks at him sadly, while I'm amazed that they can hold this conversation with the length of almost half a regular room between them and then the Puffs all push their Clouds past the Lobby and over to Harry's side. Sitting across from where he sits with his family, the young girl lies a comforting hand on his shoulder.
He smiles at her and she says: "We've really been prats to you over the years, Harry. I really hope in the books of the future we'll be able to make up for it. And don't say you've already forgiven us, we want to make it up ourselves." The boy laughs and says: "Alright, but don't overwork yourselves, okay?" The girl nods and I read on.

Between the … towards them in the hopes of being able to better identify them and see if Justin was among them when something … Invisibility section.
He hated it, but their tones intrigued him. They sounded angered, yet feared. "So anyway," … is it?"

Now many students raise their eyebrows in disbelief at the stout boy and Hermione whittingly says: "It might just be me, but wasn't Harry meeting Justin for the first time before the Dueling Club? And wasn't it also even months before we even knew of the Chamber being opened? So how does that count as evidence, Ernie?"
The boy in question turns red and some of the other students want to open their mouths, probably to further harass him, when Harry asks: "Ehm, isn't it me who he insulted? And doesn't his guilty face say enough?" To which Sirius whacks him over the head and says: "Too forgiving you are." Harry grumbles in slight pain and I read on.

"You definitely … Serpent-tongue."
Harry ignored the nagging feeling that Parsletongue was related to the Monster of the Chamber and listened further. There was … been attacked."

"Counter-evidence proving his innocence. His mother and best friend are both Muggleborn. Doesn't that mean he would attack me first?" Hermione spats at the stout boy, making him cringe at her angry tone before Ron pulls her back as she had slightly lifted herself of her seat. Liking her fierce attitude, I smile at the girl and read on.

"He always … by You-Know-Who.

"Then how can anyone lay any claim on that, for the good or the bad. All they know is that Harry did something to make this You-Know-Who guy disappear. Shouldn't they first try and find out how he did before they make any form of judgement?" Wonderboy asks and Harry grunts: "Wish they had, Herc, I wish they had."
Wonderboy sighs at this and asks: "Want to go training after this? I know a few good manoeuvres that always help you lose stress and keeps your muscles nice, warm and strengthening." Harry smiles at this and says: "Sure, right next break?" Wonderboy nods, while I sigh, wishing he would give me that kind of attention as Sirius asks:
"Are you sure of that, pup? You already did some extensive training earlier and you do still tire out quite quickly as you are still healing." To which Harry answers: "I'm sure, Sirius, just like I'm sure that this training will help me develop my weakened muscles back to normal." And the man accepts this with relief as I read on.

I mean … like that."

Now silence reigns as even I feel weirded out by this comment and Phil asks: "Eeeehh, can anyone explain me how a baby can be a powerful dark wizard? I mean, powerful wizard of itself, I can get, but how can anyone see if a baby's magic is light or dark at that age, huh? I don't get that?" And many people nod in agreement.
Ernie then hits himself on the head and says: "I really said some ridiculous things back there." To which almost all of the students with blue trims attached to their black robes shout: "YOU THINK?" But then Sora asks: "Hey, can we keep reading? We're about to hit something good." Everyone looks at him weird and Harry asks:
"Sora, do you even know how I first met Fawkes – or Axel, sorry? Or under what circumstances?" Sora shrugs and Riku says: "Never mind him. Sora has that strange ability to find the brightest part of anything and then to pull off miracles like there's nothing to it." This makes Harry smile and while I agree with the fellow do I read on.

He dropped … been hiding?"

This makes Harry smile and he says: "Well, with Dumbledore no longer breathing down my neck and Voldemort no longer trying to get me killed at the end of every year I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." To which Viktor pulls him close and says: "Yeah, you will. And I'll be right beside you to help you on the way."
The two smile at each other and Harry softly kisses Viktor's cheek. Again I see Sirius looking at the two thoughtfully and Remus asks: "Sickle for your thoughts, my little pup?" And Sirius says: "I'll tell you later, Remus. I'm not even sure of my own thoughts yet." The brown haired man pulls his partner close and I read on.

Harry couldn't … Justin Finch-Fletchley."

This makes Sirius hit Harry over the head and he asks: "Didn't you say you get a clear head in troublesome situations?" And Ron laughs: "Yeah, and he loses it when he gets angry." Making Harry scowl at him while he rubs the back of his head and Sirius moans in defeat. Understanding the man's worry, I read on.

The Hufflepuffs' … try it."

"Not in a million years, Harry!" The boy in question shouts quickly and I ask: "Are they really that bad?" And Sora says: "Let's just say the thought of them and their treatment of Harry even gets me to lose my good mood." I look shocked at this as I had not expected there to even be anything that could do that and read on.

He turned … looking up.

"You walked into something very large and solid and instantly knew it was this Hagrid person?" I ask the boy and he aims for the amazing man who is almost the same height as Zeus himself. Looking the man over, I say: "Okay, I think I see your point." Making both boy and giant laugh. Wonderboy then sends me a loving smile and I read on.

Hagrid's face … the hen-coop."

Harry then sends a glance at the young red-head and whispers: "Thank goodness you didn't, Hagrid." The giant looks confused, while I see some weird pleading look in the girl's eyes as she looks at Harry and the giant asks: "How'd yah know?" And Harry answers: "Didn't sense anything next time I came by." The giant nods and I read on.

He peered … about him. The only thing slightly calming him down was the sight of Hannah Abbot still slightly biting her bottom lip with her teeth as he had left, obviously still trying to decide whether or not she would believe Ernie.
"It's nothing," … window pane.

This confuses me and I ask: "Is this vital in anyway?" Harry nods and says: "I think another strange sounding clue will soon make itself known, something else I spotted before I met Axel." I nod and Ernie says: "And it all goes downhill from here, all the way to hell." This makes me look at the large doors before I read on.

He was … the ceiling.

I look at this shocked and then Hercules says: "I didn't know Hades had send Medusa to that world." Everyone looks at the man shocked and he asks: "Medusa? The beautiful woman with snakes for hair, who turns you to stone if you look in her eyes? It wasn't her?" Everyone shakes their heads and Harry sourly mutters:
"Had it been her. She would have been a whole lot easier to handle, I'm sure." But then Hermione snickers and says: "Actually Harry, you can use the same method for this monster as you can if you want to stop Medusa." The boy looks shocked and asks: "Hermione, where do we get a mirror big enough for that?"
All the students look shocked and confused and then Percy asks: "Is that why there were mirrors on your and Penny's bedside tables?" Hermione nods, but then shivers and Ron hisses: "Did you have to bring that up just when we are reading about stuff similar to it?" His older brother flushes deep red and I read on, quite intrigued.

And that … to Justin's.

"Seriously?" Wonderboy asks and then he goes on: "What kind of monster are you all dealing with? Not even Medusa can attack ghosts." But then Hades appears again and asks: "Excuse me, was Blunderboy just insulting one of my finest associates?" And Wonderboy growls: "Associates? Really?"
Hades seems to ignore the anger and asks me: "So what's going on in that apparently so very interesting book, Meg?" He spats my name and I flinch, before toughening up and saying: "Some kind of unknown monster just attacked and petrified a young boy –." To which The Lord of the Death yawns and interrupts: "Boring!"
And I end: "And a ghost." Instantly I have the man's attention and Wonderboy asks: "So, can or can your associate not do the same?" A glower is his answer and Hades says: "Fine, she can't. But I'm staying here until I hear what kind of delicious, brilliant little beast we're talking about here." To which Wonderboy retorts:

"Fine, but your seat is by your own door." The two glare at each other and Herc hisses: "Don't worry, these fine guests of mine made sure the reader is heard all round the Colisseum. You won't miss a thing." Hades huffs and while he walks over, do I see that Sora seems to have taken a protective stance in front of Riku.
He lowers his Keyblade as he sees the God walk the other way and Riku pulls him back on the seat, while on the other side, in the Courtyard, Hades of course enjoys the frightened and terrified faces he passes on his way to the door. He then growls and I see the Bulgarians glare at him, apparently not scared at all, before I read on.

Harry got … the bodies.

Wonderboy turns to Harry and the brunette says: "Yep, they were indeed trying to get through that loose window pane. And the scurrying was a lot more terrified than the last time on Halloween, a few chapters back." Again the Lord of the dead perks up and asks: "Halloween? My most favorite holiday of the year?"
But Sirius growls: "Yeah, you'd love that holiday, wouldn't you?" I look at him confused and Hades asks: "Well, of course? Is there any reason for you to not love it, then?" And the man spats: "How about my baby losing his parents at the age of one, you monster?" The Lord of Dead looks shocked and I read on, feeling for the lad.

The only … with this?

"Only a day after that whole Parsletongue incident? While students were already suspecting you as the culprit?" I ask Harry and then snort and say: "Sorry kid, but not much chance." And he sighs: "Don't I know it." Then Sora asks: "So you met Axel, because of – an attack?" And when Harry nods, does Sora shudder and do I read on.

As he … shooting out.

"Oooh, a Poltergeist. My kind of ghost." Hades murmurs, while most others hit themselves on the head and groan. I look around and Phil asks: "That bad?" To which Sirius says: "Peeves is the kind of joker and poltergeist you want around all the time, except during an emergency." He ends with a cringe and I read on.

"Why, it's … LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"

Another round of groans is heard as I scream this and Hades seems to hit his feet on the floor in excitement as he says: "Ooooh, I love this guy." To which Wonderboy retorts: "Why does that not surprise me." Making the Lord of Dead glare at him, but Wonderboy finally seems to have only eyes for me and I read on.

Crash – crash … Nearly-Headless Nick.

"No wonder so many students came to my Infirmary with a cold later." The matron moans a little later, seeming to finally be done with the hand of the young Bullstrode girl and she walks back, the Slytherins having fluffed up her cloud to sit in. She sits down with a sigh and Wonderboy cringes as she nurses her hand before I read on.

Harry found … at Harry.

"Hey kid!" Phil shouts and the Ernie boy looks at him as he asks: "Did you even look at the scene?" Making the boy turn red and making a lot of people, probably everyone present back then, groan at his idiocy. Phil lies a hand on his forehead,while Hades seems to enjoy the current scene and I glare at him weakly before reading on.

"That will … at Harry. Had Harry not been as shocked and scared as he was, he probably would have send the Poltergeist the same glare Ernie MacMillan was now sending him.
Justin was … alone together.

"Oh good, are you going to comfort him, tell him you're his godmother and that things will be alright now, Minnie?" Sirius asks and McGonagall sighs and says: "I wish I had, Sirius. No, I did the complete opposite I'm afraid." But Sora seems not to hear this as he looks at me, his eager eyes telling me to read on.

"This way … McGonagall curtly. Harry dared a single glance at her face and was relieved he didn't see the same look on her face as when he had helped Hagrid take Norbert up to the Astronomy Tower to give him to Charlie, Ron's brother. This slightly relieved his worries and gave him the small belief that maybe this time he would be allowed to explain himself. Still, he feared what his explanation would cost him – especially as he thought about the Polyjuice Potion – and silently he turned his head away from his teacher and followed her meekly.

They marched … be amazed.

"And that's not even the most amazing part of the school. The chambers Hogwarts has added for mated couples and family members coming to stay a weekend or so are even more incredible." Sirius then tells Harry and the rest and Harry asks: "Really, why aren't they used anymore then?" And Remus sadly answers:
"One of the Couple chambers locked itself up from the inside to preserve honor to your parents as they were the last to stay there before their deaths. A parental set of chambers did the same, to honor your grandparents as your grandfather, Charlus, died on Christmas Eve 1979 – the same night Lily told James she loved him."
A small, bored smile I notice lies on Hades' lips and I glare at the fact that the man must love the idea of someone dying on Christmas, but must be bored by the romance and love being put in the tale. Harry in the meantime seems shocked as he asks: "My grandfather died at Hogwarts?" But Remus shakes his head and says:

"He died at home, Harry. He had only just gone to bed when the Dragon Pox he was having attacked his throat and made him cough. Your Grandmother tried to save him, but the combination of fear for her husband and her own case of Dragon Pox took her life as well. They died in each other's arms, in their own bed."

Harry by now has tears in his eyes as he hears Remus' voice end softly and the two men hug their son close, while I have made room on the pedestal for Wonderboy to sit there with me and the man has wrapped a loving arm around me, pulling me close and allowing me to seek comfort in his strong form and muscular form.
But then, from the corner of my eye, I see Hades picking his ear and glare at the man. The man looks back and asks: "What? Interested in a new deal?" This makes Wonderboy pull me even closer and hisses: "Don't even think about it." The Devil shrugs and I see his eyes wonder over to Riku, quickly making me read on.

Behind the … Dumbledore lived.

"A place I should have never brought you to." McGonagall moans and Hades asks: "Ow, is he of my kind?" The woman glares and says: "Seeing how you are willing to use other people for your own gain, I'd say yes. He is exactly like you." This makes a large smirk appear on the Devil's face and he asks smoothly:
"Pray tell where I can find this interesting specimen?" And Sirius growls: "Exactly where he belongs. Behind bars, that's where." The Devil seems shocked at this and then suddenly Sora runs over and shouts: "My turn!" Shocking us all as I had expected Sora to want to stay near Riku. And the large grin on his face confuses me even more.


Hey everyone,
Had to make a few changes here as, during the original writing of all this, I had forgotten that in Kingdom Hearts 1 Riku had met and been working alongside Hades. He may have never gone to Olympus Colisseum, but the two of them met plenty of times while in Hollow Bastion, which is definitely important to the plot.
So to then have Hades treat Riku as if he never met the kid and believes he can turn Riku Dark for the first time doesn't add up. Sure the story might not fully follow Canon as Sora and Riku are probably older than they're supposed to be, but I still think I made a pretty stupid mistake there, so I went and slightly rewrote those parts.
Also, if I have to be really honest/nit-picky, I didn't like how I wrote Hades' lines and interactions in some parts. They didn't feel like the Hades from the original movie/Kingdom Hearts game. Did I nail his image and behavior this time? Heh, not really sure, but I do think I did a better job at it. Do you agree or disagree?
Merry Christmas,

Venquine1990