Hey everyone,
So this chapter will be a bit of a mishmash - or mixed mess - of character POV's. I plan to have there be some characterization and humanization of all of the KH characters that have come to the HP universe so far, yet I am a little doubtful on whether or not I will do Sora, Riku and Lea, cause I do them so often in all other chapters.
Anyway, have fun,

Venquine1990


Chapter 21
The Last Few Days Pass

Potter Manor
8th of July 1995
Ariel's POV

This manor is almost as amazing as the castle that Erik and I live in and now that we are stuck in this world until our timelines are back in sync again, am I only too happy with the prospect of giving birth to my gorgeous upcoming baby in this incredible location, even with all of the dangers that this world seems to come with.
Erik had definitely been against the idea of me going when we got the invitation, yet he and the staff at the castle had also become more and more overbearing the longer it became known that I was pregnant and I know that, if Erik had kept us from going, I would have actually changed myself back into a mermaid just to escape him.

Yes, being human is amazing, the lessons Erik gives me that prove my friend, Scuttle, wrong about his knowledge on human items an absolute delight and the treatment Erik gives me as we are now husband and wife with a baby on the way both the most amazing and most aggravating time I have ever experienced in my life.
Of course Erik's crew and staff have been careful and worried about me ever since they heard the whole tale from Erik, yet while at first they had been careful with me because they didn't know how physically strong and healthy mere-people could be, are they now treating me like I am more delicate than ancient fine china.
And for a mermaid like me, who has been facing dangers like unstable cliffs and flesh-eating sharks on a daily to weekly basis for many years and who was part of the party that took Ursula the Sea-witch down not once but twice, being treated as if your every pore is made of thin-blown glass gets annoyingly aggravating fast.

And so, just a few weeks ago, I had snuck out of the castle and explored the town Erik and I are ruling over and while Erik had been shocked and even angry at me for risking my health like that – or so he said – I had actually discovered something that had quickly put more or less a stop to all of his over-excessive pampering.
It had come from one of the town's ladies that had been at the dancing square where Erik and I had danced in the few days I had been without my voice and while I had been amazed and heavily thrilled at the fact that she had treated me as if I was just another housewife from town, had she given me solid-gold advice.
"Your husband made you sneak out, sweetie. Trust me, I know how it feels. My Albert does it at least once a month, sometimes even twice. Now sometimes, I can handle it and sometimes – he needs a reminder of who runs the house." This had confused me and the woman had seen this, making her giggle before she said:
"Let me tell it to you straight, honey-sweet. Men work and earn the money, women keep the house and watch the kids. So, because of that, technically men run the outside world and women; they run the homefront. Our men just need to be reminded of that sometime." And that had given me all the advice I had needed.

I had thanked her and managed to sneak back into the castle, just when Erik had sent out a search party for me and while I had felt aggravated instead of flattered over the fact that he had sent out almost half of the entire castle's staff to search for me, had I taken advantage of the fact that he had also decided to lead the search.
Yes, Erik's closest staff member, Grimsby had been more than ready to instantly go after his prince and inform him of my return, yet I had instantly put the advice of the town lady to good use and had told him: "Erik may be your prince, Grimsby, but I am the lady of this castle. That means I run everyone here, understand?"
And the man had been shocked, yet Carlotta had been overly exuberant with the fact that I was willing to take on my role as Lady of the House and since then have the people of the castle still treated me with some delicacy, but no more than my role as princess and future required of them and they always kept my own patience into account.

Yet now that we have entered this new world, I fear that Erik might just go into overdrive with his care and protectiveness, yet at the same time I am very glad for James' return to Harry and Sora's life and not just because the two boys deserve to have both their parents in their lives, but also because James has the experience I need.
I can still remember the advice he gave me when he saw how Erik started annoying me during the reading and at the current moment I am very, very glad with both how our rooms has a large couch in the living room and study as well as how one of the House-Elves has actually taken a sincere shining to me in my pregnant state.
Because of that was I able to remind Erik of the threat James had taught me about and to the shock of my beloved prince, the House Elf had actually vowed that they would charm our bedroom door closed or otherwise enchant it to make sure he would sleep on either couch if he were to indeed to that annoying state of over-concern.

And by now, with Harry having healed from his Overrun Emotion Stage and he and his family are preparing for the trial that will take place in four days from now, yet while I had definitely been happy to offer my services as queen of another world, had I understand why Sirius had told me it was better if we didn't go down that road.
"Yet even if I can't help Harry in the trial, I can definitely help him in other areas, such as how to behave in high society and what it's like to be the youngest of the family. And in return, maybe James can help me learn what it's like to take care of a newborn child." And that prospect makes me smile as I lay in bed with my beloved prince.


9th of July 1996
Tarzan's POV

This world is – so strange. It is so much more like the world Jane had been trying to teach me about than the jungle I had been raised in and yet, at the same time, the structure of the entire huge house as well as the settings of my room do make it easier for me to feel as if I am living in a jungle made of stone and glass.
Yes, I had been very shocked and surprised when I learned that the magic that apparently flows around this world and that is more wide-varied than any magic I had ever seen Sora use could actually make my living space for this world look exactly like the world I had grown up in and yet it hadn't fully felt like home at the same time.

This because, even with how closely similar the room looked and how brilliantly wild the structure of the house was and even how gorgeous the outdoors looked, had it not made me feel like home because I had started missing Jane, Terk, Tantor and all of the others back in the Jungle the longer I had been part of this world.
At first I had not expected to miss my friends and lady friend as much as I am, yet by now I am sincerely hoping that Kairi will be allowed to at least bring in one of my friends – preferably Jane – as soon as possible. And the fact that Kairi is only allowed to summon our friends when we are reading doesn't make things easier.

Yet then, while I am leaning against one of the trees in my room, does the door open and does one of the Weasleys along with the strange girl that can change how she looks at random enter, the two of them looking around before the guy with the strange scars spots me and asks: "Hey Tarzan, you up for a challenge?"
And this peeks my interest as even swinging and sliding through the house has become a little bit too easy to keep me entertained on a daily basis and I quickly slide down one of the vines, landing on my feet and asking them: "What kind?" Making the two smirk before the girl says: "You hide, we try and hit you with our spells.
Don't worry, we'll stick with small stinger and stunner curses, cool?" And while I wonder if these curses will make me feel cold or something, do I still consider the idea quite nice and a lot of fun as so far, only Sora has been able to maneuver through my room and I grin before jumping back to the vine I came from.

Yet just when I reach it, do I feel a sting of pain hitting my calf and I hold back a cry of pain before looking at the two magic users in shock, the girl cringing before she asks: "Sorry, was that too hard?" Yet I shake my head as a slash from Sabor's claws actually hurts more than that and I quickly swing the vine out of their sight.
The rest of the day is a ton of fun as the two actually try to navigate through my room, find me and curse me all at the same time, yet while they definitely leave me with a few marks that sting and hurt a little, do I manage to make them lose my tracks a few times as well. All in all, my boredom and homesickness are a thing of the past.


10th of June
Hercules' POV

Harry and his two friends have been around my room quite a lot, Hermione because she seems to be a history lover and I apparently have a double who is a legend in this world, Ron because he thinks my adventures with legendary beasts are absolutely amazing and Harry because the young lad apparently sees a kindred spirit in me.
And I really can't blame the lad. I mean, both of us have been taken from our parents for several years and both of us felt like outsiders for the bigger part of our youths. Yet, while I managed to find my father, train, reach the required goal and then decide to just remain between their realm and earth, did Harry have it a lot worse.

The lad is only fifteen, whereas I was already an adult by the time I first came across a monster send by the forces of evil, and he has already faced one of the same monsters as I was faced with on my path to being a true Hero – and even fought a legendary beast that Phil and even Hades wouldn't dare put me up against.
And to be very honest, the idea that a young twelve year old boy went up against a monster as legendary as a Basilisk and lived to tell the tale makes me think that the world Harry lives in is just right ungrateful as I have no doubt my father would have put his signature among the stars had it happened on Olympus.

"And to make matters worse do the people here switch between loving him one day and hating him the next quicker than Hades can pull out new ferocious monsters for me to fight. Seriously, I think the only reason Harry is still part of this world is because he just never knew the other worlds existed or even how to get there."
Still, even while I am quite convinced of that, do I also wonder something else: "Is Harry really the kind of person to leave a world behind, even one that treats him like this one does?" And with that thought in mind do I hum to myself as I look out through one of the windows in my room that make me look at my father's domain.
The clouds, like always, definitely have a very calming effect on me and it makes me feel very glad that the magic of this house can transform its rooms with such an incredible eye for detail and while I let the clouds keep me from becoming overly worried, do I still think of what kind of scenarios could make Harry leave Magical England.

"Well, his family leaving would probably be one thing, though I doubt he'd be willing to leave Hogwarts behind all willy-nilly. On the other hand, he only really cares about the place because it makes him feel as if he has a home, so now that he has Potter Manor and a family, does that argument still count? Or have Harry's emotions changed?"
At this I open my eyes, not entirely sure when I closed them and sigh before I mutter: "Man, I would love it if these rooms could be so magical they could give me the chance to talk with either Phil or father." Yet then I get shocked as an elderly voice asks: "Isn't that forbidden because of the time-difference?" And I turn around.

Arthur Weasley is standing in the doorway to my room, which I know looks a lot taller than it actually is and I say: "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in." Yet the gentle father of many boys shakes his head and says: "It's no bother, I really only came over to thank you." Which confuses me into asking: "Thank me? For what?"
"For Ron. The way he looks at you, I can tell he has found a real role model in you, Hercules. And – well – with the recent problems that caused a break between me and my son Percy, Ron really needs that. I – I don't think Percy ever truly realized it, but up until that very fight, he was the role model Ron actually looked up to."
This shocks me, but then the man turns from sad and depressed to happy and grateful as he smiles at me and says: "I know the break has been really hard on him and that, because it's his fifth, he feels like he has all the more to prove. That's why I'm so glad that you're here, you can be the role model he needs to feel self-confident."

At this I rub myself in the back of the neck and say: "Are you sure? I – I don't even know what it is about me that your son seems to adore so much." And Arthur laughs as he says: "It's your fame. It's the same as with Harry, only Ron knows Harry better, so the fame has less of an effect on him. Plus, your fame is much grander."
This shocks, yet also confuses me and Arthur says: "Hercules, you are not just the hero of your own world, you are also a right legend in this world. And because your adventures in both worlds are so similar, Ron knows exactly what you're like and he really admires that. Just keep staying yourself and I know Ron will be just fine."
And with that does the man leave, yet as he does, can I not help but think back to the first and second time I learned this same lesson; a true hero's strength – like his character – comes from his heart. And with that, do I smile, glad that – even if it wasn't my own father, I still got some amazing fatherly advice – and a new goal in life.


11th of July 1995
Kairi's POV

I am so glad and relieved that Sora and Riku are finally together and the fact that it's because of Sora's heritage is something that had made me want to hit my head against something hard and sturdy, yet what annoys and greatly pleases me at the same time is the fact that, now that they are together, they are practically inseparable.
Over the last few days it has happened every single morning that either Sora would be waiting outside Riku's room or Riku outside Sora's and the two days that it had been the latter, Riku had actually sat Sora across his lap upon entering the dining room and had nuzzled his neck, Sora being beat red, yet having a million munny smile on his face.
Really, the amount of attention the two now lavish upon each other makes me feel heavily annoyed at the fact that they seem so desperate to make up for lost time, time that wouldn't have been lost had they just listened to the hints I had been dropping with them for the last three days and that just makes me hated those wasted chances even more.

"You wouldn't have succeeded." I suddenly hear a familiar male voice tell me while I am in my room, gazing out over the small bit of sea that is on this side of my living room and I look up, seeing James Potter standing there with a warm, loving smile on his face before he asks: "Can I perhaps join you in your gazing, Kairi?"
I nod at him, feeling highly respected over the fact that, even though the house actually belongs to the man, he still respects our rights for privacy and to ask us if he can enter our rooms and when the man takes place next to me, do I ask: "What exactly did you mean that I wouldn't have succeeded?" And the man smiles as he says:
"It's part of the Veela nature. When a Veela doesn't feel ready to bond to their mate, not even a god like Hercules' father would have been able to get them together. Add to that fact that witches and wizards of several lines, including mine and Siri's, are naturally stubborn and your chances of getting those two together were slim to none."

This makes me groan and I say: "So I wasted the last three years of my life. Just great." Making the man laugh as he says: "Sorry, but yeah." I sigh and look down at the small puddle that, back on the islands, would lead to the ocean covering most of the world and then James says: "You know, Sora told me you were similar to him."
This makes me look back at him and he says: "I mean that, like him and Riku, you weren't born on the world you have represented here." At this I nod and say: "That's true. I was originally born in Radiant Garden, the same world as Lea. However, I only really had my grandmother in that world and – she died shortly before Malificent came."
The man nods and says: "So you stayed with Sora and Riku after the Xehanort war because you had more loved ones and people you were familiar with on the Islands. But what about Lea? Didn't you guys work together during that war?" Here I sigh and nod and say: "Yeah, we did and we definitely have an indirect connection."

This seems to intrigue James and I say: "I know that she originally returned to Sora after Roxas defeated her, but she was made out of Sora's memories of me, so – yeah, Xion is more a part of me than she is of Sora. And Lea used to be a Nobody known as Axel, who was close friends with Xion until her return to Sora.
The only problem is that Axel doesn't remember Xion and he was never close to Namine – my own Nobody – other than the time where he saved her from captivity by other Nobodies. So yeah, even though we were born in the same world and we fought together, our indirect connections just aren't as close as my bonds with Sora and Riku."
Here the man nods and then asks me something I have been kind of wondering myself on and off over the last few days as he asks: "And what now? Now that Sora and Riku have accepted that they are born here and have family living here. What are your plans now?" I look back at my own reflection at this and sigh as I say:

"To be honest, I – I don't know. I just know that I am glad we have so many years before I really have to decide and, while part of me really hopes that I get to feel at home here over the years, do I just wish not to think of that question until our timelines are in sync again." Here the man nods, which I see through his reflection.
Then I see him looking up and actually smiling as he says: "You know, I don't know if you and I are similar like this, but – if I were to live somewhere for a longer amount of time and I have my friends and beloveds there, I feel home no matter where it is." This makes me look at the puddle thoughtfully and then smile and say:
"Yeah, you're right." And the man smiles at me like my adoptive father often did before he proves that he is an embarrassing kind of parent and prankster at heart as he smirks and says: "You know, I think I saw Neville taking a liking to you yesterday, when he and Augusta came to visit, I mean." And this statement turns me beat red.


And that is that!
Okay, I am very, very happy with how this chapter progressed. We got a bit of characterization and we got the last few days before the Trial date to pass without it feeling awkward. To be honest, I did want this chapter to be about Herc, Tarzan, Ariel and Kairi, but I didn't really know what I wanted them to do in this chapter.
So, knowing that, I am still very happy with this chapter. Part of me wanted to use the Kairi part to bring Namine and Xion into the story, yet I decided to just tease about them and then bring them in later, once the tension of the trial chapter has died down. Also, I do know how I want to start the trial chapter next month.
Now, I do have a few questions for all of you and they concern certain pairings that I have hinted at over the course of this chapter: 1. Should Charlie and Tonks become a couple or just stay friends or be paired with others? 2. Should Kairi and Neville become a couple or would you rather see Neville be paired with Luna Lovegood?
Please answer, thanks,

Venquine1990