Author's Note - I suppose the premise of this story is altered from both canons, as Sarah Jane must be at least decade older to be Lily's mother, and even more so if she had her adventures with the Doctor. But what can I say other than this is a complete AU, and that little thing only serves to show an indirect link between the Doctor and Harry that might directly bring some sort of paternal feelings towards the boy. Other than that, this doesn't play any part in the story.
The Last Song
Part 2. Branches that Quiver in the Sun
Chapter 6 - The Growing Boy
I never did get over the hurt from that day. Not for all the years I spent in the care of the Lady Guinevere. The first night was the worst. As I slept teary-eyed on a soft feathered bed of rich silks, I wished I had never met the Doctor. I wished I had remained a freak with my uncle in that horrible cupboard. It would have been less painful. It had to.
The Doctor showed me such wonders, such beauty; he showed me what life was, and love. He showed me how to live, how to laugh, and then when I thought I was going to be happy, he abandoned me. But what I missed most wasn't the wonderful places he would take me, or the wonderful people we would meet. No. I missed his smile, and his gentle patting of my head. I knew then that I looked at him as a father. I yearned for him to come back and say he missed his Little Bunny.
But he didn't. All he left behind was a letter. The Lady read it to me. In it the Doctor said he was sorry but he had to do this. He said I would meet him again. Him. And another like him. Another Doctor. He told me to have faith in him. That he loved me, and he would return.
But even if he returned, he would not find a bunny anymore.
That night I removed my bunny costume and tore it to pieces. Later, I regretted it. But I couldn't stand the thought of being someone else's bunny. No, I would never be a bunny rabbit again.
But he was right. I needed a mother. Having grown up with my uncle, I had been stunted emotionally. The Doctor, I realize, was too magnificent a being to be able to give me what I needed most. No, he would have tried but he would have done a bit too much. Perhaps he was once a father, but he couldn't be mine. After a year of living with the Lady… she had been uncomfortable when I called her mummy though she loved me dearly, so I took to simply calling her Lady… after a year of living with the Lady, I decided that the Doctor had never been my father. He was beyond such relationships. In fact, he was just that… my doctor. And I knew in my heart that he hadn't abandoned me, his Little Bunny, and he would come back some day. And then I would join him in his travels.
The Lady was most gentle with me. She treated me with much care and devoted her entire time and effort to my upbringing. She would teach me things, and she would play with me. But at nights, she would cry. I knew that, but at first she didn't know that I knew. I would sneak out of my bed, which was in a chamber next to her, and walk through the interconnecting door to sleep on the floor of her chamber. I liked being close to her, though I didn't like her crying. I never did manage to lose my dislike of seeing people I love cry.
One day, it was truly bad. She kept crying and moaning, "My Arthur, my poor Arthur. Please forgive me. I miss you so much. Please come to me." I couldn't take it any more. I didn't care who this Arthur was, but he had no right to make the nice Lady cry. And if Arthur wasn't there to pat her when she was crying, at least I was.
So I went up to her and told her that. She looked at me with more love than I could imagine. Her eyes were moist and wide, and I knew she loved me, at least as much she loved Arthur. But I was like a son. That night I slept next to her. I liked that. I always imagined how it must feel like for a little boy to sleep next to his mother. It was warm and we snuggled close.
She taught me how to read and write, and I told her of the stories I heard from Aunty Enid. She smiled and asked me if I had any friends. That reminded me of Ginny and I felt sad. I missed her. I told the Lady, and she smiled.
I told her Ginny was my best friend and I would marry her someday. Her eyes bulged at that.
"Really?" she asked with some amusement. I didn't like her tone. She was making fun of me.
I folded my arms and said, "Yes. She's my best friend and she's prettier than anyone else I've seen… except you, but you don't count. But," my eyes darkened as a terrible thought occurred to me, "What if she doesn't like me anymore? What if she finds another best friend? What if she forgets about me?" I was so distressed I couldn't eat or sleep for two days. It took the Lady that long to convince me that Ginny would be having the same thoughts as me. And if I didn't eat and sleep, I wouldn't grow big enough to be able to marry her. That made me determined. I would eat and sleep, and grow big enough to marry Ginny someday.
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Chapter 7 - The Old Man
I was twelve years old when it happened. I was being trained how to wield a sword by the Lady's Chief Guard. His name was Bors, and he was a big fellow with a horrible scar on his head. But he was also the nicest of the guards. Though, he also looked the scariest. But he taught me how to fight with wooden swords since I was ten. The first time he taught me how to hold a real sword, I was twelve.
He grumbled that I was small for my age, and the sword he gave me was much heavier than it should be. He was right. It fell from my hands and on his feet, and he bellowed in pain. I was scared and I ran.
I ran from the gardens behind the Castle to a narrow gap in the wall, which I had seen from my room up high. I knew exactly where it was, and I ran. Slipping out, I made for the woods. It was deep and dark, and I should have been more scared, but Aunty Enid's tales about Enchanted Woods came to my mind. Gone were all thoughts about running, all fears about punishment, all concerns about anything but the desire to find a magical tree that would take me to far-off lands. So I wandered here and there, aimlessly.
I saw an animal. I think it was a fox, and it came to me. I was a little scared, but not much. After all, I was twelve and I was growing to be big and strong so I could marry Ginny. A little fox shouldn't scare me. But it did… a little. So I stumbled and fell. Then I saw a stone next to me and I threw it at the fox.
Seeing the fox run away squealing, I felt horrible. It was only a little fox. I could have hurt it. It wasn't even bothering me. It was I who was the beast, not the fox. Then I decided I would never be the beast again. I would be like… a doctor, someone who looks after and cares for people and animals. I would never hurt animals again. Feeling disgusted at myself and ashamed of what the Lady would say if she found out, I started wandering again. I wandered until light faded and it became cold and dark. Then I decided to return. But I didn't know which way was home.
I looked around and realized I was lost and started crying. I hadn't cried for two years, but this was a good reason to cry I think, and I'm not ashamed of it. But then I heard something, and I couldn't believe my ears. It was the same unearthly whirling sound that had plagued my childhood fantasies for years. It was the TARDIS. The Doctor. He had come back. Looking for the source of the sound, I ran straight to my right, and there it was, behind a tree. The Blue Box.
"Doctor!" I yelled in delight. "Doctor!" I ran straight to the TARDIS and threw the door open, and got the shock of my life. It wasn't the Doctor.
"Who are you? Where's the Doctor?" I demanded somewhat rudely, I'm sorry to recall, especially as the person I was talking to was a frail old man with white hair.
"Mm… What's that, my boy?" the man asked. But then he looked at me and said, "A boy? In my TARDIS? And what did you just say?"
"Nothing," I said, disappointed. No, devastated. This wasn't the Doctor, just some stranger. "I thought you were someone else. Someone I knew. I'm sorry, sir."
"No, sir," the man protested. "You called me Doctor. How would you know of my name?"
"It's not your name!" I protested. How dare this old man pretend to be the Doctor! "I've seen the Doctor and I know him. He was… he was…" I looked at the TARDIS. It was the same and yet so different, and I couldn't help it. I started sobbing.
"Interesting," the old man was saying, though I didn't pay attention. "You are keyed into the TARDIS - My TARDIS. Only I have the authority to do that. So it follows that it must have been me who keyed you in. But nobody can rewrite history. Not one line. Then how?" He came to me and patted my head. I looked up, surprised. He wasn't my Doctor, and yet he was. Pats don't lie.
"Doctor?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes, that is who I am - the Doctor… A Doctor, but not your Doctor, I would imagine, that is to say, not the Doctor you knew," he coughed and I thought he was a bit ill.
"Are you okay?" I asked in concern. I didn't understand what he said, but if the TARDIS accepted him, then he couldn't be all bad. After all, the TARDIS was alive. I said so, and he smiled.
"Hot chocolate?" he asked, and I nodded eagerly. I nodded eagerly, the TARDIS made the most lovely hot chocolates you could imagine.
"I'll get it," I volunteered politely and without waiting for a response, pressed the buttons for the drink. Only, instead of a drink, the lights started flashing and a familiar sound fell on my ears. I jumped back, shocked. "B-But… that was the kitchen dispenser of the TARDIS."
The Doctor stared at me. "A kitchen dispenser in the Console Room? What a fabulous idea! Why didn't I think of it before?" Then he looked at the control table and shook his head. "You shouldn't have done that. The TARDIS is becoming too temperamental. There is no saying where we have been taken off to."
I hesitated before asking, "But we can go back, can't we? You can take us back?" I asked desperately. The Lady would be so worried, and she would be missing me. I missed her already.
The old man walked to the door and opened it. "Perhaps. But not until I've seen where we are now. I've missed one destination because of your interfering. I'm not missing yet another one." He stepped out, and I followed him.
"It's the crowning," he whispered in a low voice. I looked at him in confusion. "It's the crowning of Arthur of Camelot as King of Britain. Shh."
I frowned at that name. Arthur was the same man who made the Lady Guinevere cry at nights. I didn't like him very much, but I suppose he couldn't have been all that bad if the Lady loved him so much. Anyway, I shut up and observed the ceremony. But I was more interested in the group of red robed men in a corner. I turned to the strange old Doctor but I couldn't ask him my question. He was looking at me strangely. He turned back to the ceremony, and then to me, his face pale. I looked at him curiously but he raised a finger to his lips. I decided to listen to him. He slowly led me out of the place and back to the TARDIS.
"We must get out of here," he muttered. "What a mess! The other me had better have a really good reason to be meddling with time in such a haphazard manner. I would never do something like that. How Dreadful! An open circle! How is it to be closed?"
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Chapter 8 - The Haunted Girl
The old man spent quite a while before getting the TARDIS moving. I decided he wasn't quite as clever as my Doctor, but I began liking him too. He could be nice when he wasn't being rude. I offered to help him, but he refused. And he was rude about it. I didn't like him for a moment then. But other than that, he was nice.
"The TARDIS seems to lock you to certain coordinates based on genetic signatures, two distinct ones mind you. Certainly one of them must be the place where you need to be. All ready then? Hang on! Here we go!"
Well, that certainly proved it. He was a bit like my Doctor. I grabbed onto the TARDIS as it whirled through space and time, and I realized I was in my own Magic Faraway Tree of Aunty Enid's imagination. Only it was called the TARDIS and the Doctor was my Enchanted Wood.
When the TARDIS stopped buzzing with life and electricity, I ran to the door and flung in open. Stepping out, I gasped. I wasn't back in the woods near the Lady's Castle. No, I was… actually, I didn't know where I was, except that it was in a stony lair - cavernous and ominous. But that wasn't what caught my attention - a few feet away from me was someone I had longed to see for years, and someone I dearly wished was not there at that moment.
The sprawled figure of Ginny Weasley lay on the cold ground. I knew her the moment my eyes fell on her. Her long flaming hair was in a mess around her head, and a shadowy form of a boy stood next to her. He was staring at me in disbelief. I didn't pay any attention to him and ran straight to my best friend.
I ran to Ginny and lifted her head. "Ginny, come back to me. It's Harry," I said. But she didn't answer.
"So you are the boy this foolish child has been writing to me about?" he demanded in a harsh voice and I shuddered. But I held back my fear. It was that boy who was hurting Ginny, I was sure of it.
"Can you imagine how horrible it is to listen to the pathetic woes of the crushes of a school girl? Always, Harry this, Harry that, 'Will he forget me, Tom?' 'Will he have found another best friend?' 'Why isn't he coming back?' Great Salazar! I thought I would go crazy, but I bid my time." He stopped talking and looked at me with fury. That was the moment I knew how it felt to truly hate someone.
"Oh dear me," I heard the rasping voice of the old Doctor behind me. "This is not right." He had his sonic screwdriver pointed towards the shadow boy. "You shouldn't be here. You don't exist."
"That is why I need the life force of this foolish girl," he said evilly. I knew he was evil because he thought taking Ginny's life was a good thing. And he called her foolish. My Ginny! I didn't listen to the conversation between the Doctor and the shadow boy. I was worried. And I was angry.
Then the boy said something. It sounded a lot like a hissing noise, but I could make out the words. I didn't think twice of it. The TARDIS translated foreign languages in our head, and that's what I thought it was. But then a giant serpent came out of a huge hole in the stone wall. It was scary, but I had decided not to be scared of animals. Foxes or snakes.
And that's all it was, a snake. Thirty feet long perhaps, but still a snake. I said that to the Doctor, who was stuttering, "B-B-Bas-Bas…"
My Doctor would never have done that. My Doctor would have said, with much joy in his eyes, 'Oh my! You're beautiful! No, really... You are the loveliest slitheriest little snake I've ever seen. Of course, little is just a figure of speech here… you're the biggest and most magnificent… you're a piece of art that deserves to be sculpted by Michelangelo himself! Now, that's an idea! I might take you to him myself!' and he would have meant it. At that moment, I think I understood why. The snake was truly beautiful.
I felt a sudden loyalty to my Doctor, and decided that since he was absent, it fell on me to speak his part instead. So I did.
"You are magnificent," I said to the snake, meaning it completely.
The snake stopped suddenly and stared at me in disbelief. I felt a pang of indecision. The snake was lovely and I didn't want to kill it. But I would, if it meant having to save my Ginny. I said so to the snake. I also said I was sorry. It would have been better if we could have been friends.
But the snake stared at me for a few seconds and turned to the shadow boy. Without any warning whatsoever, it lunged towards the shadow boy, who screamed in fury. I pulled Ginny out of harm's way and saw a diary spill out of her pocket. I suddenly recalled the shadow boy's words… Ginny had been writing to him… the diary. It all made sense suddenly. I think I was channeling my Doctor then. Only he can think so fast.
So I did the most obvious thing and threw the diary at the snake's open mouth.
Moments later, Ginny woke up groggily and screamed, "Tom! No! Please! I'll do anything! Don't make me kill Hermione!"
I didn't know who Hermione was but I didn't like seeing Ginny like that. So I slid my hands around her like the Lady would to me, and whispered, "It's alright, Ginny. I'm here." I think my words helped because she suddenly stopped screaming and looked at me. She blinked, and rubbed her eyes.
"H-Harry?" she asked in a small voice. I liked her voice. I had missed it. I had missed her. I told her that, and she grabbed me tightly, crying loudly. I didn't understand what was there to cry about, but I patted her gently. Then remembering something new I had learnt from the Lady, I leaned down and kissed her head. It felt right. She felt right. And I knew I was right. I would marry her someday.
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Chapter 9 - Best Friends
Ginny begged to be allowed to come with me, and at first the old Doctor was unhappy. He muttered something about youngsters and kidnapping. I think he was more worried about us kidnapping him in his TARDIS than him kidnapping us. But he consented when I pointed out that Ginny was keyed into the TARDIS as well. That meant my Doctor intended for her to travel with us. He consented, but I think he had something else in his mind. He kept muttering 'ring' and 'her' all the while, as I took Ginny to the kitchen. I wanted to be alone with her. We were best friends.
"I thought you had forgotten about me," she said in a low voice. I told her she was silly. I thought about her every day… well, almost every day. But I didn't say the 'almost' part as I didn't think it would make me a liar. And even if it did, I would gladly be a liar if it made Ginny smile.
I told her about how the Doctor left me. She hugged me again, and I didn't let her let go this time. We held on to each other for several hours as I told her about my life with the Lady. She smiled and said that the Lady reminded her of her own mother.
Then she told me how sad she had been when I left. She went home and felt as if she had lost a part of herself and since then, she had never been truly happy. I felt bad. The Lady had made me very happy, and I wished Ginny could have been with us, or at least, had felt some happiness of her own. She then spoke about going to Hogwarts, a school of magic… I don't fear the M word anymore, and the Lady had told me of magic… and being possessed by the evil Tom Riddle. I held her tight when she cried. I think we both fell asleep like that.
I liked the next few days with Ginny, though I felt sad when I thought about the Lady. The old Doctor was unable to bring us back to the Lady's time as he didn't know what my Doctor had done in the first place. We found ourselves moving here and there, seeing wonderful things and sights, and I felt glad Ginny was with me, even though my Doctor and the Lady weren't. I hoped she didn't worry too much about me. But then I realized that she would, and I spoke to Ginny about it.
She was understanding. She felt bad when she thought how worried her family would be, but then she also decided that they should have done more on seeing how different she had been all year. They didn't help her, and for all their efforts, she would have been dead. Instead, she was alive because of me and the old Doctor. So she chose us. I couldn't blame her. I was happy she came with me.
One day, I was playing with the buttons, trying to recall what my Doctor had once done, when the TARDIS started moving. I distinctly remember not dragging the lever down. It should not be moving, but it did. Perhaps it responded to my thoughts. My Doctor always did say that the TARDIS was alive. Remembering how he used to do it, I stroked the sides of the console table.
"What do you think you're doing?" the old Doctor asked sharply, entering with two mugs of hot chocolate in his hand, and Ginny behind him.
"I didn't do anything! The TARDIS did!" I said defensively. I didn't like being blamed for something I didn't do. I saw Ginny grinning at me from behind the old Doctor's scowling face.
"What?" I demanded. "This isn't any old box! It's the TARDIS! It's alive! And it listened to what I wanted and did it on its own."
The old Doctor looked at me in surprise and smiled. At that moment, he reminded me so much of my Doctor that it was painful. I told him that, and his smile faded. He looked at me sorrowfully and said, "The other me who met you earlier told you this? About the TARDIS being alive?"
I frowned. What did he mean 'other him'? Until now I thought that the two Doctors were different people. But then I recalled the letter left behind by my Doctor, and I understood.
"You're not him!" I shouted. It couldn't be. If this was the Doctor… the only Doctor… then where was my Doctor? "No! You can't be!" I shouted. "You're not the Doctor! You're an imposter!"
The old Doctor… no, old man… sighed, and said regretfully, "I might not be the one who met you first, but I most certainly am the Doctor. I am the original Doctor, though not the luckiest one, I'd imagine. First I lose Susan, and now the closest thing to yet another grandchild to a future me, denies my very identity… no, not very lucky."
I stopped yelling. Ginny had come behind me and put her hands around me. I felt her head rested on my back. She was taking support from me. Being angry would affect that, so I had to stop being angry. I patted her hand gently and turned to the old man. "You're nothing like him!"
"I imagine not," he said sorrowfully, sitting down. He looked really sad, and I felt bad for saying what I did. Then I felt terrible.
The Doctor had accepted me even when I was a freak, and I was rejecting him because he didn't look quite the same. I felt awful. I gently parted Ginny's hands and ran to the old man… no, I went to the Doctor, and hugged him. He looked at me in surprise, and I said, "You're what he was. He couldn't be what he is if he hadn't been you. You're also my Doctor."
The Doctor looked at me in delight and I knew I had said the right thing. He patted my shoulder and for a moment, I thought that was all he would do. I was disappointed. But just then he stood and picked me up, just like the other him used to. I smiled, but then I saw Ginny feel left out. So I got away from the Doctor and hugged her. I kissed her again, but this time on the cheek. It felt good. Then she kissed me on the cheek too. It felt even better.
"Best friends," I whispered. I knew I would marry her someday, but even married people can be best friends.
"Best friends," she agreed.
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Chapter 10 - The Same Man
In all the excitement of the past ten minutes, we had forgotten that the TARDIS had landed someplace. But suddenly all three of us remembered that at the same time, and ran to the door. Before we reached it however, the door opened from outside.
"Just how many people did that ridiculous me give access to the TARDIS?" the Doctor bellowed in annoyance. But I didn't care. My eyes were glued to the person who just entered. It was the Lady. Her breath was ragged and her eyes were fixed on me.
I ran to her, and she ran to me. I could see she was much glad to see me. She hugged me tightly for several minutes and I kissed her cheek. Just the way I had kissed Ginny a while ago. It wasn't wrong. The Lady touched her cheek where I kissed her and smiled. Then she turned to my best friend.
"You must be Ginny," she remarked and Ginny nodded, "Yes'm." I rushed to Ginny and grabbed her hand.
"She's my best friend."
"Is that so, young sir," the Lady said teasingly. "I thought you intended to make her something more? In fact, I distinctly remember you saying you would marry her someday."
I was horrified. How could she! What if Ginny hated me now! I knew I was redder than a tomato then, and I couldn't face Ginny. I wanted to run away. Far far away. My best friend would hate me now. But then I felt two hands slide in from behind me, and the familiar feel of Ginny's body next to mine filled me with joy.
I turned around. Ginny was looking at me teary-eyed, and I saw in her face something that I had only ever seen once before… in the eyes of the Lady when she cried for her Arthur. And then I knew. Ginny loved me too. I wondered how it happened so soon. We were best friends for years, but had never seen each other all this while. Perhaps the previous few months were enough. Then I stopped wondering. I knew I loved her. And if I could love her, then so could she. I looked at the Lady thankfully. She helped us both voice our feelings… well, not really voice, but express.
I was almost thirteen and she was twelve. We were young. I knew that. But I also knew that we loved each other. There was no denying that. I kissed her on the mouth. Her lips were sweet. Or perhaps I was so lost in the sensation, I just thought they were sweet. But I liked their feel. So soft. So tender. So perfect.
I kissed her again. Then she kissed me. Then I kissed her. Then she kissed me again. I was going to kiss her once more, but I heard a coughing from behind and realized we weren't alone. The Lady was staring at us happily, while the Doctor obviously in disapproval.
"That's it! Different rooms," he said plainly, and both Ginny and I blushed.
"Hush," the Lady said, opening the door. "The King is speaking."
"King?" Ginny asked curiously.
"King Arthur," the Lady said. I smiled at the Lady. She mentioned his name lovingly, and I imagined she was no longer hurt. She smiled in return and walking to Ginny, touched her cheek softly. Then she hugged her. I was happy.
I turned to the Doctor who was smiling widely as if he knew something really funny. The Lady blushed and said, "Not a word, you." Then lowering her eyes, she said, "In your future and my past, I say some terrible things. Please understand that I did not mean them. I am truly thankful to you for everything, Doctor." She sighed in relief when the Doctor nodded in understanding.
"We all say silly things when in turmoil," he said. "Why there was this one time with young Chasserton when I…"
"Hush, the King," the Lady said loudly, and opened the TARDIS door slightly. We went out and were in the corner of an open area. People were all around, staring in front, where a tall and grand man stood. He was wearing armor and had a sword at his side, and a stick in his hand. He pointed the stick to his neck and said something I couldn't hear. But after that his voice was much louder. I looked at Ginny and the Lady.
"Sonorus, voice amplifying spell," they both said at the same time, and I was surprised. They both turned to each other and I looked at each, one after the other.
Then I smiled. Two of the three people I loved most were so much like each other. I said so, and received crushing hugs from both. I didn't mind. I held on to Ginny. I liked doing that.
The King was speaking.
"Listen to me," was how he began talking to his people. I liked his voice. It was grand and full of power. I decided he wasn't bad. He couldn't have wanted to hurt the Lady. Not with a voice like that. I wished I would grow to be like him. Ginny deserved someone as grand and powerful as the King. I vowed to be like him.
"My tale comes to an end. The Golden Age of Britannia was what I wrought, and much of it is now undone."
Angry shouts of 'Mordred!' rose like a clamor through the crowd and I wondered who this Mordred was. I decided I didn't like him if he was the reason the Lady had to stay away from her Arthur.
"No!" he said forcefully and with much emotion, and I think his eyes fell on me for an instant. "I do not talk of Mordred. I talk of another! I have been betrayed by one I held dear, and I now go to avenge my tarnished love, in crimson auguries. I go now, and I doubt I would be returning to you, my people."
A rising din of protest drowned the magically amplified voice of the King, and then I realized that he was greatly loved by his people. He must have been a good king, and a good man, to be so dearly missed. I wonder if anyone would ever miss me like that. Feeling Ginny's hand on mine, and the Lady's around my shoulder, I knew there already were such people. I kissed both hands.
"But though Arthur's time is at an end, Britain's time is only beginning. For a thousand years, you will grow in might. I have seen it in the mists of Merlin's magic. You will grow, and through much glory and wisdom shall your path be mired in evil once again…"
This time there was silence. The people were enthralled by the magic in the King's voice. It was as if he were showing them all some strange wondrous sight in their minds.
"Against this evil, I do not see the end of my way," he said, and I thought he sounded sad and full of doubt. I was disturbed. The King shouldn't sound like that. He was a great man. I vowed to fight that evil he feared when I grew up. I also vowed that if ever I had to say goodbye to people who cared for me, I would do so with pride and honor, and full of promises; not with grief and doubt.
It was as if he almost heard my thoughts.
"But this I promise you," he said, in a forceful and resolute voice, "I will be back again someday, perhaps long in waiting. By the magic of Merlin, I swear to you, my people, I will return! I was once your King and I always shall be!"
I smiled. The people cheered. 'Once and Future King' was what they screamed, and I cheered too. The King will be back, I believed his words to be the truth entirely.
But he wasn't finished.
"When I return, it will be to a time when Britain needs me most. My people will need me most… They will not recognize me for who I am. They may never even know my name, but my name matters little. It is you, my people, who matter; and it is for your sake that I shall return. For without you, I am but a king with no crown... so… this last song of Arthur, let us sing together. Long Live Britain!"
"Long Live Britain!" the crowd echoed, as the Doctor took us away. "Long Live Arthur!"
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Chapter 11 - The Changer of Names
Our next destination was shrouded with a sorrowful parting. The Doctor and the Lady said we had to depart there, but they couldn't come with us. The Doctor kept saying he had to close the circle. I didn't know what he meant.
The Lady looked like she wanted to cry but she said she had to be elsewhere, and I asked why we couldn't go with her. I asked her why they were abandoning us.
"That's because you have to be elsewhere, my Little Bunny," she said lovingly and with much sorrow. I nearly cried. I hadn't cried for long. But neither had I been called a bunny for long. I didn't want her to leave, not after she just came to us. But she wouldn't listen to me. Then Ginny surprised me. She shouted at the Lady.
"How can you leave him like this! You say you care for him! Then stay!" she held my hand protectively, as if I would run away. I would have. I didn't want the Lady to go. I looked at her despondently. She looked really distressed, almost as if she were going to break down. I didn't want that either.
I closed my eyes and thought. The Lady loved me, I had no doubt. She missed me, I had no doubt. For her to leave me like this must mean she had no other choice. I had no doubt.
I went to her and hugged her, and she kissed me on my head. Then I turned around, and taking Ginny's hand, went out of the TARDIS. We stopped, but I didn't turn around when the familiar sound of the TARDIS made it clear that they had left us alone. Truly alone.
"Hello? What do we have here?" a bright and jovial voice cut through our ears and a red haired man came in sight. He had a wooden stick in his hand as well, just as the King, and wearing red and gold robes, with an image of a winged lion on it.
"Are you children lost?" he asked.
"No sir," I said, pulling Ginny closer. The man sounded nice, but if anyone wanted to hurt Ginny, they would have to get through me. I felt Ginny's grip on my hand tightening and realized that she was thinking the same thing about me.
"Aah, young love," the man remarked casually. "A bit too young, I'd say, but then who is Godric to question matters related to the heart?"
Then Ginny gaped. "G-Godric G-Gryffindor?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "Aye. That'd be my name, child. Godric the Griffin-hearted. How come you two, to my estate in Hoggard?"
"Please sir," Ginny said suddenly, squeezing my hand to keep me silent. I didn't mind. I trusted her. "We beg you to take us as your students. We wish to learn magic from you."
"Eh? You two are aware of the Greater Path?" he looked curiously at us. "I wonder." He offered his wand to Ginny and said, "Prove to me you are capable of the Greater Path, and I shall take you as my apprentice. I, Godric of Hoggard, who has never before taught any man or woman in this living earth."
Ginny took the wand almost gleefully and whispered, "Wingardium Leviosa!" while pointing it at a rock. The rock lifted several feet up, and Godric clapped his hands in delight.
"Wonderful!" he said ecstatically. "Truly wonderful, strange and lost child! You and your friend are most welcome in my estate. Henceforth shall you be my apprentices. What are your names?"
"Ginny."
"Harry."
"Nay," he said, shaking his head. "Those will not do. You have pretty names, but serf names will not permit you to be taught the Greater Path. Hmm… I must have you as my apprentices. Hence, I must rename you."
Ginny looked at me in doubt. But I knew she wanted to be this Godric's apprentice. I shrugged. The words of the King fell on my ears: You may never even know my name, but my name matters little. It is you, my people, who matter. It was Ginny who mattered. And the Lady… And the Doctor.
Freak. Bunny. Harry. I have been called by many names and I agreed, names do not matter. It is the people who call your name that truly matter. Thinking of the King I had begun to admire after seeing for mere minutes, I decided.
"Arthur," I said. "I will be called Arthur."
"Ginevra is my true name," said Ginny quietly.
Godric nodded appreciatively. "Very well then, Arthur and Ginevra, you are henceforth my apprentices. The Lady Rowena will look to your well-being and knowledge. I will train you in spell casting and dueling. Let us proceed to Castle Hog."
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Chapter 12 - The Founders
Castle Hog surprised me. It was the same Castle where the Lady used to live. I knew it well, but at a different time. Ginny also knew it well. She told me that it would later become her school, and that under the foundation of that very Castle did I save her from the snake. I told her I didn't save her from the snake. The snake was a very nice snake. Very beautiful too, but in a much different way than Ginny. She laughed.
Lady Rowena the Raven-clawed, called so because of the dexterity of her fingers and the piles of books she had written, was the Lady of the Castle, Lord Godric's wife. She was nice in a distant and strict way. Ginny said she reminded her of Professor McGonagall from home.
"Do you miss home?" I asked her one day after a long dueling session with Godric. I was good at dueling, both magical and weapons, but then Sir Bors from the Lady Guinevere's Castle had taught me quite well with wooden swords. He was one of the best, even better than Godric, but the Lady always said there were two others who could defeat Sir Bors even without trying. She would say no more.
Ginny didn't answer me and I didn't need her to. She leaned against me quietly as we sat by the lake, staring at the setting sun. Life was beautiful. Sad and beautiful, at the same time. I sorely missed the Lady and the Doctor… both Doctors. But I had Ginny with me, and I would not have it any other way. We were best friends. And I would marry her one day.
I stroked her arm tenderly. Her skin was soft and I could feel myself losing in its smoothness. She was truly beautiful. I couldn't hold myself back any longer. Leaning forward, I kissed her. Only this time, it wasn't just a soft touching of lips. When our lips met, I gently parted them open and tasted the sweetness of her mouth.
She was surprised at first, but didn't take more than a second to do the same. For a long time, we stayed like that and when we finally got back to the Castle, unkempt and breathless, we were surprised by the surprisingly large number of guests present.
"Ah, Arthur, Ginevra," Godric said, with much amusement at our appearance, "Glad you could grace us with your presence. Allow me to introduce you to my old friend - Salazar Serpent-Tongued." He gestured towards a tall and thin man with long dark hair. His eyes were shifty, and Ginny instantly took my hand protectively. She was very protective of me.
"So you are the two who managed to convince Godric to settle down and create a more… lasting means of imparting our knowledge?" the man asked politely. I think he was an aristocrat. "I must commend you for that." Saying that, he swiftly turned to his side and called out, "Lance, Lionel."
Two boys came out shyly and looked at us. They were about our age and wore the green colors of their master, as we did the red of ours. I shook hands with both, and found myself drawn to the shy yet determined Lance. He had dark hair and green eyes like mine, but there was something else about him… something familiar that I couldn't place. I saw Ginny react the same way to him. When she shook hands, I noticed he kept his gaze at her a bit longer than I liked. But I didn't mind. Many people stared at the Lady but she was always devoted to the man she loved. So would Ginny. Of that I was sure.
And I couldn't blame Lance. I would have stared at Ginny if I had just met her. She was the most beautiful person in the whole world.
But before we could talk, Lady Rowena beckoned us to her side. She had been frowning when we entered in our ragged state, and I was afraid we were going to receive a scolding. But I was wrong. She called us to introduce us to her sister.
"Lady Helga the Charming," Lady Rowena said, gesturing at a plump but very motherly looking woman sitting with two boys behind her, all clad in yellow and black. "Gavin and Gareth, her nephews and apprentices. And finally, my own daughters back from the convent… Elaine and Anna." she pointed to two girls. The first was dark haired and scowled at me, while the other was an innocent golden haired girl, who smiled radiantly. I tore my eyes off her when I felt Ginny bristle next to me. I looked at her apologetically but she didn't soften.
But before I could say anything, Godric stood up and clanged his goblet with his silver spoon. There was instant silence.
"Greetings everyone, to Castle Hog. We have decided it is time for reestablishing an old order, albeit in a new form… an order that has for long been lost. Not since the days of the ancient druids have we seen those of the Greater Path actively aid the less-able of their brethren, or impart their skills and knowledge to those who follow. That shall change. Here in Castle Hog, a new order shall rise. No longer shall it be called Hog - Lordship of Godric Gryffin-hearted, but Hogwarts - school for the gifted! We four - Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin - have come together with our apprentices to establish this order. Let it begin and continue for thousands of years, imparting knowledge and skills to the young people of Britain."
There was resounding applause after his speech, but I didn't join in. I was trying desperately to get Ginny to understand that I was staring at Anna because of how different she was from her sister, and not because I liked her. How could I like anyone except Ginny? My best friend. The girl I was going to marry. I took her to a corner and said all that. Then she relaxed and hugged me. I resolved to never stare at any girl but Ginny.
All the apprentices sat together in one table and I was next to Lionel, while Ginny was next to Lance. I thought she felt a bit uncomfortable at first and asked if she wanted to change places, but she shook her head. I turned to Lionel.
"You remind me of a man I once knew. You talk like him," I said suddenly. "He was called Bors."
"Bors?" Lionel said, as if contemplating. "I like that name. I hate Lionel, it doesn't sound like me." I had to agree. Lionel brings to mind a person with glasses, pouring over books. And this boy was anything but. He was big and burly, and appeared more inclined to brawls than philosophy.
"Then I'll call you Bors from now on," I said with determination.
I noticed Gavin and Gareth looking at us from their places, and I turned to them. "Will you be staying here in the Castle?"
"Yes," said Gavin, and I got the impression he was used to speaking for the both of them.
I nodded. "That is good. The Castle has many secrets and even after almost a year, we haven't seen them all. It will be fun exploring."
The boys smiled at me. I had made three new friends. But it was Lance at whom my gaze fell most. He was drawn to Ginny completely, and I could relate to that. But I trusted Ginny.
Seeing me observing him, Lance smiled and I returned it. We would be good friends, of that I was sure.
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Chapter 13 - Figures in an Old Game
It was a strange beginning to what would once become the finest center of magical learning in the whole world. That's what Ginny called Hogwarts. She would speak to me of things from the future. She told me that, one day hundreds of students would be flocking from all parts of the country to learn from the wisest magic users of the day.
But it started with just the eight of us. Ginny and I were Godric's, Lance and Bors were Salazar's, Anna and Elaine were Rowena's, and Gavin and Gareth Helga's. But we learnt from everyone. Salazar taught us runes and deeper, darker spells. Godric disapproved of those but agreed that knowledge in itself was never a bad thing. He taught us spell work in general, anything and everything that could be useful. And he taught us how to fight. One didn't need to rely on the knowledge of spells alone to win a duel. There was much more involved - grit, determination, tactics, courage… Godric taught us that.
Rowena didn't care for anything that didn't require a lot of theory behind it. She reveled in explanations and concepts, and I couldn't for the life of me understand how she and Godric got married. Ginny and I were a much much better match than they were.
Helga loved potions and herbs. She liked making things off them, and that is what she taught us, apart from lessons on morality and ethics.
One day, I was flying on my broom when I saw it. Lance and Elaine were kissing. I didn't make any sound, and slowly flew away in a different direction. I was happy for my friend, though I didn't much like Elaine. She was mean.
Without realizing, I had been flying over the Old Forest, and when my attention finally returned to my location, I gasped. Salazar was in the Old Forest. He wasn't alone. He was with a huge thirty foot long snake. The snake who had saved my Ginny. I flew straight to them and jumped out of my broom.
The effect was instantaneous. The snake lunged at me, but Salazar jumped between us, waving his hand. The wand immediately transformed to a whip of shadow and with it, he struck the snake.
"You will not hurt the boy," he said, but I gasped in surprise. My mind could understand the words but my ears couldn't. The TARDIS wasn't around to translate strange languages, so I figured I was a Parselmouth as well. That explained why the snake's sight hadn't killed me all those years ago. But I wasn't sure how the Doctor had survived.
"Foolish boy," Salazar whispered harshly at me and I blinked in surprise. Although a sour man in general, I always thought he was very nice. Then I realized he didn't know I was a Parselmouth. He was merely concerned for my safety.
I smiled. Turning to the snake, I hissed, "I am sorry if he hurt you. Someone as magnificent as you deserves to be treated with utmost respect."
Both Salazar and the snake looked at me in surprise, and I walked closer to the serpent. It drew back menacingly as if ready to strike, and Salazar yelled something in fear. But I didn't care. I wasn't afraid. Reaching out, I touched the head of the Basilisk and said in wonder, "So smooth. You are lovely, my friend."
The snake lunged forward but I didn't move. I wasn't afraid. The snake was wonderful. It lunged forward and coiled around me. I wasn't afraid. I smiled. The coil became tighter until its head was level with me.
"You are worthy, little one," the snake hissed at me. "What is thy bidding?"
I raised an eyebrow. I had no bidding for a snake. I just wanted to be its friend. I said so and the snake hissed. I thought it was laughing.
"Then friends we shall be."
"Arthur!" Salazar yelled. "Command the snake to become your protector! It is power beyond any you can imagine. This is a tremendous opportunity for you, lad."
I looked at Salazar. At that moment, I realized two things. First, he was wrong. I could not only imagine, but I had seen power much beyond that of the Basilisk… The Doctor had such great power, he could have easily ruled the world. Several worlds. But he chose not to. And I understood. Power wasn't all that great.
And second, I didn't understand why Ginny disliked Salazar so much. Sure, he was a bit sour at times, and he liked power. But here he was, encouraging me, a student and not even his own apprentice, to seize power that was denied him. I looked at him in curiosity. I couldn't understand him.
The snake was staring at me and I smiled at it. "No. We shall be friends."
"Very well," Salazar sighed. "You have chosen. At least, can you request it to protect the Castle? I have prepared a lair for it in the depths of Hogwarts."
I knew the place he spoke of and frowned. Time travel suddenly began giving me a head ache. Up until then I had always been influenced by things around. But then I realized that was not how it would always remain. I had to influence things as well, and this was one of those things. I knew I had to do as Salazar said, because that was how I had met it in the first place. So I asked the Basilisk to go to the Secret Lair beneath Hogwarts and await the coming of Salazar or me.
When we returned from the forest, Ginny ran to me. She looked at Salazar angrily, and dragged me away to Godric's Tower. She ignored my protests and refused to tell me what had happened, instead choosing to fuss over me. After I convinced her I was alright, she sighed in relief and ran out of the room.
In a daze, I followed after her to the sound of metal ringing upon metal. I increased my pace while drawing out my wand and sword, and reaching the Great Hall, I stopped in a stupor. Godric and Salazar were fighting. I couldn't believe it. Those two, although the most different persons imaginable, were also dearest of friends. I could almost see myself and Lance in them.
Speaking of Lance, he was there too, standing protectively near Elaine and Ginny. I didn't think twice of it. Anna, Bors, Gavin and Gareth were also there. I went to them.
"What is going on?"
"Salazar has betrayed us," Lance exclaimed. "Salazar Slytherin has betrayed us all, and Hogwarts!"
"He wouldn't," I argued. I had seen that man just a while ago, facing a Basilisk to secure the Castle. I screamed, "Stop it!" and made towards the middle, but felt darkness take me.
When I woke up, I was in my bed, and Ginny was sitting beside me, a haunted look on her face. I got up and took her in my arms.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I had to stop you. You could have gotten hurt."
I sighed. I could have stopped that ridiculous duel. "What happened? Are Godric and Salazar safe?"
"Godric is safe," she said, and then her voice turned angry. "Slytherin has left!"
"What? Why?" I asked. Then I lost it. "What did Salazar do? Why do you hate him? Why do you all hate him?"
Ginny looked at me sadly. I knew my tone hurt her, but I was annoyed by her not telling me directly. "Ginevra… Ginny, tell me. What did Salazar do? Why was Godric fighting him?"
"He was plotting against us. Lance overheard him," she said. "He was planning to bring a monster to Hogwarts in secrecy, so he could get his way. Lance said he wanted to remove all impurities… he wanted to kill you… he heard me calling you Harry… Slytherin thinks you're a serf, Arthur. I'm sorry… It was all my fault."
I stared at her in disbelief. The man had jumped in front of a Basilisk to keep me safe, and here everyone was accusing him of trying to kill me. I jumped out of bed. I was annoyed. I was angry. I knew I should have stayed with Ginny, but the injustice done against a noble man stung me. I had to do something. The King, whose name I took, would have done something.
I found Godric sitting with Rowena and Helga in the Hall, and I marched to them purposefully. Elaine was smirking widely behind them, and Lance held her back. He gazed at me strangely. I was annoyed with him. He was a good friend, and I loved dueling with him as we were equal in ability, but he was wrong.
I went straight to Godric. I was angry. "Salazar is a good man. He faced great danger at risk of his own personal well-being to secure protection for the Castle. You have wronged him."
"You do not know what you speak of, Arthur," Godric said patronizingly. The sound of wine was evident in his voice. Rowena nodded, but Helga looked at me curiously. "Salazar's guilt has been proven without doubt. His notes on luring a Basilisk to the Old Forest is a certainty of his desires. You should be glad he's gone, boy. You were first on his list."
"Salazar faced a Basilisk to protect me. He jumped in front of me to intercede the serpent's plunge," I said, trying to curb my growing anger. I saw Ginny come to my side and take my hand. Her mouth fell open. She believed me, but I didn't take her hand. I was angry.
"You saw the Basilisk then?" Godric asked in, what I thought to my utter dismay, much glee. "And he took you to it. Then it's a wonder you have survived. But you have. And he's gone. But now we are even more certain of his malevolence. It's the Dark Arts, I say. It makes you evil. Parseltongue… serpent-tongued. He was evil. But don't worry, Arthur, my boy. You are safe now."
I didn't reply. I stayed silent for a while. I prayed desperately, for I know God exists despite what the Doctor might think. I prayed that Godric would see sense and repent. But he didn't. He took a bite of his chicken leg. I lowered my head and turned to leave. But before I could take a single step, I decided.
I removed the red colors of my robes and threw it at Godric's feet. He looked at me with an open mouth but was unable to form any words. But I didn't wait to hear any either. I looked at Ginny. She was completely shattered. I knew she wanted to stay and complete her apprenticeship. I also knew that if I waited a minute longer, she would come with me. So I left.
I summoned my broom even as I opened the door of the Great Hall. I heard Ginny scream my name… my real name. But I didn't wait. I jumped on my broom and flew away. I had to find Salazar. I had to.
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