No Cause For Celebration:
The sun was streaming through the window when Harry woke. From the angle and texture of the light, he assumed that it was still early morning. The ache in his chest was still there though it had settled into a steady throb that he could put aside long enough to concentrate on other things.
The sound of voices outside the door alerted Harry to what had woken him. A few heavy footfalls later and the door swished open, revealing a tall blond man with a scar running across the bridge of his nose. He looked ready for battle Harry thought as his mind raced to keep up.
A sudden smile lit across the man's face as he strode into the room. Harry wasn't sure what it was but there was something about this man that put him on edge. He reminded Harry of Malfoy before Voldemort, when he still had his arrogance.
Watching the stranger, Harry sat up and straightened his glasses.
"So you're awake again." The man said beaming and Harry fought the urge to tell him that he had woken him up.
"Yes," Harry said, thinking that now was not the time to be making more enemies. He wasn't eleven anymore.
"Excellent," the man said before making a sweeping gesture. Harry supposed he meant it to look grand but instead came off as awkward. "I'm Seifer Almasy, at your service. I wanted to talk to you yesterday but by the time I got here Kadowaki said you had gone back to sleep." the man, Seifer, said in a regretful tone.
Harry wasn't sure how to take this. Why was there such an interest in him? Unless of course, they had found his Crystal and it was the curiosity of how an inanimate stone turned into a living breathing man.
Somehow that didn't sit right. There was something he was missing. He felt that it had something to do with the Sorcerer that Selphie had mentioned yesterday.
"Um. Sorry." Harry said, Seifer's likeness to Draco was uncanny as he sat in the only chair in the room, white coat settling around his knees.
Harry waited expectantly. If Seifer had something that he wanted to talk about so early in the morning then he assumed that he would get to the point as soon as he sat. Except this wasn't the case. Seifer seemed content to sit and watch Harry. Harry sat and watched Seifer, feeling more awkward by the second.
Snapping finally Harry asked in a strained voice, "You said you wanted to talk to me about something?"
Seifer grinned. Although he seemed pleasant enough there was something in that grin that was predatory. And it sent shivers down Harry's spine.
"Mostly I wanted to introduce myself..." Seifer trailed off and Harry supposed that none of the others had told him Harry's name.
"Harry."
Seifer nodded happily, testing the name on his tongue. "Harry."
Turning his attention back to the young man in the bed Seifer smiled. It was more pleasant than his grin and Harry thought that if he wasn't too arrogant then he wouldn't mind the man. But the chances of that were slim, he thought, arrogance, unfortunately, didn't come in halves.
"I heard from Kadowaki that you don't know about Garden?" Seifer inquired, "I would be happy to fill you if you have any questions."
Harry almost laughed. If they were offering information to him like this, the chances that they were anything like the Death Eater's was unlikely.
And if they just didn't care then they were good actors. Better than most.
Harry smiled, or at least he tried to, in response to Seifer's offer. He was getting better he thought though it still felt forced and strained on his face.
"Thankyou," Harry said, "Kadowaki told me that the Garden was a school for SeeDs or mercenaries. But I don't know anything else."
Seifer nodded, taking Harry's lack of knowledge in stride. If this was a setup then he was not going to like the results but even as his chest twinged, he couldn't bring himself to care.
"Well, that's true. But SeeDs are a little more than just mercenaries. That's a way to fund the school when there isn't a threat present." Here Seifer paused, shifting a little in his seat. "SeeDs are trained to take down Sorceresses that go mad on their power. They have a 'fragile mental stability' according to the Headmaster and slip their moral codes."
Seifer paused again, letting Harry absorb that information for which he was grateful.
If a Sorceress was the female equivalent of a Sorcerer then did that mean they thought he was mad? Power hungry? Another Voldemort? If that was the case then he doubted that he would get out anytime soon. Though the suggestion that they were soldiers first meant that they would kill any Sorceress mad enough to go on a rampage.
Pushing aside the questions for now and ignoring the ache in his chest Harry nodded to Seifer to continue.
"Aside from that there isn't much too Garden that is different to a normal school. We have weapons training of course but most do that these days because of the monsters." Seifer rambled, and Harry wasn't inclined to bring him off track.
"There's three Gardens, each on a different continent. This one is Balamb, then there is Galbadia and Trabia Gardens. Each has a speciality that they teach. Trabia focuses on weapons training while Galbadia is all about technology. Balamb focuses on GF's..." Seifer caught Harry's look of confusion and he frowned before continuing.
"GF's or Guardian Forces are sentient magical constructs that allow us to use magic. By junctioning one to our core, we can access stocked spells." Harry was careful to keep his face blank as his mind ran far ahead of him.
Magic had changed a lot, and not just the way people used it but the nature of magic itself if it could only be accessed by 'junctioning' a Guardian Force.
Tuning back in to listen to Seifer's explanation Harry pushed aside all questions for the time being. All being well he could get them answered without drawing suspicion to himself.
"Sorceresses are the only ones who don't need a GF to use magic, and they can use it in a way that they rest of us can't even with a GF junctioned. It's one of the reason's why they're so dangerous..."
Thoughts spun through Harry's mind. So magic, as he knew it, hadn't died out...not completely, but why did only women inherit it?
"When one Sorceress dies they pass on their power to another potential Sorceress with a compatible core. Some people believe that the power itself corrupt and that's why they go mad. If the taint could be removed then they'd be fine." Seifer looked a little wistful at this and Harry wondered if he knew someone who was a Sorceress, or at least a potential one.
Shaking his head Seifer continued, looking at Harry with a similar wistful air.
"The last Sorceress was Adel, from Esthar. She started getting power hungry, see and started a war to conquer the rest of the world. That's why SeeD started. The entire continent of Esthar just cut itself off from the rest of the world after they got rid of her. Nobody knows how they did it but they sealed away her power, blocked it off so she couldn't use magic anymore and then put her in a coma. Without passing on her powers she can't die, so she's stuck like that. Kinda sad if you ask me."
Harry didn't know what to say to that. A power hungry mad woman started a war and they got rid of her the only way they knew how and it was sad? So far all this was reminding him of Voldemort. A cold dread settled in his stomach.
Harry shifted, drawing Seifer's attention to him again.
The sad smile on the other man's face slipped into a slight frown before he continued again.
"Sorceresses don't always go mad. They need help, but it is possible. Their magic goes haywire and plays with their heads. But if they have another compatible core that can ground them then their fine. The Sorceress's Knight is more than just an anchor for their power, they are a protector."
Harry frowned as Seifer finished and slipped into silence.
The short pause broke when the door swished open to reveal Dr Kadowaki and a portly man of middling height wearing a bright red waistcoat.
Seifer stood up as the man entered, nodding his head in respect.
"Headmaster Cid."
Harry looked at the Headmaster of the school for training soldiers and killers. He wasn't at all what he had expected. He seemed...soft was the only word that came to mind when Harry looked at him. Nothing like the cool killer a mercenary would have to be.
It didn't fit.
Headmaster Cid looked at Harry before paying attention to Seifer.
"Ah, Seifer. I see you've been keeping our guest entertained." The Headmaster said, Harry thought that he seemed a little awkward in this situation. He was nothing like Dumbledore, Harry thought.
"Yes, Sir," Seifer replied Harry suspected that he shouldn't have been filling Harry in as he had been doing. Harry wasn't about to snitch on him either.
"Good, good," The Headmaster said rocking on the balls of his feet. Looking back at Harry for a moment he turned back to Seifer, "I wonder if you might give us a moment? Dr Kadowaki is determined that he should eat and rest and I need to have a quick word with him."
Harry's eyebrows rose. He was talking like Harry wasn't in the room and that more than anything made Harry's hackles rise. Seifer seemed as displeased with the suggestion, but he couldn't exactly go against his Headmaster. Bowing out as gracefully as the situation would allow.
"Of course, Headmaster." Seifer's nod was far stiffer than his earlier grand gestures and he stalked from the room. Leaving an unsettled Harry with the Headmaster and Dr Kadowaki who was bearing a tray that held his breakfast.
Turning to take Seifer's vacated seat the Headmaster waited as Kadowaki handed Harry his tray and made sure that he started eating before she left. The door swinging shut behind her.
No sooner had the white-clad Dr. left that Headmaster Cid looked at Harry, smiling benignly.
"Now dear boy," He began before pausing when he noticed Harry stiffen, spoon halfway to his mouth.
Those words made him think of Dumbledore, and Hogwarts, and the war and all those that had died. Harry tried to swallow his mouthful down his dry throat. They had all been lost to him now.
A little put off by Harry's sudden shift in demeanour, the Garden's Headmaster shifted in his seat.
"I was hoping that you might answer a few questions for me?" The Headmaster asked. The uncertainty of his tone making it a question rather than statement.
Trying to shake off the memories Harry attempted another brittle smile and nodded.
Headmaster Cid relaxed in his chair smiling as he received the affirmative answer.
"Excellent!" He enthused, clapping his hands together and causing Harry to flinch at the abrupt loud noise.
Noticing Harry's reaction the Headmaster's smile turned apologetic.
"Now, what do you remember?" He asked.
Harry bent his head towards the tray as he considered how he should answer. He knew from Seifer that the Garden was a training centre for soldiers. But he had also mentioned monsters as if they were an everyday occurrence so maybe weapons training was a necessity in this day and age?
Deciding that if he was going to tell anything he would stick to the truth. He didn't know if these people had anything like veritaserum, but he didn't want to risk it. But unless they asked directly he wouldn't offer up the knowledge, not yet.
"Everything up until I fell, asleep Headmaster," Harry replied as levelly as he could, wincing at how small and frightened he sounded.
"Please call me Cid," The Headmaster said even as he frowned over Harry's answer.
"When exactly did you fall asleep?" Cid asked, and Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to thank the man or curse him. If he told him the truth then he had a valid way to ask any question he wanted, but he also left himself vulnerable.
Taking a leap of faith and following his instinct that had yet to lead him wrong, Harry told the Headmaster the truth.
"The eleventh of February 2001," Harry said before adding as if in afterthought, "A.D."
Cid blinked several times before slumping into the seat and sighing explosively.
"So you don't know anything about the world today, then. That's not good," By this point Cid was talking more to himself than to Harry, "We'll have to catch you up."
Harry's ears perked at that if they wanted him to have the information then he wasn't about to complain. Feeling that now was a good time to mention the information that Seifer had divulged Harry reached over and put his now empty tray on the small bedside table. Catching the Headmasters attention as he did so.
"Seifer was kind enough to mention a few things. About Garden and Sorceresses, but he didn't have much chance to go into any detail." Harry said, watching Cid as the middle-aged man leant forwards in his seat.
"Oh, good! That's a few subjects dealt with. I mean it would be a little awkward to have the Sorcerer not know anything about SeeD." Cid said.
Harry frowned. Cid had as good as told him that he was a Sorcerer, or at least seen as one by their standards.
"That's a good point, Headmaster..." Harry started only for Cid to interrupt.
"Cid. Please."
Nodding Harry continued, "Cid, I have never heard of a Sorcerer, or a Sorceress for that matter, before today."
Cid gulped and groaned, leaning his head forwards to rest in his hands.
Harry wished that Seifer would come back. At least he had seemed willing to provide Harry with answers to any and all his questions. Fidgeting with the edged of his sheets Harry wished that the other man would talk, do something. But he sat there, head in hands and groaning.
Desperate to get the other to stop groaning Harry remembered how he had answered Selphie's question the day before.
"Headmaster, Cid, I may not be familiar with the term Sorcerer but I am a magic user. If that is what the term means." Harry said as diplomatically as he could.
It had the desired effect the light shone in his eyes and twinkled in a way so reminiscent of Dumbledore that Harry found himself choking back a sob.
"It is possible that the terminology has changed. I mean if the date you gave is correct then that's over five-thousand years, lots of things have changed in that time." Harry wondered if Cid made a habit of talking to himself while others were in the room.
Not sure if he was talking to him or not Harry nodded, agreeing with the Headmasters deduction.
Lots of things had changed.
Harry opened his mouth to ask the question he wanted to ask but closed it again not soon after, not knowing how to word the inquiry.
Unfortunately, Cid noticed his hesitation and prompted him.
"Yes, my boy?"
Swallowing passed the lump in his throat and the ache in his chest Harry tried to ask, stumbling over the words.
"Do you know why I'm here?" That wasn't right, "Why I woke up?" That was better Harry thought and it seemed that Cid knew what he was talking about.
The soft smile on the Headmaster's face causing Harry to stutter into silence.
"There was a prophecy..." The Headmaster started when Harry groaned. Loudly.
Only to mutter, "Another bloody prophecy."
Cid coughed and shifted on his seat.
"I, uh, take it that this is not the first time you have been mentioned in Fate's decree?" It was a rather poetic way to phrase it, Harry thought. But also far more accurate than Cid knew. Harry had made a deal with Gaia. He had agreed to this.
Nodding glumly, Harry motioned for the Headmaster to continue.
"Well, ah, the prophecy told of the Crystal Sorcerer, who would wake only to the presence of his Knight and bring with him a reign of peace over Gaia." Cid finished, watching Harry as the young man absorbed the information. It was a good summary of the prophecy certainly. But the wording could have meant something else and that could only be one interpretation of the blasted thing.
He hated prophecy.
Looking up from the sheets bunched in his hands, Harry made an effort to relax his white-knuckled grip and peered at Cid.
"What was the wording? Exactly." Harry's voice was sharp, he wasn't prepared to risk a misinterpreted prophecy. Especially if it was self-fulfilling like the last one.
Cid blinked, surprised.
"I don't know."
Harry would have growled if the man hadn't had such a confused look on his face.
"Do you think you could find out?" Harry asked, working to keep his tone even.
Nodding Cid stood. "I'll do my best, I'm sure there is an accurate recording of it somewhere." He smiled at Harry before continuing. "It is an old prophecy."
Just as he finished speaking the click of heels in the corridor outside sounded and the door swished open to reveal Dr Kadowaki, arms crossed and scowling. Reminding Harry of his disapproving school matron.
"You said five minutes. It has been forty-five. He needs to rest, Headmaster." The Dr. snapped.
Cid glanced at Harry, looking apologetic and remorseful.
"I must apologise, I will leave you to your rest." With another wry smile the Headmaster left, stepping passed the Dr. blocking the doorway, the sound of his footsteps echoed up the metal corridor.
Still frowning Dr Kadowaki turned to Harry.
Gulping Harry wished that she wasn't so like Madame Pomfrey at the moment. The ache in his chest doubled and without the distraction of the Headmaster there wasn't anything else for him to concentrate on.
"You should be resting! I don't know what you went through but it looks like a war zone. It'll take you at least a week to recover at this rate." With that said Kadowaki turned on her heel and left, the door closing behind her with its characteristic swish.
Sighing forlornly, the week of boredom stretching out in front of him, Harry let himself fall back onto the bed. Rolling onto his side to stare out the sliver of the window that showed at this angle.
What appeared to be a gigantic ring hung in the sky above the Garden and he wondered how they got it stay there. Was it magic or muggle science?