Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter or anything else you recognise but the plot as well as anything you don't is mine.

Chapter 5 - The Ullysees Diamond

'Do you have the pictures?' Voldemort hissed.

'Y...y...yes M...master.' Wormtail stuttered, handing the Dark Lord the pictures he had taken from just out side the wards of the school.

Voldemort didn't say a word for several moments as he scanned through the pictures of Harry by the lake. 'And do we know where Potter has been the last year and why he looks so old?'

'Miss Parkinson reports that he has been with the elves. He has married one; one of the royal family in fact.' Wormtail whimpered.

Voldemort hissed out loud, a string of expletives bursting from his mouth. 'This is not good news, Wormtail. Not good news at all.'

'Why is this not good?'

Wormtail cringed as Voldemort whirled to face him. 'Why is this not good?' He hissed. 'Potter is now a member of the Elven royal family. He is one of them now. They will join him. I have to get to him quickly.' Voldemort ranted as he continued to pace back and forward. 'This could be the end. I have to destroy him. He will hurt so much when I finally get hold of him. I will make him beg me to kill him. I won't let him ruin me again.'

'Harry.' Madolyne screamed as Harry stumbled to his knees clutching his head. Darius grabbed her, holding her close as they stared at their son in law in distress. Gwen dropped to her knees and tried to pry Harry's hands from his forehead. The Elven warriors looked around trying to find the source of the attack, not knowing that it was from the inside.

'Gwen.' Harry moaned softly. 'Oh god. It hurts.' His face had taken on a greenish tinge and his eyes were screwed shut with pain.

'Harry.' Gwen all but shouted. 'Harry listen to me. Fight it. It doesn't hurt that bad. You have to rise above it. Shut him out and listen to me. You can do this. We practiced it.' Harry had had two such attacks since returning from the Glade. It seemed that once it became common knowledge that Snape was back at Hogwarts it also became obvious to Voldmort that Harry had been involved and his anger had been a trigger to light up the connection they had once shared. Gwen continued speaking softly in Harry's ear as Darius and Madolyne watched on in concern for several minutes before Harry finally lifted his head; his face was pale, his scar, red raw, and his eyes bloodshot.

'He's awfully upset with me.' Harry said hoarsely.

'Come on. You need to lie down. All this can wait.' Gwen said firmly.

Harry was in no condition to argue with her as she led them back to their rooms. Darius and Madolyne following in silence. They continued watching anxiously as Gwen fed Harry a painkilling potion and sent him into a healing sleep. She motioned them out of the doorway and closed it softly behind her. Two warriors stood at attention on either side of the door, the rest outside the portrait hole.

'What happened to him? Will he be alright?' Madolyne pleaded and Gwen nodded with a heavy sigh.

'Voldemort; when he is angry or upset or even happy, Harry can feel it.' She explained.

'Why have we never seen it before?' Darius asked. 'He has been with us for more than ten years.'

'Well, technically in this world it hasn't even been two.' Gwen added flippantly.

'Semantics, Gwendolyn.' Darius growled. 'I'm sure Voldemort has been angry at some point in the past years, probably very angry when Harry disappeared.' Darius countered.

Gwen sighed again and gestured for her parents to sit down, calling for a tea tray and serving them all a cup even as she could see her father getting more agitated by the minute. 'I think home is too far away. The emotions don't travel through realms and worlds.' She said eventually.

'That decides it then.' Madolyne said firmly. 'He's coming home with us. You too, Gwendolyn.' Gwen sighed but was saved from answering by her father.

'Madolyne, don't be ridiculous. Harry has to stay and fight. It's what he has been trained for. If he goes back he will only want to leave again.' He said smoothly.

'And what if something happens to him?' Madolyne cried.

'Mother, nothing is going to happen to Harry. I won't allow it.' Gwen scowled.

Darius nodded. 'All the same, I'm sending for the Callens. All of them.' Callen was Elvish for warrior or soldier.

'All of them? But what of the Glade? Who will protect them? Who will protect you?' Gwen said quickly.

'We will stay here, with you. The Glade is protected by magic far stronger than any Callen. When Harry joined our family, the magic strengthened. Voldemort is no longer a threat to us unless something happens to Harry, which I will not allow.' Darius added firmly.

Gwen frowned. 'But if Voldemort is no longer a threat, why did we come here? Was it another of those stupid tests the Council liked to give Harry all the time?'

The King's eyes narrowed. 'Do not disrespect the Elders, Gwendolyn.' He scolded and Gwen had the decency to look sheepish. Satisfied Darius went on. 'While he is no longer a threat to us, to Harry's old world he still is.' He said.

'So.' Gwen argued. 'Harry was safe with us.'

'The magic is only strong as long as he was staying willingly. If we had ignored this problem it would have continued to eat at Harry. It would not have been much longer before he tried to leave and come back here and that could have had severe consequences.'

Gwen looked between her mother and father. 'There is something your not telling me about Harry, isn't there?'

Darius glanced at Madolyne before turning his attention back to Gwen, nodding slowly.

'Aren't you going to tell me?'

'No.' He said softly.

'Why not? Gwen demanded.

'You don't need to know.'

'Don't need to know.' She snapped, leaping off the sofa and pacing in front of the fireplace. 'He's my husband! Of course I need to know.' Gwen stopped. 'You planned from the beginning, didn't you? That is why you sent me to get Harry from Privet Drive and not one of the staff. Why you had him stay at the castle instead of at the training centre. Why you made him stay for so long before coming back and why, although you put up a token defence when we wanted to marry, you let us anyway. It must have been the first time in Elven history a human married an elf.' She spat.

'No. That has happened before.' Darius said simply.

'Not into the royal family, I'll bet. You used me father. But worst of all, you used Harry.' Gwen stormed across the room into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

'You should have told her, Darius.' Madolyne scolded quietly.

Darius glared at his wife of several centuries. 'They are not ready yet.' He insisted.

'Professor Dumbledore thought that every year before Harry left and look where it got him.'

'They are not ready yet.' Darius repeated imperiously.

Madolyne stood and walked towards the bedroom door; her hand on the knob she stopped and turned. 'Either you tell them Darius, or I will.' She said severely. 'Tonight.'

'Gwendolyn, darling.' Madolyne called as she closed the door softly behind her. Gwen didn't answer but her mother could see her lying next to Harry on the bed, propped up on one elbow as she softly ran her fingers through Harry's hair; Harry hadn't even moved during all the shouting and the door slamming.

Madolyne perched on the edge of the bed, next to Harry, sighing as she saw the tears running down her daughter's cheeks. 'Gwennie?' She whispered, reverting to the pet name she had used as a child. Her heart dropped when Gwendolyn lifted her head and looked into her mother's eyes. She saw the hurt there. Hurt, she and Darius had caused.

'Was it real?' She whispered tearfully. 'Was it ever real?'

Madolyne sighed again, placing her hand over Gwen's which had come to rest on Harry's chest. 'Look at him, darling.' She said. 'Look at him carefully and tell me what you see? What you heart and mind sees.'

Gwen turned her gaze and studied the peacefully sleeping Harry. She loosened her hand from under her mother's and caressed the side of Harry's face. 'I see a wonderful, handsome, generous man with a loving heart and a strong will.' She whispered finally. 'I see the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with from almost the very moment I first met him. I see the only man I have ever loved. The man I love more than life itself. ' She finished softly, looking back up at her mother as several more tears dripped slowly down her cheeks.

'You still question that it isn't real?' Madolyne said quietly.

Gwen didn't answer; just lay her head on Harry's chest, hugging him to her gently. Madolyne stood up and kissed Gwen and then Harry softly on the cheek before she walked silently from the room. Just as she was closing the door she heard Gwen begin singing a soft lullaby to Harry. It was the one Madolyne used to sing to her whenever Darius used to leave for battle, back when the Elves were at war, and Gwen was scared he wouldn't come back. She was upset with both herself and Darius for causing Gwen such heartache. She just hoped that when they were told the truth, both her and Harry would forgive them for what they had done.

'Have you seen Harry?' Ron asked Hermione when he met up with her in the library later that day.

'Not since this morning. Why?'

'Just a bad feeling, that's all.' Ron shrugged as he threw himself into a chair next to her.

'Come on.' Hermione said packing away her books. Ron had had several of these feelings over the last year or so and Hermione had learned that although she didn't believe in Divination, she did believe in Ron's gut instincts.

'Where are we going?'

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'Oh honestly Ron. To find Harry, of course.'

'Oh right. Rooms first then?' He asked jumping up without waiting for an answer, grabbing her book bag and slinging it over his shoulder as Hermione led the way out of the library and towards Harry and Gwen's rooms.

'Halt.' A rather severe looking elf stopped the two from getting closer than thirty feet of the portrait. Ron and Hermione exchanged a slightly nervous glance.

'We would like to see Harry and Gwen.' Hermione asked politely.

The elf looked the two of them up and down causing both teenagers to shift nervously. 'And you are?' He asked finally.

'Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.' Hermione replied.

'Wait.' The command was strong and firm.

Ron and Hermione stood nervously waiting for several minutes before the portrait opened and the Elven warrior came back, closely followed by Madolyne. Hermione nudged Ron in the ribs and curtsied quickly. Ron went to bow but Madolyne held up her hand.

'It's alright children. You are not Elves, there is no need to bow to me. Now, apparently you are looking for Harry and Gwen?' She asked softly.

Ron and Hermione nodded. 'Yes please, Your Majesty.' Hermione smiled.

'They are asleep at the moment. Harry had...an episode.' She said quietly.

'His scar?' Ron asked and Madolyne nodded. 'I knew it. I knew something was wrong.'

'Did he have them often before he came to us?' She inquired.

'Yeah, all the time. Ow, Hermione.' Ron winced when Hermione smacked him. 'What was that for?'

'Don't tell her that. You know how Harry feels about everyone knowing his business.' She scolded.

'No, quite frankly I don't. I don't know that much about Harry anymore.' Ron said abruptly.

Hermione looked taken aback. 'What's that supposed to mean exactly?'

'You know exactly what that means.' Ron retorted.

'Excuse me.' Madolyne ventured into the argument before it could escalate any further.

'Sorry.' The two Gryffindors said sheepishly.

'Quite all right. I understand that the past eighteen months have been difficult for you and we are very sorry.'

'Why are you sorry?' Hermione asked quizzically.

'Well, we did take your best friend from you.' Madolyne offered.

Ron shrugged. 'If you hadn't, Voldemort probably would have and then he wouldn't have been able to come back.' Ron said diplomatically. Hermione stared at Ron wide eyed. 'What now?' The red head grumbled.

'That was the most mature thing I've ever heard you say.' She stammered.

Ron let out a snort. 'Maybe hanging around Harry is making me grow up.' He suggested.

Hermione let out a quiet snort. 'About time.'

'Hey.' Ron's expression turned indignant.

'Sorry.' Hermione snickered.

Madolyne watched the second exchange between the two with amusement. She was surprised that the events of the last year hadn't drawn these two together romantically but looking at them she realised it was probably only a matter of time.

'According to Harry, it's only been a matter of time since their third year.' Gwen said softly, knowing exactly what her mother was thinking by the expression on her face.

'Gwen.' Hermione broke off, finally noticing her. 'How's Harry? Is he alright?'

Gwen smiled at them. 'Yes. He will be fine. He's just getting changed for dinner if you want to wait.'

'I'll leave you three to it then.' Madolyne said taking her leave. 'I have to find Darius. I believe he is with the Headmaster.'

Hermione and Ron nodded politely as Gwen kissed her mother softly on the cheek.

'We will tell you tonight.' She promised before she swept towards Dumbledore's office, group of Callens following her.

Harry walked out minutes later, pulling on his outer robes, hair still wet. Hermione and Ron looked at him in concern as Gwen fussed over him.

'Alright there, Harry?' Ron asked quietly.

'Yeah. Thanks Ron.' Harry said tiredly, running his hand through his hair.

Harry sat back in the chair pulling Gwen close beside him as he idly watched Darius, Albus and Madolyne shift nervously in theirs. Gwen was also tense but Harry was unsure why. Dinner had been a stilted affair but no one seemed inclined to let Harry in on the secret and when he asked what was wrong he was told to wait until after dinner.

Now the five of them were sitting around the fireplace in the sitting room off Dumbledore's office and no one was saying anything.

'Well?' Harry asked finally, unable to stand the uncomfortable silence any longer.

'Harry, I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you long ago.' Darius began with a heavy sigh.

'I think I've heard this little speech before.' Harry interrupted, looking pointedly at Albus. 'and it didn't work out that well for me the last time.'

'Harry, please just listen, all will be explained.' Albus pleaded softly. Harry raised an eyebrow at him but nodded to Darius to begin again.

'I actually think Albus would be better at explaining this part.' Darius stammered. 'You did start it after all.'

This time it was Albus' turn to sigh. 'At the end of your fifth year Harry, we had a rather...energetic... discussion. Do you remember?' Harry nodded. 'I hate to say it but I lied to you then Harry, I'm sorry.'

Harry's eyes narrowed. 'Lied to me, how?' He asked tensely; Gwen quickly finding his hand and grasping it tightly between her own.

'I said that Voldemort could have chosen you or Neville. That it was chance that you were the one that was marked.' Dumbledore hesitated but hurried on when he saw Harry's eyes darken. 'He would never have chosen Neville. That's why the Longbottoms were never under the Fidelius. It was you he was after. Always you.'

There was another uncomfortable silence that was thankfully shorter than the last.

'Why?'

It was just one word, but the tone in which it was said showed the other four occupants in the room just how much anger Harry was already internalizing at this point. Gwen moved a hand and placed it on his arm to try and calm him further; it worked marginally but she could still feel him trembling.

'Your mother.' Albus said hesitatingly.

All in the room could hear Harry's teeth grind together. 'My mother what?' He hissed icily.

Dumbledore swallowed. 'Your mother was special and I don't mean that in just an intelligent, talented witch sort of way. Did Sirius or Remus ever tell you your mother was adopted?'

Harry, jaw still clenched tightly shut, shook his head.

'They probably didn't know. That is why your mother and your aunt look so different.'

'Adopted?' Harry hissed and Dumbledore nodded nervously, knowing what was coming. 'Do you then care to explain why you left me with the Dursley's, my supposed blood relatives, for most of my abusive childhood then?'

Dumbledore actually flinched and Gwen all but held Harry down in his seat lest he throw himself over Dumbledore's desk and throttle the man with his bare hands. She gently caressed his cheek until he tore his eyes from the elderly headmaster's and took several calming breaths that barely seemed to work.

'Who was she?' He bit out.

Albus hesitated for several moments; the action causing the room to fill with the buzz of Harry's angry magic. 'Your mother was a mage, Harry.'

Harry sucked in a breath and the magic hanging in the air vanished. 'I didn't think there were female mages?' He stated coldly.

Albus nodded. 'There aren't. She was just a carrier really. She had the intelligence but not the power.'

It was almost as if there was no one else in the room as Harry's intense green eyes pinned Albus in his chair. 'Where did it come from? Who were her parents?' The Boy-Who-Lived questioned.

'Her father, your grandfather was one of my closest friends during the war with Grindelwald. A man by the name of Jacques Aquinell. Jacques was one the people who helped in the downfall of Grindelwald. He also was the sole surviving heir of the Camelot fortune. Part of that fortune was the Diamond of Ulysses.'

Harry let out a huff of breath. 'Headmaster, can you please get to the point?' He snapped, rubbing his still tingling scar in irritation.

Albus' expressions became contrite. 'Sorry. The point is, it was the Ulysses Diamond that Voldemort was after that Halloween night. It was the stone that protected you. Not your mother.'

Harry shook his head and frowned. 'But...but I thought it was my mother who protected me. You said it was her love. Her love that saved me when she sacrificed herself. You told me that.' Harry insisted tightly.

There was another hesitation on Albus' part and Harry's buzzing magic returned. 'Harry, in your visions, how many parents have you seen sacrifice themselves for their children?' Albus asked softly.

Harry's expression was distant as he looked back into a part of his mind he really didn't want to open. 'Lots.' He whispered. Gwen squeezed his arm tighter.

Dumbledore's voice trembled. 'And how many of those children survived the killing curse?'

Harry gave a half sob. 'None.' He breathed. 'None of them. Oh god.' Harry paled and dropped his head in his hands, and his harsh breathing was all that could be heard for several minutes as he tried to compose himself. Eventually he looked up, but his eyes closed.

'Why didn't you tell me this before?' The glacial voice was back.

'I didn't thi.'

'You didn't think I was ready.' Harry interrupted, his green eyes opening and flashing angrily. 'You didn't think I was old enough. You thought I had enough to deal with. Blah blah blah. We talked about this just yesterday and you lied to me even then. You said it needed more research. The excuses never change, Albus. Just the truth does.' Harry finished, turning away from the headmaster and taking several deep breaths. 'What is this diamond thing anyway? How can it have protected me? I've never even seen it.'

Albus looked shaken at Harry's outburst but he gamely continued his explanation. 'Harry, the explanation I gave you at the end of your first year was partly correct. Your skin, your blood is what protects you. The Ulysses Diamond lives within you, within your every cell. It is as much a part of you as your eyes, your hair and your scar. It is what saved you as a baby. It's what burned Professor Quirrell all those years ago,' Albus hesitated. 'and it is why Voldemort was so insistent that he be resurrected with your blood.'

Harry hissed and rubbed at his scar once more. 'Bloody hell. Does it ever end?' He muttered.

'Harry, there's more.' Gwen said softly.

'Of course there is.' He said caustically. 'Please do go on.'

'My turn Harry.' Darius said sadly.

'And what fabulous news do you have to tell me.' The sentence just dripped with sarcasm and Madolyne stared at Harry, never having heard the young man speak in such a manner.

'There's no need to be rude Harry.' Albus scolded.

'It's alright, Albus.' Darius interrupted as he saw Harry open his mouth in what he knew would be a scathing retort that would probably only make things worse; if that was at all possible. He hesitated a moment, wondering how his son-in-law would react to this further news. 'Harry.' He began. 'Almost twenty years ago in this timeline, the Seers saw what would happen to this world and ours. They could see far ahead and we knew back then what would happen. The council set a plan in motion that would help save our world. Over time, the magic of the elves has been weakened. The wards and spells coving our realm had begun to lose their strength. We had to come up with something to give the wards back their energy.'

Harry frowned. 'What does this have to do with me?' He asked dryly.

'The plan we came up with involved you. That is the real reason we came for you all those years ago, not to train you. If you could defeat Voldemort before he managed to get to the Glade, that was all well and good, but it was not our number one priority. That was why Gwen was sent to fetch you. Why we kept you at the Glade for so long.'

Harry was looking extremely confused by this point. Gwen, however, was looking at both her parents in disgust.

'Once you had Harry, you were just going to leave Voldemort to the others, weren't you? Even after you knew of the prophecy, knew that no one else but Harry could defeat him, you were just going to leave them to it. At least until you found out that if he left it would have been all for nothing. How could you?' Gwen burst out; calming only when Harry squeezed her hand.

'I'm sorry, I still don't understand.' Harry said softly, directing his question to his wife.

'They needed you, Harry. They needed the Ulysses Diamond to strengthen the wards. They used you. It was all a set up.' Gwen cried.

'Gwen.' Darius said warningly.

'Shut up.' Gwen screamed at her father, before turning back to Harry. 'You. Your very skin, your blood is what keeps the Glade safe. As long as you call it home the elves cannot be touched. They sent me to fetch you, kept you at the castle for so long in the hope that we would fall in love. That we would marry. It was all a set up.' She said again, sobbing. Harry took her in his arms, rocking her gently.

'Shh,' he whispered. 'Ill mea onesh quo anex badrea rasenis, mia donet legre ill quo en munete. Mia valen yuash hes targlin ent mia awas aten.' (It may have begun for the wrong reasons, but I don't regret it for a minute. I love you my darling, and I always will.) Gwen just sobbed harder as Harry looked up into the faces of the three people he had trusted so very much.

'Please leave.' He said coldly.

'Harry. Please understand.' Madolyne pleaded, trying to break through the icy mask currently on Harry's face.

'Out. All of you.' Was his only response as he turned back to Gwen and whispered softly in her ear. Albus and Darius glanced at each other but neither knew what to say. Madolyne took over at that point and bustled the two men from the room, closing the door softly behind her.

'I hope we did the right thing?' Darius mused.

'You did the only thing you could.' Madolyne said firmly. 'They had a right to know.'

'But what if he leaves? What if he decides not to return to the Glade?'

'He won't.' Albus said. 'Harry has a duty and he knows it.'

'When are you two going to learn that you can't play with people's lives like this? Harry and Gwen have a right to a normal life. You have both lied to them for so many years. They are people, not pawns, and they have feelings.' Madolyne scolded them. If the situation hadn't been so serious, she would have snorted at the sheepish expressions on the faces of the two powerful men in front of him. 'One day you will wake up and they will be gone. Yes, they will do their duty, to both of you. But they won't thank you for it and they certainly won't trust you with any part of their lives again. I just hope you are happy. I told you many years ago Darius, that what you were doing was wrong. Yet I let my love for Harry get in the way of the truth. I didn't want him to leave either and I told myself that it was for him were keeping him there, for his own good to keep him safe. I won't forgive myself until he forgives me.' She finished softly, turning and running down the stairs.

'Harry, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I promise I didn't know.' Gwen sobbed into Harry's chest.

'It's alright. I know you didn't.' Harry said softly. 'Come on. Dry your eyes. It will be okay. I did always wonder about that though.' He mused wryly. 'Even if I refused to admit it out loud.'

'About what?' Gwen sniffed.

'My mother's sacrifice.' Harry sighed. 'Deep down I always wondered why I survived when no one else did.'

'Why didn't you ask?'

Harry shrugged. 'I wanted to believe that my mother loved me; loved me so much more than all the other children's mothers. I wanted to believe it so much.' Harry faltered. 'I guess not.' He added sadly.

'Oh Harry.' Gwen threw her arms around him. 'She loved you. I know she loved you, very much.'

'Mia valen yuash.' Harry whispered. (I love you)

'Mia valen yuash tre.' She kissed him softly. (I love you too)

When Ron and the others arrived down at the lake the next morning there was no sign of Harry.

'Where is he?' Ron questioned.

'Over there, look.' Seamus pointed towards the Quidditch pitch and the group moved almost silently towards it.

Gwen noticed them and shook her head to discourage them from talking. Instead they just climbed quietly into the stands and sat down to watch.

Harry was balanced on a floating beam, in the middle of the pitch, about fifteen feet off the ground. Surrounding him were boxes and platforms of various sizes, each was drifting around him, moving in and out of his general area and perched on almost half of them was a Callen in full battle gear. Gwen was making the platforms move with Harry's wand as Harry went after the Callens blindfolded.

'Reach out with your senses. Trust you mind and your body. They both know what to do.' An older looking Callen on a nearby platform called to him, and winced as Harry just missed being smacked in the back of the head with another of the Callens' staffs. Harry seemed to pause for a moment as if listening before leaping wildly to his right and onto one of the platforms. Clack, clack, clack went the two staffs against each other. Harry swung his backward as he felt another platform come closer to him. He was quick and the Callen, not expecting it, was knocked from the platform and onto the ground where he stood up, shaking his head and went to stand with the group of seven that Harry must have already defeated.

'Concentrate. Don't let your anger overpower you.' The older Callen called again as Gwen had the platforms beginning to drift closer together now and Harry found himself sandwiched between several Callens at once. Harry's staff was moving so quickly it was a blur. Ron noticed most of the others wincing, including Hermione, as several of the Callens managed to land blows to Harry's upper body. The platforms drifted further apart as Gwen tried to give Harry a breather.

'Gwen.' Harry scolded, looking in her direction in spite of the blindfold.

'You need a break.' She retorted.

'Now.' He demanded harshly. Grudgingly she raised his wand once more and floated him back in amongst the group where he attacked with a vengeance. The students couldn't see exactly what he did but suddenly there was a lot of shouting and screaming in Elvish and three more Callens were on the ground. Only two were left. Harry seemed to be gaining ground when he slipped off the edge of the platform, leaving him dangling above the ground with one hand. Most of the girls screamed but Harry didn't seem to notice. He let go and grabbed with the other hand as one of the Callens brought his staff down with a smack. Harry grunted and swung forwards and backwards somersaulting twice to land back on the other side of the platform.

'Nice try Grordin.' He said, swinging his staff in a wide circle. The end of the staff caught the second Callen at the side of his head and he dropped quickly. Harry stomped across the platform after him, listening for the telltale whistling that would tell him of a shift in the aura of the elf behind him. The prone Callen tried desperately to roll away from him but only succeeded in toppling himself off the platform. Harry whirled to face the last Callen. His jaw set, brow furrowed. Circling warily, he spun the staff several times.

'Well, well Grordin. Once again, it is you left at the end.' Harry murmured. 'Is that because you are the best, or because you stand back in the beginning and wait.' The elf glared at Harry and lunged forwards.

Harry cracked him once on either side of his head. 'Careful, careful.' He chided teasingly. 'Never give in to the anger. You must let it work for you. Like this!' Harry roared, launching himself at the Callen, numerous pounding blows landing on the warrior's chest. Lucky the Callen had battle armour on otherwise he probably would be dead. As it was, he would certainly be stiff for several days. Within minutes Harry had knocked the Callen from the platform and was kneeling on it, breathing heavily. Gwen gently floated the platforms down and Harry stood up and removed the blindfold. He stepped off the platform and walked towards the group, handing off the blindfold and his staff to Dobby who was hopping up and down on the spot, desperate to be of help.

'Thank you. All of you. I really needed that.' He said to the gathered Callens in front of him.

Grordin smiled. 'We understand Harry. Anytime you need to beat the crap out of someone, you give us a call.' He joked. Harry rolled his eyes. Gwen slid her arm around his waist and handed him back his wand. Several muttered incantations and the pitch was clear again. It was then that he noticed the staring students.

'Don't you all have something you should be doing?' Harry called gesturing to his watch. 'Like class.'

'Bollocks.' Came the loud swear as Ron, who seemed to be the only person at that time capable of movement, tried to round everyone else up. 'Get a move on.' He yelled. 'We have Potions now.' There was a scurry of movement finally as the students realised they were late. Not only that; some of them were late for Snape. It didn't get any worse than that.

Harry smiled sadly as he watched them run back towards the castle.

'Alright there Harry,' Grordin asked softly. Harry looked back at the very old in age but still young in looks elf and nodded.

'Fine Grordin. Thank you. Let's all get some breakfast.'

'Did you see? That elf's armour had buckles in it.' Blaise whispered in awe.

'I wish Harry would show us that stuff.' Seamus added.

'Did he seem especially angry to you about something?' Ron said softly to Hermione.

'Yes. Whatever it is, Gwen must know. She seemed to do an admirable job of calming him down.'

'Yeah.' The rest of the conversation was cut short as the came to the potions dungeon to find a visibly angry Snape standing in the doorway of the classroom, looking pointedly at his watch. A top of the line glare showing on his face.

'We're sorry Professor,' Draco said for the group. 'We were watching Harry and lost track of the time.' Snape's eyes softened marginally at Draco's use of Harry's first name but he powered the death glare back up all the same.

'Is Mr Potter going to make sure you all pass your NEWTs.' Severus drawled. 'I don't think so. Get in the classroom and get your things. That will be five points from each person who was late and a detention with me. Get to work.' he snapped.

'Yesterday, when you arrived you said you had something important to tell me. Something bad.' Harry stood stiffly in the doorway. After breakfast he had left the first years in Gwen's capable hands and gone see his father in law.

'Harry, won't you sit down, please.' Madolyne said softly. Harry closed his eyes for a moment before crossing the room and sitting down in a chair by the window. Madolyne glanced at Darius who took a deep breath before starting to speak.

'The Seers have given us three stones. You have three different choices to make, unfortunately none is very good. The first is the least likely.'

'Show me.' Harry held out his hand, waiting as the first stone was placed in it. 'Renalin te estrelo mia.' He whispered. The images began immediately. Harry watched wide eyed as they played before him. Ten minutes later the stone finished and was pried from his fingers.

'The others are that bad?' He stammered.

'Worse apparently.' Darius said, handing him another stone. Harry took a deep breath and muttered the Elvish incantation once more. This time the images were clearer. It was obvious that the Seer's thought this one was a more likely outcome. As it progressed Harry's face drained of blood.

'No!' He practically crushed the stone as he slammed it back down on the table and Madolyne rushed to his side.

'Harry, are you alright?' She asked worriedly.

'Fine.' Harry gasped as his mind continued to flash with images of the air filled with screams and the ground soaked with blood. He asked for the final stone.

'Maybe you should take a break before the last one.' Darius suggested.

'I'm fine.' Harry ground out and Darius reluctantly placed it in his hands. For the final time the images played on the wall in front of him. Before it had even finished Harry had bolted for the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind him.

'Oh god, no. No. I can't make a choice. I should never have to make this choice.' Harry's stomach heaved and he threw up all of his breakfast. When he couldn't stand any longer he slid down the wall to the ground, curling over and pressing his burning forehead against the cool tiled floor.

'Harry?' Came the tentative call from outside the door. 'Harry, please open the door.'

Harry couldn't hear her, all he could see was the two paths that lay before him and the impossible choice he would have to make. He couldn't. He couldn't choose. He grasped his hair in his hands and pulled hard, letting out a bone chilling scream as the images replayed over and over in his mind.

'You had better go and fetch Gwen.' Darius told his wife. She nodded and walked swiftly from the room. Moving quickly she made her way through the castle with Winky as her guide and four Callens as her escort.

'Thank you.' She told the little house elf who curtsied and disappeared with a crack outside the classroom. Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door and opened it.

'Excuse me, Gwendolyn.' she said softly. 'We need you.'

'Mother, I'm in the middle of teaching.' Gwen replied.

'I know that, and I'm sorry, but we really do need you.'

Just then a grief-stricken howl rang through the castle and the very foundations seem to shift slightly in their bed.

'Harry?' Gwen whispered. Madolyne nodded sadly.

'Class dismissed. Go to the library.' Gwen called as she sprinted from the room with Madolyne not far behind.

"Oh god." Gwen thought. "What have they done?" quickening her pace she flew past the milling students, all of whom were looking at her in concern.

'Harry.' She cried as she burst into her parents rooms. Darius would barely meet her eye, just pointed quickly at the bathroom. 'Harry.' She cried again, banging on the door. 'Harry, please open the door. Please.' She begged. She could hear Harry's erratic breathing through the door. She spun to face her father.

'What did you do to him?' She snapped.

'He wanted to see the stones.' Darius said simply.

'The stones?'

'From the Seers. That's why we came.'

Gwen scowled. 'What was in them?'

Darius shrugged. 'We don't know exactly. The stones only work for Harry and he changed the incantation so we couldn't see.'

'Didn't the Seers show you before you left?' She cried.

Madolyne shook her head. 'No. They said Harry had to decide. Only he could decide and he couldn't be swayed by the thoughts and minds of others.'

Gwen gave both her parents a withering look. 'I can't believe you two. I can't believe you let him watch them on his own. Harry.' She continued pounding on the bathroom door. 'Harry please, open the door.'

Just then the portrait opened to admit Grordin closely followed by Albus, Severus and Minerva. 'You Majesty. Is everything alright?' The Headmaster asked softly.

Darius sighed. 'It's Harry. He has locked himself in the bathroom.'

'What did you do to him?' Severus asked imperiously.

'Severus,' Minerva scolded the Potions Master who just glared in response.

A click sounded throughout the room as the bathroom door finally opened.

'Harry?' Gwen said hesitantly. Harry shuffled out to stand before her and lifted his eyes to hers. Gwen noticed the slight scratches and fingernail marks around his eyes but didn't mention it. Harry's eyes were heavier with more guilt and confusion than Gwen had ever seen them. So dark they were almost black and Gwen knew that whatever had been in that stone was something truly terrible.

Harry reached out and grasped her arm almost painfully. 'I...I...Gwen. I can't do it. What gives me the right to decide? Who gives me the right to decide.' He whispered.

'Harry, darling. What did you see?'

Harry shook his head, squeezing his eyes tightly shut as his face paled further. 'I need to get away.' He whispered.

'Come on, let's get you back to our rooms.' She said softly.

Harry wouldn't look at any of the others as they left the room. Snape moved to meet him at the doorway, pulling a blue filled vial from his pocket. 'Dreamless sleep.' He said quietly.

'Thank you Severus.' Harry muttered as they shuffled out the door letting it swing closed behind them.

The next few weeks seemed to stretch on forever. Harry continued to run every morning and took his classes each day, but he seemed to almost withdraw away from everyone. Gwen tried to get him to talk about what was in the stones but he would just shake his head. Severus continued to supply him with Dreamless Sleep potion but on the odd occasion he would forget to take it, he would relive the images in the stone, waking half the castle screaming until Albus showed Gwen how to cast a silencing charm with Harry's wand in case he forgot.

It wasn't much but at least it stopped scaring the students.

Days later, Ron, Hermione and the other seventh years all trailed one after another into the classroom. 'Good morning.' Harry called out as they found seats. 'Settle down please. Thank you. Now all of you have been practicing diligently with the staffs and with your wands. Today we are going to learn to use the staff instead of your wand. Who can tell me the advantage of this?' Several hands shot up.

'Draco.' Harry nodded to the Slytherin.

'You can use both hands with the staff instead of having to hold onto your wand in one and the staff in the other.'

'Very good. Five points to Slytherin. Anyone know what disadvantages this approach may have?' Hermione's hand shot straight up. Harry smiled; an expression that looked almost macabre on his pale sunken face. 'Hermione?'

'As the staff does not have a core the spells are not as stable as they would be if completed with a wand.' The Gryffindor finished primly.

'Good. Five points to Gryffindor. Anything else?' Harry looked around but no hands were up so he went on. 'A staff is much more difficult to use than a wand. The lack of core means that you have to concentrate much more on the spell. You can't wave the staff like a wand. It is too big obviously, so an incorrectly said incantation or badly aimed spell can be disastrous.'

Gwen snorted and Harry looked at her quizzically. 'What?'

'Sorry.' She snickered. 'Just remembering the time you blew out the entire side of the training hall.' She chuckled, most of the class joined her as Harry rolled his eyes.

'Yes. Yes. Very funny. I buggered something up. I am human you know.' He grumbled, thinking to himself that it was mostly true. 'Now that you have all had a laugh at my expense, let's get back to work.' He called out to silence the laughter. 'Seamus, Dean, Crabbe and Goyle, get up here.'

Until the Slytherins had been protected from their parents Harry couldn't take the chance of letting anyone know he was helping them. Other than Draco, whose father was still in Azkaban anyway, last names outside of their common rooms or Harry's office would have to suffice.

The four boys picked up the staffs Harry had given them and made there way to the front of the room. Harry cast several safety charms and lined the boys next to each other as Gwen placed a cushion in front of each of them and handed Harry his staff. Harry stood tall and raised his arm, pointing the staff as though it was an extension of the limb, the excess of it lying flat against the underside of his arm.

'Wingardium Leviosa.' Harry said carefully and the pillow floated slowly off the ground. 'Finite Incantatem.' and the pillow dropped. 'Now you try. Remember to concentrate hard on what you are trying to achieve.'

The four boys tried to copy Harry's stance and all pointed their staffs at their respective pillows. 'Wingardium Leviosa.' They all chanted.

What happened next was either hysterical or horrible depending on who you spoke to. Seamus' pillow caught fire. Dean's shot out the window. Goyles' flew sideways, spinning rapidly and knocked both Neville and Hermione off their chairs and Crabbe's rocketed skywards and exploded, raining feathers down on everybody.

Gwen was snorting so hard she had to leave the room and Harry struggled to suppress the laugher that was threatening to engulf him and quickly repaired the room. Most of the class however was laughing uproariously.

'Settle down.' Harry yelled over the dim. Ron was helping a shocked Hermione and Neville off the floor and the four boys at the front were looking at the remains of their pillows in horror, except for Seamus who had joined in the laughter.

'Silence.' Harry yelled even louder. Several snickers were still heard as the students began to calm down. Gwen, finally having got control of herself, slipped back into the room.

'I did tell you it wasn't easy.' Harry said ruefully. 'Now let's try it again.'

Four more pillows were placed down and this time Harry cast localized shielding charms around them. The second time two of the pillows exploded but Crabbe and Dean managed to float their pillows almost a foot off the ground before they too disappeared in a pop of feathers.

They tried a third time before Harry called up another four students. Time after time, Harry cleaned up the mess and replaced the pillows as the class took turns.

'He looks tired.' Hermione whispered to Ron while they waited for their turn.

'He looks sick.' Ron added.

Hermione hesitated as Harry glanced at her before turning back to the front again. 'Gwen says he hasn't been sleeping.'

'And I know I haven't seen him at any meals.'

'He won't talk to me.' Hermione sighed

'Well he won't even look at me.' Ron said sadly. 'I just want to help him.'

Hermione put her arm around her best friend. She was confused by Harry's treatment of Ron lately. He went out of his way to almost avoid him and if he did catch his eye, Harry's own eyes would darken with what looked to be pain before the walls went up behind them and they became dull and shuttered. She studied Harry carefully, vowing to stay and see him after class.

'Okay. That's enough for today. Thank you.' All the students returned to their seats as Gwen used Harry's wand to clean up the mess. 'Now, I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to practice this outside these rooms and without the correct safety charms in place. The consequences of any sort of accident could be dire. As such, these rooms will be open with the correct charms in place for your use each afternoon between the hours of four and six if you would like to practice. I don't want to hear of anybody trying this outside of this room.' An excited twitter went around the room.

'Just as the consequences of any accident could be dire so will my actions upon anybody not adhering to this rule. To put it mildly, expulsion would be a godsend.' Harry stared fixedly at each of the students making sure they understood exactly what he was talking about. Hermione noted sadly that once more his eyes passed over Ron extremely quickly.

'Harry.' Hermione yelled as she tried to catch up with him. He had ducked out the door as soon as class ended and after telling Ron she would see him at lunch took off after her grown up friend. 'Harry, wait.'

Harry stopped but didn't turn to face her. 'Yes.' He said when she placed a hand on his arm.

'Harry. What is it? Talk to me.'

Harry turned to look at her and she gasped and step back involuntarily. 'Hermione.' He choked out.

The look in his eyes was so distraught that Hermione did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed his hand and dragged him up to two flights of stairs and down three corridors and into the Room of Requirement, slamming and locking the door behind her. She cast several strong silencing spells and turned to face Harry who had followed her without question.

'Talk to me.' She said softly, guiding him over to a sofa and sitting beside him.

'Hermione. I...I ...' Harry trailed off and buried his head in his hands, sobbing as if the world was going to end. Hermione did what any woman would do and gathered him in her arms, rocking him gently.

'Shh. It's alright. I can't be that bad.' She said softly.

'Oh Hermione. You have no idea.' Harry shook his head.

'Why don't you just try me?' She suggested. 'I swear I won't say a thing. You can Obliviate me afterwards if you have to. I just think you need to talk to someone. Someone who thinks about things logically.'

Harry just stared at her. 'There is no way out of this logically. Trust me.'

'Just try.' She insisted.

Harry eyed her carefully once more and took a deep breath. 'You remember the stone I showed that first day back. The one that showed the future.' Hermione nodded. 'The Seers have sent me three new ones. Three different outcomes for the future depending on certain things. The first one was easy but unlikely. Too much would have to change for it to apply. The second and third ones...' Harry trailed off once more.

'The others.' Hermione prompted.

'The others are much more likely but there is a problem. An enormous problem. I have to decide which one. In one scenario someone dies, and in another someone else. How am I supposed to decide which is the better.' Harry said softly. 'How am I supposed to decide who dies and who doesn't.'

'Do you know who they are?' Hermione asked hesitantly.

Harry glanced up at her again, his eyes haunted. 'Sure you want to know?' He replied.

Hermione looked like she was about to say no but she nodded anyway.

'Albus.' Harry whispered as several tears made tracks down his cheeks. Hermione's hand flew to her mouth as it silently open and closed for a few moments. Harry waited for the next question, hoping it wouldn't come but knowing it would.

'And the other?'

Harry's face became pained. 'Ron.' He choked, breaking down once more. 'Oh Hermione.' Harry sobbed. 'What do I do? How do I choose between them?' Hermione didn't quite know what to say but Harry just went on. 'After what happened with Albus, sometimes, I am so angry with him that I think the second choice is preferable. I think he deserves it for what he did to me; all the lies he told me. But then I come to my senses and realise that Albus is such a part of this war. If anything happens to me he will be the only hope the wizarding world has left. But then how...how do I condemn my best friend to death?' He stammered.

Hermione took a deep breath, trying desperately to keep her emotions under control. The horror she was feeling would not help Harry. 'Harry, why do you have to decide? And what did Dumbledore do?'

Harry shook his head and took several deep breaths. 'As for the decision thing, I don't know.' He admitted softly. 'As for the other, Albus lied to me again. They all did. Even Darius and Madolyne.'

'Lied to you?'

'Have you heard of the Camelot Inheritance?'

'The Ulysses Diamond. Yeah, I've heard of it.' Hermione looked at him again. 'Hang on, do you have it?'

'I am it.' Harry corrected her.

'Am it?' Now she looked completely mystified.

'Technically I am the diamond. It lives within me. That is what saved me as a baby. It was never my mother.' Harry said sadly.

'I never thought she did.' Hermione told him.

Harry looked at her askance. 'You didn't? Why not? And why didn't you ever tell me?'

Hermione shrugged. 'I couldn't see why you would survive when so many others hadn't, but the only thing you really had of your parents was the fact that they loved you so much that they gave their life for you. I didn't want to take that away from you.'

Harry stared at her in silence for several moments. 'Thank you.' He whispered softly.

Hermione gifted him a wan smile. 'So how did Darius and Madolyne lie to you?'

Harry's eyes darkened. 'They never took me to train me to defeat Voldemort. They took be back to the Glade in the hope I would fall in love with Gwen and marry her.'

Hermione frowned. 'Why?'

Harry snorted disgustedly. 'To strengthen their wards and spells. Once I married her I became part of the Elven Royal Family. The blood of the Family is what gives the wards their strength. They needed the Ullysees Diamond. That's all they needed.'

Hermione hated the self-deprecating tone in Harry's voice. 'You obviously care a lot more about it then you're letting on.' Hermione raised an eyebrow and Harry's shoulders slumped.

'You could always read me better than anyone else.' He said softly.

Hermione smiled at him. 'Alright.' She said firmly. 'getting back to the problem at hand. What do we do about the stones? Let's look at this logically.'

Harry ran a hand raggedly through his hair. 'Hermione, I'm sorry I can't look at the death of either my best friend, or one of the first father figures I ever had, logically. I'm sorry.'

'No, not like that. Have the Seers ever been wrong?'

'No.'

'Can you change it? The future I mean.'

Harry hesitated for a moment. 'Maybe. Perhaps. I've never asked.'

Hermione took a deep breath. 'I mean what if we went with one of the stones and then just at the last minute changed it so that nothing happened to Ron or Dumbledore.'

'That might work.' Harry said thoughtfully. 'But there is no way to tell what would happen. We can't be sure that we would actually save them or not.'

'Well, we will just have to make sure we do. Besides, it's the only plan we've got.' Hermione said pointedly.

Harry sighed and rubbed his eyes, the stress of the last weeks causing a sickly pallor in his skin. 'How do we decide though?' He said miserably.

Hermione took a deep breath. 'I can't believe I'm going to say this but we will have to go with Ron. The wizarding world cannot afford to lose Professor Dumbledore.' She said firmly. 'And he'd be too hard to protect.'

Harry looked at her in surprise. 'One, for the safety of many.' Harry said, raising an eyebrow. 'Hard, isn't it?'

Hermione nodded sadly. 'I don't know how you and Dumbledore do it.' She admitted.

'We'll save him.' Harry said, clasping her hands tightly in his. 'I promise.'

Hermione yanked her hands back and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. 'I really missed you Harry.' She said softly. Harry didn't say anything just hugged her tighter.

They stayed in the Room of Requirement for several hours, Harry having sent Aeden to tell Gwen where they were and to ask her to let Ron know. By late afternoon Hermione had missed both Herbology and Arithmancy but they had a plan that would allow the future to take place as predicted but hopefully also save their best friend.

'Thank you Hermione.' Harry said sincerely. 'You've always been there for me; even when no one else was.'

'It'll be alright, Harry. He'll be alright.'

Harry smiled with a confidence he didn't really feel. 'You just have to make sure you have the Portkey with you when you go to Hogsmeade on Saturday. I'll set it for you and give it to you tomorrow. Just don't let him touch it before then or he may wonder why he has suddenly been sent to the hospital wing.' Harry added with a wry grin.

'You need to make sure you let certain things slip in front of Pansy so that we get this ball rolling.' Hermione smirked back at him.

'You've been hanging around Draco far too long.' Harry snickered.

Together they made their way down to the great hall for dinner. Harry left Hermione with the other Gryffindors and made his way up to the head table, giving Ron's shoulder a squeeze as he went past.

'Are you okay?' Gwen asked softly as he pulled out his chair and sat down next to her.

'Yes.' Harry whispered, kissing her gently on the cheek. 'Thank you.'