Disclaimer: I don't own it; just having a go at fanfiction to see if I can em-provvvee my Eeng-lish.

Dreamer's Note: No, I won't call myself an author. Every half an hour before I sleep, I'll have some idea popped up in my mind before I drift away in my slumber. Sometimes, I wrote and deleted paragraphs after paragraphs just to suit my plot in the future of the story. I'm not very good at writing a poem or such thing, so mostly when witchcraft is mentioned in my story, I'll just say, some verses were chanted or the incantation was there, but not the thing itself. Bear with me.

The True Journey of Harry Potter

Chapter 15 – The quest part 3

On the tenth day of his trip, two days after the dementor fiasco, Harry was walking through a sparse wood. Smell of fresh air, salty water and sound of waves bombarded his senses. With a sigh of relief, Harry started to look around for a possible campsite for tonight. He was not very sure if he should just camp on the beach, so he made his mind to take a few steps back and chose to settle down behind the lines of palm trees at the edge of the beach instead.

From the map and instruction, he should have met the guardian of Shimpli last week once he stepped upon their land and requested for transportation across the great sea. However, he started to feel uncertain. Did this mean he was not worthy to enter Bhiman? Questions after questions popped up in his mind while he was busy setting up the tent and prepare for a seafood dinner just to suite the location.

Still musing, Harry was startled by a booming voice. "State your name, race and intention of entering!"

The boy stood up and straightened his body, a poise of well-trained young lord. "Harry James Potter of human race, visiting Bhiman upon the invitation of His Majesty the King Devanate of Intra," said the boy with a confident voice.

Wind blew heavily, followed by flapping of wings. There in front of him hovering in the air was a garuda, just like he had been told. "Honorable garuda," stated Harry in the ancient language of Himabhanta, "greeting."

"Greeting, young one," came the reply. "Holy goodness, may your days be prosperous and safe." The garuda landed and looked around.

"Holy goodness, may your days be the same, Honorable one," Harry returned the same quote. "May I inquire of your name, sir?"

"I am Krulo, young Potter," the guardian gave his name. It was quite unexpected for Harry though, knowing how important a name was for the himabhantians. It was as highly regard as blood in the modern magical world for name could be used instead of blood in ancient methods. The guardian could easily refuse to give it, but given the name, Harry felt greatly appreciated.

"Now," the garuda continued, "what is your plan to continue your journey, young one?"

Harry thought for an answer and relayed it to the guardian. It was strange, but he felt safe to talk with the creature in front of him. The human body with a bird head of the garuda did not scare or frighten him one bit. They talked about the plan for a few minutes before Krulo took his leave promising to meet the young boy in the morning to arrange a small boat for him to ride across the great sea of Ananda.

-o0o-

"Your highness," said a huge snake-like creature to the man sitting in the throne. The man wore a crown on his head that looked like a seven-heads snake bearing its hood. Once the creature reached the throne passing a blue line circling the throne, it transformed into an old man with the eyes those of snakes.

"What is it, Muwah?" said the prince.

"Krulo of garuda," the name and race was spat with disdain, "has sent words that there will be a passenger on a boat heading to Bhiman starting tomorrow, your highness."

The prince quirked up but did not say anything. The old man continued knowingly, "it said to be an invitee of the King Devanate, your highness."

"Ah, I see," said the prince, "then we shall see to it that whoever it is traveled through safely, shan't we?" The prince finished with an evil chuckle, or was it a snake-like hissing that sounded evil.

"You will refrain from harming the guest, Naraj," a man's voice rang through the water surrounding the throne circle followed by a merman with long sleek black hair and purple eyes. It was none other than Master Fane, but without his wings.

"How dare you!" Muwah shouted, "Do you wish to die, merman? Don't you know whom you are speaking to?"

Master Fane just smirked floating towards the throne, but visibly in the position above the prince, which would be a death penalty if anyone in Badala dared doing that in the presence of the Prince of Nagas, Naraj.

"Enough, Muwah," scolded the prince, "you don't know your place." Prince Naraj turned up and stepped down from the throne and knelt down. "Greeting, ancient Mystic. How may I be of service?" said the prince to the horror of Muwah. Who was this person? Why would even the prince of all nagas bowed to him?

Master Fane smiled down at the prince and swiftly changed into a human and sat on the recently vacant throne. "Still love to sit out here instead of staying inside the marvelous palace of yours, Naraj? I do understand your craving for freedom and open air or should I say open water?"

"Master," said the prince, "I am satisfied of my being and our environment. I never wish to leave Badala."

"Not anytime soon," Master Fane added, "I hope, Naraj? The punishment is too severe if you even try to anyway." The mysterious man watched the prince with twinkling eyes.

"Of course, Master," replied the prince. Naraj seethed inside, just one mistake and he was sentenced underwater forever. He felt really envious of the other nagas, those lower than him who had more freedom roaming around both above and under the water while he was limited only in the boundary of the Badala city and this little spot for those who could not enter the city to meet their leader.

"498 years have been a very long time, Naraj," said the one in the throne with a sad look, "I know of your thought at the moment, Naraj. It would be only 2 more years for you and you will be free again. However, it seem the confinement do not help your twisting mind one bit. Why, Naraj, why did you not see the error of your doing?"

The prince remained silent while Muwah was thinking furiously about what he was hearing. Suddenly, he saw the Mystic, as his prince called the man, waved his right hand and the lesser naga felt darkness consumed him. Muwah was out cold with his memory of the Mystic and the last 5 minutes deleted when he woke up again the next day, all alone at the foot of the throne.

Back to Naraj who was watching with gratitude, he did not want anyone to know of the punishment. Only selected few nagas knew of its existence. Most believed the prince to prefer being in the city and enjoy the outside on the throne occasionally, never truly knew that those were the places he could be.

"The Cursed one," started Master Fane breaking the naga's muse, "has passed away, Naraj. Do you know the effect of this statement?"

Naraj bowed his head. Something he had never thought possible had occurred. "I do, O Ancient One." He had feared it could happen, but it was this long time and never expected it to be true. His sentence had become null and void, just to be replaced with another more severe one, which he did not know. Damnation to the power that be, Fate or whatsoever, letting this happened to him. There were only two more years to go and he would be free.

"Naraj," said Master Fane with a heavy sigh, "do you really think I would condemn you more?"

The prince of Badala looked up with a surprise look at this. Sitting there in his throne, Master Fane was smiling sadly. The Mystic's form started to change and became what Naraj knew too well. He had never expected that, not since he was convicted of his mistake 500 years ago. Master Fane was now in the form of what could be called the King of Nagas.

"Fa… Father," Naraj stammered deeply struck. He paused for a brief moment and leapt up to throw himself at the one man he had longed to see. Master Fane for his part hugged one of his children lovingly, something not many had ever seen. "You are forgiven, Naraj. Before she left for the next great adventure, your aunt, Gadru, had seen to it that you and your mother would be released of her confinement. Still, it had something to do with the guest who would be passing your territory tomorrow."

"Really?" asked the prince childishly. This would really freak anyone if they saw the scene. "She really forgave mother and me?"

"Yes, my son," said our mysterious man. "However, we will need help from the boy. I wish I could bring him earlier, but, alas, Fate has forbidden me."

"It's alright, father," Naraj said looking at his father. "Can I… can I…?"

"You wish to go above, don't you?" asked the father smiling fondly. "Go, Naraj, I hereby release you from all confinement."

Master Fane watched as his son shouted a loud whoop and jumped up from the throne and swiftly changed into his true self, a brilliant green-scale serpentine body with a crown-like horn on the top of its head. The body was over 100 meters long and 2 meters in diameter. He knew he had just broken his words. He had said that Naraj would be under the punishment for 500 years no less and if Gadru died before that, Naraj would be killed for his little jealousy that cost the lives of several garudas and a few other beings. Well, since Gadru had said herself that she released both her own sister and nephew, Fane could not just let it slide. And, of course, such a great opportunity to test the boy once again, he sat and waited patiently for his adopted son's return.

-o0o-

The next day dawned bright and shiny. For someone who grew up in the cooler weather atmosphere, Harry was glad that Aunt Petunia had insisted that he took appropriate clothes. He had just finished packing and he sat down waiting patiently for Krulo, the guardian of Shimpli.

Around nine o'clock, Krulo arrived bringing a small model-boat with him. Harry was asked to expand the item to its full size, which brought some amazement to both the boy and the garuda. Why? For Krulo's surprise, Harry had expanded it bigger than the original size and for Harry, the boat, though outwardly seemed to be normal, but once it was enlarged, he found that it was at least 2 meters long and almost a meter wide. There was a single pole right in the middle of the boat with a flag attached showing a symbol of horizontal number 8 – the symbol of infinity – and there seemed to be a round dais where the pole was. Harry was asked to step into the boat and stood on the dais. Slowly the small stage lowered down and the boy found himself in a small bedchamber. A kitchenette in a corner of the square room and a door led to the shower and restroom was on the wall on one side. The opposite wall of the door was a big wide screen showing the view the ocean and the beach where the boat was currently located. Harry found that he could simply move the view by simply touching the screen and moved his palm to the direction he wanted to see.

Krulo called Harry up, which the boy came up by stood at the dais in the middle of the room again and the stage moved up. The top of the pole slowly came up into view, Krulo saw a grinning boy jumping out of the boat. "Amazing," said Harry, "I was thinking how I could survive the great sea with such normal boat."

The guardian of Shimpli chuckled and called Harry to sit beside him. "We'll have to wait for the next boundary's guardian."

"Yeah," Harry muttered taking a seat. Then, something popped up in his mind. Looking at the garuda with wide eyes, Harry asked, "Are you alright to meet them? I understand that there's kind of rivalry between the garudas and the nagas."

"You're right, young Harry," replied Krulo, "however, it has become null and void as of last night."

The boy-who-lived turned to his companion confusedly. Knowing that it was not his place to ask, he just nodded. "Okay, then."

Krulo changed the topic and asked Harry about the outside world and in return answering Harry's questions about Himabhanta. Harry summoned drinks for both of them. Krulo tried the butter-beer and get a liking of it, Harry promised to send him some crates after he went back to England.

Two hours later, there was a huge wave heading to their position, however, it dissipated once the water hit the shore. Then, Harry saw a huge creature coming out of the water. Its serpentine body slithered just like a snake, but with more grace, if there was such difference. The naga stopped just in front of them and coiled itself. There was a glint of recognition in the eyes of the garuda, which followed by a grin on the bird-man's face.

"Long time no see, Naraj," said the guardian of Shimpli. Harry stood up and bowed gracefully, "Greeting, Honerable Naga, Holy goodness, may your days be prosperous and safe."

There was a hissing laugh and reply in the same phrase. Krulo muttered a 'tsk, tsk' showing disapproval. "Say it in a language I understand, will you? Damn snake and their own language."

Harry was about to inquire why the garuda could not understand what the naga just said, then it was down to him that he understood parceltongue. A normal wizard would freak out to find himself being able to understand the language, Harry was not. Those many months with Grandmother Morgana, a dark witch as she called herself, taught him that parseltongue was but a language. However, Harry stored this particular notation in the back of his mind to talk with his grandma later.

The coiling naga transformed into a man around thirty smiling widely, "you know full well that it's the only language I could utter while in my true form, Krulo." The speech was followed with a serpant-tongue to Harry, "and it annoys him so, young traveler."

"You did it again!" exclaimed the garuda.

"Oh, he just greeted me, Krulo," soothed Harry bringing surprised looks from both the garuda and naga.

"You understood me/him?" asked the guardians.

"Ah… um… yes," the boy said hesitantly.

"Wonderful!" shouted the naga, "I find you worthy to pass through my domain, young traveler."

"Huh?" Harry stared at the guardian of Ananda dumbly. The boy's dumbfounded face brought a fit of laughter from both guardians once again. "Just like that?" asked Harry unbelievingly, "I'm granted just because I understand the serpant-toungue?"

"Of course," replied Naraj, "well, not really. You see, young traveler, you have been granted the pass with the letter in your pocket there already. We're just doing this particular talk and inquiry just to make it official. However, there's a condition you'll have to fulfill."

The words caused a blanched look from the boy, while the garuda frowned.

"What condition, Naraj?" asked Krulo out of curiosity. True, it was not his place to ask. Each guardian could include more conditions into their inquiries, that was not unheard of, but the garuda was intrigued that there should be anything this young boy had to do. A look in the eyes of his long-time friend, though it had been almost 500 years since they met the last time, telling him that it was something very important.

"That I cannot say, my friend," replied the prince, "it had something to do with our… you know and it's the request of my father after all."

"Your father?" the garuda's frown deepened.

"Yes, my father. You know him, don't you? The 'One'?" Naraj said casually. Understanding the significant, Krulo let the matters dropped. So, Master Fane really did adopt him. Krulo thought.

Harry watched the two deities talked vaguely trying to follow their conversation. But since they seemed to stop talking and had some kind of distant looks in their eyes, he tried to gain their attentions by coughing quietly. "Umm… excuse me?"

"Oh! Right," exclaimed the naga. "Young traveler has to start this boat-ride lest he would not be across the sea by next week. By the way, young boy, I haven't got your name. You could have guessed by now that I'm Naraj of naga, guardian of Ananda."

Harry stammered his name flushing bright red of embarrassment. Being a younger one, he should not forget to introduce himself to the elder beforehand. After an apology, which Naraj waved off as unimportance, our young hero said farewell to the garuda who promptly flew away leaving him and the prince of naga on the shoreline.

Both were now inside the boat and Harry was asked to conjure 2 chairs, which Harry did it with a fluidly waving of his wands. Two fluffy chairs appeared brought an approving look on the face of Naraj.

"Your magical skill is very significant, Harry," said the naga. "Now, let's sit and I shall explain the condition, an additional task you have to do."

"So, this is really kind of a test," muttered Harry quietly, but the Prince of Badala heard him nonetheless.

"You've been told then, Harry? Though I doubt you really know how essential this one task is," Naraj said. "I can't tell you the detail other than giving you this off-track direction, Harry."

Harry retrieved a parchment showing the map of the sea, with some dot-lines showing the change of his sailing route. It was off to the right instead of going straight, which he would have to make a stop at a lone island.

"I hate to tell you this," Naraj continued, "but it is not a safe journey from now on. Problem is I can't be with you. I mean, I'd love to accompany you, but it's forbidden. You have to be on your own. While it's true that I'm the guardian of Ananda and the Prince of Badala, lording over the sea, I'm ashamed to say, there're still some rogue group of creatures in this vast area." Sadness showed in the older man's eyes with a glint of guilt.

"It's alright, sir," said Harry assuring. "I think I could manage. I might be young, but I do have something up in my sleeve."

"That's good to hear," said the naga smiling. "You're big boy then. Just one thing, Harry, I can't tell you how foolish I have been in the past causing the feud between my race and the garudas. But these 500 years worth punishment I just got released from teaches me that being arrogant and overconfident bring you nothing but harm and downfall. I'd love to rectify the past, but it just can't be done. Think before you act and always stick to the 'Good' cause. I understand you know the differences between light and dark, good and evil?"

Harry nodded getting another approving look from the naga. Naraj, then, proceeded to show Harry how to direct the boat from inside and outside of the cabin, some tips about using some particular spell to help boosting the speed and such. Along with those instructions, Harry got some tricks of how to deal with creatures that would come across his path.

"It's time you start your trip, Harry," said Naraj standing up. "I'll go out and sent your boat into water. Oh! I almost forgot, once you're on the island, there shall be someone meeting you there. The password is 'There's no greater good and road to hell is paved with good intentions'. Remember it well and say it in parseltoungue. Bon voyage!" With that, Naraj leapt out of the cabin with a wink.

-o0o-

Ending note: Here goes the third part of the quest. Harry's voyage has started. The next chapter might take awhile. The holidays are coming and I want to clear the mess of works on my table before taking a break from it. Next chapter; the quest part 4 – meeting at last!