A/N: Okay so the timeframe jumps around a bit for now, but it should be pretty clear what's happening when.
Just so we're clear Ari's body is in Hogwarts but still in feudal time.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Sesshoumaru stared angrily at Naraku, his hand twitching in the urge to kill he watched as Naraku forced Ari to drink the sedative. He called out her name as he saw her eyes go fuzzy, panic enveloping his body, Ari collapsed inside the barrier. He raised his sword again to attack at Naraku's barrier desperate to get to his mate-to-be but Naraku exploded inside it. The barrier vanished and Naraku was quick to bid a hasty retreat and Sesshoumaru moved fast to Ari's side. Sesshoumaru was oblivious to Inuyasha's arrival and his questions about the dead priestess, what Sesshoumaru did notice was the miko Kagome tired to get close to his witch. He growled threateningly at her and she stepped away instantly before bowing low to the ground he watched her through narrowed eyes.
"Please Sesshoumaru, she is my friend and my family." Kagome said. Sesshoumaru stopped growling and gave a nod in response to her request however before Kagome could approach both her and Sesshoumaru were flung away by a powerful burst of wild magic. When the magic subsided Ari was nowhere to be seen and Sesshoumaru howled in rage when he realised her scent had disappeared completely.
"Hey look at this." The Taijiya said, Sesshoumaru couldn't remember her name but he didn't care right now. He looked over at what had caught his attention was Ari's sword which had impaled itself in a large rock. He watched as the Taijiya unsuccessfully tried to dislodge the sword in fact everyone in the group was unsuccessful in trying to pull the sword out. Sesshoumaru approached the sword slowly he wrapped his hand around the hilt and pulled, it slid easily out of the stone and hummed in response. The sword glowed white and Sesshoumaru just knew it would take him to where Ari had gone.
"Miko, you will find Rin on the other side of this place. You will find her and look after her. If I find she has been harmed whilst under your care this one will kill you." Sesshoumaru growled out as he allowed the sword to guide him.
"Bring her back Sesshoumaru." Kagome whispered and Sesshoumaru turned to look her in the eyes.
"This one would do no less." Then he was off flying into the air the sword humming just as eager to return to its master as Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru quickly realised that Ari was no longer in Japan as he saw the ocean beneath him and wondered where his mate-to-be had gone and what had happened to her. Mate, danger. Sesshoumaru shook his head, it would not be wise now to allow his beast to take over. Failed mate. No! He hadn't failed, he couldn't help it. She had been trapped in Naraku's barrier he couldn't do nothing. Fought harder. Yes he should have fought harder but all he could do now was find her and hope she wouldn't reject him. Unworthy? No! He would never be unworthy he would find her and he would keep her by his side. But what if she did reject him? What if she found him unworthy?
What if he was left alone?
If she found him unworthy then he would remain by her side as a friend for he could not bear the thought of not seeing her again. He would remain by her side even if she found another to give her love to, found another to have her pups with. His heart clenched at that thought, seeing Ari in the arms of another man, her stomach swollen with a child that wasn't his. NO! He banished the thought from his mind he would not give in just yet. He would see her with his pups and he planned on having lots of them with her, how could he not? After all any pup they created would be just as beautiful as their mother. Yes, when he found her he would bring her back to the Western Palace and claim her as his and he would not leave his chambers until she was carrying his heir. He would not give up his hold on her that easily he growled possessively she would be his mate.
Sesshoumaru briefly stopped in many places along the way, if he hadn't been so bent on finding Ari he would have explored them but he would not be deterred from his goal. Upon his arrival in Scotland he found himself looking at some old ruins of a castle, frowning he glanced down at the sword in his hand.
"Are you sure this is the place?" He asked the sword which pulsed in his hand before flying out of his hand and into a slightly raised platform on the ground, it glowed briefly before turning clockwise by a half. Walking over to the platform he found there was an embellishment of a crest one it, it held four animals. A lion, a snake, a badger and an eagle, they were separated into their own blocks and in the middle was a giant H. Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to the ruins, only to see that they had remained just that, ruins. Growling he raised his hand and reached out and immediately pulled back with a hiss, there was a very powerful magic barrier around this area. Sesshoumaru smirked; he had found it then Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now how to get in was the next issue he needed to solve.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, Son of the Inu-no-Taisho." Said a man who had appeared from the barrier, his figure was blurry as if he wasn't real and the colour was distorted. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, this apparition was not from the living realm. "I am Godric Gryffindor and you are looking for my heir are you not?"
"Where is she?" Sesshoumaru growled out.
"She is safe inside the castle, recuperating but you find out more about what happened if you pass our tests. You will be put through four challenges by each of the four founders; these tests will be based on what each individual founder values the most. For example I value bravery, chivalry, nerve and courage."
"Very well I accept your challenges." Sesshoumaru said with narrowed eyes.
"Excellent, for my test you will be fighting someone of great standing."
"This Sesshoumaru will defeat anyone you send at me."
"I see, well then step forward Inu-no-Taisho and greet your son."
"How are you my son?" Sesshoumaru froze as he saw his father emerge from the barrier, his figure unlike Gryffindor's was solid. "I have had the honour of being named your intended's guardian where she is right now. I must say she is a rather delectable creature is she not?"
"You will keep away from her." Sesshoumaru snarled as he unsheathed Tokijin and lunged at his father who easily dodged the attack.
"She has these rather unusual green eyes, I have found myself gazing into them more often than not." Toga goaded watching has his son's eyes bled red. "Not to mention that smile of hers."
Sesshoumaru knew what smile his father was talking about, it was a smile that swept you off you feet. It lit up her whole face and her eyes sparkled with happiness it was a look Sesshoumaru only ever wanted her to use with him and he felt infinitely jealous that his father had seen it too. His hand clenched around Tokijin as he forced his youki into it and unleashed it at his father who blocked it with So'unga. They both rushed at each other and once they met their sword clashed but Toga was victorious in the battle of strength.
"We both know that I am stronger than you Sesshoumaru. Give up before I am forced to kill you." Toga said harshly as he attacked and Sesshoumaru growled as he was quickly becoming overwhelmed.
"To give means to abandon Ari and will not abandon her. She is my mate!" Sesshoumaru exclaimed and putting all his effort into his swing he managed to knock So'unga away from his father. He then levelled the sword with his father's throat and growled warningly.
A loud clapping startled Sesshoumaru briefly before the voice of Gryffindor broke through his senses. "Well done, you have passed my test. You have shown that even outmatched you will be brave and courageous. You may enter the grounds but be warned you shall meet my fellow founders along the way."
"Good luck Sesshoumaru. She will make a fine mate, I am proud of you my son never forget that." Toga said smiling brightly as he disappeared along with Gryffindor.
Sesshoumaru moved forward, grabbing the sword of Gryffindor he moved inside the barrier and stared at the beautiful castle in front of him. No wonder Ari had a tone of awe when she spoke about this school, it looked somewhat intimidating with its spiralling tall towers and dark stone. He continued on his walk up to the school only to be blocked by a figure he knew all too well.
"Mother." Sesshoumaru said coldly.
"My son, I thought I had raised you better than this." His mother said with a slight sneer.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"To go foolishly around the world and all for some halfbreed human witch." The disgust was clear in his mother's voice.
"You will cease your insults bitch." Sesshoumaru sneered.
"You will taint the nobility of our line if you mate with her." His mother spoke calmly.
"I will do no such thing my union with Ari will create hanyou's yes but they will be powerful, very powerful nigh unstoppable. I do not see how that is a weakness to our line."
"Perhaps you are more like your father after all."
"Father disgraced you and I by marrying a weak, mortal princess. Ari is neither of those things she is powerful, the master of Death and has the potential to be a Queen." Sesshoumaru stated his tone taking on a prideful edge.
The vision of his mother disappeared to be replaced by a man with thin wire like hair. "It seems you have somehow managed to pass my test. You have proved your ambition for power is unmatched and are so filled with pride for the half-breed I can't help but find it disgusting. I am Salazar Slytherin and I value ambition, cunning, leadership and resourcefulness."
Sesshoumaru was once again waved on, this time however he was allowed to enter the castle itself. The doors shut solidly behind him and he looked around him in awe at the display of magic and craftsmanship. The stone statues bowed to him as he passed and he couldn't help but wonder at the marvel of magic, he was stopped once again at the entrance to the Grand Staircase only this time it wasn't by a barrier. It was a creature like none he had ever seen; it had the body of lion and the wings of a great bird and the head of woman. This creature was a sphinx.
"You will solve my riddles dog but you should know that if you get them wrong I will devour your soul." It said sinisterly.
"This one will solve your riddles." Sesshoumaru said confidently.
"Lives without a body,
Hears without ears,
Speaks without a mouth,
To which the air alone gives birth.
What is it?"
Sesshoumaru thought about it briefly before answering "It is an echo."
"You saw me where I never was and where I could not be.
And yet within that very place my face you often see.
What am I?"
Sesshoumaru frowned, how could you see something in a place that never existed? Unless it was like the spirit realm which has no solid form, or maybe... the answer much simpler than that. Sesshoumaru caught his face in the shiny surface of a suit of armour and spoke the answer quietly. "A reflection."
"It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter."
Sesshoumaru froze how can something not be smelt? Everything has a smell. He didn't know the answer after everything he had gone through the get here he couldn't answer a stupid riddle. He can't fail now, he has to make it to Ari, his beautiful little witch was counting on him.
"I hope will enjoy the eternal darkness your soul will enter once I devour it." The sphinx said slowly advancing on the Daiyoukai. A predatory grin crossed the creatures features as he made to pounce but Sesshoumaru just smirked and raised Gryffindor's sword and as the creature lunged at him he said.
"The answer is dark you foul being." Using the sword he cut the creature in half and it turned to dust and blew away on the non-existent wind.
"Well done," A wise female voice said from the top of the first flight of stairs and as she descended Sesshoumaru saw she would have been very beautiful when she was alive. "I am Rowena Ravenclaw and I value intelligence, creativity, learning and wit. By solving my riddles under pressure you have shown me that you are a wise creature so you may continue forth. I recommend you continue up to seventh floor and do be careful the staircase likes to change."
She disappeared and Sesshoumaru continued on taking Ravenclaws recommendation he jumped up to the seventh floor disregarding the moving staircases completely. He arrived on the seventh floor and slowly progressed down the corridor wondering what strange thing would happen next. He was beginning to think that this was some whimsical dream of his and that he would wake up and find Ari still asleep in his arms. He smiled at the thought of having her in his arms again to be able to be surrounded by her wonderful calming scent.
"Isn't that a handsome smile?" Said a woman who was standing at the end of the corridor. Sesshoumaru immediately recognised the green eyes, they were the same as Ari's and he knew instantly that this was her mother and that his final test was probably going to be the hardest.
"Lady Potter." Sesshoumaru said bowing.
"Oh my you sure know how to get on a woman's good side." Lily said with a soft smile. "I am Lily Potter but my future son in law can call me Lily."
"He can call you Lady Potter." A male stepped and joined Lily and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"James!" Lily hissed. "Forgive my husband Sesshoumaru, he has not yet gotten over the fact that his little girl is all grown up."
"This one understands," Sesshoumaru said. "What is to be my last test?"
"Ravenclaw gave you your last test," Lily said softly but Sesshoumaru was confused, there were four founders weren't there? So when did he complete the last founders test? Lily spoke again. "Your challenges started back in Japan honey."
"Who do you think put the sword in the stone?" James asked sarcastically.
"Helga Hufflepuff values hard work, patience, justice and loyalty. You passed her test when you pulled out that sword and you travelled all the way here not knowing what you would face all for my little girl. You have proven you are hard working and loyal and now as a reward my husband and I will lead you to my daughter and tell what is happening to her."
"But first I'm going to lay down the ground rules..."
"Shut up James!" Lily said.
"Okay." James said inching away from his angry wife and Sesshoumaru found this display amusing and saw clearly where Ari got her dominance from.
"Come Sesshoumaru," Lily said motioning with her arm for him to follow her as James grumbled behind them. "My daughter's body is in the safest place possible right now being guarded by the founders and by Death himself. She is in a room called the room of requirement and this room is a special magical room that one can't enter unless they know where it is. The room also changes to fit the desire of the person wishing to use it, for example should one need to find some information the room would appear as a library. However because of Arianna's presence in the room it is no longer accessible to those who know of its location. Hogwarts is the safest place for Ari."
"She is safe with me." Sesshoumaru said quietly.
"Yeah, well if that were true we wouldn't be in this situation now." James said angrily as Sesshoumaru visibly jerked.
"James Potter if you do not shut your mouth I will shut it for you." Lily hissed and James paled. "Now Sesshoumaru do not blame yourself for what happened. It had to happen for Ari to become what she was always meant to become."
"And what is that?" Sesshoumaru inquired.
"I will get to that when I tell what is happening to her but first I believe you wished to see her did you not?" Lily asked with a knowing glint and she stepped to the side revealing a door which slowly opened. Sesshoumaru froze when he entered the room for lying on a raised altar was Ari, she was wearing a long flowing green dress and upon her head was circlet with an emerald in the middle. She looked beautiful, stunning, ethereal, she looked like a Queen, his Queen. "Place the sword on the altar with her."
Sesshoumaru did as he was told and when he placed the sword on the alter it changed and became a much more beautiful sword. Sesshoumaru did not care for the changes in her sword as he sat by her still body, he reached out a hand and gently caressed her face before taking her hand his and bringing it to his own face he gently kissed it and held her hand against his cheek.
"I believe I owe you a story," Lily said gently almost crying at the touching scene in front of her and at the love this youkai clearly felt for her daughter. "Well you see the sedative Naraku gave Ari had some adverse affects on her body so to prevent her soul from being damaged her magic cast it out of her body and into the spirit realm. Of course nothing ever goes plan when my daughter is involved and she ended up in the dream realm, a nasty place where they imprison wondering souls, so your father rescued Ari and took her to the Spirit house where they house the spirits of the living when something like this happens. We naturally took advantage of that and saw our daughter and Ari and I spoke of you, she cares a great deal for you Sesshoumaru and she never does anything half way it's all or nothing with my daughter."
"After we had left her she travelled with your father." Sesshoumaru growled at that. "Don't growl he is her guardian now so live with it. Anyway he took her to Avalon, a place that becomes a final resting place to those who truly deserve it, a place that James and myself will travel to once we have finished our duty here. Ari met with the Lady of the Lake who gave her a challenge to retrieve the sword from the waters, Ari was given two options, to swim or to use a boat but she chose the harder of the two options and swam out to retrieve the sword and so she passed by proving she was willing to work hard to get what she wanted. The sword then transformed into the state it is in now allowing her access into the Gates of Avalon and it is there that she will train in the old way of magick and master the sword. The sword itself is legendary, it is known as Excalibur and was forged in Avalon by the old dragons and a powerful sorcerer blacksmith and many people wished to claim Excalibur's power but they were unworthy and the sword was given to the Lady of the Lake to protect it. When the one who worthy stepped forward and claimed it he did many great things with the sword at his side and his story became one of the most famous myths in modern times. He was King Arthur the ruler of England the land Ari was born in, and it is King Arthur that will train Ari to master Excalibur."
"Will Ari's soul return once she has accomplished this?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Yes but do you know why she is fighting so hard?" Lily responded.
"This one does not."
"She is doing it for you, she wishes to prove herself to you." Lily said fondly.
"She does not need to prove anything to this Sesshoumaru." Lily just smiled in response to that.
"When she returns she will not be the same girl that left for she will have taken her rightful place and started down the path of her true destiny." Lily told the Daiyoukai who's eyes hadn't moved from Arianna's body.
"What is her rightful place?" Sesshoumaru wondered.
"You mean besides you?" Lily said with a laugh that reminded Sesshoumaru of Ari's. "She will have taken her rightful place as Queen of Avalon."
A/N: I feel like it should have the music that goes dun dun duh at the end of this chapter. So the plot thickens.
Sesshy found Ari, did you like my challenges?
Please review