Hey everyone,
Here's another chapter and I have a little confession to make. A new Era is a story that has and loses my interest as the times comes and goes. So some chapters might not be as great as others, but I will continue this until I feel I can close it off with pride, which probably won't be for a while, but still.
Also, I have plans for Harry and the whole Royal Heir thing, but for that you have to wait. It might be that these plans come up in Keyblade's Light first – as Harry is Heir to Arthur in both stories – but I first need to discuss with Nate the Lycan whether or not we want to implant these ideas in that story as well as this one.
Either way, Neville's outburst is pretty much the whole reason for me getting this idea – together with the little thing Hermione came up with in the last chapter of Keyblade's Light – so there is at least a guarantee that before the end of the story, you loyal readers will know what kind of plans I plan to bring to this here story.
Okay, enough hint-hint,
Enjoy the chapter,
Venquine1990
Chapter 13
A Personal Set Of Rooms
Harry's POV
The whole thing that happened in the Great Hall still bugs me, but also makes me feel proud of myself and happy about Destiny's choices for my Mates. It's obvious all of them have grown to care for me in the very little amount of time we have gotten to know each other and while I wonder about some of them, does one other thing bug me.
"Who are you people anyway? I know you're my mates, but none of you have told me your names yet." I suddenly tell all of them, while they walk either in front or behind me and the whole group, bar Aerith and Lea get guilty looks on their faces, while Lord Gryffindor seems to chuckle at the sight itself.
Then the three that had, before, kept my friends back while Aerith and Lea helped me, turn to me and the woman, who has ocean blue hair and beautiful eyes, says: "I'm Aqua, these are Terra and Ventus." And I can instantly see how the two got their names as Terra has a true body-builder figure, where Ventus is lean and small like me.
Smiling at the three, do I see the blonde man that helped them step forward and he says: "My name is Even, my greatest apologies for forgetting such important manners to you, our united mate." And while the title makes me blush a little, do I feel amazed and touched by his words and his fluid, intelligent way of speech.
I then look at the last of my mates who has yet to introduce himself and the elder teen seems a little shy, which I believe is because he feels ashamed of not introducing himself earlier, but then he sweeps his bangs back in place over his eye and says: "I am Ienzo and while my powers are so, is our bond no illusion, sweet prince."
This makes everyone smile, while I can't help but cringe and blush at the same time at hearing yet another compliment and Sirius asks: "Can we keep the courting to somewhere more private, please?" But while the group glares at him at first, does a single glare from me make them look ashamed and does Lea whisper:
"We really need to forget about that tale we were told last night." But while he looks away while saying it, do I retort: "Or we move to the private quarters and Sirius and I tell you what really happened." The man smiles at me and nods and with Merlin and Lord Gryffindor in the lead, do we move on.
Sirius' POV
"Those six might be meant for him, I don't think they'll ever get there if they don't start trusting his judgment." Goes through my mind while I watch how those mates of my godson first glare at me and then get reprimanded by a return glare from their own mate, before Harry suggest we tell them the truth and we all move on.
I personally think I know where Lord Gryffindor and Merlin are taking us and while I feel amazed that Gryffindor still knows Hogwarts so incredibly well after a millennium, do I then remember that the man has also been in this school as an actual cat for the last three, something that finally brings some sense to a little something I worried about.
As a Dog Animagus had I always had trouble being around McGonagall, especially when she would bring the subject of Animagus' or their forms up in any kind of conversation, so the fact that Crookshanks became friendly with me and that I never had trouble with him had bothered me since our first meeting.
"On the other hand, is Gryffindor just an Animagus, just like McGonagall, so that still doesn't really explain the ease of our bond and the missing enmity between our two forms." Goes through my mind while I look at the man and I make sure to remind myself that I need to speak with the Lord of the Lion House at a later time.
Harry's POV
We arrive at two portraits, both of who are in the exact midst between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tower and when I see the maiden in one and the many knights in the other, do I ask: "Are you the portraits guarding the rooms of myself, my godfather and my mates?" And the Maiden smiles, while one of the knights says:
"That is indeed correct. However, I refuse to answer to such a vial and cruel monster, which is the man beside you. He shall not pass through my portrait." This makes me glare at the man in the portrait and I spat in return: "Then I guess it's a good thing that you're guarding the dorms for my mates, not my godfather, who has royal protection."
The knight whitens at hearing the end of this and with just a small tap of my shoulder, does Excalibur show itself again, the hilt shining due to the sun coming from a window in the south-eastern corner. Instantly all other knights in the portrait shine at the one with the blabbermouth and the maiden asks me with a curtsey:
"What is your password, my King?" And while some of the knights start vocally harassing the loudmouth knight, do two others turn to me, the same question visible in their eyes and I look from the maiden to my godfather, thinking: "I need a password that Sirius will understand in a second and that only those that know him will guess."
Then an idea pops up and I say: "Bonds of Pranks." The Maiden curtseys again and I answer the knights: "Royal Crowns." Believing my mates to have equal rights to the throne as I, even if only one is to represent my line as Heir to King Arthur. The two knights bow and the maiden is the first to open up her portrait.
The two knights then seem to bring peace between the loudmouth and the other knights and when all five hear that a password has been given, does their portrait open as well. I then turn to my mates and they all nod as Lea says: "We'll check our rooms. Meet in your common room once the dorms have been checked?"
I nod and we all separate, Gryffindor and Merlin bowing to me before Merlin says that he and Lord Gryffindor will return to their own rooms, my mates moving through the portrait of the knights, where the four from before are again talking down on the loudmouth and Sirius guiding me through the portrait hole of the maiden.
Once inside, I feel amazed as this place is everything I always wanted out of Gryffindor, while at the same time making me feel as if I just entered the Gryffindor common room. The banners are there, even if they are still without any symbol, the red and yellow have turned darker and all in all does the room look cozy and warm.
Standing where I am, I turn on my axe, recognizing the four person table with four wooden seats near the large ornate window where Gryffindors used to do their homework or play chess, the fireplace with two cozy arm chairs and a large three-person couch and the half-moon shaped staircase to the dorms upstairs.
"Still feels as if something's different, doesn't it?" Sirius then asks me and I ask: "Other than the darker, cozier colors and the banners without symbols, you mean?" And Sirius says: "Exactly. What is it that is so different about this – wait, you're on the other side of the room." He suddenly says and I ask him shocked:
"Yeah, so?" And he answers: "Well, usually when someone speaks from the other side of the room, I hear – the portraits!" The man shouts and he says: "There are no portraits here! That's what's different. There are no blabbermouth portraits here that spread whatever rumor they can find into the Hogwarts Grapevine."
And only then do I realize that beside the warm colors and the brown-reddish banners, there really is nothing adorning the walls, not even any empty frames to put new portraits in. Feeling shocked, I almost feel left alone without all those eyes constantly staring at me as I speak with my friends and discuss our and school wide problems.
"This room is amazing. Man, I wish we had these rooms when James and I were still in school. The amount of pranks we could have pulled without those nasty buggers ratting us out because it went against one of their morals. It would have been paradise!" Sirius laughs as he twirls around on his axe in the center of the room.
This makes me shake my head with a smile, while I've learned this year that not all of Sirius' pranks were really all that funny, can I not help but wonder how this childish man can help me settle down with all those mates who are currently checking out their own rooms, the door to their common room just to the left behind me.
Looking at the door, do I wonder if – because this room seems to have adapted to our love for Gryffindor – their rooms will also adapt themselves and if so, how big the differences between them will be as each of them – or at least five of them – are supposed to come and represent the five lines I descend from.
Lea's POV
I absolutely love the chambers given to us and especially my own. The red is not too hot and pressing down and still not to soft and girly and makes me feel as if I just walked into a room with a warm, everlasting fire, burning gently in the hearth, while the hearth itself feels to have surrounded me from all the walls.
The bed is both big enough I can spread my arms and legs all the way wide without reaching the edges and that, if I were to have a bed partner, we could comfortably snuggle up to each other as we fall asleep, something I definitely plan on doing once my little flame and I have grown a little bit closer to each other.
The desk against the other wall is situated under a circular wall of about two feet in diameter, with the ornate glass allowing just enough light through that the walls of the room look warm and comforting, yet not enough that – if I were to sit at the desk for any job at all – the sun would constantly shine into and hurt my eyes.
There are two large floor to ceiling windows on each side of my bed, both with dark Bordeaux red curtains that are obviously meant not to let a single ounce of light through once closed and there is an extra door in the right wall that, upon opening it, opens up to an amazing bathroom with shower for one and bath for two.
Imagining the way Harry and I can wake up here and then go and take a relaxing bath together or, after dinner, have a relaxing bath to help our stomachs settle from a large meal before diving into bed together, completely filled and relaxed from our night together, do I quickly leave the room, not wanting to get ahead of myself.
I then take another gander through the room and think: "This is downright amazing." And smile as I can really see myself settle here, something I had been fearing to do as I had – kind of – wanted to meet Harry and then take him to Radiant Garden once I heard that he had a murderous godfather and a maniac out for his life.
I then shake my head and walk out of my rooms, only to see Terra and Even do the same, both of them with determined faces and Even says: "It would seem that all three of us came to the same decision, did we not?" And Terra and I nod at him before he nods back and we all head over to the portrait of the knights.
Not being able to see them, I know they are still listening and say: "Listen, once all eight of us have settled here and once Harry has settled in both rooms, do I want you to constantly make sure you have Harry's permission or one of ours before you let anyone into our rooms. Can I count on your loyalty for this task?"
And all eight knights shout: "For our King, we shall not fail you!" And I know that they figured out that Harry is the King, which makes me smirk as Even says: "It seems even the portraits here are loyal to both this ancient King of Legends as well as his legacy. We must certainly remember to use this to our advantage whenever possible."
I nod at the man, knowing he has lost nothing of the intelligence that he was known for as either himself or his devious Nobody. Then suddenly do I remember something and hesitate as I say: "Eh – Even." But the man seems already able to read my thoughts as he waves me away while turning around and says:
"Lea, if your Nobody had not destroyed mine, then who is to say if Sora and the others would have succeeded their journey against Organization XIII, or even if Sora would have defeated Master Xehanort. I thank you for not letting either me or my Nobody worry about those things, so don't worry about Axel's actions regarding Vexen."
And with that I smile at the man as he takes a seat at the hearth stationed in the common room, his legs easily twisting themselves on top of a warm brown foot cushion standing near the seat he is in and Terra sends me a curious look, to which I respond with one that says: "Later." Before we both take our own seats.
Aerith's POV
This room is amazing. The walls are a soft, forest green with hints of different shades of green here and there, making me feel as if I'm in the middle of a clearing surrounded by woods, while the floor itself is made of self-heated stone, making sure I remember I'm in a room without running the chance of getting cold feet.
My bed is absolutely amazing and while it's quite a simple bed, made of soft linen and other, thick fabrics, are all the materials light as feathers and so easy to move, I know I'll be able to roll from one side of the bed to the other without getting strangled by my blanket or something, which used to happen in Radiant Garden.
I have at least three windows in almost every wall and even in the walls that I know connect my room to the others, do I see the outside, which makes me absolutely amazed with the magic of this castle and makes me wonder if Merlin, Gryffindor or someone else created the magic that now makes me able to see the lake and forest.
There is also a door on the right in the back wall, while the door from my own room to the common room is in the middle of this wall and when I pass the door, do I see two baths, one made completely out of the darkest of wood and with some holes and lines between the wooden planks, which in return are filled with soft herbs.
The other is made of soft brown stone and is large enough, I can already see Harry and me lying in it, me lying on Harry's chest as he massages all kinds of my favorite herbs into my hair, or me lying under him, while he leans against my chest and tells me of what he's been through the day, while I softly hum as I read my favorite book.
Feeling as if I can completely be at peace with myself in this room, do I finally feel calmed down, which has been harder and harder for me since I heard that terrible tale of Salazar Slytherin and what the people in this world believed of him and I think: "I can really grow to be a contribution to the bond in these rooms."
And with a happy smile do I walk out of the bathroom, making sure to pluck a rose from the vase I had actually seen standing on a small side table near the door and then seating myself in one of the verandas of the windows, opening the window just a tad and making me feel the wind in my face as I look out over the forest.
Daphne's POV
"Now this is the kind of room I wanted." I think with a self-satisfied smile as I look around. Dark purple walls, the kind that makes you think of blueberry jam, a steel iron set of closets placed against the left side wall with beautiful dark oak set into the iron, a bed made for a Lady with dark blue draping and black curtains.
The room might look dark and spooky, to me it breaths the warmth of a mother's hug as my mother always wears either purple, dark blue, brown or some dark iron color and she was not above hugging me whenever we were somewhere private, whether this be at home in my room or somewhere at the ladies room of a High Tea.
Hoping mother will be pleased with my rooms and with the fact that I have finally caught the man of my dreams, do I personally feel relieved as Professor Snape completely overwhelmed Slytherin House last night with the announcement of my engagement and the announcement of a new King having been born.
This, I know, made the Slytherins behave so neutral at breakfast this morning and while I know I can still rely on Blaise and Draco, as Draco seems to have accepted the new King and because Blaise and I have been friends since we were four, do I fear for the older Slytherins, especially for Seventh year Burk Bernhard.
Bernhard has been hinting at people that my ice-cold exterior is only some kind of ruse, yet the reason behind it makes me blush in embarrassment every time I hear the foul Snake speak it to those old enough to say it, meaning mostly the elder Fourth years, my own year mates, the Sixth and Seventh years of Slytherin House.
That the Snake is spreading word that I'm a slut and hiding it with my ice-cold mask isn't really what bothers me, though, it's the reason why that does, something Bernhard did the first time I confronted him about it. "Those without guilt always love the thrill of clearing their name – and Greengrasses have the longest breath, they say."
The boy had said and I had asked: "So what?" And the Slytherin had leered at me, actually making a shudder run down my spine, before he had shocked me and said: "Well, you have a long breath, let's see how big that mouth of yours is. Big enough to fit mini-me, perhaps?" I had furiously turned and walked away from him after this.
However the anger had been a fake and I have no doubt Bernhard knows this. Shuddering at the memory, do I decide to come clean, especially to either Harry or one of the other mates that my partner has that can, hopefully defend me, when I open my door and see Terra, Even and Lea all at the door to the Grand Staircase.
Wondering where they could be going, do I hear the Knights shout: "For our King, we shall not fail you!" And realize that the three have just ensured our safety and privacy from the rest of the school while in these dorms, something that makes me think: "No more Bernhard trying to intercept my route to my dorms."
And with that do I turn around, close the door and lie myself on my bed, feeling the warmth of the colors of my room surrounding and embracing me and somehow feeling them unite with the fact that Lea, Terra and Even just – unknowingly– protected me from losing my virginity to a right-out pervert, which makes me cry in relief.
Okay, that's where I end it.
I wanted to go on and write about the rooms of the others, but that would make me have to write about ALL the rooms and I had nothing regarding how Terra and Even would have experienced the whole thing with the Knights and their oath not to let anyone in, not to mention reading about eight different rooms would bore even a librarian.
So instead of that, did I chose three of Harry's eight mates, who I think are just about different enough that their rooms will give me a chance to really give them a personality and, on the same time, offer you readers some variety. Next chapter will be about Neville entering Harry's rooms and a hint to the little plan I had.
Anyway, enjoy,
Venquine1990
