"So what is he doing?" Snape asks as he and Corina watched Harry sitting crossed legged on the floor, Fawkes had snuck into Dumbledore's office and gotten the diary.
Corina rubbed her nose, "I'm not well versed in magic that isn't mind-magic, but I think he once called it a spell of Seeking. But let me check," her eyes had a dazed look, while she asked Dasher about it. "Yes, it's a Seeking spell."
"Interesting that is something I never heard of a tracking type spell?" Snape replied
"Yes." Corina answered
Harry's eyes snapped open, then his pale green eyes narrowed. "That is something, I have never come across."
"What happen did the spell fail?" Corina questioned
"Since our third year at the Collegium, none of my spells have failed, and it hasn't...its just strange, my seeking spell split in different directions." Harry answers
Snape's face paled as what Harry said sunk in "He didn't, he couldn't have, He's madder than I thought."
Harry stood up and dusted off his breeches, "Hide that." he headed for the door.
Snape walked in to his back room and returned a few minutes later. "Done."
"Harry, where are you going?" Corina asks
"Going to browbeat the truth out of that gray bearded fool." Harry answers over his shoulder.
The Herald-Mage walked down the corridor, heading toward McGonagall's office. Only she knew the password and Harry had been purposely avoiding anything to do with the Headmaster while he was here.
Harry knocked on her door "Enter and have a seat."
"I prefer to stand." Harry replied, his tone rang with authority.
"Oh Herald Harry, what can I do to help you." McGonagall asked.
"Need your assistance, as you are the only one that I know of that has the password to Dumbledore's office?" Harry replied
"I can do that but I thought you didn't want anything to do with him." McGonagall replies
"I still don't but I will shallow my feelings toward him to do what I was sent here for." Harry answers, "And I believe he has the answers to my questions."
McGonagall gave Harry the password and walked him to the office.
One the entrance sprang to life, Harry entered and stood on the top step.
:Chosen, are you sure about this?: Morgan questioned as she settled into Harry's mind
: Do you really want to remain celibate for more than a year or is Dasher looking more handsome as of right now?: Harry questions
:No, I can't think of Dasher that way.: Morgan replies, seeing her options in front of her. Which is none, to remain without the company of other stallions and her mare-friends or allow her Chosen to get the information so they can return home?
Harry grinned before knocking on Dumbledore's door.
"Ah, Herald Harry, so good of you to come please have a seat." Dumbledore greets
"Not so good to see you." Harry replied "And I would rather stand." He crossed his arms, and stared at the gray bearded wizard, who couldn't be more then Master class.
Very well, shall we get to the point? What can I do to help you?" Dumbledore questions
"Yes, you tell me, why it seems like your blood-path wizard is in five different places at once." Harry replied
Once more Harry saw a face paled at his words "He truly is mad to split his soul in to so many pieces." He looked over at the Herald a sad and disappointed look in him.
"He did what?" Harry and Morgan questioned but the Companion's voice as only heard by Harry.
"He created several Horcrux to give himself poor form immortality." Dumbledore replied
Harry kept his anger in check; he wasn't sure who was more angry Morgan or himself. "You saw the signs of his deranged mind and didn't nip this in the bud when he was a student?"
Professor Dumbledore stared blankly behind his half-moon spectacles "I am afraid to say that young Tom never confided in me, so I was not able to stop his dark thoughts or as time progressed his dark acts, he hid his actions behind a friendly face when he was a student."
:I say he needs to retire, seeing as he can't do his job properly.: Morgan commented
:Not my place, but I happen to agree.: Harry replied, before looking at Dumbledore, "I am not playing by your rules, if I was raised in this world, you wouldn't have told me the whole story and sent me out across the whole country blind."
While Harry was giving the Headmaster a good dressing-down, Corina left Snape's office and tried her best to look as if she were doing something, she was growing homesick, and she was doing a good job at hiding it and keeping a tight lock on her emotions. She was passing by the hall that served meals when she heard something that she didn't think they had here; music.
Corina slipped inside the hall and sat down on a bench, she was rather pleased to listen to the musical melody if she didn't recognize the lyrics, of course this group could never pass for true bards.
The group continued to sing their voices flowing though the notes with the occasional slip.
By the time, they were finished; Corina clapped in appreciation surprising a few that didn't notice the white clad woman sitting in the hall.
The professor saw Corina and gave a small bow "Thank you your applause it most welcomed."
Corina smiled, "Of course, I give credit where it is due." She looked at enchanted instruments; her eyes lighted on one, she was most familiar seeing.
Flitwick saw where Corina's eyes roamed "Do you play as well?"
"A little, but I am nowhere near as good as trained bard or Uncle Dirk and Aunt Talia." Corina answers, "They taught me to play and sing, hoping I would have gotten some talent from my late and lamented Uncle Kris."
"Well feel free to join us even the other professors join from time to time."
Corina went over to where the harp was and sat down, she closed her eyes, and her fingers began move over the strings. She played for a few minutes just letting the notes flow over her fingers to the harp.
She finished playing, and looked up. "That is just some of some that that doesn't involve singing that I know right off my head."
"Corina, I was wondering; if you could play for us during dinner tonight?" Flitwick questions
Corina stared in shock, but then politely nods. "I would like too," she then grinned ruefully "Tired of hearing the same old songs?"
The choir students just chuckled as Flitwick blushed at her words.
Corina thought about what songs she could sing that she knew, and she couldn't think of a single one.
: What about the song called Magic's Price? That should waken some of these youngsters up.: Dasher suggests
: True, and it's a song about Harry's adoptive ancestor as well.: Corina replied :Yes, fitting and most of these younglings need it:
Flitwick coughed slightly to gain Corina's attention, as he wasn't used to the far off look that others were seeing when the Heralds were conversing with their Companions.
"Pardon, I know of one song that fits right now, but I wish to leave a surprise for now." Corina apologized
"Well I'm sure everyone well love it" Flitwick replied
Corina then excused herself and left heading for the female's restrooms to attend a call of nature.
Harry was confused to see a harp waiting in the corner of the great hall that evening when he came in for dinner that night; Corina was tight lipped as to the goings on for dinner.
Professor Dumbledore stood up, "I am given to understand that Herald Corina has graciously agreed to perform a song from her and Herald Harry's homeland this evening, so after you finish eating, please remain seated."
A murmur passed through the students and Harry gave his lifemate a raised eyebrow look.
Corina just grinned at him, and then shook her head a little; she wasn't saying a word until after she was done.
Corina stood up and took her place on the stool next to the harp, she began playing as the first notes left; the students fell silent. She began to sing.
"Every year Companions Choose, as they have done before,
The Chosen come with shining hopes to learn the Herald's lore.
And every year the Heralds sigh, and give the same advice-
"All those who would hold Magic's Power must then pay Magic's Price."
Oh there was danger in the North-That's all that Vanyel knew.
An enemy of power dark sought Heralds out-then slew.
But only those with Magic's Gift were slain by silent rage-
Till Vanyel of them all was left the only Herald-Mage.
Yes, from the North the danger came, beyond the Border far-
The Forest did not stay Dark Death, nor did the mountains bar.
And Vanyel cried-"we die, my liege, and know not why nor where!
So send me North my King, that I may find the answers there!"
Then North went Vanyel -not alone, though 'twas of little aid
A Bard was like to be to him; and Stefen was afraid-
He feared that he would fail the quest, a burden prove to be-
Dared not let Vanyel go alone to face dark sorcery.
So out beyond the Border there, beyond the forest tall,
Into the mountains deep they went that stood an icy wall-
To find the wall had cracked and found there was a passage new,
A path clean cut that winding ran a level course and true.
This path was wrought by mage craft; Vanyel knew that when he saw
The mountains hewn by power alone, a power he felt with awe-
But to what purpose? Something moved beyond them on the trail;
They watched and hid-and what they found there turned them cold and pale.
An army moved in single file, by magic cloaked and hid-
An army moved on Valdemar that marched as they were bid-
A darker force than weaponry controlled the men and place,
For Vanyel looked-and Vanyel knew an ancient evil's face.
Then Vanyel turned to Stefen, and he told the Bard to ride
To warn the folk of Valdemar-"They call me 'Magic's Pride.'
It's time I earned the name-now go! I'll hold this army back.
Until the arms of Valdemar can counter their attack."
So Stefen rode, and so it is no living tongue can tell
How Vanyel fought, nor what he wrought, nor how the Herald fell.
The Army came-but not in time to save the Herald-Mage,
Although the pass was scorched and cracked by magic power's rage.
They fought the Dark Ones back although they came on wave by wave.
No trace they found of Vanyel, nor of his Companion brave-
They only found the focus-stone, the gift of Stefen's hand-
Now blackened, burned, and shattered by the power that saved their land.
They only found the foemen who into the woods had fled
And each one by unseen, uncanny powers now lay dead.
As if the Forest had somehow bestirred itself that day-
Had Vanyel with his dying breath commanded trees to slay?
And still the forest of the North guards Valdemar from harm-
For Vanyel's dying curse is stronger far than mortal arm.
And every year the Chosen come, despite the old advice-
"All those who would be Magic's Pride must then pay Magic's Price."
DarkPriestess66: I do not own the song Magic's Price that is Mercedes Lackey's.