The Pillars Of Ophelia

Chapter 1:

"'Erry, go down to the stream and fill these buckets up will you." The half giant thrusted the two buckets into Harry's open arms. Harry obeyed the request and with a quick pivot found himself walking towards the forest from the hut he called home.

Harry lived with the man who saved him from death many years ago. Potter, one of the oldest and wealthiest families in all of England had been all wiped out sans Harry years ago, 15 to be precise. The official order was for the Potters to be brought before the king to stand for a private trial. That was the official story behind the "execution" however it soon became a popular rumor that the king ordered them to be killed without a trial.

This rumor was soon confirmed a few years later when one of the executioners spoke out against the king and confirmed the rumors of the Potters demise. He, like the Potters, too faced death. Lord Riddle soon became very unpopular among common-folk, even other kings across the lands; nothing could be done to challenge his position as King of Ophelia since he was named king by his predecessor Salazar; he will remain there till his death or he names a new king.

Harry kneeled at the edge of the small dock to allow the water to fill the two buckets. As the buckets reached max capacity Harry stood to return to Hagrid. The walk back was always worse for Harry, he wasn't the strongest lad by any means. All his strength came from doing chores and yard work. He lacked muscle, this was true, but he was quick, tall, and agile. Well trained with a sword too. He had never killed a man, he hadn't even been in a proper battle, only small rodents, he felt he didn't have it in him to do so. Hagrid would tell him there isn't anything quite like the feeling of the first time your blade pierces another man's chest.

The two buckets of water Harry had filled were the last thing Harry cared about at this moment. The sight before him, two fallen raiders, and Hagrid currently in a fight with one other man. The man was smaller than Hagrid, as most men were, but he was much quicker. Harry could see the blood on the two fallen mens swords and the cuts and stab wounds on Hagrids legs. The wounds themselves weren't mortal, medium cuts, for an average man they would be much more life-threatening but Hagrid stood head and torso above the average man.

Harry, now hiding behind a fence used to cage their horses, watched as blades crashed and men shuffled. Hagrid was already slow, but his wounds on his legs and arms made him move even slower. His attacks, while strong, were so transparent even an untrained eye could avoid them.

The final raider was able to knock Hagrid's sword from his hand, causing it to land adjacent to the fence. With one final thrust to Hagrids front, the man's sword emerged from the back of Hagrid, covered in blood. The man grabbed Hagrids shoulder and pushed him off his blade, causing his body to fall to the floor. Hagrid wasn't dead right away a wound like this would kill him, there was no doubt about that, but he wouldn't die right away, he had to see Harry one last time. He just had to.

Tears in his eyes, and rage in his being, Harry rushed towards the raider with Hagrids longsword in his hand and pierced the blade right through him. Harry released the sword, causing the man with a sword still through his heart to fall forward. Spending no time more watching the lifeless body below him, Harry turned around to rush to Hagrid.

"HAGRID" He yelled, pain and fear evident in his voice. He kneeled next to the half giant's body, "Please be okay Hagrid please." Harry begged.

Coughing up some blood and a few words Hagrid said "This is it 'fer me 'Erry." After a few more seconds and with a large intake of air Hagrid said the last words he would ever say, "Listen 'Erry, I love you. Truly. You were the best thing that 'evr happened to me. Ride west to a small town called Devon, it's quite far little less than a fortnight away, you'll need to ride come morning tomorrow. They have a farm and some housing, take whatever you need from here. Be careful out there 'Erry, I'll miss you, but I don't wanna see you for a while now. Goodbye Harry."

And with that Rubeus Hagrid was dead. The man Harry considered a father, lay lifeless in his arms. After taking quite some time composing himself Harry stood and gently laid Hagrid's body down, going to find a shovel to dig a grave for him. The digging process took nearly all of what remained in the day. Harry rested Hagrid's body in the grave and once covering him back up returned to their hut to sleep the rest of the day.

Shooting straight up in his bed Harry found himself in a pool of sweat. It took him nearly all day to fall asleep, and the rest he had was strained greatly. All he could think about was the man's sword passing through Hagrid, and then a sword passing through the man, caused by Harry's own hand. He felt immense guilt, he knew he shouldn't, the man deserved it, he knew he did, but he still couldn't help but feel strained, mentally at least.

Exiting the hut, Harry led his horse, a white horse with a long healthy blonde mane. This horse was given to him as a gift when he was 10, Hagrid gave it to him as a name day gift. Hagrid hadn't told Harry the circumstances on how he acquired a horse like this, but he hadn't complained. Harry turned and looked at the raiders still laying on the dirt, his eyes once again flashed to the memory of last evenings events. Memories that would haunt him for years to come.

Harry hoisted a saddle onto his horse, taking one last look at the place he called home he mounted his horse and rode west, a sword strapped at his side, a bag filled with the bare minimum adjacent to both sides of his horse, and an empty mind.

AN: I know this chapter was pretty short, barely above 1k words, but I hadn't planned on it being any longer than this the coming chapters will be longer, that much I can promise.

This story is heavily AU, if you can't tell. The setting and elements are mostly inspired by Game of Thrones, although not enough to consider this a crossover.

Hermoine and Ron make their introduction in the next chapter.