Harry Potter and the Holy Grail War

ESKK: A new chapter and before the holidays to boot. I hope you all enjoy it and leave a review once you finish reading it. Now let us begin.

(Start Draven's classroom)

The Masters were all gathered as Draven looked to them all with an annoyed look. "Ok the first Servant/Master pair had been eliminated from the War meaning we have 6 of them left." Draven calmly said as he stood before his makeshift class that was now down one student. "By rules of the Grail and Goblet she is no longer a Champion of the Tournament. "While I know it's the Berserker Class don't assume that things will get easier.

No one assumed as such and for good reason, with powerhouses like Gilgamesh and Iskandar still in the running everyone had to be careful. "Now then we have other matters to attend to while I cannot condone the use of your Noble Phantasm inside the Great Hall, I can look the other way when the ones responsible had used a Reality Marble to minimize the damage." Draven said looking towards the master of Rider, Gabrielle. "But do NOT let it happen again." Draven added making sure to remind everyone of the pre-set rules of this Holy Grail War.

"Moving on, the second task is upon you, have any of you made any strides in solving the riddle?" Draven asked and thus Cedric, Gabrielle, and Victor all raised their hands. "Well, it seems Hogwarts has two students who need to figure it out." Draven sighed as Hermione like a dear in headlights for this. "Until then let us continue where we left off with the last meeting." Draven said and thus began his makeshift class to prepare the master's for the next lap of the Holy Grail War.

(Meanwhile with Caster and Saber)

The two Servants were glaring at each other as Saber had her sword on the table, a sign of peace. the House Elves had brought them some drinks as the Servant of the Sword and Servant of the mystic glared intently at one another. While their masters were with Draven the pair were glaring at each other.

"I'm guessing you suspect what the clue is do you not?" Saber asked as she looked at Caster.

"I have only one concrete theory." Caster said as he spoke with a neutral tone. "Why do you wish to know?" Caster asked as he planned to share his theory with his master to ensure she survived what was to come.

"What must I offer besides my own suicide to have you share this information?" Saber asked going for diplomacy. If only Salazar was here, Saber would have put this on him instead. He and Rowena were always better diplomats then Saber ever was.

"A trade of some kind." Caster said as he was being pragmatic about this. Rumor has it that Godric Gryffindor and the Founders had a hidden vault inside the school. Inside said vault was a magical relic that would prove useful to his goals. "Very well here is my request, a magical relic from your vault one in particular." Caster said as he looked to Saber.

"Pardon me what?" Saber asked as she gave Caster a skeptical look.

"I ask for a relic within your possession a mages contract." Caster said making Saber to stand up right and glare.

"You want THAT!?" Saber yelled as she glared at Caster.

A Mages contract was very powerful and dangerous relic. To make a long story short depending on how its worded the ones signing it could very well die the minute they break the terms. Its magically binding and compels those who sign it to carry out its will. Godria had acquired it during a wager against a Foreign Lord who wanted to make Godria his bride. When Godria refused the lord took exception to that and by the end of it Godria walked away with the spoils. She kept it so Rowena could study it to see what made it tick.

"Do we have a deal?" Caster asked as he wanted to see what Saber would say.

"If you're asking that of me for information then I need to offer some more to make it fair." Saber said as she needed the information.

Caster glared but conceded for now to let Saber think she had the cards. "What else do you want from me?" Caster asked and in turn Saber smirked as she thought about her Master and Casters master.

(Scene Break the next day Gryffindor Common Room)

Saber and Caster were seen in a room with Minerva as she addressed her House. Godria was sitting on a chair spinning her sword on the ground while Caster was leaning on the wall. Apparently from what Saber heard a Dance was coming up and due to this everyone was being given dance lessons. Godria was there for her houses moral support knowing what teenagers were like with the opposite gender. Minerva was so wound up Godria knew her house felt like walking on eggshells with her sometimes. The room was set up for this lesson and thus they got ready to get down to it.

With Professor McGonagall started to explain thing to the students while Mr. Filch was messing with the record player, trying to get the needle set on it but was making a lot of noise getting it right as Minerva is saying, "The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the..."

McGonagall stop for a moment as she look to Mr. Filch who was still having trouble getting set up. This caused Caster to groan in annoyance before he came up to the record player and he push the old caretaker aside as he said, "Here let me."

Caster grabs hold of the record player as he called out the mantra while she used Mage Craft, "Trace on." Which Hermione taking notice of this as she thought in her head for a moment how it sounded familiar. But before her thoughts could go anywhere else, Caster saw the problem and fixed it right away. With the problem fixed Caster insert the needle properly before he turned to the Professor and said, "Continue."

Minerva smile and nodded to the caster as he went back to his seat as she said, "A tradition of the Triwizard tournament since its inception, on Christmas Eve night we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of Well-mannered frivolity."

Saber could not help but snort a bit, thinking back to some old memories of hers. She remember the time she had a Ball in the castle and sometimes they ended up crazy as someone, not naming anyone on particular, pour some wine in the refreshment bowl mixing with the drinks. She quickly put her hand to her nose to rub at it as Minerva turn to her as she saw Saber as she was acting like she was covering a sneeze and said, "Forgive me, please Continue."

The Professor nodded as she went on saying, "As representatives of the host school, I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is first and foremost a dance."

At this point everyone started to groan to this as they weren't expecting this when they should have as at any ball there always a dance part to it as Saber raise her boot and stomp hard making everyone go silent. "What are you lot complaining about!?" Saber yelled as she got everyone's attention on her. "Aren't you all bloody Gryffindors or not!?" Godria demanded using her leader voice to get her point across. "Why back in my day you lot had charged into the head of danger without worry or care and here you are stumbling over a little dance? HAH I say!" Saber yelled as she got everyone to gather their nerves and join her in the charge.

"So, if you lot can't handle a little dance why not run back home to yer mums' teats, I won't have weak willed pansies in my house!" She yelled and thus this got everyone to stop complaining as they saw Godria was still their founder and thus held the right to knock sense into them when needed.

After her little speech there was a moment of silence in the room as Godria stood there with that ever present cocky grin on her face. "Well, what a rousing speech." Minerva said having no other words to say to that. "Now seeing as none of you wish to disappoint your founder it falls to me to ensure that you all understand proper edict instead of acting like a bunch of screaming baboons at this event assuming you intend to attend." Minerva said and thus Godria smirked to this.

"So, we're going to be teaching you how to dance all three of us." Saber said glaring over to Caster.

"Pardon me?" Caster asked as he saw that he was being roped into this.

"Exactly a demonstration is in order, Caster won't you be a dear?" Saber asked as she looked over to Caster. Caster sighed and joined Saber on the improve dancefloor.

"I may not look it, but I can dance as a noble is expected." Saber said and in turn the pair began to dance to the rhythm of the tune. "See class not that hard, the key varies between the genders for a woman the key is to be confident and self-assured for men it's to be respectful of your partner." Saber said as all the students watched the pair dance off.

"Lady Gryffindor." Minerva began as she felt that once more the Hogwarts Founder was stealing her job.

"Now then everyone partner up." Godria said but alas none of the students budged from their spot. The girls waited for the guys to make the first move and clearly that was not going to happen. Godria smirked as she had the perfect method to make them find a partner to dance with. "Ok let's try this again, find a partner you can get along with or I'll set you up with a random partner you WON'T get along with." Saber said and thus the boys and girls looked shocked to this. But still the boys did not move and thus Saber saw them challenging her. "Think I'm bluffing?" Saber asked and thus paused her dance with Caster with a spin before walking to one of the males.

"Eenie meany miney you." Saber began as she pointed at Ron and dragged him off.

"Oi wait hold up!" Ron cried out and thus Saber looked around.

"Professor would you be a dear and act as Mr. Weasley's dance partner for this class?" Saber ordered more then asked but Minerva saw what Saber was doing.

"Very well." She said and thus Ronald was made to dance with his head of house. Meanwhile he gave Harry and Hermione a pleading look asking them for help.

"Now then who's next?" Saber asked and thus that got everyone moving.

Hermione saw Harry was trying to hide out as clearly the boy was not doing well with this. Caster meanwhile walked behind her and gave her a neutral look. "You know he's not going to ask unless you ask him first." Caster said from behind Hermione surprising her. "Remember he comes from a bad background from what I gazed upon, so he won't have the confidence to approach a girl and ask her out." Caster said and in turn Hermione glared at him.

"It's not very... traditional." Hermione said and in turn Caster sighed to this. He then slapped Hermione upside the head causing her to yelp to that.

"He's not going to approach and if you don't do it, you'll both regret it for years to come." Caster said and in turn he walked off to his corner causing Hermione to sigh to this.

Hermione then walked over to Harry who then saw her hand in his face. "Care to dance, Harry?" Hermione offered causing Harry to go wide eyed to this.

"I'm... not very good." Harry defended and in turn Hermione smiled to this.

"That's why we're having this class." Hermione said and took Harry's hand before bringing him to the floor to dance. All the while Caster and Saber stood near each other.

"Phase 1 of Operation Harmony is a go." Saber said and in turn Caster growled and stormed off to be on his own. "Party pooper." Saber said with a scowl towards Caster.

Caster got out of the classroom and close the door behind him as he soon put his back against the door before letting out a sigh, like he really glad to have gotten out of there, as it seem it was getting too much for him emotionally, as with this Grail War, he has been summon for back to a time where he saw himself still young and so naïve to the world outside of the school while it never happen in his own timeline, everything seem to almost play out just the same as Barty crouch Jr. taking over DADA teacher position, Harry and the original 3 champion gotten the same dragons, and already knew that the next challenge will be in the black Lake.

He knew Hermione, Ron, and the others should have been put into the Lake as the sacrifice but that all change now and he already noticing the changes as he look at himself, he wonder 'IF things keep changing as they are, could the future change as well or will doom to repeat?"

No one to give him such an answer he sighed as he went off to the library to look up something as much as he knows what Hermione can use for the Black Lake, he lacks the knowledge of where to find it and that is Gilly weed.

(back at the dance class)

With everyone paired up with each other as thankfully saber saw they took her word seriously and found a partner themselves while Ron was still dancing with the Professor, her attention was focusing on everyone trying to correct their stance, the distant them apart from each other so they aren't chest to chest, and she could only glance at harry and Hermione dancing with each other, with a few accidents here and there but manage to correct themselves without her assistant so she keep helping others.

They dance to the music as swiftly and smoothly as they did Harry and Hermione keep to the rhythm but it seem they were in an awkward position themselves as none of them said anything to one another for a bit as Hermione was focusing on the dancing, learning each step as they go while Harry seem to have gotten used to the dancing he wanted to say something to Hermione but didn't know how to go about it, as he took a breath and tries to get pass it as he said while breaking the ice, "This is… dancing nice."

"Ah what?" Hermione said as she could not help but almost laugh at what Harry said as he tries to correct himself as he said, "Dancing is nice, isn't it I mean?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Hermione said as she have no idea what to say as they keep dancing along, with Harry mentally face palming himself to this as he thought to himself, 'What did I say? Okay, just forget what you did say and say what you wanted to say.'

"Hermione," Harry started off but he was hesitant of saying anything else, as Hermione answer saying, "Yes?"

"Do you…. do you?" Harry keep saying as in his mind he knows what he want to say, but how mouth has other things going on it seemed before Hermione then ask, "Do I what?"

"I just want to ask is do you want to… keep dancing?" Harry said as Hermione was confused as she said, "Aren't we still dancing?"

"Yes, no- I mean we are but I'm saying that if you could…" Harry said as he doesn't know how to spit out his words as then the music stops as it came to an end as Saber soon announce, "Alright everyone, take a breather. You may release your partners hands and at the end of things give a bow and thank them for the dance."

All the boys did so as Harry sighed as he didn't get to say the rights words to Hermione, as she give a bow to Harry and said to him, "Thank you for the dance."

"Thank you as well," Harry said as after they parted ways as they went to their respected sides as Saber soon said to everyone, "Well I got to say from what I saw from everyone, some of you have it perform well enough with minimal correction, while as some of you do need to work on it."

"We will have classes at the end of each day, for those who need to learn better of how to dance, that is all for now," Professor McGonagall said as soon enough the class was over.

(At the Gryffindor commons room)

In the Gryffindor Commons room, Hermione was still looking over her Egg as she was still trying to crack its secrets but it was becoming more and more difficult as she tries a muffling spell and all she got was a muffle screaming, but she did pick up some wording, figuring out it was trying to say something but the muffle screams wasn't clear enough, so she try to look into the egg, but all she got was bright light that just hurt her eyes.

She try opening upside down, spinning it, try to find a secret switch or something, anything she could think of was useless as nothing worked as she put her hands over her face as she felt like she may cry a bit over this as suddenly Caster came in with as he said, "Still trying to figure that out?"

"Yes, unfortunately. No matter how much I look at it, it seem to make less sense," Hermione said as Caster could not only laugh at the ironic of the situation as he knew she was supposed to be one of the smart one as he said, "So much for being the brightest witch of her time."

"Hey!" Hermione could only complain as she heard that as she knows she was smart but that didn't mean she had all the answer to everything as Hermione soon said to him, "If you're so smart, why not you solve this!"

"I would but it's not my problem, fighting in the Grail war is, as if you can't solve this riddle, then we'll be a disadvantage in the next task which could be the next fight will be at," Caster said as he knew it won't but it's better to have Hermione motivated on being more serious in it as she said, "Then what am I supposed to do? I try everything I could think of magical wise Mage Craft and all but still came up with nothing."

"Have you even tried to look at it in a non-magical way and more logically?" Caster said as Hermione looks at him and said, "What do you mean?"

"The thing is screaming right, but what sort of creature makes a sound like that? High pitched, reverb, powerful," Caster said as he was giving a clue to his master to figure it out. Hermione took a moment to think if over as she used the clues that Caster had given her. She then looked over to her bag of books she had for school, looking over them and soon came upon one that titled, "Fantastic beasts and where to find them", showing she had an idea. She opened the book and flipped through some pages until she found what she was looking for. In the book she saw aquatic creatures as she look it over for her goal. She then came upon a creature that could be the closes thing to a mermaid as she found, 'Merpeople'.

Hermione looked over their information about them as they consider themselves as beast even though they are sentient beings. Reading through it the resident bookworm saw that they are territorial, aggressive beings, and have voices that could attract sailors to their death. But it was there she found her target as according to the book when a Merfolk was outside of the waters their voices could be consider close to banshee like, even though they can still talk.

Soon enough Hermione came up with her answer on how to solve the clue as she said, "I need to open it under water."

"There you go, was that so hard, master?" Caster said as he could only dodge a book that was thrown at him as he said to her, "Careful, you might hit someone with that, but if you're going to do that, do it against the enemy."

"I'm going to do some research." Hermione said as she made her way out of the library with new ideas on how to survive the Tournament. Caster scoffed and began to walk off, while the magical in the air prevented Servants from Astralizing themselves, that did not mean he would not be able to appear should Hermione prove to be in danger.

(Meanwhile with Victor and Assassin)

"How about this one papa?!" Assassin asked presenting another dress she had acquired somehow. Assassin AKA Jack the Ripper was currently dancing around the dressed as Victor sighed to himself over how exhausting this little girl was. It was a surprise to find that she was in fact the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper.

"Assassin, just pick one already you want to look your best do you not?" Victor asked as the Quidditch Player looked to the Servant of Shadows.

"But we want to match with Papa." Assassin said as she looked to Victor who had to swallow a sweet ball in his throat. Ever since the Holy Grail War began woman's desire for him had only gotten worse seeing how well he treats Assassin. For many of the girls from the three schools this was a clear sign of Victor being, father material, seeing how much Assassin seems to adore home.

Sighing with defeat Victor picked out one frilly dress and presented it to Assassin. "Why not wear this one?" Victor offered and in turn Assassin squealed and took the dress in question.

"I love it!" Assassins squealed before hugging Victor in a bearhug.

As Victor just stood there, he hugged the girl back with one hand and rubbed her head with the other. 'Maybe they were right about the father material.' Victor mentally mused as he began to wonder what sort of child Jack could have grown to be if things were different.

(Meanwhile with Harry the Main Courtyard)

"Ok need to get a date... no problem no problem at all I've faced a wraith, a basilisk, and Dementors this should be easy." Harry said while making his way through the school. "Bloody hell it's like girls just walk in herds." Harry voiced as he saw several students who were aware of the ball trying to find an opening to ask the female populace out. "I'm bloody well doomed." Harry sighed realizing it was pointless.

"Problems in paradise, master?" Saber was heard causing Harry to turn and see Saber in her winter armor sitting on a bench.

"Saber?" Harry asked shocked to see Saber here.

"Oh, master did you forget I'm always near?" Saber teased before getting on her feet and walking over to Harry. "So, what seems to be troubling you master?" Saber asked only for Harry to start walking off again. "Still stumped about the egg?" Saber asked with a knowing smile on her face.

"Among other things." Harry responded while Saber followed after him.

"Well, what if I told you I know how to figure it out?" Saber asked as she then caused Harry to stop.

"Go on..." Harry spoke as he gave Saber a deeply skeptical look.

"I was asking around the local spirits mainly my Surrogate Niece in Ravenclaw and she told me what she knew." Saber spoke causing Harry to pay attention. "You need to take a dive in some water and open the egg under water and the clue will reveal itself there." Saber said causing Harry to look at Saber to this.

"Wait you have niece?" Harry asked before the words surrogate caught up to him.

"Not my story to tell." Saber said waving Harry's question off. "Luckily, I know of a hidden place you can use to hear the message I can get the entire thing set up and everything, but it comes at a cost." Saber said and thus Harry glared at his Servant.

"And what's that?" Harry asked and in turn Saber smiled to Harry.

"I heard from a birdie that you're an excellent cook so you're going to cook for me a grand meal and we'll be square." Saber said and thus Harry sighed seeing Saber was messing with him.

"Very well deal." Harry said and thus the two shook hands on it.

(Meanwhile with Caster)

In the Forbidden Forest Caster was seen observing Cho Chang and Cedric Diggory talking via a Sniper Rifles scope. As Caster watched the scene play out, he growled a bit not out of jealousy but of what needed to be done all while Hermione is left unaware of it. His deal with Saber had gotten him exactly what he needed but he knew Hermione would find out about it, his Master was far to perceptive not to realize what Caster had done.

But by the time she figures it out, it would be too late. Yet it might end up with Cho being crippled but to attain victory one must be willing to sacrifice everything their morals, their hopes, and even their very soul. The contract had been drafted so all Caster had to do was isolate Cho and Cedric and by the end of it, Lancer will no longer be a concern. Caster had already lost everything when he died and even then, death had been denied of him. Counter Guardian if Caster had known that was his fate when he was a child... he would have taken his own life to spare himself such suffering.

Voldemort was going to die early and if Caster had to cleave his way through friends and enemies alike to do so then he shall do it without hesitation. To acquire his wish from the Grail Caster will cast away his soul and morals just as he had done in his old life.

(Scene Break that Evening)

Hermione was sneaking through the halls at night to the Prefect Baths. According to her research the Egg was screeching because of the fact it was Mermaid tongue which meant it can only be heard from underwater. Not trusting the school baths in fear of Assassin spying on her Hermione opted for the Prefect Baths. Thankfully figuring out their location was a simple matter of utilizing Harry's Marauders map and having Caster scout ahead for her. So, entering the Prefect bath she had Caster stand guard outside as he leaned against the wall. Due to the ambient magic in the air none of the Servants are able to Astralize and having Caster stand guard was a good idea seeing as there are still five other Servants in play.

As she entered the Prefect Bath using the password Caster had discovered she made her way into the baths. Once she was inside Hermione was thankful, she carried a bathrobe with her and a spare change of clothing as she made her way inward. It was probably better that she kept her time here brief, but she wasn't going to turn down the use of a bath like this. So, she began to strip out of her clothing unaware of Saber hiding in one of the lockers inside the room. Once she was completely bare Hermione made her way into the bathroom proper. Saber waited for Hermione to leave before coming out and smirking to this.

The bathroom was grand as it was large as to her shock it was already drawn with a relaxing steam of hot water permeating the air around her. Hermione had to admit it was perfect as she made her way into the bathroom closing the door behind her as she left. But as Hermione entered a new voice caught her by surprise making her eyes widen in horror.

"Hermione?" Harry suddenly asked and Hermione looked to the bath and saw Harry there. Both of them looked to the nude form of the other like a deer in headlights.

"Harry?" Hermione asked and thus that was when chaos hit. Hermione cried out covering herself in a panic as Harry looked away from her.

"Sorry!" Harry cried out as he averted his eyes.

"I didn't know you were in here." Hermione said as she tried to open the door to get out and give Harry privacy. "What are you even doing here?" Hermione said trying to distract Harry and herself.

"Saber, she told me that I needed to hear the clue with the egg underwater!" Harry cried out as his egg was sitting on the edge of the bath behind him.

"I found out when Caster gave me a clue." Hermione said and then cursed as the door would not budge. "Bloody hell who locked the door!?" Hermione cursed as she then slammed her shoulder into the door, but it would not budge.

(With Saber and Caster)

Saber smirked as she and Caster had barricaded the door and used some locking charms. The door could be unlocked with magic but the rest you would have to force it open. The two smirked as Saber carried her cocky smirk while Caster was that cold aloof sort of smirk. "Now the rest is up to them." Saber said which Caster then sighed.

"Fine but if and/or when this goes wrong it's all on you." Caster said making it clear that Saber would feel the blunt of their wrath.

(Back in the bathroom)

"Dammit!" Hermione cursed out her frustration clear as day.

"Sorry." Harry apologized before he noted Hermione's own egg. "So, it sounds like we're trapped here." Harry added which got Hermione to huff.

"I'm afraid so." Hermione said admitting to their current predicament.

"Well, I supposed we can just take turns... I'll get out and let you hear the clue first and." Harry began but then Hermione stopped him.

"No Harry it won't do." Hermione said trying to find the best outcome for this. "You were here first you should see the eggs clue." Hermione said which Harry disagreed.

"No Hermione it should be you who goes first I'll wait in the loo and." Harry began before a new voice cut in on the two.

"Oh, bugger it just both go in." A familiar voice spoke and from the walls Moaning Myrtle flew in.

"Myrtle?!" Both Harry and Hermione cried out when they saw her appear.

"Ello Harry been a while." Myrtle said as Harry saw her.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked covering her chest and crotch with her hands.

"I overheard you two coming this way and decided to see if you were here for a tryst." Myrtle said as she laid back in the air. "It's not often I get to see a Witch and Wizard go at it but behold my surprise that I have to leave with a lost bet." Myrtle said which confused Harry.

"A Lost bet?" Harry asked and Mrytle chuckled to this.

"All the ghosts have a wager going on that you two will end up together as do the students." Myrtle said which made Hermione's head turn red. "It was either going to be Harry with Hermione, Hermione with Ron, or Harry with Ron." She explained and thus Mrytle smiled wider. "But when Ron left the Golden Trio getting you two together was a wager won." Myrtle said which made Hermione glare at her. "But here I find instead you two arguing over whose going to see the message first." Myrtle said explaining things as she saw them and as they had been set up.

"Why does everything think that?" Harry said as he began to trail off a bit. "I mean Hermione doesn't see me that way." Harry said aloud before covering his mouth.

"Wait what?!" Hermione asked as she didn't expect those words to come out of Harry's mouth.

"I mean... it's never mind." Harry said as Myrtle began to grin to this scene.

"No continue did you say that I don't see you in the way Myrtle was implying?" Hermione asked and thus Harry nodded to this.

"I mean... yeah of course." Harry said as he looked to Hermione. "You deserve more than me you know I'm just Harry and you're the only girl who saw that in me not the Boy-Who-Lived." Harry said and in turn there was a small splash and the feeling of flesh against flesh. Harry for his part was surprised by this as he felt Hermione's modest breasts squishing against his chest.

"Harry I..." Hermione began as she stepped back from Harry but still had her arms around him. "How can you think that I think too little of you?" Hermione asked shocked that Harry was just lacking courage. "You are by far the most noble, courageous, and brilliant boy I've ever had the pleasure of being close to." Hermione said while she smiled to Harry. "Honestly, I was waiting for you to ask me to the Yule Ball it got to a point that I was starting to think... you didn't feel like that for me." Hermione said which surprised Harry to no end.

"But Hermione of course I!" Harry began but then paused as he realized what's been happening. "Bloody hell I've been an idiot." Harry said facepalming himself for the realization he had.

"We've both been." Hermione said before recalling where they were. "Then again in more ways than one." Hermione said gesturing to their current state of dress.

"Oh um..." Harry began before he saw the eggs were next to each other. "Well, I suppose we might as well." Harry said taking his Egg.

"Yes, we should." Hermione added while taking her own egg. In turn the pair dove under the water with eggs in hand while holding their breaths. Once that was done, they both opened the egg and got the same message from it. Instead of screeching though they were given words spoken in an almost musical tongue.

"Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this;

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour, the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."

Once the message was shared the pair closed the eggs and rose back up to the surface. "Harry, you know what this means right?" Hermione asked which Harry nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, the Dark Lake." Harry said as Hermione knew what was needed from them.

"We have some research to do." Hermione said and rose to leave the pool only for Harry to grab her arm. "Harry?" Hermione asked looking to Harry with concern.

"Hermione... I know this is not how you imagined me asking but... would you... I mean could you." Harry said stuttering around his words trying to find the right way to say what he wanted to say.

"Harry, are you asking me to the Yule Ball?" Hermione asked with a knowing smirk on her face.

"Y-yes." Harry said bashfully showing he was not used to asking people out like this.

Hermione then took Harry's hand into her own hands while smiling at him. "I would love to." Hermione responded and in turn Harry smiled at her.

(Back with Saber and Caster)

The pair had removed the barricade they put in place and Saber fist pumped at their success. "As the kids these days would say the ship has sailed." Saber said with her ever present cocky grin.

"Whatever." Caster said before walking off and leaving the room. As Caster walked off, he kept his face in his mask, but a glisten was seen with his mask revealing a single tear drop coming down. Walking off the Servant of the Mystics had to focus himself on the War not a past lost to him.

(Meanwhile with Draven the Leaky Cauldron)

Draven sat in a stool as he waited for an arrival. In front of him was a drink and to the side of his drink was a cigarette ashtray. As Draven put out his smoke, he took another swing of his drink as he waited for his contact. Soon enough a familiar woman walked out and took a seat next to him. "Wotcher Draven this better be good." The woman with pink hair said as she glared at Draven.

"Is that how you greet someone after all this time?" Draven asked with a gruff but then sighed. "I know you've been following the Holy Grail War at Hogwarts, Tonks." Draven said to the woman with him.

"Yeah, what of it?" Tonks asked as Draven then signaled for a second drink which was served to him and Tonks.

"It just struck me as odd that you didn't come forward when you saw who Alexi had summoned for Archer." Draven spoke and thus Tonks grew silent. She then took a seat and then took a swing of her drink clearly showing Draven and Gilgamesh had brought up some unwanted memories for her.

"I put the last Holy Grail War behind me, and I don't plan to get involved with this one." Tonks said as she showed why she did not want to take part; the mental scars were still fresh inside her mind. "Why are you trying to drag me back into this madness?" Tonks asked with an accusing tone in her voice.

"Back in the previous Grail War the summoning of your Servant Lancer proved to put you at a stalemate with Archer Gilgamesh." Draven began recalling the previous Holy Grail War. "Enkidu was the only Servant able to face Gilgamesh blow to blow and somehow a child a seven-year-old child was able to summon one of the most powerful of Servants." Draven said which got Tonks to go silent.

"If you're bloody asking me to come forward with any weaknesses against Gilgamesh you can forget it." Tonks said while glaring at Draven. "Even now as much as I hate that Golden bastard, I can't betray Enkidu like that either." Tonks said remembering the promise she made to Enkidu so long ago.

"I'm not." Draven said which confused Tonks for a moment. "The previous war saw to it that either Saber or Caster were the victors of the previous Grail War and I know that you were there when the victor was decided yet neither side wishes came to pass that day." Draven said which made it clear what happened. "All we do know is that Saber Mordred's Noble Phantasm was used and was followed by a huge explosion that leveled and entire sector of the forest where the Grail was summoned." Draven added and now Tonks knew what he was asking.

"You want to know if I saw anything?" Tonks asked as she glared at Draven.

"I can't ask Lily for obvious reasons, and the only other suspect was Caster's master, and I don't know who he or she was." Draven said recalling how Caster hid his master well. "You were there before that area became Ground Zero and if not for a Portkey at the time you may have as well died." Draven said wanting answers from her.

"Well to bad I don't know." Tonks admitted as she sat there unaware that her drink had been spiked.

"Was there anyone else besides you and the Potters?" Draven asked as he knew James and Lily shared control of Saber at the time.

"Yes, Casters Master was there, Narcissa Malfoy." Tonks said and thus went wide eyed to what she said. "Wait why did I?" Tonks asked as Draven got, up.

"I had your drink spiked before it was served." Draven said showing a small bottle. "It's a variant of the Truth Serum a weaker dose just enough to get me the information I needed." Draven said which made Tonks glare at him.

"Bloody bastard you never change still the Magus Associations little attack dog!" Tonks snapped and in turn Draven smirked.

"Why were you unaware of what became of the Grail?" Draven asked wanting answers from her.

"I was knocked out at the time during the battle when we got blindsided." Tonks revealed and thus Draven nodded.

"Thanks, the potion should flush out of your body within the hour go straight home and avoid people." Draven said as he began to walk out with his hands in his pockets. Leaving the bar Draven had a stern and concerned look in his eyes. The last Grail War had been on his mind like a bad itch, and he had been trying to piece together clues as to what happened to the Greater Grail. "Lily... what did you do?" Draven asked as he knew something had to have happened over 14 years ago for the Grail to vanish like that. For some reason Draven felt that this Grail War was not all that it appeared to be at all.

(TBC)

ESKK: Well, another chapter is finished. I hope that you all enjoyed it and will continue to support us next chapter. So, until then please leave a review and as I say as always on these things, ja-ne.