They were two months into the project of fixing up Number 10 Harwood West, which was interesting because only the oldest three Scions could use magic, mostly early on for repairing broken windows, while the other had to work completely manually, something came to shake up the status quo as it had been for several months.
It came in the form of two people entering the Great Hall, the first a tall man with white hair done up in a ponytail ane gray eyes. He was wearing a suit of armor designed to look like a dragon, clutching a spear shaped like a jagged claw.
His partner was in nearly every other way, his opposite, short enough to be a dwarf, though far less ugly than one, she was downright cute. Brown hair and blue eyes peaked out of a tan hood made with fake cat ears, attached to a robe the same color. On her back was a large (for her size) paintbrush.
Harry and G'raha stood up, not quiet sprinting towards the two, Harry caught the tall man by the hand, pulling him into a brotherly hug while G'raha scooped up the woman (girl?) and pulled her into a hug laughing, "Took your time!"
"Thancred did say it would be a month or two," Harry said.
"Harry," Dumbledore called, "would you please introduce us to your friends?"
"Right, right," Harry said, before gesturing to the man, "This is Estinien "Wyrmblood" Varlineau, the Azure Dragoon and member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn."
"One of the Azure Dragoons," Estinien said in a deep, gritty voice that didn't fit his frame at all, "don't be so modest, Harry."
"And this, G'raha said, waving theatrically, "is Krile Mayer Baldesion, also a member of the Scions."
"Well, best take your seats with the rest of the Scions, I'm sure you're hungry."
"Quite," Estinien Agreed, following Harry towards the table and switching out of his armor for clothes, though keeping the spear with him. Krile climbed up on the bench while Estinien Sat down next to Harry.
"So you're all the new Scions?" Estinien Said.
"Y-yes sir," Neville said, holding out a hand to shake, "I'm Neville Longbottom."
"Ah, you're the one Harry always talks about with glowing praise when he sends letters back, there's a running bet on how long before he officially adopts you back home."
Neville flushed at that, while Harry rolled his eyes and hit Estinien on the shoulder. Estinien continued on unfazed, "and you must be Hermione Granger," he said to the girl," Harry and G'raha are just as proud of you combined as Harry is of Neville alone. And you three are the Weasleys? Harry's talked about how you've been making good progress with your jobs."
"Oh, yes, I already lost the bet," Krile said, "I bet six months."
"What's with the paintbrush, Krile?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I've been Studying Pictomancy, I'm quite tired of you all going on adventures while I stay behind worrying about your safety."
—
Exams were approaching, and that left Neville's gut tied in knots. Luckily, he was friends with Hermione Granger, who prepared detailed study guides for all the first years.
Even Harry and Alisaie had reduced their relationship to cuddling while Harry read books on the theory of Magic. He had been strong enough to brute force most spells, but he wasn't sure how they actually were supposed to work.
Luckily, G'raha, Alisaie and, through the loophole that they were, afterall, Scions, Estinien and Krile had taken over the care of Number 10 Harwood West so the kids (and Harry) could focus on studying during the weekend. Neville was the only person, other than Hermione, who stuck to the study guide like a bible. Harry stuck to the theory part, while Ron tried, but got clearly bored too easily, eyes drifting over to his Codex in longing.
It also made him nervous because it would be the first time Neville would be graded under Snape since Harry had dragged him out of the classroom. And while Potions had been relaxing under Harry, who read from the book carefully so they would know what instruction came next, he severely doubted it would be the same under Snape.
Nothing but classes and studying had taken up the Scions weeks, even Krile was practicing Pictomancy, until finally, Harry had snapped, dragged Estinien out onto quidditch pitch and switched into his own draconic armor and braced his spear.
And that was how a crowd of students gathered on the pitch, cheering as Estinien and Harry went at it as blurs of speed.
Harry landed for a second, before bounding into the air as Estinien crashed down, cheers rising up as flames exploded from the spot his spear struck. He tore it from the ground, eyes locking on Harry as he jumped after them.
Both spears flashed and twirled in the evening sun as the two of them dueled in mid air. Each contorted their bodies to dodge spear strikes, before returning with a thrust of their own.
Neville knew, instinctively, that this was what two people who had mastered their Soul Crystals fought like. It made his skill with a scythe, which Harry had insisted had progressed in leaps and bounds over the year, look like a child playing.
"It looks like we gathered a crowd!" Harry called, eyes slitted, "Shall we give them a show?"
"You just want to show off," Estinien called, before twirling his spear so it faced down at a 45 degree angle. Above him appeared a large, demonic dragon made of red and black energy, multi horned and growling without noise.
Harry gave a grin that neither confirmed nor denied the accusation, but leveled his lance so it was at the same angle. Above him formed a massive, blue and white dragon that seemed to trail on forever. Finally, both Dragoons leapt into the air and clashed, spear tip to spear tip, as the dragons surged forwards and became explosions of light.
Everyone clapped as both Dragoons landed panting.
—
It was the final day of exams, and Neville found himself lined up with the new Scions across from the old, post Exam exhaustion was setting in, and Neville wondered why Harry had them out there. Each of the old Scions were in their armor, or what passed as armor in Krile and Alisaie's case, and had their weapons on hand.
"Alright," Harry said, "one last thing before your exams end. We're gonna be putting you through the paces, we'll be holding back to keep things fair, and all you need to do is land a blow on your assigned partner. Neville, me. Hermione, Alisaie. Ron, Krile. George, Estinien. Fred, G'raha. Alright?"
Everyone nodded wearily, and the fights began. Neville dodged, Harry was in his guard in a second, and Neville summoned his scythe. Harry easily blurred out from the scythe's wake and lunged forwards, spear aimed at Neville again. This time, when Neville swung for him, Harry kicked off the ground and landed behind the scythe. Scythe and spear clashed, over and over again, and when they didn't, Harry was dodging Neville's attacks with ease. Neville poured more Aether into his body, speeding himself up. Rushing forwards, Neville swung for Harry again only for his mentor to land on the blade, spear rushing for Neville's cheek.
Neville shifted his scythe so it was vertical with the ground, Forcing Harry to stand on one foot on the blade before Neville threw him off, leaping into the air after him.
Finally, as their weapons clashed again, Neville summoned the Avatar behind Harry, slowing down as he did so.
The change of pace and there now being two enemies clearly threw Harry off, or at least he let it throw him off. Finally, Neville's scythe found Harry's side, and drew blood.
The blindly proud smile on Harry's face made Neville all the happier.
—-
Hermione, honestly, thought she got the short end of the stick. Even holding back, Alisaie was one of the most aggressive duelists she knew and fought with all her determination to win. As such, Hermione had spent the last five minutes since the fighting started dodging Jolts, Verthunders and Verfires. She hadn't had time to channel her Aether into anything at this point. Finally, she gave up trying to concentrate Aether into a solid spell, and just spat it out from the front of her staff, acting like a supernatural flamethrower.
Alisaie backflipped away from the attack, landing on one hand and sending a Jolt towards Hermione with the other. That was another problem, Alisae was far more athletic than any of the New Scions. Still, it gave Hermione a chance to think, and the answer dawned on her.
"Scathe!" The small jolt of energy was released from her staff which Alisaie twirled around, "Scathe! Scathe! Scathe! Scathe!"
Finally one nicked Alisaie's arm, just by weight of volume, and Alisaie nodded, sheathing her sword, "I'll tell Harry you're ready."
"For what?"
"For real Black Magic."
—
Ron had a very easy time with his challenge, his Broil went off before Krile could cast a spell. Very quickly after, he realized that was the point. Summoning Eos, he got to work healing the damage he had caused to the older Scion.
—
To say George's fight was a whirlwind was a bit like saying "the sun is bright," true, but ineloquent and an understatement. George and Estinien were fighting across the grounds, having left the Scions training paddock, and drew the attention of students.
George spat out a gout of fire, only for Estiniento to twirl his spear, Nidhogg, and disperse them. He dropped a Raiton on him, only for Estiniento to use Nidhogg as a lightning rod to absorb the attack.
Rushing forwards as his opponent's guard was open, George missed by a hair's breadth as Estinientore Nidhogg from the ground and jumped a distance away. George created a Fuma Shuriken out of Aether and threw it at Estinien, who caught it and threw it back. George dodged under it, coming up and doing the hand seals for Huton, feeling lighter than air, and rushed in for the attack.
Estinien kept moving just as fast as George, showing just how much he had been holding back before. George threw down some Peruvian Darkness Powder and vanished from sight. Estinien stood in the middle of the darkness with his eyes closed, then whipped around to stab at George. Luckily, in that split second where he had to turn, George landed a solid blow on him.
Estinien's grim countenance faded, and he offered George a small smile.
—
Fred ran around G'raha as he fired arrows, hoping to find a weakness in G'raha's shield spells. Finally giving up that attempt, Fred nocked three arrows into his bow and pulled back, firing them all at the shield, which shattered and hit G'raha.
Or rather, the illusion of G'raha, the real one, hopefully, appearing behind Fred and swinging a sword of light at his back. Backflipping away, Fred coated his next arrow in wind, aiming it while upside down and firing at G'raha, who used his shield of light to block it.
Singing the Army's Paeon to himself, Fred landed and nocked another arrow, firing it at G'raha's side and sinking home.
"Good job, Fred!" G'raha called, pulling the arrow out and healing the wound in seconds, "Come on, we've got a surprise for a lot of you."
—
In the Scions clubhouse, as they were now officially registered as an exclusive club at Hogwarts, Harry tossed packages to everyone. Opening them, most found clothes, but a few found weapons that went with them.
For Neville, it was a large black hat and blinder, alongside a black,tattered clock and black armor, "Artifact Armor," Harry explained, "It is next to the best you can get, and the best is really expensive, even for me. That's one thing I don't miss, Tomestone Grinding. Anyways all these armors are enchanted to grow with you, so don't worry about outgrowing them."
Hermione got an all encompassing gray coat, along with a blinder and a near comically large wizard cap. There was a staff inside that was tipped by what looked like a shard of purple crystal shaped like a meteor, "Strictly speaking, Blade's Fury is better, but it's also Atherically tuned to me. Think of it a bit like using a wand that's not yours. That staff is Atherically blank, so as you use it, it'll become attuned to you.
Fred got a red and black coat with a black undersuit, except the right arm, which was inexplicably white, and a red turban. He also got a bow with multiple strings, allowing it to act as a bow and harp at the same time.
George got a bodysuit made of black fabric and chainmail, along with a mask, a red scarf, red and white tassels at his waist, and leather arm armor and knee high boots. He also got a pair of red, curved blades that seemed to emanate red light when he held them.
Ron, to his obvious disappointment, got a Victorian era suit, coat and all, with tasseled hat, "Sorry, Ron. It's the best I could get Tataru to make."
A knock on the window drew their attention, and Harry took the letter from Hedwig, and brought her in to introduce her to Krile and Estinian. Harry unfolded the letter, reading over it quickly, before pulling out another piece of paper from the envelope.
"What is it, Harry?"
"10 Harwood West was my Grandparents house," Harry said, "Dumbledore had us clean it up so the Scions will have somewhere to live and meet over the summer."