Hey everyone, I finally got the next chapter up. I'll be honest I think this one if my favorite so far, though when I finally get going on Hariel and Orion's relationship, that will probably change. If you like this chapter, please leave a comment and tell me what you think, it always inspires me to keep going. I'm hoping to get the next chapter up within the next two weeks, depending on work but I'm hopeful. Anyway, I hope you love this just as much as me and will continue with the story. Thanks :)


Chapter Four: October

That Wizengmont meeting set the beginning of the change Hari was determined to make.

On October 6th the Wizarding Traditions class was reinstated to the school alongside the notices stating the Wizarding traditions, starting with Samhain, would be reintroduced to the curriculum. Many of the pureblood families had been told what Lady Peverall had done for them, how she had championed for the half-bloods and muggleborns to be brought fully into their world, to stop ignoring Lady Magic. She had received many letters from lords and ladies wanting to meet and offering alliances and Teddy had gained a bit of a following from pureblood heir's who felt like they owed Lady Peverall a debt.

When Anthony Greengrass arrived in Hogwarts, the second born son of the current Lord, who was twenty-eight years old, the same age as Hari herself, she and he became quick friends. Anthony had spoken with her before teaching his first class and upon finding out barely any of the third, second or first years knew to find their core, he instantly knew that would be his first lesson, followed by the Wizarding Holidays and the traditions which followed.

With Samhain coming upon them quickly, many didn't know anything about the rituals and even though Dumbledore that tried to bar the bonfire, but Hari had been quick to step in and stop that. Even though the bill has passed through the Wizengmont, Dumbledore had been fighting her every step of the way as she began to plan the celebration.

It didn't help that Lord Black and Lord Malfoy had come through with the Board of Governors and that was where she was now headed. She had just left the Head Boy, Marcus Rockwood in control of her second year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw class as she had been asked to attend the meeting by Lord Black. The alliance that had been developing was something Hari had never expected to achieve when she woke up in the past. She had known she needed to take Dumbledore and Riddle in hand, but the three factions had managed to work together in the last Wizengmont meeting, that was a boon she could not have foreseen.

She knew that there was potential for Lord Black being swayed to her side. Sirius had told her that Orion had never swore to Voldemort but believed in his vision. Orion had only every wanted what was best for the Wizarding World and he couldn't do that alone, not with Dumbledore blocking his every move. Hariel joining like she had, her seats and family name, had given the Dark Block and advantage they weren't anticipating, even if she was part of the Grey.

Now it was time to do more. She knew that as she pushed for acceptance between the light and dark factions, Dumbledore and Tom would lose supporters. Already, she had Lord Potter, Lord Weasley and Lady Longbottom from the light and if this meeting went as she was hoping, she would have Lord Black, Lord Malfoy, Lord Nott and Lord Lestrange from the dark. The minor houses in the dark block and in the grey block had already written to her and she had received many invitations to events in order to speak with the lords or ladies of their houses.

But Hari was being very careful of her steps, she didn't want to give Dumbledore or even Tom the excuse to attack her, not yet. She knew it would happen eventually. Dumbledore was already under fire as it became apparent Hogwarts was dropping its academic qualifications worldwide and that certain classes and traditions were being canceled. Tom was eventually going to try and court her to his side or plain out try to kill her as she pushed through the agenda, he had tried so hard but failed to. The humiliation would be to much for the Dark Lord and if he lost his financial backers, that would make it worse. Her job at Hogwarts was also paying unexpected divides, it was a place where the Dark Lord could not reach Teddy, not to mention, her son was also under her constant supervision. His friendship with the marauders, had also placed distance between the four most important people in Hari's life and Peter Pettigrew.

She knew he was only a twelve-year-old boy, but Hari would never be able to forget or forgive that his actions led to the death of every people Hari had ever loved, including herself and Teddy. While she had accepted being thrown back in time, it was also hard, as it took a lot for Hari to slowly implement her plans instead of just killing the Dark and Light Lord without fuss. She knew in order to save the magical world, she needed to destroy both mens reputations and then put their political aspirations to rest.

Step one was already complete. She was working at Hogwarts as the Defense Professor. She had taken up her seats in the Wizengamont. The Wizarding Traditions class had been reintroduced into the curriculum, which was something that had not even happened in her time. People were questions Dumbledore's word now, not just accepting the Old Man knew what was best for everyone. She had pushed through the first law to counter Tom, no longer would wixen be persecuted from celebrating their magic or their holidays.

Step two was about to begin.

When she stepped into the Headmaster's office, it was to find the twenty members that made up the Board of Governors, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall already gathered. On the Board were the ancient families from the time of Camelot, like the Black's, Lestrange's, Nott's, Greengrass's, Flint's, Malfoy's, Longbottom's, Potter's, McKinnon's and more, the ones who had banded together to keep the school alive after the founders had died and the heirs to the four bloodlines had vanished. Dumbledore was standing in the middle of the room, he had obviously been pacing as he talked and Hari could see many faces, showing looks of disgust and disgruntlement at whatever the man had been saying. The moment she entered though, he spun to face her, "You are not welcome here Professor," he said firmly, planting his feet and placing his hands behind his back.

She raised a brow at him and smirked, "You will find that I am Lady Slytherin-Ravenclaw and therefore I have more say to be here than you do Professor Dumbledore, given that I own half the school," she said as she moved to stand at the edge of the group, seeing the smirks pop up on the faces of those she knew. She turned back to the Headmaster, "Not to mention I have been given proxy for the Hufflepuff seat and my cousin is the Heir to the Gryffindor Seat. Therefore, we have total control of the school," she said bluntly.

The sparkle disappeared from the old mans eyes, "Lord Potter," he began, turning to face the older Lord, only for said Lord to cut him off. "No Professor. Lady Peverall is right. We have been coming to these meeting for more than fifteen years and in that time, you have made promises and not followed through on a single one. Hogwarts had dropped in the school listings since you have taken over as Headmaster. We have gone from the most premier school in the world to one of the worst. I couldn't do anything as only Heir Gryffindor as the guidelines to claiming that seat are extremely strict, but as Lady Peverall is not only Lady of two of the Founder's Houses but also the Proxy of the third and has primacy over House Potter, I can yield my vote to her as she meets the requirements for the heirship. Therefore, Lady Peverall, now has complete control of the school and everything inside of it, including you," the man said, shocking everyone present who wasn't aware that the Potter's were the heir to Gryffindor.

Dumbledore's magic cackled around him as he realized he had been completely outmaneuvered by the woman that had caused him nothing but headaches and problems since her arrival.

Before he could speak another word, another voice spoke, "Well said Lord Potter, Heir of Godric Gryffindor," the sorting hat shocked everyone.

Eyes turned to the hat, which was sitting on the shelf where it was placed year-round. Headmaster's around the office were all paying close attention to the proceedings and many eyes were locked on the woman who now controlled one of the most powerful forces in the world as Hogwarts stood atop ancient ley lines, from the time of Camelot, and had been built and protected by four of the most powerful witches and wizards the world had ever seen.

The hat lifted off the shelf by magic and settled itself on the Headmaster's desk, "Come towards me Heir of Hogwarts and say the words," the hat ordered, a deep hypnotic note to his voice. Orion's eyes had not left Hariel since she entered the office, and he saw the calculation in her green eyes as she stepped towards the hat. If she did this, it would place a target on her back. The Dark Lord was already furious that someone had dared to claim the Slytherin Lordship, as he had been unable too. Augustas was busy sorting through files in the ministry to try and find out why and Orion had no doubt that Tom was going to be furious that a Grey Witch now had control of Hogwarts, something he had hoped to claim for himself as Slytherin's heir after he won the war.

Doing this? Especially with Hariel already having an heir? She would place a target on their backs. But Orion could see the decision in her eyes as she stopped before the sorting hat and knelt to the ground, placing her hands flat on the floor on either side of her, her wand having been placed right in front of her, like an offering.

Her voice was filled with power as she spoke, "I, Hariel Rose, Lady of the Houses Peverall, Nodrín, Devenport, hereby claim the seats of the Ancient and Noble Houses of Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I accept the Proxy of the Ancient and Noble Houses of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. I Promise on my life and magic to uphold the teaching and blessing of Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin in their great home of learning, Hogwarts. I swear to do what is best for all their children and I promise to return Hogwarts to its glory. So I have sworn, so mote it be," she swore, her aura, so powerful and truly grey, that all gathered couldn't help but bask in it. Everyone present could feel her power, feel the determination and kindness, the pure protections that pulsed in her magic. Most of all, they could all feel her love. It was as though Hariel was full of this all powerful, all consuming, well of love.

It was powerful enough to scare Dumbledore, who had not felt such power from anyone in his long life. Not even Gellert or Tom Riddle.

Her aura spread from her, linking with the ancient magic of Hogwarts and the school itself judged to see if she was worthy and it encompassed the whole school. The children within Hogwarts walls had never felt such a deep love, except for Teddy, who was familiar with what was happening. The eleven-year-old boy practically vibrated as his mothers magic surrounded him, laughing as he watched the children in his class swoon with awe as they rode the wave of magic that radiated from all around them. The magic was so strong and so powerful that an ancient magic, something not seen in over a millennium, woke up, deep beneath the earth.

It had slumbered for centuries, hidden from those that meant it harm, and now it could feel the magic. The true magic of its creator, the love for life and power of creation, that radiated out into the world. Across the earth, ancient conclaves of magical creatures, vibrated as the power of Lady Magic burst to life around them, humming with the connection of Master Death. Beyond the veil, Death cackled as his little one stepped into her birthright for the first time, as the power of the Master of Death settled around her, as the magic of the bloodlines rushed into her body, as the power of life linked her so tightly to the earth that Hariel felt like she had become a God.

The Cerberus, something put to sleep when the time of Greek Gods ended, who had been extremely magically powerful wix, the faithful companion of Death, woke deep within the earth where it had been hidden by the wizard's descendants, millennia before and as it rose to his feet in his cavern, three heads pulled back and howled in unison. Across the world, to the Headmaster's office in Hogwarts, that howl was heard and Hariel's emerald, green eyes glowed golden for a few moments, making many suck in a breath, reminded of the myths surrounding Merlin, before the power settled around them.

Everyone could only stare as Ancient Runes appeared one by one, golden as they carved into fair skin in the symbols of the founders and then three more. The first was the trinity, the blessing of the Tripple Goddess, which appeared on the right side of her chest. The second was the symbol of a dragon, known as Merlin's Symbol due to him being a Dragonlord. The last, was the most shocking to all, and appeared right above her heart, the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, the blessing of Death. The symbols were burned into her body by magic, looking like a brand as the magic slowly faded again and Orion's throat was dry as he stared, speechless.

It was silent for a few seconds with all eyes focused on her, as her magic settled around like a cloak, it was so tangible that Orion almost felt like he could reach out and physically touch it and his heart skipped a couple of beats as he stared at the woman, so unlike any he had ever seen before, and wanted more desperately than he ever had before.

The Sorting Hat laughed breaking the tension and pulling all eyes towards it, "Rise and take your place, Hariel, Daughter of Lily and James, High Lady of Albion, Voice of the Once and Future King Arthur Pendragon, Heir of Merlin, Blessed by Lady Magic, Death's Chosen One," he ordered, making many suck in breaths as his words registered, Dumbledore's face turning so pale that McGonagall was worried he would faint.

The magic that Hariel had expressed, had changed things slightly.

The headmaster's office was no longer as it had been. Behind the large headmasters desk, there now stood an open doorway with a white marble archway, that looked more ancient that the school itself. The Sorting Hat had floated through it after he was finished speaking, Hariel following, and Orion was the first to take a step after her. The archway buzzed with ancient magic and Orion shivered as he walked through it, his own magic rising to the surface.

His mouth dropped as the archway opened up into a balcony that overlooked the Hogwarts grounds. The roof was made of the same white marble, with a stunning ceiling that lopped and twisted into a design he could not clearly see. In a three-quarter circle, marble archways looped around them, with large five feet wide windows, that had no railing nor glass to stop the wind. Torches sat at each pillar, offering more light as the sun was not shining on them that day.

The most stunning thing about the chamber, was the table sitting in the middle of the room. Even if Orion had not read nor heard disruptions, he would know that the table was. It was a perfect circle, with twenty-five chairs around it and the Pendragon crest carved and inlaid with gold in the center. The craftmanship was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and his mouth dried as Hariel moved to the farthest chair from the doorway and pulled it out. Carved into the back of it, was also the Pendragon Crest, marking it as Arthur Pendragon's.

For the first time, in more than two thousand years, mortals were laying their eyes on the Round Table that once graced the Court of King Arthur Pendragon and the Sorcerer Merlin.

Tears prickled at many of the gathered lords and ladies eyes as each crossed the threshold and a chair lit up with their family emblem. Everyone knew that Arthur's Knights had been nobility and commoner alike until he became King, when he elevated them for their services to the crown. No one had ever traced their lines back, to find out which families belonged to the court, as it had become unimportant since the Royal family had become squibs and the magicals were forced into hiding. Now, oh, it was clear that the families that still carried their titles and whose bloodlines hadn't been extinct, had once more been found as each Lord and Lady took their place.

Orion's chair was right beside Hariel's, a chair that once belonged to Sir Lancelot De Lac. As they took their seats, many were overcome with tears and Dumbledore stared dumbfounded as each family took their place. Shockingly, not one chair lit up when he entered the room, forcing him to stand on the outside as the First Council of Magic was called for the first time since the death of King Arthur. It was supposed to be a Board of Governors meeting, but magic had other intentions. Each wixen could feel it, Lady Magic was rejoicing in the unity of her children, they could feel their own magic sing in response of her joy.

Hariel met each person's eye individually and couldn't help her wink at Charles, who was sitting a few seats from her, smiling with joy. Each person bowed their heads, acknowledging that this woman, one no one knew, held the power of Arthur and therefore, control of the wizarding world in her hands.

"Shall we begin?" she asked seriously.

The worlds magic hummed as the Chosen One, stepped into her rightful place. The Cerberus dug himself from the earth, determined to find the source of magic he could sense. Teddy celebrated with his friends, his mothers magic, pulsing around them as Hogwarts rejoiced at the Founder's heir finally being found. Tom Riddle's grew enraged as the foreign magic, more powerful than his own burst to life in the world and beyond the veil, deep within a lake that once housed Avalon, home to the Immortal Fae, a man stirred for the first time in a millennium. Across the world, on an island void of life. But teaming with thought to be extinct and powerful magical creatures, a man lifted his head from his ancient sleep and blue eyes, flashed gold with the power of magic, as he realized that his vison from lifetimes before, had finally began.

Death and Lady Magic, shook hands beyond the eyes of mortals, eyes on their Chosen One. The one they had picked eons ago to save their world and people. In another universe, Hariel Potter was killed by greedy, powerful people, in their misguided attempt to stop another 'Dark' Lady from rising. In a place no one could see, James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Remus and Tonks Lupin, all watched their girl, the one they all thought of as their own, and they watched Teddy, and their pride sung through the afterlife. Everyone had always tried to push Hariel down, but here she was, one step at a time, pushing herself back up, stronger than she had ever been.

Blaise Zabini walked beside the love of his life, invisible but bound by death, to Hariel's side. He could never bare the thought of leaving her alone. It had shocked him when he fell in love with the Girl-Who-Survived as they had never even spoken while in school, but when he had agreed to take her in and hide her from the Order of the Phoenix, he had promised to be by her side. Death had made sure, who Blaise had asked, to bind them together until Hariel would finally be called home to his Halls. While he didn't appreciate the hungry eyes that followed Hariel, he also knew she would fall eventually, and when his eyes had laid on Orion Black, the most powerful Lord of the Generation, he had known.

Hariel had loved Sirius Black, so much, if she could save his family, or help in any way, she would. It wouldn't shock him in the slightest if Orion would be who she chose. Blaise wouldn't blame her nor stop her, if he couldn't be by her side, then he wanted someone who was powerful enough magically and politically, to take care and protect her. So, Blaise stood at her right shoulder and beamed with pride as the Knight's of the Round Table and Merlin's Heir, came together to make their world a better place once again.

Hariel knew her life as she knew it, was about to change forever as many of her secrets had been forced into the open and she could see Dumbledore scheming from behind his twinkling blue eyes as the meeting began. She hadn't known she was Merlin's Heir nor the Voice for Arthur Pendragon. Even the Goblin's hadn't known, which meant it had been magically concealed somehow. That meant Hariel was going to have to investigate. She had never been very good at leaving a mystery alone.

One thing she knew though, nothing would ever be the same again.


~!~

Tom Riddle sat on his throne in the audience chamber of his home, Slytherin Manor, as his Death Eater's entered the room, one by one for their meeting. His mind was not there, but far off, as he thought of the new person on the scene. Hariel Peverell had thrown the world in the chaos since her arrival in England. He had felt a change in his magic a few months before, but he hadn't thought anything of it, as he had been in the middle of a raid but after the Wizengamont meeting when Hariel had claimed the Slytherin Seat, something he had been unable to do as he didn't meet the requirements, it had made sense. His magic could now feel the familial bond to another person for the first time in his life.

He had never had any family, especially one close enough for a magical bond to form between them. He had thought once, maybe his Uncle Morfin, but the man had been utterly mad. So, the bond forming had shocked him. He and Hariel had never met, but they must have been closely enough related for the familial bond to tie them together. He could also feel the bond to her son, it wasn't as strong due to the boys age, but it was there.

There was a part of Tom, that wanted to accept this bond. The part that had longed for family and a place to belong. He wanted to reach out, find out if Hariel would join him, would help him make the world a better place. But he had heard of her promise in the Wizengamont meeting, she had sworn on her magic, and the small part of him that cared, did not want her dying due to breaking her world.

But the larger part of Tom wanted to kill of the threat of his power. It galled him that someone now had authority over her. As the Lady Slytherin, she had complete control over the whole bloodline. Tom had been friendly with enough purebloods in school to know that was bad. He didn't know anything about Hariel, other than what had been printed in the papers, and suspicion was ripe in his mind. Not to mention paranoia, it didn't help that Tom's soul, which he couldn't tell was unstable, constantly reached out for Hariel, sensing the Master of Death, knowing it could help him.

The magic at play, was something ancient and Tom wasn't sure how to proceed further.

The slamming of doors woke him from his haze, and he looked up to see all his Death Eater's accounted for, and his eyes automatically went to Abraxas Malfoy. He knew the Malfoy Lord had been at Hogwarts that day, he could see the disbelief in the mans eyes and how his eyes weren't focused, so obviously something had happened but then his eyes flashed to Augustus Rookwood, and he raised his brow at the man, "Well?" he demanded, straightening.

Unknowing that Abraxas had relaxed the moment his Lord's eyes moved away from him. He didn't want to be the one to tell Tom what had happened that day at Hogwarts.

Augustus moved to kneel before his Lord, "She is who she claimed to be. Hariel Rose Peverall was born in 1944 on July 31st. She was raised in Vienna, Italy where she married her late husband, Blaise Zabini, who was the only child of the cousin branch of the mainline. That whole line is now dead after some kind of magical attack three years ago. He and Hariel visited here in London for their honeymoon, where Hariel learned she was Lady Peverall. Their son, Theodore Lupin Peverall was born in 1961, when both were seventeen years of age and has been named her heir. They returned to Britain earlier this year in order for Hariel to claim her seats," the man repeated what he had learned.

Tom looked intrigued. She had been incredibly young to have a child. Even more purebloods waited until they were nineteen or twenty. To have a child at seventeen was practically unheard of. He was also shocked she knew the Britian magical ways as she hadn't been raised there but then again, she had probably done the same as him, learned as quickly as possible in order to fit in. That also meant she was incredibly young, younger than him, which didn't make sense on why she could claim the Slytherin line.

"And the Slytherin seat?" he asked.

Augustus reached into his cloak and pulled out a pile of documents, "I traced your line all the way back to the time of Camelot. According to these records, Cadmus Peverall, the middle brother of Ignotus Peverall, wed the only daughter of the Slytherin family at the time. Six generations, came Salazar Slytherin, who gained the lordship when he proved he carried their magical gift of Parseltongue. This means House Peverall has primacy over House Slytherin. The bloodline mixed a few times over the generations, before House Peverall was thought to be extinct. Four generations before you were born, Sarah Gaunt, your great aunt, wed into the Potter family, she was the oldest child of the bloodline. According to these records, Hariel's father was the first cousin of now Lord Potter, making Hariel his second. The reason she could claim the lordship, was because, through the bloodline, she's directly from the main line as Sarah was technically the heir at the time before her marriage, you're from the second line," he explained softly.

It made sense, Tom mussed.

Magic didn't care if you wed into another House, the firstborn was the firstborn, unless they had been disinherited. Well Tom was a lot older than Hariel, she was directly from the main branch not to mention the mixing of their bloodline, he's carried more diversity, well the four generations before Tom himself, had been full of incest. That was also how Hariel was the Devenport and Nodrín heir, as the Peverall's wed into those bloodlines many times. In history, Peverall woman were extremely fertile, even more than the Prewett's, having up to ten children. Mostly because they rarely wed into the same bloodline each generation. Peverall's were pretty much related to every single magical house, with House Potter being its closest as it was clear the Late Fleamont Potter, Charles father, had a brother that fathered Hariel herself, making them only a generation apart in age and magic.

Knowing all of this, Tom decided it was time for him and his cousin four times removed, needed to meet. He wanted to know, if Hariel would help or hinder, before he made his choice on what to do with her.

Even if they were family, he was still the Dark Lord, and he wouldn't allow anything to stop him now, not even her.