Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own any part of the Game of Thrones nor Harry Potter universes That includes but is not limited to the characters, locations, … Who knew.
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The dining hall of Winterfell buzzed with lively chatter as the evening meal began. The long tables were lined with Stark bannermen, household members, and visiting guests, all engaged in various conversations. At the head table, Harry found himself in a place of honor, seated between Bran and Maester Luwin, with Arya across from him. As the servants began to bring out the first courses, Harry felt a mixture of anticipation and curiosity about the evening ahead.
The meal began with a hearty stew, thick with chunks of meat and vegetables, served alongside fresh bread and butter. Harry took a few bites, savoring the warmth and richness of the food. It reminded him of the meals at Hogwarts, though there was something distinctly different about the flavors here—earthier, perhaps, and deeply satisfying.
Bran, eager to continue their earlier conversation, leaned closer to Harry. "So, you've traveled a great distance, right?" he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Where have you been? What's it like outside the North?"
Robb, seated next to Bran, nodded in agreement. "Yes, tell us about your travels, Harry. We've heard stories about life south of the Neck, but it's different hearing it from someone who's actually been there."
Harry smiled, but he hesitated for a moment, carefully considering how much to reveal. "Well, where I'm from is certainly different from anything I've experienced in the North but not all in a good way." he began, keeping his tone light. "But mostly, I've been on my own and have avoided big places."
Bran seemed momentarily disappointed by the answer before he looked back to Harry smiling. "Have you seen any knights? Or castles as big as Winterfell?"
"I've seen knights," Harry replied, thinking of the Aurors. "And at least one very impressive castle, though Winterfell has a certain ... sturdiness that other didn't. It feels like it's a part of the land, like it's always been here."
Robb seemed to appreciate the compliment. "Winterfell is our home, and it's strong. It has to be, especially in the winter." He paused as he looked around the hall before looking back to Harry. "What was your journey here like?"
Harry smiled. "It was quite the journey. The road was long, and I had to make do with what I could find and there were dangers before I even came across Eira. Although I was fortunate to come across her when I did."
The mention of Eira's name got the attention of all the Stark children who immediately looked to Harry and asked him to tell the story. After looking to Lady Stark and seeing her nod he began to share the story from when he had left Castle Cerwyn, describing the monotonous conditions of the road before the surprise at finding himself in such a dire situation when he had come across the bandits.
"But in the end, I'm lucky that Maester Luwin was able to help me," Harry added, with a wry smile. "I was close to death when I arrived."
"That's quite a tale," Robb said, eyes gleaming. "It must have been a harrowing experience."
Bran, not to be outdone, nodded vigorously. "It's incredible you made it through. I bet you have more stories from your travels!"
Harry laughed as he looked at the boy who was staring at him with wide eyes. "You have no idea. But those are stories for another time."
As Harry leaned forward to grab his glass he met Sansa's eyes. "You were brave to help Eira. It's not something everyone would have done, especially outnumbered as you were."
Harry felt a warm flush of gratitude at her words as he smiled back to her. "Thank you. I was just doing what I thought was right and what I would hope that others would do for me if I found myself in a bad situation."
Ned, who had been listening quietly, set down his goblet and turned his attention to Harry. "Have you thought any more about what your plans are?" he asked, his voice calm but with an undertone of interest.
Harry chuckled softly, shaking his head. "My lord, I just got out of bed this morning," he replied, a hint of humor in his voice. "But honestly, I'm not sure yet. I'd like to spend some time here, learn more about Winterfell and the North before I decide on a path."
Ned's expression remained neutral, but there was a hint of interest in his gaze. "That's wise. The North is vast and full of challenges, but also opportunities for those willing to seek them out." He paused, considering his next question. "What sort of skills do you have, Harry?"
Harry hesitated, memories of his world and its history of persecution of magic users flashing through his mind. He had to be careful about how he presented himself. "Well," he began slowly, "I've studied a bit of potions. In fact, despite my instructor's opinion, I'd say I'm probably quite good with them."
Ned's brow furrowed slightly in confusion. "Potions? Do you mean like a herbalist?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, I think that'd be about the same thing. Though I'd need to learn about the local plants and what's available in the area to see if I could be of any help. As I'm not sure if anything I learned would work here."
Ned considered this for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. We have a few herbalists here, and I'm sure they could provide some guidance. What else are you interested in?"
Harry smiled, grateful for Ned's understanding. "Thank you, my lord. I'd appreciate that. But I've always wanted to learn how to fight with a sword. I've been in my share of fights before, but I have almost no experience with a sword. I'd be eager to learn."
Robb, who had been listening intently, suddenly perked up, his eyes lit with enthusiasm. "You're more than welcome to join us in training," he said eagerly. "I'd enjoy having someone else to—" he paused, correcting himself with a grin, "—to practice my skills with."
Ned let out a brief laugh, one that sounded rare but genuine. "That could probably be arranged," he said, his gaze shifting from Robb to Harry. "You'll find that training here is taken seriously, but it's also a good way to bond with others."
Before Harry could respond, Maester Luwin, who had been quietly observing the conversation, spoke up. "If I may, Lord Stark," he said, his tone measured and respectful. "I wouldn't mind taking Harry under my wing as well. The Seven know I have more work than I can manage on most days, and a literate man is always welcome. When he's not in the training yard, perhaps Harry could assist me with some of my tasks. And of course, he'd be welcome to use the library whenever he wishes."
Harry's eyes widened at the mention of the library. The prospect of accessing the books—was incredibly enticing. "I'd be honored, Maester Luwin," he said sincerely. "I'd love to be able to spend time in the library."
"You can read?" Ned asked as he raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "It's not often we have guests who can read, much less would choose to," he remarked before nodding. "However, should you be able to help out, the library is at your disposal, Harry. Maester Luwin has been its caretaker for many years, and I'm sure you'll find much to occupy your mind."
Harry found out that the kitchen was practicing with dishes in preparation for the King's arrival and as such the meal continued with more courses—roasted meats, boiled vegetables, and rich gravies that filled the air with mouthwatering aromas. However, to his delight Harry found that the conversation shifted back to lighter topics as the meal continued and he found himself more comfortable as the evening wore on, engaging in conversation with the Stark children.
Later that night, when the servants began clearing the tables, Maester Luwin approached Harry. "If you're not too tired, I could show you the library now," he offered.
Harry's fatigue was quickly forgotten at the prospect. "I'd like that," he replied eagerly.
They left the dining hall and made their way through the dimly lit corridors of Winterfell, the stone walls echoing with their footsteps. The library was located in one of the older parts of the castle, tucked away behind a heavy wooden door that creaked as Maester Luwin pushed it open.
Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, filled with books, scrolls, and manuscripts. Maester Luwin led Harry into the room lantern in hand, casting a warm glow over the ancient tomes. Harry's eyes roamed over the titles, his excitement growing with each title the maester pointed out.
"Many of these books are ancient," Maester Luwin explained as he led Harry further into the room. "Some are histories of the North, others are treatises on various subjects—herbology, medicine, warfare, and more. You're welcome to read any that interest you."
Harry nodded, feeling a sense of excitement as he reached out to touch the spine of an old, leather-bound book. "This is incredible," he murmured, more to himself than to Luwin. "Thank you, Maester. I'll definitely be spending a lot of time here."
Maester Luwin smiled, clearly pleased by Harry's reaction. "Knowledge is a valuable resource, especially in times of change. I'm glad to see that you appreciate it."
They spent a few more minutes in the library, with Luwin pointing out some of the more notable works and Harry asking questions about the history of the North. Eventually, though, the long day caught up with Harry, and he felt the weariness creeping back into his bones.
"I think, if it's alright with you, I'll call it a night," he said finally, stifling a yawn.
"Of course," Luwin agreed, leading him back out into the corridor. "We can continue tomorrow. There's plenty of time."
- HP GOT - HP GOT - HP GOT - HP GOT - HP GOT -
The following morning, Harry awoke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the windows of his room. As he stretched and made himself get out of bed, he could hear the distant sounds of the castle coming to life. Despite the early hour he could hear the rhythmic clanging of metal, muffled voices, and the occasional shout from the training yard.
Eager to get his day underway, Harry quickly dressed and made his way down to the common hall for breakfast. As he entered, he found that the hall was already bustling with activity. Servants were busy carrying food empty dishes, and various members of the household were already seated and engaged in animated conversation. Harry scanned the room for familiar faces and spotted Jon Snow seated at a corner table.
After grabbing a plate and filling it with food, Harry approached Jon's table, hoping to strike up a conversation. "Good morning, Jon. How are you today?"
Jon looked up briefly, his expression guarded. "Morning, Harry."
There was a pause as Jon looked at him before he looked back down and took another bite of his bread, his gaze fixed on his plate. Recognizing that perhaps Jon was not a conversationalist Harry, decided to give Jon space and looked around the hall for other company. However, after not recognizing anyone else he took a seat with Jon, and they ate in silence.
Eventually, Harry finished his meal and set off to find Maester Luwin. At a direction from one of the servants, he found the maester in his chambers, buried under a pile of scrolls and books. Luwin looked up as Harry entered.
"Ah, Harry. I'm glad you're here. As discussed yesterday, should you desire to help I have a couple of tasks you might be interested in," Luwin said, gesturing to the cluttered desk. "You could help me with the annual inventory of supplies in town or if you'd prefer you could assist Branwyn with copying old texts in the library."
Harry considered the options. As the thought of inventorying town supplies didn't excite him as much as the prospect of spending time in the library, he shrugged and looked to the maester. "I think I'd prefer to help Branwyn."
Luwin nodded approvingly. "I suppose I'm not surprised. Very well, Branwyn should be in the library already. Just make sure to be thorough and careful with the texts. They are quite old and delicate."
Harry nodded and promised the master, before leaving the chamber and making his way to the library. As he entered, he found Branwyn already at work, hunched over a large manuscript. Hearing Harry enter, Branwyn looked up and offered a brief smile.
"Good morning, Harry. I have a book ready for you to start with," Branwyn said, pointing to a large tome on the table.
After going through the exact process and letting Harry know the expectations Branwyn watched Harry do the first page. After Harry finished, Branwyn went over his effort and after pointing out a couple items that Harry needed to fix and be careful with going forward, he nodded and went back to the book he had been working on when Harry entered. Nodding, Harry took the book, settled into a chair, and for the next few hours, he meticulously copied the text, his hand moving steadily across the parchment. The work was slow and tedious, but there was something soothing about the rhythmic process and it certainly was more enjoyable than helping Lockhart reply to fan mail.
After what felt like a couple of hours, Branwyn stood up and announced that they had finished for the morning, letting Harry know he was off to do other tasks. "You're not required to continue if you don't wish to. You're free to leave or stay in the library with the books as long as you like. Just remember to extinguish all flames before you go."
"I think I'll stay a bit longer and look through some of the books." Harry replied, excited to begin exploring the books.
Branwyn nodded, packing up the materials. "Very well. If you need anything, just come find me, I'll be down the hall in the rookery."
Once Branwyn had left, Harry began to look through the shelves. The library was filled with ancient texts and manuscripts, many of which looked like they hadn't been touched in years. He pulled out several books, scanning their titles, before settling on one that caught his interest: a comprehensive history of Westeros, beginning with the arrival of Aegon the Conqueror.
He found a comfortable spot and began to read. The book was dense with information, detailing the early conquests, the establishment of the Seven Kingdoms, and the numerous conflicts that followed. Harry found the history fascinating but when his stomach grumbled, realized that he had gotten lost in reading and had been reading for quite some time.
Glancing out the window, he saw that the sun was high in the sky, indicating it was nearing midday. Harry sighed and decided he might as well take a break for food. Setting the book aside, he remembered Branwyn's reminder and carefully extinguished the lanterns before leaving the library, making his way back to the hall for lunch.
As he entered the hall, he saw that it was quieter than this morning. The high table was empty, and most of the other diners were already finishing their meals. Harry spotted Eira seated at one of the lower tables, her face lighting up, as she waved, when she saw him.
"Harry! I'm glad you came over," she said excitedly as he approached.
Harry took a seat next to her, glad to have some company. "It's good to see you Eira."
She smiled up at him, "How are you feeling? My brother mentioned you might be joining him in the library this morning. Is it true you can read? What are you doing for the rest of the day?"
Harry laughed at her questions, "You really are a curious one. I'm feeling alright, certainly much better than I was. And your brother was right. Maester Luwin let me know that if I wanted to help him out while I was deciding on what I wanted to do, he would appreciate help. So, this morning I spent several hours with your brother copying out pages from old books before they completely fall apart." He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "So obviously I can read. And as for what I have planned for the rest of the day … I'm not sure but was thinking about going back to the library or possibly start exploring the castle."
Eira's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You know, you remind me a bit of Jon Snow."
Harry raised an eyebrow at her comment, before glancing over at Jon, who was sitting by himself again. "Really? How so?"
Eira shook her head, laughing. "Not in the way you might think. You're not as quiet as he is. It's more like you both seem to keep parts of yourselves hidden, as if you are concerned with sharing."
Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked back to her. "I suppose there might be some truth to that. So, what's Jon's story?"
Eira looked thoughtful for a moment. "Jon's a bastard."
This comment caused Harry's eyebrows to both shoot up in surprise and he stared at Eira, slightly taken aback. "So, what did Jon do to be considered a bastard?"
Eira shook her head again. "It's not something Jon did. It's just the way things are. Lord Stark is his father but Lady Stark is not his mother. His mother was someone from the South but she died during or shortly after Robert's Rebellion, and Lord Stark brought him back to Winterfell. Lady Stark isn't very fond of Jon and doesn't like the situation, but he insisted on keeping him here and she isn't able to convince Lord Stark to send Jon away."
Harry glanced at Jon, who had just finished his meal and was leaving the hall. "That's quite a situation. Can't imagine that's easy on him. How does Jon get along with everyone?"
Eira smiled. "Lord Stark treats him well, and for the most part, his siblings get along with him. Robb and Arya are especially close to him. Even Bran likes him."
Just as they were finishing their meal, Harry watched Robb walked into the hall. He saw the other boy glance around for several seconds before his eyes settled on Harry and began making his way over with a grin on his face. "Ready for some training in the yard?" He asked as he arrived.
Harry's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Absolutely."
Robb led the way to the training yard, where Ser Rodrik, Jon, Theon and Bran were already waiting. The master-at-arms gave Harry a once-over and remarked, "I'm surprised you've never had any training before. But don't worry, I'll teach you the basics. The goal of today is just to make sure you don't end up sticking yourself with the sword."
Harry nodded. "I'm eager to learn."
Harry made his way over to where the equipment was and under Bran's direction began getting ready, a process he was confident took several times longer than it did for the other present.
Finally, properly prepared Harry made his way back over to where Ser Rodrik was having the elder boys practicing some forms. Nodding when he confirmed Harry was ready, he pointed to the end and instructed Harry to follow along. As the session began, Theon and Robb, couldn't help but laugh at his lack of experience, and Harry was pretty sure he saw that even Jon and Bran were smiling.
Despite the rough start, Harry was a quick learner. After some time, Ser Rodrik began pairing up the boys and while Harry was still struggling with his technique, he found that he could use his reflexes and longer reach to his advantage. By the end of the session, he was winning more often than not against Bran, much to his chagrin. Although he had not won a single match against Theon much less against Robb or Jon.
Once Ser Rodrik dismissed them for the afternoon, Robb and Jon, made their way over to him and patted him on the back. "You've made a lot of progress in just one session," Robb said, clapping Harry on the back. "You definitely have a long way to go, but I was worried after I saw your stance when you started. Who knows, at this rate, in about forty years you might have a chance against Jon or myself." He said with a laugh, clapping Harry on the back.
Harry was about to respond when a familiar, energetic figure darted out of a nearby stairwell and ran over to them. Arya Stark's eyes were alight with excitement. Jon laughed as he greeted her. "Does Septa Mordane know you've been sneaking around again?"
Arya's face flushed slightly, but she grinned. "I couldn't help it! I was so excited to watch the fight when I heard Harry would be joining you on the yard. Even Sansa had seemed a little interested, but she decided it was more ladylike to stay with her embroidery."
Harry nearly laughed at the way Arya had said it. However, she turned her attention to Harry before he could say anything, her eyes staring at him. "You were honestly a lot worse than I thought you'd be."
Harry's mouth dropped open in shock as he stared at her and tried to come up with a response while ignoring the sound of Robb and Jon howling with laughter.
But before he could come up with a response, Arya smirked and continued. "You were clumsy, but it was fun to watch. I'm glad you managed to knock Bran down a few times."
Harry smiled as he looked back towards her. "Thanks for the feedback, Arya. I guess I'll have to practice a lot more before I get your approval."
Arya nodded before her eyes lit up with another idea as she looked to her brothers. "Since wasn't planning on going back to embroidering, I was going to go get Nymeria and take a walk through the Godswood. Do you want to come with me?"
Harry looked between Robb and Jon, who had started nodding, before he turned to Arya and asked, "Who's Nymeria?"
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Story Note 1 – And direwolves inbound, looking forward to having Harry meet the direwolves!
Story Note 2 – As for Harry fighting, obviously magic is a big part of who Harry is and that will be a big part of the story going forward. But I thin I touched on it a bit in this chapter when Harry remembered stories of how magic users were treated in his world in the past. So for now Harry will try to avoid using magic in front of others if he can, as such he shall be trying to learn skills to help avoiding the need to use the magic. That being said don't worry Harry will definitely have his first chat with magic in this world coming up.
Story Note 3 – Harry will have just over a week before the king and his party arrives, until then Harry will have the opportunity to spend more time with the Stark children and learning about Westeros. By the time the king arrives, Harry will have a general idea about what he wants to do and this will be solidified by the time the king's party leaves.
A large thanks to those of you out there who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you all are enjoying them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or have reached out to me directly.
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Thanks to everyone who message to let me know part of the second chapter had been cut off. For those who hadn't seen the alert it was the part right after Harry arrived to Winterfell. The next chapter started right with him meeting Lord Stark which meant a part where he met a couple important characters (who will play important roles in the story) were cut off. So enjoy that surprise if you haven't already!
outcome 5, jumpingmanatee, Guest x 2 - Thanks for the review and I am really glad you are enjoying the story so far!
Laigron, AiyaKnight - Magic will certainly play a large part of this story especially once Harry begins to journey out in the world.
bleacherspam1 - Thanks so much for the review. I had wanted to do something that was a little different but at the same time stayed true to the story and Harry as a character. Of course as time progresses Harry will certainly have an effect on everything that goes on.
Fenrir070 - I'm glad everything was well received! Took a while to try and write the characters in the way I thought they'd act but glad they came off alright. Well then you are in for a treat! Oh I imagine Harry might decide that Robert is certainly not an actively bad individual but is not really a great king.
TheWateringWizard - As mentioned above magic will certainly play a big role in the story and Harry will slowly become more and more confident about using magic especially when he's safe or around those he learns he can trust. As for Eira ... well I guess we will see!
