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Harry woke up in his new room, blinking against the light streaming through the small window. The room was smaller than the one he had been staying in before, but it was cozy, with a thick fur blanket atop his bed and a narrow table beside the wall. He had been moved to another wing of the castle to allow for the royal guests to be closer to the Starks and while he missed the spaciousness of his old quarters, he appreciated how much closer he was to the Great Hall. The smell of fresh bread and cooked meat floated in through the window, making him smile even as he felt the grogginess of sleep leaving his body.
Sitting up, Harry quickly regretted the sudden movement, squeezing his eyes shut and pressing a hand to his head in an attempt to massage away the pounding headache. After returning with Jon from the training yard, he had shown more restraint than him, that much was certain, but he had still drunk more than he intended, before he had finally managed to convince Jon to let him go to bed, hours later than he'd planned. A groan escaped his lips as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and forced himself to stand, his head protesting with every movement.
"I wish I had the Weasley Hangover Fixer Elixir right now," Harry muttered, imagining Fred and George's mischievous faces as they handed out the stuff after big parties in the common room for a fee. He had never needed it before—drinking had never been something he ever done while in Hogwarts—but he'd have gladly taken the risk of it being just another of their prank potions if there was a small chance that it could have helped ease the pressure pounding in his skull.
Shaking his head, which only made the pain worse, Harry stumbled to his clothes. After dressing slowly, Harry left his room, chuckling to himself. If he was feeling this bad, Jon must be in far worse shape. The thought of Jon, lying in his bed, hopefully unable to even open his eyes, made Harry smile as he made his way down the halls toward the Great Hall.
The moment Harry entered the hall, the difference from the previous night was striking. Gone was the bustling crowd, the laughter, the music that had echoed into the early hours of the morning. Now, the hall was quieter, populated by only a couple of dozen people who had managed to force themselves out of bed and sat alone or in small groups, mostly in silence. Some ate in peace, while others nursed mugs of water or ale, looking like they were suffering much much more than Harry.
He found a quiet corner and gratefully accepted a jug of water, drinking two mugs full in quick succession before grabbing the greasiest sausages he could find along with a plate full of bread and eggs before sitting back to eat. He ate slowly, the salty and fatty food helping to settle his stomach and ease his headache. For a while, he was content to sit in silence, the noise level in the hall just barely tolerable as more people slowly filtered into the hall for their morning meal.
About half an hour later, Harry heard laughter—a loud, familiar sound—and looked up in surprise to see Tyrion Lannister striding confidently into the hall. Tyrion appeared none the worse for wear after the night of drinking, his short form seeming remarkably energetic for someone who had matched the king and anyone else who even got close in drinking throughout the banquet. Harry stared in shock at the dwarf for nearly a full minute as Tyrion made his way to the empty high table, grinning as he sat down.
"How …?" Harry muttered under his breath. He shook his head, immediately regretting it again as the pounding in his skull flared up again. He returned his attention to his plate, though the thought of Tyrion's apparent immunity to hangovers stuck with him and made him jealous.
Just as Harry finished the last of his bread and began on the eggs, Eira entered the hall, her bright smile a stark contrast to Harry's current state. Seeing him, she made her way over and took a seat beside him.
"Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully, her voice much too loud for Harry's liking. She noticed him wince and raised an eyebrow. "A little bit of a … long night?"
"Could you … maybe talk a little quieter?" Harry muttered, managing a weak grin despite his discomfort. Eira laughed softly, clearly amused by his suffering.
"Serves you right for drinking with Jon and the other men," she teased, though she lowered her voice as requested. "You're lucky you didn't get pulled into Theon's drinking games. You'd be much worse off."
Harry chuckled, though the action made his head throb. "I think Jon did try," he admitted. "But I convinced him to let me go to bed before things got too out of hand for me."
Eira's laughter was soft but full of amusement. "I had the pleasure of serving drinks to some knights and nobles last night. You should've seen some of them by the end of the night—completely passed out under the tables. You certainly ended up in better shape than some."
As they ate together, Eira recounted tales of the previous night. She told him about the knights and nobles she had served as a cupbearer, some of whom had provided her with stories that made Harry laugh—albeit carefully, so as not to worsen his headache. Despite her teasing over his headache, Harry found her company enjoyable. Slowly but surely, as the meal progressed, he began to feel more like himself. The pounding in his head receded, and the greasy food did its work in settling his stomach.
By the time they both finished their breakfast, the Great Hall was beginning to fill with more people. The air became livelier, and the noise grew steadily louder, though Harry was relieved to find he could tolerate it now. He glanced around the room, noting that the large doors to the hall had just opened, and in walked the Stark family, along with the queen and all three of her children.
Cersei Lannister, draped in her regal attire, looked every bit the queen, though Harry noticed the stiffness in her walk and the cold expression on her face as she guided her children to the high table, making note of the fact that she sat on the far end from where Tyrion was still sitting eating his food. Sansa Stark looked bright-eyed and full of excitement as she glanced around the hall, her eyes lingering on Joffrey, who strode beside her like the prince he was.
Harry smirked to himself when he realized that one notable person was missing from the procession—the king. It wasn't surprising, considering the state Robert Baratheon had been in by the time Harry had excused himself from the feast the night before. The king had shown no signs of slowing down and was still going strong, his booming laughter and slurred speech following Harry as he left the hall. Harry doubted Robert would be making an appearance anytime soon.
As Robb Stark and his siblings made their way to the high table, Harry couldn't help but be reminded of Jon's current condition and chuckle to himself. If Harry had a hangover, Jon must be feeling absolutely miserable right now. He could imagine Jon groaning in pain, regretting every drink he'd downed last night.
Eira noticed his smile and raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing," Harry said with a grin. "Just thinking about how bad Jon must be feeling right now."
Eira laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's still in bed. I heard he and Theon stayed up drinking long after most people went to bed."
They sat for a while longer, watching as the hall continued to fill up. The morning was quickly passing, and it was clear that the castle was returning to its usual rhyth. Servants bustled about, clearing plates and bringing in more food, while guests began to gather in larger numbers. The hum of conversation grew louder, though Harry was relieved to find that his headache was now just a dull ache rather than the sharp pain it had been earlier.
"Well," Eira said, standing up, "I should get going. I've got some tasks to do before the afternoon meal prep begins. Don't overdo it, Harry. If you need some fresh air, the courtyard is probably the quietest place right now."
Harry smiled and thanked her for her company, watching as she left the hall to attend to her duties.
Eventually, Harry pushed his chair back from the table, feeling significantly better after a hearty breakfast and plenty of water. The hall was now filled with the clatter of dishes, the hum of conversations, and the movements of servants clearing away the remnants of the morning meal. His head had finally stopped throbbing, and the weariness from the night before was fading.
As Harry stood, intending to head outside for some fresh air, he felt someone approaching. Robb Stark, with his tall and broad-shouldered frame, came up to him, a friendly grin on his face.
"Morning, Harry," Robb greeted him cheerfully, though there was a certain tiredness in his eyes that suggested he hadn't entirely escaped the excesses of the previous night himself. "How was the night for you?"
Harry gave him a knowing nod. "It was a good evening. How about yours?"
Robb's smile faltered slightly as his eyes flicked over his shoulder. Harry followed his gaze to where Prince Joffrey sat at the high table, looking as arrogant and smug as ever, flanked by his mother, Queen Cersei, and his siblings. Robb's face tightened momentarily, a slight pinch in his expression, before he turned back to Harry.
"It was … alright," Robb said, his tone a bit guarded. He hesitated for a moment, then seemed to shrug it off. "The prince is going out riding in the Wolfswood this afternoon. I figured since he won't be in the training yard, you'd be more than welcome to join Theon, Jon, and me for some sword practice."
Harry's mood instantly lifted. He'd been enjoying the sparring sessions he'd had with the boys, though he was still getting the hang of it, and was slightly disappointed when he had been informed that he wouldn't be allowed to continue while the kings party was here.
"That sounds great," Harry replied with a smile. "I'll definitely be there, though … I'm not so sure about Jon."
Robb looked confused. "Why not?"
Harry chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Without your father to keep an eye on him, Jon really indulged last night. I don't think he'll be too eager or quick to get out of bed today."
Robb raised an eyebrow, and then a look of jealousy flickered across his face. "That lucky sod," he muttered under his breath, though his tone was more amused than bitter. He crossed his arms, considering this new information with a thoughtful expression.
Then, as if struck by an idea, Robb's grin returned, wider and more devilish than before. "You know," he began slowly, "it would be a shame if Jon were to miss his morning meal just because he felt he was in no condition to get up."
Harry saw the mischief in Robb's eyes and laughed. "You wouldn't."
"Oh, I would," Robb said with a sly smirk. "Someone's got to make sure he doesn't waste the whole day in bed. I should probably go wake him."
Harry laughed again and raised a hand as if to stop him, but it was a half-hearted gesture at best. "I'm not sure that's the best idea—he'll probably curse you when you do."
Robb shrugged, looking completely unbothered by the prospect. "Let him curse all he wants. I'll be too busy laughing to hear it."
Before Harry could say another word, Robb was already heading for the exit, his stride quickening as he almost ran out of the hall. Harry shook his head, still grinning, imagining Jon's reaction when Robb burst into his room and dragged him out of bed.
"Poor Jon," Harry muttered to himself, laughing softly as he turned and made his way out of the hall, feeling the cool breeze hit his face as he stepped into the courtyard.
Outside, Winterfell was bustling with activity. Servants moved back and forth carrying supplies, stable hands were tending to the horses, and a group of young boys ran past, likely on their way to chores. The courtyard was far quieter than the hall, the air refreshing after the lingering smells of food and drink.
Harry walked leisurely across the courtyard, heading toward the training yard where he knew Robb and the others would eventually gather. His thoughts drifted to the events of the previous night—the feast, the music, the laughter—and, of course, the drinking. It had been his first time seeing such a grand celebration, with lords and ladies mingling, and knights boasting of their tournament plans.
As he approached the training yard, he saw a few men sparring already, the sound of wooden and steel swords clashing echoing across the yard. He lingered at the edge, watching them for a moment, observing their footwork, their stances. Even though he certainly lacked the experience that others his age had, the swordplay fascinated him.
He leaned against the fence surrounding the yard, content to watch the men who were practicing at the moment, taking mental notes to hopefully help improve his skills.
It wasn't long before Robb came striding back, a triumphant grin plastered across his face. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"So?" Harry asked, trying to suppress a laugh. "How did it go?"
"Oh, he's awake," Robb said with a wicked smile. "Though not very happy about it. You should've seen the look on his face when I dumped cold water over him."
Harry burst out laughing, imagining Jon's indignant sputtering. "You didn't."
"I did," Robb replied, his expression all too pleased with himself. "He'll be down here soon enough for some food. Might take him a while to recover and change into dry clothes, though." He turned towards the Great Hall before looking back to Harry, "Off to finishing my meal. I'll see you later for training."
- HP - WW - HP - WW - HP - WW - HP - WW - HP - WW -
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, preventing any shadows over Winterfell's training yard. Harry arrived early, savoring the cool northern air as he stretched and began his warm-up exercises. He was eager to get started, especially after how much fun he'd had sparring with Robb, Jon, and even Theon earlier in the week. As he swung his arms in wide circles and stretched his legs, he heard the unmistakable voice of Ser Rodrik Cassel approaching.
"Harry," Ser Rodrik called out, his tone firm yet not unkind. "A word with you."
Harry paused mid-stretch, turning to face the grizzled master-at-arms. Ser Rodrik's stern face was softened slightly by the deep lines around his eyes, showing a lifetime of experience. Harry straightened up and gave a respectful nod, waiting for the older man to speak.
"I thought you were told," Ser Rodrik began, his bushy eyebrows furrowing, "that you are not to train with the boys while Prince Joffrey is here. Lord Stark might not mind if someone not of nobility strikes his sons with a practice sword, but the same tolerance will not be extended when it comes to the prince. No matter if you are still Lord Stark's guest."
Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked at the man.
"I'm sorry, Ser Rodrik. Robb told me the prince would be out riding this afternoon and invited me to join them for practice. I assumed it was alright since Prince Joffrey wouldn't be here," Harry explained.
Ser Rodrik studied him for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Hmmm … I wasn't aware. Alright if that's the case and Robb invited you, that's another matter. But be warned, should the prince return early, your participation will end immediately. Do not put yourself in a situation where there could be a misunderstanding. The Prince is not like the Stark boys and the King is certainly nothing like Lord Stark."
Harry nodded again, relieved that Ser Rodrik wasn't completely forbidding him from training. "Understood. I'll be careful."
With that, after pointing out two mistakes with his form, Ser Rodrik turned and left Harry to continue his warm-ups. The man was a tough taskmaster but fair, and Harry appreciated that. He resumed his exercises, now even more determined to prove himself in the training yard.
Not long after he had finished his warm ups, the others began to arrive. Robb was certainly the most lively of the bunch and certainly looked eager to started. Meanwhile Jon and Theon, looked as if there was anywhere they would rather be at the moment, and while Theon at least looked like he was still partially drunk. Harry had never seen Jon looking so pale and couldn't get the thought out of his head that he was about three seconds away from being sick. However, despite their states the group wasted no time in picking up their practice swords.
Harry's first bout was against Theon, who in the end couldn't even be bothered that Harry managed to rather handedly win three matches in a row. Not even caring enough to make a comment towards Harry as Ser Rodrik excused him and he walked over to one of the benches where he dunked his head into a bucket of water.
His second match was against Jon, who, despite his rough condition, was still significantly better than Theon. But today, to his surprise, Harry had the upper hand. As Jon was still feeling the effects of the previous night combined with his growing confidence, Harry managed to land several solid hits to start the fight which shocked Jon and led to Harry eventually winning the bout.
Theon and Robb found this absolutely hilarious.
"Jon, beaten by Harry! Someone fetch the maester—Jon must have hit his head last night!" Theon crowed, laughing as he slapped Jon on the back.
Robb wasn't much kinder. "You'll never hear the end of this, Jon," he teased, grinning widely. "Harry, I'm impressed. Maybe you've been holding back this whole time."
Harry shook his head with a smile. "I think Jon's condition might've had something to do with it," he admitted, glancing at Jon, who scowled but couldn't help the small grin creeping onto his face.
Despite the teasing, Jon clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Well done, Harry. Don't get used to it, though."
And true to his word, the loss to Harry seemed to have woken him up and he managed to rather soundly defeat Harry in their next handful of matches.
Harry's final bout was against Robb, and though he didn't win a single match, he was thrilled to have held his own for a span of nearly five minutes, where he managed to land a few hits on Robb that surprised the other boy. And that alone was enough to give Harry a sense of accomplishment.
Robb was clearly impressed, offering Harry a nod of approval after the bout ended. "Obviously, you still have a ways to go. But your victory against Jon might not have been as much a chance occurence as you think, Harry. You are certainly getting better."
As they were wrapping up their training, Harry noticed someone standing at the edge of the yard. Jaime Lannister, was leaning casually against a pillar, watching the sparring with an unreadable expression on his face. His golden hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his armor, though simple for the day, seemed to fit him perfectly as if it were an extension of his body. Harry caught Jaime's eye for a brief moment, but before he could react, the Kingslayer shook his head slightly as if in disappointment and turned away, disappearing into the shadows of the keep.
Harry felt a slight unease settle over him, but before Harry could dwell on it too long, Robb called out to him.
"We're done for today. Well fought, Harry," Robb said, clapping him on the back. Theon and Jon gave him nods of approval as well, although Jon was less approving of the jokes that soon followed at his expense about his match with Harry.
After they split up, Harry made his way toward the hot springs, eager to clean up after the intense training session. As he wandered through the halls, wiping the sweat and dirt from his brow, he nearly collided with Sansa, Arya, and Bran as they turned a corner.
"Stop complaining, Arya," Sansa was saying in her usual exasperated tone. "Mother told us we need to do this. But even putting that aside, you should be delighted, we're getting a private audience with the queen and her children. And if we're lucky, maybe we'll get the opportunity to see Joffrey when he returns from his ride."
Arya made a face behind Sansa's back, her expression one of disgust, but she quickly schooled her features when she noticed Harry.
"Oh, hello, Harry," Sansa greeted him with a polite if distant smile, her hands smoothing out the folds of her dress. "Where are you off to?"
"Just finished on the training yard," Harry replied, nodding to Bran and Arya before turning his attention back to Sansa. "I'm heading to the hot springs to clean off."
Sansa's smile remained perfectly polite, though there was a hint of condescension in her tone. "I hope you had fun with my brothers, but you should be glad Joffrey wasn't there. He was telling me all about his training during the feast last night. You wouldn't have stood a chance against him."
Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "That could be true, but I suppose I have no way of knowing. Besides, I'm not that concerned."
Sansa looked slightly surprised at Harry's lack of reverence for the prince, while Arya burst into laughter.
"That's the spirit, Harry," Arya said, smirking at her sister's reaction. Then she teased, "Off to the hot springs again, are you? You spend more time in there than anyone I know."
Harry grinned. "It's something I learned the importance of while growing up. Was always taught it keeps people healthy," he said with a wink, glancing at Arya. "And the last thing I want is to smell as bad as you."
This time it was Sansa who laughed, her composure breaking for a brief moment. Arya, however, was not as amused.
"Oh, you'll regret that!" Arya shouted, grabbing an apple from the basket Bran was carrying and hurling it at Harry's head.
Harry quickly ducked, the apple missing him by inches. Laughing, he bolted down the corridor, calling over his shoulder, "You'll have to catch me first!"
As he sprinted away, he could hear Arya's indignant huff and Sansa's soft giggles.
Harry turned the corner and slowed his pace, grinning to himself. Reaching the hot springs, Harry slipped into the warmth of the water, letting it wash away the soreness from training and the lingering laughter from his encounter with the Stark siblings. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax and enjoy the moment.
Kind Regards,
FavoriteAuthor
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Story Note 1 – Poor Harry and the morning after. Although Tyrion certainly does seem to have some supernatural ability to function. But I guess if you are always drunk then you never have to deal with the hangover.
Story Note 2 – I do feel that Harry is certainly making progress although he still has a way to go before he is anywhere near the level of Jon or Robb. That being said, congrats to Harry for taking advantage of the opportunity and surprising Jon while Jon was … not in the best state.
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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BioHazard82, BetaBot - Thanks so much for the feedback and I am really happy you are enjoying my story!
Ariadne Venegas - Jon's journey will certainly diverge from canon. I do really agree that Ned having no backup plans for Jon to find out the news was shortsighted and obviously the wrong decision. As for Arya there was a lot of important character growth that happened to Arya once she left and if she had stayed she certainly wouldnt be the same character who managed to save Westeros. That being said she will travel a different path but likely not hang around Winterfell. I understand why Theon did what he did but it hurt seeing him betray Robb. Betraying Jon ... I could see but the fact that it hurt Robb so much seemed almost OOC, that being said I understand his drive to prove himself to his 'people' was a huge motivation.
LAzHellRaiser - Friendship is an important drive in this story. A different path will certainly be in store for him.
et-reader97 - Thanks so much for that feedback! First of all - Good catch, but that was done on purpose. Why the other visits to the Godswood went different than this one will certainly be looked into in upcoming chapters. And the fallout from saving Arya will come up once things settle down a bit. Thought it would be realistic for Ned to want to talk to Harry but have gotten busy with the kings arrival. I really ejoyed writing their interaction! Hey stop reading story notes! Haha ... I would imagine Myrcella might have a slightly increased role coming up.
cameron1812 - If I bet, I would imagine you might be onto something!
Bosmer1701 - Thanks so much for the review and certainly couldn't agree more! If I had to relive my birth and then spend years as a toddler before having to pretend not to be some uber genius that would be incredibly torturous.
Fenrir070 - Thanks! I really enjoyed writing it! And I certainly think there could be something to that idea!
rasengen9 - Couldn't agree more! It was so shortsighted! Especially with how easy it is to die.
