DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING BUT Original story ideas and characters. EVERYTHING ELSE BELONGS TO J.K. ROWLING AND MARVEL
OKAY, SO HERE'S THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE BLOODLINE SAGA: EXORDIUM BOOK 1
IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY FOR SURE!
NOW, THE NEXT STORY WILL BE A NOVELLA, WHICH WILL BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THIS BOOK AND THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SAGA.
DOG DAYS' FIRST CHAPTER DROPS ON 1ST MAY!
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27th June, Hogwarts Great Hall
The Hall was a cacophony of voices, with the rumor mill working overtime about what had happened to their celebrity champion in the last task. Some had it on point with their speculation that he was kidnapped by a dark lord or some follower of his. In contrast, some chalked it up to just another result or proof of how brutal the tournament is.
The news about their champion's fight in the maze painted him in different lights respective to what lens they viewed him from.
Those who supported light viewed him as a hero, but they were in the minority as most either saw him as survivor of the brutal tournament, while fans of the deceased quidditch star held nothing but hatred for him.
But none of that mattered to the Green-eyed young man sitting at his end of his house table, being watched like a hawk by his fiancée, girlfriend, and sister, all making sure that he was eating enough. Once again, he found no help from Neville, who was simply too entranced by his Hufflepuff girlfriend.
He had been discharged from the infirmary about two hours ago, and since then, he hadn't been left alone by his ladies for a minute, as the night of the third task had shaken everyone down to their cores and had different reactions.
Seeing her savior lying there bloodied, broken, and so vulnerable re-lit a spark in Daphne. As she finally saw the reality of the situation, as much as he was her savior, he too needed a savior or rather a partner to face the coming war. People around her could sense the imminent return of Ice Princess.
Susan shared her thoughts, agreeing to help him with training, but at the same time, she was worried about her fiancé's emotional well-being. As such, she had a secondary goal to prepare for.
Sif had been training relentlessly and working on her craft around the clock while at the same time communicating with her family, relaying everything about the third task.
Fleur was by far the only one who was acting normal, which was a little strange, but he was also curious about the favor she asked. He stood by his words and would give her all she asked for, but still, he was curious.
He had relayed everything to his family and friends in a closed classroom the day after his discharge. Only Poppy and Hermione knew the truth about the task outside the family.
Everyone's attention was drawn by the soft clinging of metal against metal as Dumbledore stood up and moved to the podium, starting:
"Before we begin our End of Year Feast, I would like to inform you all about what occurred in the third task. During the task, Mr. Potter is kidnapped via a portkey to a graveyard by traitors Peter Petiegrew and Barteimus Crouch Junior.
While Junior posed as his father, the late Barteimus Crouch the Senior, with the help of Polyjuice, controlled Mr. Krum to do his bidding in the maze by attacking the other two champions.
In the following skirmish, Mr. Krum perished at Mr. Potter's hand in an act of self-defense. We will hold a silence for a minute in remembrance of the departed."
For the next few moments, the hall was silent, with many shedding tears of remembrance, Harry being one of them.
Dumbledore broke the silence gently. "Many times I have felt that while memories of the cherished should be held dearly, their lives should be celebrated. Mr. Krum was a young man with an indomitable sportsman's spirit. While he accepted his failures, he also celebrated his opponent's triumph like a true gentleman, his wise words lifting the gloomy mood a little.
With Headmasters wave of the wand before adding, decorations changed from mourning black to Gryffindor red and the atmosphere brightened even more "Mr. Potter wears Siege Perlious, marking him as Winnner of the Regional Stage of Merlin Cup, bringing glory to Hogwarts. He will be competing in the International leg next year!" his words gaining the applause of appreciation from the Hall.
As the applause died, Dumbledore continued, "Just like us, all over the world, champions are chosen. In the coming two months, Hogwarts will be changed to accommodate our guests from the Schools of China, Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Russia, Greece, and Italy!" which gained another round of applause from the hall.
"I would also like to thank our esteemed guests who gave us the honor of hosting them. Remember the main goal behind this tournament was international co-operation and friendship. Which I can say with utmost confidence has been fulfilled. Now the year has ended, and so is my blabbering with Nitwit! Bubbler! Oddment! Tweak! let's tuck in." He finished his speech with a smile, and after clapping, he returned to his throne-like chair.
The dinner was as luscious a spread as ever, a mix of French, English, and Bulgarian dishes. It was special for foreign students who had been sick of eating English cuisine for the last year, which Fleur didn't miss an opportunity to complain about.
He snickered, thinking about her signature comment, 'Zese is nozzing but overcooked ingredients,' before he started eating. His mind went back to that night in the graveyard, remembering the feeling of pure terror when he saw the inhumane form of his nemesis, which was only amped up seeing how the Dark Lord acted following that.
The calm, collected, and level-headed man made him shiver in his shoes more than the psychopath he faced in his first and second years. Something had changed; somehow, somewhere, madness had given way to cold reasoning, which in his mind was far more dangerous.
It was his pure dumb luck that he survived the death eater assault, and Voldemort had indeed been gracious, but that might not be the case the next time they faced. He was done depending on his luck to keep himself alive cause the next stage will be absolute hell, and that was putting it lightly.
But he had time to prepare and people who were willing to help him, above all that something other than survival to fight for. His ladies, Sirius, and their future as a family. Failure wasn't an option.
He was brought out of his reverie when he heard Sif's voice calling for him. "Hadrian!" he turned to look at her, a little startled, as he made an unintelligible noise.
Looking around, he got questioning looks from all of his friends who had already started eating.
Fleur nudged him lightly, reprimanding him, "Where were you lost? Food's getting cold." Susan passed him the absolute mountain of food on the plate.
He simply took it with a smile, saying, "I was just lost in my thoughts."
His comment made Hermione look at him with an amused expression, saying, "What were you thinking about?"
He shrugged, starting on his food "Stuf.f"
His cryptic answer gave the Twins the opening, and they started
"Well, Forg,e our Harrikins is thinking about 'stuff,'" George exclaimed, doing air quotes and saying 'Stuff'
"Yes, Gred he is, isn't he? It seems yesterday he was-"
"-He was an ickle innocent firstie, but now he-"
"-is thinking about stuff. Oh! how fast they grow up." Fred wiped a fake tear
Seeing them act like this, Neville asked "Why are you doing this 'he mimicked their action of air quoting' when you say stuff." Twins, once again grinning started.
"Well, Nevill,e if you must know, we were talking about-"
"- It's not a matter we can talk about in front of ladies, so-"
"-as openly as it's about bees and flowers. About which our-"
"-Harrikins is thinking about" Both turned to Harry only to see him go bright red with eyes wide as galleon along with all ladies in the range of the earshot.
Their comment earned them smacks on the back of their heads by Angelina and Alicia, who were sitting beside them on the respective sides.
"NO! No! I wasn't thinking about that." Harry denied frantically, which gained chuckles and snickers.
As the lunch finished, the crowd of a few hundred students poured out of the great hall, and the atmosphere was heavily melancholic.
There was sadness among those who would be leaving their new friends here, but at the same time,e for some, it was time to rejoice as they missed their home.
Fleur said her goodbyes to Madame Maxine and some of her classmates as she was moving to Britain permanently with Apolline, Celine, Marie, and Gabrielle, along with their family Abraxans.
Sif did the same with her friends, especially her rival, who, strangely, she was closest to. There were no tears but rather some curt words between them, both wishing each other good luck for the future. Yet strangely, the redhead was blushing crimson red when she walked back to Harry, which made him curious.
The Beauxbaton carriage soon disappeared in the sky while the Drumstrang disappeared into the black lake. Now it was time for the Hogwarts students to head down to Hogsmeade Station to catch the train back to London King's Cross Station.
So they climbed into the carriages and soon they found a compartment which just like time Winter Hols ride was the last compartment it was enough for 9 of them but not for 13. But the Solution to this problem was easy: a simple expansion charm made space for three others. Now, with enough space, all of them were comfortably seated.
Harry was sandwiched between Sif and Fleur while Daphne and Susan were sitting with their respective best friends as they needed time to catch up on everything. Hermione, as always, was lost in her book. While the twins were busy with their girlfriends.
"So… um… Sif, Fleur, are you sure about… moving here?" he finally asked a question that had been burning in his mind. He sure loved that they decided to move here to stay with him, but he didn't want them to regret or resent him for it later in the future.
Fleur snorted "Sure? Mon amour I made zis decision on Yule itself and now wiz Seigneur des Tenebres back, there is no way in 'ell zat I am leaving your side, ever again" pecking him on the lips lightly.
"Indeed, you are my mate, we are bonded for life but other than those obvious reasons, I have come to love you, Hadrian Potter and the Dark Lord will find out why you don't mess with Clan Volsung member" Sif declared but her face was once again crimson red after a second when she confessed her feelings without much forethought in her mind.
It stunned not just Harry but everyone in the compartment who was staring at her. But the emerald-eyed teen beamed as he took her in a searing kiss, which surprised the woman, but she actively kissed him back, both losing themselves in each other.
It was long and deep, with Sif ending up in his lap by the time it ended, and with a dopey grin on his face, he finally said, "Sif Akselsdottir Helvig, I love you too!"
This was too much, and the woman hugged him, hiding her face in the crook of his neck and forgetting to meditate on her strength. Fleur, who was enjoying, spotted Harry turning paler with a second and was quick to remedy it. Though nearly suffocated, it was a good ride for the Emerald-eyed young man, with the whole compartment enjoying the by-play.
King's Cross Station, 11 PM
As the train started slowing down, Harry came out of his restful sleep only to find himself imprisoned between Sif, who was on his lap, head resting on his chest with his hand around her waist. Fleur was on his side, her resting on his shoulder, hugging his hand to her chest.
He sighed, loving the balance of warm and cold between them. Moving his head, he looked to his right only to find that Susan was sleeping with a novel on her face while Neville's face was lying in Hannah's lap, which made him smile.
Turning, he looked behind Fleur where he spotted Daphne and Tracey sleeping against each other while Twins and the Chasers were all leaning on each other. He frowned, looking around for Hermione, only to find her entering the compartment.
"Oh, you are awake," she whispered, adding ,"That's good; we are about to arrive; let's wake them up."
He nodded, giving his shoulder a shake, and squeezing Sif's waist lightly, he whispered "Sif, Flower, we are here It's time to wake up."
Both groaned, "Non, I am comfortable" "Nei, me too!" both snuggling closer to him, which made him smile.
"Come on, we are here, we have to deboard soon," he tried once again, only to get similar lazy whines from both ladies. Sighing, he changed his tactic, "Okay, if you wake up now, you can continue this when we are back home."
Both women had small smirks on their faces. Sif lifted her head and kissed him before asking, "We are going to hold you up to that, Hadrian."
"Oui, Mon Amour," Fleur said with a smile as both of them detached from him and stood up.
He smiled, saying "I am a man of my word," but hearing two throats clear on his sides. He looked at Daphne and Susan, who were giving him a viscous glare, which made him gulp. "We will rotate," he added hastily.
The crimson-haired witch giggled, "You are a very quick study, Potter as she walked out behind everyone.
"And a little warning," Daphne said as she took hold of his collar, kissing him roughly before adding, "I sleep naked most nights. Your hands better not be ro… am…ing… in sle… ep.."
She popped her rosy red lips at the last word as she made her way out of the compartment, her hips swaying. She looked over her shoulder only to see her fiancee reassembling the color of the engine of the train they were in, which made her chuckle as she said, "You coming, Potter?"
He was quick to nod and follow with a goofy smile on his face, which he just couldn't wipe off. As they got off the train, the group looked around. He could see the Twins leaving with their parents but not without a murderous glare from Molly.
Shaking his head, he continued searching around the station and soon spotted his family standing near the floo. He smiled, waving at them as they moved towards them.
"PUP!" Sirius bellowe,d waving for him only for Andi to pull his hand down, making him pout and making Olvir and Selena chuckle. Beside him was Ameli,a who had her professional persona without any cracks in her mask.
Apolline was standing beside the redhead with a smile on her face, with Celine and Marie on her side and Gabby who was bouncing with so much energy she might just explode.
With the widest smile on their faces, the group sped up their pace. As they neared Sirius engulfed his godson in a bear hug sighing "Prongslet! Oh I missed you!" patting him on the the back.
"I missed you too, Padfoot," he said as they broke the hug.
Sirius continued to hug Hermione, saying, "And I am eternally thankful to you, Poppet, for keeping this one alive!"
"Yeah, it's a tough job, but as a reward, I get to keep my idiot of a brother of mine alive," the bushy-haired witch replied, ignoring her brother's shout of protest, which made both of them chuckle.
But before Harry could continue a squeal of " 'ARRY!" he just had enough time to turn and catch the similar silvery blonde bullet to his midsection.
Steadying himself, he smiled down at the little girl greeting, "Bonjour Gabby, how are you?"
"YOU KNOW FRENCH?!" the girl screamed, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. Making everyone in earshot wince.
He laughed, shaking his head, saying, "Non, just a few phrases I picked up from you sister!" patting her head.
"And he is quite good but 'as ways to go, and don't I receive a greeting," Fleur said with a fake pout on her face, which vanished when her sister let go of her boyfriend and latched onto her.
He turned only to find Apolline and greeted "Looking as enchanting as every Apple," and the next moment, he found himself in a tight hug by the mature veela.
The woman smiled. "And you, Arry look better when you aren't lying in the infirmary." It was short, but she loved the feeling of her body smashed against his young, sturdy body and held back a whimper when it ended.
"Where is my hug, mister?" Andi asked with a hand on her hip and a faux glare leveled at her fiancee.
The teen smiled, moving forward and taking her in a hug, whispering, "Oh, I will always have a hug and more for you, Andi" lightly biting her lobe.
She bit her moan stopping a moan from escaping as she said "Oh you have no idea, what I have in-stored for your love!" kissing the nape of his neck and returning the favor as they separated she added "And there are some very eager people back home who are dying to meet you"
Olvir nodded. "Indeed, we have been given strict information to bring you right back, but seeing that train ran late, I think we should be moving the reunions back home," gesturing to the sleeping Astoria
Everyone nodded as the group moved towards the floo section, Harry moved through the crowd making his way over to Amelia, putting a hand on her arse patted her lightly getting a discreet smile as she said "See you at home Green Eye" before she entered the floo.
Throwing the floo powder in the fire, he called, "OBSIDIAN!" The fire turned green, and he stepped inside.
Three Broomsticks, Hogsmeade
"Order up! Fish and chips with a pitcher of Butter Beer!" Rosmerta announced as she put the heavy dish and full pitcher on the counter for the service waiter.
It was a busy day for the bar owner, as it always was at the end of the year with the seventh-year students celebrating their graduation there. The place was packed to the brim, and that called for extra staff.
As the order was taken from the chaos, Rosemerta looked at the grandfather clock, which showed it was around six in the evening. With a sigh, she turned, shouting, "Genna! I am going down for a bit; check on the beer kegs! You take the counter!"
"No problem, Boss!" the young woman replied behind the owner, who was already heading towards the basement. The cellars were filled with large barrels of every kind of booze, each with the emblem of a griffin on them. She walked for about ten minutes, reaching a particular barrel. She put her palm on the lid.
After a pricking sensation, she withdrew it and stepped back. The lid shimmered before vanishing. She stepped in with practiced ease, a green glow covering her before it came back into existence.
Inside, the wooden barrel was expanded just enough to accommodate her. On the ground below was a ritual circle that glowed in the dark as a single drop of her blood fell on it. And without a decibel of noise, she was gone.
Unknown Location
Appearing in an area well-lit by the fire torches on the three sides of the wall, making a semi-circle with the path in front of her. It was a cave with jagged walls, with similar torches at some intervals and a curve ahead.
She touched the particular stone to her left with her bloodied right palm. It glowed similar to the circle that brought her here, with the glow amplifying and traveling down the path, with her walking behind it.
At the end was a small open space that looked spartan with a single trunk to the side, a table and chair in the middle with a vast open space. Standing against the table, she tapped her feet anxiously.
"Any second now," she whispered.
The next moment,t there was a swirl of light on the same path she came from, with heavy footsteps and something wooden echoed louder and louder.
The individual was a lady dressed in an expensive blue long coat with some matching black flats, a white shirt, and a pencil skirt underneath, with a red fur fedora covering her brown hair and a wrinkled face with sharp eyes.
Rosmerta was quick to greet the aging woman, "Good evening, Madame Director," as she provided the woman with a chair.
"Evening Agent Nocturna," the woman said in a raspy voice keeping her face stern as she took the seat putting her cane near the table, asking "Now you said there has been some development, you made it sound urgent, from your last update it was clear that someone was after asset, the timing of your call and the date of the third task makes me think that something happened in during it" her eyes clear and voice even as she ended.
Nocturna started "On the day of the task, ten minutes to midnight, I felt my mark burning which hadn't since the night of Halloween. " shame filled her eyes as she continued "I responded, letting my connection to asset guide me. I reached outside the graveyard which had ritual wards around it. It was a bitch to get in, but when I did…" she went on to describe the graveyard fight in gruesome detail along with everything she had been able to learn through rumors.
There was silence before Madame Director sighed. "He can hold his own against several enemies without any training is admirable but then again keeping his experience in mind, it would seem unavoidable."
Nocturna didn't miss the slight hitch and pitch change in the Director's voice, with her neck coming down from her usual straight posture along with an aversion to eye contact. It was appropriate, given the information and everything that was happening since Halloween of 1981.
"The next leg of the tournament will be far more scrutinized worldwide, if Voldemort wants to make a move it's likely he will wait till the end of the year while moving the shadows" The Director paused saying "Though there is a remote possibility that he might break the pattern and try to pull one over us"
Taking the cane, she stood up, saying, "Either way, I will be sending another agent to help you. She will be on the inside. She will contact you when the year starts. Until then, keep your eyes and ears open," she said with steel in her eyes.
"Of course, Madame Director," Nocturna answered and was silent as she watched the formidable woman turn away. It has always been like this for the last fourteen years. She gave her report and went back to living her dual life. But this time, she just couldn't stay silent and spoke up. "Don't you think it's time you came out? He needs you now more than anything, Peggy."
The woman stopped in her tracks and without turning. "You know why I am staying away Laila, I promised Iris to stay away from her family. My inaction led to Lily and James's death." She turned with a fire burning in her eyes as she continued, "But I learned from my mistakes. Promises aren't worth much if it means losing the ones they were meant to protect."
Taking a shaking breath, she ended, "I will protect Hadrian from afar until he no longer needs it. When that time comes, I will tell him the whole truth myself, but until then, it has to be this way. Good Night, Nocturna"
"Good Night, Madame Director Carter."
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DOG DAYS' FIRST CHAPTER DROPS ON , 1ST MAY! THE LINK IS IN MY PROFILE!