Ehren's getting them. This is her healing and getting to a healther position vis-a-vis the Vatipire (while also showing how her support network is helping her).
It's lightly enchanted (basically a bunch of preservation spells that prevented damage when it was mothballed) and hasn't been played 1871-2014. So it would manifest sometime in the 2100s if it ever did, so well outside the scope of the story.
I know that the French Nail Ehren got from Verdun isn't going to within the fic outside of snippets showing the future, but I don't remember if you said anything about the Pipe Organ.
I didn't, but I'm trying to keep the number of potential additional characters down a lot. To be blunt, unless a character is needed and I don't already have one that can fill the role*, I'm not adding anyone. As a rule of thumb, don't ask for characters to be added to my corner of things without also giving some justification** for them, and if I don't say things, they won't appear.
*good example, when Ehren went to Hogwarts, i needed some first year school friends and antagonists (Like canon HP has Ron/Hermione/Neville and Draco), hence I added Laura/Eleanor/Emma and Pansy Parkinson/Carter/Scarlett to the roster. In the case of Moulbaix, I have everyone I need so no reason to add more.
**And by justification, I mean 'you need X for your plot and no one serves that role, so have you considered Y in the role?' rather than 'I think that it would be cool, so write it'. Explain what that idea brings to the table and why it works and I'll consider it, but you need to sell me on it.
Yeah one of the most annoying things on SB is people fixating on a random detail like that pipe organ, or Ehren's new letter opener from Verdun, or Estelle's watch and immedaitely assuming that it will be a tsukumogami when I already have characters that I just don't have time and the ability to write already.
Now, I'll add them if I need them (IE the two DEs from Gambit of Daggers and Shadows will be added because I need villains/antagonists for that arc), but the fic already has characeter bloat so there's no reason to add more without good reasons that can't be served. IE I have no need to create a love interest for Ehren or Claire because they already exist (Draco and Tony respectively) so therefore trying to pitch a character to serve that role is wasted.
Guilty as charged, but Ehren is a Feels generator in her Iron Woobieness.
Ehren's getting them. This is her healing and getting to a healther position vis-a-vis the Vatipire (while also showing how her support network is helping her).
No plans for it, honestly.
It's lightly enchanted (basically a bunch of preservation spells that prevented damage when it was mothballed) and hasn't been played 1871-2014. So it would manifest sometime in the 2100s if it ever did, so well outside the scope of the story.
I didn't, but I'm trying to keep the number of potential additional characters down a lot. To be blunt, unless a character is needed and I don't already have one that can fill the role*, I'm not adding anyone. As a rule of thumb, don't ask for characters to be added to my corner of things without also giving some justification** for them, and if I don't say things, they won't appear.
*good example, when Ehren went to Hogwarts, i needed some first year school friends and antagonists (Like canon HP has Ron/Hermione/Neville and Draco), hence I added Laura/Eleanor/Emma and Pansy Parkinson/Carter/Scarlett to the roster. In the case of Moulbaix, I have everyone I need so no reason to add more.
**And by justification, I mean 'you need X for your plot and no one serves that role, so have you considered Y in the role?' rather than 'I think that it would be cool, so write it'. Explain what that idea brings to the table and why it works and I'll consider it, but you need to sell me on it.
Yeah one of the most annoying things on SB is people fixating on a random detail like that pipe organ, or Ehren's new letter opener from Verdun, or Estelle's watch and immedaitely assuming that it will be a tsukumogami when I already have characters that I just don't have time and the ability to write already.
Now, I'll add them if I need them (IE the two DEs from Gambit of Daggers and Shadows will be added because I need villains/antagonists for that arc), but the fic already has characeter bloat so there's no reason to add more without good reasons that can't be served. IE I have no need to create a love interest for Ehren or Claire because they already exist (Draco and Tony respectively) so therefore trying to pitch a character to serve that role is wasted.
Well, that's a good explanation of things. And I can get that people fixating on something and thinking it would manifest can be annoying. If I was able to write down my own story (or get my brother to help me) and the same thing happens to me? I would take it into consideration and if I like the idea I put it on a list of characters (Think "THE CHART").
Do you ever just have an image just pop into your head? Because I have a scene of the next century or so where Ehren and her daughters (including her letter opener) wind up hearing Clare and her sister (the recently manifested pipe organ) along with others playing "No Time For Caution". And no, I'm not asking you to make this. I'm just pointing out something that came into my head.
And now I have images in my head of Trieste petting a tiger shark. Or a Humboldt squid.
So. I'm doing a bit of an exercise in a Magical Pureblood Family History for Victor Incubod, owner, founder, and Editor-in-Cheif for Nunnery, and in the course of doing so I may have accidentally a whole new segment of Magical Agriculture, specifically in animal husbandry, in the creation of two OC dragonnet breeds.
First is the Lesser Pendragon. A red dragonnet that in oldendays - and likely in modern Pureblood families if they are old enough - was used as a Wizard's Hunting dog (and the nobility/royalty as well before the Statute) - and their manure is rich in nutriants and magic and so are very much valued among magical farmers.
Then there's the Grand Bellywoggle - let me just say I am immeasurably proud of how Potter-ish a name that is, and I wish I was this clever all the time when it comes to names - a dragonnet that is fat, a ball of lard with skin on it with short legs and stubby vestigal wings, looks more like an obese english bulldog than a dragon. They are anywhere between 6 to 10 stone on average (that's 84 to 140 pounds), with heavier examples not unknown, which are Fair Prize Winners and are used as Breeding studs until they get so fat they cannot move on their own, nor breed due to all of the rolls of fat. This breed is for eating, and it is a rather common sight in the Wizarding world, especially Britain, to see this fat bastards roasted and on the dinner table, taking the place of the muggle Christmass Goose or Duck. With all the fat, they are never dried no matter how long or hot they are cooked, and they are essentially always deep fried!
Down side is that they will eat everything and anything. So they need to be kept isolated except for breeding. Yes, that includes from their younglings. If one were to become a Familiar (I wish I knew why you would want one for a familiar though), they'd.... Well, be this asshole:
They do, and Inga needs Hoppou to patch her up as well.
So I've heard, I've also heard that the was prosecuted by Jews, so in part the Holocaust could be considered as his way of taking revenge.
Columbe has her own list of her greatest failures as well, failing to save her sister, who was decapitated right in front of her before she could save her, failing to prevent WW1, the list goes on.
And yes Shild needs a hug. Preferably from Harry. He gives nice hugs.
please be more careful about your wording in the future
Look, I read the thread. I get that you weren't trying to do anything malicious here. But please be careful about how what you type looks and might be read by someone who isn't in the thread at the moment.
Devotion to family is (usually) never a bad thing. Remembering the good and understanding if not forgiving the bad is all part of human nature. Ehren's vigil is a very well written piece and I understand why she does it.
First is the Lesser Pendragon. A red dragonnet that in oldendays - and likely in modern Pureblood families if they are old enough - was used as a Wizard's Hunting dog (and the nobility/royalty as well before the Statute) - and their manure is rich in nutriants and magic and so are very much valued among magical farmers.
I can see these but for the hunting dogs they have Crups (which look like a Dalmation with twin tails) the only problem with Crups is that they dislike normals (probably something that was inflicted on their ancestors until it became genetic.)
I can see these but for the hunting dogs they have Crups (which look like a Dalmation with twin tails) the only problem with Crups is that they dislike normals (probably something that was inflicted on their ancestors until it became genetic.)
I'm guessing that Crups were bred after the Statute was enacted. These probably were used before. As for why the change? Remember that a fair few pureblood families would like the issues with muggles.
For the second time in as many subjective days, Harry found himself in Dumbledore's office. A glance around him found that the others who had accompanied him during his... display were there as well. Watching with some amusement as Tanith took some lemon sherbets from the bowl being passed around, the sound of a voice being cleared caused him to bring his attention back to the Headmaster, which caused him to flush a little in embarrassment, "Sorry, Headmaster."
Lightly chuckling as the bowl was returned to the desk, Dumbledore shook his head, "Think nothing of it, my dear boy. You have every right to be somewhat out of it." Twinkle in his eye, he smiled a little, "And may I just say that you pulled off a truly magnificent showing."
From behind and above the Headmaster, several portraits perked up, including one in particular as Phineas Black raised an eyebrow, "Oh? How so, Albus?"
Twisting around in his seat some, the Headmaster hummed before pulling out his pensieve. A few minutes later, the memory ended and the portraits were silent. Some of them with thoughtful looks on their faces, which Dumbledore nodded at before glancing at Harry, "Your opinions?"
Just stroking his beard, Phineas looked towards Harry and snorted, "If the looks were not enough to prove matters, that right there did. You are a Potter through and through."
One of the other portraits, that of a older woman snorted, "Indeed! And some of us were wondering when you may show that fact."
Lips twitching some in amusement as Harry went red, Dumbledore gave a small nod before turning back to the teen, "As they said, Harry." Frown appearing on his face, the Headmaster sighed, "Of course, there is where we shall go from here that will matter."
Very slowly, Nagato gave a nod as her expression became serious, "That would be a good idea, Albus." Fixing him with a look, she frowned slightly, "From our discussion last night, it is my understanding that Harry will be moved from his current dorm to the Gryffindor Head Boy's room? And that he will be able to make use of the quarters?"
Simply nodding in return, the Headmaster smiled a little, "Yes, that is the arrangement that we came to last night, Miss Hiraga. And I see no reason not to allow it either. This year's Headboy and Headgirl are both Ravenclaw, and thus the Gryffindor quarters are not being used as of this year." He gave a small nod towards Harry, "You may use the Headboy's quarters as you wish, Harry."
A frown still on her face, Nagato hummed, "And the Vanishing Cabinet? The short range one that will be used."
In reply, Albus spread his hands some, "Yet again, I do not see any reason to not allow it as long as none of you misuse the trust that I am placing into you." Turning back to Harry, he gave placed both hands on his desk, "I shall also be giving Harry special privileges like those Prefects enjoy. For one, your curfew will be extended to ten at night and you can leave at five in the morning. This includes after hours access to the library if you wish it as well as access to the restricted section." Looking at Harry over the time of his glasses, the older wizard frowned, "I trust that you will neither misuse or abuse this trust, Mister Potter?"
His eyes wide, Harry shook his head, "No, Professor. I won't, I promise."
Only nodding as he leaned back, the Headmaster gave him a slight nod, "That is good then." A sigh then escaped him as he shook his head, "I am afraid, however, that is all that I can do for you as you declared yourself not to be the Hogwarts Champion alongside Mister Diggory."
Right then, Harry gave a slow nod, "Professor? I did it because otherwise it would have left a sour taste in my mouth and have impinged upon my honour.
I never asked for this and if anyone was to be the Hogwarts Champion? It would have been Cedric."
Dumbledore's lips curled up into a smile as he chuckled, unwrapping a lemon sherbet, "And I did not state that it was wrong of you to do so, my boy. Quite the opposite as I feel quite proud to call you a student here at this school." A sigh escaped him as he popped the candy between his lips. After a moment, he hummed, "Far too often one goes for what is easy rather than what is right."
Gently smiling, Nagato reached over and stroked Harry's hair, "As always, my son makes me so very proud of him."
Happy look on his face, Harry had a slight blush, "Thanks, Mum." Perking up some, the teen had a thought occur to him, "Professor? Can I ask you a question?"
His eyebrow raising, the older wizard nodded some, "Of course, Harry. What do you wish to know?"
For several moments, Harry was silent as he consolidated his thoughts, "From what I know in regards to the Tournament… is it possible for me to, technically, hire someone from outside to help with training, correct?"
If anything, that caused Dumbledore to raise his eyebrow still further, though he did glance towards Nagato who seemed not to know what conclusion Harry was heading towards. Turning back to the teenage wizard, he cleared his throat some and nodded, "That is, indeed, correct, my boy. Often enough, students have needed to hone their skills and thus have hired tutors for that reason. It was written into the rules to allow for it as many older families had the money to do so." A thought occurred to him and he gave Harry a somewhat knowing look, "I take it that you wish to hire some tutors outside the school?"
Very slowly, the fourteen-year-old nodded some with a slight smile, "Yes, one of which will be Sirius, my Godfather."
Lips twitching, Junyou sipped her drink and nodded a little, "So that you have an excuse to spend time with him, right?" At the nod, she chuckled, "Good idea."
With a slight smile, Harry turned back to Dumbledore, who chuckled, "Ah, that does make sense. And it helps that Sirius does, indeed, have quite a bit of knowledge. Which should help you in the tournament." Stroking his beard, he continued, "Who else?"
Not saying anything right away, Harry leaned back some and glanced at Dumbledore, "I've been taking lessons in swordfighting from some fellow students at my Middle School and another one. Each of them are very accomplished with the Sword. They also know of magic as well… so would it be possible for them to be allowed to come to Hogwarts for lessons?"
Eyebrow raising at that, the Headmaster considered the question as he thought deeply about it. There were various aspects to it that he had to consider after all. Meanwhile, Sunny turned to her uncle with an interested look, "You're learning how to fight with a sword, Uncle Harry?"
Chuckling a little, Harry rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah… I've been learning how for a while now. After all, Juuchi here is my family's blade as is Tsukiakari and the others. And it could come in handy depending on things, so…"
Even as the other Abyssals and shipgirls there nodded, Sunny grinned, "Not to mention that it does look totally awesome."
Laugh bursting from her, Tenryuu grinned as she jerked her thumb at the Battleship Water Demon, "She does have a point."
Just chuckling himself as the others laughed, Dumbledore gave a small nod, "Ah, that is true. I, myself, attempted to learn how to use a sword in my younger years. Never managed to get a handle on it…" Pausing, he frowned a little, "Now, Fillius, on the other hand… he is quite accomplished at using a sword."
That made the teenage wizard blink at that bit of knowledge, "Professor Flitwick knows how to use a sword?" When Albus nodded, he leaned back in thought, "Huh… I knew that he was good at normal dueling, but…"
Only shaking his head, Albus smiled at that, "Ah, he was taught by his mother, a goblin. She was also very accomplished at swordplay from my knowledge." Continuing to stroke his beard, he slowly nodded, "As to your question, Harry? I do not see any real issue with them being invited to help you hone your skills in such. There were several times when there one of the Tasks was dueling, or involved the use of weapons other than one's wand. Hence, it would not be the first time that Mu-No-Majs were invited to help train Champions. So there is the precedent for such." Humming, the Headmaster gave him a smile, "I shall have some medallions made up for them to wear so that the wards will not affect them."
A small smile on his face, Harry gave him a nod, "Thank you, Professor."
Returning it, the Headmaster suddenly hummed with a knowing twinkle in his eye, "Would you like me to prepare the Dueling Room for you, Harry? Or are you going to use that wonderful room that you found?"
Slightly smiling as he chuckled, Harry shook his head, "I'll probably use the Room of Requirement, Professor. Less chance of someone being able to spy on me."
Wanko gave her adoptive little brother a smile before turning back to Dumbledore with a frown on her face, "Has there been… any more sign… of whom might… have been… responsible?" Eyes glowing malevolently, the Abyssal Princess leaned forward, "Because I wish… to speak with… them."
Only nodding, Albus gave her a small, dark smile, "Well, duels for family honor are still a thing and will continue to be until the Statute falls and there is a full switchover. And they can be… rather lethal." Smile falling away, he gave a small sigh, "Unfortunately, I do not have much more in regards to what happened than I did last night. We know that someone used not just one powerful Confundus, but multiple such instances. And the time frame was sometime between midnight and three in the morning as that is after the Prefects end their patrols and the only ones making patrols are Argus, who being a Squib is not a suspect, various teachers which in this case was Professor McGonagall and Severus, both of whom were willing to perform a magical sworn oath that it was not them, and the Pirate shipgirls, who were forbidden from entering the Great Hall during that time as were their fairies with spells at the entrances that would alert us if they crossed over into the Great Hall."
Grimace on her face, Nagato shook her head, "That's it?"
With a sigh, the older wizard spread his hands, "That is as much as have, yes. We only have confirmation that someone entered the Great Hall at that time due to how someone entered through the entry that normally Owls do in order to carry mail and parcels to those inside waiting for them. And that is because there is an old spell there designed to keep track of if someone human used said entrance." At the looks, he spread his hand, "It was not surprised rare that someone attempted to sneak into or out of the school through there in order to meet up for elopements. Less common now, of course, but the spells remain."
Nagato shook her head a little and sighed, "Hopefully more is discovered about whom might have put Harry's name into the Goblet and why..."
Even as Dumbledore nodded, Harry chewed his lip some, "Professor? Could it have anything to do with my dream earlier this summer?" At the raised eyebrow, he winced and shifted, "The one with... Voldemort?"
With a deep breath, Albus released it before taking his glasses from his face. Cleaning them, he frowned, "Unfortunately, Harry, I do suspect that it may indeed have something to do with that. It is, sadly, all too likely that your dream may have been an vision of sorts since Tom and you have a connection of sorts. Which means that he has found some way to return to the physical."
Clenching his fists, the teen hissed, "Dammit..."
Moments later, a gentle hand made him turn to where Ritou was, the Isolated Island Princess having her eyes aglow, "Don't worry, Uncle Harry. If this Voldy guy has returned? We will have your back."
Bloodthirsty grin on her face, Sunny darkly laughed, "Yeah, the Fleet of Laughter is a family. And family takes care of its own."
Relieved a little, especially as the others nodded in agreement, Harry smiled at them, "Thanks everyone."
After another minute or so, Louisiana turned towards Dumbledore. Out of all of them, the American was one of the most enraged about what had happened. She had nearly lost her sister, and had thought that said sister had died for some time before finding out just a week before that she was alive. And now, someone was trying to kill one of her two beloveds.
To say that she was furious was putting it mildly.
With a deep breath, Louisiana nodded, "Professor, if I may ask, so there a schedule for the Tournament? Niiyodo was not able to come, but wanted to know if there was so that she could make things work out."
Simply nodding, Dumbledore reached over for a paper and copied what was on it, "There is indeed, Miss Louisiana." With a nod after checking the copy, he then passed it to the Battleship, who in turn handed it to Harry and Nagato. An act which made him chuckle, "Now, technically it should not be shown to the contestants, but... I see no issue if you were to do so."
Looking over the sheet, Nagato frowned before glancing up at the Headmaster, "It says here that the Weighing of the Wands will happen on the thirteenth of this month? May I ask what that entails and what exactly it means?"
Reaching for another lemon sherbet, the Headmaster nodded, "On that day, Mister Potter will be pulled from class and have his wand examined publicly by Ollivander. It is a... somewhat showy bit, I will admit. Though the purpose is to place the Champions on familiar ground as the type of wand will often reveal things about their competitors. And since almost all wizards and witches use wands nearly exclusively to cast magic, well... it is hard to hide trump cards there."
That got him various nods of deep thought, though there were some smirks there as well. Ryuujou leaned forward some with a hum, "So in other words, this Weighing of th' Wands is to give hints ta the other Competitors in what they specialize in, right? Because if you know th' wand core and th' wood, ya'll would have a pretty good idea what magics tha' they would be very good at."
Internally, Harry became more thoughtful as Dumbledore nodded and confirmed it, 'That... gives me a boost since I can use Onmyoudo and Juuchi has been teaching me how to cast through other objects. And while some might know of the first, they don't know all that it can do. The second, meanwhile, isn't something known at all. That... could be very useful.'
Right then, however, he was pulled from his thoughts as Dumbledore turned to him, "Mister Potter..." That told the teen that his next words would be likely something Official, "If I may ask, while you have picked your own Representative as a Judge, one who show your feelings towards the situation that you find yourself in, has Kyoto chosen their own representative to sit in on this? Bartemius will raise a likely stink about such matters so I feel that it should be raised before hand."
Frown on his face, the teenage wizard shook his head, "Not yet. I've contacted Akiyama-San, Ume-Chan's and Sakura-Chan's Nii-San, and told him what was happening after we got back to Yokosuka when you told me. Kyoto's attempting to figure out who to send here for the Tournament. Though they do have the choice narrowed down to some candidates. Like with Jin and some stuff that she is doing, nothing will solidify until at least next week."
Considering that for a few moments, Dumbledore nodded, "I see. Still, at least they have been informed, I suppose." A curious expression on his face, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "By the way... why chose Miss Maleficus as your Judge? A rather odd choice, if fitting for how you consider the Tournament. And one that I have little issue with." Leaning forward, he placed his hands before his face, "I still must wonder why?"
Blinking at that, Shinano nodded, "Hai, I wonder why her as well, Harry-Chan."
Also frowning, Ikazuchi furrowed her eyebrows, "Yeah, kind of an odd choice. I mean, I can understand why you didn't use Ryuujou-San or what have you. After all, they'll be needed for patrols and stuff." She then gave a small shrug, "I figured that you would have had Miss Baker as your Representative since she is a teacher at the school you're going to be representing here."
Only nodding, Harry gave her a small smile, "Well... I would have chosen Miss Baker as my Representative because, like you said, she is one of my teachers. But... there is just one small problem with that."
Utterly confused, Iku looked at the others before turning back to Harry, "What's that? Sure, she's non-magical, but... she's hung out with us shipgirls to the point where she is immune to memory charms."
It was not just the blue haired Subgirl who was curious, as the others were as well. Taking a moment, Harry took a breath before releasing it, "The reason why is simple." When they all leaned in, he continued, "Miss Baker is pregnant."
Needless to say, that brought winces from all there, while Dumbledore made a sound of realization, "Ah, I see." Stroking his beard, he hummed a little, "Yes, I can see how that may well be an issue. Considering that you were targeted, whoever did so likely would not care that she was pregnant. And, thus, would place her and her unborn child at risk." His eyes gazed at Harry as he nodded, "That, indeed, is an extremely good reason not to involve her, Harry."
With a small shrug, the teenage boy shook his head, "Yeah, I figured much the same, Professor. So I figured that it was best just not to chance it. Besides which? Jin is both harder to hurt and has a lot of knowledge about magic besides. So she would be the better choice even without that."
Rather amused, the Headmaster chuckled at that as he nodded in agreement.
It looks like Nobu (MY SKULL!!!) is going to Hogwarts!
And I'm still hoping to see more of the FoL, the Caldera Twins, and The Potter Armory in the future (from what I remember, Sabah is a Cinnamon roll outside of combat, and we haven't seen much of any of the others I mentioned). I just wish that the Survivors of Unethical Research Princess's "experiments" were shown meeting The Potter Armory.
Well, Yae is one of his teachers, I didn't see any mention of an escort other then Regina (although she's enough of one) and no-one will note Maruyu sneaking around (they will however take note of a totally innocent box just sitting there and then over there and so on)
Okay I just checked the tropes page to find Maruyu. The entire sub pen is missing although Shinano and DesDiv6 are there. :headdesk: :headdesk: :headdesk: :headdesk: I've noted this for Chikako and her group before (BTW they still aren't there)
I hope someone with write access can fix this, there are those of us that have to look up names because we're lousy with them (In my case it's an artifact of being an old fart)
Hmmm... I would have figured Albus would have given Gryffindor at least a few points for SOME of what Harry has done and decided to do. Even if it's only one for being so considerate about the Baker Baby.
Anyone else getting the feeling that the foreign students are going to get their worldviews kicked out from under them multiple times over the course of this tournament?
Jackie and Del are running around the USA, and Marie-Claire is in a different part of the Afterlife*.
*Now, there are allowances that are made for cross-Afterlife visits, so for example after their deaths**, Colombe & Toku (Takamagahara), Marie-Claire (Heaven), Delilah (Happy Hunting Grounds), Jackie (Fiddler's Green), and Zamarad (Elysium) can hang out together wherever among that list they choose. Likewise as seen in Inspiration, Ehren (Happy Hunting Grounds) as a Medicine Woman of WBW winds up with her husband Draco in the Land of Youth (Celtic) after their deaths.
**This is the important thing. Once a soul passes Onward, they can visit around if sent to a 'reward for good deeds' afterlife (and there's some divine politics*** involved).
But if the soul is alive and just vision questing, going to Kannazuki, Spirited Away or what-have-you as a 'visitor's visa' versus 'permanent resident', there's a lot more restrictions to prevent problems cropping up. So Colombe can go to Kannazuki as a subordinate kami of Hachiman, no problem. The Pearly Gates are a different matter and would generally require literal Divine Intervention (see: Elijah's departure to there from the Old Testament) from the Authority In Charge there. Likewise, the deceased hopping from Afterlife A to Afterlife B to meet mortal visiting B is kind of frowned on. Colombe was told that when she dies, Marie-Claire is meeting her (by Papa) on the Other Side but they didn't meet. A good rule of thumb for a Heroic Mortal (Champions, saints, etc.) is that the standard benefit and reward package for their afterlife is access to their patron/pantheon's version of Heaven and divine assistance to arrange for family reunions, friend reunions, and so on by their patrion acting as a postmortem character witness to help grease the wheels here.
***In addition to the obvious stuff like IE Hades and Anubis getting into a pissing match that restricts cross-pantheon visits between the Field of Reeds and Elysium until it plays out, the 'visitor' needs to at least nominally qualify for that afterlife or get sponsored by a relevant authority there. So, for example, Lugh and the other Celts had to approve that Ehren qualified**** for the Land of Youth before she could join Draco there, although that had been set up well in advance of her death which happened shortly after Draco passed away from old age. This is the loophole that Hades used to allow the purified souls from Verdun into Elysium (Karl and Tamenokalt). He declared 'Helped fight Verdun in 2014 = Heroic Deed qualifying the soul for Elysium unless a greater debit blanks out the credit' as a policy call set by the Big Guy In Charge.
****In Ehren's case, she also qualifies for Valhalla courtesy of Freya (allowing her to meet/mingle with a fair few of her Ulv/Wolf/von und zu Wolff ancestors), Elysium (thanks to Verdun/Hades), Takamagahara (thanks to Hachiman's sponsorship of her request), and Wolf-Mother's Afterlife (basically the European Paleolithic version of the Happy Hunting Grounds) off the top of my head. Probably something African too since some of the 'good guys' down there were very happy with her destroying the Mask of the Four-Eyed God, but I don't have the foggiest as to what the parameters of a 'good ending' for the peoples of the Congo Basin were in their folklore circa 1000ish A.D.
Okay I just checked the tropes page to find Maruyu. The entire sub pen is missing although Shinano and DesDiv6 are there. :headdesk: :headdesk: :headdesk: :headdesk: I've noted this for Chikako and her group before (BTW they still aren't there)
The entire sub pen is not missing, they are performing their duties with the discretion required of them, which is why their existence is not recorded by those not authorized to know they are there.
A. N. -- First content crosspost of the day here. Most definitely not a date going on here.... Prior chapter here.
A Gambit of Daggers and Serpents (II)
Dragon's Teapot, Hogsmeade
2nd November 2014
Draco brushed snow off his robes and cloak as he entered the Dragon's Tea Pot the day after his conversation with Ehren over lunch. The seasons had changed and 'Winter was coming', to quote that Muggle television show adaptation of the books that Cleo had recommended to him.
His eyes narrowed slightly in thought as he saw two clusters of other students already in the common room enjoying tea and coffee this morning. He then picked up a menu as he waited to be seated and smirked triumphantly as he noticed that Belgian waffles were indeed an option before flipping to the back of the menu to make his selection.
Now which private room...?
He had been here before, of course, always before with one or several of his shipgirl girlfriends.
But never with Ehren.
He wanted to do something nice for her first visit here.
Somehow, he thought that she would not be quite so much of a fan of the Ocean Room as Johnston, Niobe, and Cleo were.
Then his eyes widened as he remembered hearing from speaking to the server that the Africa Room at this tea house had been commissioned by Ian and Lyra Potter 'as a dedication for a friend'.
The couple who Ehren's mother had been friends and lovers with and still held a significant debt of honor.
He began to hum Toto's 'Africa' under his breath as he spoke to the serving staff that he wished to reserve the Africa Room for a private morning tea and then placed an order for Ehren and him to be delivered to it.
-----------------------
Draco sighed in relief as the door closed behind him.
His gamble that this was not a African rain forest had paid off.
Good, there should be no unpleasant memories of her time kidnapped by her Vati.
A table carved and inlaid from some dark tropical hardwood waited for him with chairs of cane and rattan placed around it. Several carved tribal masks and oddly staring sculptures decorated the walls of the room, which seemed to be the veranda of a hunting lodge looking out on a grassy river valley.
As he looked out across the savanna, several zebras and giraffes trotted past, followed by a living brown mass of some kind of buffalo with a noise like distant thunder. A tawny flicker in the tall grass of the savanna suddenly resolved itself into a stalking lioness. Past the plains full of the majesty of Nature's animals and trees, a majestic snow-crowned volcanic mountain waited in perfect solitary splendor on the horizon.
Draco smiled happily as he turned back to the hardwood table. He pulled out his wand and began to scribe privacy wards, finally following them up with several wandless Hermetic privacy and alarm spells that he had learned from Flynn. He couldn't be too careful here, even if it was 'known' that he had left Hogwarts alone and entered this room by himself. The stakes were too high.
Ehren should enjoy this outing, he thought smugly to himself after he finished insuring that he was as secure as he could be. Then he pulled Ehren's dagger body carefully out of his pocket, placing her gently on the table next to the Belgian waffles and espresso that he had ordered for her and the tea and treacle tarts for him.
"You can come out now, Ehren," he spoke in a firmly commanding voice with a smile on his face.
The dagger shone with a steel blue aura, the color of her eyes, and suddenly the young Ehren appeared next to it, dressed in her school uniform. She glanced around the room, then smiled smugly at him as she released some tension in her frame while she walked to the rail of the veranda.
She blurred and rapidly aged to her normal age of eighteen as she matured and filled out while her magically enchanted uniform followed suit. She was dressed in her normal school uniform of starched white blouse with razor creases, a black and yellow tie precisely tied, a knee-length black skirt and vest combination with yellow trim, white stockings, and black ankle boots.
Draco admitted to himself that her outfit flattered her lithe, muscular athletic beauty framed against the plains of Africa and she was quite attractive wearing it before beating his hormones back down with a series of Unforgivable Curses to drive them back into the closet in his mind. He had more important business than to make time with her, unfortunately.
As he regained control over his feelings, he suddenly realized that a quote from another of Cleo's books that he had read and enjoyed described Ehren perfectly.
"The woman turned and went slowly into the house. As she passed the doors she turned and looked back. Grave and thoughtful was her glance, as she looked on the king with cool pity in her eyes. Very fair was her face, and her long hair was like a river of gold. Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver; but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings." J.R.R. Tolkien The Two Towers
"Thank you for bringing me here, Draco. It's beautiful." Ehren said quietly with a shy smile lighting up her face as she looked at the same African memory that was one of her mother's brightest shining moments from the darkest period of her life.
Draco Banished that daydream of Ehren playing as Éowyn away into the locked mental closet where it belonged and cleared his throat. "You're welcome. I assume from you passing me your dagger body that you have a hilt pin to summon another avatar, or an ironclad alibi to explain away how you vanished after lunch and haven't been seen today."
Ehren gave him a respectful nod of her head and smug grin as she leaned back against the veranda rail. "Gut gemacht to figure my plan out, Cousin Draco. Hilt pin, actually. Right now I'm actually manifested in our normal First Year weekend Potions and Charms study session in the Library, I believe. So I'm secure on my end with an ironclad alibi, the more so since I'm making sure to be seen by people in Hogwarts today."
Draco applauded her and got a matching smug grin. "While I left Hogwarts for the village and entered this room alone in front of eyewitnesses to insure there's no visible link between us today. After we finish our chat I'll be hitting the Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer after making a stop at Honeydukes for chocolates for you as I discussed yesterday. Ahh, any special requests from there?"
Ehren smirked as she responded, "Chocolate wands, dark, also the non-melting chocolate bars. I like my chocolates quite rich as a rule. Sugar Quills too. That said, you didn't smuggle me out of the castle to enjoy morning tea in this wonderful private room just to plan your Blitzkrieg on Honeydukes." She gave him a penetrating look as they sat down at the table and her voice shifted to all business as she cast a pair of Privacy Charms of her own in the throaty guttural language that she had called 'Lakota'. "What's the situation, Draco?"
He took a deep breath and began to talk, using every mental trick he could think of to describe the speakers and give the exact words they used.
While he talked, she slowly clenched and unclenched her fists in anger as she breathed harshly; her eyes as hard as her steel. Finally, he ended and looked at her, "That's it then. we have enemies inside the walls now."
Ehren nodded sharply, her face coldly furious. She spoke in a precise controlled tone filed with grim, unyielding, icy determination while she began to drum her fingers on the table. "Ja, we do. They should not know that we suspect them yet, however. First, we must warn our families. Claire has been asking Mutti to visit me and see Hogwarts and and Mutti has agreed according to my phone conversation last night. So that briefs in Colombe and possibly Tokunotakai. As for the Malfoys...."
She glanced at him and asked, "Do you wish for me to warn them, or shall you?"
He rubbed his chin. "You do it. Better security that way and Father will be under observation as a known associate and supposed ally of the Dark Lord. Contacting him will draw attention to me, any letter or messenger spell sent can be intercepted and decoded, and he said in his last letter to me that he is busy so he won't be meeting me under four eyes before Yule. Also the girls are busy with the uptick in Abyssal activity so I can't expect to use them for a bit, which is a damn shame."
"Jawohl!" She barked out, her mind clearly whirling behind her eyes. She suddenly grinned as her finger drumming continued that methodical pace. "I shall have my avatar in Moulbaix write your mother with my spare hilt pin from there enclosed, The letter shall be the normal innocent pleasantries of a niece to her aunt to divert suspicion. Then I shall manifest there and brief her in under four eyes. Either I or your parents shall then notify Wash, Niobe, Johnston, and Cleo, depending on who is where when I notify the Malfoys. Forewarned is forearmed."
He breathed a sigh of relief and took a deep sip of his tea. "Good, that is a burden off me, Ehren." He gave her a grateful smile.
"Unfortunately Nimue is a point of weakness if and when she is revealed to be your sister thanks to being the secondborn. She is walking public proof of your Father's break with the Death Eaters once one of them puts the pieces together. Which means that you will be threatened by them too, they will attack families and the vulnerable, just as the Nazis did." Ehren continued in that coldly determined clinical voice while she continued to drum her fingers on the table like a column of soldiers on the march. "Therefore we must assume the worst and plan accordingly to destroy them." She finished, her cold and hard eyes looking through the wall that she was staring at.
Draco nodded along while own face twisted in fury and his voice grew heated. "That's my analysis too. We will be targeted to be made an example to prevent other defections once they realize where the Malfoys stand. Fear is one of the Death Eaters' greatest weapons."
"Ja. Schrecklichkeit." she agreed, still drumming her fingers on the table. "Therefore we must be prepared to turn their ambush tactics upon them with hidden strength to break their attack in our fire sack." She said slowly.
Suddenly she blushed and the finger drumming stopped.
She took a deep breath as emotions churned deep in her eyes as the ice inside them thawed visibly at the thought that had clearly just occurred to her. "I... want you to carry my dagger body around with you then. That way if... or perhaps more accurately when you are attacked, I shall be present as a hidden bodyguard to defend you. I shall pass you my sheath at breakfast tomorrow when you drop off the chocolates for me." Her soft voice was almost gentle with emotions under the precise control.
He smiled at her as she regained her composure. "Thank you Ehren. I couldn't ask for a more loyal ally in this fight. That said, we also need to warn Harry Potter and any other allies immediately that there are enemies amongst us."
Ehren nodded sharply as he voice assumed her normal crisp precision and whatever had come forth was hidden again. "The Carrows are clean, also the Greengrasses as per Mutti's briefing to me. Both need to be informed of our foes. Tell the Carrows that the warning comes from me as per our deal to insure security, that will assure the message is given."
"I'll see about arranging a meeting with one of the Carrows in private, Ehren. Leave that to me," Draco said with his own grin as inspiration struck, "I'll offer my Third Year Charms class notes to Hestia. That will drive Parkinson wild if she thinks that I'm making a pass at one of them, which is a nice bonus and will obscure the truth."
Ehren's smile grew more smug as she nodded along with his words. "Excellent thinking, Draco! As for myself... I have a few suspicions of my own about the student body, and I am reasonably sure Scarlett Lympsham in particular is one of our enemies. Not as a direct threat since she is a fellow First Year, but she is under the thumb of her family who are definitely rotten and gossips to them all the time. Plus she's one of Parkinson's hands."
Her smile became substantially nastier and more vicious while losing all warmth. "I shall invite her and the rest of my Year to a 'beat the snow' pool party in the Head Boy's Bathroom by using Emma Dobbs as a cats-paw to invite her and the other Slytherin First Years. I happen to know Cedric Diggory socially, so if I ask him properly and explain my plan, he will be happy to open it for us young girls to relax on a weekend. Then for it, I shall use a pin sewn into the swimsuit that I bought at Harrods to manifest for it. Clearly I cannot be a tsukumogami but a 'simple Belgian witch' from a rich family when Scarlett and the rest see me without a trace of a dagger on me in the water, nein?" She finished in a tone as dry as the Sahara in midsummer and with twinkling eyes.
Draco laughed at the thought despite the seriousness of the subject.
"I shall also speak privately to Professors McGonagall and Sprout, both of them fought Grindelwald in the Second World War alongside Mutti and Aunt Del and... know what I am." She tapped the swastika on her hilt as she continued. "Therefore, they are foes of our foes and can be notified safely. I am learning Transmutation in some extra lessons from Professor McGonagall and shall mention it in my next scheduled session as I master it to remove that Nazischeißdreck from my hilt. Professor Sprout is Head of House and has an open-door policy so I shall take coffee with her."
Draco rubbed his chin and then raised a finger, "how will you identify the speakers, though?"
Ehren smirked with cold, vicious anticipation. "While you wear me, I can sense what you see and hear what you hear. Just when you see one of the speakers next, mention that you 'wish to go shopping for your girlfriends' and then focus your sight on our target. I shall identify him using you and with luck we can even get names to go with the faces."
Draco's smile became equally nasty and vicious. "A cunning plan worthy of a Slytherin, cousin Ehren." He said with admiration in his voice.
"Danke schön!" Ehren said as she began to blush. "We can use this room for our planning sessions in privacy too since only one enters and one leaves. Or perhaps our normal training sessions for fighting. Despite the wagging tongues of my friends. You saw them gossiping about you and me yesterday at dinner." The blush deepened visibly. "After dinner, they cornered me in our Common Room to gush about how cute a couple we made. Unmöglich! Undenkbar!" Her cheeks were aflame and Draco in turn felt his cheeks heat while he wrestled with some distinctly private images of Ehren at the age she was here.
He finally gave her a wry smile as he resolved to not push her on this particular vulnerable point. "Well you are a very cute girl and I'm not bad looking. It's a natural mistake to make, Ehren. So, want to split your waffles with my treacle tarts? "
She nodded while her blush subsided. She then exactly divided her chocolate waffle in half for him. "I confess, it is surprisingly enjoyable to spend time with you having tea. I would like to come back here as friends another day."
He nodded, "This teashop has several private rooms listed in the back of your menu. I have taken the other girls here often, they especially enjoy the ocean room. This one was apparently commissioned by Ian and Lyra Potter on behalf of a friend." He pointed at the dedication plaque by the door.
She looked at the plaque then across the savanna of the Serengeti thoughtfully. "This may be Mutti's memories of Africa brought to life. It is quite nice, the food is first-rate, and I am enjoying watching the wildlife. As for the other rooms," she looked at the back of the menu and drummed her fingers on the table as she visibly thought, "Perhaps next time we can do the Forest Room?"
Draco nodded to her and took a bite of waffle. "I'd enjoy finding out what that one is like alongside you."
She smiled shyly and then ate more of the treacle tart. "Let us do that next time then. But for now, shall we talk as friends since our operational plan to handle the Death Eaters is agreed upon?"
-----------------------
Finally the waffles, treacle tarts, drinks and conversation were exhausted.
Ehren stood and looked around the African room with a contented smug smile, seeming rather like a large blonde cat. "You have taste in your meeting locations, Cousin Draco." She sighed slightly. "I feel a little jealous in you having access to this establishment. Hogwarts is surprisingly enjoyable and welcoming, but it is not Moulbaix. Also... sometimes... I need a change." She said quietly as she looked over the plains of the Africa of her mother's memories.
Draco nodded and placed his hand on her shoulder, feeling her muscles flex. He then smirked as an idea came to him. "You could walk with me around the village and pick out the chocolates for me to deliver to your younger self tomorrow."
Ehren's cheeks pinked and the breath caught in her throat. "But... what if we are seen? I could not risk your reputation...." She whispered, still not looking at him.
He gently tucked a strand of her pale-blond hair behind her ear. "Can you not use an illusion to appear as someone else?"
Ehren closed her eyes and nodded. "Ja, I could..." She turned and looked at her dagger body, then nodded once more as her jaw set.
Her breathing stilled and shifted into a different, oddly compelling rhythm.
As Draco was enthralled at the sight, gossamer-fine patterns of witchlight spiderwebs formed around her and then sank into her steel.
Her fingers flicked subtly in time with her breathing, and the blush on her cheeks deepened as he stared at her.
Suddenly in the space between two breaths she blurred and changed.
Her long blonde hair suddenly shrank and shifted to an ebon-black pageboy cut that left the nape of her neck exposed.
Her chilly steel blue eyes darkened to a warm mahogany.
Her somewhat bony triangular face with high cheekbones became more rounded and softer.
Her slender and athletic aristocratic figure shrank several inches and became more considerably buxom and motherly.
Her Hufflepuff uniform flashed into to a plain white wool sweater and dark brown wool skirt.
Ehren winked at him and spoke from Claire's lips. "Shall we, Draco?"
The entire sub pen is not missing, they are performing their duties with the discretion required of them, which is why their existence is not recorded by those not authorized to know they are there.
Unfortunately there's also three other groups missing from the sub pens (Sub-thieves - Harder and crew, Ham and Cheese Subs - Upholder and crew and Parties like there's no Tomorrow - The U-Boats)
Unfortunately there's also three other groups missing from the sub pens (Sub-thieves - Harder and crew, Ham and Cheese Subs - Upholder and crew and Parties like there's no Tomorrow - The U-Boats)
After this, I have one more main storyline snippet, an epilogue, some character back-fill, and the first part of the sequel storyline to cross-post. Without further ado, let's get going:
Two Years Ago
Stepping through the International Floo Network connection, Lieutenant Charles Deckard found himself unable to hold back his reaction. "What the fuck?! This is supposed to be an Auror office!"
It was true that there were many men and women in Auror robes, but they had certainly non-standard bronze armor add-ons. Further than that, the office was arranged more like a military command post than a police station. Banners hung on the ceiling, a central table displayed a magical map of Laconia, while a bulletin board on the wall depicted all of Greece. Red pins were everywhere, and one woman, seemingly the commander, was barking orders at an incredible pace. Looking closer, Charles was certain that she was only still standing thanks to an unhealthy supply of Pepper-Up.
A mountain of a man (a half-giant, by Charles' estimation) with a breastplate bearing a horse's-head crest and a gold-plated sword hanging at his side walked over to him. "Calm yourself, American. We are Aurors. Or, well, what's left of the Spartan branch of Greece's Auror Corps. Welcome to the home of the Scions of Aphrodite Areia. We've been expecting you."
"I… I'd heard that the situation in Greece was bad, but-"
"'Bad?'" The man doubled over in laughter. "Quite frankly, Magical Greece is fucked, has been ever since Blood Week. The Aurors from each of the old city-states are trying to hold together their hometowns, but it's a losing proposition. We're barely holding the line keeping the Mag and Chor-Mag separate." He waved it off. "But you didn't come here to hear about our problems. Let's get you in-processed so you can get to enjoying Greece, hmm?"
As he was led to a desk slightly off to one side, Charles realized something. "By the way, I never got your name."
"Lieutenant Stelios." The now-identified man hiked his robe out and sat down. "Right. First, ID?" Deckard handed over his paperwork, and the other lieutenant dutifully copied down the information thereon. "Any weapons to declare?"
With equal discipline, he drew his Desert Eagle, cleared the chamber, and ejected the magazine before placing the weapon on the desk. This was followed by a kukri-pattern combat knife.
As he revealed his wand (12 and a quarter inches, bristlecone pine with a thunderbird feather core), he was stopped by a hand on his arm. "Wands don't count." Stelios leaned back and sighed. "The gun and knife, however, will likely have to stay here."
"What?!"
"Don't blame me. Blame the Chor-Mag. By their laws, you can't have a pistol unless you're registered with a sports club, and you can't carry a knife unless your job requires it."
"Damn. I thought Blood Week would have caused such laws to be relaxed."
The Greek Auror groaned. "You'd think, but no. Apparently someone realized that anything a civilian could reasonably get can't hurt an Abyssal, so they left the law as it was.
"Anyway, moving on. Purpose of visit?"
"Seeing the sights. Learning about the history. Gorgons, heroes, that kind of thing."
Amber eyes narrowed at him. "Why. Gorgons. Specifically?"
Uh oh. "Got a nephew back home who's practically obsessed about 'em. Wants to know everything there is to know."
After a few seconds of silent glaring, Stelios relaxed a hair. "Well then. Your best bet is to look at what's left of the Archives in Athens." Left unspoken but made very clear by his demeanor was "where you won't be our problem, any more."
"Thank you for the advice. I'll look into it. Is there anything else?"
As it turned out, aside from a few formalities, that had been all there was. "Enjoy the rest of your trip. Try not to get into trouble."
"I will indeed try."
__________
It was a concerned Brant who was walking through the tunnels of the cave the Gorgons called home. Medusa hadn't come out for dinner, despite her sisters' requests, and so he had set out to see what he could do. As he approached her personal room, however, he could hear shuddering breaths. "Medusa? Are you upset about something? I think I hear crying."
He stepped into the threshold of the room and saw the snake woman "sitting" on a ball of her own coils. Before he could fully process things, she sprang into motion. The tip of her tail whipped around and slapped across the back of his shoulders, pushing him into a spin that wrapped her coils around him all the way down to his toes. Said tip then shot upwards to wind around the top of his head, locking it in place. He barely had time to yelp.
"Medusa! What-?"
She crawled over his cocoon of scales and he felt hot tears splash against his face. "Forgive me. If this goes wrong, please forgive me. But I can't bear to wait anymore. If I did and it turned out you aren't the one… I think I'd die." Her hair snakes hissed in intimidating warning at him.
"'The one?' The one what?!"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. You have to see." With that, she raised her left hand to her mouth and bit down. She swiped two fingers of her other hand across the bite area and pressed them to his eyes, using her wounded hand to make sure he couldn't close them.
As the familiar sensation of blood flowing over his eyeballs registered, she released him and slithered to one wall. "What the-? Medusa, why did-?" And then the world snapped into focus.
The blurriness and partial vision the Select had had to deal with for the past several years vanished, and he beheld Medusa, truly beheld her, in perfect clarity for the first time. The off-white of her tail scales interrupted regularly by red-orange blotches. The aesthetically ideally-proportioned waist. Her muscular abs. Her- nope, not looking there. Strong arms leading to firm shoulders. Her jaw, quivering as she nibbled her lip. The golden snakes that made up her hair. And, finally, her eyes. Beautiful amber orbs flecked with darker gold and divided by black reptilian slits.
Her eyes filled with tears and her mouth dropped open in the biggest, happiest smile he had ever known as she lunged and wrapped her arms around him in a crushing hug. "It's true! You really are the one! Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Returning the hug, he asked, "What happened there?"
She sighed. "You know what Poseidon…" He nodded before she could finish. "When Athena turned me into this, she said that there would be a way for me to stop turning people to stone: if a man could meet my gaze with no impure thoughts, then my gaze would not harm anyone else."
"... That's why you couldn't tell me. If you did, I could have ruined the test." She nodded. "Well, let's go to dinner. Your sisters are worried sick."
She gently huffed a laugh. "Sounds like them. Let's go."
__________
One Year Ago
One. Year. It had taken a full year of scouring various archives, libraries, and street gossip, followed by surreptitiously soliciting various sailors, but Charles was ready to head out to try and meet the gorgons and see what they might know about the region his brother's descendant had disappeared in. There was just one little obstacle remaining. Or rather, a rather large obstacle.
Stelios stood at the end of the pier with his arms crossed, tapping his foot. "Something told me that you were completely full of bullshit. I'll give you one chance to come clean and tell me the truth. If I don't like what I hear, I gut you where you stand."
Lieutenant Deckard considered once more concealing the reason he had come to Greece. For a split second. Then it all came tumbling out, from when he had found out about his great-great-grandnephew's disappearance to how his research had pointed him to the possible home of the Gorgons in the Aethiopian Sea, ending with his hope that the gorgons of the Mediterranean could help with the search.
Stelios scowled at him for a moment before his lips quirked in a small smile. "I was always a sucker for joyous family reunions. Follow me and let's be on our way."
"You're coming with me?"
A jaunty grin thrown over his shoulder, the Greek replied, "I've been meaning to visit my cousins for some time, make sure they're alright."
__________
As he followed the massive warrior up the beach, Charles began to wonder if he had underestimated the situation he was walking into. The fact that the man whose boat he'd hired had swung it around just after they had disembarked and said, "You're on your own!" had certainly been ominous. They reached a bend in the path, and he swung wide, not noticing that his guide had stopped just out of sight of the top.
"<Halt, stranger!>"
Deckard stopped in his tracks and looked toward the voice. The visage that greeted him was that of a tall woman, seven feet if an inch, with lavender hair that ended in black snake heads and wearing limited dark clothing. A great golden-scaled tail waved around behind her, and a two-piece veil hung from a black, ruby-encrusted circlet to cover her eyes. Were it not for the golden wings, she would have practically been a dead ringer for a No-Maj game character he'd seen pictures of.
"<You come to our land unannounced. State your business or->" She trailed off as she seemed to look past him, and a bright smile blossomed on her face. "<Cousin Chrysaor!>" "Stelios" walked past Charles and embraced the woman who had to be one of the gorgons. "<It's been too long!>"
"<I would have come sooner, but the mainland is a mess. But enough about that. This man needs to see Mother.>"
After some back and forth arguing between the two relatives, the woman groaned and turned back to Charles. "I apologise for the time you have spent searching for your nephew, for it has been in vain. If he has indeed washed up on the shores of our parents' island, then he is a statue, by now. The Elders' gaze spares naught but kin."
"I know in my heart that he yet lives. I am ready and willing to risk mine to bring him home."
"THEN YOU ARE A FOOL!" Though he flinched, he stood his ground. "But a brave fool, nonetheless." After exchanging looks with her cousin, she sighed. "Very well. I am Stheno the Younger. If you prove your worth to me, I will let you hurry off to your oblivion."
Draco admitted to himself that her outfit flattered her lithe, muscular athletic beauty framed against the plains of Africa and she was quite attractive wearing it before beating his hormones back down with a series of Unforgivable Curses to drive them back into the closet in his mind. He had more important business than to make time with her, unfortunately.
Draco doesn't have the Hormone Bashing Club, but I always think that he would learn how to use the force to choke them and fry them with Sith Lightning. Well he could always do that and this.
"Unfortunately Nimue is a point of weakness if and when she is revealed to be your sister thanks to being the secondborn. She is walking public proof of your Father's break with the Death Eaters once one of them puts the pieces together. Which means that you will be threatened by them too, they will attack families and the vulnerable, just as the Nazis did."
Organized crime syndicates and Terrorists also do the same thing. And although the Death Eaters have been said to follow some Nazi philosophy (although their "master race" is anyone who's a Pureblood), in the end, they'll go down in history as magical domestic terrorists.
"The Carrows are clean, also the Greengrasses as per Mutti's briefing to me. Both need to be informed of our foes. Tell the Carrows that the warning comes from me as per our deal to insure security, that will assure the message is given."
When are the Carrows going to be gotten to safety?
Also the Greengrasses are fine. Although Cyrus is, I believe the term is "Salty" (what does that mean"?) and really doesn't like a certain three letter word (Remember this? "F**K YOU! F**K YOUR POI!! AND EAT SH*T!!!" *gets torpedoed by another Poi-boat and flips out*).
"I'll offer my Third Year Charms class notes to Hestia. That will drive Parkinson wild if she thinks that I'm making a pass at one of them, which is a nice bonus and will obscure the truth."
That's a nice idea and f**king with Pansey is a nice added bonus. Although I would worry about her deciding to also put Hestia on her "To Break List" as well.
After this, I have one more main storyline snippet, an epilogue, some character back-fill, and the first part of the sequel storyline to cross-post. Without further ado, let's get going:
*Snip
And now we're well and truly on course for Brant meeting a family member he didn't even know existed. And he's actually able to see again. AND Medusa's curse was broken.
