Consort of Destined Death Chapter 10

The snow outside Hogsmeade had fallen in lazy drifts all afternoon, turning the village into a soft white wonderland. The shopfronts glowed with candles and Christmas garlands, and smoke from the chimneys curled up like gray ribbons into the evening sky.

Harry pulled his cloak tighter as he walked beside Susan Bones, boots crunching in the snow. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, red hair dotted with dots of white snowflakes. Her arm was wrapped around his own, body pressed to his side with a familiarity that only a Hufflepuff could possess.

Crowds parted around them as people stopped and stared, girls narrowly eyed the redhead next to him while boys either gave him approving nods or jealous looks. Susan was considered very beautiful, possessing having curves most guys dreamed about, prompting such reactions from so many people.

Harry had no doubt that there would be a new set of rumors circulating by the end of the day about Susan’s closeness with him. Even though they weren’t on a date, and were attending a simple gathering with friends at the Three Broomsticks, the rumors would likely say otherwise. Not that Susan was helping by cozying up so close to him…

And while the redhead witch was nice, and certainly someone he could see himself in a relationship with, Harry didn’t want to drag her into the mess that was his love life anytime soon. Already he had Daphne, the girl he was… courting. Calling her his girlfriend was too big a step, as it was rather that they agreed to continue their relationship instead of breaking up entirely.

They stepped into the Three Broomsticks then, the pub already crowded and cozy, with a section filled with an assortment of Hogwarts students from all Houses who were celebrating their Champions.

“Harry!” Cedric walked over with a slight limp, clearly still recovering from the first task. “Glad you could make it!”

“Of course.” He nodded. “I guess you’re done recovering from everything?”

“Sort of.” Cedric’s smile was light. “I managed to get the egg, but my dragon was more nasty than I expected. Kind of embarrassing really, for me to end up like this when you got through the task without a scratch. Really makes me think you should be the Hogwarts Champion instead of me.”

“You’re way too hard on yourself, Cedric. I hardly got through the task unscathed.” He replied. “Besides, Fleur is still ahead of both of us.”

“It’s Fleur, huh?” Cedric’s expression turned teasing. “I haven’t gotten her to say a word to me, and yet you’re using each other’s first names?”

“N-Nothing like that!” Harry stumbled over his words awkwardly as Cedric laughed and patted his shoulder before walking away. Meanwhile Susan quietly huffed at his side, crossing her arms under her not inconsiderable chest.

“Honestly, I don’t know what you see in her.” Susan scowled as they sat down.

“We’ve had like two… maybe three, conversations. If they could even be called that.” Half of those ‘conversations’ involved Fleur talking down to him. They only recently started to somewhat get along, but Harry didn’t have a lot of faith it would last very long.

“Still, you should be careful. It’s not hard to see that she has a vindictive streak, and I’d hate for you to be caught in it.” Susan’s reply wasn’t what he expected, and Harry simply nodded.

A large group of new students entered the Three Broomsticks then, making a lot of noise as they went on to join their gathering. Among them were the Hufflepuffs Ernie and Justin, who paled at the sight of him, and promptly sat as far away as possible while still staying part of their group.

“Probably think I’m a Dark Lord.” He muttered under his breath, reaching down to take a sip of butterbeer that Madam Rosmerta had delivered to their table.

“Don’t say things like that.” Susan elbowed him. “Not everyone believes the crap that the Prophet writes.”

“They clearly do.”

It was strange how everyone could hate him for being selected as Champion, to changing their minds instantly once he did good in the first task. Yet now, half those who changed their minds were now reverting back to thinking poorly of him, all due to the Daily Prophet’s incessant claims that he was an aspiring Dark Lord.

The newspapers had settled on a narrative that he was ‘too dangerous to be around children’ along with being a ‘glory-seeking cheater of the highest order’ who ‘swindled his way through the first task and deceived the judges to get a higher score’. How no one saw through so many contradictory lies was beyond him, especially when they all saw him with their own eyes.

But it wasn’t just the Daily Prophet who was writing articles about him. Harry had managed to catch a glimpse of Witch Weekly, the wizarding equivalent of a women’s gossip magazine, only to see their newest edition was dedicated entirely to him. Apparently, he was being branded by their writers as a bad boy, skipping classes and practicing dark magic in his free time to get stronger. There were even articles about his new physique, something Harry didn’t think was all that noticeable, in that his muscles had become more visible since he entered the Lands Between and began training.

And if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, Witch Weekly also had entire columns dedicated to his ‘relationship’ with Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons Veela Champion. The depths these witches went to knew no bounds, as literal Veela experts were brought in to comment on their ‘ongoing relationship’, and even speculate if Fleur was manipulating him to get further ahead in the tournament.

Yet in all of it, Harry just wanted to know how he got into this situation in the first place. No one seemed to care anymore about how his name got put into the Goblet of Fire, and nether Professor Moody or Headmaster Dumbledore had said anything to him so far.

It was like everyone accepted he had cheated his way in and moved on, with Susan being one of the few exceptions.

Harry hesitated, before looking at her. “You know… you’re one of the few people who didn’t think I cheated my way into the Tournament. That means a lot.”

Susan’s expression softened. “My aunt works in law enforcement. She told me when someone gets accused of something ridiculous, there’s usually more to the story.”

“I’d tell you I’ll thank her when I see her, but hopefully that never happens.” He joked.

“Oh, she’ll terrify you.” Susan teased before her expression turned sullen. “You know, my aunt basically raised me after my parents died in the war. You, me, and Neville Longbottom got a lot of attention when the war ended for being orphans of war heroes. Although, the whole Boy-Who-Lived stuff kind of took off and pushed it to the side.”

“Really?” Was all Harry could say, never having heard that before. “I’m sorry about your parents, and I’m sure they would be proud of you.”

“Thanks.” Susan blushed at the praise. “That means a lot, Harry.”

He frowned. “I knew Neville lived with his Grandmother, but I had no idea about his parents...”

“You didn’t?” Susan looked almost scandalized, casting a quick glance across the room towards where Neville sat before looking back at him. “Well, the thing is that his parents are not dead, but in the hospital after being tortured.”

“What?” His eyes went wide. “But the war ended years ago, how could they still be—”

“It was the cruciatus curse.” Susan whispered. “You-Know-Who’s right hand, Bellatrix Lestrange, tortured his parents with it. It injured them badly, affecting their minds, and both of them have been in Saint Mungos ever since.”

“How did I not know this.” It wasn’t a question, but more of a furious whisper that left his mouth then. Harry had spent years sleeping next to Neville in the same dorm, all while no clue that he was in the same situation—an even worse situation—than he was in regards to his parents and what Voldemort did to them.

“It’s not really talked about, for obvious reasons.” Susan continued in a depressing manor. “Lestrange has been in Azkaban ever since, haunted by the dementors.”

At least there’s one good part of the tale. He hoped that Bellatrix Lestrange was affected a hundred times worse by the dementors than he was. In fact, Harry wished the woman was dead.

“Maybe I’ll talk to Neville about it at some point.” His roommate had been nothing but kind and accommodating to him over the years. Harry simply hadn’t talked to him all that much, on account with Neville being somewhat shy and awkward.

I could use more friends and allies anyways. If there was one lesson he had learned, it was that his old friends were not to be trusted. Ron had made that abundantly clear with his outburst, and as painful as it would be, he would have to accept things and move on.

He looked at the beautiful redhead at his side then. As for making new friends, Susan’s a good start.

/////

Harry did not return alone to the Lands Between when he went back next time. When not sleeping soundly in the Gryffindor dorms, he had spent the additional time gorging himself on House-elf cooked meals, and had come to the decision that Melina and Millicent needed to experience the Hogwarts delicacies for themselves.

That was how he ended up with Dobby in the Chamber of Secrets, along with literal feast of food that was warm and ready to go sitting prepared on the chamber floor with them.

He held onto the tiny House-elf while focusing on the site of grace, the mental map of the Lands Between appearing in his minds eye. A flash of golden light, and they were transported into Liurnia, arriving at the last site of grace he had visited before leaving.

“G-Great Harry Potter Sir… what is this place?” Dobby’s tiny form shook as he looked around in terror.

“It’s the place I told you about.” He answered, eyeing the house-elf strangely. “Is something wrong?”

It was the late afternoon, the Erdtree shining bright overhead as the clearing they were in was calm and quiet. There weren’t any dangerous creatures around that he could see, with the typical Lands Between landmarks still visible in the distance.

“Terrible! This place is terrible sir!” Dobby exclaimed, seemingly becoming more panicked by the minute. He then grabbed Harry’s robe and began pulling on it frantically. “We musts return!”

“Ok, ok!” Harry held out a calming hard, trying to calm the elf down.

Meanwhile his mind was trying to understand why the house-elf would have such a reaction. It almost seemed like Dobby’s magic was rejecting the magic of the Lands Between. Maybe it’s the Elden Ring’s influence?

“Harry? Harry, are you back?” Millicent came walking back into the clearing then, approaching the grace site with Melina not far behind.

“Ah!” Dobby squeaked in fright, holding out a hand. “Stay back!”

“What is that?” Millicent frowned at the house-elf. “You didn’t bring us a meal, did you?”

“M-Meal?” If possible, Dobby’s voice reached a higher crescendo.

“Dobby’s not for eating, he’s a House-elf.” Harry answered amusedly, before turning to the elf. “Dobby, this is Millicent. She’s a good friend of mine, and behind her is Melina.”

“I-It is always a pleasure to meet Great Harry Potter Sir’s friends.” Dobby bowed so low his nose nearly touched the earth.

“Can you summon the food from earlier?” He asked. “After that I can take you back to the Chamber.”

Dobby nodded, and a snap of his fingers later had the veritable mountain of food the other elves had cooked up appear in front of them. Harry then conjured a simple wooden table, before grabbing the elf and heading over to the site of grace, where they then appeared back in the Chamber.

“I’m sorry about that, Dobby.” He apologized as the elf seemed to revitalize himself. “I didn’t know you would be so affected.”

“It is Dobby who should be apologizing, Great Sir!” The House-elf nearly wept. “I have brought shame upon the Great Harry Potter!”

“D-Don’t worry about it!” He awkwardly replied. “Can you at least tell me why it was so difficult to be there?”

“The magic of us elves did not agree with that strange place, Harry Potter Sir.” Dobby explained, eyes downcast. “We are simply not meant to be there.”

“I see.” He guessed that was the best explanation he would get out of the elf. “By chance, is there any way you could apparate there? I’m just curious.”

“I don’t think so, Great Sir.”

“Bummer.” Harry murmured. “You can go see your elf friends, maybe visit the kitchen. I’m sorry for all this—”

“Wait Sir!” Dobby exclaimed right before he could interact with the grace site and return. “The magic there sir… it is wrong.”

“I know.” Harry nodded, as gold light enveloped his body. “I’ll be careful.”

In the next moment he was back in Liurnia, watching on as Melina and Millicent devoured the food Dobby had delivered.

The contrast between the two girls couldn’t be more apparent in that moment, as Melina dined with a knife and fork, a napkin sitting primly on her lap as she ate. Meanwhile Millicent ate with her one hand, holding a drumstick roughly as she chewed on a mouthful of chicken, her plate piled high with bones that were already licked clean.

Harry soon joined them, the two sending him grateful smiles as he sat down and began filling his own plate. There was no time for talk when the food was still warm and ready, as the two girls had eaten nothing but roasted boars for weeks at that point.

As he ate, Harry couldn’t help but look around and enjoy his surroundings, being one of his favorite pastimes since he arrived here. Like so many other places in the Lands Between, the views were incredible. The Academy of Raya Lucaria was still sitting peacefully in the middle of the swamp, with Mount Gelmir sitting further away in the distance. Beyond that was their destination, the Altus Plateau, and even further beyond that were even more mountains along with the Erdtree itself.

But there was one particular sight that caught his attention, being the massive tower that extended high into the sky not far from where they made camp. It was taller than a skyscraper, made of stone and built in a unique architectural style he had never seen before. It didn’t match the other buildings he had seen in the Lands Between so far, and to add on to the mystery, the tower was not the only one of its kind.

“Melina, what exactly is… that?” He asked, staring at the tower in wonder.

Off to the side, Melina’s expression shifted subtly, a slight frown appearing on her features. Even Millicent stopped what she was doing, perking up as she too expressed interest.

“They’re called the divine towers.” Melina answered, wiping her mouth daintily with a napkin. “They were built long ago, likely even before the Erdtree sprouted in these lands. Not much is known beyond that, although it is speculated that the civilization which built them worshipped meteors and the stars. Today they act as a home to the two fingers, the only envoys of the Greater Will outside of Leyndell.”

“That’s… Marika’s religion, right?”

“Correct. The two fingers are vassals to the Greater Will, who sent the Erdtree to these lands long ago, along with the Elden Ring from which these lands are ruled.”

“So it’s this Greater Will that Marika serves?” He frowned in thought, trying to understand just what the Greater Will was. When he had first arrived, it was made clear that as a Tarnished his job was to mend the Elden Ring, which would likely mean obeying this Greater Will.

And yet Ranni had spoken to him, insinuating that the two fingers were somehow wrong, which implied that this ‘Greater Will’ was wrong.

Melina’s gaze turned distant after his question, going silent as she didn’t answer. Harry opened his mouth to speak, wondering just what was wrong, when a sudden sound took his attention away. It was the sound of hooves, and yet he had not summoned Torrent, meaning that another horse was approaching.

An armored knight on horseback charged into their clearing then, wearing majestic silver armor that went with flowing blue robes. Its armor was intricately decorated and clearly expensive, fitting to a warrior of high station, meaning that its wearer was likely powerful.

Harry stood, his wand slipping into his grasp as he prepared for combat, while Millicent unsheathed her sword, a chicken drumstick still clutched in her mouth.

“Hail thee! Noble Tarnished!” The knight exclaimed, his steed coming to a stop not far from them. “For it is I, Moongrum! Noble member of the Carian Knights, and— AGH! ”

Harry winced as the knight made to dismount, only for his armored foot to get caught in his horse’s stirrup. He fell down hard, his foot catching as his body slumped to the ground ungracefully.

Everything went still. At least, that was until Millicent started openly giggling, while Melina held up a hand to stifle her chuckles. Surprisingly, the knight was quick to recover, and if Harry hadn’t just seen such a terrible blunder, then he would’ve never guessed the knight fell in the first place.

“Apologies, you will find that I am a bit clumsy.” The knight coughed as he straightened up. “As I was saying! I am in search of a Tarnished by the name of Harry Potter, along with his companions. And I surmise that thou are thee?”

“I am Harry Potter.”

“Excellent!” The knight pulled out a formal scroll that possessed a wax seal, before handing it to him. “The Lunar Princess Ranni extends an invitation to thee Tarnished along with his guests to attend the Lustrum Festival at Caria Manor. She has sent I, Moongrum, of the Esteemed Carian Knights, to deliver this invitation to thee, oh Tarnished of Destined Death.”

“Thank you.” Harry replied, feeling somewhat awkward with the knight’s formalities and cheerfulness. The knight reminded him far too much of Ludo Bagman, one of the Triwizard judges, for his tastes. Is this guy really a knight?

“An invitation to Caria Manor? And from Ranni herself?” Melina frowned off to the side.

“Is it far out of the way?” He questioned.

“It sits at the base of Mount Gelmir.” Melina answered. “It is not far from the dectus lift, and would give us ample time to rest before we enter the Altus Plateau proper.”

Not to mention whatever Ranni wants. Went unspoken, as he made the decision. “I guess we’ll go then.”

Disclaimer: All Characters are over the age of 18

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