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Harry Potter and the Shattered Ring Chapter 7 (A Snake in the Darkness)
🕑 Added 2024-10-25 13:53:05 +0000 UTCThe campfire crackled merrily as the smell of roasting meat filled the air. Soldiers sat in a circle, passing around cups of mead and sharing stories. Harry sat between Melina and Artan, feeling more relaxed than he had since arriving in the Lands Between.
"So tell us again," one of the younger soldiers, Erik, leaned forward eagerly. "How exactly did you manage that wind blade attack?"
Harry described the battle, from the use of the Whetstone to Torrent's double jump, to the final moments with the golden elk Patronus. The soldiers listened intently, some nodding appreciatively, others wide-eyed at the details.
Klaus, a burly soldier with a thick beard, shuddered. "Better you than me, lad. I saw that thing cleave a merchant's wagon in half like it was made of parchment."
"Oh, listen to Klaus!" jeered Marcus, throwing a small twig at him. "The mighty warrior, trembling at the thought of a single Tree Sentinel!"
"Oy! I'd like to see you face one!" Klaus shot back, though his grin betrayed his amusement. "You can barely handle stable duty without crying for your mum!"
The group erupted in laughter, and even Melina allowed herself a small smile. Harry noticed how the firelight seemed to dance in her beautiful eye, making it shimmer like molten metal.
"Speaking of encounters," Artan said, tearing off a piece of roasted meat, "we met another Tarnished while hunting today. In a cave just east of here."
Harry's interest peaked. "Another Tarnished? Who was it?"
"Called himself Patches," Artan replied, his expression somewhat dubious. "Peculiar fellow. Kept going on about some treasure he'd found."
"Patches?" Harry frowned at the strange name. "That's a bit..."
Suddenly, a warm sensation spread through his chest, like golden light flowing into him. It lasted only seconds, but left him feeling somehow different, stronger.
"What was that?" he asked, turning to Melina.
She smiled knowingly. "The Tree Sentinel's runes. They've finally settled within you. Each powerful enemy you defeat leaves behind runes - fragments of grace that make you stronger."
"So I just... absorb them automatically?"
"In a way," she nodded. "Though learning to use that new strength takes practice."
Harry pondered this as he ate. The idea of getting stronger through defeated enemies made a certain kind of sense, though it was very different from how magic worked in his world.
The celebration continued, with soldiers sharing their own battle stories and adventures. Some even demonstrated their fighting techniques, though their movements grew increasingly uncoordinated as the mead flowed freely.
As the second hour drew to a close, Harry felt a familiar pull. He knew it was time to return to his other life.
"Artan," he said, standing up. "I need to head back. I've been here a full day."
The old captain nodded understanding. "The other world is very lucky to have you, Potter. You've proven yourself a true warrior today."
"Thanks for everything," Harry said sincerely. "The training, the guidance... it's made a real difference."
"Come back soon," Marcus called out. "We still have much to teach you!"
"And much to tease him about," another soldier added with a wink toward Melina, causing Harry to blush again.
Melina stood gracefully beside him. "Ready?"
Harry nodded, taking one last look at the gathering. These soldiers, who had become friends in such a short time, raised their cups in farewell.
The world shifted, and suddenly they were back in Harry's small bedroom at Privet Drive. The transition from the open wilderness to the confined space was jarring.
"Bit different from the Lands Between," Harry commented, looking around at his mundane surroundings.
"Every world has its own beauty," Melina replied diplomatically, though her eye lingered on where the bars of his window used to be with obvious disapproval.
"Will Patches be trouble?" Harry asked, remembering the mysterious Tarnished.
"Hard to say," she mused. "In the Lands Between, trust must be earned. Be cautious if you meet him."
Harry nodded, then yawned suddenly. Despite returning to the same moment he'd left, his body remembered the full day of training and fighting.
"Rest," Melina said softly. "You've earned it. When you return, we'll work on controlling those new runes."
"Thanks, Melina. For everything today."
She smiled, her single visible eye glowing warmly. "You did well, Harry. The Tree Sentinel was no small feat." She paused, then added, "And I rather enjoyed riding with you."
Before Harry could respond - or more likely, blush again - she vanished in a shimmer of light, leaving him alone in his room with memories of a day filled with triumph, friendship, and the promise of growing stronger.
He collapsed onto his bed, mind still full of golden elk Patronuses, spectral steeds, and the warmth of Melina's arms around his waist. As he drifted off to sleep, he smiled, knowing that tomorrow night would bring new adventures in the Lands Between.
Tomorrow
Harry woke up with a loud yawn, his muscles still remembering yesterday's battle with the Tree Sentinel, even if his current body hadn't actually experienced it. As he stretched, his bedroom door swung open without warning.
Aunt Petunia stood there, her horse-like face scrunched up in distaste. "Oh, you're back. I was hoping you wouldn't return."
Harry opened his mouth to deliver a sharp retort, but her words registered properly. "What do you mean, 'back'?"
"Going mad like your mother, are you?" she sneered. "Yesterday you were nowhere to be found. Not that we minded the peace and quiet."
Harry's mind raced. If he'd been missing here while in the Lands Between... "When exactly did you notice I was gone?"
"All day yesterday. Though I suppose you were off doing..." she waved her hand dismissively, "your sort of things."
As she left, muttering about freakishness under her breath, Harry sat heavily on his bed. Time wasn't just continuing in the Lands Between - it was passing simultaneously here. A full day there meant a full day missing here. He hadn't noticed it before because he and Melina left during the day, and usually only stayed for a few hours. His last visit was the first time he stayed there for a whole.
"Well, that complicates things," he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair.
A soft hoot drew his attention to Hedwig's cage. Two letters sat unopened beneath it. He recognized the handwriting immediately - one from Ron, one from Hermione.
"Oh no," he groaned, remembering the bikini picture and his complete failure to respond. He opened Ron's letter first, needing to delay the inevitable:
*Dear Harry,
How are you holding up with the Muggles? Dad's trying to get permission for you to visit soon. Charlie's got some wicked stories about a new dragon they're training.
Write back when you can,
Ron*
Simple enough. But Hermione's letter made his stomach do uncomfortable flips as he opened it:
*Dear Harry,
I hope you're well. I was wondering if you received my last letter and the... enclosed photograph? I understand if you didn't like it, though some acknowledgment would have been nice.
I've been practicing the spells we learned in DA. Have you had a chance to review any of the books I recommended?
Love from,
Hermione*
Harry could practically feel the hurt and uncertainty in her words. He grabbed a piece of parchment and his quill, determined to fix this immediately, he wondered what he should say about the picture, should he just try to ignore it. But with a second thought, he decided to blunt, if Hermione liked him, then it would be better to be honest with her.
*Dear Hermione,
I'm so sorry for not writing back sooner. I've been... well, it's complicated, but I've definitely been keeping busy with training and reading (yes, including your recommended books - they're actually quite helpful).
About the photograph - I absolutely liked it. More than liked it, if I'm being honest. You looked beautiful, and I'm sorry if my silence made you think otherwise. I was just caught off guard (in a good way!) and then got caught up in other things, and time got away from me.
I've actually made some interesting progress with practical defense training, though I can't write much about it in a letter. I'll tell you everything when I see you.
Please don't think your picture wasn't appreciated. It really, really was.
Yours,
Harry*
He read over the letter three times, his face growing warmer each time. It was perhaps the most direct he'd ever been about his feelings, but after facing a Tree Sentinel, admitting he found Hermione attractive seemed less daunting.
"What do you think, Hedwig?" he asked, showing her the letter. She gave an approving hoot.
"Take this to Hermione first, girl," he told Hedwig. "And maybe peck me later for being such an idiot about responding."
Hedwig gave him what could only be described as an understanding look before taking off through the window.
As he watched Hedwig soar away, Harry wondered what Hermione would make of his response. Then he wondered what she'd make of his adventures in the Lands Between - the magic, the battles, Melina...
Then again, as he remembered Melina's arms around his waist and the thrill of victory against the Tree Sentinel, he couldn't give up the Lands Between either. Not when he was finally learning to be stronger, to be more than just The Boy Who Lived.
He'd have a lot to explain when he finally saw his friends again. But for now, he had to figure out how to handle being effectively absent from this world every time he visited the other. Perhaps Melina would have some ideas about that.
His stomach growled, reminding him he still hadn't had breakfast. As he headed downstairs, deliberately ignoring Aunt Petunia's continued glares, he couldn't help but smile slightly. Between Tree Sentinels, mysterious Tarnished named Patches, and finally addressing that bikini picture, his life had certainly gotten more interesting.
Though he had to admit, facing the Tree Sentinel had been less nerve-wracking than writing that letter to Hermione.
Later
Harry sat cross-legged on his bed, mechanically eating toast while his mind wandered to the newfound strength he'd felt after absorbing the Tree Sentinel's runes. He needed to test this, to understand what had changed.
After finishing breakfast, he slipped out of the house, ignoring Dudley's suspicious glare from the living room. The summer air was warm as he made his way to the small forest where he had shown the disc to her, and cut the trees.
The fallen trees were still there, silent witnesses to his earlier training sessions. After checking that no muggles were around, Harry focused his energy into his palm, forming a ball of golden light.
When he launched it, instead of dissipating at the ten-meter mark as before, the orb traveled a full twelve meters before fading. A small improvement, but significant.
Excitement building, Harry began experimenting. One by one, he created balls of light, counting as he went. Twenty-five... twenty-six... where before he would have been exhausted, he kept going. Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty!
Then he tried the larger versions, managing to maintain three massive orbs of light simultaneously - a feat that would have been impossible yesterday.
"I remember when you couldn't even make one small ball of light," a familiar teasing voice called from behind him.
Harry spun around to find Melina leaning against a tree, her violet eye twinkling with amusement. Her presence here, in his world, still felt surreal - like two separate parts of his life overlapping.
"Melina!" he grinned. "You're early today. Usually we meet at night."
She straightened up, brushing invisible dust from her dress. "I thought I might show you a new spell," she said, though something in her tone suggested there was more to it.
Harry noticed the slight hesitation in her voice, the way she wouldn't quite meet his eyes.
Harry caught it but decided to play along. "Just a new spell? Nothing to do with missing your favorite Tarnished?"
A faint pink tinged her cheeks. "The spell is important," she insisted, though her smile widened slightly.
"Of course it is," Harry agreed solemnly, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Nothing at all to do with checking up on me after yesterday's battle."
"Are you going to keep teasing, or do you want to learn something new?" she challenged, though there was no heat in her words.
"A new spell sounds great," he said, playing along. "Though I hope it's not as challenging as that first light spell you taught me."
"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have mastered that one well enough now. Thirty small orbs and three large ones? Most impressive."
"The Tree Sentinel's runes really helped," Harry admitted. "It's like... like everything is clearer now. The magic flows more easily."
Melina nodded approvingly. "That's exactly how it should feel. Though I must admit, you're progressing faster than I expected."
"I had a good teacher," Harry said, making her smile softly.
"Flatterer," she chided, but her eye sparkled. "Now, about that new spell..."
She moved closer, close enough that Harry could smell the familiar scent of spring flowers that always seemed to surround her. His heart did a peculiar little jump that had nothing to do with magic.
"This one," she continued, either not noticing or politely ignoring his reaction, "involves shaping light into weapons. Similar to your Patronus, but more... precise."
Harry thought of the golden elk and its deadly antlers. "Like what the Tree Sentinel could do?"
"Similar, though each person's light manifests differently." She held out her hand, and a delicate blade of pure light formed above her palm. "Your affinity seems to be for protective magic, so yours might take a different form."
"Right then," he said, flexing his fingers. "Show me how it's done."
"Before we begin," Melina said, reaching into her dress pocket, "you forgot something rather important after your victory." She pulled out what looked like a golden bracelet, intricately carved with symbols of the Golden Order.
"The Tree Sentinel's seal?" Harry asked, taking the bracelet carefully. It felt warm to the touch, like sunlight given solid form.
"An Erdtree seal," Melina confirmed. "It works much like your wand, focusing and amplifying your connection to grace."
Harry slipped it onto his wrist. The moment it settled against his skin, a surge of warmth spread up his arm.
As Harry focused on channeling the grace through the Erdtree seal, a sensation unlike anything he'd experienced before flowed through him. Where his normal magic felt like a rushing river - wild, natural, and sometimes unpredictable - this was different. The Golden Order grace felt like liquid sunlight flowing through his veins, warm and orderly, each particle moving with divine purpose.
The seal on his wrist resonated with it, amplifying the sensation. It wasn't just warmth anymore - it was the feeling of dawn breaking over a horizon. The grace moved through him in perfect geometric patterns, like countless tiny stars arranging themselves into precise constellations within his body.
This wasn't just magic - it was law itself, the fundamental rules that governed reality given form and purpose.
The bracelet's carvings blazed with golden light, each symbol briefly illuminated before fading back to their normal state.
"Wow," Harry breathed, turning his wrist to examine the seal. "That felt..."
"Like coming home?" Melina suggested. "The seals are directly connected to the Erdtree's grace. Think of it as a conduit, much like your wand is for your world's magic."
She produced a knife next. What caught Harry's attention was the peculiar golden stone set into its pommel.
"This is how we'll start," she explained, holding the knife out. "Slide the seal across the blade while focusing your grace through it. Think of it as... coating the blade with your power."
To demonstrate, she took the knife herself. With practiced grace, she drew her own seal along the blade's length. Golden light spread from the point of contact, enveloping the weapon in a warm glow that reminded Harry of sunset through stained glass.
"See how the grace maintains itself?" she asked as the knife continued to shimmer. "But it's temporary. Watch."
Sure enough, after about a minute, the golden light began to fade, leaving the knife looking ordinary once more. She handed it back to Harry.
"Your turn."
Harry gripped the knife, ready to try the technique, but then remembered his sword. "Maybe I should use-"
"Stop!" Melina's hand shot out, catching his wrist before he could reach for the Carian blade. "That sword is attuned to Carian magic only. Trying to force Golden Order grace through it would be... unwise."
"It would break?" Harry asked, remembering that she said the same thing about him trying to use his wand to channel his grace.
"At best," Melina said grimly. "At worst, the conflicting magical energies could cause an explosion. Carian and Golden Order magics are... not compatible."
Harry quickly withdrew his hand from his sword's hilt. "Right. Knife it is, then."
"Good choice," Melina smiled. "Now, focus your grace into the seal first. Feel how it responds to you?"
Harry closed his eyes, concentrating on the warm sensation emanating from the bracelet. It felt different from his usual magic - brighter somehow, more... deliberate.
"That's it," Melina's voice was soft, encouraging. "Now, maintain that connection while you draw the seal across the blade. Let the grace flow naturally, don't force it."
Harry opened his eyes and began to move the seal along the knife's edge, watching intently for any sign of the golden light she'd produced. This was just the beginning, he knew - another step in understanding the complex magics of the Lands Between. And with Melina's guidance, he was eager to learn more.
Melina watches Harry carefully and quickly grabs his wrist before he can complete the motion, "Wait - your grace is fluctuating too much. If the flow isn't steady when empowering weapons, it can cause... unpredictable reactions."
"What kind of reactions?" Harry asks, lowering the knife.
"Best case? The grace disperses harmlessly," she explains, her expression serious. "Worst case? The unstable energy could cause the weapon to shatter explosively, sending fragments everywhere. I've seen warriors lose fingers that way. Some have even been blinded by shrapnel."
She adjusts his grip slightly. "The grace needs to flow like a steady stream, not pulses. Feel how the seal resonates? That's your baseline. Maintain that exact level of power throughout the entire motion."
"Like casting Lumos," Harry realizes. "If you put too much power into it inconsistently, the light flickers and can burst."
"Exactly," Melina nods approvingly despite not knowing what lumos was. "Too little won't take hold, too much or uneven application can be dangerous. Try again, but this time, focus on keeping the energy constant."
Harry takes a deep breath, understanding now why she's being so careful with his training.
"Can this technique be used on other weapons?"
"Yes," Melina replies, "the Golden Order's grace can be applied to most conventional weapons - maces, spears, axes, even arrows. However, there are important limitations."
She takes a moment to organize her thoughts before continuing: "First, as I mentioned, you can't apply it to weapons already attuned to other forms of magic, like your Carian sword. Second, the larger the weapon, the more grace it requires to maintain the effect. A dagger might hold the blessing for a minute, but a greatsword might only stay enhanced for twenty seconds."
"So it's better for smaller weapons?" Harry asks, still practicing with the knife.
"Not necessarily. The blessing is proportional to the weapon's size - a greatsword would receive a more powerful enhancement, even if for a shorter duration. It's a trade-off between power and duration."
She reaches down and picks up a fallen branch. "Would you like to try it on something larger? This would simulate how it feels with a proper sword, though obviously without the cutting edge."
"Just remember," she adds, "the larger the object, the more grace you'll need to channel through the seal. Start slowly - there's no need to exhaust yourself."
After ten minutes of concentrated effort, Harry finally felt the grace flowing smoothly through the seal and into the blade. Golden light rippled across the steel, transforming it into something that looked more ceremonial than practical. The pommel's stone grew warm against his palm, and he noticed the blade's increased weight - though thanks to his recent training, it remained manageable.
"Well done," Melina said, her smile making Harry's stomach do a small flip. "Now, try it on that tree."
Harry approached a nearby oak, noting how the golden light seemed to leave trails in the air as he moved the blade. With a quick slash, he struck the trunk.
The knife passed through as if the tree were made of butter. Where the blade cut, golden sparkles danced along the edges of the wound before slowly fading away, leaving a perfectly clean slice through the bark and wood.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Melina said, running her fingers along the cut's smooth edge. "Golden Order magic is particularly effective against beings that oppose the natural order - those who defy death, practice forbidden arts, or rebel against the Erdtree's grace."
"But not against everything?" Harry asked, watching the last golden sparkles disappear.
"No. Some creatures and warriors have built up strong resistance to it. The followers of the Golden Order weren't universally loved, after all. That's why it's important to have alternatives - like your Carian sword."
"What exactly is the difference between them?" Harry wiped sweat from his brow. "Between Golden Order and Carian magic?"
Melina's eye grew distant, as if looking into the past. "The Carian Royal Family was different from most nobles in the Lands Between. While others sought the Erdtree's blessing, the Carians looked to the stars. They developed their own form of sorcery under Queen Rennala of the Full Moon."
"She sounds important," Harry noted, letting the knife's golden glow fade.
"She was... is," Melina corrected herself. "Rennala still lives, though..." she paused, choosing her words carefully. "She was once married to Radagon, who later left her to become Second Elden Lord."
"That's rough," Harry muttered, the bitterness of it stinging him even though he had never known Rennala. "Why would he leave her for someone else? Was it for power? Or something else?"
Melina exhaled softly, her hand tightening slightly around his waist as she spoke. "Radagon's departure is one of the great mysteries of the Lands Between. Some believe it was his duty, a choice made for the sake of the Greater Will. Others whisper that it was Queen Marika herself who summoned him, binding him to her as her consort and protector."
"But didn't Radagon and Rennala have children?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow as the pieces didn't seem to fit. "How could he just leave his family behind?"
"They did," Melina replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "Radagon and Rennala had three children—Ranni, Rykard, and Radahn. All of them became powerful in their own right. But when Radagon left, it shattered Rennala. She was never the same after. She still lives within the Academy of Raya Lucaria, but her mind is... fractured. She clings to the remnants of what they had, to the amber egg that Radagon gave her as a parting gift."
"An egg?" Harry frowned. "That sounds... strange. What's inside it?"
"No one knows for certain," Melina said quietly. "But Rennala uses it to hold onto the past. Some say she seeks to create a perfect rebirth, to undo the pain Radagon caused her. Others believe she has lost herself completely to her grief and obsession."
Harry was silent, trying to wrap his mind around the story. "So Radagon just... left? And Rennala's been holding onto some magical egg ever since?"
"Yes," Melina replied. "Radagon left to join Marika and become the Elden Lord, abandoning the life he had with Rennala. But even after all this time, Rennala's heart remains bound to him, even though the world has moved on. And now her children—Rykard, Ranni, and Radahn—are caught in the aftermath of that decision, each pursuing their own path of power and ambition."
Harry's stomach churned with an odd mix of anger and sympathy. "It doesn't seem fair," he said quietly. "She gave everything to him, and he just... left."
"Fairness is a rare thing in the Lands Between," Melina replied softly, her tone thoughtful.
Harry furrowed his brow, remembering something. "Wait... Rykard. The Tree Sentinel mentioned that name. Why would he want offerings? Is he like Godrick?"
"I'm afraid I don't know for sure. It's not clear where Rykard is, but I think he is still in his home, in Volcano Manor."
"Wait, he built his home in a volcano?" Harry asked incredulously, letting out a short laugh. "'Ah yes, this active volcano looks lovely, perfect spot for a summer home.' Did he get a really good deal on the property or something?"
Melina's lips twitched with amusement. "The manor itself is quite grand, actually."
"Oh, I'm sure it's lovely. Nothing like the constant threat of molten rock to really tie a room together," Harry quipped, rolling his eyes. "Bet the heating bills are great though."
"I'm afraid you have to find out for yourself, but I think it's better for you to avoid that place," Melina said, her tone growing serious. "I don't know what Rykard wants, but if that Tree Sentinel wanted to take you and hand you over to him... I think he wants to become Elden Lord, and make his own order."
"Brilliant. Another power-hungry lunatic with questionable taste in real estate," Harry muttered, absently twirling his wand. "You know, between him and Godrick, I'm starting to think this 'Elden Lord' business attracts a very specific type of person. Next you'll tell me there's someone who built their castle underwater or inside a giant tree."
"Back to what we were talking about." Melina interrupted him. "Carian sorcery focuses on the cosmos - the moon, the stars, even gravity itself. It's more... intellectual than Golden Order magic, which draws power from faith and conviction."
"So my sword uses star power?" Harry asked, touching its hilt.
"In a way. The Carians believed that fate was written in the stars, not in the Erdtree. Your sword channels that belief into power." She smiled wryly. "Though I suspect you've already noticed how it responds to your intent more than your faith."
Harry nodded, remembering how naturally the sword had felt in his hands from the start. "Shall we practice more with this? I'd like to see what else Golden Order magic can do."
"Eager student," Melina teased. "But yes, there's much more to learn. Though," she glanced at the cleanly sliced tree, "perhaps we should find a different target. I don't think the local forest could survive much more of your practice."
"There's something I need to tell you about the fight," Harry said, absently running his fingers through the grass. "Right at the end, when I made that final strike against the Tree Sentinel, something strange happened with my sword."
"Strange in what way?"
"It was like..." Harry picked up a nearby stick, holding it like his sword. "The blade suddenly became wrapped in this blue light. But it wasn't just glowing – the light took shape, like a larger sword made of pure magic surrounding my real one."
Melina's eye widened, and she leaned forward intently. "Show me exactly how it happened."
Harry stood up, assuming the stance he'd taken during the battle. "The Tree Sentinel was attacked by my Patronus, and I knew I had one chance. I raised my sword like this, and then..." He demonstrated the motion, remembering the surge of power he'd felt.
"By the Erdtree," Melina breathed. "You manifested a Carian Greatsword. Without any training. Without even knowing what it was."
A nearby bird called out, its cry echoing through the trees as Harry lowered the stick. "Is that significant?"
"Significant?" Melina shook her head in amazement. "Harry, the Carian arts are among the most sophisticated forms of sorcery in the Lands Between. The knights who practiced these arts spent years studying under master sorcerers, poring over ancient scrolls, learning to channel the power of the stars themselves."
"But I didn't do any of that," Harry said, confused. "It just... happened."
"Exactly," Melina said, beginning to pace beneath the oak tree. "That's what makes this so extraordinary. Carian Magic isn't something that just 'happens.' It's precise, studied, deliberate. Yet somehow, in a moment of need, you accessed it instinctively."
A cool breeze rustled through the leaves above as Harry considered this. "Where did this knights learned to use this kinds of spells?"
Melina stopped pacing and gestured to a fallen log nearby. They both sat down as she explained, "The Carian Knights were warrior-scholars who served the Royal Family of Liurnia. They developed a unique form of combat sorcery that merged intellectual pursuit with martial prowess. They studied the stars, believing that celestial bodies held the key to powerful magic."
"Like Astronomy?" Harry asked, thinking of his classes at Hogwarts.
"Similar, but more... martial in its application. They learned to manifest weapons of pure starlight – swords, arrows, shields, even more exotic armaments. The blue glow you saw? That's the signature of Carian sorcery. It's the color of concentrated starlight."
"And you think I could learn more of this magic?"
"Your natural manifestation of the Carian Greatsword suggests you have a remarkable affinity for it," Melina said. "But learning more won't be simple. I know of the Carian arts, but I cannot use them. You'll need to find proper instruction."
"From who?"
"There are rumors of a Sorceress Sellen that might be somewhere in Limgrave, but I don't know where she might be. And of course, there's Raya Lucaria Academy, though..." She paused for a moment. "That place is currently too dangerous to approach."
Harry stood up and drew his sword, examining the plain steel blade. "Could you at least help me try to do it again? Now that I know what it is?"
Melina nodded thoughtfully. "We can try. The Carian Knights believed that their magic flowed from both the mind and the body. Stand as you did before, but this time, try to remember exactly how it felt when the magic manifested."
Harry assumed his stance, trying to recall the sensation, and focusing on the sword he was holding. "It was like... like something cool flowing through my arms into the sword. Almost like casting Lumos, but bigger."
"Good. Close your eyes. Imagine the starlight flowing through you, taking shape around your blade."
Harry did as instructed, concentrating hard. For a moment, nothing happened. Then he felt his sword growing heavier.
"There!" Melina exclaimed. "Did you feel that?"
Harry opened his eyes to see the faintest blue shimmer around his sword, though it faded almost immediately. "It's harder when I'm trying to do it on purpose."
"That's natural," Melina assured him. "What you did in battle was pure instinct – your magic responding to desperate need. Doing it deliberately requires a different kind of focus. The Carian Knights would spend months just learning to manifest the simplest spell consistently."
"You mentioned stars earlier. What do they have to do with it?"
Melina gestured upward, though the daylight obscured any view of the sky. "The Carians believed that the stars weren't just distant lights, but sources of power and knowledge. Their most powerful spells drew directly on celestial energy. Some say their greatest sorcerers could even call down fragments of the stars themselves."
"Like meteors?" Harry asked, remembering a documentary he'd glimpsed on Uncle Vernon's television.
"Exactly. Though such feats are far beyond most practitioners. What's fascinating about your case is how your magic from your world seems to interact with ours. Perhaps that's why you can access Carian sorcery so naturally – you already have a deep connection to magic, just of a different kind."
Harry pulled out his wand, comparing it to his sword. "Could I use both together somehow?"
"I would not recommend," Melina mused. "I've never heard of anyone trying to combine the two traditions. But then again, I've never met anyone quite like you, Harry."
"So what should I do now? Just wait until we find this Sellen person?"
"For now, yes. But we can continue practicing what you did today. Just..." She gave him a stern look. "Be careful. Even natural talent needs proper guidance to develop safely. The last thing we need is you accidentally summoning a moon or something equally catastrophic."
"Has anyone actually done that?" Harry asked, half-joking.
"According to legend, Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, could do exactly that," Melina said seriously. "Though such tales may be exaggerated. Still, Carian Magic is powerful and complex. It requires respect and understanding."
Harry nodded, feeling both excited and somewhat overwhelmed by the possibilities. The magic he'd used against the Tree Sentinel had felt so right, so natural. The idea that it was just the beginning of what he might learn was both thrilling and daunting.
"Well," he said finally, "I suppose we should start looking for this Sorceress Sellen person. Though knowing my luck, they'll probably be guarding something terrible or stuck in some impossible-to-reach place."
Melina smiled. "Probably. But that hasn't stopped you before, has it?"
"No," Harry agreed, returning her smile. "It hasn't."
A House
Screams echoed through the halls of an enormous Manor, bouncing off old walls and dusty floors. Inside the building's heart, in a room where shadows seemed to breathe, a massive snake with eyes like molten gold slithered across rotting floorboards.
Her's scales caught what little light filtered through the grimy windows as she coiled near a high-backed chair. In it sat a figure that seemed wrong somehow - too small for the presence it commanded, like a god trapped in a child's form.
Footsteps pounded up creaking stairs, and a man burst into the room, his face twisted with concern. His master's screams had drawn him from his watch, dark mark burning on his forearm.
"Lord Voldemort, how can I help you?" Barty asked, approaching the chair.
The figure moved with unnatural speed. A hand shot out, gripping Barty's throat and lifting him as if he were made of paper. Barty's feet dangled above the floor as he stared into his master's face.
Voldemort's form was barely half its usual size, but that wasn't what made Barty's blood run cold. Within the familiar crimson eyes, golden rings pulsed with power. When Voldemort spoke, it was as if two voices were fighting for control of one mouth.
"I need... wizards... I need power...I need Chaos..." The dual voices sent shivers down Barty's spine - one was his master's familiar cold hiss, but the other... the other was ancient, and terryfing.
The grip released suddenly, and Barty crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. Above him, Voldemort stood - actually stood - on his own two legs. The magical construct that had barely sustained him was gone, replaced by something more solid, more real.
"I need you to make contact with that traitor Lucius Malfoy," Voldemort commanded, his voice stronger now, though the dual tones remained. "Do it now."
Barty stared in amazement as his master walked across the room - not floating or dragging himself, but walking without problem. "My Lord, how is this possible? You can walk..."
"Do not question!" Both voices snapped in perfect, terrifying harmony. "Do as you are commanded!"
Barty scrambled to his feet, bowing deeply. "Yes, my Lord. At once, my Lord." He backed out of the room, trying not to show how badly his hands were shaking.
As the door closed behind him, Voldemort turned to Nagini, who had raised her head to watch the exchange. "Something has changed," the dual voices whispered. "Something in the magic itself. Can you feel it, my pet?"
The snake's golden eyes seemed to glow brighter in response, reflecting the same otherworldly light that now ringed her master's eyes.
"...Harry Potter...You won't live for much Longer..."
