Harry Potter and the Search for the Soul Rod by JamesLupinBlack Rating: PG13 Ship: Harry & Hermione Canon: Books 1 - 5 Genre: Action/Adventure, Romance Status: In progress Length: 4,067 words in 5 chapters Published: 21 Apr 2004 Last updated: 8 Sep 2004 Sequal to "Harry Potter and the Sword of Destiny" Trouble has found Harry again, but how will he handle his other "Problem"? From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/2098/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Chapter One: The Party Welcome to my newest story, the sequel to Harry Potter and the Sword of Destiny! Thanks to my wonderful reviewers, I have improved on my old story, and this one should be MUCH better. This will be much longer, and hopefully more in depth, so if you don’t pay attention you will get lost! I recommend that you read my old story before you read this one, it will help clarify some things. Alright, next on the list is I have a few things to clarify. Disclaimer: This story and any content relating to the Harry Potter franchise are not authorized by J.K. Rowling, or Scholastic Press. I do not own any of the original Characters…and if I did I wouldn’t be writing this… The Character of Merc Thompson is not my creation, but is the creation of the wonderful writer Vicarious Leigh I’m sure most of you here on Portkey have read her wonderful creations, but if you havn’t, then I highly recommend that you read them, they are as powerful as the books themselves. If you would like to read her stories, please join her Yahoo group! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/triumvirateofverbosity/ I would also like to thank Kristen, for being my beta for this chapter and the rest of the book! A big thanks goes out to her. Chapter One: The Party Harry walked into the brightly-lit room, his arm tightly wrapped around Hermione’s waist. Balloons were floating everywhere, bouncing off of one another, and making noises. They were of course inventions of Fred and George. "Weasley’s embarrassing Balloons" currently as Harry walked into the room, one floated over his head and made a loud belching noise. By this time everyone at the part was used to these noises penetrating the music, but partially because it was Harry, and partially because it was the loudest one yet; everyone looked his way. Harry saw many familiar faces as they turned to look at him. He of course could pick out Ron and the rest of the Weasley without much trouble. Their red hair made them stick out like a sore…bleeding thumb. He also saw some people he didn’t know. One of which was tightly linked to Ron’s arm. Interesting, Ron’s finally snagged himself a girlfriend. About time… Harry thought to himself. This was actually the first time he was going to be seeing them in around four years. Harry was twenty-five now, and he had done a lot in the past eight years since he got out of school. After he finished his seventh year at Hogwarts, he had to do the public thing. Once again, he was a celebrity. This time it was a little different though, instead of it just being "Harry Potter the Boy who lived", it was now "Destiny’s Army, the defeaters of Voldemort". Harry personally liked it much better this way. His friends now, were equally famous. After he had finished being famous – which had taken all of four years – he decided to go to a wizarding collage. Stonehenge Academy was one of the best schools on the Asian continent. The only reason he had survived those long four years were the fact that Hermione had been with him the whole time. So now technically they were…. "Dr. Potter has arrived!" Ron bellowed out from the front of the crowd. Within minutes, people were swarming around them, hugging them, shaking their hands, and introducing themselves, asking how he was. Harry thought he was going to suffocate. Thankfully something saved him. A loud belch erupted from the back of the crowd, and thankfully everyone turned to look at where the monstrous sound had come from. Fred stood there grinning like the fool he was. Everyone erupted into loud laughter, and provided a nice escape from the crowd for Harry and Hermione. The crowd slowly dispersed and Harry was finally able to greet his friends properly. "How are you mate?" Harry asked Ron. "I’m fine. I have to say though, I have missed you." Ron said, pulling him into a manly hug. "Who is your friend." Harry asked, adding a wink. "This is Merc Thompson." Ron said, blushing just a little. "I am perfectly capable of introducing myself thank you." The woman before Harry stood nearly five feet and nine inches tall. She had long flowing chestnut hair. Unlike Hermione’s, it was straight as an arrow and generally had little body whatsoever. Her skin was pale, but clear, and like Harry’s own eyes she had green eyes. They were certainly not the piercing emerald green, but were understated, not unlike their owner. She was in good shape and under her well-fitting robes stood an athletic frame that no-doubt ensured she was no stranger to the term "tomboy." However, her robes indicated something else. She was intelligent. She would have to be in order to wear the blue and white scarf signifying her place in the Ravenclaw House. "As this git here already told you," Merc said shooting a glare at Ron. "I’m Merc Thompson." She said. At about that time, Hermione walked back to Harry after chatting with Ginny and Luna. She came up and stood next to Harry, and looked at Ron’s new girlfriend. "Merc!" Hermione cried as they launched themselves into a hug. Ron and Harry just stood there petrified, how did they know each other? Hermione looked at the expression on Harry and Ron’s faces, and let out a laugh. "Merc was my study partner in Arithmancy! She and I were partners for four years." Hermione said as if they should know this. "I never knew that you were friends with the Great Harry Potter Herm. You never mentioned them." Merc said puzzled. "Well that’s ok, because she never mentioned you either." Harry interjected. "I see, well that’s ok, were all here now." Merc said good-naturedly. "Why do I feel left out again?" Ron said jokingly. They all laughed at this comment, and slowly mingled into the party again. The party was going very well, and not even the Belching behemoths could not spoil Harry’s fun. Everyone was having a great time, not a care in the world. For about two hours the party went slowly like this. The doors bust open suddenly, and a disheveled nineteen year old dashed in. He was tall, thin, and sort of pale. His long straggly black hair was whipping around his face. "What did I miss?" James asked as he ran into Harry’s back. Harry turned around not knowing what had happened. "James! I thought you were still at Harvard?" Harry asked incredulously. "I was! But you know me, I like finishing early." James smiled wickedly. A small tinkling noise from the front of the room notified them that there was an announcement to be made. Draco and Luna were standing at the front podium, and Luna was delicately hitting the wineglass. "I think it is time to announce something." Draco said. "Luna and I are going to be getting married at the end of the summer!" Draco said happily. Luna was smiling too, her blond hair hanging in front of her reddened cheeks. Everyone applauded of course, and that made Luna blush even further. Harry decided to take the attention of his shy friend. So he whistled shrilly. This of course made everyone look at him and Hermione. "I have an announcement to make as well." Harry said, gripping Hermione’s hand tightly. "Hermione is going to be having a baby soon." Harry said wondering what the reaction was going to be. He looked at Hermione’s face, and knew that it didn’t really matter what the reaction was she didn’t care. The reaction though was not something that needed to be worried about. The crowd erupted into more cheering, and some catcalls were heard from the back of the room. Fred and George even charmed one of the balloons to cry like a baby when it popped over Harry’s head. Harry laughed along with everyone else who had heard the cry, but he couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what he was going to be hearing for the next three years or so. Harry turned back to his late coming friend. "James, why did you go to a Muggle school anyways? You passed Hogwarts with top grades what did you need that for?" Harry asked curiously. "Well, I went there for Physics, Chemistry." James said. "Both of those subjects have to do with the study of Atoms. With that extra knowledge, I can manipulate Atoms in more ways than ever." James concluded. "English please." Said Ron, popping up behind Harry. "In more simple words, I can create my own spells much easier." James said, with a small huff. He always got slightly annoyed with Ron’s ignorance. "So, James, did you bring your fan club this time?" Harry asked. "No." James said a little indignantly. Ever since he had invented the Anti Avada Kedavra spell, he had been famous too. Death tolls had gone down world wide, and generally there was less violence altogether. "I decided to leave them at the school," He leaned forward as he said this. "They think I am still in my dorm room." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Chapter Two: Home Life Chapter Two: Home Life A/N – Hey all, sorry this chappy took so long to get out. But between school, and everything else, this got pushed to the back burner. If you notice any mistakes in this chapter, I am sorry, my beta (Kristen) is out of town right now. And since I wanted to get this to you as soon as possible, I figured you wouldn’t care about a few mistakes. Once again, I would like to give credit to Vicarious Leigh for the use of her Character Merc Thompson. Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone enjoys this chappy!!! Harry put his feet up on the couch in his living room, staring into the cackling fire. His eyes got lost in the flames, watching one flare up, reach its peak, and die down into nothing. The flames changing color from the beginning of its life to the end. He slowly came out of his revere, and looked around him. The living room was as still as he it had been two minutes ago when he had sat down. But the stillness was to be expected, it was only two o’clock in the morning. Even though Harry was a grown man now, he still thought longingly of the family he didn’t have, the extended family that his children would never meet. More so than the family he didn’t know, Harry missed the person he had gotten to know. Sirius Black. Guilt still plagued Harry when he stopped long enough to think about it; normally that time was at night. Dreams of a shocked, stark face falling through a black veil. When he had these dreams, he was fifteen again, waiting for Sirius to come back out the other side, waiting for him to laugh and say “Gotcha!” But he never did. Harry looked at the clock on the wall, and decided that he should go back to bed now, before his wife found out that he had gone. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________________________________________ The next morning was the first time they had been home in around six months. School had kept them away from there home, and their friends. So Harry and Hermione agreed that today they would have some of their friends over so that they could catch up on what they had been missing. James, Ron, Merc, Luna, Draco, Ginny, and Neville were all coming over that afternoon. Harry couldn’t wait to see his friends again, even though he had seen them last night at the party. He hadn’t had much of an opportunity to talk to them much, and he looked forward to it now. Harry also wanted to get to know Merc better, since he had never met her before. The last reason he wanted to see his friends again, was because he had something important to tell them. Something he had found out in collage, something that had made his world turn upside down. Destinies Army was going to have a meeting again, after eight years. Interrupting Harry’s thoughts, there was a knock at the door. Harry made his way across the large foyer area, and opened the door. Apparently all his friends had decided to show up at one time. As they filed into the house, Harry realized that one of them was missing. Hermione. After another seconds thought, Harry remembered that she was upstairs taking a shower. He hoped she came down soon. “Hey guys, glad you all could come so early!” Harry said politely. Harry guided them to the living room, and everyone had a seat around the TV which was broadcasting a quidditch game. Since Harry and Hermione now lived in London -- muggle London that is -– all the electronics worked very nicely. The friends talked for about a half an hour, about casual things, this and that. Really they were waiting for Hermione to come down. When she did come down she made quite an entrance. She came walking down the stairs only wearing a towel, and her hair was still dripping wet. “Harry,” She said from behind a yawn. “There’s no more hot water, sorry I used it all….” That was as far as her sentence got. Her eyes, that had been half closed with sleep a minute previous, were now wide open. “Well,” Ron began, but had to cough. “Hermione I’m glad you feel comfortable around us, but that’s a little much….” Ron said, his ears turning red from his restrained laughter. Hermione shot Ron a deathly glare, and stalked back upstairs, clearly embarrassed. Twenty more minutes went by before she finally did come down, fully dressed this time. “Much better.” Harry murmured under his breath as she passed. She walked about, as if nothing had happened. That was Hermione for you, she was not going to even bat an eyelash. Once everyone had settled, Harry decided that it was time for his speech to begin. “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, Destinies Army is all here. Except for you Merc, but if Ron trusts you, then so do I.” Harry said, not sure if he should let her be here for this. He saw Ron squeeze her hand, and decided to let it be. “The reason I called you here, is because I found out something very important at collage. During my hours of boring research, I stumbled across some old documents from the Department of Mysteries.” That statement alone, got their eyebrows raising. “Harry, dear, sweetie pumkin,” Hermione started in her most endearing tone. “WHY IN THE NAME OF MERLIN DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?!?” Hermione yelled at him. “I wanted everyone to know at the same time.” Harry said, expecting her to blow like that. For someone who craved knowledge as much as she did knowing that she had missed something was a terrible let down. “The information I found was some background info on the Black Veil.” As Harry said this, the already raised eyebrows were now accompanied by wide eyes. “I know what it was used for, and I know how it works. But the main thing I wanted to tell you all was that I found out something even more important than that.” Harry took a deep breath before he said this. Preparing himself for the upwelling of emotions this was going to cause. “I know how to get Sirius back.” Harry said to his stunned audience. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Chapter Three: Problem? What Problem? Chapter Three: Problem? What Problem? Dumbledore looked around his circular office at Hogwarts. His meeting with the new head girl and boy was dragging on forever. The new Head girl, Charlie, really had a big mouth, and she liked to use it. The Head boy was different, but still annoying. Instead of talking, all he did was stare at her. Just because she was the most popular student in the school right now doesn't mean he should openly gawk at her. She apparently didn't notice, or didn't care. After another half an hour of explaining the duties to them, the meeting was finally over. Leaning back into his chair, he sighed and took a lemon drop from the bowl on his desk. They always seemed to have a calming effect on him, most candy did. Some said that Dumbledore was a candy addict….he was. The door to his office opened without anyone knocking, which was never a good sign. It always meant that someone needed to talk to him now. Tom is dead, what could be the problem? Dumbledore thought to himself. “Sir, sir!” An out of breath voice called to him. It was the voice of Remus Lupin. “Remus, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Albus?” Dumbledore said calmly. “Something terrible happened!” Remus said, ignoring the professor's last comment. “And that would be?” Dumbledore asked, still keeping calm. “The Guardian was killed this morning.” “What do you mean you know how to get Sirius back? Harry, this better not be some joke….” Ron said, his voice non-believing, and stern at the same time. “No joke Ron, through my research,” Before Harry could finish his sentence, Hermione interrupted him. “You actually researched something???” She asked, surprised. Harry shot her a deathly glare. “Yes I did, when I found more mention of the black veil, I dug deeper into it. The Veil was originally created to be death penalty for Azkaban prisoners. At the time, they didn't know exactly what happened to the body after it went through the veil. Most just assumed that they died, but finally someone tested it. David Pyrite, was the master Occlumens of his time, and he devised a plan to find out what happened on the other side. By entering a prisoners mind before he was pushed through the veil, and he was able to determine what happened to the mind on the other side.” Harry said. “What happened? What is on the other side?” Luna asked, her dreamy façade dropped. “His documents were destroyed. After they realized what happened, on the other side, they banned the Veil. That's why it's in the Department of Mysteries.” Harry said. Luna nodded, as if she had guessed that was the case. “But how does that bring Sirius back?” Merc asked, her eyes narrowing. “That's where the Soul Rod comes in.” Harry said. --> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Chapter 4 Chapter Four: The New Guardian Harry looked around the room at his friends and smiled. This was actually going to work. No matter how many times he thought about it, it still hasn't sunk in yet. Harry was smiling into nothing when an all familiar `pop' resounded through the living room. The crack shattered the delicate silence like a hammer. But the unmistakable figure of Albus Dumbledore standing in the middle of the room was a calming sight. “Harry, I have some good news. I think this will make some things easier for you, and some things harder.” The professor said to the room, and to Harry alone at the same time. Of course, it didn't take Ron long to comment on it. “When will you ever stop speaking in Riddles?” He asked incredulously. Albus chuckled. “An old man has to find his fun some how.” The simple words created a image in Harry's mind that made him laugh out loud. A picture of Dumbledore sitting on a beach with a bathing suit on was just hilarious. “I don't understand sir,” Harry had never gotten out of the habit. “How can it be easy and hard at the same time?” He asked, very confused. “Well, I need you to be the new Guardian.” Albus said simple, as if Harry should know this. “What Guardian?” Harry asked, clueless to what the Professor was talking about. “The Guardian of the Soul Rod of course.” Albus said, again as if Harry should have known that. Harry's heart leapt. That meant that Harry would have access to the Rod whenever he needed it. It also meant that he could protect it when he needed too. “That's excellent. We won't have to search for it after all.” Harry said, ecstatic about the simplicity of his plans now. “But Harry, you don't understand. The Guardian has laws he must abide by, there are rules to keep him in check.” Albus said. “I cannot tell you those rules, for they are not mine to tell.” He continued. “But the person who can is not far. I will take you to him if you wish.” He finished. “Yes that would be good.” Harry said, a million thoughts racing through his head. Who was the old Guardian? Why do they need a new one? Who was the person who was going to tell him the rules? What were they going to be? Harry walked over to the Professor, and grabbed the Portkey the man was holding out to him. With a light tug from behind his navel, he was gone. --> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Chapter 5 Chapter Five: The Ceremony Harry and the professor landed in a very dark room, which slightly reminded Harry of a crypt. It also smelled slightly of death, not something Harry enjoyed smelling, or knowing what it smelled like for that matter, but all the same Harry knew what the smell was. Within the pitch of the blackness, a small light appeared and started to grow. Slowly, ever so slowly the light grew and got bigger. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of it since there wasn't anything else in the room to look at anyways. After about five minutes, the orb was about the size of a basketball. The light from it should have lit the room, but it didn't it just was. “Ahhhh, someone has finally entered my lair.” A voice said from everywhere…and nowhere. Harry's head snapped in three directions at once trying to locate it, but all he succeeded in doing was giving himself a crick in his neck. Looking around again, Harry realized that he was alone with the orb, and the voice. Not exactly comforting. “Hello? Who's there?” Harry asked to the nothingness. “I am the Spirit of the Rod.” The voice said, echoing off the small walls. “You are here to gain acceptance into the elite. The chosen ones specifically trained to guard what you so seek.” All this was said in a melodic voice that was made all the more mythical by the reverberations. “What do I have to do?” Harry asked, knowing that he would do whatever it took anyway. “You must learn how to use this. In the days of old, before Wizards fought with magic, Wizards fought with the Katana, fighting with the ancient art seared into their bones. If you can learn and master this delicate weapon, then you are worthy to obtain the Rod which you seek.” Harry looked around the room, slightly confused on what the voice was talking about. Thankfully the orb in the center of the room changed into a shape that he recognized. A sword. I have to use another sword? Doesn't the whole “Ancient Swords” thing get old? Harry thought to himself. “I am ready to use what you say.” Harry said, trying to say it in the same kind of dialect that the Voice was. “Good.” That was all it said, then the room lit fully. In front of Harry on an ornate table, was a sword. Not like the Swords that he and Hermione had to use, but much smaller. It was thin, light looking, and sharp. Harry could tell all these things just by looking at them. He grabbed it off of the table, and all of a sudden the room changed. The walls seemed to melt backwards and from them Humanoid shapes appear every one of them was carrying some weapon or instrument of pain. Without it being explained to Harry, he knew that he was going to prove himself right now. So without any preamble, he struck at the closest one. A clean push cut sliced its head right off of its body, and it evaporated. Spinning cleanly into the next one, he struck again and again. Before long the room was empty except for Harry and the Sword. “Good.” That was all the voice said again, and then he was pulled away violently by another unseen portkey. -->