Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.
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Chapter 5: Toward the Holy City
"Deis Uno?" questioned a woman. She was a beautiful woman with waist length black hair and piercing blue eyes. She wore black priestly robes that showed off her figure clearly. It was the woman whom had found the Crystal of Tempest at the site of the Battle of Snow-Covered Fields.
"That is what the intelligence reports, your eminence" said one of twelve hooded cultists surrounding the woman. They were the Children of Tempest and were gathered in a dark gloomy chamber that was built in the form of a temple sanctuary. "The Gryffindor Royal Family has traveled to Deis Uno."
"No why ever would the Potters go to Ravenclaw?" muttered the woman. "Especially at a time like this."
"Perhaps they are heading toward Deis Rowena," said another cultist.
"Perhaps," said the woman. "Of course, it may be possible that they are only going on some vacation but somehow I don't think so. If they are indeed heading toward Deis Rowena, that could mean trouble for us."
"What are your orders, your eminence?" asked a third cultist.
The woman closed her eyes and started thinking for a moment. Finally, she sighed and said, "I will pray to our lord, perhaps he can answer for us. You are all dismissed."
With that, the cultists bowed low and left the chamber. The woman turned around and walked up a sinister looking black altar decorated with black serpents. Placed on the altar was the Crystal of Tempest.
The woman kneeled in front of the alter and started saying, "Speak Lord Tempest. Speak and grant orders to your servant, High Priestess Cassandra Frost."
On top of the altar, the Crystal of Tempest started to give off an eerie glow.
* * * * * * * * * *
Deis Uno, the capitol of the Kingdom of Ravenclaw was one of the most beautiful cities in Magiterran. Located on the northern mouth of Eagle River at the southernmost tip of the Northern Mountains, the city had Greco- Roman style architecture and was built on many slopes. Whereas Godric's Hollow had buildings of many colors, Deis Uno's buildings were all white and conveyed a sense of purity. On the hill within the city stood the Royal Palace, though it looked more like a temple than a palace. It was here that Queen Penelope Clearwater resided, with her husband Prime Minister Percy Weasley, one of Ron and Ginny's older brothers.
"Things are going well I must say," said Percy while he dipped his spoon into his soup. He was sitting next to Penelope on the high table with the Gryffindor Mage Knights and their families seated around them. "Literacy Rates are higher and cauldron production has never been better."
Ron didn't bother hiding his yawn. Percy had been boring them about the statistics of the Kingdom for the past forty-five minutes and the children were all falling asleep at the table. "Wonderful news, Perce. Now can we please get down to business?"
Percy looked disappointed. "I would've assumed Ronald, that my stories of my success would be a good source motivation for you."
"Yeah, they're a great help," Ron said sarcastically. "But as much as hearing tales about cauldron thickness is enlightening, that's not what we're here for."
Percy was about to retort but Penelope shushed him and spoke up, "Its very dangerous to travel to the Holy Lands during this time of year. It's the breeding season for Dragons and the largest population of them in Magiterran lives in the Northern Mountains, where you are heading."
"Its important that we arrive at Deis Rowena as soon as possible," said Harry. "The Mountain Pass is the only way to get there, especially since those Apparation preventing wards created by the Death Eaters are still up."
"What is the whole point of going to the Holy Lands than," Percy demanded. "Shouldn't any vacations you have be spent setting up censuses in Gryffindor?"
Ron and Ginny burst out laughing at Percy's pompous attitude. Harry simply grinned and said, "That is for us to know and for you to never know."
After dinner, Hermione took Penelope aside to speak to her. "I can't thank you enough for looking after the children while we are away," she said. "Harry, Ron, and I will probably gone for a few days but I don't want to burden you for so long."
"Its no problem, Hermione," Penelope said. "You just go take care what it is you need to do. Your children are in good hands here." Penelope placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Hermione couldn't help but smile a little bit.
* * * * * * * * * *
That night, the entire palace was asleep with the exception of a pair of twins.
"Are we really going through with this," hissed a worried Lin. "We're going to be in big trouble."
James rolled his eyes and said, "Lin, would you rather stay here and waste away a great first hand learning experience."
"Well no, but still..."
"Don't worry about it, trust me. Everything is going to be alright."
Lin was still worried but she still helped James set up his little plan. After all, she didn't want to be left out either.
* * * * * * * * * *
The next morning, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were about to begin their three- day journey to Deis Rowena.
"We're going to be gone for about a week," said Hermione as she kneeled down and James a quick hug. "Stay out of trouble during that time."
"Oh don't worry Mum, we won't get in trouble here," James said with a devilish grin. A soft chuckle nearly drifted out of his mouth but Lin quickly elbowed him before James let anything out.
"Why is it that I don't trust you," Harry said.
"Trust me Dad, we won't get in trouble here." Harry thought James had emphasized the word "here" but decided to think nothing of it.
"Just do everything your Aunt Ginny and Aunt Margaret tell you," Hermione said as she gave James a hug. She then gave Virginia a strong hug. Hermione noticed that Virginia wasn't protesting the fact that her parents were leaving, which was very strange of her. 'All well, my little angel just must be growing older," she thought with a small sigh.
"OK, lets go," said Harry. Hermione nodded and started to follow her husband. Ron quickly kissed Margaret and Christopher before he trotted after his two best friends. When he caught up with them, he whispered into Harry's ear, "Do you think James is planning something?"
"When isn't he planning something," said Harry. "Yes, he definitely is, but I doubt we'll find out what his next plan is until we get back." It would be only be about five hours later when Harry would find out just how wrong he was.
* * * * * * * * * *
To the west of Deis Uno was Deis Rowena, the holiest city in all of Magiterran. It was the place where the One Deity had given the whole of Magiterran to the founders and it was also the first city in Magiterran ever to be built. The founder Rowena Ravenclaw created the city as the original capitol of the Kingdom of Ravenclaw and it was also the site of the great Temple of the One Deity. Unfortunately, the city was located high up in the nearly inaccessible Northern Mountains. So about eight hundred years ago, the capitol city of Deis Uno was constructed at the base of the only mountain pass to Deis Rowena. To this day, people can travel to Deis Rowena solely through the Mountain Pass beginning at Deis Uno.
It took three days to get to Deis Rowena through the pass. Located high up in the mountains and often covered by snow, it was a journey made only by the strongest of people. Furthermore, travelers were also in constant danger from the dragons that lived in the Northern Mountains.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron had been traveling for nearly five hours and were starting to grow exhausted.
"Are we there yet?" Ron moaned as he dragged his feet through the foot deep snow.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron it's only been five hours. We've still got two and three quarter days of traveling before we even come close."
"I need a break," Ron groaned. "My feet are turning into lead and I think I lost a few toes to the cold."
"All right, lets take a break," Harry said. "I was getting hungry anyway."
Ron let out a cheer and shouted, "Food!" He started bounding around the place happier than a lark.
"I thought he was too exhausted to move," Hermione said with a soft chuckle.
Ron ignored Hermione as he pulled out one of the supply sacs they had shrunken. "Come on, help me prepare dinner," he said.
Hermione rolled her eyes as she enlarged the sac back to its original size. She was just about to open it however when the sac started wiggling. A split second later, the opening of the sac burst open and James and Lin sprang out.
"Couldn't you have had dinner earlier?" moaned Lin. "Its very tiring having to stow away in those sacs." She looked up and saw the looks of surprise and amusement on Harry and Ron's faces as well as the combination of shock and fury on Hermione's. "It was all James idea!" squealed Lin.
James made a bow and said, "Thank you, thank you."
"How...W...what..." Hermione was so angry she couldn't even put a coherent sentence together.
Harry spoke in her stead, "What your mother is trying to say is, how did you do this?"
"Oh it was easy really," James said. "Last night while everyone was asleep Lin and I enchanted the sacs so that they're insides were large enough for us to stay in comfortably. Then, earlier today, we just enchanted a portkey that would leave us in those sacs."
Hermione still looked angry but Harry simply chucled and said, "Hermione, they've upped us this time. We can't take them back to Deis Uno so we're going to have to take them with us."
"Fine," snapped Hermione. "So long as I know Virginia is safe in the palace, I'll be able to handle you two here."
"Um Mum..." Lin said hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"Virginia's not in the palace." Lin nudged the sac a little and a full head of bushy black hair shyly pocked out of the opening.
Much to Ron and Harry's amusement, Hermione lost her temper.
* * * * * * * * * *
Far to the south, in Malfoy Manor, the capitol of the Kingdom of Slytherin, A young man with platinum blonde hair, pale gray eyes, and elegant green robes was sauntering around the palace.
This was Draco Malfoy, a Mage Knight and the king of the Kingdom of Slytherin. Although Draco was the one of the rulers of the Alliance as well as a War Hero who fought for the Alliance during the War against Voldemort, many people in the Alliance regarded Draco with suspicion. And for good reason, for Draco was the son of King Lucius Malfoy, one of Voldemort's devoted servants as well as his puppet ruler for Slytherin. Although Draco was a Mage Knight, people knew just how much he regarded his father.
On this day, Draco was not in a good mood as he stormed through his palace. He considered bullying some of his subjects just get himself to feel better as he made his way to his bedroom. When he opened the door to his bedroom, he stopped short, for someone was already in there.
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A/N I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. This chapter should've been out at least a week ago but RL has been so difficult recently that this chapter was delayed. Whichever way, its finally here and I hope you enjoy it. I enjoyed my three weeks in Portland but home is often much better. Anyway, please review. Don't ever think you are not enough to review because every singe review matters. So please, REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Next: who is that in Draco's bedroom?