Hello, everyone. I got it out faster! Yeah! That should make the twenty of you who complained about it happy. Happy now? Cause you should be.
Well. I've had my rant. Oh. Some of you wanted to know what the URL is for my FF.net C2 community. Here's a link for you: http://www.fanfiction.net/c2/1959/0/1/. There you go then.
Now, as some of you know, anyone who asked serious questions got their reply via e-mail, mainly because I had too much to say in answer to the questions to put here. It would have been enough for a whole new chapter.
Also, when you review, PLEASE put in an e-mail address. I've said it before, but obviously some of you didn't see it.
One last thing: I promised one of the reviewers that I'd give you all all the hints to finding out when Harry will be returning to his own world. I have a little contest for all of you:
If you can figure out the exact date of Harry's disappearance from and arrival back to his world-that means month, day, and year-and put it into a review to me, I will give you a full answer to ANY question about this fic that you ask me. Also, only the first person to get it right will get their question answered. I doubt any of you will find it. It requires cunning and logic as well as the four clues I'll give you. The clues will be at the end of the chapter.
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The Draconis Saga
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Chapter 6
The Order of Aries
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Harry stood up slowly, his muscles aching from the effort he was putting into his Training. That he was tired was an understatement. At the end of every day, he would fall into slumber almost immediately after lying down. This was definitely a plus from the nightmares he had been going through for the past years.
Just under three months had passed since he had first walked into his first class with Jonas, and since then he had progressed considerably since the first time he had walked into the long training hall with Aroralin, his Swords Master. Today would be his last lesson before beginning the Magic part of his training, and he was eager to begin.
"Very good, Astyan. You certainly have mastered the art. I would never have thought you would have progressed so quickly, but you done so more than admirably. Needless to say your Dexzarani skills are serving you well even when they have not been honed."
This was true. Harry had found that during the two weeks after his Training began, more and more subtle changes had been set in motion. The greatest change he had experienced was in height. He was no longer the short, slightly stunted looking fifteen-year-old looking up at everyone from 5'1". He had grown incredibly fast, leaping up to 6'2" in a matter of days, reaching just about the same height as his Masters, and perhaps even a bit taller than his piers.
He lifted the heavy training sword without obvious effort, twirling it in his right hand and waiting for his Master to make his move. His physical training classes with Jonas had done him a world of good as well. He was no longer skinny and weak, and, through a combination of lots of food (the Elvin cooks were certainly very good) and rigorous hours in Jonas's gym and the fields outside the castle (certainly vigorous), he had now progressed into what Jonas had considered to be `peak fitness'. He was now muscular, strong and agile. At first, he could barely lift a sword. Now, he hefted the blade with ease. He had his suspicions that his progress was due mainly to his being a Dexzaran, as he was sure he would not have done nearly so well had he still been human.
It had helped his classes with Merik as well. At first, he had been what he considered utterly hopeless at the hand-to-hand combat techniques that Merik was trying to teach him (Merik had agreed). Now, after his work in his other two subjects, he was now doing very well at it, winning almost every fight he had been put through. There were two reasons for this. The first, of course, was his increased strength and height. The second, which he had found very useful, was an augmented agility. He could dodge almost anything that came his way, almost as if he were seeing it in slow motion and then moving out of its way. Except for the fact that he wasn't. He just seemed to know where the blow would land, and moved out of its way.
The only thing that he found slightly disturbing was his teeth. They were all completely normal except that there shape had subtly changed. They were ever so slightly more pointed, and, even though they did not look it, were much sharper to the touch. It reminded him slightly of the vampires they had studied in Defence Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic classes, and he felt no desire whatsoever to be associated with Dark creatures.
He parried the first blow expertly, then attacked. They seemed to perform an intricate dace, their swords moving through the air at lightening speed, the only hint of their presence being the slight glint of the sun glinting on the practice blades and the soft humming as the sharp steel instrument cut its way through the air.
Finally seeing an opening, he slashed expertly at Aroralin's unguarded shoulder, then switching direction in mid swipe and knocking the sword out of his Master's hands. He brought his own blade around and rested it on the trainer's neck.
He smirked. "I win again."
The Master sighed. "I think you have learnt just about as much as you will from me, Astyan. You have mastered this art well. I am very proud of your accomplishments."
Harry bowed. "Thank you, Master. I'm pleased you feel I've mastered the subject. I have worked very hard for this."
"I know you have. Yes, I know very well that you have. You've been doing very well in the other First stage classes as well, I'm told. Your Masters think very highly of you, you know. Now, I think we are finally done, don't you? Come. Let us go down to the kitchens and find a drink, shall we?"
Harry smiled and nodded, hanging up the two swords of the wall with all of the others and following the elf out of the door.
It was high praise to be told by an elf that he had mastered the art of sword fighting. They were considered by the other races of Alagaësia, he had been told, to be the greatest of swords masters. No one could beat a Elf at the art unless he were a Rider, and he had to be a pretty good one even for them. Aroralin was a Master at the art. Even other elves could not beat him.
---~*~---
After having an exceptionally good snack from the kitchens, it was time for him to go and get ready. Today, he was to be going into his first classes with his other Masters. He had been waiting for this for a long time. He was going to learn the powerful brand of Magics that the people of this world used. No wands, only the raw power that came from within you. Added to that, he was finally going to be taught the Magi arts that he had wanted to for the past year, some even longer. Aside from that, he would be learning to manage the talents that had been developing in him ever since he had undergone the change. Legilimency and Occlumency were last on his list, but he thought that if he put enough effort into them, he could master them quickly. They would come in useful, he had decided, in the fight against Voldemort and the Dark Lord of this world, Galbatorix. It would be imperative that he be able to lie in the presence of his enemies, and extract information from their minds.
He walked slowly through the halls up to the Riders' Wing. He had been given a new room up here the first day he had come up to classes, and Ashrang had been living in the Dragons' Tower with all of the others of his kind.
The other Riders had been arriving in ones and twos for the past two weeks until there were five more inhabitants of the Wing, and had joined the classes with the himself and Tristan. Harry had found them generally outgoing and had gotten along with them well.
The only unpleasant thing that came to mind when he thought of his piers was the Shade's reaction to him when they met, ten days prior.
~*~ Flashback ~*~
He could feel something around him that was not usually there, that was the only way to describe it. He did not know what it was, but he had the sense that something strange was afoot. Shrugging, he bent down over the table again, trying to finish his work.
Just as he was copying down a few facts from a book he had found in the wing's Library, the doors to the Main Living Quarters opened with a bang and Harry looked up from his task (`Discuss the proper method of and state your strategies for disposing a band of Urgal numbering 27') to see two new Riders entering into the room.
He stood up and walked over to them, stretching out his hand as he did so.
"Hello. I take it you are new arrivals to our ranks, so to speak?"
The Elf nodded. "Aye, that we are. And who might you be?"
"I am called Astyan. What may I call you two?"
The Elf smiled and stuck out a hand, which Harry shook. "I am known as Mathias, and I am from the city of Osilon."
The Shade who stood next to Mathias bent his head forward slightly in respect before speaking. "I am called Zorac. I come from the city of Dândrathon. I am honoured to meet you."
After introducing themselves to each other, it seemed that the two new arrivals were anxious to get up to their rooms. Harry led them up to their private rooms by way of the staircase, and he was just about to leave when he had pointed out which room was theirs when Zorac caught hold of his arm.
"I wish to ask you a question, if you do not mind."
Harry nodded.
"I wish to know if what I suspect is true is true."
Harry narrowed his eyes slightly. "And that would be?"
"You are a Demon, like me."
"Excuse me?"
"You are not human. You are a Shadow Master. You are what they call a Dexzaran."
Harry was silent for a moment. "I am. But why do you call me a Demon?"
"You are not human, you are a Demon. Your Magic is tainted by the Darkness, just as mine is, but you still follow the Light. I am a Shade, a Dark Mage, if you will. You are a Dexzaran, a Shadow Master. Your mind is masked by shadows, your person cloaked in darkness. It cannot be seen, but didn't you fell my presence even before you saw me?"
Harry thought for a second before answering. "I did."
The Shade smiled. "Then I am right after all. I thought you were one. Perhaps now I have a friend. A Demon who is not Dark, just as I am. It was good to meet you, Astyan, Shadow Master. Now, I have many things to attend to, as I'm sure you do as well. I'll see you later, yes?"
Harry smiled. Maybe Zorac was right. Here was a friend in a strange world. "Of course."
The Shade nodded and hurried into his room, shutting the door behind him. Harry turned and headed downstairs again.
~*-*~
Zorac had become a true friend. The two demons would practice for hours on end, endlessly trying to perfect their skills they had learned in the classes that the Sage had arranged for them (Osthato had felt that as both of them were demons, they would work well together in the same classes). Zorac had even allowed Harry to meet his Dragon, another Black Male by the name of Ozarac, about a half times smaller in size so far, than Ashrang. Ozarac, Zorac had told him, had hatched just under four weeks prior, and was thus about a two and a half months younger than Ashrang, though he was, from what Harry could gather, was just as wise as Harry's Dragon, despite his age.
Consequently, Ashrang, it seemed, had been getting to know his tower mates, and had also become friends with Ozarac, whom he had found quite agreeable. Harry had spoken with him about the other Dragons on one of his days off (a Saturday the previous week).
~*~FLASHBACK~*~
Harry walked slowly up the winding staircase to the Dragons' Tower with a large Venison, which he planned to give Ashrang. He had just opened the door to the large room, when an amused voice came to him from the dark recesses of his mind.
About time. I was beginning to wonder when you would come for a visit. I take it you were busy with your tasks, or were you just being unfriendly?
Busy. I brought you a venison. He handed the red meat to the Dragon, who sank his fangs into the raw, red steak.
My thanks. All the Elves give us is beef besides what we hunt, and the deer have been scarce lately… Harry watched as the Dragon finished the meat before retreating to the back of his den and bringing out a moose carcass to munch on as he talked. Stringy stuff, moose. Have you met the other Dragons here? They are younger than myself, but good conversation comes every once in a while. Besides, you'll have to work with them during the war. You might as well introduce yourself now. How about it?
Harry nodded absently. I might as well.
Ashrang set the mangled carcass down with a thump and pointed his head at each hole in the wall in turn, speaking their inhabitants names as he did so.
In there is your Human friend's Dragon. He's a green male named Rohan. He doesn't talk much. In there is Lasra, Mathias' steed. He's a midnight coloured male. Cheerful sort, talks too much, unlike the other one. The third there is Ozarac, your friend Zorac's Dragon. He's a good one to talk to. Black, like me. Here, you can introduce yourself. Oy! Ozarac!
A smaller Black dragon poked his head out of the den directly across from Ashrang. Yawning, he looked around blearily until he found the source of the summons.
Oh. Ashrang, what did you want? I was asleep.
It was strange to hear a Dragon laugh. It was a sort of grating screech.
My Master is here. He would like to meet you.
Ozarac turned his head to look at Harry. It bowed it's head slightly.
I am honoured, young Shadow Master. What, pray tell, would you be known as?
Harry bowed back to the Dragon, though not so much as to take his eyes off the dangerous creature in front of him.
I am known as Astyan, Ozarac. I am a friend of your Master's. I am pleased to meet you.
The Dragon nodded and yawned again.
Well, Astyan, maybe it would do well if I returned to my sleep. Good day to you.
~*-*~
Harry was currently waiting for the Animagi Master, Aumar, to open the training hall to him. It appeared that he was still teaching Mathias.
When the doors did finally open, Harry acknowledged Mathias with a curt nod before entering the room. This hall was smaller than the ones he had been used to the past few months. At the far end was a small platform. The rest of the room was furnished with padded mats and a few tables and chairs. A desk stood at the other end, and in this Aumar was sitting, waiting for him to enter.
He motioned for Harry to sit. When he had done so, he spoke in a careful, measured voice. His tones were soft, and his piercing gaze seemed to combine to make him very hard not to listen to.
"Astyan. You have come to me to learn the art of Animagi. I must warn you before we begin that if you are expecting glamorous and magnificent creatures in your subconscious, you may be sorely mistaken. The animal inside you is not always what you think of it to be. The animal chooses itself, not you. Is that clear?"
Harry nodded and the elf continued.
"Good. Now, we are not going to do anything today besides discuss the theory behind the Animagi transformation and then determine your form. That in itself will take most of the afternoon. Tomorrow, you'll begin to learn how to change small characteristics of your body at will. You will need to know how to do that before you begin to attempt to Transform. I understand you're being taught the metamorphmagi skills by Joran. What you learn with him and with me should help tie in with each other. Now. Are you ready to begin?"
Harry nodded.
"Very well. To the theory, then. The skill to be an animagus requires little more than pure will power, and an understanding and acceptance of both ones magical bounds and what their inner animals are. Every person has their own inner animals. They take forms in your magic and influence your character, from the way you act or talk to what you deepest desires entail. One time that they take visible forms is when a person takes an animagus form. I say `an' because it is possible for certain persons to have multiple forms. This phenomenon usually takes place when the person in question is either very powerful magically, or when they themselves represent more than one animal at the deepest level, such as when the person can act like an aggressive wolf at one moment, and a kind hearted and gentle kitten the next.
"To transform, the individual needs to have a complete acceptance of their inner animal, and from that, who they really are as an individual at their most secret and personal level. If, for example, the persons animagus form is that of a snake when they view themselves otherwise and will not accept it, but try to force the change into a form that they do not belong in, nothing will happen. Until the person accepts that they are truly an snake, they will never be able to transform.
"They also need to be aware of their magical boundaries. If they believe themselves either too weak to perform the transformation adequately or too strong to really have to give any effort, they will not be able to change. More importantly than knowing what power you posses is to have a power over ones own mind. You have to be able to try and test yourself; to try something that you say is logically impossible. If you are convinced that what you are attempting to do is beyond either your bounds of magical talent or simply un-doable, you will, again, be unable to change."
He stopped for a moment and seemed to collect his thoughts before continuing.
"Now, we have to determine your form before anything else happens, don't we?"
He got up and bustled around the cabinets he had set up at the far wall behind the platform, pulling things out of them and talking as he did so.
"One easy way we can determine your form or forms is by use of a simple potion. I'm going to show you how to make it today and then you'll have to try your hand at it. The reason for that is that there are a number of requirements that must be met if the potion is to work. There are five of them. The first and foremost is that the potion must be made by you. It is a personal brew, you see. It only works with the person who's hand made it. The second is that it must be prepared under the new moon which is…" He walked back to his desk and checked the calendar on it. "Tomorrow night. Convenient. The third is that one of the ingredients is a single drop of your blood, which must be shed by a silver knife at midnight under the moon. Fourth is that it must be drunk right when it is fully prepared. There is a ten minute window from when the potion is finished to when it goes poisonous. And fifth, the blood must be added right at the end. All of it adds up so that pretty much only you can prepare it and it has a set timeframe just so you can't not be fully committed to getting it finished."
He set the ingredients he had pulled out of the cabinets on his desk and fished an empty cauldron from a drawer behind him. He set this up and pushed all the ingredients around it so that they were facing Harry.
"Right. Now, Astyan, I am going to make you prepare this as a practice yourself. I'll instruct you on how to do it. After that, you will be doing another with my help if you need it and then a third by yourself. If that one is done perfectly, then you can keep that for finishing tomorrow night. If it isn't you'll keep mixing more until it is. Tomorrow night, we'll take what you've made today up to the Dragons' Tower and add the blood under the moon. Before you take it, I'll tell you what will happen. Then, you'll drink it and see what your form or forms are. Understood?"
Harry nodded mutely.
"Good. Now. Take that pile of Lýcariön scales and cut 14 grams worth into thin slices…"
---~*~---
Eragon stepped out of the dark tunnel and into the fading sunlight. Murtagh and Arya came out soon after he did, each leading their horse behind them. They were standing on a rocky ledge that jutted out from the face of the mountain behind them. The steep slopes stood fell out below them. To their left, a winding path made its way down from where they stood to the valley floor. In the distance, they could see the Dwarven fortress of Tarnag. Beside it, stood the great Lake Âz Orenös. It stretched almost as far as the eye could see in al directions. On the horizon, though, they could see the dark out line of the mountains on the other side of the valley.
Eragon turned to Arya.
"How long is it until we reach Tarnag?"
"About a day form where we are now. I think it would be wise if we set up camp on the lake shore below us and set out for the city at dawn. Do you agree?"
Eragon sighed and nodded.
Murtagh, who had been standing behind him, gave a sigh of his own, but his was one of relief. "Good. My very bones are weary. Its about time we got something to eat and a rest. Where's Saphira, Eragon?"
Eragon turned, suddenly puzzled himself. "I don't know. I'll call for her."
Saphira! Where are you? We've reached the other side of the tunnel. He sent her an image of where they were.
The reply came soon, along with a chuckle. I've been wondering where you all wandered off to. I am at the lake shore, in the trees just below you. I have found meat for us all. She sent him picture of her location as well as of a large deer carcass she had managed to capture.
Eragon looked up. "She's waiting for us in the trees by the shore. I suppose we should start our way down.
They nodded and began to walk down the steep path down the mountain side. When they arrived in the trees, they found Saphira feasting on the deer. You snooze, you loose. It was very odd to hear a Dragon laughing. It was a sort of cross between a screech and a grating noise.
Eragon scowled and walked off into the forest to cut some wood for a fire.
---~*~---
Hermione Granger walked slowly down the stairs from her dormitory shortly after seven o'clock. Waving to mark Evans, one of the new first years, she moved off to the portrait hole. Muttering a low, `evening' to the Fat Lady, she turned and began to walk slowly down the seventh floor corridor. Soon, she had arrived at the tapestry of Barnibus the Barmy. On the other side of the hall stood the door to the Room of Requirement. She stood in front of it, resting her hand on the door knob for over a minute before she even thought to open it and walk inside.
There were so many memories here, and all of them had to do with the friend who was not here. They all had to do with Harry. When she had gotten the letter from Professor Dumbledore over the summer, she had cried for a long time. She had cried for a long time, and for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why. The only reason that she could think of was that she was disappointed that one of her best friends, if not her best friend period (she and Ron had never really got along all the time), was not going to be at school for a long time. That had scared her a lot. Deep down, she knew that the reason for her happiness at Hogwarts was her friends. She had never had any before coming to Hogwarts, and now one of them was gone, and she did not know for how long.
Dumbledore had assured her that Harry would be coming back, but she could not hold back her fears that maybe, just maybe, he would never return…
She shook her head forcefully and opened the door in front of her. Of course, she thought, sighing. The room was empty. But, then again, it was only a quarter to eight. The meeting was scheduled for 8 o'clock sharp, and it seemed as though the only person to try and be early was herself. She sat down on one of the spare armchairs and looked around the room silently. The room was just as it had been the year before, but with one or two minor changes. The walls were still lined with the many bookshelves covered in defence texts and various anti-dark arts nick-knacks. The floor was still covered in the soft rug and about fifty small cushions as well as some fluffy arm chairs. A clock on the wall showed that the time was ten minutes to eight, and a calendar with moving pictures of many duelling wizards and quotes from Alastor Moody's Guide to Self-Protection showed that the day was the 17th of December.
In the corner, though, was something new. A long Duelling Platform, like the one that had been used in the Duelling Club in second year, but smaller stood by itself off to one side. Hermione had thought that it might be good to have. The only other difference was that there was no longer any sign holding all of the member's names They wouldn't be making that mistake again.
She was brought out of her thoughts when there was a loud creak as the door knob turned and the door opened. Lavender Brown stood in the doorway, looking sheepish.
Hermione smiled. "Hey, Lav. Early?"
Lavender nodded and came in, closing the door behind her. "Yes and no. Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"What about?"
"I wanted to ask how you're doing and all."
Hermione gave her an incredulous look. "Why would you ask that?"
"Well…" She looked slightly abashed. "I wanted to know how you're doing with Harry not being here."
Hermione went a bit red and her voice went very high. "Fine! Why wouldn't I be fine!??"
Lavender gave her a very hard look. "Hermione, remember when you told me in second year that Hogwarts was the best thing that had ever happened to you?"
Hermione gave a nod.
"Good. Well, remember that that same time you told me that because of Harry and Ron, you had friends here, and that you were so Harry about it. And about how you liked Ron, but you didn't think he would have come if it hadn't been for Harry?"
Hermione nodded again.
"Well… It's just that…The rest of us have all noticed how you've been acting lately. You miss him, don't you?"
Hermione nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, the door banged open and the rest of the DA flooded in.
Hermione turned back to Lavender and smiled. "I do. I miss him a lot. But thanks for talking top me, Lav."
Lavender smiled back. "Any time, Herms. Any time."
It took just over ten minutes for everyone to settle down and get quiet. Ron and Hermione stood at the front of the room and looked around at the rest of their friends and piers. Ron nodded slightly to Hermione who stepped forward slightly and the crowded room hushed to on another before looking over to her expectantly.
"Well…hi everyone! Welcome back, I guess. Now, I know that this year we don't have any tyrannical Defence teachers…" A few people laughed and Hermione thought back to the Welcoming Feast at the beginning of the year when the real Alastor Moody had been announced as the year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. "But what I do know is that this year, the War is going to draw even closer, maybe even break out, and we need to be able to do more than resist. We need to fight."
A cheer rose from the members in the room. Hermione looked heartened, and she spoke more confidently afterward.
"Exactly. We need to be able to fight, and to win. That's why, this year, Ron and I decided to restart the DA, but this year there are going to be a few changes. This year, we're going to start recruiting the rest of the school to the club. Maybe even get it going publicly, if Dumbledore approves, that is. Any student from fourth year or above who you think should be admitted to the DA should be brought to the next meeting. That brings me to the next thing. Harry's not here this year. I don't know why and I don't know where he is, but when he left, he had the Master Galleon with him. That means that we won't be able to call meetings that way any more. Now, I can make the new things for us, but I wanted to know what you guys wanted to have fore them. I thought maybe we could all field suggestions and then vote on it?"
The room immediately started chattering amongst themselves. A person sitting in the far back raised their hand and the room fell silent again, waiting for the person to speak. It turned out to be Jake Felding, one of Luna Lovegood's Ravenclaw piers.
"Could we have a sort of ring or medallion?"
More chattering.
Hermione held up a hand for silence. "Ok. That's a good start. Are there any other suggestions for what it should be before we decide on a design?"
No one spoke.
"Ok, then. Let's put it to the vote. Those of us who want a medallion?"
A few hands went up into the air. Hermione counted them silently and then wrote them down on a spare bit of parchment.
"Right… Now, raise your hand if you want a ring?"
More hands went up and Hermione counted them before writing that down as well.
"Ok, it comes out as medallions- 12 votes to rings- 19 votes. Rings it is, then. What do we want on them, then?"
A few people cheered and one or two let out a groan, but everyone began talking about what they wanted on the rings. Hermione gave them about five minutes while chatting with Ron and Lavender about what hey would want on them before standing up again and calling for silence.
"Alright, then. Tell me what you'd want on them."
They spent ten or so minutes fielding different suggestions, shooting down impractical ideas (Ron wanted a solid gold ring for no other reason than that it was gold), and complimenting the few actual good brainwaves (Padma Patil suggested silver, which among other good things, had magically protective qualities in it). After another ten minutes of voting and re-voting and victories and losses for all concerned, it was decided. The ring would be made of silver. It would be plain except for on the very top, which would have a wider gold bit on which would be the letters of DA written in copper. It had been an issue about where to get the precious metals, when Ginny put forward the practical solution of just melting down a few galleons, sickles, and knuts. It was then decided that each member should donate the required amount of money for their own rings.
The rest if the time was spent talking about many other meaningless things ranging from what their classes had been like so far to what they were going to give Dobby for Christmas. It was decided that the classes were good and that Dobby should get a pair of orange overalls for his Christmas present.
At 10:00, Hermione called for silence.
"Ok, people. People. PEOPLE!" The last few persons talking quickly shut up and looked at her. "Good. Now. It's 10:00 and curfew for all of us in fifth to sixth year is in half an hour. Seventh years in one hour. I suggest we all get back to our common rooms. Anyone from Gryffindor in sixth and seventh year, could you all stay for a bit longer? Me and Ron have a suggestion we all wanted to run past you all. Oh! Luna, you too."
About two thirds of the room got up slowly and trooped out of the door, leaving everyone else sitting in their cushions looking rather awkward. Hermione beckoned them closer and they all stood and crowded around her.
"Ok. I wanted to run something by just you lot and not the others. Here's the deal: All of you have been far more active than any of the others in the war. Everyone in Gryffindor has been there for those of us who were in the Department of Mysteries and for Harry, especially everyone from the sixth year's boys dorm. And Luna came with us to the battle last June. I think we're the ones who are most active in the war from the school, and I think we should take a more active role in things. That's why I think we should form a sort of group so we can do more to help with the Order of the Phoenix. We could research stuff and do other things, or we could just have a more intensive training than the rest of the DA. What do you think?"
Luna spoke up in her usual dreamy voice. "How about we train as hard as we can for the time being and then take a more active role later. Maybe we could even get hold of some of the former students, like Fred and George."
Ron nodded his head. "That's what I told her. And Oliver, and Alicia, and everyone else."
"So we're all agreed that we want to do more by way of making a group of our own?"
Everyone in the room nodded.
"When would we meet, then?"
"How about after every DA meeting for another hour?" asked Seamus.
Hermione looked rather worried. "But what about the curfew?"
Katie smiled. "Oh come on, Hermione! I bet if you just asked Dumbledore to have permission to be out later in the name of your old defence group, he'd agree. Besides, us seventh years don't have to worry about that."
Hermione sighed. "Fine. Besides that what do we want to be called?"
Ron's hand shot up and he looked rather sheepish.
"Yes, Ron?"
"How about `The Order of' something, like Dumbledore's one?"
There was a loud mutter of agreement among the twenty or so people. Hermione smiled. "Ok. But, `The Order of' what?"
Luna spoke up dreamily from the back. "How about Aries? Aries was the roman god of War. It fits, doesn't it?"
"Everyone agree?"
Nods from all around.
"Ok," Ron said. "And what about our own ring-things?"
It was decided that other rings should be made for the members of the new Order. Made of platinum and with OA on the top instead of DA and silver.
With that, the new members of the Order of Aries walked out through the door to the Room of Requirement and back to their common rooms.
---~*~---
A/N: Ok. The ending was kind of cheesy, but it was the only way I could get it all across without it being too drawn out and boring. Tell me what you think, ok? This instalment in the story was kind of on tender hooks. I didn't really know whether or not it would be good. I think it is, in the end, but I still want to know what you think.
Next, I want to apologise for the long wait on this chapter. I've been almost a month, and that's practically unforgivable on a fic. I've had a bit of a sporadic case of writer's block the past few weeks, but I finally got to it these past four days. I'll try better next time, I promise.
Also, I've been getting a lot of reviews lately concerning the fact that I have named a dwarf to a Rider. People have been citing the passage in Eragon that says that a Dwarf has never been a Rider before. That is quite right. All I'm saying is that it says `never before', not `is incapable of'. There's a first time for everything, people.
Now, here are your four clues to the little contest type thing I gave at the beginning of the fic:
Harry left for Alagaësia two weeks after his 16th birthday.
Harry's' parents were killed on October 31, 1981.
7th year ends in June, 1998
The last few lines of the prophecy state that he will return on the ninth new moon of the second year.
Have fun!
Cheers!
SilverDagger
Last Modified -> [Tuesday, November 9, 2004]
Words In This Chapter -> [6,540]
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