The World Beyond The Tomb

Disclaimer: I did not create any of the Harry Potter Characters, etc etc….

A/N: Thank you for the reviews. I really appreciate it!

The Mark of a Hero

Dumbledore smiled benignly, his azure eyes twinkling at Harry’s astonished expression.

“Why Harry, m’boy, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Dumbledore exclaimed, as he stepped off the yellow platform he had been standing on.

Harry watched as the ex-Headmaster strolled towards him, looking very lively indeed. Was it possible he hadn’t died that day?

“That would be because you died, professor.” Harry said blankly, unable to keep the confusion creeping into his voice.

Dumbledore chuckled and flicked back his long silver hair. “I suppose you are right. I am dead in the world we know. In this world I am very much alive, though I am unable to walk about. You see, I have become the Sage of Light and because my mortal body is infact dead, only my spirit can survive in this place. So I guess I am a ghost.” Dumbledore said chuckling again.

Harry felt Dumbledore’s words go right over his head. The old man was making less sense than what he did normally.

“Right.” Harry said, his eyes taking in the strange place he was standing in.

The strange triangle symbol was shaped into the platform he was standing on. Water surrounded his platform like a moat and Harry could see six different coloured circular platforms dotted around in the water, forming a sort of barrier around the platform he was standing on. Dumbledore had been standing on the yellow one, but Harry could also see a green, purple, orange, red and blue. There were strange patterns on each of the platforms but Harry didn’t have a clue what any of them meant.

“What is this place?” Harry asked, as he turned his gaze back to Dumbledore.

“This? This is the Sacred Realm, Harry.” Dumbledore said, sweeping his hand over the water. “This is where the six sages protect the Triforce.”

“Six sages?” Harry said confused. “Protecting the Triforce…. What’s a Triforce?”

Dumbledore placed his hand on Harry’s shoulder and lead him off into the water. It felt cool against his skin, though Harry was slightly annoyed his robes were going to get wet. 

“The Triforce is a magical object that has the power to destroy or save the world.” Dumbledore said, as though he were giving a simple lecture. “The three Goddesses, Farore, Din and Nayru, placed the Triforce in this realm when they left this earth. It holds the very essence of their power inside.”

Harry stared at Dumbledore dumbfounded, as they continued to walk through the water. Harry really had no idea what Dumbledore was talking about, it was Hermione who was good at this sort of thing; Harry usually ended up getting lost halfway through.

“Because the Triforce is so dangerous, the seven sages were gifted with powers to protect it from those who would wish to use it for evil.”

“Seven? Hang on, I thought you said there were six sages before.” Harry said in an almost accusing manner. Was the man really trying to confuse him more by changing the details now?

Dumbledore smiled. “You remember those six platforms back there.”

Harry nodded, as he looked into the wizened wizards face.

“Well, each of those platforms represents where the sage draws their power from but the seventh sage is more powerful than all of us. She is the one who leads us and guides us and has no need for a platform.”

“She?” Harry said slowly. “So the seventh sage is a girl?”

Dumbledore nodded, though he seemed sad about something. Harry decided to let the topic go.

“Professor, how did you become a sage of the light when you are from our world?” Harry asked confused.

Dumbledore sighed and stroked his beard. “About one year ago, the seal in the Sacred Realm was broken. The world was plunged once more into darkness and war infested the lands.

“Ganandorf, the evil king of the Gerudos, had somehow managed to break the seal on his prison by using the power of the Triforce he had already stolen about ten years ago. The Triforce of power resides within him but he is not satisfied with just that one part. He wants to finish what he started all those years ago and unite the three pieces to have the ultimate magic.”

Harry did not like the sound of this Ganandorf. He reminded him of Voldemort.

“Six of those seven sages were captured by Ganandorf, along with the only person who could have saved them; the Hero of Time. In desperation, the seventh sage called upon her powers and summoned the goddesses to choose seven people to take the powers they each held, to protect their magic from Ganandorf who sought to have their power for himself. In return, the sages and the Hero of Time would be left helpless in Ganandorf’s power but they would have hope that their world could be restored again.”

Harry frowned to himself.  “But that would mean they’re vulnerable and could be killed.”

Dumbledore nodded sadly. “I’m afraid the process has already started. The Sage of Light has been murdered. I know this because the power that had been lent to me by the goddesses has now become a part of me. Now I have no choice but to protect this realm as the Sage of Light.”

Harry shook his head in wonderment. “So, because of these goddesses you got another chance in life?”

Dumbledore frowned to himself. “Yes and no. When I died, the goddesses came to me and told me that I had been called to save a dying world. I had the potential to carry the power and so they offered to take me to this land by opening a portal. In return, Fawkes had to die in my place to satisfy the hand of death.

“Like I told you before, I will never truly exist in this world. Unlike the other sages, I cannot ever leave the Sacred Realm; to do so would mean my death and the end of the sages. For you see, Harry, if one sage dies, the power they hold all begins to fall apart. Without seven sages, there is no power at all.”

Harry could feel his head pounding in protest at the information being given to him. It was all too much for him to process and he just felt confused and frustrated. He didn’t know where his friends were, or if they were okay. He didn’t know what he was even supposed to be doing in this world.

“Professor, McGonnagal told me that I had to come here so I could do something that would help us win the war in our world. I don’t understand what all you’re saying has to do with me.”

Dumbledore nodded in understanding, as he led Harry out of the water and into a room. In the middle of the room was a pedestal with a sword pushed down into the stone. It was a beautiful blade and Harry had a sudden yearning to pull it out.

“I told you that the Hero of Time had also been captured.”

Harry nodded, tearing his gaze from the sword to look at Dumbledore’s face.

“He held a part of the Triforce, the Triforce of courage to be exact. He was also the wielder of the Master Sword. But when he saved the world from Ganandorf’s clutches all those years ago, the seventh sage offered to return him to his original state so that he could recover the stolen years taken from him by the Master Sword.”

Dumbledore gestured at the sword. “He replaced the weapon and went back seven years to when he was just a child. He grew up and lived his life as a normal and happy boy, without any knowledge of what he had done, though he still carried the Triforce of courage with him.”

“When Ganandorf broke free, it was easy enough for him to capture the young man. But now that he has been captured there is no Hero of Time to save the world from Ganadorf’s powers. This is another reason why the seventh sage was so desperate to let her powers and the powers of her fellow sages and dear friends be released into other people. She hoped that the goddesses would empower another boy with the Triforce of courage, so that he could become the Hero of Time in her friend’s place and save them all.”

Dumbledore lifted his gnarled hand and pointed at Harry’s chest. “You are that boy.”

Harry felt his jaw drop. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, he found out not only is he supposed to save the Wizarding World, but he has to save this place too. It wasn’t like Harry didn’t like helping people, infact, Hermione often told him he had a ‘saving-people-thing.’ It was just Harry really thought he was coming to the end of his battle with evil. He didn’t expect to be sent on another adventure, even if it was for a good cause.

“Why me?” Harry couldn’t help but ask. He knew he sounded like a whiney teenager but he couldn’t help but voice his frustration.

“Because you have always been linked with this world, Harry. The Hero of Time cannot just be any old person. They have to care about what they do and be noble at heart.”

“What do you mean, I’ve been linked to this world?” Harry demanded. He knew nothing about this world.

“You have the dreams, don’t you?” Dumbledore said quietly.

“Dreams?” Harry said perplexed, as he wondered what Dumbledore was talking about. The only dreams Harry had was the dreams about the Hylians.

Harry felt a shock of realisation surge through him. He was in the dream world. This was the place. He remembered because on the castle was the symbol of the Triforce. He couldn’t believe he didn’t remember before.

“The seventh sage…what is her name?” Harry asked, turning to look at Dumbledore.

“Zelda, the princess of Hyrule.” Dumbledore answered solemnly.

Harry nodded. He thought it would be her. “And the Hero of Time?”

“His name is Link. You and he are brothers through time, Harry. Just as you dreamed about him in this world, he also dreamt about you.”

Harry felt his jaw drop again. “You mean he knows what I have been doing in my life too?”

Dumbledore nodded. “It is no coincidence that you should be called as the Hero of Time in his place. I believe that the goddesses always knew this would happen and so gave you the dreams in the hopes that you would be driven to help protect Hyrule. I’d imagine the others who were brought here have had similar experiences.”

Harry suddenly felt very light-headed. He remembered Luna talking to him about a dream. It couldn’t just be coincidence, could it?

“What do you want me to do?” Harry asked, steeling himself to the fact that he was now going to save this world. His selfishness could only last so long and if he was the only one who could do it, then he would not turn it down. The fate of this world and all of its people rested on him.

“Pick up the sword Harry.” Dumbledore urged. “Destiny will do the rest.”

Harry walked to the pedestal and placed his hand around the blue hilt. It felt good in his hands, like it belonged there.

Using all his strength, Harry pulled mightily on the hilt and felt the sword lift out of the stone with a ring of steel, as it scraped against the white stone.

“You are now the Hero of Time, Harry. Your fate has been set.” Dumbledore said in a distant voice.

Blinding blue light surrounded Harry and he looked back wildly at Dumbledore.

“Wait, what’s going to happen to me?” Harry asked, his panic evident in his voice.

“You’re returning to Hyrule, Harry, where your journey will begin. She is waiting for you in the Temple of Time.”

Harry was about to speak when he felt his body being sucked into the light. Swirls of colours flashed before his eyes, as he soared through the nothing before him, finally coming to rest on a stone platform.

Light poured from a great glass window, illuminating another pedestal that looked exactly like the one he had pulled the Master Sword out of. Great stone steps led down to a door, where Harry could see the outline of someone in the shadows.

Harry clutched the sword in his hand and made his way towards the door. He stopped short when he saw who was standing before him.

“Hermione.” Harry said slowly, as though unable to believe it was really her. He had thought he had lost her in the light.

Hermione rushed into his arms and clutched him for dear life. She hadn’t hugged him like this in so long but it felt good to hold her again.

“You okay?” He asked, as he lifted her face towards him.

Hermione nodded and pulled herself away. “I thought I had lost you, Harry. I was so scared.”

Harry nodded. “I thought I had lost you too. But it seems we’re both okay.”

Hermione tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled her special smile she only showed to him. Harry loved that smile. It was warm and tender and seemed to soothe him when words could not.

“Where did you get that sword, Harry?” Hermione asked, as her brown eyes rested on the gleaming blade.

Harry explained everything that had happened while he had been in the Sacred Realm. To his surprise she didn’t seem to be shocked about what he was saying like he had been. No doubt she had probably read about it in some book.

“I thought she might have been lying but I guess she was telling me the truth.” Hermione mumbled more to herself.

Harry frowned, his brow scrunching together at her strange words. “What are you talking about?”

“A woman came to me. She told me that I had to accept my destiny as the seventh sage and guide the Hero of Time to save this world.”

“You mean you’re the seventh sage?” Harry exclaimed, his jaw dropping. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

Hermione nodded. “I also carry the Triforce of Wisdom. That’s what those weird triangles on our hands are.”

“So, Princess Zelda gave her powers to you?”

Hermione nodded again. “I’d always dreamt about this place but I never expected I would ever come here and become the seventh sage.”

Harry could understand what she was saying; it was much the same how he was feeling.

“We have to help them though, Harry. If we really are the only ones who can save them from Ganandorf then we have to do it. I’ve seen the Princess’s struggles and I don’t want her to die. It would be like having my own sister die.”

Harry nodded. “I know we have to help them but where do we start?”

Hermione took on a puzzled expression, as her hand instinctively started playing with the silver pendant at her neck. Suddenly she smiled and looked back at Harry.

“The woman told me that in Kokiri forest there is a temple in the Lost Woods. It is the home of the Forest Sage. She is the only one who managed to hide from Ganandorf and stop herself from being caught. If anyone can help us, it’s her.”

Harry agreed that they should head towards the forest but should try getting some directions first. Even if they had dreamt about the place, they didn’t know where things where. He also thought they needed some new clothes. Wearing wizard’s robes was sure to make them stand out in a place like this.

“Alright, well let’s head to the market then. It’s just down the road from here.”

Harry nodded and followed her out of the Temple.

OOOOOO

Zelda lifted her cerulean eyes and gazed at the young man in the green tunic before her. She smiled at him, tears springing to her eyes in her happiness.

“They’re here, Link.” She whispered.

Link lifted his head and frowned. “How can you be sure?”

Zelda touched a hand to heart, her eyes steadily watching him. “I can feel it. Can’t you?”

Link stared at her face and silently nodded. “You’re right, they’ve finally come. The people from the other world.”

Zelda gazed at their prison walls thoughtfully. “Why do you think the goddesses chose people from the other world?”

Link shrugged and leant against the wall. “Who knows why goddesses decide to do what they do. These people know nothing about our world, but from what I have seen of the boy’s life, he too is trying to save his world. Perhaps we will help them in someway?”

Zelda hugged her knees against her chest. “Perhaps you are right. It wouldn’t be right for us to demand their help without helping them in someway. Maybe we will be able to help them stop that evil wizard.”

Link nodded. “I hope so. I’d hate for their world to end up like ours.”

Zelda nodded and fell silent again. She hoped that Hermione would know what to do. It was up to her to guide the wielder of the Master Sword but with so little knowledge about this world, she would have a hard time doing it. Still, the magic Zelda lent to her should be able to help them.

“The sages will be locked in the temples…won’t they?” Link asked after some minutes of silence.

Zelda nodded her head. “Because they do not know how to use their powers they will need to be awakened again. Ganandorf has already breached the protection on the temples, though I think Saria is still safe. If my suspicions are correct, the temples will be infested with monsters.”

Link sighed. “They have their work cut out for them then, but I’m sure they can do it.”

Zelda smiled. “They will. These people were not chosen because they were available. They were chosen for the strength in their hearts. I know we will succeed this time.”

A/N: I apologise if this chapter was confusing. I’m trying to explain ocarina of time as well as make it fit in with HP characters. It’s not exactly easy either. So for all the conversation and lack of action in this chapter, I apologise.

I should also apologise for my bad grammar, punctuation and typos. I’ve got no BETA now and so have to do everything myself until I can find a new one.