Spending a night within the palace had certainly been fancier than anything we had experienced before. Dinner was exquisite and the service was beyond professional. This wasn't even mentioning the witty company of Elizabeth and her family. Yuna had been having fun messing with some of the children, especially when she showed her ability to just have cat ears. From then on she was their favourite person in the room.
Artoria had been rather silent, her mood rather sombre and depressed given where in the world we were and how it related to her personal history. She had been telling me that she couldn't feel Avalon, a fact that was worrying for her and somewhat frustrating for me as I couldn't fix it for her without taking some pretty drastic actions.
I stretched my muscles as Yuna and Artoria lay next to me in comfortable pyjamas. The chaos gremlin that was my adorable Yuna wore tight fitting nightwear of purple accents that were lacey with a hint of see-through along her arms. Drool leaked a little bit from her mouth as Artoria's hand stretched across hr cheeks. On the other hand my queen 'servant' was adorned in a casual but very demure set of frilly blue and white sleeping clothes that billowed out for maximum comfort.
Smiling at their different traits I felt my bare skin chill a tad from the small draft that seemed to stream into the room from internal venting. A sheet was pulled up around me, but that did very little to assuage my biological responses. Groaning at the cold that invaded my cuddle bundle with my women I teleported to the end of our bed, tapping a bracelet on my right arm that then shimmered and expanded. Soon my entire body was covered in a feminine business suit of a lovely crimson and black hue.
'Should I go to Hogsmeade and then travel to Hogwarts? Maybe I could even meet Harry... I wonder if I could inquire with the goblins whether he is just a Potter or not... Hmm, first order of business is to secure Peter Pettigrew and then extract his memories for a Pensieve, saving Sirius in the process.'
I pondered further as I used basic charms to brush my hair, clean it, freshen it up and then tie it into a lovely mid-back braid. My hair was set into a traditional Nordic braid that would most commonly be seen in Spring festivals.
'Those deathly hallows are around also... Not really important for now. The Horcruxes aren't an issue with the magics I am capable of, an issue I can fix for Harry. With the residual power and knowledge left in that fragment he could become more powerful as well... Maybe...'
Sighing I stepped over to the bed, watching as my women slowly woke up. They were currently stretching themselves all over the bed, yawning as they did so. Shaking my head I clapped my hands together and had them both dressed instantly, their hair cleaned, their bodies completely clear of all lethargy.
"Come on you two, we have some people to meet!" Groans was all the response I received from the two, Yuna specifically cursing my name under her breath. It made me giggle a little, earning even more ire from the waking duo.
'I wonder if this is the original Harry Potter or an AU fan fic version... Dumbledore could be fucking evil in this world, for all I know... This also gives me an opportunity to bridge the magical world and the 'muggle' world though. My games are perfect for this!'
An excited grin slipped over my face whilst my women slowly stood up and walked into my embrace, their heads snuggling into my breasts in an attempt to go back to sleep. In an instant I teleported us to the hall just outside our room, from which I dragged them to the dining room of Buckingham Palace.
'This will be fun anyway... Maybe I could even bring back Lily and James Potter?'
...
Hogsmeade, The Three Broomsticks...
Green flame scattered around me as the warm interior of a rather old-school inn/tavern met my eyes. Buxom waitresses served golden bears as patrons drunkenly played games and yelled out. A man waved his wand and shuffled the cards of a card-game before dolling out the hands. Students from the prodigious school of Hogwarts splayed out around the inn, drinking a non-alcoholic drink whilst chatting amongst themselves.
Stepping aside Yuna stepped out from the chimney, a gout of green flame flickering around her clothes as Artoria also stepped out, slamming into the back of her and almost sending them both toppling over.
"W-whoa, damn... Careful there Artoria." The previous king of Avalon blushed and softly apologised as they both slowly looked around, everyone ignoring them in the rampant activity present in the inn. It seemed we'd stepped in at a busy time.
"Hey loves, why don't you both explore this village? Gives you a chance to 'look' at things Yuna and maybe it'll give you some connection to your original home Arti?"
Yuna shrugged, excitement bubbling below the surface as she started focussing in on some of the more magical people around. "Sure, no problems with me... Just give me, say, an hour or two?" I smirked at her words.
"I'll follow Yuna, make sure she doesn't get in trouble love." Artoria, Arti for short, huffed a little whilst watching the mutant woman trailing away, lost to the tides of her own ability. Magic was too much of a temptation for her.
"Okay. Just send me a message if you need help, kay?" Arti nodded before running off after Yuna, who was already beginning to exit the Inn. She cursed slightly, her speed picking up as she slipped out of the quickly closing wooden door.
Rubbing the back of my head I slowly turned to scan the room, finding none of the people I wished to see here. It was a low chance that Harry or any of the others would be here, not that I would want to meet them at this current juncture... An adult speaking to random kids who didn't know them, that would be very suspicious.
'Okay... So go meet with Dumbledore, pick up Peter Pettigrew before I 'leave', then get him out of Animagus form. Inform Aurors before quickly taking out his memories of Sirius, Lily and James, store them and then wait...'
'Sounds good!'
Smiling, I snapped my fist closed in front of me, rainbow light exuding from my form before I was thrust just outside the grounds of Hogwarts, landing neatly along the main path to the gates. The Bifrost was awesomely handy for that… Apparition paled in comparison.
Pops resounded a moment after I touched down. I turned, eyes narrowing slightly as I faced the school once more.
At first, the figures that emerged looked jumbled, silhouettes warping from the air, but within moments, they took proper shape.
The first was a woman in a tall black witch's hat, her entire ensemble refined, tasteful, and altogether witchy. This could only be Professor McGonagall. The Scottish woman wore a rather weary expression that marred an otherwise kind face. What stood out the most, though, was her posture: regal, noble, commanding in that unshakable, no-nonsense way. She looked like someone who could turn a goblin to stone with a glare, and then offer them tea afterwards.
The second figure was... dramatic. A hook-nosed, dour-looking man with onyx robes that fluttered like a storm cloud around him. His wand was out in a flash, body sliding into what I assumed was a duelling pose, if you squinted. Honestly, it was rather sad. The stance was inefficient, overly reliant on intimidation and the assumption that his opponent would be beneath him in skill. Snape, obviously. Just as gloomy as in the movies, and going by the movies, one of the most misunderstood characters in the whole franchise.
But the last figure… he was something else.
Power radiated from him, quiet and unquestionable. His silver beard flowed down past his chest, braided with several fine beads to keep it neat. His face was old, ancient, by some standards, yet his eyes… they shimmered with youthful curiosity and cleverness, even behind the weight of centuries. It unnerved me somewhat. Pushing my unease aside I noticed he wore colourful robes, a mixture of purple and yellow that clashed magnificently and yet somehow looked right on him. The buttons up the front were small and precise, his hands steepled upside-down just below his waist, as if pondering some secret of the universe, like a wizard-Buddha, at peace with the ensuing chaos around him.
Dumbledore. No doubt about it.
"Mrs. Freya, I presume? A pleasure at last." He stepped forwards confidently whilst his attack dog, Snape, stared at me with distrust. More than that, the grumbly old potions master was still pointing his wand at me. At least McGonagall was reasonable... She had lowered her magical aura down to match Dumbledore's, the woman staring me up and down, as if weighing my power or proficiency.
Honestly this was turning out to be so much fun! I had read Harry Potter as a child, watched all of the movies and even read my own fair share of fan fiction surrounding the world... It was surreal to see them all, in the flesh, and also witness the wonder that was Hogwarts in the background. 'This is going to be so fun!'
"Hello. Dumbledore, I'm guessing?" Snape finally lowered his guard, wand down, but his snooty, higher-than-thou attitude slipped right back into place like a well-worn robe. Dumbledore, in contrast, simply nodded, eyes twinkling with quiet amusement.
"Indeed, your guess would be correct," he said, voice smooth as ever. "Though I must admit, I hadn't expected you at Hogwarts quite so soon, Mrs. Freya. I was under the impression you were still rather occupied... with the Muggle Queen, no less?"
His tone reflected his curiosity at my sudden, unannounced, appearance at his school. It was a fair emotion to have since I all but rushed here from Buckingham palace not but ten minutes ago. Elizabeth was a dear and would suffer us forever if we wished to stay, but I didn't want to impose for too long... Plus, I have Sirius to save and some obligations from the Ministry of Magic, of Australia, to uphold.
"Yes, Elizabeth is quite accommodating." A small smile graced my lips as I remembered her mothering me for not allowing my ladies to wake up fully. "But alas, I have a single task to uphold in coming to this fine nation." My tone softened in an attempt to perhaps segue this conversation smoothly. "Though, perhaps this isn't the best spot to be having this discussion?"
Dumbledore offered a gentle nod, his eyes never quite losing that glimmer of curiosity. "Certainly, if you wouldn't mind following me? We will have this conversation in the headmaster's office."
He turned with a swish of his robes, the gentle rustle of fabric barely audible over the wind threading through the currently opening gates. McGonagall followed without a word, her gaze still lingering on me a moment longer. Snape, of course, gave an exaggerated scoff before trailing after them, likely displeased he hadn't gotten to hex something today.
Following in their wake we stepped through the entryway to Hogwarts, the long extending bridge rapidly narrowing as the castle grew larger in my perspective. Spatial charms and wards were wonderful things, for sure.
Snape broke off from our group after conversing with Dumbledore ahead, the man stalking off in a flashy but dramatic swirl of cape and wizard. McGonagall followed Albus off to the side, gently glancing back every now and then. This continued as we journeyed up to the main doors of Hogwarts until she smiled at me before breaking off. "Hope you enjoy your stay at Hogwarts Mrs Freya..." The woman ducked behind a side entrance, no doubt venturing off to one of her classes, or perhaps to mark student's essays. No doubt my emergence has interrupted something important between the three... Small mercy, Snape was no longer eyeing me wearily like the moody emo he was.
"Mrs Freya, If I may sate my curiosity a touch before we get to the main course of your journey here..." he awaited my answer, "Sure, why not? It's not like I have much else to do." We continued to walk, his pace slowing slightly so that we now strode side by side. "What method of travel did you use to journey here...? It was... a most peculiar feeling, your arrival, I mean."
"Ah that!" I shrugged. "Just a little bit of magic I designed, lets me travel long distances without the usual risks of Apparition. No splinching, no nausea, and definitely no accidental one-shoe arrivals." The man chuckled at the explanation I gave him, my mind calming slightly at the fact he had taken the deception as if water upon a swan's back.
"Intriguing." He stroked his beard as we passed another one of Hogwarts massive halls. Paintings decorated the walls and seats of all forms and types lightly furnished the expansive rooms. Students passed by in a rush, waving to the headmaster or ducking their heads quickly before scuttling away. "There's something to be said for innovation, especially when it walks hand-in-hand with subtlety. Runes, perhaps? Or something far older..."
My mind sighed as I maintained my outer calm and façade. 'Of course he could sense the deception... Or at least the casualness with which I explained it away. I need to do better.'
"Indeed, innovation is a wonderful thing." I offered a mild smile, letting just a hint of pride slip into my voice. "Several people in Australia have surprised me with their abilities of late... it's always a pleasure to see that kind of brilliance emerge."
"Isn't it so?" He nodded thoughtfully, his eyes glinting with that ever-present twinkle. "That is why I find myself dedicating more and more time to my duties as Headmaster than to any political efforts..." It was a masterful falsification. The man was the most influential wizard in Britain, sat on the ICW, and wove his influence through every corner of the magical world. He was playing the sheep... preparing to swallow the tiger.
'This is how he wishes to play? Very well.'
"Politics is indeed frustrating, but wizards and witches such as us always need to have our ear to the ground and nose to the wind, just in case a dark wizard or something worse is lurking, don't you think?" His countenance shifted grimly, the sparkle in his eyes fading for but a second before picking back up. It seemed I had struck a cord of sorts, now I just needed to find out where in the storyline I wove myself into.
"Certainly. It helps to have people who are more, connected, to the pulse of politics... Saves the dirtiness of needing to directly interface." He was still playing with me. 'I guess it is time to rip the bandage off.'
"Now, Dumbledore, please, do not treat me as some snot-nosed dimwit newly foisted into a cushy position within a government that attends the ICW. I know you are politically active; in fact, you've meddled quite a bit in the life of one Harry Potter, if my sources are correct..." We halted just before the Great Hall, the students around us watching intently, their curiosity palpable. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at me, and I met his gaze with a polite, yet knowing smile.
The silence stretched, and I could feel the eyes of the students on us, some confused, others filled with concern over the tense atmosphere. For a moment, I wondered if I'd pushed too far. But then, Dumbledore broke the quiet.
"I see you are well informed. My apologies for any... misunderstandings." He leaned in slightly, as if in confidence. "This is a ritual I like to play with those who might pose a threat to me or the students... Now that you've passed, we can speak much more openly."
He backed off with a twinkle in his eyes, his hands collecting behind his back as he walked off once more. The old man was certainly a master politician, despite the illusion he places around him. My vision examined the space around me and watched as many students were eating food in the large hall, Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs... All of them enjoying their food and companionship whilst those that were closer to mine and Dumbledore's confrontation slowly calmed down after the tumultuous 'clash'.
Sighing, I followed after the wise old coot, up the ever-moving stairs and past multiple age-groups of students who wished to eat their breakfasts. I got strange looks of course, but they were inconsequential as my eyes focussed upon a small group of three.
A boy with a flux of wild black hair, spectacles gracing his face and a single lightning bolt scar upon his forehead walked down the stairs before me. Harry Potter, Harry for short; as I would call him, was conversing with Hermione Granger, her slight buckteeth poking out of a smile as she held a large tome to her chest. She was a frazzle of wild red hair with earthly eyes, a deep brown. To the other side of the 'boy-who-lived' was a rather shy looking boy with black-brown hair and mildly green-blue eyes. Neville Longbottom was walking with them today it seemed.
Naturally I ignored them as much as possible, simply following after the headmaster, trying not to make my recognition public. All of this was so cool though, my Potter-head heart was racing in excitement... 'I wonder if I can worm my way in as a professor? Perhaps Defence again the Dark Arts...? Maybe I could also figure out the 1-year curse on it.'
A plan slowly gathered in my head. I would connect my apartment to the school so that I could juggle multiple things at once. My official job would be professor, my actual job would be 'game-maker' and I could help guide Niccolo whenever he needed me... Honestly, I felt like a third wheel whenever I attended the meetings between him and Margulis. This would work well and also give me a bit of a reason to meddle.
'Wonderful, i'll bring it up with Dumbledore. After the last conversation I am guessing he will wish me to be close by anyway. He'd probably just wish for me to prove my magical prowess in defending against dark creature... Easy enough since I am a goddess... hehe.'
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