Chapter 26 is finally here. Chapter 27 is nearly finished as well.

Also I rewrote my other story Universe 13. If anyone is interested in a Crossover between Dragon Ball and Harry Potter check it out.

It seems there is some confusion about Cersei's crimes in my story. I didn't say that Cersei killed Melara in my story, but I planned to implement it later. If I do so is still up in the air. So, as it stands her ownly "crime" at the moment is being a bitch and having an unhealthy interest in Jaime.

On to the story.

Rays of light emerged from over the horizon, illuminating the land and gently waking the world and its people together with the chirping of birds. Harry stirred once his inner clock told him what time it was. A lifetime of waking up with the sun didn't let him do anything else now. Melisandre and Kinvara mirrored him and soon everybody was awake.

Their breakfast consisted of croissants, coffee, tee and milk together with madeleines and macarons, the last two of which Harry had planned to serve at yesterday's dinner. He hadn't been able to finish them with how pressed for time he had been, due to Bella.

Narcissa once more went to put up her stand. Today her escort was Kinvara together with Arrax. Harry, Gabrielle and Fleur went to grab Lyanna and start training the girl for the day. The rest sought distraction until the finale, even looking for Davos who they hadn't seen in a while.

Before they separated Narcissa said. "I'll say this now in case we don't see each other again until the finale of the melee. Please don't injure so many people this time. I was unable to properly enjoy it because I had to heal so many injuries. Among them gouged out eyes and slit throats, I might add! I was just so able to save a few of those." Annoyance clear to hear in her voice. Cissy was the only reason the Westerlands had more casualties than them. She sent a glare at Bella, making it clear who sent the most her way.

Bellatrix didn't care and instead took Harry's right arm into her own and nuzzled her head into his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent. She sighed contently, causing Narcissa's eye to twitch and the rest to giggle while Harry smiled in amusement and exasperation.

Marcella replied with a huff. "Oh, come off it. We explained that it wasn't our fault they are so weak. Together with the facts that the sellsword publicly begged for death, you healing them and that Aerys will spread our story is enough to get them to drop their accusations."

Narcissa was about to say more, but couldn't. Courtesy of Harry she received a sensual kiss after he had embraced her with his left arm. Her annoyance melted away and her body nearly did the same. "What was that for?" Cissy asked after she was sure her knees weren't about to give out under her.

Harry simply gave her a one of his smiles reserved for only them. "No particular reason aside from the fact that I love you." he said into her ear with such tenderness that she couldn't prevent the smile erupting on her face as she leaned into his side. "Though, I also appreciate your efforts and wanted to thank you properly." it was followed by another peck on the lips. Narcissa moaned in disappointment once his lips were no longer on her own.

"I love you, too." she declared in turn, reluctantly letting go off his arm and making her way back to the spot from yesterday, a skip in her step. "Let's go." She said to her partner for the day. her bag contained everything she needed with Kinvara and Arrax were walking at her side.

After a short walk Harry and his Veela picked up Lyanna. Of course, Harry remembered his promise and showed up with unicorns, after quickly procuring them from back home. As the avenger of Unicorns he was allowed to ride them without issue, one could even say they flocked to him. Contrary to popular belief Unicorns did not abhor killing, did it themselves on occasion, as long as the one killed was despicable enough. One could be sure that every person killed by Unicorns was a right bastard. The magical creatures had a sixth sense when it came to that.

Even Hedwig came with him from back home, having simply attached herself to his shoulder, refusing to leave his shoulder.

Lyanna could only stare at him open-mouthed at the unicorns. She wore the clothes he had made for her last time, leaving her dress in the tent.

"I did say I would let you ride an Unicorn, didn't I?" An amused grin split across his visage as he held out his hand to pull her up. Harry was also happy that she did not seem to fear them due to Marcella's actions yesterday.

Completely overwhelmed Lyanna took his hand, pulled herself up and sat before him in the saddle. As they rode double she felt his firm chest in her back and his strong arms around her body to hold the reigns. It didn't take long to arrive at the training spot from the day before because Harry spurred his unicorn on, making a race out of it. Lyanna was lost in a haze during the ride imagining turning up with a Unicorn at the Joust and beating all the others, while enjoying the wind in her hair as the scenery literally flew by.

Her daydream ended abruptly once Harry stopped his steed, dismounted and helped her down. His owl flew onto a branch of a nearby tree. 'Strange I have never seen an owl in the light of day. Shouldn't a snowy owl be further north?' Lyanna thought a bit confused, though she banished these thoughts in favour of her lessons.

The King from Essos was clad in only his leathers, holding two blunt bastard-swords transfigured out of rocks nearby. Gabrielle and Fleur took the unicorns away to let them drink out of the God's Eye and graze a bit.

Stretches and warming up completed Harry let Lyanna repeat the different forms, looking for mistakes and correcting them. Once satisfied with that for the moment he sparred with her lightly, barely needing to make an effort. One did not need to be a swordsman to tell that Lyanna was barely a novice. Still, she had some talent. Harry's wives also gave pointers and even trained on their own a bit.

After the training was done Lyanna breached a subjects she had forgotten about until now. "Can I ask you something?" seeing him nod she admitted. "I want to take part in the Joust, but when we train I'll be too tired. Do you have anything to help me compete?" Lyanna was sure he had nothing against women fighting. After all he trained her and the show she saw yesterday only cemented that fact.

Harry simply scratched his chin, thinking. "Well, I can give you some powdered Hodag horn. Mixed with water it'll allow you to go without sleep for seven days and as a bonus it makes you immune to the effects of alcohol." The Hodags had come with the Delacour sisters and by now their population was stable again. The beasts were very welcome even though they ate mostly Mooncalves, whose dung was an effective fertilizer. Luckily, Mooncalves bred like rabbits and it was actually a relief to have them depopulated a bit by the creatures.

"Awesome!" the she-wolf exclaimed, hugging him in her exuberance and noting that she was sticky with sweat. "Thank you!"

"I'm assuming your family doesn't know about you taking part in the joust?" Harry half-asked and half-stated as he lightly patted her on the back. He couldn't imagine them doing so, no matter how much they loved her. A woman fighting was seen as unfeminine and Harry had noticed that Westerosi men and women looked at women fighting with disapproval. A woman needed to be prepared to fight a nearly impossible uphill battle to become a warrior. Women weren't allowed to be knights and neither was there a female equivalent to the status of knight. There simply was no place among them for women.

There were exceptions, obviously. In Dorne a few women fought according to Oberyn, but it was in no way the rule. Mostly it were female heirs of Houses that learnt war tactics and the like to become war commanders, not a warrior. In the North the women of House Mormont were forced to fight, making it less a choice and more a necessity. Funnily enough, from what Harry saw the Ironborn had no reservations of letting women fight. Then again, even a blind hen sometimes finds a grain of corn.

Lyanna shook her head, secure in the knowledge that Harry wouldn't judge her. "No, they don't." she admitted a ready and giddy smile burst forth. "I plan to enter the lists as a Mystery Knight and borrowed armour, shield and lance from a few knights." Harry just raised an eyebrow, causing her smile to diminish to a small embarrassed grin, but not without doing a huff. "Fine, I appropriated it from people who practically threw it away." Though, he only nodded and the expected scolding didn't come, causing her to look at him funny. She didn't even notice that she yet had to let go of him.

"What? Did you expect me to scold you?" Harry asked with a chuckle, gently lifting the girl off of him and setting her down beside him.

In reply Lyanna simply nodded sheepishly.

"I am not your father or part of your family. It's not my place to tell you what to do or to enforce certain behaviour. Besides, I have nothing against the occasional mischief." A merry twinkle appeared in his eyes. After all, it was her decision to steal that stuff and she'd have to face the consequences should it be discovered.

That cleared she couldn't resist any longer. Big grey eyes looked at him akin to a puppy begging for a treat. "There is something else. Can you lend me an unicorn to ride during the joust?" Just imagining herself riding on such a horse was enough to make her salivate. With such a steed she'd be an unstoppable jouster.

A shake of his head came as the answer. "No, we promised the prince to not participate in the joust and a Mystery Knight riding an unicorn would cast doubt on us." something he definitely did not need right at this moment. Unicorns may like her well enough due to her intact virginity, but that had no bearing on his decision.

"You're not taking part in the joust?" Disappointment evident in her voice. She would've loved to test her skill against him and his wives.

"No again, we are no jousters and I am just a novice at riding." Harry spoke truthfully. He could ride proficiently because of Fleur's and Gabrielle's tutelage, however, he was by no means good enough to do a joust. "I also prefer flying to riding."

"Oh, I see." she was silent for a bit, but a gleam entered her eyes. "Can you take me flying then?" the she-wolf requested and added quickly. "We still have some time before the finale of the melee." the event was scheduled for the afternoon for whatever reason. It was still morning. Most people were just waking up and breaking their fast.

Shrugging his shoulders Harry agreed. "Why not?" a sniff and a grimace later he added "But first we have to wash up, we stink." without waiting for a reply Harry transfigured the ground, creating a hole out of smooth rock the size of a big pond. Next he filled it with water and heated it to the proper temperature, followed by removing his leathers and storing them inside his ring.

It left him standing buck naked before Lyanna, who could only stare at his toned and scarred backside while imitating a tomato. She looked on in envy as his wives joined him in the steaming water without hesitation, after stripping themselves. Gathering all her courage Lyanna did as the rest, her competitive nature didn't let her do anything less. Still, she couldn't help but feel inadequate in comparison to these two silver-haired angels. They were women with toned bodies of perfect proportions, while she herself wasn't even finished growing out of girlhood with her narrow hips, knobby knees and relatively small breasts.

Lady Stark could only stare at King Harry. She saw clearly saw the tattoo on his chest and his scars. A big one started at his shoulder and went across his chest diagonally to his hip, while others were on his arms. She assumed he had a few on his legs, but couldn't see them properly. An oddly shaped one was on his forehead above his right eye, normally concealed by his unruly hair. Clearly he possessed the body of a warrior, in more ways than one. She had seen her brothers semi-naked when walking in on them changing and knew they hadn't many scars, if any. No wars had been fought in the past years, leaving them free of such marks. Lyanna briefly felt the urge to ask how he got them, but refrained, thinking it too rude and personal.

Harry simply relaxed as Fleur and Gabrielle washed his body, gently tracing their fingers along his scars all the while. By now he knew enough about the two to not protest and just let it happen. He was going to repay them in kind soon enough. Though, Harry had to stop wandering hands from going too far, he didn't want to make more negative impressions. One look at Lyanna showed her moping, sunken until everything from her nose down was underwater with her brown hair swimming on the surface. Bubbles popped up as she exhaled through her nose.

A sigh escaped the last Potter, cursing his soft heart along the way. 'She is our guest. I should let her feel more welcome.' he thought as an idea came to him in a flash. Just as fast as ever he summoned the girl, causing her to shriek. Finally she sat before him, nearly occupying his lap.

"W..W..What are you doing?" she stuttered out, glancing behind her to see him with both silver-haired beauties cleaning him. Mindful of what was directly behind her she turned again, staring straight ahead. The edge of the pond was irresistible to look at all of a sudden.

Without a care in the world Harry replied. "Washing your back. You're our guest and it'd be terribly rude of me to leave you unattended." He had no sexual interest in the girl. To him she was just that, a girl. He was twice her age and he didn't know her well enough on top of it. Besides, Harry knew that being a virgin was a big deal for Westerosi ladies and from the talks at dinner yesterday he knew she was promised to Robert Baratheon. The man wouldn't shut up about it. Harry fucking Lyanna would only create more problems for him. Problems he had no intention of creating.

The she-wolf was only capable of nodding as she felt him gently wash her back with a cloth that hadn't been there previously. The wandering of his hands on the edge of her arse drove her wild. In an effort to prevent a moan of enjoyment from being released she bit her lip. Only half a mind was working on washing her front with a cloth handed to her, half-heartedly at that. Only the little willpower left in her prevented her hands from wandering behind her to take his manhood into her grip.

Finished with her back Harry frowned at the tenseness in her shoulders and back. "You're so tense. Are you sure you didn't strain yourself, Lyanna?" Harry asked, thinking she'd done more training than she was able to handle. Completely oblivious to the true reason. Without warning Harry began massaging her shoulders, working with the years of experience he had gathered from books and practise on his wives.

This time Lyanna couldn't stop herself as a satisfied groan left her slightly parted lips. "Maybe." she moaned, not willing to argue that she was okay. Mainly because Harry's exquisite ministrations would surely stop. On instinct she pushed herself further into his lap, brushing against his cock with her arse. She was nearly sitting completely on it and would've gone further if wasn't for his hands keeping her on his thighs. 'If Brandon or Ned could see me now.' she thought in the back of her mind, amused. His hands went down her back, working out her kinks and knots. Once finished with that his calloused hands took hold of her arms and did the same there. She hadn't even know how heavy her arms felt after the training.

His massage together with the hot bath managed to reduce the she-wolf to a pile of goo, letting her melt into his chest as she fell backwards.

Harry held out his hand and got handed a vial of potion from Fleur, who had summoned it from their tent. It was a bottle of Occamy Egg yolk shampoo, enough for all four of them. Taking a bit of water in a bowl Harry repeatedly let it flow over Lyanna's hair until it was sufficiently wet, having done it enough times in the past to know how. Satisfied he took some of the potion, put it onto her hair and started massaging it tenderly into her scalp, while his wives did the same to him. Careful to get it on every bit Harry took his sweet time. Unknowing that it caused Lyanna to grew more aroused. Harry washed out the potion and saw that Lyanna's eyes were nearly closed.

He left her alone for the moment and tended to his wives at his sides, not needing to remove the she-wolf for now. Though, with them he understandably took a bit longer.

Unmindful of his own nakedness he stood up and picked Lyanna up in his arms along the way. Living in Essos with his current lifestyle had destroyed every bit of shame concerning nudity. Unlike most Westerosi nearly all Essosi people had relaxed views concerning nudity. The Qartheen women wore dresses leaving one breast free, the Dothraki practically were one big exhibitionist community and the Warrior-maids weren't even worth mentioning in regards to that. Nor were all the former sex-slaves, as well as temple prostitutes and so on.

Finished washing the Veela dried and clothed themselves and went to tend to the unicorns before their flight.

Meanwhile Harry prodded the Stark girl, asking. "Where do you want to fly?"

"The Isle of Faces." Lady Stark replied, mumbling and already missing his skin on her own as he sat her down to dress. Like all teenagers she was curious about sex, though she knew the consequences and wouldn't go too far. "Green Men are said to live on the island." she added as an enticement, hoping that it would be enough and wondering if it was true. She stole a few more glances at his form, but had no idea if his cock was big or not. It having been the only one to be seen in the flesh by her.

A few spells from Lyanna's teacher saw her clothes clean and she promptly put them on while Harry simply let his robes flow onto his form after drying himself.

The two Veela were back after having made sure the unicorns were content and secure for the moment. "The Isle of Faces, where is that?" Fleur queried in interest, having heard the girl say it.

Lyanna pointed at the God's Eye towards a silhouette sitting in the lake, concealed by the morning's mist. "It sits in the lake. Legend says that you can get your future told by the Green Men."

Curiosity piqued Gabrielle said. "Sounds good, let's go." Her six wings burst from her back. Luckily, the Animagus transformation was different to their usual one in the regard that it did not tear their clothes up. Instead it changed it, allowing their armour to be corrected by adding some to the upper back, previously left free for their wings. She knocked Lyanna down to the ground, having been unmindful of her surroundings. "Oops, sorry." the Veela apologized, an embarrassed blush colouring her cheeks. Only Fleur saw the slight hint of vindictiveness in her silver-blue eyes.

Fleur's giggles evolved to laughter, while Harry couldn't suppress a snort followed by him joining Fleur. Lyanna glared a bit, but she huffed and looked away, suppressing the urge to yell. She doubted her teacher would appreciate her yelling at his wives.

"What about the unicorns?" Harry asked, not wanting the creatures coming to harm at the hand of Westerosi.

Fleur assured him after letting her own wings burst free. "It is taken care of." she and her sister had cast notice-me-not and disillusionment charms on the animals and added a small Muggle-repelling ward encompassing the small area at the lake's edge. It also didn't look like the unicorns were about to explore. From the looks of it they were simply about to enjoy the day by lazing about.

"Good." he responded relieved, his own shining and fiery wings coming out of his back. Next Harry picked Lyanna up from the ground, holding her bridal style. The unexpected action caused her to squeak out loud and blush an even brighter red. Not a word of complaint left her lips though.

A moment later they were in the air, flying through the mist towards the Isle of Faces. After a few whispered words the Delacour sisters suddenly went into a climb flight, their course changing towards the clouds, ever skyward. Harry with Hedwig beside him followed and they gained altitude quickly. Lyanna couldn't resist the scream leaving her lungs at the abrupt change of direction and the speed at which they flew, causing her to bury her face into his neck. Harry's response was to laugh, enjoying flying too much to care.

The Veela were enjoying themselves immensely as well, performing barrel rolls and somersaults, clearly challenging Harry with inviting looks as they flew before and around him.

Obviously, Harry's inner flyer couldn't ignore such a challenge. Grinning like a loon he gave chase, letting the euphoria of being in the air encompass him, loving the feeling of the rushing wind under his wings and in his face. Not noticing anything else he gave his all as he pursued Fleur and Gabrielle. Time lost its meaning, leaving only the flight.

At the end all three performed a nosedive out of the sky, straight to the ground of the Isle of Faces. The red canopy of the Weirwood trees came nearer and nearer until they pulled up, flying just so over, brushing a few twigs and leaves in the process. Lyanna didn't look but she screamed her lungs out regardless, feeling as if her stomach was dropping to her knees. She only stopped screaming once solid ground was back under her feet.

Standing on wobbly legs the she-wolf nearly fell and had to catch herself at the nearest thing, which was Harry. "That was, that was..."

Harry let her search for the words, thinking she would scream at him. His expectation wasn't realised once she found the words. Fleur and Gabrielle looked smug for some reason.

"Incredible!" she finally breathed out in an awed manner. Her grey eyes sparkled at the sheer thrill of flying, it was similar to riding.

Lyanna's words caused the Veela to scowl briefly at her, having hoped for a different reaction. They knew Harry was just playing a good host, but they hadn't appreciated to miss out on a bit of action because of the Stark girl.

Harry cracked a heart-stopping smile, saying. "I'm glad you think so." he made sure she was capable of standing on her own before he let go, missing the disappointment that flashed across Lyanna's face. Gabrielle and Fleur caught it however and decided to take action. Fleur smoothly took Harry's right arm between her bosom and Gabrielle did the same with his left. They weren't worried that Harry was about to start something with the girl, after all they knew Harry had no interest in fourteen year old girls. Still, an example had to be made that she should back off.

"What now?" Gabrielle asked Lyanna while looking around. In turn Fleur simply snuggled closer to Harry, carefully sending Lyanna a smug look that made clear that the little girl could never have what she and her sister possessed. Harry's love.

Feeling funny, like butterflies mixed with bees inside her stomach, Lyanna shrugged absent-mindedly. "I don't know, start looking I guess." confused, she frowned, wondering why such a simple action caused a primal part inside her head to start growling like a wolf. With her not having any female friends to note she had no idea what was going on with herself. Nor was her mother alive to explain.

Finally the group looked around, realizing that they stood in a clearing among Weirwood trees. Every single one had a face carved into it. Some looked sad, others solemn and the fewest were happy looking. Before anyone could say anything a crow cawed at them, catching their interest.

As soon as she laid eyes on the crow Hedwig launched herself at the black bird with a screech. The attack was fast and over soon, ending with the crow on the ground and in Hedwig's talons.

"What is it, girl?" Harry asked in concern, petting his familiar while observing the very still crow in her grip.

A hoot more hiss than anything else was his answer as the snowy owl glared at the crow.

"Someone is inside the crow?" came his confused reply. Harry had no idea how that should be possible or why someone wanted to possess an animal. Though, his experience with such wasn't good. Mostly memories concerning Voldemort's shade and his effort to stay alive by possessing small animals. Concentrating Harry tentatively sent a Legilimency probe at the bird, checking if it was just an animal or more.

'Touch the Weirwood trees.' said a disembodied voice, echoing inside his head, alerting all his wives to its presence as well. Though, none of them felt any harmful intent aimed at them. Having as much experience with mental connections as Harry told him no negative events were to be expected. After the message was delivered the crow went from still to manic and was shortly released by Hedwig, who settled onto Harry's shoulder once again.

"Should we do it?" Gabrielle queried, eyeing the white-barked trees around them, seemingly staring at them.

"Do what?" Lyanna near demanded, having no idea what was going on right now, looking completely bewildered. She hadn't known he could talk to animals. Though, Harry's next actions didn't do anything to dispel her confusion.

"We'll see." Harry answered Gabrielle and turned towards the she-wolf. "Do you know any kind of magic that is said to exist in Westeros?" his curiosity told him to simply do it, but the talk with his wives was still fresh in his mind, making him more careful.

Caught off guard Lyanna simply responded without thinking too much. "There are stories about skinchangers and greenseers, as well as grumkin, snarks, giants and the Others roaming the wilds North of the Wall." mere fairy-tales she would've added out of habit if not for the people before her embodying magic better than anyone else, proving it on top.

"Can you explain a bit what they are capable of according to these tales?" Fleur questioned, wondering if any of that was true.

Thinking, Lady Stark said. "Well, stories describe the Greenseers seeing through the faces of Weirwoods. During the War of the First Men against the Children of the Forest are said to have turned trees to warriors and sent beasts against humans. While skinchangers are said to change into wolves, bears or some other animal." she hadn't a clue if that was true or not and her only source was Old Nan.

'Hmm, skinchangers could be some type of Animagus.' Harry thought. 'While the greenseers are pretty much described with what we deal here. Do you think we should risk it?' he got a positive reply from the rest, should he take Fleur and Gabrielle with him, of course.

"Now that I think about it, there happened something weird in the last year. Something many people claimed to be a result of magic." Lyanna spoke up, remembering something that had happened in Winterfell. Not that she could ever forget it, having been directly there at the time. She looked Harry directly in the eyes as she said it. "A friend of mine, the stableboy Wylis, collapsed and seemed to have some kind of seizure. His eyes turned as white as milk and afterwards he couldn't say anything else than Hodor." when one was riding as often as herself, it was always a good thing to befriend the stableboy.

"And he was able to speak properly prior to the event? No history of him collapsing before or after?" Gabrielle questioned, her curiosity going through the roof. They also had a few hours to look into these things.

Lady Stark shook her head sadly, her brown hair swishing with the motion. "No, he just yelled to hold the door for a few minutes until all that remained was the word Hodor." She was sure Harry would never do anything like that. Guest Right was active and he helped many people already. Still, it was scary to imagine people capable of twisting the mind in such a way. On top of it Wylis was a good friend of House Stark. Brandon, Ned, Benjen and her all treated him with kindness. "Many people claimed it was the work of Wargs."

Frowning Harry placed his hand on the nearest Weirwood, confident in his Occlumency to repel any possible invader. And if not there were still eight others the attacker had to deal with. 'Anybody there?'

'Yes, I am.' came the same voice from before.

'And who're you?' Harry demanded, not wanting to play games right now.

After a brief moment of silence, after getting used to the fact that there were people listening in, the voice continued. 'That is better left for a meeting face to face.'

'And why would we go to you?' the King from Essos countered. Not the least bit impressed so far.

'I think we have important things to discuss, like the future.' it came again, still calm and collected.

Harry gave his best mental snort. 'The best way to predict the future is to make it happen.' the last Potter had little interest in Divination, though Melisandre and Kinvara were leagues above Trewlany with their predictions.

'I can't really disagree with you on that.' the voice said with an odd inflection. 'Still, aren't you interested in learning about the magic of Westeros?'

Pondering that a bit, Harry replied. 'As long as it doesn't take more than five hours. We have to be somewhere by then. More future meetings not taken into account.'

'Excellent.' a picture of a massive Weirwood tree standing in a snow-filled forest was transmitted to them. 'I'll see you shortly.' with that the conversation was over.

A short discussion was held through the bond with the final consensus being that Fleur and Gabrielle were to accompany him to beyond the Wall.

"Okay, how about we go to Winterfell, heal your friend and then we go beyond the Wall to look for skinchangers?" Harry proposed to Lyanna, knowing that the she-wolf was most likely unable to resist such a thing. Also healing the friend of House Stark would give him more points with them, which was never a bad thing.

Lyanna didn't take more convincing. Going on an adventure beyond the Wall beat looking for Green Men any day of the week. "Sure." Lyanna said, smiling brightly.

A moment later the four of them were enveloped in flames as Harry transported them via flame-travel to Winterfell, having seen the castle from the outside days before. The group arrived in Winter Town, that for the time of year was actually somewhere approaching full. With half the houses being occupied.

In silence they walked through the market square towards Winterfell's great main gates. They had a gatehouse made of two huge crenelated bulwarks which flank the arched gate. The drawbridge wasn't lowered at the moment, forcing them to fly over it. Though, not before they made themselves invisible with disillusionment charms. Lyanna had no intention of letting her father or the Maester see her right now, too many questions would follow. Luckily, no one saw them go invisible.

Winterfell was a huge castle complex, spanning several acres, defended by two massive walls of grey granite with a wide moat between them. The outer wall was eighty feet high, while the inner wall was a hundred feet high. There were guard turrets on the outer wall and more than thirty watch turrets on the crenelated inner walls.

The group landed in the biggest courtyard, containing the stables and the place where Wylis was most likely at this time of day, feeding the horses. One look was enough to spot the person in question. He was over seven feet tall with brown eyes, a brown beard and thick hair covering his arms and most likely the rest of his body.

Fleur cast a quick Muggle-repelling and silencing spell around the stables, preventing them from being discovered.

Only Lyanna was revealed to the world once more, calling out as happy as she could. "Hodor!" it having become the name he responded to instead of his name given at birth.

The gentle giants eyes lit up as he heard the familiar voice. "Hodor!" he exclaimed back happily, his shout thankfully suppressed by Fleur's spells. A heartbeat later Wylis moved, quicker than a man of his stature should be able to. He swiftly covered the distance between him and Lyanna, enveloping her in a hug. Though, he was very careful to not squish too hard, having been scolded by Old Nan for it repeatedly. "Hodor." he said, still happy.

"I'm glad to see you, too." Lyanna said with a weak grin, patting him on the back. She felt bad for Wylis and that she hadn't visited as often as in the past. It just was so hard for her to see her friend reduced to this state. Only able to say his name and unable to even grasp concepts he should already know. "I brought people to help you."

"Hodor?" Wylis questioned in confusion, putting her down he looked around, but saw no one beside his friend.

Further conversation was stopped when Gabrielle cast. "Petrificus Totalus, Stupefy." the grey and red light hit the gentle giant in quick succession at point blank range.

What Gabrielle hadn't expected was for Wylis to still be conscious and moving. "Hodor?!" he roared pitifully as he swayed and staggered, supporting himself on the walls. Much like a bewildered bull, not knowing what was happening.

"How?" the Veela said dumbly. Her target certainly moved slower, but he wasn't out for the count. "Petrificus Totalus, Stupefy." again her spells hit and this time he fell down, but still twitched. Another repeat saw him lying stiff as a board. Only the minuscule rise and fall of his chest indicating that he was alive and well.

"What happened?!" Lyanna demanded with a shout, trying to flip Hodor over unsuccessfully. He was much too heavy for her to move.

Becoming visible together with the rest, Harry replied, scratching the back of his head, stating. "It seems he has giants blood in him, making him somewhat resistant to magic." luckily, Wylis wasn't a full or even Half-Giant. Otherwise stunning wouldn't work. "He is just unconscious." Harry assured the distraught girl and flipped the man on his back, seeing his eyes were thankfully dull and open. Meaning everything went as planned, mostly.

"Why did you attack him instead of just healing him?" Lyanna demanded. She was put out with their methods, having not wanted harm to come to Wylis.

Fleur's response soothed Lady Stark's nerves somewhat. "Such a procedure is best done with the patient following instructions to the letter. With your friend being a lackwit at the moment we saw it better for him to be unconscious, otherwise there can be complications." she left out that those complications are more often than not messy.

While Lyanna digested that Gabrielle wondered inside the bond, not wanting to upset Lyanna any more. 'Do you think it will work? We don't know if he is resistant to magic affecting the mind.'

'He is unable to stop me and I won't change anything, except repairing the damage done.' Harry answered and was already working on it, breaking their connection for now.

The mind of Wylis was a mess, as if an incompetent wizard used Legilimency on him repeatedly, charging in like a bull and trampling everything in the way. A peculiarity was that there seemed to be a command embedded into Wylis mind. 'Hold the door?!' Harry though incredulously. 'What kind of command is that?' Did another magical make it over only to amuse himself with extreme Muggle-baiting? The thought was chilling, but nothing had reached their ears in regards to that. On top of that only purebloods or people raised in the Wizarding World amused themselves with Muggle-baiting and they had absolutely no idea how to blend into normal society on top of it. Besides, Harry doubted that the remaining morons of the Wizarding World were capable of creating portals or duplicating Fleur and Gabrielle's feat.

Discarding that ridiculous notion Harry went to work, repairing the young man's mind, beginning with erasing that despicable command. From then it was fortunately a smooth process. Nothing was out of place, due to the fact that not much time had elapsed since Wylis' stultification. Harry only needed to reconnect the fractured connections and it'd be done.

On the outside something akin to half an hour went by as Harry stared the big guy into the eyes without blinking nearly the whole time. Luckily, the petrification kept Wylis' eyes open. That done they reapplied the disillusionment spells and took down the Muggle-repelling and silencing spells.

The group left the stables just after Fleur revived the big guy.

He groaned and sat up groggily, eyes blinking rapidly, feeling as if he was overrun by a horde of horses. "What happened?"

Lyanna was held back by Harry, lest she gave them away. A moment later Harry transported them beyond the Wall, directly in front of a massive Weirwood surrounded by smaller ones. A small entrance the size of a cleft could be seen in the wooded hillside, halfway up between the weirwood trees. They could practically taste the magic in the air, feeling a ward against undead protecting the area.

However, that was not what commanded their attention. In front of them was a small being between two to three feet tall. Its skin was nut-brown, dappled like a deer's with paler spots, ears like a bat and three fingers and a thumb with sharp claws instead of nails. Most intriguing were the large eyes looking at them. They were gold and green and the pupils were slitted like a cats, like Harry's own. Only that her sclera were white. It was clothed in a cloak of leaves and its hair was a tangle of brown, red and gold, autumn colours with vines and twigs and withered flowers woven through it.

One thought was running through Harry's and the Veela's mind. They just found the House-elves of this world!

"Welcome" it spoke in a high and sweet voice. Only Harry was nearly bowled over, hearing the voice being drowned in a crushing amount of sadness. "My name is Leaf and we expected you."

Narcissa was happy that the healing of the people was coming along nicely. Most were still wary and it seems some condemned them for Marcella's actions yesterday. 'Not that that is a surprise.' the youngest Black sister frowned internally, wondering what kind of mess that would evolve into.

It was two hours before midday that House Frey visited her stand. Narcissa stared at the old fart leading them, because he looked exactly like that useless Squib Filch. And just like Filch he closely resembled a weasel and had a little bit of vulture in him. His scrawny and hunched shoulders held his head on a long neck. His hair was grey, thin and nearly gone. Under his chin was hanging loose skin, every breath seemed to make his jowls quiver. Most notably, he sat in a wooden chair carried by four boys that could only be his sons. From one look at his fingers Narcissa deduced he was ailed by gout.

Behind the lookalike were two more of his sons with their weasel-like looks, making Narcissa wonder how many he had. Though, one had a solid build of a warrior with only the beginning of a little fat on his belly. He also had the marks of a recently caught pox on his hands. The second was also old, around fifty, but looked more polite and amiable. "So you're two of the famous Queens from Essos, eh?" came the annoying voice of the old fart.

'Magic help me, he even the pronounces the eh like Filch.' Keeping her true thoughts to herself Narcissa replied without any inflection, making it very clear that she wanted this over and done with as quickly as possible. "Yes, what of it?" From the looks the old bastard was giving her figure she was glad she had chosen a dress appropriate for Westerosi and Magical Britain standards. It covered her whole body from shoulders down to her toes.

Kinvara in turn was glad she was sitting on Arrax' head, concealing her body a good bit. Now the priestess regretted to wear her Phoenix-feather dress. She felt dirty just by getting looked at by that old fart. Her dragon reacted to her mood, never taking his yellow reptilian eyes of the worm before him.

"Well, I expected some kind of ugly and hideous monster from how people describe you." Walder Frey explained his cloudy eyes racking over her form, leering at Narcissa. "Heh, I always know what's going on beneath a dress and see that's not true!" A shrill cackle followed his words, followed by his sons laughter. Only the oldest and most polite looking one sent an apologetic look her way.

Growing even more frosty Narcissa retorted with an iciness that made the Land of Always Winter look like a place for a summer vacation. "Any reason you came to my stand, other than to insult me and stare?" she was a moment away from scowling. Still, she stayed her hand, not wanting to make more of a fuss than necessary. Even if the man was seemingly a shiver that looked for a spine to crawl up.

"Straight to the point, eh?" the old Frey spoke, still blatant in his leering. "We're here for this useless lump." he hit his solidly built son on the head, causing him to flinch much more violently than such a tap should warrant. Indicating an abuse victim or an untreated concussion. The latter much more likely when the son didn't cower in fear. "Go on tell her why you need her service, Ser Muttonhead." a mocking gleam entered the Walder's eyes, seemingly delighting in humiliating his son.

His sturdy son's cheeks were flaming, if from embarrassment or anger wasn't known to Narcissa.

The oldest of Walder's sons decided to calm the situation down. "Father, you forget yourself. We're here to ask for help and haven't introduced us yet."

Glaring at his heir, Walder spat. "Did I ask you for instructions in courtesy? You're not Lord Frey yet, not until I die. Do I look dead? I'll hear no instructions from you." Despite that the old man introduced them properly. There was Stevron Frey, his heir. Merrett Frey or as he was known to Walder, Merrett Muttonhead. The four boys that had been carrying his ancient ass were Raymund, Cleos, Rhaegar and Tytos Frey. The old man himself was named Walder Frey, Lord of the Twins and the Crossing.

With that thankfully over Walder began to force Merrett to state his problem, taking delight in his son's embarrassment and shame.

Before that theatre could go any further Narcissa had already all the information she needed. "You need something to take care of your pox, a branding on your behind and a head injury in form of a concussion." that stunned the Freys into silence, causing her to raise an eyebrow. A mocking gleam was in her eyes as she folded her arms before her, asking innocently. "Did I forget anything?"

Merrett could only shake his head. Fear was evident in all their eyes at her knowledge. "How do you know that, witch?" the one known as Cleos Frey, son of Genna Lannister and Emmon Frey, demanded as he hissed out the words. The coward had a weak chin and thin face that was white from fear.

Still not impressed, Narcissa answered with barely perceivable revulsion in her voice. "Easy, his hands have the typical copper penny rash of pox on them." she pointed to the hands of Merrett. Her voice grew colder again as her eyes bored into the brute's. "By the way, touch me with those and you won't like the outcome."

As if she didn't just basically threatened to cut a man's hands off, she simply continued looking at all of them. "He also flinched rather hard, considering the force behind the tap he got, indicating a previous injury to the head." now she gave a fanged grin. "As to the branding, well once I heard his name it was clear. Nearly all squires I treated couldn't resist boasting. The so called Kingswood Brotherhood came up often enough and to make themselves look better they bashed on others. He came up frequently due to his various nicknames Firearse, Flaming Cheeks and Burning Fawn among others." an amused and condescending chuckle escaped her "Did you know that he was rescued no more than six times, all by different squires in different situations and from different people? Even by some who weren't even in the Kingswood at the time according to some."

Obviously the squires lied about their exploits to impress her. Not that their boasts sounded very awesome to Narcissa's ears. After having fought all kinds of deadly and dangerous creatures and a bloody war it took more to impress her than fighting simple outlaws. Then again she tended to compare other men to Harry and that saw the other so called men losing, badly.

After all, how many men could say that they killed a Dark Lord, a thousand year old Basilisk, as well as winning a deadly Tournament and defeating a horde of soul-sucking demons before the age of fifteen? In her eyes there was only one true man on this world and she was married to him. Harry also didn't need to boast, his actions and skills showed quite good what kind of man he was.

Merrett made his nickname, Flaming Cheeks, every honour as his face lit up like a fireplace.

Using the Freys stupefaction she picked up the correct potion. She also looked for the same combination of Essence of Dittany and Burn-healing salve she gave the boy Sandor. "Drink this!" She handed him a vial of bright green potion and waited for him to drink it and until all the marks of his pox were gone to treat him further.

"Come here!" Narcissa commanded and he obeyed. Peering at his head she laid a hand on it and cast. "Episkey." afterwards she hit him lightly on the head. He did not flinch this time. "There all better." giving him the ointment in a small wooden jar she explained. "Put that on the affected area and the branding should be gone by tomorrow."

With that the visit of House Frey was over. Thankfully, she had stunned them too much for them to talk more.

A few more patients came and went, but she was interrupted by Marcella rushing towards her with Bellatrix and Melisandre in tow. Meleys was still at their tent making sure nobody entered without permission. It may be closed magically, making it impossible for a stranger to enter, but that didn't mean a dragon sitting in front of it was unnecessary.

"What is it?" Narcissa asked, already thinking up possibilities and scenarios which Harry could've caused in such a short amount of time. She loved him more than anything, but she also knew it true that he was a magnet for trouble most of the time.

"There is a trial going on against that blonde girl. Cersei Lannister I believe her name was. She is apparently charged with the abomination of incest." Marcella replied with amusement in her voice.

"I'm guessing there is more?" Narcissa was mildly prepared for what came next.

"Yes, apparently to save the reputation of his son Lord Lannister argues that his daughter used a love-potion made by us to seduce her brother." Melisandre explained, glancing at Marcella. She'd done enough damage to their reputation already and Melisandre didn't appreciate Marcella's amusement concerning this situation. Sure, Westeros would still trade with Essos and the opinion of Westerosi had no real bearing on the people back home. But why make it harder than it had to be? She was also worried about the reputation of R'hllor. Though, if someone could turn that around it was Harry, Azor Ahai reborn.

Narcissa just nodded and packed up without explanation to the smallfolk. "We cannot let that stand unanswered." pocketing her stuff she asked. "Is Fleur still away with Harry?" they could really use some of the Veela's legal expertise right about now.

"Yes, unfortunately." Melisandre replied, confirming Cissy's suspicion.

"I'll call them." Bellatrix added cheerfully, reverently putting a hand on her stomach where her Phoenix tattoo was located. Similarly to the Dark Mark their own could also be used as a fixed Apparition point, enabling them to come to each others aid in a heartbeat. It was also capable of summoning each other by alerting the recipient with a slight burning sensation. For Bellatrix it was heaven to have that mark on her. Essentially giving her a built in booty call. Of course she wasn't abusing that privilege, though now and again she surprised him at work and vice versa.

"Andy stayed, doing damage control and such through Aerys, who is at Cersei's so called trial." Marcella explained, getting over her amusement and acknowledging the situation for what it was.

"Good." was the only thing Narcissa said as they made their way through the gossiping masses.

The being known as Leaf led them inside. Well, after getting uncomfortably close to Harry, pulling him down, taking his face into her clawed hands and looking him directly into the eyes. One could confuse that with something romantic, but Leaf simply inspected his eyes in wonderment. After she composed herself she led them down, shooting glances at him the whole way.

Under the hill was a vast, silent cave system extending far below filled with bones of thousands dead. The branching tunnels full of white roots were cramped, more suited for the diminutive beings size than their own. Down and down they went, through a cavern as large as Hogwarts' Great Hall, containing stalagmites and stalactites. Further on, the passage was littered with more bones. Bones of birds, beasts, some looking like they belonged to children, but had only four fingers. Others clearly belonged to Half-Giants, but judging from the amount Harry guessed they were normal sized giants for this world.

Some skulls were placed in stone niches along the walls.

Going even deeper they saw more chambers full of bones, reminding Harry uncomfortably of the Chamber of Secrets. Shafts plunged so deep into the earth that one couldn't hear a stone hitting the ground. Murders of ravens inhabited the cave, judging by the echoes of caws the group heard from within.

There was no sunlight, moonlight or starlight to be found beneath the cavern under the hill. Though, Harry, Fleur and Gabrielle could see just fine with their eyes. Still, Lyanna was going with them and hadn't their abilities. As a solution Harry simply cast Bluebell flames around them, commanding the flames to follow Lyanna.

The route steeply descended to a great cavern opening to a black abyss, with a swift river six hundred feet below in which small fish swam.

"What are you?" Harry asked their guide along the way. Curious what they were and why they looked so similar to House-elves. He also needed to distract himself from being confined to such a small space, even if he could simply use Apparition or flame-travel to get out. Hedwig stayed outside, enjoying the snow too much for the moment. Being a snowy owl and all.

His wives listened attentively, rather focussing on the being than on the fact that they were deep under the earth. Just like Harry they disliked being confined to small spaces. For that reason they loved the Palace of Love, which had many wide windows that let much light in, as well as big open rooms.

"Men call us the Children of the Forest, giants call us little squirrel people, but in our tongue we call us those who sing the song of earth." Leaf explained, the sadness not having left her sweet voice.

"Oh, it's just you resemble beings from back home and I wondered if your species were somehow related." Harry explained still not looking away from their guide.

Lyanna was simply silent, too enthralled by everything. She was meeting legends of the past! Children of the Forest in the flesh right before her, talking, walking and living. A glance at Harry, Fleur and Gabrielle revealed that they took that world shaking revelation as if it was an everyday occurrence. Something she couldn't wrap her head around. Then again they shook the nice and neat view of Westerosi on a daily basis.

"Which species would that be?" Leaf inquired with genuine curiosity. She had never seen any human quite like him in her more than two-hundred years of life. Be it in appearance or character.

In response Harry got a fond smile on his face, absent-mindedly noting that they passed several more so called Children of the Forest. "We called them Elves. One of my friends, if not my best friend was one. His name was Dobby and he helped me out more times than I care to count." Among it help with the Tri-Wizard and finding the Room of Requirement. Harry hadn't bound the elf because Dobby was happy as a free elf and Harry respected that wish, knowing the value of freedom himself.

Leaf didn't say anything, but the others of her species did mutter amongst themselves. [What are they?] one asked. [Why are humans here?] another hissed out. It seemed every species appreciated gossip as much as others and had prejudices. The third and oldest looking one hit the second over the head. [They're here to meet the Last Greenseer. Don't be rude. I can sense strong magic from them.]

[Thanks.] Harry responded with a smile in the beings direction.

All stopped talking immediately, every head whipped around and every eye was focussed entirely onto Harry with an eerie intensity. Confused he turned to their guide, asking. [Did I say something wrong?] hoping he hadn't offended anyone with his actions or lack thereof.

Gabrielle was the first to break the silence. "Harry, what language are you speaking?" it sounded like his voice when using the abilities of his Phoenix form. It hadn't been words, but the soft chiming of tinkling bells, the rustling of leaves in the wind and the creaking of burning firewood.

Even more confused Harry replied. "The Common Tongue, what else?" that's what it sounded to his ears at least.

Shaking her head the Veela disagreed. "No, you spoke with your Phoenix voice."

Coming out of her stupor Leaf looked at Harry with even more wonderment in her eyes. As Sadness was leaving her voice and hope filled her for the first time in decades, she asked. "You can speak the True Tongue? No men should be able to do so!"

Harry scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Apparently I can." he muttered, thinking that it must be the same as with Parseltongue, where it didn't sound any different for him. Trying to deflect he said the first thing that came to mind. "To be fair I'm also fluent in the tongue of reptiles."

That did nothing to calm anyone down. Only Lyanna inquired. "Tongue of reptiles?" she learned more and more of the world and it was nothing like the Maester said. Just showed how much that idiot truly knew.

"Yes, it is called Parseltongue by my people. Most think it can only be used to talk to snakes, but in truth I can talk to snakes, dragons, wyverns, turtles and lizards." it had come as a shock at the time, but it only made sense. When he could talk to snakes and dragons what was so different from the other reptiles? It was just a different dialect, so to speak.

"That's so awesome!" Lyanna breathed out giddily, having practically stars in her eyes, wondering if he could speak to the Lizard-lions of the Neck she saw coming south and what these animals had to say.

Not wanting to delay any longer Leaf stopped any further conversation. Such things could wait for now, no matter how much she wanted to interrogate the human male before her. She led them across a natural bridge across the abyss. Around a corner was a pale, skeletal husk of a man wearing rotted black clothing enthroned into the tangled roots of a Weirwood. His skin was corpse white, aside from a red blotch on his neck and cheek. The man's fine hair was extremely long, reaching down to the earthen floor. One eye was red and the other was missing. Roots were surrounding the man, growing through his body, including the socket of his missing eye.

"Welcome, Harry Potter. Or do you prefer Black or Peverell?" the man in the tree rasped in a dry and slow voice, as if he had forgotten how to speak. One could see amusement shining in his red eye. He chuckled a little, but it sounded more like wheezing to Harry's group. "I've had my eye on your family for quite some time."

Rising an eyebrow in interest Harry prepared himself for a confrontation out of instinct. Fleur and Gabrielle tensed as well when Harry retorted. "I know, how could you know that we are able to travel hundreds of leagues in the blink of an eye otherwise?" looking at the thin frame of the man as if inspecting him, Harry questioned. "How did you do that though, when you are chained to this tree? Unless, you are some kind of seer." It seemed Lyanna was correct with what kind of abilities a greenseer possessed. Not to mention that Divination wasn't limited to the future, but one could also see events happening in the past or even in the present. Out of all of this the past was the most useful, because it was already fixed, the information irrefutable.

"You're correct in that assessment." the old man confirmed. "I am what is known as a greenseer. The last of my kind, able to view the past, present and future."

"I thought as much." Harry threw back, not relaxing a bit. "I am guessing you know our names already, but let me introduce ourselves nonetheless. My name is Harry." he pointed towards his wives. "This is Fleur and Gabrielle." lastly came Lady Stark. "And this is Lyanna Stark."

It seemed not every Child of the Forest was enthused about the idea of a Stark in their midst. [What is a Stark doing here? The dirty traitors!] one old wrinkly child shouted out. His words sounded like an angry torrent of water, ready to smash down any opposition. He reminded Harry of Kreacher.

That set of a discussion among the small beings that had followed them, due to being interested in Harry. A few of the younger ones were apparently indifferent to Lyanna and had no interest in her or her family. The rest and the older ones were another matter entirely.

Lyanna noticed that and asked Harry. "What are they talking about?" some of them were glaring at her in a fashion that was definitely unfriendly.

It wasn't Harry that answered, but Leaf. "They are discussing the many betrayals we suffered at the hands of House Stark."

Indignantly, Lyanna squeaked. "What?! We never..."

She was unable to finish as Leaf silenced her with a simple gesture. "Yes, your ancestors did!" her voice not soft, but hard as stone. "Like all of the First Men we welcomed you at first, until you cut and burned down our Weirwoods and decimated out forests." Harry felt like an avalanche was about to descend upon Lyanna. "A son of Garth Greenhand, Brandon of the Bloody Blade, slew hundreds of us at the Red Lake." no one needed to be a genius to know why the lake got that name. "After the agreement of The Pact we withdrew into the deep forests. Not that it stopped House Stark from still chopping down the woods, reducing our space of living even further." Leaf's voice rose in intensity, like a wind building up towards a hurricane. "Following that we formed an alliance with the Warg King, who resided in the Wolfswood at Sea Dragon Point. We weren't even attacking anybody, but again House Stark descended upon us with the intent to kill, driving us further north." clenching her fists at the memories gained from the Weirwood, Leaf went on. "They even took the daughters of the Warg King as prizes, despite them having taken the Old Gods as their own and knowing full well that taking slaves was forbidden."

The small being had an impressive glare, Harry gave her that much. "When the Andals came and slaughtered the First Men, your ancestors even had the gall to ask us for help after driving us beyond the Wall. Needless to say we didn't come!" Leaf's glare seemed to take on a mocking quality. "You Northmen always say the North remembers, but you know nothing!" She spat, crossed her arms and went to sit down in a corner of the room, apparently supervising.

The rest left the humans alone, leaving only silence, a bowl of mushrooms, a pensive group and Leaf behind.

The awkward silence was broken by Harry. "Well, we introduced ourselves. What's your name?" he asked the skeletal man.

"I wore many names when I was quick and today I'm called the three-eyed crow, but my mother gave me the name Brynden." Brynden replied in his scratchy voice. He pointed to the bowl of mushrooms. "Please, eat." a branch from his throne of roots grabbed one for himself, which he ate slowly.

Taking the clear invitation to Guest Right, Harry and company took the offered food. Lyanna was the first to eat one of the mushrooms, taking no chances with potential hostile magical creatures.

"You wanted to talk about the future, so talk!" Harry demanded, having no patience for games with how much was already going on at the moment. He crossed his arms and stared expectantly at the old man.

If Brynden was anything but calm he didn't show it. "Very well. As you know I'm a seer and as such can foresee the most likely outcome for the future." his one eye swept over the assembled people before him. "However, in the last three years that future was smashed to pieces. Every single thing points towards you as the source of that change."

Harry simply sighed, knowing that it couldn't be any different. "Obviously. We had a big impact on Essos and the ripples that has on the future will be felt in Westeros and elsewhere." he admitted. "Though, as far as I know a seer isn't omniscient and only able to see the future from the present point in time, not taking in the changes to come. That means should something unforeseen change then the future will differ accordingly." It basically meant that when someone wants to do, for example, kill another person, but something happens in-between those two points, then the outcome can change. "It is like you said. You see the most likely outcome, not the definite one."

Looking at the man in front of him intently, Brynden smiled. "You seem to know much about Divination. Are you a practitioner of the art?"

The King from Essos scoffed loudly. "Hardly, I just have much experience with it due to me having been a subject to prophecy in the past." he scowled and balled his firsts as he remembered that. He had researched much about Divination to find a way out of it. "At the time, People stronger than me thought they knew the outcome and disregarded every other possibility." seeing and feeling his rising distress Fleur and Gabrielle grabbed his arms trying to sooth him. He relaxed shortly after. Grinning a bit smugly, Harry went on. "I fulfilled the prophecy, just not how they wanted it to. Not that they know it is fulfilled in the first place." Harry had told no one but his wives about what happened in that graveyard.

Now even more intrigued, Brynden inquired. "What was the prophecy about, if I my ask?"

Shrugging, Harry recited the prophecy that had ruined and dictated his life for the first fourteen years of it. That part was over and done with and everyone important in his life knew it, so he had no problem laying it out there. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Brynden was silent as he dissected the wording, but decided to do that at a later time when he didn't have guests.

"Anyway, I don't really need another seer." Harry said, bringing Brynden out of his thoughts. "I already have two." Melisandre's and Kinvara's predictions gained from Fire-omens were at least more accurate than the ramblings of that old bat Trewlany.

"You mean those two red priestesses, I assume." Brynden retorted with an insulted tilt to his raspy voice. "It may be that they are better than me." they were not, but to insult people close to the man in front of him wasn't a good move. "But do you have a spymaster who knows his craft?"

Going straight to the point Harry responded. "I don't." Melisandre may be good in the magical side of things concerning spying, but not in the mundane one. As demonstrated by the fact that she had no idea how to create a functioning network or similar to combat these mute children from the Spider. Marcella had some knowledge about it, but her occupation was stressful enough already. "Where are you going with this?"

Seeing that his partner in conversation had little patience left, the three-eyed crow explained. "Obviously I want to offer my services as a spymaster for you."

"Why?" Gabrielle blurted out, looking at his form encased in roots.

Fleur chimed in. "Not to mention that you are bound to this tree. Leaving seems not very possible for you from how integrated you are into the tree." it looked like some kind of symbiotic relationship. As If Brynden gave the tree nutrients, while the tree kept him alive.

"I don't need to leave." the old man countered. "Animals are my eyes and ears and I can see through the eyes of weirwood trees." he didn't even look at the two incredibly beautiful women. Having lived such a long life, Brynden had long since left the needs of the flesh behind.

Looking at the man as if gauging his sincerity Harry asked. "What do you get out of this?" Melisandre offered her services to proclaim him something and he only accepted because her knowledge had been useful. So what was this man's agenda. Harry had had enough time to learn that very few people did things out of the goodness of their hearts.

Harry's eyes seemed to look past Brynden as he looked into the man's red eye and throwing a Legilimency probe his way for good measure.

Every fibre of Brynden's being screamed at him to evade the question or lie. Having been born a bastard, serving as spymaster for forty years, playing the game of thrones, as well as having been the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch would do that to a person. In the end Brynden decided to answer honestly. "Stones bleed in the mountains of the east where flesh is cast like steel. Ice sings up north. In the west waves of pitch eat eyes and down south great black beasts stir. Dawn will break through Lightbringer." he let his words settle in before going on. "Things were set in motion by you, if you are aware of it or not. Things greater than all of us. I simply want to help to prepare for it as much as possible."

'That wasn't ominous at all.' Harry deadpanned inside their connection. "You talk as if the end of the world is about to happen."

'Maybe that is a trait every person capable of seeing the future has.' Fleur suggested. 'Melisandre and Kinvara certainly seems to believe something is on its way. Not to mention Trewlany and her predictions of doom and death.'

"It most likely is, though like you said the future is in a constant state of flux." the old man shrugged. "However, I am of the opinion that when you want peace be prepared for war."

"Wise words." Harry could admit that much. He practised the same, after all. His surface thoughts also did not reveal any malicious thoughts or planned betrayals. "If you are to be my spymaster then you can't be stuck in this tree." Before the three-eye crow could take it as refusal Harry said casually. "So, I have to rip you out of it."

Stunned, Brynden pointed out calmly. "Then I'll die." He would like to leave this state he was in, but knew it to be impossible.

Waving his words off, Harry replied. "Nonsense, you'll be better than before." he pulled out his mokeskin-pouch and grabbed two vials. The smaller one was holding a blueish-silver liquid and the other clear water. He gave Brynden the silvery liquid first. "Drink this."

"What is this, if I may ask?" the old man inquired with curiosity and wariness coating his words.

"Blood from an unicorn." came the answer from Harry.

A hiss from behind them revealed Leaf, who jumped out from the shadows. [Did you kill a unicorn to get it?] the small being demanded, nearly spitting flames at him. Her voice sounding akin to a storm of fire, decimating trees in its wake with ease.

[No.] Harry replied calmly, switching to the True Tongue on instinct. In stark contrast his voice sounded like the soothing waves of the ocean, washing away the burning anger, smoothing over hate, soothing tempers and smothering the fires of Leaf's rage.

That seemed to calm the small being instantly. "Good." she said in relief, throwing the others present for a loop.

"You accept my word on it, just like that?" Harry said, switching back to the Common Tongue. The words tumbling out of him at the beings behaviour.

The reply was as swift as the wind. "Yes." she said, also switching back to the Common Tongue. Her words were sincere and apologetic. Leaf talked further, explaining her reasons. "No one can lie in the True Tongue." that was why it was called the True Tongue. "How did you come by the blood, then?"

Harry frowned, but answered anyway, hoping to build better relations. "If you must know, I killed the man who was responsible for killing the Unicorns."

"I see." Leaf said stunned and impressed. The blood of an unicorn cursed anyone who drank it. Even those who were even remotely accountable for its death. Only an avenger of Unicorns, acknowledged by magic, meaning he had no desire for their blood and wasn't responsible for the unicorn's death in any way shape or form, was exempt from that. "When you are finished with him come talk to me, please." was all she said before leaving to search for the rest of her kin.

"Weird." Lyanna said, having no idea what they had talked about or the significance of it. She also hadn't forgotten the words about House Stark and their supposed treachery against the Children.

Harry shared the information with Fleur and Gabrielle through their bond, simply giving them access.

Brynden stare as well, never having heard a man speak the True Tongue. Or see Leaf act like that. The three-eyed crow drank the liquid, but felt not much different. "What was that supposed to do?" He knew many things, but not everything.

"Make you temporarily immortal." Harry's answer stunned the man, allowing the King from Essos to cut him out of the tree with Lightbringer. Harry removed the roots, freeing the old man from his self-made prison. Next he pulled out all the roots in Brynden's body, unmindful of the injuries he gave the three-eyed raven. Not that they mattered. From the amount he drank, Brynden was effectively immortal for the next few minutes. Though, burning him to death would be incredibly painful and also lethal. It was more like, as long as the head and torso were somewhat intact the person would live for the duration of the blood's effect.

Pulling out the last of the roots, Harry had left a mangled corpse before him, littered with holes and leaking blood all over the floor. The only thing keeping the old man alive was the unicorn blood. Not wasting any time Harry took the vial with Elixir of Life and poured it down the man's throat.

As a result wounds healed and closed themselves up. His skin grew taut again and his muscles regained their former strength. Even his missing eye regrew itself.

He took shuddering breaths, his lungs breathing and expanding once again. Gaining oxygen through the air instead of the tree. The roots had been buried completely inside his body, piercing all his organs. A few moments later Brynden Rivers stood on his legs for the first time since thirty years. "Incredible!" the man marvelled at his body, balling his fists to see how strong he was and patting himself up and down, ignoring his mouldy clothes. He looked like a man in his thirties, fit and strong.

Next he knelt, as was customary when meeting a king. More importantly, it was his new king. He had briefly thought about serving the Targaryens and he could indeed go to them, but that brought problems. Firstly, they wouldn't believe him. Secondly, he hadn't been exactly well loved in the realm due to his actions, which many considered dishonourable. And suddenly reappearing as if coming back from the dead was a sure way to end up on a pyre set by the Faith of the Seven. Thirdly, he could achieve much more while working for Harry.

"I am yours to command, my king!" Brynden said with all the formality someone in rotten clothing and stinking like a dried pile of manure could achieve.

Harry sighed again, repressing a groan. In turn Fleur and Gabrielle shook from suppressed giggles.

"Stand up, Brynden!" Harry commanded, cleaning the man with a few spells and repairing his clothing. For good measure he magically braided the man's long hair and summoned blue-bell flames to follow the man. Harry wanted to get this over with and be under the sky once again. The last Potter hated enclosed and small spaces. "Do you need anything else from here before we leave?"

Standing up, the now middle aged man shook his head. "No, I have all my things hidden in this cave." to demonstrate the Great Bastard went behind the roots and returned with a longbow made out of weirwood and a sword made out of Valyrian Steel.

"This is Dark Sister, the sword of Visenya Targaryen!" Lyanna exclaimed giddily, taking in every detail of the legendary blade. The stories about Nymeria, Visenya and Rhaenys had always been her favourites. She knew all the details of the blade and more.

"Indeed, it is." Brynden confirmed, fastening the scabbard onto his repaired belt. "And no you can't play with it. It is no toy!" he added upon seeing her look. A look he had often seen upon the face of Daena Targaryen, also called the Defiant for her desire to compete in Tourneys and other martial pursuits.

Lyanna just scowled at him, huffed, turned away and pouted.

"Alright. As soon as I finish talking with Leaf we can leave." Harry said and made to look for the diminutive being. Fleur and Gabrielle by his side and Lyanna together with Brynden trailing behind. The girl was making conversation with the historically important figure. Mostly about the battles he had been in and Dark Sister.

They found the Children of the Forest by expanding their senses magically into the earth. The group found them a bit deeper into the cave, on one of the lower levels. From the looks of it they seemed to be in a heated discussion. But only Harry truly understood what little he heard. Though, they stopped talking as soon as Harry came into view.

"You wanted to talk?" Harry began, not really knowing what these beings could want with or from him.

Leaf was their spokesperson, being the only one of them to speak the Common Tongue. "Yes." she confirmed. "We want to discuss the possibility of forming a new pact with you."

"Why?" was the only thing coming from Harry. Right now he was resigned to the fact that this wouldn't be a normal vacation. Not anymore.

Not missing a beat Leaf explained. "We are dying, our sun is sinking and this is our long dwindling." she pointed behind her where the barely sixty other Children of the Forest stood. "The giants are almost gone as well, they who were our bane and brothers. The great lions of the western hills have been slain, and the mammoths are down to a few hundred. Many of us went down into the earth, into the stones and trees. In the world men have made there is no room for them, or us."

Her green and gold eyes looked into Harry's own with an immense intensity, conveying hope and more. "That was until three years ago. Magic began to sing again, after being silent for so long. It strengthened us like it hadn't done in centuries, crashing over us like a tidal wave." she took a step forward. "Being near you invigorates us like nothing before. It gives us something we thought long lost to us. Hope." It also helped that he spoke their language, was acknowledged by unicorns, the purest creatures there were, and had nearly the same eyes as them.

"Eh, that's nice." Harry replied, entirely uncomfortable with the attention of all the little beings on him. Now he definitely saw the resemblance to House-elves even more. Only the looks of utter adoration were absent, thankfully. He got enough of those in his own kingdom. Harry still didn't know if it was a good thing or not that Bella's own looks of worship had prepared him for such a thing. "What would be the terms of that pact?"

"We want protection and our own piece of land to do with as we see fit, preferably a forest." Leaf stated.

Harry could agree with that easy enough. "I have no problem with that, but my dominion has no notable forests in it at the present time." he frowned in thought.

"There is the Forest of Ifequevron north of the Dothraki Sea." Fleur interrupted. "The area is currently uninhabited. Besides it is only a matter of time until the Dothraki savages attack us again. Why not conquer them, take their lands and be done with it?" her sister nodded in approval. Both of them hated the savages after having experienced life with them for a short time and had no problems with exterminating them.

Leaf perked up immediately. "That would be perfect." Ifequevron had been the last bastion of them in Essos, hidden much like their current location, until a few centuries that is. Every land had belonged to them before the Dawn Age, before the emergence of man. They had been pushed back bit by bit until only Westeros remained to them. Even that hadn't brought much peace to them. After only a few centuries man was again before their doorstep. This time they would at least bargain for their protection, instead of relying on good will.

"What would I get in turn?" Harry questioned, his wives' words about negotiating ringing in his ears. In the past he'd have done it because they clearly needed it. Now he was king and needed to think further. He had to force himself not to think about Dobby, his loyalty and excitable behaviour. His big eyes filled with pure joy every time he saw Harry. These beings possessed a resemblance to House-elves, but were not the same.

"We won't fight in your wars against men, but can aid you in fights against other threats." Leaf made that very clear by the tone of her voice alone. They already had lost too many to wars against men. On the other hand the Others and more were the enemies of all. Chewing on her lip the small being said. "I don't know what we could give you." her large ears dropped to the side of her head in sadness.

Harry sighed. He couldn't stand the sight of these creatures so sad. It reminded him too much of Dobby. Not to mention that they were living in a tree. What could they truly give him? Cursing his soft heart, Harry responded "Let's forget that for now. You can think of something for later." he waved Leaf's protest off. "Anything else you need?"

Leaf looked directly at Brynden. "We have another room full of Greenseers, enthroned like he was." here she turned to Harry with pleading eyes. "I beg of you, revive them." it would give them some more numbers and guidance.

Harry saw no harm in it. Unicorn blood was powerful, but it hadn't really much uses. As long as enough was left over to preserve the eight unicorn hearts then it was of no consequence. "Or course, that is no problem." he assured the being with his agreement and beckoned her to show him where to go.

Soon enough the group came to a room with another twenty Children of the Forest enthroned into the roots. Harry simply asked for water and the ages of his patients before starting to work. It didn't take long after that to revive every one of the small beings. Blood red and moss green eyes opened lazily, one pair after another. As if waking from a deep slumber.

While the Children of the Forest had a reunion of sorts and Lyanna pestered Brynden with more questions, Harry stared at the Philosopher's Stone in his hand. It had lost its deep red glow. After each use it had grown dimmer and dimmer in intensity. He had been afraid of that happening.

"Seems the Philosopher's Stone is out of power." he stated. It was no wonder. Not with how long Nicolas Flamel must've used the artefact and Harry afterwards by utilising its powers.

"What do you mean?" Fleur asked, a bit of alarm entering her voice. She, like every student of Beauxbaton knew of the school's most famous student and his achievements.

He showed her the red rock. "Here take a look." handing the artefact to her, he said. "It had to happen sooner or later."

"I thought the Philosopher's Stone didn't need any kind of fuel to work?" Gabrielle asked in confusion, inspecting the artefact after Fleur had her turn. That is at least what every source stated.

Harry shook his head with a little chuckle escaping him. That was impossible with magic or technology. He replied. "It appears that way, but it does indeed need fuel to make Elixir of Life." the life-energy had to come from somewhere. "In the years I have possessed it I analysed it to the best of my ability."

Intrigued Fleur and Gabrielle inquired at the same time, their silver-blue eyes looking into his emerald-gold ones. "What did you find out?"

Growing solemn, he responded. "Its fuel are blood and human souls. The more a Philosopher's Stone consumed upon its creation the stronger and longer lasting the stone is." it also proved once again that Blood-magic was the strongest magic for a reason.

Horrified at that revelation Fleur and Gabrielle stared at the unassuming stone in Gabrielle's hands. "How could Flamel create something so horrible?" Fleur's words were shaky at best, her view of one of the greatest wizards of all time shattered. For the stone to work for more than six-hundred years there had to be countless souls imprisoned inside it.

"I don't know, but all great wizards did terrible things to some extent." Harry stated. Voldemort split his soul by taken his victims will to live, killing in cold blood and enjoying it. Grindelwald and Dumbledore had had the ambition to rule over the Muggles and Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone. Ekrizdis, the wizard responsible for building Azkaban, did horrific and atrocious things to create the Dementors. "Flamel was born shortly before the time where the plague ran rampant in Europe and before the Statute of Secrecy was put in place. Who would miss a few hundred Muggles here and there? Especially when they died by the millions and the relations between Muggles and Wizards grew more strained by the day."

After all, Flamel had lived in the time of the hunt of witches and wizards and such horror painted ones world-view. On top of that Flamel had belonged to an older family with all the beliefs that entailed. Namely, that he hadn't been very friendly with Muggles or even Muggleborn magicals. That had also contributed to Harry's decision to distrust Dumbledore more. Albus, having been Flamel's apprentice in Alchemy.

"You didn't." Gabrielle denied vehemently, firm in her belief. Upon his confused look she elaborated. "You didn't do or create something so horrific."

Harry just smiled ruefully. "I did. True, I haven't used them, but I created some things that I'm not proud of." mainly during his later years at Hogwarts to shortly after his graduation and getting Narcissa and Bellatrix as a team. Luckily, he had destroyed his notes for these kind of things. Though, he hadn't been proclaimed Voldemort's equal in the prophecy for nothing. Harry may not be a genius in the conventional sense, but he was by no means stupid. Also, magic wasn't a strict field like mathematics or other sciences anyway.

No, it was an art. Something, made clear by the description of the Dark Arts. It was even directly in the name. Like Voldemort, Harry knew that the Dark Arts were only labelled as such because of the Ministry. Who feared things they couldn't understand nor control. Magic wasn't dark or light. The intent mattered most. Hermione never understood that and Harry knew she was limited by her understanding of things. The girl was incapable to believe, she had to know. That was why she was unable to cast a Patronus and also why the higher branches of magic had been denied to her. Not because she was stupid, but due to the fact that she didn't understand what magic truly was.

The notion that magic was an art form was further supported by the fact that powerful magic could be done with music. As demonstrated by Harry's group.

Before they could talk further a voice interrupted them. "Fatebreaker!" the call silenced every voice in the small room full of burnt roots.

Harry and the Veela turned to the diminutive being that called them. He had his race's typical characteristics, but his eyes were a deep blood red. Eyes which bored into Harry's form like a drill. "You mean me?" Harry asked, pointing to himself.

"Yes, come here!" the small and frankly fragile looking being nodded, beckoning him with his clawed hand.

Once there the small Child requested from Gabrielle. "Please give me that stone in your hand." it held out its clawed hand to receive it.

Gabrielle looked at Harry for permission. After all, it was his stone. When he nodded she handed it to the Greenseer, who took it with haste and broke a small piece off from it with a stone from the ground. Next he went to the roots burrowing themselves through the ground and broke a branch the size of a staff off.

Harry's group watched fascinated as the Child seemed to craft a sceptre the length of a staff. The sceptre was roughly as tall as Harry with a shaft that twisted itself upwards in a spiral and ended in a crown resembling a cage of vines to hold the Philosopher's Stone. After that the unnamed Greenseer carved runes into the sceptre along the shaft and on the crown. The runes seemed to bleed due to the colour of the sap, but only the runes of the crown bled drops of sap onto the artefact, covering it in a thin layer of sticky red liquid before being encased by vines, completely caging the stone. After that the Child sprinkled Obsidian dust onto the runes changing them from red to black. Despite being empty the Philosopher's Stone began glowing again, giving it an unimaginable, unearthly lustre.

"This Weirwood has feasted on countless lives from us and men alike. Now these belong to you." the greenseer explained and walked with the sceptre in hand to Harry. In the past many executions had been done in front of Weirwoods to be witnessed by the Old Gods and to let the Weirwoods drink the blood and grow strong from it. Skagos was the only place it was still done so, together with the Mountain Clans of the North. "I present you with Bloodwood."

After Harry took the sceptre, the Child of the Forest took the small shard it had broken from the Philosopher's Stone. "Hold out your sword, please." it requested politely, but with a sense of urgency.

Caught off guard Harry did so automatically, Lightbringer still in his hand from cutting the House-elf lookalikes free. A moment later the small shard was pressed into the sword and absorbed by the Mithril. Lightbringer began to glow a blood red colour and lit up, illuminating the small room of the cave they were in. It died down after that, revealing Lightbringer and its change in colour. The sharp edge of it was still black, but the rest was now a bright red, exactly like the Philosopher's Stone. The silver veins were replaced by golden ones, which glowed together with the golden runes carved into the metal.

"What did you do?" Harry inquired, hoping that they didn't ruin his sword. There was a definite edge to his voice now. He was grateful that they gave him Bloodwood, basically gifting him with a reawakened Philosopher's Stone. But he would hate for his sword to be worse than before.

Unconcerned the small being retorted. "I connected your sword with the stone. Every enemy you kill with your sword will feed the stone and refill it." he had seen it in the future, at least one possible future. "I don't know all the specifics, but I saw you craft and wield such in one possible future for you."

"Oh, thanks." Harry said dumbfounded, thinking how that could've been accomplished. He took a good look at his sword, inspecting it thoroughly, casting a few detection spells on it. The Child seemed to be telling the truth. The blood-drinker curse on the blade together with the Resurrection Stone were responsible for collecting blood and souls from killed people and transferring them to Bloodwood.

Another oddity was that the Basilisk venom, his mother's blood protection and the Philosopher's Stone apparently blended together, combining into something new. Like a pimple jinx combined with a jelly-legs jinx created a whole new effect. Namely, causing tentacles to sprout on the affected area. From what Harry gathered his blade wouldn't poison living beings any longer, but only work on any undead creature or other unnatural beings, like Dementors.

Though, to get the full effects Harry would have to test the blade on various subjects.

"I hope that will suffice to acquire your help in getting us away from Westeros and to more prosperous lands?" the greenseer questioned.

He only got a nod from Harry in reply.

With business and everything else finished Gabrielle transported the Children of the Forest via portal to Vaes Leisi, a city consisting of carved trees and haunted grottos in the forest of Ifequevron. And just like that there was only one Child of the Forest left in Westeros. Gabrielle went with them to set up a few wards to repel Muggles and protect their small community better, while Leaf chose to stay to break the pact they had made in the past with the precursor of House Stark.

Brynden was brought to the ship which had sailed to the Wall and was now on its way south to King's Landing to restock. Harry and co. would meet their new spymaster there once the tourney was finished.

Once outside Harry checked the time by reading the sun. One of the few useful things learned in Astronomy. From the looks of it it was about midday, giving them a bit time to get back for the finale of the melee. The two went in search for a subject to test the new Lightbringer while Lyanna stayed behind in the cave together with Leaf to learn how to warg from her, Brynden having sensed the talent in her and told her about it.

Harry took the advice from Leaf and looked for a keep south-west of the cave. It took maybe fifteen minutes of flying to spot the wooden building sitting atop a low hill in a glade, surrounded by an earthen dike. From up above Harry and Fleur could see a few pigs and sheep running in a pigsty and sheepfold.

Like Leaf described it there were only women present and according to the female Child of the Forest the man called Craster married his daughters by force. A crime and abomination in the eyes of the Old Gods.

Not spotting the man Fleur and Harry, with Hedwig in tow, decided to look somewhere else once they saw men of the Night's Watch visiting. Not wanting to make it more complicated than it had to be.

After splitting up and another five minutes of flight later Harry was alarmed by Hedwig to a man chasing two young girls with dark honey-blond hair through the forest, weapon raised threateningly. They did not yell for help. Then again who would come in such a frozen wasteland?

Never one to run out on someone in need of rescue Harry performed a nosedive, the new and improved Lightbringer in hand and on fire. Swooping down like a wrathful archangel Harry impaled the man from behind directly through the heart. His victim could only gasp and scream as the blood was literally sucked out of his body together with his soul, robbing it of its power before banishing the soul to the afterlife. Or whatever came next. The wound was cauterised and smoked from the heat of Lightbringer.

Hedwig landed on a nearby bough while Harry inspected the blade. He found it to be better than before. The only real difference was that it did no longer poison living people. Not that it needed such when it was able to cleave through stone effortlessly. Satisfied he turned to the two girls after storing Lightbringer away in his ring where Bloodwood already waited.

The swift death of their pursuer gained him the attention of the two young girls. Both were clad in an assortment of furs and at most fourteen years old from the looks of it, if Harry was generous. "Hey there." he greeted the two with a smile on his face. He spared the dead man a glance as he turned to the girls.

It was a man in his sixties with grey hair, a flat nose and dropping mouth, giving him a cruel look. No wonder the girls ran away. The axe in his hand didn't do anything to remedy that. The corpse wore a jerkin made from sheepskin and a cloak of sewn skins as well as a twisted heavy gold band about his wrist.

What Harry not expected was for one of them to kick him in the shin and start running again, dragging the second behind. "Wait." he yelled after them, thinking his appearance must've scared them. It didn't take long to catch up with them, scooping up one in each arm. Still they struggled until they didn't, not able to escape his stronger grip. Harry had no intention to leave two possibly injured girls without making sure they were fine.

He sat them down and said gently. "I'm not going to harm you." their reaction was perfectly logical, after all they had been chased and must've been scared. Hedwig landed on his shoulder, having caught up with the three.

When they continued to stare at him he asked. "What are your names?" he infused his voice a little with Phoenix song to relax the tension. Not so much that he spoke the True Tongue, but enough to sooth them. Thinking they were too shocked, traumatised, too confused to speak or simply didn't speak the Common Tongue.

A second before Harry was about to cast the translation spell, the slightly older looking one answered. "My name is Val and this is my sister Dalla." Val's eyes were glued to the flaming wings of the man, no, being before them.

Fleur choose that moment to return, flapping her six iridescent wings as she landed. "There you are." she saw the two little ones and asked him. "Who do you have here?"

"Fleur, this are Val and Dalla, though we haven't gotten further than introductions as of now." Harry explained, turned back to the two girls. "Are you unharmed?" he asked, checking for any kind of injuries.

Val took a stunned Dalla's hand, knowing she was no match for whatever stood before them. Though his presence and voice seemed too calm and peaceful for him to be a threat. "Yes." she replied curtly, but not coldly. Despite her wariness he did indeed save them from Craster and a life with the disgusting and cursed man.

"Good." Harry said relieved that they were all right and seeing no obvious injuries.

Dalla chose that moment to interrupt. "Pretty." she said, looking at Fleur's wings. Ignoring Val, the younger girl looked up to Fleur. "Can I touch them?" her hand already outstretched to do just that.

Amused, Fleur decided to indulge the girl. "Sure." she nodded her consent. "Just be gentle."

Dalla stroked the soft and beautiful feathers, looking on as they changed colours depending on how the light of the sun struck them. "Soft." she murmured and blushed when she heard Fleur giggle. With big blue eyes she asked her and Harry. "Are you Old Gods?" to her they certainly looked like it.

Harry and Fleur laughed at that, even Hedwig gave a bark of amusement.

Before he could answer Harry and Fleur felt a burning sensation on their marks. Harry's hand went to his chest, while Fleur's went to her lower abdomen.

Standing up, Harry declared. "We have to go." he grabbed Fleur's hand and prepared to transport them to Lyanna and from there back to Harrenhal.

Val and Dalla didn't request to go with him. He may have caught them, but they were too stunned to act before it was too late. A blink of an eye later Harry was gone, assuming Val and Dalla would be picked up by their parents or tribe and not wanting to rip them away from their home.

While Harry took his group back south of the wall, the brothers of the Night's Watch waited for Craster to come home. After a day they searched for him and found the corpse being devoured by a shadowcat. Craster's wives didn't shed a single tear and were taken to the wall by the Night's Watch. Not being seen as a threat in any way they were allowed to go south of the wall and settled in the gift near Mole's Town.

Nobody saw the figure with blue eyes taking the squealing boy Craster had abandoned in the woods.

Andromeda was severely annoyed. At first the day had begun like any other, but took a turn for the worse near midday. Marcella, Bellatrix, Melisandre and herself had just ate a bit in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths when the so called trial of Cersei Lannister began. In middle of the hall no less.

Normally Andromeda couldn't care less what they thought the girl guilty of. That had changed when these people basically accused them of being accomplices by giving the girl a potion to rape her brother of all people. The rest went in search for Narcissa, Kinvara, Harry and the Veela sisters.

The trial started with the septons beseeching the Father Above to see justice done. From then on many witnesses came forth to testify, all sworn to honesty by the septon. Most were septons and septas with no Lannister speaking against or for Cersei.

It went a bit too fast, so Andromeda had to delay it a bit.

Luckily, Andromeda had the King of the Seven Kingdoms under her command, which made it easy to drag that whole trial out. Aerys wasn't one of the judges, which consisted entirely out of septas and septons, mainly due to the fact that Aerys had decided to let the Faith deal with the issue before Andy could command otherwise. She really should've specified her commands instead of letting him act like normal. Most people simply thought the king was mocking Tywin a bit more with that decision. Right now Andy was just waiting for an opportunity to interject, as well as the return of her family.

"I knew your daughter wanted to become a Targaryen by marriage and I know imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but this!? I think my rejection of your marriage proposal must've been very hard on Cersei for her to emulate us to such a degree." Aerys rambled on and on as the judges discussed the outcome in hushed tones. Every word drove Tywin further and further into teeth-grinding fury. It was a wonder they didn't shatter from the pressure.

Shaking her head to clear it of any distracting thoughts, Andromeda made herself ready once Cersei was declared guilty.

It didn't take long from there for the judges to decide. The leading septon shouted the verdict, his high voice reaching the whole hall. "Cersei Lannister, in the light of the seven you are found guilty of the vile sin of incest, as well as seducing your innocent and unwilling brother with sorcery." he declared smugly. An uproar from the crowd made itself known, many expressing their disgust. The septon held his hands up to quite the crowd. It was made worse by the fact that Cersei had lost her maidenhead, reducing her value significantly. "This august body hereby sentences you to a Walk of Atonement. Furthermore, you are also declared a traitor to House Lannister and attainted to remove the stain upon its honour." For her it meant to be basically banished from the family. It also removed the right to inherit, even from her children.

Tywin looked like he had swallowed a sack full of lemons. Sure, what Cersei did was a major blow to the honour of House Lannister, but he would've preferred a private trial or none at all. Not out of concern for Cersei, but due to the bad image his House got from it. As if the religious fanatics could order him or his family around. However, in this instance he had no choice. Pressed for time and faced with a septon that wasn't swayed by gold or promises of other material wealth everything had been stacked against him. He was lucky Jaime was married to Lysa. 'Why hadn't there been another septon for Tully to ask?' it didn't help that the rest of his family had been present as well during his children's show in the sept.

In contrast Aerys cackled in insane joy.

Sadly, Andromeda had to be a party pooper.

Standing up and clearing her throat loudly, Andromeda declared strongly. "I'll have to disagree with that!" all the while she was the puppeteer of Aerys, commanding him what to speak.

"With what, the verdict?" the Mad King asked loudly for all to hear, silencing the crowd with his words.

The people looked on, enraptured, wanting to see what happened next. Rarely did something so interesting happen. Every Great House was present for it, having been in the great hall as the trial began.

Cersei looked at Andromeda with something akin to hope in her eyes, but in truth she didn't expect much. She was shattered and her whole life was gone, just like that. Even her twin had betrayed her as he testified against her. She knew it was on her father's orders, but she hated Jaime for it nonetheless. No matter how many remorseful looks he sent her way. Hers were only filled with venom and hatred. He should've tried to rescue her, even if it killed him.

Andromeda shrugged. "No, I have no idea if Lady Lannister is guilty or not." she looked at the judges consisting of septons and septas. "However, I nor anyone from my family sold her any kind of potion to do what she did!" her silver-purple eyes never once leaving their targets. "I'd appreciate it not to be accused of complicity without serious evidence being presented."

The fanatic septon, who still preached against them, was the first to speak. Being one of the judges for whatever reason. "You expect us to believe you, monster?"

In response Andromeda commanded Aerys to madly shout. "Mind your tongue, worm!" flailing his arms around the Mad King yelled. "Lest I remove it." nobody questioned that, remembering how he had the tongue of Ilyn Payne ripped out with hot pincers. "Queen Andromeda is an honoured guest and is to be treated as such!" His big crown made out of red gold made to resemble dragon heads and studded full with jewels slipped as he moved erratically, causing it to sit askew on his head.

Having not expected such a reaction the septon could only nod, holding himself back from spewing all manner of insults. No matter how much he would like to glare at the king that practised incest and was no better than the Lannister girl. "Of course, Your Grace." he turned back to Andromeda, giving her the stink-eye.

Andromeda nodded in thanks to Aerys, basically thanking herself. "As I said we hadn't met Lady Lannister..."

Unwilling to let the demon-like woman be, the septon interrupted strongly and vehemently. "This abomination is no lady!" his words caused the girl in question to flinch s if struck. Her new reality only beginning to sink in.

Suppressing her desire to shut this idiot up, Andromeda continued seemingly not bothered. "Before we came to Harrenhal. Not to mention that she was followed and accompanied by her father's men most of the time,. How could we have made contact without even knowing of her existence?" Noble Ladies of Great Houses nearly always had escorts in form of bodyguards or handmaidens.

The arguing went back and forth, with the septon in denial about any evidence presented. That was until the massive doors of the great hall banged open, revealing Harry's arrival together with the rest of their group. They were striding in through the silence of the Hall of a Hundred Hearths not bothered by the attention on them. Harry cut an intimidating figure even with Hedwig on his shoulders glaring at anyone.

"It seems we missed some of the entertainment." Harry commented casually, his voice echoing through the massive room. He was looking directly at the throng of people and Andromeda in particular. He saw her relax immediately now that she knew she had backup. "If someone would be kind enough to explain why my wife is standing before you like an accused, It'd be appreciated." His unique eyes glowed as he surveyed the room, causing many people to look away.

Rhaegar was the first to do so, not wanting to aggravate the people who were giving him the opportunity to right the wrongs done by his father. "She doesn't stand accused of anything." he said as calmly as he could. With Tywin Lannister, his father and that mad septon here he hoped none of them would do something against the Essosi. "Queen Andromeda simply volunteered to clarify some matters concerning Cersei's conviction."

"What matters?" Fleur inquired, being the one most versed in legal matters out of all of them. She crossed her arms, a look on her face that told she expected a suitable and satisfying answer.

Before anyone could answer one of the septons did so, venom coating his tongue. "How you used some vile sorcery to help this disgusting girl" he waved at Cersei, his hands flailing about in his fury. "seduce her brother." The words were all but spat out in disgust.

Fleur frowned in displeasure, glaring at the religious worm. "I take it you're accusing us of a crime. I hope you have plenty of evidence." that man was either insane or stupid to openly challenge a King and expect them to fall in line by submitting to another's authority. By allowing these people to judge them by trial their group was basically saying others could exert power over them without reprisal. "How about you finish whatever judgement you were about to do and let us discuss our response?" without waiting for a retort Fleur turned around, motioned Andromeda to follow and went outside with the rest.

Rhaegar did his best to sooth tempers and convinced the septon to finish the punishment for Cersei. Luckily, Aerys under Andy's control contributed to that, surprising people that he was apparently acting in such a lucid and kingly fashion for once.

Once outside and far enough away Fleur turned around, looking each of her spouses in the eyes as they stood in a circle. "What happened while we were away?" she asked Andromeda after erecting a silencing barrier around their group.

Andromeda told everything as good as she could. From the moment they heard of the trial to the time where she stayed behind to use Aerys to their advantage, right to where the returned from their expedition.

"Okay, obviously we can't submit to another's authority or it'll diminish our own significantly." Fleur said as all others nodded along. That would be disastrous and send a clear signal of weakness. She noted that Hedwig landed on her shoulder but ignored it for the moment.

Marcella chimed in. "However we also can't let such an insult stand." she was clearly displeased at this whole situation.

"So what do we do about it?" Melisandre wondered out loud. Her favourite response was to let these heretics die a death by fire. Though not by dragonfire, that'd be an honour these barbarians were unworthy of.

"An ordinary trial is out of the question." Andromeda gave her two knuts and added. "Even though I am sure the Stark and Martell families will testify in our favour." After all they did for them it would be a huge insult to not return the favour.

"I already have the prefect solution." Fleur claimed confidently.

"Oh, and what, pray tell, is the prefect solution to this?" Narcissa inquired somewhat pointedly, a perfect eyebrow raised in question on her normally impassive face. She frankly had enough of Westeros as a whole and just wanted to to go back home.

"Easy, as you all know I had a look into the juristic system of Westeros." Fleur began explaining. Everyone nodded, knowing that she looked into that and added Guest Right to their list of laws she found useful. "We simply demand a Trial of Seven, which is done in rare instances, such as when someone is accused by multiple people, like we are now. It is in essence a Trial by combat but has a more religious meaning. The septons believe that by invoking the number seven by letting seven champions fight on each side the gods, thus honoured will be more likely to see justice done." Fleur ignored the scoffs from her fellow sister-wives. "We already have a team of seven and I doubt anybody can challenge us and win."

Kinvara said giddily. "At the same time we also show that their gods are inferior to the might of R'hllor." Both Melisandre and Kinvara grinned in a predatory fashion at each other. More than willing to show the superiority of their faith.

"It's settled then. We fight, maim a few people, win and everyone will stay the fuck a way from us!" Bellatrix declared with her usual zeal. There were only a few things better than exterminating Harry's enemies. But Bella was a simple woman with simple tastes, in her own opinion at least.

All of them nodded to each other until Gabrielle looked around. "What do you say Harry?" further words died in her throat as her look around revealed him missing. "Harry?"

All eight of them looked around, searching for their missing husband. "I see him." Marcella pointed towards the crowd that had formed before the entrance to the Hall of a Hundred Hearths. As a group they didn't even try to penetrate the massive crowd. Instead they simply flew over them towards the king and the group of nobles and septons standing at the entrance, who were protected by the Kingsguard and other household knights. Fleur and Gabrielle carried Melisandre and Kinvara.

They arrive just in time to see the Walk of Atonement begin.

Harry had listened only with half an ear to his wives. His attention was on Cersei, wondering if it was true what she was accused of. He only spent a little amount of time with her and couldn't really judge, though in his mind such a punishment was too rough. Then again he was the only one on this world that grew up in the progressive Muggle World back on earth instead of the Magical World. However, the words the septon spoke made the decision for him. Apparently due to the Faith Militant being non-existent they couldn't provide protection against the mob. And no knight would stand to defend a vile girl guilty of incest.

That alone made the decision for him. His saving-people-thing kicking into high gear as he apparated near to Cersei with a silent popping sound.

"I will accompany her." Harry declared with a voice and eyes as hard as stone, looking at all these supposed knights sworn to protect the innocent and women. His words were drawing all the attention on him. Ignoring them Harry put his left hand on Cersei's right shoulder as he stood beside her, giving Cersei what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze. He couldn't stop this without pissing all over their traditions and power, but he would damn well make sure he did his best to defend Cersei from harm.

Cersei stopped trembling a little at his words. To walk through this mass of filthy commoners completely naked too much to bear, much less think about. She could only nod back in gratitude. She was already missing her golden locks tumbling down her back. These crazed fanatics had quickly shaved her whole body before shoving her out the door.

From then on not much time was wasted to get the punishment started.

"A sinner comes before you." The still unnamed septon cried out to the crowd of people that stretched out as far as the eye could see. "Cersei, formerly of House Lannister. Daughter of the Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister." the crowd roared their approval. Every chance to see a Lannister taken down was a good one in their eyes. Tywin was efficient and good as a politician, but he wasn't beloved in the slightest by the smallfolk. "She is found guilty to have committed the despicable acts of fornication and incest by use of sorcery, forcing her brother to be her lover." Again the common people expressed their disgust. Some did so by booing other by lewd comments.

Just then his wives landed beside him. 'Harry, what are you doing?' all of them asked at once, causing the words echo through their bond with urgency.

'The right thing!' he replied resolutely, his mouth set in a grim line. He knew it may be stupid of him to defend Cersei, but he couldn't ignore that. It was his nature, plain and simple. If it wouldn't be then he certainly wouldn't have had so much patience with them in the beginning of their relationship back on earth.

'Please think before you do anything rash.' Narcissa advised him. She may want to leave Westeros, that didn't mean she wanted to lose to these people. 'Some will see it as an admission of guilt should you protect the girl.' All of her sister-wives echoed that statement.

Before Harry could reply the septon untied the knot at the back Cersei's simple and loose, brown dress off, leaving the girl fully exposed to the cheering masses. A trembling mess, Cersei was forced to walk forward by a septa. A veneer of pride and arrogance as thin as parchment on the girl's face. She looked behind, making sure that Harry was still there. She didn't saw him, but a moment later she felt his presence behind her left shoulder, giving her some small amount of support.

Head held high as possible Cersei walked forward with Harry by her side and that annoying septa crying out. "Shame!" over and over again while ringing a bell.

"Whore!" people shouted out towards the former Lannister. "Bitch!", "Cunt!" and "Brother-fucker." among the many insults thrown her way. Cersei slightly flinched at the words, thinking about how every single of her ladies had abandoned her in her time of need. Not a single one stood up for her at the trial. She even saw some of them in the crowd. Then again neither did her family. Words weren't the only things thrown her way however. Dung, mud, rotten fruits and vegetables flew towards her as well.

"Protego!" Harry muttered, an impressive glare levelled at the crowd. The various objects splattered against his shimmering translucent shield. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." he assured her with a smile and utmost conviction.

Cersei could only nod mutely in gratitude. She looked back and saw only the image of him walking behind her in shining armour, his unique eyes gentle and warm as he smiled reassuringly at her. She drew as much strength from him as she could, but she still was only a teenage girl that had her whole world torn asunder.

Each step felt like she wore shoes of stone despite being completely naked. Her legs trembled as the verbal onslaught continued, realisation creeping upon her that her life in Westeros was effectively over. She wouldn't ever be able to show her face in public. All her power and prestige gone in a single day.

She walked along the muddy path, her naked feet slugging through the dirt. Inadvertently she slipped on the slippery ground, falling directly towards a heaping pile of shit left there by some animal. Her fall was stopped before her body could make contact with the disgusting smelling excrement. "I've got you." she heard King Harry say softly as the crowd booed at being denied some entertainment.

Cersei's eyes watered from more than just the vile smell. Instead of giving into the urge to cry Cersei concentrated on her rage and hate. Instead of the crowd's words she focussed on the bell and how much she wanted to rip it out of that bitch's hands and beat her and every single one of these common pigs bloody with it.

'I am a lioness. I will not cringe or cry for them.' she thought resolutely. Still, she was unable to prevent the tears pooling in her eyes. Blinking rapidly, Cersei unsuccessfully tried to get them out of her eyes without anyone noticing.

Cersei had no idea how long she walked or where she was walking to. She couldn't go back to her family's tent, being cast out by them. Neither die she have a place anywhere else. What was she to do? Walk naked around the countryside? That was a sure-fire way of being raped by some outlaws or bandits and made into their whore afterwards. Turning her head around Cersei stated. "I don't know where to go."

This time she couldn't stop her emotions from overwhelming her, bleeding into her voice which choked up completely. Her despair at being left alone by her family. Her fury at these people delighting in her suffering. Nor the sadness of being homeless could be stopped from breaking free.

Harry saw her tears clearly. It only made him more furious with these people. He had an idea what she did but it wasn't such a huge deal, was it? Deciding that she had walked long enough Harry conjured a silver cloak with a red Phoenix on the back. After draping it over her shoulders he closed the front via a sticking charm. Next he picked her up bridal style, not wanting this whole ordeal to take any longer.

Cersei couldn't hold back any longer, her emotion simply pouring out of her. Sobs racked her smaller frame as she clung to her saviour as tightly as she was able. Her arms were slung around his neck with her face in it's crock as she cried where she hoped no one could see to at least keep some of her pride.

Unwilling to prolong the experience Harry kept his shield up while walking briskly. It didn't take long for him to arrive at the tent, which now was guarded by both Arrax and Meleys. Entering promptly, Harry sat the girl down on a comfortable chair, put a hand on her head and cast the hair-growing spell as well as a cleaning spell. Her flowing golden locks were back in seconds and the mud and dirt on her body vanished. "There is a bed in that room over there for you to rest. Adjacent to it is a bath should you desire to wash yourself." pointing towards the guest room. "I'll be back shortly." with that said he made to leave.

"Wait! Where are you going?" the blonde asked completely terrified. Her slightly tearful eyes darting towards the exit as if expecting an angry mob to enter any moment. She had gotten a hold of her emotions somewhat after crying, but she'd prefer him staying with her.

Harry looked back with a smile, saying loud enough for her to hear. "Don't worry you're safe here. I'm just making sure you get what you deserve."

The former lady couldn't get her response out before Harry vanished from the tent. Left alone she could only ponder his words, wondering if he found her punishment too little. 'Then again he wouldn't have helped me if that is the case.' she thought completely confused. She had nothing to give him, so why would he go to such lengths to help her. Before he could've done so to curry favour with her father or to get something from her. Now that she had no power, gold or anything remotely useful Cersei had no idea why a king would help her.

After commanding the dragons to guard the tent Harry flamed towards where he felt his wives were and arrived a second later.

'I assume you have a plan?' Harry asked through the bond. Without waiting for a reply Harry walked towards the royal family and the septons.

'Yes.' Fleur confirmed and explained it to him as quickly as possible. 'Demand a Trial of Seven. Everything else would give them too much power over us.'

Harry nodded his consent, but also had more on his mind than that. He plucked the information of Cersei's crime out of his wives' minds to not lose too much time. A plan formed in his head with the Dothraki witch he had encountered giving him the best idea for it. He put a Sonorous-charm around the whole group of nobles before he spoke. "I demand a Trial by Seven to emend the injustice that befell Lady Lannister!" he called out clearly, his voice a growl that carried far and wide, silencing the crowd.

The reactions were predictable. A few were baffled while the religious zealots were frothing at the mouth at his daring. "She was declared guilty by a council of faith!" more than one of the fanatics cried out.

"Yes, she was, but you did not have all the evidence." Harry countered with deadly calm, crossing his arms and glaring at them. "I know for a fact that magic was indeed part of the whole mess." he began explaining. "However neither Cersei nor my wives or I were responsible for it." he looked Tywin Lannister directly in the eyes. "It was a witch named Maggy the Frog who lived near Lannisport that cursed your daughter. Apparently Cersei went to her in her youth, wanting to have her future told and unknowingly gave the witch the tools to manipulate her and through that her twin as well."

"Why should we believe you?" another septon demanded, just so swallowing the insults wanting to come out. He remembered the king's wrath better than the others and did not take his threats lightly. "You asked us for evidence so where is your own?"

"I have only my word and the knowledge that I speak true, for I already slew the witch." Harry replied with some heat, but utterly confident in his ability to come out on top. "That's why we will let the gods decide." His eyes settled on the septons. "When justice is on your side like you think it is then nothing will change, will it?" he cast a subtle compulsion on the septon with the most hate in his eyes to get him to agree.

"Fine!" his target snarled out. "Seven against seven." a malicious and mad glint entered the man's eyes. "However, if you're unable to find six men to stand with you, you're guilty!" Such were the rules of the Trial of Seven. Should a man be unable to find people to stand with him he was automatically guilty.

Despite his anger bubbling under the surface Harry replied with some confusion. "I already have a team, do I not?" not really comprehending what the man was getting at.

"It means women are not allowed to fight!" another septon supplied with a glare in his direction. "True Knights, unlike the dishonourable rabble you fought before, do not fight against women because it is unchivalrously. You have to find six men to fight for you!"

Annoyed at that, Harry ground out. "Fine!" his eyes were glowing with an eldritch green light. "Then how about seven teams of seven against myself. I am not a member of your Faith of the Seven and will instead fight as the Champion of R'hllor!" In his anger he added. "Why don't we simply modify the melee to suit our needs? Simply select seven teams from before to fight, provided they aren't cowards!" the last words were snarled out. He had thought better of knights. But here they were not lifting a finger to help a vulnerable girl in need.

Due to the Sonorous the knights heard it all and bristled in anger.

Only then did someone else speak up. "If that is the case then the North won't participate in the trial." Brandon called out, with Benjen, Lyanna and Ned at his side. He had heard of the healing of Wylis through his sister and was grateful. That together with Harry helping bring justice to Lord Bolton, healing Jorah's wife and supporting the Night's Watch was enough to paint him in a favourable light for Northerners. It'd be dishonourable of Brandon to fight against such a man. Not to mention that the North wasn't really into the Faith of the Seven. Also Lyanna would cut his balls of should he do so.

Another voice echoed that sentiment. "Dorne won't fight either, if that is the case!" Oberyn said clearly, his typical grin absent. Replaced by a serious expression. He would never fight against the ones responsible for healing Elia without an extremely good reason. A reason he did not have.

With Dorne and the North out that left seven teams. Namely, the Reach, Westerlands, Crownlands, Riverlands, Iron Islands, Stormlands and the Vale of Arryn.

"Then it's decided!" Harry declared. "I'll wait for you on the grounds used for the melee!" with that said he marched off, followed by his wives.

"That's not really what I had in mind." Fleur commented drily as their group walked to the melee grounds. She was more amused by the situation than enraged. After all, Harry could easily win such a fight on his own.

A scoff drew their attention to the oldest red priestess among them. "Showing these heathens the inferiority of their faith was long overdue." Melisandre commented, glad that Harry would show these people what a Champion of R'hllor was capable of. Kinvara was nodding her agreement together with Bellatrix.

"Why did you speak up on behalf of that girl?" Marcella inquired curiously. She was over her fear of losing Harry to younger women, mostly. That didn't mean she would let them simply intrude.

"The outcome would've been largely the same one way or the other." Harry walked with long strides, his anger slowly subsiding but not vanishing. Instead it stayed lurking under the surface. "So I decided to use the opportunity. When I win we will look like defenders of justice and the innocent, while they will look like crazed fanatics judging people without knowing what they are talking about."

"Nice try, Harry." Narcissa conceded with what counted as an impressed expression for her. His reasoning was solid and would she not know him as good as she did, she would've believe him. "But I know that isn't your true reason." she looked him in the eyes, demanding to know the truth.

He send her rueful grin, causing her heart to flutter. Damn him and his smiles. They should be illegal for their lethality.

"True enough." he sighed "You know me. I couldn't stand to see someone be in such a situation. When I prove her and our innocence then she will be allowed back into her family."

His wives wanted to say that it wasn't that easy, but no one spoke it out loud. He had to fight one way or the other when they wanted to keep any amount of respect. Fleeing would see them labelled as cowards, something they weren't. That left only fighting. Now it was all or nothing.

The group arrived at the arena in silence. Andromeda conjured a rectangular table with a chair at the head of it for Harry to sit down on. Two benches followed suit at the sides.

Narcissa popped away and returned shortly with a vial of golden liquid and a carafe full of red wine and nine glasses. Pouring each a glass the youngest Black sister also put the golden liquid in Harry's glass. "Drink, it'll improve your chance of winning." just because she was sure Harry would win didn't mean she was going to take unnecessary risks.

"What is it?" Harry drank a sip from his glass, enjoying the flavour. Normally he didn't drink wine, preferring water or other non-alcoholic beverages, but this didn't taste like alcohol. Instead, sweetness assaulted his taste-buds in a delicious symphony of taste.

"You remember the warlocks and their Shade of the Evening?" upon his nod she continued. "I experimented with the recipe a little and was able to create new potions out of it." she held up the empty vial. "I call this Shade of the Dawn, because it grants the drinker precognitive abilities for up to an hour." She named it that way because the dawn banished the shadows, leaving little uncovered. Just like the drinker was able to see the immediate future. The main ingredients were the pustule from a Clabbert, brain of a Demiguise and wings from a Fairy. All things associated with precognitive abilities.

"Oh, useful." he took another gulp from the sweet drink, smiling at her. "And palatable." most potions tasted disgusting, though Narcissa seemed to have a knack for letting them taste good. Harry could never get his own to do that. His tasted more like rancid and rotten food. "No Liquid Luck then?" he asked with a grin.

Narcissa deadpanned. "Had I known this would happen I would've come more prepared." she took a sip of her wine. She wasn't worried, even when Harry should lose. They would simply fight their way out and be done with it, showing all why fucking with them was a stupid idea of unprecedented proportions.

Quiet returned again as they waited for the whole trial to start. It took a bit for the stands to fill and the forty-nine fighters to arrive.

During the waiting Harry slipped into a trance with the help of Occlumency, wanting to achieve a Battle-Trance. It was similar to the spell he had used during the Siege of Atlantis. Only that it did not require a sacrifice of any sort, neither did it cause him pain of any kind like the spell would do normally.

To relax him Bellatrix took it upon herself to massage his shoulders, making him limber. Not wasting time Kinvara did the same with his hands and wrists.

Soon enough all of them were assembled with the septons in front of them.

A trumpet could be heard from the stands, signalling the start of the whole ordeal.

"In the sights of gods and men." one of the septons began. "We gathered to ascertain the guilt or innocence of Cersei, formerly of House Lannister and these... people, the House Black." it clearly cost him much willpower to not fall back on insults during the ceremony. From then on he droned on about the seven aspects of their god, pleading for their judgement and so on and so forth. The forty-nine knights looked pretty confident in their win. In their eyes Harry may be a good fighter, but they had numbers and good fighters!

Of course, Kinvara couldn't resist to make her own show. After all, she was the representative of the Faith of R'hllor. She walked side by side with Harry and Melisandre walking in front of the crowd. Spreading her arms in a dramatic fashion, she declared. "Lord of Light, look down upon us."

"Lord of Light, defend us." Melisandre took over before letting Kinvara continue.

"Lord of Light, protect us in the darkness." Kinvara intoned. On it went as they spoke in tandem.

"Lord of Light, shine your face upon us."

"Light your flame among us, R'hllor. Show us the truth or falseness of these men. Strike them down if they are guilty, and give strength to your Champion's sword for he is true. Lord of Light, give us wisdom."

Both ended praying with the typical phrase. "For the night is dark and full of terrors!"

Before going back up to the stands Kinvara kissed him passionately on the lips, conveying that she had full trust in his strength and ability. The older priestess followed shortly after. "Show them the error of their ways."

Used to that by now the last Potter nodded and said with confidence. "I will!" then he went to the weapons rack to pick up a dagger. He knew how to wield it, having trained Bellatrix in its usage. He turned and faced his enemies after applying a Sonorous-charm on the arena. Seeing that his wives had vanished the furniture and vacated the arena, Harry was ready. He was sure this was going down in the history books. A trial by combat with two different Faiths on each side. Apart from deciding guilt or innocence the outcome would determine which god was the strongest in many people's eyes.

Harry saw a few familiar faces amongst his opponents. There was the entire Kingsguard for one, as well as a few people he saw during the melee. The males of the Baratheon family and a few more amongst them, even Prince Rhaegar was under them.

'A good choice.' Harry found, no feelings lost between him and the prince.

The prince didn't want to be seen not defending his country's faith. The royal title Defender of the Faith wasn't just for show. Since Jaehaerys I Targaryen negotiated that the Crown would always defend and protect the Faith in exchange for being able to judge members of the Faith. It was Rhaegar's duty to fight Harry or lose a massive amount of support.

Seeing only the dagger in Harry's hand, a fourteen year old, blonde, pretty-boy called out cockily. "What kind of fight will it be, with you only using cutlery?" few of the other knights were as young and impulsive as he was. Two at the blonde's side were snickering, but the rest was stone-faced silence.

Completely relaxed and still in his trance, Harry replied. "I'm no beast that goes all out when hunting rabbits." he shrugged in an apologetic manner, spreading his arms out wide in open invitation. With no defence raised or guard up he was an easy target. "Unfortunately, I couldn't find a smaller sharp instrument than this one." Harry put on a mock-sorrowful expression with his eyebrows knitted in apparent concern for them. Everyone who previously saw him fight knew he could do so, making this an insult meant to mock them by insinuating he could indeed beat them with cutlery.

Hot-headed as he was Marq Piper attacked a moment later together with his two friends, Edmure Tully and Patrek Mallister.

Harry knew what they were doing before they did, his eyes glowing with a soft green light as his precognitive ability from the potion kicked in. That combined with his battle-trance, which allowed him to perceive the world in slow-motion, allowed him to be basically untouchable for their durations.

With that the Trial by Combat began.

Hodags are canon for all that want to know, having been implemented with Strange Beasts and Where to Find Them. The effect of their horn is also canon.

I chose the silver of the cloak for the silver snake from the Slytherin crest and the red for the red background from the Gryffindor one. I find it fitting because he was a snake in a lions pelt, in my story at least. Of course, their coat of arms will consist of more than that, but that comes later. Also silver in heraldry signifies truth, sincerity, peace and purity. Red means military strength, magnanimity, warrior and martyr.

Harry protected Cersei because he didn't know if she really did those things she is accused of. Also keep in mind that she hadn't done most of what she did later in life.

I would've included the Trial but I thought that would be too many words.