New beginnings
Chapter 10:
Harry felt warm. He felt more comfortable than he had ever felt. In his sleep, he could sense another new presence. This brought him joy. He could honestly not remember the last time he had had such a pleasant dream.
Unfortunately, he was brought out of his pleasant slumber by a voice.
"Harry."
Harry felt himself returning to the waking world.
"Harry."
He blearily opened his eyes, his vision blurred due to the absence of his glasses.
"Wah... I'm awake, I'm awake." He said drowsily.
He could hear a chuckle.
"While I am perfectly aware that Riders are meant to be close to their dragons, I do not think that they are meant to be that close."
"Ha..."
Harry then realized that there was a small, warm scaly body snuggled into him. He then sat up slowly and reached out to his bed-side desk and groped around, finally finding his glasses. When he put them on, he saw Colaen snuggled into his chest.
He blinked for a moment, before he remembered that he had fallen asleep cuddling his dragon like a teddy-bear.
"Oh, right." He muttered, feeling his face become warmer.
He heard another chuckle. He turned to see Murtagh, holding what appeared to be some folded clothing.
"Good morning." His father greeted.
"Morning." Harry replied, sitting up.
He then sensed that Colaen was slowly waking up.
[Good morning.]
Harry said, trying to stir his dragon into wakefulness.
Colaen sent him feelings of annoyance, but woke up nonetheless.
Harry chuckled and looked out of the window.
"What the..." He muttered in surprise.
He then turned to his father in surprise.
"Any reason why you're waking us up before the sun?" He asked.
"For the ceremony." Murtagh replied. "It is meant to be held at sunrise to symbolize a new beginning."
"Well, couldn't you have mentioned that I would be waking up earlier than usual?" He muttered, swinging his legs out of bed.
Colaen climbed out of his bed and blearily stretched her limbs.
Murtagh shrugged.
"I warned you that you might want to have an early night, but you insisted upon using your old clothes as a bonfire."
He then came to sit on the bed beside Harry.
"I have brought you some new clothes." He began. "These are meant for special occasions. You could also wear ceremonial armour, but we have unfortunately not had enough time to craft any for you yet."
"That's okay, thanks." Harry replied, taking the clothes from Murtagh.
He unfolded them to reveal a red tunic with black leggings. He smiled.
"Awesome." He said.
"You like it?" Murtagh asked.
"Love it." He replied. "I was thinking of asking you for some red clothes, to add some colour to my new wardrobe, but I didn't want to upset you because you apparently have a phobia for the colour red."
"Where did you get such an idea?" Murtagh asked.
Harry shrugged.
"Uncle told me." He replied. "He said that you were afraid that red would be another way for people to associate us with Morzan."
Murtagh's eyes flickered with annoyance.
"Of course he told you." His father muttered.
Harry grinned. As he spent more time at the Rider's academy, he found it easier to read Murtagh's expressions. Either he was getting better at reading him, or Murtagh was getting better at expressing himself. Either way, it made Harry feel happy to have such a connection.
Murtagh cleared his throat.
"Anyway," He began. "You have about half an hour to get ready and meet the rest of us in the field out of the front doors."
"Okay," Harry replied, smiling. "Thanks."
He suddenly felt something wriggling in his stomach. He felt a little lightheaded.
Murtagh obviously noticed the change, as he put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Do not be nervous." He said.
"I'm not." Harry retorted.
"Still..." Murtagh replied. "There is nothing to worry about."
Harry smiled.
"I'm okay."
Murtagh gave Harry's shoulder one final squeeze, and then he left.
Harry sucked in a deep breathe. He stood up and examined the clothes. They looked like they would fit him. The red of the tunic matched Colaen's scales perfectly.
[Guess they keep a stock of all the shades of red.]
Harry said to Colaen.
The small dragon walked up to him and eyed the new clothes. She sent him feelings of questioning with an image of Harry in the clothes.
[Yeah, you're right.]
Harry replied to the unspoken question.
[I should hurry up and get dressed.]
He quickly took off his night-clothes and put on the new formal outfit. Within five minutes, he was looking at himself in the mirror on his wardrobe. He was nervously adjusting his tunic and running his fingers through his hair, attempting to tame it.
He wouldn't admit it, but he was nervous.
This would be the first time that the Riders would see him with his new dragon. Though they had become used to him being at the academy, and many of them had grown to either like or even respect him, the situation had changed. Now, he was an actual Rider. Now, he would become one of them.
But what if they didn't accept him as one of them?
There was a big difference between being someone who lived at the Riders academy, and actually being one of the Riders themselves. What if they no longer accepted him at the academy? What if he became an outcast here, much as he was at Hogwarts?
A sudden fear then gripped him.
What if Murtagh's fears were true, and Harry being a red Rider instantly made everyone believe he was like Morzan? What if they came to fear or even hate him? And if they did treat Harry this way, what would they do to Colaen? This would be the first time they saw her, and while she was only a new hatchling, they all knew that she would grow into a mighty dragon. What if she was treated by them with the same fear that they would associate with him? Harry did not wish for Colaen to feel the pain of being alone, as he had felt for most of his life. He had seen every dragon in the academy by now, and not one was red save for Thorn and now Colaen. Surely this could not be a coincidence.
He was broken out of his thoughts by a tugging at his leggings. He looked down to see Colaen.
His dragon sent him a comforting feeling, along with an image. It was the image of the two of them together. Then she showed him an image of Murtagh. Then Thorn, Eragon, Saphira, and even Sirius and Remus.
Harry smiled.
[Thanks.]
He said.
[You're right. No matter what the Riders think, we won't be alone.]
He picked up his dragon and hugged her tightly.
[We won't have to be alone ever again.]
He smiled.
[Come on. Are you ready to meet some people?]
Colaen sent him feelings of joy and excitement.
Harry smiled. She was right. He did not have to worry about being an outcast ever again.
The sun was just rising when Harry walked out the front doors of the Rider's Academy, Colaen by his side.
He could see every Rider and dragon had gathered and were currently standing in a crowd before him. The many colours were just visible under the shadows of the new day.
As soon as Harry and Colaen left the building, every head turned to them. He could hear them muttering, but he just ignored them. Colaen sent him feelings of reassurance. He sucked in a long nervous breathe and continued his walk forward.
When he was within a few feet of the crowd, they all parted, giving him and Colaen a wide path heading to where Murtagh, Thorn, Eragon and Saphira stood, waiting for them.
As dragon and Rider walked down the isle, Harry could still hear the muttering. He continued to ignore them.
Finally, he reached the other end. He then knelt before the council and their dragons.
"Dragons and Riders," Eragon began. "We are gathered here to welcome two new members of our order. Harry Murtaghsson and Colaen. You are now bonded for life. You are now guardians of peace, balance, and justice. You are expected to act with dignity, honour, kindness, humility and uphold the standards of the order. Now please make the vows, if you are willing to follow these guide-lines."
Harry then spoke, in the Ancient Language, the vows that Murtagh had taught him the night before.
"I swear, to follow the laws of the order, to preform my duty to both it and the people. I swear to fight for peace, balance and justice. I swear to not use my powers for evil or to harm the innocent. This, I swear."
"Then rise, Harry Murtaghsson and Colaen, as members of the order of the Dragon Riders."
Harry rose to thunderous applause. He turned to see every Rider cheering for him, smiling widely. He could have sworn that he saw Brinla jumping up and down in excitement, while Hurzomna stood next to her, a large smile on his own, usually stoic face.
Harry smiled. As he walked back down the isle with Colaen beside him, he saw several Riders waving at him. He felt many slapping him on the back in congratulations. He felt strange, yet amazing.
Then, they all started chanting.
"Deathsbane, Deathsbane, Deathsbane!"
Harry smiled. This was very reminiscent of the Gryffindor table after his sorting, when the Weasley twins had chanted "We've got Potter!".
But this time, the cheering was not because they were excited to have a celebrity among them. No, it was because of him, Harry.
They accepted him. They wanted him.
Harry did not know whether he wanted to laugh or cry.
He had never, in his wildest dreams, thought that he could be accepted anywhere by anyone. But now, he not only had a family who accepted him, but an entire community. Yes, it was only around a hundred, half of them being dragons, but it was still more than he had ever expected.
A warm feeling filled his chest. Colaen bounced happily by his side.
Finally, he felt like he really belonged somewhere.
After the ceremony, they had a grand breakfast in celebration. Harry entered the Dining Hall to see the grand food table covered in more food than ever. It caused Colaen, who had taken a perch on Harry's shoulders so that he was giving her a piggy-back, to flutter her little wings excitedly.
Harry was a bit surprised at the extravagant display.
He just stood there, only about a metre or so in the hall, for a long time. Then, Murtagh entered.
Harry turned to his father.
"What's this?" He asked, gesturing to the table full of food.
"This?" Murtagh replied. "Do not worry, we do this for all new Riders."
"But... But..." Harry spluttered, embarrassed. "You didn't have to do this. I would have been fine with just the ceremony."
"Sorry," Murtagh replied. "It is tradition, and Eragon and I thought that you would not wish to draw attention to yourself."
"And this isn't drawing attention to me?" Harry retorted.
Murtagh sighed.
"I am sorry that this makes you feel uncomfortable, but the Riders might have become suspicious if there wasn't a celebratory breakfast. If attention must be drawn to you, then at least it is in a more positive light."
Harry muttered under his breath, but did not argue. Fortunately, his mood was brightened considerably by Colaen sending him images of the food and feelings of desire.
Harry chuckled.
[Okay, I get it, you're hungry. Come on, lets go get some food.]
Colaen jumped up and down excitedly on his shoulders. Harry could not help but smile.
By this time he had practically memorized the list that Murtagh had given him of recommended foods complete with exact quantities, so he had no trouble arranging his plate. However, he also added some small pieces of meat for Colaen. As they walked to his usual table, Colaen kept jumping up and down, flapping her little wings. Though this caused Harry to have some trouble with balancing the plate, he still could not help the joy that was leaking through their bond. Thankfully, he was soon sitting at his table, Brinla and Hurzomna opposite him. Colaen jumped off of his shoulders and sat in his lap.
He looked up when he heard Brinla chuckling.
"What?" He asked.
"Oh, nothing." Brinla replied. "It is just, I do not think I have ever seen you this happy."
"Oh." Harry replied.
He began handing Colaen pieces of meat, which were quickly consumed by the little dragon.
"It's just... Since Colaen hatched, it seems as if everything has changed, you know?"
His two friends nodded, Brinla with her usual wide smile and Hurzomna with his lips turned slightly upward.
"Yes I remember when Arnamuith hatched for me. It was an incredible feeling."
Harry smiled and looked down at his dragon.
"She's just so adorable. Are all dragons like this?"
Brinla laughed. Hurzomna grinned.
"Honestly, with how you are acting, one would think you had never seen a baby dragon before."
Harry chuckled.
"I actually have. In my first year, my friend Hagrid hatched a dragon in his wooden hut. I'm not sure if he wanted it as a pet or wanted to adopt it as his own child."
Brinla rose an eyebrow.
"I remember you mentioning that dragons from where you come from are not as intelligent as Alagaësian."
"Yeah." Harry replied. "They are very wild and dangerous."
"And so why did your friend believe it was wise to keep one in a wooden hut?" Hurzomna asked.
Harry shrugged.
"Hagrid isn't very good at determining what is and what isn't dangerous. It's not that he's stupid or anything, it's just that he loves creatures too much."
Harry chuckled.
"He actually gave Norbert, the dragon, a teddy bear and always talked to him like you would a small child. He even went as far as calling himself Mummy."
Both his friends chuckled.
"And what happened?" Brinla asked.
Harry grinned.
"Well, Ron was bitten by Norbert and spent some time in the hospital wing, while Hermione and I met friends of Ron's brother Charley, who works with dragons, and they took Norbert to live where he could be properly taken care of."
Harry smiled wistfully.
"Malfoy, the Pratt I was telling you about, tried getting us all in trouble, but ended up getting himself in trouble in the process."
"And, did you get in trouble?" Hurzomna asked.
"Oh, yeah." Harry replied. "The three of us, along with another boy from my year who was caught trying to help us, ended up getting sent on a detention with Hagrid into the forbidden forest..."
"What?" Brinla asked incredulously. "Did you not tell us that this forest was inhabited by dangerous creatures?"
Harry shrugged.
"Yeah, don't worry none of us were hurt. Though I did catch the professor who ended up having Voldemort on the back of his head drinking unicorn blood."
The memory of that incident coursed Harry's stomach to turn uneasily. Thankfully, Colaen was quick to send him feelings of comfort.
Brinla frowned and Hurzomna actually rolled his eyes.
"Only you could speak so casually of such things." He muttered.
Harry finished feeding Colaen the pieces of meat and began to eat his own breakfast.
"Yeah, well, everything turned out okay." He said.
His two friends were quiet for some time.
"So," Brinla began. "What do you have planned for today?"
Harry shrugged.
"The usual I guess."
"Actually," Brinla began. "We all have the day off. We are allowed to do whatever we want, as we usually do on the day of greeting a new dragon and their rider."
"Oh." Harry replied. "Well, I don't know then."
"Usually, a new Rider would use this day to get to know their dragon." Hurzomna said.
Harry smiled.
"Okay then."
Colaen sent him feelings of excitement. She fidgeted in his lap.
Harry smiled.
Once breakfast was finished, the Riders scattered around the academy, sitting and chatting in the fields, sitting in the library, and in various other places. Harry was sitting under a tree, Colaen leaning against his side, one of his school books in his lap. He had been so busy the past few weeks, that he had had hardly any time to do homework. That and Eragon was frequently borrowing his books to see what could be used by the Riders. Harry did not mind, as it felt nice to help.
He was currently going through his potions homework. Though it was hard, as his mind kept going back to the professor who taught the subject. More specifically, what he had learnt on his first night at the academy from his father concerning the old dungeon bat and his mother.
Even after a few weeks, he was having trouble processing the information.
Colaen sent him a feeling of questioning as his mind turned with the thought of the potion's master.
[Oh, I'm just thinking about Snape.]
He answered her unspoken question.
[He's a teacher at my school, Hogwarts. He teaches potions and he's... Well, not exactly the nicest person ever.]
Colaen sent him a feeling of concern.
[Yeah, he's been very, very mean to me.]
Harry replied.
He then frowned.
[Though now I can kind of understand. I mean, from what I've learnt, my dad was a real git to him when they were at school together, and yet my mum was pretty much his only friend, or at least that's what my father told me.]
Colaen did her version of a nod.
Harry had already explained to her his particular family situation. While she had been at first confused that her Rider had had three parents, it did not take her long to understand that one of his fathers was his parent through adoption, so that his true identity was hidden.
[Anyway,]
Harry continued.
[Apparently, the harassment eventually led to Snape making a mistake which led to the end of the friendship between him and my mum.]
Harry looked down.
[Honestly, after hearing all this, I feel kind of sorry for Snape.]
And indeed he did. He could greatly empathize with Snape, as he had had a very similar life thanks to his relatives, constantly being bullied and having little to no friends. The only differences were that Harry had been lucky and was saved from his situation, while Snape was not, and that he was able to let go of his past, while it appeared Snape could not.
When Harry seriously thought about it, he felt that he could have easily been on the path to becoming Snape, if not for his friends and his patchwork family.
He greatly wished to learn more about Snape, to better understand him.
[What do you think Colaen?]
He asked his dragon.
[Should I try to make peace with Snape?]
Colaen sent him feelings of anger towards the potions professor. But then, she sent him feelings of remorse.
[Yeah, I know,]
Harry replied.
[He's done some pretty bad stuff, to both me and other students. He's Neville's worst fear, for Merlin's sake.]
He then sighed.
[But he, too, is suffering from similar wounds to me, and he doesn't have anyone to help him.]
Harry looked off into the distance.
[Maybe I should burry the hatchet. I mean, while he was bullied when he was a kid, he is only continuing the circle now. Maybe... Maybe I should end the circle.]
Harry nodded.
[Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I mean, I do kind of owe him for saving my life.]
Harry sighed.
[And yeah, I kind of didn't help much by openly disrespecting him in his own class. But I mean, hello, he did ask me questions I had no hope of answering.]
Colaen sent him feelings of amusement and Harry chuckled.
[I'll extend the olive branch, it will be up to him whether or not he takes it.]
Colaen jumped up and down in happiness. Harry smiled.
He was then broken out of his thoughts by a chuckle.
Both dragon and Rider looked up to see Murtagh walking towards them. Harry instantly put the book down.
"Hi." He said.
Murtagh reached them and sat beside Harry.
"Good afternoon." He replied. "How has your day been?"
"Great." Harry replied. "While I do love learning how to use a sword and magic, it's nice to just relax sometimes."
Murtagh smiled and lent against the tree.
"I agree."
They sat in silence for a long time. Finally, Murtagh continued.
"I have been meaning to discuss some things with you."
"Oh?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Murtagh replied. "As you have most likely figured out, things have changed now that you are a rider. Now, both Eragon and I feel that it would be better for you to begin training with the other Riders."
"Oh." Harry replied.
"You do not have to begin right away." Murtagh said quickly. "Usually we wait a month or two, for the dragon to become big enough for their own training, before the Rider begins training. That, and your magic needs time to adjust."
Harry nodded.
"Though, there are some differences in your circumstance." Murtagh continued. "You have been living here for a few weeks now, which has given at least some of the Riders and dragons time to get to know you."
Harry scoffed in amusement.
"And they have given me a nickname."
Though, as he thought about it, while he did stick mostly to Brinla and Hurzomna, many of the Riders had altered their view of him. While when he had first arrived the vast majority of them had regarded him with suspicion and even a little fear, they now treated him with respect and even kindness. Even the few dwarfs, who had been the most hostile towards him due to him being the son of the man who had killed their king during the war, were now treating him with tolerance.
"Yes, well," Murtagh continued. "After much discussion, Eragon and I have agreed to offer for you to at least observe the Riders magic lessons with Eragon, while you still may continue your sword training with me."
Harry thought about this.
"Also," Murtagh continued. "There is the matter of Hogwarts."
"Yeah," Harry said. "I've been thinking about it. I still want to go to Hogwarts. I mean, it's where Mum and Dad used to go, and I still have friends there, and I still kind of like it, despite the previous three years troubles."
Murtagh nodded.
"I understand. We shall have to discuss your Rider training further with Eragon."
Harry nodded.
"Okay."
Murtagh's eyes then flickered with concern.
"There was another matter I had to discuss with you."
"Yes?" Harry prompted.
Murtagh sucked in a deep breathe.
"Do you remember, the morning after Eragon and I healed you, that I told you there was something which required more research?"
"Yes, and?" Harry asked.
"Well," Murtagh continued. "After much thought and discussion, Eragon and I have decided that, if you wish, we could ask the Eldunari to examine it."
"Oh, okay." Harry replied. "But, what exactly would they be examining?"
Murtagh sighed.
"When Eragon and I were healing you, I found something, lodged in your scar. It was... Well, it was dark, and it was leaching off of your energy."
Harry frowned.
"In my scar? Do you think it's something from when Voldemort tried to kill me?"
"Probably." Murtagh replied.
"When can we do this?" Harry asked.
"We could do this tonight, if you wish." Murtagh replied.
Harry thought about it. If it was leaching off of his energy, and if Murtagh was worried about it, then he wanted it gone.
[What do you think Colaen?]
He asked.
Colaen sent him an image of his scar, and shuddered. It would appear that, due to their bond, she could sense the darkness within him.
"Okay." Harry replied. "Lets do it."
"Right." Murtagh replied, getting up. "I shall go and inform Eragon."
Later that night, Murtagh met Eragon, Harry and Colaen outside of the building in which they kept the Eldunari. He could not help but let a little smile slip when he saw the small dragon bouncing on his son's shoulders. It warmed his heart to know that, unlike himself and Thorn, his son would be able to establish his connection to his dragon naturally without being forced into it by a mad tyrant.
"So, are you ready?" Murtagh asked.
Harry smiled nervously.
"Yeah. Let's get this over with. I want to find out what this thing in my head is."
Both him and Eragon turned and used their magic to open the door. The three Riders and small dragon walked into the chamber. Enchanted lights appeared in the corners of the room. Harry looked around in amazement to see the many Eldunari, laid out on separate pedestals.
"Wow." He simply said.
Murtagh smiled.
"Yes, it is quite an impressive sight."
Eragon cleared his throat.
"Shall we begin?"
Father and son nodded.
Slowly, Murtagh lowed his mental barriers. Instantly, he could hear the whispering of over a hundred voices, of dragons both young and old. It was almost overwhelming, but thankfully Eragon called them to order.
[Greetings.]
He began.
[We have come to seek your assistance.]
Murtagh then continued.
[We have come here with my son, who has recently become a Rider, and who is also a wizard from a distant land.]
The Eldunari began to whisper to themselves. From what he could gather, they had knowledge of the outside world and their magic-users.
[We have discovered a foreign darkness within him.]
Eragon continued.
[This darkness is leaching off of his energy, and we do not know what it is, nor how to remove it.]
The Eldunari continued to whisper to themselves. Then, Murtagh could sense them beginning to examine Harry.
[Can... Can you sense anything?]
Harry asked.
The Eldunari began to whisper, more loudly. Murtagh could hear them. They seemed angered, disgusted, concerned, fearful, and many other things. Harry could obviously sense the various emotions and his eyes nervously flicked to Murtagh. He sent his son a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry." He whispered out loud to his son.
Harry smiled weakly.
Finally, a single voice rose above the rest and addressed them.
[We have heard of such magic.]
The Eldunari began.
[It is dark, corrupt. A twisted form of your wizard magic.]
[What is it?]
Harry asked nervously.
Murtagh could hear the Eldunari growling.
[It is the broken shard of a corrupt soul. Judging by how frayed it is, this is not the first time the being has split their soul.]
[Wait, wait...]
Harry interrupted.
[You are saying that... That it is a broken piece of soul?]
He looked to Murtagh with wide eyes.
[It's in my scar. You don't... You don't think that...?]
[Yes.]
The Eldunari replied.
[The soul shard once belonged to the one you call Voldemort.]
Murtagh could see Harry become very pale. The young man's hands began to shake. Murtagh could sense his mind disconnecting, obviously a result of his panicked state. Murtagh also disconnected and approached his son slowly and hesitantly.
"Harry?" He asked, concerned.
"There is a piece of Voldemort stuck in my forehead." Harry said in barely a whisper. "There has been, a piece of Voldemort, in my forehead for almost thirteen years."
Suddenly, Harry collapsed to the ground, Colaen quickly jumping from his back to avoid being crushed. Harry drew his knees to his chest and began clawing desperately at his scar. Colaen attempted to comfort him by snuggling into his side, but even her efforts did nothing to help him.
"Get it out! Get it out! Get it out!"
Murtagh instantly fell to his knees and attempted to stop Harry's panicked state.
"Harry! Harry! Look at me, look at me!"
He grabbed hold of his son's wrists and pulled his hands away from his forehead. Harry had left scratch marks deep enough to draw blood, but that was not important at the moment. For now, he had to calm his son down.
"Harry!"
Emerald eyes met grey. Murtagh's heart clenched to see his son's eyes filled with tears. He had never seen Harry so full of fear, and it broke his heart to see him in such a state.
"I want it out." Harry said in a terrified whisper. "I don't want any part of that... That monster in side of me. Please."
Murtagh could feel his chest tighten and he instantly wrapped his son in his arms. He could feel his shoulder become wet with tears, but he did not care. Right now, he needed to make sure his son was safe.
For a long time, they just sat there. Finally, Harry calmed down and sat up.
"S-sorry." He stuttered. "I guess I... I just couldn't control..."
"Don't feel sorry." Murtagh replied. "You should not feel sorry for being upset that a piece of the one who murdered your parents is in your forehead."
Harry smiled.
"I'm actually surprised Voldemort had a soul to begin with." He said, a small grin appearing on his tear-streaked face.
They were broken out of their conversation by Eragon clearing his throat.
"Are you alright?" He asked Harry.
Shakily, Harry got up, Murtagh soon following him. Colaen jumped into Harry's arms.
"Yeah, I guess." Harry replied.
"Well," Eragon continued as they began to leave the chamber. "The Eldunari had more to say."
"Such as?" Harry asked.
Eragon sighed.
"The soul shard has been in you for so long, that it has had time to take root."
"Great." Harry muttered.
Colaen nuzzled into him comfortingly.
"Well, all this means is that it will be harder to get rid of it." Eragon continued. "We will have to dismantle the hold it has on you one thread at a time, and this may take a year at least."
"Is there a quicker way?" Harry asked.
Eragon sighed.
"The shard could be destroyed, but that would also require destroying the vessel."
"And that is not an option." Murtagh said immediately.
Harry nodded.
"Before, I might have been willing to do whatever it took to get rid of Voldemort. But now, I've got too much to live for." He said, smiling.
Murtagh then remembered something that the Eldunari had said.
"They mentioned that the shard was so frayed that it was likely that this was not the first time Voldemort had split his soul."
Eragon stopped, horrified.
"Why would anyone wish to split their soul so many times?"
"To avoid death."
The brothers turned to face Harry, who was looking at the ground, frowning.
"What?" Murtagh asked.
Harry looked up.
"In both times that I have confronted Voldemort, he has wanted to rise to power. More than that, he had desired eternal life."
His eyes then widened.
"In my second year... The diary... The memory..."
Harry's face went as pale as a sheet.
"I think I've already destroyed one shard." He continued. "It's possible that Voldemort was splitting his soul as early as sixteen, and I'm beginning to think that his diary was his first vessel."
The two brothers exchanged a look.
"It could be possible." Murtagh agreed.
"Is there any way to figure out how many soul shards there are?" Harry asked.
"Possibly." Eragon replied. "This may take a great amount of magic. I may even have to ask Arya for some assistance..."
Murtagh cleared his throat.
"It is late. We should discuss this more in the morning."
"Yes." Both Eragon and Harry replied in unison.
The rest of the journey to the main building was in silence.
Before Eragon parted with Harry and Murtagh for his own bedroom, he informed them that he would be getting in touch with Arya as soon as he could. Both Murtagh and Harry nodded.
Murtagh could tell his son was exhausted from the night's events. Once they reached Harry's room, Murtagh followed his son inside and sat on Harry's bed.
"Are you alright?" He asked as Harry got dressed for bed.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Harry replied. "Still a bit shaken up, but I'm fine."
Harry finished getting into his night-clothes and crawled into bed. Colaen quickly joined him.
"If you need anything, my door is always open." Murtagh continued.
"Okay." Harry replied, snuggling into his bed. Colaen snuggled into his arms.
"Do not worry Harry. We shall deal with the shard inside of you head, and however many others that monster had created." He said. "I shall make sure that you do not have to face him ever again."
Murtagh turned to see that his son was already asleep, holding his dragon like a child would hold their stuffed toy.
Murtagh smiled. He got up from the bed and tucked his son in. After brushing a few loose strands of hair from the young Rider's forehead, he left the room.
He knew what he had to do. No matter what, he would get rid of the soul shard and free his son from the monster who had tormented him for so long. No matter what it took, Voldemort would be no more.