Preventing a repeat of fate

Chapter 20:

On the day after Samhain, Harry, Neville, Luna and Draco all sat under the tree near the Black Lake.
"So," Neville began. "Snape's now remembered?"
Harry nodded.
"And he's agreed to help distract Dumbledore while we get Caliburn."
Neville nodded.
"Good, now all we need to do is figure out how to get into Dumbledore's office."
Draco scoffed.
"He's always making the password some form of sweet, right?"
Harry nodded.
"Yes, but it could be anything, and we may not have enough time to guess all of the sweets we can think of until we get the right one."
"And anyway," Luna added. "We need to find a way in there that is not the gargoyle, just in case it tells Dumbledore that we've been in his office."
Draco frowned.
"How are we supposed to get in there, on a broom?"
Harry shook his head.
"The window's probably warded."
"So how are we going to get in?"
They were all silent.
"My Mother advised that Draco shouldn't be present when we asked for the help we will need." Luna began.
Harry nodded.
"So it's someone who has a bad experience with him. That isn't exactly narrowing down the list, no offense Draco."
"Non taken." Draco replied sarcastically.
Neville began tapping his chin.
"I don't know who will be able to get into Dumbledore's office. It's not like we can apperate because of the wards."
Harry frowned. Yes, humans could not apperate within Hogwarts... But he knew creatures that did. House-elves, for example could...
He slapped his forehead.
"Of course." He said.
"What?" Neville and Draco asked at the same time. Luna only gave him a knowing smile.
"House-elves." Harry replied. "They can apperate within Hogwarts. And I even know one who will be willing to help."
Neville frowned.
"Who?"
"Errr," Harry began, shuffling nervously and glancing at Draco. "I don't think it's a good idea to say his name at the moment. He used to work for the Malfoys before I tricked Lucius Malfoy into freeing him..."
Draco's eyes widened.
"You mean..."
"Don't." Harry interrupted. "We don't want to accidentally summon him."
"Draco," Neville began suspiciously. "What did you do?"
"It wasn't me." Draco said quickly. "It was mostly my father..."
"Mostly?"
"Well, I umm..." Draco began fiddling with his fingers. "I wasn't as bad as my father..."
"Wasn't as bad?"
"Hey, I feel sorry for it now."
"Okay, enough." Harry interrupted. "We've all made mistakes, let's just focus on the present."
Both of them nodded.
"So, when should we do this?" Luna asked.
"I'll see when Snape is free." Harry replied. "Then Luna, Neville and I can call for our little helper. Draco, you can keep watch for any teachers that may try to get in."
All three nodded.
"Great." He said. "Sounds like a plan."

He met with Snape and organised for a time. They eventually decided for Monday, just after the last lesson, and a couple hours before dinner.
So on Monday around 4:00 p.m., he, Luna, Draco and Neville waited in an empty classroom near Dumbledore's office, waiting for Snape and the old headmaster to pass. After a few minutes of waiting, they could hear the gargoyle moving. He peaked out of the door of the classroom to see Snape and Dumbledore walk past, talking quietly. He waited a few minutes, until they were out of earshot. He gestured to Draco and silently, the blond slipped out of the room and snuck into a dark shadowy corner near the gargoyle.
He closed the door and turned to Neville and Luna.
"Okay," He began. "Are you ready?"
They both nodded.
"Okay." He repeated. "Here goes nothing. And please, don't laugh."
"Why would we...?" Neville began.
"Dobby?"
Suddenly, there was a crack. The house-elf was now standing in the middle of the room, bouncing up and down excitedly.
"Mr Harry Potter sir has called Dobby," Dobby began in his high-pitched voice. "Dobby is so happy to see..."
"Okay, okay, Dobby, please calm down." Harry interrupted. He could hear Neville chuckling, and even Luna was grinning.
"Dobby is sorry Harry Potter sir..."
"No, it's okay." Harry replied quickly. "Just please, I kind of need your help."
"Dobby will be happy to help the great Harry Potter sir." Dobby replied, still jumping on his feet.
Neville was shaking with his held back laughter. Harry decided to ignore him.
"Now, this is really important." He began. "You cannot tell anyone."
"Dobby won't tell anyone about Harry Potter's secret mission for Dobby." Dobby replied.
"Okay." Harry continued. "I know that this is a lot to ask of you, but I really need your help. You don't have to do it if you don't want to..."
"Dobby will be happy to help the great Harry Potter, no matter what the risk." Dobby replied determinedly.
"Thank you." Harry replied. "I need your help. You can apperate within the wards of Hogwarts, right?"
"Yes, Dobby can Sir."
"Great." Harry said. "Do you think you could... Errr, help my friends and I sneak into Dumbledore's office? You don't have to, if you don't want to. I know that Dumbledore is kind of your boss and all..."
"Dobby is loyal to Harry Potter." Dobby replied. "Harry Potter is kind, and brave and good to Dobby and all living creatures. Harry Potter is the reason why Dobby is free, and Dobby owes him so much... Harry Potter is the reason why Dobby came to Hogwarts in the first place, to help Harry Potter, even if Harry Potter asked him not to..."
"Hey, hey, thanks." Harry replied quickly. "So, can you help us?"
"Yes, yes of course." Dobby replied. "But may Dobby ask, why does Harry Potter want to go into the headmaster's office?"
"There is something I need, something that belongs to me." He replied.
Dobby nodded.
Harry turned to Luna and Neville, the latter of whom was still shaking from suppressed laughter.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"Yes." Luna replied.
Harry glared at Neville.
"Stop that."
"S sorry." Neville spluttered through his laughter. "It's just... Why didn't you mention your friend was the house-elf version of Colin Creevey?"
"Oh, for the love of..." He muttered. "What ever you do, do not introduce Dobby to the Creevey brothers. They'll probably start a Harry Potter cult or something."
"I don't know," Luna said. "You could use some fan support considering the efforts of the ministry to tarnish your reputation."
"Hey, who's side are you on?" Harry asked.
"I'm on the side that gets your sword." Luna replied.
"Right, right." He said, before turning to Dobby.
"You ready?"
"Dobby is always ready to help the great Harry Potter Sir."
"Great."
He and Luna grabbed an elbow each, while Neville grabbed onto Harry. With a loud crack, they all vanished from the classroom and appeared in the headmaster's office.
It was not hard to find the sword. It was in a glass-fronted cabinet against the wall. He walked over to it, but quickly scanned for enchantments. And unfortunately, it appeared that Dumbledore had warded it.
"Dam." He said. "Now how are we..."
There was a sudden musical trill. They all looked up to see Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix.
"Fawkes..." He began nervously. He was afraid that the phoenix would attempt to tell Dumbledore of their little adventure into his office. He did not know how he could have forgotten about the fiery bird. How could he have been so stupid?
Fawkes flew over to him and landed on his shoulder. He looked into Harry's eyes, and suddenly his mind was flooded with memories from his life as Mordred.

He was twelve, and it had been a few weeks since he had first arrived in Camelot. He was walking through the courtyards, when he heard music. The most beautiful and haunting song he had ever heard.
He followed the sound of the music until he came to a fair-haired man he recognised as one of Arthur's knights. He was playing a harp and singing softly. Mordred just stood there and listened, mesmerised.
When the song was finished, the man looked up and their eyes met.
"Hello there." He said softly.
"I..." Mordred began, still stunned from the music.
The man chuckled.
"You are one of the son's of Lot who have just arrived, are you not?" The man asked.
"Yes." Mordred replied. "I am Mordred, fifth son."
The man nodded.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Tristan of Cornwall."
Mordred walked over to him hesitantly.
"That song, it was so beautiful."
Tristan smiled shyly.
"Thank you. I quite enjoy music, even if it brings me pain."
"If you do not mind me asking, what was the song about?" Mordred asked.
Tristan smiled sadly.
"A love that can never be."
Mordred frowned.
"Why?"
Tristan sighed.
"Sometimes the heart wants what it cannot have." He replied. "Love, you see, is a very complicated thing."
Mordred frowned.
"I do not understand."
"You will." Tristan replied. "Some day, you will."

He was now fifteen, and it was a few days after he watched Nimue's death. He was sitting in one of the gardens, staring at the sunset. He was lost in his thoughts, until he heard someone sit beside him.
"Care for some company?"
He turned to see Tristan, staring at him sympathetically.
Mordred only nodded. They sat in silence for a long time, before he spoke.
"I understand now." He said. "What you meant the first time we met. Love is a complicated thing."
Tristan sighed and nodded.
"It can heal, just as much as it can harm."
Mordred nodded. He clenched his fist.
"I just cannot understand," He began. "It was Guinevere who told Merlin of Nimue's practices, she knew of her secrets. But how could she have done such a thing?"
Tristan shook his head sadly.
"GUINEVERE did what she did in the name of the law, I am sure."
"But that is just it," Mordred argued. "How can she betray someone who trusted her in the name of the law, but still constantly commit treason and adultery with Lancelot?"
Tristan sighed.
"She loves him." He replied. "And Lancelot loves her."
"But Arthur trusts them both." Mordred argued. "How can they betray Arthur's trust like that?"
Tristan stared off into the distance.
"Lancelot knows that what he is doing is wrong, and yet he cannot help his feelings. I understand such a feeling."
Mordred stared at him.
"That song you were singing... What was it about?"
Tristan was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed and his eyes met Mordred's.
"My Uncle is the King of Cornwall," He began. "Many years ago, he decided to wed a princess of Ireland, Isolt. She was said to be beautiful and an incredible healer. My Uncle sent me to escort her back to Cornwall."
He sighed and laughed bitterly.
"On the way, we became closer. And... Something bloomed between the two of us. I do not know how, and I do not know why, but... Our hearts began to sing for each other. Even after she and my Uncle were wed... The pain eventually became so much, that I had to leave."
Mordred's eyes were wide.
"Do you ever regret, leaving her and Cornwall?" He asked hesitantly.
"Sometimes." Tristan replied. "Sometimes I wish I could take ship, sail to Cornwall and steal Isolt in the middle of the night."
"Why do you not?"
"Because," Tristan replied. "I know that it will be wrong. She is married, and it would be wrong for the two of us to act upon our feelings, no matter how either of us feel."
Mordred stared at the man with a new found respect.
"You are truly a great man." He breathed. "A far better man than Lancelot will ever be."
Tristan smiled.
"Thank you."
His eyes flicked back to the sunset.
"Does it ever get better, the pain?"
"No." Tristan replied. "However, if you try hard enough, you may learn to handle it better."

Harry returned to the present, his eyes wide.
"Harry, are you okay?" He could hear Neville ask.
"Tristan?" He breathed.
The phoenix squawked in reply.
"W what are you doing here?" Harry asked, still in shock.
Tristan showed him more memories, this time belonging to the phoenix himself.

He was flying with another Phoenix, Isolt. Suddenly, a man with greying red hair appeared. He attempted to cast a spell on the two phoenixes. Tristan pushed his love away, and took the full brunt of the spell. Isolt disappeared in a burst of flame, and Tristan was bound by the wizard. It hurt to be separated from his love, but it was worth it, for she was not enslaved as he was.

Scenes began to flicker. Originally, the bound had been strong. But gradually, over several decades, it weakened. The wizard, Dumbledore, did not notice. Either that, or he was confident in his power to control the phoenix.
Tristan only bided his time, waiting for the bond to break.
Finally, he felt that the passage of time had finally, mercifully, broken the bond. However, he did not leave. He could not leave.
On the night that the last of the strings binding him to Dumbledore were about to break, the old man invited two men and two women in his office. The two women both held a bundle each...
He could sense a familiar presence coming from both of the bundles...
He studied the bundles... Two male infants, a mere handful of days old...
He recognised them. He could sense that one day they would be instrumental in destroying the cruel wizard who had done so much wrong.
He glanced over to where the old man kept the sword, as if it were some sort of trophy. He knew that one day, one of the men in infant form would need it. He felt that, for now, he will have to wait, to ensure the man received his sword...

Harry blinked as he returned to the present. He could feel tears in his eyes.
"Y you stayed, so you could help me get Caliburn?" He asked, amazed.
Tristan squawked.
"Thank you." He breathed.
He then remembered, in the chamber of secrets, when the phoenix had given him the hat, from which he drew the sword.
"You meant to give me it then, back in the chamber." He said. "But I did not remember then, and I foolishly gave it back to Dumbledore."
Tristan chirped mournfully.
"Errr, Harry?" Neville asked hesitantly.
He looked up to see the other man staring at him.
"Neville, it's Tristan." He said. "Dumbledore forcefully bound him decades ago. He... The bond broke fifteen years ago, but he stayed to ensure I got Caliburn."
Neville blinked. Then, his eyes turned dark.
"Only another crime Dumbledore must pay for."
He walked towards Harry and Tristan hesitantly.
"Hello Tristan." He said gently.
Tristan chirped and bowed his head.
"So," Harry began. "Tristan, can you... Help me break the wards?"
Tristan spread his wings and flew off of Harry's shoulder. He landed on top of the cabinet containing Caliburn. Suddenly, flames began to erupt around the cabinet, quickly consuming the entire thing, sword and all. After only a few seconds, the flames vanished. Tristan was still perched in the exact same place. However, Harry could feel that the wards were gone.
"Thank you." Harry said, smiling widely.
He approached the cabinet carefully. It only took a single unlocking charm, and the glass door swung open. He reached out a shaking hand. The last time he had wielded this sword... Well, technically it had been when he had slain the basilisk, but he had not know what it was back then. The last time he had known what he was holding, it had been the battle of Camlinn. The last time this sword had been in his hand, he had slain Arthur.
He shook his head. Now would be different. He would not use this to betray his father and friend. He would wield it to free magical Britain from the constant war of Merlin and Morgana.
His fingers wrapped around the hilt. He pulled it out of the cabinet, to reveal what appeared to be a belt with it's own scabbard. He took these out too, and Neville assisted him in putting it on. Once this was done, he turned to face Luna. She was smiling at him.
"How does it feel?"
He looked down at the sword in his hand.
"It feels... Strange." He admitted. "Having it back in my hand after so long."
He heard a gasp, and looked down to see Dobby, his eyes so wide that Harry feared they would pop out.
"Errr, Dobby?" He asked nervously.
Dobby's finger kept shakily flicking between Harry and the sword. Harry was becoming quite concerned for the house-elf's health.
"Dobby, are you...?" He began.
"Dobby knew that Harry Potter was a great man," He began. "But dobby did not know he was the promised one."
"Errr, what?" Harry asked.
"The promised one." Dobby replied. "It is a legend told to all magical creatures. It is said that, many many years ago, their lived a great king who fought for the freedom of magic..."
"Errr..." Harry did not know what to say about this. He knew that, no matter what the source, he was remembered as the great traitor. He was never referred to as a great king.
Dobby continued.
"It is said that he fought a great battle, and died killing the king and the dark wizard who wished to control all magic. And that the goblins managed to find the great king's sword and hide it away. For it is said that the great king, the promised one, will return. And when he does, magic and all her creatures will be free. Werewolves and goblins will be treated like witches and wizards, centaurs will be free to go where they wish, and house-elves will be treated like Dobby wants to."
He continued to stare at Harry, who was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"Errr, okay." He began. "Look, Dobby, I don't know about this whole "Promised One", thing, but I do know that I plan to bring balance to magical Britain."
"Oh, this is so incredible!" Dobby exclaimed, jumping up and down. "It is true! It is true! The kind and noble Harry Potter is the Promised One! We are going to be free! Maybe then Winky will stop being so sad and drinking every night."
"Okay, okay, Dobby, please." Harry said, trying to calm the house-elf down. "Look, I'm not going to do this alone. I've got my friends here, and their are more. But that is still not enough. Both Voldemort and Dumbledore stand in our way. We need all the help we can get to stop them."
"Dobby would be happy to help. Dobby will do whatever the great Harry Potter wishes of him."
"Okay, okay," Harry replied. "Do you know how many house-elves know about this old legends? And how many would be willing to follow me?"
"Oh, Dobby thinks that most house-elves, if not all, would follow the Promised One." Dobby replied. "We have all been waiting, but many no longer hold much hope. But if they see you with the sword, they will definitely follow the great Harry Potter."
Harry nodded.
"Good, can you organise this?"
"Oh, Dobby can." Dobby replied. "Dobby would be honored to do such an important task for the Promised One."
Harry suppressed a sigh. Another title, just what he needed. But at least it may help him with the house-elves at least.
Luna then cleared her throat.
"There is another thing." She said. "Concerning a group we wish to form..."
"Oh, right." Harry remembered. They had been having trouble finding a suitable place for their secret group. "Dobby, do you know of a place in this castle that cannot be found by people who the users do not wish to find it? Somewhere where people can be trained to defend themselves?"
Dobby was quiet for a long time. Finally, he jumped up excitedly.
"Yes, Dobby knows." He said. "The come-and-go room."
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Dobby replied. "It is a room on the seventh floor. It is hidden, all someone has to do is pass past the wall three times, thinking about the kind of room they want, and it will appear. And it can be hidden from people you do not want finding it."
Harry smiled.
"That's great."
Dobby smiled.
"Dobby his always glad to help the great Harry Potter."
Harry smiled.
"Luna, pease can you put the fake sword into the cabinet?"
Luna approached the cabinet that had previously held the sword. She drew from a bag a stick that had been transfigured into a sword. She quickly relocked the cabinet and began to reassemble the wards. This was a much easier process than breaking down the wards of someone else, therefore, they did not need to ask Tristan for help.
Speaking of which, the phoenix was still perched on the cabinet. Harry looked up at him.
"You have done well Sir Tristan." He said. "Thank you for remaining under the control of Dumbledore, awaiting me to reclaim the sword Caliburn. May you reunite with Isolt, and may peace and harmony find you."
Tristan let out a beautiful trill, before extending his wings and taking flight. Harry quickly went to the window and opened it. Just as he had opened the window, a gold a red blur flew past him. He, Neville and Luna looked out the window to see the fiery bird flying through the sky, free at last. Suddenly, a second fiery ball lit in the sky, and a second phoenix appeared. Isolt, finally able to reunite with her love.
The two phoenixes spiraled in the air as one, trailing a brilliant stream of fire behind them. They began to sing a song of love and reunion. He looked to Luna, his own once lost love.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked.
Luna smiled.
"At last, they are entwined."
Harry nodded.
"Love is a complicated thing." He said. "It can heal, just as much as it can hurt. But all this makes love worth all the pain."
He grasped her hand.
"All that I have suffered, it is all worth it, because I have you. And all the fain yet to come will be worth it, because I will always have you."
His grip on her hand tightened.
"I will not lose you again."
She smiled and stroked his face.
"And I will not lose you, my Tarnished Silver."
They were broken from their moment from the sound of a throat cleared. Harry looked up, his face pink, to see Neville staring at them nervously.
"Errr, sorry." The man began. "But errr, we should probably go now. Dumbledore may be back soon."
Harry smiled. He put Caliburn in it's sheath, and turned to Dobby. For the first time, he actually felt powerful enough to take on Dumbledore and Voldemort. He was somehow stronger, now that he had Caliburn. Perhaps it was some form of magic, though he did not know.
It did not matter. Now, he was a king, and he had the sword to prove it. Now, it was time to free the World of Magical Britain.