Harry Potter and the Prince of the Enchanted Forest

Chapter 10: In Which They Listen to Rumors From a Queen and Take a King's Advice

The entire forest dissolved in a thick mist. Before Harry could wonder where he was, the mist faded, and the four of them were standing before a grand castle.

"Nice, clean apparating," Ron remarked. "I couldn't even tell we were moving!"

"Yeah, it's very handy. I kinda wish I were allowed to do it at Hogwarts, I'm so used to it." Daystar led the young students into the castle and up to a desk with an elf working eagerly on paperwork. He was three feet high and looked very old, but he wore very fancy clothes like the goblins at Gringotts wore. He was the most healthy, well-off house elf Harry had ever seen.

"Good day, Willin!" Daystar said cheerfully, causing the poor elf to drop several of his papers.

"Master Daystar! Have you no respect for the protocol? Why have you not informed the castle weeks ahead of time that you were coming with guests?"

"I apologize, but this is an emergency. We need Father's advice."

Willin still had a look of shock that Daystar even considered breaking protocol, but he got up. "Very well. How might I introduce your guests?"

"These are my friends, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."

"Good. Right this way please."

Willin led them through the corridor and up a flight of stairs. Looking around, Harry could see this was a lot like Hogwarts. It was truly a splendid castle, though it had too many staircases. Willin took them to what looked like a patio.

"His Majesty, Prince Daystar!" Willin announced. "And distinguished guests in his company, Mister Harry Potter, Mister Ron Weasley, and Miss Hermione Granger!"

Harry then realized that he was in the presence of the king. He bowed to the floor. Then a voice laughed. "Get up, son."

Harry looked up at the man speaking to him. He expected the monarchs to look something like Princess Diana and an older Prince William. Yet when he saw Mendanbar, he almost jumped. He looked much like Harry's father, that mischievous twinkle in his eye, the bright smile, and the messy, black hair were all there. The queen was not much like Harry's mother, though. Cimorene was very tall and had long, black hair that hung all the way down to her feet. Most surprising, however, was that neither had the least hint in their appearance that they were royal. Neither wore a crown, and they were both in work clothes. Mendanbar wasn't even wearing shoes.

As Harry was looking up, Mendanbar knelt down to him in interest. "Wait a minute. Let me see this." He did something Harry never allowed people to do--trace his finger along his scar. Maybe the king was doing some sort of spell, because Harry felt a tingle where Mendanbar's finger was touching. Mendanbar smiled. "Cool. You must be Harry."

"Yes, your majesty," Harry answered humbly.

"Daystar told us all about you. I really should be bowing to you, young man, after all you done.

"No, please don't, your majesty," Harry replied nervously.

Mendanbar laughed again. "Relax. If you consider yourself equal with my son, you shall do the same with me. Now get up."

Harry stood, as did Ron. Mendanbar shook Harry's hand then turned to Ron. "And you must be Ron. Daystar speaks of you all the time as well." Ron went so white, Harry couldn't see his freckles. Ron couldn't believe he was shaking hands with a king. "And Hermione, charmed."

"Hermione!" Cimorene cried enthusiastically. "I remember you. When I last saw you, you were only this big." She put her hand just above her knee. "You remember that?"

"Vaguely, but yes," Hermione nodded.

"And you have grown since then." Harry didn't understand this. How is it Hermione knew the queen? Before he could ask any questions, she was greeting them. "And you, boys. We're meeting each other for the first time now."

"Uh, we loved your Cherries Jubilee, your majesty," Harry managed to say.

"Good! I ought to get all of you some more. Mendanbar and I could use a break." Cimorene left the room.

"Oh yes." Mendanbar clapped his hand on Daystar's back. "How do you like it, son? It's our new sunroom."

"Lovely." Through the walls and the floor, Harry saw the vibrant green and bright flowers of the Enchanted Forest.

"Yes, we're trying out that spell on the Great Hall's ceiling on the whole room. That way we can admire our kingdom without mosquitoes and other pests. We're not quite done yet, though. Have to make it a tad more stable. What do you say we move to a place that's somewhat more finished to talk?"

"OK," Daystar nodded.

So Mendanbar did the apparation trick again, and they were transported to a study. "This way," Mendanbar motioned.

Harry followed him until a voice called to him. "Hey you!" Harry stopped and looked up to see a wooden gargoyle gazing down at him. "Yeah, did you know that a spider died and fell on your head?"

"ARRRRRRRGH!" Ron cried trying to bat it off. "GET RID OF IT! GET RID OF IT!"

"Ron, geroff," Harry grumbled. "He's just insulting my scar."

"Scar? Is that what that marking is?" the gargoyle leered. "What did you do, fall on a jagged-shaped coffee table and hit your poor, tender head?"

"I was nearly killed!" Harry cried in spite.

"Rather clumsy kid, you must be, if you were nearly killed by a cut."

"Shut up, Pu!" Daystar yelled at the gargoyle.

"Make me," the gargoyle answered, then yelled again at Harry, "Your hair looks like a bird's nest! Do you hear me? A bird's nest!"

"Ignore Punic," Daystar whispered to Harry and his friends. "All he does is insult and complain."

"Punic?" Hermione said.

"Yeah, I just happened to run across that word somewhere, and it seemed to fit. It sounded ugly enough."

Mendanbar crossed the study and came to a door across the way. He snapped his fingers and a key appeared in front of him in the air. He unlocked the door with the key and admitted them into a room that looked much like the Gryffindor Common Room. Cimorene came in with a large plate. "Sorry, I didn't have enough cherries to make another batch of Cherries Jubilee, so I got some chocolate chip cookies for you instead." Everybody eagerly grabbed some and sat down.

"Now, Daystar," Mendanbar said thoughtfully, "you best have good reason to come here unannounced with your friends."

"Yes, a very good reason, Father, and I am sad to say it is not pleasant. The Society of Wizards has returned."

There was a grim silence for a few moments, and Mendanbar nodded. He was not smiling. "Are you certain?"

"Quite certain, Father. To make matters worse, they are trying to recruit one of Hogwarts' own teachers as their new Headwizard."

"Let me guess, the one who teaches Potions, right?"

"The very same."

"Figures. That guy gives me the creeps! Well, tell me more about it."

So they did. Daystar and Harry did most of the talking. Ron and Hermione added details along the way from their perspective. They told everything, from that moment when Harry got the strange trading card, to the Quidditch match disaster, to the Christmas where they discovered Snape's nomination.

"I really don't understand how this can be," Daystar said. "After Antorell disappeared, didn't the Society of Wizards disband?"

"I thought they did," Mendanbar answered. "I've tried checking on them several times to see if they were still around, and I haven't heard of them gathering lately."

"Nothing of them planning an election for a Headwizard?" Harry asked.

"No. Nothing of the sort."

"Well, I've heard something," Cimorene said uncomfortably. "I really shouldn't repeat it though."

"Why not, Honey?" Mendanbar said with concern.

"It's just a rumor. Unconfirmed. An ambassador from Linderwall told me. It's sounded much like gossip, and I really shouldn't repeat something so ugly, and it may not be true."

"Well, it could be the only clue we have," Mendanbar answered.

"Alright then. But remember I have nothing to back this up." Cimorene nibbled nervously on her cookie as she said, "The word is, Arona Michaelear Grinogion Vamist II has taken up his father's business."

Everyone looked at her in astonishment and confusion. "What?" Mendanbar said.

"Who's that?" Harry asked.

"Got me," Daystar shrugged.

Cimorene put down her cookie and laughed. "I'm so sorry. I forgot, you were tied up with the Society of Wizards, and you weren't even born yet." She indicated Mendanbar and Daystar respectively. "Morwen and I remember him though. I don't think he had any magical ability of his own, but he went around criticizing everyone who did. He wanted everyone to do magic the traditional way. Take witches for example. He thought every witch had to have wrinkles and warts, own one black cat, wear pointed hats, and eat children."

"Basically the Muggle point of view," Hermione noted.

"I suppose so. Morwen couldn't stand it at all. She prided herself on being a non-traditional witch. From what I heard about Hogwarts, I'm sure if Vamist saw it, he'd have a hissing fit."

"Sounds like a Slytherin to me," Ron muttered.

"What happened to him?" Daystar asked.

"I'm getting to that! For whatever reason, he conspired with the Society of Wizards to steal the sword." Mendanbar winced. "Yes, I know dear. We wasted all our time searching for the Society's headquarters in the Brown Forest when it was at Vamist's house all along. Luckily, we got it and returned successfully. Unfortunately, it was too late. As for Vamist, well, you remember that seven-foot rabbit that was turned into a floating, blue donkey?"

"Somewhat, yes," Mendanbar nodded.

"Well, Morwen and Telemain tried to remove all those enchantments on him, but they were too stuck. So Morwen did a quick switching spell that gave the rabbit its body back and turned Vamist into a floating, blue donkey with wings. He became the laughingstock of his village, and no one listened to him again--no one, except his son obviously.

"It really took me by surprise when I heard. It was quite obvious that Vamist didn't have a family when we met him. I don't know, maybe his family lived elsewhere or he adopted. Whatever it is, I've heard that his son is spreading his notions again about proper magic, yet he took it to the next level. Now, this is the part that maybe gossip the most, so you might want to disregard it, but I heard that Arona Michaelear Grinogion Vamist II believes that the only proper magic is," Cimorene gulped, "black magic."

Daystar shook his head. "What's with all these dark wizards and amusing names?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's a trend. However, that's not important. Unlike his father, the young Vamist has practiced this kind of magic. Dived right into it, so I've heard. His father had joined ranks with the Society before. Maybe when he heard of the real power of the Lake of Weeping Dreamers, he sought this new world to bring them back again."

"No wonder Snape is so interested in joining!" Harry piped up. "He's always been interested in the Dark Arts."

"But the Society itself isn't necessarily dark, is it?" Daystar said. "I mean, some of the wizards were on our side, I think, right?"

"It's hard to tell if the Society is dark magic or not, though I must say they certainly are not honorable," Cimorene answered. "Evidently, Vamist thinks they are, or else he could be bringing them back together for revenge."

"If that's true, why are they attacking Hogwarts? Why not here?"

"Who knows? They might go here next, once they get as much magic as they need," Mendanbar answered.

"So what should we do?" Daystar asked.

Mendanbar leaned over and looked Daystar in the eye. "Find him. Once you do, alert me immediately. Telemain has a magic mirror which we gave him for emergencies. He can contact me."

"Should we take him on?" Daystar asked. "Do you think we'd have a chance?"

"Well, you do have the sword, but alone--"

"I won't be alone. I have these three."

"Daystar, do you think that's wise?" Cimorene said.

"I think we might have a chance. Harry's been through countless stuff like this these past few years. Ron could possibly be a firewitch or at least part firewitch. And Hermione--well, you already know about Hermione."

Mendanbar nodded. "You're right. Undoubtedly, the four of you will make a formidable force. Try to stick together. But don't wait until you see Vamist. Once you see any sign that the Society is about again, tell me right away, and I'll come help you. Understand?"

"Yes Father."

"Good. Now, while your friends are still with us, I think they'll enjoy a tour, won't you?"

"Yes, your majesty," Harry said bowing his head.

"It would be an honor," Ron added.

"If you please, your majesty," Hermione spoke up, "I'd like to see something just outside the castle. I won't go into the forest, I promise."

Mendanbar looked at the girl with doubt, but Cimorene nodded. "Well, from what I heard, you stay true to your word. Very well, Hermione. Just make sure you be careful." He twisted something in the air, and Hermione disappeared with a brief whoosh. "The rest of you come with me."

The castle was filled with many interesting rooms and staircases, secret passages, and other delights. Harry and Ron continually remarked how much it reminded them of Hogwarts, except that it was even more exciting.

"How is it like, being a king in this domain?" Harry asked.

"It has its benefits, but you know, 'Uneasily lies the head that wears a crown.' Yet with my family and all my friends here with me, it's not so bad."

"This place is remarkable. Magic is everywhere; unpredictable secrets are around every corner. I love it here. I wish I could visit more often."

"Well, you could in your dreams and all."

"No. The Dursleys wouldn't allow me to make that potion, and my dreams don't normally work that way. They tell me things. They don't make a lot of sense when I first have them, but sometimes they help me."

"Maybe we'll have to help you on this end somehow," Mendanbar thought aloud.

"What exactly is Hermione doing?" Ron asked as he looked out the window. She looked like she was talking to something, but Harry couldn't see what.

"Let's go see," Daystar said while apparating. Harry saw Hermione was talking to a small, gold lizard.

"Oh look, they decided to join me. Guys, this is my friend Suz."

The lizard slithered over toward Harry and hung on his finger. "Hi Suz. My name's Harry."

"You are?" Suz squeaked. "You really are! How intriguing! And you have the scar. Quite amazing!"

"And this is Ron," Hermione introduced.

"Yes, so it is!" Suz exclaimed. "How interesting!" Ron laughed. Nobody ever thought he was interesting before.

"How does Hermione know you?" he asked Suz.

"We're old friends," Hermione answered. Then she looked at Suz concerned. "Please Suz, tell me. I missed seeing you these past four years. Why do you say I haven't been allowed?"

"I don't approve of this. No, not at all." Suz answered. "It's the rules. You aren't supposed to come back."

"Why not?"

But Harry never found out why not, for at that moment he woke up.