Harry Potter and the Prince of the Enchanted Forest

Chapter 14: In Which There Are a Few Answers, Some Surprises, and a Happy Ending

As Harry awoke in the Hospital Wing, the first thing he saw was a pair of blue cat eyes.

"'Lo, Esther." He reached up to pet the cat, but a pain shot up his arm. Madame Pomfrey must have bandaged it all up, but it still hurt.

"Good, you're awake." The voice wasn't Madame Pomfrey's. It was Morwen. She sat down beside Harry's bed in a chair. Esther hopped into her lap. "Now, you're mother is not around to lecture, so I'm going to do it for her. Harry, that was stupid."

Harry blinked. What was she doing, criticizing him? "But there--"

"Ah ah!" Morwen said raising her hand. "Let me finish. You should have known better than to take a magic sword that belonged to royalty. Weren't you taught that early in History of Magic?"

"He should have been." Telemain also came in and stood beside Morwen. "It has been proven over and over again. The calibrations of such weaponry are so precise that if they are ever altered the enchantment matrix goes into overload and the results can be traumatic!"

Harry squinted up at Telemain. "You're a lawyer, aren't you?" he said deliriously.

"Worse, he's a magician," Morwen muttered.

"I heard that!" Telemain said offended.

"I was just kidding, honey," she said nudging his elbow playfully. Then she looked at Harry sternly again. "What he saying is that such swords pick who wields them carefully. If anybody else tries to use them, their enchantments go haywire. You could have been killed, Harry!"

"No!" Harry said.

"Yes. Now, it will make you feel better, I once took that sword myself, but only for a second. Long enough to absorb a spell. I didn't hold on to it for dear life like you did."

"There was no other option!" Harry cried. "Mendanbar was gone, and Daystar was out cold! It was either take the sword or become a Squib for the rest of my life. Judging from how it felt to have my magic absorbed, that could have killed me. On the contrary, I somehow knew if I held on to the sword, everything would be alright."

"And that was the right thing to do." It was Dumbledore. Smiling, he sat beside Harry's bed in another chair. "Hello Harry. Good to see you well again."

"Albus, what are you talking about?" Morwen said. "It's dangerous, and you know it."

"Of course, Morwen, but this young man has taken such risks every year he has been here, and it has always been for good. Such bravery has earned Harry the trust of this school. Late last night, I felt a magic force that had once been dormant stirred once again. At first, I was afraid I would lose this force. Those wizard staffs were absorbing it. But then, I felt it center all its attention on Harry. Perhaps it would have done the same if Daystar or Mendanbar would have wielded the sword, but when Harry took it up, the school remembered all he had done. He saved the students from peril many times before. It was because of this that Harry did not die. He is a powerful wizard."

"But the sword isn't connected to this school," Telemain said. "Its matrix is directed at the Enchanted Forest."

"Yes, but you put a spell on it to make the sword think it was in the Enchanted Forest, didn't you?"

"Of course," Morwen nodded. "That was to keep it from leaking magic, like it normally does if it leaves the forest."

"Yes, the school worked like the Enchanted Forest for just a moment, and the sword was fooled."

"Still, you're lucky that it did," Morwen told Harry.

Harry shook his head. "How do you know what I did with that sword anyway?"

"I was there! Didn't you figure it out? I was the owl."

"You, you were?"

"Yes. Minerva taught Telemain and me how to be Animagi. I decided to be an owl over here, since there were so many here anyway. I got registered and everything, but when I get home I'm going to try being a cat, a raccoon, and maybe even a dragon."

"Why did you attack?"

"Well, I wanted to get Vamist before he got me, and I wanted to sick Telemain on him."

"Telemain? I didn't see Telemain."

"That was because he was too small to see. He was a Chizpurfle."

"He was? So that's why Vamist's spells wouldn't work, isn't it? Telemain was eating the magic up in that ring."

"Bad decision," Telemain said rubbing his stomach.

"Who knew magic wouldn't agree with him?" Morwen laughed. "He was sick as soon as he transformed back."

"But where's Hermione? And Ron? And Daystar?"

As Harry spoke, Daystar jumped up in the bed right next to him. "Vamist!" he screamed.

"Relax," Dumbledore said. "Vamist is gone. They're all gone."

Daystar sighed and lay back down. "Good going Father," he muttered.

"Actually, you have Harry to thank for it."

Daystar wrinkled his eyebrows. "Harry? But didn't you know--"

"Please, don't make me go through that again."

"Oh, alright. Professor, you might want to reconsider keeping Mr. Filch as caretaker."

"Mr. Filch got back together. He needed a little help. I assure you, he's rather wiser for the ware."

"Aren't you gonna sack him?" Harry asked.

"Harry, you know 'sacking' isn't in my nature. To paraphrase what a wise man once said, it should be punishment enough having such power and losing it than to have never had it at all."

Harry wasn't sure he understood this logic, but he knew Dumbledore wouldn't change his mind. He kept quiet.

Ron was resting on a bed across the room. He looked pale. He sat up as Hermione came in. They were glad to see Harry all right, but they had a few questions to ask.

"How exactly did Filch's staff explode?" Ron asked. "Was it only me?"

"No," Dumbledore smiled. "It was a team effort. The staff couldn't cope with Harry's powerful magic."

"Please. I'm not that powerful," Harry huffed. "Magic is almost impossible. I struggle with Transfiguration, Potions, and even the most basic Charms. The only thing I'm really good it is flying."

"You are a powerful wizard," Dumbledore nodded. "As I understand, you best display your power when you are anxious, and I imagine you were quite anxious right then. And Daystar was probably saying a spell."

"Actually, I was just about to," Daystar explained. "But the sword doesn't like wizard magic. Maybe it worked on its own."

"Perhaps. And Ron is--"

"A firewitch," Ron interrupted. "I figured it out. The burning hair, the short temper, how can anybody not see? I'm a firewitch."

"Well, that could be a possibility," Dumbledore nodded. "Actually, I was about to say you are part dragon."

Ron blinked. "What?"

"Yes. I suspected since I first took a good look at your brothers. You know I researched dragon blood for years. In my research, I learned some interesting things about your family. Back in the Middle Ages, dragon's blood was used as a remedy for nearly every ailment. The Weasleys were huge dealers in the dragon blood business, and they also used it on a regular basis themselves. They did so for decades, until the magic counsel decided it was not as useful for that purpose as they thought. The remedy was little more than a placebo. Yet, I discovered that those who take dragon blood for such a prolonged period of time tend to have the dragon blood mixed with their own. It's drawn to your own magic and gives you a very unique, dragon-like magic. And it remains hereditary."

"So, what did it do?"

"Well, dragon flame resides in your hair and your sinus cavity. Dragon blood circulates through your heart and mind, making you quick and sharp. You family have used this quick thinking in different ways, for intellect, for mischief, even for temper. But I imagine it is why all Weasleys have ended up in Gryffindor. Who is braver than a dragon?"

"That's why you were allergic to wizard staffs," Daystar explained. "Dragons always have an allergic reaction when their magic is absorbed. That's also why you reacted to that plant last night. That was Dragonsbane. It could have killed you. Are you feeling ok?"

"A little winded, but all right. But what happens now? Am I going to grow wings and scales and breathe fire?"

"If the Weasleys still were dragon blood dealers, I imagine you would," Dumbledore answered. "But you no longer do, so I wouldn't worry about it."

"What about Hermione?" Harry asked. "She used a very controlled spell without a wand. How is that even possible?"

Dumbledore only smiled. "I think she should tell you that."

Hermione sighed. "All right. I didn't want to because I thought it would sound like I was bragging, and I felt I didn't have all the facts. But I guess it's time I said it. I've been to the Enchanted Forest before, loads of times. I averaged about a dream a year since I was about four or five years old. I saw griffins, witches, dragons, centaurs, and each day after I had a dream, I did something magical. I met Morwen and Cimorene there. In fact, most of the dreams I had were with Suz, but the first one was about Daystar!"

"Yep," Daystar smiled. "She didn't recognize me right away, but I knew the fist time I saw her. That's why I called her Hermes, because when we first met when I was 9 I just didn't want to pronounce such a long name. She was my little playmate who vanished because she ran off into the Deep Woods although Mother told her specifically not to!"

"Well, how was I to know the difference?"

"Never mind. It was probably my fault. I shouldn't have suggested playing hide-and-seek."

"Anyhow, I had one dream the same week I got the letter from Hogwarts. I was struggling with the idea. Things were already looking up for my going to an all-girl boarding school for the gifted, the school I wanted to go to all my life. In the dream, I accidentally fell into the Unicorn Pool. And then I woke up soaking from head to toe. That's when I knew for sure that these were not just dreams. I had a new interest for magic, and I could do it more easily than ever before. Daystar told me what the pool does when I showed him in my dream journals. He said the water of the Unicorn Pool is used in several spells, but few people have actually bathed in the waters. It is said that if someone is immersed, his most obscure talent becomes as strong as his greatest talent. My greatest talent is my intellect, and my most obscure talent was magic. That's why I can do it so well. I don't know how well I can do it without a wand, but I prefer the control I get in a wand. And now my magic is almost at its full potential."

Then, Hermione frowned and looked down. "But why dwell on the past? Suz told me the last time we were there that I could never come back. The Enchanted Forest has a way of bringing out one's greatest gift. Once it has been manifest, the forest no longer has any use. It's an unspoken law that once the Forest has done its job, the visitor can never come back again. But I want to go back! Now that I understand, I'd like to see how my magic works there. There is still so much I haven't seen, so much I haven't done. The forest is a part of my life. I belong there. That's what I saw in the Mirror of Erised. It was a memory of one of those dreams. And that's why I wept. I knew the one thing I most desired I can never have."

Dumbledore put his arm around her as she started crying again. "That is one of the saddest things about dreamensions. Once you have them figured out, they vanish and you can never find them again. Most of them have very strict laws of who can and cannot visit them and how many times one can visit."

"But such unspoken laws are not above the king," Daystar said. "Don't cry, Hermes. I'll talk to Father. Whatever happens happens, and it'll work out for the best."

Hermione only nodded and sat down.

"Daystar, may I ask you a personal question?" Harry asked.

Daystar shrugged. "Sure."

"What did you see in the Mirror of Erised?"

"Huh? Oh that. It was strange. The mirror just flashed through images. I saw Shiara, Kazul, you three, Morwen, Telemain, Professor Snape, Willin, Mother and Father, in short I saw nearly everyone I ever knew. After deciphering the inscription at the top, it didn't take long for me to figure out what the mirror does. But still I couldn't figure out what it was telling me. Maybe it's that I have everything I want and need, but I still feel like something is missing. Even in the depths of my heart, I don't know what it is."

"Dumbledore once said that the happiest man on earth would use the mirror as a normal mirror, that he would look into it and just see himself the way he is."

"But I didn't see myself."

"You didn't?"

"No. If I didn't know it was magic, I would have thought the mirror was broken," Daystar laughed.

"Maybe the mirror is saying that you want nothing for yourself. What you want the most is for those you care about to have whatever's best for them."

"Exactly," Dumbledore nodded. "You should be very proud of yourself, Daystar. Very, very few people never see themselves in the mirror, and they are saints indeed. You will truly make a great king one day." He gave Daystar an encouraging smile and went on his way.

"Tell me more about this mirror," Telemain said leaning over. So Harry explained to him everything he knew about the Mirror of Erised. Telemain nodded intrigued. "Fascinating. It's enough to make one wonder what one would see. It seems clear that what one thinks he might want may not be what he wants at all."

"I know what I would see in that mirror," Morwen said softly.

"You'd pass your evaluation and go on to be a professor at Hogwarts?" Hermione suggested.

"No, that's in the bag. I'm sure of it."

Telemain looked at her curiously. "What do you think you'd see, Morwen?"

She answered by holding his hand and looking deeply into his eyes. Telemain smiled and put his arm around her. It was probably the first time they looked like husband and wife to Harry. Morwen stood up and started to walk off with Telemain but then she stopped short.

"Oh, I almost forgot. This is for you." She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a purple envelope, and handed it to Harry. She gave others to Ron, Hermione, and Daystar. "I owled these to certain students this morning. They had a spell so that only the person it was addressed to could read it. Funny thing is, most people who got it were afraid right off that it was a Howler. Like I'd send something like that!" She left laughing.

Harry promptly opened his letter. It read in gold letters:

Meet at 8:00 SHARP tomorrow morning in the DADA room. Bring your pet.

Tell no one.

N.O.T.N.P.

Morwen

"Wonder what that's about?" Ron muttered.

"Guess we'll see later," Harry said. "Daystar, I want you to take credit for this."

"No."

"Come on. Look, I've been the hero one too many times. You need your reputation for some doubters out there. It was your sword, after all. And Professor Trelawney did make that prediction that my friends will be my salvation."

Daystar smiled. "But my father said that together we are a formidable force. I'm never going to say just you or I saved the school. It wasn't you. It wasn't me. It was us. All four of us."

"Wait, Morwen and Telemain make six," Hermione pointed out.

"That's right, and Genie makes seven."

"Then there's your mother and father," Ron added. "That makes nine."

"You know, when you put it this way, I guess you can say everyone in Hogwarts is responsible," Harry muttered.

"Really?" Daystar said.

"Yeah. When I was wielding the sword, I heard voices. Voices that I knew. I think somehow the magic in everyone knew what was happening and came to our aid."

Daystar just looked up at the ceiling. "This is one incredible school."

************

The students who received that mysterious letter stumbled into the DADA room, tired and still curious. It was a packed room. All of Harry's friends from Gryffindor were there, as well as some people he recognized from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Even a few people from Slytherin were in the room, but they were upperclassmen that Harry didn't know.

"Hey Harry."

Harry turned around to see who was talking to him, and his stomach lurched. "Cho! Er, hi."

"Sorry we haven't played Quidditch much this year. You're getting really good."

"Thanks. So, uh--"

"You know what this is about?"

"No clue. Cho, are you--"

"Good morning class!" Morwen walked in exactly at 8:00 and locked the door. She quickly took roll. "Good, everyone's here," she said. She muttered something and opened the door again, only this time it opened outdoors. "Single file, please," she said calmly. The students exited the room.

She led them to a clearing near Hagrid's hut. There were already some teachers out there: Dumbledore, McGonagall, Telemain, Hagrid--he was yawning, rubbing his eyes, and mumbling about getting up so early in the morning. Morwen addressed her students. "You have been my best students this year. You are the brightest and the best behaved. All of you have made my first year of teaching very worthwhile. That is why I am giving you this once in a lifetime chance to see this." She pointed up to the sky. Everyone looked up to see a green, zig-zaggy line moving through the clouds. As it came closer, they could see it was a dragon.

"Oh wow!" Ron cried. "It's a Welsh Green!"

"It doesn't look like the one in the tournament, though!" Lee said. "I think it's a Romanian Longhorn."

"No, it's an Antipodean Opaleye," Seamus said.

But as the dragon came closer, Harry could see plainly that it was nothing like any of the dragons described in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It had three horns on its head, dark green scales that were gray around the edges, golden, hypnotic eyes, and a very, very toothy smile. She landed in front of the class and bowed. Ron admitted as the dragon landed, "It's like nothing I ever seen before. If only Charlie were here."

"Students and faculty," Morwen announced, "this is Kazul, King of the Dragons."

Student stood frozen in awe. "So that's who Kazul is," Harry whispered. Hagrid was so amazed, he looked a loss for words.

Finally, Harry came forth prepared to give the standard greeting to a dragon, but Hagrid beat him to it. He fell at Kazul's feet. "Oh your majesty, I am Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and your servant. I 'ave the suprame honor of being in your presence."

"So, you're Norbert's father?" said Kazul. Many were astounded; they didn't know dragons could speak.

Hagrid looked up and beamed. "You know Norbert?"

"The child came to my realm soon after it was set free. All dragons know the way, you see. It talks about you often and sends its regards."

"'It,' your majesty?"

"Yes, most dragons don't choose their name or gender until they're at least 300. I think I know which side Norbert's leaning toward, though."

"Er, your majesty," Seamus spoke up, "if it doesn't trouble you, I have a question."

"No trouble at all. What is it, young human?"

"Well, Morwen taught us that female dragons have three horns, and male dragons only have two."

"Yes."

"If you please, your majesty, how could you be king if you are female?"

"Now, that is something about you humans that I do not understand. The position of king has nothing to do with gender with dragons. It is a job description, nothing more. It's only the dragon who can move Colin's Stone through the Vanishing Mountains."

"I like that!" Parvati shouted.

"Wish I could see that," Hagrid said quietly.

Kazul gave another large, toothy smile as she looked down at Harry and his friends. "So, you are the young warrior," she said looking at Harry. "Did you enjoy the trip through the Caves of Fire and Night, Harry?"

"Yes, your majesty," Harry answered bowing.

"Your majesty, if you please, I have a question," Ron asked. "What is the King's Cave?"

"The King's Cave is where we discovered Colin's Stone," Kazul answered. "Each stone in that room have a kind of aura that most dragons can't stand."

"That's why it hurt me," Ron said quietly. "Another question, so please your majesty. What breed of dragon are you?"

Kazul snorted. It might have been a small chuckle. "I don't keep with those. I think they're different in my world than they are here anyway."

"Maybe."

Everybody was soon anxious to talk to Kazul. She was quite sensible, even had a little sense of humor. She even let students ride on her back. Cats and owls were already resting on her back, but Kazul hardly took notice.

After an hour or so, Mendanbar and Cimorene showed up from out of nowhere. "Harry! Good to see you," Mendanbar nodded.

"Good to see you, your majesty. So, what are you all doing here?"

"We came to see Morwen's final evaluation, and I'm supposed to make a speech."

Harry looked around and saw that all of the faculty was now outside. Dumbledore called for silence. He spoke into the same voice modifier Lee Jordan used for commentating. "Morwen, from our observing you, we have concluded that your teaching skills are excellent. You have made learning fun but have also maintained discipline. Therefore, it is my honor to announce that you have successfully passed your evaluation and may teach whatever you'd like. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Albus," Morwen accepted. "I will be very honored to teach next year," several students cheered loudly, then Morwen continued, "but not in Defense of the Dark Arts." Silence. "You see, certain teachers" (she glanced in Snape's direction) "have told me that my teaching of the subject is a little off. I tend to agree. Let's face it; the darkest things I've been up against are plants, and you learn about those from Professor Sprout. I think it should be handed over to someone who has more experience."

Most students watched her with somber silence. Finally, Dumbledore shook her hand. "Very well, Morwen. Whatever suits you."

"Thank you. Now, to speak on an exciting, new program starting next year, I would like to introduce my friend, Mendanbar."

Mendanbar came up to the podium and spoke. "Good morning students. Many of you were sorely disappointed that the Honors Program fell through due to circumstances beyond your control. Morwen was very upset that she wasn't able to do some of the things she wanted to do. Next year, you will have the opportunity to experience these subjects in a new setting. It is my honor to announce the beginning of Hogwarts's first ever study abroad program. This summer, we will prepare Mendanbar School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Enchanted Forest. This setting won't have as many restrictions as Hogwarts since it is in a completely magic country. We'll have new classes, new teachers, and new extra-curricular activities. Think about it over the break, and we'll pass along more information to you. Hope to see you in autumn. Thank you very much."

The students applauded, and the attention of the assembly turned to whether or not they would attend Mendanbar next year.

"Where do I sign up?" Ron said excitedly.

"I'd join in a heartbeat too, if I could make the trip," Hermione said sadly.

Harry stayed silent. If this was going to be like the permission slip to go to Hogsmead, he didn't know if there would be a chance in a million that he would go.

Meanwhile, Morwen was standing just outside the castle talking to Draco and Goyle. Goyle looked like he was going to say something, but Draco beat him to it. "Yeah, take your stupid cat! He's mental! Kept jumping all around, screaming his head off about a Society of Wizards. Nothing like that exists."

"Yes, Wachoo is rather crazy," Morwen nodded. "That might be the reason why he was put in Slytherin with you."

Draco just sneered and walked away.

Then a young Welsh girl from Hufflepuff approached Morwen. "Morwen, may I keep Fflewddur? I love his stories. He's just like the bard he was named after."

"Certainly, Diana. You'll give him a good home, I know."

Morwen gave Fflewddur one goodbye pet and saw him on. Harry met her there.

"Come to say goodbye?" she asked.

"Are you not going to come back next year?"

"I'm sorry, no. I'm going to be deputy headmistress at Mendanbar. I belong at my home." Harry still looked doubtful. "Oh, alright. Telemain and I talked yesterday. We're going to try to start a family. "

"How come?"

"Well for one thing it's not traditional. Witches are supposed to eat children, not have children. And, you know, teaching here kinda makes me wish I had a child of my own. I like children. I loved the first years the most. I'd like to see one grow up and maybe even go to Hogwarts. Anyhow, I can't very well teach all the way over here if I have a little one at home."

"Oh. Well, good luck. I wish you could have been our first permanent DADA teacher, but you know, you can't have it all."

Harry shook her hand and started looking for Daystar. The prince was busy shaking hands with all the teachers, thanking them for a great year. He even spent some time talking to the teachers he didn't really have for most of the year. The final teacher he spoke to was Snape. "Professor, it was fun playing Devil's Advocate with you. And for the record, Mother told me I was named after the morning star, the last hope for our kingdom."

Snape smiled weakly. "You will make a fine king, Daystar."

"Say it," Daystar beckoned. "Come on, give the devil his due."

Snape looked down. "You're my best student. Now get out of my sight!"

Daystar smiled. "Thank you. And you're not so bad a teacher. Sorry about how we accused you earlier."

After all the teachers, he turned to the Headmaster. First he shook his hand and whispered, "Thanks." Then he would not let go and shook more vigorously. Then he hugged Dumbledore. "Thank you so much," he said.

Dumbledore let him go and said, "Good luck to you, Daystar."

Harry watched in astonishment. Was Daystar saying goodbye already? Daystar got down from the platform to meet his friend. "Well Harry, it was an honor knowing you," he said shaking Harry's hand.

"What? You're going? Now?"

"I'm afraid so. Father had some big thing he wanted me to attend to immediately. He won't tell me what it is."

"But what about the Leaving Feast? Don't you want to see Gryffindor win the House Cup?"

"I'd love to see Gryffindor win the House Cup, but you know a prince's job is never done."

"You're coming next year, aren't you?"

"Doesn't look like it. You'll be coming to Mendanbar, won't you?"

"I don't know."

Daystar merely patted Harry's shoulder. "We will meet again."

Harry saw out of the corner of his eye Peeves saying a tearful goodbye to Genie. He never did imagine Peeves being the emotional type. Then Genie joined Morwen, Telemain, and Daystar. "Let's go home, Kazul," Daystar said.

"Sounds good to me," the dragon answered. They waved one last time as they mounted on Kazul's back, and the dragon flew away. The students and several teachers waved goodbye until she disappeared from sight.

The feast wasn't as satisfying as it was in previous years, but Dumbledore did make an interesting speech. First he apologized for the controversial decision to remove magic, then he explained the truth about Daystar (which stirred up lots of commotion) and the nature of the crisis Daystar had prevented. But then he revealed that all the students were responsible for defeating the Society of Wizards, whether they knew it or not. Therefore, he took the points he would have given to Gryffindor in Daystar's name, and split it among the four houses. For the first time ever, all houses tied for the House Cup. There was a great celebration.

"Whoa, that Daystar was cool," Fred said.

"Yeah, and to think, we almost turned him into a canary," George added.

"I almost wish I could rewind this year and do it all over again, now that I know about Daystar," Parvati said.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione just smiled.

The trip back to Hogwarts was much quieter than usual in Harry's cabin. He spent the time writing a letter to Sirius about all that happened.

"Ron, can I borrow Pigwidgeon?"

"Sure. Don't need her talking my ear off all summer, do I?"

Harry owled the letter off to Sirius right off the bat. Afterward, Ron invited Harry to his house later that summer. Harry said he'd try, glad to have something to look forward to. He knew he had nothing for him on Privet Drive.

Mr. Dursley was waiting for Harry at King's Cross station. He didn't say a word to Harry as Mr. Dursley drove him back to the house. Neither did Mrs. Dursley or Dudley greet Harry warmly as he returned home. They completely ignored Harry as he ate his meager supper. He went by himself to his room.

"Another summer with the Dursleys," he said quietly.

"Well, at least you'll have some company," Hedwig said hopefully.

"True, but we better keep that low key. If they found out I was talking to owls, they might throw us out altogether."

"I understand," Hedwig answered.

Harry stroked her white feathers then got in bed. "Goodnight, Hedwig."

"Goodnight," she whispered back. Then Harry fell into a dreamless sleep.

Someone shaking his shoulder wakened him. Harry was afraid for a moment that there was something wrong, like the house was on fire or something. Then he thought, "No, the Dursleys would probably forget about me and just let me die." So he put on his glasses and saw, "Mendanbar!"

"On your knees," the king commanded.

Harry was confused. Last time he was on his knees before Mendanbar, he was rebuked. "But I thought--"

"On your knees!" Mendanbar said sternly. He didn't sound angry, but Harry felt like he'd better do what Mendanbar commanded or else. He knelt and looked up at Mendanbar. Then, the king drew the dreadful blade, the sword that Daystar carried. "Bow your head," Mendanbar said.

Harry lowered his head in fear. Had he broken a serious law by wielding the sword at Hogwarts? Was he going to be executed right here and now? If so, why had Mendanbar not said anything that morning? Could this be a dream, a horrible nightmare?

The magic of the sword seemed to hum above him. The air around Harry shuddered, then went deathly still. It was as though time had stopped. Then, Harry heard Mendanbar's voice again.

"Harry Potter, for your acts of courage and loyalty, I, King Mendanbar in the name of my domain, the Enchanted Forest, do hereby dub you Harry Potter the Brave and do give to you a portion of my domain for your service. Arise, Sir Harry Potter."

The sword lightly touched Harry's shoulders as Mendanbar spoke, and as it did the air shuddered with magic again. Harry stood at Mendanbar's command, wondering if he had heard correctly. Had he been knighted in his pajamas? Yet, as he stood, he saw he was no longer in his room but in a lush, green meadow with brightly colored flowers all around him. And there were people applauding him. Cimorene, Daystar, Shiara, Morwen, Telemain, and Willin were there, and so were many of Harry's other friends like Dumbledore and Hagrid. Harry was somewhat embarrassed, but when he looked down he saw himself in very rich clothes made of silk, colored red and gold like his Quidditch robes. He had a long cape of gold and a holster for his wand, or was it for--?

"Your sword, Sir Harry." Daystar handed him a fine blade. "You'll like it. It has magic powers, one of which is to make the wearer invincible."

Harry held it up to the light. It was indeed beautiful. "Thank you."

"Oh no, thank you."

"Salute!" Kazul had given the command. Harry was amazed to see dragons of all shapes, colors, and breeds there with her, more than he had ever imagined. The dragons breathed fireballs in the air. It must have been a huge honor.

Everyone then came and wished Harry congratulations, saying it couldn't have happened to a better person and so on. Nearly Headless Nick nodded at him. "Welcome to the order, Harry. You'll enjoy it. Just make sure nobody tries to chop off your head."

Dobby nearly tackled Harry with a hug as he congratulated him. "Harry Potter is a knight!" the house elf squealed over and over.

It was nice to see everyone there, but Harry was beginning to wonder where his best friends were. They came and congratulated him last. Ron came first.

"Wow Harry! You're a knight? Cool! Guess what? Kazul made me Chief Treasurer and Historian! That means I get to sort through all her cool treasure and read some of the library books. I'm going to learn lots more about my dragon roots!"

"And Cimorene made me a Duchess!" Hermione said happily. "I can't believe it! I can come back here as much as I want! I'll just take all the magic in here and do--whatever duchesses do!"

"That raises an interesting point," Harry thought aloud. He turned to Mendanbar.

The king smiled and whispered in Harry's ear, "Sorry if my speech sounded awkward. I never really knighted anyone before, so I was kinda winging it.

"It sounded fine. Mendanbar, what do you want me to do as a knight? Do I go out, kill dragons, and save damsels in distress or something?"

Mendanbar looked thoughtful. "Is that what you want to do?"

"Well, not particularly."

"There will be a bunch of things I will think of for you. Perhaps destroy some patches of Dragonsbane, be a mediator for the elves--"

"Help build Mendanbar School."

"Oh, didn't you know? The school's going to be the castle."

"It will?"

"Yeah, I won't mind. It's usually just Willin, Cimorene, Daystar, and me there anyway. But anyhow, I don't know exactly what you'll do. You are, after all, our first and only knight. Technically, we don't need an army, what with the dragons next door. But I'm sure every bit of it will be an adventure. You'll be with your friends, and you'll be seeing new places."

"All right. I bet it will be fun, better than living with the Durseleys, anyway."

Then, Harry saw right past Mendanbar another special guest he must speak to. He rushed over to the man talking to Daystar. As he saw Harry, the man hugged him.

"My own godson, a knight. If only your mother and father were here. I'm very proud of you, Harry."

"Thanks Sirius. Hey, you really should come here to stay. No one will find you and Buckbeak, and if anybody did see you, they'll think it was no more than a crazy dream."

Sirius paused for a long time, then nodded. "I'll think about it."

And so Harry and his friends had many adventures in the Enchanted Forest. No matter what strain he underwent with the Dursleys, Harry knew what awaited him at night.

And he dreamed happily ever after.

THE END