The story continues!

Not sure if I mentioned this earlier but the ages of all the adults (not children) are canon but add five years so they didn't all have their children as teenagers. E.g Cersei is 36, Ned is 39ish, Tyrion is 29ish, etc


Chapter 5: On the Trail

Next morning at breakfast-time…

Great Hall, Hogwarts's Castle


Tywin sipped his cooling tea from the staff table as he watched the Great Hall begin to swell with students. If their state of dress was anything to go on most of them had woken up just minutes before their public appearance. The latecomers seemed determined to squeeze what should have been a pleasant morning ritual into a messy five-minute dash that only added to the chaos; something he didn't tolerate in his daily routine when he was a student and certainly not now.

Tywin bid his customary farewell to Professor Baelish and rose to leave, once again thankful for the nondescript staff door behind the High Table that allowed him to bypass the masses. He had only just reached the door exit when the hall erupted in frenzied conversation that was punctuated with gasps. He immediately turned on his heel while simultaneously drawing his wand, scouring the crowd for the source of unease. Everyone, including the staff, had their faces turned upward, and he followed their gaze.

The ceiling that normally depicted a bright morning at this time was consumed by dark clouds and filled with bright yellow writing in a spiky font:

The Heirs have been chosen,

The Trials have been set,

The challenge begins.

Find my resting place, and all within.

A.T

Tywin pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a breath, but it did little to calm him.

So much for keeping all of this a secret.

He quickly turned away from the hall of chattering children as he grasped his arm. It had begun to tingle in a way he hadn't felt in fifty years. He pulled back his sleeve to see the same spiky yellow writing on his left forearm:

It runs and runs but can never flee. Often watched, yet never sees. When long it brings boredom, and short it brings fear.

The snake slithered between the words and watched him expectantly. Tywin yanked his sleeve back down and immediately looked to the other staff members.

His strong gaze was met by the equally intense gaze of Steffon, who had turned back to look at him with a knowing expression. The large man was also clutching his left arm. Tywin then turned his attention to the student body. From his elevated position at the High table, he easily identified the other four heirs amongst the crowd. They were the only other people in the hall whose eyes were not fixated on the ceiling, but were clasping their arms, identical looks of fear and excitement on their faces.

So, it begins, he thought grimly.


A few days later during afternoon classes …

Classroom 1B (Transfiguration Classroom), Ground floor, Middle Courtyard, Hogwarts Castle


"My mother wasn't concerned at all," Arya said to Myrcella in a hushed tone, "Father was more worried, which is the normal way of things."

They were supposed to be transfiguring rocks into goblets, but Arya decided her time would be much better spent discussing their newfound status as Aegon's heirs than on her schoolwork. If she couldn't wait until dinner, then a classroom full of students shouting incantations was the second-best place to not be overheard.

"What did your parents say?" Arya whispered as she waved her wand aimlessly at her rock.

"You mean after all the shouting?" Myrcella said with an eye-roll, "Mother was even more furious than I thought she'd be. But I don't know why, because both her parents were heirs too."

Myrcella sighed dramatically, "Father thought it was also a good time to ask if I could play for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I think Mother was a whisker away from hexing him through the Headmaster's window."

"Oh?" Arya said concerned.

She could never imagine her parents fighting.

Myrcella's eyes drifted from her rock to Arya's face and she stifled a giggle, "Relax, my Mother would never actually hex my Father … at least I don't think so."

"You want the seeker position right? Did she say yes?"

"I don't know. Headmaster Aemon allowed me to slip away before a decision was made but I suspect my Mother won, like she normally does," Myrcella said with a forceful swish of her wand.

Arya looked down at their rocks. They wobbled and threatened to transform into the goblets, but after a few moments they became still once more. Myrcella let out a disappointed groan and Arya saw her opportunity.

"Did something happen to your Grandmother?" Arya asked, in what she hoped was a casual tone.

Myrcella didn't respond immediately, instead waving her wand with renewed vigour. Arya glanced up in time to see Professor Tyrell making a beeline for their desk, and turned her gaze back to the rocks, doing her best to mirror Myrcella's wand movements.

While Professor Tyrell was known as the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts, both Arya and Myrcella had been taught to fear and respect Olenna Tyrell before they had even set foot in Hogwarts. Their parents had told them many stories of their own student days where they had been on the receiving end of Olenna Tyrell's sharp tongue, and had been embarrassed many a time by her quick wit. She was so famed among the corridors of Hogwarts for her ability to cut down any unruly student threatening her authority in the classroom that the students had given her the nickname, the Queen of Thorns.

The two kept at it, waiting until their Professor was out of earshot before resuming the conversation.

"My Grandmother disappeared before I was born," Myrcella confessed, "She vanished during the Wizarding War. Mother and Grandfather never talk about her, and I can't even get my Uncles to tell me anything. I only know what she looks like because of the family portraits back at Lannister Manor."

These new revelations only created more questions for Arya, but before she could get another word in the honeyed voice of Professor Tyrell stopped her in her tracks.

"Now is not the time for tongue wagging, my dears. If I can't drink out of a goblet by the end of class you'll have to do it in detention."

"Yes, Professor," Myrcella and Arya chorused in unison.

They refocused their energies on the stubborn rocks in front of them.

Professor Tyrell gave a little huff before transforming into a white barn owl and flying back to her desk, leaving the whole class speechless as they watched the flapping of her wings.

Olenna Tyrell inwardly smirked at their reaction. That move hadn't failed her yet.


Later that afternoon before dinner time ..

Hogwarts Library, First Floor, Hogwarts Castle


"Find anything yet?" Trystane drawled.

He was leaning back in his chair and scanning the library with bored eyes, not believing he was spending his free time in his least favourite place.

"Did you know Aerys Targaryen started the Wizarding War twenty years ago because he believed the wizarding race should be ruling the muggles, not hiding from them?"

Shireen didn't give Trystane the opportunity to comment.

"Did you know the war ended three years later not with his defeat but his disappearance!? He could still be out there somewhere!" She said frantically, her head still buried in the book.

"I meant did you find anything out about the riddle that appeared on our skin or the trials we have to complete to find Aegon's Tomb?" Trystane asked, raising his left arm for emphasis.

His words reflected exasperation, but his expression only portrayed his amusement at Shireen's focus on her fellow Heir of Ravenclaw.

"As far as I can tell the first trial is always for the Gryffindor Heir to complete, and the riddle is the starting point but I haven't figured it out yet."

"So, Myrcella is first up? That's good to know, and I'm sure we'll crack the riddle soon," Trystane said brightly, but Shireen's attention had already returned to the book.

Ravenclaws, they always prefer books to people, Trystane thought glumly.

"How could Aerys be Aegon's Ravenclaw heir? I have nothing in common with him!" Shireen exclaimed worriedly.

"Aerys wasn't called the darkest wizard of his generation for nothing but I'm sure being an heir of Aegon is where any similarities between you and he end," Trystane said in a reassuring voice.

Shireen gave Trystane a shy, thankful smile but quickly dipped her head back towards the book.

"Did you know-"

"Oi," Trystane interrupted waving his hand, "I have already completed my first year of history in case you've forgotten. I know about the Wizarding War. Don't you think it would be more productive to find out what isn't in the textbooks? You should try asking Daenerys or your Uncle."

Shireen's face only scrunched up in confusion.

"Daenerys won't know anything; she was born after her father went missing… do you mean Uncle Renly?"

"No, your Uncle Robert. He was the one that killed Aerys's son, Rhaegar. People say it was his death that made Aerys disappear."

"I didn't know that …" Shireen trailed off.

"Well," Trystane started before leaning over the table, "another theory is that Professor Lannister found out that his wife and Aerys were having an affair and killed both of them with the help of Aery's wife, Rhaella."

Shireen could only gap at the revealed information.

"But I don't believe that; why would she end up in Azkaban while he gets a teaching position at Hogwarts?" Trystane mused, "And I can't really see our history Professor being able to defeat the most powerful dark wizard there has ever been. What's he going to do stare him down? Give him detention? But then again he was Minister of Magic…"

"How are you taking this all so lightly?"

"It's just rumours and Hogwarts has a lot of them," Trystane shrugged.

"Maybe don't mention the last one to Myrcella."

"Sure, whatever you want." Trystane said, though he supposed it was probably a good call; no one wanted to be confronted with the possibility their Grandfather murdered their Grandmother.

Soon, Trystane spotted the aforementioned Gryffindor girl enter the library, immersed in conversation with Arya and smiled welcomingly at them.


"Did you two know Professor Tyrell can turn into an owl? Arya asked plopping down into the chair beside Shireen unceremoniously.

Myrcella took the empty seat beside Trystane.

"She does it with every first-year class. She's an animagus and likes to show off," Trystane informed them.

"How did your research into Aegon's Tomb go?" Myrcella asked, choosing to ignore Trystane and talk to Shireen.

Shireen's eyes quickly darted between Trystane and Myrcella.

"Well," she started, closing the book in front of her slowly, "it seems your trial will be first; a test of courage. But I still have no idea what the answer to the riddle is, which I presume reveals the location of the first trial."

"Mmm," Trystane muttered, "We need more information."

"If you say break into the restricted section, I'm onboard," Shireen said enthusiastically.

"That is one option," Trystane replied, amused at this new side of Shireen, "the other option is talking to the house ghosts."

"The house ghosts?" Arya echoed, cocking her head to the side.

"You think previous heirs may have asked them for help in the past?" Shireen said, following his thinking with excitement.

Trystane nodded smugly and puffed out his chest slightly. He was clearly enjoying the three girls' rapt attention.

"Most of the ghosts have been around Hogwarts since it was built. They must know something."

"Quiet please," a gravelly voice demanded.

All four eyes turned to the balding librarian towering above them with his arms crossed.

"Sorry Mister Seaworth, we'll be quieter," Shireen said politely.

"Please ensure you are, Miss Baratheon or I will have to ask you all to leave."

Myrcella watched as the librarian retreated back to his desk before turning to her friends.

"Okay," Myrcella said bringing her hands together, "How about we do both: talk to the house ghosts and break into the restricted section?"

"All we have to lose is house points and our own free time," Arya muttered sarcastically, but her pout was quickly turning into a smile; she thoroughly enjoyed her friend's thirst for adventure.

"At least we'll lose them together," Trystane said smiling.

In his humble opinion the only thing worse than getting detention was sitting through it alone.

"If we get caught they will probably just extend our detentions beyond Christmas and deduct house points. But if we're all punished it won't alter the standings for the House Cup," Shireen said with a satisfied nod.

It seemed she had sufficiently justified her decision to break the school rules and was now fully on board.

"Well, I'm always for a challenge," Arya said enthusiastically.

"Of course you are. Slytherins are supposed to be sneaky right?" Myrcella replied grinning.

Arya's lips curled at their corners.

"Don't act like you aren't either, but I'll take that as a compliment."

"I can't wait to have a peak at those books," Shireen added dreamily, caught up in the thought of all that forbidden knowledge.

"So, we're all agreed?" Myrcella asked, wanting confirmation from the team.

Everyone nodded; the excitement between them was palpable.

Shireen looked through the stacks of books to the locked gate of the restricted section.

"We'll need to come up with a plan; no charging in head first," Shireen said, looking pointedly at Myrcella.

"That's fine," Trystane said, "in the meantime we can work on talking to the ghosts. They're always moving about and some don't really like talking to students."

"I think it's time to leave before we get chucked out," Myrcella said, catching Mister Seaworth eyeing their table again.

Trystane looked behind his shoulder and saw the agitation on the librarian's face, "I would agree. Let's go heirs."

"Don't call us that," Myrcella whispered, "we aren't supposed to broadcast it."

"People will find out eventually," Trystane replied, "everyone already knows there are new heirs and it doesn't take a genius to figure out they are probably the four kids who don't hang out with their own housemates. I don't suppose anyone has a good excuse for having a tattoo either?"

"Well, I'm hungry," Arya announced, pushing both Myrcella and Trystane towards the exit as Shireen shot Mister Seaworth an apologetic look.


Author's Notes:

Everyone now knows there are four more new heirs of Aegon and the Quartet have their starting clue. Tywin and Steffon also get the first clue because they are still bound to the magic of the trials/Aegon's Tomb.

I wanted a scene with Trystane & Shireen together in the library to test out how their relationship/friendship would be as they are the most contrasting personalities in the quartet.


Revealed faculty positions: (New ones revealed this chapter)

Olenna Tyrell – Professor of Transfiguration & House position not revealed yet

Davos Seaworth – Former Hufflepuff & Librarian of Hogwarts

Jon Arryn – Head of Hufflepuff & Subject not revealed yet

Other:

Rhaella Targaryen – Former Hufflepuff & Prisoner in Azkaban


Reviews:

Supremus85 – Areys .. disappeared .. so he is a threat. That was a mistake, Aemon is in Ravenclaw! I really think Aerys would be Ravenclaw over Slytherin and I like the fact that the darkest wizard ever (in this universe) isn't a Slytherin.

Ro781727 (commented on Chapters 2,3 & 5) – Thanks! Yeah, Baelish was trying not to laugh. I always thought Myrcella would be a bit of a badass if she was in a world where you don't have to be a little princess so hence, she is Gryffindor.

The Tywin Aerys friendship will be further explored as this story goes on but Tywin was forced to move from the Ministry because of his connection to Aerys and the result of the Wizarding War Aerys caused.

Fixed that, thanks. Me too! The quartet are obviously a big part of this story.


Next Up: The Quartet make progress on their quest, it's Slytherin vs Gryffindor on the Quidditch pitch and Arya gets into her first proper fight of the school year.

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