Harry didn’t bother complaining as he was placed onto a stretcher and levitated into a building that was obviously the hospital, or what acted like a hospital in medieval Britain. He was settled on a small bed—more of a cot—with Snape next to him and he took some time to gaze around as Helena, Erec, and Felix whispered amongst themselves.

The building was similar to the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, only smaller and clearly made of different materials. There was only enough space for six of the cots, each with a small round table holding candles that currently sat unlit. Windows lined the wooden walls above the cots, providing natural light though it was tinged yellow and blue by the coloured glass, the windows stained glass versions of the Camelot crest. The ceiling was low and the supporting beams visible, with the shingling of the roof visible through that. The floor was wooden planks. At the back of the building was a long section that was cut off with white curtains and, beside that, a small wooden cabinet.

“Very well, I will get Father and Adeline,” Felix said and Harry watched him leave.

“Mum!” Helena suddenly called and the curtain at the back of the infirmary was thrown aside.

“No need to shout, darling, I knew you were here,” the woman who stepped out said as she walked up to all of them.

Harry couldn’t help but gape. He knew this woman, though he was used to seeing older pictures, but there was no doubt it was the same person. She was tall and slender, her features soft and kind and compassionate. Her blue eyes sparkled and her long, honey-blonde hair was in a thick braid, slung over her shoulder and dangling down the side of her body, nearly reaching her waist. She was dressed similarly to Helena, only more elegant and regal. Around her neck sat a necklace made of blue-dyed leather with a glittering silver eagle pendant, a sapphire standing as its eye.

“Harry, Severus, please meet my mother,” Helena said, “Madam Rowena Ravenclaw. She is Camelot’s master of Healing Magic and she will be helping me take care of you.”

“A pleasure to meet you, dear travelers,” Rowena said with a smile that just oozed comfort.

Harry shot a look at Snape, seeing shock in the professor’s face as well.

It was true! They had gone back in time!

“Oh, Adeline, perfect timing,” Rowena said and Harry’s head whipped around to the entrance.

Felix had returned, followed by two others, a young woman that seemed close to Felix’s age and an older man. Like with Rowena, Harry instantly knew who the man was. His straight black hair was shiny in the sun, giving it almost a tinge of blue, and was as long as Lucius Malfoy’s hair, pulled back with a ribbon of green silk. The green eyes were deep in colour and sharp as they gazed around, not too different from how Snape looked. He wore a more tailored, formal version of what Felix and Erec wore, his tunic going to his knees and lacking the dangling ties. He wore stockings over his trousers that reached his knees and the embroidery was far more detailed, the materials more expensive, like silk. He wore no cloak, but a brooch still sat on his left shoulder, a shining silver snake with emerald eyes.

The young woman, Adeline, had many similar features to Felix and Salazar Slytherin, telling Harry she must be part of the Slytherin family. She had a similar face shape to Felix, but her features were striking like Salazar’s, giving her shocking beauty. Unlike her brother and father, she had blue eyes and long, strawberry blonde hair that fell around her in soft beach waves. She could be the picture of nobility, especially with her deep, emerald green gown that seemed to belong to a royal instead of a girl from Camelot.

“Alright, let’s get the two of you fixed up,” Helena said, stepping up to Harry’s side while Rowena went to Snape and Adeline went to the cabinet at the back of the infirmary.

“Salazar, if you could examine for Black Magic that may interfere with Healing Magic?” Rowena requested.

Salazar inclined his head to her. “But, of course, Ro.”

Harry looked at Rowena in question, Snape doing the same as Salazar approached him.

“There are some forms of magic that are resistant to my Healing Magic,” Rowena explained. “The nature of dualities, of White and Black Magic.”

Harry saw Snape give a sharp nod, obviously understanding the explanation. Harry wished he did. He had never heard of White or Black Magic. Were they the same as Light and Dark Magic?

He watched Salazar hover his hands over Snape and move them slowly from head to toe, a dark blue light emanating from his palms and lighting up random spots on Snape’s body. After a few minutes, he ended his examination.

“Much physical harm, Dark Magic, but nothing that will not heal,” Salazar said. “I sense some Black Magic in his mind, left forearm, and heart, but it will not affect your magic.”

“Thank you, darling,” Rowena said, moving closer to Snape.

Harry watched as she banished the man’s shirt and trousers, and began examining his various and numerous injuries. Adeline had joined her at Snape’s side, a silver tray filled with vials and jars floating behind her. Here and there, Rowena would hover her hands over a wound, a white light coming from her palms like the blue light from Salazar. She would make a comment to Adeline who would respond, gesturing to something on the tray, and Snape would cut in, likely questioning every potion suggestion.

Harry’s attention was pulled from the professor as Salazar and Helena stepped up to either side of his bed. He couldn’t help his flinch at their approach and Salazar raising his hands, an unfortunate side effect from the nine days of torture and a lifetime of vicious abuse. Helena gave him a gentle smile of encouragement while Salazar’s face softened as his eyes narrowed knowingly. He continued his actions, hovering his hands over Harry the same way he had with Snape. Harry felt tingles here and there, realizing Salazar was finding his physical injuries caused by magic. There was a sharp tug in his forehead, throat, and heart, and he frowned.

“Also no Black Magic that will interfere. Only Dark Magic and some Black Magic in his head, throat, and heart,” Salazar said to Helena who nodded before turning his eyes back to Harry, a kind smile on his face. “A very strong man to survive what you have.”

“Oh, uh, thanks, but the professor helped a lot,” Harry said, gesturing at Snape who seemed deep in conversation with Adeline over a specific potion. “I couldn’t have made it without him.”

“A fascinating bond the two of you have,” Salazar said and turned back to Helena. “If you have no further need of me?”

Helena waved him off with a smile. “No, thank you, Uncle.”

Salazar gave a mock bow, making Helena laugh, and left the infirmary with Felix and Erec. Harry looked at Helena, surprised at the title she’d used.

“Honourary,” Helena said. “Our families have been friends forever and we’ve known each other since birth.”

Harry nodded, understanding. He watched and listened as she began working on his injuries. She explained her every action and each potion, balm, and paste she used, deferring to Adeline on occasion. He recognized many of the potions, but some were noticeably different or ones he’d never heard of before. He also noticed that most of the magic Helena was using didn’t include incantations or even a wand. When she treated his broken wrist, he was given another Healing Potion, but then it was wrapped tightly in white bandages and he remembered Skele-Gro didn’t exist yet. Once wrapped, Helena waved her hand around his wrist and he looked at it curiously when it tingled.

“I have immobilized the bones so they will not move out of place and be able to heal,” Helena explained. “It will feel strange, almost numb, but you can still use your hand for non-strenuous tasks.”

Harry nodded again and found the same thing was done to his broken rib. Once she had dealt with his bones, it didn’t take long to treat the rest and he was left with mostly healed cuts and bruises. It was just his hip that received bandaging by the end, the worst of the other injuries needing more treatment the next day.

“There,” Helena said with a smile. “You should be feeling better now.”

“I am,” Harry said, nodding. “Thank you, Madam.”

“Such a lovely boy, you are,” she said and patted Harry’s cheek. “Just Helena is fine.”

Bemused, Harry just nodded. Helena smiled at him again before beginning to clean up and Harry turned his attention to the professor. Snape seemed to be done with his treatment as well, bandages just around his abdomen where Harry knew a Gouging Curse had been used, and was quietly talking with Rowena. Adeline had left and was rummaging through the cabinet at the back again.

“Alright, now that the both of you are in a much better state,” Rowena said. “You will need to stay here for tonight, but then, tomorrow, we can figure everything out. I am sure you are overwhelmed, but everything can be explained.”

“You mean you know what happened? How we got here?” Harry said.

“Yes,” Rowena said. “If you are both up to it tomorrow, we will bring you to the one who can explain.”

“Please, try to relax,” Helena said. “You are in no danger here, I promise.”

Harry could see the skepticism in Snape’s face, but also resignation. They couldn’t exactly do anything if Helena was lying.

“Get some rest now,” Rowena said.

“If you need relief, here is a Pain Reliever,” Adeline said, placing a small vial on both Harry’s and Snape’s bedside table. “A personal creation of mine, so you can trust it, I promise.”

Harry looked at her, surprised. The Pain Reliever was invented by the daughter of Salazar Slytherin?

“I will be on my way now,” Adeline said to Helena and Rowena.

“Of course, darling,” Rowena said. “Thank you for your assistance.”

“Anything for you, Auntie Ro,” Adeline said and she left the infirmary with a smile and wave at Helena.

“Rest now,” Helena said. “We will be back with some food. I imagine you have had little.”

“You are correct,” Snape said.

“I will return shortly then,” Helena said and she left with Rowena, leaving Harry and Snape alone.

They sat in a heavy, confounded silence for a few minutes until Snape began to move. Harry watched the professor leave his bed and take the few steps between them, sitting on the edge of Harry’s.

“How are you feeling?” Snape asked quietly, carefully examining each of Harry’s remaining injuries.

“What? You don’t trust the healing abilities of Rowena Ravenclaw and her daughter?” Harry said, earning himself a raised eyebrow and he huffed, rolling his eyes.

“I trust them fine,” Snape said. “What I do not trust is your ability to tell the truth about how you are feeling.”

Harry scowled. “I’m fine. I feel better aside from the fact that we are in bloody Camelot with the bloody Founders.”

“Language,” Snape said, examining Harry’s once skinned calf.

“You’re joking,” Harry said. “I don’t think my language is a core problem right now.”

Snape sighed, finishing his exam and looking up at Harry. “No, but your wellbeing is, so calm down. We have many problems, most of which I cannot immediately solve, but I can ensure your health and safety which is taking priority.”

“I’m not the priority,” Harry said, slightly uncomfortable with the attention.

“Perhaps not to you, but you are to me,” Snape said and Harry repressed a smile at the warmth he felt. He had never been anyone’s priority. “Now, tell me honestly, how are you feeling?”

Harry sighed and sunk back on his pillow. “Better, honestly. Their potions aren’t as good as yours, but they’re still pretty good. I can move, I can think. I’m tired and hungry and confused, but I promise I’m okay. Are you?”

Snape nodded. “I agree their potions are acceptable.”

Harry couldn’t help but chuckle, gaining a questioning look. “You called the potions from Rowena Ravenclaw, her daughter, and a daughter of Salazar Slytherin ‘acceptable’.”

Snape rolled his eyes, making Harry laugh again before sobering after a few minutes.

“Professor?” Harry said. “Are we going to be okay?”

Snape reached out and placed a hand on Harry’s leg. “I believe we will be, yes, but we will find out what’s happened and figure out what to do. I truly do not believe we are in any danger in this village.”

“Guess it’s better than what the alternative nearly was,” Harry said and Snape gave him a small smirk. “I’m glad you’re okay, Professor and here.”

Snape squeezed his leg. “Get some rest, Potter. I believe we’ve earned it by now.”

Harry nodded and watched Snape return to his own bed before settling further in his. Exhaustion and pain relief won him over quickly and he slept deeply, not even waking when Helena returned with food.

When Harry woke the next morning, it was to Rowena waiting to give him a final examination and Helena with a plate of eggs, old-style toast with fig jam, and bacon. He ate with fervor, having survived on only berries and mushrooms, and only after nine days of nothing. Helena gave him a Healing Potion as he ate for his residual small injuries; the rest would take time, she said.

Erec came into the infirmary just as Harry finished eating, coming over to him and Snape with what seemed to be clothes in his hands. He dropped the small piles onto each of their beds.

“For you, Severus, some of Uncle Sal’s. He seems to be closest to your size,” Erec said, getting a nod from the professor. “Harry, these are from Cyrus, a boy in the village around your age. They might be a bit large, but Aunt Helga could do any Altering Charms necessary.”

“Thanks,” Harry said, looking at the clothes he could tell were similar to what they’d seen Erec and Felix wearing.

“Well, if you are both feeling up to it, I see no reason to keep you here any longer,” Helena said. “As long as you take it easy, of course.”

“Anything to get the hell out of this bed,” Harry said. “Bloody hate hospitals.”

“Potter, language!” Snape snapped at him.

Harry flushed. “Sorry, sir.”

Rowena laughed lightly. “Not to worry, darlings. Not too different from Godric and his boys or the twins.”

“Aunt Ro, please,” Erec said, mock offense in his voice. “I am a perfect gentleman.”

Rowena pat him on his cheek with a very clearly patronizing smile. “Whatever you say, darling.”

While the exchange was amusing, Harry couldn’t help the sharp pain that hit his chest at the reference to ‘the twins’. It immediately made him think of Fred and George, and he was distracted by the sadness he felt from how much he missed them.

“Go get dressed and we will bring you around the village,” Helena said. “There are some people you should meet if you wish to learn what’s occurred to bring you here.”

Harry looked at her and then Snape who nodded at him. He was pointed to the curtain at the back and he stripped off the hospital clothes. He’d been given a simple blue, short-sleeved tunic with short drawstrings and an embroidered line around the neck and sleeves, and a pair of brown trousers and leather ankle boots. It was significantly different to anything he’d ever worn before, but it was at least light and comfortable. When Snape came out wearing much the same thing just with detail on his green, three-quarter-sleeved tunic creating a leaf and diamond pattern around the neck, shoulders, cuffs, and bottom, a belt, and knee-high boots, Harry couldn’t keep from staring. It wasn’t an outfit he ever would have expected to see on the man.

“Not a word, Potter,” Snape muttered as he came up beside Harry.

The warning was ignored.

“Should we ask for black, sir?” Harry said, trying to hold back a smirk. He yelped and laughed when a hand came up and swatted the back of his head.

“Brat,” Snape said, his hand falling, briefly, on Harry’s neck to seemingly push him forward towards Helena, Rowena, and Erec. The touch was light and clearly also meant to be a comfort, and Harry’s snickering settled into a small smile.

“Excellent,” Erec said with a wide grin.

“You are both still healing, so do take it easy,” Rowena said, and both Harry and Snape nodded.

“Come on then,” Erec said and he led the way out of the infirmary.

With a hand to his back, Harry followed with Snape close behind. Stepping outside, he found the village had come alive. Now that he wasn’t stuck in the back of a wagon, Harry was able to see the entire village. It reached out in each direction by a few kilometers, made up of various homes, buildings, and other structures. People were milling about and walking around, completing chores and work and speaking with friends and neighbours. Children of all ages were running around or, if old enough, helping with chores. Magic could be felt and seen all over the village. Some animals roamed freely while others were in pens around the area, some next to homes and others on their own. To the east, Harry could see a large clearing filled with galloping and grazing horses. Owls and ravens flew overhead, coming to and from a small tower just north on top of a small hill.

The infirmary was part of the village’s main square. Roads from wagons and footpaths set up the village’s layout. The main square was in a rough circle with roads breaking it up to connect to the rest of the village, footpaths leading to where wagons couldn’t or didn’t need to go. Along with the infirmary, the main square was made up of a blacksmith, a saddler, a weapon maker, a parchment maker, a butcher, a wandmaker, an apothecary, and a large, long building Erec called the great hall.

It was everything he’d always read and pictured made up a medieval village, only the majority of the work was being completed using magic. Erec explained the great hall as being the place where village events and meetings were held, as well as a general gathering place. It was, apparently, a daily occurrence for villagers to have meals in the hall rather than at home simply for the companionship and socialization.

Despite everything, Harry couldn’t help but relax just a bit at the friendly, lively village.

His examination of the village was interrupted by the horse-drawn wagon coming to a stop in front of them. Sitting up front were two women. One of them was curvy with honey-coloured eyes and light caramel brown hair that reached nearly to her waist. The other woman was holding the reins and dressed differently than the other women Harry had seen so far. She was honestly gorgeous, her features stern in a way that commanded attention, but soft in her fairness and indicative of deep emotion. Her hair was long, a couple of thick braids on either side of her head pulled back to wrap around the tie keeping the rest of her hair in a low ponytail. Her hair was a shiny auburn and her eyes a chestnut brown. She was wearing what seemed to be a mix between the male and female dress he’d seen so far. Her purple top was only thigh-length in the front like some of the tunics he’d seen, but seemed to be rounded and longer in the back. It was also styled more like Helena’s dress, bell elbow-length sleeves, and embroidery and beading around the hooped neck. She wore dark brown trousers like the men as well as knee-high boots. She wore a long silver chain that hung on her chest, a pendant of the Camelot symbol dangling at the end.

“Harry, Severus, this is Isabella and Guinevere,” Erec said, gesturing to both women respectively.

Harry looked at the second woman again. “Guinevere? As in Lady Guinevere and King Arthur?”

Guinevere’s mouth curled into a bemused smile. “Well, I do like the sound of that. However, right now, I am simply Guinevere and he Arthur, a Knight of Camelot. Though, yes, we are betrothed.”

“You are not ‘just’ anything, Guinevere,” Erec said almost in chastisement. “Or what would you call being Camelot’s battle strategist and master duelist?”

Harry looked at Erec and then Snape with wide eyes. That had certainly never come up in any of the histories about Camelot.

“A necessity,” Guinevere said, making Erec roll his eyes. “Now, are we ready, gentlemen?”

“Where are we going?” Snape asked, hand brushing Harry’s back again in a way Harry knew was meant to tell him to stay put until they had some answers. Harry understood. The professor may have said he didn’t think they were in danger, but Harry knew they couldn’t be sure just yet. They truly didn’t know anything about what was going on. Not to even mention the pure insanity at their predicament in general.

“We told you we had an enchantress that told us the two of you were coming and would be in that meadow,” Erec said. “We are taking you to her so she can explain everything.”

“Very well,” Snape said after a pause.

“Onward then, my good ladies,” Erec said, clapping his hands and making Isabella and Guinevere laugh lightly. He gestured for Harry and Snape to climb into the wagon, following them as they settled.

The wagon ride wasn’t long, only about fifteen minutes up a winding northern path over the hill towards the forest. They all left the wagon at the edge of the forest, following Isabella and Guinevere. It was like walking through the Forbidden Forest, dense with no clear paths and dark despite being midday. There were a couple of differences, namely the lighter air and the little orbs of blue and white light that floated around, showing them the way. They didn’t walk for long either, less than ten minutes certainly, before they came upon an unexpected sight.

The forest itself really hadn’t changed, still dim and dense with oak, pine, larch, and spruce trees. However, amongst those regular trees were two huge silver willow trees. Their branches twisted and braided together, creating an archway between the two trees. Leafy, silvery vines cascaded down from the archway, acting like a cover to a pathway. A soft blueish-white glow could be seen through the gently swaying vines.

When Erec stood off to the side while Isabella and Guinevere approached the archway, Harry looked at him curiously.

“Only a select few are allowed in her presence,” Erec said.

Harry wasn’t sure what to think about that, and, apparently, neither did Snape as the man’s hand brushed his back again. It had happened a few times, a clear request for Harry to stay close and alert. The professor didn’t have to worry, Harry had no intention of going anywhere. While his natural curiosity had reared up, he also found a strange—and embarrassing—clinginess had built up stronger than the curiosity. Being with the professor non-stop and through torture had made Harry wary of being too far away from the man; a secret he would most certainly keep to himself. He was fifteen, after all, and Snape was nothing more than his professor.

He was pushed lightly when Isabella and Guinevere walked through the vines, and Harry followed. Passing through, it almost felt like the air wavered and rippled around them. Powerful magic lay over the area. Stepping out the other side of the vines, Harry couldn’t help but gape.

The same silver willow trees that created the archway also created the large circle in which they now stood. Their branches weaved together to create a canopy overhead and vines hung all over, abloom with white flowers that seemed to sparkle and glow. Filling the circular area was a huge clear blue lake, its crystal surface glittering in the light of the flowers and in general, as though it couldn’t help but do so. The grass surrounding the lake was lush and green though it seemed to shimmer with a blue glow, making the grass seem almost teal every few seconds. The air crackled with magic, but still gently enough to feel like a welcome caress across his skin.

As Harry stared at the lake, ripple circles began to leave the center outwards across the surface. His eyes widened as a figure slowly broke the surface, more and more of her being revealed as she walked towards them. She stopped about a meter from the lake’s edge and gazed at them as she stood on the water, the surface returning to its crystal-like state under her feet.

Her iridescent and bright glow made her almost blinding to look at while simultaneously impossible to look away from. She was completely silvery-white, from her skin to the detail in her dress. She was tall and slender, her features strong but angelic and delicate at the same time. Her hair flowed down around her, reaching her waist, white with a silver undertone and straight, brushed by the forest air to drift lightly around her. Her eyes were one of the only things not white; rather, they were a gentle, yet piercing purple, the colour sharp against her white complexion.

She wore a long, shiny white dress, its bottom around her feet in the water. A thigh-high slit, nearly reaching her hip, in its skirt revealed her leg where she was barefoot, but with silvery leaves and vines wrapped around her feet and lower legs up to the knee. The top of the dress was heavily embroidered with leaves, vines, and flowers, covering the entire bodice to the waist and the long, tight sleeves that ended in points on the back of her hands. Over the sleeves from the elbow, were wide, flowing half-bell sleeves, creating sort of waves of white falling from her arms. The dress at off her shoulders and low on her chest in a wide ‘V’ neckline, lined in an iridescent blue.

Around her neck was silver chain holding a relatively large pendant sitting on her white chest. It stood out as all the stones were different, beautiful, opalescent shades of blue. It was primarily a large oval gem made of an oddly reflective light blue material. Below, on either side was a crescent moon made of silver, a small oval made of a teal-coloured gem, an oblong gem made of a night-sky blue gem, and then, in the center, was a teardrop made of opal with a tinge of blue. Finally, on her forehead sat a band with a pendant also made of shades of glimmering blue. The pendant was circular with two interlocking circles inside. Down the center of the circles was a line with the top shaped as a heart and the bottom a lyre. Around the side of the circles, filling the space, were vines, leaves, and flowers, just like her dress.

There was no other word for her except ethereal.

She raised her arms just to the side of her, palms up, as if in greeting.

“Welcome,” she said, her voice melodic and echoing beautifully. “I have been waiting for you.”

Harry frowned, glancing up at Snape who seemed just as confused.

“I am Nimue, Lady of the Lake, Protector of Avalon, and Enchantress of Camelot,” she said, making Harry’s eyes widen again. “We need your help.”