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Daella Targaryen, Pensieve Memories – Potter Hall.

These corridors were a balm for the soul, but they were also a torture.

They represented everything Daella longed for with all her heart. Potter Manor... represented her home, the place where her happiest memories resided.

Where the Princess had truly been happy, she thought with a sorrowful smile as she watched little Harrys practicing sword techniques.

He looked so adorable, the Princess thought with a smile, watching little Harrys perform each exercise beneath the intense and attentive gaze of Daemon Blackfyre, who observed the young Potter's movements with clear approval.

"Again, Harry. Don't turn your hips so much. Your footwork is the most important part. A firm stance is the most important thing in a fight. One hundred more repetitions," the Black Dragon said.

And her beloved answered with that childish voice that brought so many wonderful memories back to Daella.

"Yes, Ser!" before continuing.

No complaints.

No expressions of annoyance.

Only determination and discipline.

Completely focused on his task.

"It's... painful to see it again," Princess Daenerys confessed with mixed emotions, looking toward Daemon with sadness, and then toward little Harrys with immense longing.

Daella swallowed.

This was proving far more difficult than she had expected.

But, thank the Gods...

Kiera, the wife of her cousin Valarr, spoke with visible astonishment.

"Valarr, my dear... is that you?" she asked in disbelief as she looked toward the entrance of the enormous manor, watching three children run into the courtyard. Two of them were identical, with the platinum-blond hair so characteristic of the Valyrians, while the third...

Possessed her cousin Valarr's unmistakable hair.

"Harry!!" the young Prince shouted with a huge toothless grin before lifting his innocent gaze toward Ser Daemon, who looked at the twins and Prince Valarr with concealed amusement upon his handsome face.

Beside her, the present-day Valarr let out a groan of embarrassment, his face completely flushed as he immediately looked away.

"Gods... I remember this part," he said with an embarrassed grimace, drawing the attention of every adult present.

"What do you mean, son?" his uncle Baelor asked.

He received his answer only a moment later.

Little Valarr puffed out his chest like a proud rooster, lifted his chin, adopted an "imposing" posture, and then spoke.

"Ser Daemon... I request that you allow Harrys to finish his training early because...because...we have very important matters to attend to," little Valarr declared, his voice sounding pompous and, quite frankly, ridiculous, much to Daella's complete disbelief.

Curious, Ser Daemon looked at the young Prince before asking,

"Why are you talking like that, Valarr?"

The Black Knight received his answer from little Harrys himself, who let out an exaggerated sigh before speaking.

"Valarr is practicing his princely voice, Ser. He wants to command respect, and he's practicing to impress his father. He says he sounds amazing. I say he looks like a constipated chicken," Harrys said, rolling his eyes, making little Valarr glare at him in utter outrage, betrayal shining clearly within his eyes.

Everyone present noticed that Ser Daemon had to make a truly titanic effort not to burst into laughter at the hilarious sight.

The others, however, showed no such restraint.

Every single person present laughed heartily at Valarr's "princely pose."

"Oh, my love! You looked so adorable!" Kiera said with a radiant smile, gazing at the memory with both longing and sadness, completely lost in her own thoughts while her hands instinctively rested upon her stomach, something that immediately caught Daella's attention.

Ser Daemon chuckled softly before playfully ruffling Valarr's hair with obvious affection, making her cousin smile once again.

"Very well. That's enough for today, Harrys. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Put the swords away, clean them properly, and then you're free to go," the Black Dragon said, prompting all four boys to nod enthusiastically before immediately beginning to clean the training weapons.

The four little terrors immediately began chatting about the important matters the Prince had mentioned.

Something about going fishing.

And afterward...

Visiting old Wallace.

Whoever he was.

"Who's old Wallace?" Egg asked curiously, causing both Harrys and Valarr to let out a snort at the exact same moment before laughing softly and becoming lost in their memories, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"You'll find out very soon. I remember this day very fondly," his cousin Valarr said with a smile before exchanging a knowing glance with Harrys, who merely chuckled softly.

Alas...

Apparently, laughter could never last for very long.

For at that very moment, Ser Daemon began walking toward the interior of the manor, heading directly toward where Lady Lily was absentmindedly arranging a bouquet of flowers, the sadness upon her face more than evident to everyone present.

She looked much younger.

Radiant, even.

Her red hair gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight, while her beautiful green eyes were filled with a deep and unmistakable sorrow.

Ser Daemon's expression softened before he calmly walked over and sat beside Lily, simply offering her company and the silence she needed so she could continue with what she was doing.

"What were you doing there, my dear?" Baelor asked curiously, watching with growing concern as the expression upon Harrys' mother darkened, sadness completely overtaking her beautiful face.

Lily did not answer.

She simply fixed her attention upon the memory.

Ser Daemon made no attempt whatsoever to move, perfectly content to simply remain beside the red-haired woman.

"Twelve years... and I still miss her as much as I did on the day I lost her," the Lily within the memory said as she finished arranging the flowers, while treacherous tears escaped from her eyes.

Ser Daemon looked at her with compassion before replying.

"I'm sure she would have adored them. She would have been just as mischievous as Harrys, without a doubt," the Black Dragon said with remarkable care and tact, causing the Lily within the memory to smile gratefully.

There was affection between them.

That much was obvious.

But it was...

Fraternal.

Perfectly clear for everyone watching.

"Are you truly leaving for Pentos? It's an important decision. Leaving the Seven Kingdoms behind cannot be easy," Lily said calmly as she took a seat beside him, the two conversing with complete intimacy.

The Black Dragon let out a deep sigh before nodding.

"Yes. I spoke with Rohane and with my own contacts. I've gathered enough wealth to accomplish something worthwhile over there. Perhaps reconquering Andalos. Fighting a Dothraki Horde would be entertaining," Daemon Blackfyre said with obvious amusement.

Amusement that Lily very clearly did not share.

"Stop saying such ridiculous things. I still don't understand why you want to leave for a place filled with savages and slavers," Lily said firmly while a pair of maids approached them carrying refreshments.

Those words surprised every single person watching the memory.

Both Targaryens and Martells turned toward Lily, silently waiting for an explanation.

Daella included.

"What did Lily mean by that? Was Daemon...?" her uncle Baelor asked, utterly astonished.

Lily nodded, watching the memory with obvious remorse.

"Yes. Daemon's plans were to leave the Seven Kingdoms together with his family," the red-haired woman said solemnly before returning her attention to the conversation.

"But what is clear is that I cannot remain here. Daeron has treated me well, but he already has enough problems of his own. The Court talks, and more Lords approach me every day with idiotic proposals, as though one bloody sword somehow gave me the right to wear a Crown," the Black Dragon spat, taking the goblet of wine before politely thanking the maid, much to everyone's disbelief.

Egg, his younger brother, could not help but ask,

"Is... is this the terrible Black Dragon? The one consumed by greed and sin? The man who rose against Grandfather?" the boy asked hesitantly, questioning everything he had always believed to be true.

The Lily within the memory rolled her eyes before speaking.

"I know, but I still don't believe running away is the answer. You have a wonderful family and..."

Lily's words were interrupted by the sound of doors opening.

At the exact same moment...

The present-day Princess Daenerys blushed furiously.

"I remember this," she said in embarrassment before looking toward Prince Maron.

"I'm sorry, my love... for what you're about to hear," she said, prompting the Prince of Dorne to look at her in surprise before slowly nodding.

A heartbeat later...

A small brown-haired projectile burst into the room, running wildly through the enormous manor, making the present-day Daella blush just as deeply in embarrassment.

The Daella of the past ran toward the courtyard of Potter Manor without so much as greeting either Lily or Daemon, much to the obvious amusement of both.

But then...

She heard it.

That beautiful voice Daella had missed so desperately.

"Oh, Daella, my dear, don't run! You'll tear your dress!" her mother's voice called out.

Princess Dyanna appeared, accompanied by Princess Daenerys, who looked considerably younger.

Daella.

Egg.

Daeron.

And Maekar.

None of them could stop themselves from gasping.

Frozen in place at the sight of the Princess...

As alive as they remembered her.

"Dyanna... my love," her beloved father whispered with such longing and sorrow, his eyes becoming moist as he reached out his hand with such naked hope that Daella felt her heart shatter simply from watching him.

Daeron remained solemn, holding little Egg in his arms.

But Daella...

Daella simply could not help herself.

She ran...

And from the depths of her throat escaped the most emotional and desperate cry.

"MOTHER!!" she screamed as she threw herself toward the image of Dyanna Dayne, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face with the damned hope of feeling her warmth...

And her love...

One more time.

Alas...

Reality was cruel.

Daella simply passed straight through the memory of her mother as though it were nothing more than an illusion, delivering yet another brutal reminder of reality to the young Princess, who could do nothing but collapse onto her knees and begin crying with desperation and fury.

But tragic though it was...

Daella was not the only one doing so.

For Princess Daenerys within the memory, the instant she saw Daemon Blackfyre, threw herself into his arms, embracing him with all her strength and desperately clinging to his neck while crying bitterly, burying her face against him, much to the Black Dragon's complete surprise.

Daemon returned the embrace before asking with remarkable gentleness and tenderness,

"Dany? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked while looking toward Princess Dyanna, silently demanding an explanation with his eyes.

Daella's mother let out a weary sigh before taking a seat beside an obviously worried Lily and replying,

"King Daeron has announced that Daenerys will marry Prince Maron Martell... to seal the alliance with Dorne and officially incorporate them into the Realm as vassals of the Iron Throne," the Dornish Princess said with obvious disapproval.

Lily looked toward her with complete disbelief before replying,

"Marry Maron Martell? But the Prince is twice her age!" the red-haired woman exclaimed in surprise, making a distinctly uncomfortable expression when her words caused Daenerys to cry even harder while Daella's mother looked at her with open disapproval.

"Those are the King's orders. He wishes to bind Dorne to the Realm through blood. In theory, it isn't a bad plan, but..." Princess Dyanna said with an obvious grimace, making it more than clear that she did not agree with the decision.

"Silence," Daemon said as he gently cupped Daenerys' face with infinite tenderness.

The Princess was almost still a child.

Even younger than Daella.

Far closer to Egg in age.

"Don't you want to marry Maron Martell, Dany?" Daemon asked with extraordinary gentleness and unwavering determination, causing every person watching the memory to fall completely silent.

"I'm sorry, my love... I... I was young and... I'm sorry," the present-day Daenerys said while embracing the more-than-uncomfortable Prince Maron.

"It's alright, my dear. I understand how complicated the situation was," the Prince of Dorne replied calmly, although it was obvious that he was filled with conflicting emotions.

The young Daenerys immediately shook her head before answering.

"No... I don't want to marry a stranger... I want... I..." the Princess tried to say, unable to finish the sentence.

But making every single person present understand exactly what she had wanted to say.

That she wanted to marry...

Daemon Blackfyre.

The Black Dragon let out a heavy sigh before gently caressing Daenerys' face and replying,

"I... I shall send a letter to our brother, and if necessary, I shall raise a host and fight for your right to choose your own husband, Dany, I won't let you alone, I promise" the Black Dragon promised.

And in doing so...

Sowing the very foundations of the future Rebellion.

The memory ended with a jubilant shout that shattered the heavy atmosphere, as everyone watched the twins and little Harrys running after Prince Valarr, who looked utterly terrified while riding atop an enormous old dog that raced wildly through the manor completely out of control.

"That's old Wallace," his cousin Valarr said with a smile, much to little Egg's utter disbelief.

A heartbeat later, everything around them dissolved into grey clouds, causing everyone to emerge back inside Harrys' office, stunned and utterly speechless after everything they had just witnessed.

"What in the Seven Hells was that?" Prince Maekar demanded cautiously, still deeply shaken after seeing the vision of his wife.

Harrys let out a slow sigh.

Lady Lily answered instead.

"That... was the beginning of the Rebellion. Daemon raised a host in Princess Daenerys' name and sent King Daeron a letter stating that he would fight for his beloved sister's right to choose her own husband. The King's response? A letter declaring Daemon and his children traitors, sentencing them all to the Wall," Lily spat furiously, astonishing not only Daella...

But her father and Uncle Baelor.

"What in the Seven Hells are you talking about, woman?! The letter Daemon Blackfyre sent was a declaration! He proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms by the decree of Aegon the Fourth! I was there! So was Baelor! Even Uncle Maron! And despite that, my father showed mercy and sent a letter requesting a meeting to resolve the matter peacefully!" Prince Maekar shouted furiously.

At that exact moment...

Harrys intervened.

He quietly pulled a piece of parchment from his desk.

"This... is the letter Ser Daemon received that day. As you can plainly see..."

"...it was written by King Daeron himself," the young Potter said as he handed the parchment to Uncle Baelor, who began reading it with complete disbelief.

"This... this can't be possible! It has to be a forgery! I was there when my father wrote the message to Daemon Blackfyre! It didn't say any of these... barbarities!" the Heir to the Iron Throne said, utterly stunned, causing her father to walk over to his side and begin reading the letter as well, his face slowly filling with shock and disbelief with every single line.

"Bloody hell..." Prince Maekar muttered, completely dumbfounded, before raising his eyes and speaking with unmistakable uncertainty in his voice.

"This... this is my father's handwriting... but they are not his words. Could it be..." he began, only for Daella to interrupt him, her voice steady and resolute.

"It's obvious that someone intercepted the messages. Someone manipulated the House of the Dragon for their own purposes..."

"And they succeeded," the Princess declared with determination, causing Harrys to nod softly.

"That isn't all... we also believe that..." Harrys tried to continue.

Only to be interrupted by a savage and thunderous sound.

ROOOOOOOAR!!

So powerful that the entire office shook violently, alarming every Targaryen and every Martell alike.

Daella, however, relaxed the instant she noticed that Harrys showed no fear whatsoever upon his face.

Only...

Exasperation.

"It seems they've escaped again," Lily said calmly with a smile, causing Harrys to nod softly before rising to his feet.

"So it would seem. I'll put them back in the paint and reinforce the enchantment," Lord Potter said as he stood up and calmly walked out of the office.

At the very same moment...

Several more deafening roars echoed throughout the the place.

Alarming everyone present.

Yet at the same time...

Awakening Daella's curiosity.

Without the slightest hesitation, the Princess immediately began following Harrys out of the office.

"Daella!! Wait!!" her father shouted in alarm as he watched his daughter run toward the source of those terrifying roars.

Truthfully...

She did not care.

Her curiosity was simply too great.

She wanted to know exactly what secrets Harrys was hiding within this place, secrets that he should had been share with her, her future wife.

And mother of the future generations of Potters.

Retracing their steps through the same corridors by which they had entered, they eventually reached the great entrance hall once more.

Then...

She saw them.

"By the Seven Hells..." the Princess whispered, completely speechless as she watched Harrys wave his wand while an entire group of big winged reptiles flew playfully through the enormous hall, effortlessly dodging every one of his spells.

No...

It couldn't be true...

They were...

They were extinct.

The dragons were gone...

The Princess thought to herself, utterly mesmerized as she stared at the majestic creatures while, one after another, they flew through the enormous entrance of the great hall and disappeared toward the mountain beyond.

Nothing about this place made any sense whatsoever.

But before Daella could demand an explanation...

She felt it.

A warm...

Moist breath.

Directly above her head.

The Princess slowly...

Very slowly...

Raised her eyes.

Swallowing hard the instant she realized that...

One of the dragons was staring directly at her.

Its curiosity more than evident.

It sniffed her carefully.

Judging her.

Studying her.

And as though things could not possibly become any worse...

"DAELLA!!!" her terrified father shouted as he and the others rushed into the entrance hall, only to freeze in place as they stared with absolute amazement and terror at the colossal beast, whose entire attention remained fixed solely upon Daella.

"Holy shit!!! A... a dragon!!" little Egg cried out in complete shock and amazement, stars practically shining within his eyes as he tried to run toward Daella.

Only for Lily to stop him immediately.

"Do not interfere, Egg! Harrys has to solve this himself, and any sudden movement could place your sister in danger!" the red-haired woman ordered, forcing every stunned visitor to step back and give both Daella and Harrys the space they needed with the Dragon.

The Princess swallowed hard.

The situation had become completely absurd.

And something deep inside her told her...

It was still far from over.

She was not mistaken.