Harry hummed thoughtfully as he turned the page of the book in his hands. While Angel's ever present company was nearby, her own nose buried in a book as well, his attention was devoted solely to the text in his hands.
"Kids, it's time for your lessons."
Harry and Angel looked up simultaneously to where Angels mother was standing making the woman chuckle. It was surprising how much a year could change so much and yet so little at the same time. The confidence that the now eight year old Prince commanded was where a normal child his age should have and her daughters outgoing spirit only seemed to grow as Harry's confidence had. It was borderline impossible to find one without the other. Whether it was studying in their academic and magical lessons, self-defense lessons or even just spending off time wandering the island the two were practically joined at the hip. While her mate was still was of the thought the kids bond was empathetic and they were close because they were alike, she found the closeness and near impossibility of finding them separated from each other to be evidence they were meant for each other as mates.
"She's doing that thing again Angel" Harry said arching an eyebrow as he turned his gaze to his friend.
Angel rolled her eyes and marked her book page before closing it. "I'm aware of that Harry. When is she not doing it?" the silver haired girl asked.
"Do you want an honest answer or should I say the expected one?" Harry asked with a snort as he dogeared his own book. "Either way, we both know what those answers are."
At this point the older Dementor pouted at the sarcasm the kids were using. "Ok number one, I'm standing right here you two. Second of all, what am I doing?" she asked in a put out tone. 'Sometimes they already act like an old married couple. All that is missing is the pet names and finishing each others sentences' she thought crossing her arms under her chest.
"Looking at us like that. No offense but you aren't a master of being subtle mom" Angel said as she placed her book on the end table between the chair she was sat in and Harry's chair. "Mom, I love you to death. You also know Harry appreciates everything you & dad have done for him, not to mention continue to do for him, but we hear the conversation more often than not. Harry and I are young, we are nowhere near the age to even speculate on the idea of where to find a mate. That's not even to say we wouldn't even know what to look for if we were of age. We're friends and that's all."
"That's not completely true Angel" Harry said as he put his book down on top of Angels.
"Oh? Have I missed something important Harry?" Angel asked. Even her mother looked slightly intrigued and, to her dismay, entirely too hopeful.
"Sparring partners" Harry said pushing himself to his feet.
Angel let out an 'Ah' as her mother seemed to visibly deflate. "Ah yes, that is pretty important too. How could I forgot about that?" she asked furrowing her brow for a moment.
"That's part of why you have me around Angel. Part of why you have me around" Harry said patting the silver haired girl on the head. Her light glare made him chuckle as he left the library and moved to the room they had set up as a classroom of sorts, mother and daughter in tow.
Within the Headmasters office of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a man paced the length of the office with a dark scowl. One year ago Harry Potter, the only spawn of his greatest pawns in the war against the dark elements of magical Britain, had vanished without a trace after the murder of his abusive, magic hating, muggle relatives. One year since his access to all Potter funds under false pretense was cut off. One year since every account in Gringotts linked to him was frozen and liquidated. One year since Gringotts very clearly told him the next time he attempted to step on sovereign Goblin land he'd be executed immediately for the thief he was. Blue eyes burned darkly as he glared at the admission book open to the page where the name of his current bane of existence should've been. Yet was it there? Yes and no. While it was present on the page, as were the names of the children of every alumni, it was struck out with a very thick slash line. A slash line which meant the magic of the castle and the principle artifact that deemed who would be sent a letter for Hogwarts acceptance had come to one of two conclusions.
The first, and unlikely, conclusion was that Harry James Potter was dead. Infant Harry Potter survived the Killing Curse where every other unlucky soul did not. Young Harry Potter survived the near six years before the wards fell after the terrible muggles he deliberately put him with. Harry Potter being dead was not in the cards, not with the absurdly high Potter luck coursing through his veins. Beyond that accursed luck, the singular charm linked to Harry Potters survival- a silver heart trinket- was still beating which said beyond all doubts the Potter scion was alive; the only downside to it was that while it was proof of life as far as he knew without visiual confirmation, it didn't tell hin where the brat was.
The second explanation, and one he was relying on being true otherwise his plans were all for naught, was that at the current time the magic of the school found Harry unworthy of attending. While it would throw a monkey wrench in his plans as the muggles would say, it was a minor monkey wrench at that. The globe was only so big and the access he had to artifacts as the school Headmaster, not to mention the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot within the Ministry of Magic, would allow for his plans to come to fruition one way or another. If this was the case it would merely require restructing of his plans and the timing to be altered but his plans would be made whole one way or another.
From a perch in one corner of the room a red and gold feathered phoenix trilled sadly. For one who possessed such promise in his youth the phoenix was regretting its choice to bond to the ancient wizard now. What had began as a pure ambition had become so twisted and dark by the lure of power.
"Silence Fawkes!" the wizard snapped turning his burning glare to the magical bird. "Your incessant-"
The phoenix, now identified as Fawkes, glared back at the wizard as the red and gold feathers threatened to ignite. He had tried to steer the wizard back to a righteous path to no avail for decades of effort. He tried to temper the darkness that grew using the magic unique to his kind and that failed too. Now the human dared to take that tone of voice with him?! Before the wizard could finish his statement two things happened very quickly and neither was pleasant.
Number one, and very painful to both of the rooms occupants but more so for the wizard, was the destruction of the bond the phoenix so willingly made decades ago. While it was a sharp pain to the magical bird, the squinted eyes of the mythical avian being saw the ancient man double over in untold agony clutching at his head. Breaking such a long held bond was often a hundred times more painful for the bondee, the ancient wizard in this case, than the bonder, Fawkes. The destruction of such a bond not only reclaimed any magics infused into the bondee from the bonder but also reclaimed any and all magical knowledge imparted to the bondee from the bonder.
While the ancient waa reeling from such intense pain and magical loss the second effect came into play. Flames of golden fire, similar to those described as Hellfire by American muggle comic books, erupted swallowing Fawkes and the office whole. For a minute nothing was visible til, like a vaccum, the flames diaappeared all at once. The portraits of previous Headmasters of the school were undamaged as was furniture and the current living one who seemed to finally get a grip over hinself. Unfortunately for the wizard, the collection ancient tomes could not say the same. In place of of packed wall to wall shelves filled with books was now nothing more than ashes.
A sound reminiscent of an extremely angered roar tore out of the wizards throat. The damn bird practically neutered him and destroyed his back-ups! If he ever got his hands on the avian before he died Fawkes would die a permanent death if it was the last thing he ever did!
"Now if we apply a dose of-"
A tornado of golden flames filled the centre of the room. Harry, acting out of reflex and the promise he made to himself concerning Angel's safety, pushed Angel out of the way as sparks hit him in the chest instead of the silver haired girl.
Angel watched in horror as the golden sparks caught on Harry's clothes and he was immediately consumed by the same golden flames of the tornado in the rooms center. The fear was beyond visible as she scrambled to her feet. She had to do something to help Harry!
"Calm yourself Mildy Azkaban. Your mate is in no danger, not from me or my flames at the very least."
All motion in the room came to a dead stop as the tornado of flames died revealing a young man on bended knee before the column of flames that was Harry's engulfed form. Possessing red hair like blood with golden undertones, tan skin and dressed in clothes like nobility of days long past the young man was equal parts impressive & imposing.
Angel's mothers eyes went beyond sharp and narrow taking a protective position betweeen the kids & the stranger. Whoever or whatever this young man was, he was certainly not human. "What did you do the P-"
"Now now" the column of golden flames that engulfed Harry died as he struck a hand out "let us not be hasty now. Give the gentleman a chance to explain his appearance and if it is unsatisfactory I will allow you the latitude to deal with him as you desire" the young prince said.
Angel gasped seeing and feeling a change in Harry's magic. While the flames hadn't so much as singed a single thread of his clothes the heat and burn, for lack of better descriptor, seemed to have been absorbed by the dark magic denoting his identity. With no heed for composure she scrambled over and began to fret over Harry. Even as he tried to placate her that he was ok, thus stealing his attention completely, neither kids heard the next few sentences that would mark the beginning of a destiny that would intertwine their fates forever until the end of their days.
"Just who are you calling Lady Azkaban? And further more, why are you here? How did you come to be here?" Angel's mom asked with a sharp tone as a chill filled the air.
The young man didn't even flinch as eyes like burning ember glanced to the mahogany haired. "Who do I call Lady Azkaban?" he asked. One hand motioned to the silver haired young lady who finally seemed to calm. "The young Twilight Mistress of course. The Mark of the Night Sovereigns, the Lord and and his Lady, is one none of us under the Banner of Stars can resist the call to. Not when one threatens the safety of the Lord and his future."
Angel's mothers eyes widened. "Who are you?!" she demanded hissing as she briefly glanced to the kid and notes they seemed to be caught up, well Harry was anyways, in calming the other.
"My name is Nox, son of Orious. Last of the Black Aether Phoenixes. I bring to the Lord a warning and my fealty to his banner" the young man said gravely.
