On the Waves
The sunlight was chilled, making the leaves' colors seem brighter than usual, and causing the caravan to layer on more clothing, the dyed cloth matching with the autumnal surroundings. Children were running among the moving wagons, the adults watching carefully as they sometimes strayed a little too close to the moving wheels, some shouting good-naturedly to stay further away. At the front of the caravan, the head wagon proceeded, painted cheerfully in green and red the wagon was larger than the rest. The driver in deep conversation with two others, one with dark hair and dark skin a barking laugh and kind eyes and his partner and quiet rust haired man with kind eyes, both close friends with the leader, their heads bent as they conversed.
"Do you suppose that the king will want to marry your Harry to some tribe leader?" the dark haired man named Sirius asked his eyes reflecting the wariness he felt about the journey the caravan was taking. Remus, the rusted colored man, looked on quietly watching the familiar path ahead of them, as his mate spoke.
"I don't know, but I wouldn't put it past the old man. With Harsha's heritage there will be many who want to ask for his hand, when he comes of age." James spoke, his voice laced faintly with anger as he drove, thinking back to when things had been simpler.
"Speaking of parentage, have you spoken with his mother lately?" Remus looked up from the path as he spoke, watching the caravan leader intently.
"We are not on speaking terms at the moment. She is mad because Harry doesn't spend much time with her." Sighing James turned back to look at the trailing wagons, watching till a pale hand waved furiously from a wagon not to far away.
Sirius watched the exchange, amused at the antics of his godson, who had now jumped from the wagon he was visiting and disappeared within another. "Seriously James, he seems fine. I don't know why you were so worried the night of his fire dance. You worry like dear Mother Molly." Sirius laughed as his old friend swung an open hand at his face, missing by a hair's width.
Remus watched, smiling as his old friends bickered back and forth, arguing over trivial things. 'If only things had stayed this way when Harsha was born.'
Harry entered the wagon, the air smelling of cooked meat and spices, watching as a family of redheads looked up from their current work, smiling as they recognized the small figure.
"Harry! What a pleasant surprise!"
"You're not trying to get away from your father, are you now, young man?"
"You look pale Harsha do you--"
" want to sit down?"
"Now stop that, crowding around Harry like you haven't seen him in months, you should be ashamed of yourselves!" Mrs. Weasly scolded at her children, before turning to the small male in the entryway.
"Now Harsha my pet you really should still be in bed, after the fright you gave us the other night it's a wonder that your father let you leave the bed so soon." the older woman reached toward the young dancer, placing her hand on his forehead, frowning as she felt the warmth of his chilled features. Tsking, she pulled the small boy toward the fire placing him infront of its heat, before turning to finish her work.
"You didn't tell your father that you still had a fever did you Harsha? Terrible child that you are, you sit there until your father comes for you. I'll not have you running around and swaying on your feet outside in the wagons." Harsha looked at the older woman frowning as she went back to her work of preparing the food for that night's dinner.
"Harry you really should listen to Mama and have stayed in bed if you were sick, you could have a relapse if your not careful." Ginny stared at the fire as she spoke, the magic of the tribe keeping the wagon from burning from the blaze.
"I feel fine, I don't know why everyone worries about me so much. Its not like I've never been sick before." Harry's spoke softly, his annoyance melting away as he felt Ginny's hand rub small circles into the small of his back.
"But that's the thing Harry. You have been sick before, and when you do get sick, you always have trouble breathing and that scares everyone. We can't help you when you can't breathe, only your mother can and she's never there for you. We all just want you to be healthy, that's all." Harry sighed as Ginny spoke her long red hair brushing against his cheek as she comforted him. He looked into the fire feeling its heat on his skin, watching as the tongues of heat danced in the hearth.
"I understand that everyone worries about me because of who my parents are,and I know that I'm not normal, but sometimes I just wished people would expect something of me. I'm tired of having nothing to live up to and that when I do accomplish something people won't be so surpried."
The door swung open, allowing the crisp autumn air to flood the wagon. There standing in the doorway was Remus, a bright red cloak draped over one arm as he held onto the doorjam with the other.
"I've come to collect Harry, its time he rested before meeting with Dumbledore." The middle-aged man explained looking pointedly at the small male, as he entered the heated wagon.
Harsha sighed as he rose from his seat and went toward one of his god-fathers, smiling indulgently as the rust-haired man placed the thick cloak upon his shoulders. "Good evening, may the gods keep you safe, til we meet again." After the customary reply was made, pair exited the wagon into the cold autumn night, walking quickly to catch up with the lead wagon, not to far ahead.
"Are you alright, Harry? You've been awfully quiet lately, nothing bothering you I hope?" The tall man asked bending toward the small form as they stood upon the doorstep to the wagon, the youth shaking his head as he hummed looking up into the nearly born night.
"No Remus, nothing's wrong. I just feel like something will happen soon and things will never be the same." Harry shivered as he spoke, half from the wind that was picking up and half from a sense of foreboding that had risen in his heart.
"I hope nothing to bad, I hope." Remus stated rubbing arms up and down the youth's arms trying to provide some warmth.
Harsha looked up at him, his eyes glazed as he looked far away into another time, "No, nothing to bad, I think."