Time In A Phial

See disclaimer in chapter one.

Chapter three. Time to know you.

Harry was awakened by the girl trashing about on the bed. He shook her shoulder to arouser her. She sat up suddenly and tried to get out of the bed. "What's wrong, girl? What do you need?"

She pointed frantically between her legs and pleaded with her eyes. Harry immediately knew her problem and helped her out of bed. He guided her to loo and motioned that she should sit on the seat, then discreetly left and closed the door behind him.

A few minutes later he heard her banging lightly on the door, so he opened it and showed her how the door handle works. "I thank thee kind sir," she said in a somewhat embarrassed tone.

"Do you like your clothes?" he asked her. "Yes," she said simply.

"How do you feel?" Harry asked her.

"Kind sir," she started to say. "That means I do not know how to answer the words."

"What are you called," he asked, thinking that he can't keep calling her 'girl'.

"I am given the name Guinevere by my mother."

"Good, a very pretty name. May I call you Gwynne?"

"Yes."

"I am called Harry."

"Aarry, such a name I would like."

Ok, we got that straightened out. Let's try the next step. "Gwynne, are you hungry? Would you like to eat?"

She let out a sigh. "I do have nothing to eat, kind sir."

Harry thought for a moment. If she hasn't eaten in a while I should go lightly. Soup, that's just the thing. He took out a can from the cupboard and opened it with his wand. Gwynne saw this and went spastic, screaming and trying to run away. "What's wrong Gwynne, What did I do?" He had to restrain her and held her in his arms. She calmed a bit, but was still sobbing.

Finally she spoke. "Aarry, people with evil power are killed. I using the power, and they would to burn me. I escaped and again those men found to kill me."

"I understand, Gwynne. In my world, we are called wizards. Many thousands of people all over the world are wizards. It is not a bad thing. It is a very good thing."

She was laughing now. "Arry, thine talk ist odd."

Harry laughed. "That's the way my people talk. I am from a world far far away. Some day if you would like, I will take you there."

"Arry, wouldst thou teach me talk like thee?"

"I would like nothing better. Now, let me get this soup heated up."

Harry took two bowls from the cupboard and divided the soup evenly. Taking out his wand, he said to her, "watch this." He pointed his wand at the bowls and cast the warming charm until the soup was steaming. She was watching him with eyes bulging in fascination. He handed her a spoon and demonstrated the proper way to eat soup. At least proper by his definition.

"Arry, I not eat at the same place as thee. Not my position."

Harry knew what she meant. The women here must occupy a very low position in the social structure here. "Gwynne, in my world, women and men are equal. You have every right to be with me."

She looked at him as if she was trying to understand. "Arry, dost thou favor me?"

How do I answer that Harry wondered. He decided to wait a bit before attempting an answer. Instead he picked up his spoon and started to eat, motioning to her to do the same. It took a short time, but eventually she too started to eat, keeping a close eye on him to make sure that she was doing the right thing.

Harry and Gwynne finished their soup in record time. Harry noticed that she watched him carefully. He was sure that was because she didn't want to make a mistake or do something that would make him mad.

"Did you like that?" Harry asked. She only looked at him with questioning eyes. "The soup, did you like it?" He reached his hand down and rubbed his stomach, giving out with a smile.

Finally, she got the idea and said yes. "Arry, dost thou wish me to partake with thee each time?"

"Yes, I do. And yes, I favor you."

She smiled at this. Apparently I said the right thing Harry thought. Let's try something else. He stood up and put the dishes in the sink. Calling her over, he took his wand showed it to her. "This is called a wand. It helps me do magic." She recoiled at this, the word must frighten her. "Watch me," he said, and he picked up each dish and cleaned it with a cleaning charm. No reaction from her. Oh well he sighed silently. What do I try next. It's early yet, maybe I should take her on a fly.

Harry led her outside and showed her his Firebolt. She nodded in understanding and took the broom out of his hands and started sweeping the area in front of the tent. "No, no," he said to her, taking back the broom. This is for flying. He straddled the handle and hovered inches off he ground. She just stared at him. "Here, take my hand." He reached for her hand and lifted her onto the handle in front of him, holding her tight. She was shaking, but did not resist.

So far so good he thought. Let's fly. He slowly lifted the broom higher and higher until they were about ten meters off the ground. Then he slowly circled around the area until he felt her relaxing a bit. "He whispered to her, "Do you like this? This is called flying."

Harry took her around the perimeter of the camp site, flying higher and higher on each pass. She seamed relaxed now, and was actually enjoying flying, at least based on her wide smile. It appeared that she was getting tired, so Harry landed and guided her shaky legs into the tent compound. "Did you like that?" he asked.

"Yes," she simply stated.

"Good. Would you something to eat? Are you hungry?" Harry asked her.

Gwynne shock her head, then pointed down between her legs. "Ok, I understand,"

Harry led her to the loo and again showed her how to use the door handle. Then he took her hand and said to her, "This is called the loo. Say it to me."

"Loo," she repeated, and closed the door behind her.

She wasn't getting tired, Harry realized, she just needed the loo. When she finished, Harry made a sandwich for them and again took her flying. They flew for hours around the camp and around the many surrounding hills, landing occasionally to rest and explore. Gwynne was enjoying her time with Harry, and talked and laughed with glee. Harry was also enjoying his time with her, observing her playfulness and the way that she was interacting with him. This is good he thought. It was starting to get dark now, so Harry returned to camp and prepared a simple dinner for them. He could see that Gwynne was getting tired, so, bed time. Harry thought to himself, how shall I approach this?

Harry set up a cot in the living area for himself, and when Gwynne finished in the loo, he brought her into the bedroom. He pulled down the covers and motioned for her to lie down. He pulled the duvet over her and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Gwynne. See you in the morning."

"Arry, I favor thee," she said to him.

"Thank you. I favor you too," He smiled and soon fell asleep on the cot.

Harry awoke at first light and immediately felt the presence of Gwynne next to him. He thought for a minute and decided, no, better make breakfast before I get carried away. The sausages were done and Harry was starting the eggs when Gwynne walked through the kitchen area on her way to the loo. When she returned, she put her hand on his cheek and kiss his nose saying "I favor thee Arry."

She seamed uncomfortable with Harry doing things for her, like putting her to bed and cooking her meals. I'll have to work on that he thought. Harry served the sausages and eggs and motioned for her start eating. She just starred at her plate. He figured out that she probably had never had such a meal, so he sat down and demonstrated the use of a fork. As she tried each bite, her eyes lit up and she smiled, nodding her head in approval.

So far so good thought Harry. Let's work on communications. "Gwynne," he started. "You asked me to teach you to talk as I do. Tell me that you favor me."

"Arry, I dost favor thee."

"Ok, when you say 'dost' say 'do'. Don't say 'thou' or 'thee'. Say 'you'. Try it again."

"Arry, I do favor you."

"Alright, very good. Now, what would you like to do today?"

"Arry, Wouldst that thou fly with me?"

"Would you fly with me? Would you take me flying? Could we go flying today? Say it."

She repeated his words correctly, and seemed to understand. She was learning fast he thought. "Gwynne, do you know how old you are?"

"I know not, but about twelve winters."

"Good." Harry pondered this. She wouldn't remember the winters when she was very young, so she must be about fifteen or sixteen. "Now could you tell me about yourself? About your family, where you live, your mother, what happened when you used magic?"

"I wouldst tell thee Arry sometime. Not now."

"No, Try that again, remember not to use 'thee'. And use 'will' instead of 'wouldst' ."Gwynne looked at him in frustration, but she tried again. "I will tell you, Arry"

"Very good Gwynne." Harry reached over and kissed her cheek. "Now, let's try this. Say my name again."

"Arry." "HHHarry. Try it again." "HHary." "Again." "Harry." "Again." "Harry."

"Very good Gwynne."

For the next week, Harry spent his time with Gwynne, talking, flying, telling her stories about his world. She didn't seem ready to tell her story yet, and Harry didn't push the issue. He unpacked his telv-dvd player and they watched movies frequently. Much of it she didn't understand, so Harry would put the movie on hold and take the time to explain things to her. She was fascinated by everything she saw in the movies, and had many questions to ask. She picked up the language idiosyncrasies very quickly, and her speech was improving very fast.

The first few days, Gwynne would go to sleep in Harry's bed, and Harry would sleep on the cot in the living area. And every day, Harry would awake with Gwynne pressed next to him. This morning Harry awoke to find Gwynne watching him. "Good morning," he said. "Did you have a good sleep?"

She smiled. "I sleep with you and always sleep well," she said. "I do not sleep when alone. I see bad pictures inside my head. Is it well with you to sleep with me?"

"Yes, Gwynne," Harry replied. "You can sleep with me always."

Then one day, Harry awoke to find himself alone, and his bed empty. Gwynne was not anywhere in the tent. He searched everywhere, finally he found her crouched down under a loose flap at the back of the tent. "Gwynne, what are you doing here?" he asked her.

"Please do not look at me, Harry. I am not worthy to be seen by you today."

"What are you talking about? What's wrong Gwynne?"

"I am dirty, Harry. Please go away."

Harry then noticed a bloody cloth in her hand, and suddenly understood. She had her period. He had read about some societies where women were ostracized while they had their periods. What to do, Harry thought. Where is Hermione when I need her.

Harry knelt down in front of her and took her hand in his. She tried to pull away, but Harry held fast. "Gwynne, you have your period. Girls bleed for a few days every month. It's very normal, Gwynne. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Please come inside with me and I will help you get cleaned up."

"No Harry, I am dirty. You must not see me." She was crying now, and Harry was lost, not knowing how to handle this.

"Gwynne, please listen to me. I am not moving until you are ready to come inside with me."

For the next half hour, Harry tried his best to explain to her what was happening to her. He wished he had paid better attention when he was supposed to be learning these things, but like most men, he had turned a deaf ear. Finally, Gwynne relaxed a bit. Her tears subsided, and she took Harry's hand. "It is good to be with you when I am not desirable?" she asked.

"Gwynne, you could never be undesirable to me, no matter what. Come on now, let's get you taken care of and have breakfast. I'm hungry."

After that, things changed between them, for the better. They were closer, more into each other. Not sexually, but almost. She took more of an interest in the clothes that Harry was fixing for her. He showed her the various spells he used to fit his clothes to her. She paid more attention to the women in the movies they watched, and she copied their clothing styles. Harry had to admit, she certainly did a much better job of it than he had done.

The next weeks were without incident. Their lives were coming together nicely. Their feelings for each other were growing stronger. There were still many things about her past that Harry did not know of or understand. That will come in time, Harry thought.

She was learning many new spells, sometimes with her hand on Harry's as he demonstrated the spell. Harry taught her the fundamentals of everything he could think of. He went through his years at Hogwarts, teaching her the rudiments of each class he attended. Everything except defensive spells. That would come in time. Her speech continued to improve also. He only occasionally had to correct her. Time to move on to new things Harry thought. Time to teach her to fly.

Let's go for a fly while you practice talking like me," Harry suggested. He cast a cushioning charm on the Firebolt's handle and showed Gwynne how to sit comfortably. He told her how the homing feature worked, in case she ever got lost. They both mounted and were off. He flew very high to give her a view of the surrounding area, but didn't wander very far. He occasionally let Gwynne hold the handle and steer the broom. He surprised her then, having her fly by herself with himself as the passenger. From takeoff to landing, she did surprisingly well. She is a natural flier Harry thought. She could go solo with no problems.

Next, Harry thought it time to fly Gwynne to those areas where she had spent her youth. He thought this might prompt her to open up a little about her past.

End chapter three