Disclaimer: Note, I do not own Harry Potter, Sekirei, or anything relating to them. I might wish I did, but if wishes were horses, even beggars would ride...
The Only Thing I've Ever Wanted...
'Thoughts'
"Parseltongue"
Previously: Tsukiumi closed her eyes, and sighed. "Can I have time to think about this? It's quite a bit to take in." Harry nodded, then leaned in to brush his lips against her forehead. "Take your time. I am not going anywhere, and I will not push you or rush you in anyway."
She smiled up at him in gratitude.
Harry simply smirked at her. He then looked around the room, and chuckled. "So, who's ready to go to my place for dinner?"
Chapter 3: A Time For Healing
With that said, Harry stood, and extended his hand to Tsukiumi.
She smiled and accepted his offer. "So what's for dinner then Harry? May I call you Harry?"
Harry smiled and kissed the palm of her hand. "Of course, it sounds a lot better than Hadrian, which is my given name." He chuckled. "So besides the four of you, and Uzume, is there anyone else that we have going?"
Miya's eyes gleamed for a moment. "Yes. And he should be home any minute."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "Let me guess. Homura."
Kazehana chuckled. "I warned you that my Harry-kun was smart." She walked up beside him and gave him a small peck on the cheek. "Isn't it a little early to be heading out though, Harry-kun?"
He looked at his watch and groaned. "Yes, I suppose so. What did you have in mind to take up the time between now and then, Kaze-chan?"
Kazehana sighed and looked up at him. "I think you might need to speak with Uzume. Come with me."
Harry turned and bowed to the other women. "Miya, Matsu, always a pleasure. Kiumi-chan, I look forward to getting to know you better, in the coming days." Then he walked out of the room, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
He quickly caught up with Kaze. "What's wrong Kazehana? I can actually feel the anxiety and worry rolling off you."
Kaze looked at him, and shook her head. "It's not my place to tell you." She knocked on Uzume's door. "Uzume, can we come in?"
She waited a moment or two, then opened the door a little, and all Harry could hear was a woman sobbing like her heart was broken.
He opened the door, and quickly walked over to where Uzume lay. He motioned to Uzume's other side, and once she was in place, they both sat down and held her.
"Uzume, please don't cry. Talk to me, tell me whats wrong. You never know, I might be able to help." Harry continued murmuring in her ear, as they both rocked her.
"Uzume, please let him in. Allow him to comfort you as he did me. Please Uzume." Kazehana was pleading with her, and a few minutes later Uzume stopped crying.
Waving his hand, Harry conjured up a silk handkerchief, and wiped her eyes. "What has you crying so?"
Uzume looked him in the eyes, and she could understand what Kazehana had meant about looking into your soul. "Well, my Ashikabi, Chiho, she is ill, so much so that she is in the hospital, and the doctors can't figure out what is wrong with her."
Harry frowned momentarily. "Would it be alright if I had the opportunity to examine her? I may not be a healer, but I do know all the diagnostic spells and can send the results to a healer that I trust, and possibly even figure out what is wrong with her."
Harry was promising to actually try to cure her.
Uzume closed her eyes for a moment, and then nodded.
"Ok then, I need you to picture in your mind her hospital room. Then I need you to look me in the eye so I can see it in your mind, I can take us there right now."
Uzume kept her eyes closed, and focused on the image. She then opened her eyes, and as he gazed into them, he could see the dim light of hope glistening there.
Harry sighed, and then used legilimency to pick the image out of her head. "Close your eyes, Uzume." He then gently laid a kiss on her forehead, and gripping Kaze's hand in his, he apparated them. He looked around and thankfully, there was no one in the room.
Harry stood, and walked over to Chiho's bed. He smiled gently down at her, and gently rested a hand on her head. With his other hand, he conjured a sheet of parchment, and a dictation quill.
From there he cast almost a dozen different diagnostic spells, and after each one he cast, he looked down at the parchment. Finally he stopped and ran his hands through his hair. "Can you call the doctor's, I am going to have them release her to our care. I first need to get any chemicals out of her system, and we need to take her to my home so that I can get her the treatment that she needs, ok?"
Uzume nodded. Quietly, she whispered, "Can you heal her?"
Harry looked at her, and nodded. "I do believe that we can save her. I won't know for sure until I send this to a Healer friend of mine, ok?"
She nodded and then broke down in tears.
Harry looked over at Kazehana, and motioned for her to comfort Uzume. He then shifted into his royal phoenix animagus, and started trilling a song of hope and healing. By the time he had finished, and shifted back, all three of the women in the room were awake and staring at him with hope filled looks on their faces.
"Dobby, I need you!"
"Yes, Master Harry?"
He looked down at the happy little elf, and handed him the parchment. "I need you to take this to Mistress Hannah Longbottom, and make sure she double checks everything, and then make sure she sends the proper potions with you."
Dobby nodded and disappeared. Harry then let his shoulders slump a little. Here he was, a stranger in a strange land, and there were people who were already counting on him, and in a way he felt at home, but at the same time, he felt the heaviness of past burdens come to rest on his shoulders.
As he let his head droop, and closed his eyes, he felt someone's arms wrap around him. He smelled the clean scent of lilacs, and knew who it was. He wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on her chest, simply enjoying the closeness of someone he cared about being there for him.
After a few moments, he opened his eyes and smiled. "Thank you Kaze-chan. Now if I am not mistaken, I am being slightly rude, in that I have not introduced myself properly."
He let go of Kaze, and walked over to the bed. Kneeling down slightly, he leaned forward and offered the girl laying there his hand. "Chiho, right?"
She smiled a little and nodded.
"I am Harry Potter. I am a little different from most people you will meet, in that I am what my people call a wizard, and you would probably know better as a mage."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she took his hand in hers.
He then placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles, and smiled at her. "I believe that if I read the diagnostic spells right, that I may be able to heal you. I have a few questions for you though, and they may seem a little odd, but I need you to trust me as Uzume and Kazehana do, and answer to the best of your knowledge, ok?"
She looked at Uzume, and it almost seemed like they were conversing without words, then she looked at Kazehana. After looking for, and finding whatever it was she was looking for, she looked back to Harry, and nodded. "I will try my best to answer any questions you have."
Harry gently squeezed her hand. "Ok then, Uzume, I need you to get the Head doctor in here so I can work my magic and get Chiho released."
Uzume nodded and quickly walked out of the room. She was back in a matter of moments, and the doctor with her was hit with an Imperio, and then, with the paperwork signed and taken care of, he let the doctor leave. "I am going to shift into my phoenix form. It is called an animagus transformation, and in this form I can instantly flash transport us out of here and to my home. It isn't going to hurt you or make you uncomfortable, ok?"
She nodded and gripped his hand in gratitude.
"Ripley?" The little elf popped in.
"Yes Master Harry?"
"I need you to prep the two bedrooms on either side of mine. One of them is for Chiho and Uzume, and the other is for Tsukiumi. I need the one for these two ready first though, and I hate to say this, but I need it ready in the next few minutes." Ripley nodded and hugged Harry's leg.
"Master Harry and Mistress Kaze need not worry. You are family, and we will do anything for family." He turned to the other two, smiled and then disappeared.
Harry shifted forms, and circling around the room once, landed on the bed near Chiho, and put his head under her hand, trilling as her did so.
Chiho giggled and smoothed his feathers as she pet him.
He looked into Kaze's eyes, and spoke to her. "Kaze-chan, I need you to tell Chiho to grasp my tail feathers, and insure that the two of you are holding on to her, then I will fire-flash us to our home." He trilled a little bit more as he noticed a smile come over her face, and saw a tear slide down her cheek.
She relayed the message, and everyone grabbed ahold. In the blink of an eye their surroundings changed.
Chiho opened her eyes and gasped.
The room that they were in was massive, and lovely beyond anything she had ever dreamed of. The walls had been painted a jade green, and the bed was done with pale crimson and gold trimmed coverings. She looked up at Harry, tears forming in her eyes, as she gripped his hand.
"Don't worry about it Chiho. Now I need to ask you a few questions, ok?"
She nodded.
"Is it ok for everyone to stay here?"
She thought about it for a moment, grinned and nodded again.
"Ok, first thing, and I know how painful this question might seem, especially since I have first-hand experience. How old are you, and do you have any family aside from Uzume."
He cringed a little as he asked, but he needed to know.
"I am 17, and no, my parents passed away when I was little. I have very few things, since we had to sell most of them to pay the bills."
He pulled her into a hug, and when he pulled away, she could see the tear tracks making their way down his cheeks. "I'm truly sorry for asking that, I lost my parents to a murderer when I was only fifteen months old. I just wanted to know if there was anyone else you wanted to talk to about this, or that would miss you, when you weren't in the hospital." He hung his head for a second.
"Next, have you ever had something happen, in moments of great stress, or deep emotion, that you just couldn't explain?"
She took a few moments, and then nodded. "There were a few times that my clothes would fix themselves if I accidentally ripped them, or got them dirty."
Harry sighed in relief. "Chiho, you are a mage, also known as a witch."
Her eyes widened, and she started to shake.
He calmly gripped her hands. "Would you like to learn to do what I can teach you?"
She looked at Uzume, whose eyes were still wide in shock, and Uzume looked down at her and nodded.
Dobby popped in at this point, and he had a small bag, and a scroll in his hands. "Miss Hannah sends her regards and hers and Neville's love, Master Harry. This is the instructions for the use of the potions."
He quickly grabbed the letter and cracked the seal on it.
Dearest Harry,
Nev and I were both heartbroken to hear what Hermione and the others had planned on doing to you. We both cut ties with anyone who was involved, and so far the only ones who have managed to find themselves blameless and not facing hefty fines and punishment are the Twins, Bill, Charlie, and Arthur. Apparently Ron and Hermione had worked out a plan that would involve her divorcing you, and then the two of them getting married. I can't believe that she would do something so vile to you!
In other news, Nev and I are expecting! We are having twins, a little boy and a little girl, and we would be most honored if you would consent to becoming their Godfather. Once you find your better half, we would ask her to become their Godmother, so no pressure Harry. (wink wink)
Harry, Nev here. I just want you to know that you have always been like a brother to me, and this is our way of thanking you for all the support and love you have given over the years, by officially becoming a member of our family. I am proud to stand by you, as you have always done for me, and I hope that someday we can see each other again, and raise our children together.
So, I read through the diagnostics, and yes, this girl is a witch. Her core was bound in a most vile ritual, and the reason for her illness is due to the fact that she is coming up on her Magical Inheritance. The bindings on her core, instead of weakening as she approaches it, are growing stronger, thus causing her enormous pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite. I need you to give her a vial of phoenix tears before you give her the other potions! This will have a twofold effect: First, it will purge her system of any chemicals that she has in her system that might interfere with the potions. Second, it will serve to weaken the bindings on her core, allowing her to be in less pain once the potions start to do their job. You will need to start her on nutrient potions to get her where she needs to be, but I am sure that your wonderful elves will be willing to help out with that.
Always remember that we love you, and appreciate everything that you have done for us, and we will always be there for you. I am proud and honored beyond belief to call you my brother-in-law. If you need anything, please drop us a line.
Love Always,
Hannah and Neville
Lord and Lady Longbottom
Harry was crying as he finished the letter, and smiling he handed the letter to Kazehana. "Kaze-chan, I am going to need you to do me a favor. The tears of a phoenix have healing powers, and I need to give Chiho some to drink to help with healing her. Will you collect them from we with this vial?"
He conjured a vial and handed it to her as she nodded. He transformed, and while singing, filled the vial with his tears, which gleamed with a silver light. He then shifted back, and taking the vial from Kazehana, kissed her passionately. "I am falling more and more in love with you every day Kaze-chan."
Leaving her there stunned at his declaration, he walked over to the bed and carefully lifted Chiho. "I need you to drink this. It will purge your system of all the chemicals from the hospital, and will help to heal you, along with the potions in this bag."
Nodding, she accepted the vial, and downed it in one go.
Smiling as he took the empty vial, he held his hand out to Dobby, who put the next vial in his hand. "I'm sorry, but I need to warn you. Some of these potions are going to taste nasty, but I promise you that they will help. What you need to know, is that within each mage is a magical core. That is where we get the energy to cast spells and perform magic. Each Sekirei also has a core, and I have seen the magic in them as well. What happened to you, is that someone performed a binding ritual on you, when you were younger. The reason you have become so ill, is because the type of binding that was put in place, instead of becoming weaker over time, has become stronger. This normally wouldn't be a problem, other than restricting your access to your magic, but between the ages of 17 and 19 every mage goes through what is called their Magical Inheritance."
Harry looked at her carefully, to see how much of this she was absorbing, and she was cautiously accepting of everything.
He continued. "Basically what happens is that your core finally matures, making it larger and more powerful, and it purifies the channels that run through your body, allowing you to use less energy in casting, which means you can cast more powerfully, and for longer periods of time. The reason for the potions is to break this binding down, so that once your core expands, it doesn't kill you. I want to warn you though. I can't give you anything to kill the pain, because it would have a negative effect on the potions, and could cause complications. I will promise to sit right here, and hold you through this, as I know Uzume and Kaze-chan will. Is this alright with the both of you?" He looked at both Uzume and Chiho, and saw only looks of acceptance.
He positioned himself on the bed so that he could cradle her in his lap, while Uzume sat on his left, running her hands through her hair, and Kazehana sat on his right, holding one of her hands in both of her own. Harry raised the first vial to her lips, and as she paused for a moment, he looked deep in to her hazel-green eyes and smiled. "All will be well."
She then downed the potion, and Harry had the next one ready before she could even blink. Before she knew it, she had taken all four of the necessary potions, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Those potions had been absolutely revolting!
Harry calmly conjured a cool, wet cloth and handed it to Uzume, just as the pain hit Chiho. Harry patiently held her through the pain, as Kaze gripped her hand, and Uzume cried and patted her face and neck with the cool cloth.
A few minutes later, her screams died away, and she relaxed into sleep. Harry gently laid her back in the bed, and tucked her in. "Uzume, I am going to go and get the others for dinner. She should wake in a little bit, and she will be quite hungry. I have one of the elves preparing som broth and noodles for her, which will be easiest on her stomach. Once we get back, we can bring her downstairs, I kinda feel like it would help her, being out of a bed and around warm smiling faces."
Uzume smiled through her tears. She leapt up and hugged him until he felt his ribs creak. "Thank you, thank you so much! I can never repay you for making her better!"
Harry smiled and pulled back.
"There is no need for repayment. You are family. Your sister is going to be my wife, which makes you family. Both of you. Now lay down and rest for a bit, and if you need anything, call Dobby or Winky and they will take care of you." He kissed her cheek, and walked out of the room, hand in hand with Kazehana.
They walked outside, and Harry motioned for her to step back a bit. Harry calmed himself by finding his core, and then shifted into his dragon form. He turned to look at Kaze and winked at her. "Come, my dearest one. Hop on my neck, and we will fly to where the others are."
She giggled as she sauntered forward and placed a gentle kiss against his snout, before she jumped on his neck.
Once he felt that she was secure, with a screeching roar he jumped into the air. They flew at a leisurely pace, and it made Harry's heart soar just listening to her joyous whoops and laughter.
A few minutes later they landed in the courtyard next to the inn, and she hopped down and ran inside.
A minute later, she walked back outside with Matsu, Miya, Homura, Tsukiumi, and an unknown woman in tow. All but the one woman walked up to him with awe in their gaze. The last woman simply stood there, with equal parts terror and awe in her gaze.
Kaze hopped up on his neck first, with Kiumi seated behind her, followed by Homura, Matsu and then Miya. Miya turned and spoke to the other woman.
"Takami Sahashi, this is Harry Potter. He is perfectly safe to be around, come on."
Takami cautiously walked up, and Miya helped her onto his back.
Harry chuckled deep in his throat, which ended up sounding like an ominous purring sound, and leapt into the air. Once he was up in the air, he let out an enormous roar, followed by a long blast of billowing emerald fire. "Kaze-chan, let the others know that I am simply happy. I have never felt so free and joyful than when I am flying. Also let them know I am going to cast a sticking charm on them, but don't tell them why, because I am going to have a little fun this time."
Kazehana chuckled and let the others know, when they all felt a wave of magic flow over them, sticking them all in place, as Harry started performing some rather mild aerobatics. Fairly soon they all went from screaming in terror to shouting in amazement and ecstasy at the feeling of flying like this.
Finally they landed at home, and after they had all dismounted, Harry shifted back and bowed. "Welcome to Potter Manor. I am Harry Potter, and myself and Kazehana will be your host and hostess for this evening." He walked up to Takami, and offered her his hand.
As she took it, he placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles, and smiled at her. "It is a distinct honor and pleasure to meet you. I have heard much about you from Kaze-chan."
She blushed slightly, and smiled back at him. "It is indeed a pleasure to meet you as well. I can see what I have heard about you so far has been delightfully understated. I understand that you and Kazehana have bonded, and that you have another Sekirei possibly willing to have you wing her as well?"
Harry raised an eyebrow as he looked over at a brightly blushing blonde woman. "Kiumi-chan, have you been telling stories about me?"
She blushed even brighter as everyone chuckled. He walked over to her, leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek, then offered her his right arm, as he offered Kazehana his left. They both accepted his offer of an escort, and he led the way into the manor.
They walked into the house, and then headed along the scenic route towards the dining room. He seated Kaze on his left, Kiumi on his right with Miya, Matsu, and then Homura on the right, leaving two seats next to Kaze open, and finally seating Takami last.
He bowed out of the room and headed upstairs, knocking on the door of the bedroom. "You two decent in there?" He heard soft giggling and then Chiho's voice.
"Depends on what you consider decent, Harry-san."
He chuckled a little himself and bravely opened the door. He found the two of them dressed in some of the nicer clothes that he had set aside for them, with Uzume standing behind Chiho, doing her hair. He gazed at both of them and smiled.
"It is wonderful to see you both so happy, give me just a moment and I would be honored to escort both of you down for dinner." He bowed to both of them, and then headed to his room.
He quickly transfigured his clothes into a nice black hakama, with an emerald green haori, with his family crest embroidered into each breast in gold and red thread, and a royal phoenix embroidered into the back. As a final touch, he strapped the sword of Gryffindor to his side, without the charms to hide it.
He then walked into the other bedroom, bowed, and then offered an arm to each of them. "May I escort the two of you downstairs?"
Smiling in surprise, they both stood, Chiho having regained a little of the strength in her legs thanks to the unbinding of her magic, and walked over to him. He had Chiho on his left, Uzume on his right, and they walked downstairs into the silence of the dining room.
Miya was the first to speak, and around the table, you could tell who knew about Chiho's illness, and how amazed everyone was to see her moving under her own power. "Chiho, is that really you?"
She smiled and nodded eagerly.
Harry cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "This will be the only time I say this, at least until we have anyone new showing up. Do not ask a million and one questions of Chiho at this time. She is still relatively weak at this time, and it is nothing short of miraculous that she was feeling up to moving under her own power. In my home all quarrels are to be left at the door, no matter who is here. There will be absolutely no violence in either word or deed, and the person who breaks these rules deals with me."
His eyes glowed a deep green, absolutely flooded with his power, as he gazed around the room. There was absolute silence for a moment, until he leashed his power once more and smiled. "I'm sorry if I unnerved anyone, I just wanted to make sure that everyone understands the way I want things to be under my roof. I have had to endure untold years of abuse, neglect, and persecution for various reasons, none of which were viable. I will not under any circumstances allow anyone to have to deal with such things, especially not under my roof."
After everyone was seated, he clapped his hands twice. With a single pop, all four elves popped out. They stood in bonded pairs, one pair two his left, one to his right.
"From my left to right, are my first friends, and dearest family. Dobby and Winky, and Ripley and Mistey. I extend to them the same privileges and rights as my family as I would any of you. Please treat them with the same courtesy and respect that you would me."
All four of the elves bowed, and then chorused as one: "Thank you Master Harry."
Dobby and Ripley took a step forward, they were dressed exactly as Harry was, and they snapped there fingers. Instantly the table was covered in both traditional and modern Japanese foods.
They took a step back, all four bowed and then popped out of the room. "Don't stand on ceremony, please dig in." With that, everyone started dishing up food, and Harry called out for one of the elves.
"Mistey," she appeared at his left shoulder.
"Yes, Master Harry?" He leaned down and whispered in her ear for a moment.
She nodded and disappeared.
Harry looked over at Chiho, and asked her permission to tell a little about her illness, to save her the trouble of asked questions later.
Chiho smiled and nodded. Mistey re-appeared by Chiho's shoulder with one of the nutrient potions, which she took and drank.
"In her case, I found that the illness was due to the fact that she was born the same as myself. As a Mage. Her magical core was bound, and given the nature of Mage's and the way that our cores mature, I found out that she had at best another six months before the situation would have killed her."
In between bites, he discussed some background, including Magical Inheritances, and what that entailed, to talking about his own past in the barest of details.
Several times throughout dinner, he felt surges of what felt like Veela allure, and he couldn't quite tell who they were coming from. Eventually he just ratcheted his Occlumancy shields up a notch and forgot about it.
Once they got to dessert, he realized that he could share some of his experiences in a more complete manner. He called Dobby, and whispered in his ear for a minutes. Dobby looked bothered by whatever they were talking about, but only a couple people noticed.
Tsukiumi was a little bothered by how upset and concerned the little elf was, and how resigned he looked at the end of their discussion. She couldn't help but wonder just what Harry was asking for, and why it upset Dobby so.
Kazehana looked worried as well, she caught a few words from the conversation, and from what she remembered of Harry had told her of his life growing up, she wasn't sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Chiho had caught the look on both Harry's face and Dobby's, and from the little exposure she had to the elves, she couldn't help wondering what had the little guy so worried. She blushed as she looked at Harry, she couldn't help but sigh internally, after all, he had gone and done the whole white knight, and she thought he was entirely too handsome and charming for his own good.
Miya was the last one who noticed anything out of the ordinary, and she was outright concerned. She had never seen any of the elves looking so bothered by anything that they had been exposed to as yet, and it worried her just what Harry was asking of them.
Harry finished talking with him, and then rejoined the conversation around the table. "I'm sorry about that folks, I just wanted to explain a little more in depth about my life, both the good and the bad, when I remembered that I had something called a pensieve. It is a magical device in which you can store memories, and enter them, yours or someone elses, and view them from a different point of view."
Harry took a deep breath. "Please just keep in mind that some of the things you will see in there are horrible, while others are breathtaking in their simplicity and beauty."
He stood and bowed to everyone. "Please, finish your dessert and I will send one of the elves in to get everyone once I have prepared the pensieve." He straightened, and then turned and walked towards the study, leaving everyone murmuring about what was going on.
He knew very well that Kazehana and Tsukiumi wouldn't judge him too badly, but it was the others that he was worried about. He was, in essence, laying his bare, naked soul at their feet. Each memory, good or bad, they would see things that had caused others to turn away from him, others who had known him far longer, and quite a bit better.
Ten minutes later, Dobby and Winky solemnly popped into the room. Dobby gently cleared his throat to get their attention. Once they had it, Winky spoke first.
"Once we get to the study, all you will need to do is put your finger into the liquid memories in the pensieve to enter them. You cannot interact with anything in the memory, and nothing in them can harm you physically. You will return to normal at the completion of the memories."
"Please, whatever your reaction is to anything, respect the fact that against our better judgement, our Brother, Harry, has chosen to share some of the worst, the best, and the most intimate parts of himself with you. Like any of you, he makes mistakes, and has had to learn from them. He still thinks of himself as an outsider from time to time, and feels like he is not worthy of love and affection, because of many of the things he has suffered through in his life."
By the time Dobby had finished, both he and Winky were in tears, as they led everyone into the study. As they led everyone to gather around the pensieve, he had one last thing to impart to them. "One last thing. Pay attention to his feelings as you watch these memories. Master Harry altered this pensieve so that the person entering it would be able to feel and understand the emotions and feelings of the person whose memories they are." Once that was said, both of them popped out after everyone had entered the pensieve.
...the first thing they saw was a woman, screaming for the man dressed in a black cloak to spare her son. They felt the child's fear and confusion, then his pain, as he was struck in the forehead by the same green beam of light that had struck down his mother...
...the next thing they saw was the same little boy, at five years old, watching him attempting to make breakfast, and watched, horrified as his uncle called him a freak, and struck him in the arm with a poker, clearly breaking it. Then to see him picked up by that arm and be told to keep quiet, and that he would get no food for several days, all for simply overcooking the eggs...
...next they saw him receiving a letter, and watching his first time seeing the magic that his parents had learned. They felt the simple joy of learning more of his parents, of learning the truth of how they had loved him enough to sacrifice themselves for him...
...the next few memories involved his first friends, his familiar Hedwig, Ron, Hermione, Neville. The pure bliss he had in getting to know others his own age...
...they stood there in awed silence as he sat next to Hermione's bed, when she had been petrified, watched him as he poured his heart out to her. Then they watched in fear as the twelve year old boy overcame his fears to slay a mighty Basilisk. They felt his overwhelming brotherly love for the girl, as he lied to get her away from him, simply so that she wouldn't have to watch him die from the venom running through his veins. Then to watch Fawkes heal his arm, curing the venom...
...they watched as he learned about his Godfather, and ended up rescuing him. They watched in horror as he almost had his sould sucked out, and felt the immense love and compassion that he had in his heart as he cast his Patronus...
...next was his fourth year, watching him betrayed by one of his best friends, facing off against a dragon, rescuing his betraying best friend and the younger sister of one of his competitors, then the maze, and his guilt and pain at having gotten one of his friends killed, the bittersweet joy of seeing his parent's shades...
...the next scene was of a joyful reunion with his Godfather, spending time with the one person who had been closest to his parents...
...from there things got darker, the death of his Godfather, finding out that the truth of why Voldemort had been after him, the prophecy, the manipulations and why the truth about his heritage was withheld from him, to the death of his mentor, the betrayal yet again by his best friend, to the hunt for the horcruxes, the final confrontation...
...then came the joys of his relationship with Hermione, which finally started to heal so many of his scars and wounds, the relationship which lasted all of two years afterward that ended in what was for him a bitter, heart-breaking, almost soul-crushing experience. They felt, for the first time, the depth of his loss of hope, the full brunt of his feelings of worthlessness, as they reached untold depths...
...the last memory that they saw, was of his meeting with Kazehana, where they watched them pour out their hearts, felt the gentle touches of hope, affection, and healing come into being, then watching that first kiss, and feeling his emotions of shock, humility, and gratitude, made sure that there wasn't a dry eye as they exited the memories...
Kazehana, Tsukiumi, and Chiho all looked around a bit wildly as they exited the pensieve. They found the person they were looking for sitting in chair, staring into the fire, tears running down his face. The three of them walked slowly up to him, motioning for the others to take seat in the other couches and chairs available.
Kaze knelt on his left, Kiumi on his right, and Chiho finally was the one to get his attention by kneeling right in front of him. Startled out of his reverie, he gazed into each of their eyes, one at a time.
Hazel-green.
Violet.
Blue.
In each set, all he could see was acceptance, compassion, love.
No rejection.
No pity.
No disgust.
All he could do was sit there and gaze at each of them as the tears started rolling down his cheeks. "Why..." he whispered as he closed his eyes.
The three women looked at each other and then both Sekirei looked at Chiho and nodded.
She reached out and placed both of her hands on his cheeks, gently caressing them until he opened his eyes to look at her. "Because of who you are in spite of the things you have suffered through alone. Because of the simple fact that in spite of all the hate, all the pain, all the loneliness that you have suffered through, you reach out to others in need, heal their wounds, care for them endlessly, give of yourself with no thought of receiving anything in return. All these reasons and so many more. You deserve to have love. You deserve to have a huge family to care for and raise. You deserve all that we can give you and so much more. I feel your pain at having family ripped away from you, feeling dirty and used by the manipulations of others, feeling like there is no one out there who cares."
She paused there for a moment, looked at the two girls to her right and left, then over to Uzume.
It was a look he recognized all too well.
Pleading with each of the women she looked at. She then looked back at him, and smiled tenderly at him. "Will you let us in? I know from what little I have seen, that you would favor none of us more than the others. That you would care for, love, and protect us like no other ever could or would. Will you allow me to join these two women and any others that come along as a part of your life?"
Harry sat there stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked at each and every person in the room. On each and every face were kind and caring gazes of approval.
He looked at Uzume, and she was nodding her head, tears running down her cheeks.
From there he looked to Tsukiumi, who was the same way.
The last one he looked to before returning his gaze to Chiho was Kazehana.
His first Sekirei.
The first person to worm her way into his heart when he thought it impossible.
She simply leaned in and kissed him, pouring all the love and caring feelings she possessed into the kiss.
He gently returned it, keeping his eyes closed as he leaned back and broke the tender embrace.
"Yes." He took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. "I only have one question."
With that he looked at Takami. "My experience with soul bonds and how they relate to Magical marriages, as well as how similar that is to the bond between Ashikabi and their Sekirei, how will this affect the bonds that the two of us," he pointed between Chiho and himself, "have with our Sekirei?"
Every eye in the room immediately shot towards Takami, who leaned back in her seat for a minute. "Give me a little more to work with here. What exactly do you mean by soul bonds and Magical Marriages?"
Harry sat back in his seat and thought about it for a moment. "Look at it this way. In the Magical world there is no such thing as divorce, short of death. When a couple marries, they join their souls and magic as one, just as they would their hearts, minds and bodies. It is the purest form of sharing one's life with another. People wedded in this manner gain several abilities. They gain the ability to speak with each other telepathically within the marriage bond, gain the ability to feel each other's emotions, as well as the ability to share their magical core with each other." He sighed. "The only thing is when one person in the bond passes on, so too do the others, within days of each other, not being able to live without the other part of their soul."
He took a deep breath, then forged onward. "From what I have experienced so far in being bonded to a Sekirei as a Mage, is that I can get a general sense her feelings. Hence why I apparated to your Inn, Miya, when I felt the turmoil coming from Kaze-chan. Now think about the depth of that bond, before we marry, and compare it to afterwards. Then add in marrying another Mage of not inconsiderable power, and think about how that would affect the bonds with our Sekirei..." He then buried his face in his hands, worried about the look on the women's faces around him.
Takami chuckled. "Hypothetically speaking, I actually considered a situation like this with Takehito. We once verbalized the possibility of such a scenario, minus a couple of factors that you obviously have entered into the equation, and we figured that from that point in time onward that either of the Ashikabi would be able to activate their collective Sekirei's Norito. The other thing that we wouldn't have had a clue about would be the interaction of your magical core, with their Sekirei core. From what little I have seen, from your kiss with Kazehana, I would be able to be almost 100 percent certain that your core actually supercharges hers."
When she saw Harry's head snap up, she looked into his eyes. "It would also mean that your Sekirei would be almost unbeatable, given that if their core was exhausted, you could recharge it effortlessly." She laughed as she watched his jaw drop at the thought.
She started to frown as his jaw clicked shut audibly, and he started to scowl.
"Tell me something Takami. From what I understand, all it takes to have the Sekirei imprint, and start forming the bond, is to kiss their Ashikabi. Is it then possible to forcibly wing a Sekirei? Thus stealing the opportunity away from them to find the one who truly means everything to them?"
Gasps were heard around the room. Harry looked at Takami, Miya, and Homura, who all had scowls on their faces. "I take it that is a yes, then." At this statement, all three nodded their heads once.
Harry's eyes darkened from emerald green to forest green, and from there to almost black. His aura burst out of him, glowing a dark green. He threw his head back in a pain and anguish filled scream, that startled everyone in the room. He fixed his implacable gaze on Takami. "If, IF, I can find a way to prevent them from being so heartlessly violated, would you insure its use to protect all the Sekirei?"
Takami gaped. Here was a young man who had had the single worst upbringing she had ever heard of, let alone seen, and he was willing to do something like this? She was stunned into speechlessness. All she could do was nod.
"DOBBY!" Before the little guy's name was even fully shouted, he had popped in, his sword drawn. He looked around and seeing the looks of shock, sheathed his blade and turned to Harry. "Yes Master Harry?"
"Bring me the book titled Moste Potente Spells and Potions of Protection."
Dobby bowed and was back within moments. Harry flipped through the book, and found what he was looking for within a few moments. He turned the book around and pointed to a potion.
Dobby nodded and looked to Takami. "How many unbonded are there Miss Takami?"
She looked around the room and thought aloud for a moment. "One is dead, and there are seven that are currently winged. So one hundred, give or take one or two. That is the most accurate I can be, given the number of Sekirei there are that have been released. Why?"
Harry simply smirked. "The potion of licitus vinculum."
Takami frowned in concentration for a moment, then her eyes widened and she stared at him. "THE POTION OF PERMITTED BONDING? Why would your world have something like that?"
Harry frowned. "There is a...subspecies...known as Veela. They have a similar bonding ability as the Sekirei. This potion is extremely expensive, due to some of the exceedingly rare ingredients contained in it. Ingredients that I currently have access to, due to rather unique connections. The purpose behind the potion is to enable each person who takes it to be able to bond only with a person of their choosing. In the magical world there are spells and potions that can control a persons actions, and if the person doing the controlling has a strong enough will, they can force the person under control to do things against their will. This potion, once taken, will negate any control measures. ANY control measures. They will retain that ability, to only bond to the person their heart desires, for a year. After that year is up, the potion can only be taken once more before it will no longer work for that person, and becomes poisonous. There is no counter for this potion." He then sat back in his chair.
Takami sat back as well. "What would it take for you to do this for us, and how soon could you have the requisite number of potions made?" She winced at the over eager tone in her voice and her heart sank as she saw the look on his face.
Harry stood and carefully walked around Chiho, to stand directly in front of the fire. He spoke quietly when he answered. "The reason that this potion is so expensive is because of the three key ingredients, of which two have to be suspended in the third. Basilisk venom, phoenix tears, and human blood, freely given."
His head bowed in front of him. "The potion itself only takes one week to brew, and that would give you enough for twenty doses. That isn't the problem though. It's the amount required for those doses. I have only made it once, and that was for a couple of very close friends. Two sisters, who you saw earlier in my memories."
He started to pace in front of the fire.
Miya paled as she figured it out. She stood and walked over to him. "The problem isn't in how long it takes to brew the potion, it is how long it would take to replenish the blood you would have to give in between batches, isn't it?"
Harry stopped and looked at her. "Yes," was his whispered response.
Takami was next to ask. "How much blood would it take per batch, and how much can you safely give at one time? Those would seem to be the next logical questions."
Harry shook his head. "No, the next logical question, granted in this company it would be a moot point, would be if I was willing to give the necessary blood." He fixed a firm, loving gaze in his eyes as he looked around the room at each individual person.
His next response came after he walked over to Tsukiumi, Chiho, and Kazehana, dropped to his knees, and embraced them. His voice came out strangled. "My answer to such a question is simple. If giving my life's blood would keep these innocents from being forcibly violated against their will, I would willingly and freely give every last drop. The amount needed for each batch though is two pints. I could safely give four pints, but it would take me at least two weeks to be able to safely donate again, and that is even with blood replenishing potions."
He turned to Dobby, who was looking at him patiently. Harry nodded to him, and Dobby quickly disappeared. "He is going to go and start preparing the potion. Fortunately my blood is the last ingredient to be added, on the last day of the brewing process." He kissed all three girls on the forehead and then stood.
Walking over to Takami, he waved his hand, and a sterile needle, IV line, and a two pint sealed jar appeared. Kneeling in front of her, he slowly rolled up his sleeve and muttered a sterilizing spell over the appropriate point. "Will you do the honors?"
Stunned, Takami nodded. She quickly determined the appropriate vessel, and swiftly stuck him. Harry felt a hand grip his shoulder. He turned to look at who it was. He looked up into the eyes of Miya. She was in tears, and she loudly whispered, "Why?"
Harry bowed his head. "Kazehana, Tsukiumi, Uzume, Homura, Matsu, you. All of your sisters are about to be unleashed into a cold uncaring world. A world where the unscrupulous and dishonest, the rich and the powerful, the cruel and uncaring, they would all try and force your sisters into bonds of slavery instead of love. Servitude instead of partnership."
He looked back into her eyes, allowing her to see the scars that his own betrayal had left. "You saw the memory I left, where the woman I thought loved me would have done the same to, along with seven other women, only far, far worse. How could I have the ability to stop this from happening to the sisters of the women I love, yet not use it? How could I live with myself, look at myself in the mirror each day, knowing that I denied the sisters of the women I love the same chance that they had? I would be the most evil person I can think of to deny someone something this important, let alone doing it to my own family?"
Takami pulled the needle out of his arm, and he waved his hand over the wound. "Episkey." He staggered a bit.
Miya reached for him and steadied him. He then turned and hugged her. He let go of her and held her at arm's length. "It is getting late, and I do not have the strength to transport all of you home. I offer a bed for the night for all of you."
Tsukiumi, Matsu, Homura, and Takami all thanked him and accepted the offer.
Miya looked into his eyes for a long time. She smiled and nodded.
Harry called for Mistey and Ripley. "Please show Miss Matsu, Miss Miya, Miss Takami, and Master Homura to the family bedrooms on the second floor please."
The two elves bowed and showed the four people out. He then turned to the other four and gave them a tired smile. "I have bathing suits that should fit each of you, if you would care to join me in the bath."
Uzume and Kazehana smirked at him and agreed.
Chiho and Tsukiumi both blushed nodded shyly.
Harry stumbled as he turned around, and fell to his knees. He shook his head and mumbled something under his breath. Kaze and Kiumi quickly helped him up.
Chiho walked over to him and looked him in the eye. "Whats wrong Harry?"
He sighed quietly. "It's a combination of the shifting, the emotional overload, and blood loss. Most especially the emotional rollercoaster today has been. Your emotions can supercharge your spells and magic, but at a cost. The higher your emotions run, the more taxing it is on your magic."
He turned to look at Kazehana. "Kaze-chan, I will need your help getting ready for the bath and bed this evening. I would preserve the innocence of the others for now, until they are ready."
Tsukiumi turned his head to look at her. He saw the look in her eyes, and beat her to the punch. He dropped to one knee and took both her hands in his.
"I have gained an appreciation for each one of you this evening. I cannot promise that our lives together will be all roses, unless you are willing to accept the thorns as well as the beauty of the blossoms. I pledge myself to you, that as we gain affection, knowledge of, and love one for the other, that I will take you as my wife. Will you allow me the honor of being your Ashikabi and someday your husband?"
As she nodded her head yes, he slowly pulled on his magic, to form another ring, this time of emeralds and sapphires, embedded in a white gold band. He rose as he slipped the ring on her finger, and the leaned in and kissed her.
He felt the power in his core stabilize, at the same time as he felt her gain her wings. As they ended the kiss, he opened his eyes, to look into her beautiful blue orbs. Just like the previous experience, all he could see in her gaze was love and acceptance. "Thank you, my Ashikabi."
Harry simply shook his head. Then he stopped as a thought struck him. "Dobby."
"Yes Master Harry?"
Harry knelt and hugged the little elf. "Thank you, for everything that the four of you do."
Dobby sniffled as he returned the hug. "No thanks is need Master Harry. The first batch of potion will be ready first thing in the morning."
"You sneaky little bugger. You thought about this before I could."
Dobby just stood there, giggling, as the three women looked at each other. "Harry, what does he mean? They only started it a few minutes ago, and what you said earlier, it would take a week to brew?" inquired Chiho.
Harry smirked. "Magic." He turned back to Dobby. "I need you to go to Fleur and Gabrielle, find out if they still have any doses of the potion left. If so, offer whatever they desire for them."
Dobby nodded. "Also make sure that the runes surrounding the Time Dilation Lab are activated after you get back." Dobby giggled and nodded, then popped out.
Harry stood and faced the women. "Through runic magic, there is a way to, slow down, or speed up the flow of time within a small area. The Time Dilation Lab has the capability of running like normal, or speeding up time to the point of every hour outside the Lab is equal to a month inside." He smirked yet again at the looks of shock on their faces.
He took advantage of their shock, and swept Chiho off her feet, picking her up bridal fashion. He then took off running for the bedroom that she and Uzume shared, the whole while she was shrieking in laughter.
Uzume, Kazehana, and Tsukiumi looked at each other and smiled. They followed behind the two at a more leisurely pace.
Kiumi looked at Uzume, and Kaze. "So what do you two think about the whole idea of having both of them as Ashikabi?"
Kazehana simply smiled. "I kind of like the thought to be honest. I have known about Harry-kun's past for some time, and it just feels right."
Uzume chimed in here. "I may not have known about his past, but the simple kindness and compassion he showed to Chiho," here she brushed a tear away. "It just blew me away, especially after seeing just how cold and loveless his life was growing up. Just the fact that you can see how quickly he has grown to care for us, and is willing to give each of us our heart's desire? That just blows me away."
Kaze grinned lustily at the other two women. "Just wait until you have the opportunity to be intimate with him, and then see how well he blows you away." She then held her hands a distance apart, and watched her two friends eyes bulge out.
They heard Chiho's shrieks cut off, and then heard a loud moan come from upstairs. The three Sekirei looked at each other and ran up to the bedroom, throwing open the door.
They saw Harry laying down on the bed face-down, with Chiho straddling his back and massaging his bare back. What Harry couldn't see was the silent tears she was crying as she ran her hands over the scars on his back. All three of the others gasped, and Harry flipped over.
"What's wrong? We weren't doing anything..." He went from shocked to confused in a short amount of time.
Kazehana and Tsukiumi both knelt at the edge of the bed. "It isn't that we thought you two were doing anything inappropriate, it was the scars on your back."
Harry paled and looked over at Chiho, saw her in tears, and immediately pulled her close. He started rocking her in his arms, whispering softly in her ear. Soon enough he looked down, and she had fallen asleep there in his arms.
He smiled sadly down at her, and laid her in bed. He tucked her in, and motioned for Uzume to come and lay down next to her.
After she laid next to Chiho, and had curled up with her, Harry turned and walked slowly towards his quarters. As soon as he was out of sight, his shoulders slumped, and his frame silently shook, as he quietly cried out his pains, and sorrow at all the things he had suffered through.
As he silently undressed, stripping down to his boxers, he thought about each and every scar, how he had acquired each one, and how he was damned to have anyone who got close to him be affected like this by the horrendous sight. He lay there, eyes closed, lost in his thoughts, until he felt two warm bodies slide into bed on either side of him. He knew without opening his eyes who they were.
"Kiumi-chan, Kaze-chan, how can you stand to look at me, to touch me," he silently whispered.
They wrapped their arms around him and held him as he spoke.
Tsukiumi was the one who answered. "We look at you, and see the scars as marks of honor. Not of the means by which they were acquired, but because of the man who wears them. An honorable man, full of love, compassion, honor, a man who is kind, gentle, and fiercely protective of those who are close to him." She pressed her lips to his eyes after she finished speaking.
Kazehana took her time in responding. "Where you look in the mirror and see a broken, undeserving person, we see a strong, kind, loveable and very deserving man. We see a man who has withstood many things, things that would have long ago broken many a lesser person, and turned them evil. Instead of someone like that, we see a man who has proven that kindness and love will persevere. We love you, Harry-kun, and your actions this night have proven to us beyond a shadow of a doubt of your worthiness of our love." She too kissed his eyes, and she smiled as he opened his eyes to look at them both.
"Please don't leave me. Please don't hurt me. It would break me in ways that I could never fix. Not anymore." With that, he leaned in and kissed each of them. "Kazehana, would you mind holding me from behind? Tsukiumi, would mind if I held you from behind?" Both women smiled and nodded, and soon all three of them were lost to the world of Morpheus.
A/N: Please read and Review! I would like people's input, as it gives me ideas for the story, as well as helping me to improve my writing skills. Right now the only people who are in Harry's Harem are: Kazehana and Tsukiumi. Chiho is a given, so that is three out of eight wives taken care of. I had someone suggest adding Miya, but I was considering Benitsubasa...
Also, I have specific plans for Homura, Musubi, Kusano, and Karasuba. They will not be a part of Harry's Harem. I am open to suggestions though for other women. Thanks to all those who have left reviews, and please continue to do so!
One last thing, as I am new to this site, I would appreciate it if someone could help me out with being a beta for me. I would greatly appreciate it.
Ace of Ravens
PS,
Sorry for the repost. Thanks to Blazing Titan for pointing out a MAJOR flaw in my grammar. KUDOS DUDE!