Jon was just saddling his horse, listening to Robb, Theon and Bran do the same, when Harry arrived next. It was late morning, just before the midday meal, that Lord Stark had received word that a deserter of the Night's Watch had just been caught. Lord Stark had asked for them to come along, to show what it was that he did.

"The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword."

"Where are we going?"

Jon blinked, turned away from his horse to see Harry standing next to him. "Harry."

Jon's friend looked wary, haunted, and like he hadn't really slept in a long time. His black hair had grown even longer, reaching Harry's shoulders, and he was wearing a cloak over worn clothes. "Jon."

"What… What's happening with you?" Jon questioned, peering over to look out at where Robb, Bran and Theon were. They weren't paying any attention to Jon and Harry and he turned back to look at his friend. "You look…"

"Like I've been fighting a war?"

"Aye. Is Voldemort…"

"I'm certainly trying to kill him," Harry offered, his lips twitching up into a small but weary grin. "The man split his soul into seven pieces."

Jon blanched, taking a step towards Harry. "That does not sound at all good."

Harry snorted, shrugging a bit. "It's not. What's happening here?"

"There was a deserter from the Night's Watch. Lord Stark suggested that Robb, Bran and I come along."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Deserter? Come along to what?"

"Deserters are executed for breaking their vows," Jon explained, checking his horse's tack and making sure everything fit. "It's what happens to every deserter. Lord Stark kills them with a clean swipe of Ice."

"Hmmm."

"You think I could come along?"

"If you wanted. Did Fawkes bring you this time?" Jon asked, as he led his horse out of the stall. Harry followed, falling into step with him.

"No. Fawkes is a little… preoccupied," Harry spoke, as they caught up to Robb and the others. "He only dropped in to say that I should go to Westeros right the fuck now."

Jon blinked, grinning a little at Harry's words.

"Harry. You dropped in again," Robb called out, turning to look at the two of them.

"Robb. Good to see you," Harry responded. "Nice break to my war."

Robb's eyes narrowed and Jon stepped a bit closer to Harry, enjoying the heat that was radiating off the young man.

"Anyway, I'll fly with you," Harry said, as the four of them walked into the courtyard. "It's been a while since I've shifted. And I get anxious if I don't shift for awhile."

Jon looked over to where Lord Stark was already mounted, the Stark lord already peering over at Harry.

"I haven't seen you shift at all," Jon said, studying Harry. "I didn't know you could shift. Is it like warging?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, shook his head. "Warging?"

"Old Nan's tales," Robb explained, mounting his horse. "People who can see through animal's eyes."

"No. It's nothing like that," Harry said, his eyes lit up with excitement.

Jon's heart did a flip in his chest at the way Harry looked in the mid morning sun then a flash of something… Power encompassed Harry and between one minute and the next, Harry flickered and then changed. A big, golden bird rose up into the air, hovering right where Harry had been. The bird was red and on fire, its' wings flaring with sparks of flame.

"Harry?"

The bird… phoenix trilled lightly, dipped its' beak, and rose up into the sky, perching on the stable door.

Ready when you are.

"Is that…"

Yes, it's me.

Jon stared, his heart beating roughly, like he had just run a mile. "You're beautiful."

Harry peered down at him, his wings fluttering in the slight morning breeze, and crooned happily.

Jon felt his cheeks redden as he realized what he had just said, his heart skipping a beat. "Does it… hurt to shift?"

No. It feels lighter and I'm certainly warmer now. I was shivering a little in the few moments before now.

"You would have needed a cloak," Jon murmured, shrugging. "And we're too big to share."

Try me.

Jon snorted and pointed towards the gate. "We're going North, to where guards have the deserter. Tell me about what has happened between the last time I saw you and now."

That is going to be a long story, Jon. It's been a year and a half.

"Jon!" Lord Stark called out, his grey eyes still staring at Harry. "Who is this?"

Jon watched as Lord Stark rode over, already ahorse, and he mounted his own horse, a black mare. Harry as the phoenix trilled out quietly, flying up to perch on the stable roof above them.

"Lord Stark, this is Harry," Jon started, gesturing to his friend. "He's… called a phoenix."

Lord Eddard Stark blinked, looking between Jon and Harry. Robb and Theon came over, both of them already mounted on their own horses.

"I met him a few years ago, father," Robb explained, his blue eyes wide. "But he couldn't… What do you call it?"

Shape shift.

When Robb continued to stare, Jon's eyes widened and he repeated what Harry had said. "I think you can only talk to me… Why…"

Harry as the phoenix blinked, his golden eyes lit with fire from within. Huh. I had not expected that. Perhaps it's the prophecy that Fawkes talked about. It's connecting only the two of us. If it's not that, I don't know why I can't talk to the others.

"A phoenix," Lord Stark repeated, staring at Harry before paling. "You look as if you're on fire. Are you of a certain house?"

Harry answered in Jon's mind and he answered his lord father. "No. He's not from around here. He came to visit when you were fighting the ironborn."

"That was several years ago," Lord Stark commented, dropping his hands down to his saddle and taking the reins of the horse. "He means us no harm?"

Jon vehemently shook his head. "No, my lord. Harry's just a friend."

"Very well. You can talk to him while he's in this other form?" Lord Stark questioned, peering up at the bird. Harry was still perched on the roof.

"He thought it was due to a prophecy."

Lord Stark froze in his saddle, staring at Jon. "A prophecy."

Jon nodded, wondering why that startled his father. Mayhaps Lord Stark knew of the prophecy that Harry had mentioned.

"Alright. Move out," Lord Stark called out, urging his horse towards the gate. Ser Rodrik followed, with a few Stark guardsmen riding with him.

Jon urged his horse after Robb and Theon's, watching as Harry took off, flying a few feet above them.


Harry flew onward, following Jon, Robb and Theon in the air. He stretched his wings out and really flew, enjoying being in his other form. He flew over Winterfell, remembering appearing here during second year. It was as beautiful as Hogwarts looked, with drifts of snow over it and the early morning sun shining down on it. It was also… He wished he could stay here forever and not go back to England to deal with Voldemort. If only Dumbledore had done more to counter the Dark Lord.

The group rode for an hour before slowing and Harry saw Jon wave him down, towards a clearing. He started to circle down, looking over the other party of Stark guardsmen that were already there. The wolf banner flew in the wind and he could see one man that had his hands bound, who must have been the deserter.

He landed on a stump of a tree and shifted back to two legs, walking over to Jon's side. Robb, Theon and Bran stood on Jon's other side, overseeing the deserter of the Night's Watch. There was a stump of wood in front of the deserter, one that looked an awful lot like a executioner's block, steeped in red.

"This is law?" Harry whispered, looking to Jon.

"Men of the Night's Watch take vows," Robb explained, sparing a glance for Harry before watching his father.

"You want to join the Night's Watch, right?" Harry asked, hearing the deserter say something as Theon walked up to Ned to give him Ice.

"Yes. I don't belong here. It's like you and at your aunt's home," Jon whispered, shrugging minutely. "I can even rise up in the ranks there whereas here I wouldn't become anything."

"...White walkers, I saw'em. Others…"

Harry blinked, turned towards the deserter, to where he was being walked to the block. "Wait."

Jon, Robb, Theon and Lord Stark all turned to him. Lord Stark raised an eyebrow.

"Harry?"

"Aren't White Walkers extinct?" Harry questioned, walking up to the deserter and crossing his arms.

"They are," Jon said, coming up to stand next to him.

"They are just legends. No one has seen a White Walker in thousands of years," Lord Stark remarked, crossing his arms.

Harry studied Lord Eddard Stark, raised an eyebrow. "In my home world, everyone thought a certain man was dead when he really wasn't. It led to another war. Let me try something, just in case the man's telling the truth?"

"Deserters say anything to explain why they did what they did," Lord Stark said, drawing Ice from where Theon held it.

Harry's eyes narrowed but dropped back to where Robb and Bran were, but not before he dropped his hand into his pocket for his wand and whispered a spell. A spell of memory. Jon came back with him and turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

Can you hear me even on two legs?

Jon's eyes widened but he nodded slightly, as they both turned to watch Lord Stark slice cleanly through the man's neck.


They brought back direwolf puppies on their trip back to Winterfell, one puppy for each kid. Jon held an albino puppy in his arms, one as white as a… "Ghost."

It's a good name. Ghost.

Harry flew down from the branch he was perched on, the walls of Winterfell just a mile away, and hovered alongside Jon's horse. The direwolf pup peered up at the fire bird next to him and tilted his head in confusion. Jon grinned and stroked the wolf's fur, peering over at his half brother's pup. Robb held his own puppy and one for Sansa. Theon held the pup for Arya while Bran held one for Rickon. Rickon's pup was the only other one with red eyes, the other being Ghost.

"You never talked of your year and a half," Jon remarked, as they rode through the winter town in front of the walls.

Voldemort's obviously back.

"Aye. You said as much. Is there to be war then?"

Harry turned his beak towards him, staring at him pointedly. Unless you want him to kill me. It's kill or be killed.

Jon shook his head. "Of course not. You said something about Voldemort splitting his soul."

It's how he lived when I was one and a half. He had other pieces of his soul elsewhere. I don't recommend it though. We think he lived as a bodiless spirit for several years.

"Seven hells." Jon wrinkled his nose at Harry's words. "Mayhaps I could join you if you need help?"

They finally made it through Winterfell's gates and everyone pulled their horses to a stop. Arya came racing out of the hall and stopped at the sight before her, her eyes widening.

"Puppies?"

"Direwolf puppies," Robb said, grinning and gesturing to Theon. "Theon has yours."

Arya's eyes widened even more and she raced over to Theon, who rolled his eyes and handed over the pup in his arms. Arya cradled the puppy as Sansa and Lady Catelyn walked out, Rickon following them.

Are you sure? It's war and chaos and…

Jon turned to look at Harry, crossed his arms. "I am sure. I'm fair good with a blade. You're my friend, Harry."

"He is too," Robb remarked, walking over to them. Robb's pup was reaching up to lick his face and Harry watched as Robb grinned, stroked the puppy's ears. "I'm naming mine Grey Wind. What is this about a war?"

"I'm in the middle of a war back home," Harry offered, reaching to let Ghost sniff him. The white direwolf pup reached out to sniff him and then licked his fingers, his red eyes catching Harry's. "A bad one too."


"The king's coming."

"King Robert Baratheon," Jon explained, as they walked through the hallways dodging servants. "His wife, Queen Cersei, is a Lannister and no one likes the Lannisters."

It was slightly snowing out, the light snowfall drizzling down onto the ground. Harry had chosen to stay one more day and this morning had been one for a summer storm, frequent in the North but not in the South. Harry shivered slightly and took a deep breath, reaching for his inner flame and drawing it out.

"You're glowing," Jon said, surprise and a little awe in his voice. "Is that… fire?"

"It is. I am a phoenix after all. I was cold," Harry spoke, shrugging as they stopped by a window. Flames were licking all over his skin, the heat keeping him warm. "I just can't touch anyone when I do this."

Jon stared and nodded, peering down at Ghost as the puppy wove between their legs. "When are you leaving?"

"I should leave in a few hours," Harry said, glancing down to the courtyard to where Arya was playing with her pup, Nymeria. "I have pieces of Voldemort's soul to look for."

Jon grimaced.

"Jon!"

They turned to look down the hallway, to where Robb had appeared when Jon's hand brushed Harry's arm, going right through the small flames. Jon froze and Harry stilled, both of them staring down at where Jon's arm had passed.

"Are you… hurt?" Harry finally asked, his eyes wide.

Jon slowly shook his head, peered down at his hand and turning it over. There was no burn, not even a single patch of red. "What… What does this mean?"

"I'm… not sure," Harry whispered, reaching out to take Jon's hand and looking it over himself. "I could ask Fawkes when I next see him but this… Even my friends have burned their hands when my flames are out."

Jon paled, his eyes going to a point beyond Harry.

"Jon?"

"Targaryens."

"What does your non-burned hand have to do with House Targaryen?" Harry questioned, raising an eyebrow. "The Targaryens are extinct, aren't they?"

"I… I don't know." Jon stared at him, his grey eyes narrowed. "Targaryens were known to not get burned. Or at least some of them."

Harry blinked, glanced to his hand, where it was still in Harry's palm. Jon's cheeks warmed and he quickly pulled his hand away, his heart skipping a beat at the touch. "Are you saying… What are you saying? I thought you knew your father was Lord Stark."

"It's impossible. Lord Stark never met Queen Rhaella," Jon muttered, his eyes still wide.

"You could go ask Lord Stark," Harry finally suggested, watching as Robb walked over to them.

"Come with me?"

"Sure. I still have time here."

"Jon? Harry?" Robb looked between them, raising an eyebrow at their behavior when they were both silent. "I was going to go over to practice. Care to join me?"

"Later? I have some questions for Lord Stark," Jon remarked, looking at Harry before he turned to Robb.

"Questions about… what?" Robb echoed, bewilderment plain in his voice.

"About my father," Jon said.

Robb blinked, crossed his arms. "About your father? But father is your… father."

"Unless the Starks have some Targaryen blood in the family," Harry said, gesturing to his own arms.

"No, we don't," Robb said, shaking his head. "How… Are those actually flames?"

"My hand went right through the fire on Harry's arms," Jon murmured. "And I'm not burned."

Robb stared and stared some more until Jon cleared his throat. "I'll come with you."

Jon nodded and led the way through Winterfell, up a few sets of stairs to Lord Stark's solar. Robb knocked on the door and they heard Lord Eddard Stark say to come in. Jon exchanged a look with Harry, who nodded and pulled his fire back into his body, and stepped in, following Robb. The two direwolf puppies followed them in, Grey Wind next to Robb, and Ghost at Jon's side.

Eddard Stark sat behind his desk, with Maester Luwin standing next to him. They both looked up when all three of them entered. "Jon? Robb? Harry?"

Jon stood in front of them, hesitated for a moment before starting. "Are you really my father?"

Lord Stark blinked, his mouth opening and closing before staring at Jon. "What makes you ask that particular question?"

"I had my hand in some fire," Jon said, crossing his arms. "I wasn't burnt."

Maester Luwin's eyes widened.

"You…" Lord Stark started before sighing. "Jon, you are not a bastard."

Harry blinked, rocked back on his heels. Jon and Robb both froze.

"You met a Targaryen?" Jon bit out, his hands curling.

Lord Stark shook his head. "No. I am not your father. Your aunt is your mother and Rhaegar Targaryen… is your father. They wed before they died."

"I thought Rhaegar kidnapped my aunt," Robb said, his eyes wide.

Jon was still speechless and Ghost was leaning on his left leg, offering comfort.

"No. Lyanna told me as much before she died," Lord Stark explained. His grey eyes were narrowed in thought as he watched his son and nephew.

"I'm a Targaryen then," Jon said, his voice faint with disbelief. "Not a Stark."

"You have Stark blood in you, Jon," Lord Stark offered, frowning. "You have my sister's blood in you and you have your wolf. You may be a Targaryen but you are also a Stark."

"You're our cousin," Robb spoke, turning to look at Jon, his eyes still wide. "Not our half-brother."

"This is bad timing, with the king coming to Winterfell," Maester Luwin remarked. "You cannot let the king learn of this."

"You are right. Jon, Robb, Harry, you cannot speak of this in front of the king or his company. I don't know what Robert would do if he learned who your real parents are," Lord Stark spoke, staring at each of them in turn. "I would not like to find out."

Robb nodded. "I can keep a secret."

"I'll be leaving in a few minutes anyway," Harry said, wrinkling his nose at the thought. "Jon? Are you okay?"

"I… Could I go with you?" Jon turned to look at Harry, his grey eyes wide and his face pale.

Harry stiffened and Robb blinked.

"I'm going back to war," Harry said, crossing his own arms. "War."

"It beats joining the Night's Watch," Jon argued, his voice wavering.

"You were going to join the Night's Watch?" Robb exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Jon!"

"I was."

Harry studied Jon and Ghost then sighed. "Alright. You can come with me. I don't know how long this will take though."

"You or Fawkes can bring me back when I'm ready," Jon said. "It's not forever."

"Jon..." Lord Stark started.

"I've made my decision," Jon retorted. "And I can help Harry. I'll be fine."

"Jon…" Robb trailed off, watching as Harry reached out to grasp one of Jon's shoulders. "Be safe?"

"I will," Jon agreed, picking up Ghost and cradling him.

"Hey, maybe I can get the goblins to forge a sword for you," Harry offered, glancing over to Lord Stark and Robb. "Alright. Here we go. Oh, and maybe we can get a dragon for you too! You are a Targaryen after all."

"Harry!" Jon exclaimed as they vanished. "I don't want a dragon!"

The last thing Robb, Ned and Luwin heard was Harry laughing. Grey Wind whined quietly at the loss of a brother and Robb scooped up his direwolf, stroking his ears.

"How will we explain this to mother?" Robb questioned, looking over at his father and Luwin.

Ned blinked, paling. "I will think of something to tell her."