Author's Notes: What? Another chapter? I'm going crazy! The story is very fun to write, because it's so easy for some reason.

Merlin, Potter isn't dense or clueless. You should remember, that he "grew up in a cupboard", then he spent the most of time in Hogwarts, with Weasleys at the Burrow or at the Grimauld Place. I doubt he was able to watch TV very oft. Where would he learn about prostitution? Sure he heard about that, he's sixteen, for God's sake, but I doubt it would be so obvious for him to realize what kind of job Isra had.

HARRY POTTER AND THE BURNING HELLS

by CreatorZorah

Chapter 4: Leah

The next morning they went directly to the library after having a breakfast. They hoped to see Isra, but she wasn't there. Harry would be indifferent, but Tracey's worried face told him that something wasn't right. He was frustrated by the fact that Tracey refused to talk about the girl. He hated missing point and feeling stupid.

Instead of history books they began to search more information about tombs in the deserts. It was quite clear that the best way to get money were these tombs, therefore Harry and Tracey decided to learn as much as possible about them. In process Tracey began to teach Harry the spells and techniques she was using to decipher the books.

Harry wouldn't say that their searches were fruitless, but they were less than satisfying. There were a lot of manuscripts that seemed to be fairy tales, but written so seriously that it made the pair doubt. It didn't help that some books contradicted others, and sometimes Tracey couldn't understand large chunks of text, because they were restored by someone who had no idea what the text was about. But they learned bits of useful information too.

"Potter, take a look," Tracey said, pointing at the book.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I've translated it," the redhead said and pointed at the text in the book. "Listen: ...believed that her crypt is located... the deserts..."

"You think it's about that tomb with hordes of skeletons, don't you?" Harry asked. "It could mean anything."

"Yes," she agreed, "But there is more: ...ashi, the powerful rogue sorceress of the Zann Esu clan, an apprentice of Nephalem Esu herself is buried there."

"What's the Zann Esu? And who is Nephalem Esu? And how does it change anything?"

"I'm not sure... One of the book mentioned that Nephalem were first... humans of this world. It says that they were extremely powerful. Esu was just one of them and the last time she was seen alive was about three thousand years ago. Does that ring any bells?"

"Three thousand years ago?" Harry repeated. "Wasn't that when last sorcerers were seen in our world?"

"I'm impressed, Potter, sometimes you can even think," Tracey said. "Her apprentice had to exist to the same time. The crypt is crucial in finding way home. She might be the one who visited our world and left some of her equipment there. The exact location of her crypt seems to stay unknown. We found it only because we appeared inside of it. And don't say it's just a coincidence, Potter, or I'll kill you."

"No, everything you say makes sense. But that doesn't explain, why the books are in Greek and why was the crypt swarmed by undeads," Harry noted.

"That's true," Tracey agreed. "But to know more we have to return to the crypt. Even if I'm wrong, we might find something valuable there."

"I hope we will find something valuable."

She sighed and said, "I'm tired and could eat a hippogriff. let's go to the tavern."

"Sure," Harry said. "I'm hungry as well."

"Put this book somewhere, so that it stays hidden," the redhead said.

Harry nodded and put the book behind other tomes on a bookshelf. The book seemed to be a very good source of information, he would hate to lose it. Then they headed towards the exit. Harry glanced at the redhead studying her for a few moments. She looked absorbed in her thoughts. She was clearly thinking about discoveries they had made today. She was so eager to learn that she reminded him of Hermione. Hermione... Oh how much he wished to see his friends again.

"Uncle Deckard, I'll come back in a hour," he heard a female voice and turned around.

"Be careful, Leah."

It was an old man, probably Deckard, and a young woman, only few years older than Harry. She was beautiful, green eyes and brown shoulder-long hair, tanned skin. She was dressed in what Harry would call a traveling clothes. The top was light and quite open, but leather-armored. A bow was visible attached to her back. It was odd to see her in the library. During their time here they noticed that the most visitors were older people. It wasn't really surprising, since it turned out that the vast majority couldn't read these books. And those young people who could didn't need nor want to go here paying a lot of gold.

She noticed him looking at her and smiled at him. Harry stumbled over a stone, hearing a giggle, but Tracey caught him in time, so he didn't fall to the ground. He cursed silently feeling completely stupid. He managed to made a fool out of himself before that woman.

"Potter, can't you even walk properly?" the redhead said, she seemed to be annoyed.

"I just stumbled over that stupid stone, Davis," he said.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Right."

He turned around again, but Leah was already gone. Leah, that was her name. He could barely keep breathing, because she wasn't there anymore for him to see her smile. He fought the urge to go to the old man and ask him about his niece. Then he shook his head trying to clear his mind from the woman's charms and sighed. It was just her appearance. Hormones. He already had his mistake with Cho, no need to repeat it. Still... Leah...

When they got to the tavern, they didn't see Isra and her father said that she would be busy for a few days. When Harry went to the room, Tracey stayed behind for a few moments. The wizard didn't notice it until he was in the room, while Tracey were nowhere in sight. He began to worry, but she came only few minutes later.

"Where have you been?" Harry asked.

"Doesn't matter," Tracey answered. "Do you want to try learning sorcery?"

Harry's eyes widened as she remembered about the books and he said, "I've almost forgot about it. Let's do it. I'm sure it'll be very useful."

"I'll translate to you," Tracey said as she sat on the floor with a book before her and started leafing through it. Harry smiled when a scowl appeared on her face. "The half of the book is about mediation and techniques of reaching some kind of etheral plane. It will take a lot of time to learn that."

"Well, we don't have any other source to learn magic..."

"We have. I have a lot of books in my robe," Tracey interrupted.

"Really?" Harry said. "Where?"

"In the pockets, Potter, where else? Didn't you know that Madam Malkin sells robes equipped with undetectable extension charms?"

"No," he said shaking his head. "How many books do you have?"

She sighed and answered, "It's mostly sixth year books and a few extracurricular spellbooks."

"Well, then we could just learn from your books," Harry suggested.

"And forget about sorcery?" Tracey said in disbelief. "You must be joking, Potter! Don't you have some kind of ambition or desire to wield powerful unique magic?" Before Harry could answer, she continued, "Oh Hell, sometimes I wonder how did you manage to become a relatively good duelist with this kind of attitude!"

"Davis..."

"Taking magical creatures and divination just because it's bloody easy and slacking off with Weasley for the most of the Hogwarts..."

"Merlin, Davis!" he exclaimed.

"Are you aware that even that dunderhead Malfoy took Ancient Runes and this year Alchemy?"

"I don't care what the ferret took as electives, but..."

"You know what? I don't care," Tracey snapped and began to throw books at him. "Take the bloody books and learn what you...!"

"Bloody hell, Davis!" Harry roared angrily. "Stop throwing things at me!"

"Why should I?" Tracey responded sending DADA book at him.

"Because I never said I won't learn sorcery. You've just continued to assume things, giving me no chance to say anything. So stop it, or I'll bloody curse you!"

The redhead glared at him for a few seconds, then sighed and said, "Sorry, I was just taking my frustration out on you. I'm under bloody stress, you know? I try to appear calm, but..." At that he saw tears on her eyes as she began to cry. "I'm scared," she muttered. "This bloody world is crazy."

"Davis..."

"All these monsters, skeletons... Demons we read about... They have fifteen-years-old girls working in brothels and consider it normal. Even her father don't seem to mind it. What kind of world is it?"

"Tracey," he said taking a step towards her. "We'll get back."

"I don't know," she said. "It seems that we're stuck here..."

He reached his arms and embraced her. Tracey put her arms around him and cried on his shoulder. "I promise, we'll get back," he whispered. A few minutes later Tracey calmed down and looked at him for a few seconds. "What?" he blurted out.

She smiled and said, "If you try to hug me again, I'll curse the hell out of you, Potter."

Harry scowled. "Why you..."

"Oh get off of me, you stinks," she interrupted him. "Better help me gather things."

"Bloody ungrateful snake," he muttered, gathering books from the floor.

"Stupid Gryffindork," she replied.

Harry smiled, actually happy to see Tracey returning to her normal self. He felt, however, very stupid because he didn't notice how tense the redhead was all the time. He had to be more attentive to his... friend? Was she his friend? Only a few days ago she was just another Slytherin, but now it seemed like he knew her for years. Somehow she became almost as close to him as Hermione and Ron. He could only wonder how did that happen.

"Hey," Harry said. "Is Isra really...?"

"She is," Tracey answered. "I asked her father before going to the room."

"But how can her father be so calm about it?"

"Apparently, it's normal here," she said. "There isn't much for women to do. Besides, since it's a port city the demand on such... services is very high. If she wouldn't do that, her family would probably starve. That doesn't mean that she has to like it though."

"Still, she's only fifteen."

"You're trying to build up your judgement based on the norms of our world. It's wrong. Here you're considered an adult the moment you can hold a weapon in your hands and fight with it," Tracey said. "I read it in one of those books in library. Read my notes, by the way, there are lots of useful information."

"Perhaps we should help her," he suggested.

"How?" Tracey asked. "Are you going to help every prostitute in this city?"

"No, but she's... friend."

"Potter, we can't help ourselves right now. Let's solve our own problems first, then we'll think about Isra. Otherwise it's possible we would end up ruining her and our lives."

Harry sighed. He could see the truth in her words, but it was very frustrating. "You're right, but... it seems wrong."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," she said nodding. "Let's try to meditate."

"Alright," he agreed.

The magical mediation was very difficult. It was all about keeping one's mind clear and empty, not the easiest feat. Still it was only the first step. Then they would need to learn to feel magic or, as it was called in the sorcery book - arcane energies. The third step is learning to absorb the energy. And only then they would be able to learn actual spells.

Before they went to sleep Harry asked Tracey to read him about the spells. It turned out that they were mostly about elements: fire, cold and lightning. The first two weren't really that appealing, since they could do that even without sorcery, though some of the spells looked incredible if the descriptions weren't lying. But the lightning spells were much more interesting for both of them. Neither Tracey not Harry knew spells that operated with lightning. The things the element allowed to do were amazing.

Besides elements there was, however, something that interested them the most. Spells that allowed to manipulate space and time. It was quite obvious that the one who wrote the book could control time to some extent and create portals that would take him or her to different parts of the world. These portals had to be somehow related to the way they ended up in this world. The scroll triggered opening some kind of portal to this world. If there was a way to create portal to this world, it had to be possible to create the way back.

"Isn't there some information about traveling between the worlds?" Harry asked.

"No," she said shaking her head. "Nothing."

"And I hoped we would find something useful," he said with a sigh.

"I hope we'll find something in the . Let's sleep, I'm tired."

"Well, good night," Harry said going to his bed.

"Good night, Potter," Tracey said, lying down on her bed.

When he climbed onto his bed, he couldn't help but think back on the encounter with the green-eyed woman. Logic was telling him that they wouldn't meet ever again, but he felt like he would meet her again. Something was telling him, that destiny would bring them together. Harry wished they would meet earlier rather than later, but at the same time he wondered if it wouldn't be for the better, if they didn't meet at all. Leah...

Author's Notes 2:

I didn't plan to introduce Leah and Cain in this chapter, but it has kind of happened. They were supposed to appear later, but for some reason I felt it was right for them to make their appearance.

HP/TD, the pairing I promised in the beginning, won't happen very soon. I'll try to make it more realistic than "They met each other, fell in love and had a long and happy life." And yeah, Harry's attraction to Leah was planned from the beginning. It's quite important for the future of the story. I hope you won't be disappointed.