Disclaimer: JKR and Square own the rights to all characters contained herein.

Typo hunting would be much appreciated.

Embracing Absurdism

Near may be better than far, but it still isn't there...

Harry sipped his tea with closed eyes, relishing in the simplicity of something like home. He'd prefer a cup of pumpkin juice for this effect, really, but he couldn't complain about a hot cup of what tasted like jasmine tea, the headache he had hardly been aware of fading into the background. He was bathed and fed richly, and languishing in simply relaxing for the first time… in years.

"A man after my own heart, appreciating a good cup like that," Balthier said dryly. "Fafsirion tea is a delicacy, and I've not had it in years. I suppose a Marquis would have connections that a Sky Pirate does not though, hmm?"

"Fafsirion, hm?" Harry mused, taking another sip. "It's a lot like a tea we had back home, but it was called Jasmine. It isn't the kind of tea I normally drank, but it is still fantastic."

"I'm interested to hear more of this 'home' of yours. How different was it, really?"

Harry let Balthier refill his teacup with a nod of thanks, tipping back and watching Vaan and Penelo nibble cookie-like pastries while Basch spoke quietly with his Princess nearby. "Not as different as it seems sometimes. And yet…" he sighed and blew his newly steaming cup. "And yet it is nothing like this. This world of monarchs and monsters is nothing like my own. But how can I explain it to you? If I had books I might be able to show you the wars of my time, the guns that could fire thousands of bullets in a minute, the bombs that destroyed civilizations. Or maybe even if my magic wasn't going haywire I could show you the things my people can do, backwards though that society is."

"I guess asking so broadly us unfair." Balthier said, smiling faintly as Fran joined them, flicking her fingers at an offer of tea and crossing her legs. "So I'll just have to ask more precise questions as I come up with them."

Harry finished his second cup and set it back in the saucer, slumping bonelessly back. The Marquis and one of his feline advisers – Revs were what that race was called, Fran had informed him – joined the Princess and Basch. "That would probably be easier."

"I fear we should not tarry here," said Fran as the conversation lulled. "Now that our task is done, it would be prudent to go whilst we remain ahead."

Balthier hummed. "I suppose you're right, luv. Off to the next grand adventure, right?" He paused, throwing back the last bit of tea in his cup and setting it down on the table before them. "First thing in the morning we'll depart for hitherto unknown places. Does this sound acceptable to you, Harry?"

He had been frowning, picking at a loose thread on the arm of his chair. He'd known the group wouldn't be together for much longer, but he was surprised by how sad he was to see his miniature adventure end… and to see the people he'd gotten close to walk away. He found himself growing inexplicably fond of both Balthier and Fran. But with the life he knew they led, he doubted he'd see them again anytime soon.

So the sudden question startled him enough to leave him staring blankly at Balthier for long seconds. "Huh?"

The man gave him an exasperated sigh. "Do you have any objections to leaving first thing in the morning?"

"You want me to come with you?"

Fran hid a smile behind her hand, looking away. "Was that not obvious?"

"I'm far too much of a gentleman to let someone without any connections or a home to go to be wandering Ivalice alone. And besides that," Balthier said, smirking and leaning into Harry's personal space, "there is far too much for me to learn about you, yet."

Often in the coming weeks, Harry would wonder what it would have been like if they had simply… escaped from the others, free to ride the skies in the Strahl and without a country's fate riding on their shoulders. But an impediment came in the form of a certain stubborn Princess, demanding that Balthier kidnap her to take her to where she could find the proof of her birthright: Raithwall's Tomb.

Harry trailed near the back of the group, limping in his attempt to put as little pressure as possible on his foot. The magic of this world was amazing, and the healing magic doubly so... but it was not perfect. Cuts still scarred if not healed quickly enough, potions were notoriously finicky on what kind of injuries were curable, and even a combination of the two could not stop his foot from being terribly tender after having over half of the bones it in it broken.

They had hidden the Strahl near a dead-end in the desert at the foot of a cliff. It was highly unlikely that anyone would find the position once Balthier had made the damned thing invisible. Harry had been missing his invisibility cloak for weeks, but to find out that technology could replicate it? It was a bit depressing.

It was only after they had taken flight that Harry had asked about supplies, much to the chagrin of his teammates. But consensus had been reached quickly that a stop by Rabanastre, while it would cost them a day of travel time, was important to properly outfit everyone and be sure there were supplies for the journey ahead. In Bhujerba, after all, they hadn't been anticipating a trek through the desert.

"Umm..."

Harry looked up, startled. Penelo had dropped back to walk beside him, a hesitant smile on her lips. He returned it as best as he could, and this seemed to bolster her.

"Harry, right?" He nodded. "Are you feeling alright? You look like you're in pain."

He almost snapped at her for asking such a stupid question before realizing it had happened before they had met up with her and Larsa. He gave a forced grin. "Oh, I'm just a little sore. Nothing big."

The wash of a cure went over him instantly, and he was amazed to feel much of the stiff pain in his foot recede to bearable levels. Penelo was blushing lightly and smiling. "Does that feel any better? I'm still kind of new to magic, but I've always been good with healing..."

"No, it feels great now. Thank you. Fran thought it wasn't going to get any better by magic."

Penelo shrugged and swung her head, smiling towards where the group walked ahead. "Vaan was always getting himself in trouble when we were kids. I can't count how many twisted ankles and bruised ribs I had to heal. I guess I just got really good at it."

He thought it was more than that, but she seemed to believe that to be truth. He let it be. "A good skill to have, I think."

She gave a pleased grin and put her hand on his elbow, tugging at him. "Come on, if we get to the Eastern Sprawl while we're this far behind, we'll lose the others in the crowd."

"All right," Harry said easily, moving more quickly now that his foot was healed. He didn't bother to point out how unlikely it would be that they could possibly lose track of their odd group, or how Vaan would sooner cut off his arm than let Penelo out of his sight again for more than five minutes. The boy was devoted, Harry would give him that.

Things began looking familiar as they walked off of the skybridge and turned onto the Eastern Sprawl's main square. It had only been a few weeks, but time seemed to drag on when you were constantly in fear for your life. Harry was an expert on such things.

A reptilian Bangaa (though Balthier had sternly informed him to never compare them to lizards where they could hear) lay sprawled across the walkway, and people stepped to the side to avoid him. He heard a few of the human – Hume, he reminded himself – Rabanastrans grumbling uncomplimentary things under their breaths, but mostly people just stepped over him without a second glance. Harry did the same, but with a pinched frown and a furrowed brow.

There were may things about this town he didn't understand. Despite being occupied by enemy soldiers, the citizens seemed all too compliant and willing to continue their day to day lives. The different species were almost entirely integrated despite their vast differences, but the specism was as rife here as it was in the Wizarding World. And nearly every person he saw was entirely affluent and looked... bored. There seemed to be little crime, and despite what Vaan had said about the huge number of orphans, he had yet to see a single child that did not have a parent attached dotingly to their hand. Perhaps adoption was near absolute here? But that was countered directly by Vaan and Penelo, and Vaan had made mention of the orphans he was close with as if it was a present situation.

"Right," Balthier said with a groan, rolling his shoulders. "Everyone needs to gather their own supplies." Here, he paused and frowned towards where Vaan was bobbing lightly on the balls of his feet. "Do try not to waste gil, but be sufficiently prepared. The Sandseas are not an easy stroll. And do not neglect your gambits!" With a final sigh, Balthier turned and made a straight line towards the pub, Fran trailing behind him, leaving Harry with the two youngest, Basch, and the Princess. Harry surreptitiously watched the Princess from the corner of his eye, rather captivated by the forlorn look on her face as she looked from side to side, up and down storefronts and at each passing face. She cared, he was sadly surprised to note, she cared for her country and her people to a deep degree, and in this moment it was obvious. He watched her right hand clench her left, two fingers pinching the band on her ring finger, as she breathed in deeply and set her shoulders.

"Hey, Vaan?" Penelo said, her attention down the lane rather than on whom she spoke to. "I need to go pick up some stuff at home and make sure Kyte and the boys will behave themselves. Can you get my supplies, too?"

Vaan looked severely discomfited by this. "Why not just do it after we get stuff?"

She huffed. "I'm not going to disappear, you know. And Balthier is impatient, so I'd really rather just get things done. It is efficient this way, okay?" She smiled at her friend and smoothed a hand down his arm. "It won't take me any time at all. In fact," she spun abruptly and gave Harry a winning smile, "why not come with me, Harry? Maybe then Vaan won't be so worried about me."

Harry nearly commented that Vaan was more likely to worry since he was involved, but he caught the younger boy nodding slowly. "Yeah, alright. So long as Harry stays with you it's fine. Need anything specific, you two?"

With a flourish, Penelo pulled out a list and began explaining some of the notations to her friend, who already looked like he regretted his agreement. Harry hid a smile and tried not to dwell on the warm feeling Vaan's acceptance gave him. It was… odd. They still knew next to nothing about him, but either the two younger members of their odd party were entirely too trusting… or he'd done something to make them see him as trustworthy. It worried him simply because, for all Vaan knew, he wasn't.

Penelo finished dictating all she needed and made sure Vaan's hands closed around the parchment she'd written things down on. "Meet you in Migelo's in an hour, kay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Vann said, sighing in exasperation towards Harry. "She's a handful; make sure she doesn't get too distracted, would ya?"

"I'll do my best."

Penelo grabbed his wrist then, pulling him towards a grated door in the wall between shops. She paused with her hand on the handle. "Umm, according to Vaan you're pretty new around here, and you don't really know what's going on. So, I think I should probably tell you what to expect."

"Expect?" Harry said softly, catching hesitancy in her suddenly soft words.

"Yeah." Penelo turned and smiled at him, a grim expression for the innocence and purity she normally projected. "We'll be going into Lowtown now. It's… kinda dark and a little depressing if you don't know any better." Her eyes were like fire as she set her jaw, tilting up her chin defiantly. "But it isn't. We may be stuck below the city, but we're way happier there than we'd have ever been up here. We have community, and we can all band together to help those who need it. Some people, maybe, aren't so nice… but we only have eachother. There is nothing wrong with Lowtown."

He didn't really understand, but he made sure to do nothing but nod encouragingly as she smiled again, lighter this time, and turned back for the door.

The stairs spiraled down into darkness, only a few odd electric torches lining the walls. It, oddly enough, reminded him a bit of Hogwarts with the stone and the dim light, and he took a moment to imagine himself back there, exploring a new passageway with Ron and Hermione, creeping under his invisibility cloak past curfew.

The image was dispelled as they reached the bottom, and Harry tried not to let his cringe show on his face. Penelo's tight smile told him he hadn't succeeded. "Like I said, it might seem a little depressing."

It wasn't awful, certainly not as bad as he might have dreaded. But it was certainly not somewhere he could see himself living… thriving. And yet people did.

Much like the dungeons in Hogwarts, the stone ceiling hung low over their heads, and it seemed to be a labyrinth of passageways snaking off from the main thoroughfare. But unlike Hogwarts, this was a living space. He saw an elderly woman beating a rug outside a door, a group of Seeq children playing a game with sticks and pebbles in a corner. Down the hall he could see a man with slightly worse-for-wear vegetables trying to sell them to passersby.

Penelo took his wrist again and pulled him along. "Since Archadia took over, anyone without affluence or who makes a fuss gets thrown down here. We orphans have been down here all our lives. It isn't…" she paused and sighed, turning a corner. "Maybe it isn't the ideal place to live, but it really isn't so bad. We've made it our own."

And the more he looked, the more he could see that they had. Decorations and piles of treasures lined the passageways, strings of odd things like Christmas lights lined doorways. Children's laughter could be heard from every direction, and just in the distance he could see a fountain, the area lit brightly in contrast with the halls, merchants of all kinds gathering in the small square.

"I think it's pretty nice. I was thinking when we got to Rabanastre that everything seemed too… perfect up there. Too put together and flawless." Harry was reminded of the Dursley's suddenly and their obsession with seeming normal, or of the cookie-cutter houses all lining Privet drive. "Here feels more like… a home."

Penelo's smile was brilliant. "That's what I think, too. Oh, here we are. The boys are in their 'secret' place, so will you wait here?"

"Sure," he said with a bland smile as she climbed nimbly over some stacked crates, a muffled 'oof' telling him she'd landed on the other side.

He watched a Bangaa child chase a Hume toddler, laughing as he caught him and they tumbled to the ground. He hadn't been lying about rather liking it better down below, despite the gloomy lighting and the overall aura of… hopelessness it possessed. Even with the dreariness, it felt so much more… real. This was what an occupied city ravaged by war should be. Not the placid, cotton-wrapped falsity of the surface.

And the people survived. Perhaps they didn't thrive, but they went on, they lived, and they made the best of what they had.

"Aww, Penelo, come on!"

"No way, Kytes. You'll be in charge, but I'm trusting you. You can't take advantage of everyone. And no stealing! None! I won't be here to bail you out of trouble, so you'd better be listening to me!"

Penelo reappeared over the top of the crate stack, a small head popping over her after in a moue of distaste. "Man, Penelo, you're such a drag."

"Maybe, but I'm just trying to keep you guys safe." She stopped and looked back up and him, a hand clenched over her heart. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you guys. So please, will you promise me?"

The young boy sighed and propped his head on a hand, leaning over the crate wall. "Alright, alright. I'll do what ya say."

"Thank you."

Harry smiled at her, receiving a slightly wobbling but honest smile in return. As they walked at a more sedate pace through the dark halls, he turned to her. "You're home now. Is there really any reason for you to go with them? I can tell your heart isn't in leaving."

The blonde sighed as she dodged a pacing woman and ducked with practice ease under the jovially exuberant arm of a conversing Seeq. "It's Vaan. He's finally gotten a taste of the adventure he's always been wishing for, and he's not going to want to come home until he's seen it through. And… he's really the only family I have left. I love all the kids around here, but Vaan is my best friend. And I think he needs me more than them."

He really saw a lot of Hermione in her, the deepest, sweetest parts that his friend had always tried to muffle with her bossy proclamations. He couldn't help but take Penelo's hand and squeeze it. "He's lucky to have to watching out for him, then. And I think you're right: he's going to need you. If my last experience traveling into uncharted territory with this group says anything, there'll be danger to come."

"I know it will work out," she said softly, squeezing back and dropping his hand. "Now come on, time's running out and I want to stop by my own secret place. I have a few things I need to get."

"There you two are," Balthier said, fingers tapping on his forearm. Behind him, Fran made an exasperated sound. "Finally."

"I insist we make haste. These delays are unnecessary," Ashe said, suddenly appearing at Balthier's side. The man rolled his eyes and his scowl deepened, and suddenly Harry wasn't wondering at his mood.

"I think, Princess," Harry said carefully, "that being prepared will help us make better time. If everyone is tired or hurt, we won't get very far very fast, will we? And it's nearly night anyway. It would probably be best to leave in the morning."

Her lips puckered as she scowled, nose turning up. "True though your words may be, I in no way asked for your opinion."

She left then, moving to where Vaan was outfitting himself in his new armor. Balthier sighed. "She is a trial."

"You mean, of course, that she's spoilt and snooty," Harry said with a frown, crossing his arms.

"You just defined royalty, I think."

"I don't like being ordered around."

Balthier smirked and glanced at him from the corner of his eye, "No, I didn't think you would. I fear I find myself knowing you a bit too well, if only because of our similarities."

"You and me?" Harry goggled. "You're kidding me."

"You don't have to make it sound like I insulted you."

Fran, whose eyes had followed the Princess and had yet to stop watching, cut in. "I sense misfortune will befall us soon. I do not know that this is the venture we should take."

The sudden seriousness made Harry sag, and he turned to watch the Princess barking orders to Vaan and Penelo, who scowled but followed her orders as they packed. "How do you figure?"

"Fran just knows these things sometimes," Balthier said in a grave voice. "Viera are far more in tune with… well, everything… than we are. Take care to watch your steps, Harry."

As Balthier made his way towards the other four members of their party, Harry found himself dipping into thought. Misfortune, huh? It wasn't like that was a stranger to him.

There seemed so little choice in this situation. Either he could stay with these people, the only people he knew in the entire world, or he could… what? He could stay in Rabanastre, in Lowtown with the orphans and work odd jobs? There wasn't much option when all he wanted was to find a way home… or, a tiny voice he tried to ignore said, at least an explanation for why he was there.

He felt useless amongst these people. With all their strengths he alone was more a liability than an asset, though his magic (when it worked) was unquestionably unique. He could do things the others could never hope to, if only it was more reliable. If he could use his magic properly, he thought, he could feel more at ease with his newfound companions. Maybe even… fit in.

"You are troubled."

Fran had a way with inserting herself, and Harry had to smile at her. "Maybe a little, but it is nothing."

She made the same exasperated sound at him that she had at Balthier minutes before, a 'tsk'ing noise deep in her throat. "It is not nothing, and so long as you toil you shall not find your peace."

Harry grimaced a bit. "You always know these things."

She smiled then faintly, just a curve of her dark lips. "You let your eyes betray your heart. Balthier was quite correct when he said the two of you were like."

He was left frowning as she softly moved away, still so lost in thought that he didn't argue when Balthier led him away.

"No, you must hold it more firmly." An exasperated sigh from his reluctant instructor. "That will do, but you might want to consider giving your poor knuckles the benefit of the doubt and not attempting to shatter them via brute force. No, no, don't look at me, look at your target. What are you doing with your other hand? If you need to steady your aim you may do so, but you look as if you're attempting to crush the butt. Don't look at me like that, Harry, I'm imparting great wisdom to you."

Harry let his arm fall to his side, the gun still gripped in his left hand. "This is pointless!"

"Oh? So learning to defend yourself is meaningless?" Balthier gave a sharp smile. "You must come from a coddled place, indeed."

"I was far from coddled!" he snapped, spinning on his heel to glare angrily out at a weird little walking cactus that ambled past them. It swayed back and forth in response to his anger, silly smile plastered on its face. Harry's insides had yet to uncurl. "You have no idea about where I come from, so you should shut your mouth."

A warm hand pressed into his shoulder blade, sliding up to the back of his neck. Harry tensed more. "And you know very little of Ivalice. The sight of a common chocobo sent you reeling. While my suppositions on your life might offend you, your suppositions about this lifestyle will get you killed," Balthier said, hand squeezing Harry's neck lightly before letting his hand fall.

It was frustrating that he felt himself relax, shoulders slumping. Harry sighed. "Fine. Teach me about the gun. I can't say I'll ever use it, though."

An amused smirk. "I daresay you'll learn to use it well and come to rely on it over that stick of yours."

"This 'stick' is my wand."

Balthier went on as if Harry had never spoken. "Right, center target. You've not managed to hit it yet. Do it now."

Harry lifted the gun once more, trying to steady his shaking hands and line up the sight with the target. No matter how hard he tried, his hands still swayed and shook. The bullet he fired wound up buried in the sand almost a foot to the right of the target.

Balthier clucked his tongue, pushing down Harry's gun. "A gun must be an extension of you, as any weapon should be. Your body should learn the exact movements to gain a result. You should be able to shoot with nary a thought." To illustrate this, Balthier lifted his arm to the side and glanced toward the center target, rapidly firing several shots. Harry's eyes rounded as he saw the barely misshapen hole in the center that showed that every bullet had hit the same point. "A weapon is ineffective if you have to furrow your brow and toil over your movements. You mustn't act for your weapon, your weapon must act for you."

"I just don't think I'm much for weaponry at all. I can't-"

"You said yourself that you were but a student in your own magicks before you arrived here. Had you all the skills needed with that stick of yours, this wouldn't even be of consequence. But as it is, you require weaponry. You have been trained in long-range combat with your stick, and as you don't have the arm strength for a bow, it is either a gun or a crossbow. Would you rather I asked if any of the others have experience in lugging a wooden contraption around and loading arrow-bolts? Or perhaps you would be interested in close-range combat with a little pointy object like young Vaan? Or… do you just find yourself too incompetent for this?"

Harry's jaw set. "I can do it."

"Right!" Brown eyes gleamed with something like triumph, and Harry realized that he had just been tricked. "Center target again, and I expect you to at least dent the thing. If you can't hit it, you'll be buying me drinks when next we return to civilization. Now get to it, Harry, the Princess would like to leave at first light and sleep beckons us both."

Harry sat down hard on the sand, panting lightly as he let the breeze ruffle his hair. He would never get used to deserts. The shores of the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea were a small improvement to the Westersand with a gritty wind blowing across their overheated bodies. Harry refused to move for at least ten minutes. The metal of the odd contraptions spanning the 'sea' didn't seem like they would be fun to traverse, nor did they look like they would house resting points.

"You are so uncivilized. How can you sit on that?"

Harry tipped back his head to meet Balthier's grimace. "Better to sit for a few minutes and rest than to collapse halfway across. What is all that metal, anyway?"

"Formerly they were oil refineries, though they've fallen into disrepair." Balthier stepped forward to crouch at his side, and he leaned down to let his fingers dip into the roiling sea of sand. "I imagine that the use of flightstones and magicite took the demand for such crude resources down to nothing. It has probably been near to a century since they were abandoned. I'm surprised they have held up so well."

Harry turned more fully, catching brown eyes with green. "Excuse me? This is dilapidated machinery so long abandoned that you have no clue when it was even built, and you expect me to walk over it?"

Long fingers ruffled his hair. "Scared, Harry?" The smirk he was given was wicked, and Harry tried to ignore the blush creeping up his neck.

"Shut up, you git."

"You are so terribly uncouth. How we ever assumed you were affluent is beyond me."

"Care to shove those words up your-" Harry cut himself up as Penelo skipped towards them, hands landing on her hips as she planted her feet.

"We've got to get going! Up, both of you!"

"I've only just sat down!" Harry said with a groan. "We walked all the way through the Westersands to get here. Don't we deserve a rest?"

"It won't stay light forever, you know!"

She moved on almost as quickly as she had joined them, leaving Balthier with a comically exasperated expression. "Oft I wonder what gods I offended to be saddled with so many children snapping at my heels."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Those 'children' are hardly a few years younger than you. I think Basch is the one who should be complaining about that; he is the oldest by far."

"I am, at that." Harry was unsurprised to turn and meet pale blue eyes, though that Basch was willingly conversing with him was odd in and of itself. "Though it will be many more years yet until I have passed my prime."

"Hmm, well, I shan't be the one to harm your pride, Captain." Balthier stood and stretched his arms over his head, arching his back with several audible pops. "I suppose we shouldn't keep the ladies waiting. The Princess looks short on patience this afternoon."

"Lady Ashe remains merely eager to collect her birthright. Yet another three days will pass before we reach Raithwall's Tomb and it has been several days since our liberation from the Leviathan. You must understand her plight."

Balthier grumbled under his breath. "Yes, heavens forbid that the Lady be made to wait like us ordinary humes."

Basch surely heard but chose to ignore the pirate, pulling his newly acquired axe from his belt. "I sense trouble will come to us. Be on your guards."

Harry's fingers moved over his own belt, brushing past his pouch and fingering the hilt of his gun. He didn't feel comfortable using it, his terrible aim notwithstanding. Magic didn't have recoil and the smell of death. He wrapped his fingers around the Elder Wand instead, rolling it between his fingers as he jogged to catch up with the group. Using his 'odd' magic still made some of the group wary of him, but Harry would live.

He wasn't with them to make friends, after all. He was with them to find the truth about why he had been brought there.

It was hard to remember that, though when he was risking his life beside these people. He learned new things about his happenstance companions every day, and it drew him deeper into their world. He found sympathy for the hardest moments in their lives, common ground in their mission, laughter at their colloquies and repartee.

He found his eyes darting to Vaan or Penelo when one or the other let out a disparaged sigh. The parallels between them and Ron and Hermione were not lost on him. He often drifted to walk near Fran for her silent poise and uncanny intuition, shades of Luna shining through in a far more worldly package. He enjoyed watching Basch fight, envying the man's easy, practiced movements and the staunch loyalty that reminded him of Remus. The Princess was far too much like Malfoy in her expectations that everyone would bend over backwards for her happiness, but he also admired her drive to restore her Kingdom and save her people, though he had yet to glimpse much of that side of her. And Balthier...

Unarguably, Harry had grown closest to the man. It seemed that the pirate had never much cared about his origins, only looked to him as something of a puzzle to solve. He seemed amused by Harry if nothing else, and Harry found himself honestly amused in return. Unlike the others, there was no comparison for Harry to Balthier. He couldn't think of a single person he'd ever known with that suave manner and nonchalant attitude, delicate aristocracy belied by his sharp tongue. He was a puzzle to Harry as well, and one that he found himself enjoying studying very much.

"Are you coming Harry, or do you plan on becoming fertilizer for the Alraune?"

Harry fought and lost against the urge to stick out his tongue, earning him a chuckle from his companion. But he hurried forward nonetheless, jogging up the sloping metal ramp onto the aged oil rigs. Somehow, in the back of his mind, Harry knew that this wouldn't be the end of their journey.

Not by a long shot.

"I think tomorrow we should have Basch as the lead, me on healing, and Harry for backup. We're the most rested, right?" Harry nearly cheered as Penelo suggested it to the nods of the rest of the group.

"I believe that will be fine," said Ashe, setting down one of the rucksacks. "And in the afternoon we can rearrange to myself, Balthier, and Vaan."

Harry took care not to throw his own rucksack to the ground, setting it down as gently as possible with wooden arms. He hadn't realized how exhausting carrying so many items could be, and it seemed that every enemy they killed had new things to harvest. The main group would scout ahead and clear a path while the rest of them trailed with their goods, picking off whatever stragglers were missed.

It was so draining. The desert seemed to sap every ounce of life from him.

But the sky was slowly darkening now as they made their way under the cover of one of the oil rigs, a chilled breeze ruffling Harry's hair. It was wonderful against the damp portions of his clothing that were exposed, but his armor blocked most of the relief. He reached around his side and began undoing the buckles, sliding them free with a happy sigh as he reached the last one.

"I advise against removing your protection. This desert holds yet many dangers, and even during the night we must remain wary."

Harry turned and blinked at Basch, nodding his head despite his reluctance to continue wearing the light armor. Basch was the most experienced in their group by far, though Vossler was probably quite knowledgeable as well. Vossler, though, refused to even look at anyone but Basch and the Princess. Something about him made Harry's chest tighten. It wasn't fear... but it made him wary.

He pulled at the armor instead, trying to get a breeze under it to his gritty skin. He would kill for a shower. Of all the material things he missed, nothing could compare to showers. There was some kind of plumbing in this world, but all bathing was in tubs. Harry wasn't sure if they just hadn't gotten that technology yet or if it was outdated. Everything about Ivalice was an odd combination of archaic and futuristic.

"If you are overheated, be glad that the night comes. Night in the desert is as cold as the day is hot."

Harry sat at the edge of their little campsite, looking back over the Sandsea with a sigh. "It can't come fast enough. I think I'm well-done by now."

"Luck to you that you are not an Ustrix, for fear we may be ravenous enough to consider you a meal."

With a snorted laugh, Harry all but collapsed backward, falling back onto propped elbows and staring up at the stars. The angle allowed the tiny breeze that flickered around him to toy with the bottom hem of his shirt, exposing a sliver of skin to cool. Harry sighed in relief and closed his eyes, letting the sounds of his companions fade away.

When his eyes fluttered open long minutes later, it was only to immediately tense and coil, hand automatically dropping to where his wand and gun rested. A flicker of brilliant light – a lantern? – stood stark against the blackening shadows of the Sandsea.

A hand fell onto his shoulder. "Fear not, it will not come to us. It merely soaks the last of the sun's rays."

He glanced up at Basch, still mildly amazed that the man continued to speak to him. What had changed? He pursed his lips. "What is it?"

Basch shifted and sunk to sit beside him, an arm propped on an upraised knee. "An entite. Legend tells that the gods favored Man with the gift of fire at the beginning of time. Man was grateful and learned much from the flame. But Man was as foolish then as he remains this day, and peace cannot be eternal. War fell upon Man, and he used the gods' gift to fight, taking life with the fire that had been given to further his own."

Harry tracked the light, the entite, with his eyes. The sun barely peeked over the farthest horizon.

"This angered the gods greatly, for they had only wished to bestow upon Man warmth and knowledge. In retribution, they scorched the entirety of the world from corner to corner in a blaze so hot that it is said to have fell stars. And from this inferno the Salmand Entite was born, cursed to only appear when the sun is hot and the skies clear."

"The myths of this place are very depressing."

Basch chuckled. "I always believed the same when I was but a boy. But if my years have taught me anything, it is that life oft takes the least preferable of paths."

"Preferable doesn't always equal right, you know. Sometimes it is the hardest ones that lead to the happiest ending for us."

"Happy endings?" Harry looked away with an embarrassed blush as Basch peered at him. "You are a bit old to believe in such things, are you not?"

"Cynicism does not suit you, Captain." Harry blushed an even deeper shade as Balthier inserted himself into the conversation, sitting himself down impetuously between them and fidgeting with his cuffs. "The leading man always saves the day, and there is always a happy ending. As if I could abide by any other course. Don't let him tell you differently, Harry."

"I wasn't—"

"Hey, what are all of you guys over here for?" Penelo now. "Oh, Harry! Look at that light; what is it?"

"It's an entite—"

Sand sprayed over Harry's lap as Vaan flopped down by his feet. "What's an entite?"

Harry threw an overwhelmed look to Basch and received an altogether amused one in return. From a standing position. "I bid you all a fair night."

Harry nearly called out to him to beg rescue, but he saw the kind light in Basch's eyes felt his mouth snap shut. With a conscious effort Harry relaxed and let the company wash over him. It was almost... nice to feel a part of the group rather than an outsider. So Harry swallowed a sigh and turned to look towards the entite, listening as Balthier mocked Vaan's lack of education, only for Vaan to retort something rather crude about Balthier's mother. It only lasted a few minutes before Balthier left in a huff and Penelo pulled Vaan (by the ear, even) to apologize, but even a few moments made Harry feel lighter somehow... and perhaps just a bit more hopeful for what was to come.

The air was cloyingly thick, asphyxiating. He felt like every muscle in his body was coiled tightly enough to snap at any provocation, and Harry hunched his shoulders as he paused just inside the Tomb of Raithwall. "I don't like it here. I have a very bad feeling about this place."

"Then perhaps you should stay behind." It was said amicably enough, but the hardly restrained sneer on the man's lips told another story. Harry scowled.

"Like hell-"

A hand fell onto Harry's shoulder, and only the newly familiar motion of it sliding to the back of his neck and squeezing kept Harry from lashing out. Instead he felt his tense muscles unwind, and though Harry stepped away from Balthier's attempt at calming him, he stayed silent.

Balthier had a long finger tapping against his lips, which did nothing to hide the sharp smirk upon them. "Harassing those half your age doesn't seem a very knightly thing to do, Vossler. Do you have a grievance?"

The previously restrained sneer was prominent now. "Nothing I would discuss with you, Pirate."

"Then why not toddle off to your princess, hmm? I am sure someone has need of you."

The implication of Vossler's lack of worth was a rather low blow, and Harry could practically see the rage building in the man's eyes. Balthier was foolishly brash sometimes, something Harry couldn't help but admire.

It was the Gryffindor in him.

But the Slytherin in him, sheltered and repressed though it was, was even more impressed by the precise accuracy of those blows, the way Balthier delivered them with a cool finality that drove the barbs home. Harry would never have such a handle on his emotions. But the way Vossler turned on his heel and walked stiffly back towards where Princess Ashe and Basch were planning was very... satisfying.

"I don't need to be protected, you know." He met brown eyes with green, folding his arms over his chest.

Balthier's eyebrow arched. "Whomever said you did? It is the job of a leading man to rescue all those in distress."

"Isn't that generally damsels?" Harry said with a wry grin, letting his hands fall to his sides as he made to move past the pirate.

Fingers ran along his jaw line, freezing Harry in place. He shivered as they slid under his chin to tilt his face upward. Harry refused to acknowledge the rapid staccato of his pulse or the flush he could feel heating his cheeks, warmed even more by the feeling of breath fanning over his skin. Balthier was grinning wickedly down at him, which also did nothing to help Harry's blush. "A true leading man makes no distinction when there is saving to be done."

Harry forced himself to bat the hand away, grimacing as he tried to control his breathing.

"This place is seriously creepy. And why is there fog underground?" Vaan's nose was wrinkled, but his light eyes were dancing as they darted around the large chamber. "Those doors are where we're going, right?"

Harry was relieved for the distraction, immediately turning to look at Vaan. "I don't see anywhere else to be going."

"Fran says that the fog is Mist, and it is kinda dangerous. So be careful, Vaan, alright?" Penelo surprised him as she appeared at their sides, her lips pursed into a thin line.

Her words caught up to him and he stood up straighter. Mist? Like what had brought him to this world? He simultaneously panicked and celebrated. What if he could get back from this place? He could get back to Ron and Hermione, escape this odd world with its unfamiliar magic and people. He could finally be back somewhere that he knew and understood...

And be the Boy-Who-Lived once more, hero of the Wizarding world.

The thought made his stomach clench.

Who was to say he would even appear back in his own world? What if he had to start over all over again in a new one? There was no guarantee that he would wind up finding a group like the one he had, no way of telling whether there would be anyone to accept him and integrate him into their world. He could be killed outright for being lost as he was.

The others were moving down the stairs and to a central bridge, but Harry lagged behind, staring at the devie that had allowed them to enter the tomb. He couldn't bring himself to touch it again, but the feelings lodged in his throat, swirling with his trepidation of being in the place. It had reminded him of portkey travel, and it was nostalgic for him.

Penelo and Vaan were arguing now, her hands on her hips as Vaan's nose and cheeks turned slowly more red.

"I'm not one of the kids, Penelo! I'm older than you are."

"Maybe if you acted it once in a while I wouldn't have to worry all the time!"

"Hey! I act my age all the time!"

"I think you might be confusing your age with the size of your shoes!"

And then a hand was falling heavily onto each of their shoulders, a faint smile twisting Basch's lips. "I think that is enough, you two. You've woken every fiend from here to Rabanastre with your feuding."

Harry heard Balthier chuckle behind him, and resisted the urge to jump. He hadn't thought the man was still there.

Penelo stomped by Vaan now, nose upturned. "Fine! Go get yourself eaten by bats, then. Harry? Can I walk with you?"

He found himself nodding against his better judgment. She was a nice girl and seemed to not have a captious bone in her body, easily accepting Harry despite all the things about him that were unknowns for the party. But she was also rather simple and innocent, as well as endlessly optimistic. It was sweet, but it made it very difficult for Harry to relate to her.

She hummed as they began moving back towards where Ashe and Vossler were waiting, her hands linked behind her back. "So, Harry, don't you think this place is eerie?"

"Yeah..." he sighed. "I don't like it much."

"Neither do I. But if the Princess needs this nethicite... well, it is important for us to go, right?"

He didn't bother pointing out how little he understood about the need for a crystal to prove a person's identity, even after Ashe's explanation of Raithwall's treasures. "I think so. I just hope that getting it is enough."

"Of course it will be!" Vaan again, sidling up to walk at Penelo's side with his hands clasped behind his head. "We'll get the Dawn Shard for Ashe and then we can kick all those Imperials out of Rabanastre. Then we can go on great adventures, Penelo!"

Harry nearly envied the surety Vaan could infuse with those words.

They made their way down the stairs, waiting at the base for the rest of the group before they walked across the long walkway to the double doors at the end. Harry's eyes were drawn to grotesque carvings along the wall, a gnarled monster's face staring down at him.

"Wow, that is really ugly."

Harry let out a surprised laugh, smiling over at Penelo as they began the walk across the bridge. "Yeah, I think so too. But I suppose that ominous ruins have some kind of guidelines for being properly creepy."

In the minutes following that same wall would attack, and when they escaped through the doors in the distance, another sprung up coming towards us.

"Threat to front and threat behind, we must choose," Fran said, holding her bowstring taut. "We can neither turn back nor continue without a fight."

"Then we move forward," Ashe said, her shoulders thrown back and her head held high. "I will not give up this opportunity for the whims of... of masonry!"

"As my lady demands." Vossler lunged down the path towards the wall, striking out with his sword as Fran loosed her arrow.

To Harry's side, Vaan was muttering at a lantern. "This is weird. What is this?"

Balthier reloaded his pistol after firing, glaring at them. "You two, participate. Now."

As he spoke Vaan pressed a small indented portion of the lantern. "Huh..."

Harry cursed as he pulled out he wand, scowling. "Don't touch things that you don't know what they do, Vaan! It's moving faster!"

"Argh!" Ashe fell to one knee only a foot from the wall, blood running down her arm.

He could see Penelo frantically calling up a healing spell, but Harry raced forward. "Impedimenta!" The wall slowed its forward momentum momentarily, inching with bare movements instead of the slow crawl it had been proceeding at. Harry wracked his brain. He needed a spell that would work on stone. Stunners and the like were only meant to work on functioning human bodies, so what could he... Balthier had run forward to seize the still-fallen Princess, shoving her back and out of the path of the jagged, pointed feet that were speeding up gradually. Harry set his jaw and fired, "Expulso!"

The Demon Wall exploded in a shower of rocks, pelting them all more or less harmlessly. He sagged to the ground in the aftermath. The room was spinning and his blood was pouding behind his eyes.

"Right, that was impressive enough, Harry. Could you do that a bit sooner next time?"

He looked up with a wan smile, trying to ignore the suspicious look Vossler shot him or the uncomfortable look on Vaan's face. "I'll get right on that."

Basch's hand found his shoulder and pulled him to his feet, surveying him. "Are you well?"

"I'm fine, I think," said Harry, breathing deeply. "Let's just move on. I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to."

Vaan chattered at his side as they descended staircase after staircase, but Harry could hardly hear anymore. The dizziness from before was back tenfold, with white spots dancing at the corners of his vision. They hit the final landing and he could see a great beast ahead, towering over them as it drew a weapon from the ground.

But Harry was hardly even able to process the group tossing out orders for battle, directing people to the frontlines or the remain as backup. Instead, he felt the mist released by the beast's animation rush him, clouding his vision until he couldn't see beyond the veil of it, and somewhere beyond...

"We miss you so much, Harry."

The mist seemed to solidify, five forms circling him. He jarred at the impact of his knees hitting the stone floor, but he could hardly be bothered as his heart broke.

Ron. Hermione. Neville. Luna. Ginny.

"You've been gone so long."

Someone was shaking his shoulder, but he couldn't look away. When they spoke, their mouths didn't move, and he was nearly sure this was just what his mind wanted to see, but he relished in that moment, seeing something like the faces of the ones he loved for the first time in so long.

"We love you, Harry."

This wasn't real. He knew it wasn't. But the pain certainly was, both physical and emotional. He listened to them whisper to him ("We named our first child after you, Harry, we hope you don't mind. We tell him stories of our adventures every night.") and became aware of a... pulling. It started deep within him, a stirring trickle that built to a stream being pulled from him. He may have cried out but he couldn't be sure, but he felt the impact of his head hitting the stairs as he slid down the last few of them, realized he could no longer see the apparitions. The escaping - no, it was being stolen - stream had turned into a rushing river now, and the pain was like fire in his veins.

All went dark.

A/N: There's actually quite a bit of plot setup going on in here, I'm proud of me. I really like how Harry and Balthier would have chemistry... well, in my mind at least. ;P