Chapter Four


A/N: I do not own any of the characters presented in this story. These characters belong to Nickelodeon and JK Rowling respectively.

*Ducks projectiles* Okay, I am so sorry I took this long to update. Cliff notes version: my life was extremely hectic for the last four years or so (graduated college, joined the Disney College program, constantly on the hunt for new jobs, etc). Well, my life has finally settled down, allowing me time to update the stories that have sort of been left to the wayside.

Again, my deepest apologies for leaving this story for as long as I did.

I have a poll on my profile for the stories that you want to see updated. Unfortunately, when you have as many WIPs that I have, some of them end up going to the wayside a bit. Be sure to vote if you haven't already! You can vote for up to five choices!

Hope you enjoy this chapter!


Harry had never seen a group more silent. If it wasn't for the cracking of the fire, it would have been almost silent. Everyone seemed focused on staring down at their plates, trying to finish their meal. Zuko was the only one talking, trying desperately to tell a joke but not knowing how.

He could see Ron wince out of the corner of his eyes and knew exactly where his friend's thoughts had gone—Fred and George would be dying over this poor attempt to tell a joke. Though, in Zuko's defense, his sister did just try and kill him earlier. Anyone would be a little rattled after that.

Maybe Zuko was an amazing joke teller but he was rattled after the day's events. Harry sighed—even in his head it sounded weird.

"I think the more important question is how did you manage that air bending earlier?" Aang asked and Harry snapped his eyes from the fire's glow when he realized that the conversation moved from the poor joke telling and on to the fight that had occurred just moments before.

"I'm sorry?" Harry asked.

"When you blasted Azula," Aang elaborated. "I've only ever seen air benders do that. I thought you weren't benders though?"

Harry locked eyes with the rest of his friends who all seemed to be thinking the exact same thing.

"You mean that might not have been a freak occurrence?" Ginny asked, looking down at her hands.

"Well think about it," Hermione said before anyone could answer. "It almost seems like wandless magic in a way. But only the most powerful witches and wizards can do it."

"Well that fits Harry," Ron chuckled and Harry flushed, hoping that it was passed off as an result from the heat of the fire instead of the embarrassment. "Ginny too, now that I think about it."

Ginny also flushed, her red face clashing with her vivid hair, and cleared her throat. "Okay, so it seems that some of us still have some remnants of their powers. But how can we control them? I know know about the rest of the group, but I'd like to make sure the bending or magic or whatever you call it works before we have to face off against another person trying to kill us."

"We can help with that," Katara said, giving the younger girl a small smile. "Well, I might not be of much help with fire or air but if any of you notice water acting weird around you—"

"Oh! I noticed it earlier when I was down at the beach!" Luna said with a smile. "I thought it was just the nargles at first."

Everyone stared at her for a minute, as if unsure how to proceed from there.

"Okay," Katara said slowly. "Well, I can help you learn the ins and out of Water Bending."

"What about us?" Hermione asked, eager to get started. "I mean, what would those of us who don't know what bending we have do?"

"You can work with any of us," Aang said, motioning to Katara, Zuko and Toph. "I'm sure we'll be able to find a bending style for all of you."

"I have to say, this would help a lot with the war against You-Know-Who," Ron muttered to Harry, who nodded. His scar had been softly throbbing the whole time, which Harry could only take as a sign that Voldemort had not yet killed Sirius.

"When would we start?" Harry asked. He still was unsure about whether or not they should trust the other group, but if this meant they wouldn't be defenseless in the strange world, he'd take it.

"Would tomorrow work?" Aang suggested. "If we're to work on your bending, it might be better if we get started right away."

Harry locked eyes with the rest of his group, who nodded slightly. They were in.

"Tomorrow's perfect."

0000

Climbing into the tent he shared with Ron and Neville, Harry couldn't help but sigh in relief. It was air bending he had done earlier. He hated even to think it but there was some relief knowing that it wouldn't be like second year all over again.

The last thing he wanted was to discover yet another power that no one else could do.

"So, air bending huh?" Ron's voice came from behind and Harry looked over at his best friend shaking his head in amusement. "Why am I not surprised? After all, the wizards who descended from air benders were natural flyers."

"Yeah, and anyone who's seen Harry on a broom can attest that he's better than a bird at times," Neville said, entering the tent. Harry rolled his eyes, honestly he wasn't that good a flyer. Maybe he'd go as far as to say he was a fair flyer.

"What about that battle earlier?" Harry said, trying to change the subject. "I can't imagine having to battle a family member like Zuko had to."

"Neither can I," Neville agreed. Ron just picked at some imaginary fuzz on his shirt and Harry couldn't help but feel awful. It may not have been a physical battle but the Weasleys were still battling one of their own as Percy had sided with the Ministry over his own family.

At least Percy wasn't trying to kill anyone though.

"Why don't we go to bed?" Harry suggested. "Knowing Hermione, she'll have us up at the crack of dawn for the ability to learn something new."

"I'm surprised she's not out there trying to find a book on bending so that she could be more prepared," Ron snorted but slowly he and Neville seemed to fall asleep. Harry sighed and slipped out of the tent. The last thing he wanted was to fall asleep and see Sirius getting tortured by Voldemort.

As he walked toward the beach, Harry couldn't help but wonder why the thestrals had taken them to this world. This wasn't where they were supposed to be—they were supposed to be heading toward London to help rescue Sirius.

Snape certainly wasn't going to do it. After all, he had brushed off the message Harry had given him back in Umbridge's office. Add that to the fact that Snape hated Sirius and Harry wouldn't be surprised if Snape was doing a dance of joy at the thought of being rid of one of the men he hated.

Harry then shuddered—the thought of Snape doing any sort of dance was terrifying in its own right.

"You know, you should probably be sleeping," a voice came from behind and Harry had to work to make sure that he didn't jump. Turing around, he saw Zuko walking up to him. "Bending for the first time takes a lot of energy. If you're going to master air bending, you're going to need your strength."

"Right," Harry nodded but made no movement to go back to the tent. He could hear Zuko sigh in frustration but Harry honestly didn't care. The older boy may know a thing or two about bending but for right now, Harry was more concerned in making sure that his friends wouldn't end up hurt.

The last thing he wanted was to have a nightmare and end up blasting Ron or Neville out of the tent.

"Are all you wizards so stubborn?" Zuko grumbled.

"I think you'll find the answer is yes," Harry told him, looking over his shoulder at the fire bender. "Also, only the guys are called wizards. Hermione, Luna and Ginny are called witches."

"Why?" Zuko asked, as if confused about the different titles. Then again, both female and male benders were just called benders here.

"No idea." Harry shrugged and then tried to hide a yawn with the back of his hand. Unfortunately, it didn't work as Zuko just raised an eyebrow in his direction. Not wanting to aggravate a guy who could bend fire, Harry made his way back to his tent under Zuko's watchful eye.

"Merlin, he doesn't have to watch me the whole way!" Harry thought as he zipped up the tent, Zuko still watching him all the while. Having no other choice, Harry laid down and fell into a thankfully dreamless sleep.

It seemed, despite the throbbing in his scar, that Voldemort's powers did not extend completely to this world.

0000

"Oi! Wake up Harry!"

Ron's dulcet tones were the first thing Harry heard the next day as he rubbed the last bit of sleep from his eyes. Surprisingly, he felt well rested—something he hadn't felt in a long time. Walking out of the tent, he saw the rest of the gang by the remnants of the campfire. Luna had paired off with Katara while Ginny was awkwardly standing by Zuko.

"Say one word Ron and I'll hex you as soon as we get the power to do so," Harry heard her mutter as he walked up.

"Ah Harry!" Aang said, somehow preventing Ron's response. Harry seriously wondered how these guys were able to do that! First Zuko with Ron and Hermione and now Aang with Ron and Ginny!

Maybe they could come back with them whenever they made it back to their world?

"Hey Harry, sleep well?" Neville asked and Harry nodded.

"Yeah I did, you?"

"Yeah," Neville nodded, scratching the back of his head. "I don't know why but I was really tired. Went to bed fairly quickly."

"Okay everyone!" Suki called out and clapped her hands together, preventing Harry from responding. "I think we should get started."

"That's right," Katara nodded. "If you already have some bending talents, get with the bender that can teach you how to control it. If you haven't, we can help and see if you have the talent."

"Don't be disappointed if you don't," Suki added. "Sokka and I will help train anyone who's a non bender."

Harry couldn't help but relax at that. Even though he had already shown some bending ability, he had to admit he had been a little worried about his friends who hadn't shown the bending ability.

"So what bender are you going to try first?" he asked Neville.

"I was thinking of working with Luna and Katara," Neville told him. "Seems the safest. Have fun Harry!"

Harry watched as Neville walked off, catching up to Luna and Katara as they walked toward the beach. Ron, it seemed, had decided to pair up with Ginny—whether as a brotherly sense of obligation or due to the distrust of Zuko, he didn't know.

Hermione had joined Toph in trying to see if she had any earth bending abilities. Harry couldn't help but chuckle at that. It would make sense that the most grounded friend he had would try to see if she had any earth bending abilities.

"You ready?" a voice came from behind Harry and he looked to see Aang standing beside him. Harry nodded and the two of them walked off a ways, back toward the tents. Once they arrived, Aang sat down and motioned for Harry to do the same.

"Okay, so I've never actually taught anyone how to air bend," Aang said with a small smile and Harry couldn't help but smile back. "All I know is what the monks taught me."

"Well, what did they teach you?" Harry asked.

"The first trick of becoming a successful air bender is to meditate. Clear your mind of all thought." Aang told him and Harry froze. Oh Merlin help him.