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In this chapter the wizards get to know Zuko, his awkwardness, his stubbornness and his wandless magic, and he learns all about Hogwarts, Voldemort and destiny.

"You get to know people, you learn to care for them, and they become the reason you exist." Quoted by Tonks, from moi.

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Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Arthur, Sirius, Remus and Tonks sat at the table, as dinner was served. Harry hadn't seen Zuko, as he now knew the boy was called, since Mrs Weasley drove them out of the room, so he was quite surprised to see him showing up for dinner. He quickly made place, so he could sit between him and Sirius.

"Ah, so you are Zuko. How are you, boy?"

"His back is still badly burned. That's why I offered him to bring the food to his room, but he claimed that he was okay. But I didn't believe him, so I insisted, only then he insisted and kept insisting until I gave up, even though he can barely stand on his feet!"

"You outtalked Mom!?" They were about to applaud, but Mrs Weasley send the twins a warning glare.

"Oh, well. I guess this is the ultimate moment for proper introductions, then. My name is Sirius, Sirius Black." Whereupon he looked expectantly at Fred…

"I'm George." Or George.

"I'm Fred, George's brother, and this is our annoying sister: Ginny."

"I am perfectly capable of introducing myself, thank you very much."

"My name is Nymphadora Tonks, but I prefer you just call me Tonks."

"Well, Remus Lupin."

"Molly Weasley."

"I'm Arthur Weasley, proud husband of Molly." It didn't escape Harry Zuko shrunk a tiny bit at those words.

"My name is Hermione Granger, a pleasure to meet you."

"Ron Weasley."

"And I'm Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter? I've heard about you." So he was even famous beyond his own universe? Joy. "You're the one who found me, right?" Oh.

"Yes, I am. I and my cousin brought you to my uncle's home, from there Mr Weasley, Lupin and Tonks apparated you here and healed you. I have to say I didn't fully expect you make it, though."

He suddenly had turned solemn again. "I've been through worse."

Sirius tried to be emphatic: "You are talking about the scar on your face?" Zuko just took a bite of his food and started staring stubbornly at the table, furiously chewing on Molly's chicken. "You can at least try to be polite when I'm being so benevolent."

"Sirius," Sirius eyes shot up to meet those of his childhood friend, "we've made a deal, he doesn't have to tell us anything about his past if he doesn't want to. His uncle has died only recently, and there have been more unpleasant events in his live. If he doesn't want to retrieve those memories, it's only understandable." He smiled to the boy, who looked at him gratefully. Sirius sighed, "Alright then. I see you've already talked things out with Remus. I can be understanding." He grinned at Zuko. "I know I don't look very trustworthy, but Harry can assure you you can tell me anything, isn't it, Harry?"

"Sirius, Remus and my father used to be best friends when they still were students at Hogwarts. My parents both died when I was a baby, and Sirius is now a fugitive of the law -don't worry, he is innocent of the murder he is convicted for-, but back then, they were the Marauders! The worst troublemakers the school has ever known."

"And we are intending to surpass that feat next year!" exclaimed the twins clamorously.

"What is Hogwarts?"

"It's a school for witchcraft and wizardry, the only one in Britain."

"Yeah, Remus has told me about wizards and muggles in your world. So everyone learns their magic at this Hogwarts?"

"Pretty much. Do they have something like wizards in your world?"

"Well, we do have bending. Most people are what you call 'muggles', but some are benders. You can distinguish four kinds of benders: airbenders, waterbenders, earthbenders and firebenders. Each bender can manipulate their respective element. I, for instance, am a firebender." He illustrated his explanation by summoning a small flame in his open palm.

However, his little fire trick attracted more attention than he had anticipated. Hermione, who up until now had been enjoying mature company while discussing the purpose of a perforator with Mr Weasley, was now nearly jumping with enthusiasm. "But that's fantastic! Ron, look! Isn't this absolutely marvellous!"

"It's great, Hermione."

"Ron, please, don't spoil this moment for the rest of us! Don't you see? We are one of the first wizards in history to witness wandless magic!"

George said something to Fred, who chuckled and leant over to Zuko. "You better put out that flame, or you will get Hermione a heart attack." Sincerely concerned with the girl's wellbeing, he quickly extinguished his flame. Fred, George, Ron, Harry and Sirius burst out laughing. "Ease down, Mister Anxiety, we were only teasing!"

Zuko grumbled something along the line of "Not funny."

Hermione scowled at them. "Ignore them, Zuko. At least I can appreciate how special you are."

As she rattled on about all the things she would want to try with Zuko's bending, Harry's mind kept rewinding around the exceptional sight he had just witnessed. He indeed was special, in many different ways. Did it mean Zuko also was a kind of wizard? What kind of powers did he possess? Would they allow him joining the Order of the Phoenix, even if he was too young?

Harry couldn't suppress a glimpse of jealousy at the thought. He had tried to discuss it this afternoon, but since Molly came out of Zuko's room to start cooking she took care no one answered his questions, 'at Dumbledore's request'. Ron and Hermione didn't know much themselves, and although Sirius gave him some real answers in the end, even he didn't want Harry to help, just go back to school and stay out of it.

"NO, Hermione. He is NOT going to do ANYTHING. By Merlin's beard, he is still recovering! He shouldn't be here in the first place–" "What if it could help us defeat Voldemort!?"

A deathly silence hung over the table, only to be broken by the most logical question:

"Who's Voldemort?"

Everyone looked at each other, waiting for someone else to explain. Finally, it was Sirius who gave an answer.

"Zuko. You may already have suspected it, but unfortunately, your arrival in this world took place in a troubled time. You see, fourteen years ago, wizards… were fighting other wizards, called Death Eaters, who believed wizards had the inborn right to dominate over muggles. Many people died in those days, you will find a lot of wizard families today have lost one or several members. Their leader was Voldemort, a dark wizard who wished to live and rule forever, until he tried to kill Harry and mysteriously disappeared. Since that day Harry is a celebrity, the boy who lived, for many thought he had killed Lord Voldemort! Only wiser wizards knew he was still out there, somehow… he had been immortal after all. And merely a few months ago, they turned out to be right. Voldemort has resurrected, and is gaining power, only the Ministery won't admit it's true. But the Order of the Phoenix, that's us, does fight back." He stopped for a moment, emphasising the weight of the words to come. "We're at war."

Anyone should have been aghast by this news, or at least confused, so Harry was astonished when the so insecure boy's reply came immediately and resolutely. "Then, I want to fight."

"NOT A WORD OF IT!" protested Molly. "You aren't even of age, leave alone you can't possibly be of any use fighting!"

"You only know me for a few hours! You can't say anything about my fighting skills!"

"You're as ignorant as a muggle and you probably won't be able to perform magic anyway. You have just arrived at this world!"

"That only means I have nothing to lose!"

"You…I…Argh! Arthur, tell him he can't fight!"

Zuko furiously looked at Mr Weasley, who took his time to clean his spectacles before answering. "Zuko, I agree with Molly, albeit not for the same reasons. We indeed don't have any notion of your abilities, so we have no right to doubt you. Nevertheless, I still believe you're too young to fight, just like I believe Fred and George are too young to fight, who are actually older than you. "

Zuko seemed to have calmed down, instead his voice sounded hoarse and desperate. "But what should I do then? Fred and George still have to finish school, they have friends, family, a future. In my own world, I've lost everything I had, there's nothing to come back for –not that I could return anyway– and here…" he shook his head searching for words, "Here I have no purpose, no connections, nothing! I've just been… plunged into this world, because some spirit felt sorry for me. Prihni is her name, she has sent me here because she wanted to give me a second chance, that is my whole reason of existence here, but I've got no idea what to do! I…"

"My whole reason of existence was that my parents wished to have children, so they could give them too long names." said Tonks wisely. She smiled warmly at the boy while leaning back, closer to Remus. "And when a certain werewolf came along the way, it became my purpose to take care of him." She shrugged. "That's life. You get to know people, learn to care for them, and they'll become worth fighting for. And if you're prepared to die for us already, we certainly can help you finding your way around here."

"But what can I do if I can't help you? You're the only people I know!"

"Maybe you can go to Hogwarts?" The question was rather directed at Remus than at Zuko. The man frowned slightly, considering the possibility. "That might be not such a bad idea after all…"

Zuko going to Hogwarts, indeed, no bad idea at all! I'm already writing the next chapter!