The Price of Mistakes
Chapter 4:
Fast forward through time and Hogwarts
One September morning, 1015; The Forbidden Forest.
As the morning light fleeted across the younger version of the Forbidden Forest, as well as by the sweet chorus made by the thousands of nesting birds, and by the fresh breeze ruffling his ebony hair; Harry knew something was wrong.
Firstly, sun didn't reach The Violet Hold. Secondly, never in a thousand years would Merlin house so many birds in his sanctuary. And lastly, there was no breeze that could transverse across the grand Diamond Castle. All in all, he could not be in a better place to be called the opposite of his home.
His emerald eyes snapped open and met the morning sun for the first time since he had left behind his wizarding home. Black and white spots overwhelmed him for a few seconds before his sight adjusted to the bright morning; and as he took in his surroundings he was surprised.
Merlin had dropped them in the middle of a forest. The dry leaves and brown twigs that served as his bed were a dead give away, and if that did not serve right the massive trees that spread in every direction might…
Among the neutral colors lay Azrael in a buddle of black robes and emerald wings. Her pale face seemed peaceful in sleep and a small smile that seemed to spread over his cherry lips could not be driven to shelter. As he watched, her black clad legs stretched to the limit as well as her arms, her eyes popped open.
She had a more difficult time in adjusting to brightness than he had, seeing as her time in confinement had been much longer than his. And when finally she prepared to stand he followed her example and concentrated on veiling his wings.
The familiar tingling surged across his back as his wings were retracted and hidden beneath his skin, leaving behind the black imprint of wings running across his back. He watched as she did the same, but before words could be spoken a black blur surfaced from one of the surrounding bushes and sooner than he had time to react he was once more with his back on the floor.
The black blur turned out to be Akakios, with his violet eyes and heavenly fur. The two month old puppy seemed ecstatic about something and after a few seconds at trying to decode it, Harry gave up and pulled himself to his feet.
Dusting the small particles of dead leaves and dirt that clung to his black robes, he made his way towards Azrael.
"Do you have any clue where we are at?" he asked, with the fake hope of escape from the green clutches of nature. As she shook her head, he released a sigh. "Thought so, hopefully we don't have any aversions to walking."
At his statement her face scrunched up in disgust at the action, but did not complain otherwise. Her gaze was suddenly pried upwards as the harmonious song of a phoenix filled the sky. The black and white plumage was visible to the whole world and her face lit up with joy at the sight of her familiar.
"Now we may go"
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As twilight fell across the grounds that lay at the feet of Hogwarts, Abaddon and Azrael finally exited the maze of trees to be greeted by the sight of the magnificent castle. Its giant windows were lit up and made long rectangular shaped parches of light across the grounds.
The few differences that Harry could place (via Tom's memories) were the lack of a groundkeeper's hut, the younger aspect of the castle walls and the fact that the Quidditch pitch was missing. The latter part brought a smile to his face as his Godfather' reaction came to mind. He could already imagine Sirius in a straight jacket among the rest of the crazies.
The last rays of sunlight brought orange hues over the surface of the Black Lake making it look like a mirage among a desert of grass. A sigh of relief awoke Harry from his day dreams and as he turned towards Azrael he saw the look of giddiness at the thought of the comforts that represented the castle, which she had yet to know about.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" he whispered towards her as he dropped the napping grim that had taken to being carried next to his feet. A couple of yards away, perching among the trees hid Athanasios. His emerald eyes met Azrael's violet ones and the look of surprise brought another smile to his face.
"We better get in there before night falls and we find ourselves sleeping among the trees once more. Waking one morning to that ambient is enough to last me this trip." He said as he grabbed her hand and walked towards the giant oaken doors that stood in his way to entering Tom's home.
Deeming it rude to just barge in, he raised his pale hand and knocked loudly on the door. After several tense moment that were filled with nothing but a pregnant silence, the doors were opened slightly by a largely muscled man that wore red robes and had tussled golden hair.
His honey colored eyes seemed to pierce Harry as they landed upon him. The sword at his hips did nothing to calm his nerves, and on impulse he gripped Azrael's hand harder, seeking some comfort. Her sweet voice interrupted the staring contest.
"Hmm excuse me. We are looking for the Headmaster of this school. If you would be so kind as to inform him of our arrival?" She said in a low voice. Her request seemed to catch him off guard and his head tilted slightly to the side, as if inspecting a rare specimen.
"Lucky you then, it seems you are speaking to one of them." He said, his gruff voice sounding vaguely amused.
"'One of them', you say. May I inquire as to the purpose of more?" Azrael asked, seemingly not missing a step in the negotiations. A surprised look came across his handsome face as he came to realize just how perceptive the young girl before him was.
Harry on the other hand seemed to pale at each word they exchanged, as the clues to what time they were currently in were laid before him. He cleared his throat and he prepared to ask the million galleon question.
"I'm assuming that of there are three more, two are females and the last male?" He asked, at the man's confused nod Harry continued. "By the coloring of your robes I'm assuming you are Godric Gryffindor, are you not?" At the man's cautious nod, Harry seemed to lose all self restraint.
"Dear Merlin, I am talking to the founder of my line" he muttered and at Azrael's surprised look, it seemed she had caught on to his words.
The difficult and cautious discussion that had occurred after the words that Harry spoke is best to be forgotten among the old pages of history and after a much reluctant welcome, both of them were currently sitting in the office that Tom had recognized as previously (or yet-to-be) Dumbledore's.
The four young figures that stood in front of them seemed pensive at the story that had just been uttered by Azrael. Of course they had not believed them at first, but a flash or two of emerald and ebony wings did wonders to their change of opinion.
The youngest woman among them seemed to accept the occurrence faster than the rest and she testified it with the words 'Magic works in ways we know not'. Her deep sapphire eyes glinting with deep amusement as her co-founders continued to ponder it.
The oldest among the four came second, stating that in his old age (even if he was in his mid 30s at most) had thought him never to consider something impossible; but deep within his emerald eyes a plan was brewing, his short silver hair loose for the wind to swirl. Add a curly mustache and they had a perfect villain.
Next came Helga Hufflepuff with her golden curls and obsidian eyes, saying that it was only fair to give them a chance they were 'children, after all'. May they know it or not, Harry and Azrael were older than time itself, with complete memories to prove it.
The last person to agree was the same that was destined to start the Potter line, and for some odd reason this put Harry off more than words could express. His thinking honey colored eyes seemed to twinkle as an idea popped into his head.
"I accept your story and as for you staying here, it will be with a reason." He said, already sealing the plan with a smirk. "You shall become our apprentices…"
The shocked silence that followed was soon broken by the frantic yells that were exclaimed by the other three founders.
"…What do you mean ours?!..."
"Godric, we have no time!"
"Me?! Apprenticing mere children!"
As Harry's mind went into over drive and the reason for this trip in time became clear, he smiled. Azrael had already conformed with Godric's words and her mind made up, she smiled as well.
"We agree" they said at the exact same time. "But first you must know that an Apprentice Bond is not possible seeing as Merlin is our Mentor. And secondly we must ask what you deem to teach us." Harry finished, his words had finally managed to quiet everyone.
The first to respond was Helga with her sweet voice, "Healing arts, herbology, charms and Earth Elementals".
Soon followed Godric with a small smile on his lips, "Sword fighting, defense, strategy and Fire Elementals".
Flashing emerald eyes and a smug smile, Salazar answered, "Parselmagic, potions, dark magic and Water Elementals. Although the first is not possible to you, seeing as only a few are blessed with the knowledge to the language of the snake".
Harry raised an eyebrow at the statement and Azrael stifled a giggle before they both hissed a single word that was laced with sarcasm, "Really?". Salazar visibly started at the fact that both children were 'blessed' with being parselmouths, but before he could respond the meeting had progressed.
Surprisingly the last person to answer was Rowena, with her short and muttered; "Mind magics, transfiguration, rituals and Air Elementals"
The silence that prevailed around the room was broken once all doubts where driven out of Harry's mind with a simple word. "Perfect"
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The day after the arrangement of their status as apprentices dawned bright and early for the two teens, so using candles to light up what the soft rays of predawn could not, they sneaked out of their shared quarters.
To be completely honest the expression on the Founders' faces at the request of only one dormitory had been amusing to say the least, but a quick explanation on their bond as soul mates had cleared all the protests of it being 'improper'. Now, when they had been introduced to the spacious, high ceilinged, roof-to-floor window room it was their turn to gaze at their Masters with shock. The room, which had been free to decorate at their will, turned out much like their dormitories at the Diamond Castle.
All purples and blacks with the thickest curtains they could conjure, which left the room in almost complete darkness. The adjoining restroom had been similarly redecorated and as their gazes fell upon the Olympic-size pool/bath it was hard not to drool.
Life was good.
And then came the question Harry had so vigorously avoided, for neither of the bonded had had the conversation yet; they had asked about the time of the ritual of the flesh, which would bring the bond to its complete and irreversible state.
But then again, things like empathy and telepathic abilities between the bonded could wait… for now at least.
As Azrael stumbled on the uneven path that crossed the dew covered grounds and led towards the only visible break in the thick foliage of the Forbidden Forest, Harry awoke from his daydreaming and became aware of their current location. Which was to say, a few feet away from the entrance to the forest; with all its twisted branches, clustered leaves and low hanging branches, it looked like a picture taken right out of a horror movie.
The treacherous vines and branches that littered it so thoroughly ended up being no problem at all as they made their way deeper into the forest in search of the clearing which housed their familiars. Only once more did Azrael stumble, but luck was on her side seeing as Harry prevented her fall.
The first indication, after man hours of constant darkness, of the small expanse that was sure to contain a certain hyper grim and pompous phoenix, was the soft rays of dawn that broke through the thick darkness that had surrounded them for so long.
Wasting no time, Harry moved forward and broke through the barrier of leaves and branches that signaled the border of the clearing. The single candle in one hand and clutching Azrael's in the other; and right in front of then, smack in the middle of the clearing lay Akakios, sound asleep. Not even minding one bit that the place he had spent the night at was counted as one of the most dangerous places in magical Britain.
A few feet to the left and dozing on a low hanging branch hovered Athanasios, which brought great relief to Azrael. Letting out a sigh in both relief and annoyance at both familiars and their careless ways, Harry let go of his bonded's hand and blew out the candle. Behind him, he heard another sigh and he smiled as he realized Azrael must feel the same way as he.
Akakios' ears twitched and as they watched; he stretched, yawned and shook his long mane of fur, before finally opening a violet star-pupil eye. A sense of Déjà vu gripped Harry for half a second as his eyes met those violet ones and finding himself with his back on the floor made him remember why.
The grim seemed to take no notice in his masters' annoyance as he continued to lick Harry's face with all he could. It was safe to say that Harry had no idea where the candle had ended up.
With soft steps and small bounds Azrael found herself before the ruby-eyed stare of her familiar, the dead branches and scattered leaves did nothing to deter her from reaching her now awake phoenix. Soothing words and soft pats were given before Athanasios gave in and leaned against her hand; and like that the hours passed quickly, before they knew it dawn had come and gone, leaving the sky a perfect cerulean color.
"Well, now we know they are safe, but we should be heading back seeing as the hours before breakfast are over." Harry said from his spot on the floor, his gaze towards the sky he had missed so much and his hands ruffling Akakios' pelt.
Azrael, who sat a few feet from them with her back pressed to a tree and the phoenix resting on her shoulder responded with a small 'mhm' , which Harry took the liberty to interpret as agreement. "I just don't want to leave them behind…"
"Who ever said we would?" Harry asked, looking incredulously towards her. She just raised an eyebrow, indicating him to continue. "Well, we have that huge spacious room to ourselves and many people keep normal pets up in their dormitories. They are even smarter than average animals, so what makes then incapable of paying heed to our rules?" Harry said as he sat up, Akakios still resting on his lap.
"Nothing" Azrael said as she stood up as well, Athanasios flying towards the nearest branch.
"Then I'm sure no one would have a problem with then crashing with us!" Harry replied with a huge smile on his face.
As he finished his small speech he found himself, once more, flattened on the ground. The only difference were the thin arms that wrapped themselves over his neck and a ticked off grim between both angels, suddenly he was utterly grateful of having his wings concealed. Harry responded with a small laugh and wrapped his own arms around her lower back; low enough not to touch the connection between wings and back, and yet not low enough to have her protest.
"Really if this keeps happening, I might as well never stand again, just to prevent getting thrown back so much." He murmured into her ear, her short hair tickling his neck as she laughed at his response. A growing sense of annoyance that did not belong to the moment that was currently being shared by the bonded brought a frown of confusion to his face, and even as he processed it he remembered the sandwiched grim.
With a start he realized that the feeling did not belong to him, as he had primarily believed, but to the cub grim that had dozed in his lap minutes before.
Yay! Update, yes I know I haven't updated in a while, but not everything is sunshine and flowers atm lol. Thnx for all of those who reviewed on the last chapter and if you have any questions or doubts ask away and I'll answer on the next chappie to the best of my abilities (and memory xD) Enjoy!