Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is a god to have given us that world.

Chapter 7.

'Accio, cup!' Albus yelled, aiming his wand at a cup on the far side of the room.

Normally, the cup would come flying across the room into his hand, which was how the summoning charm was supposed to work. But the cup hadn't even budged from its place, causing his frustration to rise.

Albus jerked his wand arm, as if it would help his magic flow, and re-aimed at the cup and shouted, 'Accio, cup!'

The result was the same.

'Why aren't you able to cast spells?' Anushka asked. She was sitting on a chair opposite of him, with a worried look on her face.

'I don't know,' Albus trailed off looking at the apple phoenix wand in his hand.

Albus really did not know what was happening to his magic. It had started immediately after he had woken up from his comatose state, after their battle in the Forest of La Neblina. At first he had thought it was the after effects of magic depletion, and it would return to normality after sometime. But it had only gotten worse. Now, he was having problems performing the simplest spells. He could not even feel the warmth of magic radiating from his wand, it was like a dead stick in his hand.

There was another startling discovery he had made while meditating to clear the flow of his magic; his magic had become very weak. In the past when he had done the same exercise and his magic at that time had appeared to be ample and constant, like a flowing stream. But now it looked like a thin bundle of very rigid and motionless strings.

'Maybe something is wrong with your wand?' Ansuhka supplied.

'It can be-but,' Albus trailed off again continuing to stare at his wand.

'If your magic does not comeback, then it will be difficult for us to join the revolution,' Anushka said, her yellow eyes looking at him intently.

'My magic will be fine,' Albus responded lightly. 'I just need to focus a little more.' He then pointed his wand at the coffee table between him and Anushka, and shouted, 'Wigardium Leviosa.'

Nothing.

'Why don't we go visit the monks in Nepal?' Anushka offered. 'They may know what is wrong with you.'

'It will take too much time. We need to get there as quick as possible,' Albus said effectively.

He had come back to England respecting his mother's summons. He had met his family, and everyone that he needed to meet. The only thing remaining now was the reason why his mother had actually summoned him. He had a strong belief that she had summoned him for something more than just a family matter, and he needed to finish that task before he could return back to Venezuela. He had promised Matias that he would be back, and it did not matter to him if it was with or without magic.

'But I think it is unwise of you to join the fight in your condition,' Anushka said in a concerned voice.

'Don't you want to help Matias, Angela, Luciana- the people are suffering there,' Albus said indignantly.

Albus sincerely wanted to join his comrades in their fight against the Baron. He believed in their cause and understood why they were fighting. Their freedom had been taken away, and their loved ones were all unsafe. Albus knew it was not necessary for him to join their war after helping them for the last six months, but he still wanted to go. It was not because he wanted to be a sacrificing hero, or wanted to show his father that he could fight a war too, it was simply for his own gratification. He understood that it was selfish of him to think that way, but it was the truth.

'I don't care for them, or their cause. But if you want to join them, then I have no qualms in following you.'

'Is this because of our bond?' Albus said bitterly. 'If it is, then I suggest that you don't come with me.'

'You misunderstand our bond Albus. It does not force me to follow all of your commands- I follow you because of my own choice. I'll repeat what I have said before: Whatever is your ideal, it is also mine. Your war is my war. If you are a slayer then I'm the blade that slays.'

Albus looked at her, her yellow eyes staring back at him. It was like a deja'vu of what had happened when she was bonded to him for the first time. She had said the same things at that time, and he had been wordless then as he was now.

Their eye contact was broken when the fireplace suddenly erupted in green flames, and the figure of Lily Potter stepped out of it.

'I knew you were here,' Lily said with a knowing smile. 'Why didn't you tell me coming here?'

'I thought you were going to be busy with your paperwork,' Albus replied. It wasn't completely a lie, but he also didn't want Lily to find out about his problems with his magic.

'You could have at least told me' Lily pouted. 'What are you doing here anyway?'

'I was practicing my magic,' Albus answered.

'Why come to Greengrass Manor just to do that?' Lily asked suspiciously.

'Well, I can't practice in the house because of that ward- how did she invent an anti-magic ward anyway?'

'Something to do with reversing Nagamoto's principle, and something to do with Deply's findings- and Sumerian and Chinese symbols,' Lily paused momentarily. She looked like she was thinking if she missed something then continued, 'Then she said something about Morana.'

'You mean Morgana?' Albus corrected.

'No, no,' Lily replied shaking her head. 'It was Morana.'

'Never heard of her.' Albus shrugged.

'Neither have I,' Lily added.

'She is a goddess of death,' Anushka spoke.

'A goddess of death?' Albus was surprised by the information.

'Yes, a traveller from the north once told me about her,' Anushka said in a reminiscent tone.

'I think someone was named after that goddess. And mother used her principles in creating the ward,' Lily indicated.

Lily's thoughts made more sense to him. After all, using magic of mythical gods that was quite a farfetched idea. But the name Morana seemed familiar to him, it reminded him of someone he knew, but could not pin point who.

'And you have not answered my earlier question,' Lily said in an irritated voice.

'What question?'

'Why did you come here of all places?' she said eying Anushka suspiciously.

'I asked mother to find me a place to practice magic. And she knew I was not going back to Grimmauld Place,' Albus answered. He was never going to enter his father's residence as long as he was alive. That place was a constant reminder of how heartless and ambitious his father really was. 'So, she keyed me to Greengrass Manor.'

'Why would she do that?' Lily muttered.

'What?'

'Nothing,' Lily replied quickly.

'So, what are you doing here?' Albus asked her.

'I came to see whether you are free or not,' Lily said moving her eyes around the room they were in.

'Why did you need something?'

'This place has significantly worn down hasn't it,' Lily said not answering his question.

'Well, mother hates this place.'

'I wonder why?' Lily said thoughtfully.

'She must have terrible memories,' Albus replied, thinking of his own loathing for Grimmauld place.

'Then why not sell it. The place is still in a good shape. It can fetch a few galleons,' Lily said moving around the room and inspecting the various objects.

Albus shrugged. 'She probably has her own reasons. And what did you need so urgent that you interrupted my practice?'

'You don't even have time for me now-a-days,' Lily complained. 'I just wanted to spend some time with you.'

Albus sighed. He knew that Lily was going to have her way in the end. He could never say no to her, and she knew that as well. So, he conceded before wasting time in an unwinnable argument.

'What do you want to do?' he asked.

'I want you to come with me to Diagon Alley. I have to buy a few things,' Lily said her green eyes beaming with happiness.

'All right,' Albus said with a nod. 'I have to visit Ollivander's as well.'

'Why?'

'I think I need to change my wand,' Albus replied looking at the wand in his hand. 'It is not working the way it should.'

'Why? I mean how?' Lily said looking upset.

Albus immediately understood Lily's reason for being upset. His apple phoenix wand had a brother wand, and it belonged to Lily. She had always prided over the fact that their wands were related just like themselves. When Ollivander had first told her that the wand which had chosen her was the brother of his wand, she had been over the moon. She had told everyone who would listen to her about the relation between their wands. She thought that it was the most wonderful thing in the world. To her it meant they were closer than any other brother and sister in the world.

'I don't know. I think the wand is the problem but it could be something else,' Albus replied.

'You probably damaged it using all the different types of magic,' Lily said trying not to sound upset. 'I think old Ollivander can fix it up in no time.'

'I hope so,' Albus said tightening his grip around the cold wood in his hand.

#

Albus was exhausted from being dragged from one store to the other. He could not understand why women needed to examine so many things, go through so many shops, just to say they had liked the thing they had seen the first time around. He had lost count of how many stores they had gotten into and how many hours they had spent inside, just looking at things. Actually, it was Lily, who had done all the looking, he and Anushka had just watched on, like a pair of inferi. At one point of time he had asked her if he could go to Ollivander's, while she shopped, but he was met with another one of her blackmailing lines and her puppy dog eyes. Albus was a slave to her words, she could tell him to murder someone and he would do it happily. He didn't know why, but Lily seemed to be more important to him than the entire world.

Lily pulled his arm as she led him inside another store. He wished that she would end his torture; even Emily had never been so selective. As he thought about Emily, he remembered her being there in their house when he had arrived. He hadn't had the opportunity to talk with her because of Scorpius and Anushka's actions. He really wanted to talk with Emily, he wanted to apologise for the injustice he had done to her and their relationship. He at least owed her that much.

'Hello, Lily,' a familiar voice called distracting Albus from his thoughts. He turned his eyes and saw Julia behind the counter.

'Hello, Julia,' Lily returned smiling brightly.

'Hello, Albus. Anushka,' Julia said waving at them.

'Hello, Julia,' Albus returned with a short bow. Anushka repeated his actions.

'So, what brings you to my shop of curiosity?' Julia asked with a friendly smile.

'I just wanted to show Albus your shop,' Lily replied. 'And I wanted to look around myself.'

'Thank you for coming. And I'm so sorry for James' behaviour the other day,' Julia said apologetically.

'There is no need for you to apologise,' Albus said embarrassedly.

James held their father in high regard, and Albus respected that. But he had not seen the other side of their father's face. Even if he told James the reason for his altercation with their father, he was sure he was not going to believe him. So, it was better if they kept their thinking to themselves and carry on with their own lives.

'But I'm terribly ashamed by the way James treated you.'

'I was also at fault at that moment. We are brothers after all, we will work it out in the end,' Albus admitted. He knew it was a lie, but he had to sound positive.

'I hope you do. I intend on you being his best man on our wedding,' Julia said with a beaming smile. Albus deadpanned. 'And I do have some pretty friends who might be interested in a handsome man like yourself. Or are you already taken?' Julia glanced at Anushka who was looking around the shop.

'No we are-'

'Can I look at those earrings?' Lily interrupted, pointing at the glass cabinet behind Julia.

'Certainly,' Julia replied opening the cabinet and taking out a bunch of different looking earrings and placing it on the counter.

'This looks nice. And this one too,' Lily said examining the various earrings.

Albus seeing that Lily was busy making her examinations moved his eyes around the shop. The shop was full of various objects ranging from different types of jewellery, statues, carpets, mirrors, precious stones, cloaks and weird looking paintings. But they all had one thing in common, they all looked highly expensive.

'See anything interesting?' Julia asked looking at him.

'You have a lot of things here. Where did you get them?'

'Well, I was homeschooled as my father travelled a lot. And my sister and I travelled with him. During that time I found a lot of unique things in the various places we stayed. I learned their art and began recreating them. Every place has their own magic and their own culture. I wanted to share that culture when I decided to set my shop here.'

'You make all of this yourself?' Albus was clearly surprised.

'The ornaments and statues are my work. The fabric work is done by my partner Alyssa. The other items like those mirrors and paintings,' she said pointing at the mirrors and paintings. 'My sister brings them. She travels a lot, so she gets me a lot of unique stuff for my shop.'

'What are the paintings for?' Albus asked looking at the paintings. 'I have seen some of them before and they are not just for decoration.'

'You are correct,' Julia answered. 'They can be used for some rites and rituals as well. But very few people know it, so they just buy it as a decoration piece.'

'Is it legal to sell these in Diagon Alley?'

The wizarding community in Britain still frowned upon some practices which did not match their standard. Although, one did not end up in Azkaban as they used to, but the use of unfamiliar magic was still considered dark. So, it was surprising that Julia was selling such stuff right under the Ministry's noses.

'Daphne helped a lot with that,' Julia said with a sly smile.

'Figures,' Albus said with a shrug. His mother always did support unconventional magical practices.

'Look at this Albus,' Anushka said in an excited voice. It was something which he had not heard in her voice for a while. He turned to her and saw that she was holding a black cloak.

'What is that?' he asked.

'It is a cloak which protects you from magic,' Anushka said bringing the cloak to him.

He touched the material of the cloth, it felt like dragon hide, but a little bit smoother. 'It's just a dragon hide cloak.'

'Not just,' Julia interjected.

'Not?'

'It is made from a dragon's hide but not any dragon,' Julia said with specificity.

'Which dragon?' Albus asked, Julia's tone had raised his curiosity.

'A Twin Headed Dragon.'

'Now you are acting like a true seller. Even I know a twin headed dragon does not exist,' Albus said not believing her.

'They do.' Anushka was the one to speak. 'I've seen two of them in my lifetime. They are very rare.'

'Nearly extinct,' Julia added.

'How did you get something, this rare?' Albus asked still not completely sold on the cloak.

'Trade's secret,' Julia answered with a wink.

Albus looked at her; she had a playful grin on her face. He could now understand why James had fallen for her.

At that moment two more customers entered the shop, and Julia excused herself to attend them.

'We need to buy this Albus,' Anushka said with excitement in her voice. 'Twin headed dragons are extremely magic resistant. Most curses will be useless against it.'

Albus ran his fingers across the fabric and thought for a moment before asking, 'Julia how much for this?'

'One hundred and seventy galleons,' Julia replied. Albus knew she was naming a low price considering the rarity of the item.

'You are buying that?' Lily who had been giving side-glances at them finally spoke.

'Yes,' Albus replied.

'Okay,' Lily said in a huff.

Albus was confused by her reaction but didn't say anything. He then turned to Julia and asked, 'How many of these have you got?'

'Just two.'

'I'll take them both,' Albus said reaching inside his pouch and retrieving the necessary amount of gold. He turned and saw Lily was looking at him with a sour expression, which confused him. 'What?'

'Pay for these too,' Lily ordered in a harsh tone, handing him a pair of earrings.

Lily's sudden mood change confused him even more; he didn't know what he had done to upset her. He continued to look at Lily, who apparently was not meeting his gaze, as he paid for the items.

'Thank you,' Julia said with a smile, shrinking the package with the wave of her wand.

'Thanks, Julia,' Lily said picking up the shrunk package and putting it inside her jacket. 'I'll drop by your apartment one of these days.'

'You're always welcome,' Julia said to Lily and then turned to Albus. 'You too.'

'Thanks,' Albus said waving her goodbye.

They exited the shop and stood outside. The sun was going down and the sky was turning dark. The streets were illuminated by the light coming out of the windows of the various shops, as the crowd continued to move in its own pace.

Albus noticed a small child gaping through the shop window, at the newest model of the Nimbus series. It reminded him of his childhood, when he and James would plead with their father to get them the newest model. It was a fun time, a time when everything was normal and easy. But normal and easy are only a brief part of life, the rest is filled with struggle, pain, hurt and partings. But he was happy he remembered those moments, his innocent days when reality was just a small bubble.

'What are you thinking?' Lily asked.

'Just reminiscing about some things,' Albus replied truthfully.

'We should go get your wand checked,' Lily said.

'Are you sure you finished your shopping?' Albus said sarcastically.

'Yes, big brother,' Lily said with a smile.

She put her arm around his and leaned her head on his side. A gentle fragrance of green apples and burning pine entered his nostrils, as he felt an unusual sensation from within. Throughout the day he had forgotten this feeling, but it had suddenly come rushing back; it felt like heaven. It was like finding the shore after getting lost in the sea for a long time; a feeling of being complete. He did not know why he felt this way with her; she was his sister after all. This type of feeling was not right, or was it? Did every brother feel this way about their sister? Did James feel the same thing he was feeling when he held Lily? It was all confusing, but it felt good.

Slowly, they made their way towards Ollivander's shop. They must have looked like lovers, but it didn't matter to him. The rest of the world was forgotten, nothing else mattered any longer.

They entered the shop and saw Gerald Ollivander standing behind the counter.

'Good evening, Mr Pott-

Before Ollivander could complete what he was saying, Anushka jumped in front of Albus and Ollivander with a blade firmly clutched in her hand.

'Albus careful, he is an Asura,' Anushka snarled, holding the blade in an offensive manner. Lily grabbed his arms tightly, her face a mixture of fear and shock.

Albus was shocked himself. He had no idea what an Asura was, but he had never seen Anushka act so offensive. Her yellow eyes were glowing viciously, and they wanted to kill.

'How wonderful of you, Mr Potter to bring a Huntress inside my shop,' Ollivander said amusedly. 'It's been ages since I saw one.'

'What are you doing in this world Asura?' Anushka spat.

'I'm just a humble trader of wands Huntress,' Ollivander replied calmly.

'Anushka, step back,' Albus ordered. 'He is just a wand-maker.'

'But he is an Asura,' Anushka growled.

'I assure you Huntress I mean harm to none,' Ollivander said raising his hands. 'As long, as they let me do my job.'

'Anushka! Draw back,' Albus hissed the last part.

Anushka continued to stare at Ollivander, but she slowly withdrew her blade.

'Thank you, Mr Potter,' Ollivander said pulling his hands down.

'Why is she calling you an Asura?' Albus asked instead.

'Because I'm one Mr Potter,' Ollivander replied simply. 'To be precise I'm a demi-human, like her,' he said pointing at Anushka. 'Our kind and her kind have been at war for time immemorial.'

'We fight because you contaminate the purity of this realm,' Anushka retorted.

'And other beings don't?' Ollivander countered.

'Don't tempt me Asura,' Anushka hissed. 'I'll not hesitate to remove your head and send you to the pits of hell.'

'Anushka!' Albus reprimanded. Anushka continued to give Ollivander a killing glare, but did not say anything further. He then turned to Ollivander. 'So, what kind of demi-human are you?'

'We are a race which feeds on the life force of other living beings. One could say we are parasites of magic,' Ollivander explained.

'Parasites?'

'They kill other beings and feed on their energies,' Anushka said angrily.

'You kill?' it was Lily who asked the question.

'Yes, Miss Potter,' Ollivander replied.

'Humans, animals?' Lily said in a terrified voice.

'Humans and animals are not the only living beings Miss Potter,' Ollivander countered.

'Then what do you feed on?' Lily asked gripping tightly to Albus' arm.

'You feed on the trees that make your wands,' Albus said realizing at that moment.

'You are correct Mr Potter,' Ollivander applauded. 'Most of the wand-makers in the world are beings of my race. You see our ability is not only draining life, but we can release innate magic inside inanimate objects.'

'So, that is how you can make wands,' Albus said in understanding.

Albus had always thought that something was suspicious about the Ollivanders. He had met Garrick Ollivander when he had come to buy his wand, and he had seemed extremely strange to Albus. Then when they had come to purchase Lily's wand, Garrick Ollivander had disappeared and his nephew- who no one knew about- had taken his place. But he too had the same mysterious air around him. It all made sense now, they were demi-humans.

'Yes, Mr Potter. And since my personal history is will remain a secret?' Albus and Lily nodded in unison. 'So, tell me how can I assist you this evening?'

'My wand is not working for me,' Albus said, ignoring Anushka's killing gaze directed towards Ollivander.

'It happens sometimes when wizards mature. Their wands stop functioning like they used to,' Ollivander replied easily.

'Mine has stopped working completely.'

Ollivander arched his eyebrows, as if he had heard something blasphemous.

'Your wand,' Ollivander said stretching his hand. Albus handed him the wand. Ollivander took it in both of his hands, cradling it as if it were very fragile. 'This was my uncle, Garrick Ollivander's creation. Apple wood with phoenix feather, twelve and three-quarters inches, brittle flexibility. This is a very unique wood- a very powerful and ambitious wand.' He then gave it a swish and immediately his face turned pale. He then turned to Albus, he looked like he had just seen death. 'Mr Potter, what have you been doing?'

'What do you mean?' Albus asked puzzled.

'Your wand has completely lost its magic,' Ollivander said in a whisper.

'What do you mean by lost its magic?' Lily was the one who spoke.

'What I mean to say Miss Potter is that your brother's wand is no longer of any use. It is just a dead wood, with a phoenix feather stuffed inside.'

'But how can a wand lose its magic?' Lily said incredulously.

'For that we have to ask your brother,' Ollivander said motioning at Albus. Lily turned to Albus, looking at him for some sort of explanation. But he didn't have any.

'I'm sorry to have troubled you Mr Ollivander,' Albus said snatching the wand from the man's hand.

Albus recalled the forest, and the missing events from his memories. Did that have to do with him losing his magic? Albus was no sure, but he didn't like Ollivander's speculating eyes on him.

'Have you been exposed or practiced any form of void magic?' Ollivander asked suspiciously.

'How dare you say that?' Anushka roared dangerously.

'I was just checking,' Ollivander said defensively.

'It is unforgiveable to even think of such a thing,' Anushka shot back. 'Albus does not need such magic- no one needs such magic.'

Albus had no idea what void magic was, he had never even heard that term before.

'What is void magic?' Lily asked.

'It is better if you don't know Miss Potter,' Ollivander said darkly.

'Let us leave this place Albus,' Anushka said pulling him towards the exit. 'He will not cure you of your ailment.'

Anushka dragged him outside the shop, and would have kept on dragging him had he not told her to stop.

'What is wrong with you Anushka? You are acting weird,' Albus said unleashing his arm from her grasp.

'You should stay away from this Asura,' Anushka warned.

'You don't have to worry about him. He has done nothing that has caused harm till now,' Albus reassured.

'But he spoke of forbidden powers,' Anushka said concerned.

'What is this power anyway? Is it dark?' Lily asked having caught up with them.

'It better to not know of this power- it is taboo,'Anushka said rapidly.

'Anushka what is this power?' Albus asked.

'The one who uses this power is damned. He will lose his soul,' Anushka said in a serious voice. 'But it is so powerful that it can slay a god.'

A/N: I write stories for my own pleasure...and hopefully yours. The only way I can know if you enjoyed my work is through your feedback.

P.S. English is not my first language, so please free to correct my errors.

P.S.S And this is my first story in this site so please no flames.